Metropolis mag had this post on the new GreenPix digital media wall, in Beijing.
The possibility for interesting media content is huge. And a great way to make some bad architecture look good.

It is the largest color LED display in the world, with 2,292 of the energy-efficient lights spanning a 24,000-square-foot glass surface.

In the evenings, as traffic passes by the busy road it faces, the wall plays massive low-resolution video installa­tions by Chinese, Japanese, European, and Amer ican artists.

But GreenPix is also a fairly radical example of sustainable technology. Simone Giostra and Partners, working with Arup and German manufacturers Schüco and Sunways, laminated photovoltaic (PV) cells inside the glass curtain wall. In itself this is not new, but the level of integration and the scale of GreenPix are unique. The 6,000 square feet of PV cells are arranged with varying density: where natural light is needed inside the building, there are few or no cells; in other places, dense as sort ments of cells block the sunlight, reducing interior heat gain while generating enough electricity each day to power the display at night.

Toyota production lines churning out houses? Well they have since 1975 but it is growing steadily. An article in the Toronto Star reports that Toyota is doing homes that are mass produced like Toyota cars. About 85 per cent of the work on the metal-frame cubicles is finished at the plant. The prefabricated cubicles, made to order for the customer, are stacked like toy blocks with a huge crane in just six hours.

Toyota is using technogy and production know-how gained from car making and applying it to houses. A 'smart key' similar to the car key you don't need to take out of your pocket to unlock your Toyota opens and closes the front door. A mechanism for reducing engine noise and tremors is installed under the floor to quiet upstairs shakes. Car paint-job skills deliver even scratch-resistant coating on walls. Imagine how they could apply the Prius technology.

I think they could do with some focus on the design, see Toyota Housing

The Nike+iPOD strategic alliance got me thinking about the boundaries of brand extendibility, and a survey that Cheskin did last year on the extendibility of global brands and categories. see: Cheskin Brand Extendibility Survey (pg 17 for the category info) It just happens that athletic and consumer electronic categories extend quite well.

We've seen plenty of examples of strategic alliances with varying degrees of success, see: Trend Watching, Branded Brands for many examples. What I found interesting about Nike+Apple is the production of a new product-service (an extension of an existing function- shoe, music) utilising the best of their core competencies. All in a category that neither brands would extend to as successfully on their own. In Nike's case I loosely perceive their competency as something like 'sports fitness' and in the iPOD case 'portable technology', and they've created a 'sports technology appliance' (a sports bio sensor and monitor) that competes in a market where there is many specialised developers of such products. There is real value in the way that the Nike+iPOD has extended use of existing products (shoe, ipod) that have other useful functions beyond just this application. They've also defined their individual brand competencies well within the alliance to retain brand authenticity and integrity.

Where I got to and what I really like about this outcome is the design of a new 'product-service-system' or service function, that has been enabled through an alliance of technology, know-how and brand positioning. I don't know how the Nike+iPOD compares to other products of this type but I really like this platform thinking and it would be great to see more alliances that create useful multifunctional services, rather than product-centric, single function innovations. This sort of thinking could have great benefits for the planet and with the right business models they'll make money, so double good! And as a brand extension it has avoided complexity around the offering and in doing so has avoided brand confusion.
Nike+
Apple iPOD

ISDN International Service Design Northmbria hosted a colloquium in March on issues around designing services, and I've finally had a chance to listen to the Podcasts. The speaker line-up included Tim Brown from IDEO, Andrea Cooper from the Design Council UK, Chris Downs from Live/Work, Steven Kyffen from Philips, and Oliver King from Engine Group. Design.

I've listed some of the really interesting Podcast sessions below, they are worth listening too. Tim Brown spoke of methodologies for approaching design, including services, and some interesting points on story telling and communicating the stories. Chris Downs spoke of the huge potential and value that can be derived from service design and service systems. Andrea Cooper picked up on some of these points also - we can take a more holistic approach to deliver to peoples needs and desires. More products is often not the answer - and the real value is often 'experienced'; though the service component i.e IPOD the customer adding favourite music. Steve Kyffen raised some good points about the complexity of designing services. They are time based and evolve well beyond the point of sale, and experienced differently every time. It requires new business models and with that new design and marketing mindsets.

You can can download ISDN Podcasts here

Service Innovation through Design Thinking from Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO

Signposts for the Next Decade from Dr. Andrea Cooper, Head of Design Knowledge, Design Council

Pioneering Service Design from Chris Downs, Partner, Live/Work

Objects of Service - From Subjects to Objects and Back Again from Prof. Steven Kyffin, Global Head of Design Research, Philips Design

Better Services, Happier Customers, Oliver King Engine Group.

and much more...