Author: Julie Knight

  • 28FebAccessories for lonely men

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    My friends Burak, Yasmine, and Jonah mentioned an exhibition at the Moma that I checked online. I now plan a trip to New York to attend it. Among the many stimulating pieces, I selected this very funny set of electronic objects in the vein of Design Noir, which I believe could sadly become a commercial hit! Accessories for lonely men are eight electronic devices designed to alleviate loneliness by stimulating the -sometimes annoying- traces that one’s companion would normally leave behind.

    The collection includes a Sheet Thief, which “winds the bedclothes up on the other side of the bed while you’re sleeping”. Other joys of sharing a bed are re-created with Cold feet and a Heavy Breather that breathes hot air down the user’s neck. In the morning the Hair Alarm Clock swings hair across the user’s face to wake him, while the steel finger of the Chest-Hair Curler gently swirls his chest hair in concentric circles.


    Accessories for lonely men by Noam Toran, photos Frank Thurston

    Jonah’s piece the WIFI-HOG is included in the show. The Wifi Hog is a tactical tool to liberate public WiFi Nodes!

    “Wi-Fi Hog is personal system for a laptop or portable computer that enables people to gain complete control over a public access wireless network. The idea is presented as an alternative to the utopian vision of wireless networks being open, shared, and utilitarian for everyone. This project is a cautionary one, and comes as a reaction to the battle over free wireless spectrum where corporate pay-per-use and free community networks are fighting for signal dominance in public spaces. Wifi-Hog exists as a tactical media tool for controlling and subverting this claim of ownership and regulation over free spectrum, by allowing a means of control to come from a third-party.”

    Design and the Elastic Mind exhibition opens February 24th, 2008 at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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  • 27FebLife-size dolls

    If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed to receive the latest Architectradure’s articles in your reader or via email. Thanks for visiting!


    London Life. Concept: Scarlet Projects and Matt Higgs

    Laforet Museum presented a snapshot of London life as seen through the eyes of 10 of the brightest new stars on the London scene. A mixture of young designers, architects, club promoters, stylists, models and artists, came together to present their own particular style, and give us a glimpse into their personal and distinctive view of London life.

    Each person was represented by a life-size doll, packaged like a Barbie Doll, and dressed by themselves in their own selected clothing. Their lifestyle was presented through the packaging – with accessories as well as personal information about them, detailing their favorite things and places. A tv monitor incorporated into the packaging played a personal video diary.

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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  • 24FebToys to sew

    Recently I have started crafting objects, dolls, and sewing stuffed animals. My goal and challenge being to design like Anano.

    The books that I pre-ordered are Sweet Needle Felts: 25 Projects to Wear, Give & Hug

    Toys to Sew: Dozens of Patterns for Dolls, Animals, Doll Clothes, and Accessories.

    Little Felted Animals : Create 16 Irresistible Creatures with Simple Needle-Felting Techniques by Marie-Noelle Horvath. If you have any outstanding craft book you recommend, let me know!

    Fuzzy Felted Friends by Saori Yamazaki.

    I already received the book Softies : Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals. I don’t regret it, the explanations are awesome, the illustrations beautiful and the patterns easy to follow.

    I also bought Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts! and received it yesterday. The book is really cute, but it requires starting crochet. The book offers beginner crochet lessons, and it seems so easy! it is well organized as it starts with lessons, with examples and outstanding pictures of cute creatures, and finishes with pattern methods.

    If you are already into crochet, her other book Lacy Crochet seems a great choice!

    Finally, a magazine that keeps me going in crafting is CRAFT: Transforming Traditional Crafts, a magazine I subscribe to and that i recommend to any crafter!

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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    Originally posted on my toy blog: The Terminally Juvenile!
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  • 24FebTenori On by Toshio Iwai

    I saw it many times on the net, but never quite understood the genius of it until I saw this video. It is a “64″ buttons interface, very simple, but the sound works so well for its type of interaction and the device fits instantaneously with your expectation. The rhythm you create invites for more exploration.

    Toshio Iwai Launch of Tenori-On
    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2SqrSh6moI&rel=1]

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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  • 22FebBar code revolution

    To the question Why Has the Barcode Never Changed? the team at Bar Code Revolution proposed to study the Barcode technology standards, and invented a process that allows a design element to be integrated into the barcode.

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle

    Architectradure

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  • 20FebThe explorers


    The Explorers, 2005 – Archival ink jet

    The explorers is part of Jennifer Zwick’s constructed-narrative series of photographs. They focus on bizarrely adventurous young girls populating beautiful but uneasy worlds. To create these images, the artist draws from childhood fantasies and memories, then constructs life-sized environments. By pushing these scenarios to an extreme conclusion, the girls become metaphors for our hyper-real childhood selves, where remembered emotions become stronger through time.


    The Explorers (detail), 2005

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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  • 18FebTwo in one: a doll and a wallet!

    The concept behind Stereotype is to create metaphoric creatures in costumes that mimic well known identities we see on our streets and in our imagination

    I selected this one, in which I immediately recognized the useful wallet & doll combo!

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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  • 15FebHollow Voices


    Hollow Voices by Laurent Massaloux

    The product being designed hollow, the radio turns on when its open face is placed on the table.

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle @ Architectradure
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  • 13FebPeople and Prototypes



    Paper prototyping—in very early, sketch-based prototypes like these, designers can still simulate the user experience (note the use of the smaller post-it to represent a pull-down menu), but ineffective solutions can simply be placed in the recycling bin.

    Designing interactions is regularly offering chapters to download. Right now one of my favorite chapter, People and Prototypes, is up!

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle

    Architectradure

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  • 13FebNew interaction design for mobile phones

    Smartphone Battle by Bill Bagnall

    Posted by Cati Vaucelle

    Architectradure

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