Posts Tagged ‘Design’

Super Sunglasses By Retrosuperfuture

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Retro future

Retro future

OK, so we know winter is approaching and shades might not be at the top of everyones list of necessities. But our friends in Australia tell us their traditional sunnies are melting in the heat.

A ode to Italian elegance, fashion and lifestyle of la vita bella. Sharp, stylish and elegant design from this sophisticated and specialized brand of sunglasses. Blending the fashionista and the futuristic, the geometric yet classic design recalls engineering and construction industries of the early 1900′s.

Handmade in Italy, they use German Zeiss lenses to ensure durability and protection in all environments. We hear our mates Pedro Winter (Busy P) and Simian Mobile Disco are fans of the brand, along with Valentino Rossi and Daft Punk.

Super, thanks for asking

Super, thanks for asking

Of the model above only 200 pieces were produced. 100 for each design. But wait! These sunglasses are so hard to find that they aren’t available anywhere. Is it a marketing strategy, is it a mistake or is it just fun?
None of the above, they have just been stolen. They were supposed to be in release today but last week unknown people broke into the DHL van while they where in delivery and stole all of the shades. The above picture is the only one available of unfinished samples

Below you’ll find a scan of the of claim made by the DHL driver to the Police:

Police report

Police report

Retrosuperfuture Blog

Buddha Machine

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Lotus listening

Lotus listening

Every so often a gadget comes around that manages to transcend the cheap plastic frame in which it’s encased. Little known Chinese firm FM3 have created an ambient loop-playing machine which has gained coverage in the New York Times. The $25 Buddha Machine is the size of a cigarette pack, with one button, an on-off dial and a rather small speaker. Inside is a chip containing nine digitally encoded music loops. The button allows the listener to switch from one to another, but that’s the extent of user control over the experience, leading some observers to refer to the thing as the anti-iPod, attracting music fans, design fans, gadget fans and those who view it as something of a fashion item.

Noise band Throbbing Gristle have recently released their own version designed in conjunction with FM3, featuring more loops and a wider frequency range than the Buddha Machine. They have entitled their custom box GRISTLEISM, with a tracklist featuring intriguing names such as Maggot Death, Rabbit Snare, Sex String Theory and Thank You Brain. GRISTLEISM is described as part Industrial sound machine, part noise instrument.

At a moment when the unused abilities of feature-loaded computers, cellphones and even microwave ovens pile up faster than we can keep track of them, it’s satisfying to know that once you’ve turned the Buddha Machine on, you are using it to its full capacity. From the Sunday New York Times Magazine by Rob Walker.

The Buddha Machine 2.0 comes in three colours: Burgundy, Grey and Brown.

Om

Om

New York Times

Throbbing Gristle

FM3 Buddha Machine

Machines To Enlarge The Ears

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Say what?

Say what?


We found this over at Noise For Airports. It’s a blog run by Nick Seaver who’s research focuses on experimental uses of recording media (his undergraduate thesis was about the relationship between social conceptions of noise and recording technologies.) He also makes experimental compositions of pop music such as Britney Spears and Rhianna informed by the procedures of 1970′s composers such as Steve Reich.

The blog itself is a mix of short form link posts and longer-form sound theory with historical examples and contemporary ideas.

The post which caught our eye is about some amazing machines invented apparently to improve human hearing by upgrading the ear. Have a look here. “During the World War, many blind men, with ears trained to special acuteness in compensation for loss of sight, volunteered for this service in Britain, and it is likely that such sightless soldiers are again helping their companions to locate enemies in the dark.” – A 1939 issue of Science News Letter.

Machines To Enlarge The Ears

Noise For Airports

NickSeaver.net

Pop Studies