In the Penthouse, a True Garden Apartment

Article Link: In the Penthouse, a True Garden Apartment

This article is about two Yale professors, Joel Sanders and Diana Balmori, living in an apartment in Lower Manhattan, and turning it into an experiment of sorts on how nature reacts with architecture. They also teach a class together called "Interface" about integrating architecture and landscape design.

I think this is great. Not only does it give your home a unique look, but sometimes I feel as if nature is slipping away as more buildings are built throughout the world, and it's just amazing to know that there are people are working to integrate plants and buildings together. Plus I've always loved the way vines looked on brick.

My only problem is that all these plants no doubtably need a lot of care, and I personally don't know that many gardeners who take care of a lot of plants, who also have full-time jobs to go to.

Core-Toon: Process Map

Article link: Core-Toon: Process Map

This article showed a cartoon done by a user named lunchbreath.

I LOVED this. It was hilarious, and yet it reassured me that my college life will last a little bit longer, even if the cartoon is false.

Shoes designed in two parts, for a perfect fit, no matter the style

Article link: Shoes designed in two parts, for a perfect fit, no matter the style

This article was about a new company called Skins. I think what happens is when you buy "Skins" shoes, you buy the "inside," which always fits, and then you can buy different "outsides." that will fit over the "inside."

I frankly think this is a bit ridiculous. It just sounds like you're buying more for less, but okay, I guess I can see the appeal.

Sparkle and Glow

Article link: Sparkle and Glow

This article is about a brother and sister, named Eric Cohler and Jennifer Cohler Mason, who went shopping for a show called Holiday House, which promotes breast cancer awareness and research.

That shopping trip they went on sounds like a blast! I would love to visit Holiday House, it sounds like a really festive, happy place.

Design Tide Tokyo 2008: Video Drive-By: Ben Sato

Article link: Design Tide Tokyo 2008: Video Drive-By: Ben Sato



This video shows artist Ben Sato and his design of a chair with four different setups. I think this is the coolest idea! I love multi-functional objects.

Jonathan Ive

Jonathan Ive is renowned for being the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Computer, including the iMac and iPod. As a kid, Jonathan was always interested in the construction of objects as a child, and a fascination with taking those objects apart, and with that knowledge, he applies it to the design of Apple computers.

Ive helped design the iPod.

After attending school in the south of England he moved North to study art and design at Northumbria University. He graduated with first class honours having created a pebble-shaped concept for a product to replace cash and credit cards as his final year project. Later, in 1990 Jonathan moved to London and co-founded his own design studio with Martin Darbyshire called Tangerine. Working as Tangerine, he commercialised his design skills, creating products ranging from hair combs and power tools to televisions and ceramics.

In 1992, Apple became a client of Tangerine, and so Jonathan moved to California to join Apple's design team as a full-time employee. This meant Jonathan could finally have more influence than he originally had as an external consultant. However, at the time, Apple was at it's lowest, with Steve Jobs out of the boardroom and with the patent dispute with Microsoft. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, Ive was an important part of this change, and under the new management, Ive was promoted to Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, and it began a period of unrivalled creativity and innovation which continues to this day.

The iMac G4 represents the "new age" in Apple computers.

Ive helped in the launch of the radical and visually stunning iMac G3 in 1998, which is regarded as the birth of the "new age in Apple." This brought Ive to the attention of the entire world. After that, from the iBook to the PowerBook, all of Apple’s products were met with amazement and wonder, and became instant masterpieces of product design, which has spawned and inspired countless imitations.

Everyone has influences, and Ive is no exception. While he doesn't have human inspirations, he credits his influences to three things: nature, honesty, and music. Many of the products Jonathan has created at Apple are directly influenced by natural objects. For example, the iMac G4 was taken from a sunflower, and the Pro Mouse which was inspired by a droplet of water. The natural influence can be felt in all Apple products, as it is what makes them friendly and relatable. Ive often talks about "honesty" in the materials. This is seen in the design, which is has no extra features that are not needed. In addition, Ive loves music, and has often spoken about the massive sound system in the Apple design studios and his own musical choices. The Macs Ive designed have always had an important musical element to them, whether they be the iPod, or the Mac's speaker system.

The iMac G4's inspiration is the sunflower.

Works cited

Who Is Jonathan Ive?

JonathanIve.com

Jonathan Ive: More Valuable to Apple than Steve Jobs?

London Design Festival 2008: Video Drive-By: Designersblock: Nosigner's BentoBox

Article Link: London Design Festival 2008: Video Drive-By: Designersblock: Nosigner's BentoBox



This video is about a designer named Nosigner who created a new type of bento box called the Sumi.

Wow, I love this. I love lunch boxes and containers and boxes of all shapes and sizes, so this really appealed to nearly everything I love. I also really like the fact that it comes with its own holder and handle. That is just really cool.

Max Lamb at Design Miami

Article link: Max Lamb at Design Miami


3rings >> Max Lamb at Design Miami from Jacob Slevin on Vimeo.

This video features designer Max Lamb, talking about his work. I like the white, bronze chairs, and I like the idea of his Delaware bluestone furniture, but I'm not a huge fan of black rubber while I'm sitting at my dining table.

Cookie / Made in England

Article link: Cookie / Made in England

This article highlighted works by Simon Cook (or Cookie, apparently).

I think his overall work looks really fun and entertaining! I really like the retro texture-y feel to some of his works, but the amazing cleanness they all give off at the same time. Amazing!

Hook and Go skeletal shopping cart

Article link: Hook and Go skeletal shopping cart

This article is about "a contraption called the Hook and Go, 'the smart cart for the urban shopper,'" which "seems like a good idea as gets rid of the cart part, folds into a compact shape, and will hold 70 pounds of hanging bags when unfurled."

So perfect; it would certainly get rid of the shopping cart stealing problems urban cities might have. But then where will the homeless get one?

Aaron Tang's disappearing stairs

Article link: Aaron Tang's disappearing stairs

This article shows off work done by Aaron Tang, which he describes as "an element of a wall that allows passageway to another environment when opened and restricts passageway when closed."

I think the picture makes it look really cool, but a video of him would be better. Well, despite that, I think it looks really cool, and that his description is pretty genius.

Folding Skate Deck - A Concept Board

Article link: Folding Skate Deck - A Concept Board

This article showed some designs for a "folded skateboard" concept that was shown here.

I think these skateboards look really cool! I like that people have their skateboards on their backpacks, but a folded skateboard also sounds like a great, more compact idea.