PicoCool

"Equally suited to land and sea. Chrome roll-top waterproof backpacks challenge the assumptions of how waterproof bags should be built. Our ground breaking design brings together two separate, and typically opposed, ideologies of backpack construction. First we start with a superior all-weather backpack with large easy access external cargo pockets, urethane coated YKK zippers, large external wet-dry pocket, comfortable shoulder straps, daisy chain lash points, haul loop handle, waist strap, adjustable sternum strap, and unbreakable stainless steel hardware. Next, we add to the main compartment, a fully waterproof liner with high frequency RF welded seams, and finish the whole thing off with a watertight roll-top closure. This dual bag ideology creates a bag that is completely waterproof when it needs to be, but exceptionally functional for the other 99% of the time that it is above water.” I’ll take one in fluorescent pink, thank you. [via xenijardin on twitter]

Network: twitter

"Five years ago, Aptera‘s founder Steve Fambro endeavored to design and build a passenger vehicle that was safe, comfortable, and more fuel-efficient than anything ever produced. This aspiration, combined with his background in engineering, led him to an intensive study of aerodynamics, and composite aircraft construction. He hypothesized that a low-drag, aerodynamic body shape could be achieved without sacrificing comfort, drivability or safety. What emerged, after much designing, conceptualizing, and constructing, was a prototype two-seat, three-wheeled vehicle. This first operating prototype achieved a stunning 230 miles per gallon. Building on this success, Steve expanded his Aptera team and created the Aptera Typ-1, which has been re-designed, re-engineered, and refined into a production ready vehicle.” The Aptera is available with a pre-order reservation for $500 if you live in California. The vehicle costs $26,900. [via missrogue on Twitter]

Network: twitter

"Four 5 inch square tiles featuring noni, lichen peach and durian...made of unglazed porcelain and have an angled hole in th back fit for a finishing nail.”

Network: supermarket

Designed by nineteen-year-old, Ben Gulak, ”the Uno accelerates with a simple lean and turns like a street bike on side-by-side wheels.” [via briancaldwell on twitter]

Network: twitter

Help Remedies creates soothing package designs for medication. From Creative Review: “Their packets of pills and plasters not only look great but are also made of 100% recycled paper pulp. And at $6 for 12 headache pills (or 8 plasters), that’s not much more than most of the more well-known brands, so these are no vanity purchase. Plus you’ll get to look just that little bit cooler when you’re ill.” Also be sure to check out the ”help, I’m bored” page.

Network: ffffound

These cool tyvek wallets are made by dynomighty design inc. and available at designboom. “Stitching is always the first thing that rips in a wallet...well, not any more. This wallet is made from one single sheet of tyvek paper. There’s a tri-fold wallet in the style of an international mail envelope as well as a blue and white bi-fold wallet with text printed in a classic dot matrix font.” Only $19. (via emilychang at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

"The Minipod loudspeaker follows an organic design, where form follows function. Each characteristic of the design has a precise acoustical justification. The Minipod is essentially an amalgamation of three spheres to form one pressure-vessel, minimizing cabinet vibration, sound radiation and distortion, allowing sound waves to move more freely.” [via honeybee at Stylehive]

Network: stylehive

"Oved Valadez introduces the Arc cuff that reveals the time when touched. The cuff is of bent ash wood with a leather lining and a coin cell component with LED.” The piece was created for the Greener Gadgets Design Competition. (via Mocoloco)

Network: blogs

The Turkish design collective, MayBeDesign, has come up with a good use for old suitcases with these clever chairs and ottomans. (via Treehugger)

Network: blogs

The Factory / Rectangle is a “planter for your pleasure.” Designed by Chiaki Murata and produced by Metaphys. (via Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

5inch makes beautiful silk-screened blank DVDs “as unique as the data put on them.” Each disc design is a limited edition run so once the design is gone, it is gone. Never fear, new designs are created regularly. Buy a pack of 10 blank DVDs for $17.50.

Network: supermarket

Chetan Sorab’s Modular Mp3 player is playful and practical. “The central console of Bloc forms the core unit of the mp3 player with the interface and display. When it runs out of its built in 50 GB memory you can add another 50 GB or more as a modular storage on any one side as an additional block. You can share songs, data by removing one of the blocks and giving it to your friend or close ones to listen or download them. Bloc also helps you to customize the colors according to your liking as they would be available in vibrant colors.”

Network: blogs

”Mass Studies is a Korean based architecture firm that was founded in 2003. The studio recently finished the design of shop for fashion retailer Ann Demeulemeester. the building consists of four levels, the shop, a multi-store and restaurant on the top floors. The project’s facade is made from a geo-textile planted with herbaceous perennials to form a living wall. The greenery is carried into the shop, incorporating nature whenever possible.” (via designboom)

Network: blogs

Deb Schultz posts these two photos of storefronts in London. Emotion. Optimism. Human.

Network: flickr

”Twig is a fruit holder whose design metaphor has a direct link to the use of the product. Fruits are plucked from trees to be eaten.” (via MocoLoco)

Network: blogs

Topoware is “a tableware collection that questions the landscape of dining. Taking inspiration from the recent popularity of geography as a media of communication, and more specifically with topographic maps...Topoware in turn,"outlines" the dining experience.” The collection of elegant dinnerware, placemats, and table cloths is a collaboration between Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino, a Canadian industrial and interaction designer, and Karola Torkos, a German textile and accessory designer. Topoware will be available Fall 2007.

Network: ffffound

Legos for type designers. Photo by Tipografo on Flickr.

Network: flickr

Karl Zahn rethinks electrical outlets with Wall Cleat and stashes electrical cords behind a Picket Fence to hide clutter. (via Core77)

Network: blogs

British designer Max Lamb makes chairs, shelves and other home products, but there’s always a pleasant twist and surprise to each. See his latest work at his site and be sure to take a look at the SLS chair, Soft Poly Chair, and Sheet Steel Chair.

Network: blogs

As much as we love modern, retro is just as inspirational. MIXA is a 1GB USB storage device that looks like a cassette tape. “Design your own USB blank cassette just like the old mix tapes. Then plug it in, fill it up with your music, photos, video and other digital goodies. Make it for you, make it for someone else, make a MIXA.” The site features an easy image uploader so you can customize and design your own label, just like the good old days. (via ReubenMiller)

Network: blogs