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David Veldkamp
10/28/2008
10/28/2008
Reduce greenhouse gases and oil dependency
I am looking for feedback on an idea which could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependency. The idea is fairly simple and could be implemented almost immediately. The details are posted at www.ideablob.com...it is called Eco Friendly Icon
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/3603-Eco-Friendly-Icon-A-food-labe?filtered_view=true
YouTube video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYIIHWZBAdY
Thanks for the help in advance...I look forward to seeing your comments!
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I am looking for feedback on an idea which could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependency. The idea is fairly simple and could be implemented almost immediately. The details are posted at www.ideablob.com...it is called Eco Friendly Icon
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/3603-Eco-Friendly-Icon-A-food-labe?filtered_view=true
YouTube video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYIIHWZBAdY
Thanks for the help in advance...I look forward to seeing your comments!
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renee marie mifsud
10/30/2008
10/30/2008
I def support this idea! However, I feel ‘Eco-Friendly Icon’ should push more than just the way food is
produced. It could also include other environmental
factors such as travel and packaging.. Yes, we should
push local food, but we will never get away from shipping
from afar. I feel EFI should encourage companies to re-think their packaging…less, smaller, recycled, recyclable, ecological…packaging that nests, perhaps, to fit more on a pallet, more pallets per truck, etc… This idea could go beyond food products!! EFI: production- packaging- travel- materials-
produced. It could also include other environmental
factors such as travel and packaging.. Yes, we should
push local food, but we will never get away from shipping
from afar. I feel EFI should encourage companies to re-think their packaging…less, smaller, recycled, recyclable, ecological…packaging that nests, perhaps, to fit more on a pallet, more pallets per truck, etc… This idea could go beyond food products!! EFI: production- packaging- travel- materials-
Kim Racette
9/29/2008
9/29/2008
product ideas to solve problems
I have an idea for a product that would help solve a pretty common problem that I would like to try to develop, and am not sure where to go next. It has been suggested that maybe an industrial designer could help me with the next step, which would be to develop a prototype. Is there anyone you might suggest that is part of this group, or that you could recommend? I also need to protect this idea, so I will also need a patent attorney.
I would also really like to attend any events you might be planning. Can you please let me know? Thanks-Good luck to you as you get Design West Michigan up and running!
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I have an idea for a product that would help solve a pretty common problem that I would like to try to develop, and am not sure where to go next. It has been suggested that maybe an industrial designer could help me with the next step, which would be to develop a prototype. Is there anyone you might suggest that is part of this group, or that you could recommend? I also need to protect this idea, so I will also need a patent attorney.
I would also really like to attend any events you might be planning. Can you please let me know? Thanks-Good luck to you as you get Design West Michigan up and running!
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David Veldkamp
9/29/2008
9/29/2008
Kim,
My name is David Veldkamp. I am a lead industrial designer at Tekna Inc. in Kalamazoo, MI. We are a a full service product design and development firm offering industrial design, product and company branding, analytical engineering, rapid prototyping and ISO 13485 certified production. I would be interested in talking to you about your idea. We can offer a non disclosure agreement and have contacts with several patent attorneys to help protect your idea. If you would like to talk more please feel free to e-mail or call.
-Dave
dave.veldkamp@teknalink.com
269.978.3526
My name is David Veldkamp. I am a lead industrial designer at Tekna Inc. in Kalamazoo, MI. We are a a full service product design and development firm offering industrial design, product and company branding, analytical engineering, rapid prototyping and ISO 13485 certified production. I would be interested in talking to you about your idea. We can offer a non disclosure agreement and have contacts with several patent attorneys to help protect your idea. If you would like to talk more please feel free to e-mail or call.
-Dave
dave.veldkamp@teknalink.com
269.978.3526
Bill Foley
9/29/2008
9/29/2008
Kim,
I am an Innovation Director with InnovationWorks right here in West Michigan. What you are asking for is exactly the types of services we are linking people with ideas to.
https://www.innovationworkswestmichigan.com/default.aspx
Check out the InnovationWorks site and sign in. I would like to connect with you.
Bill
I am an Innovation Director with InnovationWorks right here in West Michigan. What you are asking for is exactly the types of services we are linking people with ideas to.
https://www.innovationworkswestmichigan.com/default.aspx
Check out the InnovationWorks site and sign in. I would like to connect with you.
Bill
David Veldkamp
9/19/2008
9/19/2008
Project H Design
I am interested in hearing everyones thoughts on a Project H Design chapter in West Michigan. If you are not familiar with Project H, I have included a couple of paragraphs from their website (www.projecthdesign.com) which briefly explain their mission.
"Project H Design is a charitable organization that supports, inspires, and delivers life-improving humanitarian product design solutions. We champion industrial design as a tool to address social issues, a vehicle for global life improvement, and a catalyst for individual and community empowerment.
Project H Design encourages the reorientation of the design industry towards a more socially-impactful and humanitarian entity through a variety of Initiatives that include design thinking, production and distribution, funding, design academics, and local chapter projects."
Project H has local chapters in San Fransisco, LA, New York, Chicago, London and others. It would be great if west Michigan had a chapter too. So my question is...what do you think? Is anyone interested? Is there already a similar group around? Can we organize ourselves as designers and give back to our communities? I look forward to hearing many comments, opinions and ideas.
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I am interested in hearing everyones thoughts on a Project H Design chapter in West Michigan. If you are not familiar with Project H, I have included a couple of paragraphs from their website (www.projecthdesign.com) which briefly explain their mission.
"Project H Design is a charitable organization that supports, inspires, and delivers life-improving humanitarian product design solutions. We champion industrial design as a tool to address social issues, a vehicle for global life improvement, and a catalyst for individual and community empowerment.
Project H Design encourages the reorientation of the design industry towards a more socially-impactful and humanitarian entity through a variety of Initiatives that include design thinking, production and distribution, funding, design academics, and local chapter projects."
Project H has local chapters in San Fransisco, LA, New York, Chicago, London and others. It would be great if west Michigan had a chapter too. So my question is...what do you think? Is anyone interested? Is there already a similar group around? Can we organize ourselves as designers and give back to our communities? I look forward to hearing many comments, opinions and ideas.
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renee marie mifsud
10/17/2008
10/17/2008
i would love to help organize a
Project H Design W Michigan!!
I am a friend of Emily...
did you hear they were granted
the ideablob funding? very exciting.
Project H Design W Michigan!!
I am a friend of Emily...
did you hear they were granted
the ideablob funding? very exciting.
Emily Callaghan
11/19/2008
11/19/2008
Absolutely!
And I am happy to volunteer my time to get things going. Let's talk more.
E
David Veldkamp
9/5/2008
9/5/2008
Trend research
What websites, periodicals and other tools are you using for trend research? Do you find your customers are asking for information on current and future trends?
Here is one website I find useful:
http://www.trendwatching.com/briefing/
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What websites, periodicals and other tools are you using for trend research? Do you find your customers are asking for information on current and future trends?
Here is one website I find useful:
http://www.trendwatching.com/briefing/
Add Comment
Alan Lugo
9/8/2008
9/8/2008
Dave,
i use this site as well, its great. A couple others i have bookmarked/used frequently are:
http://blog.futurelab.net/
http://ffffound.com/ <--- this one is great for inspirational images, but then follow to where they are linked from to all kinds of great sites/blogs that you wouldn't otherwise stumble upon.
Neither of these are as straightforward as trendwatching.com, but other than the services that we pay for that's where i try to go to find some alternative research.
i use this site as well, its great. A couple others i have bookmarked/used frequently are:
http://blog.futurelab.net/
http://ffffound.com/ <--- this one is great for inspirational images, but then follow to where they are linked from to all kinds of great sites/blogs that you wouldn't otherwise stumble upon.
Neither of these are as straightforward as trendwatching.com, but other than the services that we pay for that's where i try to go to find some alternative research.
Dustin Waltke
9/8/2008
9/8/2008
A couple of blogs that I browse are:
www.ubercool.com (a mostly trend based blog)
www.springwise.com (trends for new business developments and products)
Thanks for the heads up on the others!
www.ubercool.com (a mostly trend based blog)
www.springwise.com (trends for new business developments and products)
Thanks for the heads up on the others!
John Berry
6/23/2008
6/23/2008
Question to the community
Is there value in different design disciplines interacting, socializing, and/or developing a common voice?
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Is there value in different design disciplines interacting, socializing, and/or developing a common voice?
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Mike Wierenga
6/23/2008
6/23/2008
Design, as a concept, cannot be contained within one discipline. To think that practitioners of different sectors of design will now have open lines of communication seems like a new renaissance born within our great state.
Design West Michigan is an idea long overdue. Thank you to all who have made it possible so far.
Design West Michigan is an idea long overdue. Thank you to all who have made it possible so far.
Jon King
6/23/2008
6/23/2008
Absolutely. What would words be without all the letters in the alphabet? Few things can survive in a non-communal fashion.
Kevin Budelmann
6/24/2008
6/24/2008
I believe there is a compelling argument for localized, cross-disciplinary design thinking. In order to be valued by business and government, design as a whole must speak clearly with a unified voice about its role in an innovation economy. All in a region like West Michigan will benefit if we pool our creative talents together for positive change.
Bill Foley
7/14/2008
7/14/2008
My experience with the different design disciplines is that each group does have a common thread of creatively understanding and solving problems. Perhaps a common voice is a term that is a little limiting? Each designer has a sound set of principles to work from. Each solution to a design problem is unique.
Chris Saylor
7/28/2008
7/28/2008
There is great value in developing connectivity and through connectivity creating a common voice for innovation. I tend to think of this concept in the same fashion I think of continuous improvement. The over-all outcome is to be better today than you were yesterday. And in our case, the "you" is all of design. I have found inspiration and growth in some of the oddest places and through some of the most unrelated circumstances. This tells me that all things have the ability to connect and affect. It is up to each of us to be open to the experience and embrace the opportunity to grow and change. The great thing about a voice is that it can be made of many sounds. Our common voice will be made up of many individual sounds that connect and resonate to grow innovation.
Emily Callaghan
11/19/2008
11/19/2008
There is enormous value in co-mingling, but I would argue creating language that allows us to understand each others' unique voices is of greater importance than creating a common voice. My fear is that dubbing the voice as "common" connotes that one would be the voice of all and I think the beauty in any diverse group (call it cross-functional, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary) is the chance for ALL of the voices and perspectives to be heard and integrated.
There is quite a bit of research about the benefit of diversity among creative teams. I did some research around brainstorming (ultimately conversation) performance and personality (MBTI) types among cross-functional new product development teams. I took a step back and instead of thinking about people according to "function" or "discipline", the study was more about squashing the boundaries between "function" and thinking about each other as we function in the world. How, then, can we (as designers) facilitate the conversation as a result of becoming more aware of ourselves and others?
Tim Murphy
11/20/2008
11/20/2008
Worked for Charles and Ray ;)
