Blog feed for space and time design http://www.spaceandtimedesign.com/blog/ Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:28:09 GMT Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:28:09 GMT MAD Architects have designed a building for the Chinese city Chongqing which has been described as an ‘Urban Forest’, the 70 storey building will include open space on each floor, in a compact space. Each floor has been designed slightly off set; enabling each floor to get some sunlight.   The design of this building has been inspired by the broad Chinese mountainous landscapes, the building will be supported by a core cylindrical structure connecting all the floors together and would include all mechanical systems and elevators.   Each floor of the building will be shielded by full length glass windows to give a perfect city view. The floors will have different sized balconies to suit budgets; swimming pools will also be on most of the floors with their own gardens and courtyards. The floors will be a mix of open spaces, offices and residential space. The Urban Forest will be a pure example of an eco-friendly metropolis. Below are some images of what the building will look like... http://www.spaceandtimedesign.com/news/urban-forest-eco-friendly-sky-scraper/ Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:28:09 GMT Copenhagen, Denmark is now pushing the green factor by having a 56-foot tall Christmas tree powered by 15 cyclists all connected to a platform. The energy generated, will power 700 LED bulbs on the tree that are also energy-efficient! A Father Christmas opened the ceremony by climbing a fire engine ladder to the top of the tree and lit some fireworks; the Mayor, International VIP’s and Children all took part in the cycling to add to the festive season!   http://www.spaceandtimedesign.com/news/christmas-pedal-powered-eco-friendly-tree/ Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:25:01 GMT When discussing a new job with a client it is vital that a strong design brief is set in place. In order for the company to get what they want, they must tell the designers what they want – especially if it is something specific. The bases of the job must be made clear with both the designers and the client. Here are some examples of good and bad brief points:Bad Briefs Include- No brief until some visuals have been produced- No client input- Unrealistic targets- Very broad and vague- No background information about the client or the company- Too much information from the client- Too much personal preferenceGood Briefs Include- Background information about the company- What is going to be achieved from the job- What is the purpose of the job- Who are the competitors- What kind of theme the client wants i.e. modern or traditional- Target Audience- Budget- Technical Specifications http://www.spaceandtimedesign.com/news/what-makes-a-good-design-brief/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:29:20 GMT A logo is the first impression of your companyAs we all know first impressions are very important! Before any customer or client even contacts you, your logo is a representation of the company and will help build up your reputation (whether that is good or not!). A logo can make a company look professional, unprofessional or just basic. We know what type of logo you should be going for…Invest in your logoDepending on the logo and how well it has been designed, you shouldn’t have to change your company logo for years except from a few possible tweaks to keep it up to date.Being unique is the keyA logo needs to be fresh and original, this will give your company an edge over competitors. A logo needs to be bespoke and specific to you. A logo should never be made from a template, if so… it is to be avoided.Cheap as Chips Some design companies will use clip art in their logos, which will look unprofessional and could run the risk of being used by another company.Proud and ConfidentYour company should be proud of their logo and the company image. If your not then your company should maybe consider a new image. Reflect your company valuesDesigning a new logo will take time and thought as it is a lot of work but the end result is always worth it. Some stages in the logo design process would involve: research, initial ideas, tweaking to clients preferences and finalising.  Company image gives that professional assetOnce a company has their logo it is very easy to expand your company to having its own image, as it would just be based around the logo. Colours and typography could be spread across stationary, work and communications such as email signatures. This will brand the company and get their image recognised. http://www.spaceandtimedesign.com/news/why-should-i-invest-in-a-logo/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:18:18 GMT We have recently stumbled upon this unique business card which doubles as a catapult!The cardapult is powered by a small rubber band and is the thickness of 5 business cards.Bryce Bell a Mechanical Engineer invented the Cardapult and we think it’s a great idea for those who want to gang up on the office geek! Here is a video of the Cardapult in action... Visit Mr Bells Website Here http://www.spaceandtimedesign.com/news/cardapult-your-business-to-success/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:25:24 GMT