Bookshops are closing down like nobody’s business. So do they need rethinking for the electronic age? Rosanna de Lisle asks four firms of architects and designers to create the bookshop of their dreams
Author Archives: infophile
Steelcase And Susan Cain Design Offices For Introverts | Co.Design
Introverts of the workplace are having a moment. The office furniture company Steelcase teamed up with Susan Cain, author of the bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, to create a series of five spaces that address the need for more focus and privacy at work.
The collection, called Susan Cain Quiet Spaces, comes right in the middle of a long-established era in which open, non-hierarchical workplaces are the norm at any startup. But everyone knows how frustrating it is to take a phone call that requires privacy or to get serious creative work done amidst the distractions that naturally pop up in an open-plan office. “In the past we would talk about the benefits of collaboration, visibility, and the ability to show people work in progress,” explains Steelcase’s application design manager Vanessa Bradley. “There is a message here about balance.”
READ MORE: Steelcase And Susan Cain Design Offices For Introverts | Co.Design | business + design.
This Museum Gave Kids Crayon Helmets And Let Them Go Wild | Gizmodo
If drawing on the walls at home is a no-no, drawing on the walls at a museum is a massive dont-even-think-about-it. Or it was, until the playful design duo behind Matheny Studio teamed up with Melbournes National Gallery of Victoria to create a new on-site space where kids can strap on crayon studded helmets, shoes, and all kinds of wacky gear and go completely nuts. All. Over. Everything.
READ MORE” This Museum Gave Kids Crayon Helmets And Let Them Go Wild | Gizmodo
The Largest Makerspace On The Planet Opens In Columbus, Ohio | TechCrunch
Announced as far back as January, the efforts of founder Alex Bandar, COO Casey McCarty and Shop/Production Manger Matt Hatcher have finally come to fruition; the Columbus Idea Foundry — a 65,000 square ft. “makerspace” in the heart of Columbus, Ohio — is open in its brand new location.
READ MORE: The Largest Makerspace On The Planet Opens In Columbus, Ohio | TechCrunch
Sarah Lewis: Embrace the Near Win | TED.com
At her first museum job, art historian Sarah Lewis noticed something important about an artist she was studying: Not every artwork was a total masterpiece. She asks us to consider the role of the almost-failure, the near win, in our own lives. In our pursuit of success and mastery, is it actually our near wins that push us forward?
You Can Grab Software That Helped Pixar Make Wall-E For Free Soon | Gizmodo
If youre an aspiring animator, this might be the best news youll hear this month: Pixar is giving away—thats right, giving away—a version of RenderMan, its in-house rendering software. Gratis. No catch. Youll be able to download the program some time in August. READ MORE: You Can Grab Software That Helped Pixar Make Wall-E For Free Soon | Gizmodo
▶ The Librarians “The Upfronts” Trailer | YouTube
Why Librarians Save Lives | Epic Reads
Librarians are some of Mike Martin‘s favorite people ever. Why? Many reasons, but here’s the main one: THEY ARE FRAKKIN SUPERHEROES.This video, which was recorded at the Public Library Association 2014 conference, features interviews with some truly wonderful people including John Green’s “fairy godmother,” Ilene Cooper. It has a couple surprises at the end, too….via Why Librarians Save Lives | Blog | Epic Reads
The Most Important Insights From Mary Meeker’s 2014 Internet Trends Report | TechCrunch
A must-read that’s chock full of critical knowledge. Kleiner Perkins partner Mary Meeker’s data dumps have become a highly anticipated event in the tech industry, as her research helps everyone else level up.
The only problem is that the 2014 Internet Trends report is 164 slides of dense data, so we’ve broken it down into a digestible summary of the most important facts, including a look at whether we’re in a bubble.
READ: The Most Important Insights From Mary Meeker’s 2014 Internet Trends Report | TechCrunch.
Link to the PDF of the presentation.
A Brilliantly Simple Design Transforms Old Boxes Into School Desks And Bags | Co.Exist
Most schools in rural India can’t afford basic supplies like desks, and most of the students attending them can’t afford backpacks. The Bombay-based nonprofit Aarambh worked with designers to come up with an ingenious solution to both problems: Their simple stencil transforms old cardboard boxes into a convertible desk and school bag.
READ MORE: A Brilliantly Simple Design Transforms Old Boxes Into School Desks And Bags | Co.Exist | ideas + impact.
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