We recently covered solar powered ways to charge your devices, but what if you have multiple devices? Or you need to charge something but you’re on the go? You can charge as you go with these electrified bags, some even without the power of the sun. The other bonus is that you’ll get even more surface area (and thus more juice) if it is solar powered sense the whole bag can be a panel.
PowerbagThis is a soon-to-be-released (this month) project that comes as a backpack, a sling or even a tablet bag. It’s got a built-in, rechargeable 3000 mAh or 6000 mAh battery (depending on the model) that can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. Plus it detects when a device is connected to one of its four ports. It’ll be available at Best Buy, OfficeMax, FYE, and other retailers. $139.99
V-dimension Optical Messenger BagThis bag has a ton of adapters: iPod/iPhone, mini-USB, Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Motorola. Cell phones charge in about 2 hours and the battery will hold up to 2 full charges. It also has space for a 15.4″ laptop and a bunch of other pockets to stash your stuff. The solar panel is relatively small compared to the other bags on this list but it’s got plenty of adapters on the other end so if you’ve got a wide range of devices this might be your best bet. $129.95
Juice BagsThese are made by Reware and contain removable, water resistant solar panels. They come in backpack, messenger, beach tote, briefcase and daypack (slightly small than backpack). It’s also made of recycled 2-liter bottles so if green’s your thing there’s a good chance this bag is for you. The only odd thing is that it uses a female car charger adapter so if you want to charge your stuff you’ll have to use the car parts. That means it’s less limited, however, sense they make car chargers for just about everything. $199-$399
Samsonite Solar Laptop Messenger/BackpackThese two bags are made by the luggage/bag maker Samsonite and luckily carry their famous warranty. It’s also made from recycled PET plastic and uses a female adapter like the Juice Bags, but has somewhat of a lower profile if you’re concerned about having things stolen. The solar panel putts out 4.5 watts and the bag accommodates a 15″ laptop. $134.99
DIY Solution
We always like to provide a way for you to get it on the cheap, and this is no exception. NPR actually ran an article on this subject and as usual Instructables has a few ways of making them. If you’re making one be sure to consider how many things you need to charge and all the ports they require.
The only thing lacking from Eric Karjaluoto‘s recent essay on the pros and cons of a clean desk were pictures. What did the creative director’s desk really look like? Was it as tidy as he suggested in his essay? The answers is a resounding yes (see below). In the piece Karjaluoto reacts to a colleague’s criticism of design firms that have “clean desk” policies. How tied are we to the myth of creatives being messy? Is it true that from the chaos genius is born? What do you think?
We’re always inspired by the smart food and music pairings made by Kasey and Matthew Hickey from Turntable Kitchen (and are especially fans of their new Turntable Kitchen Pairings Box — what could be better?). Take a listen to their Playlist—and a look at the workspace in their San Francisco apartment—in our latest post.
What do you listen to while you work? Matthew: That is a hard question for me to answer, because I listen to a really diverse range of music while working: lo-fi garage rock, French chanson, hip hop, 60′s Motown, indie rock, electronica, chillwave, cumbia, Argentinian folklorica, classic rock, and really just about anything else I get my hands on. I love discovering new music and that includes delving into genres that aren’t really contemporary. It just depends on my mood and what I’m doing. I think the diversity of our Musical Pairings speaks to the wide range of music we listen to while working in the kitchen. But to be honest, when I’m writing a post or working on stuff for the box (as opposed to when we are actually working in the kitchen), I’ll listen to an even wider range of music including stuff that just doesn’t create the right ambiance for a meal. Kasey: I listen to a lot of Pandora while I work mostly because, unlike Matt, I don’t collect music (I just mooch off of him!) I have a couple of favorite channels, based on some of my favorite artists – The Cults, Florence and the Machine, Beirut, MIA (when I need to wake up!), Sufjan Stevens, Feist, and Bon Iver.
Since it hit the design calendar 7 years ago Design Miami has named a Designer of the Year, offering that person a chance to create a site specific piece for the festival. Past winners have included Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson and Konstantin Grcic - whose work for Magis we recently welcomed into the Herman Miller family. This year the accolade goes to architect David Adjaye who has designed “Genesis” – a pavilion that incorporates his signature undulating timber blades to create a space that will offer respite from the busy show.
Below Adjaye is interviewed in his office – you’ll get a fascinating view of his workspace and also a great insight into his take on design.
Design Miami runs from 30 November – 4 December 2011.
Adrian Granzella Larssen, Managing Editor of The Daily Muse made the move to working from home two years ago. She’s written a nice piece on the pros and cons of not working in an office here. She loves the freedom it affords but like a lot of us misses the social interaction an office offers. My home office is below and one of things I love is the quiet. I know I get a lot more work done at home without the interruptions and distractions of an office. What do you like and/or dislike about working from home?
Having a multi-functional home office is always a bonus, especially when it can be used as a guest room, living room, and also an office for two. This usually requires space, which is why Garrett Murray turned his master bedroom into a home office for two. The added square footage allowed him to make an expansive setup, for both himself and his wife.
The last time we mentioned Garrett Murray, a mobile app developer, and his setup, he was living in Brooklyn. It’s been about 7 months and he relocated in Los Angeles with his wife Stacey. The most intriguing part of their setup is that they decided to turn the master bedroom of their new place into a home office for two, allowing both husband and wife ample space to work in. Garrett’s Airia desk and Mirra chair now share space with his wife’s office setup. That combined with the tasteful decor, makes this an impressive home office, one that most likely everyone can enjoy.
For more details and shots of this space click here.
1.Camo-A-Go-Go Mobile, $113.00 Add a little height to your home office by hanging this handmade mobile by Mobilosity from the ceiling. Get it:raredevice.net
2. Oras Stripes Pieva Wall Mobile, $180.00 Designer Vilija Marshall’s minimal-cool wall mobiles are made in Northern California using stainless steel and aluminum. Get it:Design Public
3. Fuyuh Bamboo Laminated Ceiling Mobile, $730.00 Japan’s Riki Watanabe crafted this now-classic bamboo design in 1975. Get it:NOVA68.com
4.Marine Modern Mobile, $130.00 Thisocean-inspired piece reflects the contrasting forms of glossy seaweed, sea sponges, weathered shells, and coral. Get it:Puka Puka
5. Abstract Rhythm Mobile, $798.00 The simple form of thisaluminumFlensted Mobile—a traditional handicraft in Denmark—adds interest to any workspace. Get it:Amazon
1. Abitare for its interview with Julius Iacchetti who designed Moleskine’s new line of pens and pencils (above). Just click translate – unless of course your Italian is up to speed.
2. Design*Sponge for their post on how to get organized online. Lots of helpful info here.
3. Designboom for their design coverage. They always find the most interesting homes – like this one in Salentina, Italy (below).
4. T Magazine’s blog ran a great piece on Steve Jobs where they had the design community weigh in on Jobs’ contribution.
9. Core77 Design Awards has its very own site. Lots of amazing designs here including our own SAYL chair.
10. You Are The River because sometimes its nice to let someone else pick through all the dross on the internet and find the good stuff. You’ll find lots of beautiful interiors here including the author’s own home (below).
We are thrilled to welcome Italian company Magis and their incredible stable of designers to the Herman Miller family. Check out David Foster’s slideshow over on Discover for more details on this exciting relationship. Pictured above is Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec‘s Steelwood chair – just one of the designs now available through the Herman Miller store.
Many of us travel for work. There’s no getting around that. Some of us may be lucky enough to stay in one of the hotels that made Wallpaper magazine’s Best Business Hotels list. I once did a story for Australian Travel + Leisure about hotels in Los Angeles. It meant I got to stay in a bunch of upscale spots including Sunset Tower Hotel and The Hollywood Roosevelt (pictured below). While the Roosevelt made Wallpaper‘s list, one of the best hotels I’ve worked from is the Westin in New York. As a writer it has all I need: a nice big desk, fast wireless and a great view! We’d love to hear about your favorite business hotel. What makes a good business hotel?
Above: At the Anantara Bangkok Sathorn you can book a two-bedroom suite and feel like you never left home. You could work at the desk or the dining table.
This story appears in partnership with Unplggd, a site for people who embrace technology and design in their home.
