Studio Thol Bathtub
Daring design in the form of American white oak and marble composite seen at Milan Design Week
There is always an abundance of innovative production techniques at Milan Design Week, though we saw few that rivaled the exquisite craftsmanship and unconventionality of Studio Thol’s Bathtub. Dutch designer Thomas Linseen beautifully showcases the skeletal structure that gives the tub its shape, and the sculptural tub explores the limits of fiber-reinforced plastics and molded wood with its laminated strips of American white oak and a polyester and marble composite (which Linseen also developed).
Nonlinear Studio’s Amplifiear is a clever clip-on device designed to enhance your iPad’s sound. Stunning in its simple design and basic, low-tech construction—no batteries or wires, nor electric currents of any kind required—the Amplifiear magnifies volume by reflecting and redirecting sound forward from the iPad’s back speaker.
Strong Opinions, Weakly Held - Bob Sutton
A post by Bijan included a quote from John Lilly, ‘Design like you’re right; listen like you’re wrong’. He suggested that it was derived from John Sutton’s one liner: “Fight like you’re right, listen like you’re wrong.”
But doing some research, Sutton seems to credit Paul Saffo for the original germ of this thought, which is his advice to approach the future with ‘strong opinions, weakly held’:
A couple years ago, I was talking the Institute [For The Future]’s Bob Johansen about wisdom, and he explained that – to deal with an uncertain future and still move forward – they advise people to have “strong opinions, which are weakly held.” They’ve been giving this advice for years, and I understand that it was first developed by Instituite Director Paul Saffo. Bob explained that weak opinions are problematic because people aren’t inspired to develop the best arguments possible for them, or to put forth the energy required to test them. Bob explained that it was just as important, however, to not be too attached to what you believe because, otherwise, it undermines your ability to “see” and “hear” evidence that clashes with your opinions. This is what psychologists sometimes call the problem of “confirmation bias.”
The design case turns out to be a specific example of the more general mindset, which is, in fact, what defines wisdom. And more importantly, in a world changing at the pace of ours, the core premise of resilience.
via BLDGBLOG
a […] project comes to us from designer Dror Benshetrit, who recently invented his own modular system, called QuaDror. On the other hand, it’s not really a “brick”; Fast Company describes it as “a structural joint that looks a little like a sawhorse, but can fold flat, making it both stunningly sturdy, remarkably flexible, and aesthetically pleasing.” Check out the video:
evrtstudio: (via stevewyshywaniuk)
The Cricket Trailer is a modern lightweight camper designed + built by founder Garret Finney (a previous designer & architect at NASA). It was designed to be very lightweight so even smaller cars can tow it. This is my dream camper folks.
The base models start at $13,700 in two different layout options. Take the time to go look at all of the details because they really thought of everything.
belgian architectural firm dmvA designed ‘blob VB3’, a mobile unit for the office of xfactoragencies as an extension to the ‘house’. the space - egg house consists of a bathroom, kitchen, lighting, a bed and several niches for storage. the nose can be opened automatically and functions as a kind of porch. it easily transportable and can also be used as an office, guestroom or garden house.
photo by vercruysse frederik
(via dmvA: blob VB3)
2019: A Future Imagined
Visual Futurist Syd Mead (“Blade Runner,” “Aliens,” “Tron”) reflects upon the nature of creativity and how it drives the future. This featurette provides insight into the fascinating mind of one of the most influential artists of modern cinema and transportation design. Mead discusses how design, mobility and creative innovation will shape future cities. [via Tribeca Film Institute]
interlocking and interchangeable footwear - urshuz from Grant Delgatty
In principle I like the idea of being able to buy new tops for old soles.
