http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:25:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/pic-ji-lees-3d-chessboard.html Fri, 01 May 2009 14:18:12 +0000 Ji Lee, Creative Director at Google and designer of the “Bubble Project” (amongst many other things) has re-imagined the chess board. Lee’s version transforms the flat playing surface into 3 dimensional battleground that better visually represents the play taking place. [Ji Lee via Trendhunter]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/artists-reclaim-amsterdams-red-light-district.html Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:01:04 +0000 In a twist on the age-old practice of artists reclaiming unused and ex-industrial spaces to work in, the Red A.i.R. project is converting former brothels into studios. All this year, Artists-In-Residency In The Redlight are exploring the possibilities of transitory occupations of space within the slowly gentrifying red light district of Amsterdam. Red Light Art Amsterdam [via Luxist]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/video-david-lynch-talks-about-ideas.html Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:52:23 +0000 Filmmaker David Lynch discusses how he gathers, and uses ideas (and how they’re like fish). [via Cultural Fuel]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/how-to-deliver-a-baby-via-youtube.html Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:29:30 +0000 Using the internet to learn new things is a commonplace practice. But what’s the cutting edge of the internet-education, DIY phenomenon? Cooking, building a car, hacking electronics? How about delivering a baby. Marc Stephens, a naval engineer from Redruth, Cornwall spent a mere 30 minutes watching YouTube videos on the birth process, and was able to successfully use this knowledge to help deliver his premature child. The Guardian reports: Feeling nervous about the imminent birth of his child Marc Stephens had a look at childbirth videos on his home computer. Four hours later his wife, Jo, went into labour threeRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/the-need-for-better-knowledge-architecture.html Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:14:51 +0000 Grant McCracken wrote a salient blog post recently that discusses the difficulties of keeping up with all the information there is to keep up with. He voices the need for better “knowledge architecture” – new services that can discover, aggregate, filter and organize information in ways that are relevant, and make sense for individual users. Grant talks about this need for better knowledge design: The upshot of this conversation for me was that a market in the information space is emerging.  I won’t pay anything for access to the New York Times.  This is an interesting aggregator, but it’s wayRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/pic-real-life-dead-pixel.html Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:30:25 +0000 A small 82cmx82cm square of dirt has been created to represent a “dead pixel” in Google Earth by artist Helmut Smits. He burned out the square from a patch of grass, which would look like a non-functioning pixel at a vertical distance of 1km. [via Laughing Squid]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/the-illegitimate-lovechild-of-hype-machine-and-muxtape.html Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:56:04 +0000 Combining the mixtape-making functions of Muxtape, with the up-to-the-second music aggregation powers of Hypemachine, Hypetape aims to make it easy to find and stream exactly the kind of music you want to hear. Hypetape lets users search through the extensive listing of tracks from Hypemachine, and organize them into playlists. The concept is fantastic, and though it’s subject to random file takedowns, it’s useful, and functions pretty well. Hypetape [via Lifehacker]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/pic-jr-covers-an-aqueduct-in-rio.html Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:38:19 +0000 Artist JR, known for his massive photo works, has enveloped an entire Aqueduct in Rio with giant-scale black and white portraits. [JR via Wooster Collective]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/video-spinning-vinyl-iphone-app.html Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:52:49 +0000 An iPhone can now become a kind of virtual vinyl record with Theodore Watson’s innovative app. His “Spinning Vinyl” program plays a virtual record faster or slower as you spin the whole phone at different speeds. Watch below. Spinning vinyl ipod app from Theodore Watson on Vimeo [F.A.T via MAKE]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/transforming-oled-panels.html Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:47:57 +0000 Philips has produced a fantastic new piece of OLED technology. They've created small panels that can instantly transform from illuminated to transparent...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/video-joi-ito-on-innovation-during-a-recession.html Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:25:46 +0000 Technology entrepreneur Joi Ito shares some brief but poignant thoughts about the unique opportunities for innovation during a recession. [via Media Futurist]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/frito-lay-introduces-compostable-snack-bags.html Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:54:01 +0000 Frito-Lay has announced one of their snacks is becoming just a bit more sustainable. Starting in 2010, all of the SunChips multigrain chips will come in fully compostable bags made out of plant-based materials. They claim the packaging will completely decompose in about 14 weeks. Let’s hope they begin using this type of bag for all their snacks. Frito-Lay Press Release]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/darpa-makes-progress-with-programmable-matter.html Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:47:47 +0000 Clean Technica reports that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has been making headway with their exciting programmable matter project. In a nutshell, programmable matter is a way to create and disassemble solid objects on command – a kind of miracle material that can be instantly molded into anything. From the DARPA press release: The five research teams are pursuing a variety of scientific approaches.  The Harvard University team of researchers led by Professor George Whitesides is developing a sort of  “generalized Rubik’s Cube” that acts as a central organizer to encode information and assemble matter.  Professor David R. Liu’sRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/music-piracy-may-actually-help-sales.html Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:03:38 +0000 A study from the BI Norwegian School of Management has discovered that illegal music downloaders may not be as detrimental to record companies’ bottom line as previously thought. The research examined the buying habits of 2,000  online music users, and found that those who downloaded tracks for free (both legally and illegally), were 10 times more likely to pay for music. The subjects often said that the freely gotten music was used to inform their subsequent purchases. [via The Guardian and Ars Technica] Photo by: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix/PA]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/internet-age-writing.html Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:40:24 +0000 McSweeney’s has posted a course syllabus and overview for a fictional class called “Internet-Age Writing”. Prerequisites include LIT: 223—Early-21st-Century Literature: 140 Characters or Less, ENG: 102—Staring Blankly at Handheld Devices While Others Are Talking and ENG: 301—Advanced Blog and Book Skimming. While it’s a funny commentary on the changing state of modern communications methods, one can’t help but wonder if this kind of class will eventually become a reality. (Or has it already?) From the introduction: Instant messaging. Twittering. Facebook updates. These 21st-century literary genres are defining a new “Lost Generation” of minimalists who would much rather watch Lost onRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/pic-the-hidden-led-watch.html Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:55:56 +0000 At first glance, Hironao Tsuboi’ s watch looks like an ordinary piece of jewelry, or a plain watch band. A hidden funcionality is revealed when embedded LEDs illuminate two rows of numbers displaying the time.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/downgrade-your-iphone-now.html Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:28:00 +0000 If you’ve ever wanted to downplay the pedigree of your iPhone, whether for security purposes, or just as a throwback fashion statement, check out the zweiPhone stickers. Artist/designer S1M has created a set of limited edition removable decals featuring iconic cell phones of the past. They’re made to be stuck on the back of an iPhone or iPod Touch to add a bit of design history and patina to the sleek, blank super-phone. zweiPhone]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/tweenbots-examine-human-machine-empathy.html Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:32:36 +0000 The Tweenbots project by Kacie Kinzer examines the random kindness of strangers.  She designed tiny smiling cardboard robots that rely on the help of pedestrians to get to their destination. The Tweenbots roll at a constant speed, in a straight line and are dependent on humans to steer them in the right direction to reach their final location (which is printed on a flag attached to the robot’s body). Kinzer talks about the results of the experiment: The results were unexpected. Over the course of the following months, throughout numerous missions, the Tweenbots were successful in rolling from their startRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/is-this-your-luggage-a-digital-lost-and-found.html Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:21:51 +0000 In a curious example of digital good samaritanism, an anonymous artist has created a website featuring photographs of his collection of lost luggage. It’s part voyeuristic art project, and part online lost-and-found. The maker of isthisyourluggage.com buys bags deemed “permanently lost” at airport charity auctions and catalogs the outside and content of the luggage. Hopefully this unusual pastime pays off for someone out there. [via Swiss MIss]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/religion-via-twitter.html Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:04:38 +0000 To celebrate Good Friday, the Trinity Wall Street Church is bringing the story of the passion of Christ to Twitter. Using the limited messaging format, Trinity will broadcast the religious epic to followers wherever they may be. http://twitter.com/twspassionplay]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/video-making-a-vinyl-record.html Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:26:39 +0000 It’s interesting to see just how far we’ve come in the digitization and virtualization of so many former physical objects. Core 77 has shared a wonderful video that shows the complex, time and resource intensive process of cutting a vinyl album. The laborious task is fascinating to watch and light years away from the modern digital music format “manufacturing” process – File: save as. [via Core 77]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/ellis-gs-flaming-street-art.html Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:53:00 +0000 Shadow outlining chalk artist Ellis Gallagher (aka Ellis G) has taken up a new, more volatile medium. Nylon Magazine reports he’s been experimenting with creating flammable art. A design or tag is drawn with spray paint, and then lit, to make a fleeting but dramatic piece. More here and here. [Nylon via Trendhunter]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/the-state-of-online-dating.html Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:34:55 +0000 Justin Wehr points us to an interesting graph that displays the current popularity status of dating websites. It seems that the “casual” one night stand market is booming (though primarily made up of men), while the wholesome marriage sector attracts less attention. Globe and Mail: “One Click Stands”]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/pic-illicit-thrift-store-t-shirts.html Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:50:41 +0000 Nick Hum was thinking about the insanity of $25 dollar designer t-shirts, and decided to use a contrarian distribution strategy for his shirts as commentary on the practice. He proceeded to buy thrift store shirts, screen print them with his designs, and return them to the store. [via Wooster Collective]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/youtube-collages.html Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:20:02 +0000 YouTube appropriation abounds these days. Artist Josh Poehlein has created a series of landscape collages complied only out of screen grabs from YouTube videos. Josh Poehlein: Modern History]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/digital-samaritans.html Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:48:48 +0000 Gawker highlights a New York Times article which talks about the growing numbers of “digital samaritans”, who help return lost items via the web. With the help of our socially networked society, and a bit of detective work, tracking down owners is becoming exceptionally easy. They explain: A Scottish hiker found a digital camera, circulated some pictures on Flickr, and figured out where the owner lived. A nearby Flickr user drove around until he found the house in question, and the camera was soon returned to its owner (a clumsy American, naturally). An engineer found a wallet in a 7-ElevenRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/puma-two-wheeled-personal-urban-transportation.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:45:43 +0000 Project PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) is a new joint venture between General Motors and Segway. They’ve created a two-wheeled electric vehicle designed for urban use, that can get up to 35 mph, and supposedly gets 35 miles from a single charge. Kind of cool, no doubt – but wouldn’t a bike be a better, less complicated solution for urban transport? The PUMA will be shown at the New York Auto Show this week Crunch Gear has more: Aside from the promise of nimble, inexpensive transportation, the press release says, “The vehicle also enables design creativity, fashion, fun andRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/carry-your-furniture-with-you-wherever-you-go.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:19:01 +0000 Following in the footsteps of the very popular half-jacket, half tent, is the “Messenger Bag Director’s Chair”. It’s a sturdy folding chair that transforms into a easily carried messenger bag. Though I wonder about the actual carrying capabilities of the bag, it’s still a practical design. [via The Design Blog]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/chairs-for-the-dysfunctional.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:41:35 +0000 Alice Wang has created a series of art chairs designed to accommodate very specific users who partake in less than desirable public behaviors. Although it’s a humorous comment on modifying negative human behavior, it does open a dialogue about designing appropriately for different situations. She explains the project: The society we live in is changing, shouldn’t the interactive side of these daily objects change with us? Perhaps the function of the objects stay, but it is the process of how we interact with them that must change. Should there be different chairs designed for people with different sitting habits? DoRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/paper-thin-audio-speakers.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:56:03 +0000 A team of engineers at the University of Warwick in the UK have created a revolutionary new kind of audio speaker that has better sound than the traditional variety, and is about as thin as a piece of thick paper. Warwick news explains: A groundbreaking new loudspeaker, less than 0.25mm thick, has been developed by University of Warwick engineers, it’s flat, flexible, could be hung on a wall like a picture, and its particular method of sound generation could make public announcements in places like passenger terminals clearer, crisper, and easier to hear. Lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture, the speakersRead more...]]>