rob foster archives
“There is bad taste and then there is this. What was going through the designer’s mind? ‘I’ll scale it a little bit. Hmmm, maybe just a little more. More. More. I have so much power. I’m drunk in scaling power. More. More. Scale it more. Don’t stop. Do it. Okay, that’s enough.’”
Brand New commentary on the new Microsoft Bing logo
posted by
foster
on Wednesday, Jun 03, 2009
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2 comments
Two awesome modern details from the new Church History Library.
posted by
foster
on Friday, May 15, 2009
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3 comments
The best-selling powered vehicle of all time is now being sold in the US again by the company that manufactured it for 30 years. Up to 153mpg!
posted by
foster
on Friday, May 01, 2009
case study
“Revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets”
- Napoleon Bonaparte
How my search for the right communication device for my disabled daughter led me to an upstart company that was rocking the boat with equal parts love and hate.
posted by
foster
on Monday, Apr 27, 2009
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8 comments
Dear Designer, You Suck
Fantastic article by Khoi Vinh. I couldn’t agree more with this.
posted by
foster
on Monday, Apr 20, 2009
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0 comments
case study
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
-Jack Handey
posted by
foster
on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009
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47 comments
For the uninitiated, Dieter Rams was the Braun company’s lead product designer for many years. Some of his work can be seen here. My favorite things he designed were his home electronics products.
posted by
foster
on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009
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0 comments
Good design is Innovative
It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all of a functions of a product. The possibilities in this respect are by no means exhausted. Technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.
Good design makes a product useful
A product is bought in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimise the utility of a product.
Good design is aesthetic
The aesthetic quality of a product – and the fascination it inspires – is an integral part of the its utility. Without doubt, it is uncomfortable and tiring to have to put up with products that are confusing, that get on your nerves, that you are unable to relate to. However, it has always been a hard task to argue about aesthetic quality, for two reasons.
Firstly, it is difficult to talk about anything visual, since words have a different meaning for different people.
Secondly, aesthetic quality deals with details, subtle shades, harmony and the equilibrium of a whole variety of visual elements. A good eye is required, schooled by years and years of experience, in order to be able to draw the right conclusion.
Good design helps a product to be understood
It clarifies the structure of the product. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory and saves you the long, tedious perusal of the operating manual.
Good design is unobtrusive
Products that satisfy this criterion are tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained leaving room for the user’s self-expression.
Good design is honest
An honestly-designed product must not claim features it does not have – being more innovative, more efficient, of higher value. It must not influence or manipulate buyers and users.
Good design is durable
It is nothing trendy that might be out-of-date tomorrow. This is one of the major differences between well-designed products and trivial objects for a waste-producing society. Waste must no longer be tolerated.
Good design is thorough to the last detail
Thoroughness and accuracy of design are synonymous with the product and its functions, as seen through the eyes of the user.
Good design is concerned with the environment
Design must contribute towards a stable environment and a sensible use of raw materials. This means considering not only actual pollution, but also the visual pollution and destruction of our environment.
Good design is as little design as possible
Back to purity, back to simplicity.
posted by
foster
on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009
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5 comments
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Leap is one of the handiest Mac apps I’ve ever used.
Basically over the last two years, I’ve been throwing every file I want to keep long term (images, text, movies, whatever) into one big folder on my desktop and letting Leap help me find, tag, sort and filter all of it.
I’m up to over 1200 files in my Leap folder and I’ve never failed to find what I need using this fantastic program.
Five stars.
posted by
foster
on Thursday, Jan 22, 2009
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2 comments
Not many people know this, but our own Chris Mayfield was at one time the tambourine player for the swedish boy band “Gert Jonnys.”
posted by
foster
on Monday, Jan 12, 2009
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5 comments
Uncle Mark’s Gift Guide and Almanac. A yearly publication with great gift ideas and other cool information.
posted by
foster
on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008
While reading an interesting interview with the designers of the logo for Obama’s campaign, I discovered a cool little UI element on the New York Times website. If you select a piece of text, a little icon appears. When clicked, a window opens with options to define, search and other actions. Very nice attention to detail.
posted by
foster
on Friday, Nov 21, 2008
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2 comments
New trailer just out for Pixar’s new movie “Up.”
The color palette and texture in this new movie looks nothing short of gorgeous. I was so taken by the look of the trailer that I had to play it again just to find out what it was about. I also had to wipe a little drool from the corner of my mouth.
I’ve posted some screenshots of some of the more luxurious shots here. Just look at the texture on that kid’s uniform. Man, that’s nice
posted by
foster
on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
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2 comments
Google further cements its overlord status by making millions of LIFE magazine photos available for search. How about those Mormons?
posted by
foster
on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008
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4 comments
Easily the nicest custom paint job I’ve seen on a scooter to go with one very awesome road trip. This guy used to be the art director and designer for Scooterworks and Genuine Scooter Company (Home of the Stella).
posted by
foster
on Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
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0 comments