Proposed “Greenery Solution” from Nectar Design Aims at Sparking Discussion on Outside-the-Box Green Solutions

Long Beach, California (February 6, 2009) – A Southern California design firm has created an unusual concept design aimed at provoking new ideas in the battle against industrial pollution and global warming. This ambitious yet simple idea takes advantage of a “product” previously designed by Mother Nature herself – the tree. As it is currently envisioned, the CO2 Scraper would be a large-scale construction for holding between two to four hundred large-size trees that would potentially absorb dangerous pollutants and convert global warming-related carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen. The creators understand that the Scraper would require a great deal of refinement, research, and engineering to make the concept truly effective from an environmental standpoint.

Designed to be placed near factories or other major sources of pollution, the CO2 Scraper as it is currently imagined would be a relatively simple concrete construction in which trees will be supplied with water and nutrients via a windmill-powered pump system. Primarily energy self-sustaining — the only outside power required in the current design would be electricity for an elevator to be used by maintenance personnel — the Scraper would absorb carbon dioxide and thereby increase the amount of life-giving oxygen in the atmosphere.

In addition, the structure would provide immediate benefits to people and animals in its vicinity, providing a significant amount of shade, while also cooling the air during the hot summer months via the temperature-lowering properties of hundreds of trees. The structure as envisioned may be relatively inexpensive to build – perhaps roughly equivalent in cost to building industrial smokestacks — while still helping local economies by creating a number of green jobs during both the initial construction and later maintenance phases.

The CO2 Scraper is part of a movement of outside-the-box green concepts such as Madrid’s Air Tree Pavilion and Dickson Despommier’s Vertical Farm project. This very new concept has drawn early praise from scientist, consultant, and sustainability specialist Joep Meijer. “Though it is an idea still very much in its infancy, the CO2 Scraper is an outstanding example of the kind of ideas we need to look at now. In a final version, it would be a great investment in natural capital for existing industries,” said Mr. Meijer. “It would show a strong commitment and awareness to the environment as an integral part of doing business, as it would bring improvements to the actual site, neighboring communities, and local ecologies.”

“Right now this is a concept very much in the early idea stages,” said Nectar Senior Designer Yutaka Kazamaki, who has been spearheading the CO2 Scraper project. “Although right now the economy is naturally the focus of world attention, the issue of global warming is clearly among the greatest issues our planet is facing. The need to consider any and all possible solutions that address both our environmental and economic challenges have never been greater.”

About Nectar Design:

Nectar is an award-winning product development consultancy established in 1992. With a firm commitment to thoughtful innovation, the Nectar team helps clients create products that connect to their users and expand their markets. For more information, please contact us by phone at: 562-856-8500 or by e-mail at info@nectardesign.com, or visit us online at www.nectardesign.com.

Contact: Bob Westal 323-384-4299
bwestal@gmail.com or
info@nectardesign.com
www.nectardesign.com

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Midwifing the Rebirth

There’s no doubt that we live in a time of some pretty enormous economic challenges, but the good news is that we all have a gigantic ace-in-the-hole at our disposal, if only we know how to use it — innovation. That’s why Nectar is very proud to be associated as an expert advisor with Larta Institute, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit corporation devoted to nurturing new businesses in fields ranging from life sciences to IT.

With its slogan, “Connecting people to drive innovation,” Larta provides a host of services to help new businesses on the cutting edge and mentor them on a large range of issues facing growing firm today. The institute interacts with such governmental agencies as the National Institute of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Defense, as well as such multinational conglomerates as Procter & Gamble Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lilly, thus helping entrepreneurs to stay up-to-date on the leading edge of information from both the private and public sectors. Just as important, the institute provides advice on a host of crucial day-to-day matters including patents and obtaining government grants, such as those offered by the USDA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs.

Nectar’s Vice President, Cary Chow, recently participated in a panel discussion on the interaction between technology, product development, and branding held at the Marriot Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Speaking alongside Larta CEO Rohit Shukla, Farida Fotouhi of marketing firm Reality2, and Shawn Ramsey of Crossroads PR, Cary explained some of the user-based thinking that goes into branding and product development. Using the example of MP3 files as an innovative technology that lacked powerful mass market branding until Apple’s development of the iPod made the technology psychologically accessible to a broad audience, Cary described how entrepreneurs could think about innovation and technological progress in today’s world. Speaking to an audience largely drawn from the medical field, he also showed several examples of how Nectar has integrated branding into its product development approach for several of its healthcare clients.

Of course, insights like that are just one part of the jigsaw puzzle facing growing businesses in our current challenging, but still promising, climate. As Larta’s website explains:

Our mission is to vastly improve the transition of scientific and technological breakthroughs from the laboratory to the marketplace, where they can solve problems, enhance economic opportunities and better people’s lives.

All things considered, that’s about as important a mission as we’ve got right now. Thanks to Larta Institute for allowing Nectar to be a part of it.

The Mother of Reinvention

We all know that “reinventing the wheel” is supposed to be a waste of time. Suppose, however, that you actually had invented the wheel and, everywhere you went, your fellow cavepeople were using it like crazy to move stuff via Flintstones-style stone wheelbarrows – and now it was time to further capitalize on your invention or Mr. Slate would soon start issuing pink slip-tablets? Well, that’s when it would be time to think about new uses for the wheel, and it’s where clever marketing can really be a boon. With the right spin, maybe you could persuade someone to start using your reinvented wheels in rock-bicycles (or whatever they would have called them on the Flintstones).

That’s the situation our friends at C2C Group Marketing were trying to help their client, Clegg Promo, with not so long ago. Clegg had enjoyed great success with the talking sound chip, the now-ubiquitous device used in gag greeting cards and countless electronic doodads. That was great, of course, but now it was time for Clegg to generate a second life for their product. The answer was to create an alternative to the motion-trigger used to activate the sound chip, creating a device that would automatically activate and literally speak the instant it was hit by light. C2C then stepped in with the right packaging to show off the applications of the new chip to their best advantage, generating sales without the need for an expensive and time-consuming all-out sales push.

The moral, of course, is that if you have the right presentation, reinventing the wheel can make a lot of sense. For more of this kind of thinking, Tom Wein at C2C Group can be reached at twien@c2cgroupinc.com.

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Going with the Lateral Flow

There was time when finding out whether or not a woman was pregnant involved the slaying of a rabbit. In the age of Juno however, pregnancy tests are cruelty free and as easy to access as the corner store, some contrived banter, and a bathroom. And it’s all thanks to lateral flow technology.

Nectar partner company Diagnostic Consulting Network ( DCN ), a contract developer, is at the forefront of harnessing this versatile technology for a wide variety of applications. Lateral flow essentially works by targeting analytes, substances that act as markers for antibodies, hormones, bacteria, psychoactive drugs, and other substances and organisms. DCN has mined the technology to create applications that include a range of medical and veterinary diagnostics, food science, forensics (including technology that detects and amplifies DNA and RNA from crime scenes), agriculture, environmental testing, industrial health and safety, and even detection of possible agents of biological warfare, such as anthrax.

DCN’s Irish-born founder and president, medical microbiologist Dr. Brendan O’Farrell, describes lateral flow technology as an essentially simple process that, while widely used, has more potential than some manufacturers may realize. “A large part of the service we provide for our clients revolves around educating them on some of the more recent and leading edge facets of the technology,” said Dr. O’ Farrell. “For example, we’ve recently seen expansion in the utilization of fluorescents to create detection products that not only more accurately identify markers for a range of substances and organisms, but more accurately tells us the quantity of these factors. As we like to say, lateral flow technology is a field that’s pregnant with possibility.”

(more…)

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Nectar Design’s Long Beach Studio will Feature Exciting Products Geared to the Future of Sustainable Design — Exhibition Opens March 15, 2010

Long Beach, California (March 2010). Nectar, a leading Southern California product design consultancy, has selected twenty exciting and potentially trendsetting new concepts from designers at all levels to be included in EcoTopia. The juried group exhibition is set to open March 15, 2010 at Nectar’s office/studio in Long Beach. It will feature designs for new products from designers of all experience levels specifically aimed at fostering a healthy ecosystem and a more sustainable society. Concepts to be included will cover areas as diverse as electronics and home furnishings, gardening, and fashion.

A few of the designs to be highlighted at the show include:

– The Voltpot which utilizes technology yielding electric power from soil to make for fun, fashionable furniture that can recharge cell phones and other light appliances.

– An easy-to-use cardboard composting box that is, itself, compostable.

– A user-friendly and fashion conscious reinvention of the classic clothes-pin to encourage eco-friendly line-drying.

– From Kenya, haute couture style-fashions made entirely from recycled parachutes and dead wood; from Philadelphia, pet raincoats and hoods for humans made using umbrellas rescued from Philly city streets.”

“Although we expected to receive some very good ideas, we are delighted with the quality and level of innovation that we’ve seen in the EcoTopia submissions,” said Nectar Senior Designer Yutaka Kazamaki. Kazamaki, who has been spearheading EcoTopia from its inception. “The range of concepts is very exciting, as is the fact that these creations come to us from designers not only from California and throughout the United States, but from countries all over the world,” Mr. Kazamaki said. “We think that underlines the fact that both good design and sustainability are now truly global matters. We at Nectar are very happy to be a part of that.”

A complete list of all twenty concepts, with links to images and more information on each product to be featured at EcoTopia is attached. Further information is available at the Nectar EcoTopia web page. All images there may be downloaded via Flicker. Higher resolution images are available upon request. 

Nectar is an award-winning product development consultancy established in 1992. With a firm commitment to thoughtful innovation, the Nectar team helps clients create products that connect to their users and expand their markets. For more information, please contact us by phone at: 562-856-8500 or by e-mail at yutaka@nectardesign.com, or visit us online at www.nectardesign.com

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Design Concepts to be Presented at EcoTopia — Complete List

For images and further information, please click on the links below.

Rocco Avalone, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“A smart home for dumb products” — an OLED touch screen light switch that presents live information on energy use to home owners.

Le Bui, Long Beach, California

Rebar beds and chairs for use in emergency situations in third world or remote areas. The only in-house contribution to EcoTopia, this entry is from Nectar’s Director of Business Development.

Jonathan Coop, Long Beach, California

The C3 is a deceptively simple, highly innovative design for an entirely compostable composting box.

Shujoy Chakraborty, Milan, Italy

The VoltPot literally harnesses the power of the earth by turning household planters and furniture into electrical outlets able to provide power to cell phones and other light electronic appliances.

Isabel Gonzalez, Barcelona, Spain

NoMorePlasticBags is a new form of shopping trolley/grocery transport system designed to eliminate the use of plastic bags. Urban Futurniture presents a new and elegant use for worn out wind-farm blades.

David Graham, London, United Kingdom

Move-It is a compact, easy to assemble carrying device for boxes of up to 20 kg. (roughly 44 lbs.) that is made entirely of cardboard. It is fully recyclable and lightweight and consists of a set of two wheels as well as two different types of adjustable handle.

Vanessa Harden, London, United Kingdom

The Subversive Gardener is a line of clever devices for secretly dispersing seeds in “guerrilla” efforts to expand the earth’s biodiversity through clandestine planting.

Robin Hubbard and Kiersten Muenchinger, Springfield, Oregon

Terra Preta is a high-tech appliance that makes composting easier, fashionable, and user friendly. It composts a large assortment of materials — even meat and bone, paper and bio plastic scrap — into valuable top soil.

Kristy Lovejoy, San Jose, California

The Current subway wind generator harnesses the energy of underground drafts generated by trains to power exciting art and advertising displays, enlivening public areas and helping to fund public transportation.

Tyler A. Michieli, Portland, Oregon

The Drop Garden employs a new modular, easily portable design for use by “guerrilla gardeners” and anyone who wants to grow plants in an easily portable setting.

Mahdieh Mirmoezi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Lucky is a fun device for children that teaches water conservation. In the shape of a colorful turtle, it’s a shampoo or soap dispenser for showers that only works when the water is turned off.

Mark Moskowitz, Cleveland, Ohio

The Pin-Up is a new spin on one of the oldest sustainable products on our planet. It is an update on the classic clothespin that makes for new ease of use and fashionability that will help to re-popularize eco-friendly air drying.

Vernelle A. A. Noel and Gijsbert Koren, Delft, Netherlands

Greenix is a leading edge design for an urban farm intended to reconnect urban dwellers with their food sources.

Eduardo Perez, Long Beach, California

4S Haus is a new concept in sustainable architecture for contemporary homes.

Jeff Sciutto, Columbus, Indiana

Nature Next is a line of sustainable juvenile products for use by infants and toddlers. Includes a step stool, booster seat, potty, and bathtub.

Mrinal Sharma, Chennai, India
Carry & Charge blends sustainability and ultimate convenience. It’s a cell-phone that can be recharged via solar energy.

Pule Swain, Moshi, Tanzania

The Home Recycling Unit is an all-in-one unit aimed at making everyday recycling easier and even a bit fun.

Carmel Walsh, Florence, Italy

Cutting edge designer shoes using sustainable and recycled materials intended to create an “awareness and closeness between nature and time.”

Taryn Zychal, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Upcycled Umbrella Dog Rain Coats and HOODS take rescued and recycled umbrellas and transforms them into fun and functional wet-weather wear for humans and their canine friends.

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Long Beach, California (October 28, 2009) Product design consultancy Nectar announced today that it is accepting entries for “EcoTopia,” a juried group exhibition devoted to new ideas and potential breakthroughs in environmentally friendly product design. The event will be held at the firm’s Long Beach gallery January 15, 2010 through February 15, 2010. It will feature designs for new products from designers of all experience levels specifically aimed at fostering a healthy ecosystem and a more sustainable society. The deadline for entries is November 20, 2009. Categories of proposed products to be featured in the show may include transportation, farming and food, household appliances, clothing and footwear, and shelter.

A total of twenty entries from among the submissions will be selected for inclusion in the show and featured in press materials sent to a wide range of press and online outlets. Entries may range from initial concept ideas to finished designs. All media will be considered, including 2D presentations, video, prototypes, scale models, and mockups. There is no entry fee and students, professionals, and independent inventors of all ages are welcome to apply. The notification date is December 15, 2009. For details and a complete list of rules, please visit http://www.nectardesign.com/ecotopia or http://www.nectarproductdevelopment.net/ecotopia. The latest developments on EcoTopia will be available through Nectar’s Facebook page at www.nectarpd.net and via Twitter at twitter.com/nectardesign.

“‘EcoTopia’ is a call to action,” said Nectar Senior Designer, Yutaka Kazamaki who is spearheading the event. “It’s clear to us that product designers will be playing a key role in the fight for sustainability, and the more skilled and imaginative people who devote themselves to creating innovative product designs, the better our chances will be of developing effective solutions for issues like climate change and declining natural resources,” Mr. Kazamaki said. “Our hope is that ‘EcoTopia’ will introduce promising new talents to the world of sustainable design. Considering the huge stakes on issues like climate change and declining natural resources, we’re hoping to be overwhelmed with submissions.

About Nectar Design:

Nectar is an award-winning product development consultancy established in 1992. With a firm commitment to thoughtful innovation, the Nectar team helps clients create products that connect to their users and expand their markets. For more information, please contact us by phone at: 562-856-8500 or by e-mail at le@nectardesign.com, or visit us online at www.nectardesign.com

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ANTI-FLICKER LIGHTING SHINING BRIGHTEST LIGHT ON AUTOMOTIVE CRASH TESTS

Southern California-based Nectar Design Aids in Creation of Lighting System for Use with High Speed Film

Long Beach, California (April 27, 2009) – Working in conjunction with a leading specialist in high-intensity lighting, Long Beach-based Nectar Design has perfected an advanced lighting structure that eliminates the problem of flicker in high-speed video recording used for automotive crash tests. This leading edge system features high intensity lights with computerized controls and a new complex reflector structure system that evens out light distribution, removing a previously significant gap in the use of crash tests, a crucial aspect of designing safer automobiles. The system, designed with a firm that prefers not to be named, is being hailed as a significant improvement in crash testing, a crucial element in the ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and save countless lives and where complete visibility is absolutely essential.

With high definition and high-speed digital video reaching a truly remarkable level of advancement in recent years, the lighting used to illuminate crash tests must be strong and consistent enough to match that level of quality, and ensure that each frame is equally visible. Specifically, the split second flickers – far too brief for the naked eye to see – that are standard in ordinary motion picture photography become problematic when it comes to viewing isolated high-speed digital shots in crash tests, making it difficult for automotive safety experts to fully and correctly judge visual test results. Nectar’s role in the engineering and design of this high intensity lighting system includes an overhead reflector system with adjustable reflector panels as well as vertically adjustable light mount structures, both motorized, that utilize flicker-free lighting so that vehicular safety experts have the benefit of complete visibility for all high-speed frames.

Earlier versions of this proprietary high-intensity lighting system were first developed for use in the entertainment industry, specifically for some of the best known slow-motion effects shots from the Wachowski Brothers groundbreaking movie blockbuster, The Matrix. For this most recent refinement of their high-intensity lighting technology, the manufacturers relied upon Nectar for such crucial aspects of the project as the design of motorized actuation and control systems, structural analysis for load capacity and safety, optimizing heat transfer issues for lighting fixtures, sheet metal frames for weldments, as well as aesthetic improvements. To store power supplies for the device, Nectar has also designed a shelving and cabling system inside a standard cargo container. The container houses more than two hundred and fifty automotive batteries, which can be shipped and used on-site at a crash test facility. Including procurement and fabrication, Nectar’s involvement in completing the project was completed within ninety days prior to shipping the project for use by automobile manufacturers.

“Because of the precision and short time frame we had to complete the project, providing support for this revolutionary system has been one of the most demanding tasks we’ve taken on recently at Nectar,” said Le Bui, Nectar’s Director of Business Development and Engineering Services. “However, it’s also been one of our most rewarding and exciting projects as well. First of all, we love a challenge, but, even more so, as Southern Californians, we all spend more than a little time in traffic and driving, it’s entirely possible that the lives we’re helping to save may be our own, as well as our families, friends, and neighbors. That’s obviously a big responsibility and something we all feel quite strongly about.”

About Nectar Design:

Nectar is an award-winning product development consultancy established in 1992. With a firm commitment to thoughtful innovation, the Nectar team helps clients create products that connect to their users and expand their markets. For more information, please contact us by phone at: 562-856-8500 or by e-mail at le@nectardesign.com, or visit us online at www.nectardesign.com.

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