Cool Hunting
| 21 May 2008view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
DFC Design: Sexy Robot Super-Universe
by Brian Fichtner
DFC is a Mexico City based product design studio comprised of Tony Moxham and Mauricio Paniagua. The pair relocated to Mexico after an extensive tenure in New York (Tony working in art direction and journalism, Maurice in painting) with the intention of opening a boutique hotel or bar. Traveling the countryside, they quickly discovered a wealth of regional artisans and soon shifted their focus to design. With a broad collection ranging from dinnerware and glassware, to ceramics and furniture, DFC produces some truly eccentric work, all the while utilizing the impressive skills of Mexican craftspeople.
Recently, the pair embarked on a droid-themed collection called Sexy Robot Super-Universe which Tony described as being inspired by such broad themes as science-fiction, Memphis, club kids, glam, iconic robot women, and bionics. In keeping with the futurist motif, the new series employs pearlescent glazes in the ceramic pieces (Sexy Robot Friends, below), and glitzy Swarovski Crystals on the Koonsian recycled glass sculpture Showgirl (above right, click images for detail).
The DD Sisters (right), so named for their breast size, are the most literal in the sexy series. They're also remarkably difficult to produce. Fabricated with Chaquira beading techniques, wherein very small colored beads are pressed into a layer of wax to create patterns, a hand-beaded piece can take weeks to complete.
DFC's designs can be purchased through their website. Select objects can be found at The Future Perfect in Brooklyn, and Moss in Manhattan.
Also on Cool Hunting: Yoko Devereaux x DFC: Housewares
Little Zero T-Shirts
by Wendy Dembo
Steve MacDonald aka Steve Mac aka ramblinworker is one of my favorite artists, so I wasn't surprised to hear that the band Modest Mouse had asked to use a piece of his artwork for a t-shirt design.
Steve asked his friend Matthew Davis, also an S.F.-based artist and skilled web designer, to join him in making shirts. Together the two created a top-selling Modest Mouse tour shirt as well as designs for Puma, DC Shoes and the Bicycle Film Festival, not to mention another Modest Mouse t-shirt.
Recently they decided to come out with a line of their own and Little Zero, a collaboration between MacDonald, Davis and another friend, Tim Clinton came to be. Moving into a realm of over-the-top t-shirt screening, the Summer 2008 line features five designs with up to eight different colors as well as a bold, front and back all-over print.
My favorites are the Alphabet Explosion and Skulls with Rainbow. You know what I’ll be wearing this summer. (Above right images courtesy of
Paulson Press
by Jonah Samson
For the past several years, Paulson Press in Berkeley, California has been working with some of the art world's biggest (and some of the newest) names to produce incredibly beautiful limited edition intaglio prints. Founders and master print-makers Pamela Paulson and Renee Bott wanted to create an environment in which artists could explore this unique art form, and create some of their best work.
Paulson press first began by teaching workshops in intaglio printing, and produced editions for local artists. Shortly afterwards, the Press began to expand their production by creating exclusive works by artists such as Ciao Fonseca (below left), Ross Bleckner (below right) and Chris Johanson (above right).
Check out their amazing inventory on their website, including my personal favorite of the spiraling colors by Chris Johanson. Also check out the short videos on their site that explain and demonstrate the intaglio process.
David Saunders Fashion
by Lost At E Minor
David Saunders, a fine artist in a past life who previously dabbled in tees, has brought his impeccable eye for color to an industry still recovering from its excesses. And he pulls it off with aplomb.
Placed in London's exclusive, Dover Street Market, his kaleidoscope collection manages to go beyond the youthful addiction with standing out, and makes fluoro impossibly sophisticated. It's an exciting collection from a methodical designer who has a keen grasp of humor. As he says, "the design process and the print process begin to collide. There is a wedding, we have cake, and then there is a bit of dance. But the courting is where things come together."
