Xootr MG Kick Scooter

Shown with Xootr carry strap and Ergon GP1 grip & bell on the handle bar.

For safety, reflectors on both sides and LED fllash light in front.

Prevent water from splashing upwards on my rear, fender kit at the back of the deck.

In my neighbourhood, not all pathways are suitable for scootering. Nevertheless it cuts at least half my commuting time to school to and fro and doubled the fun. That's cool.

Hand-Carry Shoe Box by 'Mugigae' in Bugis Junction

Who says you need a plastic or paper bag for your shoe purchases?

The shop 'Mugigae' in Bugis Junction used an attached ribbons with both ends fastened to the (inner) side of the shoe box and pulled out from a neat slot from the (outer) cover. The well-decorated box is ready to be brought out of the shop without much hassle. And its cute too.

Think:

• What are the advantages / disadvantages of this innovation?
• What are the other products/object could adapt this idea of carrying/transportation?
• Is there anyway this idea could be further developed and improved?

$2 Big Magic Double-Sided Sucker

Those are definately good suckers. No hard feelings but they really sucks! =)

I got it from Cash Converter @ Jurong East for $2!!!

! THINK !

• What is good / no good about this innovation?
• Make a long list to suggest how else this innovation could be used.
• How can this concept be modified / improved for other applications?
• Does this idea have the potential to lead to other interesting solutions? What are they?

Changi Airport Terminal 3: House Fly in Urinal

Fly stickers for men only. Women don't get it. And don't need it.

Son: "Mum, there's a fly in the urinal that does not fly away even after being pissed full time".

Mum: 'Really, that's good and you are beginning to pee straight'.

! THINK !

• Where else can you think of that needs the concept of 'aiming'?
• Can you think of fun and humorous alternative ideas other than a fly for the urinal?
• Is there any way to adapt the concept and make it useful for women???

Price Tag

Another interesting way to recycle your plastic spoons.

This shop owner decided to adapt it as a price tag.

! THINK !

• Think of other uses for a plastic table spoon.
• Think of alternatives ideas to display price tags interestingly?
• What about disposable chopsticks?
• What happens if it is possible to plant upside down?

Shopping Cart Stops on a Travelator

The question: What makes the shopping cart stop once it gets on the travelator?

Clues:
Fact #1 : The wheels (made of two discs and fixed on both ends of the shaft) remain free to rotate on the travelator!

Fact #2 : The shaft in between the wheels do not move.

Help-line:

Go to the nearest shopping centre with a travelator. Grab a shopping cart, go straight to the travelator, and then figure it out.

Have fun unlocking the mystery!

The World Through a Marble

View the world through a marble.

Daniel's Photography: Coming Up

I'm in the process of preparing some of my favourite photographs to be uploaded in a new blog link.

Here's a preview...

Slow Down - Caterpillas Crossing

My school has plenty of inch-long little black and yellow caterpillas roaming around everywhere. Yeap... everywhere. One moment one caterpillar would jaywalk across the carpark. Another moment a few would decide to cut across walkways.

Many of them did not survive their migration to the other side of the road. Not because they were caught by birds, but because they became squashed caterpillas. They don't look very delicious. And their brightly colored body may suggest that they are poisonous.

Since caterpillas cannot be taught how not to wander into human pathways, at least people can be reminded to watch out out for them.

So, I created this road sign and posted a few outside my office. =) All done in between breaks of course...

Do A Darn Good Job

I WANT to

"‘I WANT to do a darn good job’; that is encouraged.

‘I NEED to do a darn good job’; that is acceptable.

‘I HAVE to do a darn good job’; that is tolerable.

‘I CAN’T BE BOTHERED to do a darn good job’; that is not acceptable.

‘WHAT THE HECK about doing what job’; what’s the difference between trash and you?

SO if you do DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY, CHOOSE to do a DARN GOOD job".

Daniel Lim (2009) Chief Design Warrier

Uni Kuru Toga: The Mechanical Pencil

I'll never want to post any products on my blog cause that will be free advertisement.

This time I violated this rule because I found a mechanical pencil so 'WOW' I gotta share it with you. For those who pays attention to penciling details, you will be able to appreciate the innovation behind this. Simply simple and wonderful piece of invention that changes the way a mechanical pencil works. What can I say... go check it out.

Shrek & Princess & Cat

Made up of three different images taken many years apart. The background and a separate photo of my wife (originally on the beach) was taken in Mauritius (2006). White Kitty was taken from the void deck of the HDB flat in Jurong West (2008). The portrait photo of myself was taken by a professional photographer in my school.

Put together using Photoshop CS3.

NYPS Girls' Brigade 12th Coy Banner Making

I was asked one day to help the Girls' Brigade from Nanyang Primary School to design a banner for their drill competition I was a little apprehensive. I never designed a banner before.

Thanks Juliet for the wonderful experience!!!

The drawings were their childrens' and the coloring were done by them too.

What I did was to transfered and enlarged their ideas on the piece of cloth.

Design & Technology Conference 2009: Designerly Thinking

Design & Technology Conference 2009 (Singapore) . 16th March 2009.

I conducted one of the two-hour concurrent session on a two-stage ideation approach as a follow-up from the presentation on "The meaning of designing is meaningful designs" last year during the Design & Technology Seminar (Singapore) 2008.

In the previous presentation I touched on the overview of a lower secondary design approach. This year's focus zooms into the actual ideation process which emphasises on the attitude of an 'ideator' rather than merely a teaching of a certain technique to generate ideas quickly.

Learning or simply being aware (now) of such approach does help in generating ideas very quickly and efficiently, however, the quality mass of ideas at the end of the day still reflects the attitude of the thinker behind the ideation process.

Close to 30 Design & Technology educators from various schools got to understand the mechanisms to the approach as well as experiencing it via actually working on the process; hence the presentation title: "ACTUALLY DOING IT"

The second image shown above are some of my Secondary 1N(A) students who completed the note holder design just in time to be showcased during the presentation. It was pleasant to hear comments from fellow educators that they were amazed that the Secondary 1 normal (academic) students could design a note holder with such quality in terms of design.

Why not?... but not without the persoanl attitude to want to think and to put in the best effort.

Tools and techniques are but just tools and techniques...

Cartoons on the Reality of Self Affirmation AND Technique for Relaxation

All Art Copyright © 2009 by Daniel Lim.Use of graphics is prohibited without prior written consent.

It is one thing to tell yourself to be positive and another to act it out. Self -affirmation as taught by many trainers (and teachers) only tell you to be positive and think positive. They often fail to emphasize the ACTION bit which happens to be only ingredient that make things work. It is no wonder that there are so many people who go (or forced to go) to a motivation talk, get emotional, and then after that move on with nothing changed or improved.

But I'm sure the trainers are happy, they got your MONEY!!! =)

All Art Copyright © 2009 by Daniel Lim.Use of graphics is prohibited without prior written consent.

Sitting down and belly (not 'barely') breathing with soothing music is one technique to relax. I learn it when the trainers shared this with the 4N(A) students in a motivation talk session.

Not sure if the students got the message cause I can see that they are already talking among themselves. While I keep myself busy conceptualising the talk and then 'cartooned' it. =)

Ang Pao Box & Wedding Card for a Friend

An Ang Pao Box for my wife's good friend's wedding on 27 December 2008.

(Caricature) Wedding Card

Design and Artwork by Daniel Lim (2008)

Copyright © 2008 Daniel Lim.

Caricature - Daniel Lim

All Art Copyright © 2009 by Daniel Lim.Use of graphics is prohibited without prior written consent.

Can you recognise this guy???

Caricature Artist: Daniel Lim

For more caricatures, take a stroll to http://www.flickr.com/photos/stickylife/

Taking Notes on DESIGN THINKING

Mr. Steve Chiu, Creative Director of Pencil Box IDP, shared his experiences as a practicing designer in a 'Meet-a-Designer' (M.a.D) session organised by the Design & Technology Educators Society (DTES) Singapore.

I was there on time. We all had a worksheet each.

Most people took notes.
Some summarised in a few sentences.
Few managed to write key words.
One "cartoon'ed". =)

Here are few lessons to share with you from today's M.a.D session.

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I know... you don't really understand. That's because you were not there! Then try interpreting them in your own ways and perhaps you may gain alternative insights! Share with me if you have!

Buddy-Up : Stool

The buddy-stool design was conceived in Oct 2007 in sketches.
© All rights reserved

Now drawn using the Windows PowerPoint applications.

Nothing fanciful. At least something done.

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So what's next? Illustration and Rendering in a professional 3-D software? Or...

Perhaps very soon in the near future, you'll see some of my designs made and on sales.

The last one sounds more exciting.

For more Design Samples:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stickylife/

'Simply' Cylinder Tower Clock

Tower Clock

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All Art Copyright 2008 by Daniel Lim.Use of graphics is prohibited without prior written consent.

For More Design Concepts take a stroll to http://www.flickr.com/photos/stickylife/

Clock Design Sketches

Sometimes this is what I do during meetings... good place for inspirations.

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Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/stickylife/ for sketches / doodles / designs to feast your eyes or for some design inspirations.

Chair Concept by Daniel Lim

Here is an extract of a chair design concept which I created in October 2007. The habit of always searching for alternatives got me this...

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This design shows an alternative design of the flexible back rest by repositioning and transferring the damper mechanism to the legs of the chair. The 'V' shape at the front or back leg at the base, connection the back rest, as shown in the two variations above provide the dampening effect as the user leans backwards.

With a simply relocation of a pivot point, it has also contributed to the overall form creating a new look. Strength and durability at the pivot point need to be looked into.

The concept of a one piece chair is proposed to be made entirely of acrylic or laminated wood. It would definately need some modifications to the one piece idea, move on with some compromise and hopfully which need not drastically alter its initial form.

For more Design Samples, take a stroll to http://www.flickr.com/photos/stickylife/. Enjoy!

Second is not an Option, Neither is First

SECOND is not an option;
As if being FIRST is.
FIRST does require exceeding efforts;
As if being SECOND doesn’t.

Being FIRST or SECOND is actually neither good nor bad;
Until unhealthy competitions and comparisons becomes the fad.

Be the FIRST to love,
Be the FIRST to serve, and
Be the FIRST to give & contribute;
Be the LAST who contradicts.
As if these are important. They actually are.

Composed by Daniel Lim, 06.12.07

The Second Mouse Get the Cheese

The Early Bird Gets the Worm.

TRUE . BUT on the other hand...

IT is the Second Mouse who will Get the Cheese

There is no need to hurry to be first.
It is common, but not necessary;
Sooner could be bitter; later could be sweeter.

There is a need to slow down to be later,
It is not common, but necessary.
Later could be better; sooner could be disaster.

Fine, if someone gets there before you in a hurry.
“LOOK! ...” The first mouse grabs the cheese in a scurry. “…SNAP!!!”
Who is wise if “The Second Mouse Get the Cheese”?

The shallow says it is due fate and a mere coincidence;
The wise recognizes that it is due deliberate efforts and due diligence:
There can be no wine; if there is no fermenting.
There can be no mayonnaise; if you ignore emulsion.

The world is rolled flat for a rat race;
Progressing fast and furious for all its worth.
Recognitions and rewards set the pace;
Accumulating awards and achievements set his worth.

A mouse trap for many,
A sounding warning to detour for few;
For the returns of gratifications and pleasures are high,
But for the latter, the returns of contentment and joy are higher.

But this I know, this other little thing about being first;
It is necessary to be first,
If you know what is to come, but not from you,
That might be bitter and not sweeter; disaster and not better.

Composed by Daniel Lim, 01.12.07

Concept Innovation: Gravity Works on TAP

Existing tap designs work on pressing the top and spring mechanism within the cap activates thereafter to shut off the water flow. The more advanced and modern designs come with levers and sensors. The tradition taps which requires rotating the handle is becoming obsolete.

There could be a simpler way of working a tap. One which will cost less to manufacture, less maintenance and one which neither rely on mechanisms nor electronics to work and minimize water wastage.

This tap innovation concept was created and presented in the Jurong Medical Centre on 6th September 2007 as part of an Experiential Innovation Protocol Workshop Program is shown below.

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The valve within the cap is shut when the cap of the tap is at the rest position. The user lifts up the cap and water will start flowing. The rate of fall of the cap will depend on the rate of flow of water. Research needs to be done to make sure that the cap will continue to fall at a rate to facilitate a complete hand washing process of approximately 10 seconds taking in consideration the average water flow rate of a HDB flat. The user will have a choice of shutting the tap earlier by adding pressure to the cap hence shutting the valve. Otherwise, the cap will fall slowly via gravity to shut the water supply valve internally.

Recommended usage: Toilet. Not suitable for dishwashing area due to the 10 seconds gravity shut off.

For more Design Samples, take a stroll to http://www.flickr.com/photos/stickylife/.

Enjoy!

Bills Sorter

Designed and realised in May 2005, the bill sorter design was planned to sort out unpaid bills. The concept is simple, if there is nothing on it, that will mean no unpaid bills. Below are sample sketches at the CONCEPTUAL & IDEATION stage.

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© All rights reserved.

The ability to represent ideas in the forms of quick sketches in a variety of appropriate drawing perspectives helps the designer to further explore and evaluate the idea. I name this process 'Paper Talk'. Exploded views are presented frequently and act as valuable visual aids to show how parts interact and how they can be assembled.

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The actual (not assembled) paper cut out model according to the proposed dimensions is also shown above. The image below shows the actual product.

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