Design Your Self

by Ami Kealoha

Blob king Karim Rashid's unique brand of hyper-optimism isn't just about over-the-top design apparently. It's a also a lifestyle. Rashid's new book, Design Your Self: Rethinking the Way You Live, Love, Work, and Play, covers a wide range of topics (from watching porn to closet cleaning) and the super-designer's approach to nearly every mundane task is a rockstar mix of luxury and hedonism. Though it reads something like a coked-up self-help book, Rashid's enthusiasm—his cheeky one-liners in varying font sizes, the sections divided into candy-colored layouts, and the near-maniacal practicality ("Never check luggage if your trip is less than six days.")—is an engaging prescription for life in the 21st century.

Due out 11 April 2006, it can be preordered from Amazon.

Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge

by Jacob Resneck

Magnetically balanced bow-and-arrow? All-terrain wheelchair? These and more will compete to be the 2006 Modern Marvel of the Year.

As Americans we like out inventors to be iconoclastic eccentrics working out of their garages. There's more appeal to this iconic individual than an large-scale operation. In a move to reenforce this most American of traditions, the History Channel together with the National Inventors Hall of Fame put out a call for inventions. And Americans answered. Nearly 4,300 entries poured in from around the countr. Pared down to 25 semi-finalists from 17 states with an age range between 19 and 80 years old, towards the end of next month, one of these inventions will be named Modern Marvel of the Year.

Each semi-finalist will be aired on the History Channel on the Great Inventions Week program from 24-27 May 2006. The inventions will be showcased in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York City (22-26 May 2006) before moving on to Akron, Ohio at to displayed at the inventors' hall of fame through September.

Peter Sutherland: Coming Home

by Wendy Dembo

Neil Young has a song called "Country Home" about a city boy who goes home to the country. Every time the photographer Peter Sutherland goes home, he takes pictures of what was always around when he was growing up. Now, his new citified perspective allows him to notice things in a new light. What seems normal to people in Colorado Springs, through Sutherland's lens, looks not-so-normal to the rest of us city folks.

Perks & Mini (PAM), a creative force out of Melbourne, has just published "Coming Home," a collection of images that Peter took of the town and countryside where he grew up and where his Mom still lives. Sutherland met the PAM people when they showed the artwork from Peter's first book, "Autograf," where he documented NY graffiti artists, at their Melbourne gallery.

Images from "Coming Home" will be exhibited at The Reed Space, one of the Lower East Side's art, retail, and design compounds. The opening reception is this Thursday, 6 April 2006, from 8-10pm and the show runs through 27 April 2006.

More images and info after the jump.

Reload Bags

by Ami Kealoha

The greatest dilemma of the iBook generation has nothing to do with relationships or religion. Our most dire predicament is finding a backpack or cargo bag we can take everywhere and doesn’t fall apart after six months. And if it's maybe stylish as well, is that too much to ask?

Straight out of Philadelphia, Reload Baggage Inc., with their ultra-sturdy handmade bags, is here to answer satchel disasters. Best of all, with their customized stitching, Reload creates carry-on-your shoulder tattoos. Standout made-to-order bags on their website include a Space Invaders Micro Mini and a bag series based on vintage bicycle posters. Assembly and artistic flourish is realized right in their Northern Liberties neighborhood storefront.