COOL HUNTING

The Seiko Power Design Project is a horological laboratory for concept watches headed by famed product designer Naoto Fukasawa. Every year since 2002, his lab has introduced ideas pushing innovation in form and function inspired by a theme. Pictured left, the "3D Cloth" (2002, theme: "The new ordinary") replaces standard materials with felt in modern shapes and colors. "Ivory" (2005, theme: "Fascination," pictured center)—reminiscent of Moss' Internal Rolex—is encased in a material that looks like ivory, but here (unlike the Internal Rolex), the wristband has a small digital watch embedded in it. Inspired by satellite dishes, the face of 2004's "Dish" (theme: "Radio wave control watch," pictured right) rotates to case the wearer or for other uses. For more of our fave images from Seiko's Power Design Project go here.

by Watchismo

TAGS: Accessories (111), Design (715), Fashion (312), Innovation (7), Prototypes (1), Watches (25),

With British t-shirt company T-Book's tessellating expressions of love and the German Puma designer Peter Schmid's high and low-tops, these may be the most romantic kicks out there. Laser-burnt with T-Book's clever, M.C. Escher-esque "Don't Kiss Goodbye" (pictured left, click either image for detail) or with their "I Love You" repeating script pattern (pictured right), the process takes about an hour for each pair. Available in gold, silver, mauve, light blue, white and a matte, suede-like vintage white, the sheepskin leather shoes start at $213 and can be pre-ordered now from Shotgun—the line and an accompanying book come out February 2007. See more images here.

TAGS: Collaborations (53), Design (715), Limited Edition (110), Puma (23), Sneakers (234), T-Shirts (210), U.K. (2),

Needled today directs us to the Parisian site Reset Design's project that tasked designers with reinventing tattoos. The 40 different results range from more lyrical ideas, like a rendering of hair (pictured) to macabre comments on the body, such as crucifiction marks and dotted lines for cutting. The work will be exhibited at a show in Paris "dedicated to the manipulation of nature by man," called "Eden Adn" during the St. Étienne Design Biennale from 22 November-3 December 2006.

TAGS: Design (715), Exhibitions (60), Needled (19), Paris (15), Tattoos (7),

Our friends at Dwell Magazine have created a special offer for CH readers who register for their Dwell on Design conference in Palm Springs, California. Simply enter the code COOL when registering and receive a $75 discount off the full conference ticket price of $450.

The Dwell on Design: Palm Springs conference will focus on the past, present and future of design and architecture in the region, a premier destination for mid-century modern design. Featuring a panel of distinguished speakers, exclusive home tours, a premiere screening of the film Desert Utopia: Mid-century Architecture in Palm Springs and a cocktail reception at the Elrod House, by famed architect John Lautner Dwell on Design: Palm Springs promises to be the ultimate retreat for devotees of modern design.

Dwell on Design: Palm Springs
1-3 December 2006
Hotel Zoso
150 South Indian Canyon Drive 
Palm Springs, CA  92262

TAGS: Architecture (83), Conferences (3), Design (715),

Like the essential Pantone color guide, Type Selector is a swatch-style tool for choosing type. Featuring 226 fonts divided into categories, each entry includes dummy text and examples in different weights and styles. In-house designers at CH HQ appreciated the handy form factor, that the publishers chose to pair down font choices so you don't have to look through every font and that you can hold the book up to the screen. But the format's also difficult to flip through and the list price of $50 may be a bit steep for a device with multiple free alternatives. Pick it up from Thames and Hudson or Amazon.

TAGS: Design (715), Tools (7),

Chicago-based furniture company Ooba (makers of the decidedly un-precious bassinet we covered in February 2006) have released a conversion kit ($250) which extends the usefulness of the bassinet by transforming it into a play table and toy bin. In keeping with their mission to "create a simpler and more insightful experience for modern living," they balance form, materials and function with sustainability.

Also recently debuted, Ooba's Nest Crib converts into a day bed as your child gets older, somewhat easing the $2300 price tag. Available for pre-order now, the Nest Crib is available in walnut or maple veneers.

via Notcot

TAGS: Beds (4), Chicago (20), Design (715), Furniture (70), Kids (26),

Karl Escritt is a Kyoto-based graphic artist who's been quietly making a name for himself as an accomplished designer of flyers, posters and t-shirts for the underground music scene in this Englishman's adopted Japan.

Recently, Escritt has made a foray as a performance artist as a live painter. He crafts his artwork over Japanese electronica dance music and remixes the final product to show a collage of visual art and Japonica music. One of his performances can be seen here:

On 12 November 2006 Escritt has a show in Kyoto; 1 December 2006 he hosts the first in a series of monthly Kyoto creative showcases of local talent called Creative Japonica; 10 December 2006 is another live painting in Kyoto. "I also promote and design for various Underground Events in Kyoto and have many more projects planned in the upcoming months," Escritt told us in a recent interview.

TAGS: Art (553), Design (715), Japan (72), Kyoto (1), Performance (3),

Lorena Barrezueta is a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist who has been getting a lot of attention for her porcelain dishware, which is cast from aluminum takeout containers.

They are available online from The Curiosity Shoppe.

TAGS: Ceramic (2), Design (715), Housewares (39), Pottery (3),

These ceramic party cups look just like their plastic counterpart.

They are available online from The Curiosity Shoppe.

Also on CH: We Are Happy To Serve ceramic cups.

TAGS: Ceramic (2), Design (715), Housewares (39), Pottery (3),

Considering Marc Newson's accomplishments in design, I'd have to assume he started designing out of the womb. Eight years before co-founding the Swiss watch company Ikepod, he created the "Pod" mystery dial watch (pictured) in 1986. Spinning disks with dot markers lined the time similar to the Pod Clock that he came up with a few years later. Likely his first watch project, the name has a deeper meaning now as we see how Marc's rich history of watch design grew from this very original Pod. Though Ikepod faced financial challenges recently, if the site is an indication, the company appears to be making a very welcome comeback.

by Watchismo

TAGS: Accessories (111), Accessories (111), Design (715), Fashion (312), Fashion (312), Watches (25), Watches (25),