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

No need for words, just watch this video. 

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.

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.

Keep a creative calendar at your desk or on your wall, and expect creative things to happen, right? Well, if that is the case, try to get your hands on one of these creative calendars.  

Here are a few ways to store and pour things from the kitchen including brown sugar, milk and tea. Some unique, some clever, some functional; but all double walled in design.

bottle inside of a glass blow molded utter milk decanter, wine glass in a bottle double walled coffee mug tornado in a glass brown sugar castor double walled cruets double walled tea press champagne flutes stackable double walled glasses

With Halloween right around the seasonal calendar, a lot of people are going to begin designing their own costumes. I have found a few creative costumes for your enjoyment and inspiration — some cute, some scary, and some just really clever.  

Construction machinery  dinosaur with a cage   baby monster  baby Nacho Libre  chicken crossing the road  Indiana Jones video game monster  iPhone vending machine  Bumblebee

Going back to school means a lot of people buying a whole lot of new things. Teachers, students, parents; we are all consumers. With so many designs keeping the environment in mind during planning and manufacture, it would be nice to see a few students sporting green with their back to school gear. Here are a few products to get you started.

Newton running shoes are more than just green. The shoes laces, webbing, insole top and outer sole rubber are made of recycled materials. And there is more; the package is made of the same post-consumer paper waste as egg cartons. And to get greener than green, the shoe is stuffed with a pair of new socks and a reusable bag to avoid useless tissue paper that would normally get tossed after opening.

Every new school year sees last year’s trends moved aside for the hottest new items. Well, try going green with this 100% recycled material backpack. The cost of the backpack even includes a donation to American Rainforests, so chances are you will be helping to add a tree or two for your money well spent.

Radiohead, noted to be one of the greenest bands out there has extended its line of apparel to raincoats. The nice thing about their designer coat (other than it is made for Radiohead) is that it took 15 recycled PETG bottles to create it. Look cool, feel cool and be cool with this post-consumer jacket this fall.

And speaking of rainy fall weather, if campus life has you traveling by foot from class to class, be sure to pack an umbrella. This umbrella has a canopy made of 100% recycled PETG bottles with a frame made of 70% recycled steel, aluminum and ABS plastics. 

Pack up your pencils, pens and markers into this recycled supply pouch and feel good knowing that the world has one less tire in its landfills. And while you’re at it, stuff in the ruler made of, “read it together class: three plastic cups.”

Who goes to school without a notebook. If you are going to have to take notes, you might as well write onto something worth writing on. This recycled material notebook will have you daydreaming and doodling in no time, thanks to recycled juice cartons and plastic boxes.

Highlighters are a must for most note-takers and young scholars. Why not go green when you go yellow by using these Zebra-Eco highlighters made from 74% post-consumer waste. Go ahead, stuff it in that pouch you just read about.

Packing your lunch is a must for some students, by choice or necessity. Do it in style with this second-life juice pouch bag. This ECOutlet bag is made from materials once known as trash, but now known as green.

I would have to say the biggest complaint about going green, is all the green you spend in doing so. Although it can be costly to buy environmentally responsible products, sometimes I think it is worth it to do so, as with this computer. With an 80% smaller size, using 70% less energy and 75% less printed paperwork to go with it, this Dell desktop computer is definitely getting greener. You can even recycle 95% of the product after it becomes obsolete.

Adjust your speakers and sit back for this one. This is an inspiring video about all things creative. The video was presented at a benefit show for the Ontario College of Art and Design back in 2005, but it has stood the test of time.

What a creative way to take notes. Many people rely on visual aides to remember things (think doodle as you take notes), but imagine the power of a 3D doodle. By following the steps printed on these adhesive backed notes, you can make any reminder stand out from the rest.

This sketchbook offers a compromise for all of the blight-ridden commercial building owners and street vandals who claim to have no other place for displaying artwork. Full-page spreads of New York City’s grimy cityscapes, abandoned vehicles and vacant storefronts make this sketchbook a means for cathartic artistic behavior without having to incur property damage or create an everlasting eyesore for commuters and city residents.