Being able to use an object intuitively results in a design that is user friendly to all. Take, for example, the Muji CD player Fujisawa designed. Inspired by how the spinning CD reminded him of a rotating fan, Fujisawa quite literally interpreted this into his design, creating a wall mount CD player that starts and stops at the tug of a string.

As introduced in the Universal Design segment in DWELL magazine March 2010:

“[the CD player] comfortably accommodates many kinds of disability: There is no visual display, so it is easy to use with impaired vision; the main control is a generous pull cord, not a tiny button, so it can be used with reduced dexterity too. Its very simplicity also makes it approachable to people with learning difficulties or other cognitive impairments, because you don’t have to decode cryptic icons or be familiar with the conventions of computers or ATMs.”

In the future, the ease of which an object can be used may become as important as its aesthetic beauty. Fujisawa’s designs embody both qualities allowing us a peek into industrial design of times to come.

The Muji CD player is part of MoMA’s permanent collection.

http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20070518/without-thought

http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_Muji%20Wall-Mounted%20CD%20Player_10451_10001_50634_-1_11628_11628_null__

The argument of whether the costume was a clever one or not aside, the display hit home that the smaller car is here to stay. Made in India, like the Tata Nano, the Suzuki Alto is sold at around 8,000 Euros or approximately $11,000. Not only is Alto reasonable, it is available with a four speed automatic transmission and is extremely fuel efficient at 4.4L/100km. That might be enough to persuade even the roughest European hunter/fisherman to switch to a smaller car.

The Alto is currently only offered in Europe, Japan and parts of Australia, but the day may be soon that it arrives to us Stateside.

Photo courtesy of Autoblog Green

http://green.autoblog.com/

IGW press release

http://tinyurl.com/yk4s5zl

Other info (msn Japan)

http://tinyurl.com/ylqb9xt

FEBRUARY 19th-21st, 2010

Sketchbooks offers a glimpse into an artist’s life,
which is why we want to make a publicly accessible library of
sketchbooks that people can browse, peruse, and check out. We think
that this sketchbook collection has the potential to open a new line
of communication between the artist and the viewer, since the
experience of making and viewing are both so personal. Anyone can sign
up to receive a sketchbook. Before joining our permanent collection,
sketchbooks will be exhibited at select galleries across the US. Each
sketchbook will be barcoded and cataloged, allowing visitors to choose
what they want to look at via theme, medium, geographic location, name
of the artist, etc.

Sketchbooks will be show in LA, Brooklyn (303GRAND!), Chicago, Atlanta, and
St. Louis.

Exhibition Hours:

Friday, 7-11 p.m. (Q&A from 7-8). Saturday, 8-11 p.m. & Sunday, 12-3 p.m.

To sign up to receive a Sketchbook please visit:

http://www.thesketchbookproject.com

*Also, be sure to check out the article in TONY featuring the Sketchbook project.

Digg pairs up with TOMS to create some new kicks for a good cause. I’ll upvote that!

Facebook cashes in on popularity with a new ad option that allows brands to target friends of fans connected to their page.

Google is in the prenatal stages of developing a potentially faster internet that could replace HTTP. If they succeed the internet could be twice as fast and their ego twice as big…which is a scary thought.

YouTube gets serious and signs up with NPR, Politico, The Huffington Post and The San Francisco Chronicle for YouTube Direct.

#NewMoon continues to dominate all aspects of social media leading up to the movie’s 12am debut Friday. So for all you Twihard fan enjoy!

The PerkStreet Lounge officially opened last Thursday at 303GRAND. The lounge is free and open to the public, providing free coffee and WiFi. Sure, that’s rad – a place to get caffeine and do some work or surf the web. But it’s better than that.

The PerkStreet Lounge is putting on a series of free events through the month of November – from the grand opening event with music inspired artwork to acoustic music to informational events. It’s awesome. There are photographs from Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Conrad Keely’s artwork from You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and way way more.

Check out the full schedule here on the 303GRAND site.

The lounge is sponsored by PerkStreet Financial – a brand new financial services company that believes in giving back to its customers. They offer free checking accounts and debit cards that give you 1% back on your purchases, free music, or free coffee. Now that’s a  lot of freebees!

Side note: does your bank do that?  Didn’t think so. Let me break it down for you. They (your bank) have all these branches that you don’t go to. PerkStreet doesn’t have any (strictly online, because they’re 2.0 like that) so you get that cost back in your pocket.

Oh,  did we mention that all those bodega ATM’s with a StarSF logo are free too, all 37,000+ of them.

I know your hooked now, so check out the schedule and stop by the lounge already! Plus, if you open an account at 303GRAND you’ll get $75 deposited in your account. Yeah, also cool. Free money.

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, Todd Staples, visited the tour this morning to address kids, educators and press about how important this cause and campaign is. With obesity rates in Texas one of the highest in the nation, the Texans Bring It! Tour will visit four additional middle schools in the next two weeks to propel a movement and bring awareness to the Texans Bring It! campaign, the 3 E’s – education, exercise, and eating right – as well as the website, www.texansbringit.com.

Other key figures in presence today included top officials from federal and state USDA offices, as well as key figures in the local school district.

Street Attack is thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking campaign. The tour and website were built and managed by the Street Attack team.

Some major new developments in Facebook’s ever growing quest for self improvement.

In celebration of reaching 50, million users that is, LinkedIn will be getting some work done.

From Facebook to more flash, Marketing Vox predicts digital trends for 2010.

This weeks #fail brought to you by the maker of TwitterPeeq, because spending $200 on a device dedicated solely to Twitter, that can be downloaded for free on a phone, makes perfect sense.

Their bone chilling display on the Prudential plaza really exemplifies the stark reality of Boston’s homeless problem. Hard to ignore, this parade of human card board cut outs represents the increasing number of homeless in our great city who stand faceless. (Each figure represents 10 homeless people)

To find out more information and to learn where to donate visit Big Boston Warm Up. The website is also a shocker and contains many appalling facts that would make even the biggest Scrooge search his closet for a donation.

Long live the King … of  Whoppers. Burger King is breaking ground as one of the first brands to run augmented reality banner ads.

Twitter is making a list and checking it twice.

Viral Marketing meet Social Media…..Social Media meet Viral Marketing….. [I think they might hit it off]…

Happy Halloween! If you need some last minute costume help YouTube’s got your back.