The extreme sports user can be categorized in many different ways, three of the main groups of extreme sports users involve: Water Extreme sports persons, Motorbike Extreme sports persons and Outdoor Pursuit sports persons. I wanted to look at the kind of vehicle an extreme sports user would use why they are suited, and for what else they could be adapted for and have design potential for an extreme sports user on the road.

Mini Beachcomber (Concept)

Looking at future vehicles that maybe coming into the market over the next few years, the Mini Beachcomber is a vehicle that has been specifically designed and aimed towards a market of users who are going to use their vehicle when taking their surfboard, wet-suit, down to the beach. The vehicle has been designed with the surfer and water sports user in mind, with a rugged ability for the vehicle to go off road when driving down to the beach, the seat themselves almost look like they are wet-suits themselves. The boot of the car offers large amounts of space for wet-suits, bikes, safety equipment and maybe even a hamper of food, so I see no reason why this couldn’t be used for day trips.

This concept could be explored further to incorporate a similar styled motor home/toy hauler trailer, by adding this trailer you would have the ability for the extreme sports user to be on the road for as long as they wished. The mini beachcomber could be used to pull the trailer between sites and locations whilst at the same time could unhitch the trailer and go
exploring when you arrive at your location.

Nissan Qashqai

Described as ‘A stylish crossover vehicle dynamic driving characteristics of a sporty hatchback with the robust, solid virtues of a compact SUV.’

The Qashqai has been around since 2007, and has now got a revamp in 2010. The Qashqai known for its economic features, with lower exhaust emission levels and improved fuel economy over other cars in its class. This car I would categorise to be aimed towards the outdoors pursuits user, someone who enjoys the outdoor lifestyle of camping and such activities as rock climbing. I would also suggest that motor sports adventurers that partake in motocross and bmx racing would also be attracted to this type of vehicle. The boot space can be extended with flattened back seats, which would allow more equipment to be stored. With the same token I feel this car would welcome the design of a stylised trailer which could be towed by the vehicle as a living space so users could camp overnight/weekend when at an extreme sports location.

Skoda Yeti

Could this be the answer in bringing together the high-riding nature of SUV and the practicality of a hatchback for an extreme sports user?

Much like the Nissan Qashqai it is a four wheel drive which aims to be a hybrid of SUV and hatchback, the Yeti offers the user large amounts of space throughout the whole car either for passenger comfort or more space to stuff in your extreme sports equipment? More space offers more room that if the car was to be used by a surfer/bmx biker, it would mean that the trailer doesn’t need to be as large and concentrate on being a living and sleeping space for when on the road.
The slightly elevated middle part of the bumper flows alongside the lines of the
elevation down both sides of the front of the car and these lines in styling flow right down the sides of the car. The car holds enough round and smoothed off areas for it not to be considered heavily boxed like and restricted, it has its own feel of smooth lines and flowing shape to be attractive (although not as much as the Qashqai.)
The four by four nature of the design would allow the car to adequately pull a small trailer (living space,) for an outdoor pursuits user. The styling and lines could be echoed in the trailers design carrying through from car to trailer, the trailer could be made a great stylistic extension of the car itself.

Ford Kuga

“its intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) system allows you to escape off-road… The bold, contemporary exterior is matched by an interior that’s sophisticated, spacious..”

This crossover vehicle aims to be a vehicle which can cater for the off-road user with the pictures showing the functions of carrying your surfboard, bicycle, as well as dealing with any type of road condition. Whether you choose to have your outdoor pursuits in the snow, the beach or off road in mountains and rocky roads.
The vehicle has very distinct styling and is something I am immediately drawn towards, with great space for loading equipment and takes advantage of the split rear tailgate technology. It looks rugged and at the same time maintains the styling of a sports vehicle which appeals to the younger audience which takes part in outdoor pursuits. I believe that trailers could be part of the Kuga’s design and take advantage of the styling and unique detail the Kuga has transporting it onto a trailers design making it distinctive in their own right as well as not looking out of place when the trailer is towed by the Kuga on the road. The Kuga would be a perfect vehicle for which someone could explore the mountains or surrounding area of a trip away leaving the trailer behind as a base camp to come back to relax to at the end of a long days extreme sports.

And for something which combines car and trailer design..

Mini Cooper: S Clubman

This design caught my eye for its flowing style, looking at the trailer you immediately see the copied stylistic lines and curvature. As well as the colour scheme in outside paintwork as well as the subtle use of the green/yellow used in the mini cooper’s front bumper is then used on the interior of the Clubman and in the inlays of the windows.

Although the height of the Clubman is obviously several feet higher the lines flow from the start of the mini through to the back of the Clubman, the curvature and subtlety of the back end of the mini cooper is also used at the back of the Clubman. The Mini Cooper often a fan to many water sports users (such as surfers) has the ability to carry the board on its roof rack, their is no reason why surfboards (and kite boards, etc) couldn’t be stored away safely inside the Clubman. The retro styling of the Mini Cooper (first released in the 70s) comes through in the Clubman with the interior it has, as well as the pair of Swan chairs.

Did you disagree with any of my selections?

Drop us a comment below.

Article written by Jared Thompson

Head writer of Design Something Blog, currently studying Product design at the University of Central Lancashire in his final year. He has interest in minimal, clean and simplistic design styles.

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!

This is a great selection of photographs inspired by sweets and candy. These are all photographs for those of us with sweet tooth’s, whether you like your lollipops or sugary candy these are all great photographs from photographs found from various sites.

Each photograph links back to the original photographs location, I would encourage you to leave comments on the original photographs as well as at the bottom of this photography roundup.

These are for all those people with a sweet tooth.

I hope you found these photos to be as inspiring and lip licking as I found them.

Thanks for reading this post, what photo’s are your favourite?

Drop us a comment below.

Article written by Jared Thompson

Head writer of Design Something Blog, currently studying Product design at the University of Central Lancashire in his final year. He has interest in minimal, clean and simplistic design styles.

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!

Philippe Starck is a French born Product design and probably is best known to me for two things, claiming that “design is dead,” and for his functionless juicer design. (Something which is a pet hate of mine.)

Philippe Starck has made designs in all kinds of industrial design and product design areas, from interior to mass produced consumer goods such as toothbrushes and chairs. He has been working as an interior and product designer since 1975 and has accrued a vast reputation for several things across the design world, his work his wide ranging and something which can often found to provoke a response. His product designs are often usable household items which Starck himself helps to market for mass production. His awards are too long to list and his work is admired by many allowing him to work with many large multinational firms, so why does he have this success? Does he deserve this attention?

If you haven’t already seen it yet Starck has been the face of a new product design reality television show, the producers must love his wacky personality and style, (because the students themselves are nothing to shout about.) The show is about whittling down 12 students hand-picked by Starck to compete to win a place at his design studio. ‘Design For Life’ is a good show in the sense that it has brought the idea of product design into the public viewpoint and has shown the viewer what product design is. Starck provides for the viewer that eccentricity and exuberance most televisions shows showcase, it’s a shame he picked such mindless idiots who have little imagination and ideas to win a priceless place at his design studio.

The ‘Leggy Chrome Juicer.’

This is one of the single most useless products i have come across, what is it’s purpose? It has zero functionality and is simple a style piece. But it’s a juicer, surely the minimum it should do is it set function. Yet I have heard many designers speak of how much they love this item and confess to owning one at home, why? It is one of the main reasons I have had a black mark against Starck’s name.

Article written by Jared Thompson

Head writer of Design Something Blog, currently studying Product design at the University of Central Lancashire in his final year. He has interest in minimal, clean and simplistic design styles.

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!

Dieter Rams started out his life in Germany in the 1930s and did first begin as an apprentice carpenter, he then worked his way up as an architect and interior designer before working for Braun. It wasn’t until the 1950s and working for Braun did his interest move away from architecture and interior design and move towards the design of products.

Dieter Rams is probably most famous for his work with Braun in the 1950s and 60s, many of which can be found in the Museum of Modern Art as they are such iconic pieces of product design. His work for Braun is highly regarded as being a huge influence over Jonathan Ive who’s work on the iMac and iPod began Apple’s huge rise to fame and fortune in the late 20th century and to the present day.

Dieter Rams has a great passion for simplicity and honesty in design, people looking at Rams should also recognize his work on the “ten principles of design.”

1. Good design is innovative.

2. Good design makes a product useful.

3. Good design is aesthetic.

4. Good design helps us understand a product.

5. Good design is unobtrusive.

6. Good design is honest.

7. Good design is durable.

8. Good design is consequent to the last detail.

9. Good design is concerned with the environment.

10. Good design is as little design as possible.

The first picture is the Braun T3 pocket radio, this has the same styling characteristics as the original iPod. Its simplistic design and minimal functions showcase his design principles and this is one of my favourite Dieter Rams product. The second picture shown above is the Braun T1000 Radio heavily influential on the Powermac G5. The third picture being the Braun LE1 speaker which has the complete look and feel of the Apple iMac. Dieter Rams work ended up providing the basis for Johnathan Ive who has recycled them into new and improved design products of high quality.

Other Products Dieter Rams Designed for Braun:

Article written by Jared Thompson

Head writer of Design Something Blog, currently studying Product design at the University of Central Lancashire in his final year. He has interest in minimal, clean and simplistic design styles.

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!

I have now setup a Flickr design something blog showcase group! I want you all to join and start to add your current, best, favorite works and then I will routine collate groups or my favorites and showcase them to the world via the design something blog!

Visit the Flickr group page here

Your taught how to tell the time as a young child, whether it’s through a small wristwatch or a big grandfather clock you had in your living room. These clocks attempt to confuse you further and look at new and interesting ways in which we can tell the time.

Vadim Kibardin: ‘Killer Clock Concept.’

Myznik Egor: ‘Soft Clock Concept.’ (This was selected for a red-dot design award in 2009.)

Yiran Qian: ‘vice versa’

Furniture can come in all shapes and sizes, design and typography go hand in hand, designers the world over use typography in various ways and means. Typography is used by artists and designers the world over and can make any piece of work stand out and really make the piece of work feel unique. Here is a collection of typography inspired furniture I have found whilst researching over the Internet in the past few weeks.

Found over at crookedbrains.net

Found over at designspotter.com, this is a ‘Muungano bench’ which has been lazer cut out.

Known as ‘La Dresser’ this piece of furniture was found over at the death by kerning blog, made by Wary Myers using an old set of drawers and revamped them.

Swiss firm Set 26 created this furniture and it is also available in six different colours also.

This design of a typography table can be found over at palette industries.

Called the Dharma Lounge, it reads “Stand Forget Breath Acknowledge Observe” this again was made by the people over at Pallette industries.

A very complex idea but put together with great precision, made by the American contemporary artist Joseph Kosuth.

These alphabet drawers are handmade over at Kent and London, the drawers were inspired by vintage printing blocks.

This campus floor lamp was found over at behance and again was made by those creatives over at Pallette Industries.

Character recycled typography was found over at Yanko Design. These reinstalled LEDs have a life span of 30,000 hours, and are recycled old lights which have previously would have been sent to landfill once there lifespan had ended.

Please leave your thoughts and comments, or any designs you may have come across yourself.

If you have any thoughts on the designs featured I would love to hear your comments.

Article written by Jared Thompson

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!

Daniel is a Bolton born designer, but soon outgrew his small beginnings to work in the big city of London. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in London, Daniel did spend a small amount of time in the US working at the famous Walker Art Center. But bigger things were ahead for him back in the Nation’s capital, when back in London he launched foundation 33. This has since merged to become the creative agency we know as boymeetsgirl. In recent years Daniel has turned to working under the banner of Eatock ltd, which he continues to work for today.

You may not immediately think you know any of Daniel Eatock’s work but I’m sure you have gazed your eyes upon his work in some form or another. His work has been for many big name clients from The New York times to Channel 4, but the bulk of his work he creates is self initiated. The work evolves from being a small self initiated brief onto his website and then spreading onto being featured in gallery exhibitions.

The first works of Daniel Eatock you may not know about is that he has designed the big brother logo’s, and I think they are great how they developed and evolved over the many he has done. Each time he has come back to redesign the same premise of the single eye, he has made the design new and fresh giving it a great edge each time.

His other projects which are often self initiated are often completely left field and are something you can often look at and wonder why the hell he has decided to further this idea. But in a weird way these are the ideas and projects I love the most. He thinks completely out of the box and don’t forget that these projects more often than not appear as exhibits in galleries worldwide.

A great book Daniel Eatock has created is called “imprint” this is the first monograph of his work, the book chronicles the personal and commercial projects he has worked on. The projects blur between the bizarre and the commercial, and are a great chronicling of his portfolio of work. The book has a very scattered nature which reflects his website as well, but all has been carefully put together by the man himself. The book chronicles small events like pictures of the week large scale projects involving thousands of people. Each book created also in accordance with its title contains a person thumbprint from the man himself, could he be more personal?

Article written by Jared Thompson

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!

Resources:

• Daniel Eatock’s Website
• Design Boom Interview
• Icon Eye Article
• Beautiful Decay Article
• One Friday Article
• Youtube Video
• Cool hunting Article