Technological Design for Context

Bang & Olufsen have always been one of my favorite companies around. Why? Not only do their tech products perform above and beyond the call of duty, but their empathic approach to design - specifically how they are created with context of their environments in mind - displays an undeniable feeling of care for the user and generates greater value than if one were to simply churn out a design that mimics every other product out there.

Social Capital

The social wealth theory goes a little something like this:

Compared to use of networking site like Facebook, direct communication with your friends is associated with greater bonding social capital and lower loneliness. On the other hand, passive consumption of your friends' news tends to make you feel much lonelier and less connected.

While both have been proven true through research, the reality of the matter is that the passive news feeds equates to a disconnected, unfulfilled experience when news feed algorithms remain mysterious and unseen by the Facebook user. In a sense, all shared news within a user's social circle should not be treated the same; if you know a friend is looking for a job and them to see it, there should be the ability to allow prioritization of such news items to create social capital, even when friend circles remain small.

#CHI2010

Flows Like Wine

They hated IKEA with a passion, yet the details and inspiration continued to fill their whiteboards like a waterfall, endless and forward. What they came up with, they had to call a "sconce" - though realistically, the flowing design never afforded such un-idealized naming conventions.

Emeco Coca-Cola Edition

Good design ain't easy. Neither is recycling all those cans into something useful. Unless you've got the marketing brains of Coca-Cola and Emeco to do a collaboration that'll leave you begging for more. Bless this epic reincarnation!

Office Depot to the Rescue

In a world of $130 iPad stands, it's quite refreshing to see a $0.69 to bring the house down on these shameless, overcharging iPad accessory makers once and for all.

A River of Frames

I want to create my own MOMA someday. Restore a neglected warehouse in a district where I'd probably get shot and display my collection of 20th-century art, photography and furniture, along with a $1200 subwoofer for epic listening sessions.

Yarra, Ho!

Huge posterized image of some random anime chick? Check. Uber comfortable chairs? Check. Brilliant architecture? Double check.

Decisions, Decisions

If you could only have one out of the three pictured above, which would you choose? 1) The hot girl, 2) dream kitchen or 3) iPad with a clever looking stand. Yeah, I know - it took me a few minutes, too.

More Computing Under the Stairs

I think I'm going to make this a reality one day. You know, since I keep talking about it and all. Inspired by Stefan's Split Level Loft.

Grilled Feta Quesadillas Recipe

Although you wouldn't think it would work, the olives, cucumber, and feta merged with Mexican combination is utterly fantastic! Seriously, you gotta try this.

• 3 ounces fat-free cream cheese (optional)
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or basil or anything Italian)
  
• 4 flour tortillas (6 inches), warmed
• 1/4 cup chopped pitted ripe olives (can be replaced with BBQ pulled pork if you're a carnivore)
  
• 2 tablespoons diced pimientos
• 1 green onion, chopped

In a small bowl, beat cheeses with oregano until blended. Spread 3 tablespoons of cheese mixture over half of each tortilla; top with olives, pimientos and onion. Fold tortillas over.

Coat grill rack with cooking spray before starting the grill. Grill quesadillas, uncovered, over medium heat for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Cut each quesadilla into three wedges. Serve warm.

Via Taste of Home

B-Line Fin Shelves

Who doesn't love this awesome little shelving design by B-Line? Let your books zig-zag away...

Back to the Classics

Looks like everything's coming back to the classics again. Must've been that futuristic disco contemporary just couldn't handle it. More greatness by Eric Roth over here.

She & Him - Thieves (MP3)