Design

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 21 aug 2013

Digital culture is driving design with a new perspective focusing on creating technological 'ecosystems' that are developed through the convergence of hardware, software and services. These ecosytems like Google, Amazon, Facebook etc provide users with tools and mechanisms that influences their daily lives in number of ways. Digital space provides people to store and share information anytime and anywhere and it may include both public and private data. The power of design can be utilized to develop open-access leading to 'digital democracy'. It can also be used to obtain individual's personal and private information by governments and other organizations like the National Security Agency's PRISM program that is an example of a design thinking concept used to obtain solution for national security. The article explores the various aspects of digital culture and design thinking. Read on...

Wired: One of the Culprits Behind PRISM? Design Thinking (Really)
Author: Sam Jacob

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 15 aug 2013

Use of mobile devices is consistently increasing and in most markets it has already overtaken the sales of computers. This is affecting the internet access pattern also as most of these devices provide internet connectivity to the users. The challenge for individuals and organizations is to provide content and user experience that can adapt to all these different devices. Responsive Web Design (RWD) is one such technique that is applied to create adaptive websites that are user friendly on the myriad devices available in the market. It is based on HTML standards (CSS3), Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly and is compatible with most browsers. Although there are complexities associated with RWD implementation but currently it is the most popular solution and is driving the mobile development tools. There are also alternatives that can provide better experiences through customized user experience based on each device's strength. Read on...

VentureBeat: Why responsive design is driving mobile development tools
Author: Gabe Sumner

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 14 aug 2013

Both retailers and consumers are finding value out of the 'Fast Fashion' trends even though the manufacturing units churning out these items have critical issues related to safety conditions and employee protection. Fast fashion is a concept of selling inexpensive copies of the designer garments within the weeks of the original's debut in the market. It's basically making the latest fashion available to the mass consumers. Retailers are trying to improve the conditions of manufacturing facilities, often situated in developing countries, by signing contracts with them to ensure worker safety and other related issues. Even though consumers are now aware of the plight of the employees in these units because of the news media but this is not translating into their buying behavior for the trendy fashion. Consumers are still finding it advantageous in many ways. While labor activists expect more concern and proactive actions from consumers for bringing out change in current practices of the global garment industry. Read on...

The Washington Post: Cheap, trendy 'fast fashion' in demand, despite factory dangers
Author: Cara Kelly

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 05 aug 2013

Team of researchers from Northumbria University led by Dr. Stuart English, a specialist in design-driven innovation, in collaboration with a private firm have come up with world's first home-based and non-invasive treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (diabetes related eyesight problems) in the form of a 'Sleep Mask'. The prototype is undergoing clinical trials. The global diabetic population is estimated at 320 million and its growth is considered as epidemic. The Sleep Mask will have a significant impact on the care method of macular eye disease due to its low cost and non-invasive nature. Most available treatments for the disease are very expensive, highly invasive and hospital-based like laser and injections into the eye. Read on...

News-Medical: 'Sleep Mask' prototype: The world's first non-invasive treatment for sight loss
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 03 aug 2013

In a recent survey conducted to nominate the best industrial designs of the century, designers selected 12 designs - Apple Mac (1984), Piaggio's Vespa, Escalator, Virgin Galactic Space Plane, Kalashnikov (AK-47), Floppy Disk, iPod, Aeron Chair, Bang & Olufsen Stereo, Airbus A-380 Super Jumbo, Ford Model T, Jet Engine. The interview with designer Gianfranco Zaccai explores his opinion on the aspects of good design. He mentions three principles of a good design - (1) Empathy (being sensitive and understanding to the users and customers) (2) Pragmatism (be realistic and fulfill performance requirements of the product) (3) Passion (to explore possibilities and use creativity to the fullest). Some of the other design related advise he provided include - innovation is achieved by having a diverse team with multiple skillsets; design process should start with the idea and then building a perspective from a users side, re-look at it, engage others to refine it, overcome organizational obstacles to bring it to the market and utilize creative partners; creative environment should include diverse and multiple spaces; design is a confluence of art and science with people (users) at the core of the process; designers should avoid the mistake of focusing too much on aesthetics and neglecting the important issues. Read on...

CNN: The 12 best designs from the past 100 years
Author: Monique Rivalland

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 27 jul 2013

Chris Baribeau, an architect and entrepreneur, explains how he and his firm pursues sustainable architectural concepts and projects. According to him 'nature' is the most valuable source for design inspiration and living ideas. By carefully observing and being constantly aware of the surrounding environment it is possible to achieve sustainable design that blends modern architecture with the natural elements. He suggests five aspects of sustainable and green design - (1) Balance between the natural and the built environment (2) Healthy living by giving consideration to indoor air quality, thermal comfort and efficient energy & resource conservation (3) People friendly and promoting community connectivity (4) Convergence and seamless integration of individual elements like open spaces, warm materials, natural environment etc (5) Embrace progressive change and continuously evolve ideas and concepts with focus on the present. Read on...

Mother Nature Network: 5 reasons why you love sustainable architecture
Author: Chris Baribeau

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 25 jul 2013

As consumers become more health conscious, globalized and sophisticated in their food tastes it becomes very challenging for food designers to bring innovative food products that satisfy their palates. To identify latest trends and get ideas for future innovations designers have to participate in a global environment and avail opportunities for collaboration. 'Anuga' is one such annual global event that brings all elements of food industry at one platform to showcase and share their innovations and at the same time explore possibilities of partnerships to define the future of food industry. Read on...

Food Product Design: Designing for Global Marketplace
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 24 jul 2013

The latest architectural trend in office design is development of open and partitionless workspaces that foster creativity, collaboration and social interaction among employees. But a recent survey conducted by an architectural and design firm found that too much attention to open office design is actually hurting productivity. The survey report mentions that results show that lack of effective focus space adversely hurts efficiency of other work modes namely collaboration, learning and socializing. The firm suggests that the office design should intelligently blend collaborative open workspaces with focus areas to create what they term as 'optimal workplace design'. Read on...

Smart Planet: Is collaborative office design hurting workplace productivity?
Author: Tyler Falk

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 19 jul 2013

Internationally famous hospitality and lifestyle designer, Tony Chi, considers Indian architectural heritage and quality of large pool of skilled human resources as two positive elements that contribute to India's strength in the architectural design space. His work incorporates environmental concerns and focuses on sustainable design. He believes that the design should be invisible in such a way that it generates positive feelings and responses without making itself visibly aware.In one of the projects in India he intends to minimize unbalanced development that has happened in the past by providing a design concept that works on the convergence of basic amenities and good infrastructure. Read on...

The Economic Times: India's design history wows global hospitality designer, Tony Chi
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 16 jul 2013

Well-known British designer, Tom Dixon, shares his design perspectives and experiences and explains how his work evolved over the years. He didn't had formal education and training as a designer but his diverse experiences have contributed substantially to his design philosophy and methods. Doing pottery at school, multi-tasking and self production while playing in a music band and starting to weld for a stage, all led to the process of ideating and creating things. This transformation resulted in designing furniture, working with big corporations and getting one of the design become a part of a permanent collection at Victoria & Albert Museum and Museum of Modern Art at New York. He summarizes his design philosophy as 'design for longevity and want somethings to be anti-fashion.' Read on...

the guardian: Tom Dixon - 'I design for longevity, and I want something to be anti-fashion'
Author: Rachel Cooke

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