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I was listening to NPR when I heard about Warby Parker co-founder Jeffrey Raider launching his second startup, called Harry’s. Since Warby Parker has been a model of doing good and being socially responsible, I was eager to hear more about Harry’s. During the interview, Mr. Raider spoke about paying over $20 for a small pack of razors and questioned why an everyday product should cost so much. From there, Harry’s was born. The company designs, manufactures and distributes its products itself, essentially creating its own unique supply chain. By doing this, the company is able to offer a higher-quality product at a lower price. |
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An innovative business that converts waste heat into electricity—and integrates environment, people, economy and culture from The Living Principles for Design framework—is BioLite. BioLite, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, was founded by Jonathan Cedar and Alex Drummond and has received numerous awards for their innovative CampStove. What’s so great about it? Well, it turns heat from fire into electric energy and can charge cellphones and LED lights. I am surprised no one had thought of this sooner, but it’s pure genius. |
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Bike helmets are fundamentally alike: a hard exterior shell covers a shock-absorbing material underneath, and a chin strap (or two) holds the device snugly in place on your head. Variations on this theme offer different colors, materials and increasing or decreasing amounts of ventilation or aerodynamics. But what about protecting the second-most sensitive area to the head—the neck? How can this product's design compel a cyclist, whether a commuter or a professional, to actually want to wear it? What about it not interfering with a perfectly coiffed hairdo? |
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Many folks at our studio were
quick to point out that this urban stanchion designed by Marcus Abrahamsson
for Nola Industries would improve the quality of their daily
commute—a simple but elegant proposal for bike-friendly (or
not-so-friendly) cities. |
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I love when someone introduces a solution to a problem extremely late to the game, but theirs is so well designed that it makes the rest look like a joke. That’s exactly what Casey Hopkins did with his Elevation Dock, which reached its Kickstarter goal in a record 24 hours. |
