New eco-company Kayu handcrafts sunglasses from pesticide-free bamboo.
The shades are oversized in a retro-stylish way (think Jackie O. goes green), but the best part is what’s behind the lenses: for every pair purchased, Kayu donates enough funds to cover one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world. So the shades are not only green, they give back the luxury of sight.
Producer:
Known for his red-soled stilettos, Christian Louboutin doesn’t disappoint his devotees with a new season favorite, the Layered Leather Hobo. Created with armor-inspired, scalloped design of carefully stitched calfskin this hobo sports a trough in the middle enhancing the carrier’s comfort.
Available in signature black with red accents on the outer rings and inner, jacquard lining, this handbag has a zip top closure with signature pull, a 13.5″ strap drop length and is available at Saks for $1,995. In a funny little way it reminds me of those little bugs in the garden that we used to call rolly-pollies — I half expect the bag to roll up into a ball and protect itself from danger. (17″ x 12″ x 5 1/2″)
via luxist
Value item: Here is an innovative, quirkly little product that may make a big (lemon) splash. The UTILO, Lemon Squeezer designed by Nicole Schaffert. Just insert spout into your lemon and squeeze for quick and easy seed-free juice. Made of stainless steel.
Producer: Blomus was established in 2001 to innovatively manufacture stainless steel items utilizing modern design. Blomus offers a great selection of kitchen accessories, fireplace accessories, bathroom accessories, office accessories and waste bins. Inspired by premiere European designers and created by German craftsmen, each and every Blomus product, whether a contemporary stainless steel mirror, kitchen accessories, bathroom hardware, bar and wine tools or a modern styled set of candle holders, Blomus offers only the finest quality of stainless steel kitchen accessories today.
Seen at allmodern.com
Google offers up a new vision of computing and it isn’t about desktops or laptops. It’s mobile. The Google phone has arrived. The phone shots are T-Mobile’s G1. But this is a design resource and the phone is not our focus. It is the software named Android.
What is Android if you already haven’t heard?
On November 5th, 2007 leading technology and wireless companies came together to announce the future development of a truly open platform for all kinds of mobile devices – Android. Leading this development are Google Inc, T-Mobile, Intel, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola along with many other companies under the umbrella of the Open Handset Alliance – a global alliance between technology and mobile industry leaders.
The Open Handset Alliance’s common goal is to foster and develop a new breed of innovation for mobile devices allowing a far better user experience than today’s current mobile platforms. The OHA will provide a far greater degree of openess that will enable developers to work and collaborate in ways never before seen, Android will greatly improve and speed up the process in which new and innovative mobile services are development and made available to the end user.
The following screenshots will demonstrate the value – added of open source development and the first batch of applications.
BioWallet: Not all of the innovative apps are map based. BioWallet uses your phone’s camera as an iris scanner to lock down sensitive information like account numbers and passwords on your phone, or even the phone itself. Handwriting-based IDs can also be implemented, all processed on external servers and sent back to your phone with a pass/fail reading.
CompareEverywhere and GoCart: Both capture photos of product UPC codes to then tie into online databases for comparison pricing, product availability, and shopping list compilation.
Cab4me: Takes your current location and feeds it into a database of nation-wide cab companies, allowing you to order a cab pickup instantly with your current locations. Google Maps overlays also show areas of cities where you’re likely to hail a cab off the street.
So Google has followed Apple’s lead by introducing a completely innovative look to the mobile phone. We knew someone would. Apple and Google, you have our attention.
Like sophisticated Transformers, these products fold to save space and to reveal a new function. The Flatterware cup body is molded out of a single piece of flexible plastic, with a helical structure allowing it to spring open and close with ease.
Just give it a simple twist, the bright plastic disc turns into an eco-friendly mini-tumbler. The bottom of the cup sits in the hard lower part and sort of grows out of the base, creating an easy-to-grip glass with a hard rim (great for spillers). It definitely has a rubber-plastic whiff to it initially, but that should be no problem since this 12-ounce travel companion is dishwasher-safe—you also have to wash it in hot water before use to “activate the cup’s spring memory” and help dissipate the smell.
The rim of the cup is very rigid, keeping any spills from happening. The helix design gives two benefits, one being it twists back down into the base with a smooth feel and clicks shut easily, the other being it stabilizes the cup so you do not have to grip it gently to avoid spills. At 12 ounces it is a large travel cup! Flatterware collapsible cup, $5 USD.
Robots. A very interesting topic. DA recently showcased a sewer inspector, the world’s most powerful per the manufacturer, a very practical solution. But what about robotics that inspire art? An example: Christopher Conte. By day posing as a designer of prosthetics and making artificial limbs for amputees in New York. At night and on weekends(?) creator of science fiction-like, futuristic sculptures. The artist – designer’s background of human anatomy, medical science, and biomechanics meld into robot-like creature art objects. Objects that inspire.
Recently he joined the stable of artist rep Les Barony to commercialize his art. Here’s to provoking innovation, adventure, the “non – practical” pursuit of solutions.
His work has been recently covered in Wired, Popular Science, Make Magazine, and used by The Discovery Channel and MTV Networks.
For more on Christopher Conte and his work, take a break and visit him here.
If you are into robots and want to see them live in Chicago visit Nextfest seen at Millennium Park September 27 – October 12, 2008
via .think and dark matter magazine
On May 2, 2008, Nau announced that it was closing shop. The reason? They could not get financing to continue operations. If you don’t know who Nau is, they’re a uniquely new business—selling eco-friendly clothes with a unique business model: brick and mortar stores that displayed examples of their product but the purchases were online.
Ironically last August 06 when they launched, as a groundswell of environmental consciousness grew the economic capital markets were collapsing.
The latest as of September 8, 2008: The Road to Relaunch – Part 5
Who is Nau? In their own words…
Who are we and what are we trying to do here?
Good question. Nau is an outdoor apparel company born out of a desire to do business differently. From designing our clothes and developing our fabrics, to the way in which we build our stores, to our dedication to supporting organizations working for positive change, we are striving towards a more sustainable approach to being in business. At the core of our enterprise is the desire to expand the nature of the outdoor experience beyond athletic endeavors, and redefine what it means to align oneself with the outdoors.
We believe in the power of the collective, and we seek to turn that power towards the goal of positive change, in a variety of forms. Basically, we like to learn. And nothing furthers learning more than listening. So we’d like to listen to the people whose opinions we respect—like yours. We’re pretty sure there are a lot more folks like us out there—concerned, inquisitive people, looking for engaging, challenging and potentially transformative dialogue.
We are alerted: World Animal Day is October 4. This post celebrates environment, design, fashion, and animals used in marketing efforts.
Here we feature a collaboration between Puma and Atmos NY, which consists of three pairs of Puma models inspired by three endangered
polar animals: the Harp Seal, Macaroni Penguin and Polar Bear. Each sneaker has its own unique design, but comes with the works of National Geographic photographer Mitsuaki Iwago featured on it, as well as a transparent outsole.
Each shoe in the collection captures the unique characteristics of a specific animal, and features Mr. Iwago’s photography on the removable insole. The name and habitat of each animal is on the reverse tongue and the outsole in both English and Japanese. The shoes were created in hopes of bringing attention to our impact on these endangered animals.
The third shoe shown in the Polar Pack is the PUMA x Atmos Polar Bear Clyde. Drawing direct inspiration from the polar bears of the Artic the shoe features an off white nubuck upper and fur collar, while the blue ice sole represents the Polar Bear’s natural habitat. The shoe comes with three sets of colored laces and have the Atmos “A” on the lace tips and heel. The Polar Bear is currently ranked as vulnerable and is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Found exclusively at Atmos as June 2008. via Pet Monologues —World Animal Day and Bless the Animals.
Less about breaking news and more about affirmation: The Zeppelin iPod dock from Bowers and Wilkins not only looks good from across the room and CU, but the music is consistent with the manufacturer’s reputable sound.
First seen almost a year ago but did not mess with it until killing time in an Apple store last week. If you like modern, minimal, music, and have an iPod, this is worth a peek. It will set you back $600 USA but you get design, music, and art.
What’s HD radio? (more…)
In a highly extraordinary example of creativity and high-design, the iPhone captures the 2008 Creativity Awards Grand Prize Winner. Why so unusual? This event is judged by the advertising community where ad campaigns and 30-second spots typically rule.
A POV from one of the judges: “The iPhone. Iconic design or iconic brand? Simply put Apple leads the way as an iconic brand, but importantly it uses iconic design to express this in everything it does. People often confuse the two, but Apple has both, and this is what makes it connect with niche emotional intensity to a mass global market. (more…)
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