Designling

Beautiful Branding

2010-02-03T17:49:00.001-08:00

Exploring branding and packaging, I found this CD design that really amazed me. I don't want to spoil the surprise, so I won't say much, just watch the video

PAPPELTALKS from vizage on Vimeo.

Fossil Spring Line 2009 Launched

2009-07-20T18:02:00.001-07:00

The Cruiser Collection Launched Recently

Inspired by vintage Men's workwear.

I had a lot of influence on this collection and was so excited to see how the final materials work their way out for production. My co-op ended before I got to see final samples but my super talented co-workers did such an amazing job.

Built-to-Order Fixie for $400...From Urban Outfitters?

2009-07-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

I've come to the realization that exercising is when I do a lot of my thinking andgoal setting. While pondering possible thesis concepts today on my run, I dreamt up an online store where customers could completely customize their own bicycles and utilize on demand manufacturing only to come home and instantly find out that Urban Outfitters Bikes launched today with pretty much the exact concept. Anyway its pretty awesome...

Part of me loves that they offer so many color options and different configurations while keeping the overall bike simple. You'll be shit out of luck if you're not a fan of the BMX bike handles. It will be interesting to see how this evolves and is updated when bicycling trends change and evolve.

Beauty Product Inspiration Board

2009-07-09T00:10:00.000-07:00

Its 3:00 AM and I just finished one of our Inspiration Boards to help direct the design and inspire our line of Men's Beauty Products. At some point it will need some refining because it still reads somewhat flat.

Bare Strength

For the man who has lived life. Celebrating the strength, masculinity, and wisdom that come to men with age, Bare Strength maintains the health and vitality of the users face, keeping the skin bright and full of character.

Chair Studio Started Today!

2009-06-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

My studio started our chair studio today. We are required to design and build a chair.

The Opportunity

Welcome to the quarter you’ve all been waiting for…THE CHAIR PROBLEM. Our approach to this problem will be focused on the creation of design themes and product attributes through the study of Connections, both Physical and Metaphysical.

You will be lectured and coached on the techniques and methods to accomplish the above objectives. We will also discuss the application of figurative language forms such as metaphor, hyperbole, irony, humor and narrative as tools to inspire innovation in a product attributes, meaning and emotional content.

This will be an intense ideation sketching and 3-D modeling problem that is intended to round out your personal portfolio and demonstrate skills learned in this program. It will culminate, of course, with a full-scale prototype of your chair design, which will be critiqued at the end of the quarter by a team of guest professionals.

Wish me Luck!
I'll be doing a lot of sketching and research for the next couple of weeks that I plan on posting here!

Last Section's Work (My section was on Co-op)
Junior Industrial Design Students @ The University of Cincinnati DAAP

Brand Identity

2009-06-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

I found this great concise introduction to Branding for the designer. As the story behind the products we design becomes more and more important, this guide is great for getting some quick insight into branding. Branding is no longer something that is applied to the product as an after thought, but something that has evolved into every aspect of the product in terms of, aesthetic, function, materials, process, construction, etc.

The first half of the book is available for free here. The entire book is available for download at a very reasonable price of $4.99 here.

The Design Process Illustrated

2009-06-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

I found this a while back while trying illustrate the design process for some buyers. via Friday Editon Its the simplest and clearest way of illustrating the design process that I've found.

One of the biggest challenges of making money as a designer is explaining the design process to your customers. Afterall, they are paying you for your time and the refinement that the design process can offer. Explaining upfront that the design process is not a linear process helps ease tension between your client/buyer and designers.

This illustration can be applied to various individual aspects of the design process as well. One example is the initial trend research and "State of the Art" research that many designers start off with initially. It often involves scouring many blogs, magazines, and trend reporting sites and funneling them down into categories of trends and refining them into a decided product theory or trend.

Photo: Road Trip San Francisco to Cincinnati

2009-06-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

With the help of best bud and co-pilot extroadinaire Marcey, I made the 3000 Mile road trip from San Francisco to Cincinnati. The trip was an adventure, neither one of us left the other one on the side of the road, and the damage to my car was minimal (in that not a total travesty sort of way).

Golden Gate Bridge

Yosemite

Grand Canyon

Hoover Damn

Utah

Enjoy the New Domain Name

2009-06-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

www.designling.com

Branding Yourself

2009-06-07T23:41:00.000-07:00

I checked a couple things off my branding list this week

1. New website hosted under my domain name http://www.michaeljohnkandel.com

2. New Business Cards and Branding Direction

I was really surprised how difficult it was to create a business card. I went through a ton of iterations and concepts for it before arriving on the above design. In order to give everything relevancy, I chose the barcode as my graphic element, something that appears on all products. I didn't want to simplify the card to just my info, nor did I want to add senseless graphic elements. On a fun side-note, the barcode was created using my phone number and actually scans as my phone number. I plan on adopting the barcode into all of my branding (portfolio, blog, website, etc)

I was really happy with the avery business card products, if your looking for some card stock to make your cards. The cards break apart without any perforation and are thick enough to make sense in a business card. They also offer illustrator and indesign templates on their website.

In order to bleed the ink to the edge of the card, I lost a lot of the paper, so I put these little mini cards in-between the cards that feature only my phone number.

Road Trip Photos

2009-04-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

Just really got the time to upload some photos from to facebook and flickr from my recent road trip out here to San Francisco. Hoping to keep up with the blog, just adjusting to a new city.

Flickr account michael_kandel

Thanks

MK

Rockie Mountains 1 Yoshi 0

2009-03-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Gross! I think my bike might need rebuilt after this trip. Mountain Grime, Sand, Dust, and Sludge.

Updated Portfolio

2009-03-12T11:09:00.001-07:00

Some companies requested more process work on my soft goods for fossil.
Check out the updated portfolio here.

Video as a Presentation Format

2009-03-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

While being one of the most innovative and expressive fields of designs, fashion also has traditional presentation on the runway. Gareth Pugh takes a different route in presenting his line in this video format. I think it was extraordinarily successful. I think it would really be interesting to see what video can offer in Indusrtrial Design presentation.

Gareth Pugh from Purple Magazine on Vimeo.

Tea Kettle Design

2009-03-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

Tea Kettle design available for download here.

2009-02-20T12:22:00.001-08:00

Mobile blogging rulz!

Uh Duh! Makes Sense

2009-02-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

This makes a lot of sense!

I want it.

Adidas Look Book 2009

2009-02-16T22:08:00.000-08:00

Adidas's new look-book shows how you can really spice up some product shots with some inexpensive fun props. Baloons and broken smoked glass are really effective in spicing up these photos.

Tweet! Tweet!

2009-02-16T22:03:00.001-08:00

One of my goals for the quarter was to embrace the emerging concept of online communication.

I'm a twitterer.

http://twitter.com/kandelmike

Let Them Eat Cake!

2009-02-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

In honor of birthday week!

Story Board

2009-02-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Storyboard Exercise

MK

Featured Artist: Lady Gaga

2009-02-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Lady Gaga has been described as go-go-dancing diva who writes her own disco-electronica pop songs. When interviewed, she states that her inspiration is derived from her fantasy world. Her fantasy world is really something that I can get into.

Lady Gaga meshes technology, fashion, music, and dance offering a fresh new perspective in the noise that is the music industry. It all results in a devised and well thought out visual shock through her clothing, props, and performances. Her image is clear as a result of the designs that she utilizes.

As a product designer I really admire that she utilizes unique and custom props in her performances. All of her fashions are one of a kind pieces. Additionally, she has created a set of iconic electronic pieces that she utilizes throughout her performances and videos.

Some of GaGa's Fashions

Lady Gaga Videos

A prerelease of her Fame album. The video is cool and gives you a preview of her CD utilizing online youtube marketing.
*SPOILER ALERT* This video gets fairly racey towards the end

Video Performance showcasing her custom props. See crystal cane, headset, shoes, and digital shades.

The Gaga Report

Amazon Kindle Second Generation Released

2009-02-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

Generation Two

Generation One

I view the kindle as one of the most innovative products of the last generation. When it first came out I was a typical college student lugging around a lot of big huge heavy books around from class to class. When this came out I was excited to just carry around one little device. Alas text books weren't available on it. Now they are. While I haven't bought a text book in four years, I would definitely be toting one of these if i needed to anymore.

Function aside, I'm so glad this is aesthetically relevant. The original one was strait out of the eighties. I'm sad to see the big page flip button leave, but relieved that the new design is simple and neutral since it will hold a large variety of books.

All-in-all Amazon has really gotten their act together when it comes to product design. The kindle shows that a really good concept can carry a product regardless of the aesthetics (the kindle has experience insanely good sales), but without the solid concept there is no product. Lets see how sales progress now.

Final PUMA USB Drive Design

2009-02-05T12:11:00.001-08:00

Photoshop and 3D Render

Illustrator Render

Having a problem uploading photos correctly. I'll get it handled soon, full images available when you click them.

Process Book Here

Any critique welcome.

MK

HP Sponsored Studio

2009-02-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Project Background : Designing a desktop computer for an emerging market for our choice of either Compaq or HP. This studio is financially sponsored by HP. Below are my three mid term concepts.

Next Gen Touch Smart
Since, HP is one of the few companies actually pushing forward with touch as a form of input for desktop computing, this concept takes their HP Touch Smart computer farther for the chinese market. While not ultra portable, this concept has a stow-able stand so that it can moved around the apartment, since most spaces in chiense homes are multi-use. The desk may also be the family table.

Additonally this concept features two light indicator bars, that could be utilized at point of purchase with flashing and strobing lights to grab customers attention. They also serve as a novelty, something that plays well in the chinese market.

Net Top Desktop
Taking a note from the influx of low cost netbooks to the market, this concept uses the same low cost components, with the exception of the monitor to create a cost effective solution to the lower end of the chinese market. By remaining stationary it is always available for on demand online info. Taking into account China's huge broadband potential, this concept streams customizable online information on the wall behind the monitor. This would set the product apart in the competitive chinse marketplace as well.

Cordless Terminal Computing
Various social and political events have affected the Chinese concept of "Sharing". This concept plays into that by offering a new solution to multi user computing. The system consists of a Media Center like P.C. that takes the place of a DVD player, something most chinese have already made room for in their homes. It transmits its computing power to various terminals. These terminals are ultra portable and consist of a smaller screen with a touch interface. This system allows for multi user, multi room computing. By replacing the DVD player, the additional space consumption is minimal. Additionally, everyone's computer would be upgraded when the media center PC is upgraded.

Playing into the concept of a multi handset portable phone, this concept also features next generation communication features. Solving one of the problems with video conferencing, this concept allows users to make eye contact with each other while video conferencing. This will prove vital to the adoption of this technology in the chinese market, where personal connections are required for doing business.

Any feedback would be appreciated. I'm currently taking the third terminal concept farther.

MK

Further Development PUMA USB Drive

2009-02-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

Render Method: Combination Alias and Photoshop

Puma USB Data Drive

2009-02-01T18:23:00.001-08:00

Two families of USB drives developed for PUMA. To find out more about the puma brand see my previous post.

DONE!

2009-01-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Shit, somebody already designed a computer for an emerging market for HP.

Retailing at $10 and only available in India this computer is genius.

The Rest of the Redmond Group Released!

2009-01-27T21:24:00.000-08:00

So I'm super excited that the rest of the bags I worked on launched with the spring collection.

This was originally designed for the international market, but was picked up for domestic as well with the hopes for female buyers.

I'm super excited that I was able to see the creation of this bag from sketch until seeing it in the catalog and hopefully soon in the stores. If you're looking for an industry with quick turn around, I'd suggest looking into soft goods. Usually factories return samples within a month of receiving sketches. Products enter market less than a year from initial design.

Check out the spring catalog online.

Leather vs. Pleather

2009-01-26T12:03:00.001-08:00

Prepare yourself fellow bloggers, I'm for leather over pleather. I know, I know, its SCAN-DA-LOUS, but this topic gets back to a fairly serious materials debate.

Two well meaning agendas come clash on this topic. Leather has been used since the early days of man as a material for all sorts of tools and products. Because of its long history it is a staple in many industries, fashion included. While leather offers a durable, bio degradable, and natural material option , It does have its unfortunate beginnings on the back of a happy cow. But with the development of green tanneries all over the world, it has a minimum effect on the environment over the development of imitation leather or PU which is a plastic. It also has the pesky side effect of creating approximately 500 lb. of beef. I.E. 2000 quarter-pounders, with cheese of course.

The PU production process on the other hand creates waste, uses oil resources, and creates a product which will not bio-degrade for a very long time. Additionally, materials such as nylon and plastics also are horrible in their creation and recyclability. It does keep those cows happy and content... well until they are killed for your next double cheeseburger at Mc Ds.

So if your next soft good purchasing choice comes down to leather vs. pleather make sure you think about it. Is the cheaper price worth the environmental cost the earth incurs? What's the true cost of the stuff we buy?

So readers, which is more important, the environment or the animals that live in the environment?

Comment with your answers

Redmond Duffel

2009-01-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

Bring everything. The Redmond Duffle Bag is made from genuine leather and features retro-inspired contrast stitching and silver-tone hardware. The spacious interior has multiple interior pockets help keep you organized. It's the perfect way to travel in style.

Thanks to all the great designers I worked with at fossil that helped to realize this bag and get it to market.

Get yours today!

Cool Brand

2009-01-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

Voted one of the coolest brands by brands republic, Puma has proven to be a successful lifestyle brand, able to brand a large variety of products and people.

Pumas beginnings starting in Germany in 1948 read somewhat like a dramatic soap opera with family betrayal, feuds, and Nazi alliances.

Today, Puma is a good example of how a company reinvents themselves from a product based brand to a lifestyle brand. "Lifestyle" brands allow for expansion into other product markets as Puma has successfully done. Going from a football shoe brand into a brand with products in all athletic shoe arenas, urban sheos, as well as time pieces, bicycles, and bags.

Like many athletic brands, Puma is also very active and has been very active in sponsoring athletes, team, and events. Puma's logo pops up in a variety of international sports competitions ranging from sailing to formula 1. Most importantly they have been successful at sponsoring winning athletes and teams.

Its obvious that Puma strives to associate their brand with athletic performance, however unlike other sportswear brands, Puma went after the "lifestyle" of their user. They successfully melded the fashion world with the athletic world.

Puma realised it was far from a traditional sportswear company and after years of striving for a more unique identify it came up with a successful formula for 'mixing up' sports and fashion.

Partnerships with musicians and artists began to pay off with the return of heritage shoe styles and Puma's ground-breaking development of sport-fashion collections. Puma gained credibility in the UK dance music scene.

Today puma shares just as much presence as adidas or nike.

Further more puma is branching out, now with a developed a solid lifestyle brand based on staples such as fashion, innovation, and heritage, they are able to voyage into other product arenas.

"This year Puma has followed through with innovations that are a clear departure from sportswear. These include a 26-piece 'modular fashion menswear wardrobe for global business gypsies' called 96 Hours. The collection claims to provide everything that one would need for four days of business travel in a simple aluminium case."

I'm choosing puma as the brand for my first project in my Design Communication class. Hopefully, I'll be able to wrap my hands around all that is puma and create something appropriate. While maybe not yet, I think Puma's brand has the potential with their music street cred to brand fashionable technology pieces like headphones, mp3 players, and for my project USB thumb drives.

Thats all for now,

XOXO,

MK

Set your gun to stunna and get some fringe benefits.

2009-01-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

I was watching the fabulous new Sasha Fierce video DIVA and was enthralled with her choice of those awesome fringe shades. I'm expecting them to blow up like those awesome impractical stunna shades. Such an example of how product placement and marketing can make a novelty product like these BLOW UP! Hmmmm?

All in all Beyonce, I mean Sasha Fierce, is geniously marketing herself with this most recent album release. She is sort of the queen of self promotion.

1. She is taking advantage of the explosion of online video on youtube with her video. She is going after an enormous marketing outlet. I don't think its a fluke that everyone is on you tube imitating the Single Ladies Video. (Be on the look out for my debut!)

2. She is unified. All of her videos, products of their own, share similar shooting methods,choreography, and those same three fem(speculation aside) fatales. It really represents a unique style that she has ran with and made her claim to. Its unified enough to be hers and hers alone, but offers enough play to keep reinventing. This shows how a form language can really make an entity, or brand as beyonce is becoming a sucess.

3. Sasha Fierce is Fierce. Thats why people are ok with her being a not so subtle fiend for product placement. The beginning and the end of the Diva video feature a product that is bound to make Beyonce a very wealthy Mrs. Z (Once he puts a ring on it!) I mean only someone as fierce as, say...Sash Fierce could work these shades so fiercely. The video opens with those awesome fringe shades, of which I'm sure are going to be the next stunna shades, an equally pointless novelty that has made it into a many's accessory wardrobe. Miss Fierce doesn't stop at some shades thou, she ends her video with a ringtone preview. A RING TONE PREVIEW placed in the music video! GENIUS!!! She's going to make $1.00 on iTunes from that song, but the ring tone will cost you considerablly more at $2.99. So its very innovative of her to know that the video isn't necessarily selling songs anymre, its selling ringtones.

Props to Beyonce! You're one crafty bitch, that we can all learn something about self promotion from.

Such a Tease!

2009-01-22T16:24:00.000-08:00

Be teased here!

Its a folio! Its portable! Its a portfolio!

2009-01-20T23:27:00.000-08:00

Its done! Its me! Its most likely riddled with spelling errors!

Here it is ya'll!

Comments welcome.

XOXO,

MK

No Gimmick, No Novelty, No Job?

2009-01-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

I watched the story of stuff today in studio. This video is really well done, short, concise, and informative. It takes an opinion without preaching, and makes you think without saluting. I don't know if I buy into it completely, but it did strike a cord for the moment being.

...After the initial sadness, depression, and desire to change majors to whale conservation and picket walmart, I realized that designers don't have to be the problem of stuff, they just need to face the challenge of sustainability. While, I don't claim to be the expert for environmentalism or sustainability, nor do I really think I can fathom the problem that sustainability hopes to solve, I did want to take it into account in my designs and my life more. The challenge then becomes how do I incorporate the illusive thought of sustainability into my designs and work? How do I go about sustainability logically and practically? What is too much and what is not enough? It is, afterall, faced with many practical and matter-o-fact realities of money, economy, and the quest to get paid.

Furthermore, after reading unclutterer's advice of children's toys, I realized that one steps towards sustainability is to design without gimmick and with quality. I haven't quite figured out how that is to worked into a consumer society that seems to thrive on gimmick and novelty and everyday low prices. I may get back to you on that, first I'm off to get some star-bucks and some disposable plates.

XOXO,

MK

P.S. Unclutterer is a great place to visit if you are in need of organization and hope to break free of the "golden consumer arrow"

Hello World!

2009-01-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

In the year 2009 I've decided to really jump into this vast world of social networking and online communication devices. I mean really JUMP IN! So....here I am starting my first blog. Look for twittering and podcasting to come and any other delightfully trendy internet happenings I can try out.

Its a new year y'all. (I've been in Texas for 6 months / I've also watched the Britney documentary... maybe a few too many times)

This is what I want.

1. A merging of co-op life with studio life.

2. Utilizing the internet for all it has to offer.

3. Balance and Organization.

XOXO,

MK