chrisswantra

the 'xl1' concept car by volkswagen first publicly presented at the qatar motor show 2011 , volkswagen 's 'xl1' concept car combines energy efficient technology and streamlined aesthetics to create a hybrid vehicle capable of attaining speeds of 99mph and returning 313 miles to the gallon, even as it emits only a quarter as much CO2 as the most efficient models on the market today. full view of the car the streamlined shape of the 'xl1' is designed to be highly aerodynamic. weighing 795kg, the vehicle makes use of volkswagen's custom 'resin transfer moulding' technique to create the lightweight carbon-reinforced polymer components that make up much of the body, and lightweight metals and other materials are likewise made use of throughout the car. to further decrease its drag, the rear wheels are covered, and the car's side mirrors have been replaced with video cameras that feed input to screens inset along the dashboard. ...

DMN design workshop exhibition inside the gyre building in omotesando image © designboom without thought what comes into mind when people hear the word 'container'? is there a clear cut image held in common by everyone? is the shape of a container dependent on its contents? or do people look at a container and think, 'if it's this shape, then I want to put X in it'? there's an appeal to containers, regardless of what's in them. we came up with various designs when discussing just what that appeal was. we searched out the soul of this appeal that was 'effortlessly good'. naoto fukasawa during tokyo designers week 2010 designboom visited the DMN design workshop exhibition (vol.11). together with in-house designers of several companies, the japanese designer naoto fukasawa is currently organising a series of workshops and exhibitions bearing the name 'without thought'. the 'CONTAINER' exhibition is the 11th of its kind....

The art of the sports car takes centre stage at the new Porsche museum in Stuttgart. Engines, interactive displays, Porsche memorabilia and 80 cars – including prototypes and icons like the 911, all polished to a mirror-sheen – are parked on two floors of pristine, white galleries. The collection includes a 550 Spyder – the model James Dean was driving when he died in a collision with a Studebaker in 1955. Other models, like the 917 type Hollywood star Steve McQueen made famous in "Le Mans" and the 928 version Tom Cruise's character in "Risky Business" used to elude trouble, are parked bumper-to-bumper under dazzling spotlights. Three dramatic concrete pillars support the museum building, designed by the Viennese architecture firm Delugan Meissl, which seems to float above its industrial surroundings. A handcrafted aluminum recreation of the very first Porsche, a Type 64 'VW Aerocoupe,' shines in the center of the first floor. Prototypes on display ...

In days gone by, headphones were the size of half-a-head and blocked out the entire outside world. The audio was amazing but you sweated profusely because of the generous foam padding. And you looked idiotic. Through several mutations, we then ended up at the other extreme, with minuscule earbuds that nearly vanished in your ear — and you still looked dorky. Now, we have moved on to “audio fashion wear” that combines the best of all worlds. Copenhagen’s AIAIAI with its design partners at Kilo has come up with stylish, light-weight Tracks Headphone Series that combines toned-down nostalgic looks with superior sound quality. A leather version of Tracks, in natural and black, is apparently in the works as well. More retro on-ear fashion is available at WeSC (WearetheSuperlativeConspiracy), established in 1999 in Stockholm. Some of their latest models seem eerily and comfortingly familiar, especially our current favorite, the MARACA 0004068 created for WeSC by Sto...

The venerable Italian brand Brionvega thinks the 60s and 70s are worth bringing back, or that at least some of the design sensibilities of the era warrant new life. The classic, groundbreaking Radiofonografio, divined in 1965 by two of the three Castiglioni brothers, Pier Giacomo and Achille, is making a new entrance as RR226. In 1965, the 'musical component robot' was a home electronic marvel that in one sleekly designed device included a radio, amplifiers and a record player (for both 45s and 33s). The modernized model has also a CD and DVD players but otherwise it is as close as possible to the original. The amplifiers are moveable which makes it possible to create different configurations both for visual and listening pleasure. Showcased at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April, RR226 may be a while coming to a store near you. But like so many of the Castiglioni brothers' objects, still produced and/or displayed by Zanotta, Flos, Artemide and MoMA, t...

Yuk intip lebih dekat "the Champion of Autoblackthrough 2010." Sebuah Honda Genio diubah tanpa lagi memperlihatkan bentuk aslinya lagi dan sesuai konsepnya, SKEV1 atau kependekan dari Kastem Electric Vehicle 1, sumber tenaganya adalah sebuah motor listik. Ini adalah langkah yang brilian untuk sebuah kontes modifikasi. Bila kontestan lainnya masih berkutat dengan meningkatkan performa mesin bakar standarnya. Mobil milik Sandi ini justru memilih langkah yang tidak biasa dengan melakukan konversi menjadi bertenaga listik. "Mobil ini merupakan kolaborasi antara sang pemiliknya, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI), Autovision, Alpine dan Signal," buka Andre Mulyadi, modifikator dari Signal, Bandung yang kebagian jatah membuat desain bodinya. Dalam proyek kerjasama yang memakan waktu selama 8 bulan ini, LIPI menyumbangkan motor listik dan semua mekanisme penggeraknya. Motor listrik yang dipakai mirip dengan Toyota Kijang LIPI yang pernah di jajal OT...

May 18 2010 Black and white are the safe choices in the design world. The color of luxury is elegant and subdued. Yet, at the same time, even top-tier designers, artists and luxury brands have always used bright colors as well. It is not about either or. It is not black-and-white or color. Just try telling those who love Dale Chihuly’s art, Versace interiors, Karim Rashid’s Corian eco-house or Renzo Piano’s Central St Giles facades in London that the “designer look” is always predominantly black and white. And although bright color is often associated with being a sort of primitive, wild, folk-art aesthetic, and therefore black and white would seem the serious and civilized alternative, color is not just wild, frivolous, and primitive. Just think of your favorite brand’s logo and you will most likely visualize some color. Imagine a weekly market at a Peruvian mountain town, an Indian wedding party, a Norwegian fishing town, Marimekko fabrics, a Cirque du...