The fake eruption of Mt. Edgecumbe was the work of a local prankster, 50-year-old Oliver “Porky” Bickar. The idea to ignite the volcano had occurred to him in 1971. As soon as he thought of the idea, he knew he had to do it. So he collected 70 old tires that he kept in an airplane hangar. But he had to wait three years, until April Fool’s Day 1974, until the visibility conditions were just right for the prank.
Concerned residents spilled out of their homes onto the streets to gaze up at the volcano. Calls poured in to local authorities. The Coast Guard commander radioed the Admiral in Juneau who ordered a chopper be sent out to investigate.
As the Coast Guard pilot approached Mt. Edgecumbe, the plume of smoke grew in size. Finally he was right above it, and he peered down into the crater. At first, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He looked more closely, and then he laughed. Stacked in the cone of the volcano, burning with a greasy flame, was a huge pile of old tires. And spray-painted in the snow beside the tires, in 50-foot-high black letters, were the words “APRIL FOOL.”
Porky’s favorite response to the prank was when he received a letter from an attorney, inside of which was a clipping from the Denver Post with a photo of Mt. St. Helens erupting. Attached was a note that read, “This time, you little bastard, you’ve gone too far.” [x]
One our favorite graphic design brands, Pop Chart Lab, unveiled their most recent print and while being a cool piece of art for the wall, it also doubles as a place to keep track of the books you read. The 100 Essential Novels Scratch-Off Chart is an 18″ x 24″ print that lets you scratch the gold foil off each of the little book covers to show you’ve read the book.
The print features 100 essential novels from 1605 to present represented by a hand-drawn cover. Once you’ve read that one, scratch the gold foil off and it reveals another narrative-specific detail underneath. The print is pressed in NY on 100lb archival stock.
Inspired by everyone’s favorite 80’s toy, the Rubik’s Cube, designer George Bosnas reimagined the idea of a bookcase for Greek brand Anesis. Rubika B601 adds some visual delight to a standard bookcase by giving it the look of a three-dimensional cube.
The wooden bookcase is designed to hold all the things a regular bookcase would hold and more – books, decorative objects, bottles, etc.
Most step ladders on the market these days are pretty unattractive as they look like they’re made for a construction site instead of inside your house. Jeeyoung Yang put a stop to that with the Triangle Step Ladder. Knowing everyone needs a little extra height from time to time, Yang designed one with design lovers in mind.
Inspired by wire models in minimal 2D forms that transform into 3D structures with a rotational point, the triangular ladder features simple mechanisms that take it from flat to functional in seconds. It’s made of 1/2″ steel tubing and walnut making it durable and strong for regular use. Flattened, the ladder is 1/2″ thick and can be hung on the wall to store it.
The step ladder features two steps to give you a 7″ or 12″ lift off of the ground.
The film utilized the red-and-green anaglyph system for the 3D experience and also gave the audience the option of viewing one of two different endings to the film (in 2D) by looking through only the red or green lens of the spectacles, depending on whether the viewer wanted to see a happy or tragic ending.
Traffic congestion knows no borders. Recognizing stress-inducing bumper-to-bumper traffic is becoming a global norm for commuters everywhere, Audi has developed a connected mobility concept car with a secondary mode of transportation hidden within the vehicle’s bumper: an electric-powered longboard capable of reaching a top speed of nearly 19 mph.
Designed with markets like China in mind where massive traffic jams can bring roads to a standstill, the Audi Connected Mobility Concept Car is based upon the Audi Q3 – the brand’s urban compact SUV – and developed to counteract urban congestion. Designers at the Audi Research & Development in Beijing equipped the concept vehicle with a 1.05 meter battery-powered multifunctional longboard inside the rear bumper. Once pulled out from its storage drawer, the longboard can operate in three modes:
Scooter mode: riders can attach a phone into a handlebar to display directions. The speed is adjusted via remote control attached to the right handlebar grip. A backpack can be conveniently clipped onto the steering rack.
Sport mode: the rider controls the speed via remote control in his hand.
Follow mode: the board serves as a transport device for luggage or shopping bags: Connected wirelessly to a smartphone or smart-watch, the board automatically follows its owner.
The whole system is designed to connect the car’s infotainment system with the driver’s smartphone, calculating destination and planned arrival time, then formulating the fastest route based on real-time traffic data. If and when traffic is a lost cause, the system will then recommend a parking space nearby to allow the driver to switch over to the longboard option to complete the commute, transferring the map routing to the connected smartphone app to help riders navigate the city.
The Audi Connected Mobility Concept Car paints an interesting picture where drivers would drive vehicles to commute to nearby public transportation facilities, then utilize the longboard/scooter as a portable final stretch mode of transportation in congested zones where traffic and parking pose regular obstacles.
We’ll wait and see for now whether this proposal can jump the gap from concept to production vehicle. But definitely count us in if this ever becomes available in a hoverboard technology edition.
Japan is already renowned amongst aquarists for the segment of stunningly composed freshwater landscapes known as aquascapes, underwater arrangements combining the culture’s deep rooted affinity for naturalistic wabi-sabi composition and carefully groomed landscapes with aquarium gear. Japanese aquarist Takashi Amano is credited for creating the style back in the 1990’s, a naturalistic aquatic architectural style that continues today.
Former Nendo alum, Muji protege, and founder of the Misawa Design Institute, Haruka Misawa, recognized an opportunity to make waves—small aquarium bound waves—with a novel redefinition of aquascaping, introducing 3D printed sculptural forms as compositional elements for fish, turtles, shrimp and aquatic plants to interact with: miniature landscapes inspired by the natural, but displaying the modern and artificial output of a 3D printer.
With the aid of 3D designers Kennichi Hashimoto and Kosho Yamasaki, the underwater environments playfully utilize the effects between water and air to create micro-environments where plants can grow within bubbles of air surrounded by enclosures of water and animals can hide and explore. In some instances, Misawa utilizes delicate 3D printed lattice work to mimic the aquatic flora small fish use as shelter and protection.
Misawa explains: “The inner space of this fish tank is created by combining two simple elements of container and water, with an extraordinary world created that differs from the world with air…delicate structures that are prone to damage caused by their own weight on land are able to maintain a stable state because of the relative force of gravity and buoyancy.”
“Underneath the surface of water is a unique environment that exudes an energy which is completely opposite from that which is surrounded by air.” – Haruka Misawa
Misawa’s works have been recently displayed in Taiwan, accompanied by the release of a new book documenting the range of aquascapes in detail, both artistically and technically. Sadly, these sculptural living pieces of art are unique prototypes, explorative works between gravity and buoyancy we’ll all just have to appreciate from a distance.
New York has a long history of hidden and illicit venues – one that did not stop when prohibition was lifted. There is the innocuous pizza shop where dialing the right number in their phone booth lets you through a secret door into the pub. Or the various hole-in-the-wall places where you add your number to a wait list and hope for a call.
And then this, the now-defunct bar inside an abandoned water tower in Chelsea, requiring one to following a winding path up through a deserted building to find a surprise at the top.
“The Night Heron was an invitation-only nightclub held illegally in a water tower atop a vacant building in Chelsea.” Guests had to make their way through a deserted building, then climb up a ladder to reach their destination.
Currently, I’m dying over this teeny tiny lamp that works with your iPhone’s flashlight to become an adorable lamp. I mean, COME ON!
Nazzareno Ruspolini designed the Ibat-Jour series of 3D printed lamps made of white polymide, which easily transmits the light from your flashlight and turns it into ambient light.
Scottish sculptor Rob Mulholland creates these eerie mirrored sculptures out of Perspex, a kind of acrylic glass. The pieces create the uncanny effect of blending into their surroundings, at times appearing almost completely camouflaged and yet jumping out at you suddenly as your perspective shifts around them.
Vancouver’s own BroadbandTV is now the world’s third largest video property, only trailing behind Google and Facebook when it comes to unique views. According to the comScore Top 100 Video Properties Worldwide, BBTV’s unique video viewership is more than half the size of Facebook ‘s and a third of Google’s. That means one in three […]
The Island of Discussion, Glencoe, Scotland. It was a place to settle disputes. A place to resolve differences. Officially named Eilean a’ Chomhraidh, the Island of Discussion is small and alone.
This island has served a noble purpose for many, many years. Over 1,500 years or so. When clansman had a disagreement, this is the place they went to work it out.
The rules were simple. When there were quarrels or arguments, the feuding parties where taken out to the island and left alone. Left there. With whiskey, cheese, and oat cakes. And they didn’t leave the island until the dispute was settled. The result, in over 1,500 years, only 1 recorded murder in the area.
It’s impossible to put into words the loss felt around the world hearing the news that legendary architect and designer Zaha Hadid passed away today. The Iraqi-born, London-based architect paved a path for not only women in design, but everyone, with her highly recognizable aesthetic that was all her own. In 2004, she became the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize and in 2012, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Her visionary work always stood outside the box and it’s something she’ll always be known for in the architecture world. Here are some of our favorite designs from Zaha Hadid, but certainly this is not even close to an accurate representation of the incredible breadth of work she was able to accomplish during her career. She will be missed.
Heydar Aliyev Center \\\ Baku, Azerbaijan \\\ 2013
The iconic Anglepoise® desk lamp has been around since the 1930s staying fairly true to form, except for the occasional special editions. In 2005, they did go big as a request by the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre to make one that was triple scale to match one of Dahl’s favorite characters. It was so popular that they launched the Giant lamp as a floor lamp, along with a pendant version, both of which are now staples in the line. They couldn’t just stop there. Instead, they’re bringing the Giant lamp to the outdoors with the Original 1227™ Giant Outdoor Collection, which includes a floor lamp and an articulated wall-mounted lamp.
The Giant has been re-engineered for the outdoors using marine-grade stainless steel fittings, a sealed light unit, and a durable silicone rubber cable. It makes an oversized statement piece while bringing much-needed light to your outdoor space.
The lamps come in 15 colors (with custom colors an option) and will be available at anglepoise.com on June 1st.
When it comes to porn, Vancouverites have very specific tastes. That’s according to popular adult website Pornhub, which revealed to Vancity Buzz that the city’s three most popular search terms are “Asian,” “Milf,” and “Japanese.” Provincially, “Asian” came out as the most used search term for British Columbians visiting Pornhub, while “lesbian” leads the pack nationally. [am2_see_also] Elsewhere, the […]
Google searches from people in the U.S. looking for information on how to move to Canada have surged since Donald Trump’s Super Tuesday performance south of the border. Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton were the big winners on Super Tuesday, taking a step closer to landing the nomination from their respective parties. But while the candidates were […]
At first glance, you might not suspect that this two-tone vase pulls double duty. You’ll notice its porcelain exterior with a tactile copper band around the neck and the three openings that hold flowers. But this beautiful object, by Castor Design, subtly disguises another use besides holding flowers – it’s also a bong.
Voong (that’s vase + bong) was designed as a limited edition bong for Toronto Design Week, to acknowledge the increase in support for marijuana legalization throughout Canada. With legalization on the way, design-minded individuals might want to seek paraphernalia that pays attention to aesthetics and not just function. Castor Design was inspired to bring a modern twist to an object that’s typically fallen into the craft realm.
Using electroforming, Castor wrapped the neck in a tactile copper band that’s easy to grip your hands around.
Voong was shown as part of Umbra Ltd.’s Compact Living exhibition where it displayed its use for being ‘Home Alone’ (bong) and ‘When the Parents Come to Visit’ (vase).
