Design isn't always about showrooms and industry idols. Beautiful objects show up wherever there's ingenuity and an appreciation of aesthetics. High or low, you either get it or you don't. Of all the books on the always-relevant topic, "Pentagram Papers #32: No Waste" perhaps gets closest to the heart...

The character of Rammellzee is one of the most compelling to emerge from the NYC street culture scene of the late 1970s and '80s. The Queens native began his career tagging the side of A train cars in his home borough and later moved into the budding hip-hop scene,...

For their upcoming issue, The Thing Quarterly reached out to literary and cultural icon Dave Eggers of McSweeney's and 826 Valencia. The collaboration announced today that the next shipment of quarterly objects will contain an epistolary shower curtain with a message inscribed to the person showering. Partnering with couture...

Touching down in the peninsular town of Tulum in southern Mexico, a collaboration of creative European service-industry innovators have launched Papaya Playa Project, a temporary hotel concept born from the pop-up retail model. The collection of 99 beach cabanas maintains a certain level of comfort while retaining the look...

On a recent trip to LA, we had the pleasure of grabbing a drink at £10, a posh semi-secret lounge at the Montage hotel in Beverly Hills. An official U.S. outpost of The Macallan, the interiors of the recently-opened space leave room for improvement, but the tucked-away spot filled...

While we keep Cool Hunting's scope international, our location in the center of the universe often means only going so far as Brooklyn to find the latest nascent talent. Occasionally, we find work so exemplary that it reaffirms what makes us casually toss off such superlatives. The following—a painter,...

Housed in the former residence of Madame Clicquot herself, Hotel du Marc is a place to stay unlike any other. As if the historic setting in Reims, France wasn't enough, Veuve Clicquot recently completed a head-to-toe renovation, updating the interiors and facade to create the kind of charming experience...

"A glorious mess;" "manic and often overwhelming;" a "tumult of video, furniture, music, extreme makeup and insistent jabberwocky"—reading reviews of Lizzie Fitch and Ryan Trecartin's touring show "Any Ever" might make the printed page seem like an impossible format (if not totally antithetical) for showcasing their work. While there's...

An answer to the ubiquitous "mushroom" outdoor heaters, Lava recently introduced their pyramid-shaped heaters to the States. The big advantage, other than its striking European-designed looks, is ambient heat that radiates from the sides for better 360-degree warming. To achieve this safely, borosilicate glass tube contains the propane-powered flame...

With an impressive two centuries in business, Warner/Chappell is celebrating the spirit of their enterprise by doing what they do best—spreading the beauty of music. But in this case, rather than act as a publisher of songs, they instead tasked ten visual artists to dream up interpretations of their...

London-based Nails inc. has just released a new line of polish products that take advantage of classic technology by introducing a new tool into a manicurist's arsenal—a magnet. Their Magnetic Attraction series comes in three color options, each named for a London landmark and containing iron powder. Once applied,...

Impressive new Spanish designer Dvelas held court last week during Valencia Disseny Week as they promoted nautical furniture upcycled from vintage sail cloth at the show for young designer's called Nude. The company's creations come with a tag explaining the material's source, from the manufacturer to the boat from...

A slightly more sober follow-up to last week's report on anthropomorphic design spied at Habitat Valencia, here we've surveyed the best in clever furniture solutions from Spain. The following spans ideas for minimalists who don't even want to own candleholders to those who never want to buy another bedframe, all...

Other than sunshine, Spain has an abundance of laughter. Blame it on the jamón, verdejo wine or siestas, the good humor of the country's people shows up in design too. At this year's Habitat Valencia, we spotted several examples of one of our favorite ways to add wit to...

Though London's famed punk venue The Roxy is now a decidedly sober Speedo Swimwear outlet, in the late '70s and early '80s, the U.K. was in the midst of a royal cultural battle between the Thatcherite establishment and a new breed of shock-and-awe artists and musicians. At the forefront...

The annual vintage car show at Goodwood is so much more than that. With races, air shows, thousands dressed in period costumes and even a working '50s-era supermarket, the event provides a playground for those in love with bygone ways of life. As the guest of Veuve Clicquot, it...

Also known as "holy wood," Palo Santo wood sticks have been used for centuries by indigenous Amazonians hoping to ward off evil spirits. As we recently discovered, they also lend a more practical service by freshening up your house with the slightly sweet smell they emit when lit. Unlike...

Since its inception in 1987, Australian skincare line Aesop has gone to great lengths to ensure quality. Everything from manufacturing to distribution, including of course their all-natural, socially-conscious products, is the result of a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach. When it comes to opening retail locations, the brand focuses on meshing...

Think branded interdisciplinary content is a recent phenomenon? In 1966 a unique project was hatched when conceptual artists and Bell Labs engineers collaborated on a series of live installations inside a National Guard Armory in New York City. One of those, "Open Score" by Robert Rauschenberg, pitted artists—including minimalist...

Having tried a few different iPhone cases, I was skeptical that any could offer protection without majorly detracting from the sleek form of the phone itself—much less one designed by a camping gear brand. But after shattering my second iPhone, it was time to get serious. The minimalist design...

Exhilaration, satisfaction, safety, a sense of control—these are the expected feelings associated with driving a luxury automobile. But being surprised by a car is rare. It's more rare still when you're somewhat familiar with the maker, like we were when we had the chance to test out Audi's 2012...

Earlier this year in Los Angeles, I had the chance to sit down with surfer Carissa Moore, 18, fresh on the heels of her win at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast in Australia. Since going on to also claim her first ASP World Champion title—the youngest to ever do...

I don't have kids, but spraying Little Green's detangler on my hair brought back childhood memories of mom pulling a hairbrush through my tangles as I ran out the door to school. Having also spent hours combing my baby sister's long, ultra-fine hair (we called it "turning straw into...

Solitary Arts' first and most popular skateboard to date, Big Red, is now available for a very limited time as a standalone deck. The board, inspired by a thrift store find in San Francisco years ago, mimics the plastic banana board cruisers of the '70s, but with a contemporary...

Until the recent meteoric rise of the cold brew concept, the average consumer was resigned to hot-brewed coffee that had been chilled—condensing all the bitter acids and oils that come from heated preparation. Now that grassroots cafes are cold brewing and price-points of high end models aren't too prohibitive...

Tossing a frisbee around makes a great way to stay fit and have fun in warmer months, but to keep yourself challenged (and stylish), more and more brands are offering products to inspire the potential Olympian in all of us. With local events like NYC's community-based Recess (pictured below left),...

ByKenyan's Kenyan Lewis has more than an exceptional eye for antiques. Together with his partner Grace Kelsey, the two live and breathe the Americana lifestyle—from their beautifully rustic home and interior design projects to prop styling and selection of collector's items discerningly sourced from around the U.S. For those...

The mortar and pestle is one of the most ancient utensils in the contemporary chef's arsenal, and Eero Aarnio has given the classic grinder a makeover. Using smooth, playful curves reminiscent of his popular '67 Ball Chair, Aarnio redefines the generally clunky mortar with a short cylinder base and...

The Vitra Design Museum (a must-see destination for design nerds), recently opened a new gallery space for small exhibitions. The inaugural show, curated by Fulvio and Napoleone Ferrari, features the lesser-known enamel designs of Ettore Sottsass. Created early in his post-war career, the designer began experimenting with geometric forms...

The story is annoyingly familiar. You're in the market for a well-fitting, simple t-shirt but paying designer prices for a cotton basic seems ridiculous. Celebrity stylist Leslie Fremar had been turning to Fruit of the Loom's boy's shirts or ribbed tanks in larger sizes since high school as a...

As fans of the big speaker sound engineered into Audyssey's compact Audio Dock, the launch of their new Lower East Side Media Speaker is even more tech-enhanced music to our ears. The LES produces precision sound with low bass, warm mids and clear highs using the same type of...

Where other sedans in its class swaddle their passengers in cloud-like comfort down to pillowy handling, Audi's A7 stands out for its adrenaline-revving performance and similarly bold design. First stepping into the car, the well-apportioned interior (and lack of a rear middle seat) immediately signals that this car is...

Tasked with creating an installation to spark dialogue at Design Miami this year as part of the W Hotel's "Conversation Pieces," Asif Khan took the anti-architecture route, using helium, soap and water to make a mini-cloud cover indoors. Khan explains it as "an architectural experiment into what’s the simplest...

Hibernation might be a bear thing, but getting serious shut-eye is key to not just more pleasant and productive days but longterm health benefits too. While I've tried a few gadgets designed to help you sleep, nothing quite beats the simplicity of a good mattress and sleep mask. One...

Inspired by the Sun Ra film of the same name, Space is the Place is a rad little zine coming out of Brooklyn. We first fell for it when it was one of the few indie publications we chose to feature in our pop-up shop with Gap last fall....

Drawing inspiration from both running and soccer shoes, pro skateboarder Eric Koston announced his first signature model for NikeSB last week. The result has the durability, performance and looks of a skate shoe, but with comfort and technical specs usually reserved for traditional sports. Koston, who had design experience...

What happens when an architect turns vintner? In the case of Spanish architect Alfredo Arribas, the move spawned not just one winery but two—both infused with artistry from the wine itself down to illustrated labels, and of course the beautifully modern buildings housing them too. Based in the emerging...

Besides eliminating clutter, one of our favorite upshots of the post-CD era is the micro-movement of creative USB stick design. We've seen Doc Martens, surfboards and Red Stripe bottles among other adorable forms for the little devices, so it's somewhat surprising that more bands haven't paired sound and vision...

Wanting to combine the finest quality chocolate with "fruit in its purest form," MarieBelle founder Maribel turned to freeze-dried fruit specialists Van Drunen Farms for her new Chocolate and Fruit Bars. The crispy organic bits mixed into MarieBelle's single-origin Colombian dark chocolate add a surprising texture not unlike puffed...

Today kicks off the 99% Conference, an event focused on how to make great ideas a reality that we cofounded along with Behance three years ago. We're anticipating a great year full of speakers, events, workshops, Cool Hunting Video premieres, and more. If you can't be here, follow the action...

With everyone from big brands like Nike to upstarts like Outlier stepping into clothe the growing legions of bike commuters, Levi's recent sneak peek of their debut line designed for cycling seemed like a no-brainer direction for the label. Drawing on their workwear heritage, the new series incorporates cutting-edge...

Even the most informed food trend followers may not know that quinoa's status among current superfoods was decades in the making. The story of how Quinoa made it from its native land to North America goes back to two intrepid gentlemen who wanted to grow the Andean crop stateside....

When ReadyMade magazine recently hosted a DIY project contest, there was an overwhelming response. Enter the ReadyMade 100 Project Manual, a do-it-themselves response to making a book containing their favorite 100 reader submissions. This ingenious manual is chock full of DIY ideas both big and small to get you...

Scandinavian label Leifsdottir channels today's "modern woman" with a mix of avant-garde cuts, gorgeously art-inspired patterns, a bold use of color and an approach to femininity that's equal parts confident and seductive. So, when asked to participate in a video project documenting a day in the life of their...

The bright spot in any rain-filled day is actually keeping dry. Below are four accessories we recently put to the test that will keep you from getting soaked without resorting to a yellow slicker, all through the rainy season. Two-Tone Canvas Tote Built By Wendy's Two-Tone Canvas Tote is a...

While fans of Argentina's national team still clearly outnumbered U.S. supporters at the exhibition match held at the Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey last Saturday, the sold-out event and tie game were proof that soccer continues to gain momentum stateside (or at least that seeing a living legend like Messi...

From tutus for Black Swan to fine fabrics for furniture maker Knoll, Rodarte's Mulleavy sisters often lend their design talents to those seeking their virtuosic ability to cut and paste style references. Their Cylinder Belt Bag for Opening Ceremony, from the first collection in their collaborative line, sees the...

Technology and craft are common buzzwords these days, but the recent collaboration between Fendi and architecture duo Aranda/Lasch explores the duality with an unusual concept. Dubbed "Modern Primitives," the project started with Aranda/Lasch's sculptural installations based on a crystal structure and its "forbidden symmetries", which debuted at the 2010...

Since bringing a roll of Mentos' new fruit-flavored candies back from Switzerland earlier this month, I've been searching online and in local NYC stores for them constantly. Luckily, it looks as if I don't have to resort to ordering a box from Amazon as we found them in a...

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