renderwork, interior +architecture design resources

Links for 2010-09-23 [del.icio.us]

2010-09-24T00:00:00-07:00

2009 Delta Cup

2008-09-26T04:00:00.001+07:00

International Solar Building Design Competition

GOAL OF COMPETITION:
Combined with the reconstruction after Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province, the competition with a theme of "Sunshine and Hope" is facing the whole world to collect design scheme of rural "Sunshine primary school" and some of awarded submissions will be put into construction in disaster area.

Taking the competition as a platform let's open out technology of solar building, promulgate the concept of sustainable operation, express our love and responsibility to the children in disaster area and make their life and studying filled with gladness, hope and genial sunshine.

THEMES OF COMPETITION:
1. Rural Sunshine Primary School in Ma Er Kang area;
2. Rural Sunshine Primary School in Mian Yang area.

ORGANIZER:
International Solar Energy Society
Chinese Renewable Energy Society

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

Institutes of architectural design, colleges and universities, research institutions and research and manufacture enterprises of solar energy are welcome to make competition groups with professionals of architecture, structure and equipment to attend the competition.
Please visit http://www.isbdc.cn You may fill the registration list according to the instruction and gain an exclusive number of your work after submitting the list. One work only has one registration number. The number should be indicated in the top left corner of each submission work with height in 6mm. Registration time: 25th June, 2008 - 1st December, 2008.
Participants must agree that the Organizing Committee may publish, print, exhibit and apply their works in public.
The authors whose works are edited into the publication should cooperate with the Organizing Committee to adjust their works according to the requirements of printing.

2009 Competition Brief .PDf | Website http://www.isbdc.cn

Simple Interior Decorating Ideas

2008-09-25T20:59:00.001+07:00

So you're tired of looking at your house. It's looked the same for years and you just can't take it anymore. Should you sell it and find a new place to live? That's certainly one option, but if you happen to like your neighborhood then you could just do some home decorating and make it look like new. So if you've decided on the latter, you will need some interior decorating ideas.

Living / Family Room
It's time to get rid of the old sofa and, yes, even that favorite recliner that your father-in-law falls asleep in every time he visits. If new furniture is an option, great! But if it isn't, look for some great furniture covers. Furniture covers can change the whole look of a room for a fraction of the cost of new furniture, and the recliner will still be just as comfy. If you happen to have both a living room and a family room, try switching the furniture around. You probably spend more time in one room than the other and switching the furniture between the two rooms every so often will make them both last longer and give you a new look to work with.

Have your carpets cleaned and paint the walls. Don't be afraid of color! The best interior decorating experts will tell you that white walls are boring. Take a swatch from the furniture, or a throw pillow, and find paint that matches one of the colors in it. Make sure not to use the primary color of the furniture on the walls, you don't want them to blend. You do want good contrast. Get some new window dressings and nic-nacs and your room will look like brand new.

Kitchen
Interior decorating in the kitchen is a bit more difficult, but there are a few ways to make it look new. Start with some new window dressings, a throw rug under the table, and a nice new border on the freshly painted walls. If that's not enough, you could paint your cupboards and install new handles and pulls, or remove the upper cupboard doors if it's not too much of a mess inside. This will make your kitchen look much larger and more open. A nice, new faucet goes a long way in a kitchen, too.

Bedrooms
Clean the carpets and paint the walls. Replace the window coverings and the bed linens, and rearrange the furniture. You're not just sleeping in there, right? We all know that the bedroom is often our only retreat, so you want to make it a nice, new room to relax in. Put a comfortable chair and a small bookcase near a window and make a nice reading corner. For the kids' rooms, take them to the paint store and let them pick out their own colors and decorations. Let the kids go online and look for awesome things for their rooms. You will be the coolest parent around if you let the kids decorate their own spaces.

Bathrooms
There's not much interior decorating that can be done in a bathroom without replacing the fixtures. You can certainly replace the shower curtain, window coverings, accessories, and toilet covers and rugs. Make sure to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls, too.

By Sofia Rucci

How To Keep It Simple

2008-09-25T20:15:00.000+07:00

One of the major setbacks in a residential interior design project is not seeing eye to eye with the interior designer. There are homeowners who just don't know when to step back and allow the professionals to take charge of the project. Still, there are others who seem to give free rein at first but rant about the details when the project is almost done.
To make the residential interior design project a smooth and hassle-free one, you have to clearly delineate the roles from the very beginning. How much control do you want to wield? How much freedom are you willing to give your designer? Would you trust him with his own set of contractors?
Individuals who hire a professional for residential interior design must make it clear from the start how much freedom they're willing to give the designer in terms of decisions and relationships with contractors.

One common problem that arises with a number of residential interior design projects is that owners can't help but put in their two cents' worth once the contractors step in, and this may somewhat be distressing on the designer's part.

The owner should also agree with the designer on a reasonable time frame for the residential interior design project. It should be made clear that the plan is well laid out before actual work takes place and that budget limits are clearly set beforehand.

It is also important to set aside a portion of the budget to provide for contingency expenses. In addition, if the owner requests changes that were not initially included in the residential interior design plan, he must be ready to shoulder the expenses involved to carry out these modifications.

Why Space Planning Is Important
In residential interior design, space is a crucial factor because a space that is too large or too small may drastically limit the possibilities of a desired residential interior design. Even existing doors and windows greatly affects the planned renovation, and covering these up or constructing new structures again involve an adjustment in time and budget.

Generally, residential interior design project would involve furniture and fixture selection, color, space planning, and the more complicated plumbing and electrical wiring. It is, of course, easier to plan a residential interior design project with an empty room or house, but this isn't always the case.

In summation, undertaking a residential interior design project can be a very fulfilling task if guidelines are set down at the start. You will also be able to enjoy a more harmonious relationship with the designer if you spend time to consult with him and give him as much information as possible on the kind of outcome you are targeting for your residential interior design.

By Wade Robins

Interior Design Course

2008-09-25T20:11:00.001+07:00

Interior Designers use intrinsic artistic flair and specialized skills to improve the physical appearance as well as the practicality of any given space. Interior designers work towards improving the quality of any place including private homes, hotels, offices or hospitals.

Interior design courses are perfect for anyone who wishes to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become an interior designer.

Online Degrees
Online Degrees are rapidly gaining popularity in this highly competitive age. The biggest advantage of enrolling in online courses is that students do not have to attend any predetermined number of classes unlike conventional degree courses. Students looking to gain additional qualifications are thus increasingly turning towards online degrees where enrolment can be done anytime and the courses are mainly self-paced.

Interior design courses give individuals the opportunity to enroll in a course and further their careers while they are already working and allow students to enroll in more than one course at a time, which increases their employability.

Interior Design Course Content
Interior design courses encompass many different areas. It helps budding designers gain the necessary skills of applying the concepts of form and function to any space. Many interior designers use specialized Interior design courses to branch out from general interior designing to work in a particular area of their choice.

Most online interior design degrees cover these important areas:
Definition as well as responsibilities of Interior Designing
Principles of Interior Designing
Elements of Interior Designing
Goals of Interior Designing
Process of Interior Designing
Scope of Interior Designing
Basics of all other creative designing fields
Relation between Interior Designing and other Designing

Professionals
Online Interior Design Degrees
Earning a degree in Interior Designing has never been easier. Online Interior design courses can be done by anybody who has the flair and aptitude for it. There is no need to worry about course timings, or the location of the Interior designing school. Any one interested in earning an Interior Design Degree has enroll for one online at any convenient time of the year and from any part of the world.

There are no deadline pressures and no time wasted traveling long distances. Online Interior Design courses can be done from the convenience and comfort of your home. All established online courses have qualified professionals who are on hand, often 24/7 to help you with whatever help you may need.

Online Interior design courses are excellent for experienced interior designers as well as newcomers to this career. It offers them a flexible learning schedule where students can pick and choose one or many different specialized topics and earn degrees in all of them simultaneously.

This means students can choose to earn their various degrees in as short a time as possible if they wish to start off on a career or are looking to branch off into a specialized area. Alternatively students can take as long as they want to if they have other time constraints, which could be due to a whole host of reasons including health reasons or frequent traveling

By Seth Willis Jr.

Career in Interior Architecture Design?

2008-09-25T20:03:00.003+07:00

Interior Architecture is a bridge between architecture and interior design. It provides professionals with the proper knowledge regarding the building of structures and the importance and understanding of load bearing walls. The fields of Interior Architecture and Interior Design are quite similar. Some people refer to the two fields as one and call it Interior Architecture Design.

Interior architectural design professionals in the United States cannot call himself or herself an Interior Architect unless they have completed the educational requirements to become a fully licensed architect. The actual definition of Interior Architecture is a program that prepares people to apply the architectural principles in the design of structural interiors for living, recreational and for business purposes so as to function as a professional interior architect. This includes instruction in the architecture of heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, structural systems design and professional responsibilities and standards.

If interested in a career in the interior architecture design field there are plenty of options available to the aspiring designer whether they wish to attend a college or university or take classes online. These courses explore the links and similarities between interior design and architecture. Interior Design programs will challenge you to explore creative ideas for using space and re-inventing how buildings are designed. Some areas of study include the conceptual creativity of design and the philosophy and theory behind design plus the latest technology used for interior design.

Individuals pursuing an education in interior design or interior architecture can expect to develop a wide range of skills including the use of CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) software, video and photography. Other skills will be developed in the studio such as the use of models and how to construct the models.

Interior Design programs prepare the interior architectural design student for technological, cultural and environmental issues. Students who attend a studio classroom are taught in workshops, lectures and seminars.

Here are some basic courses the interior architecture design student will study in their first year:
• Design Visual Thinking
• Materials and Construction
• History and Theory of Design
• Introduction to Interior Architecture and Design
• Design Making Ideas
• Design, Spatial Investigations
• Design, Context and Process
• Structures, Environment and Sustainability

In the second year of studying interior architecture design, the student will study the following modules:
• Communication and Participation
• Design Exploration
• Design Proposition
• Interior Environments
• Modern Architecture
• Interior Environments
• Tectonics and Realization

These are very in depth courses to help prepare the interior architecture design student for real world situations. In the third year of study, students can expect to learn the following:
• Design Research and Proposition
• History Dissertation
• Design Resolution
• Placement

Work placement can be in any Interior Architecture Design field that takes on entry-level designers. Professional work placement is an excellent opportunity that can pave the way to a rewarding career in interior design. As work placement is considered the bridge from study to professional employment.

By T.D. Houser

Only in Japan!

2008-09-25T17:53:00.006+07:00

Ever been on a train this nice?

Believe it or not, the photo above is of a train interior in Japan !

With the results looking nicer than most nurseries, the Japanese have taken the idea of ' child-friendly public transport ' to the next level with these 2 beauties, both designed by eiji mitooka. He was the artistic force behind ' omoden ' (toy train) and ' ichigo ec ' (strawberry train), a couple of regional trains which travel on a daily basis on the 14.3km kishigawa line in japan.

The Japanese are intent on making train travel a more comfortable experience for everyone, women and children especially, and the results are incredible.

Both trains contain hundreds of toys, TV screens showing cartoons, immaculately clean wooden flooring and cots for younger children. Call me cynical but I can ' t imagine anything like this emerging in India unless it was an attraction at a theme park.

Thomas Jefferson Awards

2008-09-09T10:06:00.005+07:00

Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture

Submissions
All information must be submitted online For all questions/concerns, please contact AIA Honors and Awards.

2009 Institute Honors for Professional Achievement Online Submisison
The American Institute of Architects established the Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture to recognize achievements in the following three categories:
• Private-sector architects who have established a portfolio of accomplishment in the design of architecturally distinguished public facilities
• Public-sector architects who manage or produce quality design within their agencies
• Public officials or other individuals who by their role of advocacy have furthered the public's awareness and/or appreciation of design excellence.

Category One
Thomas Jefferson demonstrated a commitment to excellence in architecture in order to improve the public's understanding of its own potential through various models of quality design. He pursued a more sensitive and responsible government as well as enhanced standards of living and learning for the general public.

The product of good public buildings, such as post offices, recreation centers, libraries, educational facilities, and infrastructure projects that impact a broad cross-section of a community structure, must be recognized for the significance of their lasting contribution to our enhanced quality of life.

Eligibility
Any AIA member, group of members, component, or knowledge community may nominate candidates for category one of the Thomas Jefferson Awards.

Architects licensed in the United States and practicing in the private sector who have made a significant contribution to the quality of public architecture and who have established a portfolio of accomplishment to that end are eligible to be nominated. The nominee shall have evidenced great depth, with a cumulative effect on the quality of public architecture.

Public architecture is defined as any work that is funded in part or wholly by public money.

Category Two
This category recognizes achievements of those public-sector architects who, by their skill, professionalism, dedication, ability, and commitment, have consistently fostered quality in the public built environment and such quality is uniquely attributable to each recipient.

Eligibility
Any AIA member, group of members, component, or knowledge community may nominate candidates for category two of the Thomas Jefferson Awards.

Licensed architects employed in the United States public sector or governmental agencies who manage or produce quality public architecture within their jurisdiction are eligible to be nominated in this category.

Governmental agencies who, by their successful contribution as a whole have fostered quality in the public environment, may be nominated in this category.

Category Three
This category recognizes the critical role of elected officials, public administrators, and institutional leaders who establish or contribute to the development of laws, regulations, and policies that affect the process and product of architecture as well as the public’s perception of such architecture as an important part of our environment, lives, and heritage. Of particular importance is recognition of their advocacy for design excellence as a critical issue in the formulation of such policies and the positive evolution of the public’s perception and demand for design quality.

Eligibility
Any AIA member, group of members, component, or knowledge community may nominate candidates for category three of the Thomas Jefferson Awards.

Public officials or individuals who by his or her role and advocacy have furthered the public’s awareness and/or appreciation of design excellence in public architecture are eligible to be nominated in this category.

The candidate may be a nonarchitect who by his or her support and actions has significantly influenced or contributed to the promotion of quality design in the public sector.

List of Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture Recipients.

Required Submission Materials

2009 Jury

Trula H. Remson, AIA, Baton Rouge (Chair)
Remson | Haley | Herpin Architects

David Castro-Blanco, FAIA, Marina Del Rey, Calif.

Diane T. Georgopulos, FAIA, Boston
MassHousing

John E. Sinclair, AIA, Lincoln, Nebr.
Sinclair Hille Architects

Darrel Williams, Sr., FAIA, Charolotte
Neighboring Concepts, PLLC

Year Awarded: 2009
Submission Deadline: October 10, 2008
Award Category: Achievement

Contact:
Elizabeth Henry
202-626-7563
ehenry@aia.org
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington DC

Sponsoring Organization:
The American Institute of Architects

bleunature

2008-09-06T19:33:00.002+07:00

Bleu Nature,the France based manufacturer of furniture that mainly uses driftwood to create unique contemporary designs with an earthy flavour, and it would appear as though they're preparing to release their Winter 2008-09 collection on September 15th. For a little sneak preview, here's the Qilak armchair and sofa.

Links for 2008-08-27 [del.icio.us]

2008-08-28T00:00:00-07:00

Styrofoam Dome Houses

Styrofoam Dome Houses

2008-08-19T19:39:00.003+07:00

Styrofoam Dome Houses The Innuit who live in northern Canada once built homes out of ice blocks. Now a modular home manufacturer, Japan Dome House Co. Ltdhave come up with styrofoam dome houses. These houses are produced in sections and are designed to be assembled easily and quickly by a few people. There are already 480 of these houses at the Aso Farm Land village resort in Kyushu which are used as accommodation, recreation and as retail shops.

Publish Post

The most outstanding feature is the low cost which starts at under $30,000. However, the dome house has a long list of other benefits. It is very light - weighing only 80 kg. The 7 inch thick walls provides thermal insulation. The walls are coated with fire retardant making the houses fireproof. Being what it is, the dome house will not rust, rot and is definitely not termite food. It is also earthquake and gale resistant - the latter due to the dome’s low wind resistance profile.

SkyCeilings

2008-08-19T19:16:00.004+07:00

SkyCeilings

If you would like to brighten up and inject some life into a dull room, then you should check this beautiful idea. SkyCeilings are photographic illusions of real skies that fit into standard ceiling grid systems. SkyCeilings faux skylights now include programmable lighting which can be used to emulate the intensity and color changes that come with a rising and setting sun. Luminous SkyCeilings feature fluorescent or LED lighting that illuminate the translucent images from behind. Ambient SkyCeilings are made from opaque image tiles that are lit by room or cove lighting. So if you want an amazing view when you wake up in the morning ….just imagine how would you start the day with such a view!!!

2009 ReBrand 100® Global Awards

2008-08-19T18:44:00.004+07:00

Entry to the 2009 ReBrand 100® Global Awards is Now Being Accepted
Global organizations, Fortune 50 corporations, small businesses, accomplished entrepreneurs, respected nonprofit organizations, cities, and renowned universities from around the world are regularly represented in the ReBrand 100® Awards winners; some of which are based in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Italy, Lebanon, Romania, Australia and the United Kingdom, in addition to the US.

The 2009 ReBrand 100 is open to any rebrand launched anywhere in the world between January 2006 and September 2008. The rebrand can be for an enterprise-wide initiative, a single component of a brand or for a brand extension. Entries submitted can be from in-house corporate professionals, design firms, clients, architects, business strategists, advertising agencies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. The rebrand may have been for a product, service, entire company, non-profit organization, an individual, or a place
The ReBrand 100 Global Awards is the only highly respected and coveted global awards of its kind. Businesses, brand strategists, and various organizations have come to value knowing they are among the best in the world when it comes to effectively meeting strategic goals and forging strong connections and loyalty among their targets.

The five Best of Awards winners will receive the highly coveted ReBrand 100 award.
All winners will receive one frameable certificate per project.
A select number of winners projects will be showcased at ReBrand.com. Others will be linked to the project displays at the branding partner's or brand owner's site from the recognized 2009 list at ReBrand.com
Winners will be notified in February 2009. Press releases and an extensive media campaign will be targeted to international wire services and to business, advertising, marketing, and design media in Spring 2009.

Entry deadline is postmark September 24, 2008.
Late entry with late fee is October 8, 2008.

Film Sokolov Poster Contest

2008-08-19T18:35:00.005+07:00

The contest of graphic design organized in cooperation with prominent Czech designers is directed to all public (not only to professionals). Received posters will be exhibited in the futuristic foyer of the Alfa cinema in Sokolov. All participants will be rewarded.

Everybody can take part in the contest, no matter whether a professional or an amateur. The contest is not only for our regional co-citizens. Works from abroad are welcome. We suppose that the author will most of the time be a human, however, in case there is a talented fly flying in your house, tell it about our web site.

The posters are supposed to reflect the main topic of this year – attraction, i.e. a place, a thing or a feeling that draw visitors by providing something of interest or pleasure.

The poster has to contain the following information:

1. logo (download )
2. day and time: Sokolov, kino Alfa, 10. 10. – 12. 10. 2008
3. topic of this year: Attraction

The technique of your work is not set and limited.

Dead-lines

Please, send us your works by 5. 9. 2008. Received works will be exhibited in the futuristic foyer of the Alfa cinema in Sokolov, from 1. 10. 2008 until 14. 10. 2008. The exhibition is to be opened at the opening ceremony of The Film Sokolov on 10. 10. 2008.

How and where to send your works?

Please, send us your works in the A2 size, resolution 100 dpi.
Works up to 10MB are to be sent to this email address: info@filmsokolov.cz. Works containing more than 10MB can be deposited here.

Braun Prize 2009

2008-08-19T18:23:00.006+07:00

Braun Prize 2009 International Design Contest

This internationally recognized design competition is open to young industrial designers who are still studying or who have graduated within the last two years. Current industrial design students as well as recent graduates have until January 31, 2009 to submit their product concepts to Braun (the participation is free of charge). The total prize money amounts to EUR 36,000. The winner of the BraunPrize will receive EUR 12,000 in prize money and a (paid) six-month internship in the Design Department at Braun. The other finalists will each receive a prize of EUR 5,000. The remaining prize money will be distributed in the form of special recognition awards at the discretion of the jury

go to brownprize.com to learn more

Interior Design and Decoration

2008-08-17T19:02:00.001+07:00

by Stanley Abercrombie (Author), Sherrill Whiton (Author)

By ezinteriordesign (Floral Park, NY USA)
As an instructor of Interior Design, I cannot praise this book enough....My students as well as fellow instructors find it an invaluable tool, not only in teaching beginning level courses, but also as a great reference manual after the student graduates....Several of us still have well-worn copies in our offices...Buy this book, you won't be dissapointed!

Interior Design Color Wheel

2008-08-17T18:50:00.000+07:00

Take the guesswork out and get your color right the first time! This Interior Design Color Wheel helps you select the colors that work together for any living space or work space. It helps you harmonize interior design projects by illustrating complementary, split complementary, monochromatic and related color schemes and easy instructions and helpful hints are printed on the back. The guide is 8-1/2" x 11" and comes in a protective 3-ring binder sleeve. This offer is for 2 brand new Interior Design Color Wheels. A "Must Have" for interior designers!

pianobell

2008-08-15T05:02:00.000+07:00

allows your visitors to perform a short piece of music on this small “instrument”

forget the boring doorbell and ring tone, here is the new Pianobell for talented and interesting guy like you, because you believe in "I play therefor I am..."

original Sources:
pianobell

Interesting house in Japan

2008-08-15T04:45:00.000+07:00

architect Yasuhiro Yamashita.

I’ve found this collection of images of interesting houses in Tokyo at Flickr.

Woonbox

2008-08-15T04:30:00.000+07:00

Woonbox portable kitchen and bathroom.
It is a large box which when opened up somewhat like a book will reveal a shower and toilet on one side and a
kitchen complete with two cooking rings and sink on the other.
Additional parts like the kitchen cabinet cover hinges open to provide
additional counterspace. The Woonbox is fully mobile and mechanized.

The Woonbox was conceived by architects Arthur Rottier and Peter Jongman from the Dutch architectural firm, KAW. The designers created it as a temporary solution for use in diverse situations. In offices, for large events perhaps even for displaced or disadvantaged people. Anywhere really where people could benefit from the comforts of home delivered by this mobile all-in-one kitchen and bathroom box.

Beijing Olympic Stadium

2008-08-12T19:36:00.000+07:00

Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron collaborated with Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to design the Beijing Olympic Stadium, the National Stadium.
Photo © Guang Niu / Getty Images

The Beijing Olympic Stadium, the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China

The innovative Beijing Olympic Stadium, the National Stadium, is often called the Bird's Nest.

Composed of a complex mesh of steel bands, the Beijing Olympic Stadium incorporates elements of Chinese art and culture.

Adjacent to the Beijing Olympic Stadium is another innovative new structure, the National Aquatic Centre, also known as the Water Cube.

Builders and Designers for the Beijing Olympic Stadium:

Herzog & de Meuron, architects
Ai Weiwei, Artistic Consultant
China Architecture Design & Research Group

Beijing National Stadium Statistics:

36 km of unwrapped steel
330 metres (1,082 feet) long
220 metres (721 feet) wide
69.2 metres (227 feet) tall
258,000 square metres (2,777,112 square feet) of space
Usable area of 204,000 square metres (2,195,856 square feet)
Seating for up to 91,000 spectators during the Olympics. (Seating reduced to 80,000 after the Games.)
Construction cost approximately 3.5 billion yuan ($423 million USD)

original sources:
http://architecture.about.com

konyk Architecture

2008-08-12T19:26:00.000+07:00

Prefab Home Models by konyk Architecture
up!house

Konyk Architecture designs futuristic, high-tech prefabricated homes. The designs utilize steel "uni-body" frames, structural panels and lots of insulated glass to form super-modern, sleek living spaces. The homes are fabricated and delivered fully equipped with high-end appliances, fixtures and mechanicals.

hydra

konyk architecture
konyk architecture pc
68 Jay Street #509 (dumbo)
Brooklyn, NY 11201-8339
718.852.5381 Tel
718.852.1890 Fax
Email: konyk@konyk.net
Web site: konyk.net

Ultra slim shower head

2008-08-12T05:29:00.001+07:00

Ultra slim shower head from Signorini Design - the ceiling-mount and wall-mount shower heads with light.

In the Signorini Shower head ultra slim metallic blocks, studded with rows of tiny nozzles, rain brilliant colored water. Two central lights illuminate the free flowing water in a warm yellow, passionate red, mellow blue or green earthy light. Perfect for creating a dramatic accent color, or merely for it's therapeutic effect the lighted shower head embraces contemporary style. Created by Signorini Design, the Ultra Slim shower head is available as both a ceiling-mounted and a wall-mounted shower head. The wall-mounted version elegantly reaches out from the wall, while the ceiling-mount shower head has two styles. One which offer a flush mounted finish and one which suspends from the ceiling. Available from Signorini Design, the Ultra slim shower head adds a bright vibrancy to your daily shower routine.

original sources:
http://www.trendir.com

carrier bags by jamie wieck

2008-08-12T05:19:00.001+07:00

Inspired by a transparent bag used to collect rubbish, Jamie Wieck created a pair of carrier bags that quite literally ‘carry’ your shopping. Jamie is a graphic designer and illustrator based in London.

3D Modeling & CAD Tools

2008-08-12T05:14:00.002+07:00

Create Outstanding Animations - Easliy!
Choosing the right 3D animation software to match your needs is not a trivial matter anymore. Nowadays even the simplest 3D softwares are capable of producing stunning & outstanding animations. We have listed below several 3D animation softwares to choose from. Please note that most of these are demo versions so first try them out before shelling out your hard-earned cash!

Google SketchUp
Google SketchUp is a free, easy-to-learn 3D-modeling program with a few simple tools to let you create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects, and even space ships. You can add details, textures, and glass to your models, and design with dimensional accuracy. You can place your finished models in Google Earth, share them with others by posting them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies. Google SketchUp is a great way to discover if 3D modeling is right for you. Google SketchUp is free for personal use. No registration is required.

Ulead Cool 3D
Ulead Cool 3D is a 3D-text-creation tool that delivers high-impact still and animated graphics for use in presentations and on the Web. You can input text directly into the application utilizing TrueType fonts, or import EMF files. Preset styles, textures, colors, backgrounds, and lights allow you to optimize your output and to give it that special flair. Cool 3D even includes special effects such as Fire, Explode, and Twist, in addition to customizable special effects that can be saved for future use. Control over placement, distance from camera, and rotation can be applied to entire words or each to individual letters. Animation can be designed quickly and easily via preset templates, then saved as animated GIF or AVI movies. Still images can be exported in GIF, JPEG, TGA, or BMP formats.

Free DWG Viewer
Free DWG Viewer supports AutoCAD DWG, DXF and DWF. It has simple view tools and measurement tools with accurate snap-to-geometry functionality. Save views to JPEG. It runs as a desktop application, and an ActiveX control in IE. Printing is available in our $29 Brava Desktop product. Version 6.0.0.4 includes AutoCAD 2008 support, an updated interface, and improved measurement tools.

Bryce 3D
Create breathtaking realistic 3D landscapes and animations with DAZ 3D Bryce. The easy user interface simplifies the design process for a novice or the seasoned professional. Start out building or importing a landscape as impressive as the Grand Canyon. Populate it with buildings, people or any other object you create or from the extensive DAZ 3D library. The Light Lab provides you robust control over your sunsets, moonlight nights or high-noon ambiance. Tree Lab allows you to plant your landscape like the gardens of Versailles. You'll have to register your copy of Bryce on the publishers web-site to gain access to your free Bryce serial number.

iClone
iClone 2 transforms any desktop into a complete virtual movie studio. Create 3D characters, scenes, and special effects for films inside a total 3D real-time environment. Designed for users of any skill level, iClone is equipped to break the barriers of storytelling offering simplified 3D character creation using any photos, custom face and body shapes, easy design of 3D wardrobe and real-time foliage ecosystem. Filming movies inside iClone casts users as the role of director with Timeline editing control over scene animation and exporting options to gear your movie for Mobile, HD, Web, or PC premiere.

3D Canvas
3D Canvas is a real-time, 3D modeling, and animation tool that incorporates a drag-and-drop approach. Complex models can be constructed from simple 3D primitives or created using 3D Canvas's object-building tools. Creating an animated scene is as simple as positioning the objects within your scene for each point in time in your animation. 3D Canvas will ensure the resulting animation runs smoothly.

AutoCAD
Design, visualize, and document your ideas clearly and efficiently with AutoCAD software from Autodesk. From conceptual design through drafting and detailing, AutoCAD enables you to explore ideas like never before. Create, edit, and develop design alternatives using realistic solids and surfaces in an updated design environment. Communicate your ideas with powerful sketch, shadow, and rendering tools, including intuitive walk-through animations. Then turn your concepts into a set of documents with the new section and flatten functionality.

Alibre Design Xpress
Ready to get started with a real parametric solid modeler, but don't want to spend money to try it? Alibre Design Xpress delivers the features you need to get started with 3D design and tackle projects for your business or workshop. It's a rich and capable design application for creating parts, assemblies, and 2D drawings. Those that are new to 3D will find the tutorials, help, and user interface helpful in learning how to build 3D designs. Xpress is used in manufacturing, woodworking, mechanical design, and much more. Professional designers can use it at home and export for work. Once you have mastered Xpress, you can upgrade to more robust versions of Alibre Design.

CadStd Lite
CadStd Lite is a general purpose, easy to learn CAD/drafting program for creating professional quality mechanical designs, house plans, blueprints, schematics, and charts. Export your drawings in DXF or use 'copy clipboard' to paste images into Office and other applications. Import simple (Rev 12, Non-block) DXF files.

Punch Super Home Suite
Punch Software Super Home Suite makes it easy to design interior and exterior home improvement projects or entire homes in Photorealistic 3D with vivid colors and textures. Created by professionals, Punch Super Home Suite lets you draft and frame while calculating and modeling cost and square footage targets to avoid mistakes before you build. Design and landscape your yard, then take a Photorealistic 3D stroll through what you've created. Punch Super Home Suite is a great way to plan, design, remodel, or build your dream home. With this download comes bonus deck design software to make the deck of your dreams.

Truespace
This is the full working version--nothing removed or crippled, no time limits or watermarks. Features include: Powerful point editing, smoothing, sweeping, and deformation tools; amazing metaballs and plastiform tools to create organic shapes; multiple spot, local, and infinite lights; full physics simulation engine; bones, skinning, and inverse kinematics for character animation. A large number of file import and export formats add to the flexibility and compatibility with other programs. Output formats include rendered stills, animation, or VRML. A very active community provides support and interaction. Large selections of 3rd party plug-ins provide extra capabilities.

DAZ Studio
DAZ Studio is a feature rich 3D figure posing and animation tool that enables users of any skill level to easily create stunning digital imagery. Whether youre a 3D newbie or an avid 3D artist, you'll find DAZ Studio is the perfect tool for designing unique digital art and animation with virtual people, animals, props, vehicles, backgrounds and more. Experience total creative freedom with DAZ Studio and express yourself in 3D like never before.

CyberMotion 3D-Designer
CyberMotion 3D-Designer is an integrated 3D-graphics program for modeling, animating and rendering photorealistic 3D-scenes, terrains and characters. It features a multi-window graphical user interface, a vast number of 3D modeling tools, a landscape designer including complex atmospheres, TrueType-3D-fonts, subdivision surfaces and boolean operations, multiple material selections, hierarchical animation, inverse kinematics, skeletal deformation (skin and bones), global illumination rendering and a host of special effects, such as lens flares, caustics, volumetric fire, object halo, motion blur, depth-sharpeness, animated atmospheres with clouds, fog, rain and snow, starfields, and particle systems.

Visio Shapes Sampler
Visio Shapes Sampler is a free Microsoft Visio stencil containing 30 assorted symbols from Visimation's ShapeSuite for Manufacturing and Industry. ShapeSuites are collections of Visio stencil sets that have been crafted and structured to help you create superior drawings for a variety of business and technical uses. The entire ShapeSuite for Manufacturing and Industry includes 54 Visio stencils with approximately 3000 Visio shapes to support production and operational diagramming. The stencils are available as a complete set or in 10 individually priced categories: Building Automation, Laboratory, Manufacturing and Assembly, Power Systems, Process Control, Pulp and Paper, Waste and Wastewater, Controls and Miscellaneous, ASHRAE Schematic, ISA Process Schematic. ShapeSuite collections relieve the burden of creating graphics and symbols for your Visio templates and diagrams, freeing you to focus on more critical tasks. With ShapeSuites, there's no need to start from scratch

Blender
Blender is the open-source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. It is available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.Mostly a bug-fixing release, but it also adds a few new features like subsurface scattering (SSS) support and two new composite nodes. Version 2.45 includes unspecified updates.

Nendo
Nendo is a 3D modeling and painting package that is simple enough for the novice and powerful enough for the professional. You can create 3D objects for use in model libraries, games, print material, Web sites, visual simulations, and architectural applications. Nendo allows you to model objects in a 'digital clay' environment, with an interface based on traditional sculpting. It offers a variety of modeling functions--such as extrude, scale, rotate, connect, bevel, inset, mirror, and smooth--to create organic as well as hard-edged objects. Its 3D painting module allows you to paint in an interactive 3D environment using familiar painting tools with brush options such as size, opacity, and softness, as well as color and texture selection. Nendo also allows you to export your creations in a variety of file formats (.obj, .x, .3ds, and .wrl) for use in other 3D applications.

Poser
Harness the power of 3D figures with Poser. Design, pose, and animate your dream figure in 3D. Poser's interface unlocks the secrets of working with the human form. Poser contains all the tools you need to dress figures, style hair, and add accessories. Create anything from photorealistic content to cartoon images, learning illustrations to modern art. Make figures walk, dance, or run to create animations for Flash content or movies.

11 Free Online Image Editing Tools

2008-08-12T05:09:00.001+07:00

When it comes to image editing, there
are times when it can be a really entertaining activity for some. But
what happens when you need to modify a picture and you’re not at your
place with your fancy computer and much loved editing software?

Check out these online image editing applications and share your thoughts about them!

Picnik is one of the most recent -no signup required- editors and holder of a great looking Web 2.0 interface. It has a good balance of versatility and usability and easily integrates with Flickr and Picasa web albums. It has some fun creative tools, in addition to the photo correction basics.

Need a quick fix for a photo? Pixer.us allows you to edit your photos online within your browser, add special effects and save them in the most popular formats without registration. All modifications are done in a non-destructive way so your images will always keep its original quality.

Pleloadr is a clean-design editor intended to Flickr users (only works with a Flickr account) and is very easy to use. It includes basic tools like cropping, resizing, rotating and flipping, and some ‘advanced’ tools like image layers, histogram, scaling, moving, adding text and color channel graduation and several filters among others. Most of these are pop-up menus.

PXN8, pronounced "Pixenate", is one of the more feature-rich photo editing apps online. It may not look as pretty as Snipshot at first, but it's features are right there and there's no denying the fact. PXN8 lets you zoom in and out of the image, which is an extremely useful feature. Then, other than the usual crop, resize, rotate and color adjustment features, PXN8 also offers some ready filters to generally enhance a photo, to fill light in dark pictures, reduce/remove red eye, whiten parts (like teeth!), and to get the omnipresent sepia effect. There is a unique "Sprit Level" tool that lets you fix photos that were taken at an angle by mistake. If your pictures have a horizon that's not purely horizontal, this tool will rotate the image to level it up. It's essentially a rotate tool, but it does it automatically instead of you keying in manual rotation angles. There are also some "fun" effects such as the
one that gives your images rounded corners (so, so Web 2.0!), an interlaced video effect, a blur / out of focus effect and snow, so you can have Christmas in October!

Snipshot, formerly known as Pixoh, is a very true Web 2.0 site, complete with pure white backgrounds and
large fonts on the homepage. Jokes aside, it boasts of a good set of features like unlimited undo and redo, support for large files upto 10MB or upto 5000x5000 in resolution (that's 25 megapixels!), direct loading of images from anywhere on the web, including Flickr, support for PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG and TIF file formats (opening as well as saving) and also exporting directly to Flickr.

CellSea
- This picture editor covers all the basics common photo tasks. It also provides over 15 ways to correct color, exposure, and lighting problems. Transform your images using a collection of effects. Oil, Mosaic, Flare and more and professional-looking blur effects to your photos like Gaussian, Motion, Radial Blur and more.

Fauxto
is a full-featured, free range, ambitious image editor. It supports layers, filters, canvas size, free transform and other advanced features and options. This Photoshop-like is considered by many the most advanced online image editor available online. This application can certainly be a great solution to attain software results without installation, MBs and money concerns.

Online Image Editor
The name says it all. One of the most convenient browser-based online photo and image editor.
It provides an easy-to-use interface which allows to quickly create/edit images, photos or graphics in a drag-and-drop environment. The processing takes place on your computer before uploading it to the server saving time and bandwidth.

With Onlinephototool
you can edit and save your images, screenshots and photos online. If you register you could save with pictures online as well. It offers all the basic picture editing options like resize, filters, sepia, black/white, crop, rotate and flip, and more.

]
Phixr is quite impressive. It offers a toolbox quite similar looking to the one found in Photoshop or Fireworks and it offers more features to work with the images than PXN8. Almost all the tools pop up a more comprehensive box (not window) that let you select the options for the tool and also let you preview the result before applying.
In addition to whatever is found in PXN8, Phixr offers you a paint bucket tool to fill an area with a particular color, a noise removal tool for grainy, low light camera pictures, a variety of effects such as pop art, charcoal drawing, oil painting, emboss, sphere, funnel, dot art, posterize, shade, spray, swirl, wave etc., a photo overlay option for super-imposing preset images (such as hearts) or an option to mix two of your own photos and it even lets you add text to your images!
Impressive!

XMG Image Editor
provides an interface for users to manage, edit, and share their images online. Not only you can perform all basic editing functions with this editor but you can also upload, tag, and label multiple images at a time, even from a zip file and post them directly to your chosen album or social network site or pre-generated codes for posting your images on any website.

Prisoned 2009 Design Competition

2008-08-12T02:32:00.000+07:00

Prisoned 2009 Design Competition
Register: Friday, November 21, 2008
Submit: Friday, March 20, 2009

Socio Design is a foundation that strives to encourage social change through design-based dialog, a dialog fostered by an annual international student architecture competition.

Prisoned, this year’s competition, scrutinizes the role of prison architecture in today’s world. What effect do their designs have on their employees, their occupants, their adjacent societies?

Prisoned asks that all students design a philosophy on what imprisonment is or should be, and create an architectural design to express that philosophy. Students from all backgrounds are welcome to participate.

http://www.sociodesignfoundation.org/

Links for 2008-02-17 [del.icio.us]

2008-02-18T00:00:00-08:00

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renderwork
renderwork will provide you with quality design renderings that originate from your CAD file or hand sketches and will convert it, together with your descriptions, into a photorealistic views. Our rates is very friendly for Architect, Interior Designer,
renderwork
renderwork will provide you with quality design renderings that originate from your CAD file or hand sketches and will convert it, together with your descriptions, into a photorealistic views. Our rates is very friendly for Architect, Interior Designer,
renderwork
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