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| Design |
ICFF 2010. The International Contemporary Furniture Fair held in NYC is always full of interesting ideas. Increasingly,
artists show up from all over the world, including Africa, Europe and Asia. My favorite area is the series of tables where
design students show off their concepts.
artists show up from all over the world, including Africa, Europe and Asia. My favorite area is the series of tables where
design students show off their concepts.
'Animated" milk cartons come alive at the
breakfast table
breakfast table
This young artist works in ceramics. Here,
she demonstrates her impossible-to-spill
bowls, that have rounded bottoms for a
roly-poly effect.
she demonstrates her impossible-to-spill
bowls, that have rounded bottoms for a
roly-poly effect.
The cassette reborn? Maybe strapped
together and repurposed as a contemporary
lamp.
At right, plastic chairs hand-illustrated by a
waterproof marker artist.
together and repurposed as a contemporary
lamp.
At right, plastic chairs hand-illustrated by a
waterproof marker artist.
On a recent visit to Asia I happened to be in a factory that supplies components for the Apple
iPad. The manufacturer was understandably proud of being a partner with one of the world's most
prestigious design companies. When I asked about the type of quality demands Apple made, the
factory manager shook his head...
"They are unbelievably tough", he said. The tiniest dot of imperfection is enough to generate a
rejection. We have had to constantly upgrade our standards in order to satisfy Apple.". Still, he
admitted that the result was as flawless an execution of design possible.
On my flight back to San Francisco, I sat next to a young British fellow who now lives in the Bay
area. He was an engineer. "For whom?" I asked. For Apple. It turns out that this fellow had been
visiting the same factory that I had been in.
iPad. The manufacturer was understandably proud of being a partner with one of the world's most
prestigious design companies. When I asked about the type of quality demands Apple made, the
factory manager shook his head...
"They are unbelievably tough", he said. The tiniest dot of imperfection is enough to generate a
rejection. We have had to constantly upgrade our standards in order to satisfy Apple.". Still, he
admitted that the result was as flawless an execution of design possible.
On my flight back to San Francisco, I sat next to a young British fellow who now lives in the Bay
area. He was an engineer. "For whom?" I asked. For Apple. It turns out that this fellow had been
visiting the same factory that I had been in.
We talked about the success of the iPad and 4G phone. When I asked if he made sure not to leave any hardware lying around, he
visibly winced. "That poor guy!" I said, "and the guys who grabbed it only got $5k for the effort. "That's what amazed us, he said, "I bet
someone at Apple would have gladly written a $50k check just to get it back!"
I noted that pre-selling 600,000 phones indicated that the press surrounding that phone had done little damage - possibly quite the
reverse.
Then we got around to his job of inspecting manufacturing quality. I mentioned how tough Apple seemed to e on their suppliers. "We
are unbelievably demanding", he admitted. "But we tell them what we want, and we never stop saying it. Eventually they just stop
complaining, give up, and just get the job done. It produces wonderful quality.".
Man you can't argue with that - Apple's relentless pursuit of quality gets results - both in excellent hardware and sales of their toys.
visibly winced. "That poor guy!" I said, "and the guys who grabbed it only got $5k for the effort. "That's what amazed us, he said, "I bet
someone at Apple would have gladly written a $50k check just to get it back!"
I noted that pre-selling 600,000 phones indicated that the press surrounding that phone had done little damage - possibly quite the
reverse.
Then we got around to his job of inspecting manufacturing quality. I mentioned how tough Apple seemed to e on their suppliers. "We
are unbelievably demanding", he admitted. "But we tell them what we want, and we never stop saying it. Eventually they just stop
complaining, give up, and just get the job done. It produces wonderful quality.".
Man you can't argue with that - Apple's relentless pursuit of quality gets results - both in excellent hardware and sales of their toys.
Digital magazines are beginning to make sense at last. Prior to the iPad, there
was no decent way to read them; computers are uncomfortable to read from, and
phone screens are too small for magazines.
was no decent way to read them; computers are uncomfortable to read from, and
phone screens are too small for magazines.
The first app I tried was Zinio. It works like most applications - a magazine is simply reproduced in a digital format for portrait ort
landscape viewing. The experience was OK, but no real improvement over print (and I like print books and magazines a lot). The one
advantage I noticed was with a 2-page photo spread in National Geographic. The image was big and brilliant - without a fold and
staples a physical copy would have.
But then Wired released their 'tablet' app. It was expensive - $4.99, compared to only $10 for a year's print subscription! Were they
kidding? I bought it anyway, since Wired had been talking about digital concepts since before the iPad was launched.
And boy is it good. The pages reformat themselves for portrait or landscape mode - and the reading experience is far richer than the
print version. They do this by understanding that the digital magazine is a new medium. There are no underlined hyperlinks like a web
page. Instead, you simply touch a title blurb and shoot right to the article.
The articles scroll upwards, while new articles appear with a sideways swipe. The image on the right shows how they use the
screen with great economy - by touching a number, the image or text will change, so you can see more of an article without scrolling.
Ads are different from the print version.
Embedded videos, sounds, and animations work very well, although it can be confusing to get back to the static page sometimes.
Often, the material is vastly improved. In the latest issue, the 'Most Dangerous thing in the office gag is tiny in the print version, but a
great video on the iPad. An image of a fighter cockpit is impressive on the page...until you see the tablet version with 360 degree rotation.
The biggest surprise to me is the fact that over 90,000 people bought the app in the first month. That's close to a half million dollars
in revenue! Wired keeps $300k, which should easily pay for the development of the app. Future issues will tremendously profitable for
Wired and Apple. Interestingly, the software was created by none other than Adobe. There is like after Flash.
Yes, tech-loving folks like me are more likely to buy Wired for iPad, compared to an issue of Reason. And there is not much digital
magazine competition yet. But I take the long view here - digital magazines simply make sense from the standpoint of convenience and
industry economics. The experience is simply too good to pass up, even at far higher costs to me.
Wired responded to reader pressure and lowered the issue costs to $3.99, and will introduce subscriptions soon. These subs will
include print and digital combos but considered that the $10 mail sub I have is sent at a tremendous loss to Wired, I suspect that their
digital success will become important indeed.
landscape viewing. The experience was OK, but no real improvement over print (and I like print books and magazines a lot). The one
advantage I noticed was with a 2-page photo spread in National Geographic. The image was big and brilliant - without a fold and
staples a physical copy would have.
But then Wired released their 'tablet' app. It was expensive - $4.99, compared to only $10 for a year's print subscription! Were they
kidding? I bought it anyway, since Wired had been talking about digital concepts since before the iPad was launched.
And boy is it good. The pages reformat themselves for portrait or landscape mode - and the reading experience is far richer than the
print version. They do this by understanding that the digital magazine is a new medium. There are no underlined hyperlinks like a web
page. Instead, you simply touch a title blurb and shoot right to the article.
The articles scroll upwards, while new articles appear with a sideways swipe. The image on the right shows how they use the
screen with great economy - by touching a number, the image or text will change, so you can see more of an article without scrolling.
Ads are different from the print version.
Embedded videos, sounds, and animations work very well, although it can be confusing to get back to the static page sometimes.
Often, the material is vastly improved. In the latest issue, the 'Most Dangerous thing in the office gag is tiny in the print version, but a
great video on the iPad. An image of a fighter cockpit is impressive on the page...until you see the tablet version with 360 degree rotation.
The biggest surprise to me is the fact that over 90,000 people bought the app in the first month. That's close to a half million dollars
in revenue! Wired keeps $300k, which should easily pay for the development of the app. Future issues will tremendously profitable for
Wired and Apple. Interestingly, the software was created by none other than Adobe. There is like after Flash.
Yes, tech-loving folks like me are more likely to buy Wired for iPad, compared to an issue of Reason. And there is not much digital
magazine competition yet. But I take the long view here - digital magazines simply make sense from the standpoint of convenience and
industry economics. The experience is simply too good to pass up, even at far higher costs to me.
Wired responded to reader pressure and lowered the issue costs to $3.99, and will introduce subscriptions soon. These subs will
include print and digital combos but considered that the $10 mail sub I have is sent at a tremendous loss to Wired, I suspect that their
digital success will become important indeed.
I am a notebook junkie. I carry one most of the time, and dream
of all the wonderful inventions and books that will evolve from the
note scribbled within them. Recently, a highly interesting article was
published titled, The Pocket Notebooks of 20 Famous Men. You
can follow the link to the site, 'Artofmanliness'. Some images here
come from that site.
The piece describes the notebooks of Patton, Twain, Darwin and
others. Nearly everyone carried a notebook at one time. Beethoven
used it so often he is sometimes portrayed with it. While he notated
musical ideas, the books became indispensable for communicating
wen he became deaf (right). My father was deaf, and was never
without pen and notebook.
of all the wonderful inventions and books that will evolve from the
note scribbled within them. Recently, a highly interesting article was
published titled, The Pocket Notebooks of 20 Famous Men. You
can follow the link to the site, 'Artofmanliness'. Some images here
come from that site.
The piece describes the notebooks of Patton, Twain, Darwin and
others. Nearly everyone carried a notebook at one time. Beethoven
used it so often he is sometimes portrayed with it. While he notated
musical ideas, the books became indispensable for communicating
wen he became deaf (right). My father was deaf, and was never
without pen and notebook.
One of the most interesting notebook adherents was Benjamin Franklin. One of the things he did as a
young man was try to attain the 'Thirteen Virtues'. These were personality qualities including Resolution,
Frugality, Sincerity, Tranquility, and the very interesting Silence.
Each week, Franklin created a chart on a page in his notebook. He listed each virtue on the grid and
rated his performance by virtue. The goal was to achieve perfection in each category, if possible. You can
see on the chart at the left that he would ascribe a dot when he thought he lived the virtue that day, and
sometimes doubled the entry if he had done especially well.
He admitted to falling short of his ideals. But I think that his notebooks helped him to focus on his lofty
direction. And the ritual of notating every day sharpened this focus.
For years, I have been a fan of Moleskines. The quality of the paper is perfect for inscribing - I almost
can't stop writing in them. They have many versions of their books - including a new softbound version
that is easy to pack.
I have added a new notebook to love recently - found in a tiny Shanghai shop called Note.
young man was try to attain the 'Thirteen Virtues'. These were personality qualities including Resolution,
Frugality, Sincerity, Tranquility, and the very interesting Silence.
Each week, Franklin created a chart on a page in his notebook. He listed each virtue on the grid and
rated his performance by virtue. The goal was to achieve perfection in each category, if possible. You can
see on the chart at the left that he would ascribe a dot when he thought he lived the virtue that day, and
sometimes doubled the entry if he had done especially well.
He admitted to falling short of his ideals. But I think that his notebooks helped him to focus on his lofty
direction. And the ritual of notating every day sharpened this focus.
For years, I have been a fan of Moleskines. The quality of the paper is perfect for inscribing - I almost
can't stop writing in them. They have many versions of their books - including a new softbound version
that is easy to pack.
I have added a new notebook to love recently - found in a tiny Shanghai shop called Note.
These beautiful notebooks are
all made by hand, covered in old
leather, probably from scraps left
from various industries.
The paper is thick and dark
sepia - absorbing lead or ink
beautifully. The books feel old and
slightly musty, even when new.
all made by hand, covered in old
leather, probably from scraps left
from various industries.
The paper is thick and dark
sepia - absorbing lead or ink
beautifully. The books feel old and
slightly musty, even when new.
A metal-clasp version I recently picked up resembles one of DaVinci's
original notebooks (left) with its protective cover. It is bound by knotted leather
strips and is frankly a joy to hold.
What to write in it first?
original notebooks (left) with its protective cover. It is bound by knotted leather
strips and is frankly a joy to hold.
What to write in it first?