Amazing Cool Barcode

What’s in a barcode? More than you might imagine, when idealized through the eyes of some very creative Japanese artists.

You will be amazed at what can be done with a few straight lines and a push to think outside of a very ordinary box.

UPC symbols are ubiquitous and constant reminders that we are a civilization of consumers. Up until now, there was no distinguishing one from the other.

That’s all changed since a Japanese company named D-Barcode came up with some very creative and innovative ideas on how to make these uninteresting lines actually enjoyable to look upon.

It is said that barcodes are the bane of the modern graphic designer. Many distribution people compound the headache by insisting on conspicuous white rectangles, which may or may not fit the context involved. The changes are little and subtle, and yet at the same time, enormous.

Now picking up a bottle or box at the supermarket may bring a smile to your face, not because of a price reduction but rather form a funny unexpected face or form smiling back at you from the label on the back of the package.
This enhancement of the consumer experience is brilliant on many levels. But why keep talking? Check out these cool barcodes and judge for yourself!

Google Office In Zurich

Damn, don't you want to work...ehem...(what work?!) in Google? They have everything a person needs in there and even more. They have massage chairs, slides, pool tables and other games, private cabins and much more. It's a good idea to have these atmosphere, where Google will let their 'player' do as creative as they can. These photos are from Google office in Zurich. If somehow you are a googleians or Google robots crawling to this site. Damn...we are all envy you playground! hahaha...



















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UFO Conference Phone

Did you see all the cool stuff Google has installed in its office for the benefit of its employees? I’m sure most of us don’t even get a fraction of what those guys have. Without being envious, I think its time we spoke to our bosses and at least got some funky looking gadgets on our desks! Like this Conference System that looks like an odd UFO or something. I’m sure if we look into its specs, we’ll find something to rave about it to THE BOSS.

Dishy to look at, the system features an extra-flat Hi-Fi speaker disk along with a detachable remote. The system is hooked up to Wi-Fi so that you are always on the top of the latest buzz. It automatically updates you on the company’s contact book, calendar, meetings alarm, business trip schedule reminders and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Moving on to the remote, it’s like a solid piece of cylinder in your hands. It has a touch dial interface that comes to life when you use it. Color codes differentiate between incoming messages, voice mails and calls. To keep it going, it tanks up using Induction technology.
Sour gapes or whatever! If can’t have a Google Office then I want this!

Designer: Guillaume Bordas

Wrist Headset Bluetooth

Every once in a while, some new concept comes out that is actually a good idea. We have been seeing a lot of wrist watches that can act as mobile phones lately, but I think we are just creating those to fulfill some vintage Dick Tracy fantasy. This is one concept wrist phone device that won’t require you to talk to your wrist.

The On Time Headset System is a bracelet that comes with a pop-out wireless headset. I suppose that is a better place to put your Bluetooth headset than your pocket.

The bracelet has a secondary display, so if your headset rings, you can just look down and see who is calling. I would imagine that the bracelet display can show the time, making it a very fancy wristwatch.

By the way, did I mention that the displays are both touchscreens? Well, they are, and they would hopefully not require tiny fingertips in order to use.

My source referred to the OnTime Headset System as the “future of bling”, and I can’t help but feel that it is about time that tech and bling combined to create something like this. Well, as I mentioned before, this is only a concept, but I already want it on my wrist.

Lighting Tea Bag

Surely you caffeine addicts will agree, coffee truly is the sexually oriented drink - It picks you up! It illuminates your world, if I may say so. Designer / Bookmark Maker Wonsik Chae takes this concept to an elegant level by making the drop-in tea bag light up your environment chemically. For those whose eyes are sensitive to brightness in the mornings, I recommend a different cup. For those who love lamp(s), drop it!

As the tea bag empties its taste into a tea cup, so does the “Lighting Bag” empty its light into any fluid-holding container. What Wonsik hopes to accomplish with this project is to tear down the idea that creating forms from which light can be projected must be a difficult task - he wants light forms to flow easily.

Having a manifesto for your industrial design project can be a dangerous rope to walk - what do you make of Wonsik’s liquid light concept?