The video will be posted on Saturday, October 15th after the CEO for Change Launch Party!

If you are in the Atlanta area, I hope to see you there!

Two out of three colors painted.

Update on my “environmental socket protector” concept — here is a paper prototype of what one set (two covers) would look like.

I am working on getting a few of these laser cut this week…

Check back for progress!

Random project I worked on this weekend: a pop-up book light.

A book binding converted into a light with an accordion-felt star that pops up when you open it. This is just my first prototype; I really need to get my hands on a sewing machine. I’m also still working on the electronics that go inside. All of the inside pages that I gutted out will be recycled.

I love the opening action that is so inherent to books. Sort of like opening a gift. Opening a new experience. Opening a new adventure! So, I wanted to create a fun spin on “opening” with this pop-up surprise.

I can imagine this light sitting on a book shelf, and being retrieved for a variety of uses. I’m going to hook it up with a rechargeable battery pack and some bright white LEDs. Since its portable, it could be useful camping — a new take on campfire stories perhaps. Or a really fun, interactive children’s toy. There could be cut outs in the felt to make all sorts of silly characters.

Stay tuned for another prototype soon.

It’s crazy how much plastic shrinks. Look at how cute these shrunken plastic bags are!

I always struggle with the huge gap between disposable products and valuable ones. It doesn’t make much sense that some disposable products (like plastic bags) are made out of a material that do not allow itself to really be properly disposed of (proper disposal being in a closed loop of course ).

It is so fascinating that a man-made material like plastic is associated with cheapness…  when its chemical make up suggests the exact opposite — robustness. Plastic has so many favorable properties (ex – waterproof, doesn’t degrade) to make a robust, valuable product. Why are so many disposable products made out of plastic?

Is it because of plastic’s low manufacturing cost? Or it’s aesthetic properties? Probably a combination of both.

I’m experimenting with molding plastic bags into a new form (like over a glass cup in the photo above). When melted, the plastic bag takes on this really interesting translucent, fibrous texture. As cliche as it is, I think it could look pretty cool as a light.

I think I just found a project to work on this weekend…

New project!

I recently just picked up a new project with a former industrial design professor Steve Chininis and my designer-extraordinaire roommate Joyce. We are going to design an arts-and-crafts product for kiddies made out of ecological materials. Ecological materials is very broad right now, we are looking into some recycled fibers and other things.

Its the type of product kids would make at school or camp. They can paint it, write on it, glitterize it and then take it home. Can’t wait to start brainstorming. I hope I can come up with a material that is somewhat educational and fun to talk about as well as a good medium for creativity. Its fun returning to the age of 8 and thinking about what the coolest out-of-this-world craft project would be that I couldn’t wait to go home and tell my mom about.

I am not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it before, but the main work I am involved in right now is designing medical devices for vaccination outreach programs in developing countries. It is fantastic, challenging design work that I really enjoy… but it will be nice to have this side project as an outlet for some silliness.

Man, I love industrial design. There is such a wide range of things to create!

“The first rule of sustainability is to align with natural forces, or at least not try to defy them”.

I am not one of those people who will encourage you to be green today just because its Earth Day. EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY.

I recently went on a trip to Europe. I am a light-packer, so all I brought was a backpack and a purse. I hate dragging around suitcases and checking luggage. It is never the right time, weather, or place to carry around heavy shit! So, why do it?

Anyways, on my return flight back to the US, I decided to check my bag. I went through normal procedures, approached the Continental check-in counter, handed over my passport, and then placed my backpack on the conveyor belt. Everything was going smoothly until the Continental employee lifted up my backpack and placed it in a plastic bag big enough to fit a human being (top photo).

I immediately said, “Wait! Why are you doing that?”. I didn’t have any loose contents. I didn’t have any liquids that would spill out. My backpack is already a package for my belongings, why did I need another one?

The employee told me that it was Continental’s policy to bag anything with a lot of straps because it may get stuck or caught on something while traveling down conveyor belts and chutes. Okay, I understand their concern, but c’mon! Look at this plastic bag, it is ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that when I had to run to customs so I could make my connecting flight, I couldn’t open the bag or access any of the straps. I had to carry that thing over my shoulder like Santa Claus running through the terminal.

When I arrived back in Atlanta, all I could do was rip the bag off and throw it away. What would have been a better method of securing my backpacks straps? Something I will definitely brainstorm.

I had a similar experience when I was in Italy in 2009 and wanted to check a bag that was deemed insecure. So, the check-in attendant directed me to have my bag shrink-wrapped in plastic if I wanted to check it. The result is the bottom photo. At least the Italians had the decency to add a handle!

One popular discussion is – What’s more green: An e-book or a paper book? On one hand, an e-book spares the use of paper and cutting down of trees. However, an electronic book must obviously be viewed on an electronic device, which utilizes electricity. Most sources of electricity today (not all) come from coal power plants. In addition to using the natural resources of trees, we should also consider that processing paper and physically manufacturing the book also consumes energy (probably electricity and coal).

So we have e-book (coal) vs. paper book (trees + coal). This is only comparing natural resource usage. What about these products’ individual effects over time? Every time an e-book is viewed, it is using coal. Every time a paper book is viewed, it is not killing more trees. I think its really important to look at the entire product life cycle before assessing its “sustainability”.

A paper book goes through a period of time where it consumes natural resources and energy, but then it lives the rest of its life as a harmless artifact/tool. An e-book does not require a lot of energy to produce, since it is digital, but requires energy to continually exist.

I am still not sure where I stand. What do you think? E-books or paper books?