

14 Things Every Designer Should Do in 2015
Welcome to 2015! Here's a little motivation to help make this year even better than last year. Read, share, be inspired! 1. Draw More. A drawing a day keeps the doctor away. Studies have shown that drawing is a form of active meditation---which can help lower blood pressure, anxiety, and stress! So grab a pen or pencil the next time you're talking on the phone or you have time to kill a little. You'll be doing more good than you think! 2. Be Patient Things don't just happen o


The DesignBloc Feature // PLAY: The Documentary
PLAY: The Documentary play (plā/) verb : engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. All work and no play, is just no fun! People from all over the world are working themselves too hard, and leaving no time to enjoy the little moments in life. However, our friends at The Urban Conga are making a difference to change that. The Urban Conga, is a non-profit community that activates social interaction through the act of "PLAY." Thei


Unleash the Designs!
That's right kids... The designs for the Guggenheim Helsinki project have been revealed! Stage One involved submissions from 77 countries. Each submission is presented on the Guggenheim Helsinki Design Competition online gallery and allowed just two images and a brief concept summary provided by each competitor. However, don't expect to vote just for your favorite design big wigs. Each design is only listed by its registration number. Bit brief, yes, but the competitors were

Breaking the Surface: An Interactive Ceiling
Scandinavian Design Group, one of Norway’s oldest graphic design studios, has just created an interactive installation for Norway’s branch of Lundin Petroleum, Sweden’s largest oil company. The installation went live at a Scandinavian energy conference. But when Lundin asked Scandinavian Design Group for a proposal for their booth, they proposed something that actually isn’t a booth at all: An undulating ceiling of honey-colored tubes that would rhythmically move in response


Thatch-Roofed Pavilion Wins in Northern Ireland
This is what happens when an artist and architect join forces, and Jeffry’s House is created. This thatch-roofed retreat was built overlooking a forest, sandy beaches and sea in Northern Ireland. Constructed by Emily Mannion and Thomas O’Brien in the Ards Forest Park, the raised timber structure stands on stilts reducing its environmental impact. The name comes from the nearby lake with the same name: Jeffry’s Lough. It was built after Thomas O’Brien won a competition through


*Update* Equilibrium: The App That Keeps You Balanced
Earlier this month The DesignBloc showcased "Equilibrium", a new app idea designed to promote balance in our daily lives, made by architects, graphic designers, and product designers. "By tracking activities in your area that improve mind, body, and spirit, Equilibrium gives you a more complete picture of wellness." says Equilibrium developers. The first week of August, we reported that the developers of Equilibrium were in a type of Kickstarter competition called BigApps Pro

Bringing People Together with Design: The Urban Conga
Great things are going on right now in Tampa, Florida. A Non-Profit Organization called The Urban Congo has recently designed and set up one of their newest installations: A PINK Ping Pong Table in a park! Their motto is "Come Out and Play," and they encourage public interaction through the power of public design and urban furniture. They even got the Mayor of Tampa to join in on the fun during the ping-pong in the park kick-off. Check out the video below for an overview of


Equilibrium: An App That Keeps You Balanced
Balancing your Life: Check out this great new app made by architects, graphic designers, and product designers. It's called Equilibrium, and it's designed to promote balance in our daily lives. You know we can all use more of that! "By tracking activities in your area that improve mind, body, and spirit, Equilibrium gives you a more complete picture of wellness." says Equilibrium developers. Here's how it works: Equilibrium organizes wellness into three categories: think, whi


SOM Wins the Competition for Sweden's Tallest Tower
SOM has been selected to design a new residential building in Gothenburg that will be Sweden‘s tallest tower when completed. Whoa, check out the curves on the hourglass on this one! Here's some quick facts Competition: Karlavagnsplatsen Tower Competition
Award: Winner
Project Name: The Pole Star
Architects: SOM
Location: Karlavagnsgatan, Gothenburg, Sweden
Design Team: Kent Jackson, Peter Jackson, Martin Grinnell & Yasemin Kologlu
Photographs: Courtesy of Serneke According to