These are three of the books I’ve been enjoying this year and have provided inspiration for talks, research, new strategies and longer term plans for how to have impact from the research and developments we are involved with. One I backed as a kickstarter, one was a gift from a research lab and one was suggested by a leading design figure.
Watches Tell more than time:
From Audis to iMacs, Beetles to palm-tops, the design secrets behind some of the biggest business success stories of all times
“Del Coates has written a definitive playbook for product managers on how to cultivate winning design leadership strategies.” –Betty Baugh, President of the Industrial Designers Society of America
In “Watches Tell More Than Time,” award winning designer and mentor Del Coates explains the importance of product design for businesspeople and other nondesigners. From an explanation of the physiology of our responses to product design, to secrets of achieving harmony and elegance, to the impact of computer-assisted modeling on modern design, Coates covers the topic from every angle, using real-life product design case studies to illustrate his points. A lively and accessible exploration of the fascinating world of product design, written by an internationally acknowledged master, “Watches Tell More Than Time “will appeal to managers and executives, marketing professionals, and design junkies interested in the subject.
A numerical adventure through the history of retro computers of the 1980s and 90s
Do you know what secret messages were hidden in Commodore BASIC? Why the highest score possible in Pac-Man is 3333360? That Steve Wozniak set the price of the Apple computer at $666.66? Or why the Amstrad CPC 472 had an 8K chip that was never connected?
From 0 to 2147483647, and from Acorn Atoms to VIC-20s, 20 GOTO 10 takes us on an adventure through the history of retro computers and games consoles – one number at a time.
By following the ‘GOTO’ instructions at the end of each entry, you’ll create a unique journey through this treasure trove of forgotten geek lore and fascinating trivia. With any luck, you’ll discover the number used to grant infinite lives in Jet Set Willy on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, the reason a single digit might require seven bytes of memory, and how – through numbers – we can understand more than just the internal workings of our favourite retro machines.
Bauhaus
The Bauhaus continues to radiate exuberance 90 years after it was founded. The Bauhaus as a school, where handicrafts, art and technology were taught together, has outlived the subsequent fashions in architecture and design. This volume provides an insight into the historical, cultural philosophical, political and pedagogical circumstances of the early years. In the process it portrays the famous Bauhaus directors and teachers, shows the Bauhaus pedagogical methods and accompanies the readers through the individual workshops, where they can rediscover a wealth of form and ideas which retains its uniqueness today. The essays about the current discussion about the Bauhaus as fixed star of the avant-garde,” the fill of in part unpublished visual material as well as the multitude of the aspects covered constitute a comprehensive representation of one of the most significant institutions in the art and cultural history of the Modern
