ID Selection has a few designs worth mentioning. The video below is of a sand sculpting tool created by a self-described toy designer. Where were these things 5 months ago when I was at the beach? Simple, yet effective.
Then there are these two kitchen gadgets that are a pleasure to look at and are clever in how they function. First is a lettuce cutter, used to core a head of lettuce. And if it works as I imagine, its plastic edge can be used to press and roll circularly to chop lettuce without browning the edges.
The second, a handled cheese grater, is not only safe but sleek in appearance. Hollowed and with a built-in container in the handle, this grater allows you to shave the surface of a block of cheese (or chocolate) and then pop off the handle to reveal a mound of grated cheese (or chocolate).
Take a look at this revolutionary structural design method of ‘board on frame’, made famous by IKEA. This smart design process has been documented so you can see it all happen in their European manufacturing facility. Enjoy!
Not known for its style and design, Microsoft caught my eye with this mini mouse. Using a BlueTrack technology, this Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse goes where no other mouse will; carpet, granite and rough wood, to name a few. And neatly tucked away on the bottom you will find the mini wireless receiver. Great for any Netbook or laptop you take on the go.
This video is a little dated, but the content is well presented. For those of you who enjoy watching old-school style marker rendering, this should be of interest. It explains why industrial designers render, and the techniques they use to do so.
Designers often deal with materials with a ‘let’s worry about that later’ attitude. We firmly believe that in order to come up with innovative solutions it’s an absolute must to think about materials right from the beginning of projects.
I was recently introduced to the website of Chris Lefteri, known for being one of the best authors concerning new and existing materials. A great resource when considering the materials of your next design, Lefteri has published a number of PDF printable resources as well as books for students and designers.
By using strong imagery accompanied by detailed explanations of materials you may or may not already know, Lefteri makes sense of every material imaginable. He even references some everyday objects to help explain those unpronounceable materials and chemical compounds we read about but that never really sink in. Invest some time to peek into what may be one of the most comprehensive collections of knowledge concerning materials today.
John Muhlenkamp is from El Dorado Hills, CA, but has had opportunities that have taken him all across the map. He currently works for the supercharged design firm Astro Studios in San Francisco. John is a graduate of the acclaimed BYU ID program and is always looking to learn new things. John has a love for all types and areas of creativity, with a particular passion for footwear design and soft goods. He also enjoys time with his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Eva, in the San Francisco area. John takes delight in golf, basketball, wakeboarding, speaking Spanish, photography, vacationing and, of course, sketching. He took some time to speak to us about design.
As silly as this may seem, this keyboard is not far off from what we are offered as consumers. Human factors are less and less prominent in new design, if you ask me. The size, arrangement and texture of buttons are so awkward, when they should be intuitive to users. The Maltron keyboard configuration is no more far-fetched than the button array on any PDA, remote or cell phone that many of us have.
Irregular in placement, near impossible to access with ease, and more visually appealing than functional. Yeah, the button configuration is funny to look at but compare that short checklist to your cell phone keypad. Is it irregular in placement, near impossible to access with ease, looking cooler than working properly? Same thing with your remote controls.
Ergonomics play a large part in how we communicate between ourselves and our ‘things’, but the ‘things’ are winning. The user is at a disadvantage it seems these days when size trumps function, and ease of use gives way to visual appeal. Yeah, this silly design may seem funny to look at, but I don’t see it being far off from what you might find in your state-of-the-art electronics store. And after seeing this post, I imagine some manufacturer is saying “Yeah, let’s make that,” and some consumer is saying to theirself, “Yeah, I would buy that!”
Adjust your speakers; this is our first video interview at Davison Creators! Sit back and watch as Spencer Nugent conducts a sketch-interview and talks about his thoughts on design, influential people and things that keep him designing!
Spencer Nugent originally hails from Bog Walk, Jamaica, and now resides in San Francisco, California, where he works as a designer for the award-winning firm, ASTRO Studios. He is co-founder of the sketch supersite IDSKETCHING.COM along with John Muhlenkamp, both of whom function as the main contributors to the website. Spencer enjoys the visual arts, photography and science fiction. He has always had a passion for learning new things and teaching and helping others. He is currently engaged to his sweetheart, Jennifer Shaw, and they plan to wed in April.
ID sketcher Spencer Nugent explains in this article, “the essence of why we sketch ideas as designers is seeded in effectively communicating ideas to our clients. Sketching is our language of communication.”
This is something I believe to be true. Take a minute to view this article, plump with great sketches and renderings, to better understand the levels of sketching. Better yet, look forward to a special video blog interview with Spencer in the near future!
For those of you who want to freshen up your rendering skills, or maybe just want a little help learning how to sketch, IDsketching is for you. I followed along with this tutorial using Alias SketchBook Pro on my Wacom and step by step successfully rendered the earbuds as shown above. If you go into the tabs, you can even navigate through dozens of marker renderings, hand sketches and computer generated drawings posted by the authors. Novice or professional, check out this creative site!
