Davison Creators» Innovators & Creators

Time Ticking Away

Joseph Warren — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:58:54 +0000

Art Lebedev’s Segmentus Clock is a new spin on keeping track of time. Watch the video demonstrate its mesmerizing spinning feature. The successive digits appear in fluid motion, with the 1 and 7 created using nontraditional designs. Check it out for yourself.

Cube Radio This cube radio is a button-less radio that takes instruction...

Bloom Box – The Future of Fuel Cells?

Joseph Warren — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:23:47 +0000

Bloom Box claims to have designed a power generator that combines oxygen and natural gas, biogas or solar energy to create electricity. ”6O Minutes” interviewed the inventor and his financial backer, who are going extremely public after years of secrecy. Among the initial companies testing the hype — Google, eBay, and Walmart. Take a look at the video for yourself.

Taking off the Gloves With cold weather all around us, many people who use...
The origins of Twitter According to this article, Twitter may be the great-grandchild...
(Almost) Waterless Laundry The new Xeros washing machine system uses about 1...

Science is Fun Part 1: Nitinol + Hot Water = Cool Shapes

Joseph Warren — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:39:03 +0000

This video shows the shape memory and super elasticity properties of nitinol, a combination nickel and titanium alloy. Commonly used in watch springs, bra underwire and eyeglass frames, it can be instantly and repeatedly transformed into its originally formed shaped with exposure to heat. Take a look for yourself.

Science Is Fun Part 3: Water Marbles Non-toxic water trick that produces transparent water marbles that...
Cool Calendar I have once again stumbled upon this Rainbow Calendar...
ooober cool design This award winning design is called Ooob. Considered both a bookend...

Snow Transportation

Joseph Warren — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:01:55 +0000

In the 1920’s, someone decided to create this screw-driven contraption and documented it for us to enjoy today. So take 10 minutes to enjoy it!

A Celebration of Snow Stevie Famulari, an environmental artist and a landscape architecture...
Seven Ways to Shovel Snow Winter is definitely here and so comes the snow. Shovels...

A Celebration of Snow

Joseph Warren — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:46:06 +0000

Stevie Famulari, an environmental artist and a landscape architecture professor at North Dakota State University, takes time to color snowfall that collects on her Fargo, N.D., lawn.

Taking creative liberty to spray each layer of snow a different color as it falls, she expects to have a rainbow effect as the winter progresses. Famulari said. “We shove it aside as if it doesn’t exist. We need to celebrate it.”

Some creative people make anything their canvas, and Famulari is one of those people.

Seven Ways to Shovel Snow Winter is definitely here and so comes the snow. Shovels...
A One-Ton Igloo How-To With nearly 2 feet of newly fallen snow on...
Snow Transportation In the 1920’s, someone decided to create this screw-driven...

Kinetic Mastermind: Theo Jansen

Joseph Warren — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:17:05 +0000

Theo Jansen, Dutch artist and engineer known for his wind-walking kinetic creations, is one of the most creative minds in design today. His 20-year career of creating sand-stomping, beach-roaming sculptures has resulted in having his life’s work presented in print, used in a major motion picture and even described at speaking engagements like TED.

The animation above shows Jansen’s most famous work, which recreates the natural movement of a horse walking. Some of the models he has created even utilize solar energy to power the gears.

Looking further into the work of Theo Jansen, you can find many videos and pictures showing how his creatures move by incorporating a robust system of kinetic features. This is one designer worth looking into.

Kinetic Jewelry: The Gear Ring This ring is a perfect marriage of function and...
Skyline Blinds Check out these skylines created using natural light to...
Camper Vs. Bicycle Innovation has found its way into the realm of mobile...

Honeycomb How-To Video

Joseph Warren — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:32:51 +0000

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!

This video is from National Geographic’s Ultimate Factories Program.

Package Design: Buckminster Snacker Geometric package designs for snacks are coming from all directions. Doritos...
Snow Transportation In the 1920’s, someone decided to create this screw-driven...
The wonder Of Corrugated Cardboard Scottish-born Robert Gair invented the corrugated box in 1890; that...

Custom Corkscrew Cellars

Joseph Warren — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:22:10 +0000

Small spaces can engender the best of designs. So many designs have been centered around tight quarters, but not like this. A company called Spiral Cellars has found a niche market servicing the wealthy wine aficionado.

Using a cut-out hole in the floor beneath common areas in the home, these guys create spiral staircases that lead to small depths; so small in fact, that you can do no more than grab a bottle of wine. A cool factor, indeed, to have such a cool hidden cellar, but at what cost? Plenty, I am sure.

Deck the Walls……with Clever Designs Check out these clever designs used to hang, mount, hide...
Explorations in Paper This set of images shows an exercise in packaging...
Package Design: Buckminster Snacker Geometric package designs for snacks are coming from all directions. Doritos...

Trick and Treat: Candy Corn Cones

Joseph Warren — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:10:00 +0000

With a sense of humor and good timing on his side, rogue artist Diabetik of Washington D.C. might be able to pull this off without any fines or arrest. He has taken the liberty of decorating traffic cones with the ever-so-popular markings of traditional candy corn. No word on whether this has been allowed by the city, but I think it is quite creative and might make a few people slow down in time for the yearly trick-or-treat rush, which could use some slower traffic.

Trick of the Eye At one time or another I’m sure we have all...
Arne Van Oosterom: Designer Interview Arne Van Oosterom authors the Weblog that accompanies Design Thinkers,...

Package Design: Buckminster Snacker

Joseph Warren — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:12:27 +0000

Geometric package designs for snacks are coming from all directions. Doritos has had a conceptual design overhaul, making a play on its famous triangular snack shape.

Impact extrusion is used to create this new Coke can redesign. Looks cool, I just hope it feels cool and can match the structural integrity of the current can.

Package Design Dip & Squeeze Is Here To Please After 42 years of using the famous ketchup packet...
box less pizza: Package Design There is no way that you can call this...
Blunt Design The days of structurally weak, dangerously pointed umbrellas are...