Art and Design

Moon Bowls Appeal to Your Romantic Phases

by Steve Levenstein

Here's to you, romantic lunatics! Moon Bowls from Tale Co. Ltd are designed with a contoured bottom that becomes more exposed the more you drink. As the liquid recedes, the bowl gradually reflects the phases of the moon from full to new.

The Reading Finger Gives Barcode Information A Voice For Visually Impaired

by Boomer Babe

It's so great to find innovations for disabled people on design websites, rather than buried in disability association files. "Design" says the world is paying attention to disability needs, and it cares that the latest technologies are employed in the tools and that they look pretty cool too. The Finger Reader is at least the second design for blind and visually impaired persons by Hansub Lee and it's a great accessibility creation for finding exactly what you want while shopping.

Breakfast Time is Anytime with the Toast Clock

by Steve Levenstein

Ticked off by too-hard toast? Burned by boring, IKEA-style dials? Then it's time for a change, and the Toast Clock is first when it comes to seconds.

2 comments

Animalia Tape Cutters Cut Through Red Tape, Green Up Your Desktop

by Steve Levenstein

Animalia Tape Cutters from Japan give some bite to tired old stationery styling and add a touch of the wild side to any concrete jungle.

Cool Cat Hoodie is a Back to School Faux Paws

by Steve Levenstein

Wanna be the teacher's pet? Then make a feline beeline for the Hachiware Cat Parka from Japan. Available in black or gray with a rose-red zipper "tongue", this cool cat hoodie is absolutely purr-fect for students looking to show some style before school's out and it's time to join the rat race.

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Look Sharp: Taiwanese 'Nail Artist' Howard Chen Redefines Hammer Time

by China.new

When Taiwanese artist Howard Chen decides to create a work of art, he really nails it – literally. Chen's chosen medium are iron “mosquito nails” fired into white canvas by the hundreds of thousands; one at a time.

Winnipeg Jets 'Jerseygate' Shines Spotlight on Chinese Counterfeit Clothing

by China.new

Talk about prematurely dropping the puck: the NHL's Winnipeg Jets haven't unveiled their new hockey jerseys to the public but that hasn't stopped Chinese counterfeiters from knocking off new Jets jerseys by the dozen.

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Thick Fake iPhone 4 is China's Coolest Smartphone Fan

by China.new

If you thought iPhones and smartphones were getting thinner with every new release, think again: the White “iPhone 4″ Air Cooler from M.I.C Gadget bucks the trend by evoking the original thick brick cell phones. It's also very cool... for a non-phone iPhone 4 fan.

Great Wall of Chinese SUVs Ready to Roll on American Roads?

by China.new

Great Wall Motors has solidified its position as China's leading manufacturer of SUVs by rolling out the new Haval H6. GWM exports to over 120 countries & regions worldwide, so when will Sino-SUVs like the H6 hit the highways here?

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Lobster Motorcycle? I Can Harley Believe It!

by China.new

A Chinese seminar on cooking art took an unusual turn – some might say, popped a wheelie – when Taiwanese artist Huang Mingbo unveiled his carefully crafted lobster shell motorcycles.

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Turning (Pages) Japanese: The USA's Top Ten Best-Selling Manga

by Steve Levenstein

One Piece? Yu-Gi-Oh!? Oh no, those and other manga titles may be loved in Japan, but they're not among the top ten in ICv2's ranking of American manga sales for the first half of 2011.

5 comments

Call it Creepy: Human Hand iPhone 4 Case

by Steve Levenstein

The Hand iPhone 4 Case holds your smartphone while you hold the anatomically correct human hand affixed to its back. It's ideal for conducting long distance love affairs or creeping people out – actually, both.

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Graffiti Umbrella by Liu Hsiang-Ling is Write as Rain

by China.new

The Rain Brush Umbrella designed by Liu Hsiang-Ling points the way to sustainable, renewable, temporary urban graffiti: write what you like but come rain or shine, your message will vanish.

Japanese Restaurant Serves Super Sumo-Sized Sushi

by Steve Levenstein

A Japanese restaurant whose patrons' eyes must be WAY bigger than their stomachs is making a name for itself by serving up huge futomaki rolls and super-sized sushi sets. Of course, the prices are enormously inflated as well.

Panoramic, Igloo-Like Tents: Kinda Cool, Kinda Weird, Kinda Ridiculous

by Chris Weiss

An odd solution for tent camping that provides seamlessly integrated shelter.

Grilled Fish Pencil Case is Quite a Catch

by Steve Levenstein

Angling for an offbeat gift? OK, or rather, Hokke! This slim zippered case from Japan apes the delicious broiled “Hokke” (Atka Mackerel) served hot off the grill at Japanese izakaya pubs. The fishy fakery even extends to the inside of this funny, finny case.

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Make Your Smartphone an Art Phone with Famous Paintings iPhone 4 Covers

by Steve Levenstein

There's an art to protecting your expensive Apple iPhone 4, and Japan's Strapya World are old masters at the game. You'd better believe Da Vinci, Picasso, Klimt, and Van Gogh would want to press one of these miniature masterpieces to their ear... oops, sorry Vincent.

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Elecom's Designer Wireless Computer Mice Sport USB Dongle Tails

by Steve Levenstein

A new series of computer mice from Elecom in association with Nendo feature a choice of 8 animal tails that – besides looking SO cute – act as USB wireless dongles.

5 comments

The First Cardboard Radio: Now That's Green Design

by Toby

....The internal wiring is all set up in a simple card structure. There's not a lot to the Cardboard Radio; it's not a BOSE®, but it does have its own charm, as well as working parts.

3 comments