Tuesday 27 March 2012

Eat Me

When it comes to re-defining our wasteful throw-away culture, in the ongoing battle to save the environment, this bright idea turns us into the re-cycling implements. David Edwards (Harvard University Professor and biomedical engineer), who brought us breathable food in the form of ‘Le Whaf’ has just brought out  the new idea of edible containers. This means that after we have consumed our food and drink, instead of throwing the wrapping it comes in away, we will be able to consume that too!




Apparently, the packaging is made out of something called WikiCells’,  which are natural food membranes held together by electrostatic forces and are said to be thin delicious membranes. For the future, a  WikiCell Machine’ is also on the agenda, so that we can create our own packaging ourselves. 

I like the idea that the choice of what to package and how much, is finally reaching the hands of the consumer, but how much of this delicious stuff would one actually want to consume? Waste reduction aside, I would imagine it could also change the face of packaging design, when it comes to shape, colour and maybe even smell.

Design Taxi

Thursday 22 March 2012

Letters Never Sent

Hot off the press, in the hands of Jo Parfitt (Summertime Publishing).

Recently, I was asked by Jo Parfitt of Summertime Publishing to help with the re-publication (4th) of Letters Never Sent by Ruth van Reken. This involved resetting the internals and designing a new cover. Designing the cover was wonderful - it does something when one of your designs becomes a fully-fledged book cover! Resetting the internals, however, was initially not so wonderful and became a very steep learning curve for me indeed: learning a new program, intermittent major rants, as well as loads of cups of tea. But now, mission accomplished, it's out there and I'm very pleased to have been involved in its re-issue.

Letters Never Sentis a series of letters written in retrospect by Ruth van Reken to her parents. Although never actually posted in letter form, it is her way of documenting her earliest childhood memories, not only for them, but for herself too. In the letters, she tries to explain the separation and loneliness she experienced, whilst her missionary parents were out doing  'God's work' on placements in other countries than where she was

From a young age, Ruth didn't see her parents for long periods of time, and we can feel the struggle and ensuing sadness inside her. We follow her journey from young girl to adult woman; notice her unwavering faith in God and her attempts to be happy and 'cope'. Often-times she is aided by a deep self-examination and an underlying feeling of shame, which emerges as her survival mechanism. All this is coupled with supportive friends, teachers and supervisors - her second family at boarding school - who help to establish her identity. Later, we are privy to her continuing journey through life: her marriage, the start of a family, and eventual following in her parent's footsteps.

Ruth van Reken is one of many whose childhood circumstances have led them to be referred to as TCK's (Third Culture Kids). This classification arises when a child lives in a third culture to which it is not native and is alien to those cultures its parents originate from. Although not a native to the third culture, the child will take it on in order to form an identity, and in doing so help to stabilize feelings of unrest or insecurity. As the movement of people the world over increases, so do the number of TCKs and global nomads at large. As a result this story may evoke a few 'Aha!' moments or a sympathetic understanding from those with similar histories. 

Letters Never Sent is an insightful, poignant and interesting read for all, regardless of your religious affiliations. 

For your own copy of Letters Never Sent, you can purchase it on Amazon as a Kindle edition or as a paperback .



Review: Expat Bookshop (16.04.12)
© Alison Day Designs

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Pompous Poppy Bowl






This papiermaché bowl features a favourite design of mine that of Pompous Poppy, but there's only one available...to purchase it (plus other Alison Day Designs originals), visit my online shop here



Spin Wash



The prototype (2008), for a revolutionary new bathroom concept, thought up and designed by Ron Arad with bathroom Italian bathroom design brand Teuco

Two in one, the large cylindrical dish-shaped structure morphs from shower to bath in one, 180 degree turn. Initially saving on the purchase of multiple bathroom furniture pieces, but you really need a spacious bathroom to accommodate it.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

How doodle-you-do?



Having spent a large amount of time travelling on trains and in planes recently, I seem to have developed into somewhat of a doodler extraordinaire. Oblivious to the world at large, often plugged into music, with continual pencil sharpens and never ending rivers of black ink. But finally, my inspiration began to wane. A bright suggestion from my niece that I use the outline of a hand to start, means that doodling has me in its grip once more. Here are the most recent to date. - Top hand's mine, bottom one's hers. 





Sunday 18 March 2012

Bed Head


Incredible what some people can do with a bit of imagination, sand, and a little water.   
Source: here

Friday 16 March 2012

Art of Food



'US-based company Vapotrim has created an dessert-flavored e-cigarette-like inhaler, for those who want to taste their desserts without gaining weight.'


Available in 14 flavours and costing $9.95 (US) each. This way you can have your cake and eat it, but avoid the calories!


Using the technology of an e-cigarette it couples the taste-smell connection, making you feel full faster, thereby eating less and... ultimately losing weight!






Via: Design Taxi 
(Originally from: Incredible Things)

Thursday 15 March 2012

Child's Play




Robert Bradford a trained visual artist (& psychotherapist on the side), experiments with children's forgotten toys and plastic bric-a-brac. He up-cycles them into life-sized people or animals. Each piece can contain up to 3000 pieces.   Via: The Cool Hunter

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Monday 12 March 2012

Sharp Tongued






This elegant and modern solid stainless steel design knife (Degalon) is a set of 4 in one. Sharp design (s'use the pun)  with clever use of materials.


Found pinned on Pinterest courtesy of the aptly named: This is Why I'm Broke.  And they can be yours for only -  $744.58 !

Sunday 11 March 2012

Leaf Carving



The art of carving an image on to a tree leaf, specifically the leaf of the Chinar tree. The tree is native to India, Pakistan and China aan similar to a maple tree leaf in appearance.

A difficult process with a 60% failure rate, it takes special tools to remove the leaf surface without cutting or removing the veins. According to leaf carver Victor Liu, owner of Longal Crafts: "The veins add detail into the subject matter of the carving," he said on his website.

Friday 9 March 2012

Tarty Pantone


This looks delicious, I'll have 1797 C and a cappuccino to go... 
The idea of French food designer Emilie De Griottes these dessert tarts resemble Pantone color swatches and were created for French culinary magazine Fricote.



Monday 5 March 2012

Emperor Derrière


Although I really love the idea of this computer-workstation chair, the Emperor 200 (Made by Modern Work Environment Lab )  I do feel (as I've said before) that the human race is heading towards a sedentary lifestyle, with potential physical disastrous effects, as described in The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster. 

Already a button-pushing, screen-addicted bunch of lounging lizards surely we don't need to be encouraged to remain seated for longer periods of time? But that said, this is the ultimate sitting experience of the moment. It offers added extras of a THX surround system, seat adjustment, air ventilation and light therapy, which gives the sitter their daily dose of vitamin D, without ever having to venture outside again! All this plus a touch screen control centre with three 24-inch LED screens dangling right in front of your face, from the end of the scorpion-like tail. What more could you want?

Costing an arm and a leg (in more ways that one), this innovative creation has a price tag of  a mere $44,750 (US).