News

Emerging global markets and the interconnectedness of the Internet have brought the world closer together. As products are designed, produced and sold in various places, boundaries mean nothing, and industrial design has adopted a global language. While we often see more consistency in lifestyle products, there exist undeniably powerful cultural differences among each regions and countries. Color is one of the many critical elements that define our cultural nuances and identity. This discussion is about color and beyond. What makes each of us uniquely different in this mass produced society? How should we maintain our identity while we take part in the global society? Natsume will discuss how we may connect with other cultures and celebrate differences while embracing our own shades of color.

http://www.idsa.org/2013northeastdistrictdesignconference

Today, Data is the new lifeblood of the Digital City.

Rivers of Data permeate the entire City, running from the deepest subway station to the highest skyscraper.

We see a unique opportunity to bridge the digital and the physical.  We designed a platform to accelerate NYC’s mission to become the “Digital City of the Future.”

To tap into this River of Data, we created NYCDataWell.

For more information please visit NYC Data Well WEB site.

http://nycdatawell.com/

Designers and Books is launching their first ever Designers & Books Fair 2012. The Fair is being held in New York City at the Fashion Institute of Technology, from October 26-28.
35 U.S. and European design book publishers and booksellers will be displaying and selling the newest titles (and popular backlist titles) at the Fair exhibition hall. Special Fair discounts (up to 40%) will be available on many books.
Auditoriums adjacent to the exhibition hall are programmed for special presentations, interviews and panel discussions with some of the most influential writers, speakers and thinkers in the design community.
ECCO Design Founder and Principal Eric Chan will be speaking as one of the distinguished experts at the program “Chinese Design Culture Now.” He will be discussing contemporary China’s evolving design culture, including current trends and design education in China. Eric will be speaking on Saturday, October 27th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Haft Auditorium.

http://bookfair.designersandbooks.com/
http://bookfair.designersandbooks.com/program/chinese-design-culture-now/
http://bookfair.designersandbooks.com/speaker/chan-eric/

Stereo Sound, a leading Japanese magazine for audio enthusiasts, has featured the KEF Blade Loudspeaker on its front cover for the 2012 winter issue N0.181. The article praises the product as having an ideal form factor within the aligned center axis product category, as well as having an excellent driver balancing both spot sound source and a range of sound waves. The article credits ECCO design with “complimenting the superior acoustic engineering,” and states that “KEF has reached a highly artistic industrial design solution.” ECCO design principal Eric Chan was  inspired by the sculptor Brancusi’s “Bird in Space.” Chan used the bird wing-like form to established a strong identity for Blade. Stereo Sound also wrote that Blade is the perfect speaker to enjoy the jazz music collection “‘Round Midnight” by Karrin Allyson.

http://www.stereosound.co.jp/news/article/2011/09/26/5166.html

http://www.kef.jp/index.html

http://www.kef.jp/products/blade/blade.html

The founder and long time IDSA member Eric Chan has been invited to 2012 Northeast Design Dialogue Conference: Forward Thinking Through Vintage Perspectives as one of the keynote speakers. Eric will share his observation and vision toward future design practice based on his personal journey and experience in dynamic global design industry.

Other keynote speaker includes Bill Moggridge, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Peter Bressler founder of the Bressler Group, and Debera Johnson, executive director of the Pratt Design Incubator.

There are three mega topics to be discussed over three days: “To know your past is to know your future”, “Change is the new Norm – Now What?”, “What’s next? Thinking beyond design”. Eric will be speaking on April 14^th Saturday morning from 11:45 am to 12:15 am. Detail schedule may change. Please visits IDSA WEB site for more information.

Links:

http://idsa.org/2012northeastdesigndialogueconference

http://idsa.org/2012northeastddc-speakers

http://idsa.org/magic-and-logic-chan

Job Position:
UI Developer / Interaction Designer

Company:
ECCO Design
Location:
US – New York
Job Level:
Mid – Senior Level Staff
Field:
Industrial and Interactive Design
Job Functions:
User Interface Design, Interaction Design, Flash Programming, User Experience Strategy,
Type:
Freelance/Part Time/ Full Time

ECCO Design is looking to expand its UI Design Team. The position will provide the opportunity to further cultivate your skills while working with some of the top designers in the industry. UI Developers and Interaction Designer will work as the part of the core design team, and be able to contribute their experience to the centural design process.

Credentials and Experience:
• 3-5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience should include interaction and web-based systems, developing control systems interfaces, and creating the related information architecture and software applications.
• Bachelor’s (or Master’s) degree in HMI Design, Communication Design, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Specific Skills

UI Designer candidates must demonstrate proficiency in:
• Programming (Flash, Director, ActionScript, Expression Blend, C++)
• Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of modern front-end technologies & approaches (XHTML/CSS, After Effects, Maya, JavaScript, etc.)
• Ability to combine analytical problem solving and artistic visualization
• Adobe Creative Suite

Apply Via Email:
contact@eccoid.com

Submission Details:
Please submit your resume / portfolio. If you are an international candidate, please provide your Visa status.

NOTE:
Candidates who are not US citizens or permanent residents need to have authorization to work in the US in order to apply.

The “Rethinking Bamboo” exhibition was held in Beijing between September 26th and October 17th, 2011 as one of the five key events for the First Annual Beijing International Design Triennial.  Both an international and Chinese curator coordinated to present each event under the general theme of ‘good design’.

The “Bamboo Chair” was designed by Eric Chan and Herman Miller to demonstrate bamboo’s ability to provide a comfortable experience while maintaining its aesthetic quality. The exhibition also successfully showcased China’s high level of design appreciation while also respecting uniquely original Asian material and its value.

The exhibition also highlighted unconventional uses for bamboo’s unique material characteristics. For example, bamboo is known as a sustainable material, but also has structural properties used for furniture and architectural work. The exhibition also presented a broad range of products and objects including clothing, bicycles, automobiles and handbags.

Eric Chan, the principal and CEO of ECCO Design, has been invited to speak at a forum on December 2nd hosted by “m.style magazine” a monthly design magazine with circulation over 50,000 in China.

The theme of the forum is “the best design practice in China” which aims to explore how design expertise fits local demand to develop into successful use cases in China over the past few years.

The audience will be comprised of many of China’s most prominent designers, along with other key business leaders, executives and investors who are interested in overseas design.

Prior to this forum, the “m.style magazine” held two major events in China. The first was held December 2010 in Shanghai and the second event was held June 2011 in Beijing with over 160 people in attendance.

Eric will be speaking as the keynote on the morning of December 2nd at 9:30 a.m.

As part of its annual recognition of the world’s most outstanding Chinese designer, HKDC (Hong Kong Design Center) honored ECCO Design’s Eric Chan with its 2010 award. HKDC’s Outstanding Chinese Designer award honors designers of Chinese heritage who have displayed achievements within their own discipline and devote themselves to the development of design through education, professional organizations and social commitment. This award marks the culmination of more than thirty years of excellence in the design profession for Mr. Chan. Born and raised in China, educated in Hong Kong and the U.S., Mr. Chan has been an active designer for over three decades.

http://www.hkdesigncentre.org/en/awards/wocd2010.asp

“Skiff is the thinnest e-reader to date, featuring full touchscreen and paper-thin metal-backed e-ink display.”

“Slate Watch showcases the latest thin-film e-paper display technology in a bold, minimalist package.”