Bend, Flex, Ride

Ashawnta Jackson — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:36:07 +0000

I don’t personally commute via bicycle, but it’s very popular around these parts. But, for those far more fit than me, there’s this new and interesting development the b endable bike.

The bendable bike, created by industrial design student, Kevin Scott, was designed to prevent thefts by enabling riders to easily secure their bikes to any available post. With the press of a lever, the bendable bike goes from ride-ready to flexible. Right now, the bendable bike is still in the development stage, but be prepared to see it wrapped around a pole near you in the future.

Plastic Fantastic

Ashawnta Jackson — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:34:18 +0000

The news making that buzzing sound around the water cooler is the proposed plastic bag ban in Portland. It made me wonder; what’s to become of the bags we have now? Art, of course.

Which, of course, makes me wonder what of the other recyclables? Newspaper? Plastic bottles? The possibilities are endless.

WELCOME IDSA

Wendie Siverts — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:26:08 +0000

Welcome to Portland, IDSA members! We love the DIY theme. A big thanks to everyone who helped to make a great conference! Be sure and visit our neighborhood, Old Town/Chinatown, while you are here, and check out our favorite spots:

Compound (One word: Godzilla)

Ground Kontrol (Played Pacman lately?)

Tanner Goods/The Woodlands (High end design meets lumberjack)

Core77 (Minimum twelve styles of safety glasses to choose from)

Ping (Great restaurant featuring John Jays funky clock collection. Be sure and have the pork bun.)

East (Another Skylab institution)

Someday Lounge (Always something different. Seriously.)

Gilt Club (Great food + cool DIY lightbulb sculpture pendant)

Seven Planet (The Green General Store)

Hive Modern (Not really in Old Town anymore, but it used to be.)

Chinese Garden (Truly authentic)

FlatHED, Inc. (If you would like to stop in an see our office while you are in town, give us a ring and we’ll set something up!)

The Art of Clutter

Ashawnta Jackson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:50:39 +0000

So, my desk is incredibly messy. I admit it. There’s piles of paper, books, various office supplies taking up the space that should, ideally, be completely free. In a perfect world, I’d have a clear desk, an empty inbox, and hours to spare. In this world, though, I have a messy desk. But, the great thing about a messy desk is knowing that people just like me are able to take their inspiration from the clutter in their lives. Take the paperclip. I’ve got about a thousand of them fighting for space on my desk at any given moment, but from the paperclip, comes the idea for this- a beautiful, functional object. That’s the beauty of inspiration- never knowing quite where it’s going to come from. It could be the shape, the curve of an everyday object, or reimagining the idea of “waste.” And that, quite simply, makes me a little less anxious about the mess.

Beginning to End

Ashawnta Jackson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:50:02 +0000

There’s so much that happens between idea and product, whatever that product is. Writing, playing music, engineering, product design. Whatever the mind can conceive, has a long journey between thought and a finished, shiny thing you can hold in your hand.

One of the best things I’ve seen in a while is the new exhibit at the MoMA, called Talk to Me. Not only will the finished product be an exhibition

“on the communication between people and objects, and how designers write the initial script that enables the two parties to communicate effectively and elegantly,”

but the curators are documenting their process of selecting exhibitors. That sort of insider look at an idea, from conception to completion, is fascinating. This peek behind the curtain, adds a totally different dimension to the exhibition. It’s also really interesting to see how closely all types of creative output mirror each other. Art, technology, literature, and museum curating all take such similar steps to completion.

Recently Released

Wendie Siverts — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:10:56 +0000

Benchmade recently released 9CB Hook Knife. We worked with Benchmade’s engineering team to develop this knife. Design credits go to Mark Perusich and Monte Cook. Check it out here.

Welcome to our New Wordpress Blog

Wendie Siverts — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:37:17 +0000

Our blog is now powered by Wordpress, and now will be both a place to post FlatHED news as well as other design and product development related links. Hope to see you here. Please let us know your thoughts. Our website also recently enjoyed a makeover. Please report any navigation bugs or other issues to wendie at flathed dot com.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to developing the website, especially Kathrena Halsinger for our original layout as well as product photography, and Ashawnta Jackson for writing our project descriptions.

Jordco introduces eDX

Wendie Siverts — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:55:38 +0000

FlatHED worked with Jordco, Inc. to develop the eDX, a tool for dentists. Using Jordco’s proprietary technology, the eDX helps your dentist find that broken tooth.

Go to Jordco’s website.

Intel Corporation Rich Creek Concept in next Innovation

Wendie Siverts — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:55:31 +0000

Working in conjunction with Intel industrial designers, FlatHED developed this white box laptop. Designed to leverage interchangeable Intel building blocks, the platform reduces the expense of custom PC components.

Tuxedos- check. Evening gowns-check. Spontaneously shocked acceptance speech discreetly tucked into pocket-check.

Ashawnta Jackson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:23:11 +0000

It’s awards season here at FlatHED. We’re happy to announce that the PowerScout, designed for Dent Instruments, was recently named the Silver Award Winner in the fifth annual Dealer Design Awards. The Dealer Design Awards, sponsored by the Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News magazine, honor excellence in design and application for HVAC products.

The PowerScout provides energy consumption data for commercial, industrial, and retail environments. Energy monitoring equals energy efficiency, and we love being involved with a project that has a positive environmental impact. What can we say? We’re Portlanders.

Oh, and before we forget, we’d like to thank our mothers.

Go to DENT’s website.