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# Gems Sty

design+other interesting tidbits

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://gemssty.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Sochi 2014 Olympics Logo](https://gemssty.com/2014/02/26/sochi-2014-olympics-logo/) - Long before the games begin, choices must be made regarding the logo.
- [Green Screen in Movies](https://gemssty.com/2014/02/26/green-screen-in-movies/) - Reel from green screen specialist studio Stargate shows just how much green screen is used in movies and dramas.
- [Radiographs of Trauma](https://gemssty.com/2013/06/30/radiographs-of-trauma/) - While the incidents leading to each of the picture in the above set is probably a traumatizing one, there is still very much inherent (artistic?) beauty in the radiograph images, with a brief caption explaining the cause of each image over at this Flickr set by Surfactant. Check it out!
- [Maezm “Sharing Watch”](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/25/maezm-sharing-watch/) - A wristwatch that rotates to always show upside up. A smart design by Maezm
- [Wedding Magic](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/25/wedding-magic/) - Show her how much you care by spending time planning, practicing and then executing a romantic marriage proposal.
- [Apple’s Offer Letter](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/25/apples-offer-letter/) - An example of an offer letter for a job at Apple
- [The Immense Redwoods](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/22/the-immense-redwoods/) - Taking pictures of the worlds largest trees is a challenge.
- [Car Cigarette Lighters](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/22/car-cigarette-lighters/) - Why is a car cigarette lighter so much larger than a cigarette?
- [Painting with Burger Grease](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/22/painting-with-burger-grease/) - How much grease is there in a burger? This is one way to find out.
- [Sand Animation](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/11/sand-animation/) - Artist Kseniya Simonova’s mesmerizing fingers twist and turn as she unfolds a story about Germany’s invasion into Ukraine in WWII.
- [Microsoft Courier Tablet](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/11/microsoft-courier-tablet/) - Video showing design concepts Microsoft was working on when they were developing a tablet operating system.
- [Loanshark Marketing](https://gemssty.com/2013/05/11/loanshark-marketing/) - Recently I’ve taken a special interest in a rather niche segment of marketing – those done by loan sharks. Johor Bahru (or JB – city in Malaysia) has a very high density of these (theoretically?) illegal money-lending businesses, catering to anybody from gamblers seeking a quick rescue to ‘proper’ businessmen needing just that bit more
- [Fight for Kisses](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/24/fight-for-kisses/) - Using a new shaver, dad's skin is as smooth as a baby. Now Baby must fight back to get mom's attention. Fight for Kisses.
- [How a Tower Crane Grows](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/24/how-a-tower-crane-grows/) - Video showing exactly how tower cranes are assembled and then grow taller with the building they are working on.
- [The Sound of a Car Door](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/23/the-sound-of-a-car-door/) - Car makers spend considerable time making sure the sound of a car door closing portrays perceived quality.
- [1 Trillion Dollars (Visualized again!)](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/19/1-trillion-dollars-visualized-again/) - Great video explaining how much a Trillion Dollars is.
- [Sony PS3 “The Play Face”](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/19/sony-ps3-the-play-face/) - Video and photos of faces of gamers while playing games show intense concentration and funny expressions.
- [Apple.com circa 1983](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/14/apple-com-circa-1983/) - Imagine what the Apple web site would look like if it existed back in 1983.
- [The Sound of Clap-raining](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/12/the-sound-of-clap-raining/) - Sound effects choir showing off their skills with a rain shower with thunder.
- [McLarenSport-Samsonite Luggage](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/12/mclarensport-samsonite-luggage/) - Samsonite teamed up with Formula 1 racing to come up with a new way to market luggage. Luggage with shock absorbers.
- [Higher Furnitures – Air Division](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/09/higher-furnitures-air-division/) - Using unusual scale, designer Nathan Yong designs intriguing furniture.
- [First-Person Shooter Disease](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/09/first-person-shooter-disease/) - Watch a video showing someone suffering from "First-Person Shooter Disease".
- [Schwepperverscence Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/04/09/schwepperverscence-ad/) - Slow motion video captures water balloons as they burst in this fun Schweppes ad.
- [Cone Pizza](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/30/cone-pizza/) - A cone shaped pizza. Design or function, or, just fun.
- [Francois Brunelle – Lookalike Project ](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/14/francois-brunelle-lookalike-project/) - Photographer Francois Brunelle shoots photos of people who are not related but look alike.
- [Clever Nikon Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/30/clever-nikon-ad/) - Clever designed billboard that at first glance make you believe someone is taking your picture using a flash.
- [Photography – Nailed it!](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/09/photography-nailed-it/) - Using lighting, props and angles, Czech photographer Vlad Artazov creates art with nails.
- [Nothing to Hide (Air New Zealand)](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/09/nothing-to-hide-air-new-zealand/) - Safety video created by Air New Zealand using real flight crew, flight attendants and pursers bare naked with nothing on but body paint. Nothing to hide.
- [Digital Ruler](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/23/digital-ruler/) - This electronic ruler is a simple and smart design by designer Shay Shafranek.
- [Guaranteed to Wake you Up](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/guaranteed-to-wake-you-up/) - An alarm clock using Hydraulics.
- [Marching Band](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/marching-band/) - Marching band using Segway.
- [Folding UK Plug](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/folding-uk-plug/) - The UK electric plug is large and bulky. Designer Min Kyu Choi has come up with an ingenious design that lets you twist and fold it to a small size.
- [Hiding Pregnancy on TV](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/hiding-pregnancy-on-tv/) - Pictures showing how by using camera angles and various props and clothing choices, the actresses pregnancy is concealed.
- [Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/milky-the-marvelous-milking-cow/) - http://youtu.be/TdS9ZJ_Wf4k&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 Blast from the past – commercial in 1978 advertising Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow – you (more likely your kids) put water in it, and pretend-milk comes out of the udder. I wonder if we still have this type of … weirdly attractive toys around the aisle nowadays…
- [Salli Saddle Chair](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/salli-saddle-chair/) - Video demonstrates how to use a Salli Saddle Chair
- [Phone-Miniaturization Russian-Doll](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/phone-miniaturization-russian-doll/) - Russian doll-style mobile phones made of cardboard showing how much smaller phones are now.
- [Karim Rashid Interview](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/03/karim-rashid-interview/) - http://youtu.be/zsmjRQyNzww&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 Karim Rashid is definitely no stranger to many of us – here’s an interview from Nylon TV in his home as he talks about design – you can just catch glimpses of how he has filled up his house with design objects mirroring his personal style – though he also mentioned that he’s getting
- [Vendor Client Relationships](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/vendor-client-relationships/) - Video showing customers demanding more than what you bargained for.
- [Dice-O-Matic](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/dice-o-matic/) - If you do not trust the randomness of computers, this will be the solution. Dice-o-Matic will generate more than a million random rolls a day.
- [A Class Divided](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/a-class-divided/) - A telling example of how easy it is to discriminate based on arbitrary rules.
- [Architectural LEGOs](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/architectural-legos/) - Lego has created artistic replicas so you can play and build Lego structures of their favorite designs.
- [50×70 Posters for Social Communication](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/50x70-posters-for-social-communication/) - A creative competition to create social-concious posters that address seven of the critical issues affecting the world today.
- [Be an Entrepreneur](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/be-an-entrepreneur/) - Smart video to inspire from Grasshopper.
- [Diving in Football](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/diving-in-football/) - For those of us who watch football (soccer) we’d probably be very familiar with antics known as “diving” (in the context of football (soccer) is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by diving to the ground and possibly simulating an injury, to appear as if a foul has been committed. Dives
- [Water Phone](https://gemssty.com/2013/03/02/water-phone/) - Waterphones stainless steel and bronze monolithic, instruments that utilize water to bend tones and create water echos.
- [F is for Fail](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/28/f-is-for-fail/) - Media designer Brent Barson created an animation telling the tale of a creative roller-coaster process by using the letters A to Z.
- [Efficient Cow](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/28/efficient-cow/) - Funny cow joke.
- [RONA Hitchhikes on Apple’s Billboard](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/28/rona-hitchhikes-on-apples-billboard/) - Opportunistic ad from Rona where they place their paint recycling ad directly below an Apple Ipod ad.
- [Sticky (aka Post-It) Note Experiment](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/27/sticky-aka-post-it-note-experiment/) - http://youtu.be/Y1rZqw5bXb4&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 This missed my radar – just stumbled onto Eepybird’s video (of diet Coke and Mentos fame) where sticky notes are reincarnated from the boring office supply into a series of moving, bouncing, falling slinkies in this ad for Officemax. Fun!
- [Demystifying the Design Process](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/27/demystifying-the-design-process/) - Can you simplify the design process down to a few basic initial steps?
- [“I have a Dream” Tuned](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/27/i-have-a-dream-tuned/) - http://youtu.be/5jkXXoT2oRU&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 I could perhaps label this video as a weird and yet delightful blend of music, rap and Auto-tune – Martin Luther King’s iconic speech expressed and remixed into something totally different, and yet amidst all that bastardization the inspiration and evocation lingers. Wonderfully weird web.
- [studio juju @Milan Fair](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/studio-juju-milan-fair/) - At the Milan Fair, Singapore-based designer Timo Wong and Priscilla Lui launched som of their collections.
- [Why are Browser Icons Round and Blue?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/why-are-browser-icons-round-and-blue/) - Why are Internet Browser icons blue and round?
- [Transformers: No No No!](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/transformers-no-no-no/) - http://youtu.be/8IXCK1EyP4s&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 I never noticed there were that many…
- [3D Sketching](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/11/3d-sketching/) - http://youtu.be/hSxCZE6PG50&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 This, I think is one of the holy grails of 3D-design, be it product, character or others. ILoveSketch is an absolutely awesome program that straddles the sweet spot between sketching and 3D-modeling – sketching in 3D plane and turning those sketches into curves on 3D space on-the-fly, giving the quickness and agility of sketches,
- [Universal Declaration of Human Rights](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/13/universal-declaration-of-human-rights/) - http://youtu.be/hTlrSYbCbHE&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an important milestone in setting out the basic rights and dignity of all people on Earth. Now set in video, it animates more vividly the aspects of the declaration. By the Human Rights Action Center.
- [Amputee Ballet](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/13/amputee-ballet/) - http://youtu.be/UTrb6i7gJAk&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 Just saw this ballet performance by Chinese dancers Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei – an absolutely inspiring, beautiful and mesmerizing performance.
- [Floating Ladle](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/13/floating-ladle/) - Saw this design of a ladle and thought it was quite interesting – there is a hollow ‘ball’ at the stem. Due to the hollow ball the ladle always floats on the water surface, very much like buoys on the sea. This way, you can just leave the ladle in the liquid (think fruit punch
- [Magic Wand](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/14/magic-wand/) - http://youtu.be/Q3xHKsjXLsA&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 Mmm… cool toy! Cool science behind – check; Easy to use – check; Effects that make others go WOAH – check! “Todays magic is tomorrow’s science”… as we always say here at ThinkGeek. Now you can get a bit of magic for yourself with this amazing Fly Stick Van de Graaff Levitation Wand. This
- [Touchscreen moves out of the Screen](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/14/touchscreen-moves-out-of-the-screen/) - http://youtu.be/NMlsIUaWaRI&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 While the world’s ooh-ing and ah-ing with Microsoft Surface some time ago for its engaging and intuitive interaction, researchers within the campus are moving on to yet another interesting interface – touch control but out of the screen. Called SideSight, the interface allows you to control a phone placed on a table by wiggling
- [Amazing Gear Heart](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/15/amazing-gear-heart/) - http://youtu.be/70dKZjP4NOo&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405 Wow, this is simply an incredible motion sculpture. Initially it looks like it’s simply a heart composed of carved gears of various proportions coming together to form a shape – but when the motion starts magic happens, as gears of various ratios engage each other in a most harmonious way. If you look closely
- [Thai Commercial](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/15/thai-commercial/) - Thais are well-known in the region for their creativity in advertising – I’ve covered some of the funny and touching ads, and they’re also no stranger to ads that play more like a short movie. So here’s yet another: http://youtu.be/Um9KsrH377A&start=0&hd=1&w=720&h=405
- [Sherlock Test](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/15/sherlock-test/) - Test your skills at observation. In this short video there are 21 errors that are obvious once you see them. Test it out yourself.
- [Brilliant Mirror Prank](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/brilliant-mirror-prank/) - Just stumbled upon this clever and hilarious prank: http://youtu.be/xYXj2ZICmKw&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 The mirror in the toilet was replaced by a window pane. The gray lady’s identical twin is in an identically set-up room on the opposite side, mirroring her every move. Everybody who walks in gets very confused.
- [Reactogon – New Music Visualizer](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/reactogon-new-music-visualizer/) - http://youtu.be/AklKy2NDpqs&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Hot on the heels of music and new ways of visualizing them – here’s reacTogon, a multi-touch music arpeggiator. Watch the video to find out how it works!
- [Have a Good Day!](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/have-a-good-day/) - http://youtu.be/APEIUMKCWzc&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 A light-hearted animation (done as an ad for V water) – if only there’s someone up there taking care of my life like this, smoothening every crease and catering to every whim…
- [Seadragon for iPhone](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/seadragon-for-iphone/) - I was somewhat surprised that Microsoft has decided to launch for free (for the first time) Seadragon Mobile, a very interesting zooming-user-interface, on Apple’s iPhone. Check it out: http://youtu.be/fHWH9lQLN6w&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 I was first captivated by Seadragon some years ago when it was shown in a demo – the way it can (infinitely) zoom down smoothly and
- [World War – Animation by Vincent Chai](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/world-war-animation-by-vincent-chai/) - http://youtu.be/PIpMejgJQRY&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Vincent Chai, a Malaysian(?) animator did the above trailer as his degree project at University of Hertfordshire. Wow, is this the level of work students are capable of nowadays? Absolutely Amazing!
- [Christmas Greetings with Microwaves](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/christmas-greetings-with-microwaves/) - A big warehouse. A whole bunch of power cables. A whole bunch of microwave ovens. To make the most intimate and interesting Xmas greetings video I’ve seen (so far). Doesn’t quite correlate? See it here: http://youtu.be/FgBUqJzgvBo&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 [by AKQA]
- [Chess Claymation](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/chess-claymation/) - http://youtu.be/YXM3wrIhcwY&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Awesome piece of clay stop-motion video depicting a chess battle…
- [MINI Augmented Reality Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/mini-augmented-reality-ad/) - http://youtu.be/HTYeuo6pIjY&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 There is quite a bit of user involvement before he/she can ‘get’ the ad – but the concept is an interesting one. The steps are as follows: User sees the ad on magazine, follows instruction to the MINI website. User holds the magazine in front of his own webcam. MINI website detects the orientation
- [Objectified](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/objectified/) - The trailer for the film “Objectified” (a documentary about industrial design by Gary Hustwit, the same guy who directed “Helvetica“) is certainly making the rounds around design blogs today – so here you go in case you haven’t seen it yet: http://youtu.be/S9E2D2PaIcI&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360
- [40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/40-inspirational-speeches-in-2-minutes/) - http://youtu.be/d6wRkzCW5qI&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Thought this was pretty funny – I’m always partial to these ‘feel-good-motivation’ movies. The speeches and the background music usually raises goosebumps on my skin. But put together, they’ve concocted a rather different (more amusing) tone to it…
- [The Sling Shot Man](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/the-sling-shot-man/) - This guy’s old, but he’s accurate with his slingshot. Really accurate. After losing quite a few trees and plants to Japanese Beetles, I especially enjoyed his aim on those. http://youtu.be/9ieWrWLjii0&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360
- [MusicBox – Visual Playlist](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/18/musicbox-visual-playlist/) - http://youtu.be/OPbdQ80VkyQ&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Perhaps this is how music playlists should’ve been all along – visual and much more spontaneous and interactive in how you’d listen to and choose songs, created by MIT lab’s Anita Lillie (as part of her master thesis): My Master’s thesis is focused on the problem of finding music you like, both inside your
- [“Seeder” Statue Sprinkles](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/19/seeder-statue-sprinkles/) - In Kaunas, Lithuania, Seeds were painted on a cement wall that combine a picture that forms at night when a spotlight is pointed at a nearby stature.
- [F1 in 2009 – Cool Video](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/f1-in-2009-cool-video/) - http://youtu.be/zTkVKPdyWs0&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Even if you’re not really into Formula 1 racing, the video is yet another nice, slick and well-explained production, going through some of the changes to the race format in order to reduce costs for teams involved and to make the race more interesting.
- [What is Information? What is Architecture?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/what-is-information-what-is-architecture/) - Nicely produced short videos explaining what is “information” and what is “architecture”: http://youtu.be/WytNkw1xOIc&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 http://youtu.be/E55OcGB0L8o&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Created by Maya Design.
- [Samsung’s Screen for little Furries](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/samsungs-screen-for-little-furries/) - Funny Samsung ads showing cute small animals. Hamsters, bunnies, puppies, kittens, chicks.
- [CNC-Sharpening your pencil](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/cnc-sharpening-your-pencil/) - The worlds most expensive pencil sharpener.
- [Wozniak Dances](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/wozniak-dances/) - Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak on the Dancing with the Stars program.
- [“The Front Fell Off!”](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/the-front-fell-off/) - This is a funny satire on how a politicians and business executives explain why the disaster was not their fault.
- [Stand by Me around the World](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/stand-by-me-around-the-world/) - http://youtu.be/Us-TVg40ExM&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Just a little feel-good, mashed-up MTV of people around the world singing “Stand by Me” in their own instruments and interpretation. Perfect for your Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Whateverday blues.
- [“Let it Shine” by Honda](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/let-it-shine-by-honda/) - Using hundreds of cards, Honda used the headlights as pixels to create moving graphics to the tune of Let it Shine.
- [Vector Drawing in 1963](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/vector-drawing-in-1963/) - http://youtu.be/mOZqRJzE8xg&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 For those of us who dabble with vector programs like Illustrator day in and out, here’s an interesting piece of history – Ivan Sutherland’s Sketchpad, developed way back in 1963. Looking at the video, it seems quite advanced too (considering the computer itself was pretty much still in an infant stage).
- [Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/susan-boyle-britains-got-talent/) - http://youtu.be/RxPZh4AnWyk&start=0&hd=1&w=640&h=360 Just a reminder to my self – try not to judge a book by the cover!
- [Youtube Symphony](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/youtube-symphony/) - The London Symphony Orchestra performing the Internet Symphony No. 1 "Eroica" - for YouTube, conducted by Tan Dun.
- [Google Similar Images](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/google-similar-images/) - Google introduced a search feature for images that allows you to find similar images to what you have already found.
- [How Internet came about](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/how-internet-came-about/) - This short video shows how the Internet was created. Starting from 1957 and file sharing, the Arpanet to the current Internet.
- [Urbano Bin](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/urbano-bin/) - Smart bins that let you use your old shopping bags.
- [Tweenbot – Will you guide a robot?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/tweenbot-will-you-guide-a-robot/) - The Tweenbot project tests peoples kindness. The small robot needs assistance from people in order to get to the final destination.
- [Modified “My Little Pony”](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/modified-my-little-pony/) - The effeminate “My Little Pony” takes on a totally different role under the hands of student-sculptor Mari Kasurinen, who mashes them winged-horses with other pop culture icons such as Batman, Darth Vader and Pirates of the Carribean (as seen above). Head here for more of them.
- [How Offices have Changed since 1900s](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/26/how-offices-have-changed-since-1900s/) - Article on office planning showing the major trends the last century that result in better or worse productivity.
- [Too much (poorly designed) Information?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/too-much-poorly-designed-information/) - A critique of a milk carton design. What started out as a good idea, developed to a milk carton with redundant information.
- [Glass Flowers](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/glass-flowers/) - Master glass artist Leopold Blaschka andhis son Rudolf create amazing 3d glass replicas of various flowers.
- [Dentist Namecard](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/dentist-namecard/) - Clever business card design for a dentist.
- [Learning Chinese Characters Through Illustrations](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/learning-chinese-characters-through-illustrations/) - This books uses a story about a pet dragon to teach associated unfamiliar characters (letters) with pictures.
- [Daily Design Inspiration](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/daily-design-inspiration/) - Design web site created to inspire and spur new ideas.
- [The Honest Scammer](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/the-honest-scammer/) - Get some thoughts and reflections of a Nigerian scammer.
- [The World of 100](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/the-world-of-100/) - Graphic artist Toby Wong has created a set of simple graphics to communicate various metrics about the global population.
- [Facepalming Brokers](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/facepalming-brokers/) - This web site is dedicated to pictures of brokers doing the face-palm.
- [What does 1 Trillion look like?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/24/what-does-1-trillion-look-like/) - These graphics show the relative amount that 1 trillion dollars is. These days with the government borrowing trillions of dollars, see the sheer amount.
- [Tiny Art Director](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/tiny-art-director/) - Artist and Illustrator Bill Zemon has a blog and book chronicling his attempts at fulfilling his daughter's brief art direction.
- [Pinocchio Paradox](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/pinocchio-paradox/) - So… what’d happen?
- [Breadcrumbs for Birds](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/breadcrumbs-for-birds/) - After slicing some bread, brush the crumbs through small holes in the cutting board and have have them automatically available in the bird feeder.
- [Fake Sunroof](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/23/fake-sunroof/) - Get a self-adhesive sunroof. It is fake and it will only make it look like you have a sunroof.
- [Light Graffiti](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/19/light-graffiti/) - Michael Bosanko creates art by moving light torches and flashlights and setting the shutter speed on his camera from a few seconds to an hour.
- [Pepsi – the rationale behind the new logo](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/19/pepsi-the-rationale-behind-the-new-logo/) - Looking at the Pepsi logo and analyzing the new look. Is Pepsi at the center of the Universe?
- [Eye Clock](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/19/eye-clock/) - Fun clock where eye movements are linked to the hour and minute hands.
- [Modern Day Proverbs](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/19/modern-day-proverbs/) - Nikki Farquharson, a graphic designer-illustrator took some of the age-old familiar proverbs and adapted them into something that may be more reflective of modern times – it’s quite interesting to see how the usual statements get twisted and yet strangely still describe truth (somewhat? perhaps with less enduring wisdom)… More here at the portfolio site
- [Nintendo Miis as ‘Wanted’ Portrait](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/19/nintendo-miis-as-wanted-portrait/) - Police in Japan have use a Mii as the portrait in a their "Wanted" posters.
- [Ze Frank Voice Drawing](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/18/ze-frank-voice-drawing/) - If you have a microphone you may want to try this site out – instead of using the typical interface tools like mouse or keyboard, this Flash application requires you to use the microphone. A low volume tone will make the line curve counterclockwise, a medium will let it run straight and a high volume
- [iPhone Camera ‘Effect’](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/iphone-camera-effect/) - Something I didn’t know about iPhone’s camera (and probably most camera-phones in general?): In typical cameras, the sensor captures the scenery all at once and the image is exposed (whether on film or digitally). But the CMOS sensors on iPhones doesn’t do that – instead it scans from left to right. So if you use
- [Mega (100m) Panorama](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/mega-100m-panorama/) - The photographer Simon Hoegsberg spent 17 months taking photos from the same spot on a railroad bridge in Berlin in 2007, and put them all together in this megawide panorama (it is 78cm x 100m long), titled “We’re All Gonna Die” showcasing unique – and mostly unaware – people walking about in their daily lives
- [BMW’s Hofmeister Kink](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/bmws-hofmeister-kink/) - newmediacampaigns has a rather interesting article zooming in to a fine detailing on BMW’s automobile design – the Hofmeister Kink. As seen above (highlighted in blue) in the BMW 1500 launched in 1961, the kink describes the bend at the C-Pillar (rear pillar), representing a turn in the window lines that one may have expected
- [Earring Lampshade](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/earring-lampshade/) - The Sophia Lamp by babbaakcja is a clever parasite design – by perforating tiny holes onto the lampshade (which can form an interesting pattern), women can also hang their earrings on it, and transforming the aesthetic into a different, more personal one instead.
- [Irony?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/irony/) - Optimism?
- [Peta calls fish ‘sea kittens’](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/peta-calls-fish-sea-kittens/) - I don’t know how can I react to this – PETA is known for its deliberately provocative and eccentric campaign tactics – but this has got to take the crown. Listen to the plea of the “Save the Sea Kittens” campaign: People don’t seem to like fish. They’re slithery and slimy, and they have eyes
- [Seeing Maps Everywhere](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/seeing-maps-everywhere/) - We certainly have a tendency to recognize familiar shapes from all actually-random sources: we see faces or creatures in the clouds, we imagine that there is indeed a divine intervention when Virgin Mary appeared on toasts; and now – “cartocacoethes – a mania, uncontrollable urge, compulsion or itch to see maps everywhere”: UK, Africa and
- [Google Earth](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/17/google-earth/) - Wow! That’s not a picture of New York city, but rather, Google Earth’s rendering of it. From satellite images, to building maps, to rough 3D block models of the building, the next layer is now in progress: mapping those buildings with photo-realistic textures. Sim City version GOOGLE coming through!
- [Ecofont](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/ecofont/) - Could this be the David that takes down Goliaths like HP, Canon and Epson? Architects have been using perforated metal panels like this for a long time. The holes are spaced and cut in a way that does not compromise the overall strength of the material, while removing a substantial portion of the weight, making
- [Another Evolutionary Painting](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/another-evolutionary-painting/) - Blog posts are like buses…when they come they come in clusters of the same kind or number. Hot on the heels of computer-generated algorithm to design – here’s yet another manifestation – this time the challenge was to paint as close to Mona Lisa (or for that matter, any other image) as possible simply by
- [Car Design by Evolution](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/car-design-by-evolution/) - Back in school I used to have a professor who taught us about design+genetics (and called it Geno-metrics). The central thesis was for designers to move away from the role of designing the object to designing the parameters/rules in which the object can exist. In a one-semester exposure this was nothing much more than programming
- [NASA: A case for the Moon](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/nasa-a-case-for-the-moon/) - NASA’s internal Powerpoint presentation style was critiqued by Edward Tufte who had even apportioned some responsibility to poorly structured/presented information in Powerpoint for the Columbia crash. Powerpoints like those are certainly not easy (at least for the layman) to read and understand – perhaps those decks really needed rocket scientists to decipher. A rare gem
- [Auditorium – the Music Game](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/auditorium-the-music-game/) - Have a go at Auditorium – like many web-based Flash games it is based on a simple concept and features slickly-executed graphics. The concept that sets it apart from other Flash games is the focus on the audio sensory: you are supposed to solve puzzles by guiding streams of particles to the goals – in
- [The art of Keys Arrangement](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/the-art-of-keys-arrangement/) - When transitioning from rotary phones to touch phones, human factor specialists tested 18 different possible key layouts before settling on the one we use today.
- [MUJI Award 03](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/muji-award-03/) - The MUJI Award 03 results have been released – 1986 entries vying for the prize within the theme of “Found”: For the coming MUJI Award 3, we want you to find “Found MUJI” from your viewpoint. Learn from the wisdom accumulated by our predecessors all over the world, find good points in such long-established merchandise,
- [The Inside Light](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/the-inside-light/) - Cinco Design had done a rather intriguing project. The premise is this – inside every designer/creative is a guiding light that shapes our vision and fuel our creativity. So they asked a bunch of people to boil it down to one word, make a light box of it, and take a photo showing the reflection
- [Pimp your Logo](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/pimp-your-logo/) - ‘Pimp my Logo’ takes on user-submitted logos (vector) and turns them into what-he-claims-is cheesy 3-second animation (the kind you see at the end of an ad or a short clip). And he (she?) does it all for free! Too bad the submissions are closed already – but you can still check out some of the
- [What can you buy for $5?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/what-can-you-buy-for-5/) - The Advanced Design team in Nokia set up a website – The Five Dollar Comparison – to find out what can people buy with $5 in different parts of the world. Discussions around the consequences of a truly connected planet have been going on for some time in our organisation, and maybe also in yours.
- [4-seasons Party Crackers](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/4-seasons-party-crackers/) - I loved the poetry of this party cracker design – different flourishes for different seasons: cherry-blossoms, drops, leaves and snowflakes. [via mocoloco]
- [Google Flu Trendspotting](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/16/google-flu-trendspotting/) - Google Insights have been available publicly for some time. Users can enter multiple search terms and Google will report the search trends for these terms over time, and correlate it with major news articles, geographic source of search. It was typically associated with entertainment (“OZ”, “Die Hard”) variety, or perhaps political campaigning (“Joe the plumber”,
- [Major League Baseball Logo](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/15/major-league-baseball-logo/) - Did you know that the Major League Baseball logo was designed 40 years ago (1968) and have never been updated since? Did you know that the baseball player in the logo was designed so that he can either be a right or left-handed batter? I didn’t know either of those – this logo looked contemporary
- [A Collection of Redesigns](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/12/a-collection-of-redesigns/) - A collection of image redesigns, some characters, some logos and products. See if you agree with the improvement.
- [LG Japan Concept Phones](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/15/lg-japan-concept-phones/) - LG Japan organized a design competition for concept mobile phones – and the aesthetic mock-ups were shown at the Tokyo Design Week sometime back. The winner (pictured at the top) is called the Planet Phone: [It is] a circular clamshell-style handset that features numerous LEDs embedded into the top half of the phone. Each of
- [Lakeland Clip Spoon Rest](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/14/lakeland-clip-spoon-rest/) - Ideally this problem shouldn’t exist – and even if it does the solution should be integrated with the pot itself. But life isn’t perfect, so maybe one of these Trudeau clips may still be a good fit for your kitchen ensuring your spoon stays near with your pots without falling into or out of them.
- [Body Motion Signature](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/13/body-motion-signature/) - As if there aren’t already enough biometric identification information – from the basic fingerprint, to iris scan, voice and speech patterns, etc. – experts are developing a new way of identifying people – by their unique body motions: Titled the Green Dot Project: To identify who is in the video, the computer first looks for
- [David Report – 5 key design trends](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/13/david-report-5-key-design-trends/) - David Report has been turning in high-quality updates and articles on design issues – and this one is no different. Issue 10 chronicles 5 major theme that owner David Carlson observed in 2008 – it is very well produced and inspiring – so head on to browse or download it.
- [USA Lapel Pin by Michael Bierut](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/13/usa-lapel-pin-by-michael-bierut/) - There were some hoo-ha a year ago about the wearing of lapel pins as a sign of patriotism in the USA elections. The small metal accessory was suddenly cast into the spotlight. It became a marker of loyalty and patriotism – the absence of which signifies the absence of these values as well. For all
- [Colored Spectacles](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/11/colored-spectacles/) - An interesting concept eyewear from Portuguese designer Luis Porem called ‘RGB Rainbow Glasses’: The structure of the glasses have an internal channel where colorful ink can pass through, allowing users to choose their own colors. made from plastic the glasses have a flexible arm and can be filled with water based ink. [Luis Porem's website]
- [How good is your eyeball?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/11/how-good-is-your-eyeball/) - Hot on the topic of sketching – ‘eyeballing’ is one of the essential traits needed to product good sketches. It’s the ability to accurately place where a point or a line should be by imaginarily-visualizing them: finding a midpoint; the bisecting angle; drawing parallel lines, etc. Without good ‘eyeballs’ it is horribly difficult to get
- [Opus Design Award 2008](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/11/opus-design-award-2008/) - The Opus Design Award is an annual design competition open to conceptual designs of eyewear. Here’s the winner in 2008: Switch, by Nick Jinkinson, is an eyewear that fully goes from ‘normal’ eyewear mode to ‘shades’ mode, and this won the Gold Prize. According to the designer: Traditional photochromic eyewear suffers from the problem that
- [Celebrity Font Arts](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/celebrity-font-arts/) - Some interesting portraits of celebrities (Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, James Dean) constructed entirely from fonts and glyphs (well, except the facial features).
- [Carling iPhone Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/carling-iphone-ad/) - httpv://youtu.be/XcffEsVGK0E Carling’s clever use of the medium’s inherent (additional) dimension to give a more engaging experience for its advertisement. If you tilt it too much, beer actually get ‘spilled’ out, and the realistic looking foam marks clinging on to the glass also gives it a touch of realism confined behind the glass. Which also brings
- [Paris Motor Show](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/paris-motor-show/) - The Paris Motor Show is a biennial affair showcasing production and concept cars from many major marques for automobile fans to salivate on. Here are just some highlights from the show: Lamborghini Estoque One of the highlights of the show was the Lamborghini Estoque – yes, Lamborghini is showing a car that you can actually
- [Singapore Formula 1 Photos](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/singapore-formula-1-photos/) - The Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore in 2008 was the first of the republic – it was also the first time it took place at night. I’ve always been partial to street circuits as I feel they give a raw and yet romantic sense of speed – perhaps something that is easier to relate
- [Multicolr – Search Flickr by colors](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/multicolr-search-flickr-by-colors/) - This is Multicolr by Idée Labs – allowing you to search Flickr’s photo pool based on the key colors. What’s cool about this is you can choose more than 1 color. As shown above – you can have just one color, or keep adding key colors into your criteria. Pretty nifty huh? Now when’d they
- [Evolution of Geeks](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/evolution-of-geeks/) - Pretty accurate?
- [Hip Hop Grannies](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/hip-hop-grannies/) - Promise yourself that you will not let a number define you – Hip Hop Grannies defy stereotypes!
- [Transformer comes to Strollers](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/transformer-comes-to-strollers/) - Strollers have come a long way in terms of baby care. It was once exclusive and expensive, and only the upper echelons of the society could strut their babies around on wheels. Today though, strollers are almost a necessity for every mom, and we’ve also seen innovations that tries to make it simpler to use
- [Cool Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/cool-ad/) - httpv://youtu.be/u5WV51pXBh0 It isn’t the kinds of ad that will blow you away, but I thought this was quite a clever ad. Without spoiling it too much: you’d probably start to get the commercial maybe somewhere in the middle of the ad, and that’s when everything suddenly make sense. And you’d still want to re-watch it,
- [Lehman Art](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/lehman-art/) - This, I guess is what happens when a mega-billion dollar company folds and files for bankcruptcy. Artist GV Raymond has a habit of painting a portrait picture of a popular figure and letting others comment on it with markers: The idea behind the series is to paint the subject during a particularly interesting or controversial
- [F1 in Singapore Simulation](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/f1-in-singapore-simulation/) - Singapore hosted the first ever night-race in the Formula One in 2008, and AixSponza has an excellent animated reel showing the road-track that will bring F1 drivers around iconic architectures in downtown Singapore. I’ve always thought that street tracks are a lot more romantic than purpose-built racing tracks – typical track racing gives me a
- [VW Golf Design Sketches](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/vw-golf-design-sketches/) - Car Body Design has a great article/interview with the designers behind the VW Golf - definitely one of the icons in Volkswagen portfolio. See how they explain the evolution of the Golf from its earlier incarnations to the present design, playing the balance between blending new changes and updating its image: In the process, Walter
- [Thoughtful Herb Pot](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/10/thoughtful-herb-pot/) - The Herb Stand by Normann Copenhagen (designed by Jakob Heiberg) is certain to give your kitchen a fresh lift! Nothing compares in aroma or effectiveness as fresh home-grown herbs, so perhaps this nicely designed pot will spur you towards some micro home-gardening? What I liked most about it, however, is the scissors that is innocuously
- [Goatee Shaver](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/08/goatee-shaver/) - I admire anyone who is willing and able to take the plunge in bringing their ideas/inventions to market – it definitely take a lot of guts and determination. But, this ‘goatee saver‘ still goes into the ‘Unreal’ book for me: ‘Tired of the constant struggle every morning trying to get your goatee to look perfect?
- [Cartoons about Women](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/cartoons-about-women/) - Cathy Thorne has a weekly cartoon about the thoughts from the fairer sex – which can certainly be a mystery to much of the world!
- [20 years, 1 owner](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/20-years-1-owner/) - Photographer Matteo Ferrari has photographs of car owners who have owned the same car for 20 years. See the original picture and the current picture.
- [Instant Mona Lisa](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/instant-mona-lisa/) - Well the Mythbusters point was to illustrate the difference between CPU and GPU processing (graphics hardware terminology) and how GPU being parallel-processing would be much faster. But that doesn’t really matter, because all you need to see in this video is how they INSTANTLY painted with a massive array of paintball barrels all lined up
- [Ballot Design](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/ballot-design/) - The US Election seasons are here, and voting comes into the spotlight once again. Here, AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) attempts to redefine how ballot cards should look like – from the almost-incomprehensible version (on top) to the much clearer version below: Among the improvements are clearer and more structural layouts, a direct and
- [Pencil Sculptures](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/pencil-sculptures/) - Some artists have great skills with pencils – though most of them use them to draw/sketch, instead of making sculptures like Jennifer Maestre. The sculptures are made by drilling one-inch section on the pencils, and then beaded with ‘peyote stitch‘. Many of them have animal-morphic genes in them. Here’s what the artist says: Sometimes I
- [Beijing Olympics](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/beijing-olympics/) - Spotted these cool earmuffs worn during the Beijing Olympics shooting event – pretty cute huh? Some other great moments: A few more photos of the Beijing Olympics right here and here.
- [The Consumer’s Life](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/the-consumers-life/) - Pretty much sums up our lives, doesn’t it? [by Bas de Reuver]
- [Photorealistic Animation](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/09/photorealistic-animation/) - httpv://youtu.be/bLiX5d3rC6o I think we are on the verge of surpassing the what animators term as the ‘uncanny valley’: For many years now, animators have come up against a barrier known as “uncanny valley”, which refers to how, as a computer-generated face approaches human likeness, it begins take on a corpse-like appearance similar to that in
- [Most Common English Words](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/most-common-english-words/) - How many Top-100 most common English words can you name in 5 minutes? That is the premise of this simple game from Codebox Software, aptly titled ‘The 100 most common English Words’. As a person who dabbles in writing almost everyday, I thought this would be peanuts. I got a bare passing mark – 51/100.
- [Bombay Sapphire](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/bombay-sapphire/) - Bombay Sapphire has always been somewhat the Patron Alcohol of the design scene – you can see their presence in virtually every major design show. Traditionally they’ve also organized an annual design competition with the theme of designing a martini glass to contain their liquid in. This year, however, it seems like they’ve taken on
- [Alter-Ego Face Animations](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/alter-ego-face-animations/) - httpv://youtu.be/uQJ7gwG0G5g From TechEBlog: Called Alter Ego, this software basically takes advantage of blend shapes to copy facial idiosyncrasies and produce emotive life-like 3D character animations. Its flexibility allows for the software to be used in real-time game cinematics, pre-rendered projects, and even game trailers. This would be a bit like Poser (for those of you
- [Liquid Sculpture](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/liquid-sculpture/) - httpv://youtu.be/FZ6SB4JvJoU Here’s a nice coverage of an interesting ferrofluid art by Sachiko Kodama: While most visual artists prefer traditional materials such as oil, acrylic, bronze and ceramic, Tokyo-based SACHIKO KODAMA prefers FERROFLUIDS. Composed of magnetic nanoparticles, ferrofluids often contain high levels of iron and, as such, are deeply affected by and responsive to the presence
- [Alphabet-Vegetable Book](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/alphabet-vegetable-book/) - Find it difficult to get your kids to munch their vegetables? Maybe transforming it into a fun learning process helps? In comes Great Big Veg Challenge: From artichokes to zucchinis, broad beans to yams, every aspect of this family vegetable adventure is lovingly chronicled in Charlotte’s book “The Great Big Veg Challenge”. As well as
- [Camp in the City](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/camp-in-the-city/) - If you’re in a crowded city with a minimal budget (say, in the finals of a World Cup or something) and you don’t mind just camping it out, here’s an interesting solution of a tent masquerading as a covered vehicle. Blend into the urban landscape while surreptitiously having a good (and cheap!) night’s sleep right
- [Britain – Seen from Above](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/britain-seen-from-above/) - httpv://youtu.be/LV6l8AvjtqE Privacy issues aside (I don’t suppose these were very much private data anyway in this day and age – particularly in Britain where surveillance is really part-and-parcel of life), this is some amazing infosthetic video showing the pulse of a nation – through its land, sea and air traffic channel, as well as phone
- [Calvin and Jobs](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/calvin-and-jobs/) - Steve Jobs replaces Hobbes in this series of “Calvin and Jobs” – if you can’t read it well, the larger versions are here and here.
- [Days with My Father – Philip Toledano](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/07/days-with-my-father-philip-toledano/) - The portrait photos are great, the navigation style is interesting – but I feel shallow if I just commented on the design of Philip Toledano’s site about his interaction with his dad (age ninety-eight) who has no short term memory. It is an ongoing chronicle – do head on and be touched. (Move your mouse
- [Green = Cute-sifying?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/06/green-cute-sifying/) - Must you cute-sify your logo if you want to show you’re green? For instance, major corporations like BP and Monsanto have ditched their stodgy and serious logos in favor of cuter and more ‘down-to-earth’ ones. Nicole Peterson (who has a very interesting research going on – the usage of cute in contemporary design) ponders in
- [Feminine Hard Drive?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/feminine-hard-drive/) - Samsung release a compact hard drive that looks like a piece of make-up.
- [Funny Street Theatre](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/funny-street-theatre/) - Natural Theatre Company in England performs right on the street.
- [Improving Video through Photos](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/improving-video-through-photos/) - httpv://youtu.be/1PktKqyRXIE This research is pretty interesting. Here’s the premise: photos are easier to capture (and in a better quality) and it’s also easier to edit/manipulate. Put the ease-of-maneuver of photos into video shots, and composing them together as if they were originally one to begin with. Here’s the description from the researchers: The work presents
- [Design Posters for Designers!](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/design-posters-for-designers/) - Frank Chimero, a graphics designer with talent, has come up with some very inspirational posters.
- [Shadow Signage](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/shadow-signage/) - Using a spotlight and some small pieces of wire, create a sign that spells the product.
- [Japanese ‘We are the World’](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/japanese-we-are-the-world/) - httpv://youtu.be/7y-thHtZLH8 rust the Japanese for the weirdest and yet engaging content on their variety show. In this one, they’ve managed to (in my view) put nostalgia and creepiness into one – a variety-show rendition of the famous ‘We are the World’ MTV.
- [Domino Logic Gates](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/05/domino-logic-gates/) - Using dominoes, this video shows in simple terms the function of the logic gate.
- [IDEA Awards 2008 - How did they fare?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/04/idea-awards-2008-how-did-they-fare/) - List of the top 100 winners of the Idea Awards 2008. Other than the iPhone, were there others that were successful?
- [Greatest Taglines](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/04/greatest-taglines/) - The most influential taglines in recent time.
- [Jenga on Buildings](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/03/jenga-on-buildings/) - Non destructive way to demolish a highrise building.
- [It’s a Small World](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/its-a-small-world/) - The Nikon International Small World Competition began in as a means to recognize and applaud the efforts of those involved with photography through the light microscope.
- [Designing the Magazine’s Feature Article](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/designing-the-magazines-feature-article/) - Matt Willey recently put together a video snapshot of the design and editing (and editing, and editing, and editing…) process for a Royal Academy magazine cover story.
- [How to Cook Spaghetti](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/how-to-cook-spaghetti/) - httpv://youtu.be/qBjLW5_dGAM A wonderfully weird stop-motion video of the pasta-cooking process.
- [Mortality](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/mortality/) - Dealing with one’s own mortality is definitely not a pleasant thing, many of us would probably just turn a blind eye to it, avoid it and pretend it doesn’t exist.
- [Make a 17′ Gandhi Statue](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/make-a-17′-gandhi-statue/) - If you’re in a Gandhi mood today, you may want to pay Joseph Delappe a visit, because he loves Gandhi. Or really admires him. Or something like that. Because for one, he built this incredible 17-feet Gandhi statue (looking somewhat like a video-game character back in the days of Playstation 1 or something – what
- [VooDoo Envy Laptop & Packaging](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/voodoo-envy-laptop-packaging/) - Voodoo has certainly showed that they are pulling out every last trick to conjure the absolutely lust-worthy, live-up-to-its-namesake ‘Envy’ laptop.
- [Content Page Designs](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/content-page-designs/) - If you’re into content page design – Smashing Magazine has collected a smorgasbord of content pages from a wide variety of publications in a wide variety of styles.
- [75th birthday for Phillips (the screw)](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/75th-birthday-for-phillips-the-screw/) - Henry F Phillips received a patent for a type of screw and the accompanying screwdriver – the Phillips screw.
- [Bypassing Chinese Censor](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/bypassing-chinese-censor/) - It is well known that the Chinese government proactively clamp down on any media that it deems to run contrary to its own interest. Here are some attempts at circumvention.
- [Zoomii – Bringing Real Life to Amazon - Fail](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/zoomii-bringing-real-life-to-amazon-fail/) - Zoomii was a website that attempted to take the books on Amazon and turn them into a more real-life like display with shelf presence.
- [Discussion: Design Competitions worth it?](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/discussion-design-competitions-worth-it/) - Regular reader Scott asks: We designers and innovators struggle all the time to get our name “out there” so we can more quickly push our designs into reality. Entering (and winning) such contests as Muji can certainly help, but at what cost? If you sit back and look at the bigger picture of what is
- [Sliding Radio](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/sliding-radio/) - The 08 Radio is a concept that interestingly fuses technology and plain old-school look.
- [Perforated Container Architecture](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/02/perforated-container-architecture/) - It’s rather incredible how the details in surface treatment makes all the difference in this prefab container: In Darmstadt, Germany, The Alice-Hospital vom Roten Kreuz has commissioned Angela Fritsch Architekten to build a pavilion in the park in front of their main building, and the final result is a really creative design. The pavilion was
- [Political Cartoons – Clay Bennett](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/political-cartoons-clay-bennett/) - Pulitzer Prize winner for editorial cartooning Clay Bennett is an editorial cartoonist on the Christian Science Monitor.
- [Re-Braun](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/re-braun/) - Looking at products created by Braun gives a glimps of what new products from Apple will look like.
- [Bomomo Painter](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/bomomo-painter/) - Web painting tool at the website bomomo. This paint tool is unlike others since your paint brush is constantly moving.
- [The Eco Zoo](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/the-eco-zoo/) - Japanese website with a light-hearted touch to be environmentally friendly..
- [1969 vs 2008](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/1969-vs-2008/) - Compare how significant events were covered in 1969 and 2008.
- [Pulp Branding](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/pulp-branding/) - Pulp Branding web site lets artists take well known logos and update them.
- [Steel Truss ‘Lego’s](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/steel-truss-legos/) - Toys that let you create will often result in longer enjoyment. Here Chris Burden constructed a 65-foot tower using stainless steel modular pieces.
- [CSM Product Design Graduation 08](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/csm-product-design-graduation-08/) - As the world becomes more connected through the tubes of the Internet, we’re certainly also seeing more and more graduation shows moved outline (or at least, duplicated somewhat) so that the results of the students toil can be shared across the world. Here are some of the works from Central St. Martins, hosted on Flickr
- [Adobe Photoshop in Real Life](https://gemssty.com/2013/02/01/adobe-photoshop-in-real-life/) - While we may be quite familiar with the Photoshop interface on our screen, the artist here has taken to recreating it painstakingly in real life, even including the layers and menus. Pretty cool huh? I saved this picture but I forgot to keep the source – anyone knows who to give credit to?
- [J.K Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/j-k-rowlings-harvard-commencement-speech/) - Here’s a rather inspiring commencement speech from J.K. Rowling delivered at Harvard – a mixture of one part Harry Potter jokes, one part serious message and three parts earnest advice like that from a mother: Part 1: httpv://www.youtu.be/nkREt4ZB-ck Part 2: httpv://www.youtu.be/Nm28K-Dgfxs Part 3: httpv://www.youtu.be/cElk8cQk2VY
- [Coca Cola Unhuggable](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/coca-cola-unhuggable/) - Coca Cola ads using the Soccer theme and lots of hugs.
- [Virtual Barber Shop – Sound Recording](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/virtual-barber-shop-sound-recording/) - A specially crafted sound recording simulating a barber shop that will make you believe you are in a real barber shop when listened to using headphones.
- [Honda Ads](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/honda-ads/) - Honda ad called "Difficult is worth doing". 19 skydivers must form the letters HONDA during free fall. This was done live.
- [Laziness -> Invention](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/laziness-invention/) - Prototype of an automatic toilet paper dispenser. Needs more work though.
- [If you’ve never failed…](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/if-youve-never-failed/) - Inspirational video from Bluefish TV showing how even the most famous people have failed and picked themselves back up to succeed.
- [Extreme Pants-Wearing](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/extreme-pants-wearing/) - Fun ways to put on your pants. Or, rather, fun ways to get in to your pants.
- [Old Creative Video](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/old-creative-video/) - Keyboard drum system by Creative Technologies demonstrated.
- [Synchronized Metronomes](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/synchronized-metronomes/) - Video showing how to synchronize metronomes that are beating at different intervals. Simple experiment and amazing to watch.
- [Deal or No Deal Surprise](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/deal-or-no-deal-surprise/) - Deal or No Deal contestant does not recognize her own sister who is one of the models showing the cases.
- [Lenovo X300 Parody Ad on MacBook Air](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/lenovo-x300-parody-ad-on-macbook-air/) - Fun commercial showing playing on the Apple MacBook Air commercial. The Lenovo with its built ins give a user clear advantages and this is shown in a fun way.
- [Neocube Magnetic Balls](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/neocube-magnetic-balls/) - High energy ball magnets that let you create 3d shapes.
- [Flogo – Cloud Logos](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/flogo-cloud-logos/) - Flogos has found a way to make puffy white things that are so light they float up into the sky, bearing whatever form you wish to have through stenciling.
- [I love the World!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/i-love-the-world/) - Short video from the Discovery Channel - I Love the World.
- [Speedy Speed Chess](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/speedy-speed-chess/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/Bzrap8Vtyq8 These guys are quick…
- [Inspiring Video](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/inspiring-video/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/42E2fAWM6rA A very powerful message encoded in a very clever narrative – it’s all a matter of perspective and choice, isn’t it? If that previous sentence seems a little cryptic – just watch the video titled Lost Generation – I just don’t want to spoil it. What are you doing now that is making your
- [Elephant Self Portrait](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/elephant-self-portrait/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/He7Ge7Sogrk I wonder if this elephant takes freelance work, or if it has a gig on fiverr.
- [Alphabet Book](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/alphabet-book/) - Amazing alphabet popup book created by graphic designer Marion Bataille.
- [Creating Value of out Thin Air (or Rubber Bands)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/creating-value-of-out-thin-air-or-rubber-bands/) - Stanford University students were given the challenge to create as much value as possible using an everyday object.
- [Make your house appear bigger](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/make-your-house-appear-bigger/) - Video on how a Japanese architect designed a small apartment in Tokyo to appear larger by using various techniques like ceiling heights and external light.
- [Democratic Sheep Art](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/democratic-sheep-art/) - Using the Mechanical Turk site, artist Aaron Koblin had 10,000 sheep drawn by various people and assembled in to an art piece.
- [D/A Clock](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/da-clock/) - Analog clock that is designed to appear as a digital clock. Ingenious design by Alvin Aronson.
- [Evolution of Internet](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/evolution-of-internet/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/NLlGopyXT_g The people at Kansas State University seem to be churning out many interesting videos as part of their work in digital ethnography. Here’s yet another one – chronicling the evolution of text -> hypertext -> XML etc. Enjoy!
- [The Last Lecture: Randy Pausch](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/the-last-lecture-randy-pausch/) - Inspirational lecture by Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch.
- [How we communicate – through the ages](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/how-we-communicate-through-the-ages/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/QOtvcaE_lI0 This is a nicely-directed short clip about the evolution in how we communicate – from the quill-pen letters all the way to the status-updates in Facebook. What are your opinions – do you think the quality of our communication options has improved and become more convenient, or has it become an apathy of insincerity
- [Home Virtual Reality Display](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/home-virtual-reality-display/) - Ingenious way to make a any display show what appears to be 3d in better quality than expensive displays.
- [Musical Windows](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/musical-windows/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/dsU3B0W3TMs What one man can do with those pesky little .wav files…long live the creatives! (The entire musical score is written based on the sounds found on Windows XP and 98.)
- [Insane Street Football](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/insane-street-football/) - Amazing acrobatic football / soccer skills.
- [Bloody Omaha – The Incredible Making-Of](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/bloody-omaha-the-incredible-making-of/) - Re-enact D-Day World War 2 Omaha Beach invasion with 3 guys, 4 days and some CGI. Here is a behind the scenes look for the movie Saving Private Ryan.
- [NOKIA Remade – Sexy Sustainable Phone](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/nokia-remade-sexy-sustainable-phone/) - When I first saw the picture of this Nokia mobile phone I thought – “Wow, that look really sleek! A nice, simple and yet certainly stylish phone – is it yet another venture into their premium metal-casing series?” Reality isn’t always skin deep – and in this case, it was certainly a greater pleasure once
- [Extreme FlatPacking](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/extreme-flatpacking/) - Ingenuity and creativity used to pack all the furniture for a small appartment into one small box.
- [Year of the Rat!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/year-of-the-rat/) - Researchers at Tokyo University stripped a mouse of its inherent ability to fear cats, resulting in this rodent that is fearless even of its natural predator.
- [Grand Central – Frozen](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/grand-central-frozen/) - More than 200 Improv agents participated in this event at the Grand Central Station.
- [Philips Robotskin](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/philips-robotskin/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/jPkafwa5aXU Here’s an advertisement for Philips shaver, set in a sci-fi futuristic setting. I liked the artistic direction and details of the film – but at the same time, I can’t help but to wonder whether it’s (waaaaay) too elaborate for a shaver. If it was for a car, I can still associate the emotional
- [Ride your Bike!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/ride-your-bike/) - Ad that promotes riding your bike in London.
- [Building 3D Models by Tracing](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/building-3d-models-by-tracing/) - Trace the outline from a normal video and have a 3d model built automatically in software.
- [NIKE Ads – ‘Defy’ and ‘Endure’](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/nike-ads-defy-and-endure/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/0y0mV_Y911U httpv://www.youtu.be/dEr0xpoNFtU I came across and was very much inspired by the two ads above from Nike, titled ‘Defy’ and ‘Endure’ respectively. They were really wonderful in many senses. For both videos, a series of really expressive scenes extracted from sports played in slow-motion, coaxing and allowing the emotions from the sportsmen/women to really flow
- [Vii (Wii copycat) Disassembled](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/vii-wii-copycat-disassembled/) - Nintendo Wii’s been so successful, it’s still unable to fully satisfy demands despite running in peak production for over a year. So what do enterprising (and morally suspect) businesses do? Ride on the wave of rip off, of course. Many of you may have seen the ‘Vii’ – a Chinese copycat of the Wii. But
- [Instant Market in Bangkok](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/instant-market-in-bangkok/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/Lo8xwNaHgBE Wow, talk about scalable and adaptive infrastructure! Train track to market in no time!
- [Texture Mapping onto Real Life Videos](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/texture-mapping-onto-real-life-videos/) - Computer Graphics researchers Volker Scholz and Marcus Magnor developed an amazing algorithm that allows one to substitute the texture and shape on a fabric in a real-life video accurately. I know that doesn’t describe much, but I’d venture it is probably more easily understood as compared to their abstract: In this paper, we present a
- [Blowable Laptop User Interface](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/blowable-laptop-user-interface/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/34SEmMxbNkQ Check this out! By simply using existing microphones found on practically all laptops, researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a way to emulate screen pointers based on puffs of air instead of the mouse. While they could be used for ‘fancy’ applications like blowing out virtual birthday cakes (as the video suggests
- [(Chinese) Origins of HipHop](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/chinese-origins-of-hiphop/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/3p5OijQOPek Here’s a humorous take by the Nokia N-series on the origins of Hip-Hop – could it have originated from the most unlikely of places? More points if you understand the Mandarin.
- [Thai Movie-Ad: Smooth E](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/thai-movie-ad-smooth-e/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/D49C4K1Y1Iw Once in a while, you get an ad that transcends the very definition of an ad. One that is so remarkably and creatively different from the pack, it shines. I think this is one of them. The product is as typical as any – a facial cream. You can already picture how an ordinary
- [Typography Video](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/typography-video/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/jFtachQLmoU If you’re a typographer and just find it hard to communicate the value of your work (“Oh, so you choose fonts for a living?”) – here’s an excellently-produced video that may help give a quick explanation of the artistic level in true typography. Well actually, it’s rather likely the response would still be more
- [Selling Viagra in Saudi Arabia](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/selling-viagra-in-saudi-arabia/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/zIAPn8HtqJQ How do you market Viagra in Saudi Arabia? That might sound like an uphill, if not impossible task. Fortunately, creativity loves to gobble (real or imaginary) constraints for food – there is simply nowhere creativity can’t penetrate. Check the video out!
- [Students of Today](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/10/students-of-today/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/dGCJ46vyR9o This video serves up survey results of what is typically in a student’s life. The description doesn’t sound all that interesting, does it? Growing up, go to school, party, study a little, go online a lot…we probably think we know this age group pretty well already. Yet, there is something fundamentally different about students
- [Fastest Rubik Cube Solving](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/09/fastest-rubik-cube-solving/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/SHZ9fsusMGc The world record for speed cubing – solving the Rubik’s cube in the shortest time possible – is currently held by Thibaut Jacquinot from France. The guy in this video did it in 10.56 seconds, which is certainly not far away, and shows some really nimble fingers and a good Rubik’s cube (I’m sure
- [Intel UMPC Scenario](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/intel-umpc-scenario/) - Video on how Intel envisions ubiquitous mobile computing.
- [Very Clever Hearing-Aid Packaging](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/very-clever-hearing-aid-packaging/) - Clever packaging for a hear aid product by Widex. The packaging was designed by Goodmorning from Denmark.
- [Nissan All-Round Camera Monitor](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/nissan-all-round-camera-monitor/) - Nissan developed a full all round view generated from several cameras installed on your car. A central processor combines the input to one.
- [Sony Bravia Bunnies](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/sony-bravia-bunnies/) - Sony ad showing bunnies throughout New York City.
- [Touching Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/touching-ad/) - Thai Insurance Company had a touching ad created. A pregnant woman asks her doctor to deliver her baby early. See why.
- [Your First Crush](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/your-first-crush/) - We all remember our first crush.
- [The Tetris Grandmaster](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/the-tetris-grandmaster/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/jwC544Z37qo Kinda makes us commoners feel downright pathetic doesn’t it?
- [Hand Shadow](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/hand-shadow/) - Raymond Crowe showing hand shadow patterns. A light source, bit of practice and a lot of fun.
- [Gmail Video (Final Cut)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/gmail-video-final-cut/) - Video showing how one Gmail message was transported from point A to point B.
- [Image Resizing](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/image-resizing/) - Context aware resizing for photos.
- [A Romantic Proposal](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/a-romantic-proposal/) - Using art, this guy found a creative way to propose.
- [The Graphic Illustration MTV](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/04/the-graphic-illustration-mtv/) - Remind Me, a music video by Royksopp.
- [Gmail Viral Video](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/04/gmail-viral-video/) - Gmail video campaign.
- [Sustainable Dance Club?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/sustainable-dance-club/) - Is it greenwashing or is it real? in Rotterdam, a dance club is harnessing the movement of dancers to create energy.
- [The Perfect Movie-Waiting Game](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/the-perfect-movie-waiting-game/) - A fun game for the audience while waiting for the movie to start. The only problem is, it could be more fun than the movie.
- [Transformer Costumes](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/transformer-costumes/) - Transformer fans show off their costumes.
- [Paul Potts – Britain Got Talent](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/paul-potts-britain-got-talent/) - Paul Potts is discovered on the Britains Got Talent show.
- [Prometeus](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/prometeus/) - Another Prometeus like set of predictions.
- [ulo chair by Ian Walton – WOW!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/ulo-chair-by-ian-walton-wow/) - The Ulo Chair has a design that is simple and elegant. With a simple move it reverses and allows sitting at a lower level.
- [Women in Art](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/women-in-art/) - Video showing women in art over the last 500 years.
- [Anything | Whatever Drink](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/anything-whatever-drink/) - Anything and Whatever drink promotion.
- [Bring the Love Back](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/bring-the-love-back/) - A video showing how some consumers would like to break up with the advertisers.
- [Fair(y) Use – Tale](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/fairy-use-tale/) - An amazing example showing what copyright means.
- [Airbus Evacuation](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/airbus-evacuation/) - Video of the test-evacuation done on the Airbus 380
- [Microsoft oPhone](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/microsoft-ophone/) - Spoof of a concept phone, the oPhone.
- [Reality TV Editing](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/29/reality-tv-editing/) - Reality TV is not as real as one might think. What is shown is edited and quite often changed for entertainment purposes. This short video shows how easy it is.
- [Bowling Split Spare](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/29/bowling-split-spare/) - The Flying Eagle shot is a trick shot where one pin is placed a couple feet forward so it can bounce to the other lane. The 7-10 conversion is more difficult.
- [Giant Drawing for Shiseido](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/29/giant-drawing-for-shiseido/) - Watch as Shiseido paints a picture many times his size – and when others join in the fun as well.
- [Crazy Speed Silverbrook Memjet Printer](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/crazy-speed-silverbrook-memjet-printer/) - Silverbrook Research has developed printers that print at amazing speeds compared to what we normally see from Inkjet printers.
- [CG Water Effects](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/cg-water-effects/) - CG Visual effects with water.
- [Around the World Tour! (in 8 minutes)](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/around-the-world-tour-in-8-minutes/) - A video that compiles various landmarks around the world as seen through a round-the-world tour with Google Earth
- [Crysis](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/crysis/) - Developments in games and 3D effect technologies continue to advance at breathtaking speed.
- [Honda U3-X](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/honda-u3-x/) - Honda's take on a personal mobility device. Sit rather than stand on a Segway.
- [FLIP – the flipping ship](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/flip-the-flipping-ship/) - FLIP Floating Instrument Platform is an amazing ship – technically it isn’t a ship, but more like a buoy since it doesn’t have its own propulsion and has to be towed around.
- [Philips Light Painting](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/philips-light-painting/) - A glowing wand first dips into a pot of colored-light, and the child can then begin to draw on the wall.
- [Upcoming Star Wars Game Physics Engine](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/upcoming-star-wars-game-physics-engine/) - AI that reacts in real time to random actual instances around them and acts accordingly. Quite a mouthful, but you’d get what I mean when you watch the video.
- [VW Phaeton Shadowplay Commercial](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/vw-phaeton-shadowplay-commercial/) - This is a beautiful commercial from Volkswagen Phaeton.
- [Nike Transformer](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/nike-transformer/) - Nike billboard that transforms
- [Prince of Persia – Real Life Version](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/prince-of-persia-real-life-version/) - Makoto Nagano is a champion on the show "Ninja Warrior" in Japan.
- [3D Face Morphing](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/3d-face-morphing/) - Software that is capable of constructing/modifying face features on the fly, based on its database of previously entered 3D face models.
- [Audi 4-rings ad](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/audi-4-rings-ad/) - Clever Audi Ad using their four ring Logo.
- [Double You Happy New Year](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/double-you-happy-new-year/) - Video using real people to re-create a browser session.
- [Wall Street Bull – with Golden Balls™](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/wall-street-bull-with-golden-balls/) - Touching, fondling, or otherwise rubbing the Wall Street bull’s nuts have become a de-facto photo-op for tourists.
- [What would you do?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/what-would-you-do/) - Walking down an alley, minding your own business.
- [Jumping over 14 people](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/jumping-over-14-people/) - Throwing caution to the wind here we see someone jumping over 14 people.
- [Japan Love Hotels](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/japan-love-hotels/) - Love themed hotel rooms available in Japan.
- [BC Hydro Bicycle-powered Billboard](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/bc-hydro-bicycle-powered-billboard/) - Christmas campaign by BC Hydro. For 120 hours, the ad agency had volunteers pedaling around the clock on the bicycle to keep the 1500 LED lights glowing.
- [A complicated world needs good explanations](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/a-complicated-world-needs-good-explanations/) - A complex world requires a good explanation.
- [Before the Music Dies](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/before-the-music-dies/) - Can't write?, Can't sing?, no problem. You can still be a pop star.
- [RC Car Vacuum Cleaner](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/rc-car-vacuum-cleaner/) - httpv://www.youtu.be/RtB-iAF4GS0 I guess you could be really lazy, or just really like to play.
- [Venturi Carbon-Neutral Car](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/venturi-carbon-neutral-car/) - Carbon neutral Concept Car by Venturi.
- [Minesweeper World Record](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/minesweeper-world-record/) - Minesweeper expert level 38 seconds.
- [What is it?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/what-is-it/) - Pictures of obscure objects. Try to guess what it is.
- [Funny English Analogies](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/funny-english-analogies/) - Judy Rose posted a list of hilarious analogies used by high school students in their essays. Here are a few of them.
- [Apple’s Patent - Mechanical Overlay](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/apples-patent-mechanical-overlay/) - Patents are intentionally drafted to cover as much base as possible - so that you can enforce or license it across as much application as possible.
- [Urban Sprinting - Balls of Steel](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/urban-sprinting-balls-of-steel/) - Clips from a show where the object is to outrun store security guards.
- [Advertising Shock Tactics](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/advertising-shock-tactics/) - Do some ads go to far? Here are some examples to consider.
- [Lasse Gjertsen - Piano Drum Amateur](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/lasse-gjertsen-piano-drum-amateur/) - Less Gjertsen from Norway used hyper editing to create a piano and drum music sequence that will make you believe he can really play. However, he can not play.
- [Global Most Valuable Brands](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/global-most-valuable-brands/) - The worlds most valuable brands shown in a graphical way.
- [Greg Kennedy - Juggling in a Cone](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/greg-kennedy-juggling-in-a-cone/) - Greg Kennedy juggles inside a transparent, inverted cone.
- [Art Hotel Berlin](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/art-hotel-berlin/) - Aroom out of the many interestingly decorated rooms in Art Hotel Berlin. They invited a different artist for each of their rooms, resulting in about 50 unique interior.
- [Coroflot Salary Survey](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/coroflot-salary-survey/) - Design salary guide
- [Flying Kiwi](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/flying-kiwi/) - Dony Permedi has some serious skills at animation and character creation.
- [Complaints Choir](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/complaints-choir/) - Finnish artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen collected the pet peeves and angst-ridden pleas of people in Helsinki.
- [Walking on (Corn Starch) Water](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/walking-on-corn-starch-water/) - Walk on water that is mixed with corn starch. This video is a cool showing of what that looks like exactly.
- [Self Portrait](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/self-portrait/) - Recently, there was an influx of Youtube videos in which someone took a picture of him/herself everyday over many years, like Noah (6 years) and Lee (3 years), and then putting them together in a single video to show the changes through the years. It’s a reflection process - seeing how you have changed over
- [Windows Vista Network Icon](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/windows-vista-network-icon/) - The “Network” icon in Windows vista looks like it’s already on life support.
- [Episode #214 - Coke and Mentos Strikes Again!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/episode-214-coke-and-mentos-strikes-again/) - Mixing Coke and Mentos gives a geyser fountain. The pioneers of the Coke-Mentos Geyser have since tested the theory with 15 kinds of soda and all sorts of candies.
- [Minority Report Style Touch Screen](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/minority-report-style-touch-screen/) - This is the real life version of Minority Report style user interface - a multi-touch sensor screen.
- [White Blood](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/white-blood/) - Made from substances similar to the Teflon coating in your frying pan, this white liquid known as Oxycyte can carry up to 50 times the amount of Oxygen as normal blood.
- [Banana Guard](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/banana-guard/) - The Banana Guard device allows for the safe transport and storage of individual bananas letting you enjoy perfect bananas anytime, anywhere.
- [Cannondale Jackknife](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/cannondale-jackknife/) - Cannondale showed this folding bike prototype back in 2006.
- [Age 10 to 60 – through Make-up & Photography](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/age-10-to-60-through-make-up-photography/) - Vogue Paris had a very interesting editorial featuring a series of photographs of the 20-years-old model Eniko Mihalik portrayed in the age of 10 to 60.
- [The daily routine](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/the-daily-routine/) - That looks about right.
- [Old Bridgestone Ad](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/old-bridgestone-ad/) - Funny old Thai Bridgestone Ad
- [Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Part 2](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-part-2/) - Chase Sampson was in the hot seat, ready to answer the first question. How will he fare? Watch it!
- [Treadmill Dance](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/treadmill-dance/) - Dance choreography that leverages treadmills for a number of dance moves, making exercise on treadmills seem like a fun activity
- [Concrete Pipe Hotel](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/concrete-pipe-hotel/) - This hotel in Austria is unique in that the hotel rooms are in large pipes. Sounds like fun if you are tired of the old standard hotel room.
- [Audi - Designed to Thrill](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/audi-designed-to-thrill/) - Audi RS4 commercial from 2006
- [Daewoo Two-Door Microwave Oven](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/daewoo-two-door-microwave-oven/) - This is a Daewoo microwave model that has the innovative feature of having double-doors
- [Warning signs from the future](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/warning-signs-from-the-future/) - Anders Sandberg conceived of possible warning signs from the future. These are becoming more and more realistic.
- [Inspiring Father-and-Son: Hoyt](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/inspiring-father-and-son-hoyt/) - When Rick Hoyt was born, he was strangled by his umbilical cord. As a result, he had brain damage and was unable to control his limbs.
- [Centre Pompidou & Nike Air Max](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/centre-pompidou-nike-air-max/) - The Centre Georges Pompidou, is a museum for the modern art in Paris. Its architecture was bold and controversial.
- [NTU Professor’s Feedback Survey](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/ntu-professors-feedback-survey/) - Funny feedback survey for a professor. Creative and funny responses that his past students wrote to him, obviously admiring his baldness and his mustache.
- [Next Generation Insights](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/next-generation-insights/) - Guy Kawasaki, a famous venture capitalist, moderated a session that hosted a few youths from 15-24 years old.
- [One Man Builds the Modern Stonehenge](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/one-man-builds-the-modern-stonehenge/) - One man decided to see if he could build the Stonehenge without employing any modern technology – and to build it by himself.
- [Nobumasa – Japanese Graffiti](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/nobumasa-japanese-graffiti/) - Nobumasa is a Japanese Graffiti artist that draws his inspiration from the Japanese Sumie drawings.
- [John Carpenter, my idol](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/john-carpenter-my-idol/) - John Carpenter was a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. See his questions and answers.
- [Dove – Distorted Perception of Beauty](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/dove-distorted-perception-of-beauty/) - Video made by Dove that demonstrates how using digital trickery, the reality of what we are shown in advertising is fake.
- [Real Life Dilbert Quotes](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/real-life-dilbert-quotes-2/) - More examples of how truth is stranger than fiction. (And funnier.)
- [Anousheh Ansari Space Blog](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/22/anousheh-ansari-space-blog/) - Anousheh Ansari has a blog where she gives us her impressions of traveling in space. The blog gives us thoughts and impressions on a very personal level.
- [Failure by Design](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/22/failure-by-design/) - In Japan's oldest park, Ueno Onshi, park benches were designed to be so uncomfortable for homeless users that other users are not able to enjoy a rest on them.
- [Hot-Air-Balloon](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/22/hot-air-balloon/) - Time-laps video from a Balloon Race in Reno.
- [Lego Advertisement](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/22/lego-advertisement/) - Lego placed real containers that were painted and shaped to look like Lego pieces on real construction sites.
- [Absolute Drink-and-Drive](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/22/absolute-drink-and-drive/) - The Traffic Police in Bucharest Hungary turned a well known ad from Absolute Vodka around showing a different vibe.
- [The Little Girl Giant](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/20/the-little-girl-giant/) - Royal de Luxe performs an amazing puppet show using a 30ft tall puppet made to appear almost lifelike.
- [Most T-Shirts worn at one time.](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/20/most-t-shirts-worn-at-one-time/) - World record for wearing the most t-shirts.
- [Epitaph – How not to be remembered!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/20/epitaph-how-not-to-be-remembered/) - When you come upon this world, others laugh while you cry. Live your life such that when you die, others cry while you smile
- [Our pale little blue dot](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/19/our-pale-little-blue-dot/) - If you take a photograph of earth from a way out in space you will see how small we are in the Universe.
- [Leander Crib](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/18/leander-crib/) - Simple and beautiful furniture that can be changed to reflect the age of your child.
- [Lights off, Star on](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/17/lights-off-star-on/) - On September 28th, 2006, all the lights in Reykjavik were turned off while a renowned astronomer talked about the stars on National broadcast radio.
- [Gehry – Purple Ribbon Hotel](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/17/gehry-purple-ribbon-hotel/) - Gehry designed hotel in Elciego Spain.
- [Meet the World – Flag Statistics](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/17/meet-the-world-flag-statistics/) - Brazilian artist Icaro Doria has used the national flag of some countries in his art.
- [Design Detail: Cup - Ikea](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/design-detail-cup-ikea/) - Ikea shows here how even the smallest design details provide real life benefits. This attention to detail is one reason Ikea has loyal customers.
- [25/5 = 14](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/255-14/) - Are you good at math. This video makes a simple math problem all messed up.
- [Nobody’s Watching](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/nobodys-watching/) - The Pilot show produced for WB. The writers of Scrubs and Family Guy did this.
- [Honda Creatives](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/honda-creatives/) - Honda's take on the Rube Goldberg machine.
- [Rube Goldberg Machines | Pitagora Suichi](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/rube-goldberg-machines-pitagora-suichi/) - Elaborate simple motions and mechanisms are activated as a ball or something else rolls along or falls.
- [Zen – Pebble Sofa](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/zen-pebble-sofa/) - These Livingstones products look like stones and pebbles, however it is cleverly made soft fabric. You get the Zen feel in comfort.
- [See the Worlds Highest Resolution Camera in Action](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/27/see-the-worlds-highest-resolution-camera-in-action/) - Darpa is developing the worlds highest resolution camera. at 1.8Gigapixels, it is able to stream objects as small as 6 inches from 17000 feet.
- [Superheroes on their Off Days](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/27/superheroes-on-their-off-days/) - Photos of popular Superheros. A series of photographs by Dulce Pinzon examining the roles of Mexican immigrants in the role of the American economy.
- [Pen Swirling Masters](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/pen-swirling-masters/) - Masters of pen and pencil spinners show how its done.
- [Call Blocker](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/call-blocker/) - This useful device will answer your phone and announce that you do not want sales calls. Every one else is asked to press a key to have the call go through.
- [Gravity defying Sand Sculpture](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/gravity-defying-sand-sculpture/) - Gravity defying sand-sculpture on the beach.
- [USB AA Cell](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/usb-aa-cell/) - USB Cell came up with this clever idea to create a USB rechargeable AA Battery.
- [Inner Life of the Cell](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/inner-life-of-the-cell/) - This video shows a representation of the Inner Life of a Cell. It was produced for Harvard University’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.
- [Microsoft Live Labs – Photosynth](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/16/microsoft-live-labs-photosynth-2/) - Software that combs through pictures taken in the same place at different times, angles and positions, and construct/reposition them.
- [Virtual Architecture](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/virtual-architecture/) - Zozo Town is a concept retailing environment that mimics real life retail environment.
- [Graffiti through Cleaning](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/graffiti-through-cleaning/) - Paul Curtis is a graffiti artist who uses dust and dirt to his advantage. He selectively cleans off parts of the wall to reveal his messages.
- [Humanistic Power Line Pylons](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/07/humanistic-power-line-pylons/) - Choi + Shine Architects has a very interesting project called Land of Giants: Making only minor alterations to well established steel-framed tower design, we have created a series of towers that are powerful, solemn and variable. These iconic pylon-figures will become monuments in the landscape. Seeing the pylon-figures will become an unforgettable experience,
- [The Real Airline Safety Announcment](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/the-real-airline-safety-announcment/) - This is what an honest airline safety announcement might sound like.
- [Camels in the Desert](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/camels-in-the-desert/) - This photo is taken from overhead and the shadows look like the actual picture. Photo by George Steinmetz.
- [Self-compensating Risk](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/self-compensating-risk/) - Do we self compensate risk based on perceived protection from helmets or seatbelts?
- [Unlikely friends in animals](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/unlikely-friends-in-animals/) - Pictures of animals that normally would not be friends.
- [The Rollerblade Symphony](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/the-rollerblade-symphony/) - Mozart in a bottle, or many bottles.
- [The Chemically Altered Life](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/the-chemically-altered-life/) - Shower soap infused with caffeine to kick start your morning.
- [Hanging Cars](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/14/hanging-cars/) - Engineering involved with suspending cars.
- [Paint Job ](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/14/paint-job/) - Here is a fast way to paint a building.
- [Social Bookmarks](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/13/social-bookmarks/) - There seems to be an unlimited number of Social Bookmarking Icons, all vying for your attention.
- [TalkingCock in Parliament](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/13/talkingcock-in-parliament/) - TalkingCock in Parliament is the closing event for IndigNation2006. It was an amazingly talented bunch of funny people with their own takes on what it means to be a Singaporean. Ruby Pan and Hossan Leong’s performances, in particular, caught me. httpv://www.youtu.be/FvhldHVJEHE Ruby’s masterful command (impersonation?) of various English accents in Singapore only gets better and
- [Hey, Chinese is hard!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/13/hey-chinese-is-hard/) - Learning to speak Chinese is hard.
- [Microsoft Street View](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/07/microsoft-street-view/) - This improved version of a street view could be a real competitor to Google street view.
- [Slurp Digital Eyedropper ](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/13/slurp-digital-eyedropper/) - Unique way to move data directly off the screen.
- [Toy-a-Day](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/26/toy-a-day/) - Make your own paper toy. Joe has a web site where you can download a pdf and make your own toys.
- [BMW GINA Concept](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/bmw-gina-concept/) - BMW has a concept called GINA Light Visionary – GINA being an acronym for their design philosophy behind: Geometry and Functions In ‘N’ Adaptations.
- [Birds of Paradise](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/26/birds-of-paradise/) - httpv://youtu.be/nS1tEnfkk6M It almost looks like just another video of cute birds and nature – though this one has an interesting moment towards the end of the video. Without giving too much away, I’d say the bird looked a whole lot cuter – and almost like something coming out of a computer game. Alright, if you’re
- [Stop Looking](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/26/stop-looking/) - Innocent fruit Juice packaging.
- [Don’t Look at the Gorilla!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/dont-look-at-the-gorilla/) - Insurance company came up with a solution to provide the zoo patrons in Holland with glasses that make it look like you are looking elsewhere.
- [Read At Work](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/read-at-work/) - Now what did those pictures look like? A really boring and not-to-mention uglily laid-out PowerPoint deck in Windows XP? Perhaps it even resembles what your work computer screen looks like? Perfect! That’s actually a screenshot from Read At Work, a website dedicated to making your sneaky non-work reading as ‘official’ as possible. The web site
- [Africa](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/africa/) - The size of Africa is easy to underestimate. This graphic shows how many large countries fit inside.
- [Amazing Camouflage](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/25/amazing-camouflage/) - Try to see if you can find the Chameleon on this picture.
- [Tag Galaxy (Flickr)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/tag-galaxy-flickr/) - Interesting way to browse through Flickr images using tags.
- [When is a design ‘finished’?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/when-is-a-design-finished/) - Professional designers weigh in on when they believe a design is finished.
- [UFO – Right Place, Right Time](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/ufo-right-place-right-time/) - Graffiti artist that takes advantage of the sun and shadows.
- [Biggest Drawing in the World](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/biggest-drawing-in-the-world/) - Sending a package containing a GPS device, Erik Nordenankar gave DHL specific shipping instructions that took the package across a specific route.
- [Yamaha Concept Pianos – ‘Keys’](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/yamaha-concept-pianos-keys/) - A series of piano and instrument design concepts exhibited by Yamaha.
- [Paying Employees to Quit](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/paying-employees-to-quit/) - In order to retain committed employees, Zappos takes a unique approach to this by offering new employees a $1,000 check if they quit.
- [NYTimes Crossword Doodles](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/nytimes-crossword-doodles/) - Using answers from the New York Time's daily crossword puzzle, and the puzzles themselves, Emily Jo Cureton creates imaginative doodles and art.
- [Brand Logos – Remixed](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/brand-logos-remixed/) - Familiar Icons and Logos are mixed up with brand names by Mario Amava resulting in some interesting combinations that seem better than the original.
- [Brand Tags](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/brand-tags/) - A brand is really what the consumer has in mind, the sum-of-all-thoughts regarding that particular brand-name or logo.
- [Wasted Food](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/wasted-food/) - The average family throws away about a thousand dollars worth of perfectly good food each year — much of it totally untouched.
- [Life Ambition Chart](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/life-ambition-chart/) - I’ve been thinking about a shift in my mindset from pre-University days to post-graduation (and subsequently working), as I noticed my ‘I-can-conquer-the-world’ mentality starting to wane and fade. And so when I stumbled upon this comic from PHD it struck me quite strongly. PHD Comic is primarily about post-grad education – check out their most
- [Using Photoshop as Measuring Tool](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/using-photoshop-as-measuring-tool/) - Examples of using Photoshop to do math and scientific measurements.
- [All the corny lines you’d need](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/all-the-corny-lines-youd-need/) - Here’s for all you lexophiles: 1. A bicycle can’t stand alone; it is two tired. 2. A will is a dead giveaway. 3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. 4. A backward poet writes inverse. 5. In a democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism, it’s your Count that votes.
- [Night Space Shuttle Launch](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/24/night-space-shuttle-launch/) - So this is how a space shuttle launched at night looks like. Magnificent! [via Flickr]
- [Wall Cleat](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/wall-cleat/) - Smart wall socket cover that incorporates wings that let you clean up the unsightly cords.
- [Pixelated Water](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/pixelated-water/) - Fun art on a street showing pixel water.
- [Library: Borrow a Person](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/library-borrow-a-person/) - Innovative idea from the UK. Instead of borrowing a book, borrow a person that can give you information at the library.
- [Burning Through Oil](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/burning-through-oil/) - Web sites showing informative information in eye catching and well designed graphics.- infographics.
- [Reproduction Artists Paints Themeslves](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/23/reproduction-artists-paints-themeslves/) - Apparently a village near Shenzhen, China called Dafen is responsible for 60% of the world’s reproduction oil printings. They operate by reproducing famous paintings at the request of clients, much like a factory, except that instead of factories the production is still done by hand. REGIONAL collaborated with some of these artists to paint a
- [In the Grand Scheme of Life](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/in-the-grand-scheme-of-life/) - Some posts back, I blogged about Carl Sagan’s insightful and inspiring take on the smallness of mankind in the grand scheme of things – Earth was really just a speck in the universe, and humans are, in turn, specks on this little blue dot. Here again, is yet another take on the smallness of Man
- [A case of Brand Over-extension?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/a-case-of-brand-over-extension/) - Now, what do you think of when I say “Kellogg’s Cornflakes” or “Frosted Flakes”? Maybe breakfast, send-the-kids-off-to-school…generally the warm fuzzy young-family feel. So you might expect Kellogg’s to tie up with back-to-school-campaigns, tupperware, SUV, stationery, and all that. But it was a surprise when I saw the new ‘Premium Licensed Apparel’ from Kellogg’s called ‘Under
- [I’m a Huge Metal Fan](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/im-a-huge-metal-fan/) - A bit of amusement for the midweek.
- [How far we’ve come](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/how-far-weve-come/) - Found this bit of recollection on the Times of India (excerpt below): And if you did have a phone, it wasn’t necessarily a blessing. I spent my high school years in Calcutta, and i remember that if you picked up your phone, you had no guarantee you would get a dial tone; if you got
- [Oil Trading Hand-Signs](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/oil-trading-hand-signs/) - If you pinch your nose with your fingers, usually it means you smell something awful. If you’re a trader on the floor though, that’d mean ‘Gasoline’ (not too far an association, I might say). An interesting set of hand signs over at New York Times.
- [Shoulder Bag](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/shoulder-bag/) - There are quite a few bag designs in the series, though I particularly liked how this Square Bag designs by the Dutch design group XS-M-L takes the familiar bag-toting posture on the shoulder, and highlighting it through the kidney-bean shaped opening. A bag to wear and not to carry – interesting! Check out other interesting
- [What is obsolete now?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/what-is-obsolete-now/) - “Real people going on game shows. When we were kids, we’d watch ‘The Price is Right,’ and the contestant would have curlers in her hair — she’d look like your neighbor next door. Real people got a chance to shine. Now, everyone comes out of some stupid mold from a moronic casting director’s idea of
- [Classic Pictures Recreated with LEGO](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/classic-pictures-recreated-with-lego/) - I’m sure you can recognize the context of these photos, even though they’ve been recreated in LEGO sets – some very interesting photography art by Balakov in his Classics in Lego Flickr set!
- [Engadget vs Gizmodo](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/engadget-vs-gizmodo/) - A rather comprehensive and interesting look behind the scenes, outlining how much Engadget and Gizmodo do to get an edge over the other.
- [Google Suggest – Interesting Questions](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/google-suggest-interesting-questions/) - Someone toyed with Google Suggest (Google Suggest guesses what you’re typing and offers suggestions in real time) with some rather interesting (and sometimes funny) results. If you’re feeling like it, have a go yourself! You never know what profound insights you might get from an innocent question.
- [Interesting Economics](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/interesting-economics/) - If you’ve enrolled in an average Economics 101 classes, you’d probably be spending time on (deceptively) simple-looking graphs and chanting mantras like ‘quantity demanded falls as price increases’ and such. But questions like those below are what (I think) makes the subject much more interesting: Why do women endure the discomfort of high heels? Why
- [Method Tub Scrub](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/method-tub-scrub/) - I’ve always loved Method – I think they set the standards in household cleaning products – their tub scrub bottle is no different, with a well-resolved slot for the inevitable cleaning pad that goes with scrubbing. It just show the thought and sensitivity that the designer had (my scrubbing pad is always tugged in between
- [No More URLs!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/no-more-urls/) - There’s a rather interesting observation by Cabel in Japanese advertisement panels – many of them have decided to abandon showing the URL, but instead recommending the keywords to search for. Keywords are probably shorter and more directly relevant to the promoted products, and it could also be more wieldy especially for a nation where some
- [Muscle Cars had a Childhood](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/muscle-cars-had-a-childhood/) - Cant help but to have a wide grin seeing these adorable icons getting ‘kiddie-fied’ (Minichamps is a scale-model car seller). It’d be really interesting if the cars themselves can get kiddie-fied and yet still retain the iconic DNAs of the respective marques. Any designers keen on taking this challenge?
- [Happy 50, Peace Symbol](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/happy-50-peace-symbol/) - Did you know this was how the peace symbol (as a graphic element) was born? Gerald Holtom, a designer and former World War II conscientious objector from West London, persuaded DAC [Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War] that their aims would have greater impact if they were conveyed in a visual image. The “Ban the
- [KDDI au concept phones](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/kddi-au-concept-phones/) - Designing phone behaviors rather than the phones themselves.
- [WordPress in Flash](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/wordpress-in-flash/) - Number Eight Wired is a rather interesting experiment(?) – it adopts the very typical WordPress blog style, but implements it in Flash instead of the more typical CSS. You do get some bells-and-whistles that comes with Flash ( ability/control in animations and effects particularly) – the site do feel slick and polished. And you can
- [Magis Linus Chair – Great Details](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/magis-linus-chair-great-details/) - Clever design detail that incorporates support with art.
- [Weird Food Fight](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/weird-food-fight/) - Re-enactment of World War 2 and other battles that the US engaged in with each country represented by popular foods from that country.
- [Chocolate Pencil Shavings](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/chocolate-pencil-shavings/) - Chocolate shavings done in the classic color-pencil interpretation. Designed by Nendo in collaboration with patissier Tsujiguchi Hironobu.
- [The trend towards $0.00](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/the-trend-towards-0-00/) - WIRED has a rather comprehensive overview on the trend towards free products, especially in the services/products over the Internet. As a young person who basically grew up surrounded by free online products/applications – from my first Hotmail account, to Yahoo! search, to Google, to Netvibes, to digg, to Firefox, to this very blog – basically
- [Sudoku + Rubik](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/sudoku-rubik/) - If Sudoku or Rubik cube isn’t enough of a challenge, try Sudoku AND Rubik Cube! Warning, the reviews are not good at all.
- [Day -> Night Curtain](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/day-night-curtain/) - Pull…………….and day turns into night! Better View is a series of perforated black out roller blinds designed by Elina Aalto. Light seeps in through the small cut out holes creating an image of a city by night. The cut-outs represent the light in the windows of apartment buildings and office complexes in the city. With
- [Bulk-Transfer](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/bulk-transfer/) - Pretty funny!
- [Design meets (Marketing) Research](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/design-meets-marketing-research/) - New Coke was considered an unequivocal slam dunk in taste tests against Classic Coke but was subsequently a failure of epic proportions when it went to market. Conversely, the Absolut Vodka bottle design was universally panned in focus groups. A courageous Michel Leroux, then the brand manager of the new vodka, pressed for its launch,
- [Great Infosthetics: Movie Box-Office Receipts](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/22/great-infosthetics-movie-box-office-receipts/) - It’s the time of the year for Oscars and what-not, where critics and audience can opine on the great movies of the year, hits-and-misses etc. Of course, what the studio “suits” see as hits or misses are perhaps more centered at the basic question – did it bring in good money? The New York Times
- [Caterpillar Disguise](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/caterpillar-disguise/) - How clever! In its larval stages, the Asian swallowtail—also known as the Chinese or Japanese yellow swallowtail—mimics the appearance of bird droppings to prevent predators from gobbling it up. Whatever it takes to survive, I suppose..via National Geographic
- [Japanese Economy Forecast Indicator](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/japanese-economy-forecast-indicator/) - This is a picture of a young Japanese woman getting her hair cut. The title of this post is about forecasting the economy. So where’s the beef? Interestingly, researchers at Kao (the Japanese personal care products giant) claim that there is a correlation between the length of hair on Japanese women and the economy. According
- [Oil of Olay – Correct Your Age](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/oil-of-olay-correct-your-age/) - Clever and Simple – which woman doesn’t want to wipe a few years off her age?
- [Ideas = Multiplier of Execution](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/ideas-multiplier-of-execution/) - This original post by Derek Silver was from several years ago – but I stumbled upon it recently and thought, “Great Reminder!”: To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions. Explanation: AWFUL IDEA = -1 WEAK IDEA = 1 SO-SO IDEA = 5 GOOD IDEA =
- [Clothes Label Cushion](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/clothes-label-cushion/) - These cushions are made from recycled cloth care labels – those little tags with instructions like ‘Do Not Iron’ and such. It’s pretty interesting when they are all lined up though – when I first looked at it, I thought it was actually a section of the newspaper’s Classified sections.
- [Toast Post-It Pad](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/toast-post-it-pad/) - Absolutely pointless, absolutely cute.
- [Family Guy – Star Wars](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/family-guy-star-wars/) - This is a pretty cool spoof poster!
- [Art for Geeks](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/art-for-geeks/) - How do you get computer geeks to be interested in fine art? By subverting them with modern geekiness, of course! There’s a Flickr set with some really funny alterations to classic art pieces – some examples are here:
- [Comments + Critique Time](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/comments-critique-time/) - You might’ve missed a rather interesting discussion in the comments of one of my earlier posts – about the patent and novelty issues on the MUJI winning entries. Scott, a designer-engineer-patent-agent hybrid brought up some interesting perspectives, and in our conversation I thought it’d be a pity that we don’t get to see the other
- [Global Package Gallery](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/global-package-gallery/) - If you’re designing packaging, you’d probably find the Global Package Gallery very useful as an reference for what have been done before. It’s an archive (still in BETA stage, though reasonably populated already) of packaging designs categorized into various types: beverages, food, electronic, etc. With more time the site might very well expand and become
- [Meat Part Keychain](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/meat-part-keychain/) - Any of you can’t separate tenderloin from sirloin? Yeah, me neither. These little key chains called ‘Gotoshi Dissection Animals‘ help you distinguish each part of the animal. They’re not actually limited to only popular edible animals though – I doubt, for example, that you eat pandas on a regular basis. What’s the catch (pardon the
- [iPhone Guitar](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/21/iphone-guitar/) - Give a man a fish. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Give a man (or for that matter, hopefully many men) an open platform in touch-interactivity, however, and you’d start to get really interesting and creative applications
- [Whale Blimp](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/whale-blimp/) - With all the talk about reviving the airship in the recent years – it seems like this peaceful and spacious mode of travel (as compared to the airlines which are still desperately trying to trim half-inches of leg rooms) could be back for a rebirth after the much-documented Hindenburg disaster. If they do come back,
- [Wallpaper Design Awards](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/wallpaper-design-awards/) - Wallpaper, the art/design magazine that I’m sure many of us are familiar with, have just published the Wallpaper Awards 08, giving kudos and recognition to great designs in a wide field, including best city, public housing, fashion and even specifically grooming product. As a product designer I am of course partial to the ‘domestic appliance’
- [Industrial Rings](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/industrial-rings/) - If you are the geek technician/engineer type (and your wife-to-be is to), why not propose with this set of unique rings? Designed by Kiley Granberg, it’s made of brass coated with 24k gold plating and a white zircon gem. Which made me ponder – so which is the man’s ring and which is the
- [Top 100 Most Viewed on World Architecture](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/top-100-most-viewed-on-world-architecture/) - Modern technology and visionary architecture certainly brings about much man-made wonders. Have you seen them all? World Architecture has a very comprehensive Top 100 of the most viewed architectures – check it out to see if you can get inspired!
- [Permutations for Obama’s Logo](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/permutations-for-obamas-logo/) - A while ago in my post ‘Visual Branding – More than a Mark’, I mused about the changing nature of a (company’s) branding identity. While the traditional notion of branding is a strong, iconic but static symbol, we are starting to see much more versatile branding identities that leave room for permutation and re-interpretation. An
- [MIT RoboScooter](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/mit-roboscooter/) - The RoboScooter is a lightweight, folding, electric motor scooter. It is designed to provide convenient, inexpensive mobility in urban areas while radically reducing the negative effects of extensive vehicle use – road congestion, excessive consumption of space for parking, traffic noise, air pollution, carbon emissions that exacerbate global warming, and energy use. It is clean,
- [Userful Computer – Split your PCs](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/userful-computer-split-your-pcs/) - I came across this software called Multiseat by a company called Userful. It lets you leverage the power of one physical CPU for up to 10 virtually separate users. As we know, CPUs and processors are getting ever more powerful, while much of what we do (email, browsing, etc) doesn’t really require the full strength.
- [Instant Table](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/instant-table/) - Here’s a pretty interesting design of a table that was designed explicitly and specifically for use at a construction site. The details in the design show. Made of rugged nylon, the fabric ‘bag’ transforms into a table when you open it up and sliding two standard pieces of plywood into it sleeves. You just hang
- [Bag Design by Baga](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/bag-design-by-baga/) - I was quite attracted to the graphics on these bags designed by Bagadesign – there is a certain delightful sense of irreverence, but the graphic is quite clever at the same time, incorporating the handles into the planning for the graphics itself. Adorable, aren’t they?
- [Million Dollar Homes](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/million-dollar-homes/) - What type of home would one million dollars get you around the world.
- [Clever Shower Curtain Rail](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/clever-shower-curtain-rail/) - Clever and elegant shower head combined with shower curtain rail designed by Matteo Thun.
- [Retouching Photos – the Process](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/retouching-photos-the-process/) - We’re all probably very familiar with photo-retouching – especially after that ad campaign by Dove. There are of course master ‘touch-uppers’ who are very skilled artists capable of turning one photo into quite another image. While portfolios of these touch-up artists often show before-and-after pictures to showcase their abilities, Christophe Huet went a step further
- [Polish McDonald’s Website](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/polish-mcdonalds-website/) - I just came across the Polish version of McDonald’s website – it was really different from most of the other McDonald’s image/website. Produced with a much more slick touch to it – almost feels like some interior design firm or something. Check it out~
- [MUJI Award 02 Ceremony](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/muji-award-02-ceremony/) - That is the MUJI Yurakucho, MUJI’s 3-storey flagship store in Tokyo. Practically all of MUJI’s wares are on display here, ranging from furniture, apparel, electronic/electrical appliances to household and lifestyle products. For this ceremony, they have converted the usual MealMUJI (a restaurant within the store) to the grounds for the awards ceremony. Pictured above are
- [MUJI Award 02 & More on ‘Chronotebook’](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/muji-award-02-more-on-chronotebook/) - You might’ve known that the results for MUJI Award 02 was announced some time ago – the winners were selected from among 3422 entries from the world. ‘Towel with Further Options” won the Gold Prize: This bath towel moves your mind toward further uses of the product. Towels take every day dirt and gradually become
- [[Greenhouse Effect] Concepts (Part 4)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/greenhouse-effect-concepts-part-4/) - This is the fourth (and last) part of the the GreenHouse Effect concept series, showing and explaining some of the thoughts behind the design concepts. The GreenHouse Effect is an exhibition by Orcadesign as part of the Singapore Design Festival, exploring what it means to tackle sustainability through design. We have many mobile and electronic
- [Car that Drives Itself](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/car-that-drives-itself/) - Top Gear Demonstrates a BMW that drives itself.
- [[Greenhouse Effect] Concepts (Part 3)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/greenhouse-effect-concepts-part-3/) - This is the third part of the the GreenHouse Effect concept series, showing and explaining some of the thoughts behind the design concepts. The GreenHouse Effect is an exhibition by Orcadesign as part of the Singapore Design Festival, exploring what it means to tackle sustainability through design. This is the Bottleneck Saver – it’s the
- [[Greenhouse Effect] Concepts (Part 2)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/greenhouse-effect-concepts-part-2/) - The GreenHouse Effect is an exhibition by Orcadesign as part of the Singapore Design Festival, exploring what it means to tackle sustainability through design.
- [Samsonite Design Competition](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/samsonite-design-competition/) - Samsonite’s had a design competition - You are free to choose any subject and product relating to the world of traveling with babies, toddlers and parents, and your designs should represent real innovations that consider the mobility, ease of use and comfort of the end users.
- [[Greenhouse Effect] Concepts (Part 1)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/greenhouse-effect-concepts-part-1/) - Cup Lasso might require some understanding of the Singaporean context. When you buy a take-away hot drink in a coffee shop, chances are you’d end up with a disposable plastic cup carrier (the green thing on the left photo). Cup Lasso (pictured on the right) is a permanent alternative to this item. Apart from reducing
- [[SDF GreenHouse Effect] – Exhibition in SDF](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/20/sdf-greenhouse-effect-exhibition-in-sdf/) - Concurrent with the (somewhat) regular blog posts and tidbits scoured from web, I’d be doing a series of blog posts on some of the exhibitions and going through designs featured in the Singapore Design Festival(SDF) over the next few days. The first (only?) one that I will cover is the GreenHouse Effect, which is conceptualized
- [Dandelion Online Exhibition](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/dandelion-online-exhibition/) - Some of you might remember the call-for-entry on Gems Sty for the Dandelion online exhibition some time back – I’m happy to announce that the Dandelion Exhibition is up and running! This is an online exhibition (showcasing designs – mostly from Asia – that are at least in the prototype stage) held in conjunction with
- [Evolution of CG over the years](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/evolution-of-cg-over-the-years/) - Computer graphics have certainly gone a long way in the last few decades – and what better ways to see it than to compare one of the most difficult elements – water – and see how water has become ever more realistic through the ages in various games. Here’s a collection of screen captures: from
- [Techniques to Deceive](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/techniques-to-deceive/) - Did you know that the higher windows on the Disney Castle was purposefully made smaller so that the tower could look taller? Well I didn’t know either. Disney World in Florida had a height restriction for their Cinderella’s Castle. So they used forced perspective to make it look taller. As tourists we assume that the
- [Sticker under the Cup](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/sticker-under-the-cup/) - This sticker design gave me a chuckle – perfect for sneaking it up on your colleague’s mug! Designed for Thorsten van Elten.
- [7-9year-olds designs their Laptops](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/7-9year-olds-designs-their-laptops/) - How would laptops look like, if kids (from 7-9 year olds) were at the helm? Some kids in North Carolina shows their vision and design of laptops – and reveals traces of what goes on in their world. Here’s a great interview/article from The Morning News about ‘The Laptop Club’, which was started by a
- [(LESS) of (RED)?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/less-of-red-2/) - Product Red (styled (PRODUCT)RED) is a for-profit brand which is licensed to some of the more iconic brands: Apple, Motorola, AMEX, GAP, etc., who are then entitled to use this brand on their products. In return, they donate a percentage of profits towards the AIDS cause in Africa. I don’t harbor warm feelings to this
- [London Olympics 2012 Logo](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/london-olympics-2012-logo/) - I can’t say I liked this logo designed for the London Olympics 2012 – in fact I think it’s outright ugly. The colors hurt my eyes as much as they are loud, while the shapes look haphazard except for the requisite “2012″ embedded within. For a lack of a more elegant way of putting it,
- [Visual Branding – more than a mark](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/visual-branding-more-than-a-mark/) - The idea of branding and the term branding began thousands of years ago. People started branding their livestock with hot iron as a mark of ownership & quality.
- [Think of the family…](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/think-of-the-family/) - Found a rather cool icon+caption over here (a Chinese design blog), which I have translated into English as above. It was originally intended as an avatar picture for chat software like MSN Messenger. I guess most designers can somewhat relate to this?
- [Jim Denevan Sand Art](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/jim-denevan-sand-art/) - Amazing art created on sandy beaches by Jim Denevan.
- [Dassault 3DVIA – Amateur 3D Modeling](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/dassault-3dvia-amateur-3d-modeling/) - Dassault, which is the conglomerate behind popular professional 3D softwares such as CATIA and Solidworks, are putting another big step forward with their (coming) debut of 3DVia, which is a web-based 3D modeling interface for people to create CAD models: 3DVIA is the newest of the 6 Dassault Systèmes brands. Its mission is democratizing the
- [Freitag Design Competition](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/19/freitag-design-competition/) - Designed a truck before? How about a bag? How about both (nearly, anyway)? FREITAG, known for making bags out of used truck tarpaulins, is organizing a design contest for the truck tarpaulin. The design would first be used on trucks for 5 years, until they get cut and harvested into limited edition bags. Kind-of like
- [Aptera Concept](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/11/aptera-concept/) - The Aptera Concept car. Reported to get over 200 miles per gallon.
- [Digital Price Tags](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/11/digital-price-tags/) - Jan Chipchase spotted over at his blog the usage of digital pricing tags in a supermarket in Tokyo. As he noted, there are many possibilities enabled by this new pricing information: Why? The ability to dynamically change prices based on contexts such as time of day, customers in proximity, levels of stock, or the weather
- [The Super-est Hero ](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/10/the-super-est-hero/) - With the idea of ‘Mine is better than yours’ as a central theme, Superest is a funny, continually running strip of comic in which two main comic artist draws a super hero that is better than the previous. Like scissors-paper-stone, except in this case, the subject are superheroes, and the loop isn’t closed at all.
- [Fuso Eco-D Dump Truck](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/08/fuso-eco-d-dump-truck/) - Mitsubishi Fuso shows off a stylish concept dump truck.
- [Alphabets of Design Classics](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/alphabets-of-design-classics/) - What better way to turn your tots into design addicts and connoisseurs than this Alphabet of Design Classics series by Blue Ant Studio. Or simply as a great decoration in the spirit of humor and fun. The likes of apples, bananas and cats fades out to give way to Aalto, Bertoia and Castiliogni – each
- [Wacom Cintiq 12WX](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/wacom-cintiq-12wx/) - Wacom is about to roll out is the Cintiq 12WX (seen above). Depending on whether you’re an optimist or pessimist (?!), you can either think of it as a younger brother of the earlier Cintiq (a gorgeous 21inch sketch-able monitor), or a Wacom Intuous with a screen. Either way, it plugs a gap in digital
- [VW EOS Shadow Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/vw-eos-shadow-ad/) - Following right on the trail of leveraging sun-and-shadow, here’s a really clever and engaging VW ad that also cleverly uses the sun. Pitching for the new EOS convertible automobiles, the shadow poster was mounted horizontally so that when the sun shines through the message is revealed – a message saying “Perfect day for a test
- [Solar Power + Skylight in One](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/solar-power-skylight-in-one/) - A photovoltaic system by Suntech is an elegant design. The photo-voltaic cells are integrated within laminated glass panels for a very natural look.
- [Vending Machine Dress (among others)](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/vending-machine-dress-among-others/) - In Japan, fearing crime, people can purchase clothing that transforms into camouflage so you can look like a vending machine, or a fire hydrant among other things.
- [Troika Tape Dispenser](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/07/troika-tape-dispenser/) - An innovative design for a tape dispenser.
- [What if Google.com is search-optimized?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/what-if-google-com-is-search-optimized/) - SEO analysis and recommendation of the Google search page.
- [Studio Manzano – Phone Tablet](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/studio-manzano-phone-tablet/) - That’s Studio Manzano’s Phone Tablet – from the looks of it, it’s probably a powder-coated bent-metal piece – a shelf for your mobiles or electronic gadgets. The detail that really stands out is the cut-out in the center, which are slots for the wires and adaptors to pass through. This is also the part of
- [40th Tokyo Show – Concept Cars](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/40th-tokyo-show-concept-cars/) - Participants for the 40th Tokyo Motor Show.
- [Tre di Una – Hunn Wai](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/tre-di-una-hunn-wai/) - Chairs that are formed from a generic beech chair that is taken apart, and then pieced together again by colorful, plasticine-like clay connections,
- [Spot the Difference Game](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/spot-the-difference-game/) - There’s more than meets the eyes in this Spot the Difference Flash game developed by Ivoryboy.
- [Opus Design Award – Winners](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/opus-design-award-winners/) - The Opus Design Award is held annually to invite concept design entries related to eyewear. This year, the theme for the competition was “Eyewear are tools to enhance faces”: Today, roles of eyewear have come far beyond the original eyesight correction or optic protection.Particularly, possibilities as fashion items have great expectations.Opus Design Award this year
- [Outta 9Rules](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/outta-9rules/) - Some time ago, this site was accepted under 9Rules: “9rules is a community of the best weblogs in the world on a variety of topics. We started 9rules to give passionate writers more exposure and to help readers find great blogs on their favorite subjects. It’s difficult to find sites worth returning to, so 9rules
- [Germans vs Chinese](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/germans-vs-chinese/) - Illustrations showing the difference between German and Chinese culture.
- [Construction Paper Art](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/construction-paper-art/) - Breathtaking works of art by Jen Stark made from construction paper.
- [Dandelion – Call for Entries at IDAsia](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/dandelion-call-for-entries-at-idasia/) - The Singapore Design Festival 2007 ran Nov-Dec 2007, and IDAsia.org had an online exhibition showcasing design talents from Asia. Titled as ‘Dandelion’, it is a virtual exhibition that has the blessing of DesignSingapore as one of the official events in this festival. It is pretty much targeted to designers who are interested to sell themselves
- [Cool Desktop Wallpaper](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/cool-desktop-wallpaper/) - These desktop wallpapers aren’t quite like the typical pretty ones – more than being just a passive background, these are soulful wallpapers that demands your desktop icons’ cooperation to form themselves – at times seemingly thoughtful, at times contented, at times poetic. Just make sure your desktop ain’t too cluttered!
- [Art – Daydream of the Faceless Worker](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/art-daydream-of-the-faceless-worker/) - “The piece is called Daydream of the faceless worker. It is about 6×14 meters and made up of 4000 post-it notes. I wrote poetry on about 400. They had told me that the wall was half the size. My idea then was to let people take what they liked and have pens around, so that
- [Light-emitting Wallpaper](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/light-emitting-wallpaper/) - Wallpaper that with a flick of a switch lights up to show art.
- [Stacking Classic Chairs](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/stacking-classic-chairs/) - How different would it be to have the very classics of chair design reinterpreted as stackable plastic chairs? Dirk Winkel, from the University of The Arts Berlin, finds out in his project ‘A Stacking Hommage’ (sic). I guess these are really classics – even when recast in another (cheap) material, they still retain an elegant
- [Trash Art with Shadows](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/trash-art-with-shadows/) - Take a couple of artists, a lot of trash and a light source. Result = art.
- [Outsourcing to India](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/outsourcing-to-india/) - Ideas on outsourcing to India.
- [Equations on Ecology](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/equations-on-ecology/) - Craig Damrauer has thought-provoking equations that implores the reader to recognize and reconsider relationships making math feel more imaginative.
- [Ingo Maurer’s Light Exhibition](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/ingo-maurers-light-exhibition/) - Ingo Mauer is a designer that has transformed lighting to works of art.
- [Beautifying Storm Sewer Openings](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/beautifying-storm-sewer-openings/) - Artists in Brazil paint storm sewer openings adding some fun and delight.
- [Donn won Braun](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/donn-won-braun/) - Designer Donn Koh received one of the most coveted prizes for industrial design students: The Braun Prize - Leapfrog.
- [Designing Fonts](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/designing-fonts/) - H&M Font designed by Mac Rhino.
- [Belkin Gromet Gear](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/29/belkin-gromet-gear/) - Belkin has quickly and cleverly launched this cap that would be a mini-hub for your digital gadgets.
- [Blood Donation Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/06/blood-donation-ad/) - An elegant way to convey the message for donating blood.
- [Arc Light – Troja](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/arc-light-troja/) - Modern version on the typology of an arched floor lamp.
- [The Art of Shattering Sculptures](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/the-art-of-shattering-sculptures/) - Artist smashes figurines and takes photos in the process.
- [Smile Detection mode on Sony’s T200](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/smile-detection-mode-on-sonys-t200/) - So I just realized that the Sony T200 has a feature/mode known as the smile detector. When this mode is activated, the camera goes into a standby mode, capturing your subject once they flash their pearly whites. I don’t know about you – on my camera, there’s a long list of modes – night shots,
- [Pretty Recycle-bags](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/pretty-recycle-bags/) - Garbage Bag Art Work trash bags aim to transform Japan’s unsightly neighborhood garbage collection points into instant works of disposable art. Produced by design agency MAQ, the bags come in three patterns — trees, fish and flowers — and they are colored to match Japan’s official color codes for various types of waste, each of
- [Origami Paper](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/origami-paper/) - I came across these origami papers over at Pingmag (along with many other souvenir ideas from Tokyo), and thought they were pretty clever: having the final form pre-printed on the origami paper so that the end product has an additional dimension of appeal. Of course, this would mean that the paper is restricted to only
- [Packaging Design Blog](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/packaging-design-blog/) - A blog dedicated to the art of packaging.
- [Luxury Design Blog](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/luxury-design-blog/) - Blog dedicated to luxury design.
- [Apple iPhone unlocked](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/apple-iphone-unlocked/) - The unlocking of the iPhone.
- [Eva Solo Smiley](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/eva-solo-smiley/) - That’s the Eva Solo Smiley, designed by the Danish duo Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbæk. At first look it reminded me of the humidifier designed by Naoto Fukasawa – another organic, glossy and rounded addition to the home lifestyle product. After taking a closer look at it, however, I got more impressed – it is
- [The Hole-y Portrait](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/the-hole-y-portrait/) - Give a man punched holes, and he’d file it in a folder. But give him a hole puncher (that can punch different sizes, please), and – voila – he can churn out magnificent art piece! Discovered over at NOTCOT: Steven Nicholson is a 2yr student at Plymouth university in the United Kingdom studying Graphic communications
- [Great Murals](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/great-murals/) - Murals as quality art in a big scale in Philadelphia.
- [Brilliant Coffee-Kiss Sculpture](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/brilliant-coffee-kiss-sculpture/) - Brilliant! The pottery, named Yuanyang II, is one of the collections of Hong Kong Museum of Art now displaying at the Central Concourse of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). It is produced by Tsang Cheung-shing, a ceramic art tutor and product designer. Yuanyang II is modeled in a distinctive form with two figures indulged in
- [Shower Mic](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/shower-mic/) - This made me chuckle: Everyone sounds like Pavarotti in the shower – that’s why the Shower Mic is such a natural. Not only is it a useful sponge for washing up, but it also has the uncanny ability to unleash your inner Sinatra. So, don’t hold back… stand and deliver!
- [Concerned Communicators Award 2007](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/concerned-communicators-award-2007/) - If you’re the creative kind, here’s a fun and rewarding competition that you might consider entering: Concerned Communicator Award – which is a reputed and well-recognized social advertising award in India. It invites ad professionals and free lancers all over the world to make print ads (within 500sq. cm size) on any social issues. Winner
- [Philips Aurea – Ambilight Successor](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/phliips-aurea-ambilight-successor/) - If a color-shifting, glowing rim around your television (cue Philips Ambilight) isn’t your cup of tea, Philips is hoping that a color-shifting, glowing rim on your television is. The Aurea is a successor to the Ambilight and it’s certainly glowing more than ever. I haven’t seen it in person yet, so I wouldn’t really know
- [Human Head Candle](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/05/human-head-candle/) - Sorta creepy candle holder in the shape of a child's head.
- [Trunki – Luggage for Tots](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/04/trunki-luggage-for-tots/) - Brightly colored, attractive luggage that kids can play around, sit on – basically find their own amusements at the airport.
- [Happy Left-Hander’s Day!](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/04/happy-left-handers-day/) - I’m sure 99% of you reading this didn’t know about it – well, happy Left Hander’s Day to those of you who are (it falls on 13th August), and since apparently there’s a left-handedness bias in the creative industries, there might just be a sizeable number of you! Here’s some trivial nuggets about left-handedness for
- [Icon: 50 manifestos](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/04/icon-50-manifestos/) - Yes, it’s a long list. Well icon (a design+architecture magazine) has decided to poll many leading architects and designers on their manifestos – what do they see and visualize happening in the design industry and the world as a whole: many heavy weights are in the midst too – click through and see if you
- [Art Lebedev Matryoshkus](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/04/art-lebedev-matryoshkus/) - This made me chuckle a little – from no less than the Russia-based design consultancy Art Lebedev. Also made me think whether it’s possible to make them actual storage that corresponds with its labeled size… like hard disks or something, only cuter.
- [Interesting Flash Ball-Game](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/interesting-flash-ball-game/) - A simple game to explode a floating ball that in turn will explode other floating balls. Addicting.
- [Minesweeper – the Movie](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/minesweeper-the-movie/) - Funny video showing what the game Minesweeper would like like in real life.
- [Thai Police dons Hello Kitty Armband](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/thai-police-dons-hello-kitty-armband/) - Thai police are required to wear bright pink Hello Kitty armbands against their dull grey uniform as a punishment if they commit petty offenses.
- [Flickr DJ Music Slideshow](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/flickr-dj-music-slideshow/) - Listen to the song "Astronaut" while random pictures based on the words of the lyrics are shown from Flickr.
- [Moon Lamp](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/moon-lamp/) - A giant lamp shaped as a crescent moon.
- [Pixels or Pies?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/pixels-or-pies/) - There seems to be an trend of using pixels and grids to represent percentages rather than the traditional pie chart.
- [A Living Room in the City](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/a-living-room-in-the-city/) - Furniture in an outdoor space in the center St. Gallen in Switzerland.
- [MINI Clubman – Awkward Adolescent?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/mini-clubman-awkward-adolescent/) - The re-launch of the Mini was a great success. The Mini Clubman seems out of place.
- [Celebrity Caricatures](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/celebrity-caricatures/) - Very well done caricatures of famous people in 3D.
- [OXO Corn Stripper](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/03/oxo-corn-stripper/) - Oxo Corn Stripper to easily remove the corn kernels from the ear.
- [Vinyl Dance Floor](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/vinyl-dance-floor/) - Music plays as you walk or run on the projected vinyl (it also responds to the direction you’re walking.
- [Suicide Awareness Ads](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/suicide-awareness-ads/) - Suicide Awareness posters that have a unique design.
- [IDSA 2007 Gallery](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/idsa-2007-gallery/) - Winners of IDSA 2007 product design.
- [Greenwashing – Tom Fishburne’s Take](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/greenwashing-tom-fishburnes-take/) - This strip by Tom Fishburne really nails it, doesn’t it? (Greenwashing is a term that is used to describe a company, government, or other organization that advertises positive environmental practices while acting in the opposite.)
- [Great Color Legends](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/great-color-legends/) - If you’re the kind of person who notices little things and likes to know why are things a certain way – this might be a neat gem. The Color+Design blog has compiled a list (actually, now two) of some of the trivia behind why specific colors are attributed to a certain item or notion: why
- [Nose Pouch](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/nose-pouch/) - Handkerchief functional innovation. The NosePouch.
- [New York’s Garbage Truck Art](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/new-yorks-garbage-truck-art/) - Art can improve the looks of ugly and stinky dump trucks.
- [Hong Kong, SimCity Style](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/hong-kong-simcity-style/) - 3D View of HongKong in great detail.
- [T-Mobile Cellphone-Home Phone](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/t-mobile-cellphone-home-phone/) - T-Mobile combination WI-FI and cell phone can save money.
- [Nokia 7500 Prism](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/nokia-7500-prism/) - The Nokia 7500 Prism. A short lived Phone from Nokia.
- [Kokuyo Toypography](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/kokuyo-toypography/) - Pieces of wood that can transform to two different languages and a pictogram.
- [Transformer – The Man behind the Transformation](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/transformer-the-man-behind-the-transformation/) - Alex Kubalsky from Australia is the man behind the transformation of major characters in Transformers.
- [Telephone Cord Sheeps](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/telephone-cord-sheeps/) - Using telephone cords and Telephones, the art is done so well that at first glance, you think you are looking at real sheep.
- [Suggestive Big Mac Ad](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/suggestive-big-mac-ad/) - Heh, I thought this was pretty creative of McDonalds to take a classic image and making a bun pun with a Big Mac…
- [6 Billion Others – by Yann-Arthus Bertrand](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/6-billion-others-by-yann-arthus-bertrand/) - 6 Billion Others when written and now 7 Billion others, show pictures and interviews with hundreds of people all over the globe.
- [The Chameleon Guy](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/the-chameleon-guy/) - Would you like to have such a chameleon suit?
- [Uniformity – Manufactured Landscapes](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/uniformity-manufactured-landscapes/) - Pictures from large factories in China showing how the individual is lost in a mass conforming environment.
- [Pimp My Satellite Dish](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/pimp-my-satellite-dish/) - Dutch artist Peter Doeswijk created stickers from drawings created by children and installed them on Satellite dishes.
- [Fine Art to Color Palette](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/fine-art-to-color-palette/) - Artists take classical paintings and convert them into color tones.
- [Face Make-Up Printer](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/face-make-up-printer/) - A printer that does your make-up. Matsushita has filed a patent on this idea.
- [iriver Life Unit](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/iriver-life-unit/) - A high-end entertainment hub that handles all the media, music, movie, flash, photo, e-book, Wifi-streaming; it charges and syncs with portable players.
- [Culla Belly](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/culla-belly/) - Ah, one of those things that make me go “why didn’t I think of that?” – by Busetti and Garuti. [via swisssmiss]
- [Branding to Design?](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/branding-to-design/) - I stumbled onto a great article on the current state of branding for products: So you got line extensions, big ads, expensive logos, brand onions. You got branding. And most of it was as intellectually rigorous as phrenology. Actually it was probably more like Scientology; it was somewhere between a fake religion and a false
- [Oogmerk Eyewear Ads](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/oogmerk-eyewear-ads/) - A clever ad by Oogmerk (which I presume is an eyewear company focused on creative, funky glasses) – it’s true how perceptions can easily changed by eyewear. Incidentally if you’re interested, the Opus design competition is on now and their theme is also on eyewear being tools to enhance faces.
- [Amazing Paper Sculptures/Structures](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/amazing-paper-sculpturesstructures/) - Richard Sweeney transforms ordinary paper to amazing objects of design and art.
- [Flash-less Camera](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/flash-less-camera/) - Kodak developed new sensor technology that practically eliminated the need for flash.
- [Kensington Ci Mouse](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/kensington-ci-mouse/) - Kensington commissioned One & Co to assist with the design of computer mice.
- [Eat, Drink and be Famous](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/eat-drink-and-be-famous/) - If fame is your game and you’re okay with karaoke, SpotLightLive might just be the venue for you. Tapping on the success of talent-search shows such as American Idols, this restaurant has a stage that is fully tricked out in terms of atmosphere, lighting etc. to make you feel like a real star. But they
- [Mario’s Grave](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/02/marios-grave/) - Made me chuckle – all those failed attempts has got to end up somewhere, eh?
- [Desperation Drives Design](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/desperation-drives-design/) - Cheat on tests using computerized shoes.
- [RCA + Imperial to form Strategic Partnership](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/rca-imperial-to-form-strategic-partnership/) - From the News Release: The Royal College of Art (RCA) and Imperial College London announce today a major strategic partnership with the creation of a world-class £5.8 million multidisciplinary centre called Design-London at RCA-Imperial. Its purpose will be to bring together the disciplines of design, engineering, technology and business to address the challenges of future
- [Vitamin Water – Packaging Design](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/vitamin-water-packaging-design/) - A perfect example of well researched and well executed design. The labeling and packaging of vitaminwater.
- [Eubiq Plugs](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/eubiq-plugs/) - Recently the Eubiq (hey, it’s a Singaporean company!) power tracks and plugs were featured on quite a few design and gadget websites, touting to solve most of the common problems associated with current plugs. The most obvious benefit would be the fact that you can place your plug anywhere within the rail – up to
- [Electrolux Design Lab 2007](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/electrolux-design-lab-2007/) - Electrolux whimsical promotion video that is a clear attempt to engage and get closer to the target audience – young design students
- [Playground formed from a Line](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/playground-formed-from-a-line/) - Playground design as art.
- [Intel’s Thin Laptop](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/intels-thin-laptop/) - Designed by ZIBA with Intel engineers, this laptop is ultra thin.
- [World’s First Air Car](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/worlds-first-air-car/) - This car uses compressed air for fuel and can go up to 100 miles on one fill up of - air.
- [Book Pop-Up Photography](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/book-pop-up-photography/) - Allen’s photographs are inspired by his childhood experiences with pop-up books and View-Masters. He begins his process by cutting figures and images out of illustrated pages of old books and vintage fiction novels. Allen then cleverly rearranges and juxtaposes the forms to create three-dimensional scenes. Next, he carefully lights his subjects and photographs the scenes.
- [Some Ecards](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/some-ecards/) - Funny and to the point ecards.
- [PowerCursor](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/powercursor/) - Flash toolkit to enhance the visual experience of web sites.
- [Julian Beever in Singapore](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/julian-beever-in-singapore/) - Julian Beever is a Pavement artist specializing in 3D illusions and drawings.
- [Baby Carrots aren’t “baby” Carrots](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/baby-carrots-arent-baby-carrots/) - Baby carrots are convenient, however, they are large carrots chopped to a small size. If they are the Imperator variety, they will have less Beta Carotene.
- [World of Visacraft](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/world-of-visacraft/) - Show off your World of Warcraft Character every time you pay with your Visa Card.
- [Jesh de Rox Photography](https://gemssty.com/2013/01/01/jesh-de-rox-photography/) - Photographer web site using simple methods to be a classy and attractive showcase for his work.
- [Greener Packaging Design](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/greener-packaging-design/) - New designs can incorporate green choices with improved functionality or increased sales.
- [Holy Grail of Retorts](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/holy-grail-of-retorts/) - If you are in the mood to insult someone, here is a list of insults.
- [Are you charging enough (freelancing)?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/are-you-charging-enough-freelancing/) - Ten signals you might not be charging enough for your freelancing work.
- [Winery Design](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/winery-design/) - Saw this winery architecture/interior over at thecoolhunter.net – I really dug how the whole space was integrated: the cushion/seats that becomes the wine rack that becomes the roof… all the objectives are accomplished in one stroke, giving the winery an extremely elegant, refined and modern look. Much better than the Gehry one, IMHO.
- [Sleeping Machine (?)](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/sleeping-machine/) - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. A technique to induce sleep. This machine purports to end sleepless nights.
- [Toyota Volta](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/toyota-volta/) - Early concept car from Toyota named Volta.
- [Creative Zen Stone](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/creative-zen-stone/) - Creative Zen mp3 player.
- [Milan Fair 2007 – Galleries!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/milan-fair-2007-galleries/) - Well it’s finally out! For those of you who weren’t able to be at the Milan Design Fair 2007, both Core77 and designboom has compiled a whole lot of photos of goodness fresh (well, about a month old?) from the Fiera! Even for those fortunate ones among you who were there – I’m sure your
- [Spirals in Nature](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/spirals-in-nature/) - Spirals show the mathematical rhythm in nature.
- [Interview with Aston Martin Design Director](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/interview-with-aston-martin-design-director/) - Interview about the development process of the Aston Martin V8, as well as some other car-design topics, such as his personal favorites, goals and cars in general.
- [Graffiti on Milan Wall](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/graffiti-on-milan-wall/) - Humorous graffiti on a wall in Milan.
- [Where do you put your phone?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/where-do-you-put-your-phone/) - Research on how and where people carry their phones.
- [Exhaust Gas in One Day](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/exhaust-gas-in-one-day/) - An illustration of the amount of pollution generated by a car in one day.
- [Cat Handbag](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/cat-handbag/) - Based on Paris Hilton's discarded pet dog. An upside down Chihuahua handbag as a fashion accessory.
- [Samsung Concept PC](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/samsung-concept-pc/) - Concept PCs released by Samsung.
- [Transformers – from Other Objects](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/transformers-from-other-objects/) - Getting fans upset. Transformers with lips.
- [E-Ink in Products](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/e-ink-in-products/) - Display Technology that uses less power and is easier on the eyes. E-ink is the creator of this technology.
- [Where did chickens come from?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/where-did-chickens-come-from/) - It is a question as old as chickens. What came first, the chicken or the egg?
- [Spatial Visualization Game](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/spatial-visualization-game/) - 3d Math and puzzle visualization games.
- [Happy Egg-aster!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/31/happy-egg-aster/) - Happy Easter! Eggs and Easter have come to be associated over the years (which apparently is due to the ancient belief that Easter bunnies laid eggs in the fields). So, lots of eggs for you today as seen above – an amazing egg stacker!
- [Trek Lime](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/29/trek-lime/) - To understand why sales of bikes in the US was dropping, Shimano and Ideo performed research to find out why. The result was that biking should be fun.
- [B-buckles](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/29/b-buckles/) - Fashion belt for pregnant women.
- [Make your own MP3 player!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/make-your-own-mp3-player/) - MP3 player comes in all sorts of shape and sizes – ranging from the ultra-mini cube-shape ones to chunkier, meatier versions.
- [Cool Tattoo~](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/cool-tattoo/) - Short quip: This is a pretty interesting tattoo – certainly different from the standard stuff.
- [Motorola Cellphones – the History](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/motorola-cellphones-the-history/) - American Heritage had a really good, detailed article on the birth of the personal cellphone business for Motorola.
- [Concept Calendar](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/concept-calendar/) - Tear away daily pages and the scale moves up as the year progresses.
- [Mini Wonderland Hamburg](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/mini-wonderland-hamburg/) - Housing the world’s biggest model railway tracks, Hamburg’s Mini Wonderland is a stunning showcase of detailed scenes from the world.
- [Renault Services Ad](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/renault-services-ad/) - “Renault breakdown services 0810 05 15 15 on-call 24 hours a day” Agency: Publicis Conceil, France
- [Desktopography](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/desktopography/) - Web site dedicated to high resolution wallpaper art.
- [Don’t Click It!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/dont-click-it/) - Fascinating site that shows you can have non-click Internet experience. See if you can resist clicking.
- [Animals in Underwear](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/animals-in-underwear/) - Web site has a bunch of cool illustrations of animals in their underwear.
- [Corny Job List](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/corny-job-list/) - If you like puns, then this list is for you.
- [3d motifs on products](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/3d-motifs-on-products/) - Occasionally, manufacturers are brave and mold 3d motifs directly in to their products.
- [Risk and Reward Analysis for Fruits](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/risk-and-reward-analysis-for-fruits/) - An amusing review of fruit eating.
- [Japanese Product Design Database](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/japanese-product-design-database/) - A large collection of high resolution photos or posters of Japanese consumer products from the 70s, 80s and 90s
- [Knorr Ad](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/knorr-ad/) - The best things in life are simple, clear and clever!
- [Make your own toy!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/make-your-own-toy/) - Make your own powerdrill powered skate board. Make sure you have a helmet.
- [adidas takes on Nike](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/adidas-takes-on-nike/) - It does appear adidas is taking Nike heads on in this ad campaign – the copy reads: “Nike has great ads”, signed off by “adidas – love competition”.
- [Barcode Ads](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/barcode-ads/) - Creative works by a small Japanese company called Design Barcode. They specialize in giving Bar Codes a Facelift.
- [Apple iLaunch](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/apple-ilaunch/) - Steve Jobs introduces Steve Jobs introducing the iLaunch, Apple’s new product-unveiling product.
- [Architecture against Threats](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/architecture-against-threats/) - The Freedom Tower may attempt to symbolize the American resilience after 911, but the insecurity is betrayed by the 20-story windowless fortified concrete base.
- [Papipo – the Kid’s Cell Phone](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/papipo-the-kids-cell-phone/) - Papipo is a cellphone designed for the kids market – developed jointly by Willcom (phone company) and Bandai.
- [Crop Circle Font](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/crop-circle-font/) - This font is inspired by the artform of crop-circles – what with the chain of circles of increasing radius.
- [An Ant and An Astounding Act](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/an-ant-and-an-astounding-act/) - Photo displays a perspective on the size of nanotechnology.
- [Volkswagen Ball](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/volkswagen-ball/) - A Volkswagen made like a ball.
- [12 Best Games, in year 2010](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/12-best-games-in-year-2010/) - A top-twelve list of the best games – that are not published, nor even being scheduled for publishing. They simply represent the dreams/desires of gamers.
- [Hook Box – Luca Nichetto](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/hook-box-luca-nichetto/) - A simple and beautifully integrated combination of a hook and storage space.
- [Slimming Michelin Man](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/slimming-michelin-man/) - The Michelin Man, aka Bibendum, was overhauled to give a refreshed image to the company.
- [Sony Design](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/sony-design/) - Sony Design Prototypes from many years ago.
- [What’s Special About this Number?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/whats-special-about-this-number/) - Professor Friedman created a list explaining what is special about the numbers from 1 – 9999
- [Architecture against Death](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/architecture-against-death/) - Lofts designed to delay the degradation of your sense, it excites senses not only by the vivid colors and geometries, it also is a difficult house to live in.
- [Microsoft Help Clip Dies](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/microsoft-help-clip-dies/) - The Microsoft help clip was killed. No one is mourning.
- [Table, Lamp.](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/table-lamp/) - The Frank Desk designed by John Slater.
- [Green Lullay Cradle](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/green-lullay-cradle/) - The real green lullaby Cradle made of cardboard.
- [Wireframe](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/wireframe/) - Wireframe in real 3D.
- [Disney “Dreams”](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/disney-dreams/) - Disney Dreams Ad campaign rubs me the wrong way.
- [Broken Window](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/broken-window/) - Real windows vandalized and now resembles Tetris.
- [Memory Card Eater](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/memory-card-eater/) - Cute Memory card holder.
- [Linguine Cooker](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/linguine-cooker/) - Hot water flask for Linguine.
- [Tree-like Buildings](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/tree-like-buildings/) - Buildings and structures in the air.
- [Packaging Design](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/packaging-design/) - Trade a paperclip for a house.
- [Head Bag](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/head-bag/) - Carry a head around with you in a bag.
- [The one with the big heart](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/the-one-with-the-big-heart/) - A big, red, gentle doll with a heart.
- [WriteRoom Distraction-Free Writing](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/writeroom-distraction-free-writing/) - Writeroom has simplified the interface of the word processor to basically nothing except the text.
- [Monster Portable Power Strip](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/monster-portable-power-strip/) - You know what it’s like, shopping for a power strip. A whole bunch of them would lie around, and the decision process goes something like this: decide on the number of ports, and choose the cheapest one that doesn’t look like it’d explode immediately on use. So it’s pretty refreshing to see this Monster “Power
- [Design your own Onitsuka Tiger](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/design-your-own-onitsuka-tiger/) - This is for those of you who’re into graphics and sneakers – and are in Singapore! Runner’s World is hosting a design competition for the Tiger - DETAILS Shoes available at: StarThreeSixty – Wheelock Place #02-08; LeftFoot – Far East Plaza #03-98; Limited Edition Vault – The Heeren #03-12. Submission of customized shoes only at
- [The Weight of Internet](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/the-weight-of-internet/) - A statistically rough ( one sigma) estimate might be 75-100 million servers @ ~350-550 watts each.. Call it Forty Billion Watts or ~ 40 GW. Since silicon logic runs at three volts or so, and an Ampere is some ten to the eighteenth electrons a second, if the average chip runs at a Gigahertz ,
- [Artist’s Desktop](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/artists-desktop/) - See what is on the desks of designers, artists and creative professionals.
- [Impossible Structure](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/impossible-structure/) - We’ve seen these optical illusions a lot – they’re usually drawn because that’s what they are – just illusions in the 2d world, making you think that an impossible structure was created in a 3D space. Now, what about this one? And what if I say there was no Photoshop involved? How can it be
- [Anna Gram – “Ceramic for Mix”](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/anna-gram-ceramic-for-mix/) - Clever design, Ceramic for Mix by Anna Gram.
- [Wind Turbines at Sea](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/wind-turbines-at-sea/) - Renewable energy captured by installing wind turbines at sea.
- [I Am @ Youth.SG](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/i-am-youth-sg/) - [utter blog-whoring] While other high-profile bloggers can get free Ferrari laptops from Microsoft and then debate about the ethics of it, lowly 100-visitor-a-day blogs like mine get no such love. And so when I saw a post on Youth.sg dangling a chance to win a PSP in return for a blog post, I decided to
- [Manga Simpsons](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/manga-simpsons/) - The Simpson Characters drawn in Anime Manga style.
- [Soot in Manhattan](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/soot-in-manhattan/) - Workers clean the soot off the wall of a typical building in Manhattan.
- [Last Daily Foxtrot](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/last-daily-foxtrot/) - Foxtrot comics by Bill Amend which started to appear in newspapers just a few years ago has a precise blend of humor and geekness.
- [Nissin Instant Noodle “Cooker”](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/28/nissin-instant-noodle-cooker/) - Nissin noodle timer that looks like a stove-top burner.
- [Gems Sty on 9rules](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/gems-sty-on-9rules/) - Gems Sty is now part of the 9Rules web community.
- [Talking Tapes and Inkless Pen](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/talking-tapes-and-inkless-pen/) - Talking tape and inkless pen.
- [World Time Clock](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/world-time-clock/) - World Time Clock shaped like a grenade or rugby ball.
- [COR – Green Building in Miami](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/cor-green-building-in-miami/) - 400ft building looking like a cheese grater proposed for the Miami Design District.
- [What should I get?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/what-should-i-get/) - I came across a rather interesting site called “What Should I Get?“ (note site is now no longer available). What it basically does is – give you a single recommendation in a particular product category. For example, you’re in the market looking for a pair of earphones. But just which one? This site simply states
- [When Super Heroes get old…](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/when-super-heroes-get-old/) - Imagined hospice for old superheroes.
- [Blow Table Lamp by Studio Italia Design](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/blow-table-lamp-by-studio-italia-design/) - I came across this Blow Table Lamp from Studio Italia Design, and was immediately mesmerized by its powerful imagery – like a forlorn lamp trapped within a glass house. The more interesting part is the control for the direction of the lamp – a magnet is outside the clear globe. Move it around the globe,
- [Stokke Xplory Strollers](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/stokke-xplory-strollers/) - Stokke came up with a well-thought solution for a stroller – from lying down, to sitting down (facing either front or back), to a high seat at the table.
- [Flybook VM](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/flybook-vm/) - The Flybook was expensive and just did not fly.
- [A-Z CD Dividers](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/a-z-cd-dividers/) - If you still have a CD collection, and if you like them arranged alphabetically, somewhat like Tower Records, then this is for you.
- [Interesting Christmas Card](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/interesting-christmas-card/) - Christmas card sent by Edith Cavell hospital.
- [Error Messages](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/error-messages/) - Having a good error page often helps salvage a bad user experience.
- [Artvertising on a building](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/artvertising-on-a-building/) - Rent a part of the outside of a building to advertise on.
- [Yunessun Spa](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/yunessun-spa/) - The Yunessun Spa Resort offers some more relaxing options for those looking for a tranquil and restful recharge.
- [Digital Drawing](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/digital-drawing/) - If you spend enough time, you could create amazing drawings and art using nothing more that MS Paint.
- [MUJI Design Award Winners](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/muji-design-award-winners/) - MUJI, a Japanese household products brand renowned for shedding branding in its products, launched a design competition with the theme SUMI
- [LEGO Ad – Classic Photo](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/27/lego-ad-classic-photo/) - Lego simple and effective ad.
- [Blue Orb Texter](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/blue-orb-texter/) - Orbitouch develops accessories that enable fast keyboard entry without keys.
- [A di Alessi - Fall Collection](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/a-di-alessi-fall-collection/) - Alessi has enjoyed the status of being one of the most prominent “designer products”.
- [Protect me from the burger!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/protect-me-from-the-burger/) - This is pretty classic. A woman calls 911 because she got the wrong burger from a Burger King drive through. “I want my Western burger done right. Now is that so hard to do?”
- [Flavored Bullet](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/flavored-bullet/) - Flavored bullet, so you don’t have to remove the bullet, nor marinate the wild game.
- [Passionate Users](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/passionate-users/) - When it comes to how you’d measure how satisfied a user is with your product/service, an article summed it up quite succinctly and simply: the words that you need to look for coming out of the user’s mouth is: “COOL!”. That’s where passion begins. Those are the words I want every user of my product
- [Quotes from the Advertising World](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/quotes-from-the-advertising-world/) - A collection of amusing exchanges and idiosyncrasies exchanged between clients, art directors, copywriters, account executives.
- [Souvenirs on site](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/souvenirs-on-site/) - Using souvenirs purchased locally, Michael Hughes then takes pictures of them against its actual surrounding creating a unique twist to the photo.
- [Cubrick: Stackable Storage](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/cubrick-stackable-storage/) - Cubrick is a stackable storage system that doubles up as a trolley when you need to move them around.
- [Pantone Color Cue 2](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/pantone-color-cue-2/) - A generic poorly-designed MP3 player, that helps you identify swatches in real life by scanning it and matching it to a Pantone color.
- [Flickr: Pantone colours in real life](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/flickr-pantone-colours-in-real-life/) - Pantone color placed against real life items.
- [Red Guinness!](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/red-guinness/) - Woo! RED Guinness! Perhaps it’d be a hit in the next Chinese New Year! Personally I find it a little queer though – the whole image of the stout, rich, malty and dark Guinness seem a little frivolous – almost like it’s trying to snatch some market share from the likes of Bacardi. Apparently the
- [Notebook and Pencil](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/notebook-and-pencil/) - A notebook and a pencil. Or maybe, a notebookandapencil.
- [Dutch Design Prize 2006](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/dutch-design-prize-2006/) - The Dutch Design Award winners for 2006 are out! There are more than 15 categories: transport, product, illustration, interaction, well basically everything.
- [Virtual Virtual Tourism](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/26/virtual-virtual-tourism/) - Instead of touring physical landmarks on Earth, Synthravel organizes tours to online places in online games such as Everquest, World of Warcraft, Second Life etc.
- [Art-o-Meter](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/art-o-meter/) - “Art-O-Meter is a device that measures the quality of an art piece. It bases its evaluation on the amount of time that people spend in front of an artwork compared to the total time of exhibition.
- [Cigarette tray in a pack](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/cigarette-tray-in-a-pack/) - The ASPAK ashtray. Simple, to the point.
- [Visionaire](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/visionaire/) - Visionaire is published 3 times a year and each issue follows a central theme like “Smell”, “Toys”, Uncensored”, “Taste” etc., and each issue is unique
- [LG KB6100](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/lg-kb6100/) - This phone from LG can receive tv broadcast signals over the air.
- [Guess the Movies with Stationery](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/guess-the-movies-with-stationery/) - See if you can guess the movie based on stationary art.
- [Rob Zinn: Expansion Wall Sconce](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/rob-zinn-expansion-wall-sconce/) - Unique and smart design by Rob Zinn. Colored Expansion Wall Sconce.
- [Scott Wade – Drawing in Dust](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/scott-wade-drawing-in-dust/) - Scott Wade uses dusty cars to create amazing art.
- [Fitzsu Grand Prix](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/fitzsu-grand-prix/) - Interpretation of the toy car as envisioned by designers from around the world.
- [Miwa Koizumi – PET bottles](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/25/miwa-koizumi-pet-bottles/) - Artist Miwa Koizumi creates a world of underwater wonder with PET bottles
- [Rozetkus Power Strip](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/24/rozetkus-power-strip/) - A multi-plug that fits 12 non-earthed plugs.
- [Pikasso – Selling Art in the Supermarket](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/24/pikasso-selling-art-in-the-supermarket/) - In Finland you can find an art store with products displayed in a way you would find and select meat at a supermarket.
- [Eisner’s picture of Nature](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/24/eisners-picture-of-nature/) - Instead of an expensive camera, Dr. Thomas Eisner takes beautiful pictures from nature using a standard office color copier.
- [COOL (Environmentally Friendly) Bikes](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/23/cool-environmentally-friendly-bikes/) - Environmental and cool looking concept bikes. They look sleek.
- [I am Rich.](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/23/i-am-rich/) - This web site will show your wealth rank.
- [Visualizing Meaning](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/23/visualizing-meaning/) - Of the many charts (graph, map, diagram, table and ‘other’) you have seen in your life, which has been the most important, remarkable, meaningful or valuable?
- [Wii – Good design?](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/22/wii-good-design/) - The Wii was a revolution in the approach it took to game play. Instead of the most intense graphics, focus was on the experience of playing the games.
- [Top 10 Copycat cars](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/13/top-10-copycat-cars/) - Top Ten Copy Cat cars from 2006
- [That Cool Firestation](https://gemssty.com/2012/12/15/that-cool-firestation/) - This is the Houten fire station in Belgium. It was designed by Samyn and Partners.

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