For Use / Numen

Numen/For Use is a Croatian-Austrian design collective working in the fields of scenography, industrial and spatial design and conceptual art. A particular piece of work that has caught my attention is their use of tape to create architectural forms within a structure.



The tape concept developed further towards a more sculptural architectonic form. It was practically "found" through the act of chaotic wrapping, where a one-dimensional line (“tape”), slowly turned into two-dimensional plane, which then finally curved into volume.
The installation was envisaged as a site specific, parasitical structure invading an arbitrary location. The straight lines of main trajectories are stretched across a given area and these tendons are then wrapped diagonally with layers of elastic tape, giving shape to a complex organic form through a process similar to the emergence of such structures in nature.
With the further layering of the tape, the figure becomes more and more corporeal as it picks up on the slow increase of the curvature. The interior of the structure is supple, elastic, and pliable while the form itself is statically perfect, as it ideally follows the trajectories of forces, being literally defined by them. In the moment when the audience enters the installation, what started off as a sculpture seamlessly morphs into architecture.

New Shoes

I bought some new shoes last week, something which i dont like doing and i often just wear pupso work but now that im in my finer years i thought it best to but a pair of boots. Now i dont wear high heels (maybe at the weekends) but they have to be the most iconic of ladies shoe style, check out these from Kobi Levi an Isreali designer that puts a fine twist on the shoe. High heels are synominous sex and i like how he highliights this some of his designs. Im also found of his more innocent playful designs too.

Take it to bits

Ever since i was young i have always found myself taking things to bits, even when i had one of the very first Gameboys that my parents must have saved up to get me for Christmas got taken to bit within a couple of weeks from getting it. This i think led me on to become an engineer, taking things apart figuring out how they work and putting them back together again. My love for Photography and cameras has grown and as i type i have one sat at home in bits waiting to be put back together again. So imagine my delight when i found these awesome photos by Todd McLellan

Giacometti V's Laser Cutter

What if we took Giacometti and put him through the Laser Cutter? well check out my vid because that exactly what we did and it came surprisingly well......i love messing about with big boys toys.

Cool Packaging 7

Breast Cancer Awareness

Cool Packaging 6

Packaging doesn't have to be some crazy shape or form for it to be interesting or even successful. The branding and the colour design is just as important for the product to be successful. The idea that the packaging has to catch the eyes is well known but to keep the eye on it for even a couple of seconds for the brain to register the product and desire to take place is crucial.
Minimalistic packaging like the Polaroid's early 1960's instant film packaging was the most successful packing of its day with its striking rainbow colours that emulated the 60's was an instant hit and even today the boxes are collectors items for camera geeks around the world. Whats more interesting is what came next, with the Polaroid camera been regard as the ipod of its day it was kind of ironic that apple should follow similar direction in the design of their logo. As Polaroid started lose steam in the mid 1970's, Apple started to build and released their famous rainbow apple logo. It was thought that Apple had many meanings for their design choice one being Knowledge (apple) Hope (rainbow) and Anarchy (rainbow not in order). Even though i like this i feel that this next reason is more suited, on the tail end of Polaroid they create a logo that makes people stop and think, ask where have i seen that before, Dajavu. And its that time that keeps you thinking. enough time for desire to step in. 

Graphic Type

First assignment is complete this week for the 1st year Graphic designers, and after 3 weeks of making and investigating the materials processes and techniques they have come up with some great looking illustrations using 3D. Here's just one of the bunch, well done guys great works, keeps it up.



sketching your Ideas

A short video for the first years as they are starting to sketch up their initial ideas. Keep it looses to start with and show your working/construction lines. Practice Practice Practice.

Cool Packaging 3

3D Type

carefully cut into the graphite, some people have to much time.  

Cool Poster 3

Liquid Sun Shine

Its amazing how people adapt to their environment and use the resources they have to hand to make life better.

Cool Poster 2

Cool Packaging 2

Core 77 One Hour Challenge

Iv been reading Core77 for a couple of years now and i try to read it every day, its interesting if your into design like me or just into generally cool stuff. A regular spot that they do is the 1 Hour Design Challenge, setting a design spec for readers to fulfil in an hour and send their designs and the winner to be published. This time its an old favourite The Super Soaker, check out the brief here and the submissions.
Iv copied a few over to give you a taste.

Bend Desk

Microsoft have been playing around with a interactive desk for years now, i saw the first one 5 or 6 years ago but the beauty of open software is that people can have a go and get creative themselves instead of waiting around for it to be released or paying through the nose. The Bend Desk is project by a small media company.

BendDesk is a multi-touch desk environment that seamlessly combines a vertical and a horizontal surface with a curve into one large interactive workspace. This workspace can be used to display any digital content like documents, photos, or videos. Multi-touch technology allows the user to interact with the entire surface using direct manipulation and multi-touch gestures. We took special care for ergonomics

Watching the video its clear its a DIY job and yet i seems to work quite well and looks pretty good. Having the understanding of how things work and the knowledge of design obviously goes a long way whether its be with engines, biology or technology its all the same to me.

VAV Mirrors

I have seen a few students use Mirrors in the past for their work, whether it be for experimental use or for their Final Projects, And I'm in the belief that if you use mirrors it has to really well thought out and not rushed because there is a fine line between it looking awesome and looking absolute shite.

I do like however how VAV architects have experimented with a mirror in the tunnel cutting through a bridge.

the idea of exploring the mirror for the installation has grown from the desire to capture, explore and experiment with the landscape, rather than the built form. The project itself is not important on it's not, as much as is its relationship with the site. the mirrorlab is merely a tool to explore and capture the views of the existing and by doing so it becomes invisible, completely dissolving into the landscape. A simple insertion into the bridge, solely supported by the two points, mirrorlab adds a new dimension to the site, both inside the arc by doubling and inverting the space, and outside by capturing and framing the views. Pivoting through the centre, the door allows the visitors to interact with and become part of the installation, immersing themselves into and exploring both the real and the reflected landscapes. 

Molo Design

Molo Design have number of interesting projects on the go using recycled card and paper in more of a structural way. They have looked at housing and shelter in such times of natural disasters when its important to get temporary homes or shelter up fast and easy. Although these are not for outside use and are more for in larger indoor stadium or hall it would help bring back the dignity of those that have lost everything and need time to come to terms with their experiences.
When not in use, the rooms can be compressed and stored to create an enlarged common area. softhouse is a not-for-profit project under development, the challenges of material durability are high for this type of housing and finding an appropriate material solution remains a priority and aspiration for molo.

It's another example of of the diversity of paper and what great minds can do with simple resources.

Kam I Am

I found this guy on the Design web site Core77 when they raved for months about his Umbrella design, and being English living in Britain with all its rain, it kind of appealed to me. After looking further at his website he shows other great design ideas that he has put in to prototype stage a pre production but what i like is that he shows yet again the process he takes to get to that final point. Some great design sketches too, its obvious he has a passion for what he does and his website is pretty cool too.

Ideas On Paper #2

Another video of paper folding and again i prefer this with the sound off.