An Inspirational Story

   As a film enthusiast I like to watch as many great films as possible. I have in fact got a 'Watch list' that I’m constantly adding to. 

   Today I sat down and watched what I believe to be one most beautiful films of my time. 'Into the Wild' is the story of a young man 'Christopher McCandless' that decided after collage to donate all his savings (24,000 USD) to Charity and to head out into the wilderness of America. It is a story of freedom and self-harmony that ends with an all-important realisation. 

                  "happiness is not real unless shared"

 

 The film captures the essence of life as an adolescent growing up with parents that are grooming you to be part of society. McCandless was not afraid to say 'Fuck you society' and go his own direction. I respect this attitude to life and I respect the fact that McCandless was not afraid to Shape his own path rather than follow the linear life stile that is expected of us in this age. O and did I mention it’s a true story.

  

The Musical Organon

   

   The Musical Organon is an interactive performance piece that changes the way people interact with street performance, achieved through a series of sound interactions.

“Is there a way to make street performances more interactive?”

   For centuries, buskers and street performers have attempted to draw in crowds to view - and in some cases interact with - their performances.  Mimicking this relationship, we created a standalone interactive performance piece that we call “The Musical Organon.”

   This device tries to entice passers-by, giving them an opportunity to physically interact and create their own music. Similar to Chinese traditional peep shows, the “Musical Organon” uses musical sounds to draw the crowds in, once the crowd is interested they then go ahead with the real show. The “Musical Organon” blends both the traditional instruments and modern technology; wires and motors have replaced the traditional strings and hooks. The technology gives the machine its own mind and therefore removes the need for a performer. 

   The “Organon” drops balls from the top of the machine down a series of ramps and tubes, which then hit symbols and bells on the way, much like in a Rube Goldberg machine, dropping down different trap doors so each can creates a different sound. This gives the user a sense of personalisation as they can create their own music. 

 

   Our future hopes for “The Musical Organon” are to branch out to a permanent street slot. We would also like to fully automate the machine so that I can be left on the street and will awaken between the peek hours of the day. Much like the device “Cybraphon” by “FOUND” we would like to incorporate a sort of personality to the “Organon”.

User Interaction

Inspiration

Design is where science and art break even.

— Robin Mathew

Art is like masturbation. It is selfish and introverted and done for you and you alone. Design is like sex. There is someone else involved, their needs are just as important as your own, and if everything goes right, both parties are happy in the end.

— Colin Wright

It’s really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.

— Steve Jobs

I never design a building before I’ve seen the site and met the people who will be using it.

— Frank Lloyd Wright

The design process, at its best, integrates the aspirations of art, science, and culture.

— Jeff Smith

Never use white text on a black background and 50 other ridiculous design rules

These are 51 Design rules that are stated in the book "Never use white text on a black background... and 50 other ridiculous design rules" I believe that these rules are all very important tools to the design process.

1) Good designers copy, Great designers steal
2) Make it Pretty
3) Fashion is made to become unfashionable
4) Design is thinking made visual
5) A camel is a horse designed by a committee
6) Never use more than two typefaces 
7) Style is not to be trusted
8) Good design solves the right problems
9) Design isn't art
10) Minimalism is dead
11) Never use copy and paste
12) Make it new
13) Never photograph people eating
14) Always make the top left-hand logo of a website a home button
15) K.I.S.S (keep it simple, stupid)
16) Don't over accessorise 
17) Use a grid
18) A picture is worth a thousand words
19) Never stretch a font
20) Practice makes perfect
21) Form follows function
22) The logo must be recognisable
23) If you don't know what to do.... just do it big and red 
24) It is better to be good than it is to be original
25) Fashion can be bought, style one must possess 
26) Helvetica always works
27) Cleavage or legs, never both
28) Good design communicates 
29) Dress to impress
30) Never work with animals or children 
31) Never use white type on a black backgrounds 
32) Make the Logo bigger
33) Leave it to the last minute 
34) God is n the detail
35) Think outside of the box
36) Kill your darlings
37) Never sacrifice style for comfort 
38) Design is evolutionary, turn mistakes and accidents into opportunities 
39) The medium is the message
40) The client is always right 
41) Shoes and bags must always match 
42) Turn it upside down
43) Trust no one, all clients are bastards. Eat more fish 
44) Less is more
45) Good design is for life
46) Know your audience 
47) If you're image does not work, put a dog in it. If it still does not work, put a bandage on the dog
48) Don't let bad design hurt great content
49) [insert buzzword] is the new back
50) Dress your age (not your dress or shoe size)
51) Break the rules


All these design rules have been taken from multiple designers and design consultancy. I feel they are all very useful and I recommend reading the book they were all derived from. 

Pine Art Furniture

http://design345.com/2010/06/08/pine-art-furnitures/

This is a form of art that i stumbled across when i was researching forms of unique production for wooden materials. i find the concept of taking such a simple idea and making it so beautiful facinating.

http://design345.com/2010/06/08/pine-art-furnitures/

These furniture pieces / sculptures are made of chopped pieces of pine wood, which give away the artist’s closeness to Mother Nature. The wood pieces are brought together and crafted to make this attractive piece of art. The creative style of the geometric form is unique and powerful in its simplicity

Fresh-Chair

http://design345.com/2011/02/02/fresh-chair/

I personally have a fascination with plant life and i love to incorporate it into my design process as much as possible. when i came across this design i was amazed by the concept. it has inspired me to incorporate plants into design in an entirely different way.

http://design345.com/2011/02/02/fresh-chair/

This is a public bench called Fresh Chair, a place where you can stop and rest. An integrated plant-world coexists with the comfort zone and is used to trap and harness energy to power LEDs as night lights. They also provide a cooling mist during the summer heat. Designers: Yi-Miao Chen, Je shin Wang, Ssu chen Liu, Yun Chang, Yu jay Chen, Ching-Chang Chuang, Shaio-Chung Cha &Yu-Hung Chien

Magno WR01A-2B Personel Wooden Radio

  I found this Radio Design when i was reserching current Eco radios. i am just facinated by the craftmanship that is put into the production.

  It is producted from waxed and oiled wood: scots pine (the lights wood) and sonokeling wood (dark coloured wood)

  The Designer 'Mango' took insperation from past Radio Designs

The Magno Radio has a highly appealing mix of retro and modern styling. Each wooden radio is made in an environmentally sustainable production process, which covers fair social standards for workers. MP3 compatible. Each radio arrives with a wooden connecting cable to connect iPods and mp3 players directly to the radio.