Good Luck With That One

Very Short List writes about Forvo - "a Web database with a single, insanely ambitious goal: to collect the proper pronunciation of every word, in every language, on the planet."

...Quite an ambitious goal.

Of course you want to hear people from around the world pronounce tomato, but they need your help. Warm up your smoothest Barry White and contribute. Here are a few pronunciations that need your voice.

blossom
liger
Mark Hamill

Good Design Recognized for Improving Business

Architectural Record and BusinessWeek announced their 'Good Design Is Good Business' award winners. In the 11th year, past winners have included Kyotofu and New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art.

"In one of the toughest contests of its kind, we scrutinize both design and function: The focus is on solving client problems and achieving business goals."
(from BusinessWeek)

This year's winning projects include:

• Alley24, designed by NBBJ Architects and owned by Vulcan Real Estate, Seattle, WA
• Edmunds.com, designed by STUDIOS Architecture and owned by Edmunds.com, Santa Monica, CA
• Elm Park Mixed-Use Development, designed by Bucholz McEvoy Architects Limited and owned by Radora Developments Ltd., Dublin, Ireland
• One Haworth Center, designed by Ralph Johnson at Perkins + Will Architects and owned by Haworth Inc., Holland, MI
• Poly International Plaza, designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill and owned by Poly Real Estate Group, Guangzhou, China
• Sidney Harman Hall, designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects and owned by Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.

One Haworth Center gets my vote for a project that applies great design (their US headquarters) to grow a business (workplace solutions). It's also located in Holland, MI... and investing in Michigan is a good thing.

This reminds me of a Fast Company article from 2005 about about Proctor & Gamble's CEO (A.G. Lafley) recognizing the competitive advantage of great design and fostering it across all brands.

"I care if consumers think our brands and products create a better experience and they buy us more regularly. Design is part of brand equity. We stand for election every day, and design's an important part of it."

Miniature Golf is good

Ever since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed miniature golf. When I got to play, Malibu Grand Prix was the best place to go. Now when I see a course on the highway, I always think about playing a round...but never do. :(


Photo by BWJ

PSFK writes about The Hayes Valley Historic Miniature Golf Extravaganza (HVHMGE). Visitors use handmade golf clubs (from willow and eucalyptus) to play the art installation. Each hole of the course depicts a period of Hayes Valley history.

More links:
The location (I think)
Flickr photoset
Learn about the game
Play a course near you
Be your own boss. Build a course

Welcome to the Good Collective

Let's do some good.