Something on there for everyone.
Almost looks too nice to eat.
Food form and content. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Form. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Form. Show all posts
May 26, 2021
May 10, 2021
Hangers: Who Knew
January 4, 2021
Bike Rack: Form and Function
September 29, 2020
Lock Head Design
I'm surprised they don't make more locks like this with interesting doodads for the base of the lock.
Aside from all sort of faces, you could have places and things.
A lock that looks like Groucho Marx, a Turtle, the Eiffel Tower, or a Heart.
Why not (as long as it keeps things safe)? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 15, 2019
Success Anchored in Function AND Beauty
"It has always been a principal of our company that function and beauty are inseparable."
If you can make something useful and attractive--you have a real winner!
Companies like Porsche and Apple get it (many, many others are clueless).
Product development is both art and science and therein lay the foundations of their success or failure. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 12, 2019
Beautiful Teapot (Just For Looking)
Love all the shapes--the pyramid base, the curly spout, the circular handle, and the little round ball at the top.
Like most nice things, it's too beautiful to actually use.
(Almost like a million outfits in my closet that I never wear, because I don't want to mess them up...)
This is where design trumps functions--and I would rather look at this and enjoy it as art more than drinking another cup of tea! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 30, 2012
Dyson Vs. Dirt Devil
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Dyson, a British company has built a vacuum cleaner (and fan and hand dryer) empire with 4,000 employees and $1.5 billion in sales.
For a number of years now I have used Dyson including their super powerful (and expensive) "Animal" bagless cleaner--this thing actually ate up one of my phone cords and tore it to shreds.
I've also had other Dysons and my experience has been that while they look really nice in their bright yellows and grays, and sort of sleek for a vacuum, but they tend to break down--especially the motor for the brushes that work on the floor that I find accumulates hair and dirt around the spinner until it stops working.
The other thing that I've found with the Dyson is they come with so many annoying attachments, many with no place to actually attach them all--I think it is overkill for most people's basic cleaning needs.
After going through a number of Dysons, I finally got fed up with paying so much and getting so little, and we decided to stop "investing" in short-lived Dyson vacuum cleaners.
Instead we said let's get a simple, cheapo, Dirt Devil for like 50 bucks and run it into the ground. If it stopped working we could replace it 6-10 times for the cost of a single Dyson!
We purchased the Dirt Devil, and my expectations were very low--I actually considered it an experiment in purchasing this low-tech machine, and just seeing what we would get.
Well, it's been about 3 months and I can't believe the amount of vacuum you can get for so little money with the Dirt Devil--it is bagless like the Dyson and without scientifically measuring the amount of dirt it picks up, I'd say it is almost equivalent in getting the dirty job done.
Additionally, the Dirt Devil--doesn't come with all the useless attachments--a case where more is less--and it weighs only around 8 pounds, which is 1/3 of what the Dyson weighed--so it is much easier to use around the home.
Similarly, when I look at the cool Dyson fans without blades, it seems almost magical how they actually work, but frankly who cares if it cost $300-$450 and doesn't work as well as a basic floor Vornado that sells for about $120.
My opinion is that Dyson is generally overpriced and underperforms--but at least you'll have the image of innovation and performance, even if not the reality at the price point.
Anyway, If I had a vacuum cleaner dream, it would be to one day get one of those "commercial" vacuum cleaners that you see being used in the huge buildings--almost non-stop use--and they may cost a little more, but they actually give you more as well. ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Molly DG)
December 27, 2012
Brilliant Knife Set Design
I came across this brilliant knife set by French company, Deglon, called Meeting--I would assume it's called that because of how the knives meet up and fit together into a single stainless steel block.
I love the the simplicity and eloquence, and these won the European Cutlery Design Award.
There are four knives in this set for paring, utility, chef, and fillet.
Deglon also has a steak knife set--similar concept in that the knives fit together, but they stack rather than fit inside each other, so it is cute, but has less of a wow-factor.
My other concern with these knifes is their handle which doesn't have a cushioned or rubberized grib--so for lots of cooking and cutting, I am not sure how comfortable or slip-resistant these are to use.
Similarly, some of the knives may not be so quick and easy to pull them out and use, especially the ones that are tucked inside the others.
Perhaps, these are an example of form versus function--where this contemporary knife set look very beautiful, but how practical are they for everyday use?
At $750, I am pretty sure these are better than anything I use regularly, but I am definitely no chef! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal screenshot at Deglon.com)
October 26, 2012
The Integrated Hat
It comes as a nice straw hat with eye slots and a sunglass effect built in--just roll the front lid up and down to adjust the coverage.
Takes a little of its strong look from Batwoman and a lot from the runway models of Fashion Week.
I like it for its creativity and coy looks--not so much for it's functionality, I am sure.
So Apple may have a lock-up on integration when it comes hardware and software these days, but Kate Spade has it hats-off in the fashion arena.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 15, 2011
Fit For A King
So technology really does come to everything, eventually.
Check out Kohler's new high-tech toilet, the Numi.
Aside from all sorts of automatic functions from opening the toilet (from up to 8 feet away), to raising the seat for men based on foot sensors, to even flushing with varying power level based on how long you've been doing your business, the Numi really performs as the "toilet of the future" as CNET calls it.
Using a touch-tablet remote (that magnetically docks to a wall panel):
- It washes (through an extending bidet with LED lights)
- It dries (with an built in air dryer and deodorizer)
- It cleans (the bowl with 2 modes--1.28 or 0.6 gallons of water for the eco-conscious, and it also cleanses the bidet head with water or a bath of UV light)
- It warms (by controls for seat temperature and blows warm air at your feet), and
- It entertains (with FM radio and speakers as well as integrates with your iPod/iPhones).
For $6,400 you get yourself a true throne with form and function fit for a gadget king.
(Credit Picture of Remote to Scott Stein/CNET and Credit Picture of Numi Side to Kohler)
March 23, 2011
ZyPAD + iPad = Wow!
This is great--the ZyPAD by Eurotech.
A true wrist-mounted computer.
Rugged, wearable, ergonomic, GPS, bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.
Turns off when arm is down and lights up when arm is up.
According to Trendhunter, sales are initially targeting military, law enforcement, emergency services, and healthcare.
I can see this expanding to sales, delivery, production, warehousing, and loads of service-based jobs--such as in "may I take your order please?" or "how would you like to pay for that?"
Runs on Windows CE--ugh!
I'd like to marry up the function and operating system of an iPad with the fit and form of the ZyPAD and then I think we may just have a real winner!
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