Nordisk Cryobank, or better known as European Sperm Bank was looking at environmentally-friendly alternatives to how they could transport their sperm samples to the fertility clinics around Greater Copenhagen. Thus, born the Sperm Bullitt, a bike built from Danish cargo bike producer- Larry vs Harry. Constructed by the Danish company 10 Tons - who specialize in zoological and botanical models, the Sperm Bike is 2.9 meters long and weight 50 kg.
Nordisk Cryobank's CEO, Peter Bower, says, "The first idea was how we could deliver to the fertility clinics in a C02-friendly way. Shortly afterwards followed the idea of a custom-designed bike with a cooling system. Now, six months later, we can cycle around the city on our sperm cell bike. We're always looking for new donors so it's a fine bonus that the Sperm Cell Bike gets peoples attention."
+ copenhagenize
70 year-old Buddhist monk Hua Chi has been praying in the same spot at his temple in Tongren, China for over 20 years. His footprints, which are up to 1.2 inches deep in some areas, are the result of performing his prayers up to 3000 times a day. Now that he is 70, he says that he has greatly reduced his quantity of prayers to 1,000 times each day.
+ monoscope
In part of a new campaign by The Coca-Cola Company and Ogilvy & Mather to spread doses of loves and some coke into the lives of people anywhere and everywhere, they have install a
new Coca-Cola vending machine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to dispenses free coke in return for hugs.
The 'Coca-Cola Hug Me' machine is programmed to dispense a can of Coke when a person wraps their arms around it. Instead
of a usual Coke logo, the machine only show the words 'Hug me' and a dispense drink slot. No money slot is found.
“Open Happiness,” a global creative campaign launched in 2009, invites people around the world to bring positivity, optimism and fun into their lives. At the core of the campaign the message is for consumers to open a Coke and share a little happiness.
With the success of the Coca-Cola Hug Machine in Singapore, there are now plans to roll it out across Asia to bring the same happiness to consumers from other countries.
“Open Happiness,” a global creative campaign launched in 2009, invites people around the world to bring positivity, optimism and fun into their lives. At the core of the campaign the message is for consumers to open a Coke and share a little happiness.
With the success of the Coca-Cola Hug Machine in Singapore, there are now plans to roll it out across Asia to bring the same happiness to consumers from other countries.
+ designtaxi
The New Bus of London is the first bus designed specifically for the London's streets on the road at the end of last February.
Designed by Heatherwick Studio and bus manufacturer Wrightbus, the new double-decker is inspired by the much-loved Routemaster with the latest green technology. The new bus incorporates the most innovative and cutting edge hybrid technology, which will be 14% more efficient than existing hybrid buses and 40% more fuel efficient than conventional diesel-powered buses. The new bus features a long asymmetric front window provides the driver with clear kerbside views, while a wrapped glazing panel reflects passenger circulation – bringing more daylight into the bus and offering views out over London.
By incorporating an open platform at its rear, the bus reinstates one of the much-loved features of the 1950s Routemaster which offered a ‘hop-on hop-off’ service. The new design will also have three doors and two staircases, making it quicker and easier for passengers to boar an open rear deck for passengers to hop on and off and three doors, unlike the original Routemaster, its rear platform can be closed, allowing the bus to be operated by the driver only.
The design was the result of a competition held by Landon Mayor to find a replacement for the Routemaster, which was taken out of service in 2005. Originally, the collaborative design by Norman Foster and Aston Martin won the competition but after the win, Foster withdrew and Heatherwick Studio took over.
Designed by Heatherwick Studio and bus manufacturer Wrightbus, the new double-decker is inspired by the much-loved Routemaster with the latest green technology. The new bus incorporates the most innovative and cutting edge hybrid technology, which will be 14% more efficient than existing hybrid buses and 40% more fuel efficient than conventional diesel-powered buses. The new bus features a long asymmetric front window provides the driver with clear kerbside views, while a wrapped glazing panel reflects passenger circulation – bringing more daylight into the bus and offering views out over London.
By incorporating an open platform at its rear, the bus reinstates one of the much-loved features of the 1950s Routemaster which offered a ‘hop-on hop-off’ service. The new design will also have three doors and two staircases, making it quicker and easier for passengers to boar an open rear deck for passengers to hop on and off and three doors, unlike the original Routemaster, its rear platform can be closed, allowing the bus to be operated by the driver only.
The design was the result of a competition held by Landon Mayor to find a replacement for the Routemaster, which was taken out of service in 2005. Originally, the collaborative design by Norman Foster and Aston Martin won the competition but after the win, Foster withdrew and Heatherwick Studio took over.
See also Stockholm City Autonomous Tram.
+ Transport For London
Created by Makoto Hirahara with the help of openFrameworks on drawing of the plant, Flowerium is an apps designed for iPhone and iPad that grow of virtual plant, and collects favorite flowers.
The seed is sown when you touch the screen, it falls on the ground and then, new bud comes out. The plant are filled with energy of the sun that fall down on it and grows up. Therefore, it withers when it is a shadow of other plants.
The flower blooms when growing up as well. It is possible to preserve it by giving the name when it touches the liked flower. The preserved flower can be seen from Library, and the thing that seeds it can be done, too.
It becomes a seed when there is a sufficient nutrition when the flower is in blossom. The seed has succeeded parents' genes. It hybridizes and it is inherited...both characters...when other plant flower is in blossom. The mutation might sometimes occur, and a change different from usual hybridization be done. The botanical image can be preserved in the camera roll, and tweeted.
+ Makoto Hirahara
The seed is sown when you touch the screen, it falls on the ground and then, new bud comes out. The plant are filled with energy of the sun that fall down on it and grows up. Therefore, it withers when it is a shadow of other plants.
The flower blooms when growing up as well. It is possible to preserve it by giving the name when it touches the liked flower. The preserved flower can be seen from Library, and the thing that seeds it can be done, too.
It becomes a seed when there is a sufficient nutrition when the flower is in blossom. The seed has succeeded parents' genes. It hybridizes and it is inherited...both characters...when other plant flower is in blossom. The mutation might sometimes occur, and a change different from usual hybridization be done. The botanical image can be preserved in the camera roll, and tweeted.
+ Makoto Hirahara
What is starting as a personal gift- a cupcake print has travel the world, popping up on blogs everywhere from Spain to Australia. The
Anatomy of a Cupcake, an art print from Allen Hemberger and Sarah Wilson (Small Batch) for their friend Lesleigh's birthday in New Zealand
has captured the curator of I Love Chart, which subsequently featured on the Forbes website.
In addition to the print, you can see the process of making this poster here.
In addition to the print, you can see the process of making this poster here.
+ Small Batches
Stunning photos captured by British photographer- Simon Byrne deep into the secret place of Arizona desert.
Described as one of the 'most beautiful geologic formations in the world', The Wave is a staggering 190 million-years-old sandstone formation in the Arizona desert located somewhere in the 112,500 acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
The phenomenon is made of sand dunes that have turned to rock. They are stacked one atop another and the dunes have calcified in striking vertical and horizontal layers.
Described as one of the 'most beautiful geologic formations in the world', The Wave is a staggering 190 million-years-old sandstone formation in the Arizona desert located somewhere in the 112,500 acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
The phenomenon is made of sand dunes that have turned to rock. They are stacked one atop another and the dunes have calcified in striking vertical and horizontal layers.
+ dailymail
A brilliant little piece of history found on Ferrari:
“The horse was painted on the fuselage of the fighter plane of Francesco Baracca — a heroic airman of the first world war. In ’23, I met count Enrico Baracca, the hero’s father, and then his mother, countess Paulina, who said to me one day, ‘Ferrari, put my son’s prancing horse on your cars. It will bring you good luck’. The horse was, and still is, black, and I added the canary yellow background which is the colour of Modena.” — Enzo Ferrari
+ logodesignlove
2012 going to be a great year for online shopping. With exploding buying from the past few years, retailers of all types (especially the traditional business) eager to get a piece of online sales that estimated to hit more than £50bn in 2012. It’s getting harder to tell pure play Internet retailers from the bricks and mortar shops with online portals, and all of them are reinventing how we’ll shop online in the future. Over the last five years internet retailing has improved substantially thanks to the use of affordable 'always-on' internet connections, simple and secure payment systems and the increasing popularity of mobile devices, combined with the growth of mobile-based retail sites.
Here are the top 5 trends to watch:
1.In-store pick up. More shoppers choose to pick up themselves in-store, the reason: to save on the shipping cost and easy product inspecting.
2.Pick up depots. With increasing sales, many retailers may open pick up kiosks for goods ordered online. Such as French retailer chronodrive.com
3.Mobile Apps. The vastly use of smartphone and tablet with WiFi & 3G made it easy for shoppers to place goods online.
4.Social networking. Facebook and Twitter are the two most common platform for retailers to launch their sales & promotion strategy. It's easy to get million of Facebook users to know their deals.
5.Daily deals and flash sales. Mushrooming site such as Groupon Inc provide daily great discounts to shoppers. The discount not only limited to F&B anymore, but all kind of deals.
It is widely acknowledged that the recession has boosted the appeal of online retailing and UK consumers are more determined than ever to make every penny count.
Here are the top 5 trends to watch:
1.In-store pick up. More shoppers choose to pick up themselves in-store, the reason: to save on the shipping cost and easy product inspecting.
2.Pick up depots. With increasing sales, many retailers may open pick up kiosks for goods ordered online. Such as French retailer chronodrive.com
3.Mobile Apps. The vastly use of smartphone and tablet with WiFi & 3G made it easy for shoppers to place goods online.
4.Social networking. Facebook and Twitter are the two most common platform for retailers to launch their sales & promotion strategy. It's easy to get million of Facebook users to know their deals.
5.Daily deals and flash sales. Mushrooming site such as Groupon Inc provide daily great discounts to shoppers. The discount not only limited to F&B anymore, but all kind of deals.
It is widely acknowledged that the recession has boosted the appeal of online retailing and UK consumers are more determined than ever to make every penny count.
Via: Trend Micro
A truck overturn in Taiyuan, Shanxi province in North China had spilled the road into the sea of gold.
The truck loaded with twenty thousand kilos of fresh eggs had skidded the road during heavy morning fog on December 3 2011. Fortunately there were no casualties.
The truck loaded with twenty thousand kilos of fresh eggs had skidded the road during heavy morning fog on December 3 2011. Fortunately there were no casualties.
+ cri online
To celebrate the festive seasons, a 1,068-meter long Yule log cake is fresh out of the oven in Shangri-La Shanghai Hotel's pastry kitchen on December 1, setting a new Guinness World Record by replacing the previous 207.8 meters.
+ ecns
Two pastry chefs from Crowne Plaza Nanjing Hotel had taken five days and 10kg of chocolates to create a five square metres castle that houses frolicking Smurfs from the recent popular 3D family film- The Smurfs.
The Smurfs (French: Les Schtroumpfs) is a comic and television franchise centred on a group of small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs, created and first introduced as a series of comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo on October 23, 1958. The original term and the accompanying language came during a meal Peyo was having with his colleague and friend André Franquin at the Belgian Coast. Having momentarily forgotten the word "salt", Peyo asked him (in French) to pass the schtroumpf. Franquin jokingly replied: "Here's the Schtroumpf — when you are done schtroumpfing, schtroumpf it back..." and the two spent the rest of that weekend speaking in "schtroumpf language". The name was later translated into Dutch as Smurf, which was adopted in English. (Source: Wikipedia)
The Smurfs (French: Les Schtroumpfs) is a comic and television franchise centred on a group of small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs, created and first introduced as a series of comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo on October 23, 1958. The original term and the accompanying language came during a meal Peyo was having with his colleague and friend André Franquin at the Belgian Coast. Having momentarily forgotten the word "salt", Peyo asked him (in French) to pass the schtroumpf. Franquin jokingly replied: "Here's the Schtroumpf — when you are done schtroumpfing, schtroumpf it back..." and the two spent the rest of that weekend speaking in "schtroumpf language". The name was later translated into Dutch as Smurf, which was adopted in English. (Source: Wikipedia)
+ peopledaily
Apple will show off its new store in Grand Central Terminal this Friday. This one-of-a-kind Apple retail store overlooks the 140-year-old
train station. Also one of Apple's biggest retail outlets in the world, the store is huge- occupying 23,000 square feet.
Shoppers will be greeted with the iconic glowing Apple when they walk up the staircase to enter the store. Creative interior design and space planning complement the Grand Central’s marble floors, high arched ceilings and orb-like chandeliers, which is no surprise since Apple has stores in historic spots all over the world, like underneath the Louvre and London's Covent Garden.
The new Apple store features two Genius Bars for free technological support; rooms dedicated to personal device setup; training room; and “Personal Pickup” where customers can buy items online, but then pick up their purchase at the Grand Central Terminal store.
The store will open this Friday at 10 a.m.
Shoppers will be greeted with the iconic glowing Apple when they walk up the staircase to enter the store. Creative interior design and space planning complement the Grand Central’s marble floors, high arched ceilings and orb-like chandeliers, which is no surprise since Apple has stores in historic spots all over the world, like underneath the Louvre and London's Covent Garden.
The new Apple store features two Genius Bars for free technological support; rooms dedicated to personal device setup; training room; and “Personal Pickup” where customers can buy items online, but then pick up their purchase at the Grand Central Terminal store.
The store will open this Friday at 10 a.m.
+ apple
A tree decorated with water-filled condoms appears on the square of a flower market in downtown Nanjing, east China's Jiang Su Province, December 1, 2011. The work titled- "Drops of Love" was to spread the HIV prevention message. The market handed free flowers and condoms to customers to mark the 24th World AIDS Day.
+ chinahumanrights.org
To celebrate the launch of Nokia new smartphone Lumia 800, Nokia is bringing together world renowned producer, deadmau5 and the world’s leading 4D projection team for an unprecedented projection show on this November 28.
Plans are to put on a spectacular light show on the full length of the 120 meter building of London’s Millbank Tower. The show will use the 800 windows of the skyscraper as the canvas for the spectacle accompanied by a live music performance. deadmau5 will be performing two new tracks created especially for the event.
The 30-minute show will be able to be viewed from both the north and south sides of the River Thames, and will also be broadcast live online on Nokia UK's Facebook page.
Known as a "4D" projection (a term the team made up to distinguish it from normal projections), the 4D team scanned the exterior of the tower using lasers, and built a 3D model of it accurate to within 5mm. They then create animations and map them exactly to the building. The Millbank Tower will be effectively blacking out to project images of it back onto the building.
Of course, the show will culminate with a giant mobile phone appearing to mark the launch of Nokia's Lumia 800- to signals a new dawn for the company.
Plans are to put on a spectacular light show on the full length of the 120 meter building of London’s Millbank Tower. The show will use the 800 windows of the skyscraper as the canvas for the spectacle accompanied by a live music performance. deadmau5 will be performing two new tracks created especially for the event.
The 30-minute show will be able to be viewed from both the north and south sides of the River Thames, and will also be broadcast live online on Nokia UK's Facebook page.
Known as a "4D" projection (a term the team made up to distinguish it from normal projections), the 4D team scanned the exterior of the tower using lasers, and built a 3D model of it accurate to within 5mm. They then create animations and map them exactly to the building. The Millbank Tower will be effectively blacking out to project images of it back onto the building.
Of course, the show will culminate with a giant mobile phone appearing to mark the launch of Nokia's Lumia 800- to signals a new dawn for the company.
+ Nokia
The Guinness Book of world record-holding balloon performer John Cassidy performs a balloon act for the US first lady, Michelle Obama, at the White House on Oct 11, 2011. Cassidy performed for kids on the South Lawn before the First Lady launched a challenge to break the Guinness World Records title for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period.
Photograph: Chuck Kennedy/The White House/ Reuters
+ The White House
It's October now, and the world's largest paints company, AkzoNobel (Dulux) is releasing their Color Futures 2012, which present one dominant trend and five relating trends. The single color that best sums up the prevailing mood, attitude and fashion of the time is deemed the Color of the Year 2012.
Trend 1: Living Scrapbook
Our preoccupation with documenting and sharing our lives has become multi facetted with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and a myriad of blogs all allowing you to invite people into your personal, self designed zone. This culture of showcasing 'who I am' has crossed over into the physical world and influenced how we present ourselves through our homes.
This palette reflects the quirky aesthetics of blogs and social media. Happy, yet mature pastels beloved by designers like Ray and Charles Eames. This collection is modern but ever so slightly degraded and non-mainstream.
Trend 2: One Small Seed
We can't save the world on our own, but we can enjoy the small wander of nurturing our own plants at home and creating new life from one small seed. Growing our own food helps us reconnect with the importance and delicate balance of nature. Plants are no longer simply decoration but a vital part of our interior environment.
Nature inspires a palette of watery greens, fresh sky blue and earthy neutrals with deeper accents of dark soil, leaf green and bright pink and red blooms. Which one will you choose?
Trend 3: Rediscovered Heroes
Hard times have their advantages; they prompt us to look around at what is already there and find new ways of using it. Abandoned buildings and discarded objects are re-invigorated and re-imagined to create useful and individual design. It's time to celebrate the humble lamp post, paperclip and milk bottle as heroes of design.
This palette rejoices in the down to earth colors of our industrial heritage. Denim blue, rusty metal tones, concrete grey and sewing machine green are accented with signal brights inspired by the bold hues of wires and pipes.
Trend 4: Delicate Mix
In times of turbulence we are attracted to design which offers silence and visual stillness. Very simple, beautifully made pieces are a real luxury and exude subtlety and refinement. A juxtaposition of materials creates the perfect balance and the smooth lines and polished surfaces demonstrate the love and care that has been taken to produce them.
If you're feeling elegant and understated, these might be the colors for you. Refined neutrals, warm caramels, and blushing corals paired with polished concrete, wood tones and a hit of copper orange to add spice.
Trend 5: Different Worlds
We have always been fascinated with the idea of exploring the line between fantasy and reality. Ever since Lewis Carroll's Alice dropped down the rabbits hole we have been enjoying weirder and more wonderful worlds and today's technology allows us to inhabit several worlds at the same time through gaming, Skyping and 3D movies
This color palette is dreamy and surreal. Choose from lush blues, greens and reds or set your sights on a delicate, ethereal pastel.
Color Of The Year
This radiant shade is the most important color for 2012 as it is at once whimsical and serious, dynamic and soft, perfect for a tiny accent or for a feature wall. Red is held in high regard around the world. In China, it is associated with good fortune; in India it signals marital bliss and insightfulness.
Trend 1: Living Scrapbook
Our preoccupation with documenting and sharing our lives has become multi facetted with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and a myriad of blogs all allowing you to invite people into your personal, self designed zone. This culture of showcasing 'who I am' has crossed over into the physical world and influenced how we present ourselves through our homes.
This palette reflects the quirky aesthetics of blogs and social media. Happy, yet mature pastels beloved by designers like Ray and Charles Eames. This collection is modern but ever so slightly degraded and non-mainstream.
Trend 2: One Small Seed
We can't save the world on our own, but we can enjoy the small wander of nurturing our own plants at home and creating new life from one small seed. Growing our own food helps us reconnect with the importance and delicate balance of nature. Plants are no longer simply decoration but a vital part of our interior environment.
Nature inspires a palette of watery greens, fresh sky blue and earthy neutrals with deeper accents of dark soil, leaf green and bright pink and red blooms. Which one will you choose?
Trend 3: Rediscovered Heroes
Hard times have their advantages; they prompt us to look around at what is already there and find new ways of using it. Abandoned buildings and discarded objects are re-invigorated and re-imagined to create useful and individual design. It's time to celebrate the humble lamp post, paperclip and milk bottle as heroes of design.
This palette rejoices in the down to earth colors of our industrial heritage. Denim blue, rusty metal tones, concrete grey and sewing machine green are accented with signal brights inspired by the bold hues of wires and pipes.
Trend 4: Delicate Mix
In times of turbulence we are attracted to design which offers silence and visual stillness. Very simple, beautifully made pieces are a real luxury and exude subtlety and refinement. A juxtaposition of materials creates the perfect balance and the smooth lines and polished surfaces demonstrate the love and care that has been taken to produce them.
If you're feeling elegant and understated, these might be the colors for you. Refined neutrals, warm caramels, and blushing corals paired with polished concrete, wood tones and a hit of copper orange to add spice.
Trend 5: Different Worlds
We have always been fascinated with the idea of exploring the line between fantasy and reality. Ever since Lewis Carroll's Alice dropped down the rabbits hole we have been enjoying weirder and more wonderful worlds and today's technology allows us to inhabit several worlds at the same time through gaming, Skyping and 3D movies
This color palette is dreamy and surreal. Choose from lush blues, greens and reds or set your sights on a delicate, ethereal pastel.
Color Of The Year
This radiant shade is the most important color for 2012 as it is at once whimsical and serious, dynamic and soft, perfect for a tiny accent or for a feature wall. Red is held in high regard around the world. In China, it is associated with good fortune; in India it signals marital bliss and insightfulness.
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