Brit Insurance Designs Of The Year

by Leonora Oppenheim

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 an expansive range of beautiful, innovative and creative ideas from around the world. The 100 chosen projects give a much more diverse and interesting view of the design world than the previous Designer of The Year award which created controversy year after year for it's limited shortlist of four British designers.

Now, instead of the designer, they are concentrating on the design and making it an international affair, thereby creating a show of inclusion rather than exclusion. We're happy to see that some of the projects that have been featured on Cool Hunting have made it into the final 100. Anthony Dicken's Anglepoise Fifty, the iPhone, Giles Deacon's SS07 collection, and SANAA's New Museum in NYC. There will be a selected winner for each category that will be announced on 11 March 2008. A week later the overall winner of Design of The Year will be chosen.

The E.L.F.

by Lost At E Minor

The E.L.F. is the new side project of Gerling frontman, Darren Cross. A genre agnostic, Cross throws a tantrum on "Stevie Nicks Hearts," the first EP created el solo in the dark underbelly of his Sydney home studio. The indie-infused aesthetic smashes itself against the wall, whilst '80s synth-beats get thrown across the room like a bad break up. It's like Beck made babies with Dannii Minogue, and the chubby new born is strange looking yet surprisingly adorable.

Earnest Sewn x Moscot Collaboration and Pop Up Shop

by Ami Kealoha

by Jason Wilson

Come April, Earnest Sewn, the premium denim purveyor, is devoting its Back Room space to the patriarchal eyewear company Moscot. The new installment will launch the two brands' collaborative collection of co-branded Buffalo Horn Moscot Lemtosh frame specs. These one-of-a-kind styles are designed with real glass and colored lenses just as they were 70 years ago. And for bragging rights, each pair will also be numbered for authenticity.

"What attracted us to Moscot is their rich New York City heritage and design aesthetic," says Scott Morrison, founder and designer of Earnest Sewn. Mr. Hyman Moscot opened his first store at 94 Rivington Street in a not-even-close-to-gentrified LES in 1915. To commemorate Mr. Moscot's first entrepreneurial gambit, Earnest Sewn's 420-square-foot installation space will be designed in homage to Moscot's first location, a shop that once gave the gift of sight (and style) to Buddy Hollys, Johnny Depps, and plain old ladies alike. In April, you can see for yourself.

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Popdeck x Cool Hunting Skateboard Design Winner

by Tim Yu

We have a winner!

Of the dozens of entries, voters at Popdeck narrowed it down to three and after a close vote here at the CH headquarters, we ultimately chose CSJ 89's hyperbolic take on OCD. The contorted facial expressions interpret OCD in its worst form, depicting a visceral reaction to something as seemingly inconsequential as misaligned fringe on a rug.

Limited in quantity—only 20 are available—hurry on over to purchase yours at Popdeck. Many thanks to Popdeck for making it all happen!

Rachel Papo: Serial No. 3817131

by Jacob Resneck

Ohio-born Israeli Rachel Papo began photographing female soldiers in 2004. Having worked as a photographer in the Israeli Air Force for two years during her mandatory military service, Papo had experienced first hand being “plucked from her home surroundings and placed in a rigorous institution where her individuality is temporarily forced aside in the name of nationalism” as she describes it in her artist's statement. The project is titled Serial No. 3817131 from the author's own military service.

These images show the homogenizing effect of military service of young people. For young women it can be especially contradictory with competing demands from society to appear gentle and feminine with the necessity of adapting to the rigors of a regimented survival.

“In striving to maintain her gentleness and femininity, the soldier seems to be questioning her own identity, embracing the fact that two years of her youth will be spent in a wistful compromise,” writes Papo.

According to Papo's website, a book published by PowerHouse will be released this spring. Click images for detail and see more after the jump.

An interesting contrast is Jerusalem-born photographer Steve Sabella's images of occupied Palestinian lands. A professional freelancer who shoots photos for the United Nations, Sabella maintains a website bringing images of daily life from Palestine to the outside world.

Royal Tichelaar Makkum Work Table Lamp

by Tim Yu

After looking at an abundance of wiry, steel desk lamps that all felt a bit too stale, lifeless and boring, I found the Royal Tichelaar Makkum Work Table Lamp. Made of Oak, glazed white ceramic and using a low wattage halogen bulb, it gives off a certain warmth that others just can't compete with.

Industrial tailor Dick van Hoff worked with the four-century-old Dutch ceramics company Royal Tichelaar Makkum to create the light. In fact, Makkum is the oldest company in the Netherlands. The Work Table marks their first departure from decorative products to making more useful but still elegant products. Not bad for a first go!

Pictures really don't do it justice, so try and search one out to fully appreciate the craftsmanship and simplicity. Available in white, and most recently in orange and platinum (left), purchase one starting at $800 from Matter. Also be sure to check out the rest of the Work collection, including a clock, vase and pen tray, all made of Oak and that lusciously smooth ceramic.

45 iPod Cases

by Josh Rubin

The folks at 45 iPod Cases have devised a perfect way to integrate antiquated analog technology into the digital age by reclaiming old seven-inch records and folding them into protective vinyl shells to house 5th and 6th generation iPods. In addition to the clever way that the repurposed record continues in its role of facilitating music, the enlarged record holes perfectly fit the iPods' circular scroll wheel. The ingenious design move makes us wonder whether Apple's dimensions are utter coincidence or supreme cunning.

Music fans may be more excited by the wide array of musicians available. Their catalog includes 45s ranging from Elvis to Depeche Mode and will be made specifically to fit your particular iPod model.

The designers at 45 also produce cases for 1st and 2nd generation iPod Nanos, which employ the cases from abandoned cassette tapes. Using various classic cassettes shells, they install an acrylic screen and neoprene padding that allows full functionality and protection. You can similarly choose from a gallery of different cassettes designs.

Both Nano and regular iPod cases can be purchased on their website for $45 CAD or $40 if you participate in their poster campaign.