Cool Hunting
Entries with keyword "toys"
25 result(s) displayed (26 - 50 of 119)
Advertisement
Tokyo Kamen
(07 May 2008) - It’s hard to imagine Manhattan’s Upper East Side as a hotbed for contemporary design, but the museum shop at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is not only one of the best museum shops I’ve ever seen, it’s also one of the best destinations for great design in the city. Gregory Krum, the museum’s Director of Retail, has spent several years curating an impressive collection...
(07 May 2008) - It’s hard to imagine Manhattan’s Upper East Side as a hotbed for contemporary design, but the museum shop at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is not only one of the best museum shops I’ve ever seen, it’s also one of the best destinations for great design in the city. Gregory Krum, the museum’s Director of Retail, has spent several years curating an impressive collection...
Kellner Plug-in Figures
(17 March 2008) - Invented in Germany in the 1920s these toy Plug-In Figures building kits hinge (literally) on the flexible "jummi" rubber connectors patented by Georg Kellner. A former airplane builder, who started a successful model plane company, Kellner created simple kits with interchangeable parts that could be combined to make posable figures. Five of these kits Tim, Hoppy Hare, Squeek the mouse, Edward + Erna and...
(17 March 2008) - Invented in Germany in the 1920s these toy Plug-In Figures building kits hinge (literally) on the flexible "jummi" rubber connectors patented by Georg Kellner. A former airplane builder, who started a successful model plane company, Kellner created simple kits with interchangeable parts that could be combined to make posable figures. Five of these kits Tim, Hoppy Hare, Squeek the mouse, Edward + Erna and...
Etch-A-Sketch Clock
(10 March 2008) - Angela Yuan, a young NYC-based mechanical engineer, has built a fun little clock from an Etch-A-Sketch. Each minute that passes, the machine tilts the toy, shakes it clean and mechanically draws the correct time....
(10 March 2008) - Angela Yuan, a young NYC-based mechanical engineer, has built a fun little clock from an Etch-A-Sketch. Each minute that passes, the machine tilts the toy, shakes it clean and mechanically draws the correct time....
Rainbow In Your Hand
(07 March 2008) - Created by Japanese art director and copywriter Masashi Kawamura, this Rainbow In Your Hand flip book is a mesmerizing little toy. The 36-page book has an image of the color spectrum against a black background on each page, creating the illusion of an arced rainbow hovering above the pages as the pages flip by. Available from the Japanese Utrecht website. via Swissmiss by way...
(07 March 2008) - Created by Japanese art director and copywriter Masashi Kawamura, this Rainbow In Your Hand flip book is a mesmerizing little toy. The 36-page book has an image of the color spectrum against a black background on each page, creating the illusion of an arced rainbow hovering above the pages as the pages flip by. Available from the Japanese Utrecht website. via Swissmiss by way...
Fentix Cube
(29 February 2008) - Combining the brain-teasing appeal of a Rubik's cube with a multi-touch interface, British electronic engineer Andrew Fentem's Fentix Cube might be the ultimate geek toy. The full-color screens are bright enough to see in daylight and the lights can be programmed to simulate any number of multi-dimensional puzzles, including Rubik's classic (watch the video to see it in action), games or ambient lighting themes. No...
(29 February 2008) - Combining the brain-teasing appeal of a Rubik's cube with a multi-touch interface, British electronic engineer Andrew Fentem's Fentix Cube might be the ultimate geek toy. The full-color screens are bright enough to see in daylight and the lights can be programmed to simulate any number of multi-dimensional puzzles, including Rubik's classic (watch the video to see it in action), games or ambient lighting themes. No...
Remote Control K.I.T.T. Car
(18 February 2008) - Watching the new "Knight Rider" TV movie over the weekend stirred up all sorts of great memories from the original show, including (of course) the deep-seated longing to own a car like K.I.T.T. ("Knight Industries Two Thousand"). While this remote control toy version might be missing a couple details (like the ability to print money), it does feature a turbo booster button, makes sound...
(18 February 2008) - Watching the new "Knight Rider" TV movie over the weekend stirred up all sorts of great memories from the original show, including (of course) the deep-seated longing to own a car like K.I.T.T. ("Knight Industries Two Thousand"). While this remote control toy version might be missing a couple details (like the ability to print money), it does feature a turbo booster button, makes sound...
Geneviève Gaukler: Pierre and Food Chain
(21 January 2008) - Meet Pierre, one of Medicom's newest designer toys and creation of the prolific French illustrator Geneviève Gaukler. Pierre brings one of Gaukler's more well known 2-D characters into plushy, 3-D form—we couldn't be happier that it's not another vinyl toy. Like Cousin Itt from the Addams Family, Pierre is shag from head to toe and short in stature at only 55 cm. But I...
(21 January 2008) - Meet Pierre, one of Medicom's newest designer toys and creation of the prolific French illustrator Geneviève Gaukler. Pierre brings one of Gaukler's more well known 2-D characters into plushy, 3-D form—we couldn't be happier that it's not another vinyl toy. Like Cousin Itt from the Addams Family, Pierre is shag from head to toe and short in stature at only 55 cm. But I...
Cardboard Rocket Play House
(04 December 2007) - What child isn't fascinated with space? Luckily, Nigel's Eco Store, an online purveyor of fun, stylish and environmentally sound homewares, came up with this Cardboard Rocket Play House. Made of sturdy recycled cardboard it arrives plain and unpainted so that the kids can decorate it however they want. Made by a designer with over 20 years of experience in the packaging industry, the rocket...
(04 December 2007) - What child isn't fascinated with space? Luckily, Nigel's Eco Store, an online purveyor of fun, stylish and environmentally sound homewares, came up with this Cardboard Rocket Play House. Made of sturdy recycled cardboard it arrives plain and unpainted so that the kids can decorate it however they want. Made by a designer with over 20 years of experience in the packaging industry, the rocket...
Tatebanko Paper Diorama Kit
(08 November 2007) - Appealing to my weakness for dioramas and DIY paper projects, these kits also are a mini lesson on Tatebanko, the forgotten Edo-era Japanese art of creating perspectives from paper. They come in either a snowy scene representing a painting by the master Hiroshige or in a version of Hokusai's wave. Designed and printed in Japan by It's a Beautiful Day (the group leading the...
(08 November 2007) - Appealing to my weakness for dioramas and DIY paper projects, these kits also are a mini lesson on Tatebanko, the forgotten Edo-era Japanese art of creating perspectives from paper. They come in either a snowy scene representing a painting by the master Hiroshige or in a version of Hokusai's wave. Designed and printed in Japan by It's a Beautiful Day (the group leading the...
Strange Faces Origami
(06 November 2007) - Originally called "oreore-nai," meaning "I can't fold properly," this easy origami kit comes with 15 square sheets of paper printed with photo images of cropped faces. When folded the sheets transform into bizarre kaleidoscopic versions of a face, as if a few people got together and went crazy with Apple's Photobooth effects. Designed by the Tokyo-based origami group Studio Cochae, Strange Faces Origami is...
(06 November 2007) - Originally called "oreore-nai," meaning "I can't fold properly," this easy origami kit comes with 15 square sheets of paper printed with photo images of cropped faces. When folded the sheets transform into bizarre kaleidoscopic versions of a face, as if a few people got together and went crazy with Apple's Photobooth effects. Designed by the Tokyo-based origami group Studio Cochae, Strange Faces Origami is...
Recycled Wood Tree House
(05 November 2007) - If remembering the fun and simple learning experience from playing with Lincoln Logs as a kid brings back good memories, then the Recycled Wood Tree House—a modern update to those brown stacking pieces of our generation—will likely bring the same to any easily bored rugrat over age three in your life. This 22-inch-tall, recycled cherry and elder wood tree house made with removable parts...
(05 November 2007) - If remembering the fun and simple learning experience from playing with Lincoln Logs as a kid brings back good memories, then the Recycled Wood Tree House—a modern update to those brown stacking pieces of our generation—will likely bring the same to any easily bored rugrat over age three in your life. This 22-inch-tall, recycled cherry and elder wood tree house made with removable parts...
Leo Dog Toy
(26 October 2007) - by Passa Chattra Face it, any dog owner will tell you they have the smartest dog in the world. Well here"s a toy that's fitting for those canine prodigies. Made by Canine Genius the "Leo" (in honor of Leonordo da Vinci) is like legos for dogs. The individual Leos can be fetched, tugged, and stuffed with treats like other dog toys. What makes the Leo...
(26 October 2007) - by Passa Chattra Face it, any dog owner will tell you they have the smartest dog in the world. Well here"s a toy that's fitting for those canine prodigies. Made by Canine Genius the "Leo" (in honor of Leonordo da Vinci) is like legos for dogs. The individual Leos can be fetched, tugged, and stuffed with treats like other dog toys. What makes the Leo...
Cranium Wow: Interview And Exclusive Giveaway
(12 September 2007) - Combining Trivial Pursuit, charades, art and some varieties of calisthenics, Cranium is one of my all-time favorite board games. Cool Hunting has the exclusive on the new edition, Cranium Wow and we are giving one away before it hits stores. Details after the jump. While staying true to the original Cranium game, Wow features an entirely revamped design with all new questions including everything...
(12 September 2007) - Combining Trivial Pursuit, charades, art and some varieties of calisthenics, Cranium is one of my all-time favorite board games. Cool Hunting has the exclusive on the new edition, Cranium Wow and we are giving one away before it hits stores. Details after the jump. While staying true to the original Cranium game, Wow features an entirely revamped design with all new questions including everything...
Take-G Wooden Robot Toys
(27 June 2007) - Craftsman Takeji Nakagawa, aka "Take-G," doesn't simply make "toys." Rather, he creates tributes to childhood, nature and the future. The artisan crafts things like animals and futuristic robots out of four types of wood: keyaki (a Japanese tree of the genus Zelkova), teak, walnut and white ash. These four types of wood are joined through a traditional handicraft process called yosegi-mokuzougan (joined wooden block...
(27 June 2007) - Craftsman Takeji Nakagawa, aka "Take-G," doesn't simply make "toys." Rather, he creates tributes to childhood, nature and the future. The artisan crafts things like animals and futuristic robots out of four types of wood: keyaki (a Japanese tree of the genus Zelkova), teak, walnut and white ash. These four types of wood are joined through a traditional handicraft process called yosegi-mokuzougan (joined wooden block...
Mechanical Music Box
(03 May 2007) - The Mechanical Music Box comes with paper strips and a hole punch for DIY music-making without a need for actual musical talent. The little devices presents endless possibilities for creating your own melodies, covering pop songs or to add a low-tech juvenile sounds to your next remix. It also comes with a pre-punched "Happy Birthday" strip if you're just looking for something gifty. It's...
(03 May 2007) - The Mechanical Music Box comes with paper strips and a hole punch for DIY music-making without a need for actual musical talent. The little devices presents endless possibilities for creating your own melodies, covering pop songs or to add a low-tech juvenile sounds to your next remix. It also comes with a pre-punched "Happy Birthday" strip if you're just looking for something gifty. It's...
Cool Hunting Video Presents: Sam Hatmaker
(20 April 2007) - For this episode we traveled to the Manhattan apartment of Wonder Woman collector Sam Hatmaker. He took us on a private tour of his extensive collection that nearly takes up an entire spare room (not including his massive horde of comics and DVDs). Sam walks us through the rare and the absurd—from a box of tissues and a cookie jar to a thousand-dollar phone...
(20 April 2007) - For this episode we traveled to the Manhattan apartment of Wonder Woman collector Sam Hatmaker. He took us on a private tour of his extensive collection that nearly takes up an entire spare room (not including his massive horde of comics and DVDs). Sam walks us through the rare and the absurd—from a box of tissues and a cookie jar to a thousand-dollar phone...
Hotdoll
(19 April 2007) - For all those overly-frisky pups, Hotdoll is a leg and furniture stand in relieving owners of annoyance and dogs of their urges. A much more humane treatment than medications or castration, as French designer Clement Eloy points out, the toy also saves guests from embarrassment but still is funny to watch.via Gizmodo...
(19 April 2007) - For all those overly-frisky pups, Hotdoll is a leg and furniture stand in relieving owners of annoyance and dogs of their urges. A much more humane treatment than medications or castration, as French designer Clement Eloy points out, the toy also saves guests from embarrassment but still is funny to watch.via Gizmodo...
Webkinz
(20 March 2007) - Cross a Beanie Baby with a Neopet and what do you get? The answer is Webkinz, an extensive line of plush pets with lives in an online world. Each Webkinz sold comes with a unique ID that gives its owner access to the Webkinz online community. There owners and their pets can play games, earn Webkinz cash and IM others "safely" using pre-scripted messages,...
(20 March 2007) - Cross a Beanie Baby with a Neopet and what do you get? The answer is Webkinz, an extensive line of plush pets with lives in an online world. Each Webkinz sold comes with a unique ID that gives its owner access to the Webkinz online community. There owners and their pets can play games, earn Webkinz cash and IM others "safely" using pre-scripted messages,...
Readymech Series 002
(19 January 2007) - Collecting toys, like those made by Japanese company Medicom, can be pricey, so during a lean January you can instead have fun for free with the Readymech series. Put together by the industrious Portland-based design studio Fwis, who are also responsible for Squarewolf tees, the second series of paper Mechs have just gone up on the website. A printer, decent paper, double-sided tape and...
(19 January 2007) - Collecting toys, like those made by Japanese company Medicom, can be pricey, so during a lean January you can instead have fun for free with the Readymech series. Put together by the industrious Portland-based design studio Fwis, who are also responsible for Squarewolf tees, the second series of paper Mechs have just gone up on the website. A printer, decent paper, double-sided tape and...
Rainbow Ring Stacker
(13 December 2006) - Hug them, love them, give them funny names. The toys at Acorn (the latest gift spot picked by Refinery29 for CH) might make you momentarily regress, and that's why you know they're great gifts. The soft knit Rainbow Ring Stacker ($56) and the jungle and farm animal sets ($74) by I Golfini della Nonna are as loveable as they are affordable. To order, call...
(13 December 2006) - Hug them, love them, give them funny names. The toys at Acorn (the latest gift spot picked by Refinery29 for CH) might make you momentarily regress, and that's why you know they're great gifts. The soft knit Rainbow Ring Stacker ($56) and the jungle and farm animal sets ($74) by I Golfini della Nonna are as loveable as they are affordable. To order, call...
Wooden Food Toys
(05 December 2006) - I never outgrew my childhood obsession with toy food. Somehow everyday edibles become magical when rendered in delicately painted wood and—unlike the real stuff, not to mention most other toys—these wooden objects are made to last for generations. German toymakers Haba and Erzi offer the most extensive collections of wooden kitchen play toys. From great basic sets like the gift basket by Haba which...
(05 December 2006) - I never outgrew my childhood obsession with toy food. Somehow everyday edibles become magical when rendered in delicately painted wood and—unlike the real stuff, not to mention most other toys—these wooden objects are made to last for generations. German toymakers Haba and Erzi offer the most extensive collections of wooden kitchen play toys. From great basic sets like the gift basket by Haba which...
Happy Birthday Flowbots
(09 November 2006) - Artist, tattooist and designer of one of the JK5) celebrates the birthday of his Flowbots next Friday, 17 November 2006, at ToyTokyo's Showroom NYC. In addition to revealing the introductory series of three-inch vinyl toys, produced in collaboration with Kidrobot, new paintings, drawings and sculpture created by JK5 exclusively for this event will be on display. JK5 says of the Flowbots—nine distinct characters with...
(09 November 2006) - Artist, tattooist and designer of one of the JK5) celebrates the birthday of his Flowbots next Friday, 17 November 2006, at ToyTokyo's Showroom NYC. In addition to revealing the introductory series of three-inch vinyl toys, produced in collaboration with Kidrobot, new paintings, drawings and sculpture created by JK5 exclusively for this event will be on display. JK5 says of the Flowbots—nine distinct characters with...
Super-Bastard Box Art
(06 November 2006) - Undoboy, a talented NYC-based designer, sent us an email recently warning us he's unleashed his latest work: Super-Bastard Box Art Characters. 16 4-inch characters come in a box. The sturdy cardboard dolls have a character painted on each of their four sides and feature different pop-culture icons. The detachable heads and legs can be mixed and matched for added fun. Born Chean Wei Law...
(06 November 2006) - Undoboy, a talented NYC-based designer, sent us an email recently warning us he's unleashed his latest work: Super-Bastard Box Art Characters. 16 4-inch characters come in a box. The sturdy cardboard dolls have a character painted on each of their four sides and feature different pop-culture icons. The detachable heads and legs can be mixed and matched for added fun. Born Chean Wei Law...
I Am Plastic
(02 November 2006) - Creepy yet cute, artist-designed and utterly collectible, the designer toy phenomenon is an accurate barometer of currents in pop culture over the last several years. Kidrobot, the most familiar name in the movement, has literally wrote the book on the subject with this month's release of I Am Plastic, a new hardcover that visually traces the nearly decade-old niche culture. Divided into sections by...
(02 November 2006) - Creepy yet cute, artist-designed and utterly collectible, the designer toy phenomenon is an accurate barometer of currents in pop culture over the last several years. Kidrobot, the most familiar name in the movement, has literally wrote the book on the subject with this month's release of I Am Plastic, a new hardcover that visually traces the nearly decade-old niche culture. Divided into sections by...
Beck Wheeler
(06 October 2006) - Melbourne-based freelance illustrator and toy maker Beck Wheeler "combines painting, sculpture and toy making to explore narrative and the art of story telling." Beck's handmade toys, which also reflect an interest in comic book art, are stocked at Georgie Love—an online store that features all kinds of Melbourne artist handmade goods. ...
(06 October 2006) - Melbourne-based freelance illustrator and toy maker Beck Wheeler "combines painting, sculpture and toy making to explore narrative and the art of story telling." Beck's handmade toys, which also reflect an interest in comic book art, are stocked at Georgie Love—an online store that features all kinds of Melbourne artist handmade goods. ...
Advertisement
