New Intentions
I delayed writing this post because I wanted to get through all the New Year’s resolutions. I am not big on resolutions but what I am big on is setting my intentions. I decided this year I would work hard to improve my writing, write more frequently and spend time talking more publicly about how design affects me.
To start off this new assignment I purchased my domain and am transferring my posts over to a new blog platform. If you are one of the few who reads this blog via email or an RSS feed please update your feed to go to http://thoughtfuldesign.net or resubscribe to the email list there. I am still tweaking things but I am excited about the changes.
Thanks and I hope you follow !
Retail Stores from Shipping Containers
I am a fan reusing shipping containers. Most of the examples I have seen are very modern homes or backyard writing offices. This is the first commercial/retail example I have seen. It serves a purpose, creates a unique space and is a great use of something that would more than likely end up rotting in a storage yard. I would like to see other retailers do something similar if it fits their business model.
Starbucks’ New Store: Made of Shipping Containers! The Seattle Times:
Located in Tukwila, Washington, Starbucks just opened a new walk-up and drive-through only location (i.e. no indoor seating) made out of four shipping containers. Dubbed “The Reclamation Drive-Thru,” we’re wondering: is this a one-off design for Starbucks, or the first in a trend towards greener building?
Verizon Wireless To Charge You To Conveniently Pay Your Bill
Verizon has already changed their mind about this decision – but smells so much like banks trying to make up the extra credit card charges they lost over the federal regulation changes.
Lets charge our users to pay their bills.
Pathetic.
Verizon Wireless To Charge You To Conveniently Pay Your Bill:
Marguerite Reardon:
Verizon Wireless plans to charge subscribers a new $2 fee every time they pay their wireless bills online or directly over the phone.
Can you hear me now?
(Via The Brooks Review)
Apple – The Mickey Mouse watch on Apples’ iPod Nano site…
LIttle things make a difference. In this case the Mickey Mouse watch on the apple site shows the actual time on the web. Could they have just displayed a static image, yes of course. But is there a hidden delight but this subtle detail…absolutely!
Apple – The Mickey Mouse watch on Apples’ iPod Nano site…:
Apple – The Mickey Mouse watch on Apples’ iPod Nano site shows the actual time.
/via velour
(Via Little Big Details)
Press Pause Play
This weekend I had the chance to sit down and watch a great new documentary called Press Pause Play. It’s about making things in the digital age. The premise is how anyone with a laptop and an idea can make things happen. Things that were not possible even five years ago now are common place. Within the movie there are sections specific relative to movies, music and books. It was very well done.
My favorite section of the movie where the film makers are interviewing Seth Godin. He was speaking about how he was inspired to write Unleashing the Idea Virus after reading Malcolm Gladwells, The Tipping Point. He wrote the book in approximately 10-12 days and then contacted his publisher asking them to publish it and make it free. They replied they would love to publish it, it could not be free and it would take a year. So he converted it to an e-book and put it on his website and several million people downloaded and read it. The fascinating thing was then people contacted him asking for a print version. Even though he gave it a way for free he ended up making more money (though this was not his intention) on that book then his hit book Permission Marketing.
I had several take aways from this example was how broken many industries have become. So set in their ways – not willing to try new things.
1. If a book is topically now there is a high probability that if it takes a year to come to market it will have a lesser impact.
2. If you are not able to reach your audience in a timely manner the audience may go away.
3. If you make something free people will find a way to talk about it.
4. Established businesses are fearful of change and stay in their comfort zone.
Seth is not the first to do something like this nor will he be the last to do this. Nine Inch Nails allowed people to remix one of the songs on an album. Radio Head gave away their last album online for free and still generated a significant income.
You can rent this movie here. Watch this movie and see if you are inspired to start your own project.
Designing for the longterm
Power from wind
Some how I missed this in my local papers. But the opportunity to create this much power off the coast of Rhode Island is amazing. I hope this comes to fruition it would make me proud to be a Rhode Islander supply so much for so many.
Wind Farms Off the Coast of Rhode Island Could Generate 1,000 GW of Electricity
Update: The comments suggest there is a discrepancy in the amount of total GW’s but either way I think this is great.
via www.ecogeek.org
