Fighting the war against terror by blowing air up your shirt

Just went through 2 “secondary security” checks at San Francisco airport today and got introduced to this delightful contraption. “To collect microscopic particles for analysis, the EntryScan3 takes advantage of a natural upward airflow around the body called the “human convection plume.” By not using forced airflow from a fan-which stirs up dust and other… Continue reading Fighting the war against terror by blowing air up your shirt

Etsy is shit

Not that I’m known for being inflammatory but this is total bullshit. In short, our Topoware store was shut, because we weren’t craft enough it seems. No warning, no nothing, just a snappy email once the store had already been shutdown. What sort of customer service is this? If you sell on Etsy and don’t… Continue reading Etsy is shit

Alla milanese

Ok so I’ve been back for a week or so and thought I’d report back on this year’s Salone del Mobile visit in a more interesting way. I think the internet is really good at reporting on the Salone work and I’m sure you’ve all read and seen pictures of the projects presented there, but… Continue reading Alla milanese

Design crisis anyone?

I don’t want to look like I’m crying wolf here, but certainly you can’t ignore the signs. From why design conferences should be better to how we should design ouselves out of consumer culture ending with Stark himself saying it’s all a bit shit really, things don’t sound too good for product design at the… Continue reading Design crisis anyone?

Stuff

As a “frequent traveller” I really enjoy work that rethinks our relationships to maps and geography. I wish I could wear my trips on sleeves sometimes as it would help avoid the very long drawn conversation I need to have with people to explain why I love Europe so much and that the only North… Continue reading Stuff

Thoughts on everyday and far-away technologies

I’ve finally found some time to have a proper read through Baudrillard’s System of objects to find it really is shaping my thinking around material culture and technology. Some quick thoughts based on quotes from the book: “No sooner does an object lose its concrete practical aspects than it is transferred to the realm of… Continue reading Thoughts on everyday and far-away technologies