Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 48 Hour Re-Pack student packaging design competition!

The 2012 competition was the third installment of an annual student design competition carried out in conjunction with the NextPack packaging conference. Sponsored by the Institute of Packaging Professionals, the 48 Hour Re-Pack competition encourages creative problem-solving, sustainable and smart design for the packaging of everyday products. Student teams were presented with product categories and judging criteria then given 48 hours to redesign, prototype and produce a short video showcasing their solution. With more than 35 teams participating this year’s competition was better than ever!

Of course not everyone gets a trophy… Formation Design Group was pleased to support this year’s student competitors by designing and creating trophies for the top three finalists. The trophies embody the Institute of Packaging Professionals identity by referencing the form and color of their logo. The trophies were created using aluminum, plastic and paperboard – all common packaging materials.

Please follow these links to learn more about the 48 Hour Re-Pack competition, the Institute of Packaging Professionals and the NextPack conference.

On February 21, 2012 the United States patent office granted US 8,118,365 B2 covering the original Formation Aircraft Seating concept invented by Formation Partner, Robert Henshaw.

The concept allows a much greater number of lie flat seats to be installed in aircraft than the current state of the art without compromising seat or bed size. The seating arrangement utilizes some of the unused vertical space in the cabin to overlap parts of the lie flat beds. Formation continues to explore and develop the concept based on this patent and has filed for additional patent protection on derivative concepts including a version that maintains the upright take-off and landing position of all seats at the standard height from the floor. More information regarding this development will be made public in the coming months.

Download the patent as a PDF.

We know what time it is, but what day is it? If you need a subtle reminder, please download and use our handy 2012 iPhone + Smart Phone calendar wallpaper. iPhone users please download the 640px by 960px version and set it as your lock screen image. Players with lower resolution burners may prefer the 320px by 480px version. Download it now, time’s a wastin…

Formation’s Industrial Design and Engineering team recently had the opportunity to tour Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, GA production facility. The historic factory was originally constructed in the early 1940s to produce B-29s and is currently producing a range of aircraft including the F-22 Raptor. Although somewhat bitter-sweet, we were fortunate to see the last four production F-22s undergoing final assembly. Our tour of the Lockheed facility was a rare opportunity to see a how a truly uncompromising product comes to life. The phrase “Through these doors pass the most awesome fighters in the world” is painted on the factory door at the end of the production line. After seeing the F-22 in person we have to agree, the F-22 is a truly beautiful aircraft.

The F-22 is the world’s only operational fifth generation fighter aircraft. Developed at Lockheed’s storied Skunk Works in Palmdale California, the F-22 is the most advanced fighter aircraft ever made. Production of the F-22 was discontinued after a total of 191 aircraft.

We’d like to thank Lockheed Martin and GA Tech’s solar car team, the Solar Jackets, for hosting and arranging the tour. Lockheed Martin and Formation Design Group are co-sponsors of Georgia Tech’s solar car and entry into the World Solar Challenge.

As one would expect, cameras are not allowed in Lockheed Martin facilities. The photos in this posting are copyright of Lockheed Martin and Lockheed Martin photo coordinator Damien Guarnieri.

In its April issue, published this week, Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI) magazine announced the winners of the fourteenth annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition.

The Medical Design Excellence Awards are the premier awards program for the medical technology community. The award recognizes the achievements of medical device manufacturers, their suppliers, and the many people behind the scenes—engineers, scientists, designers, and clinicians—who are responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of healthcare. MDEA-winning entries excel in the areas of product innovation, design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

A comprehensive review of the entries was performed by an impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine, and diagnostics. The 2011 jury selected 37 winners in 10 medical product categories including the Buzzy needle pain relief system.

Manufactured by MMJ Labs LLC , Buzzy combines a unique ice pack and reusable vibrating bee-shaped device to numb sharp pain. When pressed proximal to a painful procedure, Buzzy uses gate theory and descending inhibition to diminish and physiologically block pain. Supply and design credit to Formation Design Group Inc. (Atlanta, GA).

Formation’s premium aircraft seating concept was featured in the March 2011 issue of Aircraft Interiors International Magazine.

Download PDF Article

The new lie-flat seating concept represents the next major evolution in premium seating. The configuration features lie-flat beds arranged to allow seat counts comparable to traditional angled flat seats while providing larger beds compared to staggered arrangements. This highly efficient arrangement is made possible by the use of vertical cabin space through a small elevation change incorporated into every third seat. Formation is seeking airlines or seat manufacturers to license and co-develop this patent pending concept.

Key Features Include
• Lie-flat seats with counts comparable to angled lie-flat
• Larger beds compared to staggered arrangements
• Direct aisle access for all seats

Download Formation Seat Overview

For more information please contact Bob Henshaw via innovation@formationdesign.com

Formation Design Group founding Partner Russell Kroll will be speaking at the 2nd Annual Surgical Invention Convention. The Invention Convention is a two day symposium focused on the transformation of ideas and inventions into the medical products of tomorrow. The convention is organized through the collaborative work of Malizia Clinic and Georgia Institute of Technology’s Translational Research Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science.

Download the Convention Brochure

Russell’s presentation, Grounding Your Idea In Research, will highlight research techniques for use early in the design process. Specifically, techniques for quickly establishing the development context and evaluation criteria will be emphasized.  Developing a new product is a process and early research provides an essential foundation. The two day program will provide attendees with proven strategies and methods to transition new concepts into commercialized medical products.

This Year’s Keynote Speakers Include
Edward M. Copeland, III, MD, Past President of the American College of Surgeons.

Howard M. Jenkins, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Publix Supermarkets and Chairman of the Board, Malizia Clinic

The Surgical Invention Convention will be held on  April 7-8, 2011 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, in Midtown Atlanta adjacent to the Georgia Tech’s campus.  For more information or to register please visit www.surginvent.gatech.edu

The Crown ESR 5000 Series Reach Truck Wins a GOOD DESIGN Award

The industrial design of the ESR 5000 for Ohio based Crown Equipment Corporation was recently recognized with a Chicago Athenaeum GOOD DESIGN Award. The GOOD DESIGN Award is conferred annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in conjunction with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Founded in Chicago in 1950 by architects Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., GOOD  DESIGN bestows international recognition upon the world’s most prominent designers and manufacturers for advancing new, visionary, and innovative product concepts, invention and originality, and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered ordinary product design.

The ESR 5000 Series is a full range of electric, side-sit reach trucks that achieve new levels of productivity, comfort and robustness for warehouses and distribution centers. A new super-duty mast can now lift a fully loaded pallet up to 12 meters (39.4 feet) high. All models offer a low step for easy on/off, and fully adjustable seating and controls for operators. The all-new new S-Class vehicle establishes a new benchmark in operator comfort with a 30º rotating MoveSeat and a FlexBack reclining seat. The new, patented battery shape provides 40% more legroom, and the MoveSeat reduces upper body twisting. A patented angled overhead guard also increases upward visibility.

Order your own ESR 5000 Today!

Formation Design Group is proud to sponsor Georgia Tech’s Solar Jackets and their upcoming entry into the World Solar Challenge in Australia. The 1300 mile race across the continent of Australia will push the Solar Jacket’s vehicle and team to the limit!

Formation has been working with the Solar Jackets to machine critical suspension components and large format body panel plug molds. The Solar Jackets are a non-profit student competition team at the Georgia Institute of Technology dedicated to the design, creation and expansion of solar car technology. Composed of multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate students, the Solar Jackets are a dynamic group that builds solar and electric vehicles for competitions.  As a student group, they strive to formulate creative and powerful solutions to the energy problems facing modern society.

To learn more about the Solar Jackets and their bid to win the World Solar Challenge please visit
solarjackets.gatech.edu

Good Luck and watch out for kangaroos!

True Tales of Collaboration, Design & Human Error
IDSA Atlanta & Formation Design Group present an evening with Steven Casey

> Monday October 25th 2010 at 7pm

> 555 Dutch Valley RD Atlanta, GA 30324 MAP

> Free Admission – Please RSVP rsvp@formationdesign.com

IDSA Atlanta and Formation Design Group are pleased to present an evening with frequent Formation collaborator and popular author Steven Casey of Santa Barbara based Ergonomic Systems Design. In keeping with the ATL Design Week theme of Consider – Collaborate – Connect, Steven will be on hand to discuss a history of successful collaboration with Formation and provide an entertaining overview of two of his books on human factors and design.

Steve’s books include the best-selling Set Phasers on Stun and Other True Tales of Design, Technology and Human Error and the recent follow-on The Atomic Chef. Casey and stories from these books have appeared on “Modern Marvels Engineering Disasters” as well as the “Unbelievable!” television show in Japan. Books will be available for purchase and signing at a discounted rate.

About Steven Casey
Steven M. Casey, Ph.D., CPE, is President and Principal Scientist at Ergonomic Systems Design, Inc., a human factors research and design firm in Santa Barbara, California. He received his formal education in psychology and engineering from the University of California and North Carolina State University. His work has covered a range of products, systems, and settings, including industrial control centers, nuclear power plants, oil-field machinery, materials handling vehicles, portable electronic devices and computers, aircraft systems, medical and environmental test equipment, automobile controls, agricultural and construction machinery, entertainment operations, and recreation and retail facilities. The objective of his work is to help make things, especially things involving advanced technology, easier and safer for people to use.