#Stellar One Phase 2 Floor Plan

[atsgreensproject]

Ivory County is a residential project with 3, 4, and 5 BHK apartments with a promising location at Sector 115. Noida. The residential project gives you some of the promising developments that add to a life of luxury and comforts. 

[gaurcity2022]

Stellar One Phase 2 is a residential project with better lifestyle developments, amenities, and well-defined connectivity. The residential project gives you all the comforts within 3 and 4 BHK apartments. 

[stellaronephase2]

Stellar One Phase 2 is a luxurious residential project in Sector 1, Greater Noida West. It is a beautiful project with 3BHK and 4 BHK apartment floor plans. This grand project is spread over 7 acres of area with all the features, specifications, and amenities.

[thesinglesjukebox]

LIZZO FT. MISSY ELLIOTT - TEMPO

[6.75]

I suppose this would be an Allegretto...

Alex Clifton: This is a dream combination -- not sure how these two hadn't worked together before. I now judge high-energy songs on whether or not they'd be good to run to (weird metric but it's been working so far) and the beat on "Tempo" is a winner -- easy to keep pace to, easy to dance to, easy to get stuck in your head. I'm also delighted that we have a song with the lyric "thick thighs save lives." I'm not as in love with this as I was with "Juice," but Lizzo continues to sound good as hell. [7]

Stephen Eisermann: At this point, I'm starting to wonder if Lizzo will ever release an objectively bad song; her track record is pretty flawless. I first heard "Tempo" in the car while dancing at my sister's wedding reception this past weekend. My sister has always been curvier, and it was a big concern for her on her wedding day, but she seemed as confident as I'd ever seen her Saturday -- that is, until this song came on. Gone was the quiet confidence of my sister dancing politely to "Suavemente," "El Sinaloense" and "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" and instead out came a whole new Liz, one who was twerking in the center of her dance floor while all of my Mexican Catholic family watched, shook, wondering what happened to the self-conscious girl of before. But that's what Lizzo does, constantly. She takes a hot beat and empowers you, either with some feel-good rap or, as is the case here, some good provocation. Even if Missy's verse feels incomplete, it doesn't matter, because Lizzo came to play and it's hard to hate on confidence that sounds, feels, and looks this good. [8]

Katherine St Asaph: I don't dance, and any confidence boost the lyrics might provide slams fatally against the fact that the external world views my body as a collection of misshapen, unsightly, useless parts, an awareness I can't just turn off. (Which is the case for every song like this.) This song isn't for me. It doesn't help that the "When Doves Cry" guitar squall and Missy's verse, where she turns into Chingy, completely overpower Lizzo's subdued verses, which isn't supposed to happen at all. [3]

David Moore: The way Missy Elliott finds a little flicker of an idea and kindles it into a blaze of inspired silliness is always a thrill, but here it serves the counter-productive purpose of revealing the weakness of the rest of the track -- Lizzo's enthusiasm and ebullience can't hold a candle to Missy's lark. [6]

Alfred Soto: It's not twenty seconds old before "Tempo" blasts us with a distorted funk riff and the too long gone Missy Elliott. Nothing's changed -- "twerk skills are legendary" you knew. The chorus flickers, disappears. Chorus? Who needs one when Lizzo and Missy compete for sound effect attention? [7]

Tobi Tella: This collaboration feels epic in the same way Christina Aguilera and Demi did, a symbolic torch passing from old-school to new-school from two similar artists. Lizzo has Missy's classic swagger and flair, and the fact that she hasn't lost any of her uniqueness as she becomes more and more mainstream is truly something to be commended. This bangs as hard as anything she's ever released, and hopefully it becomes our generation's body positivity anthem over some more questionable songs... [8]

Katie Gill: I am always here for a bonafide ass shaking song, especially when it starts off with such an amazingly fun guitar riff like this one. The song is a beautiful cacophony and plays with sound in such a fun way, shifting from that minimalist beat to air horns & sirens, only to almost IMMEDIATELY drop back to the beat. And it's clear that Missy is having a blast, making the most out of every 'r' she gets to roll. This song is pure unadulterated fun, an ass shaking song that knows exactly what it is and spends the right amount of time crafting everything to near perfection. [8]

Iris Xie: Never thought I'd be so happy to hear "Truffle Butter" again, but I like "Tempo" and its version of that pinging synth more. "Tempo" takes that initial synth and layers it underneath with a heavy bass and a stop-start militaristic rhythm that makes the atmosphere simultaneously warm and domineering, and Lizzo's command is ice cold, casual, and driven. She's absolutely done with anyone telling her she can't command the dance floor, and whoops, she now is! The verse that starts with "pitty-pat" and ends with "cat" winds up your dance moves and is pretty much twerk material. But Missy, that sweet deliverer of unflinching vision, sonically grabs the theme of the song and busts out all the 'rrrs~'. But then she becomes very rude in the best way, and creates her own equivalent of a feature stage at 2:05 by changing it to a melted stadium band that sounds like the equivalent of lightning charging, with a brief drum clatter solo that sits with you long after it comes back to Lizzo dictating you to fuck it up to the tempo. But most importantly? The entire sentiment of the song is for any big girls (and anyone who identifies with those sentiments) who have ever felt really bad about moving on the dance floor -- it was never your problem, it was always the boring-ass "slow songs." And if that's really not one of the best ways I've ever heard about taking up space in clubs that can be hostile to those who don't have normative bodies, I don't know what else is. [9]

Jonathan Bradley: Eight bars of Missy rhyming tongue trills is worth the admission, but this beat isn't fucking anything up: the bass knocks but it doesn't move. A modulating arpeggio sounds like a placeholder waiting for the finished edit. Lizzo matches the effort; her last appearance round here underserved her personality, but here it's like she's waiting for a reason to show up. What she does offer are some very rote verses and a chorus that isn't sure it's not a verse. It's quite demure, even if you don't start to think on how unrestrained Missy could be in her heyday. [5]

Joshua Copperman: You know that old friend you had in high school that was into the same kind of music you were into? You said you'd stay in touch but grew apart from them because they were in a different, faster crowd than you? That's Lizzo. Her BJ Burton "artsy-fartsy phase" spawned some stellar, aggressive music, but her major-label music is more fun and positive to somewhat mixed results. Oak (of "Pop &" fame) made a manic beat more reminiscent of those early days, but the actual content is light enough to make room for cat puns including "prrr me a glass." It's a shame she won't go back to that earlier, more raw music when rappers like Cupcakke balance the high-concept antics with brutal honesty, but it's clear that's not what Lizzo feels like doing. That artsy phase increasingly feels like something she overcame than something she plans on revisiting. You occasionally hear back from that high school friend, but it's clear that they were never going to be the person you wanted them to be. But it's better to accept that because they're happier and freer the way they are now. They should really put away the guitar, though. [7]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: Two overrated artists release a song that sounds exactly like you'd expect? I find the fireworks and beat switch fake-outs more exciting than the vocals. When the song ends, I'm left with... nothing, really. Lizzo's recent singles have all been ordinary crowd pleasers, the sort of standard we should have for solid stock music. "Juice" felt like Facetuned Prince. "Tempo" is similarly watered down. [3]

Nortey Dowuona: *incoherent babbling* Lizzo going in *MORE INCOHERENT SHRIEKING* Missy going in *GLEEFUL HOWLS OF TORMENT AND JOY* A small Afro was found on top of the MSNBC offices yesterday. *sounds of confusion and slight annoyance* [10]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[atsgreensproject]

Palm Olympia Phase 2 is a residential project with a huge investment opportunity for investors and buyers. The residential project has come up after the successful completion of Phase 1.

[gaurcity2022]

SKA Destiny One is a residential project with premium 3 and 4 BHK apartments. The residential project gives you offers of better residential space with better specifications, amenities, and well well-developed lifestyle. 

[ophojuncbass1975-blog]

Never use PayPal. It's so easy for a buyer to dispute or cancel the payment and scam you for free content. They're also super anti sex work and can freeze your account and your money without giving you a reason. 15, 2005. Now, the defense lawyer told jurors, the only honest decision is to find his client Gary Dunn not guilty of murdering the one time Miss Arkansas contestant. N n n nThe trial is expected to last two weeks and Kevin Jones will take the stand. I have read somewhat of the theology of the Swedenborgian faith I was brought up in, but I have not read other theological works; and I do not apologize for not liking any. The Bible itself was not much known to me at an age when most children have been obliged to read it several times over; the gospels were indeed familiar, and they have always been to me the supreme human story; but the rest of the New Testament I had not read when a man 의왕출장안마 grown, and only passages of the Old Testament, like the story of the Creation, and the story of Joseph, and the poems of Job and Ecclesiastes, with occasional Psalms. 의왕출장안마 I therefore came to the Scriptures with a sense at once fresh and mature, and I can never be too glad that I learned to see them under the vaster horizon and in the truer perspectives of experience.. I know the show keeps showing him as a dumb dumb, but he really takes care of her. And he's so thrilled about the little things in life, that he would be a positive person for Rebecca to be with. Now that they've found themselves and gotten to know each other on a deeper level, I think they could work. "The significant increase in hourly cash wages more than compensates for the phase out of incentive pay and [restrictive stock units]," Amazon spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "We can confirm that all hourly Operations and Customer Service employees will see an increase in their total compensation as a result of this announcement. In addition, because it no longer incentive based, the compensation will be more immediate and predictable."HereIsSomeoneElse 1 point submitted 2 days ago. I've become extremely frustrated with my skin over the years and I figured the reddit community might have some helpful advice; so thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me!Definitely find another cleanser. Whatever you using shouldn leave your face feeling dry and tight afterwards. Something basic but gentle should be just fine. My kidlet is the most chilled out kidlet possible considering her age. She's a little social butterfly and will smile at pretty much anyone. She will happily amuse herself on the floor, with her toys and she's pretty good with animals. The question is whether you want to face the detriment of this now or later. You can either let your PI go on with this because of his ego, and later on face the possibility of retraction, and losing your stellar reputation as a scientist. There's a possibility no one will ever find out. In case anyone is curious I'll add that he makes good money and without the expense of rent he is able to save an astonishing amount. His original plan was to save enough money to make a down payment on a condo but once he had that the plan became to save enough to buy a condo outright. Now he has enough for that and he still isn't ready to give up his lifestyle.

[aion-rsa]

Is Virtual Photography the Next Great Artform?

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

2020 saw the release of highly-anticipated games like The Last of Us Part II, Death Stranding on PC, Ghost of Tsushima, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. What do all of these games have in common? Stellar in-game photo modes that allow a growing online community of virtual photographers to capture the beauty and complexity of these game worlds. 

Fans have been taking screenshots of their favorite games for almost as long as they’ve been playing them. Photo modes themselves have existed at least as far back as 1999’s Metal Gear Solid: Integral, which featured a bare bones “photoshoot mode” as bonus content. And even back when most games didn’t have in-game photo modes, the most avid photographers created their own camera mods on PC or used third-party software like NVIDIA’s Ansel camera tool. 

Photo modes have only grown more sophisticated since then, and a new generation of virtual photographers have honed their craft and are sharing their unique perspectives on social media to thousands of followers. You can now find dedicated virtual photography communities, hashtags, and aggregators on social media platforms as well as online magazines dedicated to the craft and even an app called Captis that’s pitching itself as the social home for the medium.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

“I think the biggest benefit [of a photo mode] comes from having the ability to capture precious in-game moments that one can also share with others. It works as a sort of connection between the game world and the real world,” says Hiroaki Yoshiike, a lead level designer at Kojima Productions who worked on the stellar photo mode for Death Stranding, a game full of moody, detail-rich environments that serve as a particular paradise for photographers who love to capture stunning landscapes.

In fact, from the moment Kojima Productions decided to integrate a photo mode for the PC release, its main goal was to provide a user-friendly camera tool that also provided advanced features for more seasoned photographers. Yoshiike’s team worked alongside the Lighting and Cinematics teams on iterations of the mode.

“We created a prototype, but they told us it was too basic,” says Yoshiike of testing an early version of the photo mode with members of the team. “So we went back and started adding more features, adjusting until we arrived at the specs that you see in-game today. One part we got caught up on was figuring out how to provide the right tools for making pictures better, from lighting adjustments to stylized filters.”

These tools are very important to virtual photographers, who aren’t just taking pictures of “what looks cool” but are considering elements of real-world photography like composition, framing, and the rule of thirds. They’re thinking about depth of field, lighting, and filters. Virtual photographers take their craft seriously, and there’s a sense that their community of followers — many of which aren’t gamers at all — are doing so as well, following handles for the photographs themselves and not just because they’re fans of the subjects being captured. Could this mean that virtual photography is on the rise as the next great artform?

We talked to a group of photographers about their process, what they look for in a photo mode, and why they think virtual photography is becoming more popular.

Sindy JB

Sindy JB has photographed many games, but her haunting shots of Death Stranding on PC are among her best as they capture the phases of a long, Odyssean journey through a post-apocalyptic America. Shots of photorealistic mountainscapes and war-torn cities have earned her almost 20,000 followers across Twitter and Instagram, where she posts under the handle @mesopatmian_meow. 

“Landscape pictures are probably my favorite subject to capture,” Sindy says of her technique. “I almost never plan my shots. I wait for the right place and moment. I don’t use filters a lot because I like my pictures to look as natural as possible.”

Rockstar’s award-winning Old West action game Red Dead Redemption 2 was the game that originally got her into virtual photography, and she’s gotten to know many photo modes since then. There are a few things she looks for when picking up a game’s camera component.

“The most important thing for me is the camera movements. Without free camera control it’s very hard for us to take the pictures we want to take. Some games restrict the camera with an orbital control only in their photo mode and it’s just terrible. I know I speak for many virtual photographers when I say it’s by far the most disappointing thing to see in a photo mode.”

Sindy’s following has grown quickly since her debut in 2018, and she posits that a lot of that has to do with the game makers themselves.

“I think there are many factors that led to the increased popularity of virtual photography, the first being the support we are getting from the game developers these days on social media sites. We often get likes, retweets, and comments from them, and it’s very encouraging.”

Berduu

Petri Levälahti, who goes by Berduu on Twitter, is one of the most popular virtual photographers in the community with over 40,000 followers. In fact, Levälahti has turned virtual photography into a career. He works as a Screen Capture Artist for Swedish game studio EA DICE, best known for the Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront games.

Interestingly enough, the Battlefield 4 pictures taken by virtual photography legend Jim2point0 are what first enticed Levälahti to get involved with the community.

“Jim and other members of the screenshot community showed me the ropes. This was back when there really were no photo modes in games, outside of a few racing titles, so all the free cameras were created by fans. Most of the actually good game cameras are still created by fans, by people like Frans Bouma, for example.”

Levälahti does it all — portraits, landscapes, action shots. He needs to be multifaceted and have a keen eye for what will catch the viewer’s attention, a key element of his day job. At DICE, he takes marketing screenshots as well as the images you see on their games’ menus and loading screens.

“I get a request for a specific screenshot, let’s say an Action Shot in place X, with focus on Game Feature Y,” Levälahti says of his normal day-to-day at DICE. “Then I start to look for a good location or two and play around with ideas. I’ll do a handful of iterations before settling on one or two, consult an art director for notes, get approvals, do final captures, and ship it.”

Levälahti loves to shoot other games outside of DICE, too. Standouts include stylish portraits of characters from Control and Cyberpunk 2077 you could easily imagine as magazine covers. How does he do it?

“I always check that my shots work at small size — that there’s a clear subject, and that the shot is easy to read and you can tell what’s going on. I [also] check that my shots work at large size — are there ugly textures or assets shown too close and thus causing eyesore? Does the character’s leg clip through the floor, is there anything ruining the immersion? Awkward poses, non-existent shadows, aliasing? Always look for good light! Shadows and light make or break your shot.”

Soulsurrender

Soulsurrender, who also works as a freelance graphic designer and photographer in Sweden, got into virtual photography thanks to the seminal fantasy RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, a game often celebrated for its beautiful vistas, lively settings, and cavernous depths.

“Mods made the game pretty and I just wanted to capture that. I didn’t really call it virtual photography or share any of my shots back then. That came much later, after realizing there was a whole amazing community out there.”

Soulsurrender has captured many subjects, including those within the worlds of Fallout 4, Mad Max, and Cyberpunk 2077, and she has a real eye for finding the majesty in dystopian settings. Her awe-inspiring shots of Mad Max’s endless deserts don’t even look like they’re from a video game despite the fact that she took up virtual photography after growing bored with shooting her real-world surroundings.

“I’m currently on a break after getting kind of burned out, getting frustrated with gear, and living in a small town of which nothing feels left to explore and shoot. Which naturally led me to find other ways to express my creativity: I started shooting virtual worlds instead, where the possibilities are nearly endless.”

Soulsurrender mainly likes to shoot vast landscapes, characters standing far off in the distance, colorful skies as backdrops. She says her approach to virtual photography is the same as in real-life: “go explore and find something interesting.”

Voldsby

“I’ve been a hobby photographer for a few years, so when I discovered that there was this feature where you can literally just stop the whole game to take pictures, that was when I became addicted to it.”

Danish photographer Voldsby has made a name for herself in the community with her portraits of The Last of Us Part II’s main characters. On her Twitter page, you’ll find pictures of Ellie and Abby, their faces half shrouded in thick shadow, as if to hide something in their expressions, while one eye looks straight at the camera. The gaze is so piercing it might make you cower.

“I like to really get close to my subjects and make them feel like they’re looking into the camera, [that] they’re aware that I’m taking the picture,” Voldsby says. “I know it sounds silly because it’s a video game, but it makes the photo come alive.”

Why has she spent so much time photographing TLOU2 specifically? Well, first off, she loves the series, but it also has a lot to do with the game’s incredible lighting. So much of the game takes place in creepy, enclosed areas like hallways and underground tunnels, and Voldsby finds it particularly exciting when she discovers “beautiful little light beams just sitting there in a window” to light her shots. 

After Voldsby takes a picture, it goes through a “rigorous procedure” before she shares it online. She transfers the picture over as a PNG to a USB drive (pro tip: never use PlayStation’s Share function to upload your high quality photographs) and then she touches it up a little on Adobe Lightroom, mostly to add a bit more lighting or shadow to make sure things are popping. But when it comes to capturing the picture itself, Voldsby prefers a simple photo mode.

“It’s all about simplicity. Less is more, you know? I don’t really need any of those fancy features that a lot of photo modes have,” Voldsby says. “It’s just like real photography. Buying an expensive camera with loads of features doesn’t automatically make you a good photographer.”

Kayne

Kayne, whose Instagram handle @firstpersonshutter boasts almost 20,000 followers, dreamed of traveling the world as a freelance photographer for outlets like National Geographic, but soon found that he couldn’t afford it due to the cost of lenses and other equipment necessary for the job. But that hasn’t stopped him from practicing his craft in the video game world.

His favorite games to photograph are Insomniac’s Spider-Man series, and it’s easy to see why. Kayne can get a lot out of the high-flying web-swinging mechanics in the game as well as Spidey’s superheroic poses and myriad suits.

“In Spider-Man‘s case, arranging Spider-Man to where he’s looking at something that’s well-lit puts those reflections in the eye lenses so that you can actually get all those details on the face masks,” Kayne explains.

With photo mode, Kayne has found a new way to think about photography, and hopes that other artists will start to think of virtual photography as an artform, too. Will we one day see one of the pictures in this article hanging in a museum?

“I am very hopeful that it takes off into something bigger. And I feel like we’re on the ground floor.”

The post Is Virtual Photography the Next Great Artform? appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2LTkexm

[adposto1]

Life at Gulberg Residencia

Indeed, it was one of the best decisions of my life… we can’t regret the fact that our environment has a great influence on us. In other words, if we can’t adjust in our surrounding, nothing else can make us happy, neither money nor luxury. On the other hand, peace of mind in this fast moving era is not that easy to find. Cities are getting more and more crowded and so when I was capable of making an investment, all I could think was… PEACE! My residence  was living in central area of Rawalpindi. The daily traffic block added extra half an hour to my office distance which was only 10 km away. And not just travelling, I was sick of the noises, pollution and altogether, I was unhappy with my lifestyle… even going for outing was not a fun thing for me. I know many people are happy the way they are but not me and I couldn’t help it. I had imagined a better life for my wife and my two kids who meant the world to me. One day I crossed a newly emerging society, the Gulberg Islamabad and I felt the urge to visit it. Though the elegant entrance with wide roads and amazing farmhouses, I thought this place is only for the elite class.  Out of curiosity I asked a shopkeeper who showed me the way to the Gulberg Customer Dealing office. Again I was impressed but hopeless for I knew my savings were not enough. Gathering up my confidence, I told the Sales Executive guy Mr. Mohsin about my total saving. Of course his response surprised me with a proposal not just for a living opportunity, but it offered an exceptional lifestyle, beyond my expectations at Gulberg Residencia. Though I could only afford a 5 marla plot, it was more than enough for me and my family. I thought it was the best gift I could give to my family and so it was. When I brought my wife my kids and my parents to show them my plot, my wife was in tears of happiness and my mother couldn’t be more proud of me. I can’t wait for the time when I will move in to spend my dream life with my family. At Gulberg Islamabad, live your DREAM with SERENE AND GREEN LIFESTYLE!

If you are finding houses apartments and plots in Islamabad Click now.

D8 Heights, Gulberg Islamabad

D8 Heights Gulberg is Located On Plot No. 01 Main Boulevard Gulberg Residencia Islamabad. Shop is available On 20% to 25% Down Payment with 3 years easy installments.. D8 Heights gulberg is one of the newest projects in the constantly developing Gulberg, Islamabad. It is all set to become the iconic shopping, leisure, and lifestyle destination in the area and attract numerous visitors from the twin cities on a daily basis. Its stunning architecture, excellent retail outlets, amazing entertainment facilities, and stellar residential options make D8 Heights a project to watch out for. Let’s take a look at the location, features, facilities, properties and payment plan of D8 Heights, Gulberg Islamabad.

LOCATION

D8 Heights is located in Block C of Gulberg Residencia near the Blue Area Main Boulevard on Citadel Circular Avenue. D8 Gulberg, a shopping mall being constructed by the same developers in the commercial centre of the community called D-Markaz, is also located at a 3-minute drive from the project. The ideal location of D8 Heights will ensure the residents have easy access to public transportation, educational institutes and recreational spots among other facilities. Moreover, with Gulberg Expressway situated at a short 6-minute drive from the project, the people living in the apartment complex as well as the visitors won’t have any trouble commuting to the twin cities. Some of the notable places in the vicinity of D8 Heights include: Mall of Gulberg: 3-minute drive Islamabad Expressway: 9.2 kilometer The University Of Lahore in Her Do Gher: 10.1 kilometer Koral Chowk: 10.2 kilometer T-Chowk: 13.8 kilometer

FEATURES AND FACILITIES

These are some of the facilities available at D8 Heights in Islamabad: Earthquake-resistant structure Three separate entrances for the residents Double-storey underground parking Separate elevators for residents and visitors Around-the-clock security and CCTV surveillance Firefighting systems Backup electricity generators Cable TV and broadband connections Water, electricity and gas supply Modern reception area for the apartments Recreational area Prayer area Children’s play area Well-equipped fitness center

TYPES OF PROPERTIES

D8 Heights in Gulberg Residencia features both commercial and residential properties. The lower ground floor, ground floor and first floor of the project will house retail outlets. Meanwhile, the food court will be located on the second floor along with Fun City, covering the area of about 5000 sq ft. The area size for the commercial units varies from 120 sq ft to 520 sq ft. Third to seventh floors of D8 Heights are dedicated to the apartments while the eighth floor is meant for the penthouses, which are not for sale. Furthermore, apartments for sale in D8 Heights, Gulberg Islamabad include 1, 2 and 3-bedroom options, featuring all the latest amenities.

Floor Plan & Payment Plan

Blue World City Capital Smart City Islamabad Gulberg Greens Islamabad Gulberg Residencia Islamabad Rudn Enclave Rawalpindi  Booking Prism Heights Gulberg Islamabad Booking Gulberg Rabi Center Booking Gulberg Mall & Signature Living  Booking D 8 Heights Gulberg Greens Islamabad Booking Dha Quetta Booking OPF Valley Zone V Islamabad Pakistan Naval Farm Houses Simly Dam Road Islamabad Karakoram Greens Islamabad Booking Lotus Lake Towers Bahria Town Phase 8 Rawalpindi Booking FOECHS Rawalpindi Up Country Enclosures Rawalpindi Bahria Town Rawalpindi / Islamabad / Karachi / Lahore Maps Gulberg Islamabad Latest Updated Maps 2019 Islamabad All Sectors & Societies Maps Gulberg Islamabad Properties For sale (Full List) List Your Business Online and grow your brand name world wide Website Development (Packages start from 18k) Click here if you want to sell your plot in Gulberg Islamabad Click here if you want to sell your plot in Bahria Town Rawalpindi/Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad List of Registered Architects & Structure Engineers of Gulberg (IBECHS) Islamabad. If you are finding houses apartments and plots in Islamabad Click now.

[spiritualgravity]

Little one.

I’m thrilled to finally come out of the closet and share that my husband and I are expecting our first child. It’s something I have been scared about on so many levels, for many years.

I vividly remember around 30-years-old, STRESSING-OUT about NEEDING to get pregnant BEFORE 35. Everything I read was terrifying when it came to advanced maternal age, things quite literally go down hill. Women have a significantly harder time conceiving, and the odds of having genetic complications skyrockets.

Fast forward, I didn’t get married until 35. But sometime between 30 and 35, I torched the deadline and simply didn’t care anymore. I can’t put my finger on it, but I felt peace in my heart about the entire situation. I resolved that if it was meant to be, it would be. The big man upstairs would intervene and provide.

I “warned” my hubby that it would probably take 6 months, 8 months, or more to conceive given the state of the uterus union. Not only did it not take long at all, it took one freaking try. Gulp.

This is how I told him the big news, “Sweetie. We are both really, really fertile.” I don’t take this lightly because I can count on my fingers and toes the people I personally know who have had / are having trouble conceiving; I know it’s a blessing it happened quickly for us.

We’ve kept our lips zipped for weeks, keeping our tiny blessing to ourselves. Then we finally told our parents recently & captured their reactions on video. It is a priceless moment that I’ll always treasure. This will be my parents’ 13th grandchild. It will be my in-laws very first grandchild. But I can’t help but think they’ll all love our baby equally.

For the first few weeks, I think my husband and I were in a state of shock. We dated for the better part of 13 years, and have been married for nearly 2 years. Although we were open to becoming pregnant, neither one of us thought it would happen as lightning quick as it did. Now I’d classify us as being in the giddy, awe-struck, a-tiny-human-is-growing-inside-of-me phase.

When we purchased our home 2+ years ago, we didn’t quite think through the whole 3rd person living under our roof situation. You see, we literally don’t have anywhere to put the kid. But wait, it gets better. We also inadvertently moved into a quasi-retirement community. The master bedroom is on the first floor for goodness sake. On the 2nd floor, we have an office and 1 guest room.

It seems wrong and weird and confusing to not even sleep on the same level as our little one. It also feels wrong and weird and confusing to not even have a guest room for visitors to sleep in. So we’ve got some game planning to do on the home front.

I may be one of the least educated, least prepared, and least knowledgeable 37-year-old preggers people on the planet. But I’m also OK with that. I’ve been enjoying perusing my Ovia Pregnancy app every night before bed, reading about the developments and fascinating, super-sonic growth of the little one. Currently it is the size of a brussel sprout. And it’s peeing inside of me. Mind = Blown.

We had our first ultrasound a couple of weeks ago. The baby looked “stellar” according to the doctor, and a super strong heartbeat to boot. During my next blog post, I’m going to pull back the veil and share my deepest, darkest fears and neurotic musings that spin around in my mind.

It’s been quite an unexpected and unchartered journey, albeit a short one so far, but I’m fully aware it will speed by in the blink of an eye. This blog will help me document the road to love that is bigger and brighter than the sun.

[solidsmack]

SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev. Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we’ve received. Give us your feedback in the comments! Connect with Vince on Linkedin here. Have a design you would like to submit for a review and critique? Contact us here.

Welcome to the SkillCoach series! I’m Vince Haley and, though you’ve seen my writing here on SolidSmack, I’ve been in the consumer product industry for years in roles such as Principal Industrial Designer, Lead Product Designer, and Lead Design Engineer to name a few. I’ve also taught ID at multiple universities. It’s an honor to use this experience to help others grow their skills in order to make their ideas come to life!

Todays Virtual Design Critique (VDC) will focus on IKEA’s INGOLF bar stool and how the DNA of the product has shifted in these latter stages of its product lifecycle. This VDC will be a Then & Now design assessment. I’ll seek to root out some of the factors that have caused the INGOLF product to take a hit in the eyes of consumers from a perceived quality perspective. My hunch is, the economic pressures associated with logistics, cost of goods (COGs), and new product styles entering the mix are the culprits.

Part of my aim in this VDC is to raise awareness and ready young designers to embrace the portions of the project brief that may seem inconsequential or mundane in the early phases of the design process. Truth be told, failing to consider these three can be the demise of the greatest of ideas right out of the gate.

Before diving into the crit,  here’s a big ol’ shout-out to Carina Bengs the creative force behind the design of the massively successful INGOLF Seating Collection for IKEA. As furniture and styles go, the longevity of this product offering is truly amazing. As best I can tell the product launched sometime in 2006 and is still available in IKEA retail outlets around the globe! Since securing a student internship with IKEA over 30 years ago, Carina has designed a wide range of product for the home decor giant. Owing to her, many of our homes have been graced with furnishings that are both functional and timeless in style.  As for the INGOLF chair and barstool, without a doubt a whole lot of bottoms have been “sitting pretty” for quite some time!

Designer’s Vision

How do you think when you design and how would you describe your design style? – I work according to a need. I have done a lot of traditional furniture and work hard in wood because I have a great deal of knowledge about the material. I am sometimes inspired by old objects, but I am very much about creating something new and giving the traditional a more modern expression and thoughtful details. Timeless forms create security and recognition, I like it. I strive to make products that can live long in the home. Almost daily, I get feedback from customers who live with and love their furniture. That’s what drives me and encourages to make really good products.” –

Source: 2013 IKEA Designer Portrait Interview

  Early generation INGOLF consumer assembly experience

IKEA INGOLF ’17 Product Description

The INGOLF series looks just as nice in the kitchen and dining room as in the bedroom or hallway. The solid wood construction holds up well.

You sit comfortably thanks to the high back.

Solid wood is a durable natural material.

Chair – Solid pine, Stain, Clear acrylic lacquer

Seat – Solid pine

Footrest – Steel, Powder coating

Size – 24 3/4 ” & 29 1/8 ” high

Assembly & Documentation

Only the latest version of the documents is available for download. This means that there maybe a difference in this version and the printed version.

402.485.13 – 2017 Assembly Manual (PDF)

2007 Original Design Assembly Manual (PDF)

 Good to know

For maximum quality, re-tighten the screws about two weeks after assembly.

May be completed with FIXA self-adhesive floor protectors to protect the underlying surface against wear.

This chair has been tested for home use and meets the requirements for durability and safety, set forth in the following standards: EN 12520 and EN 1022.

Care instructions

Wipe clean using a damp cloth and a mild cleaner.

Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Design Discoveries & Observations

The product life-cycle changes associated with the IKEA INGOLF chair came to my attention by way of a recent Gumtree purchase. BTW, here in Australia Gumtree is the equivalent to Craigslist. My wife had been keeping an eye out for a set of lightly used IKEA bar stools. When two INGOLF stools came available we gobbled them up believing that an additional two would list in short order. We were right, in less than a month a friend was making his way through the bustling Sydney traffic to pick up three of our awaited prizes!

Upon arrival, we immediately noticed one glaring difference. The new stools were a good 4 inch taller! This  was a purchasing oversight on our part. Nonetheless, what to do? Well being somewhat savvy at woodworking myself, I said “No problem, I can take care of that in short order!”

When I moved closer to size up the task several other design differences became readily apparent. For example, although the new stools were taller they felt much lighter in weight when I picked one up. I also noticed fasteners where the first set had none. In addition, the inferior fit between components quite noticeable.  Finally, the finish lacked the rich luster of the first two stools. Emphatically I declared “COST REDUCTION!” My designers mind was set into motion surmising the sales and distribution pressures that have come to bare on this classic IKEA product offering.

In the life span of a product there are numerous factors that necessitate reducing cost. The remainder of this VDC will highlight the “Then & Now” changes and the ultimate impact they have on the consumer experience.

Factor One – Logistic

A quick glance at the product code on the underside of the seats told me that the Carina Beng original and my favored stool were mfg. ’15 week 21 out of Thailand, while the cost reduced model was mfg. ’16 week 26 out of Bulgaria. From this we learn that IKEA was able to manage the cost of goods for roughly nine years before needing deviate from the original design intent. Apparently the Bulgarian mfg. site is able to manufacture and distribute the revised INGOLF stools in a more cost effective manner than the Thailand facility.

Factor Two – Design

The original design and detailing of the INGOLF nicely balanced the needs and aspiration of the end consumer and most certainly was the right value proposition for IKEA. While the flatpack requirement may not have been optimized, The component breakout made assembly the most simple and straight forward from a consumer perspective. Enough mfg. wiggle room apparently was planned in order to optimize the flat-packing of the product down the road. The fit and finish of all components were stellar at product launch and onward making the INGOLF stools highly desirable.

Yet over time as new products came online and cost of good increased the need for cost reductions obviously became inevitable perhaps signaling the INGOLf chair is at the latter stages of it life-cycle. For me the differences of the actual and perceived quality shift was like night and day. Also judging by the dip in product review ratings on IKEA’s site other consumers have discerned the shift and are experience the pains.

Cheap Quality – Maddie2003

“I bought (2) INGOLF bar stools about a year ago and wanted to add a third to our house. The new models lack a back leg support, have smaller backs, and are so much lighter (read: they feel flimsy) that none of us adults felt comfortable sitting in it. These new ones are a FAR CRY from the sturdy, solidly built ones of just a year ago. I’m VERY disappointed and will be returning this.”

✘ No, I do not recommend this product – (7 months ago)

  Reduce quality – Poornima J

“I bought the exact same model 3 years ago. Few weeks back we decided we want to get an additional one but were very disappointed with the quality. They’ve downsized on the quality, We are even scared to sit on it for fear of breaking.”

✘ No, I do not recommend this product. – (7 months ago)

Obviously from these recent rating the INGOLF product offering has taken big hit with regard to customer confidence and satisfaction. Have a look at the collection of images I snapped and see how readily you can pick out the shift in fit, function, and aesthetic appeal.

#gallery-0-5 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-5 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-5 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-5 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

THEN & NOW – leg detailing

NOW – Edge detailing varies in quality.

NOW – Soft Pine used throughout product

NOW – X brace assembled by consumer thus mounting sockets are larger and have gaps.

THEN – Backrest curvature conforms to body nicely.

THEN – X brace precise in fit and finish

THEN & NOW – Note difference in edge finish of seatpans

THEN – Topcoat finish smooth and consistant.

NOW – Shift to plastic hardware

THEN – Metal hardware more robust

NOW – Visible Screws

NOW – Addition tolerance has been built in owing to more parts needing to be assembled by consumer. The result, undesirable gaps

SkillCoach Custom modification!

THEN – Precise crisp edge detailing.

THEN – Precision Fit of components

NOW – Wood soaks in finish and woodgrain very apparent

NOW – Curvature of backrest reduced to save space in packing

NOW – Low reflectivity as coarse grain shows through finish

THEN – Note sheen and reflection as light moves across surface.

THEN & NOW – back lower stretch removed on ’16 onward builds.

My take-away is on the whole, IKEA does a great job of minimizing the adverse DNA altering effects of their products over the course of its given life-cycle.  Without a doubt, IKEA is a company that has mastered the remixing of design, manufacturing, cost of goods, and customer service to generate fresh, compeling home decor solutions.

I trust this Virtual Design Critique of the IKEA INGOLF bar stool collection has given us all as consumers fresh insight into the hows and whys that products shift in quality, aesthetic appeal, and availability over time. If you are a designer, I hope you’ve been inspired to approach designing with these multi-faceted product life-cycle requirements at the onset of your projects. – Until next time, SkillCoach!

SkillCoach | IKEA INGOLF Bar Stool – Virtual Design Critique SkillCoach is a new series where Product Dev. Professional, Vince Haley, provides a virtual design critique of a new design or submission we've received.