Here’s a great hour long panel discussion moderated by Guy Kawasaki (garage.com) talking to successful start-ups about how they started, how they made millions, how they survived, what not to do, where they came from, fun times, etc.
On the panel:
James Hong– HotOrNot.com
Max Levchin– Slide.com
Akash Garg– Hi5.com
Sean Suhl– SuicideGirls.com
Drew Curtis– Fark.com
Markus Frind– Plenty of Fish
I first spotted the CableYoYo at CES2005 and never really thought I’d need an extra piece of plastic to manage my small extra corded products such as my mouse, laptop, earphones, keyboard, etc, but I received one as a gift last year and latched it onto my favorite Mouse (red Logitech MX510).
Having to hop around with my laptop a bunch, the CableYoYo has saved me loads of time, frustration, and space. It seems rather un-needed at first, but shortening my mouse cable has freed me of tangling wires in the bag, a cluster of noodling wires next to my laptop, and a few saved seconds every time I pack. Why not just get a bluetooth mouse? Well, I find them a bit slow and jumpy nor do I care to change batteries every few months or bother with an extra USB dongle I can lose… and as far as a charger… I’m not packing another clunky charger with more wires since I already have many for all my other electronics. (I really wished power adapters could be universal like USB for everything)
Do you have 500+ e-mails sitting in your inbox? If so, shame on you! Get your digital communications gear in tune and get that email mess count down to ZERO every single day! Trust me, it’s worth it! How you might ask; two options: 1) take an hour listen to Merlin Mann (43 Folders) lecture about “Inbox Zero” while at Google (his slides here), or 2) give Mark Hurst book “Bit Literacy” a read. (Marks run CreativeGood in nyc and also runs the incredible inspirational GEL Conference yearly which I’ve attended many times)
I’ve been using a hybrid of these systems for many years now, and I’m not sure where I’d be without it. Many ask me how I manage so many different email accounts, clients, web accounts, etc… and the simple answer is… I keep my inbox down to zero! In the most simple cliff-notes version on how to achieve this system:
– Answer emails asap.
– Do not let emails be your address book/calendar/to do lists.
– Trash the ones you don’t need to read.
– Answer and move emails to folders (this is a step Merlin says not to do, but archive it all).
– Make it a habit to get to zero daily.
You know how right before you leave for a vacation or something, you sit down and hammer out tons of overdue emails, activities, projects, etc…. we’ll basically be that productive every day… with an inbox of zero, your less stressed, can find things much faster, and you feel much cleaner!!!
via Lifehacker (via 43 folders)
A few weeks back, I was in need of an external hard drive, and like most geeks I cruised the internet for reviews, asked opinions from friends, and ventured off to store shelves to see what was hot. After pacing around for more than needed, I finally bought the FreeAgent by Seagate because it seemed clean, was understandable, and it just felt better.
I’ve been incredibly happy with the product and ran into this great post describing someones great experience in the packaging design, which I’ll admit made me buy over the other options because the packaging was so human and sweet. I’d say “simple”, but I don’t like using that word because everyone thinks it means reduction when it actually just means intuition.
Look through the pictures at the post here. (note: the re-wording of the packaging rocks… no mumbo jumbo tech terms… just things us humans ask.)(Also reminds me how Jetblue said “buh bye Red-Eye, Hello to shut-eye“)
Woa! These cascading column like basalt formations rock!
“Columnar Basalts are rock formations resulting from the quick cooling of lava flow. Fractures form in a random cellular network (similar to soap bubbles, organic cells, etc.), though the average distribution of sides is six, giving the hexagonal structures an eerie man-made appearance.”
Lots more pictures via centripetalnotion.com
Did you know that toothpaste can damage your teeth? According to the following article, I can see why… Otherwise, I’m sticking to my tasty paste for now.
“CBS2Chicago is reporting about a growing concern among some dentists that excessive brushing with toothpaste is not good for one’s teeth. Dentists increasingly see patients destroying tooth enamel and soft tissues, and scientific evidence seems to implicate the toothpaste.”
It reminds me that in design or any other field, sometimes when you create solutions you also create new problems down the road . We feed ourselves problems through solutions if not pass it onto other fields … what a paradox. 😉
Read the rest of the article via MedGadget
Source: CBS article/video
The highly anticipated carbon fiber Boeing 787 Dreamliner was unveiled while I was in Seattle, so I ventured over to Boeings headquarters to check it out. Besides the galley tour and an awesome visit to their 98+ acre hanger, I had VIP (accidental trespassing) access with one of the 787’s up close and personal! Man, these aircrafts are gigantic. Some interesting facts:
– Boeing has reserved parking near the hangers for employees that have been around for 25+ years… I’m not sure what newbies feel, but man, thats a long time to wait for that benefit.
– Under the hanger is a long 1/3 mile hallway that houses all the plumbing. When it’s raining outside, employees often run up and down this hallway for exercise if not ride their bikes.
– If you want to buy one of these 787’s it’ll cost you some $230 million just for the plane, not including interior… and the waiting list goes as far as 2015 currently for delivery.(3 payment system: to start the build, to paint it, and to fly it away)
– The new Boeing 787 is some 40,000 pounds lighter than similar airplanes, making it %20 more fuel efficient, and produces %20 fewer emissions.
– People were not allowed to bring anything into the gallery tour, even my freaking sketchbook was taken away. The reason: too many people in the past dropped things down the hanger.
Pictures after the jump w/video about the interior design team (Teague) 😉
787 interactive page
787 Premier footage (pretty long video, but informative)
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During my trip in Seattle I went to the new cascading Central Library designed by architect, and GSD professor, Rem Koolhaas. I missed out on the guided tours, but had a good hour walking up and down the spacious, colorful, and vibrant new construction. I don’t have much to say about the design, but the details were very nice… including the many sustainable elements within the design… and from what I know about Rem, the ideas are probably very theoretical though compelling. If you really want to read more about the design, dive over to Arcspace.
tons of pics after the jump.
I just want one! Perhaps its my recent lacking skills in math or dumbifying tech, but I just want one of these one-handed mobile calculators to strap onto my bag. Whip it out after a group meal and figure out the split price in style. I’ll assume it’s only in Japan… I want one!
One more pic after the jump.
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“Think of your favorite teddy bear. Now imagine it’s been ripped open, gutted, and turned inside-out. That’s what Kent Rogowski’s Bears series has done to the iconic stuffed animals of our childhoods. In his recently published book and show at Foley Gallery, Rogowski mangles our memories and, at the same time, makes them all the more real.”
Pretty cool project ..and Kent’s a RISD alum whooohoooo! His bears reminds me how doing a total 180 makes things better!.(Pro E to Solidworks story, or making ugly dolls which have sold like hot cakes!!!)
via Boing Boing
Morning News Q&A interview
Foley Gallery in New York
BearsTheBook.com
Amazon Book purchase
Version by William Wilson via DesignBoom
Several pictures after the jump…
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I’ve seen tons of books mimicking our alphabet using our environment, but it’s great to see this refreshing book and set of photographs using a medium we all have access to; the sky and surrounding buildings. I have no clue where to buy this book, but have a glance at this German website or babelfish the webpage to get a somewhat english translation of the page. If any of ya’ll can find out where to buy this book, please send a link by commenting. I’ll be looking up towards the sky more often now 😉
Pictures after the jump.
via slanted.de
update: This is the work of Lisa Rienermann at lisarienermann.com. Continue Reading
For all ya’ll designers out there that crop, chop, add, and retouch photos, please don’t make a huge mistake like this catalog (I think Victoria Secret) before it goes out for print, which it did. I’m thinking an extra (adams family) hand on a high end models shoulder is a bit creepy. Someones getting fired…. Click on thumbnail image for full size image.
via gigglesugar