inspiration « a quirky blog

Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Mon, Feb 28 2011

#TED2011 & Creativity
By jess at 9:23 am

Did you know that almost exactly three years ago, Quirky’s platform (then known as kluster) launched at TED2008? (Robin Williams LOVED us.)

Yup, we have history with good ol’ TED, and this week, Ben, Mike Lacy, and Jason Port(o-Dog) are back in Long Beach to “rediscover wonder” and listen to inspiring TED Talks with luminaries from around the world at TED2011.

One of our favorite TED Talks comes from author Elizabeth Gilbert, best known for inspiring divorcées around the world to purchase round-the-world airplane tickets. In the talk, she speaks about the agony of creating, and proposes that every person has a “genius” within us. It’s a talk that resonates with us at HQ, and it’s something we wanted to share with all of you.

What are your favorite TED Talks? Tweet them to us, or share them on the forum.
- Tags:
- elizabeth gilbert,
- inspiration,
- kluster,
- love,
- robin williams,
- TED,
- ted talks
Tue, Oct 26 2010

Contour Logo Inspiration
By kate at 4:59 pm

We want to make sure the Contour is not just another hanger. Your dry cleaner is giving you wire hangers for free, so we’re making sure that Contour is different, with a level of elegance that evokes emotion. Here’s what’s inspiring us, and what should inspire you for the logo design project:

The Swarm Screen shows great play between its different parts. Even though everything is at 90 degrees, the screen creates a lot of movement in the space it takes up.

We love that the Autoban chair has a playful nature because of its width and curves. Even though all of those elements are constant, the chair has some very elegant profiles.

The A-Stool is a great example of a super simple and clean, yet highly effective, design. Its pure geometries mixed with the tapering of its profile creates a really interesting form that is visually very light.
- Tags:
- contour,
- inspiration,
- logo design,
- p59
Mon, Oct 11 2010

Shower Station Logo Inspiration
By jordan at 11:13 am

To start your week off right, Quirky is showering you with logo inspiration for ShowerStation. Check these out and then show us whatcha got!

Some of the focal points driving the design process have been maximizing modularity by maximizing function and minimizing part types. We see this product as a puzzle that we provide the pieces for but the consumer creates their own solution.

1. On the aesthetic front we love the clean geometry and playful color/material pops of the Grohe Rainshower Shower head.

2. The AKG Headphones do a great job at using the lines of the wireforms to make your eye see a volume that isnt there.

3. The Plumen lightbulbs are a playful and artistic take on new technology.
- Tags:
- inspiration,
- logo design,
- p58,
- showerstation
Wed, Sep 22 2010

Insert Inspirational Quote Here
By jason at 12:25 pm

The Idea Champions’ Heart of Innovation blog recently posted this list of quotes on what it really takes to innovate. Some good ones to inspire you:

4. “If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong.” - Charles Kettering

15. “There’s no good idea that cannot be improved on.” - Michael Eisner

24. “You can expect no influence if you are not susceptible to influence.” - Carl Jung (Community Ambassador Note: INFLUENCE! Clearly a man ahead of his time.)

32. “What is now proved was once only imagined.” - William Blake

34. “99 percent of success is built on failure.” - Charles Kettering

39. “I start where the last man left off.” - Thomas Edison

42. “No matter how well you perform, there’s always somebody of intelligent opinion who thinks it’s lousy.” - Sir Laurence Olivier

45. “The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.” - Linus Pauling

72. “After years of telling corporate citizens to ‘trust the system,’ many companies must relearn instead to trust their people – and encourage their people to use neglected creative capacities in order to tap the most potent economic stimulus of all: idea power.” - Rosabeth Moss Kanter

81. “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” - Groucho Marx

Check out the full list here.

Any other quotes you like? Add them on the forum!
- Tags:
- inspiration,
- quotes
Mon, Sep 20 2010

Bonfi Logo Inspiration
By jess at 5:43 pm

And now, a lil’ Bonfi logo design inspiration from the QDS to close out your Monday. Sit back, relax, and enjoy… then get to work!

1. Skygarden – Simple form with hidden details. An element of surprise. Intricate, yet subtle surface treatment.

2. Water – Simple, organic geometry. Playful and intriguing form. Balanced proportions.

3. Nissan Cube – Refined surfaces and shapes based off of basic geometry. Cute, yet purposful and strong.

4. Farallon – Hidden functionality makes elegant more useful. Thoughtful balance between comfort and utility.
- Tags:
- bonfi,
- inspiration,
- logo design,
- p56
Tue, Sep 7 2010

Boil Buoy Logo Inspiration
By gaz at 10:44 am

Let’s come up with a fun and simple logo for the Boil Buoy!

Below are images showing the general clean and simple direction the design has taken on.

Beyond that the word ‘Buoy’ conjures up all manner of seafaring imagery. Just keep it really strong and simple. Think about strong, impactful silhouettes, and remember that the name itself can sit alongside a logo icon, as opposed to being part of the logo design (like the Waffler logo). Have fun!
- Tags:
- boil buoy,
- inspiration,
- logo design,
- p55,
- products
Fri, Sep 3 2010

UnHampered Logo Inspiration
By brian at 3:24 pm

Logo time and that means another round of images to help inspire. UnHampered should make laundry easier and fun. So when designing the logo – let’s think about that. The images below each communicate visually. Try not to be concerned about what the object is, but rather what it is communicating abstractly.

The first is classified as negative space. How can the removal of material (or in the sense of logos, space between lettering or type itself) become functional, cost effective, and at best poetic?

The 2nd is about color. In this image there are two colors but the design is still energizing and very interesting. In your design, think about the dominant color choice and what is supporting it and how it can sit as a whole?

And the 3rd represents structure. How can scale, proportion, and organization express content?
- Tags:
- inspiration,
- logo design,
- p54,
- unhampered
Thu, Aug 12 2010

Move-it!
By brian at 11:06 am

I just came across this product concept called “Move-it” designed by David Graham. After recently going through the pains of moving myself, I could relate to the designer’s motivation. “Move-it” certainly has its limits (like a rainy day for example) but I still thought it has great potential. It’s inexpensive, light-weight, portable construction makes it an ideal utility product for the college student or urban dweller. Here’s Graham explaining where his inspiration came from:

The inspiration for Move-it came from watching members of the public struggling to carry packages. I was struck by the paradox of modern life; promising everything ever quicker, easier and more convenient, and the reality of what I saw: that there are a million-and-one reasons it doesn’t work out for people.

Check out the video below for a demonstration.
- Tags:
- design,
- inspiration,
- move-it
Tue, Aug 10 2010

Splash Stacks Logo Inspiration
By brian at 4:27 pm

For Splash Stacks we decided to go with 4 images to help inspire the logo creation process. The images below represent some basic design elements we are currently investigating. Each one tells its own story.

Image 1 is about gesture

Image 2 color juxtaposition

Image 3 simple geometry

Image 4 material layering

Remember try not to take these product images too literally when designing your logos. Instead, use them as loose starting points or abstract references for your creative process.

Good luck!
- Tags:
- inspiration,
- logo,
- p52,
- products,
- quirky design staff,
- splash stacks
Fri, Jul 30 2010

Twice Logo Design Inspiration
By jordan at 7:17 pm

Design team here. For Twice, we’re looking at designing a product with a somewhat high-end aesthetic, with dual chambers (hence the name). Like with most of our other products, we’re aiming to create a design driven by geometric forms. A couple things to keep in mind while submitting and voting on logo designs this weekend.

See ya Monday!
- Tags:
- inspiration,
- logo design,
- p51,
- products,
- twice