Research from BMW online

BMW Home paige

BMW i. Born Electric.

The long term goal of BMW Efficient Dynamics is to combine efficiency with increased driving pleasure. The continuous optimization of the vehicles, such as systematic weight reduction, innovative aerodynamics and engine efficiency measures, as well as the use of alternative drivetrain solutions and the research of new technologies, to provide sustainable mobility already today.

Following the BMW Efficient Dynamics approach – less emissions, more driving pleasure, BMW i develops visionary vehicles and technologies for the mobility of tomorrow. While making use of a wide range of existing BMW Efficient Dynamics technologies, BMW i goes one step further. BMW i takes a holistic approach with purpose-built vehicle concepts for electric mobility, a focus on sustainability throughout the value chain and a range of complementary mobility services, thereby redefining the understanding of personal mobility. With two new vehicle concepts BMW i creates a new world of visionary mobility.

On the one hand there is the BMW i3 Concept. Previously known as the Megacity Vehicle, the BMW Group's first series-produced all-electric car focuses on the mobility needs in urban areas and, as the first premium electric vehicle, reinvents the BMW attributes for the future.

On the other hand is the BMW i8 Concept, the most progressive sports car: forward-looking, intelligent and innovative. Its unique E Drive plug-in hybrid brings together a combustion engine and an electric drive system to create an extraordinary driving experience complemented by extremely low fuel consumption and emissions.

Research from Selfridges

Plate sets

Research from Habitat

Plate sets

Research from John Lewis

John Lewis

Hear I was looking at home wear, focusing on plate sets to see how creative the field is for ideas.

Video Clip from Contagious Magazine

Trident, Kraft/ Pointless Fun
Pointless Collective; The Dream Catcher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqabFoGdPaY&feature=player_embedded

Research form Spring Wise

Socially responsible flip-flops up-cycled from old newspapers

Paper - Flops made from old newspapers, benefiting the underprivileged as well as the environment.

Recycled and upcycled products feature regularly here on Springwise. Just recently we’ve seen fortune cookie purses, surfboards and even shoes made with waste materials. Now a company in Indonesia, Paper - Flops, are next to tread the eco-friendly footwear path with their flip-flop made from old newspaper, benefiting the underprivileged as well as the environment.

Paper Flops are made entirely from biodegradable materials; newspapers, coconut shells, palm tree roots and 100 percent natural rubber. They employ mentally and physically disabled workers as well as street children in Jakarta, Indonesia, providing education and training in arts and crafts to manufacture the handmade products. It takes approximately 1kg of old newspaper to produce a pair of Paper Flops, which keeps production costs low, while a natural sealant is used to ensure they are water-resistant and hard-wearing. Priced at EUR 31 a pair, Paper Flops are available in a range of models and sizes, and are currently seeking funding through Ulule.

Boasting green credentials is becoming a standard requirement for companies looking to boost their public profile. When this can be achieved at the same time as benefiting the less privileged, so much the better. Could your business kill these two birds with one stone through some equally creative thinking?

Israeli designer creates five pairs of shoes from one

Hot on the heels of our post about Malaysian fashion label Ultra and their minimalist ten-piece wardrobe, the next innovation in budget and eco-conscious fashion is ze o ze, the versatile shoe that transforms into five different styles.

The creation of Israeli industrial designer Daniela Bekerman, ze o ze, which translates as ‘this or that’ in Hebrew, is a plain flat shoe that comes with a range of components that connect at the sole. Modular attachments in varying heel sizes take the ballet slipper to a brogue-inspired lace-up or a Mary Jane kitten-heel pump, meaning shoe lovers get more for their money while also offering a practical solution for travelers who need to pack light but still want a selection of looks. ze o ze is currently a prototype and Bekerman is looking for investors to develop and manufacture them.

Giving one product the ability to morph into multiple styles uses less material, produces less waste and makes it attractive to the growing market of environmentally-aware consumers. One to partner with to help ze o ze take their first steps?

Research form Trend Hunter

Edible Jewelry

Zushii 100 percent Hard Candy' Accessories are Sweet Wearable Treats

The Zushii brand started out as a smart publicity stunt by the Italian guerrilla marketing agency Korrokontro. The 100 Percent Hard Candy launch was accompanied by a viral campaign, a crowdsourced anti-beauty contest, a street guerrilla campaign and loads of partying.

Candy colors are set to take over the fashion world in 2012, and these Zushii accessories go straight to the core concept. The earrings and rings in the Zushii ‘100 Percent Hard Candy’ collection are made of pure candy; you can wear them, lick them or chew them as you like.

The brand also has a new earring collection entitled 100 Percent Wild Wild Zoo. which features shopping totes, clutches and T-shirts. The 100 Percent Hard Candy fashion line is sold at Italian fashion boutiques alongside luxury brands and their candy-colored collection.

Wearable Tech

Extraterrestrial Cosmetics

The Vladimira Chichova Makeup shows off Futuristic Faces

Hair stylist Cash Lawless added a touch of pizzazz with high chignons that give the other worldly makeup a firm yet glamorous footing on Earth.

The Vladimira Chichova makeup shoot shows fashionable faces that are more extraterrestrial than ever. The featured looks present that avant-garde charm and chic look that we usually see on celebs like Nicky Minaj, Katy Perry and Rihanna.

Vladimira Chichova's beauty is simply enhanced by the full-of-life makeup captured by photographer Jeff Tse. Makeup artist Beau Nelson showed off his creativity and defined the future of makeup with vibrant, expertly blended and shaded looks.

The makeup shoot captures a fantasy like flair that will no doubt be seen soon on red carpets some of the hottest avant-grade celebrities.

Research form The Coll Hunter

Fashion; to see what trends their are and how it might be able to generate some ideas.

Holly Fulton's Cleopatra Dress

Msgm Italy

Man Up

Design; what materials are out their.

The color tone ,texture, durability, flexibility and even sound qualities of different tree species have puzzled and challenged artists, architects, designers, builders and artisans for thousands of years.

All images come from The Love of Wood collection.

Art; the use of color and shape.

Illustrator Liam Brazier

What makes Brazier's work even more interesting is that the illustrations are not created illustrator using vectors. Instead, he draws each shape with Photoshop's polygonal selection tool and then fills them in with color.

This are work was dun by a French artist called Francoise Nielly.

Why Street Art matters

Some city councils get it, others don't. Tapping the creative talents of street artists, illustrators and graphic designers is an effective and cool way to make bland public spaces, old buildings, bridges and car parks new again, and to freshen up the concrete jungle.

Kids; what is fun for them.