http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:43:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/app-store-rip-off%e2%80%99s-worry-developers.html Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:17:25 +0000 Ars Technica points us to the growing concern over App Store applications getting ripped off and/or copied by other developers. The applications they compare are two eBook readers: Classics and Classics: Jane Austen. Classics is popular, and was featured on Apple’s broadcasted iPhone ads. Classics: Jane Austen however is a mirror-image of the application, both in graphics and interface. Developers trying to benefit from the success of others on the App Store is nothing new. The most common method thus far has been to use the names of some of the more popular apps in the description of a differentRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/snuggie-pub-crawls-invading-american-bars.html Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:46:02 +0000 We’ve mentioned the Snuggie a couple times (here & here) this past year, so we thought it’d be appropriate to mention our invite to the Snuggie Pub Crawl in New York City. Similar crawls are going on in 15 other cities across the country, with Chicago’s, one of the most popular, already having racked up 2153+ registrants for their April 18th crawl. The site says that proceeds will be donated to an orphanage in Tanzania, so we assume there is a minimal participation fee for crawlers. The events are not affiliated with the company, but keep in mind the blanketsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/japanese-streets-paved-in-grass.html Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:21:33 +0000 We came across a planning concept showcasing Japanese streets completely paved in grass. While we can’t find any information about the idea or creators (all copy is in Japanese), the carefully composed images are quite interesting, albeit practically impossible to sustain and the concept completely feasible. [thanks for the correction, HR!] With the entire first world riding this eco-friendly-plant-green-everywhere wave, how could this possibly affect the locales of which mega-cities get fresh water? An initiative like New York City’s MillionTreesNYC is substantially beautifying the city and creating clean air and cool shade, but could it possibly be taxing our limitedRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/8-years-old-average-age-for-first-cell-phone-in-uk.html Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:18:20 +0000 The Telegraph reports that British children are given their first mobile phone around 8 years old. Doug Aamoth with CrunchGear makes a good point that the survey conducted was in an affluent area, which could slant the results, but nonetheless it’s worth noting that children are actively using mobile phones a great deal more than in previous years. Who are these kids calling? Mainly their parents, although the survey highlights that having a cell phone is more about having cool ringtones and games among friends, rather than serving as a solid communicating platform. On another note, Finland’s Radiation and NuclearRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/surfing-google-earth-on-the-wii-fit.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:24:16 +0000 Two German artificial intelligence researchers have developed a hack for the Wii Fit that allows them to surf Google Earth terrain. While the Wii Fit has already demonstrated another capability in the internet-assisted health care realm, the hack gives it a fun new use by taking advantage of the boards 4 ‘wobbling’ sensors, converting them into steering and throttle, allowing the user to cruise over the satellite mapped ground like famed Marvel comic hero Silver Surfer. [via kottke]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/play-powered-toys-eliminate-need-for-batteries.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:05:39 +0000 Toys tend to move as much as their masters – and that’s why the smartly designed Fastronaut toys harness all that kinetic energy from throws, rolls and bounces to power themselves. LEDs on the toy-cars and action figures display how much power has been generated (great for teaching the kids about conservation), and each has a button when pressed plays design specific noises and sounds. One of the cooler toys attaches to the handlebar of a bicycle, charging a headlamp with its tethered-wheel-powered generator, after which can be removed from the bike and used in the living room. Like theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/japan-gets-e-newspaper-ailments-via-wind-turbines.html Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:18:01 +0000 Fujitsu is on their way to releasing color electronic newsprint to select test restaurant locations. Fujitsu announced the plan four years ago, and the technology finally seems to be ready for the public. The advertising-based medium uses wireless LAN services for content delivery and is robust enough to be handled by countless lunch-goers, running through an entire business day without needing a charge (e-paper only uses power when the information displayed changes). Where will these cool electronic devices get their power? Perhaps from one of Japan’s 1,400 electricity-generating wind turbines – much to the dismay of its neighbors. Asahi ShimbunRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/broadway-takes-to-the-subway.html Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:19:33 +0000 New York commuters get to see some pretty spectacular performances in the subway on a regular basis – now add a theater performance to the review. The group that brought their noir thriller play to Central Park restrooms will be selling tickets to “IRT: A Tragedy in Three Stations”, set in a subway station early this February. This isn’t just any small production though. The full-scale theatrical production includes costume changes, props, set-dress and a cast and crew thirty-five strong. The Post reports: At a dress rehearsal on Saturday night, the production faced obstacles familiar to every straphanger – stalledRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/ad-sales-decline-quality-of-advertising-follows.html Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:41:32 +0000 Hamilton Nolan at Gawker wrote an interesting post about the decline of good advertising on television. It’s been quite noticeable lately (in New York at least) how many prime-time advertising spots have been bought by what seems to be infomercial and low-production-value spots. The glitzy Lexus ads have been replaced with advertisements for smock-like blankets with long-sleeves, Amish-made faux-fireplace heaters and strange, mouth-aligned goatee trimmers. Nolan writes: The collapse of ad sales, and the decline of the auto industry, means that even regular networks—and even, sometimes, in prime time—are increasingly forced to plug empty spots with cheap ass infomercial standbys.Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/madrid%e2%80%99s-newest-green-tech-flagship.html Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:18:44 +0000 Construction has begun on Madrid’s radically designed, sun & rain catching International Convention Center. Reminiscent of a massive telescope reflector, the structure will be a photovoltaic panel and glass covered cylinder resting atop its side, allowing sunlight to reach all its vast interiors. Award winning design firm MANSILLA+TUÑÓN’s 110 meter tall structure isn’t just pretty to look at – it showcases a 5,000 seat auditorium and numerous event spaces throughout, all while partially sustaining its numerous facilities with collected rainwater and electricity. [via inhabitat]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/1474-megapixel-panorama-shows-off-inauguration.html Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:37:19 +0000 Photographer David Bergman captured 220 images of Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration, then stitched them together creating an incredibly detailed panoramic photograph. All of you photo-geeks will appreciate the technology going in to his project – Bergman clamped his Gigapan-mounted Canon G10 to a railing, allowing the robotic mount to photograph the action. He then processed the captured images on his Macbook Pro with Gigapan software, creating a ginormous 2 gigabite, 1,474 megapixel TIF file. Like the Where’s Waldo of Inaugurations, see if you can spot Yo-Yo Ma photographing the scene with his i-Phone. David Bergman’s Full-Screen Gigapan via Gizmodo]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/nostalgic-illustrations-make-digital-comeback.html Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:53:13 +0000 Some of us might fondly remember thumbing through the beautifully designed pages of those thin, gold-edged Golden Books when we were tiny.  Learning the basics like the alphabet, numbers tables and quick stories about little red-hens and saggy, baggy elephants were matched by incredible (now vintage) illustrations. While still available, many of the books have been updated for the times – which is why Golden enthusiast Barbie Miller is showcasing hundreds of scanned original pages perfect for an afternoon of nostalgia, inspiration and for some of us, learning. Golden Gems [via neatorama]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/pantless-subway-riders-turn-heads.html Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:14:22 +0000 If you happened to be riding on NYC’s subway this past Saturday, you may have noticed an unusual number of patrons without pants on. That’s because Improv Everywhere, the guys that organized hundreds of people inside of Grand Central Terminal to freeze in their tracks at rush-hour, were behind the latest public display of confusion. They’re guessing they had between 1,200 and 1,500 participants for the 8th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride, some of which reported the overheard comments on Improv Everywhere’s site. Gothamist picks out two choice quotes: One heard an onlooker openly declare: “This is why I goRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/inspiring-examples-of-light-graffiti.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:48:46 +0000 Photographing a moving light source with a long exposure is the gist of light graffiti – one of the more famous examples being Gjon Mili’s 1949 photograph of Pablo Picasso sketching a bull with a light-pen. Fifty years later, people are still experimenting with the technique, but doing it easier with the advent of instantly gratifying digital cameras. As of late, companies have used the beautiful photographic technique in their advertisements like HP and Sprint, and Brazilian ad agency Propague are sporting a fantastic light-painted video. If you want to try out your own like the examples via Toxel below,Read more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/dark-knight-composers-sound-out.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:36:03 +0000 Los Angeles-based NPR station host, KCRW’s Jason Bentley speaks with composers of the latest Batman movie, Dark Knight. Collaborators and industry giants Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard describe their creative process in writing the score to suit one of Hollywood’s most memorable characters of the year – one instance referred to in a video posted on Hans Zimmer’s website as “razor blades on piano wire”. An excerpt: Jason Bentley: We’re here to talk about a little film called the Dark Knight…does this film give you a unique opportunity, musically, that might be different from your prior film work? HansRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/converse%e2%80%99s-100th-anniversary-shoe-box.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:29:44 +0000 The one-hundred year old shoe brand lauded by everybody from kindergartners to rockstars has put together a series of books detailing Converse’s history and interviews of 100 celebrities and fans that love their kicks. The neatly designed bounded book-box contains a safely stowed, limited-edition pair of sneakers. Release date is unknown, but there will only be 1000 produced. [via Design Boom]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/nyc-the-cartoonists-perspective.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:53:43 +0000 Part Gothamist, part Interview Magazine and a dash of Sin City, freshly launched photo & essay blog Graphic NYC is the creation of the graphic novel obsessives, writer Christopher Irving and photographer Seth Kushner. “A photo essay and journey into the heart and soul of New York City through the eyes of her cartoonists”, is how they describe their baby, and content will include interviews with cartoonist legends and straight-outta-school illustrators. This week is a shout to old-school cartoonist Howard Chaykin, the heralded co-creator of Green Lantern and artist on Spiderman comics, and newbie to the industry Dash Shaw sharesRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/kartell-design-wins-08-good-design-award.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:07:48 +0000 The oldest design competition of its kind, the Good Design competition has been around since 1950, judging entries on everything from materials and concept to construction and aesthetic. 2008′s winner, Kartell‘s beautifully designed Mr Impossible chair, was produced utilizing their new laser process that joined a plastic base, legs and seat together. The result is a quite unique, and very Philippe Starck – the famed product and interior designing driving force behind this project. [via dexigner]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/economy-down-sex-industry-sales-up.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:10:48 +0000 The adult toy industry is experiencing a surge of sales while the global economy falters, says Australian News. Anonymous web-purchasing power has obviously contributed, but the industry also employs some creative marketing efforts geared towards conservative consumers in mainstream magazines. Much like Viagra and Cialis’ tactical suave´, they’ve been busy inventing softer, less offensive names (relationship and intimacy care) and subtler, smarter packaging. Sales at American lubricant manufacturer, Wet, are up 30% this year alone, according to owner Michael Trygstad. “We’re seeing countless new products being sold to a much larger audience than people realized. Even the more conservative retailersRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/i-phone-hacks-turning-heads-and-servos.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:28:05 +0000 We came across a very interesting iPhone hack that allows you to control a servo with the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer. Servos are tiny motors most commonly found on radio-controlled cars and airplanes that operate in a fixed motion, like steering wheels and wing-flaps. As the iPhone moves off its original vertical axis, it causes a Wi-Fi connected servo motor to mimic the movement of the iPhone as it’s rotated. While we’re used to shaking our phone to get the latest restaurant listing and turning it to orient ourselves with our surroundings, it’s fascinating to think about phones getting James Bond’ishRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/made-formail-to-order-fashion.html Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:16:34 +0000 Everybody loves getting their monthly mail delivery of movies and magazines, so why not clothing? Swedish clothing designer Karolina Svensson at Orkan Lia is offering a subscription-based service that delivers custom tailored outfits for each subscriber. Svensson’s designs are inspired by 1950s and 1960s prints & textiles with a contemporary flair in cut and color. While certain sizes may not be available, the service extends to men as well as children. Pricing is reasonable considering each piece is custom-fitted, with subscribers getting around a 20% discount from her retail pay-as-you-go clothing. Dresses range from $85-$125, skirts at $70-$85 and topsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/rough-sketches-to-3d-and-ready-for-production.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:08:22 +0000 Designer Maarten Baptist has readied a set of dinner-ware for production, entirely skipping the process that smooths and perfects the design between the rough sketch and production. Stating that today’s utensils are too refined and “starting to look more and more alike”, his solution was to produce dinner-service with hand-drawn imperfections. It is unique because the sketch is no longer the point of departure, but also the finishing point of the design process. Purely because the signature of the maker can literally be seen in the end product. Considering how much computers simplify design processes, the deliberate oxymoron of imperfectRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/2008s-top-search-engine-queries.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:35:30 +0000 “Socializing and politics” are what people around the world most searched for in 2008, according to Marissa Mayer, VP of Search at Google. The company’s year-end roundup of popular searches showcased Sarah Palin, the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee for the 2008 United States Presidential Election as the number 1 rising search query for the year. After the Beijing Olympics, we notice Facebook as the 3rd most sought, then the Spanish social networking site Tuenti…often referred to as the Spanish Facebook. Fascinatingly enough, it’s also revealed that when the Dow dropped 733 points in a single day, Google searches spikedRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/parking-system-wins-design-oscar.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:20:19 +0000 WPS and VanBerlo have won IndustrieForum Hannover’s iF Product Design Award for creating their new parking paystation system. While the system’s details are so far only known to the judges, the machines do look quite spectacular thanks to the design-superstars at Van Berlo (creators of the freaky laptop named EGO). via Dexigner]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/train-makeover-anime-living-room-and-homeless-shelter-edition.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:29:26 +0000 Not-so-long past the days of New York City-style “train-bombing“, the practice of entire train cars getting completely spray-painted with tags and murals, anime & manga characters have been the favored choice of graffiti to the Japanese. Pink Tentacle compiled a very neat selection of train exteriors and interiors over the past several years. While the anime’d out trains are cool, the Japanese seem to be the most accepting to advertisers too. Ikea recently decked out a Kobe train in textiles like ALVINE BUKETT curtains and BLÅHÄGG blankets. Turning train-cars into more comfortable habitats seems to be a theme for theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/could-paper-become-the-new-plastic-bottle.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:17:15 +0000 Brand strategy and design firm Brand Image has come up with an innovative concept geared towards ridding ourselves of our nasty plastic water bottle habit. 100% renewable & made from recycled paper, the bottle can hold a variety of liquids and easily decomposes once disposed of. While it doesn’t seem you can reuse the bottle more than 2 or 3 times, how often do we really save plastic bottles for more than a few uses anyway? The only question is whether the idea will really catch on with beverage makers…will consumers mind bottles that aren’t transparent? [via DVICE]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/customize-frame-colors-with-ink-filled-eye-glasses.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:03:13 +0000 Feeling blue? Try india-ink filled eye-glass frames. And while we’re sure you could fill them with any sort of liquid, ink is guaranteed to offer the brightest colors. An innovative approach in eye-wear for those that wear glasses every day, but want a few thousand more options. via Geekologie]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/unofficially-released-apple-apples.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:43:49 +0000 A Japanese super-fan has grown Apple-branded Fuji apples by adhering stickers to the still-ripening fruits a month before picking. Apple has yet to comment about the unofficially-logo’d Fuji’s, but we doubt they will. That is, unless they don’t taste good. (Or constantly crash.) Nobon via Gizmodo]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/web-20-getting-grungier.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:15:32 +0000 Slick interfaces decoupaged with second-hand aesthetics make-up Six Revisions latest compilation of thirty web-sites throwing back to grunge. Scanned textures, hand-drawn illustrations and carefully-tooled details are giving these precisely engineered sites the pre-worn feel not typically embraced by web 2.0 sites. While grunge has steadily gained steam over the course of the past couple of years, it’s interesting to see how the aesthetic compares to what it once was just a few months ago. Check out Smashing Magazines March ’08 list and CommandShift3′s “Grunge Battle” too.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/can-tv-20-bring-consumers-back-to-advertisers.html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:50:00 +0000 Multi-tasking: The practice has invaded nearly every aspect of our lives. Telephones have turned into extensions of our offices and entertainment platforms, computers find us shoes online and keep our music libraries organized, and radios, well, they’re only on if we’re driving to the grocery store. So how on earth are marketers and advertisers supposed to find us, then keep us from fluttering from our phones to our laptops while watching TV when their very expensive advertisements hit the media outlets? MTV Digital’s Senior VP, Dan Hart thinks TV 2.0 needs to address the interaction between viewers and programs withRead more...]]>