Carpenter's Workshop Gallery

Design Miami hosted the Carpenter's Workshop Gallery recently, and what gallery it was. There is not much of an input to put here, but there are numerous intriguing pieces at the gallery, and I thought I would share it. Below is my favorite, which is a cool looking mirror, but click the Source to check out some more pieces at the gallery.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/events/design_miami_2011_carpenters_workshop_gallery_21265.asp#more

A Window OR A TV

There have been amazing innovations to televisions over the past decade. They seem to be getting smaller, and at the same time, having better quality. Now Samsung is making a push for the future. Turning glass into TV's. There are numerous tweaks to be made, however, Samsung believes that it could be ready for commercial use in 10 years. So instead of a window, there could be a TV.

Source: http://www.psfk.com/2011/10/samsungs-breakthrough-technology-could-turn-windows-into-led-tvs.html

Glow in The Dark Labels

As a waiter, I sometimes have to go into the basement to get alcohol for the bartenders. Even with lighting, sometimes things are hard to see in certain places. Problem solved. Companies such as Heineken are creating glow in the dark labels that look very appealing. It is inspired by the dimly lit night clubs, however, it will also come in handy for bar backs. I think the designs can be very interesting. Here is one example.

Source: http://www.thedieline.com/trending-a-glowing-trend

Making Games Even More Realistic

Sony's biometric controller is just the latest innovative addition to the video gaming world. We have come a long way since the original nintendo video game console and we keep on growing. I thought the Xbox Kinect was ridiculously innovative by mimicking your moves to create a realistic gaming experience. Now, Sony is bringing us controllers that will adjust to our mood. This controller detects your mood (frustrated, enthused), and adjusts the game accordingly. Pissed off you cannot beat the final stage of the game? The controller will detect that and ease up a little bit to ease your frustration.

Source: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biometric-controller

Fresh Potato Chips

Ever wonder if your potato chips came from a real potato or not? Well wonder no more. Lay's is putting the potato chip making experience right in front of your eyes with its new vending machine. The first machine is in a Walmart in Buenos Aires and its a sight to see. All you need to do is provide the potato and the machine does the rest to give you a freshly made potato chips made from a potato that you provide.

Source: http://www.psfk.com/2011/11/lays-vending-machine-lets-you-put-in-potatoes-and-get-a-bag-of-chips.html

The luxurious McDonald's

I recently saw a renovation to a nearby Taco Bell, which made the Taco Bell go from a regular looking fast food restaurant to a sleek, "cool" looking Mexican restaurant. Apparently, McDonald's is trying to make their restaurants appeal to the modern family. This new McDonald's in France looks like a fancy restaurant that makes you second guess whether or not your in a McDonald's or a new, hip restaurant.

Source: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/34215/a-new-mcdonalds-experience-for-the-modern-family/

Look Mom, No Wires

The invention of the iPod brought about a workout phenomenon. Instead of large CD players, one could run around with a small device that allows them to listen to music while exercising. However, there was still that pesky wire that connected their iPod to their headphones. The ODDIO1 allows you to plug your iPod straight into the headphones without any wires running from your head to your pocket or wherever you held your Ipod. Convenient much?

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/consumer_product/move_over_tiktok_oddio1_finds_a_new_place_to_hide_an_ipod_21216.asp

3D Pictures

The F5 from Mantis Vision is trying to change the way pictures are taken. Instead of taking a picture and creating a 2D image, where you can only see what is visible form the picture; you can now scan the same image and create a 3D photograph. While this technology has been available for some time now, the F5 is more handy and less expensive than its predecessors. One can now look at pictures and see a more detailed and multi dimensional view of an image. I believe this will create more interesting and detailed photographs, we shall soon see the use.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/digital_fabrication/mantis_visions_f5_handheld_3d_scanner_for_the_field_21230.asp#more

Mini Printer

The Little Printer, created by Berg, is a device that allows you to print receipt-like pages of your choosing. I think this idea could be very useful for someone to print out To Do lists and little things that you would not necessarily need a full page for. It prints convenient papers that you could stick in your wallet or pocket, so that you are not carrying around a piece of paper.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/exclusive/big_idea_little_printer_exclusive_qa_with_matt_webb_principal_ceo_of_berg_21228.asp

Iphone Wallet

With your Iphone, wallet, keys, and other objects in your pockets, you might feel like you have too many things in your pockets, and not enough pocket room for them. Well, there is a remedy for this. The new iLid is a new contraption that allows you to combine all of those objects into one. You can keep your money, credit cards, and a key into the iLip so you can have some free pocket space. I sometimes have too many things in my pockets where it becomes difficult to get something out. This product could do me some good.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/a_step_towards_mobile_payment_keycard_for_the_iphone_sort_of_21262.asp

IT'S WAR!

The office may never be save again thanks to this new USB Rocket Launcher. The iLaunch Thunder is a device that allows you to shoot missiles at a range of up to 25 feet. The best part about this toy is that you can control it from your Ipod or Ipad to reek havoc on your cubby buddies. This device allows you to brighten up and add some excitement in your office, and you could also get a camera that attaches to the device so that you can see where you are shooting even if you are not by the device.

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/05/new-usb-rocket-launcher-matches-your-scorched-earth-management-style/

Smart Car

The concept of the Smart phone is now being implemented into a car. The Toyota Fun-Vii is a new and innovative car concept that could change the face of the automotive industry. Whether consumers would be interested is yet to be seen. Instead of getting a new paint job, one could change the electronic exterior into whatever they want, and it is as simple as changing the background of your Iphone.

Source: http://autos.yahoo.com/photos/toyota-fun-vii-1322512609-slideshow/various-contents-seen-varied-display-space-toyotas-concept-photo-115330704.html

Some People Can't Get Rid of Their Record Player

With the invention of the Ipod came the invention of the Ipod dock that allows you to plug in you Ipod so that many people can listen. Well, now the designers can figure out a way to make you have the coolest Ipod dock out there. Los Angeles based electrician and artist, Devin Ward, takes old tube-amp radios, refurbishes them, and wires in a minijack connection so that you can plug in your Ipod. While it may cost you a pretty penny, this gives a sort of "nostalgia" feeling and definitely gives you a new look to your Ipod dock.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/nice_to_see_part_2_speakers_that_look_like_old_speakers_because_they_are_21170.asp

Good Child Labor?

Beam Summer Camp in Strafford, New Hampshire is providing child labor so that people could work on their large-scale designs. Eh that didn't sound good. The camp is for aspiring architects, builders, and designers. In camp, the campers create unique large-scale designs over the course of the summer. Instead of endless and pointless games, this camp actually provides campers with an enriching experience, and allows them to dwell in their creativity.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/competition/you_supply_the_design_they_provide_the_voluntary_child_labor_21178.asp

Amazing new product... NeverWet

NeverWet is an extraordinary new product that allows you to apply a "superhydrophobic" coating that, once applied, completely repels water. This product, which comes in spray and paint form, would allow you to preserve clothes and surfaces by preventing liquids from ever damaging them. It was developed by Ross Nanotechnology, and could be a potential life changing product.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/materials/amazing_super_water-repellent_coating_21117.asp

5 Words from Presentation

1. Food
2. Knowledge
3. Children
4. School
5. Hungry

The future?

I saw this on Yahoo today, and thought I had to blog about this. This new invention would make keyboards and computer screens obsolete. Using sensors that depict your moves, you would be able to project a screen on any object, including your own palm, to read e-mails and surf the web. The prototype is just an Xbox Kinect mounted on your shoulder, but who knows what this kind of technology could become in a couple of years. Im excited.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/death-keyboards-monitors-omnitouch-202115388.html

Free Alaa... Again

This weekend, Egyptian blogger, Twitter activist, and human rights advocate Alaa Abd El-Fatah has been jailed AGAIN. He was arrested in 2006, under similar circumstances, after participating in a peaceful protest. His arrest sparked fellow bloggers to create a blog called "Free Alaa." This time, he was arrested for his participation in the Egyptian Revolution in February. The government shut down the internet in Egypt, however, Alaa was not in Egypt. He was able to gather information from friends and family via land line phones and shared it with the world. The question I pose to you is this: What role has social media played in the recent "revolutions" around the world.

Source: http://boingboing.net/2011/10/31/free-alaa-again.html#more-127052

Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera

I found this while browsing the internet the other day, and just thought it was really interesting. The whole idea behind this is that you throw the ball up and you are able to get camera angles like never before. The ball has multiple cameras embedded into it, and when you throw it up, you are able to see everything that the ball can capture, which is basically everything surrounding you.

Source: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/99995-throwable-36-camera-ball-takes-perfect-panorama-photos

Typing in Poster

Two Funny Advertisements:

The Sofa King:

"Our prices are sofa king low"

Texaco:

"Make every drop count"

Two straight forward advertisements:

McDonald's:

"I'm loving it"

Nike:

"Just Do It"

Rebecca Carlson Presentation

3 Things That She Said


1. Focus on one thing at a time
2. Network... Network... Network
3. Broaden your horizons

Rebecca Carlson is a former Hofstra student who is now having success as a Marketing Strategist for 360i Digital Marketing Agency. I think that she did a good job of correlating her post-graduate story with the real struggles that recent graduate have to face after college. Rebecca did not have much success immediately following college, however, she pushed through the adversity and was able to land an internship that eventually led her to the job that she is currently occupying. After not botching an interview, she stayed focused and networked the hell out of herself until she was finally able to land the internship. One thing that I learned from Rebecca's presentation is that you cannot give up. You need to keep pushing and remain confident that there is a job out there with your name on it. One also needs to stay focused on one thing at a time. There might be a lot of responsibilities out there for a recent graduate, however, you cannot let that overwhelm you. You cannot finish a task if you have millions of other things on your mind. Finish the task at hand, then you can begin working on your other tasks.

Photshop Assignment

By using "Graphis, Illustration" and "Graphis Annual, Illustration" I compiled 10 examples of connotative art that correlated with my first assignment of titled "Feeding Children."

CREATE YOUR OWN SUPER SOAKER!!

As a kid, I always wanted to coolest Super Soakers that Nerf had to offer. I would think to myself... "What if this Super Soaker came out of 6 different holes and refueled with water automatically." Well my ideas never came to fruition. However, my ideas could have won a recent a challenge done by Core77.com. Core77.com challenged designers to create their own Super Soakers by sketching their design in under 1 hour. Below are the winners.

Source: http://www.core77.com/blog/announcements/1hdc_supersoaker_challenge_winner_exploded_assembly_view_20527.asp

Historypin

Have you ever been to a place and thought to yourself... "I wonder what this place looked like 40 years ago." Dream no more. Historypin is a new website that allows you to combine vintage photos with recent Google images in order to bring you back in time.

100 bagpipers on a road in Nova Scotia

Source:http://boingboing.net/2011/09/12/historypin-vintage-media-overlaid-on-current-google-maps-images.html