Colors
Runways and driveways have long been the inspirational source for home furnishings and decorating color choices. However, consumers’ increasing color confidence and personal style makes any color fashionable for 2008. From glass-like blues, botanical greens, dramatic black and white and whisper soft pink, color directions will drive towards individual self-expression, glamorous living experiences or an increasing awareness of important environmental causes.
“Go Green”
Green may just become the newest “neutral” color. Used as a subtle backdrop to reflect an enhanced eco-consciousness, green will be representative of the growing environmental movement. Mid-tone hues of fern, palm, pine and sage will be used on their own or coupled with clear blue or aqua to create a living space that conjures up a sense of outdoor-friendly living. Sandy tans and warm browns can be intermingled to complete that earthy and eco-friendly feel.
While suitable for all areas of the home, these combinations are an especially good choice for bathrooms, kitchens and family living spaces.
“Sophisticated Elegance”
Gaining popularity in 2008, black and white paint hues will enhance opulent living spaces that are filled with accessories, crystal lighting, mirrors and rich fabrics. Metallics and high sheen finishes along with rich textures benefit from the sophistication of this striking palette. For an unexpected color punch, add cause related hues such as dramatic red or maintain the room’s classic undertones with subtle pink or taupe. Dramatic and sophisticated, black and white becomes the backdrop for today’s glamorous spaces.
Master bedroom suites and living rooms are only two of the spaces that can benefit from sophisticated elegance.
“Crewel Colors”
Many consumers continue to strive for simplicity in their technology overloaded, hectic lifestyles and seek a return to a gentler way of life. The crewel color palette reflects consumers returning interest in crafts, home cooking and family focused activities. Like a rich and color filled needlepoint pattern, these hues add a soulful and personalized feel to any space. Handcrafted items create a sense of stability and security and these warm, creamy rich colors will do the same in your space. Rich cranberry reds, warm browns, along with pumpkin orange help to create a nurturing and caring environment. Mix in deep-toned blue and the tapestry is complete.
Crewel colors remain an excellent choice for kitchen or dining areas and can be warming, like a knitted afghan, in family spaces.
No matter which hue or palatte attracts attention, consumers continue to have an increased appreciation for paint quality and value. And, why not? It is a personal choice for a personal space—home.
Design Trends
Dog Poo Bags
http://www.notcot.com/archives/2008/07/dog_poo_bags.php
Austin-based automotive design and manufacturing company Ronn Motor’s has built the Scorpion; a hydrogen fuel injected hybrid. http://www.thecoolhunter.net/transportation/ECO—EXOTIC/
Architect Jean Nouvel designed this Roman Baths inspired spa/pool in the old port of Le Havre, France. Soon to come in Paris too. http://www.thecoolhunter.net/design/Le-Bains-des-Docs/
How do you make a hard drive “green?” Fabrik’s SimpleTech Turbo is designed with rippled sides to dissipate heat, negating the need for a fan, and it’s made from recycled aluminum and, of course, bamboo. For best results, do not use near pandas.
Dell Studio Hybrid Mini-PeC for $499. comes with Recycling Kit:
· Reduced packing materials 30 percent by weight.
· Packing materials are also 95 percent recyclable.
· Reduced printed documentation 75 percent by weight.
· System recycling kit is included.
Next Designer of the week: Jean Nouvel
Designer of the Week
Yves Behar
Born to an East German mother and a Jewish-Turkish father in Lausanne, Switzerland. Studied Industrial design in the United States and Europe, with a B.S in ID from Art Center in Pasadena, California.
He started his career at frogdesign and lunar design in Silicon valley. He founded fuseproject, which combines three aspects important to him. Firstly, he wants to be a futurist, optimistic about the possibilities of new technology. Secondly, he’s a humanist, in that his designs seek to put the human experience first. And, finally, he’s a committed naturalist, promoting sustainable ways of living and consuming.
He works in the world of fashion, lifestyle, sports and technology, for clients such as Birkenstock, BMW’s MINI, haasprojekt, Herman Miller, HBF, Hewlett Packard, Hussein Chalayan, Microsoft, Nike, OLPC, Philou, PUIG and Toshiba.
His latest known projects are
In 2005, a massive chandelier sculpted by Behar for Swarovski was installed at JFK airport. The piece is a loose tangle of organic curves with 55,000 crystals, and includes a motion detector triggering 2,000 blue light-emitting diodes that react to the movement of passengers [4].
He is the chief industrial designer of OLPC’s XO laptop, signing on with the project in 2005 [3] and has been with the team since March of 2006 [5].
He designed and holds a stake in the highly acclaimed Bluetooth headset, Jawbone, which he calls a facial accessory [6].
Quotes from Behar:
- After winning the INDEX award for the OLPC laptop: “Great design is a way to tell people that you value them.”
- On his parents: “One is functional and modernist and the other, expressive and poetic. I always try to marry the two in my projects.”
- On his San Francisco home: “I think I can think here.”
- On the future of design: “I believe design’s purpose is not only to show us the future, but to bring us the future.”
- On advertising: “Advertising is the price you pay for being unoriginal.“
Design Trends
Prefab Homes Trend
“Flat-pack, pop-up and prefab are all terms that are becoming increasingly popular int he world of design and living. Prefabricated products go way beyond the shelves of Ikea; in fact, prefab homes—yes, entire houses—are one of the biggest new architecture crazes.
From cardboard to recycled shipping containers, instant homes are made from a diverse range of materials. Some are built as temporary post-disasters shelters, while others are just super-hip homes like the Dwelling Dock featured in the main photo. Below are some of the most interesting concepts we’ve featured on Trend Hunter.” (from Trendhunter.com)
Women make Greener Business decisions
Bike Sharing Program Launched in Mexico City
Ride Share programs
- Call a Bike, Munich inaugurated in March 2000
- Cityräder, Helsinki inaugurated in June 2000
- Citybike, Vienna inaugurated in June 2003
- Pekin, inaugurated in 2005
- Vélo’v, Lyon (France) inaugurated in May 2005
- Bicing, Barcelona (Spain) inaugurated in March 2007
- Sevici, Sevilla (Spain) inaugurated in April 2007
- Vélib’, Paris (France) inaugurated in July 2007
- Bizi, Zaragoza (Spain) inaugurated in May 2008
- Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
Robots
Nao humanoid robot
Aptera Typ-1
More fuel efficient than anything ever produced. Two seat, three wheel vehicle. If you live in California, you can reserve your model for $27,000 or $30,000 now for an All Electric or Plug-In Electric Hybrid.
www.aptera.com
Design Trends Observations
Observations
The eco-friendly trend is growing stronger and stronger. I believe in a few years no cell phones or cars will be un-eco friendly. Companies that collect environmentally friendly materials and reselling them is a new business trend. Running shoes are looking futuristic, but casual shoes are reverting back to old style converse type things. Companies such as http://www.shulong-shoes.com/ and OSPOP:
“OSPOP who introduced us to the Tian Lang canvas trainers, the choice of footwear for millions of Chinese miners, farmers, construction and factory workers for decades have released the Skywolf series. Slightly re-engineered, they thankfully took the initiative to increase the comfort and quality of the shoe while maintaining the iconic colors and design.
For those skeptical about cultural appropriation, OSPOP works closely with the Tian Lang factory and a percentage of every pair sold is contributed towards a scholarship for high school students who lack the funds to begin their first year of college.” Core77.com
Transformations of homes
Multimedia is taking over our lives more than ever, with the lasting craze over the iphone and rockband venues for example. House interiors need to adjust to the growing demand of home entertainment systems. Teenagers stay at home with friends rather than go out in public places where it’s more dangerous (USA). Parents prefer to keep them at home with entertainment rather than outside.
Designers of our Time
| Seymour Powell Seymour Powell understands products: their context, their future, their users, their technology and above all, their creation. www.seymourpowell.com |
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| Philippe Starck Philippe Starck website offers visitors the chance to see and experience Starcks design work, as well as learn about his life, awards, and inspirations. philippe-starck.com |
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| Bilgi Karan Online portfolio of Industrial Designer Bilgi Karan. Includes professional and school work along with sketches and resume. www.bilgikaran.com |
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| Eduardo Baroni Eduardo Baroni, furniture design, industrial design, concepts and consultancy. www.eduardobaroni.com |
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| Non Solo Design : Angelo Ricchiuti Industrial Designer and 3D modelling. Portfolio and works. www.nonsolodesign.com |
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| Robbiano Design Sergio Robbiano designer of AGV - BIMOTA - SPIDI - CAGIVA - XPD. www.robbianodesign.com |
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| Shane Dietrich An industrial designer specializing in 3D product design including web and graphic design. Key skills consist of a variety of computer and sketching abilities. Graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelors of Industrial Design in May of 2005. www.shanedietrich.com |
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| Laetitia Fourquier This site is the portfolio of Laetitia Fourquier, happy industrial designer. www.laetitiafourquier.com |
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| Alexander Bannink Started in August 2003 as a freelance designer, I worked for several companies, including Masterfoods and a cardesign privateer project. I also Initiate my own assignments to keep my mind open and to explore new technologies and methods. In order to keep my knowledge up to date. As a freelancer designer I can give your company the edge, by delivering designs according to your specific needs and by keeping communication lines very short. Fields of opp: Industrial design, Automotive Design, 3D Visuals. www.alexanderbannink.com |
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| Taylan Fidan - Cronedesign Taylan Fidan is language science and semantics expert and freelance designer from Turkey. www.geocities.com/scarday/designs. |
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| Matthias Ries Matthias Ries is a conceptual designer that works on most aspects of design. www.matthiasries.com |
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| Fatma Aybige Belirdi Fatma Aybige Belirdis Design Portfolio. www.aybigebelirdi.com |
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Design Trends
First there was Tivoli, which packed walloping hi-fi sound inside a pert, ’60s-style plastic package. Indonesian designer Singgih Kartono’s Magno, available through Areaware, arrives like an eco-friendly heir to that retrograde throne, with styling that evokes the feel-good ’70s, three sizes all done up in smooth-edged, sustainably harvested, uncoated wood. Kartono, though, isn’t some greenwashed novitiate: The radios are assembled by hand in the designer’s native village of Kandangan, where Kartono helped built a craft-based community to shore up a floundering agricultural economy. And don’t be fooled by the old-school knobs and dials: AM/FM and transistor frequencies are accompanied by a line in for the MP3 player of your choice. Prices start at $200 for the small. www.areaware.com
Design Trends
Microsoft’s new wireless Arc Mouse folds down to save space during transit, anyone that’s used one of those mini-travel mouse devices will appreciate the full size body. It’s questionable whether the space saving benefits are really necessary but you know you’ll look like the man breaking one out in the airport business lounge. It will retail for approx. $60 US later in the year.
http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/microsofts_folding_arc_mouse_10479.asp
Events
Design Week in Centeral and Eastern Europe
New Decanter Sculpture by Etienne Meneau
BIC, makers of world famous cheap pens and razors, is coming out with a prepaid cheap phone.
Emergency Home
Earthquakes are an all too real threat in Japan and other areas of the world. If you ever find yourself without a home due to such a natural disaster, it would be nice to have one of these cardboard homes to throw up in the back yard. The Octagon costs 150,000 Yen (about $1,400) and comes with a built-in door, flooring, and waterproof roof. The toilet not included (nor available for that matter). It takes about three hours to erect and requires nothing but some extra large origami skills and a lot of tape.