Scientists Develop World’s Lightest Metal, 100x Lighter than Styrofoam

  This, we assure you, is a real photograph. Researchers at the University of California Irvine have developed a material that is as strong as metal yet 100 times lighter than Styrofoam. The material is constructed from a micro-lattice of nickel phosphorous tubes that is 99.9% air. The tubes are hollow and have walls 1,000 times thinner than a human hair, yet they have the strength of metal with the added benefit of being ultra resistant to strain. Researchers believe this new material could be used to make lightweight batteries that could eventually bring down the weight of green vehicles and increase their efficiency while using less material in the process.

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LEGO recycling containers

 
'leco' recycling containers by flussocreative

created by italian design studio flussocreative 'leco' is a system of recycling and storage containers, 
utilizing the look and practical design of LEGO building blocks.

the collection currently includes four polymer boxes: two smaller models in blue and green 
(for aluminum and glass recycling respectively) and two larger size containers in white and yellow 
(for paper and plastic). while these modules are designed specifically for the divisions 
and colour coding of the italian recycling system, 'leco' can be easily modified for other recycling 
programs, or used for other kinds of storage.

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PRODUCTIVITY OR DEATH

The Laptop Steering Wheel Desk by Mobile Office Inc. Increase your productivity by working on your commute!  Find out HERE.

Lightin

Young British Designer Thomas Stanley has come up with the ultimate upcycled dorm room accessory: "Lightin," a beer can reimagined as a desk lamp that casts a warm, intoxicating glow from its underside.

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Metal Spining

A pretty cool way to shape metal. Found it from youtube. Have fun!

Livingstones

A high quality surrealistic set, practical as a floor cushion.Oversized pebbles, a resting area with varying sizes and shapes that can be arranged according to your mood, for contemporary interiors.Pebbles as a fanciful landscape for ideal and permanent holidays, which can be transformed into an enjoyable domestic game.

via[smarin.net]

Stuck with colouring your design?

ColorSchemer is the solution!








The sample color schemes are just a start from color schemer. They also have color scheme sampler widget for the mac and also a downloadable piece of software that allows you to study color relationships.


Try this out! colorschemer.com

Charging POD

What a simple little design piece and more useful than I can imagine. First of all the form which they created works well to hold the things items while also using lightweight materials to provide the structure.

Oh, yeah the cords now would be well out of my dogs reach.

Is it money that motivates us? Not really!

Besides Industrial Design specifically, I tend to get involved and have a passion for issues on operation,process improvement, and workplace environmental impact. As designers it is our job to always find the faults in what exists so we can find a better way to create or do something.

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Oldschool Industrial Design Video

Stamped steel flat pack chair

This stamped chair can be shipped flat then folded once received. Very efficient design utilizing the structural forming as a design detail!



via[dornob.com]

Tenting Kayak Concept

All I can say is that Tom Hanks’ character in Castaway would be losing sleep if he saw this concept. This Kayak concept designed by Marioi Weiss may open some eyes to those camping junkies out there.

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mAIRine, the safety wetsuit top

The mAIRine is a wetsuit top that provides two key safety features. The first feature is an automatic inflation bladder which uses a manual spring loaded timer that can tell when someone is under water for an extended amount of time. This is important if a surfer were to become unconscious during a big spill. The second safety feature is a small air conister on the back which is connected to a mouthpiece located on the wrist. If the loss of oxygen occurs, air can be accessed  for a generous amount of time.

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GM And Segway unviel electric two-seater called Puma

  Segway has developed variations of thier two-wheeled personal vehicle, but recently, with the help of GM, Segway has unvieled an electric-powered two seater called the Puma. It can reach a top speed of 35 mph, and can travel 35 miles before needing a recharge.

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SixthSense turns any surface into an interface

  

I’m speechless; this new prototype by MIT is nothing short or astonishing. This wearable device let’s you physically interact on any surface that’s in front of you. The “Sixth Sense” system from Patti Maes’ Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab opens the doors to touch interfaces. With the Sixth Sense, you can watch a video over a newspaper, navigate through images on a wall, or view a map on a countertop. MIT’s new prototype can also recognize certain hand gestures. For example, if you were to make a picture gesture with your fingers, a picture would be taken.

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RepairWare: Home Products Redesigned to be Easily Fixed

As an economic theorist once pointed out to illustrate an idea: there is not one person on this planet who can make a pencil. Likewise, who among us is qualified to fix even the most generic of everyday objects? Some, sure, but certainly not all – which is where RepairWare comes in.

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Saving Space: Frugal, Green & Waste-Free Toothpaste Tube

Solving the toothpaste container leftovers issue is almost a cliche in design circles, but all that effort was also bound to pay off with something truly unique and ingenious like this solution.

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SCARAB

• Urban mobility vehicle (project initiated in 2008)
  
  Winner of the Michelin Challenge Design 2010.
  The aim of this project was to develop guidelines and a holistic solution for a new system of urban transport, composed of vehicle and infrastructure, in a sustainable way and adaptable to various urban environments.
  
  
  
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Twistable Aluminum Can, Great Way to Reduce Grabage Size

The twistable aluminum can called “NNew Can” is designed for easy compression, making it simple to reduce trash size. If this concept were to be used, it would leave room for 3x the amount of cans a normal size can would. The new design also features a simple new tab for easy opening (not quite sure why this hasn’t been done yet Pepsi!) Not only would this be incredibly convenient for the consumer, it would also lend a helping hand to recycling.

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DEWS

•    DEWS is an upstanding toothbrush that incorporates a weight within its rounded handle base to keep the bristles away from dirty surfaces. DEWS does away with concerns about whether your toothbrush is resting on an unhygienic surface. This upstanding toothbrush makes use of a weight at the end of its rounded handle to create a centre of gravity at the handle base. When the toothbrush is set down, it will sway momentarily until it reaches a position of balance ? much like a tumble doll. DEWS has been designed with ergonomic considerations, and its weight allows for comfortable brushing. 

  
  
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