ECO DESIGN FREAK

Eco-Valcucine Kitchens

2009-11-09T06:44:00.001-08:00

Eco-Valcucine Blog
Valcucine Website

Valcucine has gained a reputation for over 27 years as a leader in ECO-FRIENDLY KITCHEN DESIGN. From experience I can attest that designers and consumers alike are constantly impressed with Valcucine's equipment. The hardware and mechanisms are like no other. The designs are infinite. The minimalist workspaces and storage solutions are without a doubt some of the most elegant on the market.

This is a company with values as well. You'll instantly be greeted by reliable customer service, portfolio of award winning kitchen designs, higher standard of installation and thoughtfulness to the environment.

The Art Institute of Chicago A tour of Renzo Piano's Modern Wing

2009-08-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ag = Alchemy Goods

2009-04-21T12:32:00.001-07:00

Alchemy Goods Website

Ag has created a product line from rubber bike tubes. Their products are 70%(+) post consumer material.

The Intelligent Consumer:
Necessity of the product, functionality / purpose, material implications, lifetime expectancy / after-use intents, construction / production processes, ergonomics [when it applies], customer relations, warranty / guarantee's. I would suggest these as a simple and beginning guide to leading a life as an Intelligent Consumer.

Ag gets a 5 star in their customer relations. From personal experience and review/research I can tell you that they are out to make a lifetime customer. They personally picked out a bag for me and took a picture of it for my approval.

Others, after using their bags for 3 years sent them to the manufacture for minor stitching issues and have raved about their attention. At no cost to the customer they've shipped it and performed a through evaluation of the products.

And lets face it.... this bag KICKS ASS!

Architecture Photograhy & Image Reference

2009-03-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

PLASTIC HOUSE IMAGE ABOVE IS FROM THE FOLLOWING LINK & NOT EXCLUSIVE OF ECO.DESIGN.FREAK .

From GRADUATE DEGREE BLOG:

100 Amazing Flickr Collections for Architecture Buffs

"Flickr is a great resource for finding photos and learning about what’s in our world. Users from around the world share their images-and lots of them are great for architectural research and inspiration. Now you don’t need to travel across the world to experience some of the world’s greatest architectural treasures because here you’ll find 100 excellent collections of buildings, details, and more."

"These collections celebrate architecture in general."

Who Said Being An Architect Was Hard Work?

2009-03-17T14:31:00.001-07:00

Find out more from TREEHUGGER.COM

Western Traditions

2009-03-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

The New York Times recently posted "THIS ARTICLE" about societies (specifically Western) misuse of consumer materials.

If you don't follow the link this is the basic concept:

The above picture is a "salad shooter". The Chinese plastic manufacturer was astonished that this order was placed in the first place and appalled that the next shipment was 3 times the initial order quantity.

We design consumer products abundantly, we use a MASSIVE amount of resources creating them / shipping /disposing them.

Is it too late? Have we passed the point of no return? Are we reliant on these cheap (CHEAP-in price, not in conditional cost) disposable goods? What will it take to understand the implications of our decisions?

Objectified Documentary - Trailer

2009-03-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

Objectified Website

Tap It

2009-02-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

That's right, I said, TAP IT. It's a new idea in the NYC urban vision to save the world.

Information below comes straight from the site: TAP IT [site]

About
TapIt gives you easy access to great tasting New York City tap water. Our partners let you fill your bottle and we help you find them on
the go.

Your smartphone or PC shows you the closest water stations at tapitwater.com or on the iPhone using ManGo (free from the App Store). And at TapIt stations, you don’t pay for expensive containers that are carbon-costly and hard to recycle. If you’ve been buying a quart of water daily, that means TapIt can save you more than $500
a year.

Read our blog, Sign up for news. Become a TapIt partner and let everyone know that sustainable water matters to you.

It may seem basic to outsiders of the NYC area, but finding a location to refill a water bottle and going the restroom are rare commodities. This is one of the most effective concepts to battle the water bottle crisis and I hope all of you will support the cause.

It would be a great day to see the water bottle companies shutting down their production lines and starting a new trend. It would be an opportunity to SAVE LIVES by creating wells / drainage/ sewage and clean water access for struggling communities across the globe.

Terra Furnishings

2009-02-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

Terra Furnishings is the, "MA & PA" of furniture. They bring the true nature of furniture, craft and beauty into our spaces. Earth friendly, sustainable and hand crafted wood pieces are as elegant as they are unique. Their customer service is as attentive to the details as their product.

Furniture, like art, should have a purpose-function-general meaning. Some pieces should stand out as a bold statement and others may blend into the surroundings, as not to distract from other elements.

Furniture too often gets overlooked. We try to fill empty spaces and hope that in the end it looks "ok". With so many production pieces and warehouses filled to the brim with options what's a consumer to do? That is of course, if you have to consume at all?

Be a smart consumer...

1. Buy what you need
2. Think of the functionality
3. Question the production process and it's ramifications
4. Use less
5. Consider the life-cycle of the product
6. Appreciate how the product improves the quality of your life
7. Be selective in your quest to decorate
8. And most importantly... ENJOY THE PROCESS!

Global Furniture

2009-02-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Located at Lake Mendota, near the UN-Madison memorial Union Terrace shoreline.

You may find Artist/Designer, Hongtao Zhou, creating blissfully pristine furniture pieces out of snow [season depending]. Concerning the direction global warming is melting towards, Mr. Zhou, has created an installation in response.

Mr. Zhou:
"The furniture is in connection with the lake, the land(architecture), the air and the people and complete a sustainable life cycle with minimum environmental impact."

"My hope is that the climate furniture can help raise awareness of sustainable design with less or without negative impact."

"Following the weather changes, the furniture will back into the lake and become a part of the water body again and complete their beautiful green life cycle."

It's this type of creativeness, thoughtfulness and sensory reaction to a growing problem that brings awareness and urgency. It's difficult to truly appreciate how grave this issue is. We throw statistics around, make charts and even try and document the catastrophes, but somehow we lose the human scale/ proportion.

America the Dream

2009-02-13T14:49:00.000-08:00

Not to say this image justifies all the National problems, but it embodies the direction our society has evolved into.

I'm confident our new leadership can be a catalyst for change. As President Obama believes and so do the members of Eco.Design.Freak, the responsibility is upon us.

We need to prove to ourselves, our future generations and the world that America is a Nation devoted to humanity. If we take responsibility for our lifestyles and how we interact with our communities, we can inspire good.

For too long has our society relied on mass consumerism, cheap thrills and instant gratification. For too long have we outsourced what we have been proficient at. For too long have the numbers outweighed human condition.

The moment was yesterday to do something about our problems, the time is now to prove we are ready and tomorrow it will show that we are capable.

More or Less

2009-01-06T09:58:00.001-08:00

Reduce is not enough. Reuse is not enough. Recycle is not enough.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I want to introduce an idea.

We can all use less in our lifetime and do without much more than we think. This includes the little things such as disposable plastic cutlery, chopsticks and napkins [bring your own silverware, chopsticks and washcloth]. Regarding larger decisions such as the size of our living spaces, we need to ask ourselves a series of questions that determines a much great good.

As an active designer I would be happy to help you design a space that works and functions with your personal needs.

Twitter Remote Control

2008-12-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Control Lights with Twitter from Justin Wickett on Vimeo.

I can't tell you in great detail how exactly this works, but here's what I got from the video:

1. Twitter account
2. Cell phone
3. Texting capabilities
4. You need a INSTEON switch
5. Computer
6. Cable leading from computer to wall outlet that communicates to the switch.

Often I feel other ideas come from learning new technologies. So even if this doesn't seem completely necessary I could imagine other uses for something like this. Like if you forgot to turn your lights off, now you can. Or for secuirity reasons you could have turn them on from anywhere.

Pretty neat!

FREE TIBET

2008-08-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

James Powderly is a professional graffiti artist based in NYC. He was recently arrested in Beijing for demonstrating his more recognizable art which reflects political tones by using interactive laser lights. It's a temporary installation that leaves a lasting impression. His company or artistry group is called GRAFFITI RESEARCH LAB

They can detain but they can't silence!

NYC GRAFFITI ARTIST ARRESTED IN BEIJING

FREE TIBET MAIN SITE

Human Trafficking

2008-08-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

How much would you sell your child for?

How much are you worth?

Design comes in all kinds of forms. D E S I G N is a "word"- it's not a square, a prism or a car. This post in dedicated to a different type of design, the design of HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

This isn't a problem for the history books, this is as prevalent now as ever and quite possibly worse. China is a leader in this volatile and epidemic issue. It would be one thing if the government simply wasn't prepared to combat this, but for them to be an integral partner to the problem is heartbreaking.

You have a government controlling population [1 child per couple]. You must also register the child before conception to see if you are allowed. Anyone who is pregnant without proper authorization is subject to a mandated abortion. This means they FORCE YOU TO KILL YOUR UNBORN CHILD!

Even if you are lucky enough to still have your child the government can charge you with a fee so large your entire family will be in jeopardy of their basic human needs. If you can't pay they'll take everything you have. This is ONLY 1 example of how people are forced into a situation to SELL their children simply to make ends meet and kept from being charged with a criminal act. Worse yet, you have couples having children just to make money on the market...

This is how you have a power country filled to the brim with people, getting paid nothing and being treated as slaves so the rest of the world can get a Wal-mart filled with disposable products. Just a friendly reminder to think long and hard about your lifestyle and at what expense(s) your luxuries in life come. [Your...iPOD (...or electronics to be fair), Starbucks, Convenient Stores, Natural Resources, Advertisements, Packaging Materials... virtually anything].

But you have also created a market for HUMAN TRAFFICKING [ONLY 1 out of 20 are trafficked people are rescued]. People barter human life, sell it, steal it, dispose of it and use it to their advantage [often just for their own survival as well]. There is a hierarchy that exist, which you can find in the gender of the children, if they are deemed attractive, their age and genetic quality. But, this is helping to control a population dilemma while supplying [Supply and Demand 101] an industrialized civilization, so why would the government step in to extinguish this? They aren't and they have don't mean to.

I don't think I'm doing justice to the image of this act. Imagine a mother and father has their baby ripped from their lives, literally their arms at times. The government won't help, they can't afford to look themselves or hire help, other people in the community are unresponsive because they are going through the same thing and you are tortured by all the uncertainties of what's happening. This innocent boy or girl is being forced to do unspeakable acts. Cooking, cleaning, robbery, prostitution, murder, being adopted or even simply being beaten and eventually murdered. They tend to be miles or even countries away from their families with little or no chance of ever seeing home again. That's giving them the benefit of being able to remember what home once was.

As if that's not graphic enough. Because payment means so much, you have to live with selling your child to someone rich for LESS or someone poor for MORE. Why? Because wouldn't you want the best life for your child even if you couldn't give that to them, wouldn't you pay to make sure they have a better opportunity or in this case accept less money.

Human conditioning isn't ingrained as some perceive it's social conditioning. You can blame society, parenting, environment, politics, television, video games or any other media if you are that naive. The truth is we are a sponge from birth and what we absorb in life plays a pivotal role on our future, our decisions and means of life.

I hope enough people take each and every brothers and sisters hands and stand united against HUMAN TRAFFICKING. It's not a ghost or an entity too large to overcome. This is a man made tragedy that we deal with or close our eyes to. But change comes by opening our eyes and extending a hand to get dirty and to help, how literal or abstract that is I know we are capable.

COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
FACTS

Egg-tastic!!!

2007-10-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Article from Live Science about how egg shells
can become our next fuel source.

Article from International Herald Tribune
discussing the pros and cons of corn as fuel.

Article from Energy Current explaining the
ongoing research in the development of algae as a fuel.

Article and Video demonstrating how salt water
can be burned to create energy.

COFFEE TIME

2007-11-05T22:18:00.000-08:00

Starbucks Article
Fair Trade Coffee

I do love taking a corporate logo and redesigning it to showing it for what it really represents. However, I can't seem to keep doing that. For fear that I'm only representing it's image even more and the idea that, "Even Bad Advertising is Good Advertising".

I'm not advocating any bit of the coffee business. It's made up of some of the most corrupt individuals in the world. Workers are often treated like slaves, underpaid, exposed to terrible working conditions and bribed. Then there's the environmental concerns: highly potent chemicals, natural resources being absorbed and the affects on the natural wildlife. We should also look at our dependency of this chemical. Our consumption is one problem but also the economy that exist because of this little bean. The affects can be great: addiction, stunted growth, increased heart rate, leading cause of stress (caffeine) and bad breathe.

I am a coffee addict myself. I love knowing the differences between good and bad coffee. I love all the different flavors. I love waking up and preparing it and smelling it. I love going to my local independent shops and talking about it. I love reading a book and sipping on a strong black cup-o-joe. I love pounding my last sip before starting my day. I love my memories that I have with me drinking coffee. I love picking it out and reading about it. There's a lot to love about something so simple.

But there is too much at stake. Spend a moment trying to find the will power deep inside to make wiser choices. Sure this might mean you'll go through withdrawal syndrome, but you can wakeup and feel good about yourself instead of feeling awake.

If nothing else, try and buy from a fair trade vendor and research more about your aromatastic product.

How are the people treated, where was it processed, how was it produced, how was it packaged, how long was it roasted, how was it supplied/ shipped, how much is produced annually... be tasteful and WAKE UP!

Why Apple?

2007-08-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

This is an image I created from my vault of goodies.

As a designer I can't help but be drawn to the simplicity and design that APPLE offers. However, I have yet to make any monetary contribution to their company [even despite my brother's incentive of a $50 gift certificate]. I can't be so frivolous in my deception just from an aesthetic standpoint.

Who has an iPOD?... Now who has had to get more than (1) iPOD?

Life expectancy for the iPOD is (4) years. The statistics show more than 80% of you will have to replace your iPODs within (1.5) years after purchasing it.

Apple has fallen drastically short of making any progress in moving towards GREEN design. They have ranked actually lowest among the competition. Steve Jobs makes every opportunity to throw around their intentions and that has actually become a selling point for them. Despite a lack of action, their stock goes up and you keep feeling like the "Satisfied Fool". I don't mean to offend anyones intelligences but we need to look past MARKETED DESIGN and see the INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

What are the motives?
Who benefits?
What do you get for your loyalty?

Articles to back up my "opinion":

iPHONE

2007-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs is failing - Read for yourself...

Not that I needed another reason to HATE apple. But here is the latest:

1. Create a fancy product that will temporarily replace our already existing products
2. Build up the market around your own custom tailored services
3. Over price an inexpensive and harmful product, which we should question their initial development
4. Lie to the public about previous promises, possible attempts and failures in the past
5. Play off the dimwitted yet product savvy culture that cares more about keeping up with the Joneses then their personal responsibilities
6. Integrate harmful materials, chemicals and toxins into an already questionable product
7. Sell it at an extravagant price that seems to fit within a trend based research document
8. Make money to do this over and over and over again until you can retire at an early age - procreate and institute the same ideologies into our future generations
9. Become a permanent figure in history as a creator and provider of a modern day form of NARCISSISM but have a but load of money to take to your lonely black grave.

This is just another example of how deceptive and manipulative APPLE is. We can not be so easily fooled by their shiny exterior, simple design, minimal aesthetic and user friendly interfaces. Each time their stock rises, their sales increase, they gain market exposure we should be ashamed that we put materialism before social obligation.

Morals, Ethics, Beliefs, Opinions, Facts... these are the basis of our livelihood. They are what make us individuals in an increasing population. Without these we are savages and live blindly.

With our eyes gazing, mouths blaring and our minds illuminated we will not be thought of as ants marching. We will be lions hungry for truth, cautious of all dangers, protectors of our surroundings and mindful beasts not to be reckoned with. Open wide, bite hard and bite off more than you can chew, rip into the pristine fleshy exterior of the prey, let their cries be heard across the plains, eat until the ground cascades red in all directions, let it be a beacon for others and leave behind remains to help nourish and satisfy until all that is left is a shell of what use to be and let that become the example of what we are capable of.

New Hybrid Bus

2007-10-12T06:10:00.001-07:00

[Article] Modern Hybrid Bus Transit

Some info for those non-New Yorkers.

We have a full line of Hybrid Bus systems already in use. But now there is a new series that decreased the sound pollution and addressed the environmental concern. This is by no means new technology, but I feel we should all be aware of the transit systems technological advances and how relevant these innovations play out in our own lives.

We have the options out there to reduce co2 emissions and make lifestyle choices that make dramatic improvements. Improvements on present conditions, future concerns, social environments and personal levels.

[walk, run, scooter, bicycle, segway, moped, dirt bike, vespa, motorcycle, hybrid car, car pool, bus, train, rollerblade, hoppity ball (that rubber ball thing with a handle), cannon launcher, astral projection]

... all these are logical alternatives

Cornell Chronicle Online

2007-09-20T14:14:00.001-07:00

BIODEGRADABLE COMPOSITES - CHRONICLE ONLINE

Aung San Suu kyi - Burma

2007-10-01T08:23:00.001-07:00

Aung San Suu kyi fought for Burma and was imprisoned unjustly. Her story and the continuation of Burma should be shared.

The following video is a montage Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan created. There is a short introduction before the song begins that explains some of the history.

Aung San Suu kyi is a liberator and is an example of how one person can change the world. If you want to know more or think you can help visit ACTION BURMA.

a CONVENIENT truth

2007-10-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Winston Churchill, speaking of the turning point battle of El Alamein,1942

[Article] Al Gore, the Nobel Peace Prize

2008 Presidential Candidates

2007-11-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

Here are the 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

On my best behavior I will say this...

It is an absolute tragedy when american idol receives more votes than our presidential election.

Lets break this down...

U. S. GOVERMENT:
People going to war, killing human beings, guarding our livelihood, creating a future for our country, aiding in the development and protection of others, building an economy for the world, creating new laws, generate revenue, provides and imports resources, etc...

American Idol:
Joe Schmo gets a contract to produce more crap in the world. If he/ she doesn't win they still will get a multi-million dollar contract. Sing, entertain, buy stuff, makes front page news with every new haircut, will make most dinner conversations, becomes a little girl(s) or boy(s) role model. Will fall off the face of the Earth in less than 5 years.

At least we will be singing new stupid songs while the world goes to hell.

Sounds like AMERICA to me!

VOTE NOW AMERICA!

The Precipice Alliance

2007-11-07T20:23:00.000-08:00

Website for THE PRECIPICE ALLIANCE

Where to start with this post...?

The Precipice Alliance was created to bring awareness of the global effects of climate change. It's an institute created to support art installations, creative freedom and inspiration. There are amazing resources on the site that I strongly recommend taking some personal time with exploring and sharing (Look for: "External Links" and "Sponsors"). I first heard of this through David Reinfurt - Dexter Sinister of O R G who spoke at Pecha Kucha.

Pecha Kucha was conceived in 2003 as a place for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. It's grown to be a melting pot of international issues, inspiring work and social awareness. It's really so much more than this, but it was born from these concepts in mind.

David Reinfurt spoke about Dubai and more specifically human rights.

Is it remarkable what Dubai has been able to achieve?
YES.
Did it come at a cost?
YES.
This cost was paid by financing but more importantly human life.

There won't ever be a definitive number to the people who lost their lives to create this fantasy land.
Why?
Because people were imported and treated as slaves. When they arrived they were given promises and false hopes. As soon as they arrived all their personal belongings were confiscated, including any personal identification, security cards, passports, photographs... anything and everything. Of course these documents were "conveniently misplaced" and never found again. I heard at that point they fabricated a figure of 3,000 people losing their lives when in actuality it was closer to 50,000.

Imagine needing financial help so badly that you would leave your family and country. Imagine giving up your rights and freedoms and identity to try and earn enough to send home for survival. Imagine giving up your life so other people can snowboard indoors.

CAN YOU?

I can't!!!