designbivouac

New York Times Budget Puzzle

Sometimes I find myself noting something as interesting but it takes a while to really appreciate it to its fullest. That was the case with the New York Times Budget Puzzle which came out last November.

While in an information visualization brainstorm today, this came back to me as a great example of how to empower users to relate to a very abstract concept...our federal budget deficit. Its minimalistic approach and small details like representing 1 billion dollars with small blue squares that tally up in real time depending upon decisions users make is a nice touch. 

What Does Your Project Space Look Like?

And how are you getting on with your mates in it? We all know that space matters...and so does gravity as Paul Harrison and John Wood so delightfully illustrate in Tate Shots Issue 12.

 

 

BMW Concept C Focuses on Crowded Urban Commuting

As featured on TopSpeed, BMW revealed the new Concept C at the EICMA Show in Milan. The Concept C is BMW’s vision of the big scooter with the C in the name standing for "commuter." It is aimed a alleviating some of the crowding on urban streets associated with shorter daily errand running and shorter commuting routes. This concept is BMW’s response to that increasing traffic situation. They say the Concept C represents "the prospect of an innovative, sporty big scooter for the future premium segment." The concept is enhanced by several innovations to the scooter market, including video camera rear-view monitors.

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept: Small is the Next Big Thing in Luxury

 
Cadillac's Urban Luxury Concept which debuted this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show is just the kind of product that will continue to fuel General Motor's emergence from bankruptcy. For those that took part in a fairly strong IPO this week, this is another encouraging sign of solid design thinking taking place at GM these days. With room for four, estimated fuel economy ratings of 56 mpg city/65 mpg highway, and a number of innovative features in store beyond the scissor-style doors, the bivouac says bring this to market ASAP! This is "Art and Science" that's great for both the senses and the planet. See more photos via World Car Fans.

Great Revelations: Checking out Apple's Checkout Accordian Fold Interface

From Luke Wroblewski on A List Apart and thanks to Arjun for passing this one along. Wanted to get this on the Bivouac in the Interface Hall of Fame as an outstanding example of reducing percieved complexity and how, through great design, we can help pull users through transactions that can otherwise seem overwhelming.

By stripping away the form elements as each section of the form is completed, Apple helps reinforce a sense that users are making progress through the check out process. Along the way, should users leave a required field of information blank, a yellow prompting box appears right next to the field letting them know it is needed to continue. Stratification of information in clear zones serve as landscape "mile markers", letting users intuitively sense where they are in terms of completing their task.

The Warmth of Great Ideas

While perhaps not entirely ideal in that BioLite still draws on buring wood as a source of fuel, it is nonetheless a revolutionary stove that makes cooking on wood as clean, safe and easy as modern fuels while generating electricity to provide illumination and cell phone connectivity to those that are off-grid.

Like other carefully designed stoves using fans to blow air into the fire, BioLite dramatically improves combustion. However, other stoves require small amounts of electricity to power their fans. BioLite stoves solve this problem by converting a fraction of the fire’s thermal energy into electricity to power our combustion improvement system. Excess electricity is made available to users for charging small electronic devices such as Cell phones and LED lights. A bright idea indeed.

The Power of Tiny Things

Dust Breedings...a moving exploration by Jan Goldfub and Sacha Neudeck. Nice.

dust breedings from goaj on Vimeo.

BMW Strives to Keep it Simple with New Simple Concept

Perhaps leveraging lessons gained from the C1 program years ago, BMW is exploring a new variant of a vehicle that mixes the best from the automotive and motorcycle design...something a company like BMW is ideally positioned to do. Let's hope they keep leaning into this concept...so to speak...and move beyond research and development for this new vehicle segment.

BMW C1-E Possibly Headed to a Sidewalk Near You

BMW looks set to resurrect the C1 vehicle genre with a revised variant that could be electrically powered. While once perhaps ahead of its time, this may well mark the return of a intriguing vehicle form factor give the renewed focus on sustainable transportation solutions, rising fuel prices and urban crowding. We may all finally have the pleasure of seeing one C1 near us soon.

Erosion of Luxury

The skyscraper "Erosion" designed by Herzog & de Meuron would certainly make a striking addition to the New York skyline. The Swiss architects have designed a building that supports individualized floor layouts for occupants, offering more external space for some depending upon tastes and desires. As is pointed out in a recent post on Eikongraphia, one of the more notable features is a floor-to-ceiling height of four meters. The modernist aesthetic, panoramic cityscapes and open plans would be welcome by many urban dwellers. But in these tough economic times, could such a design really see the light of day or will this vision be worn away by the force of current economic winds?

For more discussion of this proposed design, head over to Eikongraphia.

Echochrome offers a new perspective on video gaming

Although somewhat puzzling initially, Echochrome offers Escher-like environments that players navigate by "filling" broken pathways as they change their perspective view on the scene. This title offers a refreshing angle on brain-enhancing gaming.

BMW GINA Visionary Concept Vehicle

GINA (which stands for Geometry and Function in Infinite Adaptation) may be a bit of an acronym stretch but then again stretching is quite appropriate for a concept vehicle with a flexible skin. Take a closer look at how the GINA Visionary Concept Vehicle is set to reshape automobile design thinking.

Getting Smarter

With the Smart fortwo becoming available in the United States, perhaps more sustainable attitudes towards transport will shift into a higher gear. Who knows, maybe we will see a new generation of innovative modes of moving designs like BMW's C1 coming into the marketplace . It won't be easy to overcome significant challenges, as evidenced by the Smart fortwo vs. Hummer H2 size comparison image below. However, with new advances in active and passive safety coming to the market each year, perhaps we can find smarter alternative modes of movement before gasoline hits the $5.00 mark.

Future Bivouac

Sean Godsell’s Future Shack prototype emergency housing concept creatively balances sustainability with sensible and minimalist design. Now that's bivouacking in style.

Now That's Smart

DaimlerChrysler AG has announced that it will be making the smart brand available in the U.S. market beginning in 2008. The successor to the smart fortwo will be available in three models. Surely a wise decision. Thanks to those at DaimlerChrysler who have been thinking small...in a big way.

Stunning Phaeton Assembly Plant

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "working on the factory floor." And what a floor it is!

Take a closer look at the Dresden facility via: http://forums.vwvortex.com

Marumushi newsmap

Notable for it powerful real-time visualization of the most popular news stories being read according to Google news statistics.

For more details visit: newsmap.jp

Living Modern is a Breeze

Michelle Kaufman and a new generation of architects are bringing advances to modular home design. Through their work, they are raising the awareness of and providing access to affordable contemporary home designs. Many floor plans draw inspiration from earlier residential architecture found in communities designed by architects commissioned by enlightened developers such as Joseph Eichler. Floor plans like Kaufman's new Breeze House build on the idea of integrating interior and exterior spaces. Glass doors can be folded away, merging interior spaces with the great outdoors. And speaking of the great outdoors, most designs integrate many environmentally friendly green design approaches as well.

For more details visit: livemodern.com

24 Hours of Adrenaline

This should be fun...24 hours of fun to be exact.

For more details visit: the 24 hours of adrenaline website.

We'll see how one of these does during the event this year at Laguna Seca Raceway: 2002 Cannondale Jekyll 3000

Maison Boulanger

Interesting approach to public and private space in work by Eric Lenoir. For more information view the Maison Boulanger link in the "Gallerie" section of his site.

Visit www.ericlenoir.com