Advertising Trends | Converse Hybrid Animals

Advertising Trends

The ongoing campaign of Converse to draw attention to their costumized shoes is very effective, and billboards sporting these animals like seen above and below in the photos really grab eyeballs when you see then, and quickly get the message out that Converse is attempting to convey.

I really like the way you immediately look at the hybrid or chimera animals and get the idea that things are being put together in a different way than normal, communicating their customized message very strongly.

Very strong advertising campaign and message from Converse.

Advertising Trends

Bicycle Trends | Wind-Solar Energy Bike

Bicycle Trends

This hybrid concept bike called the Wind-Solar Energy bike from Chen Chun Tung is interesting, as it can help you up difficult terrain, or at the same time, just get you home when you get tired from a long bicycle ride.

Energy is captured from four different sources: wind energy, solar energy, shock energy and muscle power, where it can then be stored in a rechargeable battery for use at those opportune times.

In conjunction with the four different energy sources accessed, are four areas on the bike where that energy is harnessed: the adjustable solar energy plane, the Spoiler, the Two front forks and the front and back wheels.

Each place has a gadget in place to harness that energy.

According to designer Chen Chun Tung, it was “Specially designed in a compact manner, can convert various natural power sources into electric power when the user rides it.”

Bicycle Trends

Bicycle Trends | Forkless Bikes

Bicycle Trends

It's not new to see a forkless bicycle, but it's always fun to see one when its designed, and in that sense the latest forkless bicycle entry is from Ollice Erkklia.

Some people commenting on this don't understand how it works, with only the chain connected to the back wheel. But I don't get the mystery in it all. All you have to do is look at the pedals and know when you pedal the bike the back wheel would propel it. Not that hard to understand.

But it is always fun to see the fork usually coming from the handlebar to be gone, and the ensuing puzzlement and intersting design emerging from it.

Bicycle Trends

Motorcycle Trends | ZEVS Electric Motorcycle

Motorcycle Trends

Created by designers Bernhard Ranner, Anders August Kittilsen and Rudolf Stefanich, they are marketing their concept motorbike ZEVS as the electric motorcycle design for "real men."

The motorcycle design includes a futuristic look that does give a hint of choppers and Harley's, although the sound (or lack of it) has always been a problem for electric motorcycles hitting the market.

I do like the futuristic look of the bike, which when it comes to motorcycles making headway in the market, design is one of the key factors in successfully introducing them at a profit.

With cool electric motorcycle designs like the ZEVS, we should see more acceptance of them as people gradually embrace electric as one means of transportation.

Motorcycle Trends

Bicycle Trends | Kiddimotto Balance Bikes

Bicycle Trends

These new wooden balance bikes from Kiddimotto in the U.K. are great. They are built to help your child build balance and confidence in preparation from taking on the challenge of riding a regular bike, and for just helping learn balance itself.

The bikes are made of lightweight birch plywood, which allow easy handling and steering for the children. Tires on the bike are made of rubber to make the easy to ride outdoors on a variety of surfaces.

There are four styles of the Wooden Balance Bike, with each one looking too cool. Each style is based on a past classic scooter or motorcycle. There is the Scrambler, which as a more typical bicycle shape, with a slighted elevated seat. Another is called simply the Scooter, which is based upon the Mod Scooter of the 60s. You can even see the little footboards that were a popular design of those times. Next there is the Superbike, which is exactly what it says, looking like a cool racer. Finally there is the Chopper, marketed for those who are the Easy Riders of the future. Very cool.

Great idea to get kids to want to ride them in order to build their balance and coordination, while have a lot of fun burning off all that energy.

Bicycle Trends

Bicycle Trends | Urban Electric Bike

Bicycle Trends

An increasing number of people are enjoying riding around urban areas with electric bicycles, and designers have offering up a number of new creations to meet that growing demand.

The latest is named "The Mosquito," from German designers Tom Mudra and Hans-Tobias Schicktanz.

According to the two men, the idea “... was to create a lightweight and attractive E- Bike suitable for urban places. The motor is powered by lithium batteries which cost about 50p to charge. The Mosquito has got a range of about 60 km (37 miles) with a maximum Speed of 50 km/h (31 miles).”

A couple features of the bike are with the consumer in mind, and they'll appreciate it. First, the center section you see in the photo can be removed, making it easier to get on and off the electric bike, while not interfering with the stability of the ride itself.

The rider can also easily find the majority of the electric bike components at a bike shop, making it easy to deal with parts that need to be replaced.

Overall a nice urban, electric bicycle.

Bicycle Trends

Design Trends | Spaceship Yacht RFF135

Design Trends

Being touted as a "spaceship on water," the latest yacht design from the partnership between the Porsche Design Group and Singapore-based Royal Falcon Fleet is fantastic, and definitely delivers on the promise.

Named the RFF135, it is able to hold up to 20 passengers, split between ten crew members and ten guests; giving a nice one to one service ratio if you're on a luxury yacht charter.

“Our newest project once again demonstrates that our design, outstanding in many ways, is setting trends in numerous fields. With the first Royal Falcon Fleet yacht, we are building a bridge to the Porsche Design Sport textile collection that was developed specifically for the maritime area,” says Dr. Jürgen Geßler, CEO of Porsche Design Group.

The luxury yacht, which travels at 35 knots, will be available for sail or charter sometime near the end of 2010.

Design Trends

Medical Trends | Concept Chair to Help Those with Cerebral Palsy Walk

Medical Trends

This cerebral palsy concept walking device could be a great help to children with cerebral palsy over the age of five.

Dubbed the CPLEGIA, it offers children to use the unit to work on their walking skills and leg movement at three different stages, giving those performing cerebral palsy occupational therapy another potential tool to use to help aid therapy for cerebral palsy.

The CELEGIA, in what could be called a treatment for cerebral palsy, operates in three different stages, like mentioned above. The first stage allows the young user to simply use their feet to move around while remaining seated.

For the second stage, you can straighted out the in a way that the children can actually walk.

In the third stage there is no support for the back added and users can walk about freely without any aid of the walker for back support, although they still use the walker to help them walk.

There is not a lot of cerebral palsy help, and so this is a welcome addition for those that are victims of the brain damage which causes cerebral palsy.

Medical Trends

Furniture Trends | Mud Furniture Series

Furniture Trends

A new chair collection from Jennifer Anderson is named the "Mud Series," and it takes three classics from an Eames LCW, a Thonet Café Chair, and a Wegner Wishbone and recreates them into mud and steel.

The feel is that you went into an old building and discovered some chairs from an age long gone, giving the feel of wear and damage from cracked earth.

Commenting on why she chose these particular pieces for her inspiration, Anderson said this:

"In addition to admiring the forms of the pieces that I choose to recreate, I look at their recognizability and their social commentary. I thought it would be interesting to make Thonet's Café Chair in mud because it's the most reproduced chair of all time. Taking an iconic form that is the epitome of mass-production and making it a one-of-a-kind piece in a non-traditional material makes people think about that object. The Eames chair falls into the same category, but it was also a technical challenge because the individual elements are so thin. My goal was to make the entire chair fully structural and functional, which it is."

You can order the Mud Series starting off at $2,900 by special order only from Anderson's website.


Furniture Trends

Chris Boardman's Future Concept Bike

Bicycle Trends

British Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman has created a new bike design which he believes will be the wave of the future.

Some of the cool features are the puncture-free tires which can self-inflate, a theft-proof mechanism where only the owner's fingerprint can unlock the bike, calorie monitoring, a carbon fiber body, built-in music player and a backup solar motor.

But let's face it, it's the sleek, cool look of the bike that is attractive, and the rest are accessories to give the stated reason for getting the bike, which is only a concept at this time.

Bicycle Trends

Furniture Trends | Modi Sofa Design Allows Numerous Customized Furniture Looks

Furniture Trends

This piece of Italian furniture, or should I say 'pieces' of Italian furniture called a Modi Sofa, comes in a design style which allows it to be shaped in formed into the need or desire of the moment which you want.

It comes with modules which can be dissembled and reassembled in a fun way that gets your creative juices flowing.

Whether it's a corner end table with glass, a flat bench, arm rest chair or whatever creative thought comes into your head.

what's really cool, as you can see, it's made to look great no matter which shape you decide to create with the pieces. Lot's of enjoyment and fun.

Furniture Trends

Trends | Personal Rapid Transport Vehicles

Tech Trends

Heathrow Airport has been the recipient of Personal Rapid Transport or PRT vehicles, which are essentially four-person battery-run taxis running on rails, which through a touchscreen system, a rider can direct which parking lot in the airport they want the taxi to take them.

Designed by Mark Lowson, who also was part of the design team for the Saturn Rocket used to launch the Apollo missions, shows you why it has such an interesting, futuristic look.

The initial number of PRTs will be 18, which will cost $41 million, and if as successful as hoped, will be expanded by the BBA with another $331 million which will allow passengers to embark to hotels located near Heathrow terminal.

At such high costs it's doubtful the pods can be used in anything other than a than a smaller, controlled environment. Still, the idea of zooming around in one of these little pods with a couple of friends is pretty exciting.

Tech Trends

Advertising Trends | Unique Business Card

Advertising Trends

All you've got to do is look at this very compelling, but simple business card to know it's a winner, as far as getting someone to take a look at least at the name on the card.

Agrie Paint Services is the recipients of this interesting tear-off business card from advertising agency Extreme Group.

Why do I know this is a winner? Simple. You know you want to tear off that little tab when you look at it. It begs to be done, and that doesn't even include the paint-looking addition to it, which pre-advertises what the business located under the tab will be, although it may be doubtful the one tearing the tab will connect that until they look at the name.

But that's part of the success of this unique business card; it not only taps into your curiosity and propensity for taking an action the majority of human beings would do, but it then ties that into the paint-looking colored tab, which reinforces the company. So it gives at minimum a double chance at the person interacting with the card to connect to the company and its message. Very well done.

Advertising Trends

Universe Beach House Rooftop Pool

Design Trends

This rooftop swimming pool from Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao is the showpiece of the Universal Beach House in Mexico.

Add the ocean-side rocky landscape to the home and it's a brilliant place to play and enjoy.

As far as the house goes, the design was more minimalist to accentuate and celebrate the rooftop swimming pool, so was made mostly of concrete and included large, open spaces with little decor added.

The pool included beautiful underwater lighting which is extraordinary, especially at night.

A very unique home and rooftop swimming pool.

Design Trends

Bicycle with Surfboard Carrier

Bicycle Trends

This new concept bicycle could be a great match for those weekend surfers who prefer to enjoy a ride to the beach on their way to riding the waves.

With this new idea the bicyicle includes a small console built to hold a full-sized surfboard which still allows you to ride the bike with two hands.

The bicycle concept comes from industrial designers Gegi Primanata and Rinda Setiawan, who have named the idea the 'Wave,' and offer the bike in a number of color, depending on what the customer prefers.

Bicycle Trends

OCC Builds Electric Motorcycle

Motorcycle Trends

Don't tell me Orange County Choppers have sold out by building this no-noise electric motorcycle for Siemens. Said it ain't so Paul Sr.

Picture driving down the street on a bunch of noiseless moving wheels. Yawn!

While you can see the quality of the bike design itself, as that's surety with Orange County Choppers, the idea of building it for Siemens is disgusting.

As far as the bike, it allegedly can travel 60 miles on a charge, while hitting speeds up to 100 mph. You have to charge the trinket in a 110-volt socket for five hours to be able to ride it. It includes a 27-hp electric motor.

Motorcycle Trends

Cocoon Escape House Called 'Hibernate'

Design Trends

In a similar way you may make a paper mache object, Aimee Pegram has created what she calles "Hiberante," which is supposed to represent your own little cocoon to dwell in when you need a relaxed environment to escape to.

How it is made is a large five-foot inflatable balloon is wrapped with a weave of rope, which when set, the balloon is popped and the weave design remains to create the 'nest.'

As you can see, you can put down what you prefer to relax on while being able to see what's going on outside the hibernation pad.

While I'm not sure this works in the way described, just the unique design itself is interesting, and would look good in the right environment and scenario. And if it works for you as the stated purpose - all the better.

Design Trends

Wedding | World Record Dress Train

Wedding Trends

Earlier this year a bride got married in Bucharest in a wedding dress with a train mile long. Not to be outdone for his bride, Zhao Peng was determined to break that record and had a wedding dress made for his bride that included a 1.2 mile long train.

He submitted the video footage of the dress to Guinness World Records in London to confirm if he indeed has the record or not. Another record could be the 9,999 red silk roses that adorned the dress.

If this was done in America or another western country, it would have cost a fortune for the groom. But in China it only cost him $5,800.
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As far as the mother of the groom, she wasn't as impressed with the effort, as she said, "It is a waste of money in my opinion. Though I understand that he wants to show his love on the big day."

It took three hours alone just to role out the train.

Wedding Trends

Tattoos | Nice Tree Tattoos

Tattoos

These tattoos are sure on two opposite ends of the spectrum, even though they are both of trees.

The top one of the woman hanging from a tree while the crows or ravens are circling around her corpse is amazing. While the content isn't something that is attractive to me, the tattoo quality was astounding, and very well done.

In contrast, the cherry blossom tattoo on the side of the woman below is also very good, and shows two completely different ways you can ink a tattoo on your skin.

You see how color can look with a tree tattoo, as well as the dark ink and lines associated with the top one. Trees as tattoos do offer the unique opportunity to get great images on you, as they can be shaped and formed, and even tell stories, and work in a number of ways.

Tech Trends | Wall Mounted Speakers

Tech Trends

These cool speakers look like they've come from the sea, and they would look great on any wall, although at this time they only come in pink or white.

Included in the speaker design are six speakers and two touch screens, which you can see toward the center.

You can play an MP3 or a CD with it.

The real question to me is how does it sound, as the design will either make you like how it looks immediately, and so make a buying decision based on the sound, which in the end, matters more than anything else.

Tech Trends