Cool Hunting

Alessi Spring/Summer 2008
Alessi's upcoming Spring/Summer 2008 product line builds on their reputation for smartly-designed kitchenware. This season, the Italian company employed the talents of a handful of celebrated designers to create some interesting twists on standard fare. One example is the sleekly egg-shaped “Pop-Up” bottle cap opener, which is work of Milanese designer Giovanni Alessi Anghini. The pressure-operated mechanism removes the bottle cap in one downward...

Yoshitomo Nara Glassware for Cerealart
Made by Cerealart, the Philadelphia producer of contemporary art multiples, these new drinking glasses feature designs by renowned Japanese artist, Yoshitomo Nara. Known for his "kawaii" or cute style that adopts the look of animated cartoons, the tumblers are made in Japan and—like his other pastel, sad-eyed characters—are sure to find fans among adults and kids alike. Available from Cerealart in three different sizes,...

Celebrity Weighing Scales
The number of pounds you weigh is pretty much arbitrary unless you are a pro boxer, but the folks at Angry understand that "nobody wants to weigh a plain old number these days." The Celebrity Weighing Scale helps you see how you compare to your fave celebs, historical figures, and made-up characters. Settings that range from Baby Jesus to King Kong, and include Chuck...

Matchstick Garden
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...

Thinking of You Pillow
Like artist Barbara Kruger's more traditional work, this canvas pillow makes an oblique pairing of a dramatic black and white image with a cliché phrase. The characteristic Kruger effect—canceling out any heavy-handedness with humor before it even begins to feel pedantic—is a wry comment on domesticity and family. Available exclusively from the Whitney for $30, as a gift, it's the most artful guilt trip...