New Company in 2016
Hi guys. How did you like 2015? This year was a preparation period for me to do a business I’m thinking of for a while. It’s almost ready and I guess it’s a good chance to let you know.
I’ll start a company to officially launch a new product, which will lead to a large framework in a later stage. The company’s mission is to create framework where creative ideas & inspirations are used for other people to increase the level of human intellect. Actually the new product to be launched soon is a brand-new version of the app I released in 2015 but this time it’s completely designed to work in the business scheme I’m planning.
The first app will be released soon. This time adults, not only kids can very much enjoy playing I’m sure. I’ll let you all know when it’s ready for download.
Hope you all have a great year in 2016! Talk to you soon!
To Design Next Version of ION Glasses
I’m very happy to announce that I’ll be designing the next version of ION Glasses, the first optical and sun smartglasses that interact with your devices! (The photos below are the current version.)
I’ll update the new design here when it’s ready to publish.
ION Glasses Project is receiving funds now until November 16, 2013.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ion-glasses-first-optical-and-sun-smartglasses-that-interact-with-your-devices
Sora – Simple Clock Concept
A clock for your desk.
There’s a magnet on the back of the clock, so it stays on the v-shaped stand.
The stand has 7 days printed on it.
Hide the other days with the clock so that only the day of today is revealed.
Only 3 days are printed on one side (I couldn’t arrange more than that), so how about using the back side of the stand for Sunday?
It’s a clock that changes its style every day.
Calendar Desktop Wallpaper: August 2012
No famous quote in the design this month.
I really really miss ocean breeze, so I drew an ocean seen from above.
1280x800px2880x1800px | 2560×1600px | 2560×1440px | 1920×1200px | 1680×1050px | 1440×900px
iPhone (without calendar)Thank you, 2011
(Top post for 2011, Polaroid iPhone Dock Concept)
The one concept I was preparing for as the last 2011 post couldn’t be in time. Sorry.
This is the second year since I started freelancing. Here are what I’m doing now and it could be an excuse for the fewer posts for this blog than last year.
Software
- NCDC: working closely with this Japanese company for iPhone/iPad/Android apps
- 1 Android related software everyone can use (and love?) and more in 2012 also on iPhone
- A few other GUIs for some interesting futuristic platforms
- A fashion website to go live soon
Hardware
- A few thrilling smartphone concepts + tablet devices
- Graphic designs for smartphone cases for 2 companies
- Smart city architecture concepts
Others
- Writing for Jonny Holland
- Collaboration with MONO-LAB Japan to develop some products
I can tell 2012 will be one of the most exciting years in my life. Strongly believe many people around the globe will have chances to see what I make (not just concepts). Just can’t wait to introduce all the above products/services as soon as I can!
Thank you all for reading this blog. I’ve restarted blogging in Japanese on Blogger. I use Facebook for casual talks and Twitter for inspirations.
I wish you all the best in 2012!
Dial to Unlock (Concept)
Please email me if there’s anybody who wants to develop this app.
I have other more practical ideas waiting to be developed!
Dial to unlock by Mac Funamizu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at petitinvention.wordpress.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://petitinvention.wordpress.com.
See also the similar previous post.
Kaya – Future Microwave Oven Concept
I’m not a cook, but I know what the food should be like for me to eat. I know it shouldn’t be burned or it should be defrosted. I just don’t know exactly how long it should be cooked. I wish there were a microwave oven like this that ‘shows” me what the food will be like after cooking.
But first, I wish a microwave oven was movable so that it could get close to the table when necessary.
Put a dish in it and this oven tells what kinds of foods are in it.
Adjust the ‘look’ of the food displayed on the glass by dragging the button. You can control the cooking time while looking at what it will be like after cooking the adjusted length of time. You’ll know exactly when it boils or burns.
Inspired by a dome tray when I was watching Ratatouille.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Koriko – iPhone Dock Concept
I want an iPhone dock that can change its forms reflecting various kinds of notifications needing attention as well as some simple controls for applications. The feelings you can get with that kind of tangible output & input are what touchscreen lacks.
Koriko is a simple iPhone stand with speakers and a flexible long arm (tail?).
Notifications are represented with the tail forming simple shapes.
When a song is played, it works as music control buttons you can push directly.
It not only changes forms, but also makes certain movements for some time. It waves good-bye when you turn it off.
There are so many possible other applications that would work with Koriko. It would be really fun to see it working.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Future Mobile Device Sketches – URSLA & BERTHA
URSLA is a future pendant that emits 3D projections in the air.
Synced with the mobile phone, notifications such as emails, phone calls, schedule reminders, etc. appear right in front of you for a few seconds.
BERTHA is a future mobile phone that works with URSLA.
3D projections from the pendant can be ‘captured’ in the air with this phone to see what the notification is about in detail on the screen. Yes, just like getting an item box in Mario Kart!
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Calendar Desktop Wallpaper: March 2011
“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” – George Bernard Shaw
1280x800px2560×1600px | 2560×1440px | 1920×1200px | 1680×1050px | 1440×900px | 1024×768px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar) | iPad
Some of you might already know from my tweet that I’m planning to visit Milan, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam from mid to end of April this year. I’ve been waiting for this chance for such a long long time. I’ll tweet as usual during the stay and post lots of photos I take there on my Flickr. With (a lot) more time and money I would’ve included London, Brussels, Vienna, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki, but maybe or rather definitely next time.
User Interface Concept: Universal Remote Controller
Lamp, stereo, TV, air conditioner, heater… Just point at it on the transparent screen and select the menu item you want to make a change to (speaker volume, channels, brightness, etc.).
A charging stand with a magnet so the remote can stand on a table.
Of course, you can use it for an internet TV.
Switching channels.
Also visit the other series of this gadget.
User Interface Concept: Air Conditioner
User Interface Concept: Light Switch
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Klipp — Future Camera Concept
I was really impressed with the WVIL camera shown in CES 2011 and I’m very much inspired by the concept. I was wondering what it would be like if there were a WVIL for amateurs. So I made it smaller and thinner. The lens has a clip on its back so that you can place it on various places. No matter where you clip it, the lens sends the images to the screen wirelessly.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
ABook — iPad app design
Last year I had a chance to work on the design for an iPad app “ABook” (A as a letter “A”) and its related products. ABook is an iPad application that helps you create and distribute multi-media contents for the iPad very easily. With ABook you don’t need expensive softwares or skills.
Here I introduce what I did.
The app logo: “books” as “cloud”
App screen samples
Website managing multi-media contents
Power Point brochure
Thank you, AgenTec!
Frostie – Digital Music Player Concept
Have you ever tapped a table with your fingers as if you were playing the piano? Or drums? Air guitar? Yes I have and I wish there were real sound made according to the movements of my fingers.
So what about a digital music player that not only plays music like iPods, but also actually plays sounds in your mind?
If it could listen to your song and adjust the tone, it would be more fun. Auto cord sounds would be exciting.
I love music, but I’m not satisfied with a digital music player I can only carry with me. I want something that can be part of me; something that is with me all the time, gives me what I want and creates what I imagine. You know, music is not only for listening.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Calendar Desktop Wallpaper: November 2010
1280x800px2560×1440px | 1920×1200px | 1680×1050px | 1440×900px | 1024×768px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar) 640x960px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar) 320x480px | iPad
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
Mark Twain
Yeah, I know it’s ahead of time, but there can be times when I do this in time, right?
This is a great quote I love of Mark Twain.
Calendar Desktop Wallpaper: October 2010
瀬を速み岩にせかるる滝川のわれても末に逢はんとぞ思ふ
Although a swift stream is divided by a rock in the strong flow,
in the end it unites again.
This is one of my most favorite waka poems I learned in school. It’s from a famous poetry anthology in the Heian period.
2560×1440px | 1920×1200px | 1680×1050px | 1440×900px | 1024×768px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar) 640x960px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar) 320x480px | iPad
My Business Card Design
I’m invited to NEC Labs America to give a talk there, so I’ll be in the U.S. from 23rd to 25th September 2010 (first visit to the country!). After I became a freelance designer I didn’t have a business card, so I made one for this chance.
The concept of this is a business card that can stay on a desk as long as it can before getting tucked away into a business card book.
(Sorry, the email address and phone number on the card are for those who have contacted me via this email.)
If it stands, it will probably stay on the desk for some time not buried under other stuff. But if it can be used as a tool, it’ll stick around much longer. So I made it a built-in webcam cover that can be hung on top of a computer monitor (with a camera). I heard a webcam can be hacked, so it can be a precaution.
Can’t wait to hand this to someone 🙂
The printer I asked for this is Japan Advertising Inc., where I used to work about 5 years ago, does a pretty good job printing this kind of cards. This card is thicker than usual and there was a cutout, but they did a very good job.
Motion Graphic Designs For SOTBANK 30-Year Vision Movie
I had a chance to design concept models for a movie titled “Information Revolution” which was aired at the 30th Anniversary Event by SOFTBANK.
Here I designed the user interface for a future computer.
This is a concept model of future computer program. I made lots of images and the below movie is the motioned sequel of them. I tried to make it look organic. (Not all of the below cut was used in the final version.)
(View it on Behance Network.)I also made some concept images of future medical technology.
I was invited to the anniversary event in Budo-kan, Tokyo. I was truly impressed with the vision of the SOFTBANK president Song-san.
Calendar Desktop Wallpaper: August 2010
Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.
Vincent Van Gogh
2560×1440px | 1920×1200px | 1680×1050px | 1440×900px | 1024×768px | iPhone (w/o calendar) 640x960px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar) 320x480px
Comically Conical – Door Knob Concepts
I was looong wondering if there’s a good way to let one notice if the door is to push or pull only with the shape of a normal (round/tulip shaped) doorknob. Thinking of a good knob design for pushing is not so difficult but in most cases the shape is also good for pulling and vice versa.
So I thought differently; it might work if I can find a shape that makes it HARD to push/pull. Then a user instinctively notice which way the door should open. (Not sure if this has already been used.)
The above knob is for pulling. It a little hard to turn this knob and push.
Likewise the above knob makes it a little hard to turn and pull.
There are times when you have to push a pull-door and pull a push-door, such as when you release a door stopped with a door-stopper, so I made it “a little” hard to push/pull. Will these doorknobs help many people you think?
For manufacturers, please contact me for development.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Face Door Hanger
I started freelancing from this month and have more time to work at home than before. My son, by the way, is 2 years old and can’t read yet, so he ignores a door hanger that says ‘Do Not Disturb’ in words. That’s why I came up with this concept. He understands what this face door hanger means, but there’s one problem: he got to like it so much that he cries out for it in front of the door of my room… So he’s disturbing me much more now. Oops!
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Calendar Desktop Wallpaper: July 2010
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.
Nido Qubein
2560×1440px | 1920×1200px | 1680×1050px | 1440×900px | 1024×768px | iPhone & iPod Touch (w/o calendar)
“Donald” Paper Tray Concept
For A4 sized paper.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
petitinvention 
