Posters have been elemental in helping artists communicate ideas since lithography was first refined for mass image production in the mid-1800s. As digital methods of image capture and creation have emerged, the printed poster may no longer be the optimal means of art reproducing and distribution. How then can artists take full advantage of the digital resolution to share and display their creations, while also facilitating a means for patrons to discover, attain, and exhibit their work?

Medium is a physical manifestation of digital artwork, a living canvas serving as liaison between artist and audience.

Featured artist: Elizabeth Roseberry

Medium is a wall-mounted, electronic ink display that can be accessed wirelessly – a portal through which a community of artists and patrons can share, sell, and exhibit work. Images are purchased and managed through an online account, with the ability to create dynamic lists of queued images, sign up for artists’ monthly subscription services, or even purchase seasonal color collections.

Featured artist: Bethany Bauman

An e-ink display means Medium can be powered by a just few batteries, eliminating the need for any cables. As Medium’s battery life begins to deplete, an indicator light illuminates letting users know that it’s time for a recharge. With a push of the button, two rechargeable AA lithium batteries are accessible through Medium’s pop-out battery tray.

The design process behind Medium produced a variety of compelling form languages, each expressing a unique character. This modern interpretation of traditional easels employs a central pivot which creates opportunities for multiple configurations.

Featured artist: Andy Luce

Envisioning posters as both art and furniture, this cantilevered shelf variant allows your belongings to be displayed alongside the artist’s work, reflecting multiple dimensions of the owner’s personality. Plastic shards from disposed printers are pressed into a mold, emerging in a form reminiscent of traditional printers, the progenitor of digital ink technologies.

Featured artist: David Lucas (Part of the Pushstart team)

Medium is not only a display, but an experiential evolution in shared digital media, becoming a catalyst for mutualism among artists and patrons. For more information on the Medium, or if you’re interested in supporting this project through investment or sponsorship, please shoot us an email.

Pushstart has been fortunate enough to work with a number of talented entrepreneurs and startups over the years. This is the story of one of those brave risk-takers who has consistently invested in design to help drive their business. Throughout our partnership, we’ve worked closely with MiiR to design and launch exciting products that align with their ambition to create high quality goods while having a positive global impact.

We assisted MiiR in developing their initial brand positioning as well as influencing a number of their products, like their flagship stainless bottles, insulated bottles, sport lids, and now their newly released tumblers. As partners, we identified and selected a target market, researched and audited competitive products, and then offered an iconic set of products, each with their own unique innovations.

Why is MiiR better? Well, for one, MiiR is one of the few companies that is offering customers a real opportunity to give back. Their one4one campaign gives customers the satisfaction of providing clean water to Africans in need with every MiiR bottle purchased. Second, the quality of their products are second to none. When compared head to head with established names like Sigg and Klean Kanteen, MiiR’s usability, cleanability, durability and general user experience brings their customers back for more. Lastly, MiiR understands the importance of building a lasting relationship with their customers. MiiR team members engage their community through frequent video posts, social updates, reliable customer service, and the use of crowdfunding to validate new product ideas.

We are thankful and proud to work with such a great company. If you’re interested in learning more about how thoughtful design strategy can inform not only your product’s design and usability but also your overall customer experience, give us a call. We’re always looking for opportunities to help passionate entrepreneurs find lasting success.

The ultimate cocktail party features an array of awesome drinks: Manhattans, Martinis, Gimlets, and beyond. Unfortunately, this can turn out to be an overwhelming task- so many mixers, so many types of drinks, how is the untrained bartender/party thrower supposed to keep track? Pushstart’s latest product, the MasterMixer, offers the perfect solution, suddenly making anyone a bartender, giving them the ability to make nearly any drink, no sweat.

The MasterMixer is a digital cocktail shaker, designed to guide you in creating a plethora of different drinks by using the companion smartphone app. In addition to being able to browse through thousands of drink recipes, the MasterMixer app also allows you to manage and maintain your current inventory. The user simply lets the app know what alcohol and mixers they have on hand, and it will automatically generate a list of drinks they can make right on the spot.

Once a drink has been selected, the app wirelessly connects to the mixer and guides the user step-by-step in creating a delicious concoction. No need to pull out measuring cups or jiggers, the see through panel illuminates how much to pour in each step. Pour too much? No problem- the MasterMixer will automatically readjust the recipe based on what’s poured into the shaker.

A standout in a sea of dull shakers, the MasterMixer shaker is sleek, stylish and unique. The double wall construction prevents sweating and hands from freezing up. Additionally, the interior of the MasterMixer is completely removable and dishwasher safe.

The MasterMixer is fantastic for parties and mixers, but also a great solution for the day-to-day home bar setup. For more information on the MasterMixer, or if you’re interested in supporting this project through investment or sponsorship, please shoot us an email.

Once Enspire’s crack team of instructional designers, subject matter experts, and simulation developers had devised a clever training program, it was time for testing and refinement. Enspire partnered with Pushstart to design and produce a paper-based version of the simulation. This version made it possible to get the program into the hands of users as quickly as possible. After a number of successful trial runs, the simulation was tweaked and refined before moving into design and development of the final digital version.

To support the social and multiplayer nature of the experience, the interface was designed to look great and work great on both laptops and tablets.

Hallo is an all-in-one VOIP conferencing hub that utilizes Skype via WiFi to enable convenient and cost effective group conference calls. The compact hub features hi-fidelity microphones and speakers, color LED touch-screen with intuitive controls, integrated battery, WiFi, and charging dock. With a built in battery and wireless connection, Hallo can be easily positioned in any conferencing environment, completely cord free.

Setting up and using Hallo couldn’t be easier. Just power on the device, sign into your Skype account and start your call. With built in access to your address book you can quickly connect with other Skype users, or use the dial pad to call telephone numbers or conference lines. Full Skype integration lets users manage attendees, accept (or reject) latecomers, and easily add participants at any time.

Whether you’re headed across the country, or the other side of the building, Hallo loves to travel. With its low-profile ergonomic design, Hallo fits comfortably in your bag, or in your hand. The integrated rechargeable battery means Hallo can be used anywhere with WiFi access, or paired with your Bluetooth enabled phone for even greater flexibility.

If you would like to hear more about this project or are interested in supporting this project through investment or sponsorship, please get in touch.

Lung disease affects over 7 million children in the US. The proper monitoring and tracking of lung health can be a critical tool in managing the health of affected children. While many people have only encountered spirometers in clinical settings, there are a number of digital models available for home use. When surveying the market we found the current offerings lacking kid-friendly ergonomics, intuitive controls, and clear information presentation. Curio2 takes a new approach by paring a friendly spirometer design with a companion mobile app that takes full advantage of the now ubiquitous smart phone to provide better usability, customization, and data management.

With a compact and intuitive design, Curio2 syncs with the companion smart phone app to test and document lung capacity. Designed as a home solution, Curio2 helps parents easily and accurately monitor their child’s lung health.

The companion mobile app  guides users through the testing experience, ensuring the highest level of personal comfort and information accuracy. Customizable animated modules display test progress while entertaining the user. Test results are displayed in a clear, easy-to-read format that incorporates several informative options for data visualization and modes of comparison.  Data can be compared over time and easily shared with a doctor.

Curio2 features a modular design that allows for painless cleaning, as well as a compact, unobtrusive form factor for travel or storage.

Focused on providing an effortless mobile experience, Shop for Me’s elegant interface allows users to quickly collaborate with their favorite shops to save time and money. For retailers Shop for Me provides a powerful communication channel to develop and maintain unique relationships with their customers.

Shop for Me is currently in development but if you are interested in investment opportunities or in being a part of the public beta please let us know.

At pushstart we’ve designed our process to generate a wide variety of possible solutions, ranging from the expected to the disruptive. While customer, market, and production factors always serve as our guideposts, we are constantly pushing to find new and unexpected solutions to our client’s challenges.

While working on a recent project the team came upon a folded flask concept that was pretty compelling, but ultimately too far outside the project’s parameters. We presented it along with a dozen or so other concepts and while the client loved it, they agreed that it was not the right direction. Unwilling to simply let the idea go, our client encouraged us to share the idea with our community to collect feedback.

Bender is designed to be both a stylish accessory and a functional device. The slim profile and folded shape allows users to either discreetly tuck the flask away or slide it over their pocket for quicker access and a little more bling.

The rubber stopper makes the flask equally convenient to open and close with no risk of losing the lid. The stopper also allows for a more natural spout for comfortable sipping.

We’re considering taking Bender to Kickstarter and would love your feedback. If you’d like to see this in production please drop us a note.

After exploring several design directions the team honed in on a visual language that not only met the project’s aesthetic goals but could also be produced with durable and easy to clean materials.

The DarSeat is currently in the prototype phase and we hope to see it in the Design Within Reach catalog in the not too distant future.