1. Lady Gaga: Telephone

The highly anticipated follow-up to the pop giant's music video "Bad Romance," covered by On Smash, finds our Lady jailed in ripped tights, latex and caution tape. She gets sprung by Beyoncé, (whose music video Videophone last year featured Gaga) and the two cause general nonsensical mayhem and mass homicide in the spirit of "Kill Bill."

2. Kid Cudi: Pursuit of Happiness

Kid Cudi transforms his ballad into an Escher-inspired portrait of drunkenness. (Or is it a bad acid trip?) In this alternate video for the downer song from his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of the Day, he seems to be trapped in an eternal couch to doorway to window-ledge purgatory until the plot-line devolves into a fog-heavy dreamscape populated by strangely-dressed women.

3. The Allure of the Automobile

Featuring a vintage Jag that belonged to Steve McQueen, The Moment checks out this upcoming exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta that examines changing attitudes about cars alongside the notable rides that inspired and challenged them.

4. Getting Drunk at The New York Times

Big Think catches up with famed writer Gay Talese, who describes the liquor-friendly, smoke-saturated atmosphere at the famed newspaper in the '60s.

5. Beautiful Book Covers

The BibliOdyssey blog culls the best hand-bound book covers scanned from The National Library of the Netherlands, which has over 12,000 such books in its extensive collection. Neatorama uncovers this curio of beautiful and forgotten books.

6. The World's Largest House of Cards

Professional card-stacker Bryan Berg built a replica of The Venetian Macao in 44 days with 4,051 cards without glue, tape or any other prop, breaking his own world record. The Daily Mail has photos of the wonder, an architectural study in balance and detail, built inside the hotel.

7. Radio-Guy

We Love You So highlights Radio-Guy, a collector of old anatomical models of the brain and other wonderful vintage oddities which he sells on his website.

8. Factory 20

Thinking for a Living takes a look at another superb peddler of found objects, Sterling, VA-based Factory 20. Their website's extensive collection features all kinds of furniture, art, and objects from time periods such as the Bauhaus and industrial eras. Quality photographs reveal each object's inimitable qualities and heritage.

9. Aleksander Mukomelov: Infinity Bath

Definitive Touch recently covered the new contemporary designer bathtub by Aleksander Mukomelov. This high-tech soaking sensation comes with a built-in media console capable of playing music, infusing aromatherapy, and, of course, water jets.

10. Matthew Turley Photography

Yewknee points us to the portfolio of Salt Lake City-based photographer Matthew Turley, who skillfully captures landscapes and people in their most desolate state.

Launched at last month's Design Indaba expo, the Inception Collection from Snapp was one of the more attention-grabbing product collections there. With its use of brilliant hues and bold forms, the group of five objects stood out from much of the more craft-based wares on view.

Founded by industrial designer Jonathan Fundudis and mechanical engineer Renko Nieman, the Johannesburg-based firm aspires to lead the field in contemporary South African product design and manufacturing. The brand fabricated their inaugural collection entirely from Corian, which they selected for its ability to be machined, thermoformed, laminated and finished using both new technology and traditional production techniques.

Highlights from the collection include the Lamellae fruit bowl (top), inspired by the underside of mushrooms, the Slice cutting board (next image), in which two wedge-shaped voids allow for both handling the board and scooping chopped food, and the alluring Twi-light table lamp (above), which turns on and off by pressing the top cap.

Since Corian is a notoriously expensive material, and producing these pieces in small batches could be quite costly, we're interested to see how the gentlemen at Snapp can scale up their design projects to reach a wider South African, and international, audience. They've certainly got some good ideas, so watch for more from them in the years ahead.

Watchismo has an exclusive look at Celsius X VI II's first product, an impressive merging of a mobile phone with a tourbillion watch that integrates a patented rewinding mechanism hidden within its hinge. The upshot of over three years of development and based on complex micromechanics, opening the phone activates the internal device.

Inspired by tourbillion watches—invented in the late 18th century to offset the supposed effects of gravity on accuracy by rotating a full 360º within a cage—Celsius' love for mechanical triumphs of centuries past permeates the many components of the the Papillon. Made using 547 mechanical components (most of them hand-finished), the new gadget strives for "the dream of a completely mechanical mobile phone: a phone in which every function will operate mechanically, solely through human energy."

To produce the hybrid, Celsius collaborated with renowned watchmaker Richard Mille and horological design team Confrérie Horlogère. The upshot is a true example of excellence in design, expertly combining mechanical and technological achievements into a gorgeously sleek simple black body.

German-based international watch and jewelry fair BaselWorld will host the launch of this remarkable phone when it's unveiled next week with a price of $275,000.

With an all-star lineup and a truly meaningful objective, the online auction Crafts For A Cause keeps the spirit of helping Haiti alive with a host of tees, totes, guitars and other objects decorated by some our favorite creatives all up for bidding.

Initiated by L.A. native Binki Shapiro (of Little Joy fame), the benefit features goods decorated by fellow musicians, actors and artists alike. From a camera painted by Drew Barrymore (above left) to Daft Punk's toy robots (above right) and Rodarte sweatshirts signed by the sisterly duo (bottom), Crafts for a Cause mobilizes today's great cultural movers and shakers.

All proceeds from the auction will go to Artists for Peace and Justice, a Haiti-based humanitarian organization dedicated to "providing an education, hot meals, clean drinking water and regular medical treatments to the children living in the slums."

The auction opens 15 March 2010 at Bidding For Good, and ends 27 March 2010. Opening bids range from $15 to $5,000, making it accessible for most. Check out Crafts for a Cause to see photos of participants creating their pieces up for auction and see more of the items, including pieces by JD Samson and the Fleet Foxes, in the below slide show.

Providing a fresh take on Stephen King's classically twisted words and worlds, graphic designer Nick Tassone evokes the spirit of the disturbing films with a set of movie posters that perfectly illustrate each daunting plot.

Tassone cuts out the gore and reduces each image down to an essential stylized symbol, using a two-color palette of black paired with a pastel. For "Carrie," an upended bucket hangs from a rope, while "Firestarter" and "Cat's Eye" receive a literal treatment, showing a single large match and a wide cat's eye. These condensed interpretations reinforce King's ability to create intelligible stories, easily recognized even years after they were originally published.

Adding a layer of detail to play up a bygone tone, the vintage-inspired graphics include scratches and imperfections. The simplicity of Tassone's design lends a familiar Hitchcockian dread and unease, making for an ultimately creepy yet visually-pleasing poster.

Pick up the Carrie poster and (soon) more for $30 from Tassone's online shop.

Sandrine Castellan

Raised in Aix-en-Provence, Montreal-based photographer Sandrine Castellan has been working her way around the camera since her grandfather gave her first one nearly 15 years ago. Castellan considers collaboration her "biggest thrill," finding inspiration in unexpected ideas and people but recognizes that it begins with a meticulously-selected team.

After switching her focus from still to motion pictures during college, Castellan returned to the medium upon graduation. She is continuously pushing herself, finding her most interesting project is "the next one."

Jonathan Waiter

Known for creating photos that show a model's vulnerability, Jonathan Waiter's stunning black-and white-images simultaneously reflect both sensitivity and empowerment. Intent on creating as visceral a feeling as possible, the Netherlands-based photographer's images are a raw interpretation of beauty.

Waiter essentially considers photography a predatory form that, by seizing the scene from reality, ultimately transforms the meaning.

David Aaron Morett

NYC-based photographer David Aaron Morett has been obsessed with taking pictures ever since the night a "guy named Hwa" gave him a "wonky old Nikon with a broken light meter."

The style of Henri Cartier-Bresson sparked Morett's interest in photography—making him determined to find those indescribably beautiful moments in time and "capture them like rare butterflies." After years assisting, printing and retouching, more recently Morett has become focused on the craft of photography, finding nuances in lighting techniques and well-conceived projects.

Red de Leon

Preferring an "invisible" style of photography, NYC-based Red de Leon successfully depicts models in awkward poses using understated lighting and simple framing. His contemplative nature shows up in each image, and, while he finds the industry limiting in regard to full creative potential, his resulting thought-provoking photographs are full of energy.

Inspired by Michael Haneke's film "The White Ribbon," de Leon regards transitional periods in history as a relevant interest. Concerned with highlighting essential human elements, he hopes to explore an anachronistic story that teaches him about "design, human nature, fashion and progress."

A serene retreat in the heart of Stockholm with modern Scandinavian style, the recently-opened Hotel Skeppsholmen makes a welcome addition to the more glitzy and bustling options in the area. Its tiny island location lends the 81-room spot its name, along with views of the water, a park-like setting, neighboring museums, and just enough distance from the city center to feel calm but not isolated. Combined with spare decor, warm service, and plenty of little luxuries where they count, the boutique hotel throws off a casually elegant vibe as appealing to business travelers as it is to those visiting purely for fun.

In lieu of a grand lobby (it's housed in former Marine barracks built in 1699), a spacious room offers a lounge area on one end and airy café-style seating on the other (pictured above right), with windows looking out over trees and the occasional passing boat. Breakfast there—a delicious take on the smorgasbord with treats like blueberry-cardamom granola, traditional Swedish buns, and heartier fare—has charming touches like linen napkins, is included in the room rate, and not to be missed.

Rooms themselves feature the clean lines of contemporary Scandinavian design in a palette of marine blues, grays and whites that designers Claesson Koivisto Rune call "Fog"—complimenting the setting and adding to the peaceful tone. While some of the more "high design" fixtures presented minor functional issues, most of the furnishing choices marry tasteful minimalism (starting with the gorgeously restored antique floors) with playful surprises like a bright yellow splash of a side table. And, though Skeppsholmen may lack the wall-to-wall opulence that some look for in a hotel, comforts like quality linens and toiletries by the popular Swedish brand Byredo, left me wanting for nothing.

Lighting in particular, like the rubbery texture of what I call the Spy v. Spy lamp (pictured below left), stands out for how it subtly and thoughtfully delights guests. Hallway light installations (below right), one night turned the mundane trek back to our rooms into a giggly impromptu photo shoot. The building's layout (Swedes call it the "Long Row") does mean that the short walk from reception sometimes psychologically feels like more of a trek than it is, but also lends to the off-the-beaten path feel.

With amenities that include a small gym, alternate dining rooms, meeting rooms, free WiFi, flat screen TVs with DVD players, minibars, and a variety of services—from Concierge to laundry—graciously fulfilled by the efficiently attentive staff, Skeppsholmen represents welcome new version of Scandinavian hospitality. Rack rates hover around $1,314 SEK (about $185). Book through Skeppsholmen.

As a farewell to esteemed Tokyo brand Number (N)ine, Converse recently teamed up with the now defunct label for a final covetable collaboration.

The resulting asymmetrical Chuck Taylor All Star and One Star oxford-styled sneakers make a fitting end for Number (N)ine, as designer Takahiro Miyashita explains, "My childhood started with Converse."

Takahiro tweaked the classic Converse models with an askew lace-up, a nod to the innovative 1970 Converse Odessa (a more recent version is pictured below left). Made of premium deer skin, the shag suede upper's uneven texture lends a spackle-paint texture for a modern Boho feel.

While saying goodbye is always hard, as Takahiro eloquently states “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished”—the Converse collaboration seems a silver lining to that cloud.

The shoes drop in select stores around the world beginning 13 March 2010, including 10 Corso Como, Colette, Dover Street Market, Wood Wood, Aloha Rag, and more, for $140 a pair.

Already having put their name to olive oil and a Fiat, as well as backing Miami's Pelican Hotel, Italian fashion magnate Diesel launched their sexy, rock 'n' roll-tinged Designed by Diesel collection at the 2009 Salone del Mobile, and the home furnishings collection will finally hits stores this summer.

Dominating the denim industry for years, Diesel has mastered the art of reinvention—from accessories and fragrances to jeans that glow-in-the-dark and ultra-modern silhouettes. The home furnishings collection affirms their uncanny ability to diversify.

The series includes a small group of tables, armchairs and sofas, but the Home Collection triumphs with their lighting section.

Their strength in working with fabric shows in the use of interesting textures and materials in the lampshades, with neutrally earthy tones blending into any room. Drum kit bases make lamps portable and, along with details like lightning bolt pull chains, continue the rock thread.

The choice of metal cages adds an industrial touch to other lampshades, while plastic molded into an irregular faceted dome makes for a suspension light that casts dramatic geometric patterns onto surfaces.

Chrome studded bases reference the brand's fashion heritage, a clear signal that this likely isn't the last lifestyle extension we'll see from Diesel.

Functional, easy to mix and match with existing furniture, and contemporary without appearing overly modern, the collection makes a strong first. Available at select Diesel stores, see the whole collection online.

When the prospects of digitization seem endless, design studio Jess3 recently stepped in to lend some clarity to the subject with an amusing infographic video illustrating the meteoric rise of the Internet. With 1.73 billion users, 243 million websites, 200 billion spam emails, and at least one new social networking platform cropping up every year, the interpersonal interactivity is at times difficult to fully comprehend. Their three-minute video puts it all into perspective, animating pie charts, thumb tacks, speech bubbles and more to help get a handle on the staggering size of the web.

Now a nearly globally shared vocabulary, social networking sites actually began 15 years ago with Classmates.com. Jess3's informative timeline on the rise of social networking websites charts the exponential expansion in the early 2000s with Flickr, Friendster, Myspace, Facebook, Youtube and more, concluding with the recently unveiled Google Buzz.

Acknowledging how the Internet is at times a strange beast, Jess3 really captures the paradoxical nature of this century's most game-changing invention—isolating yet intimate, unimaginably wide yet easily traversed.

Lending a little High Street charm to America's beloved retail chain, Target's collaboration with Liberty of London hits shelves nationwide this Sunday, but we had the chance to check it out yesterday at a NYC pop-up.

The collection—reinterpreting Liberty's limited edition Merci line for spring at a lower price point—plays to both brands' recent successes with similar collaborations. The upshot, floral-printed apparel for men, women and kids, as well as accessories, bedding, stationery, furniture and bicycles done up in paisleys and other patterns by the centuries-old fabric company, fills the space to the brim. Along with blooming flowers (like daffodils and hydrangeas), props, and build-outs all keeping to the theme too, the shop itself has the dizzyingly gorgeous effect of a classic all-over Liberty print.

Running through 13 March 2010, the pop-up is not to be missed.

See some of the shots from our visit to the shop, as well as some photos from Refinery29, in the slideshow below.

Good Magazine highlights a new illustration from Sam Loman that incorporates subway design into a map of the human body.

The body shows urinary, digestive, arterial and respiratory lines, among many others, with stops at the liver, kidneys and more. The biggest transfer point is, of course, the heart.

Check out the visual at Good.

Kelpie Seaweed Ale

This Scottish brew uses fresh bladder rack seaweed in their mash tun to infuse the barley with a peculiar hint of briny plant goodness. The seaweed provides background hints of salt and peat that play with dark chocolate in this full roast, dark malt. Kelpie Seaweed Ale sells from Williams Bros Brewing Co.'s online store.

Morimoto Soba Ale

Introduced in 2003, this Oregonian draft won silver and gold at the World Beer Championships and continues distinguish itself with its full flavor. Made with buckwheat flour (like its namesake noodle), Soba Ale has a sweet, citrusy taste. Find a retailer near you to purchase or get a 22-ounce bottle for $5.50 from Wally's.

Prima Pils

Heavy on hops, this brew from Victory Brewing Company makes a tasty, floral drink that's perfect for summer (though we drink it year round). The spicy malt adds to the light body in this highly-praised, Pennsylvania-brewed Pilsner. Visit Victory for retailers or get a bottle from Wally's for $1.50.

One of the more interesting emerging fashion designers currently coming out of Italy, Vivì Ponti uses typically traditional materials and processes for her line of blouses, dresses and jackets. Designed under the moniker Vivetta, the collection emanates a clear reference to French couture with '80s undertones, but also to more whimsical concepts such as the Venice Carnival and electro-pop.

Ponti, born and raised in central Italy, works out of her studio in Milan but continues to produce the line close to her hometown. Allowing her imagination to take the reigns, the resulting collections indicate her ability to fuse a singularly experimental attitude with a completely wearable approach.

Ponti also recently designed a series of dresses for Peaches Geldorf, of which she included versions "inspired by her choices" in the Fall 2010 collection. "I had to simplify and cool down the peaks of creativity in that project, so to be more in line with the market," she explained.

Vivetta sells in specialty boutiques around the world with a limited collection online.

After launching our redesign a few weeks ago we received a lot of feedback about the choice of Courier for our body copy. While we loved how the retro aesthetic provided a nice contrast to the crispness of the layout, many readers felt it was a strain on the eyes. We then posted about this asking for opinions on Courier vs. Georgia vs. Times and based on your feedback combined with our preferences we landed on Georgia which you'll notice has now replaces Courier throughout the site.

Thanks to all of you who shared your thoughts on this, we really appreciate your feedback!

Launched at the recent Design Indaba, Haldane Martin's Baba Papa Lounger (above) was one of the highlights of this year's exposition. The undulating, meshed structure, manufactured from roughly 80% recycled stainless steel wire, was inspired by the worn surface of beach pebbles. Sun bathers not to worry, the lounger also comes with a contoured cushion to prevent unsightly skin patterns.

No stranger to Design Indaba (he was a speaker at the 2007 conference) or the South African design scene, since Martin formed his namesake company in 2002, he's become one of the country's most successful contemporary furniture designers. Over the week I spent in Cape Town, it was difficult not to sit upon or be illuminated by one of his designs. His slinky Songololo Sofa, inspired by Ueli Berger's classic sectional, graced both the recently completed 15 On Orange luxury hotel and the stage for this year's conference.

Martin's Fiela Feather Arc Light, an airy homage to Castiglioni's Arco, also graced the lobby of the new hotel. Designed in 2007, Martin named the lamp after the Dalene Matthews book "Fiela se kind," which takes place in the same ostrich farming district from which the shade's feathers are sourced.

After returning from Design Indaba, we looked further into Martin's developing oeuvre. Check out a couple more projects after the jump.

The product of thousands of hours of sketching, computer rendering and modeling, Martin unveiled his Polyhedra Modular Coffee Table at last year's expo (watch a video of his Pecha Kucha talk here). The project draws inspiration from a multitude of systems in nature and mathematics.

Possibly Martin's most well-known design, the Zulu Mama chair was inspired by an inner search for the mother archetype. A marriage of craft and technology, the designer developed the nurturing form of the woven seat with a rural craftswoman in Limpopo and later translated it into extruded plastic. The process of creating the Zulu Mama marked a pivotal moment for Martin and featured prominently in his 2007 presentation, called "Design with a Conscience." Watch the clip here.

Founded in 2008, Eco-Kids is the brainchild of mother and former nanny Cammie Weeks, who used her mother's recipe to make eco-dough for her son and his friends. Cammie explains that she and her husband "realized the need for safe and natural art supplies and toys," so the duo began selling their sustainable dough at farmers markets throughout California and eventually expanded the collection to include a bevvy of environmentally-friendly, all-natural art supplies and toys.

While I'm holding out on the pencils until my two-year-old can distinguish between wall and paper, she loves her eco-dough and eco-paints. Made with flour and dyed with organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts (like purple sweet potatoes, paprika and blueberries), the naturally vivid colors please the eye and make clean-up time easier.

The organic-rosemary-scented dough (to keep it fresh) stays malleable without being sticky like other brands, and comes in a gluten-free version for kids with celiac disease or special dietary restrictions.

Just in time for Easter, Eco-Kids recently introduced an Easter egg coloring kit that includes the same fruit and vegetable colors and two soy crayons for fancy decorations.

Almost any parent will tell you the futility of explaining to a toddler why they shouldn't put a toy in their mouth—a non-issue with the Eco-Kids line of products. Everything they make is safe to eat, although the pencils could be a bit rough on younger teeth.

The supplies and kit ($10) sell online from the Eco-Kids website.

Japanese designer and inveterate snowboarder Taro Tamai has been hand-shaping his eye-catching Gentemstick boards for over a decade. An answer to the homogenization of board shapes that happened as snowboarding gained mainstream appeal, Tamai's goal is no less than to "perfectly blend into the terrain miraculously made of snow and wind, just as if birds flying in the sky or fish flowing in the stream." The upshot of his philosophical approach to the sport (he calls it snow-surfing) is a line of boards renowned for their flexible fins, oversized sized fish tails and rideability in almost any snow condition.

The Taro Tamai custom line includes the Rocket Fish, Big Fish, Super Fish and the bamboo-core Giant Mantaray (pictured below, from left to right).

Previously only available in Japan, Gentemsticks made their U.S. debut last year, yet you can still only get a glimpse at a couple that live at San Francisco, CA's Mollusk Surf Shop. Otherwise, they sell from their online store, or by making a direct email request. As long as you place yours before the July cut-off, they'll hand-make it to your specifications.

Bangkok-born artist Korakrit Arunanondchai originally created his wildly-colorful, limited-edition clothing label Kora-Krit as an extension of his digitally-influenced art. Working chiefly with silkscreen printing, Arunanondchai intended for visitors to his gallery shows to wear the pieces for a fully immersive and visually seamless experience.

The RISD grad (now based in Brooklyn, NY) takes up various themes in his work, but considers them all to have a shared feeling. He sees his layered compositions as a fortunate glimpse of a fleeting moment, like "a bunch of kids playing basketball" who appear to fight and dance as they bump into each other on the court. But in Arunanondchai's amped-up world, the scene plays out at an even faster tempo and is possibly "happening in the sky."

The current collection borrows strong graphic shapes found in video games, particularly the letters X and O, as well as triangle and square shapes. Printed on neon fabrics, the choice links the apparel back to his black light art installation on the same subject.

The forthcoming project, dubbed "Thrs" for the typical gallery opening night, takes Arunanondchai back to a simple black, white and gray palette for series of intricate prints that explore computer-generated gallery spaces. (Pictured above.)

A fan of Hieronymus Bosch, the phantasmagorical world Arunanondchai creates has something in common with contemporaries like Ryan McGinness, who similarly makes densely-layered imagery that toes the line between organization and chaos. On the fashion side, the artist's futuristic prints connect him to those seen in the most recent collections by Proenza Schouler and the late Alexander McQueen (also a fellow Bosch admirer). His passion for creating an unabbreviated universe has led to multi-media installations that transcend physical boundaries, as well as projects as tangible as a laptop for Dell.

Kora-Krit sells online or from La Forêt in Tokyo with prices starting at $29.

In a triumph of art, science and architecture, Argentine artist Tomás Saraceno's site-specific exhibit "14 Billion" scales a Black Widow's web up to magnificent proportions. Currently on display at Stockholm's Bonniers Konsthall, 14 Billion is an extension of the work he showed at the 2009 Venice Biennale called "Galaxy Forming along Filaments, like Droplets along the Strands of a Spider's Web."

The Frankfurt-based artist worked in collaboration with astrophysicists, architects, engineers and spider researchers to create a stimulating series of installations with 14 Billions as the focal point. A massive undertaking, the project took two years to complete with the black rope spanning 400 cubic meters, consuming much of Bonniers Konsthall main gallery.

Saraceno's work looks to scientific study which uses the imagery and structure of spider webs to map the origin and structure of the universe. Referencing these studies, the sculptural pieces explore the delicate balance between ourselves and the earth.

To compliment the installation, Saraceno also exhibits essays and research texts that reveal the development behind 14 Billions and other key pieces from the series, including "Garden/Air-Port-City/Iridescent" and "Cloudy House" among the 15 additional artworks.

While deeply philosophical and laden with scientific study, Saraceno softens the academia with interaction—encouraging viewers to participate with his discoveries. Nimble visitors can explore the web installation, while children and adults alike can create their own additions to his Cloudy House.

A fantastic exhibit—igniting the same level of curiosity which inspired it in the first place—the show remains on display through 20 June 2010.

Adding to Le Book's already impressive roster of artistic superstars, this year the New York edition of the influential publication tapped the work of late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe to "dress" their covers.

For a resource widely serving as the media maker's yellow pages, the inspirational choice draws on the instrumental role that the native New Yorker's highly technical images of nudes played in elevating photography to a major art form.

Embarking on its 28th year, Le Book isn't just a definitive reference, but compelling covers featuring works by the likes of Stephen Sprouse, YSL, Alaia, Hermés and others, has made it a collectible in its own right.

This year the massive book extends its brand to include a complimentary iPhone app dubbed Le Tag as an additional informative resource.

Get your copy of Le Book from their site for $250.

For this video we visited our friend Tim's grandma, Yu Um Chon, at her home in New York where she showed us how she makes Kim Chee. As one of dwindling numbers of Koreans who still make the spicy pickled staple themselves, she explained that everyone has their own recipe and walked us through hers (including the addition of artificial sweetener to cut down on sliminess).

Yu Um Chon's Kim Chee*

1 Napa cabbage
1 Korean (or daikon) radish, cut into matchsticks
1/2 C ground Korean hot pepper
1/4 C Korean salted shrimp
1 bulb of garlic, finely minced)
1 (three-inch) piece of fresh ginger root (minced)
1 bunch of scallions
salt and sugar to taste

Dissolve about six tablespoons of sea salt in a large bowl of water (about a gallon), add the cabbage, and let it soak in the salt water overnight, rubbing the salt on the cabbage a few times.

Remove the cabbage from the salt bath, drain, and rinse. Combine all ingredients with the shredded radish in a large bowl. Season with salt and sugar to taste.

Layer the radish mix in between the cabbage leaves, place into a large glass or other non-reactive container, and allow it to sit for two to three days.

*All amounts are approximate and can be varied according to your preference!

An interactive installation, "Night Lights" counts on bodies, hands and mobile phones to bring a massively colorful game of charades to life. Staged at Auckland's Ferry Building, the project is the upshot of a joint effort between four creative agencies and the public.

Using software made with the openFrameworks library by YesYesNo (and currently being prepped for open-source release), the team projected a sequence of six scenes every hour onto the building's facade over the course of five days. The project was created for the re-branding of Telecom New Zealand, transforming the city's main transportation hub into an exciting display of lights.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the initiative, check out the Flickr photo set and video of the installation.

Edited by Craig Kanarick, EXP looks at the ways innovative brands express themselves in the digital age.

In celebration of their third anniversary, art and design site Super Punch paired selected artists with a deck of tarot cards for a creative spin on the typically mystical illustrations featured on the average deck.

The collection runs the style gamut—from anime-saturated Six of Cups to the Art-Deco Tower, the dizzyingly wide range of designs make an enjoyable trek through today's imaginations.

Super Punch will continue to add to the pack until April 2010, and while the project includes the work of selected artists, they invite anyone to submit and offer a template online. The resulting deck gets a feature on Endless Cards.

To get around Brazil's convoluted customs procedures and expensive tax laws that govern importing and exporting art, Brazilian collective Autista and British gallery KK Outlet turned to the fax machine to transport art across oceans for a new show called "Ex-Fax Machina."

At last Thursday's opening Brazilian artists Ramon Martins, Eduardo Recife, Elisa Sassi and Carlos Dias made drawings and faxed them to London's KK Outlet Gallery, while U.K.-based artists Andrew Clark, Billie Jean, Mcbess and Jimmy Turrell faxed their completed drawings to Gallery Pop in São Paulo. Flaunting Brazil's 50% tax on any cultural item sent or received (the strict rules have prevented both NYC's Met and MoMA from lending pieces in the past), the pieces now hang on both galleries' walls through 26 March 2010.

To further demonstrate their point, KK Outlet installed a fax machine dedicated to receiving faxes from all over the world. Select faxes will be included in the show and they'll accept them (at +44 (0) 207 739 0396) through the end of the show.<

Artists' faxes sell for about $45 in England and $28 in Brazil.

Faxes by the public will also be for sale for $15, which will be donated to non-profit group Viva Rio.

Nestled in a small display cube within the Cape Craft and Design Institute's exhibition at the recent Design Indaba expo, Heartworks Stitching Club's hand-embroidered teddy bears immediately caught our attention with their bold colors and one-of-a-kind appliqué.

Founded by Margaret Woermann, owner of the Cape Town crafts boutique Heartworks, the Club began over five years ago in an effort to empower local craftswomen while contributing to the city's creative pulse. With early assistance from Durban needlecraft artist and women's self-help teacher Leonie Malherbe, the stitching club started as a core group of local Cape Town women. Several years later, it's evolved to include over 30 members, from Xhosa speaking participants to men and women from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Central to the process of creating the bears (comprised of over 20 pieces), is a celebration of the individual. Woermann, who mainly assists with orders and material procurement, leaves the creative process entirely to the embroiderers, who develop their own particular design language.

The resulting collection, beautifully patterned with animals, people, houses, flowers and other whimsical imagery, has already been quite successful—recent examples include substantial orders for the Gap and a children's project in Afghanistan—but the stitching club produces a multitude of other products, including pillows, tablecloths and hearts. The thread connecting all the efforts is the conviction that a skilled community can produce desirable products of enduring value. Woermann writes: "I believe that the time for subsidized projects—'buy me because you feel sorry for me'—in this country is over, and that a project that is self-sustaining and produces beautiful work—'buy me because I am beautiful'—is the way forward."

We think the Heartworks Stitching Club is ripe for some forward-thinking design collaborations. If you're interested in working with them, or if you'd like to order a bear (pricing ranges from R295 to R695 depending on the size) contact Margaret at woermann [at] iafrica [dot] com. Check out more images after the jump.

1. Flight Attendant Uniforms

From the jaunty matching cap to orange-and-pink striped polyester, the stewardess uniform has made many a transformation over the years, best highlighted in this slideshow which tracks styles from the '40s to current incarnations.

2. BAFTA Nominee Posters

In honor of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, graphic designer Tavis Coburn created retro posters for each "Best Picture" nominee. Polkadot covers the five, including iconic visuals from "Avatar" and "Precious."

3. The Douche Test

Details magazine helpfully created a quiz "to see where you fall on the cultivated-asshole spectrum." If you make your own ricotta cheese or have a devout love for typefaces, this giant tool-o-meter has some bad news for you.

4. Javelin

Pitchfork anticipates Brooklyn-based duo Javelin's debut album, No Mas, out 20 April 2010 with an mp3. Using found sounds and a little elbow grease, cousins Tom van Buskirk and George Langford stitch together the next wave of dance tunes for a mix that will have everyone on their feet.

5. OK Go: This Too Shall Pass

For anyone who thought nothing could surpass their treadmill video, check out OK Go's equally creative second take for their song "This Too Shall Pass." Filmed in an Echo Park warehouse, OK Go collaborated with director James Frost and Synn Labs for a colorful set that took months to build.

6. The Sandpit

Sam O'Hare perfectly illustrates a day in New York City with his video "The Sandpit," featured on Neatorama. Comprised of 35,000 tilt-shift photographs, the video makes an impressive display of both images and meticulous compilation.

7. Robert Geller Pop-Up Shop

Acclaimed NYC menswear designer Robert Geller selects exclusive pieces from his newest collection to to peddle at a Lower East Side pop-up shop. The shop runs through 15 April 2010 at 129 Rivington Street in NYC.

8. Comme des Garcons: Homme Plus

Hypebeast highlights editorial images from the upcoming issue of Japan's High Fashion magazine, showing a distinctive powder-faced model wearing the "Homme Plus" line from the avant-garde fashion label Comme des Garcons.

9. Mitsuoka Motors

Little-known Japanese automaker Mitsuoka Motors has been crafting retro-British inspired sports cars for over half a century. The painstakingly handmade automobiles, sold at select dealerships in the Middle East and Asia, sell for around $100,000.

10. Pantone Make Up Concepts

First it was graphic designer Alex Cornell's Pantone Palette Cleanser, now it's product designer Renata Veiga's clever Pantone-branded nail polish and eye shadow who use Pantone, the eponymous purveyor of all things color, to inspire their product design.

Laura Santtini's Easy Tasty Magic collection of taste-enhancers stimulates the senses, both with refreshingly original flavor combos and beautifully clever approaches to packaging.

The range includes an assortment of Santtini's inventions—latterday rubs, alchemical larders, seasonal salts, elixirs, umami paste and food bling—each as creatively delicious as the next.

Recently taking a break from the family business of running the London's famed Santini restaurant, the successful writer and chef now focuses solely on Easy Tasty Magic products. The passion she puts into her work speaks for itself; opening one of her jars or tubes fills the air with the aroma of spices and savory delights. But Santtini's remarkable talent for mixing simple ingredients into intensely mouth-watering blends is only half the story.

The playful packaging, designed by We Should Coco, not only lends an entertaining spin on seriously tasty ingredients, but lends convenience to cooking. A few drops of the Taste No. 5 umami paste squeezed from a tube cleverly covers up any lack in cooking skills. Carnal Sin's "heady Persian rose blend," which comes in a wide-mouth glass jar, takes meat to a whole new level.

The thoughtful and imaginative range of flavors comprising Easy Tasty Magic currently sells at Selfridges stores in the U.K., at La Grande Epicerie in Paris, from Waitrose, and soon will be available online. Look for it in the U.S. in fall 2010.

Breaking out of the conventional mold for successful athletes, snowboarder Travis Rice opened the online art gallery Asymbol early this year with a program of fine art featuring extra love for action sports. One of the most renowned and talented shredders around, Rice pushes the edge of possibility and sanity on the snow and now applies that same tactic to highlighting talented artists.

Created in collaboration with artist Mike Parillo, the Jackson Hole-based duo showcase selected artists in a limited-edition format.

Asymbol came about as an extended "thank you" to the many photographers and image-makers inspired by the sport, who in turn inspire the athletes. "The effort it takes to produce a picture worthy of hanging on a wall is humbling. Asymbol exists to pay tribute to the creative workhorses who have inspired us by making their imagery available to the world," Rice explains.

With a web design that imitates a gallery space, the Asymbol site makes viewing the work approachable and intuitive. It includes brief biographies of each artist and illuminating histories of individual pieces. A comical yet helpful guide on sizing features Chewbacca, Mr. T, Miss Piggy and Chucky as models.

Separated into photographs and artwork, both categories show a range of imagery, subjects, emotions and styles, but maintain a cohesive feel as a whole. From Jeff Curtes' melancholy "Chairlift" photograph (and the adrenaline-drenched chaos of a heli-drop in his "The LZ," pictured above) to Jamie Lynn's colorful "Moonlit Polihale" painting, each takes the viewer to a rare moment in time that many don't often get to experience.

See more artwork after the jump.

Standouts include Adam Haynes' "Silverton" painting, depicting a mountain peak shadowing a dilapidated hut. Haynes painted the piece on wood, and the peeling paint around the edges reveals the surprising medium underneath.

Nick Russian, a former Lib Tech custom snowboard artist takes his work from the board to canvas, painting surreal mountains and clouds that look like graffiti using a unique layering process. The paintings show slews of dark colors reigned in by dashes of white, resembling hidden words strewn throughout.

Scott Lenhardt's "Powers 2000" illustrates a similar penchant for elaborate designs and small brushstrokes. The long, slim canvas (above left) shows a pair yellow trees reflect tentacle-like into the lake below. His "Deer Stream," by contrast (at right), uses the miniscule strokes to different effect, invoking Botero in their sleek yet absolute lines.

Parillo's "Blessing and Confrontations at the Circus Contradiction" fuses bright colors and a collage style. With obsessive details all drawn with pen and covered in acrylics, Parillo's symmetrical painting overlays science fiction, horror and a classic mural style. Two hands hold eyes, two women crouch, lines of bears and baboons hold machine guns, and an exposed heart sits at the center.

Asymbol's current show, "I Am Snowboarding," is an homage to deceased boarder Jeffrey Lin Anderson. It opened on 14 November 2009, in Anderson's hometown of Mammoth Lakes, CA, and will travel internationally through May 2010. See their Calendar for further info. The works can also be viewed on Asymbol. Each painting is a collaboration between a photographer of Anderson and a painter who revises the original image.

Proceeds benefit the JLA Memorial Fund, with limited edition prints of 23 each, 44 photographers and artists contributed to the show. Perhaps the most bittersweet piece, "First Day" shows Anderson as a young child posing with his board over a cartoon mountain. It smartly leaves Anderson largely unchanged—sharpied "JEFF"s remain clear on the knuckle of each glove—while revising the landscape into bold, simple lines of a snow peak and an orange sky. Anderson died while attempting a snowboarding trick in 2003.

This is not Rice's first foray into business. He's also collaborated with Quiksilver on exclusive outer gear, and Lib Tech worked with Rice to make snowboards praised for their durability and performance. Rice has shown himself as savvy and agile with business as he is on a board.

Asymbol also has a strong environmental streak, contributing 5% of all proceeds to the Action Sports Environmental Coalition and Protect Our Winters. Says Rice of giving back, "And since we owe the environment we take from while we reap the rewards of its bounty, a portion of our proceeds will be donated to nonprofit organizations that are working to raise environmental and social awareness and accountability in the action-sports world."

Works sell directly from Asymbol's site in a variety of sizes, from $300 to $1,300.

While Steven Alan lays claim to the ultimate travel bag, globetrotters looking for the ideal briefcase would be hard pressed to beat this Belgian company's first offering. Focused squarely on frequent-flier-mile-collectors, the TravelTeq smartly designed their Trash briefcase to combat the nuisances of airports in a handsome package.

Individually handmade in Italy with Florentine Vachette leather, the Trash comes with water-resistant nylon lining in a trio of primarily colors, as well as in a stealthy, jet-black Panther model.

Eight different compartments account for everything from the now-requisite padded laptop sleeve to a mobile phone holder and external pocket for easily presenting your ticket. They've even included a pen slot that doubles as a cigar holder for unwinding post flight. And the bag's other side has a branded external band meant for linking with rolling suitcase handles—which we're sure will pair well with the trolley case TravelTeq promises to unveil later this month.

The bag is currently sells exclusively from the TravelTeq online store for about $540.

A testament to the post-punk art and music scene of the '70s and '80s, "Ripped: T-Shirts from the Underground" offers a visual history of the time through rare and one-off t-shirts. From Sonic Youth to Run DMC, the Sex Pistols to The Kinks, Talking Heads to The Cure, and, of course, Van F****** Halen, the tees in Cesar Padilla’s 200-plus piece collection are impressive, to say the least. Padilla, owner of downtown NYC vintage store Cherry and the book’s editor, has been working on the collection since he was a kid. Here, he shares the best of the bunch –glorious sweat stains and all - alongside musings of luminaries of the decades, like fashion designer Betsey Johnson and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, as well as younger fans including singer/songwriter Will Oldham.

As singer/poet/writer/all-around-agitator Lydia Lunch describes in the book's introduction, for decades, t-shirts have acted as an "iconic symbol of defiance." The DIY stylings of many of Padilla's tees reinforce this sentiment, as do insights from musicians and artists. Commenting on a spread of Sonic Youth shirts, for example, Thurston Moore writes: “A cool t-shirt has no rules, the more unique the better. I was doing solo sets on the 1994 Lollapalooza tour and decided to sell T-shirts that were limited and designed on the spot. I hit Targets and Wal-Marts and bought white Beefy-Ts and magic-markered art and words on them, signed and numbered them, and sold them for a couple of bucks more than I paid.”

Describing the impetus behind his collection, Padilla concludes, “I grew up in Southern California and was raised by my two sisters. As a consequence, I was on the Sunset Strip at an early age, attending rock shows and being exposed to many things a ten-year-old wouldn't normally have been exposed to. In 1988, I went traveling to South America. When I returned, my mother had thrown away my rock T-shirt collection, documenting this misspent California youth. Since then, I have been searching for the Holy Grail. This collection is clearly a direct result of such pillaging."

Ripped comes out 9 March 2010 and is available now for pre-order on Amazon.

At the close of last week's Design Indaba conference in Cape Town, we had the opportunity to meander through the expo of over 260 impassioned exhibitors from around South Africa. While much of the work on view skewed toward accessories and jewelry, we found a handful of tremendous products for the home, including this beautiful collection of suspension lighting by designers Dani Le Roy and Laura Summs. Produced under the label Moonbasket, the duo combine their passion for knitting with a desire to aid impoverished communities in surrounding townships.

Working out of a studio space in the rapidly developing Woodstock Industrial Centre (an area that has become a mecca for emerging artists and designers), Dani and Laura have been developing the new collection over just the past six months. Dani, with a background in art, interior design, styling and merchandising, began the project "on the very frayed end of a shoe string." She met Laura, "the crochet maniac," in the early days of the project, while seeking a consultant to hone the idea and train the team of women who would be responsible for the knit production. They've since become inseparable business partners.

All components of Moonbasket suspension lighting are fabricated in Cape Town. Craftswomen hand-knit the crocheted patterns that dress the wire frames in Khayelitsha, one of the most troubled townships in the city. All of the women have an existing skill set, inherited from relatives or teachers, which the Moonbasket project helps both broaden and refine.

The lights come in unbleached cotton and neutral cotton twines, a variety of knit patterns, and in 10", 18" and 24" diameters. While not yet available in the US, we can think of a number of home interior boutiques in NYC alone that would do well to hang these lights in the window.

Wellness-focused organization Xango creates healthy products to enhance and balance the modern lifestyle. Their nutritional mangosteen juice taps into the benefits of the fabled Asian mangosteen, an antioxidant-rich tropical fruit.

Unlike many fruits, the mangosteen retains a majority of its healthy benefits in the pericarp (its skin). Full of xanthones, the pericarp helps neutralize free radicals, in turn offering a powerful boost to the immune system. To make the bitter skin palatable, XanGo blends both the skin and the fruit into a juice.

While still undergoing intense research, the mangosteen could potentially help reduce cholesterol and heart disease and improve joint movement and the intestinal system. Whether Xango is the next miracle fruit or just another false hope, testimonials to its ability to cure chronic problems abound.

XanGo's mangosteen juice sells from Amazon for a hefty $45 a bottle.

While much of the recent London Fashion Week lacked the edge of past seasons with designers taking the safer route by showing subdued ready-to-wear collections, Dutch-born designer Maaike Mekking seized on high drama (what some might say fashion does best) with her collection dubbed "Witch-Craft-Wo-Man-Ship."

Channeling the spirit of cult films such as Christiane F and Bandlands, Mekking showed a collection of wearable separates reflecting her own take on the classic American biker jacket, jeans and white t-shirt. To heighten the intensity, she mixed in contrasting materials including sheepskin, corduroy, chiffon and wool—all thrown over a tribal-patterned bodysuit.

Since completing a masters in Womenswear Design at the Royal College of Art, Mekking has built up a solid platform of skills working under renowned designers such as the late Alexander McQueen, Humanoid and Alberta Ferretti. Now heading up her own eponymous label, the designer continues to captivate her audience with not only clothing, but also with an intimate range of interdisciplinary artistic collaborations involving artists Tania Leshkina, Anastasia Freygang and Joseph Xorto.

Mekkings collection showed that while the main catwalks of London's Fashion Week may have lacked a little electricity, there is still plenty of energy left in the city for those willing to take a step in her direction.

photos by Youngna Park

The tradeshows of the art world, art fairs can leave even the most avid art enthusiast feeling deflated by day's end. To help keep everyone in high spirits during the NYC art marathon that started yesterday, Jen Bekman and the team behind her online art initiative 20x200 will be handing out survival kits packed with a Daily Candy city guide, artist Jason Polan's clever hand-drawn map, a "Visual Palate Cleansing System" for the visually overstimulated and much more.

Packed in only a portion of the totes, a few lucky fair-goers will randomly receive the "Why You Should Buy Art" limited edition print by William Powhida. Dubbed by NY Magazine critic Jerry Saltz as "the second best thing to happen to the art world in 2009," Powhida is quickly becoming a loud satirical voice for the independently-minded art community. His "Why You Should Buy Art" piece strongly highlights this sentiment (in large part a response to controversy about the New Museum), which provides reasons such as "How else will you become a trustee?" and "Nothing says culture like a bigass painting."

To provide attendees with a personal interactive element, 20x200 is holding a Twitter contest for the tote bag. Simply snap a photo of yourself or someone else carrying the survival kit tote and upload it to Twitter or Flickr with the hashtag #20x200 for a five dollar gift card and a chance to win a $200 print from 20x200. They will also give away bonus prints to people spotted carrying the tote at the fairs.

For more information on the NYC art fair festivities, check out The Armory Show website or download the 20x200 map.

Given the state of the world, we could all do with some levity. That's where You and Me, The Royal We comes in. Conceived by Brooklyn studio mates Oliver Jeffers, Mac Premo and Aaron Ruff of Digby and Iona (which we featured here), the recently-launched collective's cheeky sense of humor unites the line of seemingly disconnected products.

Poking a little fun at recent men's fashion trends, the woodgrain belt and bark buckle ($90) makes an accessoire de rigueur for the aspiring urban lumberjack—naturally, the buckle is real bark. A boxed set of standard No. 2 pencils ($22) comes emblazoned with the phrase, " This Machine Kills Fascists," a nod to "This Land is Your Land" legend Woody Guthrie and making a great gift for folksy and literary types alike.

Oliver Jeffers' hand drawn "Places on Earth" print ($180) comes with a box of 202 push-pins: one red (headquarters), one blue (next target) and 200 black (global domination).

And while we've seen letterpress cards make the rounds before (Alison Riley's Stop Talking cards make a succinct point), the Royal We's All Occasions cards ($36)—thank you, sorry and fuck you—provide options for, well, all occasions.

Targeting the growing market of bicycle commuters, Pedaler Clothing incorporates technical elements into clothing and accessories that could pass as a standalone streetwear line. Both tops and bottoms have ergonomic cuts made for the cycling movements, use sustainable bamboo wherever possible, and feature subtle reflective flourishes for added safety.

Hoodies and t-shirts benefit from extended sleeves and torsos, with jersey pockets on the rear. The Anorak Jacket windbreaker uses water-resistant microsuede and a slim silhouette with a hideaway hood. And the American-made fitted shorts are a stretch denim and twill, sewn with a seamless crotch.

Constructed of English waxed tartan, the Pony Express handmade messenger bag (below) incorporates hearty leather accents and hardware to balance timeless fashion with urban cycling functionality.

The Pedaler Clothing line has price points between $65 and $165 and sells from select retailers and an online store. See more images from the look book after the jump.

While the vibrator was invented just shortly after Edison created the electric light, it's only recently that adult toys have begun to fully tap the power of technology. From vibrators that sync with iPods to toys purposefully designed for using in water, the industry is challenging both the way sex toys are designed and the way we think about them. Highlighted below, check out some of the latest "sexcessories" that apply a modern approach to stimulation.

Ola Memorable Vibrator

Created by newcomer Minna, the Ola vibrator (pictured at right) reacts to how it's squeezed, remembering the rhythm pattern for the ultimate in personal satisfaction. Officially launching later this year, the Ola will sell online along with a collection of smartly designed products for intimate activity.

We Vibe Couples Vibrator

The unique We Vibe vibrator is designed to maximize both internal and external stimulation. Made of medical-grade silicone, the flexible "zero maintenance" vibrator features a powerful motor on each end and a slim profile that doesn't interfere. It sells online or at Babeland stores in NYC for around $100.

Tenga Flip Hole

Newly introduced to the U.S. market, the Flip Hole (pictured at left) demonstrates Tenga's remarkable capability to remain a front-runner in adult toys for men.

The reusable hole takes male masturbation to the next level, adding a complex interior shape with each centimeter lending a different sensation—check out the video for a detailed description.

Opening up for easy cleaning and a complete air dry, it also improves upon the hard-to-wash sleeve design of the popular Fleshlight. The Flip Hole sells for $110 from Tenga.

Tenga Egg

Tenga also offers the Egg, a smaller, simpler version of the Flip Hole (pictured above). A silicone oval with three different patterns within the soft silicone interior, the Egg stretches and flips inside out for ease of use and cleanliness. It runs $35 for a set of three, sold from Tenga, where you can also check out their new accessories and creams for further control over masturbatory experiences.

Ohmibod Freestyle Wireless Vibrator

Ohmibod's musically-inspired vibes already have quite the following, but 2010 sees the pleasure toy go wireless with their updated version called the Freestyle. Simply connect the wireless transmitter to an iPod or other mp3 player using the mini jack and the Freestyle's high-powered motor vibrates to the rhythm of the music. The vibe retails online for $130.

Sex in the Shower

Designed specifically for use in water, Sex in the Shower offers suction cup hand holds and foots stands, as well as a variety of products like vibrating loofahs and a waterproof strap-on that make bath time more fun. The line sells from Amazon.

Je Joue

Je Joue offers two varieties of vibrators in four colorways, each with specific purpose. The G-Ki's space-age look matches its adjustable design, which is light years ahead of the average vibrator. With two heads—one long and slender the other wide and curved—the G-Ki changes shape from a hook to a subtle half-moon. Its ergonomic design maximizes all areas of a female's anatomy and is perfect for couples' use. Pre-order it from Je Joue.

"The closest thing to the tip of the tongue," the SaSi ($150) is a hand-held vibrator that memorizes which of its five patterns move you the most. Learn more about the G-Ki and SaSi from the Je Joue website, where you can watch directional videos and find a local retailer.

Lelo

An original juggernaut of the modern sex toy industry, Swedish label Lelo offers a line of toys boasting clean, minimalist shapes and materials. The Tor ($109), an elegant take on the classic gentleman’s ring (above left), features six stimulation modes that adapt to the user's desires. The Mia ($64), a discreet, lipstick-size travel vibrator, doesn't sacrifice quality with size and conveniently recharges through a USB port. Lelo also offers a "Luxe" version, which casts their favored toys in steel or gold.

Zini Duex

This two-part toy, designed for use by couples and inspired by yin and yang, vibrates in tandem for a whole new foreplay experience. Both pieces feature 10 modes and five speeds and sells from Liberator for $175.

U.K.-based makers of luxury Italian-leather holdalls Caracalla Bagaglio fashions their "Commemorative Motorsport Collection" line after the past triumphs of famous race cars and their drivers. The company, owned by motorsports aficionado Simon Jordan, borrows its first name from the Roman emperor whose historic baths were the site of Ferrari’s first victory in 1947 and gets its surname from the word for luggage in Italian.

While only die-hard fans will get the historical relevance of each bag, it takes little more than a simple aesthetic to admire the classic elegance of these weekend getaway companions.

Craftspeople hand make each bag in Italy from fine leather that closely matches the interior color of the car it celebrates. For instance, our favorite variant, the Lotus JPS No. 6 (pictured top), uses stark black with gold stitching, just like the Formula 1 whip Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi drove to victory in the 1972 Italian F1 Grand Prix.

A stamp of the Team Lotus emblem just below the opening of the No. 6 adds to the immaculate detail of the accessory, a design repeated on other models. Features also include a detachable shoulder strap, internal pocket, end-to-end zipper, and metal studs for protection while sitting on the ground.

Each measures 22" long x 12.5" wide x 11" deep, and sells online for just under $445. Pick one up from Bagaglio.

A curious collection of improbable objects, "Cut & Paste" is the brainchild of the incredibly talented Kiki van Eijk. The project, currently on view at Secondome Design Gallery in Rome, marries disparate elements of material, color, finish and form as a celebration of "designing by making."

Working with Secondome gallerist Claudia Pignatale, van Eijk labored for a year in development, producing hundreds of sketches and several models before arriving at the final collection of seven works. The objects—more totemic stories really—bear the influence of contemporaries such as Studio Job and legendary figures such as Ettore Sottsass. Somehow unmistakably Dutch in origin, "Cut & Paste" is also the result of a singular personality; van Eijk's fondness for materials, layering and craft shows in the work.

The show newly confirms designers' ongoing unwillingness to retreat to the safer ground that treats function and form as intrinsically connected. The recent economic crisis brought with it the possibility that design could become mired in a new era of false modesty, curtailing the wonderful gains that have been made in the past decade. "Cut & Paste" proves that an experimental, poetic and altogether personal design impetus is here to stay.

via Dezeen

At a moment when most aren't even sure what streetwear is anymore, "Cult Streetwear" offers a survey of the style's most prominent pioneers. One one hand it's an essential reference guide to the ubiquitous category, but on the other, author Josh Sims' discerning analysis explains how people and brands helped streetwear reach its mass status.

From clothing born out of "sheer necessity" to the undying appeal of the graphic tee, the book relays the history, breaking it down into three main categories—streetwear, sportswear and workwear. Sims also includes informative anecdotes, like how Vans' classic checkerboard shoe came about by chance after an employee saw a high school kid coloring in his plain canvas sneaker.

With a focus on 32 influential brands (Sims admits it isn't a definitive list), the scope covers streetwear labels that maintain creative integrity and a strong sense of identity.

While many of the brands grew out of sports—Stussy, Burton, Fred Perry and more—some started as an extension of an (often graffiti) artist's work, such as Obey and Fuct. Of course, the Japanese influence—mostly two brilliant entrepreneurs in the early '90s, Hiroshi Fujiwara of Goodenough and Hideheko Yamane of Evisu, gets its due here too. Each saw streetwear as more than catchy graphics, laying the foundation for the luxury limited edition label A Bathing Ape, also highlighted in the book.

The FL@33-designed book comes out this month. Sign up with publisher Laurence King to stay informed of its arrival or pre-order from Amazon.

With their delicious chocolate ganache bars and bonbons, Derry Church Artisan Chocolates mix chocolate mastery and intense flavor, making each creative combination as palatable as the next. The bars, their newest sweets, do not disappoint.

Standing out among the Pennsylvania-based chocolatiers' collection, The Burlington bar pairs a flavorful blend of milk chocolate ganache, maple syrup and roasted pecans. All housed in a milk chocolate shell, the bonbon echoes a bite-sized pecan pie balanced out by mouthwatering chocolate.

Another of Derry Church’s triumphs is the Veracruz Ganache bar, a bittersweet chocolate filled with white chocolate ganache. While white chocolates are often overly sweet, the Veracruz instead plays up the subtle flavor of the cocoa butter itself, resulting in a perfectly-balanced bar that gushes with white chocolate.

Derry Church's bon bons also offer an array of tasteful combinations; The variety pack includes flavors such as chipotle peppers in white chocolate (the Oaxaca) and butterscotch in bittersweet chocolate shell (the Edinburgh). Our favorites include the Kandahar—pomegranate molasses with white chocolate, the Cairo—date paste with balsamic vinegar reduction, and the aforementioned Oaxaca.

Mostly organic and handmade, Derry Chocolates sell online with prices beginning at $18 for a nine-piece box.

by James Ryang

Pretty much anyone who went to school in the U.S. has had a Jansport backpack at some point in their life. If it could get books from point A to point B, while withstanding endless tosses over shoulders and the travails of school, it worked. Function, simple design, and durability have always been the key elements to Jansport’s enduring relevance as the iconic backpack. Recently, Jansport introduced their limited edition Heritage Series, re-issuing their original designs from 1967. Emblazoned with vintage Jansport labels, these bags are constructed in the same silhouettes and from the same materials as their ancestors.

Of our favorites in the series, the Hoss, pictured above left, is a top-loading backpack equipped with brass zippers, a re-enforced leather bottom, three utility pockets and seat-belt straps. The Snoqualmie duffel, above right, is a perfect, carry-on sized bag with three side pockets and an adjustable seat-belt strap. Both bags are available in four vintage colorways. Made from Classic Cordura fabric, the Hoss backpack and the Snoqualmie duffel are extremely durable. Cordura is a woven nylon fabric first applied by Jansport in the early 1970’s and still used in the production of military apparel and equipment. Jansport has taken a significant step backward to remind us why their brand is synonymous with durable, classic luggage.

Made from the remnants of Australian cricket balls, Bowling Arm leather bracelets are a colorful wrist accessory that nicely utilize an otherwise purposeless scrap of material. Each one-of-a-kind piece builds character with wear.

The brainchild of Australian industrial designer and fine artist Simone LeAmon, as director of studio O.S. Initiative, LeAmon focuses on creating engaging and sustainably-minded products whose process has a story to tell.

The bracelets come in red, yellow or white and sell online for AUD $44.

Spanish artist Roberto Mollá's latest work, a series of 15 compositions taking up the famous Japanese tale of pearl diver Princess Tamatori (showing at the upcoming Pulse art fair in NYC), puts the artist in the well-populated ranks of other cultural interpreters of the story. Compared to Hokusai's explicit illustration of the fabled sexual encounter between girl and octopus and more recent examples in manga, film and pornography, however, Mollá's surreal vision makes for a more restrained telling.

In fact, it was Mollá's minimalist graphic style—mixing geometric shapes, delicately realistic pencil renderings, and a sparing use of color—that first caught our eye at the Fountain exhibition in Miami last January. While the work we saw then took up Japanese themes too, these new pieces see the 44-year-old punctuating his grayscale palette with gold instead of red.

A futuristic tenor, reinforced by Mollá's use of cream-colored graph paper as a medium and vector-based imagery, nicely plays off the artist's highly-detailed depictions of sea creatures, like mollusks festooned with tentacles and beautifully scaly Koi fish.

Inspired by artists such as Dadaist Francis Picabia, Italian Futurists and Russian Suprematist El Lissitzky, Moll#225;'s uses the influence of these art movements to come up with his fresh and personalized style.

Be sure to check out "Tamatori" at Christina Ray Gallery's (formally GlowLab) booth at Pulse New York, 4-7 March 2010.

From fashion week festivities to parties at the Met, Sweet Jewels have been a recent hit on the NYC scene. New Yorker Julie Le whips up the multi-layered treats by blending cake with frosting, dipping them in chocolate and hand-rolling them in coconut.

Le—a librarian at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute by day—explains “I like watching my friends take a bite into their first cake ball, because the interior is what always surprises them once they get through the hard coconut covered chocolate shell.”

A self-taught baker and entrepreneur, her newest recipe is inspired by An Choi, a Vietnamese eatery in the city's Lower East Side, and a collaboration with Lipstick Queen's Poppy King is in the works, where Le will create cake ball flavors inspired by shades of lipstick. When she has a spare moment, Le also designs one-of-a-kind necklaces she threads from vintage chains under the moniker Crunchy Jewels.

“Cake balls are entertaining all around. They are sweet, the ultimate indulgence in bite sized proportions, not messy like cupcakes, and there is a filthy connotation that goes with it that has everyone giggling like teenagers” Le said. “The jokes about my yummy, tasty balls never get old.”

Sweet Jewels sell from her Etsy shop, with prices starting at $14.

Easily turning any home into a leafy green sanctuary, the new range of felt planters from Woolly Pocket help in the urge to count down the remaining days of winter. The collection of freestanding containers, launching this week, consists of dark curvy shapes spanning short and shallow to taller with narrow openings at the tops.

Made from recycled plastic bottles, this new range builds on the success of Woolly's existing range of freestanding pocket planters and their products for making living walls.

The modular system, called Wallys, comes in one, three or five sections with waterproof linings to protect interiors from moisture.

Environmentally concerned down to their community, the company also works with California schools to help add edible gardening to their programs. To date, they've built five edible gardens in California schools with a goal of implementing the concept in schools nationwide. Accompanied by a nutrition program, the gardens teach students how to grow produce and create dishes made with fresh vegetables.

The new collection will be available from Woolly Pocket starting 5 March 2010. The site also has a wealth of information on creating edible gardens, including a useful video.

A 60-foot catamaran comprised of recycled PET and reclaimed plastic bottles, Plastiki proves the power of imagination and ingenuity with British eco-adventurist David de Rothschild at the helm.

More than just a boat, the Plastiki symbolizes how waste can really become a resource, taking on the intimidating task of sailing from San Francisco to Sydney. De Rothschild, inspired by a news story about the "garbage patch" floating in the Pacific Ocean, spent the last several years developing the Plastiki along with "a handpicked crew of leading scientists, adventurers and creatives."

Now nearly ready to set sail, the Plastiki and its team have been kitted out by San Francisco-based duo Nice Collective—who decorated the interior of the boat and designed some gear for the crew—as well as Shortomatic, who designed a pair of "Beat Waste" board shorts.

The range created by Nice Collective includes flags, lighting, storage solutions, tools and clothing—all speaking to the romanticism of the open ocean while performing as functional equipment. Using Jacques Cousteau and Buckminster Fuller as sources of inspiration, Plastiki even incorporates a a geodesic dome as its cabin structure.

The Plastiki expedition involves stopping at a host of environmental problem areas, beginning with the garbage patch off the coast of California. Other hot spots undergoing the team's inspection include damaged coral reefs and soon-to-be-flooded islands. The Plastiki website makes it possible to join in on their long journey, with live tracking of the boat and up-to-date information and videos of the team's findings.

As the 2010 World Cup nears, Nike gathered hundreds of journalists in London (CH included) last week to learn about their new soccer products and technology, helping to fan the flames leading up to one of the world's most popular sporting events taking place this summer in South Africa. Held in the Battersea Power Station, a crumbling Art Deco building widely featured in album covers, film and TV, the site (not to mention Nike's bunker-like build-out and other theatrics) made for a dramatic setting to launch the paraphernalia.

London's photogenic ruins couldn't compete with the star power of the sport's best athletes however. An appearance by Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by nine players each representing their national team (along with one repping Nike's newly-acquired company Umbro), brought the event to a fever pitch as media from all over the world clamored to get a word with the talented footballers.

Not to be overshadowed by the event itself, Nike emphasized their innovation-led approach to design with the Superfly II, a new self-adjusting-cleat version of their Mercurial Vapor, an app dubbed Nike Soccer+ that lets you train like the pros, and the world's first Considered jersey made from recycled bottles. For more detailed images and info, check out the slide show below.

Image of Nike CEO Mark Parker at the Summit via Freshness

Discouraged by the bulk and complex origami of the traditional street map, industrial designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso created the malleable Crumpled City Map. Printed on Tyvek® and designed to fit into a small bag, this clever reinvention rids travelers of awkward large-scale city maps.

The durable Dupont™ Tyvek® material leads to a waterproof map that easily crumples to fit into the palm of a hand and can be quickly referenced in any climate.

Currently in production, Pizzolorusso hopes to release the maps soon, which will include London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Berlin. See his website for more information.

Designer Jonathan Nesci—whose Library Bookcase won recognition last year for his use of metal from Wallpaper Magazine—is back with a solo show entitled "The New" at a recently-developed design gallery in his hometown of Chicago.

Nesci explains that he designs his minimalist furniture to encapsulate mid-century aesthetics, and the matte white finish helps it to blend into its surroundings while adding a tasteful understatement. Drawing on everyday forms (a curb, a streetlight) the 31-year-old designer crafts his work using concrete and metal—industrial materials are as banal as his sources of inspiration.

As the first in a series of shows presenting American design commissioned by the Volume Gallery, Nesci's latest series will showcase for four days in the space normally occupied by the Andrew Rafacz Gallery in the city's famous West Loop from 19-23 March 2010.

Tkaro's cylindrical glass design not only eliminates the expendable plastic bottle (and the leached taste and BPAs that go with it), but doubles as a cup for a civilized way to stay hydrated on-the-go. The durable glass construction may weigh a little more than other aluminum or plastic reusables out there, but the "pureness of form and material allow the contents of the glass to be visible, assuring no residue and resulting in a continuously clean taste and smell." Its wide-mouth form makes additions like lemon and ice cubes easy and, because it's dishwasher-safe, cleaning is a snap too.

Founded by two Canadian sisters, a former real estate developer and ad salesperson, the pair also had health in mind when they came up with the bottle alternative. It holds about two cups of water, making it compact enough to carry but large enough to really quench thirst.

The Tkaro bottle sells online for $30, or $35 for a custom-engraved version.

The Madly, a new line of sturdy leather bags, puts the emphasis on crude, functional designs and hand-crafted production. Directed towards the male market, the bags share a simplicity and rough-hewn charm perfect for travel or as an everyday carryall and designed to get better with age.

Produced in the Philippines, the line was founded by Jake Quellman and Melanie Dizon (the latter had an eponymous line of women's shoes and bags), who travel extensively and take a conceptual approach to their work. While the couple's first collection took its cues from American literary heavyweights (the bags went by "Salinger," "Burroughs" and "Hemingway") the latest, "King's Highway," channels the Coppola epic "Apocalypse Now."

The slightly asymmetrical "Kilgore" (top left) features handwoven webbing on the shoulder strap, and the "Willard" (top right) has a heavy leather roll-closure not unlike a paper lunch bag, which makes sense: Dizon mocks up each bag using paper. The vegetable-tanned leather of the "Kurtz" backpack (above) contrasts with the cracked leather straps, which the Filipino tanners make using a local treating method.

The globetrotting founders have their sights set on manufacturing in South America next, but in the meantime you can find the current crop of bags in NYC at Steven Alan, Buckler and Save Khaki and in Tokyo at Edition. Check out their soon-to-relaunch website or look at more images from the new collection after the jump

1. Athens Bench Mark

Yatzer spotlights a contest going on in its hometown—Athens Bench Mark challenges residents to redesign the Greek capital's benches to revitalize and revamp its image. The contest is open through 6 April 2010.

2. Mapenvelope

Shown on The Hardback Henid, Turkish artist Beste Miray revamps the standard envelope with a simple art project. Participants can print out their precise location on Google Maps and, along with a personalized message, a few creases and glue, a Mapenvelope is made.

3. Animal Skateboards

Neatorama demonstrates how to cruise the streets in style. Doug McKee's hand-carved animal skateboards are constructed from red wood and feature amusing animals like an octopus or alligator.

4. Movie Title Stills Collection

Christian Annyas assimilated a bizarre and loving portrait of cinema with his screenshots of opening (and some ending) credits.

5. Warby Parker Eyewear

Vogue introduced Warby Parker, a new company offering affordable vintage inspired frames and lenses. The fashion-forward eyewear is sold exclusively in their online shop, where customers can upload pictures of their faces to try on the glasses virtually.

6. Phantogram: Eyelid Moves

Pitchfork reviews Phantogram's debut album Eyelid Moves. The duo's catchy mix of street-beat heavy indie pop is sure to be a breakthrough album this year.

7. The Lollipop Shoppe

Brighton's Lollipop Shoppe combines a clean graphic identity with it's careful selection of furniture and design objects that embody a high aesthetic quality as well as attention to detail.

8. Lego Boardroom Table

Dublin-based architects abgc came up with this playful and visually inspiring boardroom table made up of Legos for advertising agency Boys and Girls.

9. Tree House

Designed by architect Robert Harvey Oshatz, this Portland treehouse appears both modern and organic encapsulated in its forested surroundings.

10. The Holy Sandwich

Multi-disciplinary studio Coudal highlighted The Holy Sandwich, a website that acts as a shrine to the visual and delectable essence of the sandwich. Upload a picture of your latest masterpiece, vote on other people's sandwiches, or simply get inspiration for your next creation.

After launching our redesign on Monday we've received a ton of great feedback and constructive criticism as well as a few bug reports.

Lagging behind the launch of the site we've gotten our CH Daily email newsletter back up and running with our new host and RSS is now fully repaired. You can subscribe to either of those here if you're not already.

While the overwhelming response to the redesign has been positive, a few of you have voiced your distaste for our new body copy font, Courier. We like that it's retro and feel strongly about having a different body font from the headers and nav, but understand that a monospace serif is not the easiest on the eyes. So we're asking you, which you'd prefer, Georgia or Times. Drop us a line and let us know your choice. To help the decision, this post is repeated below in each.

Times

After launching our redesign on Monday we've received a ton of great feedback and constructive criticism as well as a few bug reports.

Lagging behind the launch of the site we've gotten our CH Daily email newsletter back up and running with our new host and RSS is now fully repaired. You can subscribe to either of those here if you're not already.

While the overwhelming response to the redesign has been positive, a few of you have voiced your distaste for our new body copy font, Courier. We like that it's retro and feel strongly about having a different body font from the headers and nav, but understand that a monospace serif is not the easiest on the eyes. So we're asking you, which you'd prefer, Georgia or Times. Drop us a line and let us know your choice. To help the decision, this post is repeated below in each.

Georgia

After launching our redesign on Monday we've received a ton of great feedback and constructive criticism as well as a few bug reports.

Lagging behind the launch of the site we've gotten our CH Daily email newsletter back up and running with our new host and RSS is now fully repaired. You can subscribe to either of those here if you're not already.

While the overwhelming response to the redesign has been positive, a few of you have voiced your distaste for our new body copy font, Courier. We like that it's retro and feel strongly about having a different body font from the headers and nav, but understand that a monospace serif is not the easiest on the eyes. So we're asking you, which you'd prefer, Georgia or Times. Drop us a line and let us know your choice. To help the decision, this post is repeated below in each.