Here’s an object you’ve likely never seen before. But by looking at the photos, you should be able to deduce what it’s for and how it’s operated.
The first one of you to tell us in the comments wins…nothing! This ain’t a game show, folks.
The images here are examples of early P.O.P. work, concerning a then-new object that had no established form factor, leading to a kind of Wild West of design experimentation. In the 19th century sewing machines became a viable domestic product in America, and as families back then often made and repaired their own clothes, this was a very big deal. General stores around the country were happy to stock the hot item known as spools of thread.
Manufacturers, wanting their products to stand out, created their own P.O.P. displays for the spools. What’s interesting to see is how there was no agreed-upon form factor, even among a single manufacturer. Take a look at a company called Corticelli’s smaller countertop models, which came in different sizes and styles.
This design has a hinged lid at the bottom that allows you to access the gravity-fed spools.
These two have slot-machine-like dispensers…
…while this design reminds me of an old cigarette machine (remember those?).
Some caught customers’ eyes by adding mirrors and/or clocks, two things we take for granted today, but which were considered fancy back then.
Others competed with sheer scale.
Seeing these for sale today reveals the perversity that is the world of antiques; once highly functional commercial objects, these are now essentially worthless, from a pragmatic point of view, yet can fetch five figures at auction.
It’s a shame we’ll likely never learn the names of the craftsmen who made them.
Sculptural white stucco panels and small triangular windows define the facades of this gallery by US studio Schaum/Shieh, which is meant to appear like it could “blow away in the wind”.
The goal of the foundation is to provide “a space for the critical intersection between art and anthropology” and to foster community dialogue about art’s role in everyday life.
The project entailed the re-cladding of an existing studio building, and construction of a new multipurpose facility that accommodates exhibitions, performances and events. The buildings are relatively modest in size, in keeping with the character of the district.
“The modest scale of the Transart Foundation preserves an open relationship to the street and reinforces the walkability of the neighbourhood, extending the tradition of the nearby Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel and St Thomas Campus,” said Schaum/Shieh, which has offices in Houston and New York.
Photograph by Peter Molick
Rectangular in plan, the new building has a sculptural envelope made of white stucco panels in varying shapes. Largely opaque, the facades have angular cutouts that bring slivers of daylight into the building.
With the exterior design, the team sought to not only protect the art galleries from the harsh Texas sun, but also to create a building that looks somewhat delicate.
“We were pursuing a sense of overall lightness,” said the architects. “Specifically, we were interested in how the geometry and material finish might make the building feel like it could blow away in the wind, ruffle like fabric, or disperse and scatter like cards.”
Photograph by Peter Molick
The structural frame is made of thick timber in a manner similar to a Dutch barn. Walls with closed-cell insulation help block heat – a passive cooling strategy that works in tandem with a high-efficiency air conditioning system.
At ground level, visitors step into a central “living room” flanked by galleries. White walls and wooden flooring serve as a quiet backdrop for photographs, paintings, sculptures and other types of artwork.
“The front exhibition space, naturally lit and facing the street, is reserved for more traditional exhibitions,” the architects explained.
“The back has less natural light and is reserved for new media or performance works that require lighting control.”
Photograph by Peter Molick
A staircase and a black cylindrical elevator lead to the second floor, where the architects have placed a salon that is open to the space below. The second storey also contains a nook for private meetings or meditation, and an office and terrace are situated on the third level.
Photograph by Peter Molick
Throughout the facility, the team incorporated several “playful moments”, including a triangular glass office desk and a bean-shaped sink that sits atop a white oak log. The bathroom countertop is made from a galvanised-steel beam.
Photograph by Peter Molick
Adjacent to the main building is the existing photography studio, which the team re-skinned in grey cement siding. The studio building extends opportunities for art programming and also provides a work area for visiting artists and scholars.
Photograph by Peter Molick
Rosalyne Shieh and Troy Schaum established their eponymous studio in 2010. Other projects by the firm include a live music venue in Houston with facades wrapped in cedar slats and lap siding made of fibre cement boards.
Top photograph by Peter Molick. Images are courtesy of Schaum/Shieh unless stated otherwise.
French illustrator Jean Jullien has collaborated with start-up Yolky Games to design a card game, that will feature a series of playful dog drawings.
Called Dodgy Dogs, the game will feature an assortment of different breeds of dogs that are each misbehaving – chewing, stealing, humping and escaping.
Players of the game will take it in turns to lay a card down on the table that must match either the breed, or the behaviour, of the dog on the previous card. The winning player is the person that gets rid of their cards the fastest.
“Dodgy Dogs is a playful approach to the honest and comical world of man’s best friends,” said Yolky Games.
There are currently 15 dogs in the collection, including a basset hound, bull terrier, chow chow, bloodhound, sharpei and whippet. Each character is drawn by Jullien, who previously redrew Dezeen’s logo, in his signature style.
“Jean Julien has meticulously illustrated each card with his distinctive black brush strokes, light-heartedly drawn characters and distinguished hued simplicity,” said the brand.
“Its modest simplicity mirrors not only Jean’s approach to his body of work but also the simple joys of life.”
Yolky Games reached out to Jullien after seeing his picture book Under Dogs, which features a series of satirical vignettes of dogs getting into trouble.
A list of dog breeds was then confirmed and sent over to the illustrator, who is based in London.
“The entire concept of this project plays around the idea simplicity, so the rules follow that thread. At the start of the game, you are dealt a hand of Dodgy Dogs. They will be one of four different sizes, and they will all be performing one of twelve different bad behaviours,” explained Yolky Games.
“The first player places one of their dogs down on the table. The player to their left must then match either the size, or the behaviour of that dog, and place theirs on top. If they can’t, they have to pick up cards from the stockpile until they can place one down. And so it goes.”
There will also be special cards like the Dog Whisperer, which allows a player to play any dog they like, and a Wild Card, which makes every player swap cards.
Jullien, who graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2010, rose to prominence with his Peace for Paris illustration, created in response to the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, which became a shared symbol of unity in the aftermath.
All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!
Nunc is the Latin word for now. You would think, with an item that looked exactly like a watch, you would be able to use it to tell you what time it is now.
Well, no. you can’t.
You see, the Nunc watch isn’t meant to tell you the time. It’s meant to remind you that you should not worry about time and live life in the now. As Nunc states on its website, “Time is often depicted as the evil in the struggle with Life.”
The Nunc watch is created with high-grade stainless steel and encases a one-of-a-kind, marble stone that supposedly represents the uniqueness of every moment. The wooden box in which the watch is shipped, transforms into a plant pot. Their artisanal manufacturing processes (as shown by their use of electrical power tools) compliments their philosophy of environmentalism. To further reduce their carbon footprint, they also source their materials close to their manufacturing site (which is interesting because they ship anywhere in the world in 2-6 business days. I’m pretty sure you can’t walk, cycle, or swim from Italy to North America in that time-frame).
The Nunc watch is not a watch. It is jewelry that you wear around your wrist to remind you to live life to the fullest.
We should create a special name for this item! How about the word bracelet? We could even invent bracelets that already have inspirational sayings on them so you wouldn’t need to think of your own as you looked at your blank, €160, piece of marble encased in stainless steel.
If I were to buy a stainless steel and marble bracelet, I’d choose this one because it serves two purposes, some single malt whisky and living life to the fullest.
Although it’s one of the cornerstones of an organized home, I’m amazed how many folks haven’t heard of the “landing strip”. The concept it very simple. Organization comes from things having a place and being in their place and probably the time when this rule is least observed is when we come home. We arrive from work exhausted, often carrying our work bags, groceries, and the mail. All we can think of is changing into jeans and slippers. We just toss down our things and later we’re too preoccupied to tidy up. If instead you have a place to “land,” and a routine for doing so, you’ll avoid disorganization.
A landing strip in your home should be at the entrance you use most often. The idea is that when you come in, you stop here first and unload. A small table, sideboard, or credenza will do. Your landing strip should have a designated place for everything, so when you come in all you have to do is put everything in its place. I like to use a large unbreakable bowl for my wallet, keys, cell phone, and watch. On my way out again, I know exactly where I’ll find them — no wasting time hunting for my keys. Hooks on the wall or on the side of the furniture are great for bags — just drop your bag on the hook and keep going.
An inbox or mail holder is also a must. When you come in with mail, you’ll have a place to put it. Don’t bother sorting through it. Anything that needs your immediate attention would have come certified, so wait until you have time to process it properly. Once a week, grab a cup of coffee and go through all the mail, tossing out the junk mail and paying bills right then and there. By batching the mail sorting to once a week, you save time and you reduce the stress that comes from feeling like you have to address each piece of mail.
This post has been updated since its original publication in 2007.
If you’ve ever been to the beach or spent any time on the shore, you’re familiar with our innate human desire to pick up and feel smooth sea stones. It’s a simple yet unique tactile experience that, for whatever reason, is really hard to pass up! Inspired by this notion, the Stein speaker is modeled after the same sea stones and adopts its shape and feel. Its organic shape is designed to gently rest in the user’s palm and to disperse audio in an enveloping arc.
Not only easy on the eyes, it’s also designed to become a part of the user’s everyday life. It features Bluetooth capability, a built-in microphone for calls, easy touch buttons and a minimalistic smart-display. Packed with the sound power of the Bowers & Wil-kins brand, it delivers crisp audio from a singular compact unit that you can easily throw in any bag or backpack.
LEGO vient de faire son entrée dans le Guiness Book avec un cerisier en fleur géant entièrement construit avec ces petites briques à assembler. Il a été fabriqué avec 881 470 briques,ce qui a pris plus de 6 500 heures à assembler. Cette oeuvre imposante est faite d’une base verdoyante, de grandes branches, d’une canopée avec des milliers de fleurs et même de lanternes qui la nuit illuminent la réalisation.
Que vous l’admettiez ou non, les nains de jardin sont un peu effrayant. Nino en revanche, va changer votre perception du sujet : c’est une figurine de nain cubiste conçue par Pellegrino Cucciniello et créée par le studio Plato Design. Dites adieux aux couleurs criardes et aux sourires bizarres : Nino est monochromatique, moderne et vaguement hipster.
“NINO explore, avec une touche d’ironie, comment le langage et l’imagerie peuvent renverser la perception de l’icône kitsch du nain de jardin en lui donnant une dignité nouvelle et bien méritée,” dit Plato Design. Disponible sur Etsy.
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