BLUEVIEW, Footwear Design Company

 







They’re known as the first fully biodegradable shoe in the world. BLUEVIEW sneakers are made entirely with plant-based materials, proving that anything and everything can be sustainable if companies are bold enough to make it happen.

When exposed to air, every single part of these shoes will completely break down. It took scientists more than six years to work out a formula using plants to create a knitted upper material that could be used for shoes.

Additionally, the uppers used for these shoes are made from hemp and eucalyptus yarn. It’s a blend called Plant Knit and it’s the first plant-based, fully biodegradable machine knitted shoe uppers. Tencel and organic cotton are also used in the shoe uppers. The insoles and outsoles are made with plant-based foam that’s similar to polyurethane, but once again biodegradable.

Most shoes are made with petroleum-based plastics that will not degrade even after hundreds of years. Everything in BLUEVIEW shoes, including the glue, will break down in less than one year in industrial composting conditions.

Moreover, the knitted uppers of these shoes are soft and flexible around feet to create a comfortable fit. The soles are cushioning and supportive. The insole is contoured to soften your steps. In other words, it’s a great shoe design as well. Not only is this your most eco-friendly shoe option, BLUEVIEW shoes look good and feel good as well.

Lastly, the shoes have a simple, elegant design that resembles a casual Oxford. They could be in style at a casual restaurant or on the deck of a sailboat. They look great for a picnic or a day running errands. With every purchase of the new Pacific shade, which looks like denim, 5% of the proceeds will help support Monterey Bay Aquarium and its ocean conservation efforts.



Blueview Footwear Website:

Jennifer Collier, Artist

Paper and gray board. 
While not cardboard, this work can inspire 
cardboard assignments in our class. 





 

Cabinet, ca. 1640-1650











The sophisticated ripple moldings on the cabinet’s exterior playfully bring out the lustrous quality of the severe black ebony. Other tropical veneers as well as inlays of mother-of-pearl and green-stained horn enliven the cabinet’s interior which encloses multiple drawers as well as a compartment with a mirror-lined "stage" for the display of a treasured artwork. This cabinet is attributed to Herman Doomer, one of the few cabinetmakers working with ebony and mother-of-pearl in Amsterdam, the foremost European market for such exotic materials. Doomer gained fame through the portrait Rembrandt painted of him, also in the Museum's collection (see 29.100.1).

See more images, go to source link below.



 

Portable Diptych Sundial, ca. 1598, German













The growing production of mechanical clocks during the Renaissance had the effect of stimulating the construction of a variety of timekeeping instruments. Sundials were used for setting clocks, as well as for regulating their still inaccurate movements. Both the variety and number of sundials proliferated, but Nuremberg sundial makers specialized in small, folding, easily portable types made of ivory or wood. This dial, which can be used to tell the time in several different systems of counting the hours, was made to be used in Nuremberg's latitude of 49 1/2 degrees. Other portable sundials made in Nuremberg can be adjusted for use in several latitudes.

Source:



 

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Bike Chairs




The whole family can go on a bike ride together. Inclusion is a big word and with The DUET there truly is inclusion with children or adults who will never be able to ride a bike on their own or are able to keep up with their siblings.

The DUET accommodates kids and adults from ages 2 to 99+ and all sizes from 20 to 275 pounds!  DUET offers maximum maneuverability with minimum effort. The wheelchair's low center of gravity provides superior weight distribution and overall stability.

Link below to see more image and video:



The Story
The Bike Chair was originally conceived and designed by Sunshine Coast local Bill Forward to enable his wife Glad to continue enjoy riding outdoors after she developed Alzheimer’s disease. The sight of Bill and Glad cycling together on their unique tricycle around bikeways quickly gained the attention of locals resulting in a short video being made which told the couples inspiring story and how the Bike Chair came about.
This video went on to receive over 2 million views on Youtube resulting in a feature story on 60 minutes as well as numerous other media presentations. 
Go to website to see and learn more: http://www.thebikechair.com.au/

Research:
Researchers at Stanford University found that people who walk (or cycle) in nature rather than high-traffic urban settings showed less activity in the brain region associated with depression and experienced less anxiety and negative thoughts.  Being out in nature can also improve feelings of happiness, provide a sense of purpose and reduce blood pressure among older adults.   Being outdoors can also help adults get a better night’s sleep, increase Vitamin D levels, improve mood and even give the immune system a boost. 

Seniors with Alzheimer’s who once enjoyed cycling may also benefit from riding with a spouse or other loved one, giving patients and caregivers happy moments and opportunities for meaningful interactions.   Bringing back a sense of joy from riding a bike helps provide purpose and meaning for adults of all ages and abilities.  Who couldn’t use some improvement in their overall state of mind and sense of well-being?  Source: https://www.theoldish.com/bike-chairs-bring-back-the-joy-of-cycling/


Garden Beds with Wheelchair Access


These special garden designs are also approximately 48” x 45” and 24” to 30” high and available in redwood or cedar. They, too, feature our patented Grow/Drainage Tray, which manages the moisture levels and promotes greater plant growth by capturing excess water and funneling it into any container placed in a sturdy, built-in catch basin platform. They are available as permanent Outdoor Gardens, or, with the addition of wheels and a catch basin platform, they become Rolling Indoor/Outdoor Gardens.

Learn more. Go to link below:





 

Yaara Nusboim, Designer, Isreal


The Play Therapy method suggests that children are capable of healing themselves, they just need the right conditions for it.

Alma - Therapy dolls is a series of therapeutic toys designed for children who are dealing with emotional problems.

The dolls are made from maple wood and a flexible polyurethane, and they represent the range of emotions encountered during therapy. 

The dolls are meant to facilitate a child's connection to his inner world, and to improve and heal his condition.


Link here to see more images and video of this design.

https://www.yaaranusboim.com/almatherapydolls 


 


A set of 3 spinning tops.
Inspired by candies and made from recyclable material in 3D printing.
Link here to see more images and video of this design. 

Oppi Toys, France



The toy comprises 3 sizes of different-coloured silicone cones and various shapes of beechwood boards. You can “Pik” and mix the different pieces to suit yourself! When the cones and boards are placed on top of each other, the silicone grips the wood. It is this grip which makes an infinite number of combinations possible.




Website: