The long awaited release of Aliph's Jawbone headset has finally arrived! Jawbone uses a major advance in technology to solve an old problem. Put simply, "active noise suppression" allows the user to talk on any mobile phone in a loud environment while hearing - and being heard - clearly thanks to a voice activity sensor that detects the vibrations produced on the cheeks by speech. Recognizing its intimate relationship to the user, all parts that touch or face the skin are soft, made of elastomer rubber. Minimalism and simplicity are key, as are the resolution of high-tech and metal in contrast with the soft, organic, and sculpted elements. The Aliph Jawbone headset is an expression of personal style through integration with advanced technology. Get your own at www.jawbone.com! fuseproject was recently commissioned by Bombay Sapphire to create a martini glass for its national ad campaign. The glass concept, named “dual” for its reversible functionality, challenges conventional notions associated with the archetypal martini glass. It presents an alternative glass that is at once iconic and versatile, while elegant and modern. There is magic in its ability to be used in either direction, yet still look different from any angle. The two different orientations of the glass give the user two distinct options for using the glass — a game of chance, or a conscious choice. fuseproject's newest creation, the Inner Light, is currently on an international tour with UNESCO and Felissimo's design 21 exhibit centered around the theme titled "LOVE / Why?". The Inner Light conveys the warm glow of love through two ring-shaped lamps. The large rings of formed aluminum employ the same technique used to create motorcycle fenders. Paper-thin electroluminescent film on the inner surface of each ring gives off a radiating light from the inside of the structure. The Inner Lights will be on display with the UNESCO exhibit in Tokyo next May, Kobe in June, New York in August and September, and Paris in November.   To benefit the World Wildlife Fund, fuseproject designed and donated three custom etched mirrors to the annual fundraiser. Over 30 images of endangered animals are illustrated on the circular mirrors’ surface, representing a visual metaphor for the need to increase the visibility of species in danger of becoming extinct. For the fifth year in a row, Humanscale has hosted an auction at their New York showroom of art objects that revolve around endangered species. fuseproject values environmental conservation and was happy to contribute to such a good cause.         This year, the work of fuseproject was honored with 5 IDEA awards, including two gold, one silver and two bronze distinctions! The competition, co-sponsored by BusinessWeek and the Industrial Designers Society of America, is among the most distinguished in recognizing outstanding industrial design achievement worldwide, with jurors selecting only 130 winners from 1,300 entries. fuseproject's five IDEA Awards ties the firm for second place overall, in number of awards earned this year. Gold honors went to Birkenstock Footprints Strategy and DEVO Underwear and Packaging, Aliph Jawbone Headset earned the silver, and the Moviebeam Receiver and the MINI Aid Tent each took a bronze! Please visit our website for more information on these projects.     Yves Béhar was announced the winner of this year's prestigious National Design Award for product design from the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum at a gala ceremony at the museum's Manhattan location. The National Design Awards celebrate the role of design in various disciplines, and its impact on contemporary daily life and culture. "Good design treats people well: from a tactile, emotional, aesthetic and environmental standpoint. Most importantly, good design treats people as smart individuals, not like a mass consumer" Yves Behar stated in his acceptance speech. "This award and great honor, provides the fuseproject design team and myself with the ammunition to continue to connect emotionally, through ideas and content rather than style, with people's everyday experiences" he added. Finalists in the Product Design category included aircraft designer and recent X-Prize winner Burt Rutan, and founder of Interface, Inc., Ray Anderson. Award recipients included: graphic designer, Milton Glaser for Lifetime Achievement, Aveda Corporation for Corporate Achievement, Yeohlee Teng for Fashion Design, Rick Joy and the Polshek Partnership for Architecture, @radical.media for Communications Design, and William McDonough+Partners for Environment Design.