Dedicated to inspiring designers, inventors & the creative spirit in all of us.

Aspex, a leading designer of tabletop scanners, has challenged its online viewers to submit sample items that they are curious to see magnified to extreme precision.  Have you ever wondered what things look like up close and personal?  Well, fill out a form and send them your sample to see whatever you have been curious to view magnified.

Below are common items already submitted and on display for the world to see. A penny, sidewalk chalk, cat hair, a piece of hard candy.  Maybe you can see your sample on their list of items under the microscope.

This glimpse into the future of augmented reality is sensory overload. If this is what the future has to offer in the realm of augmented reality interface, the future is scary. Comprehending real time information, an overabundance of corporate logos and an oversaturation of audio visual stimulation in general is very hard to do, and this video illustrates that fact.

Holographic art has reached a whole new plateau with this new development from Zebra Imaging. When trying to communicate the structure of a building, many developers build scale models with landscapes and scale indicators for viewers to better comprehend the proposed construction. By using Zebra Imaging’s holographic technology, you can render any image imaginable and create a two-dimensional study that has three-dimensional qualities. Just take a look….

It doesn’t take many words to introduce the next set of photographs. Just enjoy.

After watching “Objectified” and listening to the reasoning behind the design of today’s cameras, based on the old cameras that actually held a roll of film and clicked as a function not a sound effect, I found this camera design to be refreshing. The Nova Concept DSLR is designed to emulate the ergonomics of a video game controller. The switchblade handle design and button array offer a fresh approach to how electronics are conceived. The only problem is that this camera is only a concept. Some day perhaps, some day.

This umbrella, shown in Google Maps, does a little trick of the eye when seen from a bird’s eye view. The design shows up as a “you are here” graphic on a captured image form, which can be entertaining to those people who love searching for interesting Google Street View and Maps snapshots.

These two images were linked on a website I frequent, and they’re pretty powerful photographs, in my opinion. I think black and white photography can be executed so well, as well as reference to scale and time. These two images are great examples of that.

At one time or another I’m sure we have all been seated at a table, or next to a table, that has used one of these tricks to accommodate less than favorable seating situations. Now they have been designed as novelty products.

This phonebook booster seat is hilarious, and functional too. I come from a generation where I really had to sit on a phone book or two when I was young.

Reminds me of the old sugar packet trick everyone has used to even the height of the table at a restaurant.

September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day. In honor of the largest land animal, here is a collection of everything elephant from fine art to origami. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Olivier Blaise

Floor of an elevator made to look like a 1,000-foot drop! I hope no one has passed out in this elevator.

Scale is everything when you are seeing this advertisement from above. From a distance, these people walking over and around this scratching dog look like fleas. 

Everyone dreams about what they would rather be doing; this advertisement shows how extreme that may be for some people.

Clever way to advertise “shark week” on a city bus. I bet it looks way cooler in person!

This vacuum billboard takes a second to get, but it is pretty good.

Nothing says “we sell jumbo muffins” like a car crushing advertisement set-up showing jumbo muffins falling from a billboard.

Awesome billboard idea, but too much white space leaves your logo left unseen.

Driving around the corner and seeing this skyline billboard would set you back. I love how advertisers are creating up exhibit designs to retain the attention of consumers.

Wow, now that is putting trust in the product you are advertising! 3M claims it sandwiched real money into this bus stop advertising campaign.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round…

This is a clever way to seek out jobseekers at an ATM. This company has an entire ad campaign with miserable people shown ‘working’ in automated machines, like coffee machines and photo booths, as if they are actually inside.