Today’s news is coming straight from one of our very own creationeers, Lucky!  A couple weeks ago, we featured Lucky’s top five apps for inventors.  Now, he’s back, with his perspective on innovative product design!

From Lucky’s mind… to you!  

Imagine having a product that you use [as] an infant, a child, a teen and an adult… something that is both utilitarian and stylish.  You’re probably thinking of the blanket you had as a child; but, one designer, David Singelyn, has endeavored to create a piece of furniture to follow you throughout your life.  Dubbed “Gro Furniture,” the crib/bed/desk hybrid is designed to get the most use out of one piece of furniture.  Taking a basic frame of bamboo plywood, the owner is able to use several modules that allow the crib to become a bed for a small child, a day bed, and eventually, a desk, creating a piece of furniture that can last a lifetime.

Gro Furniture is not the first well-designed product that serves multiple purposes, of course.  In 2008, Moreno Ferrari designed a line of clothing for C.P. Company that went from fashion to functional gear.  The Transformable Armchair, for example, was a raincoat that the wearer could take off and inflate into an armchair.  [It was] certainly not the most practical design, but [was] visually appealing and could be useful in marine or camping situations.

And, speaking of marine life, if you’re the boating type, the Amphicar was the only mass produced amphibious automobile available to the American public. 

It was powered by a Triumph Harold engine and was capable of speeds of 70 mph on dry land and 7 mph in the water.  It could drive from land, directly into the water, with no need to retract its wheels.  Unfortunately, the company went under when EPA and DOT regulations went into effect in 1968, but Amphicar enthusiasts still restore and drive these cars today!

As promised, you will be hearing a lot more from Lucky in the future.  Every couple of weeks, he’ll be giving us his perspective on what’s hot in the invention industry!

Stay tuned for more!

[Source: Yahoo News, Fab.com, Found_NYC, The International Amphicar Owner's Club.  Amphicar Trio Photo Credit: Fran Gealer]

Only a month after receiving the factory samples, the new Swingers by Swing Away line is already on store shelves! The innovative line of folding utensils can be found at Keystone Housewares, as well as in a test at select Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

Spoonula

Pasta Spoon

“This is awesome news,” said the VP of Licensing. “It’s great to see they’re testing in Bed Bath & Beyond.”

The line, which offers the convenience of full-size utensils that take up less storage space, is comprised of 15 folding utensils: Ladle, Slotted Turner, Measuring Spoon Set, Large Slotted Turner, Solid Spoon, Turner, Pasta Spoon, Whisk, Skimmer, Measuring Cup Set, Silicone Spatula, Slotted Spoon, Pastry Brush, Ice Cream Scoop, Spoonula. All the tools, except for the whisk and ice cream scoop, can be used with handles folded or extended. When extended they lock securely in place, and then unlock with the push of a button.

Slotted Spoon

“I’m glad to see them go to market and I can’t wait to buy them,” said the Corporate Creative Coach, who also admitted he wanted them for his own kitchen.

Silicone Spatula

Several of the products are now on our website: Silicone Spatula, Spoonula, Slotted Spoon and Pasta Spoon. Others will be added soon, so check back – There is sure to be more great news about the Swingers in the near future!

The first product we have created for New Product Kingdom is on its way to the store shelves! The Air Rack that we designed for the company is being shipped to a distributor in Canada, which will send the 300-piece test order to stores in the Home Hardware chain – Canada’s largest independent home improvement retailer!

“It works well, it looks good and hopefully it will sell a ton,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “This is the first NPK product, and there will be many more to come.”

The heavy-duty inflatable product, which includes a pump, can be quickly and securely attached to the roof of a vehicle, providing an instant and lightweight rack to hold oversize loads. When not needed, the rack can be compactly stored in the trunk.

The product design, graphic design, packaging and photography were all created in house.  The Air Rack concept came out of a brainstorming meeting with the corporation last summer. Three related projects are also in the works: kayak / canoe rack, cargo rack, and storage pad – which will make four items in the line. The small packaging required for inflatable items takes up much less space on the store shelf, which has many benefits for the retailer and corporation, as well as the consumer, said Davison’s corporate design manager. “You just can’t beat the packaging space.”

Congratulations to all who worked on this great new product! We can’t wait to see the rest of the line!

So what is a Hydro Bone and how does it keep dogs cool and content in hot weather? One happy canine demonstrates this refreshing chew toy that we created for Hugs Pet Products. The video is posted on the website of Doctors Foster and Smith, which is selling this innovative new product.

Four new ‘wellness’ products for which we created all the packaging, photography and in-use shots are now selling on Walmart.com!

TheComfort Me Spa Sets and the Relaxzen 5-Motor Massage Mat with Heat are the first in a new line of more than 20 individual wellness items that we have worked on for Comfort Products, as we help the manufacturer branch out into other areas. Davison’s corporate design manager was a bit surprised when he came across the items that just went up on Walmart’s website. “It definitely was nice to stumble across them,” he said.

Although the website does not show the packaging, it does use the product images that we provided, as well as the in-use shots , which feature Davison employees.

We initially created planograms for the kits so Comfort Products could present the items to another buyer. Walmart was quick to express interest, however, and decided to first test the products on their website.

The corporate team has just received two additional new items from Comfort Products to add to the line for which we will do photography now and create the packaging later. More products in the line are sure to hit the market, and all the new products soon will be added to our product pages, as well.

“It’s a nice surprise, and it’s great to see that we continue to get more and more D’s on the market,” said Davison’s senior category director of licensing. He soon will have more good news to report about Comfort Products items with the Davison “D” that are slated to go to market next month – So stay tuned!

Our awesome RV Leveler is in the news again! This time the wireless electronic product, which we designed for CIPA, is featured in RV PRO, a major trade publication for the RV industry. The RV Leveler is featured prominently on pg. 7 of the May 2010 issue in the Special Product Focus: “Jacks, Levelers and Ride Control.”

According to the publisher, National Business Media, RV PRO is targeted to 15,000 RV industry professionals — executives and managers who make their living selling and/or installing RV aftermarket products and accessories. This includes those at dealerships and retail operations, park and resort developers, parts/accessories suppliers, maintenance shop owners and RV manufacturers.  Click the image below to view the great write-up of the RV Leveler in RV PRO!  Or check out the just launched digital version of the magazine, in which the write-up links directly to CIPA. Congratulations to everyone who worked on this fantastic product!

It’s a triple play! Our Meatball Baker, Party on the Go and Perfect Slice are featured in the Winter 2009 edition of “Innovation,” the quarterly design publication of the Industrial Designers Society of America. Our senior concept designer, who created the Perfect Slice, submitted the products to the magazine. The Party on the Go was invented by our client, Joy, and the Meatball Baker was invented by our client, Jean. Congratulations, everyone!

What a nice surprise to see all three products in the Housewares section of the magazine, right up there with G.E., Bunn, Bosch, Oreck and Pyrex, in a full-page spread in “Innovation!” Each product shot includes a great description, as well as a link to Davison.

Our fabulous RV Leveler is in the news again — this time as a featured new RV product in the January 2010 issue of Family Motor Coach Association magazine. With approximately 103,000 active member families, FMCA is the world’s largest motorhome owners group. Check out the write-up on the FMCA webpage … Where will this innovative little leveler turn up next!?