Latest news & projects by DMI members
Submit your news to: yournews (at) dmi.org.
 Work
Design Science provided UI design for the Sirius XTR5 ReGo. It is the first truly portable Sirius satellite radio to double as an MP3 player. The UI provided a dramatic improvement in usability relative to similar products.
 Minneapolis design and branding firm Capsule partnered with Herman Miller to ensure that the right name was found for their next chair. The average consumer may not spend much time thinking about what goes on behind the scenes when a new product is developed, but naming is a vital factor in determining its success. Herman Miller went with Capsule’s recommended name, Setu.
The chair is unlike any other because its kinematic spine bends and flexes with each movement, without any effort on the part of the individual. Because of this, Capsule was inspired to explore the concept of unrestricted movement, delving into a range of cultures and philosophies. They came across Setu, the Hindi word for bridge.
Saint John’s Abbey and University of Minnesota announced the launch of a new website for The Saint John’s Bible, a handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible. Larsen, a communications design agency with offices in Minneapolis and the San Francisco Bay area, created the site design.
Larsen chose imagery from pages of the original Bible as well as photographs of the work in process to illustrate the new website. The easy-to-navigate new website offers a view into the process of how the Bible is made, including a glimpse of the beautiful tools and techniques.
In the world of online event ticketing, big and national is not better. So when Grammy nominated Patrick Lamb decided it was time for an alternative, he teamed with Oregon-based Quango Design + Marketing to recreate the online ticket buying experience for consumers.
The result of these two creative minds coming together is Tickets Oregon. A core goal of the site is to build an online community by encouraging the networking of customers to venues, promoters and non-profit organizations through the latest in social networking.
Bresslergroup has designed two new products for Applica and Black & Decker: The Applica SPACEMAKER under-cabinet appliance line, and Black & Decker’s energy-saving Thermal Leak Detector. The new Spacemaker line is available at two price points, with a high end, fully featured product line in black with stainless steel accents, or a more affordable solution in white.
The Applica/Bresslergroup team developed the products to stringent cost targets, creating the two lines with different finishes and features from the same tools. Thermal Leak Detector helps lower energy consumption by making it easy to spot energy leaks around the house.
 Smith Design, the New Jersey/California-based brand design firm, developed a new look and feel for a “refreshing cool... incredibly hot” campaign theme for Vivitar Cameras and Accessories, which captures the image and personality of Vivitar. The firm also developing sales presentations, packaging for Vivitar’s *v*style fashion-tech accessories and other branded materials. Vivitar is among the top 10 Digital camera brands in the US and had the #1 best selling digital in the UK in ’07.
People
LPK (Libby Perszyk Kathman), the largest independent brand design agency in the world, has made some significant hires and promotions recently.
Promoted to Brand Implementation Director, Dan Taylor brings his strong creative and technical expertise to several brands. Promoted to Brand Leader in the Geneva office, Julien Desgarceaux has led several successful initiatives on the Western Europe Snacks Team since being hired two years ago.
Awards
Audiobrain’s Owner and Executive Producer, Audrey Arbeeny, won an Emmy Award for her work on NBC’s Beijing Olympic Games Broadcast. As music supervisor, Audrey headed both the Beijing and New York music resource teams for the networks of NBC.
This was Audrey’s third time at the NBC Olympics music supervision helm, and without question Audiobrain’s largest undertaking to date. A music initiative that was nearly two years in the making, the Audiobrain team’s responsibilities included musical content procurement from publishers, labels, and artists, consulting on the music system design and information organization, and creative support for NBC’s producers both onsite at the games in China with 24/7 music operations, and at NBC’s 30 Rock Studios in New York. Audiobrain developed the DMI sonic identity that was introduced at last year’s annual conference in Maine.
 The Fredricks Design, Inc. product development group was awarded First Prize in Industrial and Life Science Design – Medical Furniture for the entry titled “Over the Bed Table.” Architects and designers of interiors, fashion, products, and graphics submitted over 1000 entries from 52 countries throughout the world, proving IDA’s global emphasis.
Fredricks is also celebrating 25 years of success in 2009. Specializing in advanced, full cycle product development, they offer services in market research, project management, industrial design, engineering, CAD, and prototyping. The Grand Haven, Michigan-based firm has built a tremendous reputation in the transportation, furniture, consumer goods, medical, and healthcare markets. Maury Fredricks commented, “Our continued growth is a key indicator that we are doing the right things in an extremely challenging economic landscape.”
Medical product development firm Ximedica has received a 2009 Medical Design Excellence Award for its work on the Life Recovery Systems ThermoSuit™. The ThermoSuit™ is a non-invasive critical care device that rapidly cools the body’s core temperature, allowing doctors to induce a state of therapeutic hypothermia in patients who have suffered cardiac arrest. Ximedica was recognized for its work on the Industrial Design, Mechanical Design, Graphical User Interface Design, and Disposable System manufacturing of the product, which is marketed by New Jersey-based Life Recovery Systems.
Ximedica is a contract provider of research, design, engineering, and advanced manufacturing services to many of the top medical device companies in the world.
The Medical Design Excellence competition is nationally organized and presented by Canon Communications of Los Angeles and is the only awards program that exclusively recognizes contributions and advances in the design of medical products. Entries are evaluated on the basis of their design and engineering features, including functions that improve healthcare delivery and provide enhanced benefits to the patient.
Programs
Recognizing the increasing importance that design thinking can play in positively impacting society, enhancing business success, and managing complex organizational change, the Ontario College of Art & Design announces a new program to address the complex dilemmas of contemporary society.
The Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation interweaves design with social science, technology, and business. Design will link all three areas through its essential competencies:
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Design thinking
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Strategic and iterative methodology
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Deep commitment to understanding human needs, wants and behaviors
Launching in September 2009, the program will initially be offered as a part-time two-year program in order to provide flexible options for working professionals. Starting in September 2010, it will also be offered as a full-time one-year program.
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