Nature At Work

Nature At Work, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

When Mother Nature decides to have a go at designing stuff it usually turns out pretty efficient. Like reshaping this Saab for reduced drag, for example.

Multisensory Package

Multisensory Package, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Feeling well fed after a merry and relaxing Christmas. Time to start doing something. Just want to mention the cool Kaffa Espresso v 3.3 Roast Lisa gave me. The plastic bag contained some actual beans, so the smell when opening it was quite excellent. Really made me want to fire up the Krups right away, but I guess I should brew off the old Lavazza I've already got opened firts, so this fine coffee won't get too aired before proper use.

Nice Details

Nice Details, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Stencil spotted in a highway underpass.

Ikea Self Service Payment -I'm Impressed

Ikea Self Service Payment -I'm Impressed, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Went to Ikea to check out some stuff, and ended up buying a few drinking glasses to replace broken ones. The self service payment counter was a pleasant surprise. Clear touch screen UI with very simple graphics, clear instructions and no unexpected situations. I think the extremely simple and clear vector-style graphics are an important part of the experience here. There's nothing fancy about them, nor any unnecessary bling. So they really give the user a slight sense of superiority over the system by not trying to make your attention shift to anything irrelevant. Felt safe, and well within my comfort zone throughout the payment event, so a big hat tip to the designers of this one!

Lupin's Stealing Blogs

Lupin's Stealing Blogs, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Master thief from the comic world is out and about stealing blogs. Got to keep a tight watch on Mobile Observation so it doesn't disappear some dark night.

Interesting way to link pages.

Camera Fever

Camera Fever, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Since I did some trend sniffing in Japan last summer, and missed some good shots due to my camera gear not being up to the task, I've had an eye open for an upgrade. Been juggling ideas back and forth trying to keep in mind the kind of use I'd ideally like to do with the future camera (quite a few actually, so has to be a compromise in some ways). The strongest option now seems to be a Nikon D300s with a 16-85 zoom. It's not cheap, but nice gear rarely is. A little peace of mind about work would help the decision a long way. For now it's a waiting game.

Winter Came Knockin'

Winter Came Knockin', originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Kind of snuck up on us this year, but -13C plus windchill plus snow leaves little doubt. I don't mind. Got the big down jacket out.

Make, Re-Make

Make, Re-Make, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Functions

Functions, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

An emergency phone with a dedicated "Not in use" indicator (Helsinki Metro M200 series). Of course it's nice to know info, but not really something you like to think happens with a device like this.

Essence of Rock?

Essence of Rock?, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Spotted this Absolut Vodka "Rock Edition" bottle, and couldn't help thinking they've tried to bite a bit more than they can chew here. I think their Disco Edition worked great, capturing the essence of a style, but with something as broad as "Rock" there's just too much variation. You could go from U2 to Queen to Iron Maiden to Rammstein and still be rock in someones eyes, just as you could take black leather and studs as "Rock, "Punk" or "Minority sexual orientation". I personally would be sort of scared of a brief for a "Rock" bottle.

Big Red

Big Red, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Ok, it's an even more blurry pic than usual, but I had to crop it quite heavily in order to remove any project-sensitive parts. The main thing is the current work involves positioning my favorite UI item ever: The Big Red Panic Button!

...Has Left the Building

...Has Left the Building, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Project at Design factory done, the designer heads for new adventures; leaving only digital traces and a dirty coffee cup to prove he was there. On towards great new adventures on the stormy high seas of consulting.

Shape Matters

Shape Matters, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Retaining the familiar shape of a violin even when it isn't necessary, as in this electric one. Shape implies trust and familiarity in the sound quality, perhaps?

With Canon I Can't

With Canon I Can't, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Had to take some product shots today, and the on-site camera turned out to be a, EOS 1000D. Let's just say our minds didn't meet. Having gotten used to the Nikon logic of taking pictures, my brain and fingers can't just get around some choices from the big C. Usually I'm a pretty open minded guy, but for example changing the ISO must have been thought out by a UI guy on a very, very tight schedule.

Reflections On Praying

Reflections On Praying, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Came across an older Muslim woman spreading out her coat and performing her afternoon prayers in the corner of a busy shopping center aisle, somewhat correctly aligned towards Mecca. Food for thought on global vs. local customs and norms:

-East African perspective: Totally normal (I presume).

-Nordic perspective: A bit weird; Best I just ignore that.

-Japanese perspective: Is she all right?

Fix County

Fix County, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Otaniemi, a noticeable amount of fixie bikes around. Maybe due to the large concentration of engineering students with access to workshops.

Wall-E, Is That You?

Wall-E, Is That You?, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

UI Essential

UI Essential, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

User interface of a very complex machine doing lot's of things to chunks of metal that are put inside. As it probably is prone to do those same things to fingers or other body parts getting too close, it's good they included my favourite UI feature ever: The Big Red Panic Button.

Laser Thermometer

Laser Thermometer, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

One of the cooler gadgets in an office holding quite many cool gadgets.

Design Basics

Design Basics, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Lego's in the Design Factory workshop. Never underestimate physical and mechanical mock--ups when designing physical products.

Got Time

Got Time, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Hanging out in an environment such as the Helsinki University of Technology campus makes you trust public clocks in a totally new manner.

Yes Men in Town?

Yes Men in Town?, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Spotted a genuine Yes Men SurvivaBall on the way to work today. Somehow coinciding with today's prank edition of the main local agriculture newspaper?

User Experience: Bad

User Experience: Bad, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Call a number, the machine gives you a drink and the cost is added to your phone bill. easy, right? Actually, what happened to this unfortunate girl was this: Call a number, wait, push buttons, look confused when there's no information or feedback and then walk away. The value of information increases when the success of a service goes into the negative.

On a side note I got interviewed by Ux expert Juan Leal for his blog recently. Welcome to anyone from southern countries who follows the link here.

What's the Story?

What's the Story?, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Endless Wall

Endless Wall, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Skiexpo time again. A big disappointment was the almost complete lack of backcountry planks and other related gear in the displays. Got my ticket for free, so I shouldn't whine, but still. Hope there'll be some change for the better sometime. Recent years have been from bad to worse.

Spotted a pretty funky endless climbing wall, though, and met some old friends from up north.

Kaj Franck Prize Ceremony

Kaj Franck Prize Ceremony, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Free drinks at Design Forum Finland are never wrong, and I guess long term designer and Creadesign founder Hannu Kähönen deserved this prestigious prize as well. Cheers!

Don't Miss a Word

Don't Miss a Word, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Working for a while on premises in Otaniemi for a cool startup. The building also houses some lecture halls, which you can view live from a strategically placed monitor in the little boys room.

Same Old

Same Old, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Been going back to the office with some regularity again after a five month break. However, might move into a clients office in Espoo starting next week depending on how the dices roll, so the joy can be short-lived. Must say I got a bit spoiled working from home all this time with the Espresso machine and all other comforts.

Added Value

Added Value, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Interesting notion, but in some product categories people do pay (even extra, that's why getting it free is worth advertising) for broken or worn products.

Could one imagine this working with, say, mobile phones? Not really, but then again worn jeans, or even jeans at all, were not really seen as business meeting attire 20 or 30 years ago either. Phones are already marketed as fashion accessories, featuring leather and fabric surfaces, so when will we see the handset equivalent to trashed Evisus or R&R's?

Or maybe I'm just trying to justify the worn keys and scratches of my old Nokia here.

The Flakes

The Flakes, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Went to the screening of Powderwhore's new Telemark flick The Flakes last night. Rare to see so much Gore Tex-crowd in a bar. The movie was good, with a nice self ironic twist. Stands out nicely from the sometimes too serious big productions you see. Highly recommended.

Market For J-Rock

Market For J-Rock, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Killed some time before a meeting today in a CD store (how 90's is that), and a small selection of Visual Kei J-Rock caught my eye. Seems some thousands of teenagers are a market to cater to, and the store even had put up a sign that the staff will help order titles outside the regular stock. Is this a fad or lasting trend in these download times?

Fail

Fail, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Suitcase telescope handle lying about near the ferry terminal. Seems someone found and exceeded the bag's structural integrity in the tax free shop on board. The carry-on limits set by customs aren't the only limits a traveler has to consider.

La Torrefazione

La Torrefazione, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

A newcomer on the local cafe scene, La Torrefazione on Aleksanterinkatu immediately jumps to the top spots on my list. Location, views and interior are as good as it gets around here, only downside was I couldn't find free wlan. The dudes behind the counter are seriously passionate about coffee (they even roast it on premises), and the Cappuccino actually tastes like a coffee drink, instead of the bland milky stuff you usually get here. Got to try out their Espresso in the near future.

Mirror Effect Found

Mirror Effect Found, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Points to the person who noticed the bus stop glasses act as a mirror at night, and decided to use the effect in an ad.

Today's Office

Today's Office, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

One of them. First part of the day speaking mobile technologies, the other part of the day playing user in a usability test. Interesting stuff.

Immigration Marks

Immigration Marks, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Design classic tablecloth in the waiting room of the Helsinki Police immigration office, with marks left by the people who pass through there. Some read "4 hours so far", others just a name and a date. Behavior created out of boredom, plus added glee of passing a sort of test after considerable hardship (everything's relative) in some cases, no doubt. Same kind of scribbles can be found beneath many military barrack beds, for example.

We got through in just under two hours, and wizened from last year brought something to read. Just a necessary red tape inconvenience in an international marriage.

Day Off

Day Off, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

One thing that's good about my current work mode is that I can take a day off and go for a day hike whenever the weather is good, like yesterday. Having seen some pretty excellent outdoor movies at the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour on Monday night might have encouraged this kind of activity as well, of course.

Life-Size Sticker

Life-Size Sticker, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Brand Loyality

Brand Loyality, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Or just an exercise in how many Carhartt stickers one can slap on a bike?

Vigorously Scrub

Vigorously Scrub, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

We all do it this thoroughly, don't we. Good intent in these times, but I can't help but think all that effort goes to waste once you touch the next door handle.

Un-Welcoming Architecture

Un-Welcoming Architecture, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Some structures just make you feel you don't want to go too close to them.

Bang

Bang, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Some people pay to get to blow of recession-induced angst (or whatever) on a shooting range. Others are asked by the government to come and shoot of a few clips with a fully automatic assault rifle. The thing is scary good design: Even after a 9 years break I could start scoring bulls-eyes within hours of picking it up.

Efficiency

Efficiency, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Spent the weekend on a rehearsal of military stuff. Just something we have to do over here occasionally, and as it was my first time in 9 years, I can't really complain it interferes with daily life much.

From a design point of view the service does do wonders in implementing efficiency and usability into some everyday objects, such as the common, boring sink. When you don't have to consider privacy, aesthetics, or user experience all that much, the results can be elegant in their own way.

Home Office Fun

Home Office Fun, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

One thing that has been lacking a bit from this designer's blog is the happy dissin' of other designers hard work. Here goes:

Been putting together a trend report and other stuff out of home recently, which means I have constant access to a good soundtrack and a freezer containing ice cream. That's the good part. The bad part is the packaging design of said ice cream. Why on earth do I first need to pull off four (4) odd pieces of cardboard, then pry the package away from the contents and in the process get my hands so messy with the stuff I'm trying to insert in a bowl that I had to wash them twice before I was done?

Perhaps I should start stocking beer instead. Might make for a more interesting report too.

Stream From Golddajavri

Stream From Golddajavri, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Heading for the Atlantic. We went the other way.

Back Below the Treeline

Back Below the Treeline, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Last Glimpse

Last Glimpse, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Walking among the clouds on a high plain, catching the last glimpse of the peaks in Sweden for this time.

Walking in Clouds

Walking in Clouds, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Nice weather and terrain for going by compass. Luckily we had a trail to go on by the time we got into the seriously rocky area.

Isdalen

Isdalen, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

High valley on the border between Sweden and Norway. Great bouldering place, if it wasn't so cold and windy.

Sense of Scale

Sense of Scale, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Evening Glow

Evening Glow, originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

After a slippery and wet summit day on Moskkugáisi.