PicoCool

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

Network: stylehive

A simple coffee mug at first glance that has OFF in capital letters. Once you pour your hot coffee or tea in, the mug changes from black to white to indicate its ON state. Clever. (via emilychang at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

From my friends at Carsonified comes Hugs, “a one-off, limited edition range of MacBook Pro sleeves and iPhone cosies to help protect your most treasured technology bits and pieces.” And, they’re handmade by Ryan, Gill, Mel, Lisa, Elliot and Jo from their lovely studio in Bath, England. The idea is just as personal: “each Hug will arrive delicately wrapped in tissue paper and encased in its very own custom box. Also tucked inside you’ll find a Certificate of Origin, which records the name of your Hug and who created it, and finally a Moleskine journal. The journal that is included with your Hug is very important. After one month of using your Hug, we would love it if you could pass it on to another deserving person. Before you do, use the journal to record a little about yourself, what you do, where you live, what you love… then pass it on.”

Network: twitter

The French company Ecosmart makes these extremely minimal and surprising fire “stations” for your home. (via akuba at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

Made by KarenSoaps at Etsy, this soap has a “wonderful Christmas scent. A crisp clean peppermint aroma with hints of vanilla bean. This 3oz moisturizing soap is scented with a Jack Frost fragrance oil. A perfect size for smaller hands.”

Network: etsy

At WorldChanging, Alex Steffen writes: “the things we own have mysterious pasts. Tracing the backstories of most goods and services involves exploring maze-like patterns of relationship and effect. But this detective work is essential, since by solving this mystery we might prevent a massive intergenerational crime: the destruction of the planet’s climate, ecosystems and communities.” The Footprint Chronicles, a new site by the outdoor gear company, Patagonia, details and shows the history of five of their products - from the original source of the material until it hits retail stores. The point? To show how one company takes steps “to lighten our footprint and do less harm” and to continue the dialogue about how best to become more sustainable.

Network: blogs

”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

The Wine Carafe with Glass by Claudio Colucci captures both simplicity and irony. Hand crafted and mouth blown from a single piece of glass. Each one is unique. (via spazzygirl at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

These two playful desktop speakers are from the MoMA store. The Music Mug (pictured left) is a white ceramic mug that holds an MP3 player and has a built-in speaker.  The Compact Speakers are super minimal and only 4.5"w when closed. (via luckiedog at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

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

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

This sleek new bag is by French designer and professor, Jerome Olivet. There’s also another one for a laptop. All are handmade in fabric and PVC in France. (via spazzygirl at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

"Invitation for a symposium raising awareness in advancing female factory workers in the apparel industry.” Design by Mimi Jung.

Network: blogs

The T-Phone is a concept phone by designer Jeong-Kyun Nam. It features “a standard numeric keypad and one large call button underneath. You get a bunch of RFID tagged badges to program someone’s number and even insert their picture. When grammy wants to call someone, all she has to do is place the badge on the call button and press it. The phone reads the RFID information in the badge and dials the number.” The phone would be helpful to seniors who don’t want to remember nine digits, but I can see it working well with children too, and for those experiencing memory loss from our growing dependence on digital devices.

Network: blogs

Dutch designer Jonas Samson‘s light-emitting wallpaper concept makes it possible “to use a two-dimentional flat surface as light source instead of a 3D object. As long as the wallpaper is turned ‘off’, it is indistinguishable as a source of light. Instead, it is just what it appears to be: wallpaper.” (via elitalice at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

Photo by Hanna Ljungstrom, Designer, LOTS.

The sculptural prototype above is Zaha Hadid’s city car in SUV size, now showing at the Zaha Hadid: Architecture and Design, the first full scale show the architect’s work at the Design Museum in London. Also see the exhibition blog. (via David Report)

Network: blogs

Minimalist espresso and coffee cup by Julie Pfligersdorffer. (via emikw at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

At PicoCool we tend to keep our notes on digital devices, but if we were in the mood for paper, we would get this cute little SPA memo pad holder. Comes in green, pink and blue. First bookmarked by luckiedog to Stylehive.

Network: stylehive

Alex Suvajec’s concept bike design takes its inspiration from nature. It’s a fascinating adaptation of a frog’s motion and structure. Thanks to ddotcom12 for bookmarking it to Stylehive.

Network: stylehive