Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco – California – USA (by Florent Lamoureux)
Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco – California – USA…
Author: signordal
MIT Develops Multi-Material Design System Slated to Become “Photoshop of 3D Printing”
Following last year’s introduction of MultiFab, a multi-material 3D printer, researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has pioneered a system for designing multi-material objects. The new interface, Foundry, is meant to be accessible to non-programmers, whereas multi-material 3D printing technology has historically been prohibitive both with respect to cost and user-friendliness.
Courtesy of MIT CSAIL
The team at MIT hopes that Foundry will become 3D printing’s analog to graphic design’s Photoshop. To aid rapid prototyping, the platform enables the designer to assign distinct material properties to each part in a composite print. For example, it could produce a dental appliance containing a rigid, tooth-like material connected to a softer and more malleable material to merge with the gums.
The software is compatible with any commercially available multi-material printer. Currently, users must import geometry from traditional CAD software into Foundry to designate material composition, but the researchers are looking into integrating Foundry into CAD programs. Additionally, the team hopes to add the capability to preview a part’s behavior.
Learn more about Foundry at DesignNews.
Amsterdam, The Netherlandsphoto via vive
Selected: Ghost Pines by NathanielMerz
Hey look, another old shot. Oh well, not many people saw this the first time around so I figured should be pretty safe with this one. This is a popular pine grove in South Korea and it is absolutely amazing in the fog. The last few beautiful pine forest shots by awesome Korean photographer Jaeyoun Ryu have me itching to visit. If you haven’t seen his work go check it out–amazing stuff.
Pathways Innovation Center / Cuningham Group Architecture + MOA
© Astula
- Architects: Cuningham Group Architecture, MOA
- Location: Casper, WY, United States
- Architect In Charge: Scott Krenner
- Area: 125315.0 ft2
- Project Year: 2016
- Photographs: Astula
- Design Architect: Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc
- Architect Of Record: MOA Architecture
- Ff&E: Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc.
- Civil: Civil Engineering Professionals, Inc.
- Structural: Martin/Martin
- Mechanical : Engineering Design Associates
- Electrical : Engineering Design Associates
- Acoustic: D. L. Adams Associates
- Theatre Systems : D. L. Adams Associates
- It/Av : Rimrock
- Landscape Architect: Design Concepts
- Cost Estimating : Scovel Management Group
- Food Service: William Caruso & Associates
- Expanded Charrette Services: Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc./America’s Schoolhouse
- Council: Jim Brady
© Astula
From the architect. A new state-of-the-art high school designed by Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. (Cuningham Group ®) is providing students with an interactive and personalized learning experience and exposure to future career opportunities. Pathways Innovation Center offers junior and seniors in the Natrona County School System in Casper, Wyoming, an interactive and personalized education through four academies focused on multiple disciplines, including engineering and design.
© Astula
“The goal is to inspire kids who are not necessarily planning to move on to four-year colleges,” says Scott Krenner, the project’s Design Lead and Associate at Cuningham Group. “Rather than follow a traditional vocational approach, this high school presents new pathways to success; a way to shine that may not be found in standardized tests. Here, their inventive thinking and new skills are much more visible.”
© Astula
Cuningham Group worked with a local partner, MOA Architecture, to design a 38-acre campus, which also includes the new Roosevelt High School. The Pathways program is open to all juniors and seniors in the school district.
1st Floor Plan
2nd Floor Plan
At the center of Pathways Innovation Center is “Fabrication Hall,” a 5,000-square-foot, two-story common space surrounded by labs equipped with cutting-edge technology, and is meant to encourage teams from all academies to collaborate on projects. The architects’ innovative design concept for Fabrication Hall was inspired by private sector facilities, including Boeing in Washington state, where engineering and design teams work under one roof.
© Astula
“This is a unique space that you don’t see at other schools,” Krenner says. “It is fully sun-filled and large enough to build homes and solar-powered airplanes.” The hall has 16-feet-high, custom-fabricated glass bay doors that fully open to the outside. On the inside, the hall is viewed from glass-walled design spaces, including a “floating blue box” overlooking the hall for informal learning.
© Astula
“This approach creates a conversation between academic disciplines, including construction, woodworking, metals, welding, robotics, arts and furniture making,” he says. “It’s an incubator for prototyping. Ideas are generated and then connect with the different academies at the school. As the Fabrication Hall, the transparent design stimulates synergy and is a celebration of student achievement.”
© Astula
Competition-Winning Design Proposes Wood Housing Addition to Fourth-Century Aqueduct in Istanbul
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
Sinan Günay and Nurhayat Oz of Superspace have won second prize in the MetsäWood competition, The City Above the City, which called for architects to design wooden extensions to city centers. With their project, Colliding Lines and Lives, the team designed a series wooden housing modules to be appended to a fourth-century Roman aqueduct archway in Istanbul.
Built by the Roman emperor Valens, the archway was an important water supply for the Romans and Ottomans but later lost its significance and functionality with technological and infrastructural advancements, leaving it an unutilized landmark in the city.
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
In the district of Fatih, 921 meters of this archway remains, which becomes the foundation for the Colliding Lines and Lives proposal.
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
A [grid] structure, located above the archway, referencing the openings of the arches, serving as a vertical but linear underlay for the wooden housing modules shot with the pattern of the surrounding, is exposed to and separated from the archway to create a promenade with overlapping the fabric of wood and stone, [old and new], history and future, hard and soft, day and night, heavy and light, and ultimately generating an alternative elevated life, keeping tabs of the city, instead of just being watched, explained the architects in a recent press release.
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
Courtesy of Sinan Gunay
News via: MetsäWood.
7 Marketing Tips for Personal Success (even if you’re an introvert!)
You’re reading 7 Marketing Tips for Personal Success (even if you’re an introvert!), originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
A couple of years ago, I took a position in corporate marketing. At first, I thought I made a mistake accepting—it had a nice salary bump, so I convinced myself that it was good for my career. But the more I pondered upon it, the more it appeared to me that I made a rather hasty decision, and the job was a bad fit for my personality—as an introvert, I don’t exactly have a penchant for being outspoken and bubbly all day long.
However, almost a year into it, I was grateful for the opportunity. More importantly, I trust that what I learned on the job has helped me tremendously in many ways. I was able to “go out of my shell” and become less shy; coworkers who often passed me by as if I was invisible suddenly greeted me by name; my boss was finally able to see “how my contribution to the job aligned with the corporate goals.” I was in a good place, it seemed.
Of course, it all came at a price. It took me a long time to mentally prime myself every morning; I made the washroom my favorite hideout place to seek solitude and peace; it felt wearing to talk to more than a couple of people during the day as I was used to. I was so drenched of mental energy every night, that all I can do after work was to cuddle on the couch with my son’s teddy bear for comfort.
But it seems like wisdom can come from the most unexpected sources (even if it’s painful at first).
What I learned from the world of marketing has been more than just how to become chattier and perhaps more socially adaptable. I learned how to enhance the brand, called “Me.” It’s an incessant exercise in self-feedback and self-improvement. It’s effortful—true—but the advantages are real.
Of course, marketing gurus have been preaching about the benefits of personal branding for a long time. And the ideas and approaches, I have discovered from my time on the job, are no different than in corporate advertising. Similar tricks and tips that can make a company climb up to stardom (backed up by a good product or service, naturally) can bump up our personal and professional stock.
So, what are some of the lessons I learned? Some are perhaps not revolutionary but, nevertheless, will be good reminders for many, I hope.
1. The Human Factor
Probably the easiest way to make others like us and bend to our decisions and opinions is to glorify them a bit and make them feel special in some way. People-reading skills are quite important here since everyone has different soft spots. For one, it may be the way they dress, for others- their cute kids, and for another – their achievements. Whatever the “igniting factor,” you have to try to find it and make a connection. The most effective marketing messages strike a personal note with a group of people. Thus, even the toughest boss can be won over once you appeal to their human side.
2. Make People Laugh
Clever or subtle humour always works in marketing. If done properly, people will remember it and the message that goes with it. Humour is not only the best medicine but also the best ice-breaker. It’s no secret that if a decision-maker or your boss likes your jokes, you can quickly become part of the “in-circle.” Everyone looks favourably on people that make them feel better. Don’t overdo it, though— remember that court jesters were not respected for their brains. The art of telling a smart joke lies in intelligence. Hence, read a lot, keep yourself updated and never miss a chance to accentuate your work-related skills after a good anecdote.
3. Social Chameleon-ism
Social chameleons don’t deserve all the bad publicity and criticism they receive. The term is not equal to a hypocrite. It simply means that, in order to succeed personally and professionally, we need to learn to adapt to other people. We don’t have to change who we are. Rather, just show different parts of our personality depending on the audience, so we can better relate to others.
For instance, you wouldn’t talk to your boss about pets if you know they don’t own one. Exactly as you would never target retired people for the latest iPhone, or advertise retirement homes in Costa Rica to teenagers. “One size fits all” never works well in marketing. Therefore, always know your end goal, your target audience and adjust accordingly.
4. Look the Look
The best marketing messages always have some memorable element—bright colours, something that stands out in the grey mass. We live in a very material world and that’s barely a secret to anyone. Life is busy, people’s attention spans are getting shorter, snap judgements are becoming more prevalent.
If you want to be remembered, make sure you have something to remember you for. Research shows that it takes few seconds for others to form an opinion of us, and it also comes from the way we dress and carry ourselves. It’s worth it to spare few extra minutes in the morning to make yourself look neat and composed. Never underestimate the influence looks can have on a materialistic mind.
5. Details, Details, Details
A small neglected detail or a typo will often ruin the whole effect of a carefully planned marketing endeavour. Details on all levels are very important. For instance, remembering specifics about co-workers and showing genuine interest in them on a personal level can go a long way. Don’t ignore people based on their importance in the corporate hierarchy. Lower-ranking employees give feedback to superiors too, and can influence negatively your reputation. Word-of-mouth is not a minor detail to overlook.
6. Plan in advance, if possible
Always have certain go-to words and phrases to use at work. Never say the first thing that comes to your mind. The more important the impact we want to make is, the greater the need to prepare. Even the best public speakers practice in advance. It will help you appear more confident and in control, and anticipate tough questions. Write your speech (or the main points) beforehand, consider any weak points in your arguments and think of ways to address them if asked. After all, success comes down to how well we can tell our story and sell our brand to the world. And this takes preparation.
7. Honesty and feedback
Criticism is often needed and should be welcomed but some people get offended when you tell them the whole truth straight-up. Be gentle and avoid being brutally honest, unless highly necessary. Remember that there are at least a hundred ways to communicate a message. Chose less hurtful words—for instance, in corporate marketing we will rarely say “we won’t extend our contract because you are a cheap client and we don’t like you,” but rather “we respect your business but we believe that another partner may be able to meet your needs in a more efficient way.” Makes all the difference.
~
In the end, I consider that knowing a thing or two about marketing tools (and using them) can advance us plenty in our careers. After all, we live in the heyday of (self) promotion. In fact, as some wise men tell us, today, marketing does rule the world.
What’s more—it all strikes a personal note with many, I believe. Without letting ourselves known to others—as many of us perhaps have grasped already— the chances of being discovered for the great person that we are, are, at best, slim.
It’s like shooting darts in the dark and hoping we will hit the bull’s eye by a stroke of luck. The better strategy, of course, is to be proactive and give our good fortune a hand.
And the best part? It’s really not that effortful as it all sounds, with the right motivation.
Or as Tom Peters tells us: “It’s this simple: You are a brand. You are in charge of your brand. There is no single path to success. And there is no one right way to create the brand called You. Except this: Start today. Or else.”
Evelyn Marinoff is a Canadian, currently living in Dublin, Ireland. She is a blogger, a social introvert, an MBA, a passionate reader and a writer in the making. She spends her free time reading, writing and researching new and intriguing ideas in psychology, leadership, well-being and self-improvement. You can also find her on Twitter at @Evelyn_Marinoff, or read her blog at mind-chatters.com
You’ve read 7 Marketing Tips for Personal Success (even if you’re an introvert!), originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Looking for a last-minute adventure? We’re waiving the entrance…
Looking for a last-minute adventure? We’re waiving the entrance fees for all national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands on Monday, January 16, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We hope to see you out there! Photo of Turret Arch Framed by North Window at Utah’s Arches National Park courtesy of Jacob W. Frank.
Bunker Hill: The Memories of LA’s Lost Neighborhood
//players.brightcove.net/136368194/V1xBaDVb6l_default/index.html?videoId=4750990665001
The “living memories” of Los Angeles are seen and sensed in the way that space is occupied in the city; the traces left behind by what has been. “Lost Hills,” a short documentary by LA-based television station KCET, is a snapshot of LA’s lost neighborhood, Bunker Hill, that in 1955 was approved for “slum clearance.” As a result, the entire area was removed almost without a trace – Angels Flight, a funicular railway that transported residents from Bunker Hill to the city center, is the only remaining structure after reopening half a block away from its original location in 1996.
Bunker Hill was originally an area inhabited by upper-middle class people, but that changed in the 20th Century when those people began to move away. This made it somewhat easier for LA to erase the history of the Hill in order to make way for functionality, following late 20th Century modernist thinking. Illustrating how space is so strongly tied to memory and emotion, the video depicts what one interviewee calls an “absence [that] makes a presence”; the city is the materialization of memory, partial and partly erased.
Townhouse / Les Ateliers Tristan & Sagitta
© Giaime Meloni
- Architects: Les Ateliers Tristan & Sagitta
- Location: Paris, France
- Architects In Charge: Tristan Ponsot, Lucie Hardelay
- Area: 70.0 m2
- Project Year: 2016
- Photographs: Giaime Meloni
- Engineer : Phoenix Structures
- Carpenter : Cardew Bonniotm Troko
© Giaime Meloni
The apartment of Carole and Robin is located on the ground floor of a mansion of the XVIIth arrondissement in Paris. Taking advantage of a private garden with terrace, when the family grew, Carole and Robin preferred to buy the apartment on the 1st floor to accommodate the children’s room rather than move.
© Giaime Meloni
The main challenge of this renovation was to find the place of a staircase as discreet as possible. The work was delivered as a screw-in kit. This technique allowed us to produce in the workshop a
© Giaime Meloni
thermolacquered paint, much more resistant than a painting done on the spot. The use of metal offered a light writing to the work with whose thickness does not exceed 25mm!
© Giaime Meloni
The partnership architect / artisan / engineer allowed to realize a technical feat by suspending the staircase to the upper floor! As often in Paris, space is precious. Although they are appreciable, the storage spaces cause loss of habitable surface. We imagined a large piece of furniture. 7 meters long for 60 cm deep, and suspended at 2.10 meters from the ground. It thus occupies no square meter!
© Giaime Meloni
In the child’s room, the distinction of two spaces allows the two brothers to define their respective territories. This old bourgeois building is composed of architectural elements: solid wood doors, enamelled handles, moldings, rails, rosettes. We have tried through our project to conserve and magnify these elements. For example, the blue partition in the children’s room is not continuous up to the ceiling. It ensures the separation between the rooms and the staircase. It houses a glass floor that allows daylight on the steps. It allows to preserve and to stage the old molding making the turn of the piece!
© Giaime Meloni
Sig Nordal 