safety & special needs – DesignApplause

scott henderson rethinks the face shield. covid-19.

Jun 17, 2020

“when zverse asked me to help them rethink the face shield i jumped at the opportunity. there’s no better time than now for designers to apply their unique skills and knowledge, and the face shield is one of those products that hasn’t seen that much holistic innovation” ~~ scott henderson

the surgical face mask, invented in the late 1800s, and the welder’s helmet, invented in the 1930s, up till now during covid-19, have been doing admirably well outside the confines of the operating room, the icu, a metal shop, for which they were designed. four months into covid-19 we’ve had the occasion to observe the limitations of these specialized items in the more diverse service industry.

the face shield in particular, has proven to have a higher functional diversity ceiling. for example, to talk you don’t have to take a face shield off. however, putting on or removing a face shield can be a to-do and some service positions require a hat.

new york designer scott henderson, with his client john carrington, ceo of zverse, hit a brilliantly conceived and executed bases-loaded home run with their zshield flex.

the zshield flex is designed primarily as a business-to-business solution mainly for service industry workers—such as the food service industry, selective medical, the education sector, beauty and hair salons, and regular consumers as well.

[design criteria ]
> the zshield flex does not strap on the head, impacting a person’s outward presentation.
> the zshield flex is a friendlier, more calming presentation than the shields meant for front-line healthcare workers.
> front-line healthcare workers need ppe to protect themselves, because the environment they operate in is high-risk. the zshield flex will be used in lower risk environments, and is meant to protect the people around the wearer from direct exposure from forward-projected droplets that we all expel through normal talking, sneezing or coughing.
> the unique and unprecedented come-from-the-bottom format of zshield flex does not limit head movement or visibility
> the zshield flex is practically invisible when worn.
> the zshield flex offers different sizes—small and large neck mounts, visors that curves around the face all the way to the ears, and a kid’s size for returning school children.

[ zverse ], the manufacturer of the zshield, also offers a standard face shield for front-line healthcare workers.

[ scott henderson ] is among the top industrial designers working in america today. scott’s product designs for his global fortune 500 client base have become best selling industry disruptors.

scott’s point of view is that design should achieve “clever-freshness”. “clever” is ingenuity combined with a sense of wit. “freshness”, in turn, evokes feelings of health and happiness – lightness as opposed to burden – a feeling of rebirth and an inspiration to move forward.

aside from his world-renown and award-winning work in industrial design, scott is a consistent generator of unique intellectual property, as evidenced by his portfolio of over 50 patents in the u.s. and europe for novel innovations in fields as diverse as housewares and home accessories to consumer medical products and electronics.

scott’s work is included in the permanent collection of the brooklyn museum, the cooper hewitt smithsonian national design museum and the alessi museum, and many of scott’s products have been sold at the moma design store. scott is a sought after presenter on the topic of design, both nationally and internationally.

over 90% of scott’s projects have been mass-produced, a track record few designers can claim. more to the point, products scott has designed have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues for his clients. indeed, many of scott henderson’s products have become industry best sellers.

foster + partners shares the prototype design for a reusable face visor. covid-19.

Apr 6, 2020

to aid the fight against covid-19, foster + partners has designed a general-purpose prototype face visor, suitable for cleaning and reuse. it is specifically aimed at fast mass production.

[ foster + partners press release ] we are sharing the design templates and material specifications as an open-source design asset. this is to encourage both designers and in particular large-scale manufacturers to investigate the potential of digital and laser cutting machines as an alternative to 3d printing technology.

the prototype visor, designed by a team of industrial designers, model makers, architects and analysts, is made from three components: a visor made from 0.5mm optically clear petg, an interlocking soft pp headband, and a surgical silicone rubber head strap that ties the two together. these were all cut on the practice’s digital flatbed cutters by its printroom and model making teams. each visor can be cut from sheets in under 30 seconds and the elements can be assembled in under a minute. with a single cutting machine, we were able to cut and assemble components for 1,000 visor masks in a day, representing a reduction of days in the time taken to produce 3d-printed alternatives.

the visors can be produced and assembled or flat-packed and distributed in large quantities in a short span of time. an important advantage is that the visor can be easily disassembled, cleaned, sanitized and reused, addressing the growing shortage of raw materials for visor production. we are now delivering these prototype visors to a number of london hospitals where they are being tested. we are also exploring means of getting the design approved for mass production and use by health workers.

> flat-pack reusable visor comes in two sizes — short and long.
> visor, headband and strap can be cut by a flatbed digital cutter or laser cutter.
> cutting time: <30 seconds > assembly: <60 seconds > each visor can be disassembled and cleaned for reuse.

> visor: 0.5mm petg or equivalent
> headband: 0.75mm polypropylene (pp) or equivalent
> adjustable strap: 1mm silicone

click here to download the assembly instructions
click here to download the file for the digital flatbed cutter (.dwg)
please note that by downloading these files you are accepting the following terms and conditions:

1 > this design for a flat pack laser cut visor (the design) is created and owned by foster + partners limited and is licensed for non-commercial use under the creative commons attribution-non commercial 4.0 international public license (“the ccl terms”).
2 > as set out in section 5 of the ccl terms, no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the design are given.
3 > by downloading and or using the design files, you:
accept and agree to the ccl terms.

acknowledge that:
a > this design has been created by foster + partners in response to the global covid-19 pandemic;
b > foster + partners has no prior expertise in the design and manufacture of personal protective equipment (ppe) and therefore this design has neither been made by reference to any specific regulations nor subject to any formal testing regime;
c > that any user of the design shall assume all responsibility for developing the design in conformity with regulatory and testing requirements of any markets it intends to make the visor available in.

notes to editors:

1 > one zund g3 m 2500 cutting machine or equivalent can cut 217 per hour.
2 > the template offers two sizes – short and long.

[ DesignApplause covid-19 response ] #covid19 #coronacvirus

dot tactile smartwatch ‘feels’ like a 2017 best product-of-the-year candidate.

Jan 26, 2018

we strive to be a pioneer in accessible and affordable innovations for the vision impaired and the deafblind to lead independent, fulfilling lives. ~ dot inc.

the dot watch braille smartwatch is the first of its kind to provide the time with tactile information instead of visual clues. you don’t see time ticking away, you feel it. dot not only tells the time, but also creates text messages, sns, as well as traffic or weather information, with just a tap of your finger.

there’s also an open dot api so anyone can develop apps or services for dot. existing apps can be easily adapted. apps for braille education, social networking, navigation, newsfeed, weather and many more are already in development.

it launched in late 2016 but for practical purposes this is a 2017 product. the dot ‘feels’ like a 2017 best product-of-the-year candidate.

curve light 2 by bookman.

Nov 1, 2017

about >
curve rear light is a bright, usb rechargeable bike light. it has a maximum brightness of 37 lumen and a run time of up to 24 hours.

it has a quick and simple attachment solution. just hold the light against the handlebar or saddle pole and simply pull the elastic band around the tube and click the clasp to fasten. fits saddle poles up to 42 mm in diameter.

a single click switches the light on or off. to change mode, just double click. the button, which also doubles as the clasp, is situated on the top.

the completely weather resistant light will show you the way through rain, hail or snow.

technical >
led
1 x 1w cree led, 2 x 0.1w led

battery
650 mah rechargeable lithium ion battery

measurements
height: 57 mm
width: 30 mm
depth: 35 mm excl. strap
protrudes 28 mm from the handlebar
weight: 46 g

modes brightness (lumen) run-time (hours)
steady 100% 37 2.5
eco mode steady 18 4.5
flashing 100% 37 12

[ https://bookman.se/ ]

2016 german design award select winners.

Nov 23, 2015

above> german design award installation at ambiente 2015 | click on image to engage lightbox | 18 images

the 2016 winners of the german design award have been made public. the gda is this one of the best award programs around. a very wide breadth of product submissions for cars, motorcycles, med & industrial equipment, architecture, it seems like everything. they’re also one of the best at showcasing winners in a huge installation at ambiente, a heavy investment in print and well represented online. this represents a heavy monetary investment in design. the above slideshow is a glimpse at 2015 during ambiente 2015. the german design award is hosted by the german design council who celebrates its 60th year in 2015

below are a sampling of 2016 winners.

above> lichtgrenze

category> event / light installation for 25 years fall of the wall celebrations in berlin 2014
client> kulturprojekte berlin gmbh für die stadt berlin
design> whitevoid / christopher bauder

award> gold 2016
jury statement> michel casertano | dr. angelika nollert | prof. hartmut a. raiser

from the 7th to the 9th of november 2014, berlin remembered the 25th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall and the reunification of the city. in line with the festivities, there was a fascinating light installation that marked the former path of the wall with illuminated balloons along a 15.3 km stretch. on the final evening of the installation 8,000 balloon caretakers released the balloons into berlin’s night sky, each carrying a personal message. a moving project with enormous symbolic and charismatic power that made an impact far beyond the borders of germany. the project was realised through private financing – not by the city, which meant that there was a comparatively small budget. this is an impressive demonstration of the fact that one can create something extraordinarily effective even with limited means.

above> tentsile tree tent: stingray.

category> sports, outdoor activities and leisure
producer> tentsile
design> tentsile / alex shirley-smith

award> gold 2016
jury statement> prof. stefan diez | nicolette naumann | silvia olp

the tentsile stingray is a new kind of tent that is hung between three trees, poles or branches and floats in the air, extending the radius of experience from two to three dimensions. the occupants (up to three people) are not only protected from the weather, but from wild animals and insects as well. the form changes according to the tent’s tension, making it seem almost like a living creature. this fascinating tree tent is an innovative outdoor tool that totally reinterprets the leisure tent system. at once functional and poetic.

above> aerfast 20th anni by storck.

category> transportation / racing bike
producer> storck bicycle
design> storck bicycle / mario kuban

award> gold 2016
jury statement > johannes barckmann | prof. andrea lipp | jürgen lewandowski

for its 20-year anniversary, the legendary bicycle manufacturer is releasing selected models as a limited edition set. the models have special anniversary paintwork and high-quality components. the set also includes a platinum handlebar and a seat with special supports. the frame is adorned tastefully with the master’s signature. a polo shirt with the brand name and a certificate signed by markus storck himself round off this exclusive set. the combination of technical perfection and dynamic styling reflects storck’s authentic passion for designing bikes: absolutely functional, absolutely carbonic! absolutely perfect.

above> timber structure sports center

category> architecture
client> kogakuin university
design> ft architects / hiroko tominaga

award> gold 2016
jury statement> mårten claesson | dr. michael peters | stefan von terzi

this pair of extraordinary buildings on the campus of the kogakuin university in tokyo houses a japanese archery facility and a boxing club. the two wooden structures made of native, local woods each cover a space of around 7.2 m x 10.8 m. this is about the size of a traditional japanese temple, and these spaces are similarly open and minimal, which has a positive effect on the athletes’ concentration. the special quality, however, is the support-free roof construction, which was planned and realised based on traditional japanese wooden structures. a fascinating statement that contributes to keeping this architectural style alive in the cultural memory. the way these buildings have transformed functionality into aesthetics can only be described as sensational.

above> bentley – exp 10 speed 6

category> transportation / concept car
producer> bentley motors
design> bentley motors

award> gold 2016
jury statement> johannes barckmann | prof. andrea lipp | jürgen lewandowski

the designers of the exp 10 speed 6 achieved a fantastic reinterpretation of the british legend and a self-aware statement of luxury and extravagance on the highest level. this is particularly apparent when looking at the interior. the door panels are not covered with leather matching the material used for steering wheel and seats like usual, but instead are covered with high-quality wood. the possibilities in high-quality processing and craftsmanship are demonstrated here. the exterior inspires with a progressive/elegant design vocabulary that transports the classic car into the future. muscular, athletically shaped surfaces that are inspired by aerodynamic shapes such as aircraft fuselages and aerofoils convey dynamism, power and speed. an extraordinarily beautiful automobile that perfectly combines aesthetics and precision – and is unmistakably a bentley. it couldn’t be done better!

above> takata maxi

category> baby and child care / children`s car seat
producer> takata
design> takata / reiner nett

award> gold 2016
jury statement> prof. stefan diez | nicolette naumann | silvia olp

in this excellently designed children’s car seat, children stay both safe and comfortable, even on long trips. this is ensured by the stabile casing and the exceedingly soft padding on the seat itself and the arm supports. the microfiber fabrics are toxin-free and can be cleaned easily. the seatbelt guide has an auto-lock feature, guaranteeing that the belt stays in position, while the airpad safety technology protects the head. parents may enjoy the practical one-handed operation for size adjustment and belt fastening. a well-designed product, considered down to the last detail and visually appealing.

above> karuun® | kc collection

category> material and surfaces / innovative material based on natural rattan
producer> out for space
design> out for space / peter kraft, julian reuter, moritz fuhrmann, miriam bröckel

award> gold 2016
jury statement> nicole huffer | ruwen kaminski | jun.-prof. dr.-ing. jens krzywinski

karuun® is a highly innovative material that provides transformative new dimensions for the design possibilities of rattan. the composition of natural rattan can be understood as a bundle of small tubes, which makes it absolutely unique. the company out for space uses this special quality to inject natural filler material into the material. the result – karuun® – offers increased rigidity, fantastic bending properties, weather-resistance and a wide range of coloration possibilities. the kc collection gives a foretaste of what is possible with karuun®. and it is already an extremely impressive collection. all in all, a promising material that is also very sustainable. exciting.

above> smartintego

category> building and elements / digital lock cylinder
producer> simonsvoss technologies
design> ergon3 design / peter trautwein

award> gold 2016
jury statement> ruwen kaminski | jun.-prof. dr.-ing. jens krzywinski

with this new product line, simonsvoss offers the perfect solution for integrated access control systems. smart intego can be immediately connected to existing complex access control systems — and the smart intego manager makes it easier than ever by auto-configuring the system components and saving a significant amount of time and effort in comparison to other systems. the digital lock cylinder offers various additional functions such as audit trail, time zone management, event management and door monitoring.

above> illa kogelhof by paul de ruiter architects

category> architecture / residential
client> private client
design> paul de ruiter architects / paul de ruiter

award> winner 2016
jury statement> mårten claesson | dr. michael peters | stefan von terzi

villa kogelhof is designed to be completely energy self-sufficient and is located on a swath of land declared a conservation area by the government. the minimalist building, designed with straight lines, rests on v-shaped pillars to take away as little as possible from the protected habitant for plants and animals. the interior of the house is no less minimalist due to surrounding glass panels that enhance the home’s sense of openness and connection to nature. a great design that perfectly plays up interior and exterior, while redefining the standard for natural living.

above> notabag

category> lifestyle and fashion / combination of a bag and a backpack
producer> notabag
design> notabag / adnan alicusic, ilaria gregianin

award> winner 2016
jury statement> prof. stefan diez | nicolette naumann | silvia olp

notabag is a cleverly-designed combination of carrier and rucksack that can be carried on your arm or back, as desired. a simple motion is all it takes to change the rucksack into a bag or vice-versa. an internal back serves to store your wallet and keys. that means that everything is easy to find without having to rummage around for it. notabag transforms and closes all on its own, meaning that it doesn’t need any additional buttons or closures. if the bag isn’t needed it can fold down to almost nothing. a practical, amazingly designed product for daily use.

above> form

category> furniture / chair and table collection
producer> normann copenhagen
design> normann copenhagen / simon legald

award> special 2016
jury statement> prof. oliver grabes | sebastian herkner

form is a modern cup chair made using plastic mould casting, which is available with and without armrests and also as a bar stool in two different heights. the back and seat are ergonomically shaped and promise comfort and relaxation. form is an example of a flexible design that in principle fits on all frames – even those yet to be developed in the future. the series has now been expanded with a dining table in two sizes – the perfect accompaniment to the chairs.

[ 2016 winners ]

curve. urban bike light from bookman.

Nov 10, 2015

here’s a pretty cool light set, the [ curve ] from bookman. it’s blazing bright and super simple to use. well suited for urban venues as the light is visible seen even from the side. what’s new is the curve rear light that will complete our curve light set.

the light is usb rechargeable. it has a maximum brightness of 37 lumen and a run time of up to 24 hours.

a simple attachment solution: just hold the light against the handlebar or saddle pole and simply pull the elastic band around the tube and click the clasp to fasten. fits saddle poles up to 40 mm in diameter.

a single click switches the light on or off. to change mode, just double click. the button, which also doubles as the clasp, is situated on the top. the completely weather resistant light will show you the way through rain, hail or snow.

led: 1 x 1w cree led, 2 x 0.1w super bright led
battery: 650 mah rechargeable lithium ion battery

measurements:
height: 57 mm
width: 30 mm
depth: 35 mm excl. strap
protrudes 28 mm from the handlebar
weight: 46 g

bookman + notabag reflective bag & backpack.

Sep 29, 2015

Our friends from Bookman, the Swedish bicycle accessory brand Bookman and German Notabag are bringing you the Notabag Reflective Bag & Backpack this Fall. The product is a clever combination of a bag and a backpack made from high visibility reflective material. With a pull of the straps it quickly transforms from a bag to a backpack and is ideal for cyclists since its design lets you use both hands for riding. The Reflective Bag & Backpack makes the cyclist really stand out on the street at night, and it also works great for pedestrians and skaters.

“Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of Good Design were my mantra during the process of developing Notabag. I’m somewhat obsessed with simplicity and functionality, and wanted to apply that approach to every aspect of Notabag.” Adnan Alicusic, founder of Notabag.

“When Adnan approached us with his enthusiastic personality and showed us the Notabag, I knew right away that I wanted to do something together with him. The Notabag was already near perfect but making it reflective adds a useful function for cyclists. Not only does it enhance safety, but it also gives the bag a sharp look both in daylight and when lit up by beams of headlights.” Mattis Bernstone, Creative Director of Bookman.

The Notabag Reflective Bag & Backpack is available from [ bookman ] [ notabag ] and selected retailers worldwide from October 2015. RRP: €30/$35.

‘iron man’ gives a fan a 3d printed bionic arm.

Mar 13, 2015

Iron Man (actor Robert Downey Jr.) teamed up with bionics expert and Fulbright scholar Albert Manero to help give 7-year old Alex, who was born with a partially developed right arm, a very cool 3D-printed bionic limb. Manero works with the volunteer group Limbitless Solutions, an organization that donates low-cost 3D-printed limbs to children around the world. According to Microsoft’s The Collective Project, the arm cost a mere $350 to make. Similar prosthetic parts can cost $40,000.

wired store marks their 10th anniversary. designer gifts 2014.

Dec 17, 2014

this holiday season, wired marks the 10th anniversary of the wired store, which has become a go-to destination for consumers who are eager to check out a curated selection of the latest and most coveted products. in addition to its flagship location in new york city, wired is unveiling a new e-shop at los angeles international airport (lax) to commemorate the milestone.

looking through the curated offerings of the store, designapplause is reminded of many of the same objects we cherish. here are several.

dyson 360 eye™ robot – the future of robot navigation technology. just like you, dyson 360 eye™ robot constantly observes and interprets its surroundings. but unlike you, it sees all around the room at once.

icedot – is an emergency notification and identification service. they recently collaborated with poc and their octal avid helmet.

ballo – by don chadwick for humanscale, a multipurpose stool that encourages users to engage in short-term, active sitting. the identical air-filled domes serve as the base and seat and pressure can be varied just like a swiss exercise ball.

loop by libratone – slim, stylish and wall-mountable / airplay and dlna support for wireless streaming / this circular beauty delivers attractive fullroom audio on a variety of levels.

mami – an iconic “maternal code” in all its softness and roundness, by stephano giovannoni for alessi.

but, back to the wired store!
event> wire store
venue> 459 w. 14th st. (between 9th and 10th avenues) new york // los angeles international (lax)
date> 11 – 21 december 2014

another drone and passenger plane near miss being investigated.

Dec 10, 2014

another drone and passenger plane near miss being investigated. this occurrence on 22 july close to heathrow.