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Spring 2018 Reflections
Over this past semester I believe I have made tremendous strides in being willing to take risks. Most notably in the Street Seats...
spencerjames
May 5, 20181 min read


Wicked problems
What product designers are familiar with making is something physical. But there are many experiences which have been designed. Joe...
spencerjames
May 3, 20181 min read


Going strapless?
Burton has recently unveiled their new flagship system called Step On bindings. Unlike traditional snowboard bindings the front straps...
spencerjames
May 1, 20182 min read


Design outside the box
As a pupil of product design, we often look to the world famous creators and contemplate what makes an idea achieve greatness. Is it how...
spencerjames
Apr 28, 20181 min read


Sound: a physical medium
This weekend I was able to attend Record Store Day 2018. This is a national event held by independent local record stores. Each store has...
spencerjames
Apr 22, 20181 min read


An imperfect art?
I had never fully realized the processes behind glassblowing, a true art form. One afternoon I could watch for hours as molten sand is...
spencerjames
Apr 14, 20181 min read


Capturing moments in time
In the modern age, millennial's are used to the ability of applying Sepia tones and other color filters to their photos. This can be done...
spencerjames
Apr 11, 20181 min read


Getting personal
Everyone has experienced the awkward space of an elevator. This is the study of personal space known as proxemics. I was first introduced...
spencerjames
Apr 6, 20181 min read


The intersection of beauty and function
The Eames Lounge Chair. A classic of contemporary design. You can see them in museums, on TV shows, in architectural renders, and much...
spencerjames
Apr 1, 20181 min read


A better hammock?
Browsing Kickstarter design projects has always been one of my favorite things to see what else is being made out there. One product I...
spencerjames
Mar 25, 20181 min read


Unapologetic and unrestrained ideas
Practical cars. Fast cars. Crazy cars. The Chevrolet SSR is the later. No brainchild is more outlandish. It is a convertible pickup truck...
spencerjames
Mar 16, 20181 min read


Redesign not needed
Brands, products, and ideas are constantly in search of a revival through a face-lift. This is commonly done to reinvigorate or give a...
spencerjames
Mar 5, 20182 min read


Bygone innovation
The story of aviation could not be told without mentioning the Concorde. This plane could travel at twice the speed of sound at 1,354...
spencerjames
Feb 22, 20182 min read


Bottling: tried and true?
Water bottle design has largely remained unchanged in its history of production. We are familiar with tall cylindrical masses of plastic...
spencerjames
Feb 17, 20181 min read


The stuff ambition is made of
Deep in the recesses of the Infiniti design department lives the Prototype 9 concept racer. This all-electric vehicle uses the Nissan...
spencerjames
Feb 5, 20181 min read


Insight from the past
The Iguaneye "Jungle" is a flip-flop like no other. These 3-d printed shoes enhance dexterity and mobility lost in conventional...
spencerjames
Dec 16, 20171 min read


Innovation is iteration
Portable chargers have become commonplace. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes but the similar thread between them all is cheap...
spencerjames
Dec 13, 20171 min read


Unintended beauty
Construction is often fixed. Products are constantly improvised to accommodate a spontaneous need. But design that intentionally...
spencerjames
Dec 11, 20171 min read


Design as expression
As a designer my comfort zone lies in making products functional. If their is no obvious purpose or use as a tool, I am often not...
spencerjames
Dec 8, 20171 min read


Products for Privacy
Objects can be designed for many reasons: as a utility, a collector's item, and in some nontraditional cases, for privacy. The Ishu scarf...
spencerjames
Dec 4, 20171 min read
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