Touching Base

Pipe Cleaner Art?

2010-05-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

American artist, Don Porcella creates sculptures from a very unusual medium, 'Pipe Cleaners'. The New York based artist draws from his love of folk art, cartoons, sci-fi and his imagery of suburban to mould thousands of pipe cleaners into humorous representations of an imaginative reality.

Berlin's Painted Streets

2010-05-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Drivers became artists in the heart of Berlin and the Rosenthaler Platz intersection, the centre of one of Berlin's creative areas. Cyclists poured paint from boxes infront of stationary cars at the intersection, forcing the cars to drive into the pool of paint.

Various colours of the 13 gallons of paint were dumped at different corners of the intersection, creating a unique system of colour bars and lines. An interesting 'piece of art'? where car wheeels by force became large paintbrushes.

Creative Action Design on Facebook

2010-05-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

It's great to see such a good response to our launch of the Creative Action Design page on Facebook, many thanks to our friends and fans.

If you haven't seen our page yet, come have a look. http://tinyurl.com/355sa3a

VW's Folding Electric Bike

2010-05-04T00:57:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen is renowned for it's four-wheel concepts, but it was a two-wheel development which wow'd the audience at the 2010 Auto China show. The electric bike is part of VW's 'Think Blue' mission to a more sustainable transportation mode.

With a range of 20 milometres, the new 'Think Blue' project is not meant for long distances, but rather to supplement the need for short car trips. Hitting a top speed of 20km/hr, it allows German riders to travel helmetless. Regardless of it's performance details, the concept is a great development towards 'green' travel and a sleek, compact and simplistic design.

iPhone App Set to Launch!

2010-04-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

Our Creative Action Design iPhone Application, 'Picture This' is set to launch THIS FRIDAY. Keep watching this space for the release.

Qatar 2022 World Cup Launches Videos

2010-04-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

Qatar 2022 Bid introduces the designs for the first five proposed stadiums. The stadiums in the video are: Al-Wakrah, Al-Shamal, Al-Gharafa, Al-Khor and Al-Rayyan. Visit www.qatar2022bid.com

Photosynth: The 3D Realm

2010-04-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Whilst playing around on the TED iPhone App, we came across Blaise Aguera y Arca. In the archives of May 2007, Blaise presented a presentation of 'Photosynth'. Using images of oft-shapped objects (for example, the Notre Dame), photosynth creates a multidimensional space with live walkthrough and navigations. It's shockingly amazing. It's connected the storage of trillions of web images and created a 3D dimensional realm. A must-see video.

Sneaker Colouring-In Book

2010-04-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

Laurence King is set to release 'The Sneaker Colouring Book' this month. The book is collection of 100 outlined drawings of popular sneaker designs, ready and waiting for a custom creation. Designed by Daniel Jarosch and Henrik Klingel from PKNTS in Berlin, the book features shoes from 18 major brands (Adidas, Converse, Nike, Puma etc). Hopefully we'll take delivery of our copy and a set of crayons soon.

Qatar's new Pearl

2010-04-29T02:39:00.000-07:00

International firm Callison has undertaken 'The Pearl', a 14 million sq foot development in Doha, Qatar. The USD$2.5 billion island is both a community and tourist destination in an effort to diversify the country's economy. The development is built directly ontop of a former pearl diving site, with it's name paying tribute to both the site and the regions historical and cultural ties to the sea.

The site will host more than 30,000 residents in 10 distinct districts including beachfront villas,
elegant townhouses, five-star hotels, marinas, retail outlets, restaurants and luxury apartments.

Oh and I forgot to mention, we just bought one. (insert happy face)

Floating Hotel Travel • AirCruise

2010-04-29T02:31:00.000-07:00

Our good friends at SeymourPowell, leading UK design and innovation firm, have unveiled details of their visionary sustainable transportation concepts: AirCruise. The concept is a giant, diamond shaped airship powered by natural energy hosting travellers in style and luxury. AirCruise, originally a self-generated company project has now had offers from Samsung to further the develop the project. The floating hotel consists of large internal living, dining and relaxing space, whilst also room for a bar, lounge room, four duplex apartments, five smaller apartments and a penthouse. Congratulation and great work guys, hope to see more!

In the Creative Action Design Garage

2010-04-29T02:13:00.000-07:00

Well not exactly, but lately in the office we have been debating which of the newly-awaited cars is our favourite design. Our founder Ian Silverstein has led the charge with the Mercedes SLS AMG and his soon-to-be new Land Rover LRX. Our new Australian designer, Angus has joined the Creative Action Design family this month, but his submission of Ferrari's new 599 GTO may be faster than the elusive Enzo but falls short to the sleek lines of the LRX concept.

Just Arrived • The CR Annual

2010-04-29T02:01:00.000-07:00

Just took delivery of the latest Creative Review Annual. The Sun has been shining all week in St Albans, so it couldn't have come at a better time. The cover by Craig Ward of Words are Pictures, uses an image that was literally grown in an immunology lab using pollen cells... interesting.

Betacup Challenge to reduce waste

2010-04-29T01:44:00.000-07:00

152 concepts, 348 revisions, 1195 vites and over 1500 pending submissions and the 'Betacup Challenge' is only 3 weeks in. The Betacup Challenge is asking designers to reinvent a product to reduce the wastage from unrecyclable coffee cups. $20,000 in prize money is up for grabs until the competition ends early June.

Shanghai Expo 2010 Pavillions

2010-04-29T01:33:00.000-07:00

The Expo 2010 will be held in the city of Shanghai, China from May 1 to October 31, 2010 and is a scheduled World Expo in the tradition of international fairs and expositions. The theme of the exposition will be "Better City – Better Life" and signifies Shanghai's new status in the 21st century as a premier global economic and cultural center. It is the most expensive Expo in the history of the world's fairs. Here's are some of our UK and Qatar office's favourite picks.

Qatar 2022 World Cup Stadiums

2010-04-29T01:24:00.001-07:00

The Creative Action Design team are happy to see the success of Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup Bid. Today the Qatar 2022 Bid revealed the first five stadiums in Al-Gharafa, Al-Khor, Al-Rayyan, Al-Shamal and Al-Wakrah. It's been a pleasure to have contributed to this amazing project. See more at www.qatar2022bid.com

StickyBits, Product Twitter

2010-04-28T03:36:00.000-07:00

Imagine your in a bookstore or connivence store, unsure of whether to buy or not. You scan the barcode in and are able to browse through reviews, notes, comments, PDF's, any digital files and/or opinions other have had. This is essentially StickyBits, an iPhone/Android application which allows you to scan the barcode on any physical product, giving you immediate content that others have tagged with that physical product.

UK Pavilion at Expo 2010

2010-04-28T03:18:00.000-07:00

Shanghai is set to open it's arms to the World Expo 2010 and the world has responded with countries spend up big to innovate and intrigue. Norway has certainly hit the headlines spending over £140 million to create their pavilion, however it has been the UK's £40 million design that has seen the most press. Designed the Thomas Heatherwick Studio, the 20 metre tall cube-like structure is pierced by 60,000 slim and translucent rods made from acrylic. The central 'seed cathedral' to the structure enables visitors to explore a variety of seeds implanted into the ends of each rod with the idea being 'better city, better life'.

'Street Hop' to Work

2010-04-28T03:06:00.000-07:00

Adir Zilber, an Israeli industrial designer sent through his 'Street Hopper' concept to DesignBoom and was fortunate enough to have it go live on their pages. The Holon Institute of Technology student in Israel designed the project as part of his Industrial Design course. The concept is a cross between a scooter and vespa, targeted directly at urban work commuters. The 'Hopper' is rode standing, with two small footrests a rear mounted engine and urban-ready suspension.

VW 'Milano' Taxi Concept

2010-04-28T02:49:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Volkswagen have unveiled yet another cool design releasing their latest concept, a taxi specially for Italy's city of Milan. The 'Milano Taxi' has a single rear passenger door (milkman style) which slides completely open for ease of access and exit. The front passengers seat has been removed and replaced with a handy luggage area. The concept is designed to run off lithium battery granting an estimated 186miles of driving range. Great to see more and more developments in green-automotives.

Sensory + Interactive Flooring

2010-04-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

Following our post of Theo Watson's interactive artworks, we came across this display by Professor patrick Baudisch. The human-computer interaction professor has developed a multi-touch floor display capable of pressure-sensory detection and can even identify users based on the sole of their shoes.

iPhone goes iRetro

2010-04-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

iRetrofone by Freeland Studios have developed an attempt to merge the past and present designing the rotary iPhone accessory. This retro iPhone dock, cast from a single block of resin, functions as telephone with handset and speakers. The dock comes in 3 options of pink, clear and black (our favourite).

Microsoft's New Kin

2010-04-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has just released it's latest telecom development, the Kin. The phone is designed for 'active and social users' (everyone really), that ties into more online services. Kin has been designed in two variations, a square and rectangular format. The phone is set to be release in partnership with Verizon in the USA and Vodafone in Europe with hardware by manufacturer Sharp.

'Portrait Machine', The Interactive Art

2010-04-27T03:59:00.000-07:00

Interactivity seems to be a reoccurring term used in the modern world. The success of the iPhone with applications and new interactive shopping experiences are a testament to this.

Interactive artist Theo Watson has developed 'Portrait Machine' an interactive exhibition connecting viewers with the installation. Three digital monitors are arranged on a single wall and a portrait studio hosted nearby. Each visitor poses infront of the camera for a portrait which is then analyzed for final arrangement by clothing choice, hair color, facial
expression and composition within the frame.

Hotel Hollywood to Save Landmark

2010-04-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

Danish firm Bayarch have developed designs for an alternate solution to the 'Save the Hollywood Sign campaign'. £8 million, including the latest donation of £580,000 from Playboy's, Hugh Hefner have saved the landmark from being torn down to make way for it's original advertising purpose, real estate development. Bayarch's concept transforms the landmark into a hotel, raising it to 105 feet tall and consisting of 308 rooms across 10 floors.

Moving House... literally

2010-04-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Global Homes have sent in images of the latest project, 'Double Room' to DesignBoom. The American firm have come up with an interesting holiday-home alternative which comprises a kitchen, bathroom, living and bedroom all in the same space. The portable studio is preassembled and by the looks of it, can simply be moved upon request of a pickup truck. The most comfortable camping can get, really.

Nothing Studios's 'Church of the Resurrection'

2010-04-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

Italy's region of L'Aquila, rocked by an earthquake in 2009, are to build the 'Church of the Resurrection'. The structure is a tribute to the 300+ victims who were tragically lost in the natural disaster. Italian firm Nothing Studio, has led the tent-like designed structure, which is said to be built with wood wrapped in a translucent membrane of fibreglass. A great project led by great design.

Kevin Cyr's 'Camper' Series

2010-04-27T03:18:00.000-07:00

Constructed from the culmination of a camper and shopping kart, the 'Camper Kart' is the product of an investigation into mobility, housing and sustainability. 'Camper' series is an exhibition of some of these man-made mobile homes, currently on show for 'Pignon Sur Rue' at La Maison Folie De Wazemmes in Lille, France until June 6.

Lamborghini Designs Reventon Yacht?

2010-04-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

Sleek lines, gunsmoke grey palette, subtle wooden decks with cream soft leather seats; unfortunately though this yacht only exists in the realm of 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design). Italian designer, Mauro Lecchi's coroflot profile page is getting a few more clicks now with his concept Lamborghini yacht. The design draws inspiration from the limited edition Lamborghini Reventon, with a carbon fibre or kevlar lamination process and V12 Lamborghini dual motors.

Dubai's 'Commercial City'

2010-04-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Al-Handasah and Dubai Aviation Authority have commissioned Broadway Malyan to develop plans for a new leading international business centre, next door to the world's largest planned Airport; the Dubail World Central International Airport. The project, titled 'Commercial City' is based upon 3 core principles: 1. creating a 'commercial' city 2. creating a world class centre, and 3. creating a city for the future.

Broadway Malyan's masterplan covers 1,400 hectares of land, and had to fit within the overarching masterplan that already exists for the foreward-thinking Dubai.

Rashid's Corian living

2010-04-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

Corian® Living is an interior design project created by Karim Rashim, an American designer. Rashim created the project in collaboration with DuPont Corian during this year's Milan Design Week.

The sustainable concept utilizes the versatility and sensory quality of the DuPont Corian material thoughout the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room and garden. DuPont's Corian is made with environmentally sustainable, bio-sourced components and recycled materials.

Feature: Peter Jaworowski

2010-04-22T01:51:00.000-07:00

Each week, a member of the Creative Action Design team will pick an artist / designer of their choice to feature. This week features Peter Jaworowski and his incredible ability to transform the ordinary into a world of its own. I first stumpled upon Peter in art class whilst browsing sites like the of deviantart. Since then Peter has been commissioned to some renowned projects including Visa, Nike, Diesel, Red Bull and the likes (most of whom are now loyal clients).

Peter is a wizard with photomanipulation, his technical eye, vibrant colours and polished execution brand every Jaworowski production. Peter is now the co-owner of the Warsaw-based creative agency, Ars Thanea. He also writes for Reform & Revolution and Cpluv. Here's just some of his work.

Home + Houseware 2010

2010-04-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

New pieces from Silpin Jr

Bag Cap by Copco

Cactus line of toilet brushes by Vigar

Urban Bikes in the U.S of A

2010-04-22T01:08:00.000-07:00

An unusual collaboration between healthcare company Humana, bike manufacturer Trek and ad house Crispin Porter + Bogusky, has resulted in the production of American bike-sharing system, B-Cycle.

Launching in Denver, Colorado; I hope the successful track record of similar european systems, led to greater numbers across the country. B-Cycle is hosting a voting system on their website where you enter your zip code to cast your vote to have one setup near you.

 iPhone 4G Stunt or Stolen

2010-04-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

Californian Apple employee, Gary Powell has made headlines worldwide by leaving mobile left behind on a bar stool at a German beer garden in Redwood City, California. The mobile phone is reported to be a 4G iPhone prototype, which Apple Inc. has confirmed missing. This latest speculation, whether true or false has had an amazing public response, with Gizmodo receiving 3 million hits in the first 12 hours of posting the headline.

The public is now predicting that the 4G will be released sometime mid 2010, giving enough time for the iPad to cement itself and the addition of the iPhone OS4 upgrade. If so, 2010 will be somewhat of a memorable year for Apple Inc.

Devon's Bulletproof Watch

2010-04-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Helped by a Californian aerospace engineering company, the Devon Works Tread 1 watch is a complete work of art which not only looks amazing, but is recharged wirelessly and is built around an array of FOUR microstep motors. Each drives an underlying quartet of time belts. The indestructible Devon, retails at $15,000 USD.

Desk Phone Dock

2010-04-20T00:50:00.000-07:00

Designed in Seoul and made in Korea, the newest iPhone bolt-on to launch is the Desk Phone Dock. The sleek design by Kee Utility, transforms the portable Iphone into a fully integrated and wired desk phone with microphone, built-in speakers, and USB & AC dual power sources. The dock allows you to switch freely between cellular network and WiFi to use VoIP at lower cost. Either way, it's a nice alternative to the simple charging dock.

Planes remain grounded

2010-04-19T03:06:00.000-07:00

Flights throughout UK remain grounded as volcanic ash from Iceland's eruptions continue to disrupt the airways. 6.8million passengers , including our founder Ian Silverstein have been affected by the resitrictions, leaving more than 150,00 Britons abroad.

The airlines are said to be losing £1 million an hour whilst planes remain grounded. Air traffic control body Nats today announced the restrictions on UK flights will be in place until at least 1am tomorrow.

Creative Paper Cut

2010-04-19T01:06:00.000-07:00

Yuken Teruya

Peter Callesen

Whilst roaming the list of design blogs on Sunday evening I stumpled upon the works of Yuken Teruya and Peter Callesen. Both artists create something new out of, what would normally be regarded, as useless. With precision paper-slicing skills they turn found objects and waste into great artworks, rebirthing them into a new creative perspective.

Nike Shoe Remix

2010-04-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

Created by Wieden + Kennedy, Tokyo, 'Nike Music Shoe' is an unusually interesting ad for the Nike Free Run+ shoe. The ad is based on a live performance by Hifana, who by bending the flexible sole of the Nike Free Run+ shoe, creates different controls of sound.

The most fascinating thing about this ad is that it is infact not computer-generated. The shoes were wired with flexible and acclerometeric sensors. Great authentic work.

McFancy by Amy Moss

2010-04-19T00:44:00.000-07:00

Some great concepts for high-end fast food packaging created by Amy Moss for The Cool Hunter, with the photography by Marija Ivkovic. Further developed was the creation of McMobile, a mobile McDonald's distributing van.

Memphis Group

2010-04-16T06:04:00.000-07:00

We've recently been inspired in the office by the work of the late Memphis Group for a project we've been working hard on. Check out some inspiration we've been feeding off. Credit to the cool people at Core77.

Empire Spaghetti Building

2010-04-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

Developed by University of Central Lancashire student Alex Creamer, this conceptual design for 'NYC Spaghetti' got onto TheDieLine's books with a nice second place award. Alex's design brief was to 'package one of 5 difficult items i.e. eggs, a rose, custard powder, spaghetti or marbles'.

Puma x Fuse Project

2010-04-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Yves Behar's Fuse Project have collaborated with puma to develop the 'Bye Bye Shoebox, Hello Clever Little Bag'. The sturcture of a shoebox is completely removed and replaced by... a 'clever little bag'. The packaging structure is a cardboard sheet and a recyclable non-woven bag, reducing the use of cardboard by 65%. No laminated print or additional tissue paper results in more space and means there is less weight in shipping.

35 Year Old Consollection

2010-04-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

Patrick Molnar together with fellow German Phil Penninger, have assembled an impressive collection of Videogame Systems and early home computers spanning over the past 35 years.

'From a pure design perspective, it’s brilliant to see how the gaming industry has evolved over time, and impressive to see how revolutionary the early-systems really were. Sure the games nowadays are insane high-def masterpieces, but nothing will ever beat the classic stylings of the wood-paneling on the Atari VCS.'

Find Your Seats 3D

2010-04-07T01:41:00.000-07:00

Created by Ballena Technologies, Seats3D allows users to see a three-dimensional rendering of a baseball, football or basketball stadium.

Seats3D allows you to select any seat in your chosen stadium and view a 360 degree rendering of the view!

Lego boardroom table by Studio ABGC

2010-04-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

22,742 pieces of Lego make a boardroom table for a new advertising agency in Dublin, Studio ABGC.

Rapigattoli Chair

2010-04-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

A cool chair we came across, made out of plywood to create a rib-like structure. "(The) Rapigattoli chair is an original design aiming to investigate the idea of adaptation and scale by transposing on the registers of the figurative and geometry drawing techniques on the materiality of a chair." Form and function, a great piece of art and furniture.

Mud Stencils

2010-03-31T06:08:00.000-07:00

A cool new spin to street art by Milwaukee-based artist Jesse Graves. According to Graves mud or earth is a fundamental life-giving substance, logical for his messages. Graves’ graffiti includes images of bicycles, bottles of oil, and cows. Simple, but a great message.

Kitsune Noir Designer Clocks

2010-03-31T00:31:00.000-07:00

Bobby at Kitsune Noir continues to inspire with exceptional artist collaborations and has recently launched a new series of designer clocks. The first clock comes from Dan Funderburgh is available through Furni. Each piece features artwork that is laser-etched onto a 3/8” thick piece of high quality russian birch plywood to create a bold graphic interpretation of the quintessential wall clock. Each installment in the series is limited to 88 pieces and will only be available through furnicreations.com. The clock measures 16"H x 9"W and features custom designed, laser-cut graphics and hands.

Book for iPad

2010-03-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

The minimalist BOOK for iPad comes with a clean linen cover and 100% wool felt sleeve inner lining. 'Each BOOK is hand-crafted to order in a small Minnesota studio. Every exterior detail of BOOK has been considered, from the linen book cloth to the decorative book headbands for an effect that provides bibliophiles with tangible protection for their electronic information'.

'Harads' Tree Hotel

2010-03-29T00:58:00.000-07:00

A concept for 'Harads', a tree hotel created by swedish architectural firm
Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter. The cube design incorporates a kitchen,
sleeping area, living area and a terrace. The result gives a unique collection of hotel rooms, the denominator in common being the treehut.

GM EN-V Concept

2010-03-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

After Segway, here a project of the American manufacturer General Motors: the EN-V concept. The shape of two-seater armchairs, functioning entirely with electricity with design imagined by the trio of designers Brilliant Jiao, Magic Miao and Amusing Xiao. To discover in the continuation.

This concept is equipped with an autonomy of 40 km thanks to a battery Li-ion, and will be presented within the framework of the World Fair 2010 of Shangai next October.

Recycle housing

2010-03-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Aristide Antonas, a designer from Athens, has a great idea to recycle old trucks into apartments that can either remain stationary or stay attached to the truck and be mobile. His KEG Apartments take a cool new look at how we can reuse just about anything to create low impact domiciles for a more resourceful age.

Mclaren wants lowest carbon emissions

2010-03-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

While mclaren is best known for their racing team and high performance sports cars, the company is setting the ambitious goal of producing the lowest carbon emissions per horsepower of any car on sale. The company is hoping to achieve this goals through a variety of measures including making their cars lighter to achieve better mileage and exploring hybrid powertrains. These goals may be executed through the use of more high-tech materials like carbon fibre and composites. While the company is being quiet on details but is hinting at innovative solutions. Here is their new flagship car the mp4-12c, which boasts a 3.8-liter v8 producing 600 horsepower.

Silke Hilsing's Impress Flexible Display

2010-03-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Impress is a flexible display created by german designer silke hilsing that enables touch interactivity with feedback. The display uses arduino and processing to run sensors sandwiched in between pieces of foam. When the user touches down on the foam, they trigger the sensors which in turn communicate with an overhead projector. The motivation behind the project was to remove the technical stiffness from touch screens, bring the technology closer to the user by making it more human. Unlike a regular touch screen, impress also measures the intensity of the pressure. The user can pres slightly for a small reaction or press
down firmly to trigger more intense reactions.

16W21: model apartment

2010-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

The promotion for Zac Posen's first residential project 16W21, has manifested itself in a saucy campaign using voyeuristic photographs of cosmopolitan dolls living out the ultimate bachelor lifestyle. 'The Model Apartment' ad series was developed by creative agency Imagination, aimed at a narrow audience of creative types. The primary visual of this campaign consists barbie and ken-like model dolls engaging in suggestive activities. While the themes are racy, the use of dolls adds an element of humour and fun seeking to capture the attention of the young creative crowd.

USB to USB to USB

2010-03-25T01:58:00.000-07:00

Conceived by the designer Gonglue Jiang, here this concept of original and stackable connector USB. Heading “Infinity USB”, it then makes it possible to efficiently multiply the connections of the peripherals and accessories. More images in the continuation.

Cardboard Player Record

2010-03-25T01:55:00.000-07:00

Interesting packaging concept for this mini reader of vyniles “GGRP Sound”, built in a hard-bound small pocket and designed to be sent to the directors of creation in Canada. Developed by the agency Grey Vancouver, on an artistic director of Andrew McKinley.

Jean Nouvel new National Museum Qatar

2010-03-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

French architect Jean Nouvel is responsible for the design of the new national museum of Qatar. His concept reflects the vanishing bedouin cultures of Qatar, in an effort to embrace the realities of a rapidly urbanization society, and maintain a connection to this fading world in which the country sprang. The starting points of the design began with the desert rose, which are tiny formations which crystalize below the desert's surface. Made primarily from steel and concrete which
will be locally sourced / fabricated, the new building will be constructed from dozens of interlocking disclike forms varying in curvature and diameter. They will intersect at various angles, some standing, others acting as support elements or lying horizontal, creating an uneven pile. They will be made from steel truss structures, and will be assembled in a hub-and-spoke arrangement, all clad with glass fiber reinforced concrete panels. His design is a manifestation of the Qatari identity, through a building appearing as if it is growing out of the ground.

Harvard Professor Makes Inhalable Coffee, No Cup Required

2010-03-24T06:04:00.001-07:00

Got a case of the Monday mornings? If you’re like millions of us, a nice, hot cup of coffee might be your go-to cure, but what about all of those paper cups that go to waste just so that we can get our fix? Well, one Harvard biomedical engineering professor, David A. Edwards, has developed a product that may make getting caffeine into your system a little more efficient – if not also more creepy. Called Le Whif Coffee, Edwards’ java jolt comes in a biodegradable container about the same size as a tube of lipstick, and is ingested by inhalation instead of drinking – a strong reminder of the narcotic nature of caffeine. We’re a bit critical of Le Whif since it still comes in one-time use throwaway packaging (the best option would be if we could get everyone in the world to use a reusable cups for their coffee) but we think the idea of an alternative method of drinking coffee is interesting, if nothing else.

Mobile homeless shelter

2010-03-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

Design enthusiast, Paul Elkins, develops mobile units, and other small scale vehicles. He previously designed the burning man bicycle camper and his latest development is a mobile homeless shelter which he designed as part of a competition asking individuals to meet the demands of the rapidly growing homeless society - a kind of substitute for the grocery cart situation. Elkins wanted his design construction to be a simple, light weight, water tight insulated box on wheels, built with an area for displaying and selling handmade wares.

Patrick Frey, Gregor Calendar

2010-03-24T05:58:00.001-07:00

'Gregor', is a knitted wall calendar scarf that counts down the year by unwinding stitch by stitch. The scarf was developed by german industrial designer Patrick Frey and manufactured by details products + ideas.'Gregor' is currently available in the 2011 edition.

Gorgeous Modern Home is Built Inside a Cave

2010-03-24T05:54:00.001-07:00

Modern living meets subterranean splendor in this gorgeous home nestled inside of a 15,000-square foot sandstone cave in Festus, Missouri. Built by Curt and Deborah Sleeper, the underground abode features modern interior spaces that blend with the beautiful unfinished sandstone walls to create an incredible example of energy-efficient architecture. Geothermal heating and smart passive design keeps the interior comfortable while completely eliminating the need for a furnace or air conditioning.

Filipe Soares's Floating Dreams

2010-03-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

Portuguese-born artist Filipe Soares has created his own world in this miniature series entitled 'Floating Dreams'. Love the intricate detail in the glass-cased floating island.

Springtime Page Markers

2010-03-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Spring are these great page markers by Yuruliku Design. Sure to turn the heads on the way to the office.

Havaianas win at Design Week 2010

2010-03-23T02:09:00.000-07:00

Recieved the latest edition of Design Week in the office yesterday. Congratulations to the Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld for taking the Retail Interiors trophy. A great open, simplistic and fun store. Not too mention Isay Weinfield tied for 1st place with another of his designs, this time for the bookshop Livraria da Vila.

Rafael Morgan, 'Little time'

2010-03-22T12:24:00.001-07:00

Brazilian industrial designer Rafael Morgan has designed the 'little time' clock. The time-teller literally displays 'little time',the numbers on the timepiece are represented in a microscopic size. However, the hands of the clock include magnifying lenses,enlarging the numbers as they pass over them, so that they become readable, bringing attention to the current hour.

Marc Newson - Atmos 566 and hourglass

2010-03-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Atmos, the Australian designer Marc Newson was given carte blanche to redesign the famous clock. Surrounded by a Baccarat crystal bubble, the pure, contemporary curves of the 'Atmos 561' by Marc Newson commanded immediate attention.

2010-03-18T10:47:00.001-07:00

A small piece of Creative Action Design memorabilia goes under the hammer on eBay, it’s best investment item seen yet. The ‘superb package’ was part of our rolling out of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid and has been a huge success since its unveiling. Great to see it’s now rolling out across eBay.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi 'behind the scenes' tour

2010-03-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

We were very lucky to have a 'behind the scenes' tour of the new Ferrari World Theme Park in Abu Dhabi yesterday. This building is truly amazing and congratulations to UK company Benoy for designing and managing the project. Due to be finished in time for the 2nd Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix later in the year it will provide the ultimate experience for all fans of the brand. We also visited the Yas Hotel on Yas Island, next to Ferrari World and is the centre piece to the Yas Marina F1 circuit. More pictures to follow. For further information http://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/

Karl Lagerfeld Ships a 265-Ton Artic Glacier to Paris for Chanel’s Fashion Show

2010-03-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

We’ve heard about designers doing some crazy things, but this one may just take the prize. For Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2010 show Karl Lagerfeld imported a massive 265-ton glacier from northern Sweden, where over the course of six days 35 sculptors (flown in from around the world) whittled the icy block down to a 28-foot tall frozen landscape. For this brief one-time show, the Grand Palais itself was also kept at subzero temperature for extra Arctic effect. While we ‘re not quite sure how keen Karl is to the whole global warming situation, his musing to reporters on the issue certainly says a lot: “Have you felt any warming this winter? Maybe that’s all nonsense, who knows.”

New Moleskin Collection

2010-03-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Moleskine introduces 'the hand of the designer', a collection of 462 reproductions of hand made sketches by 150 internationally recognized designers, including Bouroullec Brothers, Michael Graves, Hella Jongerius, Karim Rashid, and many others.'The hand of the designer' is an intimate look into the creative process of the designer, and a celebration of the everlasting power of free hand sketching even in the Autocad® era. The general layout has the familiar look of a Moleskine notebook, which indicates a visual connection to the sketchbooks often adopted by designers. The dimensions are those of the A4 folio collection, with all the iconic features of the Moleskine brand: hard rounded corner cover, elastic band, ribbon place marker. the only (and most noticeable change): the cover is white. 'the hand of the designer' is packaged with a 120-page Moleskine folio blank drawing book for notes and free hand sketching.

Vertical Prison

2010-03-13T18:41:00.000-08:00

Evolvo magazine today announced the winners of the 2010 skyscraper competition. First place went to Malaysian architectural students Chow Khoon Toong, Ong Tien Yee and Beh Ssi Cze. Studies on prison sentence reveals that post-release offenses were higher after imprisonment. Taking criminals out of community and incarcerating them is just a temporary solution. During their time in prison, inmates resocialize into a prison community or rather a crime community instead of rehabilitation; eventually return to the path of crime. The majority of offenses committed are lesser crimes, and these offenders are those with higher chances of rehabilitation.

Will London 2012 be the greenest Olympics ?

2010-03-13T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Winter Olympics are over and amongst the medals and trouncing the US at hockey, Vancouver was praised for hosting the “greenest Olympics ever” with LEED certified buildings, the use of recaptured gas and the construction of a hydrogen highway. However, London looks set to raise the bar even higher with plans to blow Vancouver’s achievements out of the water in 2012. The London Olympic Authority have stated that they are aiming to make London 2012 the first sustainable Olympic Games, setting a precedent for future events.

Karim Rashid's reusable water bottle

2010-03-13T00:14:00.000-08:00

Karim Rashid has done it again. We are pretty much glued to our reusable water bottles, so we got a little giddy when we saw the Bobble, a water filtering bottle that sells for just $9.95. On top of being reusable and affordable the Bobble is BPA-free, made from recycled plastic and available now in a green store near you.

Mode Lina Architektura & Consulting, Gesterbine Skyscraper

2010-03-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

Polish firm Mode Lina Architektura & Consulting have proposed 'Gesterbine' Skyscraper as their entry for the 2010 skyscraper competition organized by Evolo magazine. Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) is an area characterized by small amount of precipitation, however, with high rate of evaporation. These conditions, amongst other factors such as the decrease in forest areas, have led to steppisation, a problem of water shortage and a decrease in varieties of fauna and flora. As a result, ponds and swamps surrounded by green oasis have disappeared. In addition, the warta river due to the inland navigation has been drastically regulated which has shortened the river bed by over 100 km. These environmental changes have quickly lead to the lowering of ground water levels in Wielkopolska.

Sony Playstation Move

2010-03-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

Sony just unveiled their newest Playstation motion-controlled interface at the game developers conference in San Francisco. The new system is now officially called Playstation Move and uses motion sensing technology similar to the Nintendo Wii. The Move controller sits in the players hand and controls the on screen interface by being moved around in real space. This wand-like controller features a glowing sphere on its top that comes in a number of colours to differentiate the remotes. The sphere is also used asa method of tracking the remotes through the system’s camera. The remote is also accompanied by a more standard controller that is used in the player’s other hand for additional action such as navigation. The system claims to be extremely accurate thanks to its three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor. The new system will be released later this year. http://www.playstation.com

Ryan Glasgow iphone case

2010-03-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

American industrial designer Ryan Glasgow has designed a stainless steel iphone case with a protective hinged lid. It's internal silicone bumpers ensure a tight fit with 3G and 3GS phones. When closed, the hinged lid features a window opening which allows views of date/time and incoming calls. Users have the option of using the phone either with the lid open or closed. Antenna cutaways located at lower back of the case allows for air circulation and cooling of the inserted mobile device. Added bumpers give protection to the delicate areas of the phone and allow mobiles to stand on its end or side.the cases, available in both aluminum and stainless steel, has been released for public purchase.

Nokia Files Patent for Kinetically Charged Cell Phone

2010-03-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

The conceived phone would charge via built-in piezoelectric generators that will convert the user’s motions into power. Now, we’ve seen a ton of kinetic gadget concepts, but the fact that Nokia is taking interest and has gone so far as to file a patent is significant evidence that we may soon be seeing these types of electronics hit the market.

Artist Uses LEGO Blocks to Rebuild New York City

2010-03-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves LEGO blocks - they are toys that never loses their charm. We've seen some incredible LEGO creations ranging from sailboats to racing cars and dream houses, and now the colorful toys are being used as real-life building blocks. Artist Jan Vormann took a team of volunteers across Brooklyn and Manhattan as part of the VOLTA artshow to fill in the blanks with the building blocks of our childhood.

Underwater Skyscraper is a Self-Sufficient City at Sea

2010-03-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

Ocean levels are rising around the globe, so rather than tethering our buildings to the sinking shoreline why not suit them for a life at sea? That’s the approach behind the Water-Scraper, a futuristic self-sufficient floating city. A special mention in this year’s eVolo Skyscraper Competition, the design expands the concept of a floating island into a full-fledged underwater skyscraper that harvests renewable energy and grows its own food.

Maldives To Fight Rising Sea Levels With Floating Islands

2010-03-06T01:18:00.001-08:00

The tiny island nation of the Maldives is under serious threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change. No part of the 1200 islands which make up the Maldives is more than six feet above sea level, so as sea-levels rise (as they will if rampant climate change is not stopped), the entire nation will be under water. Because of this, the Maldives government is pulling out all the stops in the fight against climate change. Not only has the entire country gone carbon neutral, educated all of their children in environmental science and furiously built retaining walls around every island, but the government is buying up land in nearby nations as a place to retreat to when the Maldives disappears. Now it appears that the intrepid Maldivians have come up with a new strategy to fight the rising tide: creating mini floating islands! The Maldives government and Dutch Docklands/Dutch Watervalley just signed an agreement today to develop several floating facilities for the islands, including a convention center and golf courses. Designed by architect Koen Olthuis of Waterstudio.NL, the people who brought you the Citadel floating apartment complex and these amazing floating homes, the renderings for the amphibious mini-cities appear depict star-shaped, tiered islands with indoor spaces hidden under lush green-roof terraces, complete with interior pools and beaches.

The OOoo Chair Uses Zero Materials

2010-03-06T01:16:00.000-08:00

We love seeing new furniture ideas that implement used, discarded, eco-friendly and recycle materials, but it’s not often that we find a chair that uses zero materials in construction. The OOoo Chair is an innovative concept that presses us to consider all of the energy and material waste issues associated with furniture production and disposal, but with a bit of amusement. So what do you have to do to get your hands on one of these chairs? Cut two leg-wide holes ergonomically apart, line them with recycled plastic, and you’ve just made your own OOoo Chair!

DIY: Vibrant Curtains Upcycled from Old Film Slides

2010-03-06T01:14:00.000-08:00

Like the 35mm camera, film slides have gone to the wayside in favor of digital images and PowerPoint. So what is one to do with that box of slides collecting dust up in the attic? Turn them into a curtain! In a beautiful and clever design, one gal has gathered up these vibrant treasures and turned them into a stunning, colorful window curtain full of memories. For this simple DIY project all you need is a small drill and a pile of aluminum chain-mail rings, and violà! Say goodbye to lackluster mini blinds!

Set Your Own Mood Lighting With An LED Light Wand Ceiling

2010-03-06T01:12:00.000-08:00

If you had a ceiling like this one, which is completely covered in LEDs, you could, on a whim, change the lighting in your room. Draw The Lights, by Seo Dong-Hun, is a concept for a customizable LED ceiling composed of a network of energy efficient LED lights, a few sensors and a light wand. Need brighter light right above you to read? Use the light wand to turn on more lights. Want to create a special pattern for a party? You can paint the ceiling with lights to fit your mood.

2010 world cup nike team kits

2010-03-05T13:33:00.001-08:00

After unveiling their newest football boots, Nike showcased their official team kits for the upcoming 2010 world cup in South Africa. The new kits are not only the most advanced ever made by Nike but also their most environmentally friendly. All the jerseys are made from recycled polyester, each one produced from up to eight recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are sourced from landfills in Japan and Taiwan and melted down to produce yarn for making the jerseys. By using this process Nike estimates they reduce energy consumption by up to 30 percent versus using virgin polyester. Technically these kits will keep players dry, cool and comfortable thanks to ventilation zones on each side of the jersey. These ventilation zones are created by laser cutting 200 tiny holes into the fabric. Nike will be outfitting Brazil, the Netherlands, Portugal, USA, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia and Slovenia in this year’s world cup. www.nike.com

Isn't this just a Sofa Boat ?

2010-03-05T05:07:00.000-08:00

Unveiled at the Abu Dhabi Motor Show, this all electric, 'Sofa Boat' is quiet an er' interesting concept. Touted as a '3.5m floating fun platform' the boat can run for 12 hours on a fully charged battery and is zero-emissions. Still we can’t help but make just one small observation about the design – it’s a floating sofa. We’re not sure that many people will spend $16,064 on this highly specialized water vehicle, but only time will tell. The makers of the Sofa Boat, Abra Marine, will also be releasing a solar-powered version which will be equipped with seven sq. meters of solar panels to generate enough power to propel the boat for up to 10 hours.

University Of North Texas Building the First LEED College Football Stadium

2010-03-05T05:04:00.001-08:00

Inhabitat reader Erin tells us that the University of North Texas is in the midst of building the first LEED certified college football stadium in the US! .After The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the proposal back in October the university held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the special occasion. The new stadium will replace the 57-year-old Fouts Field, and is one of many green projects happening on campus as part of the UNT “We Mean Green” initiative.

Lifetent: A Portable Emergency Shelter That Folds Into a Backpack

2010-03-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

Core77’s latest 1 Hour Design Challenge asked designers to create solutions for pop up emergency shelters to aid those afflicted by a natural disaster such as the Haiti earthquake. Winners were just announced, and Dan Ostrowski took home the honor with his Lifetent, a portable shelter packed into a backpack that also can carry a water supply. Dan’s Lifetent is inflatable, lightweight, easy to transport, and packs away when not in use. If such shelters were to be manufactured, natural disaster refugees would be able to move about in order to find fresh water and food.

Honda Unveils Three Wheeled Electric 3R-C Vehicle

2010-03-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

Honda has just revealed this incredible looking three-wheeled 3R-C concept vehicle at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. The sleek scooter-like pod is an EV that showcases Honda’s latest research into compact urban vehicles. Designed for one driver, the vehicle has a clear canopy that covers it when not in use and protects the rider from wind and rain.

How to use Technology to de-clutter your life

2010-03-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Are you being buried by a pile of papers and post-it notes? If so, you might want to look into decluttering your life by using technology. From online calendars to universal chargers, check out all of our tips – hopefully, you’ll be able to see your desk again sometime soon! http://mylifescoop.com/featured-stories/2010/03/how-technology-can-declutter-your-life.html

Typographic playing cards

2010-03-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

London based design studio Hat Trick Design has created their own set of playing cards using only typographical elements. The deck of cards features the usual 52 cards and 4 suits each reinterpreted using letters and numbers. Each card is completely different representing the suit in a different way each time using the number of the card. So the seven of hearts is represents using the number 7 arranged in a heart motif, while the queen of spades is represented using only the letter q arranged in a spade motif. You can see the full deck in the video below and you can purchase the deck through their online shop. www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk

Switch Me

2010-03-04T07:48:00.001-08:00

French designer Josselin Zaïgouche has created 'switch me!', a device which he thinks will help reduce energy use. It is his attempt to denounce our society's over-consumption and wasteful habits. 'Switch Me!' makes you think twice about whether or not you should turn on the light. It is a metaphoric symbol that helps you feel the pain of the planet, making you reconsider how you can contribute to a greener environment.

Smug as a Bug in a Rug, Smug Lifestyle Boutique Opens

2010-03-03T01:32:00.000-08:00

Your place is filled with cool, quirky objects. Your art collection is amazing. And friends love the gifts you give. Smug? Not you: we’re talking about Lizzie Evans’s delectable new boutique. The interior and graphic designer spent her youth splashing pocket money on bric-a-brac around Camden and now puts her aesthetics to work at Smug. The refined retail space retains the rusty old features of the building but contrasts them with modern fixtures and contemporary art. And because the shop is packed to the rafters with an expertly curated selection of retro furniture, handmade toys, melamine kitchenware, textiles and kooky accessories, you might even call it a microcosm of cool. Smug, 13 Camden Passage, N1 8EA. 020 7354 0253. www.ifeelsmug.com

Ferrari Unveils 599 HY-KERS Hybrid Supercar

2010-03-02T23:54:00.001-08:00

The 2010 Geneva Auto Show is showcasing some incredible green machines, with scores of auto manufacturers including Porsche and Lotus rolling out fuel-efficient vehicles. The latest to step up to the plate is Ferrari, which just unveiled its first hybrid: the 599 HY-KERS. Designed as a “laboratory car” that brings Ferrari’s latest racing technology to the streets, the vehicle features a 100hp motor linked to a kinetic energy recovery system taken straight from last year’s Formula One program.

Porsche unveil their first plug-in hybrid ever and look at it !

2010-03-02T23:46:00.000-08:00

Porsche recently blew everyone at the Geneva Auto Show out of the water with their freshly unveiled electric concept car – their first plug-in hybrid ever. Dubbed the 918 Spyder, this stealthy-looking ride is a parallel hybrid just like the Prius – well, except much, much sexier. It also supposedly gets 78 miles per gallon, has emissions of 70g CO2/km, can go 16 miles on electric charge alone, and does 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds. Oh and did we mention that it’s drop-dead gorgeous too?

Nike debuted their new Mercurial vapor superfly II lightweight football boot in London last week

2010-03-02T06:49:00.000-08:00

Nike debuted their new Mercurial vapor superfly II lightweight football boot in London last week with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. The new boot features Nike sense, a specially designed adaptive traction system that adjusts the stud’s height depending on the conditions of the terrain. This boot is the first to use this new technology providing players with more traction in both wet and dry conditions, hopefully giving them better acceleration. The technology reacts to the pressure applied by the player’s foot and adjusts the stud by up to 3mm to dig into the ground when needed. The designers of the Mercurial vapor superfly II developed the idea for a boot focused on traction after measuring the amount of slips in the 2006 World Championship finals. They found that there were 845 slipping events over 63 games. With this insight and collaborating with athletes including Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato, the Nike designers developed the Nike sense adaptive stud design. The boot also features Nike flywire technology on the upper to provide full support with less weight and a carbon composite chassis. Along with the physical boots, owner’s of the Mercurial vapor superfly II will also have access to the online service Nike football+, which features training insights of the world’s top players, teams and coaches available online and as an iphone application. www.nike.com

Fiat Abarth 500c and Punto Evo

2010-03-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

The speed obsessed performance division of Fiat, Abarth, will launch new modified versions of Fiat's 500 and Punto at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The 500c is based on the retro inspired 500 with the addition of a retracting soft top and a slew of performance enhancements. Under the hood the 500c has a 140 horsepower, 1.4 litre turbo engine that can send the two-door vehicle up to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds. The driver can shift gears with wheel mounted paddle shifters, just like the pros. The Punto Evo is the second Fiat model that will be getting the Abarth treatment. With a slightly bigger frame, this model will get a turbocharged 165 horsepower 1.4 litre engine and still gets the other performance upgrades along with it. www.abarth.it

Rafael Vinoly Architects, Battersea Development

2010-03-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

Last week it was announced that Rafael Vinoly's Battersea development (which he won back in 2008) has been given approval by the commission for architecture and the built environment. A date has yet to be released for when construction will begin.

IdN magazine, v17n1 The Identity issue

2010-03-01T05:35:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of IdN magazine is devoted to contemporary branding. 'v17n1 - the identity issue' features recent work by studios and individual designers from all over the world including the likes of Pentagram, Wolff Olins, Proud Creative, Joshua Distler and more...