Cool Hunting
| 24 July 2006view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Quantic: Nugroove vol. 2
by m ss ng p eces
Known for deftly blending a wide range of multi-ethnic sounds, calling Brighton-based DJ Quantic a consummate crate-digger is almost an understatement. With that in mind and with the impending North American release of the 26 year-old's fourth solo album, An Announcement to Answer, we tagged along with Quantic on a recent visit to a Brooklyn record store. There and in an interview, he shared some tips and gave us a little insight into his current collecting habits, which naturally show up on An Announcement. The disc—a laid-back journey through jazz, funk, hip hop, and soul—are what you'd expect from a musician who's traveled throughout Africa and Puerto Rico, creating and recording much of his album on the road. From playful beats laced with trumpet samples and warm guitar loops to guest appearances by labelmate Ohmega Watts and LA-based chanteuse Noelle Scaggs, the eclectic lineup is well-balanced, never boring, and plenty lively. Due out tomorrow 25 July 2006, you can get it from Ubiquity or from Amazon.
Matchstick Garden
by Ami Kealoha
Making gardening (or at least the planting part) easier than lighting a match, Matchstick Garden is a matchbook that holds 10 cardboard matches loaded with seeds ready for planting. Available in wildflower (Cornflower, Shasta Daisy, Corn Marigold, and Field Poppy) or herb (Basil, Chives, Parsley, and Thyme), simply insert a seeded matchstick into soil, add water and sunlight, and watch your garden grow. The packaging can also be customized (minimum orders of 5,000) by contacting Noted. Though still on backorder, Matchstick Gardens will be available from several retailers, including Exit9, Orange County Museum of Art, and the J Paul Getty Museum Bookshop.
Richard Sarson
by Evan Orensten
Richard Sarson is a recent graduate of London's Royal College of Art.
Circles are a principal element of his design vocabulary as evidenced in several of his recent projects, which include The Circle Project, a recent series of drawings made with a compass and felt markers, Swim, a music video for U.K.-based band Fell City Girl, and a series of posters for the Royal College's music nights.
More photos after the jump
Melissa Borrell Jewelry
by Ami Kealoha
Currently on display as part of Brooklyn store/gallery Spring's show "Around the Flat," Melissa Borrell's jewelry translates topographic maps into wearable forms. The RISD-trained designer asks "How can I change the way someone views the world?" redefining jewelry as well in the process. Though Borrell's work seems to point to the differences between urban and rural landscapes, the New York-based jewelry designer also makes" expanding jewelry" and introduced a pop-out stainless steel pendant at this year's ICFF
Also on Cool Hunting: Ian Hundley
Morph Pad
by Josh Rubin
Who doesn't love a good desktop toy to fidget with on a conference call or while pondering the next big thing? The Morph Pad from Montréal based Schleeh Design satisfies that need and is a functional note pad to boot. Available in a variety of patterns or with custom printing, the 1000 sheet pads have a durable yet flexible binding that makes sculpting possible. Drop them a line to order some custom pads or find a retailer near you.
Turk + Taylor Tees
by Josh Rubin
Dyed in organic inks and fabrics in the company's 900 square-foot design studio / production facility / warehouse / Victorian apartment in San Francisco, Turk+Taylor's T-shirts feature light-hearted and great looking designs.
A hand dying and screening process allows for attention to detail that sets these shirts apart from others, and in only their second year, Turk+Taylor's wares are stocked in specialty boutiques from Hollywood to Brooklyn.
In their second season, the Autumn / Winter 2006 line is ready for inspection at their online shop.
René Barba's Penta Chair for Umbra
by Evan Orensten
Cuban born, Miami raised and living in Paris since the early nineties, each of these cities and cultures has an influence on René Barba's design. His new Penta Chair for Umbra presents his design philosophy in a tight, angular and attractive form: Strong lines, geometric forms, accessibility and proportion with a modern view. René works across media, including ceramic, glass, furniture and material.
The Penta Chair is made of several facets, each covered in leather and designed to resemble the facets of a precious cut stone, "revealing a different perception depending on the viewer’s standing point," says Barba, and the metal rods at the base provide, contrary to their simple presence, a strong and stable setting for the seat. The chair measures 29 x 24 x 20" and retails for $385.00
