Cool Hunting
| 17 July 2008view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Graniph Design Award.2
by Doug Black
The design t-shirt store graniph just finished their Design Award.2. Through an exhaustive selection process that lasted months, judges surveyed more than 15,000 applicants and chose just a lucky 30 winners. There were 19 bronze award winners, 10 silver and a single gold prize winner, who also took home $9,000. The winning design (shown at right) was created by Cho Jo Tzu of Taipei, Taiwan. It's intended to depict a bunch of yoga-practicing rabbits tasked with saving the planet.
Take a look at the other prize-winning designs after the jump (click to enlarge).
PetPocket Bird Carrier
by Max Gold
Forget toting dogs, iguanas or other pets, nothing will impress the in-crowd like bringing a bird to class or work. And now you can—on your back—in the PetPocket Bird Carrier. The PetPocket is a transportable birdcage, complete with a removable bottom tray and two toy hanging loops from the top. The backpack holds small to medium-sized birds (including but not limited to parakeets, conures, canaries, finches, budgies, and lovebirds). Keep your feathered friend close, safe, and with you always.
According to Peggy Belcher from Spokane, Wisconsin as quoted on the testimonials page, "It looks great and big mushy birds love to be close to you." It's $30 from Doctors Foster and Smith.
via designboom
New from 20ltd: Shagreen Backgammon Set and Sailing Canoe
by Ami Kealoha
The two latest offerings from the online concept boutique 20ltd, a Shagreen (Stingray) backgammon set and a fiberglass sailing canoe, are the ultimate interpretations of toys for big kids.
Personally made for 20ltd by Max Parker (heir to Geoffrey Parker, the British maker of luxury games), the backgammon set features sterling silver inlaid Shagreen playing pieces, a hand-inlaid Shagreen playing field and gold plated hardware, as well as several other gorgeous details. Limited to an edition of 20, the Alligator-encased set will set you back £9,000.
The canoe comes from a relative newcomer, 15 year-old, Massachusets-based Caillou, who were inspired by decked canoes of the 1800s. The result is a hybrid canoe-sailboat, that in this case gets the aesthetic benefit of a glossy black fiberglass body contrasted with an ivory sail. With quality craftsmanship and high tech materials, the Caillou also adds the convenience of two modes of transport, as well as plenty of stowage. You can get one of the five produced for 20ltd for £5,460.
Potential Energy: Book Giveaway Project
by Ami Kealoha
by Passa Chattra
Some things in life are still free. "Potential Energy" is a book written by Schist, telling the story of a 30 year-old product designer "struggling to reconcile his role in the creation of useless objects with his wish for a more environmentally sound existence" that the author leaves in various places for people to find. This book explores the power of objects to affect mood, ethical living, literary attack on cliché, the human experience and how best to live—just to name a few themes. Read the rest of the plot on his site.
The book itself (the main star and product of a writer wanting to connect with an audience) is just the beginning. In response to the frustrations and challenges of trying to publish "Potential Energy" (apparently getting an agent or publisher to look at your manuscript can be nearly impossible), Schist has decided to print 1000 copies himself and is dropping them around the world (in interesting places and ways) starting in London, San Francisco and continuing.
His main intention is still to get people to engage with the novel, this is not any kind of publishing stunt. This giveaway was born out of response and a desire for the writer to share his book. With a cover screaming "FREE BOOK. Pick Me Up" it's an open invitation to pick it up and read it, comment on the book via the site, and pass it on to increase readership. Keep on the lookout.
Read more about the book, download it for yourself, see drop off sites and view comments on the Potential Energy site.
