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Archive for the ‘Ideas’ Category

Objects, decorative and functional?

July 24th, 2010 by Steve Swann | No Comments | Filed in Disruption, Great Design, Ideas, Innovation

I like the thinking behind this furniture design. It presents us with something unexpected. I particularly like that it encourages us to think about the objects in our lives as whether they are really what we think they are.

I think the question it asks is “Does the decorative and functional elements of design have to be the same object“? Take a look and let me know what you think.

The Astonishing Jack by Arthur Bodolec ! on Vimeo on Vimeo


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Embrace Ideas

October 18th, 2009 by Steve Swann | No Comments | Filed in Great Design, Ideas, Sharing, Thinking

I recently saw an article at Yanko Design on a designers “vision” for a Harley Davidson – circa 2020.

Somebody pass me a helmet and a time travel ship because if this is what Harley bikes look like in 10 years, I’m so there. Designer Miguel Cotto pays homage to the big road hogs by keeping the large 883cc engine, complete with high revs and roars. The similarities end there. The design is almost tron-like in execution. Check out the wheel hubs. They’re actually giant bearings. I do see glimpses of Harley DNA in the center chassis but seriously, can you image any road warriors riding this?

harley davidson 2020

What stunned me was the viciousness of the commentors’ criticism.

Hollow wheels: check. Utter lack of engineering know-how: check. Co-opting a brand that would never consider such a radical departure from their established aesthetic, much less one so shitty: check indeed.

This is a generic third-rate set of renders, and this is a designer I would expect is starving, given the stark lack of quality in his work.

and

Its funny…..you can always tell when somebody who is not familiar with the product that they are designing. So in the future safety and comfortability are a thing of the past? hmmm……can’t wait!

But there were some who had an open mind:

You folks need to let go of reality and just look at it for what it is; Wicked. I’m sure it can inspire someone to try something new. I think it would evolve into something a younger generation would want, rather than the old guard.

I was surprised that most of those who commented attacked the presentation of the idea or the idea itself. Virtually no one took the leap and “ran with the idea“. On a site and in a forum focused on presenting new designs and stretching the imagination this was really disappointing.

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ten books to start generating original ideas

August 24th, 2009 by Steve Swann | No Comments | Filed in Ideas, Inspiration, Learning, Tools & Resources

Interested in generating more ideas?  Here’s a great article from Bradley Hebdon from UXbyDesign

Good ideas are the foundation for all effective products, experiences and story-telling. And yet coming up with these gems can be one of the toughest parts of the creative process. These ten books will help put you in the right mindset to start generating original ideas.

There’s a list of 10 books, some focused on the tools and techniques of generating ideas, some look at how the brain deals with ideas, and others help you make the most of your ideas.

I have read a couple of these books. As for the rest – I’m off to Amazon.com right now….

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