Cool Hunting Video Presents: Alberto Alessi

by Cool Hunting Video

by Gregory Mitnick

In this video we sit down with third-generation design impresario Alberto Alessi to talk about his take on the emotional side of industrial design at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. The CEO (he's helmed Alessi for 39 years) shares his perspective on design objects, playing a whistle from one of his first collaborations to prove his point.

UFO Disposable Birdseed Plates

by CH Contributor

by Jack Shaw

Andrea Ruggiero brings green design to the backyard BBQ with his disposable UFO (Unidentified Feeding Object) Plate that's reborn as a birdfeeder after use—a concept he originally came up with as part of InDisposed, a recent exhibition centered around rethinking disposable products.

Taking on the challenge of creating an environmentally-friendly disposable household object, the NYC-based designer looked back to his childhood in Italy where disposable products are described as, "usa e getta," which literally translates as "use and throw." This natural action served as the main idea behind the UFO.

Made from potato starch, guar bean gum and a seaweed-like binding agent, the stylish nine-inch diameter plates take the form of a disc shaped shell encrusted with birdseed on the bottom. In use, the UFO stands up to liquids and acidic foods and is nontoxic and vegan. When diners finish their meal, the fun begins; just find a tree, aim the tableware-cum-frisbee and let it fly. As the plate shatters it leaves behind a little treat for the local wildlife and the solid parts biodegrade in about two weeks.

Picnickers and birds will have to wait for the two-in-one plate, however; the UFO is currently only in the prototype stage.

Dorset Cereals

by Brian Fichtner

Hailing from the charmingly-named Poundbury (an English village created under urban principles espoused by Prince Charles), Dorset Cereals produces a tasty variety of muesli, porridge and cereal bars. Unfortunately for American eaters, the only imports currently on supermarket shelves are a limited selection of the company's muesli—a mere four whittled down from its range of ten mixes. Nevertheless, these four serve as a ray of light among an often dim collection of breakfast cereals.

Dorset Cereals' packaging makes the first good impression. With pleasing colors, a no-fuss layout and a die-cut pattern of abstract leaves, it's an honest-to-goodness cereal in a simply appealing box—no further claims necessary. Dorset highlights the contents of every mix on the front, noting the approximate percentage of featured ingredients, for example "Simply Delicious Muesli" features 30% fruit, nuts and seeds while half of the "Berries & Cherrie" mix is fruit. And fortunately, the product lives up to its straightforward exterior.

While the "Simply Delicious Muesli" is a tad on the chalky side and benefits from the addition of some vanilla yogurt, the "Super Cranberry, Cherry and Almond" mix tastes like a wholesome cookie. Kids will probably reach immediately for the "Berries and Cherries," though, as noted, with that amount of dried fruit, this variety makes a better trail mix. And there's also the "Fruit, Nut & Fiber" blend, a rather pragmatic name for a delicious cereal that smells oddly like a Kudos Bar.

Check their site for stockists. Amazon also carries select flavors for bulk purchase.

Cool Hunting Video on Babelgum

by Tim Yu

We're pleased to announce the recent launch of Cool Hunting Video's own channel on Babelgum. Combining the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet, Babelgum offers professionally produced, on-demand programming to a global audience.

The channel adds to CHV's other outlets, iTunes, Zune Marketplace, YouTube and, of course, our site. We're excited to be featured on Babelgum's Metropolis Channel, which identifies itself as "reports from the urban front line." Check Back with Babelgum often as we will be updating our channel with new videos and, with plenty of Babelgum exclusive content and original productions, exploration opportunities abound.

Alice Supply Company

by CH Contributor

by Sawyer Trice

Bringing a little more joy to the humble act of cleaning and maintaining the home, Newport Beach's Alice Supply Company focuses on the process more than the end result. Their line of “hip housewares” still manages to get the job done, but brings a little flair to it with products like a lime green dustpan with pink and orange stripes. Other items, such as a camo toilet plunger with safety orange handles, may even accomplish the feat of looking cute while tackling that clog.

We checked in with with Maria Barnes, President of Alice Supply Company, to find out more about the glam homemakers movement.

What inspired the line?
[My partner] Raili Clasen and I both worked in fashion for over 20 years and wanted to do something new. We thought long and hard about what we could put prints and patterns on that didn't already have them. On a little R and R trip to small surfing village in Mexico, we found ourselves climbing the shelves of this dusty old hardware store pulling down neon bristled brooms and brightly-colored buckets.

Who is Alice?
Ann B. Davis...are you old enough to remember her?

Who's your audience?
Our products appeal to anyone who has an appreciation for aesthetically pleasing things. We sold products for dads in Henri Bendel for Father's Day. We have sold hundreds of toolboxes to women. There does not seem to be an age or gender demographic. We had a trunk show at a high-end clothing boutique in Laguna Beach and sold out of everything. Their customer is a 30-something hip woman.

What’s next for Alice Supple Company?
We are so excited about our next line! Given that nautical stripes are so big in fashion right now we decided to put that on our next range of products. We are making hammers with a little pouch of powder-coated nails. The next range will also include nautical striped flashlights, fly swatters, tape measures, ping pong paddles and balls.

When did you start the company?
The company was created in 2008. Our first inventory arrived two months ago. We launched to retailers at the New York International Gift Fair in January.

Who designs your products?
The design of our products is a collaborative effort. Raili [our CEO] and I bring ideas to our "oh-so-talented" creative director, Clive Piercy, and he makes them come alive. He has a firm called Airconditioned LA and is an insanely talented British man with a sophisticated taste level—yet he is connected to pop culture. Raili and I worked with him in fashion for years.

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