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Welcome to designbivouac’s inspiration collection.
Exploring design and innovation.
Over 30 years of collaboration, designbivouac has uncovered lasting insights. Inspirations is a curated collection of inspirational objects and ideas shaping a continuous journey of creative exploration.
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CudaJet: The Underwater Jetpack
The CudaJet is a true underwater jetpack—worn like a backpack, allowing divers to glide hands-free beneath the surface. Instead of holding onto bulky sea scooters or kicking with fins, your body becomes the controller. Steering is accomplished through subtle shifts in posture, making the experience feel more akin to underwater flight than traditional diving.
The CudaJet is a true underwater jetpack—worn like a backpack, allowing divers to glide hands-free beneath the surface. Instead of holding onto bulky sea scooters or kicking with fins, your body becomes the controller. Steering is accomplished through subtle shifts in posture, making the experience feel more akin to underwater flight than traditional diving.
Its sleek hydrodynamic shell, carbon fiber harness, and compact propulsion system generate up to 40 kilograms of thrust, propelling users to speeds of around 3 meters per second. It’s fast, quiet, and fluid—designed to feel more like a creature of the sea than a machine.
Experience & Context
Initially developed for professional divers and rescue teams, the CudaJet is now making waves in the luxury adventure scene. Resorts in the Maldives and other high-end destinations offer it as an exclusive experience, allowing guests to explore reefs and open water with an unprecedented sense of freedom.
Users describe it as “weightless flying,” with effortless control and a sensation of immersion that blurs the line between human and marine life. Its portability also makes it attractive for expedition teams, filmmakers, and marine scientists.
Why It Matters
CudaJet isn’t just a cool gadget—it represents a leap forward in how we interact with the natural world. It blends bio-inspired motion with cutting-edge design, offering a new way to experience underwater environments while minimizing its impact. For designers, technologists, and adventurers alike, the CudaJet prompts questions about future mobility, human-machine interaction, and the ethics of exploration in fragile ecosystems. It’s a bold new chapter in the story of underwater design.
Pros
Hands-free operation with body-directed movement
Precision throttle control for smooth acceleration
Rechargeable and eco-conscious—no fuel required
Durable, sleek, and highly engineered for both comfort and performance
Considerations
Premium price (~$18,000–$30,000 depending on customization)
Requires breath-hold diving; not compatible with scuba systems
Fitness, confidence, and dive safety knowledge are prerequisites
Not suited for shallow or obstacle-heavy water without training
Technical Specs (2025 Model)
Weight (on land): Approximately 13.2 kg for the jetpack unit
Max depth: 40 m (factory-limited to 3 m for safety)
Runtime: Up to 40 minutes per charge
Recharge time: Approximately 75 minutes
Controls: Wired throttle with color display and ultra-fine adjustment
Harness sizing: Fits chest sizes from 81–152 cm
Cautions
Not a Life-Saving Device: It is a performance-enhancing tool, not a rescue system. It does not replace dive training or flotation gear.
Breath-Hold Use Only: The CudaJet is not compatible with traditional scuba diving (due to air pressure differentials at depth and free ascent risks). It’s designed for snorkeling and free diving only.
Battery Handling: Like with any high-output lithium battery, improper charging, exposure to saltwater, or physical damage could present risks. Users are advised to follow strict charging and storage protocols.
Physical Fitness Required: Operating a high-speed underwater propulsion system requires strong swimming skills, core control, and situational awareness.
Hair and Loose Gear: Long hair must be tied up, and no loose straps or accessories should be worn, as they could get caught in the thrusters.
Environmental Awareness: With speeds of up to 3 m/s, it's easy to collide with reefs, other divers, or wildlife if you’re not highly alert and respectful of your surroundings.
Images: Cudajet
Sawmill House: A Rugged Retreat
Nestled in the rugged high desert of Tehachapi, California, the Sawmill House by Olson Kundig stands as a testament to sustainable design and harmonious integration with nature. Designed as an off-grid family retreat, this 4,170-square-foot residence embodies resilience, adaptability, and a profound respect for its environment.
Nestled in the rugged high desert of Tehachapi, California, the Sawmill House by Olson Kundig is a testament to sustainable design and harmonious integration with nature. Designed as an off-grid family retreat, this 4,170-square-foot residence embodies resilience, adaptability, and a profound respect for its environment.
Architecture Rooted in Place
Sawmill's design draws inspiration from the site's former mining and logging area history. The homeowners aimed to honor this legacy by creating a structure that gives back to the land. The house comprises three wings connected by a central hearth, reminiscent of tents gathered around a campfire—a nod to communal living and connection to nature.
A standout feature is the 12-by-26-foot window wall in the living area, which retracts with the turn of a wheel. This innovative design blurs the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing the patio to become an integral part of the living area.
Sustainability at Its Core
Operating entirely off the grid, Sawmill utilizes an 8.4-kilowatt photovoltaic array to power all electrical systems, including the water pump. The home's orientation maximizes natural light and cross-ventilation, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. These strategies result in the house generating 96% less CO₂ than a typical single-family home.
Materials were selected for their durability and minimal environmental impact. Concrete block, steel, and glass form the primary palette, with salvaged and recycled materials incorporated wherever possible. This "scavenger mentality" reflects a commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness.
Recognition and Awards
Sawmill's innovative design and environmental stewardship have earned it several accolades, including the 2018 AIA National COTE Top Ten Award and the AIA National Small Project Award.
Visual Highlights
The Sawmill House seamlessly integrates with its desert surroundings.
The 12-by-26-foot window wall opens to merge indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The central hearth serves as the heart of the home, connecting all three wings.
A Model for Sustainable Living
The Sawmill House exemplifies how thoughtful design can create a self-sufficient, environmentally conscious dwelling that does not compromise on aesthetics or comfort. It stands as an inspiring model for future sustainable architecture, demonstrating that living in harmony with nature is both achievable and beautiful.
Sources: Olson Kundig, ArchDaily, Contemporist, Architect Magazine
DJI Flips The Script On Drone Deployment
The DJI Flip’s bold little leap into the pocket drone space flips the script in more ways than one. It’s a fun-first drone that nails the basics and adds a bit of flair. It’s designed for casual flyers, content creators, and younger users seeking portability and performance.
The DJI Flip is DJI’s bold little leap into the pocket drone space, and it flips the script in more ways than one. It’s a fun-first drone that nails the basics and adds a bit of flair. It’s aimed at casual flyers, content creators, and younger users looking for portability and performance.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the DJI Flip is an ultralight drone weighing just 249g, exempting it from U.S. FAA registration requirements. Its foldable design with full-coverage propeller guards ensures safe and reliable flying, even for novice pilots. The DJI Flip is an excellent choice for those seeking a compact, feature-rich drone without breaking the bank. Its high-quality imaging, intelligent flight modes, and safety features make it ideal for content creators and hobbyists.
Flip expands to reveal protected propeller blades and folds into a compact carry size.
Features that separate it from the competition:
Portable: This thing folds into the size of a large phone. Toss it in a jacket pocket, and you're good to go.
One-Touch Tricks: True to its name, the Flip shines with built-in aerial flips and cinematic auto-maneuvers. Want to pull off an orbit or barrel roll? It's just a tap away.
DJI's Signature Stability: Even with its featherweight frame, the Flip holds surprisingly steady in mild wind thanks to DJI's tried-and-true stabilization tech.
Solid Camera for Its Class: 4K video, decent low-light performance, and a gimbal that works, not just digital wizardry pretending to be one.
This is something to consider:
App Features Can Lag: Some users have noticed delayed responses between app controls and drone execution, especially when using advanced modes.
No Obstacle Avoidance: This is a fun flyer, not a brainy one. You’ll want to keep it in open spaces or fly it manually with a light touch.
SOLSTICE - 5 | Masterfully Visualizing Scale
Solstice—5: Forgotten Archives offers remarkable visuals that capture the scale of interplanetary exploration. It also delivers a powerful cautionary tale about our exploitation of nature and potential future uses of AI right here on Earth.
Solstice—5: Forgotten Archives offers remarkable visuals that capture the scale of interplanetary exploration. It also delivers a powerful cautionary tale about our exploitation of nature and potential future uses of AI right here on Earth.
The art direction and design by Paul Chadeisson are remarkable. The narrative weaves together suspense, discovery, and the ethical dilemmas of tampering with newly discovered planets. With its blend of mystery, technology, and human curiosity, SOLSTICE—5: Forgotten Archives offers a compelling journey into the unknown, inevitably forcing us to think about how we continue to explore and exist on our own planet.
The visualization masterfully captures a sense of scale. The world it presents is one of immense, forgotten technology — massive spacecraft and towering mechanical platforms that stretch far beyond the horizon. These colossal structures are not just remnants of some distant technological age but monuments to lost ambition, crumbling slowly in the face of time and erosion. What gives them true gravity, however, is their juxtaposition against vast natural landscapes — windswept deserts, jagged cliffs, and still valleys that seem to whisper stories of long-past industrial glory.
The visual storytelling is precise and intentional. Human figures are shown only sparingly, but when they appear, they are small — almost invisible at first glance. A lone explorer, a maintenance worker, or a robed traveler might be standing on a catwalk or dwarfed by the base of a landing gear the size of a city block. These moments are quiet but powerful. The contrast between human and machine scales invites reflection: not only on the limits of human capability but also on the haunting beauty of what we leave behind.
Embracing Nature: A Bivouac-Inspired Home
In the rugged landscape of New Zealand's Queenstown-Glenorchy Road lies an architectural marvel inspired by the simplicity and integration of traditional bivouacs. Designed by Vaughn McQuarrie for Alan Luckie and Jen Arnold, this home blends seamlessly with its schist-heavy hillside environment.
In the rugged landscape of New Zealand's Queenstown-Glenorchy Road lies an architectural marvel inspired by the simplicity and integration of traditional bivouacs. Designed by Vaughn McQuarrie for Alan Luckie and Jen Arnold, this home blends seamlessly with its schist-heavy hillside environment.
The design of this 112-square-meter home is a thoughtful response to the surrounding natural environment, drawing inspiration from the raw beauty of the landscape and the simplicity of traditional tramping huts. It features rugged concrete panels and bandsawn timber cladding, materials chosen not only for their durability but also for their textural connection to the outdoors. These elements evoke a sense of groundedness and authenticity, bridging modern architecture with timeless rustic charm.
A soaring, high-ceilinged interior enhances the sense of space while maximizing passive thermal performance—capturing warmth in winter and encouraging natural airflow in summer. Expansive windows are carefully oriented to frame uninterrupted mountain views, inviting the landscape into the living space and fostering a continual connection with nature.
More than just a residence, the home embodies a holistic commitment to reducing ecological impact without compromising on aesthetic integrity. Every detail—from material selection to spatial layout—reflects a deep respect for the environment and a desire to live in quiet harmony with it.
For more details, visit Home Magazine.
Nike and Hyperice Boost Warm-Up and Recovery
In the ever-evolving world of sports and fitness, innovation is key. Nike, a global leader in athletic wear, and Hyperice, a pioneer in recovery technology, have teamed up to bring athletes two groundbreaking products: the Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots and the Hyperice X Cooling Vest. These tools are designed to enhance performance, speed recovery, and keep athletes at the top of their game.
In the ever-evolving world of sports and fitness, innovation is key. Nike, a global leader in athletic wear, and Hyperice, a pioneer in recovery technology, have teamed up to bring athletes two groundbreaking products: the Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots and the Hyperice X Cooling Vest. These tools are designed to enhance performance, speed recovery, and keep athletes at the top of their game.
The Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots are a game-changer for athletes looking to optimize their recovery. Utilizing dynamic air compression, these boots help to increase circulation, reduce soreness, and improve overall mobility. By mimicking the body's natural muscle pump, they effectively remove metabolic waste from the muscles, allowing for faster recovery after intense workouts or competitions.
Athletes across various sports have embraced the Normatec Boots for their ability to provide consistent, high-quality recovery. Whether you’re a professional athlete or a fitness enthusiast, incorporating these boots into your routine can significantly enhance your performance and keep you feeling fresh.
Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots
On the other hand, the Hyperice X Cooling Vest is designed to keep athletes cool during intense training sessions or in hot environments. This vest uses advanced cooling technology to regulate body temperature, helping to prevent overheating and improve endurance.
The vest's sleek design allows maximum mobility while providing targeted cooling to critical areas of the body. It’s perfect for athletes who train in extreme conditions or those looking to gain an edge by maintaining optimal body temperature during workouts.
Hyperice X Cooling Vest
The Perfect Partnership
The collaboration between Nike and Hyperice brings together the best of both worlds: Nike’s expertise in athletic wear and Hyperice’s cutting-edge recovery technology. By integrating these products into their training and recovery routines, athletes can experience unparalleled performance and recovery benefits.
Whether you aim to enhance your performance, speed up recovery, or stay cool under pressure, the Hyperice Normatec Recovery Boots and Hyperice X Cooling Vest are essential tools in the modern athlete's arsenal. Embrace the future of sports and fitness with Nike and Hyperice, and take your game to the next level.
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Lessons from Superfest
Never heard of the brand Superfest? If you venture into a pub in the territory of what was once East Germany under the Soviet Union, chances are you’ll enjoy your favorite beer using one.
Never heard of the brand Superfest? If you venture into a pub in the territory of what was once East Germany under the Soviet Union, chances are you’ll enjoy your favorite beer using one. Like the space program, the history of this nearly unbreakable glass is a testament to what can be accomplished in the name of international competition. But, unlike the successful Apollo program, like Velcro, Superfest’s lack of market success raises some cautionary and uncomfortable questions about the power of market forces.
The origin of Superfest hardened glassware can be traced back to a pivotal moment in the world of glassmaking—the invention of tempered glass. Tempered glass, born out of a quest for durability and safety, revolutionized the industry with its enhanced strength and resistance to breakage. However, tempering glass and a later innovation involving laminating plastics between layers of glass to strengthen it are expensive processes that can cloud glass clarity.
As a result, the government of East Germany, highly motivated to prove the value and innovation capacity of Eastern Bloc countries, set out to develop a nearly unbreakable glass that was inexpensive to produce. Through relentless research and development, chemists experimented with ion-exchanging, a process that involves heating ordinary glass and immersing it in a Potassium Nitrate solution, which alters its chemical structure. Gaps at a molecular level that make glass prone to cracking are filled by Potassium Ions, making the glass far more resistant to breaking.
When released in 1977, it was 15 times more durable than standard glassware. Despite its superiority, Superfest, German for “super firm,” never became a commercial success. In part, this was due to the remarkable nature of the product. Once most restaurants and pubs in the Eastern Bloc had purchased Superfest glassware, the need to replace their inventory dropped dramatically. What was once an annual business expense for many companies has been eliminated. Additionally, many companies that one would think would be very interested in it, such as Coca-Cola, actually made money by selling their glass bottles. So, despite offering a far more robust and seemingly more sustainable product, companies preferred an inferior product that helped their bottom line.
Decades later, in response to a request from Steve Jobs, Corning introduced a similar chemically hardened glass for the iPhone. While expensive, it met the need for a thin and robust display for electronic devices. Today, the product is called Gorilla Glass and is featured on billions of best-selling consumer electronic devices.
Overall, the Superfest story prompts you to wonder, as Fern so eloquently asks in the linked video, how many of today's products are worse than they should be? Take a closer look at this fantastic story on Fern. It may challenge some of your views on market forces and how they operate today.
AI-Enhanced Article
Papy...er...those SNL font short films!
These SNL shorts are amazing testimonials to those who put so much (and so little) into the fonts that surround us daily.
These SNL shorts are amazing testimonials to those who put so much (and so little) into the fonts that surround us daily.
The Saturday Night Live Papyrus font skits, especially the widely shared 2017 digital short starring Ryan Gosling, satirize the infamous overuse of the Papyrus typeface—particularly its appearance in James Cameron’s Avatar logo. In the sketch, Gosling plays a man haunted by the lazy design choice, obsessing over the fact that a billion-dollar franchise relied on a default font that comes pre-installed on most computers. The mock-serious tone, combined with cinematic visuals and dramatic narration, humorously captures the frustration many designers feel toward typographic shortcuts and poor aesthetic decisions.
The sketch resonated well beyond the design community, becoming a viral critique of creative complacency in branding and visual storytelling. It cleverly elevated a seemingly trivial design gripe into a broader commentary on artistic standards in high-budget productions. The popularity of the skit even led to a follow-up in 2022, referencing the release of Avatar: The Way of Water, where the joke continued with the revelation that the updated logo still bore a striking resemblance to Papyrus. These sketches have helped solidify Papyrus as a punchline in pop culture while also highlighting the importance of thoughtful design choices.
Framer Components Inspired by Dieter Rams
As interaction and industrial designers, we should always strive for clarity and delight in our work, which comes from paying attention to the smallest details. This beautifully executed website features Framer components inspired by Dieter Rams' design principles.
As interaction and industrial designers, we should always strive for clarity and delight in our work, which comes from paying attention to the smallest details. This beautifully executed website features Framer components inspired by Dieter Rams' design principles. Enjoy interacting with the array of elements here.
On a related note, the website contains a critical look at “Flat Design,” which seems timely given the movement's proliferation and the usability limitations that sometimes can be accommodated with the aesthetic.
Reassessing Flat Design: A Critical Look Through Dieter Rams’ Principles
Peter Elson Tribute
Many hours were spent at the bivouac in the early years, pouring over details within Peter Elson’s science fiction illustrations. This spacecraft TRIBUTE, created in the style of Peter Elson, is intended to be just that—a tribute to a fantastic illustrator.
Countless hours were spent at the bivouac in those early years, immersed in the intricate worlds crafted by Peter Elson’s science fiction illustrations. Each detail—each glint of metal, every improbable angle—was a portal into vast, imagined futures. This spacecraft TRIBUTE, rendered in the unmistakable style of Elson, is precisely that: a heartfelt homage to a visionary artist whose work ignited the imaginations of so many. From its vivid color palette to its layered mechanical complexity, the design celebrates Elson’s ability to blend the fantastical with the plausible, where engineering meets imagination on the canvas of deep space.
Deeper thinking about our place in the universe, coexisting with others, and the potential of science fiction to be both cautionary and inspirational were all key takeaways from Elson’s work, featured in books like those from the Terran Trade Authority.
More than an AI-generated model, TRIBUTE is a memory made tangible, a gesture of gratitude for the wonder sparked at the bivouac, and a salute to a master of speculative visual storytelling.
Related Links
Great Space Battles: A Terran Trade Authority Handbook
Terran Trade Authority Website
Additional designbivouac Post on Peter Elson
To view more of Peter Elson’s work visit: www.this-is-cool.co.uk/the-classic-sci-fi-art-of-peter-elson/
Rabbit Introduces R1 and Rabbit OS
In UX and AI news, Rabbit introduces the R1 personal companion that leverages natural language models and a Large Action Model (LAM) to get things done across applications or web pages.
In a bold step toward redefining user interaction with digital tools, Rabbit has introduced the R1, a compact personal AI companion designed to streamline everyday tasks through intuitive natural language interactions. At the heart of the R1 is a sophisticated integration of natural language models paired with Rabbit's proprietary Large Action Model (LAM)—a system trained to understand and perform complex tasks across a wide range of applications and websites.
Unlike traditional virtual assistants that rely on rigid scripts or predefined integrations, the R1’s LAM enables it to see and act like a human user, navigating interfaces, clicking buttons, and filling forms based on user intent. This means users can ask the R1 to do things like order food, book a flight, or manage emails—all through a single conversational interface.
Targeting the disintegrated ecosystem of apps on smartphones, Jesse Lyu, the CEO and founder of an AI startup called Rabbit, ran through the rationale for the product and presented some compelling demos, which included booking a flight for a family with specific travel needs and planning an entire relaxed vacation itinerary. The pocketable device, co-designed by the delightful folks at Teenage Engineering, is expected to begin shipping around Easter with an initial price of $199. It will be interesting to see if the interaction is fluid enough for users to make more room in their pockets for the handy assistant. Check out the introductory video below.
Images: Rabbit
A Cabin in the Trees
Kariouk Architects created a remarkable lakeside cabin in the sky for owners in the province of Quebec. Innovative use of materials, including low-waste Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and unique structural angles of support, are signature elements of the structure.
Kariouk Architects has designed an extraordinary elevated retreat—a “cabin in the sky”—set against the serene backdrop of a lakeside property in Quebec. Suspended above the landscape, the structure blends daring design with environmental responsibility, offering a fresh interpretation of cabin living. At the core of the project is the innovative use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)—a low-waste, high-performance material that offers both structural integrity and a warm, tactile quality. The architects skillfully combine this sustainable material with bold, angular supports, creating a visually striking form that appears to hover lightly above the terrain while firmly anchoring into place.
The cabin’s dramatic elevation not only minimizes its impact on the natural landscape below but also elevates the experience of its occupants—literally and figuratively—offering panoramic views of the lake and treetops, as well as a powerful sense of serenity and escape.
This architectural feat stands as a testament to Kariouk’s commitment to thoughtful design, where material innovation, environmental sensitivity, and sculptural form come together to create something truly remarkable. Living off-grid entirely is possible with passive and active solar accommodations, as well as minimal solar panel and battery requirements. A high-efficiency wood stove and backup propane heater provide emergency backup if needed, as the site is remote. Minimal foundation pads reduce the amount of concrete used for the home’s foundation, thereby enhancing the overall design's sustainable aspects.
Related Information: www.kariouk.com/
Photos: Kariouk Architects.
Futureproof: USGS Monitor
Future USGS locations may be supplemented with Monitor technology that collects data related to weather, vegetation conditions, wildfire management, wildlife migration, and more.
Future User Narrative
On a recent cross-country motorcycle trip, I stopped north of Moab, Utah, to bivouac for an evening. The dry creekbed and a nearby rock formation protected me from the gentle overnight breeze. I took a short hike at sunrise and came across one of those new USGS markers with a solar-powered camera Monitor kit anchored next to it. I scanned the QR code on the badge to access the viewpoint later. It was strange to have felt so alone and isolated the evening before, only to discover a Monitor station a quarter of a mile away. It's good that these resources are available for those who need assistance. I can also view the camera feed from this location remotely at any time, which is excellent as it is now one of my favorite bivouacking sites. Still, I am starting to wonder what it takes to get off the grid for a while.
Technology
AI-enabled, solar-powered image monitoring for fire prevention, weather forecast augmentation, vegetation monitoring, and remote assistance services
Implications
With new off-grid support infrastructure in place, what does getting away from it all mean?
How might this seldom-seen support network impact the human spirit?
How might USGS Monitoring technology save lives and communities as we experience more severe weather and wildfire events?
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.
Nurturing Design Thinking
Fast Company recently asserted that the era of design thinking has ended. Far from the end of the era, companies increasingly realize the need to build their internal design thinking capabilities to enhance their innovation capacity. As we move into a new era of nurturing in-house design thinking, companies must make long-term commitments to supporting the conditions for design thinking to thrive and be patient enough for innovation efforts to take root and bear fruit.
Fast Company recently asserted that the era of design thinking has come to an end. Far from the end of the era, companies increasingly realize the need to build their internal design thinking capabilities to enhance their innovation capacity. As we enter a new era of nurturing in-house design thinking, companies must make long-term commitments to supporting the conditions that enable design thinking to thrive and be patient enough for innovation efforts to take root and bear fruit.
Nurturing a New Methodology
It takes time for new methodologies to be adopted across a company. It takes time for people to understand fresh approaches and for changes in how teams work to lead to tangible successes. It takes time for a movement to change how companies operate. Indeed, it takes time to transform a company. Design thinking has the potential to do just that, and for it to take hold within a company, it benefits from the mindset of a gardener. Consultancies have worked closely with companies seeking to learn and apply design thinking for decades. Most are engagements involving multi-year journeys, onboarding new hires, and the persistent involvement of CEOs.
Company leaders must set the conditions essential to adopting design thinking. First, they must set expectations and plan for several years of growing a design thinking capacity. Efforts often start by working in areas relevant to the company but not so significant as to cause undue risk. Using this approach, even with small victories, others within the organization can see how the process applies to them. This approach also allows for experimentation and the kind of trial and error that occurs when onboarding new design-thinking practitioners. In addition to transforming how existing employees innovate, hiring colleagues with new design research capabilities, unique business outlooks, and the ability to prototype with technology quickly is often necessary. All of this takes time. Several tiers of leadership within the company must be involved to ensure that the focus on design thinking can persist beyond leadership changes.
“Being mindful of how deeply the roots of design thinking are reaching within a company is essential to ensure that the movement can persist even if fundamental leadership changes occur or a company pivots strategically.”
The Power of Design Thinking - Worth the Investment
Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving and innovation. It places the end-user at the core of the process, encouraging empathy, collaboration, and experimentation. For large companies in particular, embracing design thinking brings them closer to their customers and offers several compelling advantages:
1. Customer-Centricity
Design thinking ensures that companies prioritize the needs and preferences of their customers, resulting in products and services that resonate more effectively with the market.
2. Adaptability
In today's fast-paced business world, adaptability is critical. Design thinking encourages flexibility, enabling large companies to effectively pivot, iterate, and respond to changing market dynamics.
3. Creativity
Encouraging a culture of creativity and ideation is essential for staying ahead of the competition. Design thinking fosters an environment where innovative ideas can flourish.
4. Employee Engagement and the Right Talent Mix
Empowering employees to contribute to problem-solving and innovation fosters a sense of ownership and engagement, increasing job satisfaction and productivity. Interdisciplinary teams that can empathize with one another and work together are essential.
In the long run, nurturing design thinking within an organization is an investment that allows it to continuously reap what it sows, year after year, as the creative potential to realize innovative products grows. It ensures that a company can grow and evolve to respond to market changes as long as it is nurtured by leadership and across the culture.
Fertile Ground - Design Thinking is Rooted in Talent.
If you don’t have those familiar with design thinking, where can you find them? Perhaps those who have practiced design thinking for years within design consultancies are ready for a new context and open to joining in-house teams. Or maybe there is a need for new talent that complements your company's existing employees and amplifies your innovation efforts.
If the latter is the case, below is a list of five schools that deeply integrate design thinking into their curriculum or have rich interaction design programs that produce talent key to design thinking.
Carnegie Mellon College of Design
North Carolina State University College of Design
Umea Institute of Design
University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design
Stanford d.school
A Blueprint for Nurturing Design Thinking
Now that we understand the value of design thinking, let's dive into the blueprint for nurturing it:
1. Leadership Buy-In
For design thinking to thrive, it must be championed from the top. Company leaders must understand the potential benefits and actively support the integration. This includes providing resources, time, and training for employees to engage in design thinking processes. Once a company starts a design-thinking journey, leadership must continually monitor initiatives and share stories about ongoing successes and lessons learned from failures. Leadership must also observe and assess the leadership tiers below them to ensure their proficiency with design thinking. Companies have trained senior leaders and mid-level managers in design thinking simultaneously to engrain the creative approach more deeply within the organization.
2. Comprehensive Training
Offering design thinking training to employees at all levels is essential. This can be done through workshops, courses, hiring external experts, and rotating staff through key projects where design thinking is applied. The goal is to ensure that everyone in the organization understands the principles and tools of design thinking.
3. Create Cross-Functional Teams
Design thinking thrives on diverse perspectives and cross-functional collaboration. Encourage the formation of multidisciplinary teams that work together on projects. This diversity of thought can lead to more innovative solutions.
4. Foster an Empathetic Culture
Empathy is a cornerstone of design thinking. Encourage employees to actively seek and understand the needs and perspectives of their customers and colleagues.
5. Prototyping and Testing
Design thinking involves more than just thinking. It depends upon iterative prototyping and testing. Create an environment where teams are empowered to develop prototypes and gather user feedback. Concept iteration based on user feedback leads to refined ideas and solutions.
6. Failure Is an Option
Innovation comes with the risk of failure. A culture that practices design thinking embraces the right kind of failure at the right time, early in the process, allowing employees to take calculated risks and learn from their mistakes. Failure is often a stepping stone to success.
7. Celebrate Successes
Equally crucial as accepting failure is celebrating success. Acknowledge and reward teams that achieve positive outcomes through applying design thinking. This recognition will motivate others to embrace the approach.
8. Continuous Improvement
Through practicing design thinking, a company’s culture and innovation output can be constantly enhanced by monitoring how things are created and identifying areas for improvement. Design thinking is not a one-time initiative; it's an ongoing process. Encourage continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and refining your design thinking practices to align with evolving goals and challenges.
In Summary
Nurturing design thinking within companies is not just a trend; it's a strategic move to stay competitive in an ever-changing business landscape. Companies are increasingly harnessing the power of design thinking internally to drive innovation and success by cultivating a culture that embraces empathy, creativity, and customer-centricity. Remember that it's a journey, not a destination, for the next quarter or the one after that. With commitment and dedication, your organization can reap the rewards of design thinking and sustain innovation efforts for years to come.
Sinking Lego Ships
Many childhood hours were spent at the bivouac playing and pushing the imagination with Lego. There was learning about modular design and how failure leads to success. All that creative activity made me a better designer and person.
Many childhood hours were joyfully spent at the bivouac, building, imagining, and experimenting with LEGO. It was more than play—it was an early education in modular design, problem-solving, and the value of persistence. Every structure that collapsed or didn’t quite work was a lesson in how failure fuels creativity and growth. Those hands-on exploration sessions helped shape not only a better designer but also a more curious and resilient person. Looking back, it's clear that those colorful bricks laid more than models—they laid a foundation for lifelong learning and creative thinking.
With the inclusion of specialized kit components like gears, chain drives, tubes, girders, motors, switches, and electrical systems, today's LEGO Technic builders have an incredible array of tools to bring complex creations to life. These advanced elements not only expand creative possibilities but also offer hands-on lessons in engineering and physics. In another engaging video from Brick Technology, viewers can explore concepts such as displacement, wave theory, tensional force, and centrifugal force—all demonstrated through the imaginative and educational world of LEGO Technic. It's a brilliant fusion of play and learning that continues to inspire the next generation of inventors and problem-solvers.
Anti-Fall Airbags
S-Airbag is now making a smart wearable anti-fall airbag vest that deploys automatically in the event of a fall. Using similar technology found on MotoGP motorcycle rider vests, this system protects the wearer’s head and hips from injury during falls.
S-Airbag has introduced a cutting-edge smart wearable airbag vest designed to provide automatic protection in the event of a fall. Drawing on the same advanced technology used in MotoGP rider gear, the vest uses sensors and algorithms to detect the moment a fall begins—deploying airbags instantly to cushion and protect key areas such as the hips and head. This innovative safety solution is particularly valuable for elderly individuals or those with mobility challenges, offering a discreet yet highly effective layer of protection that could significantly reduce the risk of serious injury. It's a powerful example of how high-performance tech from extreme sports is now being adapted to enhance everyday safety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in four Americans aged 65 and older experiences a fall each year—a statistic that underscores a serious public health concern. Falls can have a devastating impact on an individual's health, safety, and long-term independence, often leading to injuries that require extended recovery or result in permanent disability. While the appearance of a smart anti-fall airbag vest might draw the occasional chuckle, its purpose is anything but laughable. With a form-follows-function design, this wearable technology is engineered to protect the most vulnerable areas—the hips, head, neck, and lower back—during a fall. For those at risk, it’s a crucial tool that offers peace of mind, enhanced safety, and the possibility of maintaining an active and independent lifestyle.
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Refinement in the Marketplace
Initially written in 2009, this post has been updated to reflect how BMW Motorcycles continues to refine its GS motorcycle. Few companies have been able to balance refining iconic offerings without compromising what made a product great in the first place. T
Originally written in 2009, this post has been updated to reflect BMW Motorcycles' continued refinement of its iconic GS motorcycle. Few companies have mastered the art of evolving a product while maintaining the core elements that made it great. The R 1300 GS represents the most significant update to the model in over a decade, introducing numerous new features, safety technologies, and technical improvements. Yet, despite these enhancements, it remains remarkably familiar—exemplary in its design, performance, and commitment to the values that have defined the GS lineage.
2024 BMW R1300 GS Trophy Edition
Companies genuinely passionate about their offerings continually refine them in the open market, demonstrating a commitment to progress and user communities. The BMW GS line of motorcycles is a compelling example. Even when BMW held a strong lead in the adventure touring category, with what many considered the benchmark bike, the company didn't rest on its reputation. Instead, it stayed engaged, listening closely to riders, dealers, and evolving market demands. Each new model year introduced a mix of thoughtful updates, ranging from subtle ergonomic tweaks to more significant advances in performance and styling. While the degree of change varied from year to year, the consistent pace of refinement set a clear standard.
One of the most impressive aspects of this evolution is BMW’s ability to improve the GS line while reducing overall weight—a challenging achievement in a segment where added features often lead to added bulk. This balancing act underscores the company’s ability to harmonize principled design thinking with deep enthusiasm for the riding experience. Rather than chasing novelty for its own sake, BMW’s refinements are grounded in a core philosophy of rideability—ensuring that every enhancement, no matter how innovative, makes the bike feel better, more intuitive, and more rewarding on the road or trail.
The R1150GS benefited from many refinements since the release of the first R1000GS, which was launched in 1993. The R1300GS represents the pinnacle in the adventure bike class for 2023.
As a testament to its ongoing commitment to refinement and innovation from a leadership position, BMW has introduced the 2024 R1300GS. This significant update builds meaningfully on the strengths of its predecessor. At the heart of this evolution is a newly engineered frame contributing to a notable reduction in overall weight, enhancing both agility and performance without sacrificing the bike’s rugged, long-distance capabilities. This structural change reflects BMW’s continued emphasis on functional improvements that matter to riders, especially those seeking a balance between touring comfort and off-road versatility.
In addition to mechanical enhancements, the 2024 model integrates a suite of advanced technologies that elevate both safety and rider experience. New signature lighting elements provide improved visibility and a distinctive visual identity. At the same time, cutting-edge features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and an automatic SOS call function offer increased peace of mind. These updates align with evolving rider expectations and reinforce BMW’s role as a category leader, demonstrating how design thinking, customer insight, and engineering excellence can converge to keep a flagship product relevant, desirable, and unmistakably premium.
R1300 GS
R1250 GS Adventure
R1200 GS Adventure
R1150 GS Adventure
(Note: Models not shown to scale)
This kind of subtle, year-over-year improvement both impresses and inspires. It reflects a deep respect for users and a commitment to thoughtful evolution over flashy reinvention. When done consistently, it builds better products and lasting trust. The beauty of this approach is that it cultivates a loyal, secure following. Customers believe any changes will be intentional, meaningful, and aligned with their passions. Over time, this trust becomes a powerful differentiator, turning users into advocates and products into enduring icons.
The BMW GS series had a signature dual-lamp headlight system for years. The R1300GS breaks convention with a new headlight and an adaptive cruise control sensor mounted above it
Once an offering achieves a certain level of success, there is often a strong temptation to avoid further refinement, whether due to economic pressures, risk aversion, or the fear of disrupting a winning formula. Yet companies like BMW demonstrate the value of ongoing evolution, driven by clear design principles and a deep understanding of user needs. Their commitment to refining rather than reinventing is evident in the launch of the R1300 GS, a motorcycle widely praised as a substantial advancement over its predecessor. Despite its technical and functional improvements, the R1300 GS retains the familiar character that riders value, allowing it to stand out amid increasingly intense competition.
This approach reflects a culture of passion and disciplined design thinking that values long-term impact over short-term hype. By continuously nurturing and improving their offerings, BMW creates a legacy of excellence that compounds over time. Each successive model contributes to a lineage that reinforces the brand’s reputation and deepens its emotional resonance with riders. In contrast, many once-promising products falter when creators abandon them too soon or fail to maintain momentum. BMW’s example underscores how persistence, thoughtful iteration, and commitment to core values can leave a lasting mark on the marketplace, one that outlives fleeting trends and initial bursts of popularity.
A similar balance of passion and principled design thinking is evident in Apple’s approach to refining the iPhone. The transition from the original iPhone to the 3G model introduced significant new capabilities, such as enhanced location awareness, yet the overall experience remained intuitive and familiar. Rather than overwhelming users with tutorials or complex setup procedures, new features were revealed organically through use. For example, prompts to enable location services appeared contextually within the Maps app, allowing users to discover functionality at moments of high emotional relevance. This subtle, experience-driven introduction created a sense of delight rather than friction, reinforcing trust in the product’s design.
Comparable moments of intuitive discovery can be found in other well-designed experiences, such as with BMW GS motorcycles. Riders often realize, mid-ride and at freeway speeds, that the bike offers a sixth gear—an elegant reward for attentive exploration. These moments aren’t explicitly advertised or forced upon the user; instead, they unfold naturally, deepening the connection between person and machine. In these carefully orchestrated, user-centered refinements, design transcends utility and becomes something more enduring—something felt.
Some variation has occurred between the original iPhone and the iPhone 15, but the product has mainly stayed true to its core offering and user interface.
In an era where innovation is frequently celebrated as the hallmark of progress, it's important not to overlook the enduring value of incremental refinement. While groundbreaking leaps often capture headlines, steady evolution can cultivate deep user trust, foster long-term loyalty, and deliver consistent, meaningful improvements. Thoughtful iteration doesn’t just enhance functionality—it creates a sense of continuity that reassures users and allows them to grow with a product over time. This approach can be especially powerful when it’s rooted in a strong foundational design that balances legacy with forward motion.
A quintessential example of this philosophy is the Porsche 911. Widely referenced in design and engineering circles, the 911 demonstrates how a product can undergo decades of evolution while remaining true to its original spirit. Over time, its performance, handling, and technology have advanced dramatically, yet the vehicle’s iconic silhouette, rear-engine layout, and design cues remain instantly recognizable. This continuity isn’t accidental; it reflects a disciplined commitment to refinement rather than reinvention. By honoring its heritage while embracing innovation in measured steps, the 911 continues to attract new enthusiasts while maintaining the loyalty of longtime fans—a powerful testament to the enduring impact of thoughtful iteration.
The 911 demonstrates how a product can undergo decades of evolution while remaining true to its original spirit. Can you think of other products that show evidence of inspired refinement or companies that do a great job of prototyping and refining in the marketplace?
Generative AI and Stereotypes
Creatives have always needed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their tools and how they can shape our craft. As more creatives find their way into generative AI, we must be mindful of the bias and averaging that can appear in our work due to the data used by generative AI tools.
Creatives have always thrived by understanding the capabilities and limitations of their tools—how each one shapes the process, the outcome, and the message they convey. As generative AI becomes a more prominent part of the creative toolkit, it's essential to approach it with the same critical awareness.
These systems are trained on vast datasets that reflect existing patterns, norms, and biases. As a result, there is a tendency toward averaging, favoring the familiar or statistically common, which can potentially dilute originality or reinforce stereotypes. For creatives, this means not only leveraging AI for inspiration and efficiency but also actively pushing against its boundaries, questioning its outputs, and using it as a springboard for more intentional, authentic expression.
Rest of World published an excellent article about how generative AI tools propagate stereotypes. They analyzed 3,000 AI-generated images to examine how image generators represent different countries and cultures. Key takeaways include the following insights:.
The need for data transparency.
There is a need for AI companies to become more transparent with the data that they use.
Bias exists in generative AI algorithms.
Bias occurs in many algorithms and AI systems, from sexist and racist search results to facial recognition systems that perform worse on Black faces. Generative AI systems are no different. In an analysis of more than 5,000 AI images, Bloomberg found that images associated with higher-paying job titles featured people with lighter skin tones and that results for most professional roles were male-dominated.
Generative AI has an upside for marginalized groups, but also carries risks.
Generative AI could help improve diversity in media by making creative tools more accessible to marginalized groups or those lacking the resources to produce messages at scale. But used unwisely, it risks silencing those same groups.
Associative aspects of generative AI can lead to overly average results that are biased.
" These models are purely associative machines,” Pruthi said. He gave the example of a football: An AI system may learn to associate footballs with a green field and so produce images of footballs on grass. In many cases, this results in a more accurate or relevant picture. But you're out of luck if you don’t want an “average” image. “It’s kind of the reason why these systems are so good, but also their Achilles’ heel,” - Sasha Luccioni, researcher in ethical and sustainable AI at Hugging Face.
Take a closer look at the article at restofworld.org.
Maxed Out: Apple AirPods Max
Apple has done it again, maxing out its auditory accessories with its Airpods Max offering.
Apple has done it again, maxing out its auditory accessories with its AirPods Max offering. These top-quality headphones are a premium addition to Apple's renowned AirPods lineup, offering a high-end audio experience, impeccable design, and the ability to interact with devices across your Apple ecosystem reasonably seamlessly.
The AirPods Max are renowned for their exceptional audio quality and sleek, minimalist design. They utilize premium materials such as aluminum and memory foam ear cushions for enhanced comfort. They effectively isolate the wearer from ambient noise and offer excellent sound quality. They feature a relatively low aesthetic profile compared to other over-the-ear headphones in their class, and, like most Apple products, the finish is exceptional.
AirPods Max headphones offer extended comfort and an ingeniously secured ear cushion system. Magnets hold the ear covers in place, making them easy to remove for cleaning. This is good because the bivouac has only noticed that it tends to retain heat and moisture in many months of use. The removable cushions enable quick and thorough cleaning with ease. They fold relatively flat and come in a minimalist case with elegant magnetic closures. It protects the lower earphones, leaving the upper band exposed.
These over-ear headphones feature custom-designed drivers that deliver rich, immersive sound and incorporate Apple's active noise cancellation technology for an unparalleled audio experience. They offer features like spatial audio for a truly immersive listening experience. While they come at a premium price, the AirPods Max cater to audiophiles and Apple enthusiasts looking for top-tier wireless headphones.
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