eco design #8 [more water please]

via uc berkley

When we think about garbage, we think about plastic waste. We produce, as a world nation, about one hundred million tons of it every year! And a big part of it comes from water bottles.

Jesse Leeworthy, a product designer, created a sustainable device, Ishke, that replaces plastic bottles with stainless ones. They also have RFID tags that permits cashless payments and to control the bottle specifications as well the user's preferences. For those who doesn't know what RFID means, here's a tip: Radio Frequency IDentification.

All images via yanko design.

It's worthy to check Jesse's website and look for his other products, like the sustainable light or the coffee trailer.

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eco design #7 [check check check]

eco design #6 [flitz your ass]

eco design #5 [food for beauty]

eco design #1 [paper after paper]

If you're like me, you just use cardboards to stow stuff. Vera Tochetti, an Uruguayan designer, is way more keener than that. She created furniture with those cardboards. I would give you the URL to her page, begoo designs, but it seems it doesn't exist any more.

Well, meanwhile we seat and wait. ;)

Cardboard Furniture by Vera Tochetti [via cloroflot and green diary]

Cardboard Furniture by Vera Tochetti [via cloroflot and green diary]

Cardboard Furniture by Vera Tochetti [via cloroflot and green diary]

Cardboard Furniture by Vera Tochetti [via cloroflot and green diary]

Cardboard Furniture by Vera Tochetti [via cloroflot and green diary]

Edit: As Vael pointed out, Frank Gehry, a famous architect, also makes chairs from cardboards. According to Green Diary, it was from his works that Vera was inspired.

Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry [via hive]

Do you shop eco?

design - what's that?

For me design is the best creative way to solve a problem by technical means. It could be a draw, an action, an object, etc. Usually has an aesthetically appearance: the best design is simple, easy, beautiful and, preferably, sustainable.

Today I'll show you some paper projects that should come to life:

Sand Glass LED Traffic Lights

Traffic lights via Yanko Design

These were designed by Thanva Tivawong and he has three other designs related to traffic that really facilitates our lives.

Easylock Handle

With the Easylock handle, consumers use the same hand to fold and close a folding door. Featuring a clean design, its on-off button shape suggests technological elements, bringing added value to the brand's folding doors. (FastCo Design)

Designed by NóDesign (São Paulo, Brazil), via FastCo Design

This project received the 2010's IDEA silver award.

Still One

Inspired by the concept of "less is more," the Still One faucet features brief lines and simplicity, integrating practicality and elegance. The valve is made of stainless steel, extending the faucet's lifespan, while the faucet is made of lead-free brass or stainless steel, both of which meet standards to ensure the safety of drinking water. (FastCo Design)

Designed by Justime Design Team of Shengtai Brassware Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), via FastCo Design

This project received also the 2010's IDEA silver award.

Share with me your favourite design projects in the comments. It will be much appreciated. :)

Fall into temptation

Siete Pecados by Sidecar (Spain), via Lovely Package

Yesterday I was checking my Google Reader when suddenly I see this amazing post by Lovely Package. As you can see, is a Spanish project from the advertising agency Sidecar: a series of wines inspired by the seven deadly sins that leads us into temptation.

I like the theme, it suits perfectly the product and the design is very appealing. This is a real project and will be for sale at March. I would love to see this bottles at stores in Portugal to buy every single one of them.

Wrath

Greed

Lust

Envy

Pride

Gluttony

Laziness

My favourite sin is Laziness, but I love the design of all the bottles. What's yours?

working place

Everyone wants their liberty and I'm no exception. I dream of a house of my own and how I will decorate it. Today I'll show you some pieces that I would like to buy to my workplace at home.

Cloud Chair. Designed by Lisa Widén (Sweden), via Bem Legaus

Hand Pen Holder. Designed by Urban Outfiters (United States), via Bem Legaus

And when that idea doesn't want to come out...

Speed Bag. Designed by Everlast (United States), via Bem Legaus

What are the items you can't be apart of in your office?

I care about the outside!

Massada, Limited Edition. Design by Leif S. (Spain), via Flickr

Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. Packaging can be described as a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, sale, and end use. Packaging contains, protects, preserves, transports, informs, and sells. In many countries it is fully integrated into government, business, institutional, industrial, and personal use. 

This is what Wikipedia tells us, which is quite accurate for the average person. But not to designers.

The designer always wants to send a message. Packaging needs to be aesthetically agreeable, to stand out the best features of the product and surpass all the others around.

In my opinion packaging should be made like something to treasure. We're giving a bonus to the consumer for buying our brand, our product, our service and that's why he buy it: to get something more. I know I keep the most creative (or just beautiful) packages I see on the market. Want to see?

This one had a necklace inside, I think.

And this, chocolates. ^-^

There are two of blogs I follow with content about packaging: Lovely Package and The Dieline. Some of my favourites are:

Meteor. Designed by WORK Labs (United States), via Lovely Package

Art graf. Designed by Mário Jorge Lemos (Portugal), via Lovely Package

Wedding invitation. Designed by Chris Trivizas (Greece), via Lovely Package

Mayrah. Designed by Eulie Lee (Australia), via The Dieline

Matchbox City. Designed by Happy Forsman & Bodenfors (Sweden), via The Dieline

Cleanup Soap. Designed by Hideaki Matsui (Japan), via The Dieline

What do you think a package must contain? How do you like it? What are your favourite designs? Tell me everything in the comments.

Thank you!