Another ICFF discovery from Anna of Sub-Studio ~ we’re loving the Ply Project’s Flex Chair created by Kenichi Sato. It takes full advantage of plywood as a material, using its ability to be both rigid and supportive and take on a soft, bendable, almost woven texture. Being made of plywood, the chairs are lightweight and easily moved as they can be separated into a flexible plywood membrane which attaches to a metal frame with embedded magnets, making it so easy to remove/clean off/swap/etc! The Flex series comes in both a chair and chaise lounge. Take a peek at some of Anna’s pics from ICFF as well as product pics on the next page!

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Tags: chair - furniture - gifts - icff - materials - shopping - wood

Been exploring NY Design Week digitally this year, and Anna of Sub-Studio, has been our eyes and ears! She just sent over these pics of The Reflective Work showing at The Future Perfect! Gorgeously simple idea, and so beautiful! Made by Lara Knutson, the shade is made out of a reflective glass fabric that is made from microscopic glass beads which magnify light 100 times. The fixture is lit with an LED that looks like a traditional lightbulb when reflected in the lampshade. There was also a bunch of vases and jewelry that was made from the same reflective fabric. See close ups on the next page!

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Tags: concept - icff - lighting - prototype - reflective

On random packaging obsessions ~ stumbled across these special italian Lurisia Water Glass Bottles while at an ICFF event in NY and was mesmerized! Apparently redesigned back in 2008 ~ “This project combined forces of the creative design agency Sottsass Associati, the experts in industrial design from Fratelli Guzziniand, finally, Saint-Gobain Glass, the world leader in glass manufacturing,” says PopSop. And it won a beverage innovation award in 2009! How have i never seen these before?!?! Apparently their water is supposed to have quite a cult following? And they have spa’s in italy as well… And as cool as these lighthouse lantern like bottles are… the vintage logo of the lighthouse keeper is adorable as well! Take a peek at more images on the next page!

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Tags: bottle - bottled water - glass - icff - italy - packaging - water

Unpacking suitcases just rediscovered this sticker in a pile of business cards! And it reminded me i was meaning to post this awesome project i ran into at ICFF from Parson’s New Schooler, Ingrid Zweifel of The Way We See The World. I have an ex who was never without his phone, and constantly looking things up ~ sure it’s useful like a real life wikipedia midconversation during dinner sometimes… but sometimes it’s just annoying! And likewise, i’m sure i’m guilty of peeking at my phone if it feel it buzz in my purse beside me too… it’s hard! So as a social intervention ~ perhaps we all need some of the tools from her My Phone Is Off For You project - “We may be sitting at the same table, but we are not together: a common condition of our over-wired world. It is time to question what truly nurtures the human spirit. MY PHONE IS OFF FOR YOU is a revolution; a series of tools designed to help engage in the present moment and spread this idea!” The tools? Awesome cell phone signal blocking handkerchief… sticker! rubber stamp! and i suppose the website is a tool too… to get you to take action! See shots from ICFF as well as closeups of the project on the next page!

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Tags: art - icff - iphone - phone - technology

Dominic Wilcox’s Pre-Handshake Handshake Device was part of one of my favorite shows at NY Design Week, Uncomfortable Conversations. The Design Glut ladies curated an incredible show of pieces that veered on the art/installation side of design, and perhaps the most fun was the amount of interaction visitors had with pieces, and truly, the incredible conversations which naturally ensued.

While his piece is set up to be that baby step for when “A traditional handshake can sometimes be just too big a step for those entrenched in their dislike of the other.” ~ luckily i recruited the happily married Sean and Anna of Sub-Studio to have a little fun with his piece, and they tried having a thumb war, doing secret handshakes, making shaka signs and more… Additionally, how beautiful are the photographs he has of the device? Large limited edition photographic prints in collaboration with photographer David Sykes will soon be available! See more pics on the next page!

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Tags: art - icff - new york - sub-studio

It is amazing how good the plastic version of a steel design classic can feel… you have to sit/lift this new 111 Navy Chair is! The Emeco classic remade in a special formulation of rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate- recycled plastic bottles) mixed with glass fiber for strength ~ where each chair contains 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles! Apparently over the last 4 years ~ Coke instigated this project, challenging Emeco designers/manufacturers to adapt the chair. While this launched in milan (frozen in a block of ice! - see pic on next page!) ~ the launch party for it at DWR NY in the meatpacking had so many fun design details, as well as lots of the chairs to sit on and play with ~ the experience had to be shared! From recycled coke glass bottle tumblers filled with rum and coke and topped off with paper straws ~ to fun graphics on walls/male models in tees/port-a-potties/coasters/pins ~ to a photobooth! And adorable bags with the Eames quote “Take your pleasure seriously.” (Words i definitely live by for NOTCOT!)… so take a peek at all the fun on the next page!

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Tags: chair - coke - dwr - events - furniture - icff - new york - recycled

On NY Design Week must sees… Merchant No. 4 Secret Shop is a MUST! Sadly it closes tomorrow, but you’ve still got a day! So get on it! I’ve always adored the wonderfully curated collection in the online store, but to see and touch and play with it all, i felt like a kid in a candy store. The products are even more incredible in person ~ in design, colors, packaging and more ~ few stores have made me want nearly everything! Cheri Caso’s beautiful selection of design objects of wood, glass, and porcelain make for a breath taking collection. So for a peek at the wonders that lie within… as well as the teak ice cream scoop, measuring spoons and cake knife i fell for… see it all on the next page!

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Tags: gifts - glass - home - ice cream - icff - popup - porcelain - shopping - wood

Firstly, Glen! THANK YOU. For being so incredibly kind and generous and giving me your photopaddles on the street. Once we all parted ways, the paddles and i found a face in just about everything i saw… so here’s a selection of them!

I’ve been hearing rumors about these paddles, and seeing supposed pics using them the last few days on iphones at parties and such… but until Glen actually put some in my hands, i didn’t understand quite how addictive these Photopaddles are. Geniuses over at Core77 gave the first 200 guests limited-edition “Instant Designer Glasses” Photopaddles designed by Steven Haulenbeek. Lots of the pics are showing up in their flickr feed… and see a selection of my ridiculous ones on the next page!

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Tags: glasses - icff - new york - photography

On more, MUST SEE IN PERSON if you have the chance, products ~ add Paperself Eyelashes designed by Ting Yu Wang to the list. “Inspired by the art of Chinese paper-cutting, Eyelashes blend an element of traditional culture with contemporary design. Intricately cut and delicately pretty, Eyelashes are available in three styles, each infused with symbolic meaning rooted in Chinese culture.” What was really striking was to see these on in person (even lovelier than i’d imagined, especially the smaller ones just on the outer corners)… and to get a peek at their beautiful packaging and POS display! So tempting, and i’ve never really been into false lashes, but between Paperself and Shu Uemura, how tempting is it to wear these mini works of art for a day or two? Take a peek at the close ups on the next page!

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Tags: art - fashion - gifts - icff - makeup - shopping

It’s been so much fun watching people find the #OBJECTHUNT stickers throughout the city ~ as well as letting a few special people who find editors from Sub-Studio, Apartment Therapy, Design Milk, Moco Loco, The World’s Best Ever, Cool Hunting, Design Glut, or me - help with the sticker hiding in plain sight!

Here are a few peeks of sticker pics that have been popping up… hints? Don’t miss Duravit’s black bathroom goods… CITE is such an incredible show… ACE/Obey seems to have found one… Future Perfect and Areaware are def worth a stop… Uncomfortable Conversations and Sounds Like, DWR and of course the Standard NY in Meatpacking are must sees… a few are surfacing throughout ICFF… keep your eyes peeled at parties and throughout the city, even i don’t know where these might pop up anymore!

… and did you hear? Cool Hunting is going to pick another winner to win an iPad and one of their limited edition cases! Yes, in ADDITION to our other prize including a standard stay and dwell tix and a puppy… So spot a sticker, tweet a pic with #OBJECTHUNT and you’re in the running! (Object Hunt details here!)

p.s. hints will be tweeted by all of us through the weekend!

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Tags: contests - icff - new york - stickers

It was absolutely breathtaking to see the Lladró Parrot Party Collection in person (They launched in January at Maison et Objet). They are spectacular, and they truly capture those moments of curiosity, intrigue, and playfulness parrots are known for… and the pairing with such modern yet simple shapes and colors, mixtures of matte and glazed glossy porcelain goodness create such fascinating contrasts. This is apparently the first collection in the Lladró Atelier concept, “a world of new experiences in porcelain under the guidance of Jaime Hayon, conceived to showcase the creative potential of the brand’s designers.” As a contrast to the usual press photos, and while i still insist these are worth seeing in person if possible ~ take a peek on the next page of how incredible i found the details and lifelike character of the Parrots!

p.s. So far when asked what my favorite thing is at ICFF ~ this is what jumps to mind!

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Tags: birds - gifts - icff - nature - porcelain - shopping

3am - Going through hundreds of pictures ~ and not sure where to even start, or if i should just curl up and get some sleep, somehow these two pictures from within hours of each other felt like they needed to be shown together. While separately they grabbed me, together they felt inseparable.

Found on a billboard in Noho ~ “Material possessions won’t make you happy, or maybe they will.” And then riding the elevator “home” to my room at the Gramercy Park Hotel ~ “Help Is On The Way” ~ instead of my floor, every time i step in, i want to press that. Where is the “Everything will be ok.” button? Feel free to see both far away and close ups on the next page. Interpret as you will!

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Tags: icff - new york - photography

Want some proof that #OBJECTHUNT is real and lots of stickers are starting to pop up around NYC? Well here are some peeks at a few that went up yesterday… see if you can find them all… and far more to come as the weekend unfolds! Close ups on the next page…

If you spot one ~ Take a Pic! Tweet it with #OBJECTHUNT! And you’re entered to win the Puppy, 2 Nights at Standard LA, and tickets to Dwell on Design ~ all the details here!

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Tags: contests - icff - new york - standard - stickers

Got to love a good room divider, and often they are not nearly as fun as they should be! Enter ~ SWARM for Council by Mike and Maaike! In playful, happy colors with a chaotically orderly pattern… and apparently there is even a large installation of it outside the ICFF Theater! “Swarm is a space divider that offers great flexibility in density and scale, enabling the creation of light-filled, intimate spaces within open environments. The term Swarm describes an aggregation of animals (insects, fish, birds and microorganisms) of similar size and body orientation, generally cruising in the same direction. The Swarm space divider displays a similar behavior, softening spaces, fading in and out, creating texture and motion. The self-standing units blend together when arranged in groups.” See more pics on the next page!

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Tags: furniture - gifts - icff - shopping

First spotted at the Areaware booth at ICFF, then again at the Designboom Local show ~ how adorable are these nesting "Step Stools" tables by Paul Loebach? The design is so perfectly cute, and the color palette really makes it pop! ... in a refreshingly green playful minimal sort of way. "Hard Maple, Birch Plywood - Inspired by the simple versatility of American Shaker furniture, these nesting stools pull out to make a set of steps." See more images of it from both shows on the next page!

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Tags: furniture - gifts - green - icff - shopping - table

I have had a thing for awesome classic-esque black wood chairs with a twist... i went through classics, was tempted, but wanted more. And then i walked into the Design House Stockholm event at NY Design week, and just gravitated to these 4 Family Chairs by Lina Nordqvist - and just FYI, i love almost all things DHS, so i knew i hadn't seen these before, and just kind of wandered past the door list and right over to them. They are such a fun twist on a classic! Here's their description:

"Not every chair is created equal. Especially not Family Chairs by Lina Nordqvist, a foursome of traditional Swedish stickback chairs. Separately they present themselves as individuals, unique chairs aspiring to be something more than just pieces of furniture. Together they form a boisterous family, with each one displaying a distinctive character. Even the horizontal spindles between the chair legs play their part in the game. "I'm fascinated by objects, and I like it when they have their own special individuality, something beyond mere technical function. That's why I decided on a graduation project at Beckmans College of Design in which I transformed something well-known and traditional into something unexpected." It's no surprise that Lina Nordqvist's Family Chairs seem to be made for the stage: she has already pursued a career as a professional set designer in the Swedish film industry for several years. Family Chairs will be available in natural wood and in a black-lacquered version."

See the many pictures on the next page! Which is your favorite? I also have a thing for playfully mismatched chairs...

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Tags: chair - furniture - gifts - home - icff - shopping

It's always such a pleasure to go visit the DesignGlut booth at ICFF ~ i'm not sure how to describe it other than delightfully edgy ~ it is so playful, yet realistically dark ~ basically i always end up wanting everything ~ and as silly as Kegan Fisher and Liz Kinnmark may seem, they manage to pull it off this playfulness with more charisma and seriousness than you may expect from a design duo selling your eggs pants. Their photo shoots and booth design were stunning as always, and they're even launching a new product... the Candlestrip ~ just like what it sounds like ~ candles with plug bottoms, ready to stick into almost any outlet (i still think they were pretty risky to have outlet plates as well as candle prototypes in the same booth waiting to be plugged together!) ~ but basically the candles go into a power strip like holder!

Take a look at some closeups of the new goodies, and their fun booth on the next page!

p.s.
i hate that every time i see them i feel like i need to buy a few dozen more hookmakers!

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Tags: candles - gifts - icff - lighting - shopping

I have to admit this up front because i felt so silly about it ~ when i was trying to start catching up on what ICFF goodness to share, i couldn't get this insane reflective jellyfish-like icelandic lamps out of my head, so i start photoshopping pictures, and then researching online, only to find that it had already been on NOTCOT.org #20302... So yes, even I can't keep up with absolutely everything anymore, and truthfully, it was even cooler in person!

Now for those who don't know, these lights are Illuminant by Kristin Birna Bjarnadottir out of Iceland ~ and there is no actual LIGHT in the light! It is like a jellyfish of reflective fabric ~ reflective strands hanging down and bundled above the more classically shaped lamp shade ~ and on the floor is a high powered LED light, simply shooting light up inside of it, and the result is this ethereal glowing free flowing creature... and to change colors, you simple put glass filters on the lights. (Literally just put a glass disc on the top of the light source) Now, imagine a forest of jellyfish in the ocean... can you imagine these installed in an array of sizes and heights hanging from trees in a garden party?

Take a look at the various pictures on the next page!

p.s.
i could also totally see these installed in a rave/burning man type situation evolved into a visual/sound installation where the lights pulsate with the music and possibly even push bursts of air upwards to create perfectly timed motion in the tentacles of a forest of these... how fun would that be to watch?

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Tags: gifts - home - icff - lighting - nature - reflective - shopping

I suppose the real question is... How can you pass up seeing DJ Kreemy (Karim) spin and dance all decked out in one of his all pink outfits (down to the watch even!)? There was quite a line for the Artemide party once Karim was spinning, and it was really quite odd trying to explain to this older french couple that may have just happened to wander through Soho at the right moment what it was exactly that people were lined up for... Also hilarious to see more beefy guys in super tight tees, this time green with I <3 LED on them and serving appletinis... The Cadmo lights by Karim were quite beautiful as well, honestly i liked them far better in person than i had in photos that had been circulating. Take a peek at the grassy window display, Karim in action, the lighting, and the I <3 LED bartenders on the next page!

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Tags: events - home - icff - lighting - music - new york - shopping - travel

Amazing that Kartell is celebrating their 60th birthday this year! 1949 - 2009! To celebrate their design week party was "Kartell, 60 Years of Design! What a wonderful world!". Such a classic design powerhouse ~ it was fun not only to see some of their new pieces launched this year, but also their great color sorted displays, playful human cut outs, great use of mirrors, and perhaps my favorite unexpected detail... beefy guys in very tight I <3 Kartell Lights shirts, complete with their lighting collection on their backs. I couldn't help but as the nice server to pose for me to share his shirt with you! So click on to the next page to take a peek at the Kartell soho show room and the scene tonight!

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Tags: chair - desk - furniture - gifts - home - icff - lighting - shopping

I love the work of Sanna Annukka. I also grew up loving Marimekko before i even knew what it was (i have the very beat up kids stuff to prove it somewhere). And when Sanna Annukka designed an animal themed print for Marimekko... yes, i pretty much got super excited. And then today... while exploring the meatpacking districts design week happenings and wandering into the Playful New Finnish Design Shipping Container (regulars will already know my fascination with shipping containers for anything other than shipping)... and then getting to see the Sanna Annukka's Marimekko Kaneleen kutsu pattern in person... and being handed a press kit IN A BLACK AND WHITE TOTE OF THE FABRIC... yea. I was pretty much on cloud 9. I'm totally making that tote into a throw pillow. A throw pillow with handles. That can be hung on the wall when not in use?

BUT back to the point at hand ~ Sanna Annukka's Marimekko Kaneleen kutsu pattern is stunning ~ and i'm so thrilled to have access to the press photos to get to see all the products and patterns up close! And to share them with you! (as well as photos of the totes that the lady was kind enough to let me photograph and pick through in the shipping container) But also, the story behind this pattern is quite lovely as well...

So here's the story from the press release:
Sanna Annukka has created for Marimekko a series of expressive designs full of meaning, telling stories from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The Kanteleen kutsu fabric depicts forest animals that have, enchanted, gathered to hear the joyful tunes played on the kantele, a plucked string instrument, by Väinämöinen, the main character of the Kalevala. Väinämöinen, a shamanistic hero, had made his instrument from the jawbone of a giant pike. Mugs, tea towels and other ready-made products feature individual animals ñ birds, squirrels, bears ñ picked from the Kanteleen kutsu fabric. The Sampo, a wealth grinding magic mill with a multi-coloured lid, is featured in the impressive Taikamylly fabric and matching cushion covers, plates and trays. The Ihmemaa art print, sold by the repeat, shows the landscape of Kaleva, the Land of Heroes, and Lake Alue. In the depths of the lake, a whitefish has swallowed fire fallen from the heavens. The series also includes the Onnen helmet duvet cover design, which tells of how Väinämöinen, moved as he played the kantele, cried big tears that flowed into the sea and there changed into pearls.

See all the many many pics on the next page!

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Tags: animals - bag - fabric - gifts - graphic - icff - nature - shopping

There are some things you can read about and only when you play with it and get to take it apart in person do you fully understand how awesome it is. It also doesn't hurt to first see it in an awesomely large grouping arranged like a sculpture on the 3rd floor deck of the The Standard, New York with all of NYC as the backdrop... and then again back down on the ground in a shipping container both intact and taken apart...

Of course i'm talking about Artek's 10 Unit System by Shigeru Ban! Both Artek and Shigeru Ban are known for their love of beautiful simplicity, functionality, and sustainability ~ so it's no surprise that this 10 Unit System emobodies all of those qualities wonderfully. "Systematizing, Standardizing, Making It Accessible." This is the chair who's motto is boldly "One chair is enough"... and being constructed of 10 identical L shaped pieces, one can create chairs of varying designs, stools, coffee tables, and even combine them for benches and more. When feel like a quick change, simply rearrange the pieces! These are made from ProFi, an environmentally friendly wood-plastic composite - non-toxic, sustainable, and recyclable, it utilizes the surplus materials from the label stock production of UPM. (Artek also used this material for the Artek Pavillion that was sold by Sotheby's as well as floor tiles.)

Take a look on the next page for images from the The Standard, New York deck ~ in the Playful New Finnish Design 09 shipping container ~ up close ~ press photos ~ and even the really fun propoganda cut/paste/photocopy zine looking booklet!

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Tags: artek - chair - events - furniture - green - home - hotels - icff - luxury - modular - recycled - standard - travel

Ørgreen Optics and Artsee's "Playground: Where Danish Design Meets Japanese Perfection" ~ was an unexpected surprise as i turned the corner near the Standard NY while wandering the meatpacking district... you know i can't turn away from a room of balls... especially a room of pink, silver, and black balls! Unfortunately it was a bit of a tease, since they were only about ankle/shin deep ~ so no ball pit diving! Oh, and how can you ignore the huge hot pink glasses outside too...? Unfortunately they were closing the doors as i wandered past, but it is Ørgreen handcrafted Danish architectural eyewear Solo Exhibition at Artsee Gallery - See more pics on the next page!

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Tags: balls - events - icff - new york - toys - travel

The Bd Barcelona Tout va bien ~ a collection by Antoine + Manuel. While wandering ICFF, i was immediately drawn over to e Bd Barcelona for the Jamie Hayon Showtime chairs in new colors... and then mesmerized by this new cabinet! Being human, its near impossible to not attempt to make a story out of random snippets ~ personally i initially assumed it would be some crazy myth or fairy tale... but the woman at the booth informed me it was far more fantasy and artsy and no real meaning... but fascinating details none the less...

Bd Barcelona describes it as: "Rarely does a graphic designer (two, in this case) go into the field of furniture design. We have to go far back in time to find them, to the times of the high and low reliefs. This is exactly what Antoine Audiau and Manuel Warosz have done, a couple of extraordinary Parisian graphic artists who sign their works as Antoine+Manuel. The cabinet they have designed for this new collection brought out by Bd Barcelona design is a surprising mixture of applied arts, hieroglyphic language, contemporary graphics, fantasy and optimism. It is produced with the quality of yesteryear but using today's technologies in two versions, Basic and Top, distinguished by the shape of the top and because the more exclusive option also offers the possibility of choosing the colour in accordance to the RAL colour referentes."

Check out close ups and press pics on the next page!

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Tags: furniture - gifts - home - icff - shopping

I'm extra giddy about this one ~ my old grad school friends from the Domus/Milan days ~ Jenny Lemieux and Leo Corrales ~ you may remember them as Toronto based Hero Design Lab which did the playful NotConcept series with NOTCOT a while back... have their first series of products Hero 365 showing at ICFF 09!!! Their first two products are the RC-1 Rain Collector and the DR-1 Clothes Dryer. With these "Extraordinary resource saving objects for everyday life" ~ they have taken simple ways to save energy and water, revamped some traditional concept, and made them beautifully functional. Take a look at more pics of these pieces on the next page!

p.s.
And on living vicariously ~ having never had a booth of my own, it's been so fun to share in their excitement watching people react to their products after seeing sketches and the progress on these pieces over the last few months ~ hearing their stories of the drive to NY from Toronto with their booth components ~ and seeing how beautifully it all came together! Also ~ because of them, i got to meet Dan Funderburgh!!! (He stopped by and was chatting with them about the product while i was there! And i got all excited!)

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Tags: furniture - gifts - green - HERO-Design-Lab - icff - shopping - water