Design

Photos: Build-it-yourself Scion xB

Scion is primarily known for two things: its young, trendy customer base and the customizability of its cars. Now the automaker is taking those two ideas forward in a novel way by partnering with Ridemakerz, a specialty retailer that allows its customers to build personalized scale models of production cars. Scion made the announcement of the partnership at the SEMA show here in Las Vegas, where Ridemakerz had set up version of one of its interactive stores. We wasted no time in rolling up our sleeves and getting to work building our own Scion xB model. Check out our gallery … Read more

Photos: The highs and lows of SEMA 2007

While our main interest at this year's SEMA show was the wealth of new in-car gadgetry on display, we couldn't help but show some interest in the hundreds of modified trucks, classics and hot rods jammed into every available inch of Las Vegas Convention Center. We managed to tear ourselves away from the mobile electronics hall to get snaps of some of the more entertaining mods, particularly those at either end of the height scale. Check out our photo gallery to see a roundup of our favorites.

Is HoneyShed the end of the future of online advertising?

Call it branded entertainment, advertising-as-content, or just brand-vertising: obviously inspired by TBS' veryfunnyads.com, which according to MediaPost claims more than 73 million views since launching last year, brands and advertisers are teaming up to push the envelope of online advertising even further. Recent example: Publicis Groupe, Droga5, and Digitas have joined forces to quietly launch what they had already announced in May this year--a site dubbed HoneyShed on which advertisers can air brand-specific programming. Clips can be shared by viewers via e-mail or embedded on blogs and other sites. HoneyShed also offers instant e-commerce: "I want it." … Read more

Nissan, NEC are of the same stripe in laptops

We've got to hand it to NEC and Nissan. As silly as we found the their SUV-inspired laptop, there's something admirably cheeky about their special edition that's supposed to match Nissan's March mini-car (aka the Micra in Japan), in all its striped insanity.

The pattern looks as if it was lifted from a drawer liner created by an overcaffienated interior designer of the '60s. It even comes with a slip cover made of the same material used for the car's seat upholstery, according to Digital World Tokyo.

We really shouldn't be surprised by any … Read more

Dealers and pimps: Lexus makes F accessories available a la carte

When Lexus unveiled its IS-F sedan at the Detroit auto show this year, it was the first factory-tuned model that we had seen from the Japanese automaker. Today, Lexus unveiled a range of performance accessories to allow owners of standard IS250 and IS350 models to cash in on the "F" factor by pimping their rides with their choice of performance-enhancing components.

IS drivers will be able to choose from a number of dealer options, including upgraded brakes, a carbon-fiber engine cover, a performance air-intake, and F-branded 19-inch forged alloy wheels. According to Lexus reps, the accessories will be … Read more

Let's drag office phones into the 21st century

Why is it that your typical office phone stinks compared with the one you have at home? Here are a few of the ways they are harder to use, do less, and look uglier.

Office phones are ugly: They are typically anonymous black blobs with boring key shapes and colors and utilitarian speaker grills. Stylistically they are circa 1985 and made with shiny black textured plastics that would embarass a home phone or cell phone.

Office phones are hard to use (part one): They typically come in two types: Those with just one cryptic "function" button that through … Read more

What's a Zuda? Major publisher leaps into the world of webcomics

DC Comics has been publishing comic books even before Superman debuted in the first issue of Action Comics nearly seven decades ago. On Tuesday, they launch Zuda Comics, their first foray into webcomics, throwing the full weight of a major publisher into a game that has been dominated by independent and self-published creators.

So what took so long?

… Read more

Handvertising: Marketing (re)discovers the human body

Advertising space is scarce. No wonder advertisers are innovative when it comes to taking advantage of underutilized real estate--such as the human skin.

Handvertising USA is an Orange County-based company that connects advertisers with customers willing to display ads on their hands.

"Almost everyone has been to a county fair, swap meet, bar or club and had had their hand stamped for proof of entry. We have found a better use for this space that could make everyone happy," says CEO Mike Brown. "We find venues also use the stamps to increase business. For example, venues are … Read more

Did the World Design Congress Connect?

Phew, what a busy week it was. Unfortunately, it was busy for me in a way that meant I didn't get to see as much of the World Design Congress as I had hoped. The plan for blogging during it also didn't work out as expected. Tim got to see a lot more than I did, and his post does a masterful job of capturing the highlights and trends.

From my more limited perspective I would tend to agree with the key points of his post. The highlight for me, as I think it was for many, was … Read more