Monthly Archives: January 2011
Dark Knight Trilogy Blu-Ray Case
For those keeping track, this is my second case that revolves around the use of a Batmobile. With The Dark Knight Rises coming out in 2012, I thought I’d make this case in anticipation of the trilogy release.
In 2008, Warner Brothers released a Blu-Ray package that included the Batpod, descendant of the doomed Tumbler Batmobile. Not a bad package at all. Though one would think that a case which revolved around the Tumbler had to have been considered. There is probably a prototype resting on a WB Executive’s desk. It must exist!
Conspiracy theories aside, I found the Tumbler’s squat, boxy shape to be ideal for a container. It could not ideally fit 3 standard Blu-Ray jewel cases. I opted for shorter, thinner jewel case, practically the same as a CD jewel case (remember those?).
Special thanks to Jeff Bell, who designed this poster for The Dark Knight Rises, and allowed me to use it here.You can find the original image here and Jeff’s portfolio here. I think it’s a beautiful one-sheet, would look great on my wall. Awesome work Jeff!
Unfortunately, because I opted for a square-shape case, I decided to crop out the title and put it on the side, sort of like a video game package. A full poster would have resulted in a very small image. These remind of the cases they use for Nintendo DS games.
Some bigger images if you are interested, including a ‘Blu-Ray Blue’ window variant:
Apologies for having this done ahead of the Transformers Trilogy case - this was just too engrossing to make.
Adventures In Saving Water
A. This faucet may look like handle bars from a bicycle, but it is actually a means to run the water without wasting a drop. Ever hold your hand under a running tap waiting for the water to get hot? Instead of wasting the water, it would pass through this system back to the water tank (or a local reservoir even). A thermostat would indicate the water temperature, instead of your hand. Cold water will always be immediately available, and this tap also acts as the release for the hot water. Though you could install a local heater (tankless water heater) that will heat the water below the sink, ensuring hot water immediately. My idea is just for the budget-minded.
B. We’re all guilty of continually topping up the bath with more hot water after it cools down, sometimes to the point of draining water to allow this. There could be some ways to keep the water hot for a longer period, like putting some heating elements underneath the tub, but that is very likely unsafe. One idea I came up with was a secondary drain that empties into one of those local heaters I mentioned in the previous paragraph, and then spits it back out into the tub. Ewww re-heating dirty water you say? That clean hot water you are adding now doesn’t exactly stay clean after it is added. A filter could be employed to help purify the water. This will save water, but at the expense of more energy used to re-heat.
C. I designed this faucet not for washing hands but for those momentary uses like when we are shaving or brushing our teeth. There would be a lever placed just under the tap, that when pressed up by a brush or razor, would trigger the flow of water. A quick press would dispense normal volume at a normal rate. Pushing the lever even more would dispense a low-volume amount at high pressure, like a pressure washer - ideal for razor blade rinsing. This faucet would be so handy because most people just leave the water running whilst shaving or brushing their teeth. You can swing the lever back if you need it out of the way. This design could be amplified to accommodate hand-washing.
Playstation 4 Concept
Not that I am trying to dispel the notion that I am a Microsoft/Nintendo fanboy, but I made this console for another practical packaging idea, which I’ll unveil later this week. I thought this console was worth showing here.
I might go the whole nine yards one day and create a full concept, with all the bells and whistles, but I’ll leave it as-is for now.
It has no disc drive/tray, in keeping with my belief that the next generation of consoles will be entirely digital.
UPDATE: Here is another Playstation 4 concept.
Transformers Blu-Ray Update #4
UPDATE: This case has been completed. Please check it out here.
Another update! Sorry I was hoping to finish this sooner rather than later. I’m officially going overboard on this one…
If you don’t know, I am designing a Blu-Ray case for the live-action Transformers Trilogy that uses Optimus Prime’s trailer:
The case transforms from the trailer shown above into a normal Blu-Ray case box set. That figure above is ‘Roller’, and he attaches to the front of the trailer, as seen above.
Here is an older pic of the trailer I made:
Here is the transform concept. It changes into a Blu-Ray box set, and the intention is for Roller to be stowed inside:
So all I have to do now is the jewel case art, and the box set art. Then I can finish this one up.
Updated the colors:
Tandem Elevators
A teacher from my school taught us that Skyscrapers could be built a lot taller than they are currently able to - even surpassing the tallest buildings in the world, if not for one problematic issue: Elevators.
You see, to service a very tall building, you need a large bank of elevators. Many of which are dedicated to operate between certain floors. This bank of elevators could eat up half the floor plan! That’s a lot of pricey real estate sacrificed to ensure the vertical flow of people. In order to reach extreme heights, the building would be entirely comprised of elevators, so this design quandary is literally putting a ceiling on building height.
In my experience, a building with a dozen or more elevators can often be prone to long waits or crowded elevators. Typically around the lunch rush or evening hours the building empties and it can be pretty crowded when you do finally board.
One solution I use to think of was employing double-decker elevators, which is much like it sounds. Two levels of elevator combined, with the upper compartment servicing even-numbered floors, the other servicing odd-numbered floors. It would feature a Ferris Wheel-like passenger system for the Lobby, where the elevator stops twice in sequence, allowing for both compartments to empty/load.
But then I thought, the majority of the day you’d have too much elevator for very few passengers, and likely wasted energy as a result. So I went back to the drawing board.
Why not put multiple elevators in the same shaft? This way you are getting more mileage from each elevator shaft. You can better address heavy traffic and local use (traveling only a few floors). The idea for Tandem Elevators was born!
In order for it to work at an optimum level, you would need to really telegraph the entire operation to the Users, and in turn the Users have to declare their intentions as well, so the elevator can determine the most efficient course of action at any given time.
This means a display on each floor that shows the whereabouts of each elevator car, as well as the specific destinations. This also entails a button layout on each floor similar to what you’d find inside the elevator now.
In the image above, you can see where each elevator is currently, and their status - so you’ll know if they are in transit, loading, or even full! Wouldn’t that be handy? This is hugely beneficial if you are being held up by another elevator in the same shaft - you could be waiting in the lower elevator in P1 for the upper elevator to deliver people to the Lobby - but at least you can see why you are parked.
You can also see what stops that elevator plans to make on a display above the door. This is handy for when some people are being divided up between elevators.
With all the floor buttons present on each floor, you can declare beforehand which floor you want to go to. This way the elevator knows your intentions, as well as those people from other floors, to plan an efficient pickup system. When necessary, it will call in the upper elevator to assist.
Speaking of the upper elevator, it will operate in a secondary role. It will be called into duty during times of heavy volume, or for a local trip between upper floors.
I’m not an Engineer, but I’m sure they can get this to work. This would mean reclaimed real estate in future buildings. A retrofit would also allow for more passenger volume in existing buildings.
Bonus idea: It would be nice if an elevator can detect if it is full. So many awkward stops can be avoided this way. Once the elevator knows it is at capacity, it would essentially become an express elevator and make no more stops until it empties some people. Use a scale or a sensor to detect capacity.
Shows And Films That Should Live On In Animated Form
Superheros seem to enjoy frequent incarnations. For example Young Justice is the 10th animated show in the past 13 years to feature Superman, who has also starred in many direct-to-DVD animated films to boot. Not that I am complaining, I am happy to see Big Blue remain popular and continually reach new audiences.
It just seems to me that there are other properties that deserve renewed life, and I think animation is the ideal platform. It brings familiar faces and places to life. It also has a long and established history of complimenting and adding to existing intellectual properties, be it as a stand-alone endeavor or within established canon.
Animation quality these days is just getting better every year. With more tools available to create amazing animation, such as Flash and 3D, many people like myself can make something decent on a home computer.
This also speaks to a growing trend, in that mature audiences have no problem watching cartoons as compared to a few generations ago, when the medium was commonly regarded as a form of entertainment for children only. You don’t have to look any further than the TV listings to see a lot of animated programming aimed at adults. South Park, Simpsons, Family Guy, Adult Swim, etc. More after the jump. Read the rest of this entry
In Praise Of The Tumbler
UPDATE: They are indeed bringing back the Tumbler for TDKR. Such an awesome sight. Although there is reason to believe it could be used solely for ‘flashback’ scenes. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there is some major baggage arriving from Batman Begins for Dark Knight Rises. Original article as follows:
I really hope they bring back the Tumbler for The Dark Knight Rises. It is a car that you can buy into as being a real, functional military vehicle - as opposed to a gaudy car with fins! Ugh.
Seeing as the Tumbler exploded in The Dark Knight, they’d have to rebuild a new car from scratch. I hope it is as much an evolution from the original Tumbler as say, Batman’s new suit in The Dark Knight compared to Batman Begins.
Whatever they do - don’t design it to perform some unique function that is convenient to the story. The Batmobile ‘splitting’ to fit a crevice in Batman Returns, or scaling the side of a building in Batman Forever, just seems like a forced set piece. I won’t even mention the car from Batman and Robin (which they actually scaled back in ability, if you look it up).
It would just seem like a cohesive move as well. Too much of a departure and you partition the trilogy in a way - as odd as that sounds. I found it a bit too weird that Wayne Manor and the Bat Cave were excised from DK, as well as a lot of landmarks from Batman Begins, such as Wayne Tower and it’s boardroom (they went with a different building in DK), the unique train system, the Narrows, etc. Seemed like two different Gothams. But I digress!
Huge props to Nathan Crowley who designed this amazing car. It’s a pain in the butt to recreate in 3D, but well worth it.
Practical Product Packaging + Apple iPhone Idea
There is a lesson to be learned from those kids who play with the box instead of the toys that were once sealed within. They see a practical use for these containers, while we as adults just toss them out without hesitation once we get the contents out.
I designed this package to not only look appealing on the shelf or in the display case, but to be a functional fixture that you’ll hold onto. Sort of like the jewel case your DVD/CD comes in. This example looks at a mobile phone product.
I could live with a product that is shrink-wrapped to begin with, but seeing as these are usually kept in display cases, they could be set out as-is. A bunch of these would sit in a cardboard box for transport.
Seeing as most people buy a protective case or a travel case for their mobile phone, it would make sense to provide that right off the start. Currently, Apple provides a clear plastic case for their iPods, which I find handy at times, but it’s not designed for quick storage and removal.
I made the base of the box a charging dock - another common feature people buy (or is included with your iHardware). Makes too much sense that this would be used in such a dual fashion - storing and docking.
Behind the phone, I designed a USB cable storage that works much like the power plug on a vacuum. A couple of spools, and a few cavities to rest both ends of the USB cable. The AC Adapter plug could attach to the top of the stand.
It would be beneficial to the environment to offer packaging that can adapt to serve an ongoing function. But would Apple provide something like this? That is a tough call, so many third parties provide docks and cases - might be a messy scenario dealing with that cottage industry.
I’d also like to offer an idea that might help: Manual/Instructions that are stored internally in the device. Would save paper.
EDIT: I know those Lego clips look incapable of holding this together! I’m sure there is a practical way to seal this shut and open.
Ron Swanson Pyramid Of Greatness Wallpaper
Dear visitor: A search engine has probably pointed you here. I would like to direct you to this post, where I corrected the art and made more sizes available, even one for the iPhone.
Click that link or the image above to head to the Ron Swanson wallpaper post.
Geek Spoils Part 4: The Greatness Of Ron Swanson
MAJOR UPDATE! Wallpapers have been made. You can find several sizes here.
Original Post: So the Geek Spoils series is reduced to cool stuff you can print, which is fine by me! After releasing the Xavier Diploma and the painting from Good Will Hunting, I thought I’d release this printer-sized gem of the ‘Swanson Pyramid Of Greatness’, featured last night on NBC’s Parks and Recreation show.
Parks and Recreation and Community are my two favorite comedies right now. They are just packed to the brim with sharp humor and effortless meta and so very reflective of our crazy internet era.
Ron Swanson, played epically by Nick Offerman, is a throwback to a manly man of a bygone era, with a dash of Wilford Brimley-like curmudgeon to boot. He loathes the Government system he works for, loves bacon-wrapped food, and goes hunting in a canoe he carved himself (I’m assuming).
So when he revealed this Pyramid of Greatness last night to the basketball team he was charged with coaching, I knew I had to have one. It is full of so much win.
Edit: removed the original image! It was no good (Sorry NBC - it could have been better!). Go to the above link to check out some wallpapers.
