After one semester done and dusted, Exams done, all that is left to do is a whole lot of project work, report writing, prototyping, manufacturing, oh and a business proposal on top of that before I can think about graduating. So, in order to make sure I boss this semester I have made sure the work is slap bang in my face, ALL THE TIME. Okay, Im sure you are wondering, it doesn’t look all that stressful because there is hardly anything on that time plan according to these photos. Well thats the point, I need to know what direction I am heading….best get my skates on!
Along with a few inspirational and motivational quotes courtesy of ‘goodfuckingdesignadvice’ / GDFA, I should have no excuses not to get that amazing grade.
Going back to University this September and looking for a new desk? This looks ideal, only If you have £150,000 spare that is. This Bespoke desk made by a Midlands based furniture manufacturer Luzzo. Inspired by the original Bugatti Type 35, it took over 3000 hours to design, machine, rivet, fabricate and polish. The highest standard was achieved with seven layers of racing blue paint finished with a clear lacquer and tan leather writing area. It even comes with its own logbook, but just only ten will be made. So start writing those cheques people!
These past two weeks have been like no other in the wonderful city we call London. The Olympics are here in London. Luckily I managed to get last minute tickets to two events, the mens Volleyball at Earls Court and the Water Polo in the Olympic Park. I only decided to go to the latter because I had such a buzz from the Volleyball, I just had to have more! In particular, I wanted to go to the Olympic Park. While I’m sure you have been watching it all and don’t need a tour of what happened, I thought it would be nice to offer you bunch a peek at the games from my view. In true LeeWeston style.
Even if this is a design blog, I have an urge to include more ‘life’ posts. Lets face it, as much as I would like to think I live and breath design, its nice to break things up a little bit. Ultimately I would like to hope its a sign of things to come.
So, the Olympics in London. On both occasions transport was a dream, all so well organised and fluid like. Bravo to LOCOG and TFL for that, a big pat on the back. Security was a breeze, Just like airport security, but without the long lines simply down to the fact there were plenty of screens. But most of all, everybody is cheery and happy, volunteers, policeman, spectators, the lot! Not for one minute would you think the world is in the middle of economic stagnation.
Which brings me on to the legacy of the games. If what they say is true, and the games will have a lasting legacy, then I think the Olympics will be one of the best things to hit London in a long, long time. Particularly the design of the venues, most of them being temporary, which in turn will leave vast open spaces for potential residential and mixed use developments. Something very unbelievable a few years back in what was a very deprived part of London.
And to top it all, Team GB have parred their result to the Beijing games in 2008, and we still have a few days left, its on track to be a record breaker!
Well I hope you have enjoyed the games as much as I have? leave a comment below and tell me what you think…..
So its that time of the year, when Design students throw everything in their armoury into showcasing their talent. Its an accumulation of over three years of hard work in one event. So, considering I am a design buff and edging ever closer to my final year I thought it would be worth my time visiting a couple of degree shows this weekend. Luckily I managed to squeeze in Central Saint Martins Degree Show and Made In Brunel all in one day. It was a good opportunity to weigh up the calibre of produce coming from similar universities to Bournemouth, whilst also getting a fresh bout of inspiration on ideas for my upcoming final year project. Seeing as this post is more of a memoir rather than the more mundane product review, I thought the some pictures would make the post that little bit more appealing. However before I loose your attention, why don’t you pay a quick visit to my friends site (P.S. His that piss-head with the beer bottle in his hand in the picture below!)
Yet again Its been a long while since my last blog post, but after seeing this quirky gadget I couldn’t resist. If like me, you travel a lot between places, then I’m sure you have had the problem of grouping all your gadgets together in one place when packing. Numerous times I have unpacked at the other end of my journey and realised I have forgot a memory card, or that classic one; the iPhone charger. Well, no worries because GRID-IT is here to save the day! An organisation system which uses configureable straps and pockets that you are able to customise to fit any accessory you have. Although the one above is for a MacBook Air, it is also available for a wide variety of other devices too. I think the manufacturers Cocoon have really nailed this one, and is definitely on my list of things to buy. If you are just as interested as I am, then give their site a quick look!
To be honest people, there is not much to say about this post. Its just to give you guys some idea of where I am working on my placement year as a Industrial/Product Designer.
Yet again it has been another long wait for something fresh to come up on my blog, for this I apologise. Its the same old excuse to be honest. Work. Anyway, better late than never I say!
I thought a few pictures from my visit to the 100% Design exhibition would keep the creative juices flowing for now until I put something a bit more worthwhile on here. I have a few things lined up in the coming months as regards to portfolio work and new projects, so keep your eyes on this space, you can’t get rid of me that easily Mr. Worldwideweb.
Top:
The Convertible by Tutto Tondo Design
Transforms from a dining table into a work station
I don’t usually tap into very serious and hard hitting matters on my blog but I thought now would be a good time to start. A close friend of mine has founded something I believe could help towards solving some big issues concerning homelessness in todays society (sorry about the pun, was not intented, honest!). Very few of us in this day and age have experienced being homeless, and hopefully will never have to, but it is still a very big issue in todays society with an estimated 400,000 homeless people on UK streets alone. For an individual that is homeless the experience can be a very traumatic, both physically and mentally.
Project Homeless aims to engage with users that may not be aware with the issues of being homeless whilst at the same time reach a wide audience to gather opinions & ideas on how the project can help improve the lives of the homeless in the UK. Project Homeless boasts a range of surveys that aim to challenge the users perceptions of the homeless, demonstrating just how alike homeless people are to the general public. The questions aim to gain some basic knowledge of the public’s point of view towards the homeless. Homelessness in today’s society is very real, & it could happen to anyone.
The project is also looking for the general public’s opinions & ideas on how they think the lives of the homeless could be improved, there is a section that allows anyone to upload ideas of how to improve the lives of the homeless, not all the ideas have to be design related or even realistic, sometimes the stranger the idea the better!
Click the image above to find out more and share your thoughts and comments, be it good or bad, it doesn’t cost nothing!
It is now the end of July and I have not posted anything for over six weeks now! The thing is, I am sitting here, thinking of what to write about and a title to go with it. A blank page definitely is one of mans worse nightmares.
The thing is I think I am getting off on the wrong foot here and missing the point. I started this blog to talk about Design related stuff, so I better start talking Design rather than waffling about how I am going to do it (Story of my life sometimes!!). But before you prejudge and think I am some sort of odd job that cant get his life into order then I have an excuse. Its not the usual ’The dog ate it’ one I will have you know. Its called ‘Placement Year’, which in essence is a year of work in industry which will not only help boost my employability after my degree but also gain invaluable experience and knowledge that is impossible to find in the academia world of University.For the benefit of you that don’t know it is sandwiched right in the middle of my degree just before the final year and after the second year. Hence the name ‘Sandwich Degree’.
So where am I working, you ask? Well I landed myself a job for a year in Project Management department at a company that produces Injection Moulded parts. So far it has been great experience, I feel like a sponge that is absorbing information constantly – I am learning something new everyday that is relevant to my degree. Everyday I start work there is always a design problem to solve and a job to do. Without a shadow of a doubt a placement year really does help. My duties as Product Designer are pretty obvious really – developing and creating existing and new products for the company. Well, thats a vague description to be honest, there is more to it than that – but you get the idea.
So far I have been on placement now for over a month now and I am already getting the hang of the way Product Design is approached in industry. Thing is I have been itching to whack something on here which is pleasing to the eye, rather than this black and white text which contains a lot of waffling. So check out these cool bits and bobs that I have come across on my discoveries. Enjoy!
Well I’m sure you have missed me guys, I sure haven’t missed you lot! I joke of course – Honestly, from April right up until the present my calendar has been pretty busy. It’s been a mix of Final Projects, Exams and Placement Interviews. I can now safely say that it was all well worth it as I have now finished my second year and getting ready to begin a year of hard work in industry.
So for the first time in my life I am going to be among the working elite and get a taste of what the daily grind is all about. You can get complacent being an easy going student and not having too many worries apart from when the next project deadline is. So I now have to start thinking about more ‘responsible’ issues, how will I commute between home and work? by car, train, plane, or hot air balloon? Well after much thought I think I have come up with it! (trust me on this one because the hot air balloon idea was top of the agenda until I released how big these things were)
The humble Car seems to be the answer, but what car you ask, because there are plenty out there to choose from! Well, first of all it has to be economical because of the stupidly high fuel prices right now, what with the middle east uprising. It has to be good on the insurance, and above all value for money. After spending copious amounts of time researching and visiting dealerships I have my eye on a Skoda. Honestly this is no typing mistake but Skoda have pleasantly surprised me. This is why I have my eye on the new five door Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.2 70 bhp. Not only is this hot hatch easy on the wallet but it comes with all the modern trim that you would expect in a high end car, leather accents dotted around the interior accompanied by red stitching gives the car a sporty yet high end feel. Even the dashboard, although being the standard injection moulded plastic it still feels of VW German quality. In its standard form, the Fabia is boxy and nondescript, but with the glitz of the black gloss trim, the smoked headlights and the dark 17-inch alloys, it does take on much of the aggression of the sporting vRS. The red Fabia, in the land of the supercar, even turns a few Monegasque heads.
Comment and let me know what you think. My mind is certainly made up, but would love to hear your opinions! Check the videos below, especially the latter if you like Design.
