Leaf a Note

Korean designer, Sangwoo Nam, recently expanded his Leaf-it memo pad series. Now the frame of Post-it's depicting horribly ugly women on Butler's monitor can have a little grace. A little.

Link: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/11144/appree-ginkgo-leaf-it-bookmark-memo-pads.html

CG

Ravens Wood

Finnish design company, Lovi, makes simple balsa wood postcards that translate into elegant 3D figurines/ornaments.

Link: http://www.lovi.fi/

CG

Bombs Away!

Neatorama is selling these clever shotglasses for a limited time.

Link: http://www.neatorama.com/

CG

Flower Inspired

Cung-Young Chu's flower matches are ignited instantly when the petals are plucked from the core.

Link: http://www.inewidea.com/2008/01/29/4589.html

'Sunny Flower' is a personal solar charging device designed by Fandi Meng. It works by fanning out the petals to absorb sunlight. Once charged, the device can plug into any of your handheld devices.

Link: http://www.fandimeng.com/

CG

A Different Kind of Rain Cloud

Dutch designer, Joonsoo Kim, created the Cloud Umbrella which can be carried around in a thin tube and then inflated by pumping the handle.

The Dutch should all mate with the Japanese and make a wonderfully weird world.

Link: Joons, Design and Experience

CG

I Can See Her Bloomers

Designers, Niels Van Eijk and Miriam Van der Lubbe, have created "Bloom My Buddy": an interesting take on the flower vase. 

Portfolio Link: Niels van Eijk & Miriam van der Lubbe

Purchasing Link: Generate Design | Bloom My Buddy by Niels Van Eijk & Miriam Van der Lubbe

CG

Comparing Apples to Diamonds

One & Co in San Francisco and HTC in Taiwan have collaborated to create the HTC Touch Diamond Smart Phone. Hundreds of materials and finishes were explored for the final product: a handheld that broadens the discussion of what an iconic Smart Phone can be. This would be an interesting study for our clients on how to learn from Apple and then NOT be like them.

Link: Touch Diamond Smart Phone

CG

battery-powered packaging

Every NXT shaving product carries an LED in its base that lights up the gel inside, similar to a lava lamp. The lights last for about a year and don't start working until they're on a shelf, because of a rolling switch that turns them off when they're not set upright. The products will sell for around $5 each and will start lighting up the shelves at Target this month.

-em

C+O+O+L

BRIX is a multimedia phone that can connect to other BRIX phones to create endlessly larger displays. This is a "bringing people together" tactic that Sony only wishes it could execute this well.

Link: http://coroflot.com/public/individual_file.asp?sort_by=1&portfolio_id=647696&individual_id=167619

CG

DIY Gadgets

Hi There,
I see this project is a big hit CES! It's a pretty interesting idea to create any device you want with click-on modules. It's like Legos!

http://www.buglabs.net/

SR

More Paper Art

For some reason, I am finding more and more artists utilizing solitary tools and canvases as artistic expressions versus their traditional peripheral usage. Well, if carving crayons are not your thing, then perhaps shifting stacks of paper could be. I first noticed Schleeh Design when they came out with the "bachelor pad" (pictured) which was mearly a cool way to tear paper (little do they know that tearing paper cannot get any cooler!). They updated the portfolio with art pieces that showcase only the paper and it's natural reaction with gravity.

Further interest porthole: http://www.schleehdesign.com/

CG

On The Box Thinking

This from a fellow TV show loving designer. Great wit and simple ideas.

TV shows are consumer products, right?

Hint, hint,
Jonathan

E-rope

 E-rope is a student-designed, modular power strip that can be twisted in any direction and strangle currents from power-hungry devices. You can find an article about it in BusinessWeek here: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/06/idea2006/source/105.htm.

You have been tipped off!

Chris