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Articles Written by Simon

Simon

About Simon: Simon has worked in the fields of graphic design, multimedia and production. He has an obsession with objects and their relationships with people. He enjoys making things and sketching in notebooks. Simon is currently studying Industrial Design and rides his bike everywhere in Portland, Oregon. (View Profile)

 
 

Places on Earth World Map

A large map on a wall always adds a certain kind of charm to a room, especially ones that show personalized marks of travels. Artist Oliver Jeffers provides a hand-drawn map for those looking for something a bit more offbeat than typical maps available to purchase. Comes with pins too, to “chart your path to total global domination.”

*Created exclusively for the You and Me, The Royal We by Oliver Jeffers
*Each print comes with 202 pins.
*Dimensions: 34.5″ x 26.25″

Purchase Information:

Price: $180.00
Available from: Gessato

Kikkerland Folding Stool

This is one of my favorite designs ever. It’s a quite sturdy plastic stool that folds out in about 3 seconds. Quite ingeniously, the carrying handle pops out when folded back up. When living in my tiny New York apartment, it always amused me whenever I put it back in its storage place; the 4 inch gap in between the wall and the refrigerator. It supports up to 300 lbs and at $29, is well worth the price.

Dimensions: 21″ x 4″ x 15.25″

Purchase Information:

Price: $29.00
Available from: A&G Merch

Bamboo Flatware

I think every kitchen needs a large wooden spoon for cooking. It just has that warm, welcoming feeling when using it, and won’t burn your hand when you touch it. Having that minaturized into flatware for eating sounds like a good idea to me. Made from fast-growing and renewable bamboo, and supposedly the knife won’t ever lose its edge.

3 piece place setting.

Purchase Information:

Price: $4.95
Available from: Crate&Barrel

Kakuzai Wood Memo Block

Why do you need a stack of memo notes that look like a block of wood? I couldn’t tell you, but I know I want one. My suggestion is that you don’t bring this to this office. Once your coworkers get a hold of it your block of wood will be a sliver of wood by the end of the day.

1200 sheets.

Purchase Information:

Price: $25.00
Available from: Digital Fix

Studio Mama Pallet Furniture Plans

Design studio Studio Mama provides a creative and fun solution to the endless supply of discarded shipping pallets: make em’ into furniture. The Pallet Furniture Plans are building instructions to create your own furniture. Bring your own pallets and carpentry know-how. A real good sanding or perhaps a clear finish is my recommendation if you’re not into the industrial look. Or you can always paint it.

Bonus! This reminded me of this pallet coffee table project that I saw on Flickr a while back. Enjoy.

Purchase Information:

Price: $10
Availability: Buy Studio Mama Pallet Furniture Plans here

Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams

I’m a bit young to have a direct personal attachment to Dieter Rams‘ work, but it goes without question that there is an absolute timeless quality to his work. Whenever I visit MOMA’s design section, I always find myself gravitating towards his collection (that, and of course the Jaguar XKE Roadster). So, I’m quite excited about this new (808 page!) book that covers the full breadth of his work, just full of endless inspiration. Anyone want to buy me an early birthday gift?

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Purchase Information:

Price: $78.00
Availability: Buy Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams here

Source: Cool Hunting

Green Boy

Cute. While Green Boy does a great job of organizing that jangling mess of keys you have, to me, it seems like he’s being quite assertive and telling me to remember to keep work and home life separate. Funny how a piece of green plastic could have so much emotion.

Designer: Vadim Kibardi

Purchase Information:

Price: $10.00
Availability: Buy Green Boy here

Joyce Candle Holders

Brooklyn designer Jean Pelle handcrafts these gorgeous candle holders from cross sectioned wood and then fills the cracks with a super bright white filling. They are one of four unique designs available, check out the rest at Jean Pelle’s website.

Designer: Jean Pelle.
Tall: 3.5″ ht x 2.75″ width x 2″ depth
Short: 2.75″ ht x 3.5″ width x 2″ depth

Purchase Information:

Price: $70.00
Availability: Buy Joyce Candle Holders here

Joby Gorillapod Magnetic

Joby adds one more to the family on their innovative flexible, attach-to-anything Gorillapod tripods. This magnetic version has the added benefit of being able to stick to any ferrous surface. If you’re in an urban environment you certainly won’t have any trouble finding a place to perch this tripod for an impromptu portrait.

Weight: 45.3g (1.6oz)
Material: High quality Japanese ABS plastic, Durable German TPE grip rings, stainless steel camera screw

Purchase Information:

Price: $24.95
Availability: Buy Joby Gorillapod Magnetic here

Source: Engadget

Domino Lamps

Brooklyn-based home furnishings company Grenkol creates an interesting palette of textures with their Domino Lamp series, consisting of cast oriented strand board concrete coupled with candlelight-brightness low wattage incandescent light bulbs. I really love the industrial toggle switch as a finishing touch. Available in 1, 2, and 4 socket configurations and also offered as a set.

Purchase Information:

Price: $145.00
Available from: Etsy Shop

Source: Design Milk

ZipShot Tripod

Wow, you’re going to have to watch the video here to understand how awesome this tripod is. In a matter of seconds the legs spring out to a full standing tripod. The compromise for the added convenience is that the legs are not individually adjustable. Certainly not for the serious photographer crowd, but should work well for everyone else. Now how long does it take to refold it? Hmm…

Specifications:

11 oz. (312g).
Folded Size: 15� (38cm) when
Standing Size:� 44� (112cm) tall.
Material: Heavy-duty, metal ball-head with strong aluminum legs.
Max Weight Load: 3 lbs (1361g).

Purchase Information:

Price: $49.95
Available from: BHphoto

Source: Uncrate

Real Time Canvas Clock

This clever piece of functional art combines a printed clock graphic with a real working clock mechanism. I’m thinking office or kitchen.

-Lightweight, high-qualitity canvas frame
-420mm x 297mm
-Requires 1 x AA battery (not included).

Purchase Information:

Price: $36.35
Availability: Buy Real Time Canvas Clock here

Source: Incredible Things

Paint Can Pinhole Camera

I just saw this at a local store. You can always make your own pinhole camera out of materials laying around the house, but if you haven’t got the time this could be a fun gift to buy for yourself. Plus, you have to appreciate that the packaging is the product itself.

The Paint Can Pinhole Camera was developed and patented by Jim Kosinski.

For more, visit Paint Can Camera.
Also, here’s Step by Step Instructions.

Purchase Information:

Price: $19.45
Available from: brooklyn5and10

30 Pencil Icosahedron

Designer Michiel Cornelissen creates a perfect blend of technology and readymade craft with his 30 Pencil Icosahedron kit. The connecting joints are 3d printed, and coupled with 30 pencils (provided by you) creates a cool icosahedron shape. I would prefer to skip the lamp shade function and just have them around to play with as a sculptural toy.

Purchase Information:

Price: $79.72
Availability: Buy 30 Pencil Icosahedron here

Source: Design Spotter

Feedaway Chair

Your baby stays baby-sized for only so long. Instead of spending money on a high chair that will be thrown out eventually, you could get this portable, folding cardboard one for a lot less and just recycle it with the little one has outgrown it.

Feedaway is a portable and lightweight version of the traditional feeding chair that can be pulled out for use as required and otherwise folded away flat, making it suitable for traveling and visiting where there is no baby/toddler feeding chair. Suitable for up to 18months and/or to 20kg. Feedaway is made from recycled Visy cardboard, and comes with its own 3 point safety harness and recycled cardboard carry box that is strong enough to withstand the rigours of travel by car, train or airplane. Feedaway also fits in a large suitcase.

This product has just reached the market and is only available in Australia for now (but can be shipped internationally), so stay tuned to the designer/manufacturer for availability in the states.

Purchase Information:

Price: AUD39.95
Availability: Buy Feedaway Chair here

Source: Springwise