Dine. Travel. Design.

These are my 3 favorites:

See all 70 here
via designverb

Chopsticks for those who need a little assistance!

Chork by lrstudiofurniture

Tukaani by Lincoln Kayiwa
via MocoLoco

Party People Chopsticks sold at Perpetual Kid

WalMart got a new logo…

Remember the old one?

Wal-Mart’s new sunburst, in contrast, “is designed so simply that there’s no ownership to it,” Neumeier says. In other words, it could be used by almost any corporation.

But Robyn Waters, a design consultant and Target’s former vice-president for trend, design, and product development, sees Wal-Mart’s new logo as a sign that the retailer might actually be becoming more original. “I never thought the star said or meant anything. It was just generic,” she says, pointing out that Macy’s also has a star as its symbol.

Wal-Mart’s shift can be seen as an attempt to recast itself as a kinder, gentler company. How is the image friendlier? Lowercase letters tend to be interpreted as more casual and approachable, says Frere-Jones. But Wal-Mart hasn’t gone too far, keeping the brand name a proper noun and beginning with a capital letter—think Google’s all-text logo with a big “G,” vs. Facebook’s with a small “f.” “Otherwise, it might look like they’re trying too hard to play with the cool kids,” says Frere-Jones.

It’s quite interesting this new trend of big businesses trying to connect with the home-town consumer. Not really ‘big brother’ so much as ‘big friend’. I recently heard a gas company radio advertisement saying that all of it’s locations are run by local buisiness owners… which apparently makes that gas better because we support local people, or so they say.

For the detailed report on Walmart’s logo visit BusinessWeek.

Not to mention, icons are everywhere (due to the iPhone?)…

I came across this article from Metropolis Magazine and although it’s mainly speaking of graphics, I do believe it applies to other aspects of design from furniture and tableware to uniform of the servers and staff, which food/restaurant critics often do not comment on, but in passing.

“Perhaps there would be more reason to stress graphic design if critics paid attention to it. But they never mention graphics and, truth be told, barely assess the architecture (even when designed by Pritzker Prize winners). And while I savor the tasty prose of gifted food writers, if I were a critic, my readers would be treated to a regular menu of cuisine and design in an attempt to right the imbalance.”

It’s not only decor and graphics that dictate the identity of a restaurant, but the rest of the experience that probes at the senses make an impression on identity. How comfortable was that chair? How well was the knife designed to easily cut into the delicious steak? These things could be added to the last paragraph of the article…

“To convey the total dining experience it’s essential to include details that add to a restaurant’s overall personality. Granted, graphic design can never be the paramount reason for a diner investing time, money, and calories, but when viewed as a whole it should be worthy enough to be noted and occasionally celebrated.”

Read it here.
(I’m not disagreeing with Metropolis, simply wishing to include more..)

It’s been a few weeks since NY design week and my attendance of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Apologies as I’ve been pre-occupied with daily life.

This was my first visit to the ICFF and it was certainly worth it.
Some thoughts: 1) Wish I had many more hours and more than 1 day to absorb it all and take the time to explore and appreciate all that was there. 2) I should have taken more photos! But here are a few of my favorites that make me go “huh! how cleaver”

Nicolo Taliani

David D’Imperio

Rachel Oneill with more from MocoLoco

3) Most important, irrelevant takeaway: I should have worn more comfortable shoes! Then, I would not have been tired and cranky and be able to view the products and not constantly thinking about my sore feet. Lesson learned.

Editor’s awards at ICFF

Check out more coverage on NY Design week at Core 77, Design*Sponge (part1, part2, part3, part4, part 5), and Treehugger (here, here, and here with much more).

I found this article from Wired.com quite a coincidence as I’ll be taking a motorcycle class/lesson at the end of the month. Motorcycles as it is are better on fuel consumption than your typical car, but to make them electric is an even larger improvement, though I’m sure it would be more difficult to get that ‘thrill’ of riding fast on a bike when it’s electric. Anyways, some interesting concepts here.

Vroom vroom…

Designed by an 18-year-old! Works on the same idea as the Segway.

via Core77 and Treehugger

An interesting way to turn product packaging into a souvenir:

This is really quite smart.

Design your own bottle at 1800tequila.
Or purchase 1800 Tequila Essential Artists Bottles here.

Read more about this campaign via InventorSpot

via CuteCircuit

Plymouth, MA, USA

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

It’s good to see that ethnographic research is not just something learned in school. Some companies/people do practice and believe in its benefits for the design process!

Design Research
Nokia in NY Times

On the flip side, read what world acclaimed designer Philip Stark has to say about design being a waste of time.

I’m extremely disappointed that I probably won’t be able to visit London before the closing of the China Design Now exhibit in July at the V&A.

Instead, for my birthday last week, I bought myself a present: the book. I’ve only briefly flipped through it, but there is a lot of great background information on the influences of current Chinese design and how design has changed in 3 major cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzen. Needless to say China is the spotlight. Like many, I’m excited to see how design will continue to evolve and mature. Hopefully native Chinese along with those raised elsewhere, like myself, will continue to embrace their heritage and culture.

Exhibit review by Core77.