People see. People do.

When there is little litter, fingers get pointed at the perpetrators. But when there is more, it is just a socially acceptable way of getting rid of your ATM receipts.

Pillow talk

With just a simple improvisation, your backseat snooze could be more comfortable.

(Picture by Amy, paymes on instagram)

Low on battery?

One big anxiety on the highway, apart from running out of fuel, is running out of battery charge on your cellphone.

Here’s what every highway rest stop should include – a smiling cashier who offers to charge your phones in the safety of his counter. For free, of course.

And, with a wide range of charger options, you are certain to find one for your phone.

The silent channel

Via Flickr:
How can we design more engaging tv watching experiences in public, crowded and noisy places where inevitably, the television is always on mute.

Huge implications for content generation and advertising, even as you start thinking about it.

Engineering Delight!

Once you get off the flight and trudge towards the baggage claim, the fight for carts starts. Either they are too far away from the belt, which doesn’t give you first dibs on the perfect spot, or else they are crammed away on the side making it difficult to separate two carts. And while you’re at it, the crowd swells up around the conveyor belt, leaving you behind.

Delhi Airport has created an interesting intervention to tackle this situation.

As you approach the conveyor belt, the carts are already stacked around it. No more insecurities of not finding a cart, or being left behind in the rush. Get there early and pick a cart. What better way to invoke the peak-end rule of designing experiences?

Lovely gesture, wouldn’t you agree?

(Thanks to Mayank, who was so delighted at Delhi Airport that he shared this picture on facebook)

Repurposing the General Compartment to feel like home.

These Unreserved Compartments on trains can take a toll on babies, as they sit through long journeys in overcrowded environments that are unfamiliar and intimidating.

In an effort to calm down this one wailing baby, the mother unpacked one of her sarees and turned it into a makeshift cradle for the kid. She then rocked the baby to sleep as the train moved on to its next destination.As some of us jostled for space, the baby found itself the most comfortable spot for the journey.

And, on the way, there’s enough entertainment to keep you occupied.

 

Repurposed office space

Its brisk business for these lawyers all day at the Registration Office. This is the tried and tested method to fill out forms then and there.

Kid-friendly adult environments

Instead of lowering the level of pots for the kids, this toilet allows them to be at the same level as adults. What is a better alternative, lowering or raising?

Urban textures

NYC.

Anatomy of a Bombay bus ticket

Do you remember the time when the BEST bus tickets would look like this?

(Click on the image for a detail on the ticket codes)

It used to be lot of fun in an earlier life. When we were little, we would add up all the numbers on the top and align them to the alphabet to see who might be thinking about us at that instant. In this ticket, the numbers on the top 523-358281 add up to 37, that’s K in the alphabet. Which would mean, that a person whose name starts with K was thinking about me. Funnily enough, whether that person was thinking of you or not, you thought about them.

Today, it’s a different story.

Technology has taken out the entire romance, and has opted for convenience. Now, it’s a machine that gives you the ticket. Even the metallic clink of the conductor’s puncher that we would listen all the time is missing. Many more conductors now have those little handheld evil machines that print out these characterless tickets.

Oh, the good ole’ days.

Bombay monsoons. Fun for some.

You have to love the rains in Bombay, to love Bombay.

Quite a few more pictures of Bombay monsoons here.

(Lower Parel, July 2008)

Hello there, Kitty

From chic to commonplace, Hello Kitty has seen it all.

(Varanasi, India, June 2010)

Smoke break.

Every week day, hundreds descend in this little nook in Polo Road, Shillong, and bet on archery. The idea is to bet on the total number of arrows that will be shot by the archers. The last two digits are up for grabs. And they typically pay 1:80 Rupees.

When we went, all these archers shot a total of 924 arrows into the target. Some went home rich, some poorer. Nevertheless, everyone comes back again the next day to start things all over.

More pictures here

Just so I’m loud and clear

Why is this the preferred way to talk on a cellphone for some? Perceptually, more audible to the person on the other end?

Three boys.

Dashboard dining

At Bademiyas, they use a little Coke bottle to prop up the hood. Then they serve food on the car. Easy. No waiting for tables. Always fun.

Rainiest town in the world needs two wipers

Cherrapunji, North East India

Smaller sizes in jumbo glasses

Via Flickr:
All his sugarcane pieces are cut in smaller sizes because of the space constraint behind the machine.

Repurposing tea strainers to redesign carrom board pockets

When you don’t have a pillow, repurpose.