Cool Hunting

Josh Rubin, Editor in Chief
josh-chv50.jpg

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
Converse at the Hotel Chelsea
To showcase their Spring / Summer 2010 line-up Converse presented each collection in different rooms of NYC's famously bohemian Hotel Chelsea. Visiting the homes of long-term residents Man-Lai Liang, event planner; Zaldy, clothing designer and Steve Willis, film director was a unique opportunity to to take in the creative material these artists choose to surround themselves with. Beyond placing their product in a unique...
Hästens Beds: Hands-On Review
Few of us can boast that we sleep in the bed of Scandinavian royalty but a new offering from Hästens—supplier of beds to the King and Queen of Sweden—gives you some idea. The 157-year-old company's state-of-the-art layered mattress take luxurious slumbering to a whole new level. I recently had the opportunity to try a couple of these palatial beds at the Peninsula Chicago courtesy...
Valerie Leonard: Classic Pet Portraits
Far from simply photoshopping an animal head on a human body, the pet portraits of Valerie Leonard reflect a level of care and personality that's peerless in the field. Inspired by the Old Masters, as well as film and family portraits, her images balance a level of whimsy with a stateliness befitting their regal subjects. Based in Connecticut, the artist devotes days to each...
Olympus EP-1 "PEN" Camera: Hands-On Review
Addressing the growing market for a smaller camera with professional features, Olympus recently introduced the compact, lightweight Micro Four Thirds EP-1 a.k.a. "PEN" digital camera. I never go anywhere without a camera, but schlepping the bulky DSLR is not always convenient and my iPhone camera quality isn't always acceptable. Interchangeable lenses, a range of in-camera filters and the option to use full manual settings...
Next Black Backpack: The Timbuk2 Q
A black backpack is part of my daily life and needless to say I have very specific requirements—after a few weeks testing, the Timbuk2 Q has become my new standard. Constructed from durable ballistic nylon, the pack is designed to offer "swing around" access to its padded laptop sleeve, but also offers easy reach for its other compartments. The main pocket is roomy enough...
Timberland Mountain Athletics Collection
   On a recent morning this Summer I had a chance to explore some unknown areas of Central Park and test the latest footwear from Timberland Mountain Athletics, a relatively new division of the New Hampshire-based footwear brand. Hosted by Jay Steere, Timberland's VP of Product Management and guided by Maia Josebachvili, founder of Urban Escapes, we explored the northernmost portion of the park which...
Advertisement
Advertisement