Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements

The most momentous and glorious discovery I have ever made on the internet.

Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements is an online compendium of technical diagrams (even animations!) for five hundred and seven mechanical movements used in simple machines.

Fascinating and hypnotizing, it's a testament to the quintessential human faculty for engineering.

One look is enough to make you want to drop everything and make like Michel Gondry. Anyone else ridiculously excited about Mood Indigo (L'écume des Jours) by the way?

Designing Bag Melba

One of my first accomplishments for 2013 was an unexpected one, creating my first leather bag from scratch, well almost from scratch.  My desire to do so came a few days before Christmas as I was walking though the airport with my worn-out canvas overnight bag, admiring everyone else (okay maybe not everyone) with they're cool carry-on bags of leather.  I've never invested in a nice overnight bag or duffle and I was sorely wishing I had.  At this point, I just told myself I had to go on a mission to find a good bag that could carry enough for a weekend and still look uber chic without breaking my piggy bank.  

The Composition of a Good Design

We live in a world where we are surrounded by design, from the toothbrush we use to brush our teeth to the style of font in which these words appear.  I was recently told about the documentary Helvetica and it got me to thinking about design and what makes it so effective that it can become nearly timeless.  One thing I found interesting in the independent documentary about typography and graphic design is how Massimo Vignelli compared the composition of typography to music, "it's the space in between the notes that makes the music" and the same rule applies for typography.  Design is a powerful element in our world, it can set the mood and the atmosphere, not only affecting us physically, but mentally as well.  I recommend watching Helvetica, especially if you are of the creative type, it's easily become a one of my favorites and is available on Netflix.  Another one of my favorite documentaries about design, also on Netflix, is Eames: The Architect & The Painter.

As a designer myself, I am constantly trying to figure out what makes a good design.   I think Dieter Rams, a well-known industrial designer, says it best in his ten principles for good design:

1. Good design is innovative
2. Good design makes a product useful
3. Good design is aesthetic
4. Good design makes a product understandable
5. Good design is unobtrusive
6. Good design is honest
7. Good design is long-lasting
8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail
9. Good design is environmentally-friendly
10. Good design is as little design as possible

Read more about Dieter Rams ten principles of design at Vitsoe.

It's interesting how lengthy and complex the process can be only to create something so simple in the end.  No matter how hard I try I can never get around the ten steps forward and nine steps back.  The only way I can ever decide if a design is good is if is functional, beautiful, and if I still like it ten years later.  Unfortunately, my answer takes some considerable time.
What do you think goes into creating a good design?

Bending and Not Breaking

A particular article on Forbes.com struck a deep chord with me. It was posted yesterday morning under the tech section. It is an article about Ping Fu, a Chinese woman about my dad's age who even after a decade of torture, degradation and "re-education" is at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution. Many of you have probably heard or come across 3D printing solutions; well this woman headed Geomagic, a company that was recently acquired by 3D Systems. She's a big deal in the entrepreneurship world, but still remains extremely humble. Her new book called Bend Not Break was on Tina Brown's must reads list on NPR. After reading this article and watching her interviews I cannot wait to start her book.