iainclaridge.net

The heat of the bulb makes this shape-memory alloy lamp from Japanese design group, Nendo, “bloom” whenever the light is turned on. “Hanabi”, the Japanese word for “fireworks”, literally means “flower + fire.”

Now whilst there is no denying that Apple’s iPhone runs a powerful OS and from a functionality point of view ticks all of the boxes, I have to say I don’t find it desirable as an object - and as for it’s interface design aesthetic, well it’s all a bit Fisher Price for my taste, apart from maybe the heavily Braun inspired calculator application.

I do, however, find the Media Skin, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI au design project, very desirable. In common with much of Japanese product design, it’s the little details that make all the difference - the orange and white models feature paint made with silicon particles for a smooth comfortable feel and the black model is made with a soft feel paint that includes special urethane particles. The attention to detail carries over into the interface design with all screens, menu and wallpaper designed under the direction of Yoshioka along with the ringtones and sound effects.

Unfortunately, like the other desirable phones created for the au design project, by notable designers such as Naoto Fukasawa and Marc Newson, Media Skin is only available for the Japanese market.

I am liking very much these drinking glasses designed by Finnish designer Aleksi Perälä of Muotohiomo for Iittala.

The new online presence of digital and branding agency Method contains a wealth of information and some great case studies housed in an intelligently structured site - altogether a stunning example of HTML/scripty goodness.

Japanese SUVs just got a little sexier.

Via adgoodness.

Software is a set of handmade jars in coloured stoneware by Japanese ceramics designer, Mariko Wada.

The name Software sparks associations with the computer world, but refers here to the soft, organic, visual appearance of the hard stoneware, an expression Wada highlights by polishing the jars lightly with sandpaper after the firing.

Part of Crafts Collection, a selection of innovative Danish products within the field of interiors and accessories.

Photographer Clayton Cubitt has some notable words of advice for aspiring photographers in his blog — here is just a sample:

Rules were meant to be broken, yes, but it feels much better if you know what the rules were in the first place. Picasso started as a realist. Once he had that down he could paint whatever he wanted. Be like Picasso. He got laid a lot.
——
OK, artsnobs, cringe all you want because they sell his prints at the mall, but when Ansel Adams said “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept” he was clued in to a fundamental truth of the universe. Also, you’re just jealous that his shit’s popular.
——
Bokeh is the term that describes the out-of-focus areas in a picture. These areas are just as important as the in-focus areas. Just like life.
——
Expensive gear won’t make your images better, and more gear won’t make you more effective. If you can’t do it with a basic camera, you can’t do it. The simplest 10% of a camera does 90% of the work. The rest is cock-waving for specialists. That short, aging bald guy in the red sports car? The one with erectile dysfunction? That’s your fancy camera.
——
What makes up a style? Find a photographer you really admire and rip him off mercilessly. Consider it a remote apprenticeship. This is the history of culture. One day you’ll accidentally start doing original work, and then some young punk will start ripping you off. And the cycle of life is continued…

For more, go here.

With thanks to the always excellent Kitsune Noir.

Superb old school wireframe style titles for the new Iron Man movie by motion design supremo Danny Yount for Prologue.

With Local River - a home storage unit for fish and greens, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur has taken the locavore concept to a practical level.

This DIY fish farm cum kitchen garden is based on the principle of aquaponics and involves the exchange and interdependence of two living organisms. The small aquarium is stocked with freshwater fish that feed off a small vegetable patch. The plants extract nutrients and purifies the water for the fish — similar to techniques which are used on farm-raised Tilapia (a food fish from the Far East), with lettuce planted on trays on the pond surfaces.

Local River turns the purely decorative ‘TV aquarium’ into a functional but equally decorative ‘refrigerator aquarium’ where fish and greens can cohabit in a controlled eco system before being eaten.

On show at Artists Space in Manhattan until 21st June 2008.

Slim is in and I just have to get me this LowKey Stand once I have taken delivery of my new Apple iMac.

I can justify it on the pretext that it will help organise my desk thereby increasing workflow and thus paying for itself in a matter of days… like as if I need an excuse..!

The self-powered, 4-port, front access USB 2.0 hub is a particularly nice touch — enough for a full set of USB Humping Dogs.