nano socks

This autumn, the Next Nature NANO Supermarket will be presented in Eindhoven, NL. It will be a physical supermarket featuring visions of possible nanotech products that might hit supermarket shelves between today and 2020.
Recently, creative people everywhere were called to submit speculative nanotech products for presentation at the NANO supermarket. A jury of design and science experts awarded the best submission a € 2,500 prize. Furthermore, three submissions have been awarded an Honorable Mention in recognition of the quality of their project proposals. The winning proposals have now been posted online for all to view.
Generally, the jury was pleased with the creativity displayed in the 33 submissions, although there were doubts about the feasibility and technological evidence of many projects that were submitted. On the one hand, there were proposals that revealed a good understanding of what nanotechnology entails, but have difficulty to bring in an artistic and visionary dimension. On the other hand, several proposals were adventurous, visionary, and strong from an artistic viewpoint, but were without an assessment of the actual properties and scientific implications of nanotechnology.
The winner was a sock that puts itself on your foot. So, in the future, it will be significant problems of this sort that will most merits the concern of humanity.
Posted by: The Editors

ARCOLONY by Steve Pike

"The environment that  surrounds us is teeming with an incredible variety of micro-organisms. As our ability to view and investigate this minuscule word develops, we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of these organism and the contribution they make to the circumstances in which we exist.

their microbial domain presents us with notions of form, organization, material and composition bearing considerable relevance to the environment  we inhabit .the manner in which these micro-organisms colonise their environment, how they communicate, organise and negotiate their territory along with the mechanisms and purpose they employ, provide  metaphorical parallels with human colonisation. Valuable lessons regarding symbiotic relations and sustainable systems can be draw, whilst touching morally sensitive issues of growth manipulation and behavior control."

http://www.arcolony.com

The research, experiments and installations illustrated on this document are described in greater detail within the publication AD Neoplasmatic Design, ed. Marcos Cruz and Steve Pike, Architectural Design Volume 78, number 6, pub. John Wiley & Sons, November/December 2008.

The content of this document is the intellectual property of Steve Pike. Text and images copyright Steve Pike.

ALGAETECTURE

ALGATECTURE presents a series of experiments, studies and constructions exploring microbiologic processes and micro-organic material; specifically investigating their prospective use as components and tools for design.

NONSTERILE

NONSTERILE presents an installation challenging the common perception of air as a sterile and empty space, investigating microbial colonisation and its potential environmental modifications capabilities. A partially living hybrid emerged, with transformer vessels, facilitators, inhibitors and requisite support infrastructure assembled alongside progressive micro-organic populations.

CONTAMINANT

The CONTAMINANT project collectively describes a series of investigative studies culminating in a responsive architectural installation. The objective of the study ,to explore the monitoring capabilities of an intervention deliberately designed to apprehend and develop locally present microbes and to reveal the emergent morphological aesthetic. An architecture of contamination results, the fabric and spatial possibilities of the installation reconfigured with every ,microbial progression

Tokyo Fiber 2009 SENSEWARE

Japan's artificial fibers are the new SENSEWARE. Just as the material of stone inspired creativity in humans during the stone age and the medium of paper invited activity for expanding knowledge, such as printing, what sort of creativity will artificial fibers evolved of high technology motivate human beings to seek ? Some fibers are as microscopic as a cell, some more pliant than rubber ,and some as conductive as metal. This exhibition attempts to visualize spheres which the new SENSEWARE beckons us to explore.

Architects and designers engaged  in various fields, automobile and high-tech appliance manufacturers, media artists, and a plant artist. 

BMW GINA Light Visionary Model Concept Car

BMW recently revealed the GINA light visionary model concept car, an innovative new exploration in car design.
instead of the traditional steel and plastic body shell, the GINA concept uses a textile fabric starches over a wire
frame. this unique idea allows the car’s skin to change shape, stretching to match the position and curve of the
wire frame. this idea is demonstrated in the ‘blinking’; headlights and the flexibility of the car doors as they open.
the project began by questioning the purpose of a car’s body and exploring new possibilities. chris bangle,
director of design for BMW, discuses the project in the video below. the car is currently on show at the BMW
museum in munich, germany.

http://www.bmw.com

blu blu.org

BLU is an artist and illustrator from Buenos Aires, Argentina, has invaded major walls several times around the world with his brilliant designs, like the facade of the Tate Modern in London, Walls of Milan, Zaragoza.
BLU began experimenting with stop motion animation of his murals, arrives at this amazing video, the result is impressive by the sheer creativity that condenses but mainly by the time spent in development (several months), surprising even the size of his drawings (some videos showing the relationship of a person with lively mural over 5 meters). It is imperative to mention that ... well in his own words:
BLU says:"Everything is handmade by me with a simple digital camera. All drawings are basically improvised on the wall. "

Website: http://www.blublu.org 
Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/blu

LA .GA by krvkurva

Created in 2003, Krv Kurva is art directed by Jorge Moita, facing an eclectic creative team. Krv Kurva is intrinsically linked with the both the fashion and design industry, promoting an ethos of design and beauty: "May we dress anything?" remains the main question to apply to all areas of art, interiors and light. Krv Kurva acts and reacts for an eclectic and diverse client base: from public institutions to friends; from international "thinkers" to the movers and shakers of the fashion world.



More info www.krvkurva.org

ikitabi by trazita

The company IKI was started in 1997 by Chikako Inoue. In 1998, she opened her boutique Trazita which reinvents Japanese tradition and offers its clients original and distinguished garments, shoes and accessories.

Clients are particularly fond of the audaciousness of the unique blend of Asian and European inspired designs.

www.ikitabi.com

Melissa + Love Foxx

living in a frantic world of creativity. melissa knows how it feels to be different and always look for alternatives ways of expressing new ideas.


http://www.melissa.com.br/en

randoseru - traditional japonese backpack

A randoseru (ランドセル) is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather or leather-like synthetic material, most commonly used in Japan by elementary schoolchildren. It measures roughly 30 cm high by 23 cm wide by 18 cm deep, and features a softer grade of leather or material on those surfaces which touch the body. When empty, the average randoseru weighs approximately 1.2 kilograms (about 2½ pounds avoirdupois). The term randoseru is a borrowed word from the Dutch "ransel" meaning "backpack", a clue to its origins nearly 200 years ago as used in the Netherlands.

The randoseru is the most universal and recognizable feature of the Japanese school uniform, and is considered symbolic of the virtues necessary to obtain a good education—unity, discipline, hard work and dedication. Traditionally, the randoseru is red in colour for girls, black for boys. While in more conservative schools the colour (and often the brand and design) is mandated and enforced, the backpack is available in a variety of colours, partly as a compromise for parents to retain some tradition within modernized schools which no longer require the use of traditional uniforms or of the randoseru.

Traditionally given to a child upon beginning his or her first year of school, the randoseru's materials and workmanship are designed to allow the backpack to endure the child's entire elementary education (six years). However, the care usually given to the randoseru throughout that time and afterwards can extend its life and preserve it in near-immaculate condition long after the child has reached adulthood, a testament to its utility as an accessory and the sentiment attached to it by many Japanese as symbolic of their relatively carefree childhood years.

The randoseru's durability and significance is reflected in its cost: a new randoseru made of genuine leather can carry a price tag of over 30,000 yen, almost 350 US dollars, at the May 2010 exchange rate. Clarino, a synthetic material frequently used as a substitute, reduces the cost somewhat. Often randoseru are available on auction sites, in new or used condition, at much lower prices, particularly after the start of the Japanese school year in April.

Water Logo 09'

Artist: Atelier OMOYA +Hara Design Institute, NDC
Material: MONERT™, Ultra water-repellent fabric
Provided by: Unitika Ltd.

The drops of water seeping out are kept under control on the ultra water-repellent fabric as they form letters that spell out the exhibition theme. In a sense, this is a sign made of water.
Fibers given ultra waterrepellent coating at the nano level completely repel the drops of water,
much like a lotus leaf. When the water drops that seep through the fabric to form the logo exceed a certain size, they roll away down the sloping surface.


Point of Design | Atelier OMOYA + Hara Design Institute

Drops of light create a sign on top of ultra water-repellent fabric.
Driven by a hidden mechanism, water seeps through the fabric in groups of drops that spell out "senseware." The fabric slopes gently down to the front, so that whenever a drop reaches a certain size, it naturally begins to roll down the sloping surface under the influence of gravity. A new drop of water grows up to take the place of each drop that rolls away, so the water logo is constantly renewed.
This is the '09 version of the Water Logo fabricated for the Tokyo Fiber exhibition in 2007. New in this version is a ‘reset' function, which occasionally creates a large number of water drops at the top edge, sending an impressive shower of water down the fabric. This shower of light sparkles as if it were raining diamonds. When the shower has passed, not a single drop of water remains on the black fabric, but new drops soon begin to well up and catch the light again. And when they roll away, they have much further to go than in the '07 logo, giving viewers a more satisfying visual experience.

ioanna kourbella

www.kourbelaioanna.gr

UM bags by Josh Jakus

Unusually smart
The design team at FUZ is lead by Josh Jakus, the California-based industrial designer best known for his shape-shifting UM handbags. Josh set out to create simple, elegant, and fun objects for FUZ. The result is a unique line of household accessories that is both accessible and provocative.

Sustainably produced
FUZ uses recycled or excess materials whenever possible. Also, FUZ products are designed for efficient manufacturing, achieving the highest yield from standard units of raw material and reducing energy-consuming machine time. Many require just a single punch from an industrial-sized cookie cutter to turn raw material into a finished product.

Made in the USA
FUZ manufactures in the USA, producing small batches to meet customer demand. Keeping our business lean and local is good for our bottom line and good for the consumer, allowing us to offer reasonable pricing that is competitive with big-box stores.

www.joshjakus.com

on line store  www.fuzfarm.com

Josh Jakus

Unusually smart
The design team at FUZ is lead by Josh Jakus, the California-based industrial designer best known for his shape-shifting UM handbags. Josh set out to create simple, elegant, and fun objects for FUZ. The result is a unique line of household accessories that is both accessible and provocative.

Sustainably produced
FUZ uses recycled or excess materials whenever possible. Also, FUZ products are designed for efficient manufacturing, achieving the highest yield from standard units of raw material and reducing energy-consuming machine time. Many require just a single punch from an industrial-sized cookie cutter to turn raw material into a finished product.

Made in the USA
FUZ manufactures in the USA, producing small batches to meet customer demand. Keeping our business lean and local is good for our bottom line and good for the consumer, allowing us to offer reasonable pricing that is competitive with big-box stores.

www.joshjakus.com

on line store  www.fuzfarm.com

Jerome Olivet

Jerome Olivet – Designer Professor of prospective design, has worked with large international companies, such as Alessi, Thomson, Baccarat, Nissan, RocheBobois… his creations are in the collections of museums of modern art around the world.

In showing “Bionics” a furniture collection in 2001, he proved that today, design can expand the human emotions.

He created in 2004 his own brand, a collection of fashion accessories with futuristic and functional lines. It is sold today in nearly 20 countries, and shown in several museums of Modern Art (Denmark, New York, Tokyo) and the museum of Contemporary arts in Chicago.

In China, he already collaborates since 2003 with the first electronics Chinese brand.
To combine beauty and ergonomics remains the leitmotiv of the emotional universe of Jerome Olivet.
In 2008, he presents JET HOUSE, a revolution in the world of individual architecture. By its biomorphic design, he creates global art. It’s an extreme feeling, the symbol of a new life.

He is Creator of the year from Paris capital of creation.

www.jeromeolivet.com

shop on line

http://www.jeromeolivet.fr/index_us.php

ANH TUAN budapeste

ANH TUAN budapeste

The fashion label ANH TUAN was launched in 2006, in Budapest, by Vietnamese
fashion designer, Luu Anh Tuan.

In past years, he has traveled around Europe, Central Asia, and South-East
Asia, to gather inspirations for his collections. Anh Tuan studied at the
Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest and spent a semester at
the London College of Fashion. Apart from his menswear and womenswear
collections, he specializes in leather goods, hand-made bags, and accessories.
The essence of his designs is a significant and constructive geometric shape.
A mixture of squares and triangles appear throughout his collections.

In 2007, he was awarded the Best Young Fashion Designer prize by the Hungarian
Fashion Designers Association, and in 2008, by Fashion Awards Hungary. His
high-fashion clothing and accessories are frequently presented during the Budapest,
New York, Prague, and Zagreb Fashion weeks. His future collections will be shown
in Berlin and Paris.

His showroom is located in the Museum district of Budapest and he has launched the
ANH TUAN label in selected concept-stores internationally.

Hand-made paper textures and geometric shapes created by Anh Tuan.
The natural three dimensional pictures iterated by the designer from one sheet of paper.

Hand-made paper textures and geometric shapes created by Anh Tuan.
The natural three dimensional pictures iterated by the designer from one sheet of paper.

www.anh-tuan.com