Near Future Laboratory Blog
Near Future Laboratory Blog
Thoughts, Reflections, Updates & Week Notes
Apr 14, 2008 – Apr 26, 2008
w16/w17/w18/
Bricolage
Apr 26, 2008
Found in a university class room is this very peculiar bricolage of interface stylings. I can see this as either four deliberately distinct interfaces — and therefore entirely transparent as to its utility because each separate interface does its own thing. Or completely baffling and, aesthetically, dyspeptic becaus…
DesignDesign TechnologyInterfacePre-GUI
20080416_072851
Apr 24, 2008
Advertising services for a handyman, improvising placement and using available/upcycled materials — in this case, a paper sleeve for a compact disc.
AdvertisingDesignDisruptionTheory
Pixel Spout
Apr 22, 2008
(By Kelly Goeller — http://www. kellotron.com)
DesignDesign for ImplicationsDisruptionGeneralPost-Optimal DesignTheoryartpixelstreet art
20080419_122201
Apr 22, 2008
A hand-painted sign marking this restaurant/bar, curious reversed. I puzzled over this — it seemed not particularly in keeping with the generally sensible and utilitarian graphic design of most everything else in San Miguel de Allende. This seemed to have a peculiar sensibility that serves no specific purpose other…
DesignSocial Practices
20080418_142612
Apr 22, 2008
Seen in San Miguel de Allende, a re-routed, altered infrastructures adapted to more convenient, local activities. They are, according to one commentor here, "Diablitos" — little devils. In portugal they are "gato," according to Younghee. Both are idioms for illegally drawn electric cables. Here an overhead mains lin…
DesignLandscapeSocial Practices
20080418_133905
Apr 20, 2008
A cordon of "road turtes" repositioned to define an area for a vendor’s cart of refreshing fruit cups. The road turtles stake out an informal, semi-permanent "home" for the vendor’s cart, but closer to permanent in that they’re nailed into the softer material between the broad cobblestones that make up the street. I…
DesignObservationsThoughtful ActUrbanSocial Practices
20080417_101937
Apr 20, 2008
A variety of curious improvisatory object holders found within unexpected and retrofitted interstices.
InterfaceLandscapeLandscape as InterfaceSocial Practices
20080415_091401
Apr 15, 2008
Some saran-wrapped pre-market cars convoy up the PCH. They’re all heavily instrumented — you can see instrument fittings and computers inside. Each has a driver and some kind of tech dude in the passenger seat.
Design
20080208_112417
Apr 14, 2008
Ian Bogost is featured in this NPR story on video games — entertaining diversions or substantial implication-rich forms of creativity? There’s no one answer, only conversations around this topic. With the video game industry proclaiming that it is all grown up (110%+ growth in the last year, etc), the “industry” wil…
Design for ImplicationsPlayvideo games