Cool Hunting
| 23 August 2009 - 29 August 2009 week before | next week | view all from this month |
Back to School Essentials
Easing into new schedules come fall—whether that means juggling classes or just getting back to the grind after some time off—the back-to-school season often inspires contempt when suddenly work hours take the place of poolside hours. To help alleviate the sentiment, we put together a list that makes desk life a little more fun. Herman Miller Embody Chair After recently putting this three-layer flexible chair...
Easing into new schedules come fall—whether that means juggling classes or just getting back to the grind after some time off—the back-to-school season often inspires contempt when suddenly work hours take the place of poolside hours. To help alleviate the sentiment, we put together a list that makes desk life a little more fun. Herman Miller Embody Chair After recently putting this three-layer flexible chair...
Chie Mihara Shoes Fall 2009
by Tisha Leung With fine architectural structure supporting a flirty feminine exterior, Elda, Spain-basedChie Mihara's latest collection continues to define a brand that draws on a range of influences—from urban snow boots to Ferragamo. Inspired by a sketch in a Spanish catalog from the late 40s, "Kaira" (top left) is an "ultra femme meets rock and roll" shoe with detachable fur trim. "Keiti" (top right)...
by Tisha Leung With fine architectural structure supporting a flirty feminine exterior, Elda, Spain-basedChie Mihara's latest collection continues to define a brand that draws on a range of influences—from urban snow boots to Ferragamo. Inspired by a sketch in a Spanish catalog from the late 40s, "Kaira" (top left) is an "ultra femme meets rock and roll" shoe with detachable fur trim. "Keiti" (top right)...
Stuffz: Design on Material
by Jeremy Brautman Including graphic, industrial, interior and product design, " Stuffz: Design on Material," the new book from Gingko Press, focuses on design in three dimensions. With examples as diverse as the 100 designers (from six continents) who make them, the fabric-covered compendium opens to inspired concepts and in-production takes on furniture, lighting, clothing, textiles, toys, sneakers, cars, umbrellas, sunglasses, scooters and more—even...
by Jeremy Brautman Including graphic, industrial, interior and product design, " Stuffz: Design on Material," the new book from Gingko Press, focuses on design in three dimensions. With examples as diverse as the 100 designers (from six continents) who make them, the fabric-covered compendium opens to inspired concepts and in-production takes on furniture, lighting, clothing, textiles, toys, sneakers, cars, umbrellas, sunglasses, scooters and more—even...
Barneby Gates Wallpaper
Quintessentially English with a twist is the best way to describe these gorgeous designs from Barneby Gates. These new kids on the printing block produce beautiful wallpapers that embrace the past with a distinctive contemporary wit. Patterns show typical English influences of country houses, floral decor and heraldry, but on closer inspection have design details that merit a double take. One, called Deer Damask,...
Quintessentially English with a twist is the best way to describe these gorgeous designs from Barneby Gates. These new kids on the printing block produce beautiful wallpapers that embrace the past with a distinctive contemporary wit. Patterns show typical English influences of country houses, floral decor and heraldry, but on closer inspection have design details that merit a double take. One, called Deer Damask,...
Yüksel Arslan: A Retrospective
Returning to his native Turkey for the first time in 40 years, 76-year-old artist Yüksel Arslan ends his self-imposed exile for an exhaustive retrospective showcasing his obscure works at the Santralistanbul Museum in Istanbul. Arslan moved to Paris 1961—where he reportedly ran with the likes of Sartre, Breton and Dubuffet—avoiding artistic censorship for his socialist overtones and provocative satires of the inequities in the...
Returning to his native Turkey for the first time in 40 years, 76-year-old artist Yüksel Arslan ends his self-imposed exile for an exhaustive retrospective showcasing his obscure works at the Santralistanbul Museum in Istanbul. Arslan moved to Paris 1961—where he reportedly ran with the likes of Sartre, Breton and Dubuffet—avoiding artistic censorship for his socialist overtones and provocative satires of the inequities in the...
Agatha Ruiz De La Prada x Tweezerman
Putting a playful spin on Tweezerman's signature slant tweezers, the bold style of Agatha Ruiz De La Prada commences a new line for the brand—the Designer Series. The collaboration between Tweezerman and Ruiz De La Prada marks a high-end, fashion-focused future for their beauty tools, sold at outlets such as Sephora and Saks Fifth Avenue. Available in three patterns, Magenta Hearts, Blue Clouds and...
Putting a playful spin on Tweezerman's signature slant tweezers, the bold style of Agatha Ruiz De La Prada commences a new line for the brand—the Designer Series. The collaboration between Tweezerman and Ruiz De La Prada marks a high-end, fashion-focused future for their beauty tools, sold at outlets such as Sephora and Saks Fifth Avenue. Available in three patterns, Magenta Hearts, Blue Clouds and...
Esquivel Handmade Shoes
by Zeva Bellel Eliminating the need to jet to Europe for a pair of gorgeous, handmade shoes, the new destination for custom soles isn't in Paris, London or Milan but in a back alley, by-appointment-shop in Los Angeles. Over the last fifteen years, Southern California native Georges Esquivel (recently announced as a 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist) has built a mini shoe empire to rival...
by Zeva Bellel Eliminating the need to jet to Europe for a pair of gorgeous, handmade shoes, the new destination for custom soles isn't in Paris, London or Milan but in a back alley, by-appointment-shop in Los Angeles. Over the last fifteen years, Southern California native Georges Esquivel (recently announced as a 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist) has built a mini shoe empire to rival...
Smith Optics x Krink: Exclusivo Helmets and Goggles
Tapping graffiti artist Craig "KR" Costello (the man behind Krink inks), Smith Optics introduces his drips and clouds to the brand's technically superior line of helmets and goggles. The collaboration, released under Smith's Exclusivo division, consists of two different helmet styles and four models of goggles, each with a different colorway and pattern dreamed up by KR. Each limited-edition accessory comes with a set...
Tapping graffiti artist Craig "KR" Costello (the man behind Krink inks), Smith Optics introduces his drips and clouds to the brand's technically superior line of helmets and goggles. The collaboration, released under Smith's Exclusivo division, consists of two different helmet styles and four models of goggles, each with a different colorway and pattern dreamed up by KR. Each limited-edition accessory comes with a set...
Carbon Motors All-Custom Police Car
An ambitious start-up, Carbon Motors seeks to create the world's first purpose-built cop car, a refreshing change to the beefed-up Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Impala used by most police departments in the United States. Designed by law enforcement professionals, the vehicle includes such features as driver-specific intelligent keys, 360 degree exterior surveillance, the ability to withstand a 75 mph rear impact crash and,...
An ambitious start-up, Carbon Motors seeks to create the world's first purpose-built cop car, a refreshing change to the beefed-up Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Impala used by most police departments in the United States. Designed by law enforcement professionals, the vehicle includes such features as driver-specific intelligent keys, 360 degree exterior surveillance, the ability to withstand a 75 mph rear impact crash and,...
Wingscapes BirdCam
Keep tabs on backyard bird feeders with Wingscapes BirdCam, a motion-activated digital camera enjoyed by the serious birders at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and amateurs alike. While designed specifically for bird watching (though it may mostly come in handy for identifying bullying birds driving away the robins or neighborhood cats prowling amidst the seed), the camera's time lapse mode also has the capability...
Keep tabs on backyard bird feeders with Wingscapes BirdCam, a motion-activated digital camera enjoyed by the serious birders at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and amateurs alike. While designed specifically for bird watching (though it may mostly come in handy for identifying bullying birds driving away the robins or neighborhood cats prowling amidst the seed), the camera's time lapse mode also has the capability...
T.O.O.B. Dome Screens
by Julie Wolfson Imagine being in an epic Star Wars battle, standing on stage playing Guitar Hero or an Animal Planet show where you can practically touch the tigers. T.O.O.B. makes an iMax-like video experience possible with their new omni-directional digital dome screen. As 3D movies take over the entertainment landscape, the market for ways to make entertainment more experiential increases. Animator and inventor Alexander...
by Julie Wolfson Imagine being in an epic Star Wars battle, standing on stage playing Guitar Hero or an Animal Planet show where you can practically touch the tigers. T.O.O.B. makes an iMax-like video experience possible with their new omni-directional digital dome screen. As 3D movies take over the entertainment landscape, the market for ways to make entertainment more experiential increases. Animator and inventor Alexander...
Parra Solo Exhibition and Pop-Up Shop
Famed street artist and respected illustrator Parra opens his first exhibition in Germany tomorrow, 27 August 2009, called "I like the tee shirt but I will get the painting." Presented by Arkitip, the Dutch image-maker's brightly colored typographic illustrations are showing at the Pool Gallery in Berlin, an achievement that comes in addition to Parra's work plastered on clothing, sneakers, record sleeves, flyers and...
Famed street artist and respected illustrator Parra opens his first exhibition in Germany tomorrow, 27 August 2009, called "I like the tee shirt but I will get the painting." Presented by Arkitip, the Dutch image-maker's brightly colored typographic illustrations are showing at the Pool Gallery in Berlin, an achievement that comes in addition to Parra's work plastered on clothing, sneakers, record sleeves, flyers and...
NYC Helmets
An homage to the city of New York and its avid bike riding community, fuseproject's NYC helmet caters to urban cyclists' fashion sense while promoting a greener environment. The innovative two-fold design consists of a protective polystyrene shell on the inside, covered with a customizable soft fabric that attaches with integrated straps. Blending seamlessly, the cohesive design allows the wearer to remove the shell...
An homage to the city of New York and its avid bike riding community, fuseproject's NYC helmet caters to urban cyclists' fashion sense while promoting a greener environment. The innovative two-fold design consists of a protective polystyrene shell on the inside, covered with a customizable soft fabric that attaches with integrated straps. Blending seamlessly, the cohesive design allows the wearer to remove the shell...
Woofer
As Twitter continues its indefatigable march towards digital brevity by limiting us to a scant 140 characters per dispatch, a parody website developer invites us to try something else entirely with their 1,400 character minimum version called Woofer. The results range from my not-so-thoughtful screed to the downright lazy cutting-and-pasting Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Woofer carries no affiliation with Twitter in any way—a fact...
As Twitter continues its indefatigable march towards digital brevity by limiting us to a scant 140 characters per dispatch, a parody website developer invites us to try something else entirely with their 1,400 character minimum version called Woofer. The results range from my not-so-thoughtful screed to the downright lazy cutting-and-pasting Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Woofer carries no affiliation with Twitter in any way—a fact...
Mud Furniture
Jennifer Anderson's "Mud Series" collection translates iconic chairs into steel and mud. The studies of classics—an Eames LCW, a Thonet Café Chair, a Wegner Wishbone Chair—resemble the artifacts of an architectural dig, their once flawless surfaces marred by the cracked earth. (Click images for an expanded view.) The series evolved from Anderson's Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition, "Permanence/Impermanence," which included a standard chair...
Jennifer Anderson's "Mud Series" collection translates iconic chairs into steel and mud. The studies of classics—an Eames LCW, a Thonet Café Chair, a Wegner Wishbone Chair—resemble the artifacts of an architectural dig, their once flawless surfaces marred by the cracked earth. (Click images for an expanded view.) The series evolved from Anderson's Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition, "Permanence/Impermanence," which included a standard chair...
Panelfly Mobile Comic Reader iPhone Application
by Laura Neilson The smart new iPhone application from Panelfly fills the digital void for comic book fans with a mobile platform for purchasing, storing and viewing comics. An all-encompassing reader app—currently the only one of its kind available via iTunes—it includes a mobile store offering titles from a growing spate of comic publishers like NBM, SLG and Sterling, as well as complete library functionality...
by Laura Neilson The smart new iPhone application from Panelfly fills the digital void for comic book fans with a mobile platform for purchasing, storing and viewing comics. An all-encompassing reader app—currently the only one of its kind available via iTunes—it includes a mobile store offering titles from a growing spate of comic publishers like NBM, SLG and Sterling, as well as complete library functionality...
Timberland Mountain Athletics Collection
On a recent morning this Summer I had a chance to explore some unknown areas of Central Park and test the latest footwear from Timberland Mountain Athletics, a relatively new division of the New Hampshire-based footwear brand. Hosted by Jay Steere, Timberland's VP of Product Management and guided by Maia Josebachvili, founder of Urban Escapes, we explored the northernmost portion of the park which...
On a recent morning this Summer I had a chance to explore some unknown areas of Central Park and test the latest footwear from Timberland Mountain Athletics, a relatively new division of the New Hampshire-based footwear brand. Hosted by Jay Steere, Timberland's VP of Product Management and guided by Maia Josebachvili, founder of Urban Escapes, we explored the northernmost portion of the park which...
Humble Vintage Bike Hire
by Rebecca Harkins-Cross For moonlighting in Melbourne's obsessive cycling scene, The Humble Vintage steps in like a long-lost friend, offering vintage bicycles for short-term hire. Not just a more aesthetically pleasing way to explore the city, the experience allows tourists to roll incognito by skipping logos, mountain bikes and fluorescent helmets. Born in July 2009, after founder Matthew Hurst rented a bike during a...
by Rebecca Harkins-Cross For moonlighting in Melbourne's obsessive cycling scene, The Humble Vintage steps in like a long-lost friend, offering vintage bicycles for short-term hire. Not just a more aesthetically pleasing way to explore the city, the experience allows tourists to roll incognito by skipping logos, mountain bikes and fluorescent helmets. Born in July 2009, after founder Matthew Hurst rented a bike during a...
Craigslist Redesign
Tasking leading interface designers including Scott Thomas, Pentagram and NYTimes.com with re-imagining one of the Internet's oldest stalwarts, Wired's latest in their Extreme Makeover series is a telling exercise on the state of design online today. On one hand, Thomas' minimalist take (above right) makes a pro-status quo argument, recognizing that the site functions perfectly well in its current form with only minor, mostly...
Tasking leading interface designers including Scott Thomas, Pentagram and NYTimes.com with re-imagining one of the Internet's oldest stalwarts, Wired's latest in their Extreme Makeover series is a telling exercise on the state of design online today. On one hand, Thomas' minimalist take (above right) makes a pro-status quo argument, recognizing that the site functions perfectly well in its current form with only minor, mostly...
Helveticons
Created by Swedish creative Maximilian Larsson, the recently launched Helveticons use the same design principles as the go-to eponymous font for a universal set of interface icons. Helveticons come in a variety of formats—six of which are scalable vector graphics—including Photoshop, Illustrator, OmniGraffle, EPS, PDF and PNG. Royalty-free and comprehensive, the 245-icon collection serves as a valuable asset for its simplicity and range of...
Created by Swedish creative Maximilian Larsson, the recently launched Helveticons use the same design principles as the go-to eponymous font for a universal set of interface icons. Helveticons come in a variety of formats—six of which are scalable vector graphics—including Photoshop, Illustrator, OmniGraffle, EPS, PDF and PNG. Royalty-free and comprehensive, the 245-icon collection serves as a valuable asset for its simplicity and range of...
Alessi Fall/Winter 2009
During last week's New York International Gift Fair Alessi debuted roughly 200 new products and expanded families across the company's three brand divisions. Choosing favorites isn't easy, but check out a few selects below. Gabriele Chiave's "Apostrophe" orange peeler (above) reminds us of what Alessi does best. Designed as part of their LPWK series, the sculptural form lends artistic life to the most prosaic...
During last week's New York International Gift Fair Alessi debuted roughly 200 new products and expanded families across the company's three brand divisions. Choosing favorites isn't easy, but check out a few selects below. Gabriele Chiave's "Apostrophe" orange peeler (above) reminds us of what Alessi does best. Designed as part of their LPWK series, the sculptural form lends artistic life to the most prosaic...
TED Talks iPhone Application
The quarter-century old nonprofit TED—Technology, Education and Design—just made their mission of spreading innovative ideas easier with their iPhone application. Aggregating the latest audio and video from the TED talks and conferences, the search function sorts through the hundreds of speakers and a bookmarking feature marks favorites. The TED app is free, compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch and available from iTunes....
The quarter-century old nonprofit TED—Technology, Education and Design—just made their mission of spreading innovative ideas easier with their iPhone application. Aggregating the latest audio and video from the TED talks and conferences, the search function sorts through the hundreds of speakers and a bookmarking feature marks favorites. The TED app is free, compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch and available from iTunes....
Marianne Batlle
Of the many subversive crafts we've seen over the years—crocheted cupcakes, cameras and hamburgers come to mind—Marianne Batlle's handmade mix of sex and fashion takes the concept to a decidedly more edgy level. The Paris-based artist crochets penises in a range of fanciful materials and colors, incorporating silks and bows, as well as fuzzy angora threads, pearls, sequins and more, to lend personality to...
Of the many subversive crafts we've seen over the years—crocheted cupcakes, cameras and hamburgers come to mind—Marianne Batlle's handmade mix of sex and fashion takes the concept to a decidedly more edgy level. The Paris-based artist crochets penises in a range of fanciful materials and colors, incorporating silks and bows, as well as fuzzy angora threads, pearls, sequins and more, to lend personality to...
FAT Fall/Winter 2009 Collection
Tokyo-based clothing brand FAT (pronounced F.A.T) recently unveiled their upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 collection. We're liking the athletic and military influences combined with modern, borderline baggy cuts. Simple looks punctuated with saturated colors and clever logos make up the latest collection of shirts, pants, denim, cargos, sweats and cut-and-sew pieces. FATYO, their accessories line of hats, footwear, eyeglasses, luggage, ensures you're all suited up and...
Tokyo-based clothing brand FAT (pronounced F.A.T) recently unveiled their upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 collection. We're liking the athletic and military influences combined with modern, borderline baggy cuts. Simple looks punctuated with saturated colors and clever logos make up the latest collection of shirts, pants, denim, cargos, sweats and cut-and-sew pieces. FATYO, their accessories line of hats, footwear, eyeglasses, luggage, ensures you're all suited up and...
Me Hotel, Barcelona
Like most of our favorite hotels, Barcelona's Me Hotel rivals the city itself with the various amenities if offers. The one-year-old Dominique Perrault-designed hotel surrounds guests with glittering steel walls and sliding panels of vibrantly colored Lucite, complimented by dramatic views of the city from almost every angle and lending an omnipotent feel. In the spirit of Barcelona's legendary nightlife and the beach vibe...
Like most of our favorite hotels, Barcelona's Me Hotel rivals the city itself with the various amenities if offers. The one-year-old Dominique Perrault-designed hotel surrounds guests with glittering steel walls and sliding panels of vibrantly colored Lucite, complimented by dramatic views of the city from almost every angle and lending an omnipotent feel. In the spirit of Barcelona's legendary nightlife and the beach vibe...
Tasha West Astro Cuffs
Jewelry designer Tasha West's inventive Astro cuffs sleekly interpret the twelve zodiac symbols, subtly revealing the wearer's celestial personality. Beginning with a sketch of the symbol, the New York-based designer twists its form into a 3-D rendering to create the sculptural accessory. While shown in sterling silver, the cuffs come in a multitude of metals—including gold, brass, bronze and copper. At two inches wide,...
Jewelry designer Tasha West's inventive Astro cuffs sleekly interpret the twelve zodiac symbols, subtly revealing the wearer's celestial personality. Beginning with a sketch of the symbol, the New York-based designer twists its form into a 3-D rendering to create the sculptural accessory. While shown in sterling silver, the cuffs come in a multitude of metals—including gold, brass, bronze and copper. At two inches wide,...
Fashion Illustrator Michael Sanderson
by Laura Neilson Michael Sanderson wasted no time in pursuing his talents in the field of fashion illustration. At 23, the design school drop-out already counts Victoria's Secret, Big Drop NYC and the Tokyo-based agency Taiko & Associates as clients. His colorful creations—whether of a shoe, an outfit, a Starbucks cup or an entire setting—effortlessly fuse various layers and artistic styles. At times the whimsy...
by Laura Neilson Michael Sanderson wasted no time in pursuing his talents in the field of fashion illustration. At 23, the design school drop-out already counts Victoria's Secret, Big Drop NYC and the Tokyo-based agency Taiko & Associates as clients. His colorful creations—whether of a shoe, an outfit, a Starbucks cup or an entire setting—effortlessly fuse various layers and artistic styles. At times the whimsy...
| August 23, 2009 - August 29, 2009 week before | next week | view all from this month |
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