Four Fifths Design

Inspiration for the Creative Mind

Month: July, 2008

July 22, 2008

Core77

CORE MAGAZINE & RESOURCE
Since 1995 Core77.com has served a devoted global audience of industrial designers ranging from students through seasoned professionals. Core77 publishes articles, discussion forums, an extensive event calendar, hosts portfolios, job listings, a database of design firms, schools, vendors and services. Core77 provides a gathering point for designers and enthusiasts alike by producing design competitions, lecture series, parties, and exhibits.

I began to compile a variation of photos to post in relation to Core77 when I realized everything to do with the Mag and site is too amazing to try to narrowly showcase.

I also want to stress, Core77 is not just a resource for industrial designers. I myself have been a part of Core77 for some time and am constantly on their website as a graphic designer. There is a surplus of inspiration, information and resources for any artist. For example…my list of graduate schools is 3/4ths compiled based on info from the School Discussion section of their website. EVERY DESIGNER SHOULD CHECK OUT CORE77.

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July 21, 2008

Twisted Radiator

Designer: Marco Dessi
The raw expression of functional industrial was a source of inspiration for Twisted Radiator. While maintaining this raw strength, the object was transformed for living spaces. The rotation of the individual element is reminiscent of the sheet metal spirals of old fashioned radiators.

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July 20, 2008

Tatra

Designer: Mike Jelinek
The last ten years has seen the resurrection of legendary auto brands like the Maybach, Bugatti, Healey, Mini and recently announced Alpine car brand. Tatra Motors, the third oldest car company on the planet behind Daimler Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot was the inspiration for this new concept design by Czech Magazine Auto Design & Styling. They asked designer Mike Jelinek to create this concept vision of the Tatra of the future. The result is the 903 Concept, a fuel cell luxury sportscar with innovative aerodynamic solutions. Jelinek adds, “The water drop shaped back refers to one of the most characteristic values of Tatra, the aerodynamics – same as covered rear wheels.” At present, Tatra only produces heavy trucks but the this latest commissioned concept may get enough people excited to convince them to relaunch their passenger car line. Fingers crossed.

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July 18, 2008

A Baton Styled Mobile

Designer: Marc Schomann
This phone called “_______” (yup, it has no name) uses haptic technology to provide physical feedback for making a call. To turn it on…twist a section, to dial a number…twist a bunch of sections, to make an international call…break your wrist! There is no display and no buttons. The vibrate feature should prove popular with 50% of the world’s population.

Needless to say, I personally actually conceptualized a mobile phone very similar to this except my idea is advanced enough to incorporate all but one technology of todays mobiles: GPS. I also found out it would be very hard to apply to those who are deaf…but I’m still in the process of creating… I just found it insane that right when I had an idea…the gist of it was presented already.

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July 17, 2008

X-Watch

Designer: Damian Kozlik
Straight out of Poland, Damian Kozlik has designed an interesting if not confusing timepiece dubbed “X-Watch”. His attempt at a universal time piece able to be used by sighted and the blind is a step in the right direction. Not sure if X marks the right spot on this one but his rubber strap housing carries an array of LEDs behind graduated glass with extruded braille numbers that chris-cross to highlight and center the correct time. Seems like a lot of acrobatics just to tell time, but maybe life is truly in the journey and not the destination… even when counting the hours. If you ask for more details, our heads may explode. This was a hard one to figure out…let it go.

How blind people can use it? It’s simple. It’s just to move a finger along the graduated watch glass. There are extruded Braille numbers. When a person touches highlighted panel hears a sound.

How it works? Every segment of the watch glass works like separated touch switch. There are two solutions possible:

1. Every panel works like capacitance touch switch. It needs only one electrode to function. The electrode can be placed behind a panel. It works using body capacitance. When a person touches it, it increases the capacitance and triggers the sound.

2. Every panel works like resistance touch switch. This solution needs metal units to function. There are two thin pieces of metal on the each panel. It works by lowering the resistance between them. It is much simpler in construction compared to the first solution. Placing a finger across the metal units achieves a turn on the sound. Removing the finger from the metal pieces turns the sound off.

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