Cool Hunting
I started Cool Hunting in February 2003 after accepting that I'm much better at organizing digitally than physically. As an interaction designer I'm always looking for both inspiration and an understanding of the way people do things. I decided to catalog what I found on the web and haphazardly named it Cool Hunting because to me that's synonymous with finding inspiration. Some people think this site is about trends, but it is more about curating observations.
I get excited about obsessive compulsive art, elegant uses of technology, unusual and limited edition sneakers, and general paradoxes. I grew up in both Miami and Vermont which set a foundation for contrast that I live by today.
I am a Senior Partner at Bond Art and Science, the digital services firm I helped found. I was a User Interface Design Lead at Motorola, I've worked with big-brand clients as a Design Director at Razorfish and I ran product development for a little while at Upoc Networks. I have a BA in Communications and Cognitive Science from Hampshire College and a Master's in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University. I live in New York City and love my two Sealyham Terriers, Otis and Logan.
This photo was taken by Leo Zacharias during our party at the Art Director's Club in October 2006.
True to form, 3.1 Philip Lim's latest two styles of kicks make understated updates to classic profiles, done in pitch-perfect colorways and luxe materials. The Brandon, a hi-top that looks like it could star in Bladerunner II (or be Kanye's next Mad Max-inspired Louis Vuitton collabo), has fashion-forward height, padding at the ankle and uses multiple materials including patent leather. A slim profile, little...
Launching exclusively at vogue Parisian shop Colette next week, the BR 01 Airborne by aviation watch experts Bell & Ross is a chic tribute to U.S. Airborne paratroopers in memory of D-Day. The first to reach a danger zone and the first to go down, the Airborne division of WWII developed the motto "Death from Above," which they conjoined with a skull talisman to...
Twice each year students from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) exhibit their final projects. Ranging between artistic and commercial, conceptual and pragmatic, the work is always inspirational. With every show there seems to be an emergent theme—this year's collision of analog and digital isn't unprecedented, but does deliver new interpretations to get excited about. AL-gorithm, by Alex Kauffmann Alex Kauffmann, the artist behind AL-gorithm,...
Our favorite flight tracking application just went pro and integrated with our favorite travel management service—a harmonious union that keeps us organized and saves us time. FlightTrack Pro syncs up with Tripit itineraries, keeping users in the know about gate changes, delays, cancellations and current weather conditions with its elegantly designed interface that displays details and maps. In addition, an offline mode affords viewing...
With so many ways to stay socially connected these days it's difficult to keep track of it all. The new Adobe AIR application Skimmer sorts this problem out with its clean, minimal interface that conveniently aggregates Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Youtube and Bebo activity in to a single list view while still allowing you expand each item to view the full details—all within the application. Skimmer...
For anyone who uses their iPhone to its fullest capabilities, you know that while the features are fruitful, the battery life span is not. PhoneSuit offers extended use time without extending the phone's size, with their sleek MiLi Power Pack. We've been testing ours out and found quite a few useful components making it a worthy contender in a market that includes the Mophie...
While old-fashioned business cards have their charm, it's a little surprising that a digital service like Contxts, an SMS-enabled way to share contact info, hasn't come along sooner. After entering info online, users can send their "text card" to mobile phones (or someone can request it) by texting the preset Contxt number. The new contact then receives the info and they're entered into a...
From the casual distressing of the Slip-On Chucks to Crazy Laces and its 19 eyelets, Converse's ongoing collaboration with designer John Varvatos is all about the details that speak to the common rock 'n' roll ethos shared by the two brands. Now seven seasons into it, the latest collection features a few impressive examples in both apparel and footwear of just how committed the...
