Why Pull on a Push?
Why put pull handles on a door you can only push to open? Gets me every time.
TEDx Auckland — 2013 remembered, bring on 2014!
While buying my ticket to TEDx Auckland 2014 remembered I’d never gotten around to writing a post about the 2013 event. Earlier this year there was some flack about TED, prompted it seems by some ‘dubious’ TEDx events. From my experience at TEDx Auckland it certainly wasn’t one
May is ‘My Month’ in Car Magazine
It’s always good to find fresh new edition of Car magazine in the post. Even better to find my photo in the May 2014 Issue My Month section! “Saw this duo from the road and had to stop for a photo. The best of car design next to something
Traffic Light Thought – A(X) real supermini (unlike MINI 1 2 3)
Reading about the new MINI being larger than its already obese predecessor reminded me of this recent sighting. The Citroën AX was always pretty rare in New Zealand, to see one now even more so. Although the styling is incredibly Euro-drab, especially for a Citroën, the minimalist design is supermini
Metheny
Amazon’s ‘Recommended For You’… Got me!
I was watching a documentary about Facebook which, in part, mentioned how their adverts are targeted: “Going by the ads I see Facebook thinks I want an AMEX card, a new kitchen, a cinema ticket, a Honda and a holiday in Rotorua. That's zero correct.” Then a bit
Waitakere
Waitakere Trusts Stadium Dock
Love this boat shaped wharf on the river behind the Waitakere Trusts Stadium Arena. There are steps down to a floating (when the tide is in) marina dock platform.
Me
RobiNZ Blog makeover, tweaking my TypePad design templates
A while ago I decided it was time for a blog redesign. After considering lots of options, including radical change based on entirely new templates and a fun diversion, I have settled on some simple tweaks: * Simplified Font: “Lucida Grande” Verdana replaces Arial — and no italics except for quoted text
Design
Tata Nano, all the car you actually need?
I think I stole the title from an old Citroën 2CV advert: “All the car you actually need”? The Tata Nano hasn’t quite hit the sales predictions but cheap doesn’t have to mean bad, simple is clever. As I said when it launched, this little car really embodies
Fiat Panda: design story - Car Body Design
This Car Body Design post has the design story of the new, 3rd generation, Fiat Panda. Although quite a few first generation Panda were sold in NZ the Japanese Used Car import boom killed that market. No chance a basic, if good, new car could compete with the loaded used
The Ferrari Pinin Sedan Concept Car for sale (without my interior)
I was interested to see reports that the 1980 Ferrari Pinin Sedan concept is going to be sold. Ferrari Pinin Concept to be auctioned in London - www.eurocarblog.com 1980 Ferrari Pinin Concept, the one and only sedan with a Ferrari badge ever made, will soon be up for
Traffic Light Thought - I’m sorry Mr De Silva, I disagree
I once read that Automotive Designer Walter De Silva said of the Audi A5: “For me, the A5 is very close to perfect. I love everything about this car. Its general shape, its details; it's so balanced in its proportions. It's sensual and at the same
Structural deepening and the big little Fiat
How a little and big little car demonstrates technological evolution. Applied Abstractions: FIAT 500 and Structural deepening One aspect of technology evolution, according to W. Brian Arthur's excellent The Nature of Technology, is structural deepening: How basic technology adds features over time…