Quantcast
Channel: Core77
Viewing all 19065 articles
Browse latest View live

Making Uncomplicated Women’s Underwear Is Actually Really Complicated

0
0

This one is for all my ladies out there. For all of you who know firsthand the pain of going bra shopping—wanting something simple but not too simple, rifling through piles of underwear that say "sexy thang" across the rear or come adorned with gobs of charms and lace, going home empty-handed or with an overstuffed push-up bra that leaves you feeling uncomfortable in your unmentionables. It's a pain point that Lauren Schwab and Marissa Vosper stumbled upon in 2010 and that led them to found Negative, an uncomplicated, considered, minimalist line of intimates for women.

I met Schwab and Vosper last month at PopTech, a social-impact conference and idea incubator that brings together 600 "thinkers and doers" in Camden, Maine, each year. There, Schwab and Vosper told their story—their own frustrations over what was currently on the market and how they set out to change it all with Negative. (You can watch their talk below.) The story struck a chord with me.

The two women met in college and stayed friends after graduating; a few years into their respective careers (in consulting and finance), they each realized that they really wanted to pursue work in fashion. Taking night classes together at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, they turned their eyes to the world of undergarments and saw room for something different. "When it came to outerwear, ready-to-wear, couture—there were so many brands that we loved," Vosper says, "but when it came to lingerie and intimates there was such a lack of brands in general, both in terms of brands that we actually felt were the everyday wearable, but also brands that you can fall in love with, that you would advocate for."

While both working full-time jobs, Schwab and Vosper slowly began dipping their toes into the fashion world. "If we had quit our jobs right then and there and focused on product development, I'm confident we could have pushed things across much faster," Vosper says. "But because we were both working at pretty demanding careers, we spent our nights and weekends learning about the product category, working to find a sample maker who knew a Prada maker who knew a mill, learning about which textiles worked for lingerie and which didn't, learning who made the best textiles, learning who made the best elastic." With so many components, the learning curve was steep. But Schwab and Vosper used that ignorance to their advantage, questioning every element and its role in the final garment.

A look at the construction of one of Negative's bras

Early months were devoted to first-person market research. "I think we literally went to every single lingerie store in the island of Manhattan on our weekends and tried on as many bras as we could get our hands on," Vosper says. The duo spent hours talking to salespeople, asking them about their best-selling items, what women liked and didn't like and then trying out those items themselves.

Those countless hours spent in cramped changing rooms squeezing in and out of lingerie revealed several pervasive annoyances, from excessive detailing to ostentatious patterning. "In most lingerie there are so many silly components that are superfluous that get baked into this design and construction process that absolutely do not need to be there," Vosper says. "Think about anything from the bow in the center to bows on the strap to little, teeny, polka-dot eyelids on elastics, to tags, to little hardware-branded elements, to themes, to pads, to ruffles. There's so much that goes into typical lingerie construction that all felt so archaic to us. We felt like there was this mentality that because it's intimate apparel it has to be hyper-feminized."

So Schwab and Vosper began by taking away all the elements they felt did not need to be there, reducing the number of components from over 37 (seen in a typical luxury bra from France) down to 16. "We made sure that if we got rid of all the fluff, what remained had to be the best, most exceptional pieces we could find," Vosper says. "I think that's a misnomer a lot of times, that simplicity is easy and basic. I actually think simplicity is quite complex and that if you're doing basics in a brilliant way, every single piece in that garment needs to be exceptional."

Piece by piece, the founders went through every essential item, from bra straps and their respective hardware to core fabric and trim and lesser-known parts. "There's a teeny little piece that exists between the two cups of a bra called a gore, and that piece is the only part of a bra that has to be rigid in order to keep your cups in place," Vosper says, citing one example. "If that part stretches, you're most likely going get a bra that's not supportive."

“In most lingerie there are so many silly components that are superfluous that get baked into this design and construction process that absolutely do not need to be there.”

The biggest challenge? Finding a simple, high-quality elastic for the band. "You'd be amazed at how hard it is to find an elastic with no embellishments," Vosper says. "Basically, we looked through reams and reams of elastics. They had these binders full of elastics at trade shows and every single one of them has a teeny little flourish or a little polka dot or some glitter or a stripe." Schwab and Vosper scoured trade shows for the simplest, highest-quality, thinnest, softest elastic, occasionally finding one they liked—only to discover that it didn't work with the rest of the design. "Having no experience in this category, it was really trial and error," Vosper says. "We had to learn fabric compositions and fabric weights and what was appropriate for a bra cup versus a elastic band versus a body suit."

Networking played a big role when it came to sourcing materials, as Schwab and Vosper found themselves flying to a large lingerie trade show in Paris year after year to make those connections. "People are very tight-lipped with their contacts, because fashion is just a competitive place," Vosper says. "People are generally not willing to help you." At one point, the women even turned to Craigslist to find a sample maker. "We tried a lot of angles and we finally found someone in the garment district, not without challenges, but they at least knew how to sew bras, had the equipment to make bras and we had a pattern maker for new lingerie," Vosper says.

After samples were made, tested by the team and approved, the team had a physical paper pattern and fabric swatches, which then had to be "graded"—scaled up and down for different sizes. Many brands don't do any additional fitting from there, but Schwab and Vosper were careful to ask themselves what makes a good bra at each size level. "We took samples of all of our sizes and asked all the women that we knew in New York City to come and try them on and give us their feedback," Vosper says. Incorporating that feedback, the duo made adjustments and established their final patterns.

On the manufacturing side, the founders were ultimately fortunate to find a factory that could do fit-approved samples and patterns across all sizes, as well as manage material ordering and quality control. "We're pretty amazed that any garment actually gets manufactured and fits, because so many hands have touched it by the time it becomes the real thing, from sewing fabrics that go into the making of your garment, to sewing your garment, to getting them to the U.S. and in a package and on a shelf," Vosper says. "There's so many places that it can go wrong and so many people that have to do their job perfectly to make sure it's right. It's crazy."

But for now the Negative founders have a product line that they're proud of, available through their website and their first retail partner, Steven Alan. And they're thinking about further products to develop, while keeping in mind that any new pieces must meet the same strict standards of their debut collection. As Vosper says, "We don't want to just introduce something new unless we can have a different point of view on it."


Design Job: Liberty Science Center seeks Senior Exhibit Designer in Jersey City, NJ

0
0

An ideal candidate will be passionate about science, with a keen eye for all things art and design related. They'll see the world as shapes, colors, and in multiple dimensions; and know how to tell a compelling, experiential story. They can create audience-focused, dynamic, engaging environments that interpret STEAM concepts.

View the full design job here

Industrial Designer Photographs Everything We Touch in a Single Day

0
0

Beginning in the '90s, Karim Rashid famously claimed that we touch, on average, some 600 objects a day. Now another industrial designer, London-based Paula Zucotti, has released a project where she seeks to reveal exactly what those objects are.

To be clear, Zucotti's project, a photo book entitled Every Thing We Touch, was apparently conducted independently of Rashid's original claim. ID'er and ethnographer Zucotti traveled the world "to find people from an incredible array of ages, cultures, professions and backgrounds. She asked them to document every object they touched in 24 hours. Then she gathered those objects together and photographed them in a single shot."

From a toddler in Tokyo to a cowboy in Arizona, from a cleaner in London to a cloister nun in Madrid, Every Thing We Touch is their story told through the objects they own, consume, need, choose, treasure and can't let go.

If the objects in each shot seem to add up to far less than 600, the disparity is no surprise; in his speeches to us at Pratt, Rashid made it clear that the math included every single doorknob, subway turnstile, windowsill et cetera, things that are not easily trucked down to a photography studio.

This is probably too much to ask, but I think it'd also be neat to see a heat map overlaid on the images depicting the length of time each object was touched for. Looking around at the things I touch every day, I'd like to think I spend the most time touching my dogs, fat stacks of cash or a favorite tool. But I know the truth: The object that clocks the most touch time is this computer I'm typing this entry on. Because here at Core77, we work for you, man!

We won't ask you to send in photos of every single thing you touch in a single day, but what are the top five objects you touch the most? Not counting wearables, mine are, in order:

1. Computer
2. Desk surface
3. Office chair
4. E-cigarette to keep me from smoking
5. Dogs

I'm hoping one of you has a more exciting list.

Zucotti's Tumblr page has more images and information on the book. And according to Wired, although the book is complete, she's still actively seeking more contributors. Lastly, she's got a related video on the project that she plans to release in "another month or so."

Products We Wish Existed: Standing Desks for Centaurs, Enchanted Mayonnaise, Better Halloween Costumes and More

0
0

With basic graphic design skills, it's not difficult to create package designs and promotional materials that closely ape the original. Artist Jeff Wysaski puts these skills to good use, creating both, slipping them into stores and documenting them on his Obvious Plant Tumblr.

Wysaski's results are always hilarious, and while some are just straight-up silly, like these Black Friday flyers slipped into a Target…

…some comment on a particular design's aesthetics, like this "in-store review" tucked into an Ikea…

…while others provide commentary about our "product landscape," as seen at an Apple Store.

Still others provide social commentary.

Sometimes it's not clear whether they are meant to be silly or if Wysaski is actually making trenchant social observations about gender roles, social constructs and women warding off unsolicited attention by cloaking themselves within the "protection" of an unseen but nearby male.

But our favorite ones are always the silly ones.


Hot Holiday Pick for Picky Chefs: Iwachu Cast Iron Pans

0
0

Iwachu cast iron pans fold modern thinking into simple, age-old technology. They are minimal, elegant, and easily one of our favorite new kitchen staples. The Iwachu Omelette Pan comes in two sizes, 22cm and 24cm, and features gently sloped sides, a long loop handle, and a pre-seasoned finish. From sautés to sauces, cornbread to morning eggs, these sleek pans have you covered.

As you might remember, Iwachu pans are made in the traditional nambu tekki (or nanbu tekki) style, in Japan. Nambu ironware has been used for over 400 years, and is a versatile staple for many types of cooking. Iwachu's handmade cast iron is distinctive for both its aesthetics and its impeccable quality. It takes at least 15 years to become a cast iron craftsman, and their painstaking process takes over 60 steps to make a single pan! 

Clearly the result is worth it: you get low-stick, highly ergonomic cookware that will last for a lifetime.

Between the attractive form, the more comfortable handle, and the high-quality high-iron material, Iwachu pans have been on our must-have list since we first used them. In now for $100-$120 at Hand-Eye Supply.

More picks for kitchen lovers and ruiners alike in the Calm Kitchen gift guide.

BASE Jumping Maniacs Build Massive Human Spiderweb Slung 400 Feet Above Utah Desert

0
0

In the context of jumping, "BASE" is an acronym that stands for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth (meaning cliff), which are four things you can hurl yourself off of before pulling your ripcord. For the jump shown in this video, a group of BASE enthusiasts opted for Span. They also chose to build it themselves, rigging up a massive human spiderweb suspended between multiple cliffs in Utah, some 40 stories off of the ground.

Writes ringleader "Sketchy" Andy Lewis, who designed the thing:

Years of dedication, creation, testing, evolving, and updating have led to Thug Mansion; "a sky high iced out paradise, in the sky," that is 400ft high, has 7 highline-able walkable sides, and 2 Space Nets connected by a "float line," (which is a highline with 2 dynamic anchors).
…We took out the nets and pre-rigged them– setting them up 3ft off the ground. We added more weaving to the nets– putting the amount of cord weaved inside of the nets at about 21,000 ft + We measured and taped all the lines, organized dynamometers to track the forces in the system, found hardware for the potential users of the net, and racked everything into cars.
…Over the course of the whole day almost 100 people worked together to get Thug Mansion rigged. By sunset we were chilling in the sky….

And then, of course, Lewis jumped off of it:

Incredibly, this isn't the first one they've built.


Design Job: BRP seeks an Advanced Concepts Industrial Designer in Valcourt, Canada

0
0

At BRP you'll play a major role in developing and validating concepts, working closely with the Design and Product Development teams, so be prepared to explore and design multiple aspects regarding innovative products. You should be able to communicate ideas through sketching as well as 2D and 3D design software.

View the full design job here

Highly Specific Luggage: A Wrinkle-Free Suit-Packing and -Carrying System

0
0

On some level, luggage is absurd. The notion that we are meant to reconcile our sundry items into a rectangle, and that lots of those rectangles are then loaded into something shaped like a cylinder, seems ill-considered. Air travel is certainly not an experience that's been designed from end to end. But until someone starts a budget airline where we throw tied-up plastic bags filled with our things into the hold, then fish them out at the end, people will continue designing luggage that better suits their needs.

A good case in point is the SuitPack, developed by businessman Scott Fraser. As the owner of an international freight company, Fraser spent many years flying in and out of his native Australia with a suit in tow. Garment bags might seem like a good solution for this, but anyone who's ever traveled with one knows that they're great while they're hanging up in the cabin and the closet at the hotel, but everywhere in between they're a royal pain in the ass.

Finding that "[Worrying] about how badly [the suit] was going to be crushed…was one of the greatest sources of stress" of business travel, Fraser contacted ID firm CobaltNiche and set about brainstorming a better solution. Going so far as to study "the science behind wool blend fabrics" and what causes creasing, Fraser banged out some 50 mock-ups in his garage before arriving at a solution.

Here's how the finished product works:

SuitPack has a rigid, hollow cavity which isolates and protects your suit's shoulders, sleeves and trousers' front rise, protecting your suit in a way not provided by traditional soft-sided garment bags. The simple, step by step folding instructions and internal sleeve supports allows your suit to be effectively suspended within the SuitPack, preventing the creasing that would normally occur with standard carry-on luggage.

The version you see in the video is not what Fraser produced in his garage, obviously; after bringing a prototype to the Travel Goods Association Show in Vegas a few years ago, he garnered enough useful feedback from showgoers that he integrated their suggestions into the finished product. The positive response convinced Fraser that it was worth a production run, and he's now selling the SuitPack for US $149 (plus free international shipping).

The scale of it might appear deceptive in the CG video, by the way; below is a photo of Fraser and his invention that better gives you a sense of its size.

The image above made me wonder if you're meant to carry the SuitPack as a standalone item. Explains CobaltNiche in their submission for a Good Design Award,

Suitpack can be packed within a standard medium sized suitcase with additional clothing or personal items for added luggage flexibility during travel. Business travelers can comfortably pack several suits this way when on extended trips. Suitpack also fits readily into aircraft overhead lockers, and is accepted by most airlines as carry-on luggage, allowing users flexibility whatever their travel preferences and packing needs.

Here's What Flatpack Refugee Shelters Look Like, and How They Are Assembled

0
0

The awesome thing about being a designer, rather than a politician, is that our problems and solutions are much more clear-cut. Take the issue of the millions of refugees currently fleeing Syria and elsewhere: Even a compassionate politico eager to house them must first win consensus from potentionally xenophobic constituents. But for the designer, the only problem within our purview is that these people need temporary low-cost housing--so how can we marshal our knowledge of materials and construction to provide it?

The designers of the nonprofit Better Shelter organization have done it. Formed in a collaboration between UNHCR (The U.N. Refugee Agency) and the Ikea Foundation, the organization's shelter design has taken cues from the latter's namesake, providing a flatpacked structure that is assembled on-site.

The Sweden-based designers have got the structure down to two flat shipping boxes, each of which can be lifted by four people at the corners. 

Inside are 71 steel pipes and attendant connectors that form the rough frame.

Also in the boxes are 35 panels which are then affixed to the frame.

While glass is obviously out of the question, ventilation and some illumination are provided by louvered "windows" dotting the structure.

Perhaps most impressively, each unit ships with a photovoltaic array that mounts to the roof. On a sunny day, this can harvest enough solar power to provide four hours of light from the included LED lamp. It can also be used to charge a cell phone.

The design team has extensively tested the prototypes, and they've gotten the construction time down to an estimated 4 to 8 hours for a team of four people--all without needing to use any tools that aren't included in the kit. Here's the unpacking and build process, time-lapsed down to less than five minutes, so you can see what's entailed:

This is no mere concept, by the way. This year Better Shelter has delivered 4,728 units distributed across countries including Chad, Djibouti, Greece, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, Macedonia and others. Below is footage of an actual camp using the shelters in Greece. During the construction phase, you can see the step that was skipped in the time-lapse video above, which is the mooring of the foundation:

The structures are more durable than the tents commonly used to create refugee camps. They're also, necessarily, more expensive. According to the nonprofit poverty-fighting Borgen Project:

The Better Shelters cost about $1,150, about twice as much as the makeshift tarp tents that spring to mind when refugee camps are mentioned. This is mostly because the shelters are more akin to mobile homes. The locking doors add a layer of security and privacy that is currently all but forgotten in the overcrowded camps, and could help reduce the staggeringly high rate of sexual assault. With weatherproof walls, interior lighting and a solid foundation, the shelters are designed to last for about three years. That's six times as long as the standard tents usually last.
"Even though the upfront price is double that of an emergency tent, the solution is still more cost effective considering its longevity," explains Johan Karlsson, head of Business Development at Better Shelter. "We're working hard to get it below $1,000, and we see good potential to achieve this within the next two years."

UNHCR isn't waiting for the price to come down; the production run commissioned for 2015 was 10,000 units. With the aforementioned 4,728 already deployed, it's not yet clear where the remaining 5,272 will be shipped. We must wait, it seems, for the politicians to sort it out.

Reader Submitted: The Floyd Bed: A Bed Frame Built for City Living

0
0

The Floyd Bed is a truly adaptable bed frame designed for city living, and perfect for that foam mattress living on the floor —modular, sturdy and moves with you (not to mention it's also beautiful!). Engineered to be the last bed frame you'll have to buy.

The Principal of the Fourth Bridge
Initial Prototype of the Floyd Bed Frame
One of our manufacturers
Putting together the Floyd Bed is simple
View the full project here

This Joinery System Uses Magnets to Activate Screws Captured INSIDE Your Workpiece

0
0

This is the craziest joinery system I've ever seen. Lamello's Invis system of knockdown fasteners consists of male and female parts that are sunk into your workpieces-to-be-joined. Once the pieces are lined up, a magnet inside of a plastic box is then attached to your drill. You spin the drill near the fasteners, and the screw in the male part starts turning. Here's a demo of a guy using it to attach stair treads:

Here's how it works:

As you can see, the system relies on the counterbores being precisely perpendicular to the surface. While they recommend using a CNC machine for this, it can also be done (a bit more laboriously) using their pin-and-jig rig:

It seems quite a bit of work to go to, just to get knockdown fasteners that are invisible, but I guess it all depends on what your application is and how often you'll be disassembling your piece. What I'd love to see is a work crew assigning the new guy to take something apart using the system—when he's got no idea where the fasteners are.

Design Job: Engineer the next revolution in Optical Tech at Oakley in Lake Forest, CA

0
0

An ideal candidate should have 7+ years of Mechanical Design experience, most of which in a consumer products industry, and the ability to speak alphabet soup (CAD, CAE, FEA, DFM, SLA, SLS, CNC, MIM, HDO, STEP, IGES). They can build functional prototypes accurately demonstrating engineering intent within organic constructs.

View the full design job here

The Design Benefits of Sunken Conversation Pits

0
0

In 1957, architect Eero Saarinen completed his design for the Mid-Century Modern Miller House. Commissioned by the industrialist J. Irwin Miller and his wife Xenia, the house featured an exciting new interior design feature: A sunken conversation pit. 

The happy couple.

Meant to be a gathering space where hosts and guests could drink, converse and make merry, it added a nice touch of inflexibility: One could not move the couches to an alternate position of one's choosing within the house, but could only sit where the architect decided one should sit.

When seated in the conversation pit, this configuration conveniently places your eyeline level with the pianist's crotch.
Deep slits between the sections provide ample opportunity to collect keys, loose change, sunglasses and wallets.

There were other benefits, of course. As you can see here, the design makes it more challenging for the maid to lug the Electrolux down there to vacuum up all of your cigarette ashes.

Excessively deep seating can be countered by buying 2,000 pillows.

During the same era, architect Ulrich Franzen designed the Beattie Residence, which also featured a conversation pit, seen below.

The Primary Color Sisters enjoy an informal debate. Blue Sister is made to sit on the lower part until she can successfully defend her position, at which point she's allowed to ascend to the couch. Her husband watches in amazement.

In the years since, numerous architects have incorporated conversation pits, each adding their own dash of something special. Let's look at a few!

Incorporating hard-edged concrete and steps of uneven height adds an exciting element of treachery to the descending process.
Placing the topmost part of the seating surface on the same level as the main floor ensures dirt, dust and animal dander can find their way onto the cushions, ideally near the head level of seated guests.
Alternatively, one can raise the level of the backrests to introduce a tripping hazard. Heavy glass centerpieces sprinkled throughout the likely landing zone increase the drama.
In addition to the tripping hazard, this one features a roaring fire waiting at the bottom, as well as a heavy piece of metal suspended directly overhead. I'm not saying there will definitely be an accident, but if there is, you will definitely post it on Vine.
A circular configuration has advantages over a rectilinear one. For example, when paired with a trippy carpet pattern it can conveniently increase the sensation, after one drink too many, that the room is spinning.
The diameter of this ring allows you to see all of the guests, while keeping you at the appropriate distance that you can't actually interact with them without shouting.

The one we've seen that most addresses social needs is this one, below. We all know the awkward situation of guests who linger too long, ignoring your hints of "Boy, I've gotta get up early tomorrow for that major surgery" combined with histrionic yawning. This configuration solves that issue.

You as host can easily empty the pit of droning guests: Simply lower the automatic platform, change into your pajamas, and wordlessly climb into bed.


9 Kickstarter Projects to Help Organize Your Life

0
0

As a professional organizer, I'm always interested in new products that might be helpful—and that leads me take a look at what's being offered on Kickstarter. 

The GutenTag stamp provides end users with an interesting alternative to a pre-printed planner; they can stamp any journal (or other paper) they want to create a circle representing any given day, and then show their plans for that day in any way they want, around that circle. This will delight some end users who don't do well with structured planners. But it might be hard to keep track of appointments scheduled way in advance unless the GutenTag was used in conjunction with another tool. 

This Kickstarter has met its goal and will be funded on Dec. 17.

The Anew Planner is another alternative to standard planners, with pages that are treated with a dry-erasable surface. This could work well for the end user whose plans change a lot—especially if it's someone who gets annoyed by ink cross-outs or someone who erases pencil entries so often the pages sometimes tear.

The designers suggest that this might even be the last planner end users will ever need to buy, since they can just erase it and use it again for the next year. But many people who use paper planners keep them for practical or sentimental reasons, so I don't see this being something that gets reused year after year. 

The Anew Planner has until Dec. 24 to meet its funding goal. 

There are lots of products that control cables so they don't slip to the floor when not in use, and the Bagl is yet another one. Unlike many others, it's made of powder coated cast iron. So the Bagl doesn't need to be secured to the desk; its weight is what keeps it in place. This means the end user who travels a lot could take one along and use it in a hotel room with no problem.

The Bagl has met its goal and will be funded on Dec. 10.

Many end users still use the refrigerator door as a bulletin board, and the TackMags from Strong Like Bull would work fine for there (or any other steel surface). Each magnet holds 21 sheets of full letter-size paper, so they're going to meet most end user needs and then some. The shape makes them easy to grasp, too.

The Kickstarter has met its goal and will be funded on Dec. 7. 

Flosstime would be one way to avoid a bathroom drawer full of unused floss packages from the dentist. It's a floss dispenser that mounts on a bathroom mirror or wall; push the button and it dispenses a single-use size piece of floss. That in turn activates a 90-second flossing timer, in the form of a blue glow. If it isn't used again within 24 hours, an orange frown (a semicircle of light around the edge) will remind the end user that flossing is overdue.

This wouldn't work for end users who have an easier time using flossers than using just a string of floss, but it might be a good way for others to form the flossing habit with a gentle visible nag.

Flosstime has met its goal and will be funded on Dec. 12.

Toothbrush holders can take up a lot of counter space, but with the Shenn toothbrush no countertop holder is needed. A small magnet inside the brush holds it to a magnetic plate mounted on the wall. The brushes come in four colors (and a few patterns) and the plates come in varying colors and shapes, too—so a family will have no trouble telling which brush is for which person. 

End users can also purchase a matching clip to hold a tube of toothpaste. 

There's also a "traveling plate" that comes with 10 double-sided stickers. Since I often use a standard toothbrush when I travel (rather than my electric one) and struggle to find a place to stash it, that's an option that caught my attention.

The brushes are priced so that the end user won't object to using a new brush every three to four months. However, the rewards are mostly structured as kits; there's no option to just buy a bunch of extra brushes without more plates. The purchaser will have to hope the company sticks around so new brushes can be bought as need be.

This project has until Dec. 12 to meet its funding goal.

The silverware dishwasher clips allow the end user to label the various section of the dishwasher's cutlery rack. For a lot of people this would be overkill—more organizing than needed. However, Nat Barouch said he created it to meet his own need; his wife liked each utensil in a given spot, and he could never remember which things went where. 

This project has until Dec. 30 to meet its funding goal.

The Sapphire side table could serve as a landing strip by the doorway, a bedside nightstand, etc. It's an attractive way to provide a bit of storage when floor space is limited, but I'm concerned that the top surface is a bit smaller than many end users would find practical. Also, the pointed edges will deter end users who follow feng shui principles in their homes—and those who are concerned about bumping into the table and bruising themselves.

This project has until Dec. 21 to meet its funding goal.

I'm always interested in hooks and related items because they make it so easy to put things away, so the Dango loop hook and wall mount caught my eye. The hook itself can serve as a table hanger (as well as a keychain or bottle opener); wall-mounted, it serves as a sturdy hook for backpacks and much more. It's an interesting product for end users who would use a table hanger frequently—a nice alternative to the many hangers intended mostly for purses.

This project has met its goal and will be funded on Dec. 4. 

Hand-Eye Supply Gift Pick: A.Native Gear for Nature Lovers

0
0

Everybody appreciates the outdoors, even if they get there largely through #adventurous #outdoorliving routes, so we rounded up some great new gifts to help all kinds of folks enjoy the fresh air! A favorite new maker in our Nature Needer collection is A.Native. Based in South Korea and inspired by the centeredness many people feel after spending needed time outdoors, A.Native's gear is simple and durable, with attention to quality construction and materials. It also successfully straddles the design line with striking good looks to go with their functional purposes. 

First up, camping mats! These large fun mats are like a cushioned tarp, or a picnic blanket you won't have to worry about blowing away. They work well under sleeping bags or to comfortably stake out your territory at a festival. 

Made from linen or cotton with poly and cowhide, they're built tough, water-resistant, and flexible. They pack into a travel-friendly roll sack, and come with grommets so you hang hang them for shade or drying.

For an even more versatile throw-and-go option, their wool blend blankets are a good bet. These big throws offer easy warmth and calm colors, with a tough weave, double finished edges, and an acrylic blend for easier washing and quicker drying. Comfortable and comforting, on the couch or at the beach. Available in two types of light stripes for $72.

The Harris Tweed camp chair features several fancy factors you don't usually find. The comfortable back of this folding seat is made from (as you might have guessed) Harris tweed, which has been hand loomed and woven in Scotland for over 150 years. Used in everything from military gear to the finest men's dress slacks, Harris tweed has been known for its unsurpassed quality, durability, and distinctive tweedy weave for generations. The frame is hardy oiled hardwood, with reinforced joints and grommets wherever you could want them. The folding design is based on an elegant 2-piece slip joint, going from neatly nestled flat and stackable to a comfortable low-slung setting spot in seconds. 

If minimal outdoor furniture isn't quite your speed, you might want to consider the HiBrow Wood Gloves. Simple and grippy work gloves with a logo that speaks for itself (got silky palms? Put these on 'em. Don't know if you have silky palms? Doesn't matter!), and you can get them in an array of logo colors for 5 American dollars. They make a great deal for even grinchy and ultralight outdoor lovers. 

Need more ideas? Check out the full collection for the nature-needer in your life!


Upcycling Plastic Bottles Into a Storage System

0
0

Veteran dumpster diver Thomas Dambo hit paydirt at an industrial laundry. Discovering that they discarded scores of detergent bottles, Dambo biked them back to his workshop, cleaned 'em up and hacked them into this:

The Danish artist views trash as a resource, a message he hopes to spread to others via his projects and YouTube channel. This philosophy came to him early: As he explains in the video below, as a child seeking out building materials with no money, he realized that "all of my dreams were in dumpsters just around the corner."

In the following interview conducted by photographer/storyteller Phillip Høpner, we get to see inside Dambo's shop, and learn a bit more about his philosophies:

So many good quotes in there, and the one that'll stick with me as I'm fiddling around in my own shop is "When you do something stupid, you learn something new." (I'll have to resist the temptation to say to myself, after I once again cut a piece an inch too short, "Today I learned I am an idiot.")

Check out more of Dambo's work here.

Design Job: Help Bellroy craft better ways to carry as their next Senior Soft Goods Designer in Bells Beach, Australia

0
0

You’ll have several years under your belt designing soft goods – think backpacks, footwear, technical outerwear and leather goods like wallets. For you, good design isn’t finished until it’s actually in customers hands, working and being loved. You'll enjoy working in the lab to create prototypes that test your concepts.

View the full design job here

Clever British Bike Hack from 1951

0
0

Every once in a while on the streets of Manhattan, I'll see one of these zipping by:

While I love the idea of parents being able to cycle with their children in tow, as a former first responder I shudder to consider what the safety implications are in the event of an accident.

The following design alternative is certainly no safer, but it is noteworthy in that it's from 1950s Britain:

Today's bicycle trailer/stroller combos are certainly swoopier, in all their variants…

…and I'm guessing folks in 1951 might not have imagined how far we'd take the modifications:

Those last two are hardcore!

Seiko Epson Develops an In-Office Paper Recycling Machine

0
0

Japan's Seiko Epson Corporation has developed something that beggars belief: An in-office paper recycling system that's not much bigger than your break room's coffee station. Called PaperLab, the system not only saves you the trouble of having to ship your paper off to be recycled (not to mention the attendant greenhouse emissions of transportation), it also means you no longer need to shred sensitive documents; the recycling process will sufficiently mangle your Madoff-like dealings.

Doesn't Use Water to Recycle

Impressively, the system does not use water to recycle the paper. "Ordinarily it takes about a cup of water to make a single A4 sheet of paper," the company writes. "Given that water is a precious global resource, Epson felt a dry process was needed." They've thus developed what they call Dry Fiber Technology, a proprietary three-step process that somehow transforms waste paper into fibers, then binds it back together and forms it into sheets.

Can Produce Multiple Types of Paper

As for what size sheets, and how thick, the end user has a lot of options:

Users can produce a variety of types of paper to meet their needs, from A4 and A3 office paper of various thicknesses to paper for business cards, color paper and even scented paper.

Works Fast

The company claims that once you insert the waste paper and hit "Start," a fresh sheet pops out just three minutes later. "The system can produce about 14 A4 sheets per minute and 6,720 sheets in an eight-hour day." To produce nearly 7,000 sheets in a single 9am-5pm period is impressive. And by our math, all you need to do is have one intern work the machine from 5pm to 1am, and a second intern do 1am to 9am, and you can produce 20,160 sheets every 24 hours!

So is This Real, or Vaporware?

You'll notice the company's video of the PaperLab shows its implications more than actual operations...

…but they'll be demonstrating the machine in action next week at the 2015 Eco-Products Show in Tokyo.

The PaperLab is scheduled to go into production in 2016, and it appears that initially, Japan will be the only market. "Sales in other regions [will] be decided at a later date," is all the company will say. Looks like your current batch of interns has dodged a graveyard-shift bullet.

Smart Cycling Gifts, Stocking Drones, and Emblems of Teen Angst

0
0

It's our final week of the Core77 Ultimate Gift Guide! Don't miss out on the fun, share your Ultimate Gift Guide with Core77 for a chance to gift yourself some fun prizes. We're on the lookout for your Top 5 gift ideas for the holidays and will reward the best gift guides with awesome prizes like Hand-Eye Supply gift certificates, SONOS speakers and the Apple Watch!

Continuing the showdown, we've picked our three favorite gift guides for our last round of weekly winners. Each winner will be receiving a Hand-Eye Supply gift certificate and are in the running for the big enchilada on December 8: an Apple Watch or SONOS speakers.

No offense to stockings, but these holiday decorations are often filled with pretty useless pocket-sized junk. Thankfully this "Modern Stocking Stuffers" gift guide by Caitlin Tran can help change your stocking stuffing game! Tools on the list include an easy way to always know where your keys are and even a miniscule drone, which you can simply fly around or use to annoy the crap out of one of your siblings.

This one got some chuckles out of us in the office. Evan Mosko's "Gifts for Disgruntled Youths" list is for anyone reminiscing of their angst-ridden adolescence or for the current generation of troubled teens—hopefully this guide makes you feel like someone understands.

These gifts on Kyle Ferguson's "Gifts for Cyclists Who Don't Shave Their Legs" guide take bike gear to the next level while also ensuring ultimate safety during your cycling experience. High points of this guide include a phone-compatible keyless U-Lock as well as a sensor that recognizes as soon as cyclists get in accidents and sends information and coordinates via SMS. 

Thanks to all of those who submitted, and congratulations to our winners! You'll be receiving a $25 Hand-Eye Supply gift certificate—check out all the potential items you could snag with your prize here

Want in on the fun? This is your last weekend to contribute! MAKE YOUR OWN ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE HERE and you could win a up to $1,000 in amazing prizes! Get to it: Deadline for submissions is this Monday, December 7th and winners will be announced Tuesday, December 8th.

Viewing all 19065 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images