Astro Studios - Blog

The Latest Ink

Tom Galbraith — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700

Scout reviewed on Wired.com

Click and read all the kind words Wired has to say about ASTRO’s Scout Backpack. It’s a virtual ode to Scout’s versatility and style.

Scout how I love thee, let me count the ways...

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ASTRO at the IDSA Conference

Tom Galbraith — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:08:00 -0700

Going Once, Going Twice, SOLD!

Norio and a small crew of ASTRO peeps are off to the IDSA Conference in Portland this week, and they will not be showing up empty handed. ASTRO and Norio donated this limited edition skateboard bedecked with an original image created by Norio to be auctioned off at the conference. All proceeds from the auction will benefit The Design Foundation, a public charity that advances education in design by funding scholarships and rewarding educators.

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ASTRO at the International Design Excellence Awards

Tom Galbraith — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:06:00 -0700

Goooooooaaaaaallllll

It's not World Cup fever that has us feeling sporty these days, it's the armload of trophies. Zune HD won the Gold in the category of Interactive Product Experiences and a Bronze in the category of Entertainment. While trotting off the field we also picked up a couple finalist mentions for the Ooma Telo and the Astro Gaming Scout Backpack. Score!

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Tom’s Soma Review #10

Tom Galbraith — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:06:00 -0700

The Rainbow Way

Chris, Andres' and I strode underneath our umbrellas through the unseasonably rainy streets of our beloved Soma one recent afternoon heading to The Rainbow Way Restaurant and Bar: a friendly neighborhood lunch spot with some street cred for its kooky charm. Upon entering the restaurant it felt like we walked into someone's home, complete with living room, kitchen, master bedroom and all. We chose the 2nd bedroom on the right and I really liked being secluded from the rest of the patrons. So many Soma eateries have you butted up too close to other tables. Our room had a karaoke machine with microphones and I found myself daydreaming about the last time I sang "Lady" by Kenny Rogers to a group of spunky senior citizens in Reno. Thankfully the owner/waitress interrupted my daymare as she approached our room and took our order. I chose the Bung Thit Nuong, (bbq pork and imperial rolls over vermicelli noodles and salad) and Chris had the Pho Thai. Both dishes were good but we had plate envy over Andres' Com Ga Nuong Xa (bbq lemon grass chicken over rice), the tastiest plate of the three. The food at Rainbow is solid, no frills Viet cuisine, but there is a slight shroud of mystery hanging over the night time goings on at Rainbow Way, maybe it's the karaoke machines in the bedrooms, maybe it's the copious bottles of Hennesy, but when I asked the owner about night time at the restaurant she said kindly, "separate owners". The real appeal to Rainbow is how instantly disarming the owner and chef are. I'm going to go at night and report back, but the owner told me that when I come back for lunch she will cook me anything I want, even if it isn't on the menu. I'm thinking a burger version of the traditional Vietnamese sandwich would be crazy good. So if you are looking for some really sweet people, a comfortable and funky atmosphere with good Vietnamese food, get on down to the Rainbow Way.

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Boxee in Fast Company

Tom Galbraith — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:06:00 -0700

Kudos to Boxee!

We just wanted to take a minute to give Boxee a big shout out for being named one of this year’s Top Ten Most Creative Small Businesses by Fast Company. From this year’s list of 100 Most Creative People in Business, Fast Company has derived a top ten list of small but powerful companies that demand attention. Nice work Boxee! Double congratulations to Boxee’s CEO and Cofounder Avner Ronan for being #84 on the Top 100 Most Creative People list.

Here’s to further collaboration in the near future!

Read More

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Take Pride in your Ride #2

Tom Galbraith — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:05:00 -0700

2 Fast 2 Furious

In our second segment showcasing how the ASTRO Crew gets from here to there, we have "Wildman" Bill Webb showing off his Ducati 916 Superbike.

It's pretty obvious that Bill's solution to the commute is to ride the fastest and coolest looking bike you can get your hands on. An instant classic designed by the patriarch of Italian donor cycle design, Massimo Tamburini, the Ducati 916 is still widely admired for its iconic design and outstanding performance.

Word on the street is that Bill may have an extra one of these laying around somewhere that he is willing to part with for the right price. For more information on the Ducati 916, Click here

Tech Specs:
1995 Ducati 916 Superbike

Engine:
916cc fuel injected 4 valve desmodromic liquid cooled L-twin
115 hp

Suspension (upgrades):
Ohlins racing front forks
Ohlins steering dampener
Ohlins rear shock

Performance extras:
Ducati Performance Dry clutch
HID Headlight
Michelin Pilot power racing tires
Custom black race fairings

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Take Pride In Your Ride

Tom Galbraith — Tue, 18 May 2010 00:05:00 -0700

The Daily Commute

When you hear the word “commute” and how it relates to the Bay Area, the first reaction is usually cold sweats, but at ASTRO the C word is a call to conquer with style. Over the next few weeks we'll be showcasing the transportation solutions utilized by our crew. Be it bikes, Big Wheels, boats, or boots, ASTRO always arrives on time and in style. This week we feature Anh Nguyen. Anh rocks a BMC SL01 Fixie that delivers a comfy and great handling ride with buttery smooth Phil Wood’s hubs for traversing the gritty paths down 6th street.

Tech Specs:

Frame / Size / Year:
2007 BMC SL01 RoadRacer

Handlebars / Stem:
Gravity Maximus 31.8mm - Oury Grips - Thomson 70mm Stem

Fork / Headset:
Easton EC70 BMC - FSA Carbon

Front Wheel / Hub / Rim / Tire:
velocity deep v black - Phil Wood - Radial Laced - Rubio Pro Tires

Rear Wheel / Hub / Rim / Tire:
Velocity b43 black - White Industries ENO hub - White Industries Cog 18t - Rubino Pro Tires

Crankset / Bottom Bracket:
Sugino 75 Gold Crankset - Sugino 75 bottom bracket

Saddle / Seat Post:
Fizik Aliante XM - Thomson 31.6 Seatpost

Pedals / Chain:
Crank Brothers 50/50 Pedals - KMC k710SL Hollow Pin chain

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South Of Market Kickball Association (SMKA)

Tom Galbraith — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:05:00 -0700

BBQ, Sunshine, Doggies, and Kickball

The only thing that may rival our Clydesdalian work ethic, is our Barnum and Bailey-esque play ethic. After producing future-tech design all week, we sometimes need to live in the moment and kick the living daylights out of a little rubber ball. Any kickball teams reading this should recognize ASTRO as the SMKA Champs and should feel free to entertain the idea of getting whooped by us.

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Hot Press!

Tom Galbraith — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:04:00 -0700

Brett in the May issue of Fast Company

While you are skimming through your local magazine rack this week check out our fearless leader Brett in the latest issue of Fast Company. He is filed under the NEXT Tech section. Or you can click here to read the article on line.

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ASTRO FREE TIME No.2

Tom Galbraith — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:04:00 -0700

Shacked Up From the Mossies

Astro Creative Director Woo recently had the opportunity to meet up with his mates from Oz for a twelve day surfing tour off the Islands of West Sumatra, a surfer's dream, and a pretty far out of the way destination for this California transplant. Hitting the season early to avoid crowds is a bit risky due to inconsistent surf conditions, but the gamble paid off in the form of epic unpopulated surf. After hopping aboard the The Mikumba II, an eighty foot traditional Sulawasian teak boat, they bopped down the coast of the Mentawai Islands hitting Mecca like surf locations such as HTs, Macaronis, and a plethora of undisclosed locations that shall forever remain unnamed. All the while catching their own meals and having them prepared by the boat's eight person crew that also attended to everything the surfer's needed: laundry, massages and their board's ding repairs. But even in this surfer's Utopia, there were still a couple rules that were to be obeyed. If you said the word "work" in any context you had to immediately drop and do ten pushups, and the same punishment was administered for forgetting to say the word "paradise" before cracking your favorite frosty beverage. So adding to Astro's mantra of maximizing free time, Woo didn't just go on vacation, he scratched off his list the goal of daily surfing in an Indonesian surf Shangri-La.

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IDSA’s Bay Area Annual Student Mixer

Tom Galbraith — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:04:00 -0700

Norio and Brandon Paying It Forward

Astro’s Brandon Lynn and Norio Fujikawa recently reviewed portfolios for IDSA’s Bay Area Annual Student Mixer. Held at the CCA San Francisco campus, Norio and Brandon reviewed work by students from San Jose State University, The Academy of Art University, California College of the Arts, and San Francisco State University. By lending their seasoned insight into the professional design world, Norio and Brandon not only helped guide the students into tomorrow, but also enriched themselves by giving back to a community that has helped them flourish as well.

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Tom's Soma Review #9

Tom Galbraith — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:04:00 -0700

Taqueria Chile Verde Vs. Taqueria Cancun

Tacos are important, everyone knows that, so having multiple options for taquerias in the neighborhood is one of those oft over looked luxuries of South of Market living, right up there with broken parking meters for free parking. While most Astro employees frequent the Taco truck located at 6th and Bryant for their Mexican fix, I'm a creature of comfort (not just comfort food). Being simultaneously retro and post-modern I have grown tired of the trendy food truck phenomenon and have taken it upon myself to review a couple old school taquerias in our hood.
On the corner of 6th and Market there are 2 taquerias: Taqueria Cancun and Taqueria Chile Verde. On the Market St. side of the corner sits Cancun. By far the busier of the two, Cancun is a part of a small chain of restaurants with locations in the inner and outer Mission as well as this Market Street location. While the chips and salsas are very good, the tacos were only passable, and with the added inconvenience of the long line and limited seating, my visit added up to a pretty lackluster experience
On the 6th Street side is Taqueria Chile Verde. Although it lacks the patronage of its Market St. counterpart, Chile Verde doesn’t sit idly by and let Cancun grab all the glory. Established over fifteen years ago, Chile Verde’s food is not only fresher and tastier, but there is never a wait or trouble getting a table. To top it off Chile Verde less expensive and boasts a great chile relleno combination.
The obvious winner by K.O. - La Chile Verde!

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The ASTRO Gaming Scout Bag Back Story

Tom Galbraith — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:03:00 -0700

Talking Shop With the Designers of the Scout Bag.

Just like the Swiss Army Knife isn't just for Swiss Soldiers who need an emery board, Astro Gaming’s Scout Backpack isn't just a bag for gamers who need their consoles. At its core, the Scout is a bag for humans. I recently had the opportunity to sit down to lunch with the designers of the backpack and discuss its inspiration, performance, and finesse.
Gamers need a bag that can not only take a beating, but also keep all their precious cargo, such as an A30 Audio System, XBox or Playstation console, controllers, cables, sunglasses, handhelds, and Red Bull, safe and sound. Like those of government issue, the Scout does out-pack and outlast it's civilian counterparts, but unlike army surplus goods, this bag is extremely comfortable. Even filled with all those heavy goods, the Scout is the ultimate in convenience, comfort, and balance. "We set out to design a bag to speak to gamers; durable materials, loads of extra space for all the gear, and everything else that serves the sleek and shady gamer lifestyle. We also wanted something with a really clean silhouette with all the pockets on the inside and nothing hanging off the bag or exterior pockets, even the handle is integrated and fits inside the tight and clean design”, said Mich. "Although our goal was to specifically design a backpack to stoke out the gamers, we also wanted to design a bag that appealed to a larger crowd," added Adam, “Another big factor in the design was to make the bag comfortably fit however you choose to wear it, it is just as comfortable low-rider style hanging around your belt as it is worn higher up like old school backpacking hiker style”. The premium lycra-bonded EVA panel padded backing, and dual-layered pretty-looking ballistic nylon material for the shoulder straps were chosen for their performance, endurance and foxiness. The designers even scraped samples of material against a cement wall to see which material was most resistant to pilling and snaring. The testing process for Scout's comfort and capacity level was no less rigorous, "We filled a few prototype bags with telephone books and asked people to walk and jump around with them, and we sat back and listened to the feedback. It was pretty funny to be working on stuff, then see out of the corner of your eye someone bunny-hopping down the hall way doing tests". This undying eye to detail is what helps make the Scout a classy comfortable ride that makes the even the heaviest loads feel lighter. When asked who they’d like to see walking down the street in their backpack? Mich and Adam answered quickly, and in unison: "Abe Lincoln, Fred Savage, and Joey Ramone."
I had a chance to test run the bag on a recent trip to Mexico with my lovely wife and the two ankle-biters. This bag holds a ton of stuff, looks cool, and blends into your body rather than hanging off of it. I was able to fit my 17'' Macbook Pro, a couple novels, Littlest Pet Shop Toys, a Leapster, dice, cribbage board, the Economist (which I never quite got to), the March issue of MAD magazine (read it cover to cover), book of crosswords, pens, paper, earplugs, gummi bears, sippy cups, diapers and wipes, all while staying remarkably slim and hanging tight as I pulled my usual clandestine parking maneuvers and navigated the narrow airplane passageways. There’s also a pocket on the shoulder strap that holds your ID and credit cards, putting airport identification close at hand or if you are the thin wallet type, eliminates the need to carry one at all. Speaking of which, this bag is a steal at $79.00! Go to the ASTRO Gaming site to pick one up today

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ASTRO Gaming's A30 Headset

Tom Galbraith — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:03:00 -0700

Cross-Over

Hip Hip Hooray! The new ASTRO Gaming A30 headset has just launched. Get your mitts on these bad boys today and start gaming, skyping, rocking out, or just wear them around your neck to look cool. The A30 shall perform for you. To order yours today go to ASTRO Gaming, or if you want to read up a bit more, check out the buzz in Engadget, Gizmodo, and Fast Company

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Juxtapoz Ad Featuring ASTRO’s Norio Fujikawa

Tom Galbraith — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:02:00 -0800

All Things Uncommon

Uncommon, a product tattooing community are on the prowl, recently selecting Norio Fujikawa’s Quadbot to grace their full-page ad in the March issue of Juxtapoz. These fine folk of Uncommon were on tour last week displaying their wears at Macworld, and we all know what the road can do to tour dogs, so we got together and threw a party here at the studio for the sake of art, music, and ping-pong. To learn more about Uncommon’s Thermo-Active Transdermal Technology visit their website, or click here to browse and collect all of Norio’s designs and to check out his artist bio. So RUN, don’t walk to your local newsstand for the latest issue of Juxtapoz.

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Tom's Soma Review #8

Tom Galbraith — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:02:00 -0800

Extra Mile VS. SightGlass Coffee

Rain or Fog, we go it alone or gather in groups seeking the aroma, the taste, and the effects of this delicious warming elixir, and where you choose to drink your cup of mud says as much about you as the brand of underwear you are (hopefully) wearing. The following is a quick guide to two of my favorite coffee spots in this blooming South of Market area: Sight Glass Coffee Roaster and The Chevron's Extra Mile store at Harrison and 6th Street.
Sight Glass Coffee Roasters is a fairly new business that sits on the corner of 7th and Folsom inside an industrial space behind a roll-up garage door, but don’t let the construction zone fool you - the espresso here is serious! The deluxe beans are from Verve in Santa Cruz, and once their space is finished they’ll be freshly roasting in-house, before brewing on their gorgeous refurbished La Marzocco GS2. Sights and sounds on my last visit: talkative coffee lovers, cute dogs, and Black Sabbath's Technical Ecstasy on the iPhone jukebox. But as swell as this experience was, I don't always need premium roasting and a chat with a local. Sometimes I just need fuel!
I like to fill up at the Chevron Station on 6th and Harrison. Inside, The Extra Mile coffee and food station is nestled between the perpetually broken Icee machine and the Krispy Kreme doughnut case. What the Chevron lacks in ambiance, it makes up for with convenience and gut-busting breakfast food. I’ll usually mow a Pancake Wrap, which is a corndog-looking food item comprised of a syrup flavored pancake rolled around a sausage on a stick. They also carry a wide variety of coffee flavors from French Vanilla, English Toffee, White Chocolate and Caramel, to Super Caffeinated, always a wise choice for those of us who are less morning inclined. So if your coffee tastes lean towards refined and you’ve got the time, Sight Glass is for you, but if you’re just in need of a quick jolt and a San Miguel breakfast taquito, Chevron’s Extra Mile is the way to go.

Inspired by Brandon and Chris' love for the cup of joe, photos by Nate Cervantes and Brian Bjelovuk.

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ASTRO’s Impact at CES 2010

Joe Frazier — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:01:00 -0800

Astro Astro Everywhere!

While roaming the halls of CES this year we were blown away by the plethora of products, gadgets, and identities designed by Astro Studios. From the uber-current Boxee Box, Ooma Telo, Zune HD and Intel Moorestown, to the brand identity extension of Kodak Slice and the still kicking Xbox 360, Astro was in the house!

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BOXEE @ CES 2010

Joe Frazier — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:01:00 -0800

Last Gadget Standing

Wowing the crowds at this year’s CES was the Boxee Box designed by Astro Studios. In classic championship style, Boxee was crowned CNN’s prestigious “Last Gadget Standing” award, in addition to being awarded a finalist slot in C-NET’S “Best of Show.”

Hats off to Boxee and D-Link!

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Astro free time

Tom Galbraith — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:01:00 -0800

"BRUTAL"

No two words in the English language snuggle and spoon each other quite like the words free and time. I believe it is impossible to say "free time" aloud without smiling. Whether or not you have an exciting day-gig, like the many happy folk of Astro Studios, free time is never to be taken lightly, frittered away or wasted. "How was your weekend?" can quickly turn into bravado and probable fish tales, but the following is true, and none of the photos have been doctored.

Jeff Nebolini, Astro lead graphic designer and cyclocross racer, just wrapped up his 2009 competitive season. The new year couldn't have come sooner for Jeff, who's body is thrashed after 15 intense races around Northern California and the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships in Portland, OR. It's no wonder that his bones need some patching.

Cyclocross races are dirty, dangerous, and as Jeff puts it, "BRUTAL." The courses are rife with a myriad of obstacles such as steps, barriers, ravines, steep slopes and deep mud or sand that require carrying the bike while running. The competitions, usually consisting of multiple laps around a short-ish track, are "always flat out sprints that last around 45 minutes to an hour."

Although "Work Hard, Play Hard", might be cringe-inducing bumper sticker rhetoric, it is appropriate for this hard working, harder riding cyclocrosser.

Jeff, we salute you.

Please check back for our future installments of "Free Time" to see what the Astro crew does for kicks and giggles.

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ASTRO Sponsors The Academy of Art University

Joe Frazier — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:01:00 -0800

Astro's Kyle Swen mentors AAU students

Astro Studios recently mentored a group of students at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco for the Fall 2009 semester. Lending his 20+ years in the design consultancy field, Kyle Swen, VP at Astro, had a lot to offer the students looking for credits in the course entitled Product Design IV taught by Jim Shook.

The goal of Astro sponsoring this class was to bring real-world expertise and process to the classroom. Kyle tasked the students with a project that required them to design a timepiece for a brand of their choosing. Kyle proposed the timepiece theme due to its natural blend of technology, style, and fashion. Believing that he could push the students even further, Kyle had them design the out-of-box experiences for the products as well. Kyle wanted the students to fully understand the brands and clients they were designing for, and pushed the students to define the demographic groups that the brand was trying to reach. For their finals, the students showed their presentations here at the studio, pitching their ideas to the Astro crew for critical review.

The class thrived on the invaluable “in the trenches" point-of-view from Kyle, and in return Kyle gleaned fresh zeal from the students. "It's always inspiring to see young enthusiastic talent excited about design. As working designers it re-sparks our creative engines as well”, stated Kyle.

It was truly a pleasure working with the Academy of Art University and their students. We look forward to expanded mentoring and educational collaboration in the future.

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