Icon-o-Cast: a podcast by LUNAR

Different materials provide different capabilities for designers and result in different experiences for consumers. Why do product designers use the materials they use? What's the "dream stuff" designers would love to use in products? In this Icon-o-Cast episode, Lunar's John Edson talks with a gaggle of Lunar Design pros about materials used in products today and what will be coming tomorrow.

In a market economy characterized by commoditized products and global competition, how do companies gain deep and lasting loyalty from their customers? The key, argues author Steve Diller, is in providing meaningful customer experiences. In this episode of Icon-o-Cast, Lunar's John Edson talks with Steve, a partner at Cheskin Research and co-author of "Making Meaning: How Successful Businesses Deliver Meaningful Customer Experiences".

China has already become an important manufacturing center and, as the world's most populous nation, a coveted new market. China is also quickly becoming a global design center. Lunar's John Edson talks with Andrew Zee, manager of Lunar's new Hong Kong office, and Elaine Ann, founder of Kaizor Innovation, a strategic innovation consulting company specializing in China markets, about new directions for design in China.

Lunar's Dan Senatore, Jonathan Downing, Max Yoshimoto have recovered from the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They share with John Edson their take on good and bad products featured at the show, design trends and after-hours fun.

Chris Hazen and Dani Tsuda of WSP Environmental North America join Lunar's John Edson to talk about environmental aspects of sustainable design. Chris, Dani and John discuss recycling, materials and a responsible quest for more stuff. Listen, email us and and you could win a Senseo coffee maker.

A design and engineering critique of coffee makers. Lunar designers Travis Lee, Lea Kobeli, Robert Howard and John Edson deconstruct four popular coffee-making products. And, you could win a prize in our first ever podcast giveaway!

A design and engineering critique of coffee makers. Lunar designers Travis Lee, Lea Kobeli, Robert Howard and John Edson deconstruct four popular coffee-making products. And, you could win a prize in our first ever podcast giveaway! Enhanced version with photos.

BusinessWeek's Bruce Nussbaum, Dev Patnaik, founder of Jump Associates, Tom Dair, partner with Smart Design, and Lunar's John Edson talk about product design firms, the "killer app" in global competition, and Bruce's cell phone.

Will services ultimately replace products as objects continue to "disappear" into the background? Changes in telephone services and home photography may offer hints of what's to come. Kim Goodwin, vice president of design and general manager at Cooper (a consultancy dedicated to conceiving and designing interactive products, services, and systems), joins Lunar's Christophe Koch, Joel Jacobs and John Edson in part two of a two-part discussion.

The Incredible Shrinking Product: Technology makes it possible to put more and more functionality in smaller and smaller packages, but does that always benefit people? Will products eventually disappear altogether? Kim Goodwin of Cooper joins Lunar's Christophe Koch, Joel Jacobs and John Edson in part one of a two-part discussion.

Dwell Magazine Editor-in-Chief Allison Arieff talks with Lunar Design's John Edson and Max Yoshimoto about housing design, Hurricane Katrina and "mass customization" in design.

Lunar Design President John Edson shares perspectives from design leaders attending the 2005 Industrial Design Society of America National Conference August 24-27. Guests include Sam Lucente, brand design and experience director for HP, and Ellen Lupton, curator of contemporary design at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.

Top of Mind: Our Favorite New Products. Lunar's Joel Jacobs, Max Yoshimoto and John Edson talk about recent products that have caught their fancy.

Back to the Future: What's behind "retro" design? Why is it so popular? Lunar's Alberto Villarreal, Joel Jacobs, Max Yoshimoto and John Edson debate the good and bad of retro design.

Lunar Design's Max Yoshimoto, Christophe Koch and John Edson explore the cultural trend of simplicity and its impact on product design.