there’s a reason students love the word “free” considering the cost of education today. three schools have just announced that all freshmen this fall will be given an apple ipad, a web-enabled portable computer tablet.

despite hints of recession, attendance up 7%.

Cut. Paste. Cut. Paste. Click. Click. Click. “Shit.” Click. Click. Click. Cut. Paste.

things change. companies relocate, update their logos and cease to exist, their fascia signs
are taken down and demolished.

roho collection sets new standard for bpa-free hydration bottles.

milan 2010. a chair that fits in your pocket.

crispin, humana and trek bicycle bring bike sharing to the states.

made out of PET plastic and produced using the same blow molding technique commonly used for water bottles.

The Solar Impulse project aims to circumnavigate the world with an aircraft powered only by solar energy.

after $7,500 worth of federal tax credits, the price should drop to as low as $25,280.

the “Revolutionair” turbine is “revolutionary” because they’re designed for homeowners.

cool bikes. deadline to enter 4/15/2010.

having to carry around world’s largest plug (UK pin plug) with the macbook air cited as inspiration.

a 57, 58, and 59 chevy all rolled into one.

a design history question. when was this chair designed? to what art genre does it belong?

a whopping 31 are new!

switzerland is one of tesla’s largest markets.

not a crockpot or a bake oven. the food is essentially steamed.

getting in shape for zero waste.

built from steel and chrome, it makes a hearty foot-powered toy or art for those so inclined.

Fast Company’s 2009 design masters.

Do you feel bit dorky sporting a bicycle helmet?

Make no little plans.

Chicago. June 15-17. Contract furnishings fair.

I came across an olivetti typewriter for sale on ( surprising to me ) urban outfitters.
The typewriter and company brought back memories of ad campaigns running from the 50s – 70s. It’s where I discovered Italian design, Milton Glazer, Walter Balmer.

Lego Falling Waters and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Milan 09: Swedish furniture brand IKEA showed in Milan for the first time this year, presenting their PS Collection

Electric concept vehicle. Of interest, a single touch screen that would control vehicle functions and offer internet-enabled satellite connectivity.

Milan 2009: Casmania and designer Luca Nichetto collaborate.

Wine preserver. Collapsible. Keeps wine fresh for days or even weeks by eliminating presence of oxygen. Think backpacking, fly fishing. Admittedly, our wine seldom lasts more than two hours. However, there’s much less to carry on the way back. 800ml capacity.

Incandescent bulbs in the United States phased out starting in 2012.

Power transmission network in Iceland. High in tech and style.

Here’s 20 designer kites.

A record player, nicknamed Snow White’s Coffin, changed all that.

Exhibition from 12 February until 14 June at the Design Museum in London.

Tesla has LeftlaneNews streaming images of the unveiling of new
Tesla S.

e-Bikes ( electric ) saw biggest increase in bike sales in 2008. Fixed-gear would have been my guess.
e-Bikes are big with the elderly, eco-friendly, and commuters who disdain sweat. Favored by the elderly may explain the design of the majority of these bikes. Favored by “everyone” else we assume is bike #9. Maybe it’s because the bike was designed by a designer, Marcus Hays, to please himself. You get what you pay for with this group. Light weight, power, styling adds to the bottom line cost.

Aptera’s first product, a three-wheeled two-seater named the Aptera 2 Series, is currently under development, though they are accepting pre-orders from California residents. The fuel efficiency makes it one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world. The name Aptera is Greek for “wingless,” a nod to their light-aircraft-inspired design and construction techniques.

Graphic designers Alexander Boxill have redesigned architecture magazine the Architectural Review, which relaunches this month.

Just how much space one person needs. 6,000 square feet? 600? Well, try 30 square feet. The Paco home has a hammock, a Japanese-style recessed desk, a sink, toilet and shower, all in a crate that’s a 3-meter-cube.

There’s a new bikini in town that doesn’t hold water. The nano-tech fabric is not new but it’s application is. Called Sun Dry, each fiber of the new fabric is surrounded by an invisible barrier that allows water to pass through it rather than being absorbed into it.

The most elaborate Atomic Energy educational set ever produced.

Who’s your daddy?

Normally I do whatEVER it takes to nix lamps of all kinds in favor of recessed or trac. Made of soft, tactile silicone in red, lavender, graphite and white hues, these versatile, multifunctional and user-friendly lamps are fully flexible and adjustable, literally bending over backwards to meet your lighting needs. Will take exception to this little cutie.

Wooden frame. Carbon fork and wheels. Truvativ crank, stem, and handlebars. These bicycles are from Freiburg in the Black Forest, Germany’s so-called “green city.” Designer, Marcus Wallenberg Meyer, 32, built his award winning prototype in 2006. The prototype, the wild-Bike 2007, won the Brand New Award at ISPO, greatest sporting show in the world. Now in production, the striking limited edition bikes aren’t cheap. 11,000 – 15,000 euros ( $14,000 – $19,000 USD ), depending on the equipment.

60 bags are fully biodegradable bags made from flax-viscose non-woven fabric that, when dumped in your local garden, yard, or compost pile, will break down in just two months. They can be manufactured in a variety of styles and sizes, labeled with a store’s brand, or pretty much anything else you’d expect. As they’re made [...]

Stitch was selected as a Best design in the concepts category of the 2004 American International Design Review. Now we learn Cappellini has put it into production. Fun folding chair completely manufactured with aluminum plate. Polished lacquer in white, blue, yellow, grey, red and black colors or in a multi-colored version in a fixed combination [...]

New York design brand Areaware have launched Moof, an aluminium bicycle by Dutch designer Sjoerd Smit that features built-in solar-powered lights. Designed in Amsterdam, MOOF’s unique aluminum construction houses two solar powered lamps – one to light the way and the other to make you visible from behind. This single speed sleek and smooth urban [...]

This year at Milan Design Week 2009, a Lexus exhibition will be called ‘lexus l- finesse- crystallised wind’ and designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. Here is a preview of the exhibit. ‘Lexus l- finesse- crystallised wind’ will re-interpret the ambivalence of the Lexus design philosophy ‘L-finesse’ through a dynamic installation that combines unity in [...]

While we wait for “plug-in” Volt and Prius to arrive in 2010 there are two exotic automakers ready to go. Tesla ( $128,000 USD two-seater ) and Karma ( $87,900 USD ) Let’s look at Karma.

McDonalds recently opened two of their latest Tokyo outlets. To say that it surgically has removed their corporate voice — well its really closer to a lobotomy. Wow. They have done away with the golden arches, Ronald McDonald, Hamburglar, Happy Meals, and McMuffins in this McDonalds. They have even done away with a (the) logo. The only thing they retained is the color red.

Could not imagine saying bra dryer and coffee table art in the same sentence. Until now. Also can double as a boob shaped heating fan. Is this another big idea? Question: one size fits all? via gizmodo Producer: BraDryer ( they are looking for investors) Share

The Caparo T1 was in the press back in 2006. But now it is now production ready. It’s as close as you’ll ever get to a genuine race car for the road. It’s been designed by a bunch of former McLaren Formula One engineers, and concedes only as much to practicality as is strictly necessary [...]

Mid–twentieth–century Milan designer Giordano Robbiati achieved a spiritual union between form and function when he devised a new type of coffee maker in the late 1940s. Ciao bella. If you “love” retro modernism and espresso, go no farther. Loved around the world, Robbiati’s patented coffee machine is a classic design of the ‘Atomic Age’(1945–1960). Known [...]

French firm MDI used the Geneva Motor Show to display a bubble-shaped three-wheeler that runs on air that it plans to roll out in 2009. Drivers can recharge the air supply in eight hours by plugging the car into an electrical outlet or by going to an “air station” a process that takes two minutes. [...]

Mission Motors builds the world’s fastest electric production motorcycle, Mission One. Top speed is 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles. Designed for Mission Motors, the bike was unveiled at the TED 2009 conference at Long Beach, California, today. The announcement formally debuts Mission Motors, a San Francisco-based company geared to redefine the [...]

Looking back. Special edition Pantone Flight Stool designed for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, 2005. Timeless sculptured plywood furniture. Designer: Barber Osgerby Producer: Isokon Plus Share

Beautiful handcrafted kayaks. Specifications: LOA: 17.5 feet Beam: 41 inches Draft: 6 inches w/dagger board up Weight: 100 pounds standard Sail area: 27 square feet Seats: 2 Producer: Caillou Retailer: Clearly First — Louis Boston — 20ltd Share

Vienna architects Delugan Meissl have completed work on the new Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany. The museum opens January 31, 2009. The museum will house around 80 chronologically-arranged vehicle exhibits and will be routinely replaced by other historical Porsches, as the majority of the exhibits can be driven on the road. The company’s production and [...]

From Italian designers Fabio Bortoolani and Ermanno Richi of Doveusai. An incredibly mod fixie known as the Plus Bike that incorporates internal light projectors into the oversized top tube. Designer: fabio bortoolani and ermanno richi Producer: dovetusai Retailer: dovetusai Share

Newly created design applause category ( Ouch! ) inspired by… well, you be the judge. More images of the show can be seen via The Guardian. Designer(s): Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten, Henrik Vibskov, Louis Vuitton, Yohji Yamamoto, Gaspard Yurkievitch Share

Fascinating minimalism: the Velos lounge chair. The extremely graceful and inviting chair has been especially designed for places where informal encounters happen. Places where a light and loose atmosphere can be created that also projects quality. The smooth lines of the foot section and the distinctive seat frame are fascinating due to their subtle, organic [...]

Shimano, a company that’s been at the forefront of the cycling-component industry for decades, has got a new product. It’s an electronic shifting system that forgoes mechanical cable for electronic impulses and servomotors. Share

Speed freak racer controller. The ECCI TrackStar 6000 is simply the best PC steering wheel and pedal set available in the world. If you can afford it, you’ll never regret buying one. We’re talking a two-tone leather steering wheel, fluid damped steering which emulate the feel of tyres on pavement, fine tuned customizable steering resistance, [...]

Classic via old style messaging: the “post stamp” from Royal Mail. “We always like to start the year with a classic and this year we’re launching our Special Stamp programme with ten, in one very special issue– British Design Classics.”

For many of our readers, winter is just around the corner. And that may mean it’s time to trade the A/C unit for a humidifier. Here is a cute one. Designed by Takashi Hiroshi Tsuboi, the tear-drop shaped humidifier is ultrasonic and can produce moisture for up to ten consecutive hours. If you speak Japanese [...]

New! ABUS – as the inventor of the U-shackle lock – has once again launched an innovation for bicycle locks: the foldable locks. above: granit X-plus above: granit X-plus above: granit X-plus above: granit X-plus Application: The innovation for all cyclists, whether hobby cyclists or pros. Protection of two-wheels with a high theft risk Operation: [...]

Creativity at work again: turning a negative into a positive. Yes, they’re a green product, 100% biodegradable. Producer: Jungeschatel Designer: Jungeschatel via thedieline.com Want to make a 100% biodegradable political message? dogs for democrats Share

Another USA financial crisis casualty. This bit of news not about Joe the plumber. On the contrary, it’s an example of the very wealthy feeling it. Make you feel better? Probably not. Architect Santiago Calatrava is in the news suing the developer of the Chicago Spire. Mary Ellen Podmolik and Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune reporters [...]

Italian company Scirocco presented a new decorative home radiator where technical innovation is combined with design and with the desire to have fun and continue having fun. Designed by architect Marco Baxadonne, Brick is a small colored block with a technological heart, a radiator in aluminium that internally conceals copper pipes and aluminium plates, making [...]

The premium T@B for epicures has meanwhile taken over the editors of the first league: Auto, Motor and Sport. ( below ) The T@b. You are an individual and a non-conformist.
 You don’t drive on holidays.
 You drive into life. You don’t stand at the ocean shore, look out at the blue and say: “It’s [...]

New eco-company Kayu handcrafts sunglasses from pesticide-free bamboo. The shades are oversized in a retro-stylish way (think Jackie O. goes green), but the best part is what’s behind the lenses: for every pair purchased, Kayu donates enough funds to cover one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world. So the shades are not only green, they [...]

It’s a toaster from Siemens and Porsche and it means serious toasting business. The TT911P2 2-Slice automatically adjusts itself to the thickness of the bread, has an LED display that counts down until the toast is ready, has 11 different degrees of browning, and it can remember which one was used last. The quartz heating [...]

Ferrari V-4 super bike concept based on Enzo. Israeli industrial designer Amir Glinik has come up with an incredible Ferrari motorcycle concept using a modified engine from the Ferrari Enzo supercar. Using drive-by-wire technology, the V4 superbike features hand controls adapted from an F-16 fighter jet and buttons based on those found on the steering [...]

Value item: Here is an innovative, quirkly little product that may make a big (lemon) splash. The UTILO, Lemon Squeezer designed by Nicole Schaffert. Just insert spout into your lemon and squeeze for quick and easy seed-free juice. Made of stainless steel. Producer: Blomus was established in 2001 to innovatively manufacture stainless steel items utilizing [...]

This cool coffee maker offers up a smart industrial design which cleanly integrates a ceramic mug in place of a carafe. The WMF1 Coffee Pad takes a single portioned coffee filter and can brew up a fresh cup of Java in about 1 minute. The compact coffee maker features a clean white design, with a [...]

What is this? An electric toothbrush on a stand? Darn, the title gives this product away. It is the Dyno outdoor shower by MyYour. The Dyno designer shower is totally waterproof and UV-ray resistant and will stay looking new for years. It’s made from self-colored polyethylene, which is strengthened inside, and Dyno is available in [...]

Anyone wondering what gasoline will cost in 2010? Here is a car from the Sexy Green Car Show you should keep abreast of. It’s a four seater eco car built from lightweight materials and should be on the market by 2010. The British-designed Axon uses a tiny 500cc engine to give a fantastic 100 miles [...]

This running feature began in 2008 to develop a story on the state of wind
turbine design.

Google offers up a new vision of computing and it isn’t about desktops or laptops. It’s mobile. The Google phone has arrived. The phone shots are T-Mobile’s G1. But this is a design resource and the phone is not our focus. It is the software named Android. What is Android if you already haven’t heard? [...]

Like sophisticated Transformers, these products fold to save space and to reveal a new function. The Flatterware cup body is molded out of a single piece of flexible plastic, with a helical structure allowing it to spring open and close with ease. Just give it a simple twist, the bright plastic disc turns into an [...]

This summer something caught my eye on top of a neighbor’s SUV. It looked like a lighter – than – air aircraft wing but found out it was a collapsable boat. It looks much better in vitro than in these photos. Adding collapsability into the design criteria can be a bit of a challenge. Here [...]

As with many of the concepts shown this year of the Renault Megane Coupe foreshadows a production version that’s set to be released at a later date. Of course, don’t expect the gullwing doors or the futuristic interior to find their way into production, but you can get a general idea of what Renault has [...]

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. [...]

We are alerted: World Animal Day is October 4. This post celebrates environment, design, fashion, and animals used in marketing efforts. Here we feature a collaboration between Puma and Atmos NY, which consists of three pairs of Puma models inspired by three endangered polar animals: the Harp Seal, Macaroni Penguin and Polar Bear. Each sneaker [...]

8 crazy experiments bold enough to change the world. Beginning August 22. Fridays, 9PM EP. (-0500) They rounded up every scientist, inventor, engineer, and designer with the best sot at pulling off some of the biggest, boldest ideas about cooling the planet, gave them whatever they needed and turned ‘em loose. They told the naysayers [...]

“A sewer worker is like a brain surgeon. We’re both specialists.” —Ed Norton, The Honeymooners. Ed’s fingernails would be a lot cleaner if this robotic sewer “crawler” existed. Though not an object of beauty this robot is designed to go where you would rather not. It’s estimated that 850 billion gallons of sewer and storm [...]

Phillipe Starck’s latest — a plastic chair — earned it’s name on the first sketch. Mr. Impossible. The designer said it couldn’t be made. The challenge being the weld. Using existing methods to weld the seat and the legs would create an unsightly seam. Kartell’s engineers had to go the blue water route. The key, [...]

This Spring PUMA® introduces the PUMA GLOW RIDER, the third edition of the PUMA bike. Possessing the quintessential PUMA characteristics of fun and functionality, the new model distinguishes itself through the unique glow in the dark frame. The bike is part of PUMA Urban Mobility, a collection created with the needs of a city dweller [...]

Less about breaking news and more about affirmation: The Zeppelin iPod dock from Bowers and Wilkins not only looks good from across the room and CU, but the music is consistent with the manufacturer’s reputable sound. First seen almost a year ago but did not mess with it until killing time in an Apple store [...]

In a highly extraordinary example of creativity and high-design, the iPhone captures the 2008 Creativity Awards Grand Prize Winner. Why so unusual? This event is judged by the advertising community where ad campaigns and 30-second spots typically rule. A POV from one of the judges: “The iPhone. Iconic design or iconic brand? Simply put Apple [...]

A home that makes the Smart car, standing side-by-side, look like a SUV. No, an 18-wheeler. “Micro-Compact Home” [m-ch] was inspired by Japanese tea houses, yes, the Smart car and first class air travel. They are lightweight, modular, mobile and very minimal 2.65m (roughly 77 sq ft). That equates into a 266 x 266 x [...]

High-design. Electric. 50-state approved (USA). After quite a bit of tweaks, good and bad press the FDA finally blessed the Tesla in January 2008 and this red (green) car can go on sale. The car won’t solve the world problems, at least not this particular car — $100K — but it is a start. Tesla [...]

Eton makes serious radios. Sound 140 Concerto (top) is a loaded clock radio with amazing audio that was specially crafted for your iPod. Martha Stewart would say put one in each room, being cheaper than wiring the mansion for sound. FR1000-VoiceLink (bottom) belongs in your survivor kit. AM-FM, emergency-band, cell-phone charger, walkie-talkie, with a nearly [...]

Worried about space? The Dyson DP24 is for you. This version of the top-shelf Ball, measures only 29.6 inches tall and weighs 11.6 pounds. And its sucks the color off the carpet. Visit Dyson DP24 Home Depot was surprised by the fire-safety statistics. Their new design lab creates Home Hero. The goal was to create [...]

The bad news: $77,000 USD and Peraves will only make 100 units a year. The good news: This unusual vehicle is manufactured by the Swiss company Peraves. The Ecomobile is essentially an enclosed motorcycle. The power for the Ecomobile originates from a rear mounted liquid cooled 4 cylinder BMW K series motorcycle engine. When in [...]

Here’s one electric vehicle where limited range no longer seems unpalatable. Designed and built in China by a company called Axle Corporation, the EV-X7 is driven by an electric wheel hub motor and has a top speed of 93 mph. This, of course, is a snail’s pace compared to modern motorcycles, but then again, this [...]

Here is a product to help your house go green. As you know, even when your giant plasma screen is dark it is not turned off. It’s never off but on standby silently sucking energy. Many other products to the same: the phone, phone charger, the stereo. A neat feature with this surge protector is [...]

Simple idea that seems so obvious after it becomes available. A portable power source for your mobile devices. Charge the Powerstick from any USB port anywhere, anytime; free yourself from wall sockets, converters, adapters and chargers. Travel overseas without converters or need for a power outlet. Handy handy handy! “Simplicity drives the purpose and form [...]

If you like Eames, a collectors item, a childs toy resurfaces. During the early 1940s Charles and Ray Eames developed a successful technique for molding plywood into three-dimensional shapes, which led to the creation of a variety of furnishings and sculptures. The Plywood Elephant, in particular, has attained legendary status among collectors. Designed in 1945, [...]