Nowadays, DSLR cameras are not just for still photography. They are the high definition video cameras of choice for many independent film makers as well as hobbyists. There are dozens of ‘steadicam’ solutions on the market specifically designed for use with DSLR cameras, and these products will take a lot of the shakiness out of motion photography. The client for this project wanted a product which not only acted as a steadicam, but also opened up many more expressive options in DSLR videography. The challenge was to incorporate a steadicam, boom camera (for high shots), a glide track (for smooth pan and push shots), a shoulder mount, and a tripod all into one compact, low cost product.

As always, I started the project with extensive research. First I looked into the market, potential consumer bases, competing product designs and price points, functional and aesthetic references, etc. I set up interviews with videographer hobbyists and independent film producers to ask them about what they would want out of this product.

Independent filmmakers seemed to value portability and low setup time as primary product attributes. Hobbyists were concerned about cost and the variety of shots they could get from one product. Using those insights, I dove into conceptualizing forms that could satisfy the many demands of this product idea. Hundreds of napkin sketches later, everything ‘clicked’ into a simple shape: An arc. This simple shape could be quickly transformed into any of the desired configurations and its symmetrical design would be low cost. I originally dubbed it the DSL-ARC, and although clever, that name was eventually dropped in favor of the more descriptive “Indieshot.”

Indieshot is currently in the process of being funded and developed further for manufacturing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/technology-17357374?SThisEM

Is this approach to design helpful and welcome? Yes. I look for every opportunity I can find in my designs to incorporate sustainable practices and to encourage the end user to do the same. I want to encourage people to make good decisions for themselves and others. However, I think that an effort to affect peoples’ emotional decision making is most effectively approached at a family and community level. The way many american cities and communities are designed is causing a great deal of isolation and subsequent apathy. I would like to see some similar talks given by city planners.

21st Century Design from Artefact on Vimeo.

The External World from David OReilly on Vimeo.

People are beginning to realize what health professionals have known for years. Sitting all day at work is bad for you. Really bad for you.

There are a number of solutions on the market for adjustable height desks which enable and encourage standing for a portion of the day. However, none of the adjustable height desks available are configurable as a true modern high tech workstation. Many sedentary occupations also involve the use of computers, but this fact seems largely ignored by designs on the market. A survey of the adjustable height desk market will show that the designs out there do not take much into consideration beyond a vertically adjustable surface. A modern workstation is more than just a work surface. It requires the consideration of desktop computers, printers, multiple electronic accessories, etc. The Ascension Adjustable Height Workstation is the first product which takes both the health concerns of sedentary occupations and the technology that goes along with them into account.

This is the Superskin Helmet developed by Dr. Ken Phillips at Lazer helmets. The helmet design mimics the way skin stretches around bone to reduce the transferred rotational force from a glancing impact. More at Lazer Helmet’s website.