Loom is a collection of organic textile pendant lamps utilizing a new 3d woven polyester material designed by Benjamin Hubert for Swedish manufacturer Zero. Originally used as a source of comfort in the bedding industry the 3d textile has never before been used in the lighting industry. The textile can be stretched around complex forms and diffuses the light through its dense network of warp woven polyester fibers. The textile is offset and contrasted with a brightly lit polymer lens at the heart of each pendant.
The research process is no longer linear. The widespread and decentralized availability of data, and the ability of a new generation of Design Researchers to manage and utilize this content, has lead to a new way of conducting research. Those of us entering the profession today are part of the generation known as Digital Natives, born from approximately 1980 to 2000 -- a generation that came of age immersed in information and user-generated content. We see the boundaries between disciplines as fluid and we adopt processes grounded in diverse disciplines, from anthropology and sociology to design and business. Spurred by its newest practitioners, design research has evolved to take on a holistic approach that exploits the convergence of the equally important analog and digital worlds and examines the way in which this interplay can influence how we conduct research. Like the content itself, the way people continuously process, gather, analyze and communicate information has also adapted. It is dynamic, ever changing, agile, and never finished. Traditional social science research processes still play a very critical role in how we conduct research. We are not changing the intention of research, but re-framing the way it's being done by harnessing today's ubiquitous data, tools and social behaviors. This paper addresses the evolving tools and techniques that Digital Natives bring to the discipline and what this shift means for traditional processes in design, strategy and business. We outline strategies for exploiting an abundance of content, dealing with ambiguity to create meaning, and taking advantage of the ongoing multi-directional conversation that technology enables.
The global home appliance maker Gorenje has launched a new touchscreen control panel for their Gorenje+ line of built-in kitchen appliances. Premiered at imm cologne, the iChef+ touchscreen features a unique control module with a large colour display that allows users to select the functions simply by sliding their fingers across the touch screen. There are baking presents for everything from brownies to pot roast calibrated to help anyone from novice to gourmand turn out consistent oven-baked goodies. Check out the video demo below. The iChef system will be available this Spring in Europe.
The NewFresh Air Purifier maximizes the absorption of contaminated gases and chemical fumes by utilizing highly active, super microporous carbon. Active carbon is a unique absorbent that offers an efficient and natural solution for cleansing the air. This quality is further enhanced by NewFresh’s patented technology which energizes airflow to achieve a high rate of air penetration into the carbon cavities.
Playing with lighting is one of the most crucial steps in interior design. MODLI was designed with this in mind. It allows the user to shape the illuminated object to the form of their choice, creating unique effects and completely customizable options. Now anyone can visualize and create the perfect lighting arrangement. MODLI is simple and practical for maintenance and provides versatile lighting effects in public areas and as an architectural light.
This simplistic luminaire consists of two trapezoidal pieces of metal that together form a hexagonal outline. Trapezium’s exposed top and bottom each cast a soft light cone while light pushes through the narrow lateral gaps on each side to display thin streaks on the surrounding walls. The direct and indirect light contrasts to yield the simple yet surprising geometric form of a trapezium.
