Category Archives: Design

The Universe Ring

Design, Image cache, , ,

I shall allow designer To22 explain exactly the significance of this ring:

To22 created something nearly perfect. A continuous ring, delicately proportioned, beautifully polished and seemingly flawless. There is only one tiny imperfection. A speck, no larger than a piece of dust. At a glance, it is barely noticeable. Upon close examination, it appears intentional and more clearly defined. Only magnification reveals the actual object set within the miniature interior. It is a model of the known universe. Inspired by the writing of Stephen Hawking and loosely based on the anthropic theory to22 puts our daily pursuits into perspective and reminds us that we are always a part of something bigger.

Let the slightest imperfection make us remember that we are always a part of something bigger.

[Via Gizmodo; MAKE]

Madrid’s LED Wall displays “psychedelic” art, is a space for communicative gathering

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LED Wall.  Designed by Langarita–Navarro Arquitectos.  Located in Madrid, Spain.

This LED wall at the Medialab-Prado in central Madrid is an interactive façade made of 35, 000 LED lights that can display both still images and video.  It was commissioned by the Madrid Town Council “to develop social interaction and to offer a new digital landmark for their city which is often so closely guarded from development.”  It serves as a display for city information and “psychedelic” art.  Images below, video after the break.

[Via KanyeBlog]

Continue reading Madrid’s LED Wall displays “psychedelic” art, is a space for communicative gathering →

The Tesla Christmas tree is a colorful mess

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Tesla Christmas Tree.  Designed by Peter Terren.

Remember when I said that Tesla coils were being used mainly for our entertainment these days?  I wasn’t kidding.  Artist and enthusiast Peter Terren has created his own colorful Tesla-coil enhanced Christmas tree!  He used slow exposure photography (about two minutes per shot) to capture this phenomenon in action.  He even stepped into one of the shots (see above); this highly dangerous risk probably led to one hell of an electrical shock.  Be sure to check out more shots of Terren’s creation in the gallery below; the images really are incredible.

[Via Gizmodo]

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Christmas tree made from 1,000 Heineken beer bottles

Architecture, Design, Images, , , , , , ,

sustainable design, green design, recycled materials, green christmas tree, china beer bottle xmas tree, nanjing road, shanghai, repurposed beer bottle christmas tree

Chinese designers decided to go all out this year by constructing a Christmas tree out of 1,000 FULL Heineken beer bottles.  Yeah, that’s a lot of beer right there, just waiting to get toppled over and wasted.  Though the bright green hue of the large stature is quite impressive, the designers could have been a bit more eco-friendly if they were to use the limitless number of empty beer bottles at the ready.  Anyway, check out some close-up shots in more detail in the gallery below.  The “tree” is located in Shanghai, China.

[Via Gizmodo; Inhabitat]

World’s largest revolving Christmas star

Design, environment, Images, Technology, Video, , , , , ,

Developed by Siemens and Munich multimedia artist Michael Pendry, this wind turbine-turned-Christmas “SuperStar” is made up of 9,000 spinning LED lights.  Each blade holds 3,000 LED lights and when it rotates the lights bright up the night’s sky.  The overarching reason this was made for the holiday season is because it promotes eco-friendliness.  The LEDs emit the equivalent of 22,000 candles and the structure uses as much energy as a hairdryer!  It sits in Munich until January 6.  Check out additional images of this glowing wonder in the gallery below; long exposure photography was used to capture the spinning blades at a colorful standstill.  Also, peek after the break for a video of the star’s construction and to see it in action.

[Via Gizmodo; Inhabitat]

Continue reading World’s largest revolving Christmas star →

Now this makes sense…

Cars, Design, Image cache, Technology, , , ,

Attach a camera to the front side of all large trucks, have the recorded image projected onto the back of the trucks, and viola!–now we can all see what’s lying ahead beyond the giant truck stuck in front of us.  That is the conceptual thinking behind Art Lebedev’s Transperentius.  This system will allow for large trucks to become seemingly transparent, providing additional road safety and assurance.  Bear in mind that this is an Art Lebedev project (uber-expensive), so don’t hold your breath for its near existence to suddenly spring about.  Why he places a tank in his visual recreation is beyond me.

[Via Engadget]

Glowy dress monitors pollution in the air

Design, environment, Fashion, Images, Technology, , , , , ,

Climate Dress.  Designed by Diffus.

The inclusion of an Arduino Lilypad microprocessor, a carbon dioxide detector, and LED lights make this dress, well, very unique.  Stitched together using conductive embroidery, the LEDs are connected to the CO2 detector and light up when the dress interacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Glowing patterns range from “slow pulses to rapid flashes” depending on how much CO2 is detected.  Diffus representatives: It generate awareness of environmental issues through an “aesthetic representation of environmental data.”  I’ll say.

[Via Engadget; ecouterre]

Clock represents time with images, not numbers

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Daily Like Wall Clock.  Designed by BGM Project.

This clock does not tell time like a traditional clock, with hands and numbers.  Instead it uses images; the figures of a grandmother, grandchild, and dog represent the hour, minute and second hands, respectively.  These figures move through different scenes as time passes by.  Very creative, indeed.

[Via Gizmodo; DesignBoom]

Concept: The cup that knows what you’re drinking

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Cipher Drinking Glass.  Designed by Damjan Stankovic.

While these drinking glasses appear to be decorated with many tiny colorful squares, their function goes far beyond looks.  When liquid is added to the glass, it can decipher (get it?) what you are drinking.  For example, if you pour in some OJ, the side of the glass will read “orange” or if you pour in some Coke it’ll read “coca cola.”  Don’t ask me how it works because I don’t know.  Hell, it’s just a concept.  But one can dream, right?

[Via Gizmodo; OhGizmo!]

This “Fantasy Landscape” is psychedelic, man

Architecture, Design, Images, , , ,

Visiona 2.  Designed by Verner Panton.

In 1970, contemporary designer Verner Panton was commissioned to create this “Fantasy Landscape” environment aboard a rented pleasure boat.  His goal was “to promote various synthetics products in connection with home furnishings.”

The resulting room installation consisting of vibrant colours and organic forms is one of the principal highlights of Panton’s work. In terms of design history this installation is regarded as one of the major spatial designs of the second half of the twentieth century.

I really dig the entire vibe of Panton’s work.  The furniture, lighting, shapes, colors, and textures of the rooms are very psychedelic and modern.  When we finally discover how to live on other planets, I can totally picture homes and rooms taking inspiration from his work.

[Via KanyeBlog]

XXXLamp, the world’s largest lamp

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DZN_XXXLamp_02

XXXLamp.  Designed by Bart Lens.

At 13-feet in diameter and 5.25-feet high, the XXXLamp is the largest ceiling lamp in production.  The giant lamp uses three light sources, but it can be ordered with RGB LEDs that allow you to remotely control the color it emits.  It’s inspired by a Chinese lantern.

The twelve-segment construction makes the connection with the lantern, but a pumpkin is perhaps the first association that comes to mind, while the suspension system recalls an upside-down hot-air balloon.

[Via KanyeBlog; Gizmodo; Deezen]