10x10 - A different way to provide information.

10x10 ('ten by ten') is an interactive exploration of the words and pictures that define the time. Every hour, 10x10 collects 100 words and pictures that matter most on a global scale, and presents them as a single image, taken to encapsulate that moment in time.
It's a fantastic way of visually presenting the news and current affairs.
If you like this site then we recommend you visit another site by Jonathan Harris called justcurio.us. It's an anonymous question and answer system, open to anyone, with one simple rule: to ask a question, you must first answer someone else's question. It makes for some interesting reading, but be warned, you can spend hours there.

Design Addict - Our Site of the Month

The best resource for modern, post-modern and contemporary design of the 20th-21st centuries. You'll find information on designers and producers, on furniture, lighting, dinnerware and accessories. The site mainly focuses on product design and has an enormous amount of links and information on it's site. It's all nicely organised and easy to find.
The site allows you to publish adverts, links or chat in their forum. Well worth a visit.

Channel 4 launches folioFactory

Anyone creating visuals at some time has to show, present or pitch their work and ideas.
folioFactory from the Channel 4 network helps you convert all that work into a great portfolio.
You'll PICK your best images, GRAB them into the computer, SAVE them the easy way, MAKE them into a digital portfolio and format them to SEND to your intended audience.
All in 40 Minutes with this online resource.
And if your visiting that site you might fancy taking a look at Channel 4's Ideas Factory Site

Design Matters Podcasts with Debbie Millman

'Design Matters' are now available as Podcasts on iTunes.
I hear you all asking 'What's a podcast?'
Podcasts are online radio shows that can be streamed to iTunes. You need to be online and in iTunes to select the menu option 'podcasts' once you have done this you can use the search tool (top right) in iTunes to search for the podcast you want (in this case search for the keywords 'Design Matters').
'Design Matters with Debbie Millman' is a FREE internet talk radio show that combines a stimulating point of view about graphic design, branding and topics of timely cultural consequence. It's not all business and comes across as a fun show. The microphone quality is a bit on the low side, but good enough for the internet.
Click here to visit Debbie's blog page.

ColourLovers.com

Is a place to view, rate and review some lovely colours & palettes. the idea is to create a place of color inspiration where a designer of any sort can see new and lovely colours... find out what colors are hot, what work well in other uses... and simply make some love with colour.

Absorbing Chinese Culture

The OPOS designers in Milan were asked to come up with some designs in response to the question, 'What would happen if we imagined that the XXI century was the Chinese century?' Their projects reflect the absorption of Chinese culture or a Western way of life under Chinese domination.

Honda Civic Rebirth Advert

The Honda adverts are always great to watch and normally take a sureal perspective on the design of the vehicle. This great Ad by Hornet Inc. is reminiscent of a Joan Miro painting, the spot takes you on a mesmerizing visual trip that borrows physical forms from the worlds of music, the senses and car mechanics, and casts them in a new light.
Enjoy the film by clicking here.its a 15meg file.

Paint by numbers Wallpaper

UK designer Jenny Wilkinson has created the ultimate paint-by-numbers set, it covers an entire wall, featuring a repetitive pattern of a dog sitting in a planter. The wallpaper was made to give the user, artist and non-artist alike, the opportunity to customize and personalize their walls. In addition, the scale is larger than typical paint-by-number painting sets, making it all that much more accessible to the non-artist. New designs are on the drawing board and personalized commissions are also available. + Click title for more.

A light in your bag.

No more scrabbling to find your keys - solar powered handbag has lining which lights up when unzipped.

Brunel University Design Student, Rosanna Kilfedder, age 24, has designed a solar powered handbag with a light up lining, so women can find keys and other vital but elusive items in their handbags quickly in the dark. The handbag's battery, powered by a solar cell outside the bag and also re-charges mobile phones.

How does it work?
The handbag, called Sun Trap, uses a solar cell to trap energy from sunlight, storing it in the bag's internal battery. When the bag is unzipped, the lining, powered by the battery and made from an electroluminescent material similar to that found in mobile phones, lights up helping them to find items lurking at the very bottom (i.e. house keys). The lining goes dark automatically as the zip is closed or switches off after 15 seconds to conserve battery if the bag is accidentally left open.
The internal battery also acts as a portable renewable energy source and can be used to charge mobile phones and similar devices.

Rosanna Kilfidder says: "I had the idea for Sun Trap handbag after seeing so many friends frantically searching their bags for house keys, usually on a dark doorstep. I also noticed friends using their mobile phones like torches to examine the contents of their bag, which gave me the idea of lighting up the bag. I was thinking about safety and usefulness and included a charger. I'd run out of mobile phone battery on several occasions (late at night) and thought this would be a good way round the problem. The design I've developed is just a prototype at the moment, but I'd really like to see it on the high street. I think it would be such a help to so many women."

Visit Rosanna's website to contact her.

Design sector is growing says new report

The Business of Design presents the most comprehensive picture yet of the UK's design industry.

It is based on national research, comprising nearly 2,500 interviews, and focuses on the sector's scope and economic significance, how its consultancies, freelances and in-house teams do business, and what education, training and skills its designers have.

As well as providing data on the size and make-up of the industry, the study probes attitudes to issues such as free pitching, the quality of new graduate recruits, overseas competition, business planning and the strength of links between practicing designers and education.

The research shows that the sector is growing and optimistic about rising revenues in future. But it also reveals that the industry is made up largely of small businesses which have been trading for less than three years and are facing increased overseas competition. It also exposes the lack of a long-term perspective among these businesses.
Source: Design Council