A Thread for Fine Design
-
@roger said:
@mike lucey said:
It looks like BMW are getting serious about producing an electric car and the BMW i3 Concept could be what we will eventually see in the showrooms.
While the upper glass doors look cool, I don't understand why they have them!
To show off your legs obviously! Or perhaps to see curbs when parking.
They already have auto-tilting mirrors so you don't curb it
The later representations of the BMW i3/i8 have more typical looking doors. I think it's just a way of showing its construction/space available. Look at the "glass" boot, they've just done that to show much boot space you have if the fuel tank isn't there, I don't believe they are suggesting the doors will be glass.
-
I was just thinking of 18 wheel truck that have glass on the bottom side of the passenger door so drivers can see cars passing in the mirror's blind spot. Didn't know about the BMW mirrors. Industrial design at work. You are probably right.
-
This thread both inspires and saddens me.
-
Designed on purpose or just natural design?
Tunnel of Love - Kleven, Ukraine.
-
-
Roger and Oli, I think Beemers are cool. I've always had a preference from them over Mercs. I think the styles cues for Mercs over the past few years is a downer. They are starting to look 'girlie'
Think I've found my ideal electric vehicle, it meets my price range and required practicality level. When I first saw the Zümaround, I thought, Mmmmm don't know about that ..... its a bloody scooter and scooters are for kids ...... but then again. I'm just a big kid! ..... so maybe ...'
The more I read about the Zümaround and researched what you are actually able to do with scooters, the more it made sense. For example, I could 'scoot' on the footpath (sidewalk) and go places even bikes aren't allowed let alone cars. It looks sturdy / robust enough to scoot on the road with its 20" wheels, no problems with potholes!
Best of all is the price $1250. This is excellent compared to other opinions. The build quality looks good, not 'girlie' .... essential! Also its made in Canada!
To make the Zümaround ideal for my urban travels I would need a handlebar Pannier of a decent size and possibly some kind of a carrier / shelf over the rear wheel AND a very light-weight windshield with part over hood to protect me from the Irish mist that we have over here.
Mike
-
Great Mike.
That's sort of like what my wife has (A guy in the next towm makes them "Diggler"http://www.digglerstore.com/scooters_electric_home.html). But she uses a different power source!
[off:283x4pis]and if anyone is interested , she could use some sponsers for a good cause...
http://www.crowdrise.com/CotatiChargers
Peter[/off:283x4pis]
-
mike - you need a brompton, the front bag, and a rain cape.
http://www.brompton.co.uk
awesome little bikes. i rented one instead of a car out in portland for a trade show.
train, bus, cafe, store, shopping. it all worked. -
Time to inaugurate the new site.
I just became aware of this company Huf Haus premanufactured housing.[web 100%,100:2ocp1dft]http://www.huf-haus.com/en/home.html[/web:2ocp1dft]
A rather inspiring portfolio in this field, which in Canada is quite often associated with a trailer
-
@dale said:
I just became aware of this company Huf Haus premanufactured housing.
C'mon Mr. Dale.... my favourite prefab company. From what I read, they had some potential clients in my country, (Romania) but they refuse to build here. It's something regarding the weather. I watched many times that episode from "grand designs" show, where they build the house in four days, somewhere in UK. Before they return to Germany, they clean the car and the tools. German people are awesome!!
I'll check the new site, thanks for the link. -
@stefanq said:
@dale said:
I just became aware of this company Huf Haus premanufactured housing.
C'mon Mr. Dale.... my favourite prefab company. From what I read, they had some potential clients in my country, (Romania) but they refuse to build here. It's something regarding the weather. I watched many times that episode from "grand designs" show, where they build the house in four days, somewhere in UK. Before they return to Germany, they clean the car and the tools. German people are awesome!!
I'll check the new site, thanks for the link.Yes I was quite surprised that I hadn't heard of them, so if your holding out on any other
secrets let us know
-
@pbacot said:
Great Mike.
That's sort of like what my wife has (A guy in the next towm makes them "Diggler"http://www.digglerstore.com/scooters_electric_home.html). But she uses a different power source!
Peter[/off]
Peter, My little Westie would not be much at towing me around
@bmike said:
mike - you need a brompton, the front bag, and a rain cape.
http://www.brompton.co.ukMike, I'll stick to the Zumaround as being a scooter it allows for riding on footpaths and such. What I get has to be electric to fit my plans also.
-
I imagine font design could fall into the category of fine design! If so, I think Open Dyslexic deserves a mention.
Abelardo Gonzalez has created an open-source font designed to help people with dyslexia read more easily. I have tried it out and think it actually works well. I was diagnosed with mild dyslexia when a kid so have an interest is such things.
The clever part to the font design is that Abelardo gives each letter gravity thus making them stay in place and not reverse or upturn in the dyslexic readers mind!
The font is a free download and available here. If anyone finds it useful, be sure to make a little donation to Alelardo for his work.
A comprehensive article may be read here.
Mike
-
That is very interesting!
-
Its also worth spreading the word to teachers I feel!
-
Mike
This may well be one of the most important posts in this thread because it has the potential, through design, of changing lives.
An incredible find, and I will be passing it on, and hoping others will follow suit. -
-
Digging a little deeper, there are apparently a few fonts that have been in the works for dyslexia.http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=new-font-helps-dyslexics-read
And there seems to be a lot of research papers on Google Scholarhttp://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&q=fonts+for+dyslexia&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp= -
this is 'best of british' design. IMHO
I have one space frame and a number of the 1960's 'F' frame models
lovely bikes, man and company.
john -
Yes indeed John! Not only British design but also British workmanship!
I see a new trend over the past couple of years whereby small manufacturing companies are starting up and producing quality products in locations in the Western world that have been devoid on manufacturing for some time.
I am not sure about what is causing this but I imagine the recession with all the layoffs we are seeing from the large multi-nationals has kickstarted this new trend. Also small start-ups can more easily get into quite high-tech ventures with the now low cost availability of design and manufacturing processes. It no longer takes 3-4 years and multi millions to design, develop and produce a car! The Qbeak and Lit C-1 are cases in point.
An excellent some scale example of this trend is Kickstarter and in many cases SketchUp has been the design tool of choice, at least on the initial design concept. I hope this trend keeps moving forward.
bummer.
Advertisement