Cool Hunting

Josh Rubin, Editor in Chief
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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.

Recent Posts by Josh Rubin
Analog and Digital Collide in a Burst of Text and LEDs at the ITP Spring 2009 Show
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,...
FlightTrack iPhone Application
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...
Skimmer: Social Aggregation by Fallon and Sierra Bravo
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...
PhoneSuit MiLi Power Pack
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...
Contxts: SMS Business Cards
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...
Converse by John Varvatos Spring 2009
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...
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