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The big day: VTech

scadinhongkong — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:23:35 +0000

The big day finally arrived. A little nervous, yes. Excited? Of course.

Eight weeks into spring quarter and just two days shy of having spent a full week in Hong Kong, the industrial design students -- Jesse, Marcus, Jacob, Ryan C., Julie, Matt, Will, Pat, Drew, Ryan, Ish, Bradley, Dan, Austin and Carl -- presented their final design concepts to VTech designers David Waterman and Joshua Fischer. And, safe to say, they blew away their captive audience.

David remarked that the work of the collective group is the best he's seen of any student work from any college in the world. The adjectives "impressive" and "professional" repeatedly preceded comments on the students' presentation skills, process sketches, research and concept ideas.

The group made SCAD history as the college's first-ever student group to travel internationally and present to a real world client. As professors Peter Fossick and Joel Wittkamp said later in the afternoon, while being interviewed along with Marcus and Jesse by the South China Morning Post (Young Post), it is the first of [hopefully] many future class experiences like Hong Kong.

During an evening reception for some of our company hosts at Felix's, David Waterman explained to a reporter from Hinge Magazine the necessity for design students to experience a class project such as the SCAD and VTech.

You guys ROCKED!!! Thank you for this amazing trip... HON

Gold Peak and TTi

scadinhongkong — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:40:14 +0000

The first day of design studio visits began with breakfast before heading to Gold Peak Group, a company that designs for brands such as Celestion, KEF and Clipsal.

Ishmael Adams waits for his noodles to arrive.

Ryan Wetjen-Barry gets a head start on breakfast.

Julie Biron and Matt Blew pose before heading in to meet with Gold Peak director of product planning and design Simon Davies.

Simon shows the students around Gold Peak's 3-D library of products.

Austin Brown listens intently to Simon talk about Gold Peak's work with KEF speakers.

A parting shot taken in one of Gold Peak's in-house environment labs. The studio installed various environments within their design offices in order to be able to test their products with consumers in a more realistic setting. We were in the living room; there is also a very realistic hotel room across the hall

Following Gold Peak, we headed to TTI, a company that designs power tools for brands such as Ryobi, Craftsman and Rigid. Note: TTI was Patrick's favorite visit.

Julie Biron is no match for the drill designed by TTI.

TTi industrial design manager Leon Yoong (left) and vice president of industrial design and concept development Alex Chunn (right) introduce us to the world of power tool design. TTi has aquired some of the strongest brands in the power tool industry

(Maybe) The Great Escape..

daszimmer — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:46:05 +0000

Mit vækkeur ringede.. Højt og grusomt, syntes jeg selv...

Jeg klaskede min knyttede næve ned over det lille SWATCH-ur og åbnede mine øjne, så godt som jeg nu kunne..

Det var middag, og jeg kunne godt mærke, at jeg havde siddet oppe til klokken 3 i nat...

Jeg rejste mit dvaske kadaver fra sengen, og begyndte at klæde mig på...

Sløvt gik jeg langsomt ned af trappen, og indtog en plads i køkkenet..

Jeg var dagen forinden taget hjem til de gamle, da jeg skulle have lidt afstand fra alle distraktionerne (jf. øl, kabeltv og Football Manager) i Dobbelt A, så jeg kunne blive færdig med mit teori til P4 projektet på Uni..

Anspændtheden var tydelig i mine skuldre denne morgen, og min mimik viste en smule nervøsitet, mens jeg slubrede mine cornflakes ned i mavesækken..

Jeg sad og stirrede lidt tomt ud i luften, og mest af alt lignede jeg en fjernstyret robot, der i takt løftede og sænkede skeen gang på gang..

Det var lørdag den 3. maj 2008, og Fulham skulle møde Birmingham i Premier League..

En vigtig kamp i den engelske bundstrid, og en af de vigtigste kampe i Fulhams historie..

Begge hold lå under nedrykningsstregen, og med en sejr kunne Fulham, hvis alt flaskede sig, rykke op over den røde streg..

Jeg varmede lidt op til bundbraget med kampen mellem Manchester United og West Ham, hvor "De Røde Djævle" klart var deres modstander overlegen..

Jeg sad selv og håbede på samme scenarie i Fulham kampen, men tvivlen lagde stadig i baghovedet..

Klokken var nu 15.46, og stillingen var 4-1 til Manchester United, der, selv med en mand i undertal, havde forholdsvis let spil mod et svækket West Ham mandskab, der dog bed godt fra sig i dele af kampen...

Tilbage i Kanal 5 studiet sad Claus Thomsen og indikerede, at han ikke troede på Fulhams overlevelseschancer, mens Jacob Laursen høfligt mente det modsatte..

"Bare Jacob Laursen får ret", tænkte jeg, hvorefter jeg søgte mod køleskabet for at finde en lille let snack til kampen..

Tilbage i lænestolen med et par leverdrenge i mit skød, var jeg nu klar til dagens helt store brag: Fulham versus Birmingham på Craven Cottage..

Kampen havde påtaget sig klart mest opmærksomhed i de engelske medier, da det var en kamp mellem liv og død, og man kunne næsten føle nervøsiteten gennem skærmen fra alle involverede...

Fulhams startellever havde fået selskab af tomåls-skytten fra sidste weekends meriterende comeback mod City, Diomansy Kamara, mens David Healy havde taget plads på bænken..

På slaget fire fløjtede dommer Chris Foy kampen i gang, og jeg kunne nu se frem til 90 neglebidende minutter i selskab med to hårdt kæmpende mandskaber i bunden af verdens bedste liga.

Brian McBride - GOOOOOAAALLLL

Fulham var altdominerende i startfasen af kampen, og man fornemmede, at de virkelig prøvede at vise deres fans, at de fortjente deres plads blandt de bedste..

Flot flydende spil langs jorden førte til flere gode chancer for Fulham, der kulminerede i Brian McBrides hovedstød på overliggeren allerede efter fem minutter, som dog fejlagtigt blev dømt offside.

Efter tyve Fulham dominerede minutter, begyndte Birmingham at komme bedre med i kampen. Brede Hangeland kom godt imellem et par halvfarlige Birmingham forsøg, og den gigantiske midtstopper viste rigtigt format i denne hektiske fase af matchen.

I det 42. minut kunne det dog være gået galt, da James McFadden, efter et Jimmy Bullard boldtab på midten af banen, fandt en fri Mikael Forssell oppe i front, men en befriende fod fra nordirske Aaron Hughes reddede Fulham fra at komme bagud..

De to hold måtte gå til pausen med stillingen 0-0, men man fornemmede stadig en opløftet stemning på et fyldt og larmende Craven Cottage.

"Pyha...", tænkte jeg, "... jeg er sgu for gammel til det her pis", mens mit hjerte langsomt begyndte at optage en normal hastighed efter hektiske 45 minutter.

Et hurtigt kvarter senere gik de to hold på banen til anden halvleg, og pludseligt røg mit signal på computeren... "NEEEEEJJJ", råbte jeg, mens jeg bandede og svovlede...

Jeg spurtede ind og hev kablet til modemmet ud, som man nu gør, når Internettet ikke virker... Men intet skete, og forbindelsen var stadig ikke at se nogen steder... "Argggh.. Det er ikke fair", småhulkede jeg, mens jeg forbandede alt og alle...

"GOD DAMMIT YOU F*CKING PIECE OF CRAP"

"Det er ikke fair, det er ikke fair, det er ikke fair", blev jeg ved med at gentage, alt imens jeg rodede rundt med ledningerne bag i computeren...

Efter 7 minutters frustrationer var signalet på mystisk vis tilbage, og jeg hoppede ind i det 50. minut...

Bare to minutter senere sendte Jimmy Bullard et frispark ind i feltet, hvor Brian McBride dukkede op med sin amerikanske skal, og gjorde det til 1-0!!

"JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!", råbte jeg højlydt, mens min mor var ved at tabe både potter og pander... "Du var ved at give mig et hjerteanfald", vrissede hun, mens jeg hoppede rundt i køkkenet som en kænguru på speed...

Troen var for alvor tilbage, og det var da også Fulham, der stadig havde teten.. Bare få minutter efter havde Kamara en ganske god chance for at afgøre kampen, men hans flade skud voldte ingen problemer for den tidligere Fulham-keeper Maik Taylor.

Mellem det 70. minut og det 80. minut begyndte Fulham at have lige lovligt mange boldtab, som dog ikke førte til det helt store for modstanderholdet, der kvitterede med selv at smide bolden tilbage i Fulhams sort/hvide favn.

I Fulhams højreside fortsatte walisiske Simon Davies med at voldtage Birminghams venstreback med mange gode raids op af kanten.

Bagved ham fortsatte, den i Tottenham, lånte Paul Stalteri med at overbevise ledelsen om, at han ikke skulle have en permanent kontrakt.. Jeg ved ikke selv, hvor mange gange jeg råbte: "Hvad Fanden laver du Paul Stalteri din canadiske retarterede skovhugger"!!!

Klokken rundede nu de 85 minutter..

Frustrationerne hos Birmingham-spillere og tilhængerne var nu brudt ud i lys lue, mens Fulham fansene optimistiske sad og svingede med flag, scarfs og hvad de ellers havde i hænderne..

Ude på sidelinjen stod træner Roy Hodgson og var eftertænksom, mens ejer Mohammed Al-Fayed så mere rolig ud med et uldtæppe foldet hen over sine ben.

Fulham har dog i denne sæson indkasseret mange mål i de sidste ti minutter, så jeg sad stadig og borede mine negle ned i egetræsbordet foran mig.. Desuden har Fulham været foran i 13 kampe og kun vundet tre, så intet under at dette sad i baghovedet...

Erik Nevland - Pure Class

Men ud af det blå kom forløsningen i det 87. minut...

Venstreback Paul Konchesky hoofer en lang hold op af banen, hvor Birminghams venstreback, den tidligere Fulham-mand Frank Queudrue, ser ud til at have styr på begivenhederne..

Men Queudrue går håbløst galt i byen, og får slet ikke kontrol over bolden, hvorefter indskiftede Erik Nevland hugger den lille runde kugle og udplacerer Taylor i Birmingham målet..

Mine øjne blev større end tekopper (Lige en lille intertekstuel reference til Fyrtøjet), og jeg gryntede højt i triumf, som boede jeg i en hule sammen med Osama i Afghanistans bjergrige sydvestlige region... Jeg strakte begge arme op i luften, knyttede mine næver og skrålede: "FULHAAAAAAAAM... YAAARRRRRRHHHH"..

Min mutter fik igen et chok, men undlod at kommentere på det, andet end: "Nå, nu står der to nul eller hva?"... Jeg havde store bloklys i øjnene, og smilet fyldte hele mit lalleglade fjæs, for hun havde ret..

2-0... Nu kunne det ikke gå galt... Og det gjorde det da heller ikke...

Chris Foy fløjtede af efter fire minutters overtid og alle supporterne holdte deres "Come On You Whites" skilte op mod himmelen..

Klasse perfomance med gude spillere, som Martin Birn sikkert ville have udtrykt det!

Samtidig tabte Reading til Spurs, og det betyder, at Fulham selv kan afgøre sin skæbne mod Pompey på udebane i næste uge.. En gyser af dimensioner!

Portsmouth har ikke noget at kæmpe for samtidig med, at de har en pokalfinale få dage senere... Fulham har naturligvis ikke den bedste udebanestatistik, men med to udebanesejre i træk er formen god, og jeg håber naturligvis på et hattrick...

"Cheer Up Roy, you old buggar, We got a fucking Victory"

Come On You Whites

Das Zimmer direkte fra Craven Cottage blandt eufori og pure class!

Trewick - "We Must Bounce Back"

ireson69 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:02:12 +0000

Hereford United's first team coach John Trewick has stressed the importance of bouncing straight back against Chester City after a poor Easter preiod.

Although still in third, Herefords last two results has given the chasing pack the opportunity to catch up, and also has allowed the top two to disappear out of sight.

Trewick said: "We are still in a very healthy position, but we must bounce back in the game at home to Chester City."

Simon Davies' Chester side have struggled in recent times and find themselves in 19th place.

Before Hereford can comprehend three points against The Seals though, The Bulls face Westfields in the HFA Senior Cup.

Turner is almost certain to rest many if not all of his first teamers for this game as in their last outing in this competiton Hereford saw off Ledbury Town in a convincing 8-0 rout.

Where now for Wales as Giggs turns his back?

Tom Williams — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:49:18 +0000

Ryan Giggs is to retire from international football after Saturday’s game against the Czech Republic in Cardiff. The timing of the announcement may create a sense of shock, but it’s not really that big a surprise.

It is now unfortunately the norm for players seeking to prolong their careers to announce their retirement from international football, even though they seem fully capable of representing their country.

Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes are two recent examples, and while Shearer’s departure left a void in England’s front line that has still not been filled, Scholes’s performances for Man United this season suggest he is still England’s most effective attacking midfielder.

Gary Speed is still one of the Premiership’s most consistent performers, but Wales have been without his services since 2004, and now Giggs is set to join him.

As a Welshman, it is a tremendous disappointment. Since bursting onto the international scene as a 17 year-old, Giggs’s Wales career has been dogged by accusations that he elected to miss seemingly insignificant friendlies by claiming to be injured when he was fit enough to play for his club. But still the hope persisted that only with Giggs to the fore could Wales hope to qualify for a major tournament.

Only since John Toshack handed him the captain’s armband has he appeared consistently for his country, and now he decides to retire.

Toshack has received a lot of flak for his policy of blooding very young players for the national side and persisting with a slightly antiquated 5-3-2 formation, but although the current qualifying campaign has been something of a let-down, in players like Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Lewin Nyatanga and Jason Koumas there is real hope for the future.

Toshack needs Giggs to help the youngsters on. Since the end of the Hughes/Rush/Southall era, he has been Wales’s only world class player. Lose Giggs, and Wales lose not only a significant force on the pitch but a huge chunk of credibility - and marketing appeal - off it.

The current Wales team is a disjointed side. New players are still bedding in. The young players will want to look to Giggs for guidance ahead of the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign (which has long been Toshack’s stated objective), but he has turned his back. The fact he couldn’t even see out the rest of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign seems to represent a damning indictment of the supposed potential in the team.

His recent commitment to the Welsh cause has allowed some Welsh fans to forgive his previous reluctance to play, but the decision now to turn his back on this young, developing side in favour of his club is unlikely to be forgotten.

Same old Tosh

Tom Williams — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 17:31:58 +0000

Another much-hyped Euro 2008 qualifier, another dismal defeat for Wales. In mitigation, it was a fairly close game - and in the second half Wales actually managed to play some decent football - but once again there was no pace or penetration to our play, and we looked worryingly feeble at the back.

And why, when our defenders are the most inexperienced members of our squad, does John Toshack go out of his way to field five of them? The 5-3-2 has to be abandoned against San Marino on Wednesday. Defensively we have been weak for a long time, and it’s time to start playing to the few strengths we have, namely pace and enterprise on the flanks and the ability to pass the ball in midfield.

Our lack of presence up front was typified by the fact our nominal centre forwards – Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy – were wearing numbers usually worn by wingers (11 and 7). Neither Giggs nor Bellamy want to be a centre forward, and in the absence of a target man, why were we once again reduced to lumping aimless balls into the box?

Thankfully Jason Koumas will be back in the team for San Marino. We certainly missed his composure on the ball and eye for a pass at Croke Park.

Watching us limp apologetically towards another dispiriting defeat, I began to think about how great our team could be if we weren’t beset by injuries and Toshack hadn’t hounded some of our best players into retirement.

Imagine a 4-2-3-1 with Gabbidon and Delany restored to the defence, Robbie Savage and Gary Speed anchoring the midfield, and Giggs, Koumas and Davies supplying the ammunition for Bellamy up front. And John Oster on the bench. Why, when there is such a dearth of quality in the squad, does he continue to be overlooked?

So more questions for John Toshack to answer. Most Welsh fans accept that we are still going through a transition period. But he’s been in charge for nearly two and a half years now, and if results and performances don’t start improving, the fans' patience will begin to run out.

In their own words: Bradley Bowers

scadinhongkong — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:00:52 +0000

By Bradley Bowers

China can design. That was the thought running through my head as I listened to presentations today. China can design systems; China can design sexy products; China can even design brand identities and resurrect old faithful brands, like Hoover.

China has up its sleeves countless tricks the likes of which the world has not seen since the age of old master designers. The designers of yore, the Frank Lloyd Wrights of the world, the Eames’s, Jean Prouve and so on would look at the China of our current world and grow gitty with anticipation; they would see it, the wonder that China holds.

If good design means being cohesive from start to finish then Leon Yoong, director of industrial design at TTi, knows good design. The designers at Gold Peak also understand what it takes to make design affordable, accountable and essential. It seems, according to both Simon and Leon, directors at GP and TTi respectively, that good design starts with good research and a deep understanding of the client, the customer and the market.

If this foundation isn’t there, then can you really call yourself a designer? It seems to me that in this day and age there are too many people calling themselves designers when they merely push lines around a page and call it done.

Today was refreshing. It strengthened a flame in me that was starting to dwindle, a flame that asked: Is the world moving away from people and towards systems and can we right the wrongs of our past? Today’s presentations may not be the end all, be all solutions to my questions but it put a few thoughts at ease.

Yes, China is the new frontier, and yes, China is the future of design. I am proud that one day I’ll be able to say that I was there when the world looked for a solution and found it sleeping in the green hills of China.

Bradley's portrait atop a piece of furniture designed by Freeman Lau, whose studio we visited at the InnoCentre May 16.