Heightening awareness of design-driven objects.

Modern water fountains.

November 12th, 2008 by PRand | 3 Comments

Modern water fountains.

Some water fountains are really people magnets. Observing human interaction, the kinetic creativity of the Jaume Plensas fountain in Chicago the past three years has inspired this post.
( above ) designer, jaume plensas, chicago, USA. water and digital video.

( above ) designer, armand vallancourt, san francisco USA. concrete tubing.

( above ) fountain clock, kanazawa JP. [...]

Tags: Ambient · Public space


Chicago Spire not spared.

October 22nd, 2008 by PRand | 3 Comments

Chicago Spire not spared.

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 spell it [...]

Tags: Ambient · Architecture · Designer · Overheard · Producer


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: Autos · Overheard


The First Chicago International Poster Biennial.

September 30th, 2008 by PRand | 6 Comments

The First Chicago International Poster Biennial.

Poster power. It’s real. And there doesn’t seem to be enough of them when you see really good ones. Really good ones are on display for a month in Chicago’s Daly Bicentenniial Park.
The poster exhibit runs until October 29 in Daley Bicentennial Park. See the 31 winners at Design Observer and Chicago International Poster [...]

Tags: Display · Events


Earth Hour 2008. Plus 24×7.

April 6th, 2008 by PRand | 1 Comment

Earth Hour 2008. Plus 24×7.

It’s been a week since Earth Hour 2008. So we looked around to see what happened then, and if
anything since…

A student told us Google went black! Good for them. This is how we envisioned a black Google.

The normal Chicago skyline at bottom.
This taken from the Chicagoist…
Earth Hour officials indicate last year there were 2.2 million [...]

Tags: Events