Resources

Here you can find links to this topics:

1. Tips & tricks to any designer
2. Objects
3. Packaging, paper work and Origami
4. Ecology and sustainability
5. Culture and Innovation
6. Materials and resources
7. Technology
8. Graphic Design
9. Essential Business and Innovation
10. Environment
11. Future scenarios

Tips & tricks to any designer

• Model making tips | Some basics to get you started on your projects.
• Plastique | A plastics Primer
• Harvey Cards | A set of brainstorming cards that you can print out, cut apart and use as triggers to stimulate new ideas.
• Self Marketing | Some tips on promoting yourself and your ideas.
• Freelancing Fundamentals | The basics about industrial design freelancing: the DOs and DON’T DOs…
• How to make it as a freelancer , Part 2 | A survival guide for independent designers
• Building a Home Shop | How to do it. How to do it cheap

Essential objects links

• AmbienDirect | Within these pages, you will find high-quality designer lamps and other home furnishings from the best internationally-known brands.
• Apartment Therapy | Changing the world, one apartment at a time.
• Cardesign News | Leading online resource for automotive design.
• Concept Cars | Concept Cars…nothing more, nothing less.
• CoolHunting | Weblog on what’s hot in design, culture and technology.
• Design Addicts | Resource for modern, post-modern and contemporary design of the 20th-21st centuries where you’ll find information on designers and producers, on furniture, lighting, dinnerware and accessories.
• Designbeans | Publishes news related to the design world and its protagonists, hosts a growing design directory and observes lifestyle and design trends.
• DesignBoom | Milan-based design site – interviews, competitions, courses.
• Designerspace | Car design image gallery.
• Designspotter | German design plattform.
• Engadget | Definitive weblog on new gadgets.
• ExseedJapan | Introducing modern crafts by japanese artists
• Freshness | Sneakers, shops and art.
• Funfurde | Funky furniture and design.
• Get Crafty | Home of the craftistas.
• Gnr8’s News | The latest in contemporary lighting design.
• Greelight Concepts | We create retro-modern lighting fixtures using glass lenses recycled from discarded traffic lights.
• Inventables | Aims to build a living showcase of what’s possible to deliver inspiration and innovation to the dreamers of the world.
• JOON | Since 1975, Joon has been specializing in providing the largest selection of fine writing instruments in the world.
• Josh Spear | The pulse of cool.
• MoCo loco | Modern contemporary design and architecture.
• Reluct | Design and architecture news.
• SHARE DUTCH DESIGN | Cover Dutch product design and design bureaus working in the fields of architecture, product design, industrial design, interior design, exhibition design, packaging design and brand design
• The Red Ferret Journal | Tantalisingly tasteful, tacky and taut tech trivia
• Treehugger | The definitive, modern yet green lifestyle filter
• Viable | A London-based studio offering striking, intelligent design. As well as producing their own product ranges, they work with other manufacturers and take on bespoke commissions.
• Wambamboo – Bamboo furniture by Kent Gration
• YANKO DESIGN | Weblog dedicated to introducing the best modern international design

Packaging, paper work and Origami

• Asociación Española de Papiroflexia | Is an cultural association without profit and build by lovers, not only from Spain, which aims to promote the practice and pleasure of working with paper
• Origami Tessellations | Eric Gjerde’s musings on origami, tessellations, geometry, design, and art
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition | dedicated to transforming packaging into a system that encourages economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials.
• WRAP – Material change for a better environment | This site provides ideas, tips and practical tools to help you change the way packaging is produced and used to reduce household waste.

Ecology and sustainability links

• AIGA’s Center for Sustainable Design | Dedicated to providing designers with a wide range of information regarding sustainable business practice.
• Biopolymer.net | online resources for a better environment
• Biothinking | Ecology and sustainable design
• Branch | Sustainable design for living
• Centre for Remanufacturing & Reuse | The centre for remanufacturing has been developed to promote, where appropriate, the activities of remanufacturing and reuse
• cool NRG | Combating climate change
• D4S | Design for Sustainability
• DEFRA | Department for environment, food and rural affairs
• Design:GREEN | Focused on sustainable product design
• Design Can Change | Works on the belief that our industry can make positive change bye working together
• Eco i-net | Network for eco-innovation
• Eco-Aesthete | A blog for those who think that hippy is turning hip, thanks to fresh creative design focused on sustainability.
• EcoCity | This conference series addresses the way humanity builds its home — it’s cities, towns and villages.
• EIA | Energy Information Administration for the US Government
• Environment Design Institute | Considering about environment is the same meaning of taking good care of story existing actually in there.
• European Bioplastics | The European branch association representing industrial manufacturers, processors and users of bioplastics and biodegradable polymers (BDP) and their derivative products.
• European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment | Supporting business and policy making in Europe with reference data and recommended methods on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for better practice in LCA use and interpretation.
• European Network | Focused on the design of products for sustainable, competitive growth
• Foresight Design Initiative | The Foresight Design Initiative seeks to improve and sustain the quality of life in the urban environment through smart design, without sacrificing the needs of future generations.
• Green Maps | Green Maps Around the World
• ICLEI Oceania – Local Governments for Sustainability | Climate change in a a climate of change.
• IDSA Ecodesign | Okala provides an introduction to ecological and sustainable design for practicing and beginning designers.
• LENSE | Mehodology Development towards a Label for Environmenta, Social and Economic Buildings
• MASSIVE CHANGE | It’s not about the world of design. It’s about the design of the world.
• o2 | International sustainable design.
• Pharos | Seeks to define a consumer-driven vision of truly green building materials and how they should be evaluated in harmony with principles of environmental health and justice.
• PRé | 10 guidelines for ecodesign
• Scamber | The pioneers in Sustainable Brand Strategy.
• SCORE! | Sustainable design
• SLOW | Focused in the Slow Design issue
• SRD | Society for Responsible Design
• Sustainable Business
• Sustainable Design Portal
• Sustainable Everyday Project
• Sustainable Silicon Valley | Is a collaboration of businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations that are identifying and addressing environmental and resource pressures in the Valley
• Sustainable Style Fundation | Look fabulous, live well, do good
• TEPUI | Sustainabiliy Consultancy
• The Centre for Sustainable Design
• The Designers Accord | Is a coalition of designers, educators, researchers, engineers, business consultants, and corporations, who are working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
• The Natural Edge Project | Is an independent Sustainability Think-Tank based in Australia.
• The Natural Step | Has worked to accelerate global sustainability by guiding companies, communities and governments onto an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable path.
• Thesis on Psychology of Environmentally Sustainable Behaviour
• Tree Hugger | Another day closer to a Green Future
• UNEP | Sustainable Products and Services
• USGBC-NCC | U.S. Green Building Council’s Northern California Chapter is a diverse group of members in a region active in and receptive to progressive sustainable building goals.
• WorldChanging | Change your way of thinking
• WorldWatch Institute | Vision for a sustainable world

Essential Culture and Innovation links

• AEDO-TO | Is a design community that facilitates the interaction between industry and designers.
• AIGA | AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.
• Archinect | Making architecture more connected.
• Bio Composites | Innovation in biomaterials for industry
• The Biomimicry Institute | Is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to naturalize biomimicry in the culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design.
• Boing Boing | A directory of wonderful things.
• CORE77 | Industrial Design Supersite
• Design Observer | Writings about Design and Culture
• DesignWS | International design news.
• Design Directory | International design links database
• Design Education | The challenge is to find a balance that works not only for us,
  but also for the rest of the world
• Design inSite | Designers’ guide for manufacturing
• Design News | The name says it all
• Design Online | Chinese industrial design page (provided in english too…)
• Dezain.net | Design weblog and photos.
• Digitalthread | Web design links and design resources.
• Displaced Designer | Helping designers affected by disasters get back on their feet
• Eyebeam rebLOG | Distliling art and technology.
• ID Fuel | Hardcore industrial design weblog.
• ID Grid | Industrial design news and resources.
• Industrial Designers Society of America | Is the voice of the industrial design profession, advancing the quality and positive impact of design.
• Inhabitat | Devoted to the future of smarter design and a more sustainable future.
• International Council of Societies of Industrial Design | Is a global not-for-profit organisation that promotes better design around the world. Today, Icsid counts over 150 members in more than 50 countries, representing an estimated 150 000 designers.
• Moving Target Research Group | Connecting Brands with Today’s Transcultural Consumers™
• Metafilter | Active community weblog.
• Notcot | A visual filtration of ideas, aesthetics and amusement.
• One plus one equals three | Weblog about design, interactivity and culture.
• Organic Design Operatives | We believe that many of the world’s problems are, in part, a consequence of a deepening void between people and nature and the dysfunctional design that often results.
• Pecha Kucha | Is intended to gather creative individuals to share their work and ideas in a night, chilling-out, getting together and exchanging thoughts in an informal environment.
• Pigmag | Italian site about culture and art.
• Sensory Impact | The culture of objects.
• The Smart Set | An international, membership-based nonprofit organization created by, for, and about people interested in science, design, and culture and the role these fields play in shaping our future.
• Things Magazine | New writing about objects and their meanings.
• Unbeige | All things design, design personalities, and design culture.
• WFMU’S Beware of the Blog | A weblog regarding the culture of objects.
• We make money not art | Weblog about everything.
• xBlog | The visual thinking weblog.

Materials and resources links:

• Architonic | A lot of materials in detail
• AZoM | Massive listings of materials and their properties.
• Digikey | Catalog of electronic components.
• Design inSite | A designer’s guide to Manufacturing
• Eco-Labels | Guide to environmental labels.
• Engineering Resources | Technical information, products and training.
• Green Map systems | Maps that chart the natural environment.
• Industrial Quick Search | Industrial manufacturers directory.
• KNOVEL Library | Brings essential Sci-tech reference data to life in a virtual technical library that solves problems for engineers, applied scientists and librarians worldwide.
• MANA Online | Manufactures Agents.
• MBDC | Products that contribute to environmental prosperity.
• Material Data Source | Searchable database of material data sheets.
• Materialexplorer | Material database and inspiration.
• McMaster-Carr | Search over 420,000 products.
• Melnik | Melnik is a company specialised in the supply of polymeric boards, sheets and films for a wide variety of industrial uses.
• MSC Industrial Supply | Direct marketers of industrial supplies.
• Organic Exchange | A unique resource for companies and consumers interested in organic cotton.
• OSRAM | Lamps and lighting systems from OSRAM provide the basis for a beautiful view of things, ensure safety and comfort, allowing for the efficient use of resources.
• Outwater Plastics | Large inventory of plastic parts.
• Plastic News | Newspaper covering the plastics industry.
• Plastics Technology | Plastic Materials selection database.
• Plastic Suppliers | Is among the world’s leading manufacturers of biaxially oriented polystyrene. Polyflex® and Labelflex® films
• Produits Recyclés | Catalogue of recycled materials and products
• Recycloplast |
• Small Parts | Huge hardware catalog of tiny things.
• Travers | Metalworking tools and industrial supplies.
  
• Thomas Register | Definitive industrial search site.

Technology links:

• Hack A Day | A fresh tech hack each day.
• Future Feeder | Feeding technology, design and architecture.
• Futurismic | Weblog on the future and the effects of science and technology.
• FutureWire | Futurism and emerging technology.
• IFTF’S Future Now | Emerging technologies.
• John Maedas Simplicity | Weblog by MIT Media Lab’s John Maeda.
• Learning Edition and Open Source software list | Maintained by Core77 blogger csven.
• MakeZine | Tech-based hacks.
• Wired News Blog | Weblog on technology, culture, business and politics.
• Z+Blog | Future and culture weblog by Andrew Zolli.

Graphic Design .

• Lovely as a tree | The website that tells you everything you need to know to be a more environmentally aware graphic designer.
• REnourish | A resource for the graphic design industry.
• SRD – GREEN INK – GREEN VISION | Responsible Graphic Designers
• SRD – REAP | Eco paper guide
• YUPO Syntetic Paper | Yupo became an industry leader in the production of synthetic papers and found that a world market eagerly awaited its creation.

Essential Business and Innovation links:

• 37 Signals | A weblog about design, customer experience, entertainment, politics, basecamp, backpack, products, small business and more…
• All this Chittah- Chattah | A weblog about the “fascinating minutiae of life”. By Steve Portigal.
• Artafact | Artafact represents the second generation of online focus group software, overcoming the technology limitations of early market entries.
• Business of Design Online | BoDo blogs about the business of design including pretty much anything to help a design business grow.
• CPH127 | Design and Innovation Weblog.
• Coraggio Group | We partner with leaders who are willing to challenge all areas of their organizations to achieve long-term, sustainable success both internally and externally.
• Customer Experience Crossroads | Susan Abbott searches for branded customer experiences and how to create them.
• Customer Experience Strategy | Very good weblog about customer experience strategy.
• Does Size Matter? | The anwer to “Where do we go buy some innovation”.
• Design Management | A good weblog about design, management and business related issues.
• Eco Investiment Club | Invest in “Green” and invest regularly, regardless of the Market Outlook, in order to fuel the Sustainable Marketplace with up and coming, like-minded Eco Entrepreneurs and Real Estate enthusiasts
• FAST COMPANY | Management, leadership and career advice for business executives
• Good Experience Blog | A focus on customer experience, by Mark Hurst.
• If.psfk.com | Daily inspiration for brand planners and creative thinkers.
• Independent Designers Network | Eco > Sustainable > Dynamic > Effective . . . The power to move people is within your reach
• Innovation Blog | Forum for ideas and approaches to generating and supporting innovation in product development.
• Itracks | Online service, software, solutions for the market research industry.
• Metacool | Thoughts about art and science by Diego Rodriguez.
• Natural Logic | Building exceptional environmental and economic performance by embedding the laws of nature at the heart of enterprise.
• Perpective | Niti Bahn’s weblog.
• Pod Consulting Group | Glen Martin’s weblog.
• RED: UK Design Council | Challenging accepted thinking on economic and social issues through design innovation.
• Steelcase – Environment | Steelcase was founded by people with a strong commitment to integrity and doing the right thing for you, our customers, business partners, associates, neighbors and employees.
• The Illuminated Innovant | his blog discusses books on the general topics of innovation, creativity, leadership and strategy.
• Thinking by Peter Davidson | Ideas and commentary on advertising, branding, marketing, technology and culture.
• This is Broken | A project to make businesses more aware of their customer experience, and how
• ULAB | Helps web, software, mobile application, and consumer product developers understand more about their users to build better products.

Environment

• Atmosfair | For people who are concerned in regards to the environmental ramifications of their air travel.
• Carbon Footprint | Is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
• Climate Care | Helping you help the climate
• Combat Climate Change | We invite you to come up with an idea for a sustainable energy project that can help combat climate change.
• National Geographic Magazine – Climate Conditions | How we are shaping climate. How climate is shaping us
• NPI – Cobalt and compounds fact sheet
• Post Carbon institute | Reduce consuption: Produce locally
• REM ALERT | BLOG concerning environmental issues
• Sustainable Travel International | Dedicated to providing education and outreach services that help travelers, travel providers and related organizations support environmental conservation and protect cultural heritage while promoting cross-cultural understanding and economic development.
• Travel Calculator | This calculator has been produced to encourage everyone to reduce the environmental impact of their travel.
• WWF | For a living planet

Future scenarios

• Anticipating the future | An university of arizona course on methods and approaches for studying the future
• GBN | About Scenarios
• Scenario Network Mapping
• Scenario planning resources | The reference page on scenario planning and scenario thinking!
• Transition Towns WIKI | This website is a WIKI for use by all the communities that have adopted the Transition Towns model for responding to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change.