Cool Hunting
| 27 September 2009 - 03 October 2009 week before | next week | view all from this month |
Erik Halley Accessories
by Zeva Bellel For fifteen years Erik Halley has been handcrafting one-off pieces—triple-tiered shoulder pads encrusted with rhinestones and metal-spiked headphones—in his Parisian atelier for the best names in fashion, e.g. Lagerfeld, Yohji, Givenchy, Mugler, Dior, to name but a few. His mischievously extravagant designs (headbands with doll faces painted like Kiss for example) blur the boundaries between accessories and art. Halley’s big break came...
by Zeva Bellel For fifteen years Erik Halley has been handcrafting one-off pieces—triple-tiered shoulder pads encrusted with rhinestones and metal-spiked headphones—in his Parisian atelier for the best names in fashion, e.g. Lagerfeld, Yohji, Givenchy, Mugler, Dior, to name but a few. His mischievously extravagant designs (headbands with doll faces painted like Kiss for example) blur the boundaries between accessories and art. Halley’s big break came...
Base-V: Box 3 Art Prints
Kicking any hint of soccer rivalry far aside, Sao Paulo's Base-V art collective got together with their compatriots south of the border to release a super-limited-edition set of 25 color prints showcasing São Paulo and Buenos Aires artists. Called "Box 3: Especial São Paulo Buenos Aires" collection, each of the 75 boxes contains highly imaginative, hand made screens by some of the most exciting...
Kicking any hint of soccer rivalry far aside, Sao Paulo's Base-V art collective got together with their compatriots south of the border to release a super-limited-edition set of 25 color prints showcasing São Paulo and Buenos Aires artists. Called "Box 3: Especial São Paulo Buenos Aires" collection, each of the 75 boxes contains highly imaginative, hand made screens by some of the most exciting...
Good Magazine: Transparency
Good Magazine definitely lives up to its title, so discovering their Flickr page aggregating one of our favorite regular features, spreads of their info-graphics called Transparency, feels like striking Good gold. The colorful charts cleverly break down a host of topics—teacher salaries, energy generation, public transit, the cost of museum tickets and much more— into easily understood charts for information-addicts' browsing pleasure. via Exp...
Good Magazine definitely lives up to its title, so discovering their Flickr page aggregating one of our favorite regular features, spreads of their info-graphics called Transparency, feels like striking Good gold. The colorful charts cleverly break down a host of topics—teacher salaries, energy generation, public transit, the cost of museum tickets and much more— into easily understood charts for information-addicts' browsing pleasure. via Exp...
Vince Letterpress
Meaghan Barbuto scoured eBay, bought a half-ton vintage letterpress machine, and spent weekends experimenting with wedding invites, business cards and greeting cards for friends and family. Deciding upon a name was simple; she dedicated Vince Letterpress as to her late grandfather. "It was important for me to highlight my Italian background. Italians make beautiful paper and we had this stationary box of my grandfather’s...
Meaghan Barbuto scoured eBay, bought a half-ton vintage letterpress machine, and spent weekends experimenting with wedding invites, business cards and greeting cards for friends and family. Deciding upon a name was simple; she dedicated Vince Letterpress as to her late grandfather. "It was important for me to highlight my Italian background. Italians make beautiful paper and we had this stationary box of my grandfather’s...
Artist Miles Thomson
If the kitschy brushstrokes of Miles Thomson don’t transport you to a beachside speakeasy staffed by monkey waiters serving cocktails in tiki heads, well, something must be very wrong. The Californian effortlessly blends elements of surf art, jazz iconography, cowboys and injuns, vagabonds and drunks, life and death—all that good stuff—in a lowbrow style that looks like a Hallmark card from the '50s. He’s...
If the kitschy brushstrokes of Miles Thomson don’t transport you to a beachside speakeasy staffed by monkey waiters serving cocktails in tiki heads, well, something must be very wrong. The Californian effortlessly blends elements of surf art, jazz iconography, cowboys and injuns, vagabonds and drunks, life and death—all that good stuff—in a lowbrow style that looks like a Hallmark card from the '50s. He’s...
Skram Wood Drop 14 Stool
It's a hunk of tree. Look closer. It's still a hunk of tree, but that's the point. The Wood Drop 14 stool by North Carolina-based Skram basks in all its imperfect glory, its naturally occurring cracks and flaws turned into valuable assets simply through their presentation. Skram's lead designer and owner Jacob Marks looked for these beauty marks, or "checks," in found, reclaimed or...
It's a hunk of tree. Look closer. It's still a hunk of tree, but that's the point. The Wood Drop 14 stool by North Carolina-based Skram basks in all its imperfect glory, its naturally occurring cracks and flaws turned into valuable assets simply through their presentation. Skram's lead designer and owner Jacob Marks looked for these beauty marks, or "checks," in found, reclaimed or...
Fundraislinn Exhibition and Auction
Raising funds for cancer treatments for copywriter Aislinn Andrews,The Fundraislinn exhibition at Helen Gory Galerie features the work of more than 100 artists from around the world, including Lily Piri, Ian Mutch (pictured below), Paul Meates, Yok, Jaqui Stockdale, Rinzen, Gary Seaman (pictured above), Laith McGregor, Justin Williams and Abbey McCulloch. A one-night-only affair, there’s also a selection of works that the international audience...
Raising funds for cancer treatments for copywriter Aislinn Andrews,The Fundraislinn exhibition at Helen Gory Galerie features the work of more than 100 artists from around the world, including Lily Piri, Ian Mutch (pictured below), Paul Meates, Yok, Jaqui Stockdale, Rinzen, Gary Seaman (pictured above), Laith McGregor, Justin Williams and Abbey McCulloch. A one-night-only affair, there’s also a selection of works that the international audience...
Vicolo Paglia Corta Jewelry
The free-spirited photography, fashion and graphic design group Vicolo Paglia Corta's amusing jewelry, comprised of computer parts and Lego pieces, has been slowly gaining notoriety. The accessories speak to the motto of the Bologna-based studio—a quote from famed Italian designer Bruno Munari, "da cosa nasce cosa"—from something is born something. The inventive Lego assemblages make for desirably colorful rings, brooches and necklaces that span...
The free-spirited photography, fashion and graphic design group Vicolo Paglia Corta's amusing jewelry, comprised of computer parts and Lego pieces, has been slowly gaining notoriety. The accessories speak to the motto of the Bologna-based studio—a quote from famed Italian designer Bruno Munari, "da cosa nasce cosa"—from something is born something. The inventive Lego assemblages make for desirably colorful rings, brooches and necklaces that span...
The Map as Art
"The Map as Art," a new book edited by Katharine Harmon from Princeton Architectural Press, richly surveys today's artistic landscape and its relation to the map. Perhaps it's no surprise that the map has inspired artists throughout history. Today though, in spite of an interdepent globalized economy and hyperconnectivity brought about by the internet, cartographic identity runs strong. For anyone who's ever gotten lost...
"The Map as Art," a new book edited by Katharine Harmon from Princeton Architectural Press, richly surveys today's artistic landscape and its relation to the map. Perhaps it's no surprise that the map has inspired artists throughout history. Today though, in spite of an interdepent globalized economy and hyperconnectivity brought about by the internet, cartographic identity runs strong. For anyone who's ever gotten lost...
Zipcar iPhone Application
by Laura Neilson After announcing it at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last July, car-sharing service Zipcar launched their newest "mobile" venture, an iPhone application yesterday. Improving on their already useful mobile site, the software allows members to locate, reserve and unlock cars in the fleet. The free download uses the phone's location-based capabilities to find the nearest available Zipcar vehicles with a Google map-style interface,...
by Laura Neilson After announcing it at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last July, car-sharing service Zipcar launched their newest "mobile" venture, an iPhone application yesterday. Improving on their already useful mobile site, the software allows members to locate, reserve and unlock cars in the fleet. The free download uses the phone's location-based capabilities to find the nearest available Zipcar vehicles with a Google map-style interface,...
Camden International Film Festival 2009
The fifth annual Camden International Film Festival begins today and, as sponsors this year, we couldn't be more excited. Held in venues throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine, the festival goes through Sunday 4 October 2009 and brings filmmakers and industry reps the world over to the small coastal haven for an incredibly varied selection of non-fiction films. In addition to the usual stock...
The fifth annual Camden International Film Festival begins today and, as sponsors this year, we couldn't be more excited. Held in venues throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine, the festival goes through Sunday 4 October 2009 and brings filmmakers and industry reps the world over to the small coastal haven for an incredibly varied selection of non-fiction films. In addition to the usual stock...
Crownfarmer Tees
Once carried at high-end boutiques like Colette in Paris and respected skate shops around the States, controversial clothing label Crownfarmer disappeared for a bit but founder and designer Bob Kronbauer is resurrecting the label, one graphic tee at a time. Teaming up with Club Mumble, Kronbauer will produce one t-shirt a week under the Crownfarmer label. Starting with a design from legendary skateboard artist...
Once carried at high-end boutiques like Colette in Paris and respected skate shops around the States, controversial clothing label Crownfarmer disappeared for a bit but founder and designer Bob Kronbauer is resurrecting the label, one graphic tee at a time. Teaming up with Club Mumble, Kronbauer will produce one t-shirt a week under the Crownfarmer label. Starting with a design from legendary skateboard artist...
BMW R1200 GS: Hands-On Review
While CH counts BMW among its top brands, I personally never truly experienced what they mean by "the ultimate driving machine" until they lent us the latest model of their BMW R 1200 GS to test drive for a couple weeks. As a rider who's never handled much larger than a 750cc, I was a little intimidated standing over the 33.5-inch-tall bike (about six...
While CH counts BMW among its top brands, I personally never truly experienced what they mean by "the ultimate driving machine" until they lent us the latest model of their BMW R 1200 GS to test drive for a couple weeks. As a rider who's never handled much larger than a 750cc, I was a little intimidated standing over the 33.5-inch-tall bike (about six...
Anton Ginzburg: No Echo, No Shadow
"No Echo, No Shadow," Anton Ginzburg's first solo show at Moscow's Galerie Iragui, straddles the boundaries of cultural and political epochs with its collection of objets d'art. The works—a mask, bronzes, works on paper, neon text—make implicit reference to the transition from early 20th century European art to the minimalism of the '60s and '70s. Everything in the exhibition either hangs in a tenuous...
"No Echo, No Shadow," Anton Ginzburg's first solo show at Moscow's Galerie Iragui, straddles the boundaries of cultural and political epochs with its collection of objets d'art. The works—a mask, bronzes, works on paper, neon text—make implicit reference to the transition from early 20th century European art to the minimalism of the '60s and '70s. Everything in the exhibition either hangs in a tenuous...
Pointer Footwear
During a recent visit to the Shoreditch area of London, I had the chance to drop in on the five-year-old brand Pointer Footwear. Housed in a space with both Edwin and Carhartt, founder Gareth Skewis—a well-connected professional that started his career skating in the streets of Johannesburg—now helms the growing label. His office, cluttered (in the best sense) with original artworks, Pointer samples, skateboards...
During a recent visit to the Shoreditch area of London, I had the chance to drop in on the five-year-old brand Pointer Footwear. Housed in a space with both Edwin and Carhartt, founder Gareth Skewis—a well-connected professional that started his career skating in the streets of Johannesburg—now helms the growing label. His office, cluttered (in the best sense) with original artworks, Pointer samples, skateboards...
Thirteen "Where the Wild Things Are" Tie-Ins
Popping up around the globe, the many fashion, art and retail projects linked to the upcoming release of "Where the Wild Things Are," has us wondering where the wild things are not. Only two weeks remain until the debut of Spike Jonze's insanely-anticipated film and the unconventional spin-off music, apparel, exhibits and home furnishings only rival the reportedly unconventional film itself. We've gathered as...
Popping up around the globe, the many fashion, art and retail projects linked to the upcoming release of "Where the Wild Things Are," has us wondering where the wild things are not. Only two weeks remain until the debut of Spike Jonze's insanely-anticipated film and the unconventional spin-off music, apparel, exhibits and home furnishings only rival the reportedly unconventional film itself. We've gathered as...
Dizzee Rascal x Nike x Ben Drury: Air Max 90 Tongue N’ Cheek
Pairings between sportswear giants and hip hop stars regularly make style blog headlines these days, but few come from a genuine partnership like the latest collaboration between Nike, Dizzee Rascal and his longtime collaborator and digital distributor 7 Digital's creative director Ben Drury. Named the Nike Air Max 90 Tongue N' Cheek, after Dizzee's new drop, the shoe has sneaker freaks around the globe...
Pairings between sportswear giants and hip hop stars regularly make style blog headlines these days, but few come from a genuine partnership like the latest collaboration between Nike, Dizzee Rascal and his longtime collaborator and digital distributor 7 Digital's creative director Ben Drury. Named the Nike Air Max 90 Tongue N' Cheek, after Dizzee's new drop, the shoe has sneaker freaks around the globe...
I.D. Design Cast: Injecting Play into the Design Process
Inaugurating a series of live online videos—redubbed design casts—hosted by I.D. Magazine, " tomorrow Loosen Up: Injecting Play into the Design Process" continues the discussion started in their current issue about the role of play in the design process in a web browser near you starting at 4pm. Rinat Aruh and Johan Liden of NYC–based design group Aruliden will moderate the live webcast, bringing...
Inaugurating a series of live online videos—redubbed design casts—hosted by I.D. Magazine, " tomorrow Loosen Up: Injecting Play into the Design Process" continues the discussion started in their current issue about the role of play in the design process in a web browser near you starting at 4pm. Rinat Aruh and Johan Liden of NYC–based design group Aruliden will moderate the live webcast, bringing...
FullyVisual Metal Toys
by Jeremy Brautman FullyVisual makes heavy metal, but it's not for listening. The brand started as a side project among friends and quickly evolved into a line of part toy, part art and all metal collectibles. Today, FullyVisual drops its latest figure—an update on Huck Gee's Skullhead. Savvy toy collectors know that Huck Gee pieces tend to have an availability window of approximately six seconds....
by Jeremy Brautman FullyVisual makes heavy metal, but it's not for listening. The brand started as a side project among friends and quickly evolved into a line of part toy, part art and all metal collectibles. Today, FullyVisual drops its latest figure—an update on Huck Gee's Skullhead. Savvy toy collectors know that Huck Gee pieces tend to have an availability window of approximately six seconds....
Kiwi & Pom x Lucky Voice Karaoke: Party Pod
Creators of the facet-design Marks & Spencer cafe, London firm Kiwi & Pom recently teamed up with another British establishment, collaborating with London's renowned karaoke bar Lucky Voice to create the Party Pod. Tagged as the world's most sophisticated and portable karaoke experience, they designed the aptly named "Party Pod" for paramount user experience. A toy-like unit houses the computer used to store the...
Creators of the facet-design Marks & Spencer cafe, London firm Kiwi & Pom recently teamed up with another British establishment, collaborating with London's renowned karaoke bar Lucky Voice to create the Party Pod. Tagged as the world's most sophisticated and portable karaoke experience, they designed the aptly named "Party Pod" for paramount user experience. A toy-like unit houses the computer used to store the...
Paperfinger Calligraphy and Hand-Drawn Design
Breathing new life into the time-honored art of calligraphy, Paperfinger, a new hand-drawn design company, brings a personalized, human quality to everything from wedding announcements to logo designs. The truly homegrown business started in founder Bryn Chernoff's living room in October '08 when she decided to stray from her background in computer science to pursue her longtime love of the decidedly analog world of...
Breathing new life into the time-honored art of calligraphy, Paperfinger, a new hand-drawn design company, brings a personalized, human quality to everything from wedding announcements to logo designs. The truly homegrown business started in founder Bryn Chernoff's living room in October '08 when she decided to stray from her background in computer science to pursue her longtime love of the decidedly analog world of...
Vanessa Prager and Lizzy Waronker: Little Dream Installation
For one night only, WeSC's L.A. concept store will host a conceptual installation featuring the works of artists Vanessa Prager and Lizzy Waronker. Crafting a fairytale world in an outdoor terrarium, the duo's exhibit consists of a secret garden-like setting paired with paintings and assemblage sculptures that evoke feelings of dreams and mystery. Waronker makes her sculptures using curiosities old and new, fusing the...
For one night only, WeSC's L.A. concept store will host a conceptual installation featuring the works of artists Vanessa Prager and Lizzy Waronker. Crafting a fairytale world in an outdoor terrarium, the duo's exhibit consists of a secret garden-like setting paired with paintings and assemblage sculptures that evoke feelings of dreams and mystery. Waronker makes her sculptures using curiosities old and new, fusing the...
Newwork Magazine
Let the mass media say what it will, Newwork Magazine, a large-format biannual publication dedicated to art, design, fashion, culture and politics, proves the ongoing relevance of print yet. The product of Fashion Institute of Design students Ryotatsu Tanaka, Ryo Kumazaki, Hitomi Ishigaki and Aswin Sadha, the magazine's latest release marks its fourth issue. The group, who in 2007 formed their own design firm...
Let the mass media say what it will, Newwork Magazine, a large-format biannual publication dedicated to art, design, fashion, culture and politics, proves the ongoing relevance of print yet. The product of Fashion Institute of Design students Ryotatsu Tanaka, Ryo Kumazaki, Hitomi Ishigaki and Aswin Sadha, the magazine's latest release marks its fourth issue. The group, who in 2007 formed their own design firm...
Libreria Valdeska
Specializing in art, thought and literature, Valencia's Libreria Valdeska is a bibliophile's dream find. Tucked away on the narrow Calle del Mar, just west of the Jardín del Turia, Valdeska embraces the bookstore as boutique approach, offering a tightly-curated collection of small presses, vintage titles and classic publications (all in Spanish). Tables devoted to music, poetry and journals supplant a small design section, while...
Specializing in art, thought and literature, Valencia's Libreria Valdeska is a bibliophile's dream find. Tucked away on the narrow Calle del Mar, just west of the Jardín del Turia, Valdeska embraces the bookstore as boutique approach, offering a tightly-curated collection of small presses, vintage titles and classic publications (all in Spanish). Tables devoted to music, poetry and journals supplant a small design section, while...
Bicycle Film Festival 2009 Trailer
Still rolling into new cities, the Bicycle Film Festival continues to pick up speed, thanks in part to their clever and beautifully-shot trailer. Cyclists sporting letters that spell out "Bicycle Film Festival" return in this second trailer directed by Marco Mucig, this time for humorous scenes of the partial alphabet playing bike polo. Set to a tune from Italian band Disco Drive, Mucig's eye...
Still rolling into new cities, the Bicycle Film Festival continues to pick up speed, thanks in part to their clever and beautifully-shot trailer. Cyclists sporting letters that spell out "Bicycle Film Festival" return in this second trailer directed by Marco Mucig, this time for humorous scenes of the partial alphabet playing bike polo. Set to a tune from Italian band Disco Drive, Mucig's eye...
Glitch: Designing Imperfection
The result of a technological malfunction, the visual glitch is generally an unwelcome visitor—a digital artifact representing error. But when viewed in their own right, seemingly randomized visual abstractions become fascinating designs that represent a unique hybrid of human intention and mechanical failure. Recently released by Mark Batty Publishers, "Glitch: Designing Imperfection" examines these errors as works of art and explores their geneses. The...
The result of a technological malfunction, the visual glitch is generally an unwelcome visitor—a digital artifact representing error. But when viewed in their own right, seemingly randomized visual abstractions become fascinating designs that represent a unique hybrid of human intention and mechanical failure. Recently released by Mark Batty Publishers, "Glitch: Designing Imperfection" examines these errors as works of art and explores their geneses. The...
RojoOut Urban Stage São Paulo
After São Paulo city officials ordered graffiti cleanup crews to leave work by Os Gemeos and other famous São Paulo street artists alone, art collective and magazine Rojo asked the city's Urban Development Department to allow them to tap artists like Tofer and MWM Graphics to help spice up drab concrete structures across the city. "It was the first time they've allowed it," says...
After São Paulo city officials ordered graffiti cleanup crews to leave work by Os Gemeos and other famous São Paulo street artists alone, art collective and magazine Rojo asked the city's Urban Development Department to allow them to tap artists like Tofer and MWM Graphics to help spice up drab concrete structures across the city. "It was the first time they've allowed it," says...
Manifesto Design Exhibit
Dispelling the age-old adage that "the end justifies the means," the Italian exhibit Manifesto instead embraces the ideology that "getting there is half the fun," displaying the works of 13 successful designers and the process involved in achieving their final product. Offering an intimate glimpse at the methods designers employ, the goals they strive for and the tools they use, Manifesto aims to showcase...
Dispelling the age-old adage that "the end justifies the means," the Italian exhibit Manifesto instead embraces the ideology that "getting there is half the fun," displaying the works of 13 successful designers and the process involved in achieving their final product. Offering an intimate glimpse at the methods designers employ, the goals they strive for and the tools they use, Manifesto aims to showcase...
Illustrator Sara Antoinette Martin
by Julie Wolfson Beautiful and haunting, Sara Antoinette Martin's work depicts gorgeous women with long eyelashes sitting next to fish with teeth, skulls and mythic sea creatures. An animal skeleton dances with a chupacabra (a mythical hybrid creature) drinking red wine. An adorable dog wrapped in bandages sits on a bed of roses. Upon the release of her new skins for Infectious and her...
by Julie Wolfson Beautiful and haunting, Sara Antoinette Martin's work depicts gorgeous women with long eyelashes sitting next to fish with teeth, skulls and mythic sea creatures. An animal skeleton dances with a chupacabra (a mythical hybrid creature) drinking red wine. An adorable dog wrapped in bandages sits on a bed of roses. Upon the release of her new skins for Infectious and her...
Peter Jensen Mitten-Scarf
Danish designer Peter Jensen's artful all-in-one scarf and gloves keeps necks cozy and hand-warming mittens always at arm's length. Known for his eccentric, conceptual runway collections, the high function idea makes for a classically witty Jensen accessory. Like his 2007 scarf-hat combo—a scarf attached to a hat boasting bear ears—in this updated edition Jensen keeps his wit slightly more subtle. The scarf and mitten...
Danish designer Peter Jensen's artful all-in-one scarf and gloves keeps necks cozy and hand-warming mittens always at arm's length. Known for his eccentric, conceptual runway collections, the high function idea makes for a classically witty Jensen accessory. Like his 2007 scarf-hat combo—a scarf attached to a hat boasting bear ears—in this updated edition Jensen keeps his wit slightly more subtle. The scarf and mitten...
| September 27, 2009 - October 3, 2009 week before | next week | view all from this month |
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