CH at The Brooklyn Flea

by Karen Day

We're gearing up for our own little shop at the Brooklyn Flea next weekend as part of the series of "curated corners" the organizers put together and we thought we'd give you a sneak peek at some of the products we'll be peddling. What's more, Kiel Mead is not only providing his quirky designs like the Birdie light and accessories shown above, but the NYC-based artist is lending his hand with the construction of our booth.

From the range of talented designers and artists at Tokyo Art Beat, we just got a box of tees with graphics that are always intriguing and fresh (above left). Also on the Japanese front, we have an assortment of Zillion's awesome collection of belts, shoelaces and hats made from the traditional fabric of kimonos (above right).

Brooklyn-based industrial designer Sergio Silva offers up his cinder block-as-furniture adaptation in wood, while Peter Pracilio puts forward a classy dog crate.

Manhattan design studio Rich, Brilliant, Willing is representing with some of their furniture and their fun take on a birthday candle.

Kyle Cunniff's unique Droop Lamps will light up the corner, each one different than the other and adorned with brightly colored shades. Another cleverly distorted item is Matthew Bradshaw's Cue Bench, which would look great in any urban home.

Keeping industry alive in Brooklyn are the Mast Brothers, whose "toe-curling" chocolate will also have your mouth watering, and Joel Bukiewicz, who makes one-off knives that he cuts and sands to perfection (watch the CH video for proof).

So come out, say hi and shop with CH at the flea next Saturday and Sunday, 14-15 March 2009. This is a rare opportunity to pick up incredible products from the people we love to write about.

CH at the Brooklyn Flea
14-15 March 2009, 11am-6pm
76 Front Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201 map
+1 718 935 1052‎

FORMation iPhone Apps: Kern and Eye vs Eye

by CH Contributor

by Kori Schulman

IPhone toting graphic designers everywhere have FORMation studio to thank/blame for their addictive design-oriented apps Kern and Eye vs. Eye.

Tetris meets type in Kern, a game that tests player’s ability to accurately place a missing letter in a word. Scores are calculated based on type size, leading amount and accuracy of letter placement.

Eye vs. Eye challenges color-matching skills with a random target color that flashes which players then have to use three sliders (RGB) to match the target. Based on percentage of accuracy, the highest score wins.

Indulge your inner design nerd by buying Eye vs. Eye and Kern from the iTunes store for $1 each.

Deconet Online Modern Furniture Shop

by Karen Day

For those who've fantasized about a furniture-buying trip to Copenhagen, Deconet is an online modern furniture marketplace. Like 1stdibs with a more modern focus, the site connects buyers and sellers from all around the globe.

From famous designers like Arne Jacobsen and Eames to lesser or even totally unknown, Deconet has it all. Besides tables and chairs, they offer lighting, carpet, storage and ceramics. They also host one of the worlds largest modern design databases, with images and reference prices in addition to extensive information about the designers themselves, all under the heading Decopedia, like a Wikepedia for furniture fanatics.

Unlike Craigslist, with Deconet you can securely purchase vintage furniture, which makes a difference when you're buying an original Wegner. They put your payment in client escrow until you have received your furniture from the seller, who are all registered and approved by Deconet's industry specialists. You also know you're getting a fair price thanks to their price reference guide, which will come to include over 10,000 historic prices of classic furniture.

Whether you're in need of new furniture or just interested in ogling design classics, Deconet provides a great opportunity to find one-off pieces and an abundance of information on the topic.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

by CH Contributor

by Laura Neilson

Mexico City's recently reopened Biblioteca Vasconcelos is an outstanding example of a contemporary digital-age library, not to mention a significant display of Mexico's modern architectural movement. The $100 million undertaking was designed by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, who beat out more than 500 other proposals from worldwide firms with his concept of the library as the "great ark" of knowledge.

Dedicated to José Vasconcelos, one of the country's most influential minds of the early twentieth century, the library originally opened in May 2006 but was temporarily shuttered in March 2007 due to structural complications. After 19 months of renovations and reconstruction, the main building and its surrounding campus, including a cafeteria, bookshop, exhibition space, a 500-seat auditorium and a botanical garden, reopened to the public.

Juxtaposed against the old-town environs of its Santa Maria LaRibera district, Biblioteca Vasconcelos is a 36,000 square-meter (400,000 square-feet) glass and metal behemoth, containing over half a million books—with a capacity to expand upwards to 1.5 million—and 750 computers.

Much like Rem Koolhaas' optically-amusing Seattle Public Library or the Salt Lake City Public Library, designed by Moshe Safdie, the structure gives a forward-thinking nod to the enduring relevance of libraries as design-worthy public spaces.

Photos by rageforst and Cuautitlan

Super Sunglasses Spring/Summer 2009

by Karen Day

Bursting onto the scene in 2007 with more color choices for their high-quality sunglasses than a bag of Skittles, Super continues to rock the retro sunglasses industry with their seemingly never-ending supply of rad colors and shapes.

More than just a trendy item, Super sunglasses are manufactured in Italy and fitted with Zeiss lenses, designed to protect your eyes in a variety of conditions—from snow glare to sunshine.

With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to find a pair that suits your style. Super has updated their site with their new Spring/Summer 2009 collection, which features an excellent array of tropical shades like Sex On The Beach (above left) to '80s inspired glasses we're sure even Max Headroom would appreciate, like Mars and Frank 1.

Super sunglasses are available online and around the world, check their site for a store near you. Prices range from $115-180.