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| Design 2 |
In the comic strip Joe Palooka, a sidekick named Humphrey
drove around with a trailer attached to a bike. The trailer was
as tiny as an outhouse, but when you looked inside, it became
a surreal spacious home.
This take on trailer design achieve this effect purely through
clever design. German company Knaus Tabbert is the
producer, and the interior of the top-of-the-line model defies
visual logic.
The large windows and skylights go a long way in opening up
the trailer. It is called the T@B (why not?) and sells for about
$60k.
drove around with a trailer attached to a bike. The trailer was
as tiny as an outhouse, but when you looked inside, it became
a surreal spacious home.
This take on trailer design achieve this effect purely through
clever design. German company Knaus Tabbert is the
producer, and the interior of the top-of-the-line model defies
visual logic.
The large windows and skylights go a long way in opening up
the trailer. It is called the T@B (why not?) and sells for about
$60k.
Some of the coolest gadgets at the China
CES were of the spy variety. I picked up a
pen with a camcorder built into it (really).
But far cooler was this digital watch with color
screen. It, too, is a camcorder. It records
while sitting on your wrist, and can playback
onto the watch screen.
Even more outrageous - it is a dual-sim card
mobile phone with built-in bluetooth and
speakerphone.
Note the slim battery pack and large screen.
CES were of the spy variety. I picked up a
pen with a camcorder built into it (really).
But far cooler was this digital watch with color
screen. It, too, is a camcorder. It records
while sitting on your wrist, and can playback
onto the watch screen.
Even more outrageous - it is a dual-sim card
mobile phone with built-in bluetooth and
speakerphone.
Note the slim battery pack and large screen.
My daughter and I took the day off in NYC
to see a little contemporary art.
Strange cartoon images and toy cars, to
be exact. The Gladstone Gallery features
a retrospective of Basil Wolverton's
cartoons.
The Japan Society displayed excellent
examples of tin car toys produced after
the war.
Click on the images to see a gallery from
both of these shows.
to see a little contemporary art.
Strange cartoon images and toy cars, to
be exact. The Gladstone Gallery features
a retrospective of Basil Wolverton's
cartoons.
The Japan Society displayed excellent
examples of tin car toys produced after
the war.
Click on the images to see a gallery from
both of these shows.
Living near Philadelphia, I spent a lot of youthful
time in the Franklin Institute. The Institute is a
world-class science museum, and they were
featuring an exhibit on Galileo.
Incredibly, they had one of the only two actual Galileo
telescopes in existence on display.
Over 400 years old, this long tube still had some
hand-inscriptions from the scientist on it, although the
lenses were now missing.
The exhibit served to remind me just how wonderful
craftsmanship once was - scientific instruments were
not only functional, but beautiful.
time in the Franklin Institute. The Institute is a
world-class science museum, and they were
featuring an exhibit on Galileo.
Incredibly, they had one of the only two actual Galileo
telescopes in existence on display.
Over 400 years old, this long tube still had some
hand-inscriptions from the scientist on it, although the
lenses were now missing.
The exhibit served to remind me just how wonderful
craftsmanship once was - scientific instruments were
not only functional, but beautiful.
Intricate brass astrolabes (love that word!)
were on display - capable, in the hands of the
tutored, to tell star positions and other
astronomical information.
The object on the right is a mechanical
calculator, used by merchants in the
fourteenth century. The little dials were linked
to each other like a series of clocks, allowing
you to figure complex purchases.
It is only about six inches across, and flat;
fitting into a tooled leather case - a
convenient pocket calculator for the Medici.
were on display - capable, in the hands of the
tutored, to tell star positions and other
astronomical information.
The object on the right is a mechanical
calculator, used by merchants in the
fourteenth century. The little dials were linked
to each other like a series of clocks, allowing
you to figure complex purchases.
It is only about six inches across, and flat;
fitting into a tooled leather case - a
convenient pocket calculator for the Medici.
Two of my favorite designs were scientific,
although not necessarily related to
astronomy.
The box at the left is made of leather and
richly decorated. Scientific measuring
instruments fit into the complicated
compartments perfectly. Then the top is
fitted, and you have a portable tool case
with a bit more gold inlay than you see
nowadays.
The glass tube array on the right is a
thermometer/atmospheric measurement
system. Tiny black, then red dots are
painted in exact spacing - a liquid (I
assume) would flow and expand to tell you
information.
I had no idea that glass work had
advanced to such exacting degrees so
long ago.
although not necessarily related to
astronomy.
The box at the left is made of leather and
richly decorated. Scientific measuring
instruments fit into the complicated
compartments perfectly. Then the top is
fitted, and you have a portable tool case
with a bit more gold inlay than you see
nowadays.
The glass tube array on the right is a
thermometer/atmospheric measurement
system. Tiny black, then red dots are
painted in exact spacing - a liquid (I
assume) would flow and expand to tell you
information.
I had no idea that glass work had
advanced to such exacting degrees so
long ago.
I love playing around with iconic
designs. What is more common than
the paper clip?
Teague designed the (how long can
we wait?) Dreamliner interiors.
This is their take on a thin, flexible
LED lamp that folds flat.
One can imagine a designer simply
staring at the objects on the desk,
and wondering what alternate uses
the form can become, resulting in
this delightful idea.
designs. What is more common than
the paper clip?
Teague designed the (how long can
we wait?) Dreamliner interiors.
This is their take on a thin, flexible
LED lamp that folds flat.
One can imagine a designer simply
staring at the objects on the desk,
and wondering what alternate uses
the form can become, resulting in
this delightful idea.
Despite the constant delays, I remain keenly interested in the new Boeing 787
Dreamliner. The design firm Teague, wanted to avoid the tube-like feeling all
commercial jets have. Instead, they chose sweeping arches as their design theme.
The wide, open entryways look large and inviting, rather than closed and
claustrophobic . The entryway (upper left) feels like an atrium, not a subway car.
I also love the window concept - large, open, and without those plastic shades. The
transparency is electronically controlled by the staff and the passengers. Now if only
I could get US Air off those horrid Airbus 320s...
Dreamliner. The design firm Teague, wanted to avoid the tube-like feeling all
commercial jets have. Instead, they chose sweeping arches as their design theme.
The wide, open entryways look large and inviting, rather than closed and
claustrophobic . The entryway (upper left) feels like an atrium, not a subway car.
I also love the window concept - large, open, and without those plastic shades. The
transparency is electronically controlled by the staff and the passengers. Now if only
I could get US Air off those horrid Airbus 320s...
At the Philly Alternative
ComicCon- featuring true self
published, outsiders art and
stories.
My Daughter at the right rear
with her friends at their table.
I bought many more books
than planned, because
although (like most art) 90%
was junk, the good stuff was
ComicCon- featuring true self
published, outsiders art and
stories.
My Daughter at the right rear
with her friends at their table.
I bought many more books
than planned, because
although (like most art) 90%
was junk, the good stuff was
very good.
Example, this $20
heavy volume of
comics from
school days, in a
bound volume
with duct tape.
The images
inside are hand
colored!
The artist, at right
with friend.
Example, this $20
heavy volume of
comics from
school days, in a
bound volume
with duct tape.
The images
inside are hand
colored!
The artist, at right
with friend.