Living

Aug 12, 2012 12:00 PM   If you're going to grill up a nice cut of steak, you damn well better know how to do it well. And while taste certainly matters the most, there's something to be said for presentation. This grill can help out with that. With its geometrically-patterned surface, the Druida Barbecue by Mermeladaestudio will provide just the slightest spin on your average-looking steak by searing it with a unique set of triangles. The rest of the grill isn't bad to look at either. The design of the grill on the whole is based on the idea of druidic cauldrons, so the grill's bowl sits on a steel frame with simple acajou wood legs. It's a nice no-nonsense design, but might be a little hard to clean. [Mermeladaestudio via Dezeen] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aug 12, 2012 5:00 PM   So long as you're not Indiana Jones, you might be able to appreciate a little serpentine inspiration in your workspace. These Trask desktop lamps can fill that niche for you, and keep your space well lit at the same time. Made by MIO, these lamps come in chartruse, silver, or white and boast 6 different points of articulation. Each segment is made primary out of laser-cut, powder-coated steel and has its own LED strip. At about just over three feet long, these lamps make for a pretty formidable light-cobra when they're poised for attack. For $145 a piece, you're paying a bit for the design, but it's not insanely outrageous. They're available now at 2Modern. [2Modern Blog] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aug 11, 2012 6:00 PM   If you're into putting your fresh, succulent fruit on display for all to see, there are a number of different fruit bowls and hangers out there to meet your exhibitionist needs. This particular piece adds a little visual pun to the mix. Designed by Simon Colabufalo and built out of polished aluminum, the Eva Fruit Hanger is as stylish as it is clever. The only thing that might be a problem is that it seems to rely on stems, so it might fall victim to some falling fruit problems. That said, it's a whimsical little fixture; I'll bet you wish you thought of it. [Simon Colabufalo via Design Milk] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aug 11, 2012 1:00 PM   The Feds are pounding at your door. You have to destroy the evidence now . But they've cut the power! Your sophisticated top-of-the-line paper shredder needs electricity. What now?! The manual shredder has your back. Admittedly, you can always just rip—or eat—paper if you really need it gone, but the manual shredder by IDEA International offers a somewhat more dignified yet still human-powered solution. Especially considering that typical shredders are loud, hulking beasts, this quiet, simple hand shredder is a tasteful alternative. If this is the kind of cute machine of destruction you can see fitting nicely on your desk, you can pick up your own for $42 at neo-utility. [neo-utility via Co.Design] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aug 8, 2012 11:30 PM   Some companies think logos and branding are so important that they spend millions and millions of dollars on designing them. Other companies go with something simple and end up spending nothing. The funny thing? It's usually the companies that spend little on designing logos that become the most iconic brands. Seriously, companies like BP spend $211,000,000 (recount those zeroes) on the rebranding process (designing the logo $4.6 million, changing fixtures I'd imagine, cost a helluva lot more) while Coke has been rocking the same logo for years. It pays to nail it your first time. StockLogos compiled the cost of designing many famous companies and its a doozy. [Stock Logos via Design Taxi] Sergey Brin designed the original logo in Gimp. It's obviously been tweaked since. Steve Jobs famously got Paul Rand to design the logo for Next. Designed by Simon Oxley in 2009 (it's also been updated) 35 bucks is pretty cheap for the most famous swoosh in th...

A fair number of companies that read our product reviews tell me that they take our criticism to heart to improve their wares. That's flattering to hear, but I don't think the message is getting to the right people. How do I know? Companies continue to send us new laptops, tablets and smartphones that exhibit the same annoying design flaws over and over. Consider this list a polite but forceful intervention. Laptop Mag's Mark Spoonauer has a few gripes with the way gadgets are designed. What are the most annoying ones? Keep reading. Imagine if your car's door had a protective cover around the keyhole. Why? Exactly. I can understand if you're targeting the military, field workers or outdoor adventurers who need a device that can withstand water splashes and dust storms. But otherwise there's no need to cover up that microUSB port - or any other port - with a flap. It just gets in the way. Every time I see a covered port, I instantly take points off the review. T...

Aug 3, 2012 4:00 PM   People who enjoy soups on the go have long suffered awkward plastic thermoses and missing spoons, but no more. The Black + Blum Thermo-pot provides a stylish steel solution. Also a built-in spoon. The thermos itself is made from a corrosion-resistant steel, while its cap has a natural cork top and plastic threading that ensures a good seal but stays out of sight when the lid is on. The Thermo-Pot also comes with its own simple and slick spoon that attaches to the thermos magnetically so you (theoretically) won't lose it. The Thermo-pot can keep its contents warm for about six hours, plenty of time to make it until lunch. You can pick up your own and bring some style back to soup-sipping for about $52. [connex.design] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aug 3, 2012 5:40 PM   Every time the Olympics invades a city, its topography is transformed by an influx of impressive new buildings erected for the event. In the case of London, most will eventually be torn down. It's an incredible feat of design and engineering to build structures that can be both quickly built and disassembled. In this video the architects behind the Olympic Stadium, 377-foot Orbit observation tower, and the Coca-Cola-sponsored Beatbox installation describe their concepts. [Crane.tv via Selectism] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Attention all ye hoodlums, thugs, and general ne'er do wells: the days of the wooly ski mask are over—at least, over for 333 of you. Jack-of-many-arts artist Martin Backes has, after a year-long process, finally completed a work he is calling "The Pixelhead." Created in a limited edition collection of 333 units, this fully-pixelated face mask/hood is made of highly non-fade polyester (80%) and elastane (20%). Each is hand sewn in Germany and can be purchased for approximately $192.00, with shipping to anywhere in the world. The full face mask Pixelhead acts as media camouflage, completely shielding the head to ensure that your face is not recognizable on photographs taken in public places without securing permission. A simple piece of fabric creates a little piece of anonymity for the Internet age. The material used is elastic fabric for beach fashion and sports gear with a fashionable Pixel-style print of German Secretary of the Interior Hans-Peter Friedrich. The mask h...

Aug 1, 2012 11:40 AM   It's not entirely clear how you're supposed to sit on this. It looks like a crafty person cobbled together a bunch of matching hangers and said "voila! A stool!" Rest easy, because the Heavy Rabbit stool from Bongo Design actually pretty solid. The 40-pound seat is made of 31 hand-bent steel pieces welded together in a way that conveniently leaves room for a little storage. A closer inspection shows its lines to look like the parts of a suspension bridge, even if at first glance it's something that even the most slight little Olympic gymnast would crush, Chris Farley-style. [Design Sponge] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aug 1, 2012 8:20 PM   Just because there isn't a four-star hotel located in every lushly landscaped region of the world doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to visit and vacation anywhere other than Paris and Hong Kong or Kauai. Sure, there's always camping. But it's okay to not want to sleep in a tent for a fortnight. Really, I swear. Hypercubus, the tiny modular suit designed by the Austria-based Studio WG3, seems to be the perfect solution. Hypercubus's glass-lined bathroom and lofted sleeping platform fit perfectly within this parametric interpretation of the hypercube—its compact portability allowing for installation just about anywhere you want it to be. Just remember to bring lots of snacks; there's no kitchen! [Inhabitat] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Apple had three favorite typefaces: Myriad, Lucida Grande and Helvetica Neue. Now there's a new favorite: Avenir . It has appeared simultaneously OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 6—which means you will see it featured in the next iPhone. All these sans serif typefaces have a few things in common, but they all have a very distinctive look and role. Back in 2002, Apple adopted Myriad as its corporate typeface. It replaced Apple Garamond, Cupertino's own version of the classic Garamond, a serif typeface that was everywhere—from the company logo to all of its computers, including every single model of Macintosh and PowerBook released until the eMac. It was so iconic that long-time Apple users protested when the company abandoned it. Myriad is an Adobe typeface, created by Robert Slimbach and Carol Twombly. You can find it in every single Apple product box, advertising and marketing material, even its own logotype. Some fonts of the Myriad typeface are included in OS X, but it is complet...

Jul 30, 2012 1:00 PM   When you sink a boatload of cash into new hardware for your PC, why lock it all up where it can't see the light of day? With this transparent, passive cooling rig, you can keep it on display for yourself and envious friends. The upcoming ACB-type3, made by Scythe, is a step beyond just having a window built into your case. Made of 5mm thick acrylic, it's got all the bays you might need for your various drives. Pair this puppy up with a cooling tower and you'll have a system setup that's not only great to look at, but also handy if you like to fiddle with your PC's innards. The case is due to release soon, and will run you around $85, a small price to pay for form and function. In the meanwhile, better dust off your SSD and get that sucker ready for its day in the sun. [FanlessTech] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after a...