Now starting an exciting collaboration with Elisabeth de Senneville, designing a charming futuristic vision (or so it seems at the moment). Elisabeth is a fascinating artist, a fashion designer and a pioneer of innovations in the area of textile. I do hope to reveal more details and images about that project as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, here is an image of the amazing jacket, which Elisabeth made especially for me. It is made out of her famous neoprene textile, and has a great simple cut (she has a whole neoprene collection). The fabric is micro perforated which makes it extremely light and increases breathability. 

Merci Elisabeth!

 Yeah!

“Look here, look here”:

That’s Zazaziza and the Undercover at Droog

Presenting at Harvard the WildUrban Radio, a unique device that allows pleasurable eavesdropping on our wildlife neighbours. The navigation knob allows you, the urban dweller, to explore various directions of near-by wild audio streaming. As we tune into the life of an animal, we can sync our daily routines with it, creating a new type of bond. This new connection may encourage further encounters in the urban spaces.

With the Ecology Media group, we present WildUrban - a fresh approach to life in the city as a space shared by humans as well as wild animals. You are welcome to check it out (March 30–May 17, 2009), at the exhibition taking place at Harvard GSD as part of the Ecological Urbanism Conference.

I have presented “Suspense”, a wireless energy lamp, at the Palais de Tokyo. The lamp celebrated the TeslaManiacs, an art-science event regarding wireless energy, as a part of the Gakona exhibition. Since JB and I are in the US at the moment, we have enjoyed a transatlantic live video-audio conversation with the TeslaManiacs and Dorkbot in Paris. We have presented the history of wireless energy, and started the debate about the vision of wireless energy and its possible consequences.

The Suspense is a playful lamp which lights up when hovering above the beaming table. The base of the lamp, designed from a simple coil, provides the wireless energy using induction. The closer it gets to the centre the higher the intensity of the light. So, here’s a first quick look of “Suspense”, the floating chandelier, in photos and video.

The month of January at MIT is a celebration of “Whatever you could Ever wish for”. This month is also known as IAP: Independent Activities Period , and basically, it welcomes almost any subject, lecture or activity to be chosen by the students, open, creative, free and loved. Whether it is Theology of Sustainability, Chocolate Making or Middle Eastern Drumming, it is taken seriously and being taught passionately.

Michael Bernstein organised a lovely little course called “Interactive Technology Design”, which introduces student to the world of Interaction design through a hands-on approach. For his course, I gave a short talk, “Interaction Design Process”, and then an introduction to basics electronics and Arduino, with JB. In a short time of two weeks, these guys achieved pretty interesting results, in their exclusive geeky MIT style. Check out these photos and this video that shows the IAP 6.964’s final projects.

A little research project that I stated about dynamic development, body modification and identity. This is an exploration of Aibo’s next steps of growing up.
Being a sophisticated AI persona, the Aibo starts its life as a puppy, with baby-like behaviour and neediness. Later with interactions and playful tasks it develops, it starts to walk, it learns about its space, new words etc.

But it seems like it was designed to stop its dynamic changing. At a certain moment you would expect a child to rebel, to rise up and show the world its own individual grown-up identity. What would that be in the world of Aibos?Aibos are attracted to the colour pink, could they enjoy a new hair do? Or maybe a trendy tattoo? So, yes, Aibo is growing up, and is seeking for new toys and for his own leisure pursuit. This Aibo seriously considers redefining his identity through his look.

The German design magazine PAGE, a monthly magazine about communication design, just published on their latest issue an article about wearables. It seems like an interesting article, a bit more profound than what we usually see in the trendy periodicals.

Two of my projects are shown there, the charming “Undercover” blanket (for the Droog design collection), and the fresh “Social Vibration” hoody. So, I also have my moment of pride :]

Thanks Ilona! for sending me this issue.

During the Sonar festival in BCN, I participated in a workshop, which had the longest name ever: ‘Creating Space, exploring the spatial properties of electromagnetic fields as a carrier for sound’. The workshop was held by Edwin van de Heide, at the lovely Hangar centre. I created there a device that would not only express the electromagnetic zones with sound, but also with light. As we explore the space, the LED turns brighter according to the presence of electromagnetic fields.

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I am very excited about next week workshop in Berlin. It’s called Wilderness in the City, and also has the French name “Cité Sauvage”, stay tuned for more. Find notes and new tools at our workshop initial blog.

Once again I had the great pleasure of visiting IDHO (Interaction Design Hands On) course of Holon Institute of Technology. I caught a glimpse of the last year exhibition; the leftovers of their prototypes look pretty slick. Check out their projects and exhibition video. Anyway, the IDHO team of 2008 seems to be very promising. The talk was about design process and wearables, since that is their next topic. They already hold some fancy looking prototypes and even wearables! It all took place at the charming space of the GarageGeek (the dorkbot-like community of Israel) in the casual ambiance of flip-flops and Goldstar beer. Bon courage IDHO students! Looking forward to seeing your results.