In lieu of more design/media/newsworthy content (not a lot of interesting stuff going down this week it seems) we bring you Mr Ozio, with Flat Eric for your viewing (and listening) pleasure:

Bomb Squad Industries launches it’s first co-lab project on a grand scale. The ‘Doodle Monster Project’ is open to everyone around the world to take part in for a bit of fun and a whole lot of unity.

[Read all about it here]

Group Lotus has teamed up with Hot Wheels, the famous global die-cast brand, to design, develop and produce a Lotus Hot Wheels Concept vehicle.

This 1:5 scale model was on display to the world at the annual SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Centre between October 29th and November 2nd, 2007 and a 1:64 scale version of the design will become part of the Hot Wheels product range in spring 2008.

Russell Carr, Head of Lotus Design said; “This was a dream job for the design team because, for many of us, when we were children, it was Hot Wheels that first ignited our passion for cars and design. Lotus Design’s international reputation for designing visually dynamic and exhilarating sports cars perfectly fitted the brief for this programme and we relished the opportunity to design a concept that was free from the typical technical and legal constraints of a full size car. In addition the design offered unique challenges because it has to work as a toy and we therefore had to remember how specific views, features and tactile qualities of toy cars fascinated us as children. I am very proud of the final design by Steven Crijns that succeeds in being both instantly recognisable as a Lotus and a Hot Wheels Car.”

Steven Crijns, Design Manager at Lotus Design and creator of this concept design explained; “Hot Wheels cars are barely 75mm long, so specific attention went to create a bold shape that would work well at this scale. Another challenge was to create an exciting design that would work well as a toy. The car needed to be recognisable as a Lotus without having to turn it over to look at the badge underneath, so I took elements from the Elise and Exige such as the headlight design, the Lotus ‘mouth’, the pronounced wheel arches and trademark bonnet graphics. I was keen for the design to express the Lotus philosophy of performance through lightweight: the shrink wrapped body is kept to an absolute minimum to save weight. The dynamic voluptuous curves make the car look agile and fun to drive. Bold aerodynamic aids are incorporated to achieve exceptional Lotus handling. The top exit radiator at the front, a distinctive Lotus design feature, the rear diffuser and a large rear wing all provide down-force helping the vehicle stick to the road. In addition, large side air intakes and an open rear end aid engine breathing. Inside the car, the exposed centre spine is part of the structure and incorporates the switches and gear linkage and supports the rear wing.”

[Lotus]

This is neat. If you don’t get it, you need to watch more 60’s films…. (Saul Bass)

“In the beginning were harmless computer viruses. Viruses born out of the wit of early computer adopters, viruses whose sole purpose was to surprise and amuse. A non-destructive form of artificial life.

We wanted to revive this golden era, and went on to create our first computer virus. We chose to do it for mac as the platform is still a virgin territory
Spice up your colleagues’ day with our Newton Virus, the first virus to introduce gravity to your laptop, causing the desktop icons to fall down as if subject to the gravitational pull from the real world.

Newton Virus comes on a USB key for manual infection. Simply plug the key into a computer and the virus will automatically copy itself on the hard drive.

The virus will then hit at random, but only once. It will not replicate itself, mail itself to your friends or destroy any of your files, but instead provides you with moments of blissful surprise and magic.”

[Brilliant]

British in the only way the British can be, the Rissington Podcast is, well, ummmm, a podcast about design and… stuff.

[check it for sure]