bltd

Lacie continues its partnership with reknowned product designer Sam Hecht for a line of simple and stylish netbook cases. The Formoa and Coat both feature neoprene rubber protection, accessory pockets, and suede interior linings. Based on its size, it sounds like it’d be a good fit for an iPad or Kindle DX as well.

(more…)

Update: This is on sale for $7.95 from the MoMA Store… I’m sure the price is only good until it sells out, so hurry if you want one. (09/30/10)

This isn’t a new product, but good design always deserves mentioning. The Blu Dot 2d3d Catch-all Tray is a simple, steel tray that’s shipped flat. A few folds here and there and you have yourself a neat tray to keep your desk tidy. Available in gray, white, and red.

Material: Powdercoated steel.
Dimension: 9″ W x 1″ H x 13″ D
Colors: Gun Metal, White, Fire Engine Red

Shwood is a designer and manufacturer of wooden framed sunglasses. Each pair is handcrafted in-house at their Portland-based workshop. Currently two styles are available: Canby and Govy, available in Maple, East Indian Rosewood (my favorite) or Zebrawood.  Each pair comes equipped with your choice of imported Carl Zeiss or polarized lenses. All their wood is sourced from authorized sustainably-harvested plantations.

At this point I’m sure you’re expecting some ridiculous prices for all these features, but they start at only $95. Very reasonable considering the quality and craftsmanship you’ll be receiving.

This makes me wants to wear contact lenses again just so I get a pair of these. Maybe I can put in prescription lenses? Hmm….

(more…)

Multi-time zone clocks are certainly nothing new, but this is the first analog one I’ve seen in which both share the same numbers. Anyone see a bit of Persistence of Memory in this? Comes in Large and Small sizes, priced at $360 and $260, respectively.

Designer: Sam Hecht
Materials: glass, alumnium, abs plastic, quartz movement, battery powered.
Colors: white, black, red

Large: Diam. 23.6″ x D 2.6″
Small: Diam. 11.8″ x D 1.6″

As exciting as it is to come across new products and conceptual designs, more often that not it’s traditional and storied products that strike a chord with me. In this case, this bicycle bell was created by the Tokyo San-Esu Co in 1974 and is still in production today. When a product is so simple in function and perfect to begin with, it’s probably best to leave it alone. The brass bell and metal couplers have a level of timelessness and sophistication over today’s plasticky and cheap-feeling bicycle acessories. I may just have to pick one of these up at the Cooper Hewitt store while I’m still in New York this week…

(more…)

Designer Faris Elmasu couldn’t be more straightforward in his reasoning for creating the Bent Basket: “I was sick with what the market had to offer and thought that people deserve a better design”. I personally am in complete agreement with him. Bicycle accessories that are highly functional that are also stylish definitely are few and far in between. Anyways, the Bent Basket is a molded wood veneer bicycle basket/rack designed for 700c road bikes, and looks seriously cool. The carrying area measures 16 x 12.5”  and integrated nylon straps locks down your stuff during transport. No official price yet, contact the designer for purchasing info.

Material:
Handmade bent wood, aluminum frame, nylon straps.

Carrying Area:
16”L x 12.5W

Maximum weight:
“12 pack of beer”

(more…)

I recently came across these awesome bags at the Moma Design Store in New York, but for some reason they’re not available at their online store. Luckily you can buy them directly from the designer. Anyways, the La.Ga is a Tyvek bag available in various custom prints. Tyvek feels like paper but is waterproof, tear-resistant, and because it’s plastic, recycleable. The large size of the bag and colourful graphics certainly make a bold statement. Be sure to check out their store to see the other styles.

Shown La.Ga Bags: NYC, Marilyn, Letraset

(more…)

From designer Andrew Tye is this wonderful plywood coffee table. The wood sections stack and intersect (without the use of any other hardware) to create the base of the table, and is finished with a hardened glass top.

Small: 31.5 “W x 31.5″D x 10.43″ H
Large: 43.31″W x 31.5” D x 10.43″H

Materials: Plywood and glass

High technology meets high fashion in this new line of iPhone cases. The intricate and stylish surface patterns are formed through the use of 3d printing (selective laser sintering to be exact), which also helps absorb shock and increase grip. Additionally, the air channels enable your iPhone to stay cool. Four models are available: Weave, Double Mesh, Maille, and Plaid Armour.

Designer: Janne Kyttänen 2009
Material: Laser Sintered Polyamide
(more…)

The Whistler Cork Teapot is part of Moma’s exclusive highlight of Portugese products. Made with traditional materials, this charming and quite affordable teapot has a large opening at the top for easy filling. Also, check out the Sugar and Creamer containers and Tea Cups that go along with the cork teapot.

Designer: Raquel Castro, 2009
Material: ceramic earthenware, cork.
Size: 7h x 5l x 5.5”w, 3.5 cups

Fantastic plastic! The Papyrus Chair is a new chair from Kartell made in polycarbonate. It takes visual and structural cues from vintage chairs but what really stands out is the inherit beauty of the material: colorful, transparent, and glossy.  They’re stackable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Designer: Bouroullec Brothers for KartellMaterials
Dimensions: 23.6″W x 31.1″H x 19.3″D; Seat 17.3″H

We’ve posted plenty of map-themed items before; Haptic Lab Quilts, Magnetic Future Map, Places on Earth, but this will be the first where you can literally create your own world. The outlines of the continents are painted on, leaving you  on your own to create the division lines and territories. Undo the Louisiana Purchase. Create Jeff Land. Or draw some sea monsters. You get the idea.

Dimensions:

30″ tall, 19” diameter globe.

On a side note, this could easily be a weekend diy project; buy a globe at a flea market and paint it.

I only had a brief moment to skim through this at the bookstore, but yeah, it’s definitely a must-have for any design enthusiast. Objectivity: A Designer’s Book of Curious Tools is a new illustrated book highlighting over 400 tools and objects ranging from everyday objects to the more exotic and highly specialized. In my opinion, this book is much more interesting and educational than the Objectified movie, which I only found to be so-so.

20.80 x 20.80 cm
192 pages

(more…)