Cooking for Geeks.

One of the joys of being an industrial design consultancy is sometimes you have no idea what you are going to be working on. Sometimes it's a straightforward project like the mechanical engineering of a headset, other times it's a blue sky project about something that might come out in 5 to 10 years. Other times it's a project in a closely related field that isn't strictly yours. This time it was graphic design. We all use the same basic programs, we just usually use them differently.

Jeff Potter (I've known him for 9 years) came up to me last year asking for help making some charts for a project he was working on. 60 charts and multiple variations later (and one whole year of Jeff's time at 70-80 hours a week) Jeff's book Cooking for Geeks was released by O'Reilly. It is currently holding at around #350 on Amazon's sales rank of all books sold and Jeff has been interviewed in print/web, audio, and video by everyone between the BBC World News to the Today show.

It was fun to help Jeff out on his project working on everything from charts and graphs to building a lego ice cream maker. I enjoyed being a guinea pig on the recipes as well.

Go check out his website for the book: http://www.cookingforgeeks.com

Here are some examples of the charts:

Maker Faire 5/23/10 Report

(Finally . . . DO/CO's Maker Faire 2010 update! )

My wife, some friends, and myself attended Maker Faire 2010 and had a really great time. We checked out a fun and literally electrifying musical Tesla coil performance by ArcAttack of Austin, TX.



I purchased a really cool belt and U-Lock holder from Fabric Horse that will allow me to carry my Kryptonite lock sans-backpack. Carrie, owner of Fabric Horse, was super-cool and showed-off all the wares that she brought out to Maker Faire all the way from my old stomping grounds of Philadelphia, PA.

Out in the open spaces of the San Mateo County Event Center, we found some completely sweet human-powered and alt-power vehicles created by Fun Bicycle Unicorn Club, a hot rod Little Flyer Wagon, and Giant Cardboard Robots. There was something to simultaneously stimulate everyone's imaginations and/or inner nerd. We'll definitely be back next year!

-Clint

Seward St. Slides, San Francisco

Two weeks ago, my wife and I moved to a new apartment over in the Castro. It was an incredible sunny and warm day to explore San Francisco, so we decided to go for a walk in our new neighborhood and trekked on up to Kite Hill. While there, we had a magnificent view of the city and a delicious picnic lunch. I thought that fine meal on the hill would be the coolest part of our meandering journey that day, but we discovered something on the way home that surpassed the beauty we'd just experienced.

While walking home, we came across a park on Seward St. with some truly fun concrete slides that the locals (logically and) affectionately call the "Seward St. Slides." We originally heard about the slides while reading Broke-Ass Stuart's Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco. As it turns out, this mini-park in Eureka Valley has quite a history. After doing a little research via iPhone, we found some interesting details: A) It was designed by a 14 year old girl named Kim Clark in 1973 during a "Design the Park" competition. B) Locals enjoyed this space so much that they fought for almost 7 years to keep the park and community garden from being developed into a 104 unit apartment building. C) The park celebrated it's 30th birthday in 2003, cementing its status as a community staple with a big celebration. You can find out more information on the slides' fascinating history by clicking here.

As I mentioned above, the slides are constructed of concrete, so they're not too kind to trousers. Many have realized this, so you'll find sheets of corrugated cardboard strewn about the top and bottom of the slides as pants protection. This cardboard also serves the dual purpose of allowing you to go faster on the slides due to its smooth surface.

Last weekend, we invited our friends Dave and Jen to check out Kite Hill and the slides with us. We took some video and pics to capture our time on the slides (see below). As you'll see in the video below, they definitely dig it too!





As most of my friends know, I like to go fast. Though the cardboard definitely helps in the speed department, we think that we can make things speedier. Dave and I are working on some ideas on how to mix cardboard and local materials to create an amplified affordable adrenaline rush at Seward St. -- Stay tuned!

-Clint

And now for something completely different...

Hello there, it's Aaron from DO/CO,

I enjoy when something comes our way and throws our brains in a twist. A project that's fun, quick and a complete departure from the everyday. We recently were

contacted by a company called Nearlife. (For the Boston folks, they are the people behind the Virtual Fish Tank at the Museum of Science) Nearlife is in the process of taking their fish kung fu and turning it into a toy, game, internet experience and television show. They asked us if there was any way we could take their fish side views and develop CAD files and prototypes. We of course said YES! (I have a weakness for things that sound fun.) After some crazy CAD sessions, we got in contact with www.stereolithography.com and Nick helped us out with our 68 part prototype. (I know, thats a lot of parts, they were really small and annoying also.) We received parts about 3 days later on a Friday and after a frantic weekend filling, sanding, priming and painting, we dropped off parts to Nearlife on Monday for electronic build out. Nearlife is still developing the software side of this concept, when it's ready to go, we'll post more details.

Tulip Architect Lamp -- Prototype Accomplished!!

Hi, it's Clint from DO/CO,

Aaron and I have spent a significant amount of our time talking about our Tulip lamps since our last blog post. We found that we needed materials that were more significant than plastic. SO, we've moved from our original plan to use acrylic and polycarbonate to using a more robust combination of stainless steel for structure and frosted acrylic for our shade material. The look is a cross of Industrial Revolution, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, & Art Nouveau. It's a bit Steampunk, but we're liking what the renderings and prototypes are looking like.

We also have come-up with the comprehensive list of lamps that will be in the Tulip line. We'll be having a launch party this Spring to celebrate the lamps manifested in 3D & ready for sale.

Together, we've talked about the basic aesthetics of the Tulip line, and our goals concerning these lamps for "makers" and "creative DIY types". However, Aaron himself has been spending most of his free waking moments actually doing instead of just talking. He is majorly streamlining & refining how DO/CO designs parts 'a la laser cutter' using flat stock to generate 3D form. He's found the intricasies of tolerancing parts and the limitations of the laser cutter. He's also sweated through ways to make unique and effective latching details that still keep our unique aesthetics intact. Finally, he's coordinated a great relationship with a local laser cutting shop near Boston that's very excited to cut our parts.

We're extremely pumped to see everything coming together. I (Clint) could not be more appreciative of Aaron right now. He's pushing our dream of selling products that we design into reality.

DO/CO's Tulip Architect Lamp prototype is pictured in this post. It's constructed from masonite and acrylic. Some details will be changing to improve structure and cord management, so keep a look-out. Wish us luck as we push forward into our first run of lamps in our final material -- STAINLESS STEEL!!

-Clint

Making Audio Assistive Technology Sexy . . .

Hearing loss seems to strike the men in my family for one reason or another. My Grandpa worked in a metal stamping plant in the 50's-70's. My Dad lost hearing in one of his ears after a really bad car accident. I like to soup-up MINIs and that usually ends-up making them quite a bit louder than factory specification.

Since about 5 years ago, I now wear earplugs A LOT--concerts, banging a hammer when building things, grinding metal, taking my car to have dyno testing done-- whatever it takes to preserve the hearing that I have left. (I'm sure that some has been lost to the impatience of youth and/or non-consideration of loudness). When I have a son or a daughter, this child will have a pair of earplugs tucked in their jacket so that I can start them early on hearing protection.

OK, the stage for my personal interest in audio assistive technology is now set. The image above shows a product from a company called Widex called the mind440. This device blew my mind this week, but not for its physical design (which I believe is much more good than bad BTW). Instead, they did a fairly sexy online campaign for the mind440 that you can check out here:

http://campaign.widex.com/flashcampaign/mind440/Site/uk/Platform.html?gclid=CPCWn8D_3ZsCFRlcagodnjQsAQ


So this site has some vignettes that are like a Chanel commercial at times. However, it mixes some enticing imagery with key pieces of consumer info that really hit the target areas of "Why do I need this?". The Flash animations, video, site styling, & layout give an aura of high-design to the mind440. It's a very de-stigmatizing approach to advertising this type of assistive technology. Widex chose to deal more with using their product as lifestyle maintenance rather than dwelling on hearing loss. Bravo to Widex!

-Clint

P.S. (I'm going to do a little research to see what ad agency/firm they used to pull this production together. I'll report back once I know more.)

So I Changed Our Contact Info with IDSA . . .

So I changed DO|CO's contact info with IDSA (the Industrial Designers Society of America) earlier this year.

Since IDSA is a great way to stay current in the design field, network, & get discounts on a host of events. products, & educational programs for designers, I bite the bullet and pay my membership fees every year.

So, I sent a (very necessary) administrative email to IDSA and I was happy to see that we're in mentioned in Design Perspectives, IDSA's newsletter, this month. It's a strange self-promotional feeling, but nonetheless a good one.

Thanks to Jill Richardson, IDSA membership coordinator for getting our info onto the printed page. (Jill, my 2009 dues check is in the mail, I promise!)

-Clint

Ponoko Meetup @ Because We Can in Oakland 07/09/2009

Aaron and I are currently in the midst of creating some sweet new stuff that we're going to have made at the new, US branch of Ponoko.com. However, we were curious as to what Ponoko actually is. Who runs this Ponoko deal anyway? What is their setup actually like?

Fortunately, my wife, Yelena, and I attended the Ponoko Meetup in Oakland last Thursday night to get these questions answered. As it turns out, Ponoko is actually operating out of a really cool sustainable design/interior design company called Because We Can. Although we showed-up late (thus missing Dave and Derek of Ponoko fame), we did get to see Ponoko's laser-cutter, materials, materials samples, and other sundries. Yes people, Ponoko is a real, enabling design company run by real people. If you want to make cool stuff for yourself and/or to sell your stuff to the masses, go their site and check 'em out. www.ponoko.com.

OK, so I had my proof that Ponoko is the real deal. However, once you step into Because We Can, you are quickly reminded that there is SO much more out there in the CNC world than just laser cutting. Because We Can is a full service interior design, furniture, and CNC woodwork shop. They produce amazing design & interiors work. One of the owners, Jeffrey McGrew, was explaining all the wonderful things that their Shopbot CNC Router can do to for creative-types to a hoarde of fellow design geeks. (His love of this robot is evident. Aaron and I will be contacting him for quotes on some of our furniture designs in the future.)

There were lots of people doing neato stuff. Here are my favorites:

1) Our friend Kate Compton was showing off her stereoscopic viewer for the iPod. After several iterations of her device, she has a very sweet & complete version of her idea. (Kudos, Kate!!)

2) We met two guys named Henry and Adam who electrified a Mazda Miata. Henry owns this beast and was working on this car in his parent's garage for about 2 years. He just finished it and drove it over to the Ponoko Meetup for the first time. Henry has done his homework and created a VERY nicely designed home-built EV. (We heard that he did a MASSIVE burnout when he was leaving the Meetup. It's a shame that we missed it.)

Yelena and I had a fun time. Thanks to Because We Can and Ponoko for a great evening.