Green Design : Cardboard Straws

 

An interesting utensil found at  Ted's Montana Grill, while visiting Denver, Colorado, was these cardboard straws. An easily disposable straw? I didn't even think about straws not being biodegradable and how truly wasteful plastic straws are to our environment. I mean just think, every time you go to a restaurant you're probably going to use one. As for the green product functionality there is a interesting feel to the lips when you first use one. It does not get cold like a plastic straw and it has a better chance of sticking to wet lips but those are just small sacrifices to upgrading to green design. Earth friendly is always the way to go. I can't wait to find these in the grocery stores and in more restaurants, until then I'm going to make an effort to skip drinking out of straws, what wrong with drinking out from the glass anyway?

iCrew Bike Navigation System

iCrew for iPhone mount by Color Tokyo.
Keep riding strong with iCrew an iPhone mount that straps onto your bike so you can use your phone for listening to music or navigating yourself through the city.

You can mount your iPhone in a vertical or horizontal fashion with this gadget.

Get it Here!

4th Amendment Underclothes

Protect and voice your rights when going through airport security scanners (TSA body scanners) with metallic ink printed clothing.

Underwear, tee-shirts, and socks are available in men's, women's and children's sizes at http://4thamendment.myshopify.com/ (price ranges from $19-$45)

Tim Hortons Product Design

That's right, its a heart shaped donut from Tim Hortons, "is there really a better way to say I love you", um..probably but this one is pretty cute.

Festive Magic Hat Packaging

MagicHat is known for their fantastic art, with their psychedelic, colorful, and eye-catching style they impress again. Magic Hat just come out with their winter sampler pack. Within this green and lovely Magic Hat box they have a delicious selection of hibiscus odd notion, the infamous #9, Encore, an IPA on tour, and Howl winter lager. But, back to this box again, so great and beautiful I had to talk my husband into getting it just so we can store our homebrews in it forever and ever.
I must recommend that you visit Magic Hat's brewery. It's a brewery that has a mean focus on design; with a dark gift shop of black lights, fun taps, and awesome items.
Magic Hat employs two designers for their trippy artwork, from posters, packaging, apparel and so much more. My husband remembers them telling us that one of the designers worked for the Grateful Dead, super cool, I'll believe it.

Shapeways, 3D Modeling within a Mouse Click

Union Square Ventures who is the backer of Twitter, Foursquare, and Etsy, Fast Company,  their next venture, 3D Printing at Shapeways.

What is 3D printing, you ask? I needed to know myself. Shapeways defines 3D printing as "any additive manufacturing process whereby one machine turns a digital file into a finished physical object by building up that object layer by layer." Watch the video below to see Shapeways process and what they mean by 3D Printing.

I went to Shapeways.com to see the process in motion. Although the technology it very cool Union Square Ventures is not focused on it versus how this technology can bring designers and customers together.

How does Shapeways work?
Shapeways is a website like Esty but a Designer can upload or create (with the website design software) a 3D item and sell it on the site without ever building it themselves. Consumers can then login to the site and shop the 3D items for purchase. Once ordered, Shapeways will 3D print the design and ship to the customer within 10-14 days, depending on the manufacturing process.

What about Quality Control, what if there is an issue with the product that wasn't seen in the design? When you design the item you will be ordering it. Shapeways' server does check the design to see if they can 3D print it. If the model is printable they will send the item to the production facility where you order will be processed. If the item is not printable they will email you about the issues, such as problems with the models upload or if they cannot print the item it in the material you have selected. Shapeways does offer help for these issues with a forum and tutorials.

What are my choices for materials at Shapeways?
As of today's date, Plastic in several colors and strengths, Silver, Stainless Steel available gold and bronze finishes, Glass available in Matte and two Gloss finishes, full color Sandstone, and Alumide.
Pricing is based on the actual amount of material used in your final object.

Samples and Pricing:
Like Esty a designer has his/her own shop and items can be searched by item name, cateogory, date posted, and price. (Items can also be shared on selected social medias)

Nu at rest, Strong and Flexible Plastic in Winter Green, $62.31

Stainless Steel Earrings, $10.20

Trefoil Knot 0,035.-8cm, in White Strong & Flexible Plastic $32.84

Most Useful Product Designs of 2010

Throughout the spring and summer I have been finding fun and interesting products. Below are my top picks for the best 2010 summer products for their design, creativity and usefulness.

Easy Bloom Garden Sensor

The Easy Bloom is the best thing that ever happened to the brown thumb individual. Its a cleverly designed garden sensor, in the shape of a flower, that you push into the ground to inform you about the soil conditions in your yard. Once the Easy Bloom is planted it starts collecting useful data, such as sun exposure, moisture, fertilizer and temperature. And if you think that's cool, all that information can be translated for you. The Easy Bloom just gets plugged into your USB port, connects you to their website and instantly recommends what plants, trees, vegetables, etc can successfully grow in that spot. This definitely takes the guesswork out of gardening, and for $50 it can save to hundreds.

Folding Portable Notebook BBQ Grill

The Folding Portable Notebook BBQ Grill by Fire Sense is perfect grill  if you like to walk along the beach, hike in the woods, or just move around a lot and can't take the grill with you. Its the finest in British design, at a little under 2" long and about 18" wide (about 14 high when standing) it weighs only 8.32 lbs, this grill really is as easy to carry as a notebook computer. Its a charcoal grill that folds down to 1 inch flat and even comes with its own carrying bag. Don't worry its painted steel construction is durable and heat resistant. For around $50 this is a handy cooker.

3890 Taylor Measuring Cup and Scale

Is your cupboard filled with odd sized measuring cups and spoons for dry and wet measurements, and then you have a scale to measure everything else? Well, there is a solvent for that. Taylor has designed a Multi-use measuring cup that not only measures the cup but will also measure the weight of what you put into it. The Taylor Measuring cup and scale automatically converts 5 preset ingredients - flour, sugar, milk, water and oil - from ounces (weight) to cups (volume). General foods and ingredients are also measured in ounces/pounds or grams. And to take less out of your worries it has a low battery warning, and auto shut off. Price ranges around $25-$35.

ZOMM, comes in white and black

Do you often loose your keys? Well then ZOMM ,the world's first wireless leash, is the product for you. It's a small device that can hang on your key chain and communicates with your cell phone via Bluetooth. Say your at a restaurant and you accidentally leave your phone on the table as you start walking towards the door, ZOMM will start crying out by setting off an alarm, flashing, and/or vibrating. This crybaby also works as a speaker phone and as a emergency call assistant. By pushing the Z-button down you can answer your call, hold the button down for a full 9 seconds it will sound a loud panic alarm and if you continue holding the Z- button for an additional 5 seconds it will call for emergency assistance. ZOMM retails for around $80 and charges via USB cord.

Horizon fuel cell system, Hydrofill, the Hydrogen battery AC / solar /wind compatible

Coming late 2010 is Horizon's Hydrofill fuel cell system, it is a system that extracts hydrogen from water to be later used as energy for electrical devices. This energy can be transported and stored in a battery shaped HydroSTIK cartridge. The HydroSTIK is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and will be priced well as its release later 2010. Horizon says, "Each HydroSTIK can store 15Wh of energy, enough for 1-2 charges of a 3G smartphone, or 2-3 charges for average cellphones, which is more than what present primary and rechargeable batteries are able to offer at equivalent cost".

Mustache Me!

 Mustache Pint Glass from Bread and Badger

One of my first "designer" mustache sightings was on my favorite interior design blog Design*Sponge. It was for a glass that had an etched mustache on it, so when you drank from it you would be perceived to have a mustache on your face. Since then mustaches have been popping up in many places, other than the face.

 Get the whole "A Field guide to Typestaches", available in an 18" x 14" poster

Such as, in today's Print Magazine twitter post, announcing a new mustache typeface called "A Field guide to Typestaches", from Mr. Tor Weeks and Tom Foolery Tag Team. (See the full font here.) This type is just darn right adorable. Get the poster at Old Tom Foolery, before they sell out.

Pop's Stache Beverage Tag, from Shane Blomberg

Other adorable mustache find was found on Kickstarter, a web donation type of site where you launch a project you need money for and people will contribute, providing you reciprocate creative "exchanges" for their cash. Shane Blomberg's project, Pop's Stache, is for mustache beverage tags. His project is to create a package of eight different mustache styles, they are designed to ring around the top neck of your desired beverage bottle. Very cool idea!

Color Me Happy, with my own Pantone Color Coffee Mug

Mornings just got a little more exciting with these stylish Pantone Mugs, dishwasher and microwave safe.

While reading through my new August pile of magazines I came across this lovely Pantone mug. I'm one to collect unique and interesting mugs and this one, colored with Pantone colors, just speaks Graphic Designer. I would love to own a collection of these and hang them in my office cubbie. I'd select the mug color carefully each day according to my mood. (As of today I think there is 30 available colors). But, if I couldn't have the entire collection my favorites are Cupcake Yellow 607C, Orange 021C, Paprika 179C, and Cool Gray 10. I love these mugs and to be totally serious, I have started a Christmas list for myself and these are at the top! But if you can't wait until the holidays individual colors and sets are available at Pop Delux and Amazon.

Other Pantone items available are Pantone espresso cups, luggage tag, wallet, coin purse, book bag, messenger bag and a passport holder. And I'm sure there will be more items to come in the future, my hope next is for a Pantone sketch pad, but this Pantone notebook is close enough.

Shop Naturally and Give Creativity

A wooden Leaf Puzzle from Just Hatched Esty Shop

But today I ventured into the Community section of Esty and watched a interesting video about one of their artists, Woodmouse. Her and a team of artists started a website called Natural Kids which makes open-ended, natural kid items. Such as, wooden toys, unique plush animals and natural children's clothing. For example, giving your child a brightly colored piece of fabric can be a creative journey during playtime. This fabric can become a tent, a superman cap, or a kite. Giving your child something so simple can be very healthy for the mind, and we need to nurture creativity. As a Designer you have got to appreciate green creative toys that can grow your child's creativity too.






Get to know Esty

Lemongrass Sage Soap (Vegan friendly) from Sherri's Scents & Soys

I always check on Etsy to see what wonderful things are being created and sold by individual artists of the world. It is my mother's birthday coming up so I was looking to see if there was anything I could get her handmade. I love Etsy for a lot of reasons. One, their opening webpage changes hourly with selected items that fulfill a theme of that day. Two, they really push for quality, with products and photographs. And, three, this is the place I can easily find what I'm looking for.

I know your probably thinking that with so many stores and so many items how can finding a particular item be easy. Well, lets say I'm shopping for lemongrass scented soaps. I select "buy" select the "Bath and Beauty" category and select "soap". Then when I'm in, I keyword lemongrass or all natural. I can instantly find the perfect soap I need in seconds. I usually shop the stores a bit just see what else they have. And say I like what was offered at this one store I can either save the item or save the store in my favorites and go back to it at a later time. Fantastic!

Beer Cozies by Eve's Little Earthlings

Inflatable Kayaks

Roundup: Inflatable Kayaks | Wired.com Product Reviews
You knew there would be such a thing as Inflatable Kayaks. I would be totally for it if I didn't think that they would pop and I would be suck some wear alone far away from a dock or shore. I want to be positive about such a good design twist to the kayak, but it seems just too good to be true. For example, do you know of a comfortable air mattress? Or an air mattress that has stayed inflated all night? If you do let me know and I will invest.

I have rode in an inflatable boat before and it wasn't that bad, but it was more a joke type of a boat that I would never take too far off shore. A kayak I feel its a boat designed for long rides and rocky rapid type adventures. So, I'm curious as to how the reviews will go from customers about these inflatable style kayaks, and I hope they stay positive because these look really cool. I love the idea of rolling up my kayak to fit into the drunk of my car; it can fit right next to my huge tent, that rolls up nicely as well.

DesignMilk Sweet Finds

Drum Light by 326 : A tap of the drum turns on the LED lights inside the snare and another tap turns them off. The sound activation has been designed not to be triggered by ambient noise. The lamp’s heigh can also be adjusted.
Do you have any friends or family members that would just love this? I sure do.




Buckle Up Key Holder: Keep your keys safely buckled with this buckle-shaped key holder by Thabto.The key-ring buckle fits perfectly into its mate, which hangs on your wall, keeping your keys buckled up until it’s time for you to buckle up again.
I'm always looking for interesting ways to stay organized.



Concrete Chesterfield Sofa by Gray Concrete: UK-based Gray Concrete created this concrete Chesterfield sofa for exhibiting at 100% Design London. The sofa is made by taking a mold from a real Chesterfield, which is then used to make a glass textile reinforced casting. The cushions are a part of the casting. Before making the mold, the padding inside the cushions was replaced with a rigid foam which was modeled to make “bum prints.” The molding techniques used by Gray Concrete pick up detail really well so the concrete sofa really looks leathery. There’s even a concrete 50p piece stuck down behind one of the cushions to complete the realistic effect.
I love chesterfields, the color gray and the idea of this fun outdoor furniture piece.




Dwell Patterns for Heath Ceramics: Debuting this weekend at Dwell on Design is Dwell Patterns, a new line of tile from Heath Ceramics and Dwell Media.
This new modular tile system is the result of a successful collaboration between Chris Deam (designer, architect, and husband to Lara Hedberg Deam, founder of Dwell Media) and Catherine Bailey (Co-founder and Creative Director of Heath Ceramics along with husband Robin Petravic). Separately, two halves of successful power couples; together, a dynamic design duo.
Love this blue one, my husband is in the tile business, I'm sure he'd appreciate me posting these.

Pook-a-Looz

While looking for inspirations to make a custom design I came across Pook-a-Looz. It is a Disney Consumer Products line and its adorable. I always loved when Disney would sell the sketch-style Disney books and characters, but now Disney has taken it to another level. Shown above, from a picture of the website, is Woody from Toy Story if you couldn't tell. Visit disneypookalooz.com to see other characters, such as Snow White, Tinkerbell or the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland.

Today I has doing some updating to various accounts and fell upon Dan Della Vella's Twitter account from Buffalo Design Group (in Buffalo, NY). Dan had a great post for some real fun packaging designs. Click here and check out them out for yourself. My favorite is this Men's Perfume Bottle, as seen above, a concept from Polish design studio Ah&Oh. (image via: The Dieline)
See more packaging designs here from another tweet.



Websites


Today I was looking for ideas for a new website creation; I always start my "website inspirational search" with music artists. I find most artists have fantastic sites that truly pull you in. My favorite of the day is Norah Jones; I think it has to do with the sweet aspect that comes from the hand drawn type. Another favorite is Taylor Swift's site that looks more like a magazine layout with gorgeous photos.

See more webpages: 30 Beautiful websites. I have been staring at this page for two days, making sure I look at each link.