From 20th. – 23th. Nov. 2006 will be multimedia festival MIXER in city of Zlín (east of Czech Republic), which is already for four times organized by students from Faculty of multimedia communications at Thomas Bata University in Zlín. Mix of workshops, parties, exhibitions, performance a happenings organizers paced to to unique space ex-factory areal of BATA shoes after Svit Zlín.

You can check program of this festival here:
http://mixer.utb.cz/index.php?page=pondeli

and here you can watch festival spot
format windows media player
format quicktime

I wish to be there for whole week, hope will be possible to check last day for me. I will try to post some reports if I find out after. Anyway here is their website http://mixer.utb.cz but unfortunately it is just in czech.

Interesting concept of central kitchen unit by Iulian Bumbu from Romania has won competition on designboom.com calls “your way to coway”

via designboom

Look at this cool stuff. I think that you could catch some things from there.Concept Design Reel by bagtaggar on YouTube

Another master piece from Art Lebedev Studio, they release optimus keyboard year and half ago and after optimus mini three which is already on sale(mini three). This new Optimus Upravlator keyboard is very interesting device for graphic designers as you can see on the pictures and also it could be useful for material library for 3D softwares such is 3D Studio MAX and so.

The Upravlator keyboard is an input device of a new type. Within the case, a 10.8″ LCD screen with a resolution of 800×600 pixels is enclosed. Over the screen, there is a board with 12 transparent buttons. Every button features four (at the top, at the bottom, on the left, and on the right). Pressing the button in the middle is possible, too (“fifth contacts contact”).

Besides the power supply cord, Upravlator uses another two cords for connection to a computer (USB and VGA). To plug the video cable, the second monitor port (available in most configurations) or the second video card are used.

Expected to be available for sale in the second half of 2007.

via Art Lebedev Studio

I would like to introduce you this Polish magazine about graphic and industrial design. I discover this when I was for ERASMUS exchange at Art Academy in Cracow last year. This Magazine is published at Industrial design faculty of this university and I have found it very interesting and valuable magazine.

Their own words:

The first part of the magazine is devoted to applied graphics (2D).
We present selected posters, graphic symbols, typefaces, typography, packaging, company visual identity strategies, as well as certain elements of advertising. Every issue features the portfolio of a selected designer: either a recognized professional, a promising debutante, or someone who is raising a controversy. We make note of competitions, reviews and exhibitions, mainly in Poland, but also in the world at large, with a particular focus on Central Europe. We also make room for theoretical articles and those on the phenomena which have formed the history of design, and which might serve as inspiration for contemporary designers.

The second part is reserved for 3D products from both industrial design and limited series projects (and sometimes even one-offs). We concentrate on not only everyday-use objects, but also on more seldom addressed design problems, such as those of public space, production and workplace conditions, and assistance for the elderly and disabled. As in the first part, we present portfolios, theoretical work, competition results, and design history (with particular focus on our own past).

The third subject group is interdisciplinary issues (+). Every profession, and especially design, draws from a range of other disciplines. We feature issues which are found at the crossroads of design and psychology, sociology, ethnology, law, as well as art and those specialties which give this occupation its tools. This is also a space for presenting new publications, both print and web-based.

via 2+3d

I have found really nice design of car audio when I was hunting stuff on the web today.(well hunting stuff from east Europe)

This is work of Smirnov Design – Russian design consultancy. I’m really excited about its design is not complicated and is clear, doesn’t look like nowadays designs which are blinking and are full of colors on graphic displays which is not really necessary and in the car is loosing its function. I just hate this kind of colorful displays of car audio systems

Do you guys remember this old Russian brand URAL? Its amazing they are still alive and brand is getting nice image.

via Smirnof Design

Here is the list of interesting competitons which are running right now, so come on let’s enter.

DDC : D-vice D-sign Contest
http://www.intraco.nl/ddc/
registrations until November 20th, 2006

I.D. magazine 2007 Annual Design Review
http://www.idonline.com/adr/adrEntry2007.pdf
Deadline: December 1, 2006

BraunPrize 2007
http://www.braunprize.com/international/braunprize_1.html
Closing date: January 31, 2007.

MACEF DESIGN AWARD 2007
http://www.designboom.com/macef07.html
application registration will be accepted through december 18, 2006.
works can be submitted through december 23, 2006