This was surprisingly fun to watch!

Out of all of the subgenres of design you could go into, theme park designer has got to be one of the most unusual. That's the subdivision that architect Jarrett Lantz has gone into, working his way up at the Walt Disney Imagineering Architecture studio as an intern, climbing the ranks to become a full-fledged Senior Concept Designer eight years later.

In this video Lantz designs a theme park on the fly using Steam's Planet Coaster. Combining elements of exhibition design, landscape architecture, civil engineering and plain ol' whimsy, Lantz is free to execute his design vision without having to worry about costs, safety issues or logistics:

Japanese automakers Infiniti and Lexus raked in four of the five coveted honors in the 13th annual EyesOn Design Awards, while Ford Motor Co. took home Best Production Vehicle for one its 2020 muscle cars.

The awards—presented Jan. 15 at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit—involved an all-star panel of global automotive designers from industry, academia and independent design studios, who walked the show to assess this year's crop of stunning concept and production vehicles and choose their favorites for design excellence in five categories.

Awards ceremony. Photo: John Skabardonis

This year's winners are:

Innovative Use of Color, Graphics or Materials (presented by Axalta Coating Systems)
Infiniti QX Inspiration. The judges said: "Embodies a modern take on materials while retaining a clean Japanese sensibility."

Best Designed Interior (presented by ABC Technologies)
Infiniti QX Inspiration. The judges said: "True inspiration and functionality."

Infiniti OX Inspiration interior. Photo: Robert Grace

Best Concept Vehicle (presented by Dassault Systemes)
The Infiniti QX Inspiration, again, marking the second year in a row that Infiniti has taken home this marquee honor. The judges said: "A new and fresh look that shows extraordinary sophistication and simplicity."

Lexus LC Convertible concept. Photo: Robert Grace

Best Designed Exterior Lighting (presented by Varroc Lighting Systems)
Lexus LC Convertible concept car. The judges said: "Flexible functionality; large screens with individual presets for multiple users."

Best Production Vehicle (presented by Covestro Group)
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The judges said: "The next best tribute to the Mustang ... what the car really represents."

Chief judges from left to right: Dave Marek, Stewart Reed, Joel Piatkowski, Paul Snyder. Photo: John Skabardonis

A crop of all-star judges

The 2019 EyesOn Design chief judges were Dave Marek,Acura global creative director for Honda R&D Americas Inc.; Joel Piatkowski, global director of design for cars and crossovers at Ford; Stewart Reed, chair of the Transportation Design Department at Pasadena's ArtCenter College of Design; and Paul Snyder, the Paul & Helen Farago Chair of Transportation Design at Detroit's College of Creative Studies. They were assisted by a team of 20 other experienced judges (see the full list here).

A touching tribute

The organizers paused the award presentations at Cobo Center to present a tribute to Chris Svensson, a recently retired Ford designer who succumbed to cancer last July at age 53. A British native, Svensson oversaw the development of many vehicles, including the GT supercar. He worked most recently as Ford's global design director for SUVs, trucks and commercial vehicles, after serving for nearly five years as the company's design director for the Americas.

How do you say "Lifetime Achievement" in Italian?

The EyesOn Design organization also presented its annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Italian designer Leonardo Fioravanti, who while working for Pininfarina designed numerous supercars, including the Ferrari Testarossa, as well as various concept vehicles.

The EyesOn Design Awards raise money for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, the research arm of the Henry Ford Health System's Department of Ophthalmology. The DIO says it knows that it is only with good vision that a person can fully appreciate the beauty of good design. The DIO, the institute states on its website, "takes part in the event in part to celebrate this focus on design, and also to raise money to support its goal of assisting and educating the visually impaired—helping them to maintain independence and dignity, while learning how to live a satisfying and productive life in a sighted world."

Celebrating the role of design

One of the event's first-time sponsors—Germany-based advanced-materials supplier Covestro—was also a first-time exhibitor in the auto show's Automobili-D exhibit area, and the only plastics producer exhibiting at the event. Its support "underscores the key role that design plays in turning the future of mobility into a functional, beautiful reality," said Paul Platte, senior marketing manager for automotive.

Best Production Vehicle award. Photo: John Skabardonis

Color me 'Sahara' bronze

Meantime, sponsor Axalta, made some news of its own, as well. The former DuPont Performance Coatings introduced its fifth Automotive Color of the Year. The 2019 hue it chose is called Sahara, a golden bronze tone, that Axalta says, "radiates warmth, richness and strength for vehicles of all sizes—especially the expanding global truck and SUV markets—and can serve as the principal color for two-tone possibilities including black roofs."

Yellow/gold vehicles are most popular in India and China, the company noted, while brown/beige vehicles increased in North America more than any other region. And for the first time in its five-year history, Axalta says its Automotive Color of the Year is showcasing a color primed for vehicle customization both at manufacturing facilities and in the aftermarket.

Ti Chang wearing Crave's Vesper vibrator necklace. Photo: Catalina Kulczar.

Ti Chang is the co-founder and VP of Design of Crave, a company that aims to bring luxury and inclusive design to the sex toy industry. 

This week, we were disappointed—but not surprised—to learn that the noted Consumer Electronics Show (CES) revoked an Innovation Award they'd given to a sex toy startup. We got the same rejection in 2017 when Crave applied to exhibit at the show. Their official stance is that we are considered "adult entertainment—a category they do not showcase at CES." Unofficially, however, we know this is not true: at CES 2018, a literal sex doll was shown on the floor of CES and AR porn for men was allowed this year, but when an innovative vibrator is banned, this presents a clear double standard.

As an industrial designer who works on products that improve everyday lives, I believe strongly that sexual pleasure is a core part of the human experience, and that the products people use to enhance their pleasure and connect with others are as important, relevant, and meaningful as any other consumer product.

So it's simply absurd that the leading industry showcases can't keep up with the rest of the country—and increasingly the world at large—that are eager to acknowledge pleasure as part of the human experience. When mainstream retailers from Bergdorf Goodman to Urban Outfitters showcase our products next to other beautiful accessories, why is CES so far behind?

Lora DiCarlo's Osé received a CES Innovation Award, but the trade show revoked the honor soon after.

"We see sex used to sell everything from hard drives to hamburgers—everything except the sort of products that actually empower people to explore and express their sexual wellbeing."

To be clear, it's not just CES. The tech community at large, from Facebook to Pinterest and beyond has a set of policies that show a consistent bias against sexual pleasure—well, a consistent bias against female pleasure, that is. On social media, our promoted posts and advertisements are constantly rejected from these platforms, but we see ads for Viagra, lingerie, and other products aimed at male desire all the time. And of course we see sex used to sell everything from hard drives to hamburgers—everything except the sort of products that actually empower people to explore and express their sexual wellbeing.

Crave's Vesper vibrator necklace

It's ironic that these tech companies, who generally tout themselves as progressive and forward thinking, are so far behind the times when it comes to acknowledging pleasure as a vital part of the human experience. Whether they know it or not, these major gatekeepers are perpetuating the shame around female pleasure. To remove this taboo, we think these conversations must take place on larger public stages, which we have worked to bring to mainstream media, world class museums, and events like SXSW. It is in part why we are perplexed that CES, who plays such a crucial role in showcasing innovations that are changing the world, would selectively prohibit brands like Crave that focus on innovation so fundamental to the human experience.

Crave Pocket Vibe

As a prominent voice in sex toy design, I am often asked what the future of sex toys look like. I think it's less about what sex toys look like, per se, but how we redefine our relationships with our bodies to give ourselves permission to touch, love, and play with ourselves. I think the future of sex is a world with more information where we better understand our bodies. Sure, perhaps it would be interesting if you could have sex with a mermaid robot hologram (and maybe you will be able to), but the most transformative future would be in removing the stigma so we can actually better know ourselves and connect with each other. Because all the sex robots or widgets are not going to change much if we believe pleasure is shameful and taboo.

What would a clothing collection based on the principles of good industrial design look like? That's what esteemed industrial designer Konstantin Grcic set out to discover during his collaboration with performance sportswear brand Aeance. 

The result? It's sleek. It's minimal. It's tailored. It's functional. It's sophisticated. It's made from mostly recycled textiles. It's almost meme-worthy how spot on Grcic portrays the elevated aesthetic every industrial designer aspires to achieve in order to stunt on people at [insert name of cool city] Design Week.

You can imagine exactly what this person's apartment looks like, which tote bag they carry and what style of Common Projects they have on rotation (obviously these). But alas, the clothing is too beautiful to make fun of, so I'll exercise some restraint and silently hit that refresh button until it releases.

You can learn more about the collection via Aeance's Instagram. Once it releases, you'll be able to purchase it here. I hope all you designers will take a walk on the ~wild side~ and start wearing some pops of color for a change. 

You might think the protective chaps worn by loggers work through sheer density, by using a material thick enough to provide protection from a fast-moving chain. But that simply isn't physically possible. So instead, the designers of protective chaps have cleverly harnessed the material's property in such a way that it can physically stop the chain from moving:

Obviously, like bike helmets the chaps are meant to be replaced after an accident. But if you talk to anyone who's ever had or witnessed a chainsaw accident, you'll quickly surmise that protective chaps are well worth the purchase, and cheaper than replacing a leg.

For those of you designers looking into the protective gear market, the warp-knitted technical material on my (Stihl-branded) chaps is called Engtex, made by the company of the same name.

I've been using the CAT Footwear Throttle Composite Toe Waterproof Work Boots I mentioned in the last footwear entry. I've had these for about a month and so far I like them. They're waterproof, comfortable, offer toe protection and are easy to get on and off. I paid $135. Here's a quick review.

Ease of Removal Makes for a Cleaner House

Prior to these I was wearing my Danners around the farm, but there's a lot of mud, and I was tracking a lot of it in the house. I find lacing and unlacing boots cumbersome and often failed to take them off when running in and out of the house to fetch something. The slip-on, slip-off CATs work much better for me.

Sizing Issues

The sizing can be a little funny. I read online reviews for this model and brand saying both that the sizing was spot-on, and that the sizing was too small. In my case I found the pair I ordered in my typical size was slightly too big. I then ordered a second pair, a half-size down, and found they were too small. (CAT Footwear offers free returns so I did't lose any money here and returned the too-small pair.)

These fit slightly loosely with regular gym socks on, but I can still work in them fine. With a thick pair of socks on, the boots fit perfectly. So, something to keep in mind.

Waterproof

I've stood in puddles up to the ankle in these, and water penetration was zero. Very satisfying having dry feet in crappy weather. I hope these live up to the company's claims of durability, as I find water resistance can degrade over time in footwear. I'll report back if there are any long-term problems.

Good Grip and Decent Support

I've found the soles provide great traction in snow and light mud. The ankle support is better than with a low-top, obviously, and during the occasional emergency I can run in these no problem. I wouldn't plan on a marathon, but I can make it fifty feet over to my dog before he eats a guinea fowl that unwisely picked a fight with him.

Protective Toe

CAT statest that the boot's composite toe is "40% lighter than a steel toe but doesn't compromise on the impact and compression protection." They're not cut-rated, so I'm taking my chances with the chainsaw, but I don't have to worry about dropping stuff on my toes.

Reflective Strips

I didn't know these were there, but on a nighttime walk my wife was behind me and noticed her flashlight produced a bright reflection off of these small strips on the back of the shoe.

Quality Control Issue?

Curiously, the rear pull loop, which works fine in the pair I kept, was actually sewed shut on one of the smaller-size boots I'd ordered. Easy enough to fix with an X-Acto, but it does point to a potential quality control issue at CAT's factory, or at least a lapse in inspection.

Muck Boots

The CAT boots are my daily wear, but on a farm at least there's still a need for a proper pair of rubber muck boots. I wear these in deep mud and inside the chicken coops and horse pasture and don't care that they get covered in feces. I paid $14 for these at the local Walmart.

Protection from Mud/Snow/Feces, But That's It

I can't wear the muck boots for work that demands sure footing for safety, as there are no half-sizes, so the fit is roomy. They also don't offer any protection from cuts or impact, so you won't be logging or splitting firewood in these.

Driving May Be Difficult

This may be particular to my situation, but I find the muck boots make driving a stickshift difficult: The top edge of the boots firmly contacts the front of my car's seat, providing an unwelcome resistance to my feet as I'm working the pedals.

Running is Okay, but Clumsy

You can run in these in a pinch, but you have to kind of crouch-run, like you're approaching a helicopter.

Indoor Mud Control Method

In Japanese houses they have a genkan area immediately inside the front door, usually a small square area of tile or stone, where shoes are doffed. Shoes never touch the wooden floor beyond the genkan, thus the floors stay clean.

Not my house (duh)

I've emulated this with a doormat inside the house. However, I can't leave muddy boots on the mat as they are in the way of the door, and I can't put them in a shoe rack because they're often coated in unpleasant organic matter. So I picked up a couple of these cheap ($3-something) plastic storage boxes at the local home center.

I take my muddy boots off at the makeshift genkan mat, then drop them in the container. 

The containers do a good job of capturing all of the mud and muck, keeping the floor clean.

They make boot trays for this purpose, but I like being able to pick the containers up by the sides to move them out of the way. The high sidewalls also discourage my dogs from sniffing the animal feces on the bottom of the boots, which then gets on their noses and eventually my hands. Farm life, yo.

You know that joy you feel when you see a piece of furniture of a type you've never seen before? Check out this mid-century era wall cabinet from Sweden, which folds out into an impromptu bar surface:

This is one of those pieces where I actually like the little flairs they added--the cutout shapes of the hinged panels, the angle in the leg--that don't provide any utility, but do add aesthetic interest.

It's currently up on eBay for $662 from a seller in Italy. That's a bit pricey for me, but if I saw this at a local flea market at an affordable price, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.

With a snowstorm walloping a large swath of the U.S., more than a few drivers are undoubtedly wishing they'd invested in winter tires. Many have probably resolved to buy more snow-capable vehicles. In that latter category, Nissan has created something that will be tough to beat: The Altima-te AWD, which has been tricked out with continuous-track propulsion, i.e. tank/caterpillar treads.

Unsurprisingly, it looks pretty darned fun to drive:

Sadly it's not a production model, but a publicity stunt aimed at our neighbors to the north (the car was debuted in Montreal). "In Canada, AWD is fitted as standard on the 2019 Altima," Nissan writes. "With the scarcity in the market of all-wheel drive configurations available on sedans, we wanted to make a statement to customers. The average person does not assume a sedan offers AWD." Nor caterpillar treads.

Is this the year you're finally going to start that YouTube channel? If you've got a smartphone, you've already got a means to record video; but if you want to capture shop footage, particularly those de rigueur shots where the camera is attached directly to a tool or the material, you'll want to step up to a GoPro.

The barrier to entry with GoPros is the price. A Hero7 runs $399, the top-of-the-line Fusion is a whopping $599. But they're currently offering a deal you'll not find with competitors: They'll give you $100 in credit for trading in any digital camera, GoPro or not...

"...in any condition," the company writes. "Dented, dinged, destroyed—no problem, we'll take it."

A Hero7 for $299 (or, stretching a bit, a Fusion for $499) sounds a lot more attractive. If you've got an old busted camera gathering dust, you can take advantage of the offer here. (The one caveat: The original retail value of your digital camera has to be at least $99.99.)

As a member of OXO’s Brand Design team, the Packaging Designer is responsible for the concepting and design of graphics for all OXO packaging as well as point of purchase, signage and sales collateral. The designer works closely with the Associate Design Director, Copywriters, Photographers, Production Manager and Project Managers.

The idea of a hotline phone--a smooth-faced object with no keypad, that only connects to one person--is a strangely alluring one in this age of smartphones with unlimited-capacity phonebooks. There's no screen telling you who you're calling, or who is calling, because you've only got one option.

As it turns out, there are actually a bunch of these relics floating around on eBay, like this one, and they're mostly in the USD $15-20 range. And while they were made in the USSR…

…you don't have to worry about them being bugged. I'm not saying they're not bugged, I'm saying your phone, computer, smart speaker etc. are all already listening to you, so what's the diff.

I think these would look wicked in a design firm office--connecting the studio and the shop, for instance--and that blank face is just screaming out for you to slap a cool graphic onto it.

At the summit of some astounding adventure—somewhere along the longitude of glamping and the latitude of camping—exists titanium sporks, wooden cutting boards, fire-pit kits, coal beds, BBQ rods, and many other ala cart tools that loyal Snow Peak consumers drool over. Snow Peak has created aesthetic and practical gear that some have called little luxuries since 1958. Their creations are branded with a neat "*" that has become synonymous to some with snowy planes trekked in bundled layers. But at their roots, they are not just a retailer of thermoses and cutlery—they are also known for their structural camping tents and built environments.

The latest in tents is their sculptural Ivory Pro Series, which includes The Dock Dome Pro 6, The Land Station Ivory, and The Hexa Evo Pro.

The photos here feature the possibilities of combining all three with an already impressive collection of Snow Peak amenities. No reviews are available yet for these new shelters, only glamorous photos of a campsite that rivals the mountains. So, only time will tell if the tents live up to (or perhaps even surpass) those expectations.

The Dock Dome Pro.6 Ivory - $1,799.95

The Dock Dome is a 4-season tent that sleeps up to four tall stick figures and two short stick figures (four adults and two pint-sized kids, roughly). The inner tent transforms the Ivory camp-castle from a hangout spot with room for chairs and tables, to a weatherproof sleeping quarters. Full specs are available on Snow Peak's website and in the photo below.

The Land Station Ivory - $999.55

The Land Station might look best in the woods with a futon under it. Shameless glampers will snag this tarp along with the Dock Dome and go to a place with a nice view that isn't too cold. "Accomodating 6-8 people comfortably, this spacious tent can serve as both a sleeping or living space within the campfield. *Please note, Wing Poles are not included," says Snow Peak.

The Hexa Evo Pro - $459.95

The Hexa Evo Pro completes this chiseled scene, but oddly it seems less glampy than the Land Station Ivory. At a lower price-point, it requires a minimum of just 2 poles and 6 stakes. Visually, it connects the camp site in a balanced way. If the other two shelters in this series are places to rest and chill, the energy of the Hexa Eva Pro is photographed as a standing gazebo where food is made and caffeine is consumed—all prepared using Snow Peak gear, of course.

Testing out the eVscope at the Kickstarter and Hardware Club CES after-party. 

Every year our Design & Tech team joins hundreds of past and future Kickstarter creators at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). It's where companies big and small show off recent and upcoming products, making it an ideal place to divine the future of tech—if you can cut through the chaos of 4,000 companies exhibiting various degrees of "innovation" to 180,000 attendees. To take a stab at it, we asked creators and collaborators from our community to share what they thought was significant at this year's show and what we can expect to see more of in the year ahead.

High-tech toys will train tomorrow's innovators

"This year at CES, the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall was full of self-driving car companies, but you could feel the industry shift into conversations about mobility in general. There is still huge interest in self-driving car technology, but this year I saw many autonomous car companies offering simpler services, like delivering goods instead of transporting people. The companies seem to acknowledge that there's still a lot more homework to do. That's where Zümi can help: the programmable toy cars that we make (and have live on Kickstarter now) use TensorFlow and OpenCV to teach today's students how to drive the future of automated transportation."

—Hansol Hong, founder and CEO of Robolink

Zümi puts autonomous driving tech into a cute programmable robot. 

"We are starting to see new uses for drones in education. Everyone loves flying gadgets, and if that can also be a useful programming tool, then that's a fun way for kids to learn. We are interested in creating a palm-sized drone that can be programmed to flash an LED, spin a propeller, hover autonomously, and set waypoints. Kids can learn a lot from a fully open-source platform, and that's what we plan to build."
—Vernon Kerswell, founder of Extreme Fliers

The old will be new again

"One of the most interesting things about CES this year was the use of modern technology to give retro devices a new lease on life. Polaroid showcased their new range of instant cameras (though I found it strange that they connect, via an app, to a device technically capable of taking far better photos). There were also stands for instant cameras from Kodak and Fuji, and the Diana Instant Square camera even made an appearance at the Kickstarter after-party. It's happening with music, too: despite the huge number of connected speakers and hi-def sound systems, brands such as Victrola were showcasing new record players that, despite their classic appearance, come with Bluetooth connectivity.

CES 2019 was also the first time in years that I've played some of my favorite childhood computer games. The Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio Plus has three cartridge slots, allowing you to play NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis games on your new 4K TV. So, despite the seemingly obvious adoption of smart home assistants and 8K TVs, maybe some of the most exciting products to come out this year will combine new technology with nostalgic charm."

—Richard Coleman, head of marketing at Minut

We'll grapple with technology fatigue

The mui smart home control panel is designed to disappear when you don't need it.

"I've noticed that several popular Kickstarter projects from the past year could be considered 'anti-technology' technology. From IRL Glasses, the screen-blocking sunglasses inspired by They Live, to mui, an elegant wooden block that helps you spend less time on screens in your home, our community loves projects that promise to quiet our digital lives. In the past year we've seen so many stories about how tech companies have willfully hacked our attention; in the year ahead I predict we'll see more products that help us break that addiction. I was happy to see mui get an Innovation Award at CES 2019, and I couldn't help but preorder one of Umay's screen-free, audio-free meditation devices that alleviates eye strain."

—Katheryn Thayer, Design & Tech editor at Kickstarter

Interfaces will get more human

"As a CES first-timer, I was impressed by how many companies are getting creative with how they think about hardware and encouraging human interaction rather than device distractions. I love the way different brands were rethinking camera, album, and map apps as breakout devices that don't distract you from engaging with your community. I was inspired by all the innovations empowering more natural interfaces between the physical and digital worlds, from Kodak's new AR-enhanced film to Opkix wearable wireless cameras to various adaptations by onTracks and Velco to make GPS directions more intuitive through wearable devices and adapted bike handlebars."

—Majenta Strongheart, staff designer at Supplyframe DesignLab

"Consumer hardware is the black diamond of startup challenges, so I'm always stoked to meet founders who can pull it off—they're an inspiration. I think there's a clear trend towards even more integration with software and delivering a holistic product experience. Some of the favorite things I tried this year were the new headset from Razer powered by haptics from Lofelt, as well as the Woojer haptic vest."

—Florian Simmendinger, cofounder and CEO of Soundbrenner

Barking orders at your smart home will look rude

"On the truly intelligent home front, big companies like LG and Samsung are integrating sensors and voice assistants to understand what you're actually doing at home and solving your problems before you even see them. Startups like Minut, with the Point sound-based alarm, and us over at Wynd, with Halo, are using sensors—not smart assistants—to control your home before you even have to worry about a problem. It looks like we'll see more truly automated homes in the future, rather than ones you have to boss around."

—Alex Cox, product manager at Wynd Software

Technology will become more invisible than ever

"You know that Arthur C. Clarke quote that goes, 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic'? Well, if CES is any indication, I think 2019 is the year that a lot of our existing technologies will become so sufficiently advanced that they're effectively invisible. It was happening left and right at CES this year. Impossible Foods unveiled a new veggie burger that looks, smells, and tastes almost exactly like real hamburger meat. The North Face showed off a new fabric that's unremarkable to the naked eye, but, thanks to some nanoscale textile engineering, is more breathable and waterproof than Gore-Tex. I also saw AR glasses that look like regular glasses, speakers and TVs that don't need AV receivers, and countless smart home devices that have ditched touch screen interfaces in favor of Alexa integration."

—Drew Prindle, emerging technologies editor at Digital Trends

Vans: Be a Part of the Original “It was never about waving the brand like a flag, it was always about the people” – Paul Van Doren Vans is the original action sports footwear company rooted in authenticity and creativity. Founded in 1966,

Something I love: Cars that look as if the designer has never seen a car before. That's praise, not an insult. If your brain wasn't clogged with 10,000 Instagram images of what a car is supposed to look like, what would you draw?

Designing something fresh was undoubtedly easier in the 1950s, prior to globalization and the internet. Take a look at this car that could only have come from mid-century Italy, the 1959 Fiat 600 Multipla:

You know it's a quirky design when you can't immediately tell where the front of the car is.

Note how the front bench seat is notched to provide room for/access to the shifter and parking brake.

Incredibly, this car has a six-passenger capacity, with three rows of seating.

I'm really digging the upholstery, which I assume has been restored. Whether they have been replaced or not, the fabric patterns suit the car perfectly.

Check this out: The spare tire is stored in the front passenger footwell!

With all of that passenger room, you may be wondering: Where's the engine?

It's in the back, of course.

Please caption the following image.

This car currently resides in California and is being sold for $42,000.

The media is currently having a field day with whether President Trump did or didn't pursue a Moscow real estate deal during the election. Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has claimed that "There were no drafts" of such a project. BuzzFeed Newsis contesting Giuliani's assertion, and claims they've got renderings of the proposed Trump Tower Moscow. They released them yesterday:

"By September 2015, a New York architect had completed plans for a bold glass obelisk 100 stories high, to be topped by a gleaming, cut-diamond–like shape emblazoned on multiple sides with the Trump logo.

"Its hotel portion would feature 'approximately 15 floors' and contain 'not fewer than 150 hotel rooms,' the letter of intent stated. The building would feature a luxury spa and fitness center, a commercial component 'consistent with the overall luxury level of the Property,' and an office space 'consistent with Class A luxury office properties,' as well as 'luxury' parking."

Whether you're a Republican, Democrat or something else, let's focus on what we can all agree upon: That building is darned fugly. Unsurprisingly, no New York architect has stepped forward to claim responsibility for the rendering, and BuzzFeed hasn't outed anyone.

Anyone who regularly carries a bicycle helmet would like it to be more portable. And as we saw in Six Design Approaches to the Folding Bike Helmet, a multitude of designers have been working on the problem. Now there's a seventh approach, the partially-folding Fend Helmet, which retails for $99:

It's got several dozen five-star reviews…on its own website. Have any of you actually tried the Fend, and if so, does it live up to the hype?

I read a lot and I firmly believe that no matter how indispensable a YouTube video, a blog, or a magazine article can be, the long form of writing - a book - can both entertain and educate the way no other media can. Here is a short list of books that we stock, old and new that I think are worth reading. Now actually I think all the books we stock are worth reading, but I particularly wanted to highlight some personal favorites. I'm including some of the many new books we stock along with some classics that really shaped my understanding of woodworking.

In no particular order:

The Mechanic's Companion by Peter Nicholson. This is a high quality reprint of the 1841 American edition of the book, which was originally printed in 1812. The Mechanic's Companion is one of those books you don't actually read as much dip into. It's structured as a dictionary, and it's an important book for anyone who has an interest in historical woodworking. What really turned me on is the inclusion of the 1830 building code of New York City. This is so interesting to me because it's the first gasp of zoning and regulation in New York. We have to comply with Fire Department regulations for our aerosols and flammable storage regulations (including passing the Certificate of Fitness test) so the rise of safety regulations especially caught my eye. Apparently in 1830 the regulations were pretty similar, though they weren't about spray lacquer - they concerned whale oil and gunpowder. The book also covers the tools and usage for different trades. But there is so much crammed into the book, you can always learn something new. For me, the woodworking tool material wasn't unfamiliar but the section on plastering was totally amazing.

"The Joiner and Cabinet Maker" is approaching a decade since we put it back in print. I still find it as exciting as ever to go through. For anyone interested in working unplugged, the first two projects are a great first set of challenges. If you can complete the third project - a dresser - you can confidently say that you really know what you are doing. Back then I thought the book was the best education for hand tool usage out there, and today I would double down and also say it provides an anchor for other hand tool instruction you might (and should) get elsewhere. It's also a good read, which is why I think you can learn from it pretty easily.

Robert Wearing's - "The Essential Woodworker" is the single best book on useful advice on woodworking every written. Short and sweet, it's a great practical book no matter what equipment you use - hand or electric. I can't imaging not having a copy.

Lost Art Press just reprinted "Welsh Stick Chairs" by John Brown and issued an English-language version of Slöjd In Wood by Jögge Sundqvist. Both of these books are standards in their field and if there is any interest in chairs or Sloyd projects these are obvious choices. I also want to recommend "Woodworking in Estonia" which is another standard text for greenwood woodworking - a bit more hardcore and less accessible than the other two, but also very worthwhile.

If you are looking for a great gift set both Roubo books, The volume on cabinetmaking and the volume on marquetry are awesome for woodworkers with experience who are doing traditional work, and the entire series of Charles Hayward books are awesome for everyone - especially a newbie. (Hayward is hands down the best writer and illustrator of woodworking books ever.)

"Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding" by Christopher Schwarz is a historic look at useful clamping accessories for your workbench. I found it very informative and helpful when we were developing our Planing Stops.

If you just want a good read - "The Village Carpenter" by Walter Rose has been a favorite of mine for years.

Hardcore carvers might like "Manual of Traditional Wood Carving" by Paul Hasluck. I'm actually in the middle of the chip carving section. I took Daniel Clay's course in September and Hasluck has an article on chip carving explaining the English method of doing it. I have also been poring over the book's decorative designs for furniture as part of my research for my blogs on "The Future of Furniture." The text is dense but chock full of useful stuff.

For younger people who have an interest in early crafts and tools, Eric Sloane's "A Museum of Early American Tools" had a huge impression on me when I was a kid. Still does.

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This "Tools & Craft" section is provided courtesy of Joel Moskowitz, founder of Tools for Working Wood, the Brooklyn-based catalog retailer of everything from hand tools to Festool; check out their online shop here. Joel also founded Gramercy Tools, the award-winning boutique manufacturer of hand tools made the old-fashioned way: Built to work and built to last.

Reporting to the Senior Industrial Design Manager, this Design Engineer will be working on projects through the Design Engineering cycle to ensure products meet performance standards, quality expectations are manufacturable, and adhere to design briefs. This highly creative individual will play a key role in