Cool Hunting

Absolut Machines: Absolut Quartet
Absolut Machines is Absolut's promotional initiative that explores where technology meets design in the form of two "machines." Last night we got to check out one, the Absolut Quartet, an interactive multi-instrumental robotic machine. It consists of a marimba played by rubber balls precisely shot from a robotic cannon, a series of spinning wineglasses dampened by robotic fingers and an array of percussive instruments....

See What's Possible Call for Entries
Adobe Photoshop, the perennial staple for graphics editing, has teamed up once again with our friends at Cut & Paste to present "See What's Possible." The challenge invites designers, photographers, animators and graphics aficionados of all stripe to submit an animation or motion graphic video no more than 15-seconds in length and based around the idea "Photoshop: See What's Possible." A panel of "prestigious...

Brit Insurance Designs Of The Year
On Tuesday evening London's design scene gathered together on the banks of the River Thames to celebrate the best designs of 2007. The Brit Insurance Designs of The Year incorporates architecture, furniture, fashion, products, graphics, interactive and transport. An international jury of design experts have selected their favorite creations over the last 12 months to be exhibited in the Design Museum. The show demonstrates...

Greener Gadgets Call For Entries
Greener Gadgets, a conference on the topic of greening consumer electronics, partnered up with our amigos at Core 77 in hopes of seeking out design innovations for more eco-friendly electronics. The design competition will engage established design firms and students alike to come up with new solutions for consumer electronics addressing energy issues, health and toxicity, new materials, product lifecycle and social development. The...

Bblessing Home Absinthe Set
One of our favorite men's stores, Bblessing, just launched their brand-spanking new home line. These graphic absinthe spoons—the first pieces in the line—were designed by Surface to Air's Daniel Jackson in keeping with the store's interior, which was "very much inspired by my own abstraction of a fin de siècle Absinthe bar." For those unfamiliar with the absinthiana, the ritual of drinking the famed,...

2007 Gift Guide: The Lush List
With shopping crowds, dysfunctional families and Seasonal Affective Disorder (not to mention joy, etc.), there are plenty of reasons to drink during the holiday season. Reward your favorite drunk with a gift related to the age-old pastime. From robots (for those too lazy to pour their own beer) to a surrealist bottle of champagne, there's something for every kind of alcoholic. Below are four...