The Inspirations Collection.
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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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Just Print It!
The always informative Matt Risinger with Build recently explored how Icon is now printing a neighborhood in Texas to learn how to scale up their home printing technology best.
The always informative Matt Risinger with Build explored how Icon is printing a neighborhood in Texas to learn how to scale up their home printing technology best. Working with Lennar homes, this 100-home neighborhood may be making history as more resilient and affordable homes take shape one printer pass at a time.
While the kinks with the technology are still being worked out to achieve efficiencies at scale, it is inspiring to see larger projects beginning with large home builders. Take a look at the future of homebuilding at iconbuild.com. Naturally, floodproof, fire resistant, insect proof, sign me up!
Related Article: www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/worlds-largest-3d-printed-neighborhood-set-to-break-ground-in-austin-next-year/2818293/
Images: Lennar
Is VW’s Future in Its Past?
With all the turmoil at Volkswagen, it remains to be seen what path the company will take moving forward. Despite decent vehicle sales against 2022’s headwinds, the company is rumored to be scrapping its current electric vehicle platform for an entirely new architecture. Fundamental leadership changes were recently announced at the CEO and Head of Design levels.
With all the turmoil at Volkswagen, it remains to be seen what path the company will take moving forward. Despite decent vehicle sales against 2022’s headwinds, the company is rumored to be scrapping its current electric vehicle platform for an entirely new architecture. Fundamental leadership changes were recently announced at the CEO and Head of Design levels. Here’s hoping a new electric platform designed from the ground up and a bit of looking at successes from the past can help move the company forward.
Well, here is a suggestion. Take a long, hard look back at more of your heritage vehicles. Why not apply your next-generation electric platform to making new vehicles that resemble desirable models from yesteryear? There is really no need to contemporize with flashy “ID. Buzz” aesthetics and the like. Modernize the one we knew and loved with modern manufacturing techniques and designs that meet today’s safety standards. The company had some success doing this with the VW bug, and it had a good run. Why not start with the new electric platform and relaunch with this…an electric-powered version of a T3 Syncro in a crew-cab Doka Transporter configuration?
Focus on building a line of vehicles closer to what VW was once known for producing: honest, economical, straightforward, accessible cars for the people. Variants of one platform worked in the past. They could again if the design of the new EV platform is done with that in mind. Efficiencies of this approach are working well for Tesla with the Model 3 and Model Y. Need more convincing of the appeal of your heritage vehicles? This artifact from VW’s past recently sold for $51,000 on Bring A Trailer.
And pick up the pace if you can. The competition is moving fast. Modernizing your iconic VW bus from the 1970s took over 20 years of concepting.
2001 Microbus Concept (Arguably the best looking vehicle of all the VW Van Concepts)
2011 Bulli Concept
2016 BUDD-e Concept
2017 I.D. Buzz Concept
2023 I.D. Buzz production model finally becomes available
Here's to 2023 and Beyond...
As we begin stretching to return to our moon, land on Mars, and venture beyond, let us never stop believing in the promise of the future as embodied so poetically by Stanley Kubrick and Johann Strauss II in their times and together in ours.
As we plan a return to the moon, strive to land on Mars, and venture beyond, let us never stop believing in the promise of the future as embodied so poetically by Stanley Kubrick and Johann Strauss II. Both were visionary creatives in their time, and it will take many more like them to overcome today’s challenges and keep moving forward.
The Unreal Work of William Faucher
This process video by William Faucher does an excellent job of capturing the process of photogrammetry and applying remarkable digital visualization skills to capture a scene inspired by Norwegian fishing villages.
This process video by William Faucher does an excellent job of capturing the process of photogrammetry and applying remarkable digital visualization skills to capture a scene inspired by Norwegian fishing villages. This current generation of visualization tools is powerful, but, in the end, the artist must, as always, master the medium that makes the work remarkable.
Photogrammetry is a sophisticated technique that involves the process of extracting precise three-dimensional information about objects, structures, or landscapes from two-dimensional photographs or images. It is widely used in various fields, including surveying, cartography, archeology, and remote sensing. Photogrammetry relies on the principles of geometry and trigonometry to determine the spatial relationships and measurements of objects within the images. Modern photogrammetry often combines traditional methods with advanced software and technology, including aerial and satellite imagery, to create highly detailed and accurate 3D models or maps. This technology has numerous applications, such as creating topographic maps, reconstructing accident scenes, and even producing 3D models of cultural heritage sites, making it an invaluable tool in a variety of industries.
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Flying Through Giga Berlin
Take a dynamic fly-through of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory. It is remarkable to see all that goes into making some of today’s most advanced vehicles at one of the most impressive factories in the world.
Take a dynamic fly-through of Tesla’s Giga Berlin—a striking showcase of cutting-edge manufacturing in motion. From the moment you enter, you're immersed in a meticulously choreographed ecosystem where robotic arms, automated conveyors, and human technicians work in seamless harmony. It's remarkable to witness the scale, precision, and innovation that power one of the world’s most advanced vehicle production facilities.
Every stage of the process, from gigacasting massive body components to battery pack integration and final assembly, reflects Tesla’s drive toward efficiency, speed, and sustainability. Giga Berlin isn’t just a factory—it’s a glimpse into the future of industrial automation and a testament to what's required to bring today’s most modern electric vehicles to life. Giga Berlin is designed to be an advanced electric vehicle (EV) production hub capable of producing a wide range of Tesla vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, and future models.
The factory is expected to incorporate cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and technologies, with a strong focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has emphasized that the facility will include many innovations, particularly in battery and powertrain technology. One notable aspect of Giga Berlin is its commitment to environmental sustainability. The facility was designed with a strong emphasis on renewable energy sources, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint significantly. Tesla intends to make the factory a green and environmentally responsible operation, aligning with its broader goal of advancing sustainable transportation.
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The Sur Ron X Evolved
As you can see in the excellent demo ride video from Electric Cycle Rider, the folks over at 4MFoundry are applying all that has been learned over the past few decades about off-road riding in designing their upgraded body and seat kit for the Sur Ron X.
The kit features an extension of seat padding over the battery storage area. This allows riders to shift their weight more comfortably forward when needed. Side skirts enable riders to grip and control the bike with their knees. Aesthetically, the kit cleans up the bike design. 4MFoundry’s efforts highlight one of the best things about the Sur Ron platform—passionate and relatively easy community-based customization. Here’s wishing 4MFoundry all the best in improving the already remarkable Sur Ron X.
Photo: 4MFoundry
Learn more about the remarkable Sur Ron at sur-ronusa.com.
You can read more about the kit which is still in prototype form over at Electric Cycle Rider.
Ready to pick up a Sur Ron for yourself? The bivouac had a good experience with Sur Ron’s distributor Luna Cycles, quickly procuring its Sur Ron Black Edition.
Uplifting Transparency
The folks at hazegrayart have done a remarkable job of visualizing four famous rockets in a way that shows their fuel stages as being transparent.
The folks at Hazegrayart have done a remarkable job of visualizing four famous rockets in a way that shows their fuel stages as being transparent. This allows for a whole new perspective on staged launches and just what is happening with rocket systems we have seen in action over the decades of the space age.
The four launch sequences of different rockets are set against the audio track of the Apollo 11 launch. It is fantastic to see the varied quantities and fuel burn rates. Also instructive is the relatively coordinated timing of transitional states encountered by the spacecraft. Thanks for bringing some new clarity to how these remarkable systems work.
Visualizing Movements
The creator of animgraffs, Jake O’Neal, has created a remarkable animation to clearly explain how mechanical watch movements functions.
The creator of Animgraffs, Jake O’Neal, has created an informative animation conveying how mechanical watch movements work. The visualization makes clear how each component works, how it is supported mechanically, and why jewels are used, somewhat poetically, within these mechanical masterpieces. Often taken for granted today, watches remain tiny miracles of engineering. Wind with care.
Visual History of the iPhone
Well, it’s that time of year again—the second week of September. And, true to form, Apple has revealed the iPhone 13 in a special event. As the company continues advancing its iPhone offering, perhaps some of you feel nostalgic about your older iPhones.
Ah, Fall. A crispness in the air. Colorful leaves in the trees. And, yes, the launch of a new Apple iPhone. As the company continues advancing its iPhone offering, perhaps some feel nostalgia for older iPhones. Since models are revised yearly like clockwork, recalling the complete iPhone lineage can also be challenging. Thankfully, the folks at Apple Explained have captured this lineage up to a point in a crisp, well-designed video. It is great to see the evolution so beautifully represented.
Diversity of Mobility
Earth is an amazing planet. There is so much to see and many ways to move around it…and for the soul to be moved. Though not for the faint at heart, gliding must rank up there with the most serene forms of mobility.
Earth is a fantastic planet. There is much to see and many ways to move around it. Some ways of moving also move our souls. Though not for the faint at heart, gliding ranks amongst the most serene forms of mobility. Much of the most dramatic soaring takes place out of Fayence Soaring.
Fayence Soaring, also known as Vol à Voile de Fayence, is a famous glider flying destination in Fayence, a picturesque town in southern France. This soaring center is renowned for its ideal conditions for gliding, attracting enthusiasts from around the world. Nestled in the stunning Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Fayence offers a unique combination of reliable thermals, favorable weather, and breathtaking landscapes, making it a haven for glider pilots. The area's geographical features, including the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Prealps to the north, create the perfect environment for thermal and ridge soaring, allowing gliders to reach impressive altitudes while enjoying the beauty of the French countryside. Fayence Soaring is not only a paradise for experienced glider pilots but also a place for novices to take their first flights and experience the thrill of soaring in the clear, azure skies of southern France. Thanks to Christopher Fleming for capturing his brave and beautiful flights.
Captured In Stone
It is a beautiful documentary piece by Eyes and Ears that masterfully captures what it means to be a sculptor. The courage, intuition, methodic attention to detail, planning, and patience all come through in this short film. Well done, Anna Rubincam.
This beautiful documentary by Eyes and Ears masterfully captures what it means to be a sculptor. The courage, intuition, methodic attention to detail, planning, and patience all come through in this short film. Well done, Anna Rubincam. May you inspire a new generation of stone carvers.
Rubincam, who trained at Weymouth College and City and Guilds of London Art School, is a qualified stonemason, letter cutter, sculptor, and stone carver. With over a decade in the stone industry, Anna has worked on projects in the UK, France, and Italy. For more about her work, visit: www.annarubincam.com
Things Come Apart
Many things fell apart in 2020, and it proved to be a time for many to deconstruct the reality of life as we knew it. Many took the year as a prompt to look at things differently. Todd McLellan does just that through his meticulous work Things Come Apart.
"Things Come Apart" is a fascinating book that offers readers a unique perspective on everyday objects. Authored by Todd McLellan, a talented photographer and designer, the book takes a deep dive into the inner workings of everyday items, meticulously disassembling them and arranging the components into visually striking, intricate compositions.
Through this artful deconstruction, "Things Come Apart" invites readers to appreciate the beauty and complexity often hidden within the objects we use daily. Whether it's a vintage typewriter, a modern smartphone, or a classic camera, McLellan's stunning photographs showcase the precision, engineering, and craftsmanship behind these items. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the book also encourages contemplation about the evolution of technology and design, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how things come together and, inevitably, how they come apart. It's a visual celebration of the artistry that underpins our material world, encouraging us to see the beauty in the details that often go unnoticed.
For more perspectives, that might help as you design. Take a look at other bivouac-recommended readings.
Note: As an Amazon Associate, designbivouac may benefit/earn from qualifying purchases.
Climb on...together.
Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet, read an original work at President Joe Biden's inauguration on January. 20, 2020.
Read more about Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first national youth poet laureate, here in the LA Times. Amanda Gorman, the nation's first National Youth Poet Laureate, has emerged as a powerful and inspiring voice in poetry and activism. Born in 1998, she gained international acclaim for her captivating poem, "The Hill We Climb," which she recited at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021.
Gorman's eloquent and poignant verses touch upon themes of unity, hope, and social justice, resonating with a wide audience. Beyond her remarkable talent as a poet, she is also an advocate for education and literacy, working to promote the transformative power of words and storytelling.
Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet, read an original work at President Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2020.
What Lies Beneath
Often, when the details of how structures are made can be seen, they become more impressive. Such is the case with large windmills anchored to solid ground.
Many products surround us in our day-to-day lives that require deep engineering excellence to come to fruition. Often, when the details of how structures are made can be seen, they become more impressive. Such is the case with large windmills anchored to solid ground. When you look beneath the surface, it is impressive to see how the Peikko Group provides deep anchoring for these mammoth structures.
Peikko Group's Rock Foundation system for onshore wind turbines is a revolutionary and sustainable solution that addresses the challenges of wind turbine foundation construction. The Rock Foundation system primarily consists of precast concrete elements that can be assembled on-site with ease. It takes advantage of Peikko's proprietary technology, which enables using local materials, significantly reducing transportation costs and emissions. This approach enhances the sustainability of wind energy projects by minimizing the carbon impact associated with the foundation's construction process. One of the key benefits of Peikko's Rock Foundation system is its adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions. By offering a versatile solution for various geological settings, it streamlines the installation process, reducing the need for extensive ground preparation and site-specific engineering. Peikko Group's Rock Foundation technology not only accelerates the installation of wind turbines but also contributes to a more sustainable and cost-effective approach in the renewable energy industry.
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Going Big with Sea Dragon
The Apollo program was appropriately scaled to match America’s grand ambitions for putting the first human being on the moon. But there was an alternative rocket proposed to the mighty Saturn V.
The NASA Sea Dragon concept represents a visionary and audacious approach to space launch systems that was proposed in the late 1960s but never realized. Designed by engineer Robert Truax, the Sea Dragon was envisioned as a colossal, single-stage-to-orbit rocket, among the largest ever conceived. What set the Sea Dragon apart was its unique launch method—submersion in the ocean.
This massive rocket would be constructed as a semi-submersible platform at sea, where it would be assembled and fueled and then floated to the launch site. The rocket's enormous payload capacity could have revolutionized space travel, potentially ferrying entire space stations or lunar habitats into orbit in a single launch. While the Sea Dragon concept was never built due to budget constraints and changing priorities, it remains a symbol of bold thinking in space exploration and the innovative ideas that have driven NASA's research and development efforts over the years.
Approach for launching Sea Dragon rocket at sea
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Where There's Smoke, There Should be a Dyson
The bivouac’s northern HQ was recently allocated a Dyson TPO4 Pure Cool Tower capable of clearing the air in an 800-square-foot space. While testing continues through the latest California wildfire season, preliminary results are impressive.
The bivouac’s northern HQ was recently allocated a Dyson TPO4 Pure Cool Tower capable of clearing the air in an 800-square-foot space. While testing continues through the latest California wildfire season, preliminary results are impressive. With outdoor air quality indices coming in lately at upwards of 180, interior bivouac spaces are averaging a measurement of just 12 on the PM 2.5 scale.
These include microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns, including smoke, bacteria, and allergens. With its handy remote and a Wi-Fi connection that lets you control the unit and get deeper trending information through Dyson’s link app, the Dyson Pure Cool Tower is a clear winner.
Note: As an Amazon Associate designbivouac may benefit/earn from qualifying purchases.
Defying Gravity
Some of humanity’s aspirations are timeless. Such is the desire to fly. As a result, the challenge is continually taken up by bright minds. As technology advances, our dreams of gracefully transcending the bounds of earth’s gravitation seem more achievable.
Some of humanity’s aspirations are timeless. Such is the desire to fly. As a result, the challenge is continually taken up by bright minds. As technology advances, our dreams of gracefully transcending the bounds of earth’s gravitation seem more achievable. Such is the case with Gravity, which produces one of the fastest jet packs supporting human flight today. It is inspiring to see dreams like this pursued. Not only because they make progress towards addressing our timeless fascination with flight, but they open up many practical applications.
One could imagine that Gravity’s system could empower firefighters to launch from one building to another. Trailing a cable, those trapped atop a burning skyscraper could take a safe zip-line ride. Once enough, additional thrust is assured with the system. Potential victims could just be plucked one by one from burning buildings or sinking ships. As the introduction of the helicopter back in the 1940s proved, beneficial applications abound for breakthrough VTOL technologies like these. I wish the team at Gravity all the best in their uplifting endeavors.
Through the Myst: Creativity and Constraints
The bivouac recently came across this War Stories video by Ars Technica in which Rand Miller recounts how challenging it was to publish the seminal interactive title Myst.
The bivouac recently came across this War Stories video by Ars Technica in which Rand Miller recounts how challenging it was to publish the seminal interactive title Myst. Launching such a beautifully immersive interactive experience was a remarkable feat in 1993. It required creatively navigating the technological constraints of early personal computers, reminding me of embracing the constraints of technology in my interactive work around that time.
Hyped Up On Hypercard
The bivouac had its own “war story” around the same time. The year was 1990. Apple’s HyperCard exposed many future interaction designers to the possibilities of interactive media. Simply placing invisible buttons anywhere over an image opened up creative avenues previously unavailable to storytellers and designers. Approachable and powerful, Bill Atkinson’s creation proved to be a friendly gateway to exploring code and non-linear interaction design for a wide range of designers in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
When clicked, these simple “go to” or “play” scripts were executed, taking users to other cards, flipping through a series of cards to create animations, or playing audio clips. Even though the experience was limited to simple black and white dithered images, Hypercard was its time's compelling and immersive platform with its unique combination of simplicity and creative publishing power. Indeed, hypercards preceded the commercial adoption of the World Wide Web and established the precedent of clicking on “hyperlinks” to navigate to additional information pages, which is commonplace using today’s web browsers.
Hypercard was a simple yet powerful introduction to interactive media for millions of users and designers.
A New Age of Interactive Multimedia
In the early 1990s, at the dawn of the age of interactive media, titles like “Columbus: Encounter, Discover, and Beyond,” produced by Robert Abel and distributed by IBM, set a new bar for empowering students to study a wide range of content in new ways. The title leveraged IBM’s large format IBM Ultimedia optical disc technology and was targeted at educational institutions.
The product description is impressive and reads:
“With James Earl Jones as narrator and Joe Morton as storyteller, these interactive titles span Europe and the Americas from the early Renaissance to the 20th Century from five different cultural perspectives -- White/European, Black/African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Native American. The largest multimedia project ever made, "Columbus," is on permanent display at the Library of Congress, National Demonstration Laboratories for new media and technology. Using an IBM CDROM drive, a Pioneer LaserDisc Player, and an advanced concept engine, "Columbus" connects 4400 scenes, 3,500 concepts, 5 hours of video, 180 hours of self-navigable imagery, and over 900,000 soft links on three videodiscs, and one computer optical disc.” This is a testament to the significance of the project.
As a budding interaction designer still in graduate school, I was so excited to see how the team was able to leverage visuals in icon form to help users navigate through the extensive content of the project. The possibilities of placing audio, visuals, and even early QuickTime film loops together, all to enhance storytelling, were influential to see in a commercial setting.
This and a piece focused on the immigration experience at Ellis Island created by Nancy Hechinger, who at the time had her multimedia production studio, Hands On Media. The Ellis Island work influenced my decision to explore using photorealistic points of contact within my interactive thesis work.
Exploring photorealistic points of contact was key to transcending interactive environments, which relied upon metaphor and abstracted icons. Abel’s work bridged the two worlds by providing vivid photos of objects or symbolic images, even on tiny button areas, guiding users across the environment’s functional elements. Hechniger’s work, and it is hoped that my thesis work also pushed the use of interactive elements further, allowing users to be further immersed in a story’s context.
Robert Abel and his team demonstrated the power of multimedia environments in educational contexts.
The Longest Day: An Interactive Thesis
In 1992, as part of creating my thesis work, I explored the use of photorealistic interfaces to immerse users in content. Meredith Davis guided my thesis work at the College of Design at North Carolina State University. Meredith recognized the power of interactive technology early on, and she had deep expertise regarding pedagogy. My thesis project focused on how interactive educational environments could benefit abstract, concrete, active, and reflective learners.
Content focused on the Normandy invasion. Users could explore content using a photorealistic montage of objects common to the battlefields of World War II as an interface. Different days could be selected by clicking on arrows next to the date on the header of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Content could be explored hourly by clicking on watch hands in the interface. Active learners developed empathy with leaders of the invasion by analyzing cause-and-effect scenarios using a role-playing map. Audio content from the film The Longest Day helped users understand what it must have been like to participate in the invasion. Finally, users could reflect upon their learnings and compose letters home that included audio and video clips from the film. In this way, creative writing skills could be assessed.
Just as with Rand Miller, though on a smaller scale, this thesis work involved overcoming serious technological constraints of the time. Created using Macintosh IIsi with 5MB of RAM and a 40MB hard drive, the Normandy invasion was chosen as a topic in part because the content lent itself well to a greyscale interface aesthetic. Most personal computers at the time were limited to displaying 256 colors, resulting in dithered images. However, computers could accommodate greyscale images acceptably. Similarly, the greyscale QuickTime film clips took less disk space and loaded faster. For further information on this thesis work and the golden dawn of the interactive media era, take a look at this Medium article I wrote a while back.
Upon completing graduate school, I took on a teaching position and, within a year, had shaped and was teaching some of the earliest interaction design courses of the early 1990’s. Working with various undergraduate and graduate students in programs ranging from communications design to painting and sculpture, new interactive media experiences were created with passion. Then, in 1993, Robyn and Rand Miller created Myst, raising the bar for what could be done with the interactive media. It inspired a new generation of interdisciplinary students and creatives to combine the power of computer programming, visualization, audio scapes, music, and storytelling in compelling new ways. Thanks to Rand Miller for sharing his war story and creating an inspirational example of how constraints invite creativity. And thanks for reminding the bivouac of its early 1990s “war story.”
The Longest Day: An Interactive Overview used intuitive photorealistic interaction points throughout the interface.
A Technological Footnote:
Created using Macintosh IIsi with 5MB of RAM and a 40MB hard drive, the Normandy invasion was chosen as a topic in part because the content lent itself well to a greyscale interface aesthetic. Most personal computers at the time were limited to displaying 256 colors, resulting in dithered images. However, computers could accommodate greyscale images acceptably. Hence, the choice to create the thesis in greyscale.
Have you dealt with constraints creatively? If so, how and when?
Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin
With local COVID restrictions of hand-launched watercraft like kayaks and canoes now being lifted in the bivouac’s northern outpost, more lake time has been had recently. This has the bivouac turning eyes toward the nautical side of things.
With local COVID restrictions of hand-launched watercraft like kayaks and canoes now being lifted in the bivouac’s northern outpost, more lake time has been had recently. This has the bivouac turning eyes toward the nautical side of things. The 2020 Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin is a new find that combines the best features from at least a couple of boat classes.
Know as the “Grand Turismo of the Seas,” on sunny days; the cabin doors slide wide open, the top slides back, and cabin gull-wing doors can even be opened wide to approximate a sun runner. In inclement weather, things can be reversed and buttoned up nicely with Webasto heating, keeping things toasty. The fore and aft cabins provide ample accommodations for a small family weekend getaway or an outing with friends. As Axopar has added an option for a wet bath and a galley behind the cockpit, longer runs are possible, too. The only things missing, which the company seems to be working on, are a larger refrigeration space and accommodations for hot water. Air conditioning would also be great but may not yet be on the list.
Overall, she’s a natural beauty with a revised raked roofline for 2020 that makes the boat appear more aggressive. And with twin Mercury outboard engines, she is undoubtedly capable of delivering a sporty yet controlled and smooth ride that matches her appearance due to her stepped hull design. Mercury joystick controls as an option complement her graceful lines with graceful in-harbor handling. All-in-all, it is a gorgeous and refreshingly practical nautical accomplishment.
