We have always been big supporters of Vimeo and their mission to provide a high quality, creatively focused platform for video sharing. We are super excited to announce that today Vimeo is launching it's latest iteration with New Vimeo. The new platform entails a complete redesign from top to...

Our environment influences our behavior both physically and mentally, guiding our personal evolution to determine, among other things, our quality of life. Nowhere does this ring truer than in the workplace. The surroundings, comforts, decorations and distractions that exist in the work environment can have a huge influence on creativity...

There is a deep-rooted bond between human beings and blades, born from our mysterious history roaming the cave systems of France and the jungles in southeast Asia. The knife is one of our simplest tools, but is still extremely important. When one feels a properly made blade with perfectly...

While specifically targeting industrial designers, Making It: Manufacturing Techniques In Product Design makes a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about the production processes of nearly anything. Originally released in 2007, this second edition sees author and designer Chris Lefteri add 10 new processes to the already-extensive list...

The work of Fab Ciraolo makes it immediately clear that the Chilean-born illustrator has a very interesting outlook on this world. His pieces combine re-imagined elements of nostalgic popular culture with fantastical sci-fi standards and beautiful space-like atmospheres. Incorporating classic cartoon characters, fairy tale favorites and edgy popular icons,...

Nothing soothes the soul in the frigid winter months like a properly composed cocktail. Even if you are lucky enough to reside in a warmer climate it is essential to have the right ingredients on hand when mixing your elixir. The strategic use of a good bitter can make...

In a tale of passion, pain and friendship, the film Norwegian Wood explores deep-seated themes of loss and sexuality. Based on the book of the same title, the film takes place amid the civil turmoil of 1960s Japan, following the story of three young lovers whose paths cross in...

While we don't condone inhaling chemical-filled, cancer-inducing tobacco products, the pleasure of smoking is undeniable. Most of us can't justify the price tag of a table-top vaporizer and other smokeless alternatives for roasting organic matter tend to be full of hot air. We were recently turned on to the...

Taking the next great leap in their photographic evolution, Lomography has launched their first-ever movie camera. The LomoKino, which dropped today, is a compact, crank-powered movie-making machine that maintains the aesthetic and quality expected from the Lomo brand. Harkening back to the handheld crank cameras typical of home movies...

One of the design leaders in the movement to erase boundaries between digital and physical worlds, John Kestner's company Supermechanical recently brought its first product to market. Kestner, a MIT Media Lab alumni who we first profiled for his earlier interactive projects and went on to include in our...

Whether it's a casual overnight camping trip or a die-hard weeks long expedition in the wilderness, fire is essential for successful survival or s'more making. While rubbing two sticks together or using a standard lighter might work, it can also lead to blisters and the risk of running out...

In terms of form and function the printer has not made any great strides in the last decade. What in reality is a cumbersome necessity, most printer experiences leave much to be desired between clunky design, awkward parts and a near total lack of user interface. While most companies...

Artistic jack-of-all-trades, Luis Gispert's work spans a variety of topics, but his pieces exploring cultural relationships and our near divine connection with consumerism have made him a standout over the last decade. In the last two years Gispert uncovered a niche subculture within the world of custom automotive interiors....

Relatively innocuous and informative guidebooks exist for nearly every city on Earth. Generally alike in form and function, a good one tends to be a necessity in a foreign land but they rarely offer unique insight or dynamic perspectives. The new project from Smudge Studio and Friends of the...

In our multimedia-saturated times, the way we experience information constantly shifts. Using Google to instantly settle a debate or Facebook-stalking exes are just a couple common examples of the type of purely contemporary phenomena resulting from the ways digital formats have replaced traditional platforms. Another natural offshoot, the wash...

Remember the feeling the first time walking down a desolate street in a foreign city or waiting on the corner in a new neighborhood to meet a friend? We all constantly judge our surroundings, whether knowingly or subconsciously; our ability to determine our level of safety, advantage or opportunity...

For the last few years artist Cathy McClure has been applying her background in metal design to her obsession with mechanical toys in a variety of shows around the country. McClure's process, centralized around taking different motorized children's toys and stripping them of their fur and stuffing, tears them...

As faster, prettier, more delicate gadgets arrive everyday, the impulse to protect them has become almost obsessive. Innumerable designs, styles, functions and colors of cases for all kinds of devices sell everywhere from street corners to gas stations. The average pink rubber bumper might look pretty, but most cases...

I recently stopped by the 2nd annual Kickstarter Film Festival to do some sleuthing on up-and-coming film makers. The festival screens a collection of curated Kickstarter projects, including documentaries, animation and products. It was a perfect evening to enjoy some video outdoors and Kickstarter's partnership with Rooftop Films facilitated...

We've been rocking out with a variety of Sonos products in the Cool Hunting office for years, gaining a great appreciation for the functionality of the comprehensive wireless streaming products in the process. Debuting today is the next step forward for at-home or at-work networked music playing with the...

Apple's magnetic Smart Cover for the iPad 2 was a great addition to the tablet, but when it comes to preventing scratches and dings on the backside, a little more padding and a sprinkle of style never hurt anyone. As summer traveling comes to full swing, the real smart cover...

To celebrate the glorious beginning of summer and the much-anticipated opening of phase two of the High Line, New York City's acclaimed elevated park, AOL teamed up with FriendsWithYou to create "Rainbow City," an interactive sculptural installation. The 16,000 square-foot outdoor space is filled with colorful inflatable artworks designed...

The term "Master Bladesmith" may stir images of medieval men hammering steel on anvils, preparing for battle. Yet visit the workshop of Bob Kramer, one of only a hundred certified such experts in the world, and you'll find a modern craftsman at work, renowned for his custom-made carbon steel...

New Signal Process made a splash in the digital music scene last year with their BreakOut pedal, allowing musicians to interface their instruments directly with the plethora of iPad and iPhone apps. This week they dropped two new pedals which deliver even more options to digital music masters. The...

Any excitable amateur who dreams of making their own bathtub brew knows there's a plethora of literature serving up more opinions, instructions and methods than any one determined brewmeister could ever sift through. That's why Beer Craft, written by two actual amateur beer enthusiasts, makes a refreshing take on...

When The Future Perfect owner David Alhadeff met Lara Knutson five years ago, he described the attraction to her work as "immediate and visceral, like a moth to a flame." Comprised of reflective glass fabrics, the shimmering surfaces have that effect on most, especially when Alhadeff showed them at...

An exciting addition to their line of legendary analog cameras, today Lomography releases the Lomo LC-Wide. The continuation of the iconic LC-A+ line retains its classic aesthetic but adds greater functionality—specifically the ability to shoot ultra-wide angle photos. Relatively compact in size, the camera sports a 17mm lens with...

The Barbarian Group just released their new Instagram-powered screen saver named Screenstagram. It lets you connect your Instragram account to your desktop screensaver and displays your feed or the Instagram popular feed live. The sleek add-on takes advantage of Instagrams API and lets you have continuous access to all...

Five years ago José Freire reached out to Jeffery Deitch to inquire about the sustainability of gallery space in SoHo. Deitch has since moved on but Team Gallery has held strong in the downtown neighborhood and is now opening their second space in the area. Notorious for presenting work...

Creating a true "only in New York" moment during the upcoming ICFF happenings, Flos has teamed up with one of the city's top tattoo artists to celebrate Dutch designer Marcel Wanders' new lamp for the renowned Italian lighting specialist. The event marking its launch will leave a few lucky...

Photographer Corinne May Botz' imagery teases out the human relationship with the supernatural. In her latest show at the Kennedy Museum of Art, photos from Botz's "Haunted Houses" series are on display as part of the collection "Shadows and Phenomena". Shot over several years, Botz paired her photographs of...

One of the the most satisfying interactions with a tool is when designers reinvent something you use all the time but don't think too much about. The Klhip nail trimmer is a shining example of such an innovation, transforming a mundane concept by applying design principles to make it...

Since 1897 Globe-Trotter has been producing high-end suitcases for the epically discerning traveler, much like how for 80 years Nat Sherman's cigarettes have stood for style and quality. To celebrate the tobacconist's decades, Globe-Trotter has designed an exclusive humidor made with their patented Vulcan Fibre—a material that reportedly makes...

We recently caught up with David Lyons, the Executive Director of Interior Design for General Motors North America, at an event for Chevy's new on-board technology system, MyLink. David gave us the scoop on the difficulty of designing a car interior and how a focus on specific consumer needs...

A favorite of audiophiles everywhere, McIntosh has been known for its top-of-the-line amplifiers and stereo equipment for over 60 years. We recently got the chance to spend some time with the MXA60 integrated audio system, released to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary. As with all of their products, the...

A finalist in the Philip's Livable Cities Awards, Andrew Burdick's "Smart Athletic Grid Light" prototype has enormous potential to prove how urban development and sustainable design can work together. In association with Ennead, the idea was seeded during conversations with schools and extracurricular groups that were in need of...

Fresh off Perrier-Jouët's Bi-Centenaire Project (more on that later), Daniel Arsham has a new installation and performance piece debuting this week in NYC. "Dig", in collaboration with Arsham's firm Snarkitecture, comprises of completely filling the gallery space at the Storefront for Art and Architecture with white architectural foam. Arsham...

Behind the many verdant closets and kitchen-corner produce installations increasingly tucked into NYC apartments, you can often find the expertise and passion of urban gardening advocate and entrepreneur Aaron Moore. Splitting his time between his two City Hydroponic supply stores in New York's Bronx and Brooklyn boroughs, Moore not...

Welsh designer Yumalum just released a second print in his Polaroid poster series. The "Instant Rainbow" graphic beautifully interprets the classic instant camera spitting out a crisp ROYGBIV snapshot. Measuring 50 x 70 centimeters, each poster is printed on matte paper using a high-quality photo printer and ink. The...

EcoArt uses art as a platform for drawing attention to the environment and surrounding issues. Their altruistic endeavor aims to inspire creativity that will raise awareness through various events and exhibitions, such as their current show "Pure Water Vision." Featuring a collection of works from the ten finalists of...

Kor has been producing quality reusable water bottles since their inception in 2008. With forward-thinking design, they excel at creating functional H20 portage and are committed to changing the habits of the Dasani-swilling masses, The release of their newest vessel, the Vida, does nothing less than reinvent the steel...

Whether you're a daily dripper or a post-dinner sipper, your preferred roast does play an important role in the espresso. But in the end the most important key to a great shot is the consistency. How do you maintain a perfect balance every time? The short answer is solid...

In his latest show, frequent Cool Hunting contributor, emerging artist and medical doctor Jonah Samson delves even deeper into his sardonic figurative work. Known for his dark sensibility and cryptic sense of humor, Jonah's work ranges from constructed photographic dioramas to intimate Polaroids, all hinting at underlying explicit sexuality...

In the early 60's, in a Spain still suffering the repercussions of the civil war and a population living under the hard handed rule of Franco, Kettal founder Manuel Alorda took a trip to Germany with his Dutch father in-law to purchase outdoor furniture. Alorda had never seen outdoor...

Playing with yourself isn't always socially acceptable but the new and improved iPong from Joola is a great way to practice your ping pong even when you don't have a partner. The cylindrical ping pong robot has a super slim design and a simple mechanism, allowing setup in under...

The days of thumbing through the classified section of the local paper are quickly fading. Most of us have turned toward more modern means to search for employment, apartments and "vintage" furniture, namely Craigslist. With its mass of information the site can sometimes be hard to navigate so for...

The Bicycle Film Festival is back for its eleventh year. Started in 2001 by Brendt Barbur after a bus hit him while riding his bike in NYC, the event invites films across all genres and styles as long as it contains a bike-related theme. The program will travel to...

Among the many new exciting games and oddities at the 2011 Toy Fair, Activision's latest gaming experience for the Nintendo Wii stood out for its fresh take on role-playing games. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure is action-packed entertainment that lets player interaction cross between the game and real worlds. The game...

With a focus on the curvaceous forms and clean sleek lines that characterized design in post-depression America, the exhibit "American Streamlined Design: The World of Tomorrow" next visits the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK, following presentations in Miami, New York City and Montreal. The show captures the...

Collaborating with eco-friendly fashion label Loomstate, students from the Parsons The New School for Design recently created a curriculum based on zero-waste design with a focus on denim. The course, mentored by Loomstate's Scott Mackinlay and Rogan Gregory, serves to educate students about sourcing, dyeing and employing sustainable denim...