Architectural Mailboxes

Vanessa Troyer and Chris Farentino had an idea back in the '90's that in upcoming years more and more people would be ordering products online and having them shipped to their houses. (And how right they were!) Customers would indeed feel more comfortable if their mailboxes were of the "locking drop-box variety". So, in turn, they designed Architectural Mailboxes. Although, stealing mail is against the law in the United States, most people would rather be safe than sorry. Due in large part to Troyer's hustle, Architectural Mailboxes are now carried by Costco, Lowes, Target, and Home Depot.

Photoshop Can Cook

Maya Rota Klein and Diego Lorenzo Zanitti's entry for AdobeYouGC competition.

Bare Interactive Ink Technology

Bare is a specially formulated interative body paint by designers Bibi Nelson, Matt Johnson, Isabel Lizard, and Becky Pilditch that allows direct communication with electronic devices. It is composed of non-metallic conductive particles suspended in food and cosmetic additives. The paint is non-toxic and temporary and can be washed off with regular soap and water. The circuitry between the ink and the electronic device is completed when the small electrodes are placed directly on to the skin, which in turn transmits the data. Areas of application include dance, music, computer interfaces, communication and medical devices. "Bare is an intuitive and non-invasive technology which will allow users to bridge the gap between electronics and the body."

Alexander McQueen Notes

Lee Alexander McQueen (March 16th, 1969 - February 11th, 2010) was an English fashion designer well-known for his unusual designs. London-born, McQueen was the youngest of six children and began making dresses for his sisters, establishing, at a young age, his intention to become a fashion designer. He left Rokeby School at the age of 16 to serve as an apprentice with Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard, followed by Gieves & Hawkes, then theatrical costume designers Angels & Bermans. While working on Savile Row, Mikhail Gorbachev and Prince Charles were among his clients. At the age of 20, he traveled to Milan, Italy to work for Romeo Gigli. Upon his return in 1994, McQueen applied to London's most prestigious fashion school, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, to work as a pattern cutter tutor, but after seeing his portfolio, he was persuaded by the Head of the Masters to enroll as a student. He received his masters degree in fashion design and his entire graduation collection was purchased by fashion stylist Isabella Blow, which subsequently launched his career.

McQueen's early work and runway collections earned his reputation for controversy and shock tactics. He was well-known for his lavish, unconventional themed shows (recreation of a shipwreck in '03, human chess game in '06, etc.). McQueen brought extravagance and drama to the catwalk, using new technology and innovation to shock and surprise audiences and keep them on their toes. In 1996, the president of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, appointed Alexander McQueen head designer, succeeding John Galliano at Givenchy. He stayed at Givenchy for five years, until the contract that was “constraining his creativity” ended. McQueen then founded the Alexander McQueen and McQ labels.

McQueen was one of the youngest designers to earn the title British Designer of the Year, which he won four times between 1996 and 2003. He was awarded CBE, named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards, and partnered up with the Gucci Group in 2000 to serve as Creative Director. He planned to launch his perfumes Kingdom and My Queen, open stores in London, Milan, and New York, and, in 2005, collaborated with Puma to create a line of shoes. By 2007, McQueen had boutiques in London, New York, Los Angeles, Milan, and Las Vegas, celebrity patrons such as Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga.

Swing Your Energy by Yanko

Running out of battery life on your cell phone? Just pop it out and give this nifty little gizmo a few spins on your index finger. This clever battery design by Song Teaho and Hyejun Lee will gather enough power to last you a conversation, or a trip to your charger.

The Bio Alternative by Yanko

What would a cell phone and a can of Coke ever have in common? Think of all the times your cell battery started running low and you weren't anywhere near a charger. What if you could just stop by the closest vending machine or foundtain drink dispenser and and fill up your cell phone? And, *poof*, instant battery life! This new cell phone design by Daizi Zheng uses a battery that feeds off of carbohydrates (sugar). And, when the battery runs out, the only byproducts are oxygen and water. There's also a design by Tryi Yeh that is powered off of alcohol. Cheers!

Kevin Roche - Rough Draft

Kevin Roche (June 14^th, 1922) is a renowned twentieth century Irish-American architect best known for his work with glass. Born and raised in Dublin, he received his Bachelor of Architecture from the National University of Ireland in 1945. Roche worked with Michael Scott and Maxwell Fry in London from 1945 to 1947. Roche left Ireland in 1948 to study under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Roche was recruited by Eero Saarinen in 1950 and joined the firm of Eero Saarinen and Associates where he met civil engineer John Dinkeloo. Kevin Roche became Principal Design Associate to Saarinen in 1954 and assisted him up until his death in 1961. In 1966, upon completion of Saarinen’s remaining projects, Roche and Dinkeloo changed the firm’s name to Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates. The firm completed many astounding pieces of architecture such as the Oakland Museum of California, the Ford Foundation Building, the Fine Arts Center at University of Massachusetts Amherst, the U.N. Plaza in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Knights of Columbus Building in New Haven, CT. Roche’s completed works include 8 museums, 38 corporate headquarters, 7 research facilities, performing arts centers, theatres, various campus buildings at 6 universities, and the Central Park Zoo.

Dinkeloo passed away in 1981, but Roche continues the firm in Hamden, CT. Roche receieved the Pritzker Prize in 1982 which is bestowed upon “a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture”. He has also received the Gold Medal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1990 and the AIA Gold Medal in 1993.