The feeling of riding

Thought I would share this wonderful video with you all, why do you ride?

and a great advert by Schwinn, possibly a bit cheesy but still great :)

Finally a great sketch by Monty Pythons Flying Circus:

What to do when your overqualified?

So I haven't blogged in Awhile, been busy filling out applications for internships that Im overqualified for and trying to work out what to do with my summer.

The past week Ive spent and I know It sounds boring but Ive been tidying and organising, eugh yeah I can hear you all groan but it needs to be done some time.

Slowly organising my projects into neatly packed boxes (wonder how long it will last) and turning my space into a more productive space, a designers got to do something now that uni is off for the summer :)

So after I received my feedback from my internship and speaking with a fellow transitioner over a pint of Guinness I decided heck lets see if I can start up a little business over the summer.

What business you might ask well now.... what do I love.... hmmmm.... how about bikes? naa but their are loads of bike shops in Dundee but how about a business that sells vintage/retro bikes? that might work :)

So everyone seems to be into the vintage retro scene at the moment so what better way to make my self a bit more sustainable financially.

I could also sell unusual objects I find at scrap yards by renovating them to make them look beautiful again which tayside recyclers doesn't do, run courses, sell crafts and also provide a service to repair old bikes which most bike shops wont touch.

Setting up a small business like this will mean I can:

-great form of reuse/recycling by saving old bikes from being scrapped. Why use energy to melt down bikes for metal when they can fixed and carry a bit of history with them?

-enjoyment of being able to do a job I love- Old things and bikes

-introduce more people to cycling

-be more financially stable, I teach sustainability but still am supported by my parents, if I could make some money then I could sustain myself in a better way. Im not looking to make allot of money just enough to sustain myself would be great.

-challenging myself

-most importantly have the enjoyment of putting the smile on someones face when they ride their bike

Ok so whats the next stage? well I need to get a website and also get some simple business cards done.

Ecological Design: natural systems technologies

Buckminster Fuller: A man well before his time

Back in my Secondary school years I remember hearing of a man called Buckminster fuller who had some spherical molecule named after him, it didnt mean much to me then but his name always sat in the back of my mind.

It wasn't until tonight when I was research for my dissertation that I found out how amazing the man was. He is what you would class as a true Polymath(a person of great and varied learning).

Buckys Attitude and approach to making the world better for everyone is truely awe inspiring.

Known as the earths friendly genius, a humour and heart warming character with a big vision.

Check out the videos and get a taster of the magic that is Bucky:

A meeting with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi showing the humanity and humour of Bucky:

Ferrofluid and Sonic Sculptures

Today In DIXD we got introduced to a project called Snoil run by Martin Frey an interaction designer from IDEO Munich. Frey used Ferrofluid which is a liquid that reacts to magnetic fields to create a very imaginative phyisical display.

Check it out;

Ferrofluid can be used over moving magnetically charged objects as well:

YouTube - Ferrofluid on the track of a Meatgrinder

Ok so maybe i got a little overboard on the ferrofluid links but this lead me to think what other sculptures can be made liquids using magnets and vibrations.

Check out what happens when corn starch/ water mix is placed on a vibrating speaker:

Then I found this magically sounding object made using metal tubes which pick up the wind:

Im really tempted to give this a try now that Ive got hold of a welder, I wonder if smaller sculptures like wind chimes could be placed in trees to create some really unusual sounds?

A love story: Companies and Clients

A wonderful video about how companies should work with their clients and communities.

Get Satisfaction is a simple way to build online communities that enable productive conversations between companies and their customers. It looks like they have really hit the nail on the head, its all about community engagement!!
Get Satisfaction tries to provide a more social support experience and a platform to build better products.

Check out the video and see what you think?

Low Carbon Garden- TFCR

Hi guys, well here is the visualisation for the low carbon garden that will be moving into the back of Tayside recyclers.

The main goal of the low carbon garden is to act as an aid to show people how to set up a low carbon garden by reusing objects such as golf clubs to act as A frames and bath tub planters. The Emphasis is also on growing edibles and companion planting.

Key to the drawing

A. 10ft x 20ft polytunnel

B. Cold frames made from re-used materials

C. Plant support wires attached to south-facing wall

D. Large box containers providing generous root space

E. Storage area behind polytunnel

F. Pallet compost bins, heat from which will benefit plants above

G. Existing cage for storage (/leaf sweepings?)

H. Decorative mirror dome (just because we have one)

I. Trellis made from re-purposed blind slats J. Condemned ladder reused to hang plant baskets from

K. Reused glazier's frames – may be good for runner beans?

L. Seating area (with xylophone)

M. Bath tub planter

N. Cardboard tube arrangement for planting

O. Barrels (former alu-can recycling) providing generous root space

P. Buckets collect rainwater for decanting into watering can

Q. We have a number of large stones on site, so maybe we could build a low wall here to shelter the seating area from the east wind?

Plants suggestions so far:

Courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, squash, salad leaves, french beans, runner beans, peas, purple carrots, jerusalem artichokes, chard, leeks, onions, sage, nasturtium, marigold...