What is the Phonofone you ask? In short, it's like a speaker for your
iPod, only it uses no power. Through passive amplification alone, these
unique pieces instantly transform any personal music player + earbuds
into a sculptural audio console.
Without the use of external power or batteries, the Phonofone II inventively exploits the virtues of horn acoustics to boost the audio output of standard earphones to up to 55 decibels. Now let's make this clear, 55 decibels is not going to entertain your party, but it's fine for the office or next to the bed or or for a dinner party. But honestly, if you want to get a great sounding set of speakers that you can crank up and rock out to, get a set of Bose.
Tristan Zimmermann studied industrial design at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Upon graduation in 2004 Tristan assumed the position of senior product designer at an international bio-medical device company. Unfortunately, early in 2005 Tristan was diagnosed with a severe case of “cubicle fever” (see cubicalia feverum), a gripping disease suffered when genius is confined to work in the field of monotony.In the pursuit of recovery Tristan formed Science and Sons, as a side venture to sate his own creative musings. Science and Sons has since remained the masthead under which the eccentric miscellany of his creative acumen is codified into a palatable format.
Royal VKB is the latest brand of Dutch company Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer, founded in 1789, which focuses on innovation. Here are some of their latest products. You will notice that Jorre van Ast has found a producer for his great 'Jar Tops' that we were showing on the blog in February.
The Flower Council of Holland is presenting a sensational creation from Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe.
It's a boy or a girl or whatever, a brand new type of vase open to any suggestions. Will it be haute couture in a flowery dress, seductiveness with roses so red, sheer envy with hauntingly green chrysanthemums or an angry look with thorny branches?
'Bloom My Buddy' is made out of high quality plastic and is composed of
three removable parts. Each part has its own reservoir to receive the
flowers.
Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe have already been successful since years with their original designs that give a new and subtle vision on daily objects. Their creations are exhibited in the whole world and were acquired by several museums. Their clients are the Nederlands TextielMuseum, Droog Design, Habitat, Van Esch, Royal Leerdam, Moooi etc. They both teach in various schools in the Netherlands, amongs which the Design Acamedy Eindhoven.
'Bloom My Buddy' is exhibited at Ella's, Via Tortona 8, Milano from April 16 to 21, 2008.
This series of mirrors designed by Jean-Marie Massaud for Glas Italia are made in extralight glass with degrading shaded silvering. They hang
on the wall with a chromium-plated metal cylinder. The small mirror can
have a degrading shade upwards or downwards.
Fiction mirrors won Interior Innovation Award Cologne in the category Materials at IMM Cologne 2008.
When is a jug not a jug? When its a jar! By screwing on plastic tops, these jars are turned into containers with a specific function. A jar is transformed into kitchenware, creating more practical and emotional value. The family includes a sugar pot, milk can, spice container, chocolate sprinkler, oil&vinegar set, mug and a water jug...
Clamp-a-book, clamp-a-hook, clamp-a cable... Design solutions derived from the clamp typology: a family of objects, each with a specific function. The collection of these informal utensils includes a book stop and a book finger, a book display, a hook and a rail that clamp onto the side of horizontal surfaces, a hook to clamp on to electrical pipes, a candle holder, and a cable manager that can be clamped onto a table leg.
Inspired by and learning from the Clampology project, the clamp principle has moved to another scale: a clamp-on table leg. The legs are a more compact alternative to trestles. The legs come as an individual set of four legs to match any surface.
No doubt about it laptops get hot, often very hot. So hot in fact that manufacturers now prefer the term “portable computer” since you cannot use them on your lap without a risk of injury. In search of the simplest possible design solution to this dilemma, Bluelounge has designed 'Cool Feet' as compact and removable supports that temporarily fix to the bottom of a laptop with suction cups. Simple to attach and detach, they raise the laptop just enough to allow a constant cooling airflow.
'Cool Feet' attach directly to any laptop with a smooth underneath surface such as an iBook. For all others, they have included four ultra-thin clear smooth adhesive plates to be glued under the computer to which suction cups will latch tightly, while remaining easily removable.
Bluelounge was founded by designers Dominic Symons and Melissa Sunjaya as a multidisciplinary design studio. The studio now designs, manufactures and distributes simple solutions to daily problems.
Another new product that we can't live without! Those who have followed the thread in our forum about the film offering the vision of the future by General Motors in the Fifties will be delighted to see that eccentric projects still exist in the 21st century.
Who knows, for those who are not afraid of being ridiculous, Nubrella is perhaps an effective alternative to the umbrella. In any case its promoters seem convinced about it. Let's thank them for a good laugh at the photograph; the man on his bicycle is an involuntary comic.
For those who would doubt it, Nubrella is a true product that you can buy (or not) for $60.
'Shell' is an urn for burials at sea that celebrates the individual and thoughtfulness, regardless of religion.
The project builds on the humanistic burial ceremony that disregards religious tradition and instead focuses on Man's role in Nature. The urn is made from pressed paper and dissolves in water over time. Messages for the deceased can be written on the surface of the urn and small objects and notes can be placed in a pocket at the top of the urn.
Designed by Lots, group of Swedish industrial designers
The 'Passami il sale' project, developed as a result of the partnership between Serafino Zani and the German designer Konstantin Grcic, has been extended with the addition of the 'Al Dente' pieces.
After the series of trays and containers in laser-cut steel, presented in 2007, the project is now focusing on the kitchen, with a series of pots, saucepans and frying pans in stainless steel. The additions brought to the classic form of the pot is the inclined profile of the handles and their large dimensions, designed for a safer grip and a lid housed within the body of the pot, and thus closing much more securely.
This line will be presented at the Ambiente Frankfurter Messe from February 8 to 12 2008.
Ed Annink, from design agency Ontwerpwerk, has designed a line of kitchenware for Jamie Oliver. These products will be introduced at the Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt from February 8 to 12.
The line consists of bowls in different sizes, a colander, storage boxes, sealable measuring cups, cutting boards, a salt and pepper mill, knives and a knife set. The products have been manufactured in a variety of materials. The main material is melamine, a synthetic resin. The colander and the mixing bowls have a matte exterior; the inside of these products has a high gloss finish. The cutting boards and the knife set are made either of bamboo or polyethylene. The knives are manufactured in stainless steel with a tactile rubber (polyurethane) handle. The measuring cups and the storage boxes are made of clear san (a mix of polystyrene and acrylic).
New Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism fuses graphic design with the latest technology.
Nokia's creative director Matt Bickley has collaborated with graphic and fashion designer Frédérique Daubal on a special edition art phone.
The Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism graphic design was created by Daubal, whose signature illustrations have caught the imagination of the design worlds, leading to creations and concepts for Droog Design, Colette, Swear, Gas Tokyo, Paul Smith and lighting designer Charles Vicarini to name a few. Her conceptual designs have been featured in the most discerning publications including Hint Mag, Cream and graphiK magazine.
In creating this intriguing design, inspiration is taken from the way in which crystals are formed in precious stones and minerals. ‘For the backplate we were catching different intensities of light and its multiple refractions,’ says Daubal. ‘Looking through a diamond gives you that experience’. The covers have been etched with laser technology making the Nokia 7900 Crystal Prism a stunning object to behold.
It would be interesting to know if this kind of collaboration between product designer and graphic designer will repeat itself in the future.
Here are some other works by Frédérique Daubal:
'Wallpaper' 'Freelance' for Paul Smith
'Grafuck' visual
'Crown' left over pieces of toys exclusivity Colette shop, Paris
