DesignApplause

Heightening awareness of design-driven objects.
Overheard Department

Want a free Smart car?

October 1st, 2008 by PRand | 2 Comments

Want a free Smart car?

Chicago developer hits design button to bolster condo sales. The contemporary condos are in not-yet-arrived Edgewater. Units range from 1200 to 1538 square feet priced at $350K to $452K.
Yes, this is a design blog but we have a national election coming up in a few days featuring an economy button. Let’s continue.
Recently, Donald Trump was [...]

Tags: Overheard


The presentation. How important?

September 26th, 2008 by PRand | 9 Comments

The presentation. How important?

Today’s front page Chicago Tribune headline reads: “Deal, then no deal.” The USA $770M bailout, an excellent example of how not to sell a concept has been bothersome all week. What immediately comes to mind? What would Saul Bass have done?

SB could present! He could fit the pitch for the occasion. Legend has it that [...]

Tags: Designer · Overheard


Farnsworth house floods.

September 23rd, 2008 by PRand | No Comments

Farnsworth house floods.

The Mies Van Der Rohe’s Farnsworth House sets on five - foot - high risers. On 9/14 it was under water. The Fox River near Chicago has risen two feet above that.
The director of the historic site says “It’s gut - wrenching. You have to come to terms with the fact that Mother Nature will [...]

Tags: Overheard


Nau is back.

September 9th, 2008 by PRand | 6 Comments

Nau is back.

On May 2, 2008, Nau announced that it was closing shop. The reason? They could not get financing to continue operations. If you don’t know who Nau is, they’re a uniquely new business—selling eco-friendly clothes with a unique business model: brick and mortar stores that displayed examples of their product but the purchases were online.
Ironically [...]

Tags: Objects · Overheard · Producer · Retailer


21st century waterfall.

March 11th, 2008 by PRand | 3 Comments

21st century waterfall.

animating water bottle recycling rates 2005

Tags: Overheard


Yahoo! design innovation team axed.

March 3rd, 2008 by PRand | No Comments

Yahoo! design innovation team axed.

The entire Yahoo Design Innovation Team, aka yHaus, has been axed en masse, Portfolio.com has confirmed with one of the team’s former members.
“Yahoo Design Innovation team has been shut down completely,” wrote Doug Fritz, a former full-time staffer for the team, in an email.
The team had been working on next generation design projects. This week, [...]

Tags: Overheard