While the state of the economy is having a negative effect on most areas of the retail sector, more than a few industries are experiencing an uptick. Time examines recent trends in consumer spending, discovering that products and services that fulfill needs like escapism, inexpensive luxury and stress relief are reaping the most benefits.
Though it’s [...]
July 2, 2009
Recession Proof Spending
Holt Renfrew’s Blog-Inspired Window Displays
The Holt Renfrew Vancouver store recently paid homage to their favourite fashion blogs. The 170 year old Canadian department store brand has dedicated each window display to a number of notorious fashion blogs, including; The Sartorialist, Bryan Boy, Garance Dore, Sea of Shoes, Jak & Jil and I want I got.
[via Style Spy]
June 30, 2009
Bed Stuy Meadow: Transforming a Neighborhood With Flowers
21st Century Plowshare went on a mission this past April to transform the urban landscape of Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. The group set out to plant wildflower seeds on every single patch of abandoned soil within the neighborhood, creating a massive”urban meadow”. We’ll keep an eye out to watch the results of this interesting rewilding project.
[via [...]
America’s Declining Malls
US News and World Report examines some of the contributing factors that have lead to a general decline in many of America’s malls, once the stalwarts of suburban prosperity and convenience. One interesting note from the article is the underlying (and accepted) notion that malls have “natural lifespans,” owing to changes in consumer habits, architecture and [...]
New from PSFK: PSFK Snapshot Brooklyn
PSFK is happy to announce the publication of our newest book, PSFK Snapshot Brooklyn. From the more obscure corners of the borough to just off the G train, we’ve gathered over 40 of the most inspiring shops, restaurants, galleries, venues, movements and happenings from around the diverse neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York.
PSFK Snapshot Brooklyn [...]
June 29, 2009
LightLane Coming Soon
Back in February we reported on a conceptual product called LightLane that would create a virtual bike lane using lasers projected behind the rider. Due to the overwhelming response from bikers around the globe and its success at design competitions, the folks behind the idea have decided to put it into production. As of right [...]
June 24, 2009
Designing Our Lives Around Bikes
While the dominant paradigm for our society - from parking garages and roadways to gas stations and AAA - may still be the automobile, more and more we’re seeing thoughtful approaches to designing the bike into our world view. To wit, RentaBikeNow, a site that lets you research the rental bikes available in 157 locations [...]
OXO: A Fresh Look at Office Supplies
OXO, an innovative consumer products company, recently created an exclusive line of office products for Staples. The designs hope to make office supplies more efficient, easier to use and just maybe, a little sexier. From yet another design for easier stapling, to new pushpins and magnets, the OXO designs certainly look like a fresh redesign [...]
June 23, 2009
Graffiti-Inspired Candles
Re-Surface, a Brooklyn-based design studio and factory, recently produced a series of D-Light Pillar Candles with urban art in mind (and a nod towards seven-day votives). The eleven unique designs take their names from Brooklyn streets, but it’s unclear whether the images were inspired by actual graffiti found at these locations. The interesting cylindrical glasses can [...]
Elevating the Ordinary: The Food Art of Kevin Van Aelst
Kevin Van Aelst, a New York Times Magazine photographer, takes playing with food to the next level with his collection of intricately patterned everyday artifacts. The artist statement on Van Aelst’s website captures the motivations for his particular style,
The images aim to examine the distance between the ‘big picture’ and the ‘little things’ in life—the [...]
A ‘Synthetic Tree’ to Save the Planet
Though the ‘Synthetic Tree’ may hardly resemble its natural brethren, developers hope it will capture more than a thousand times as much carbon dioxide as the real thing. The working prototype traps carbon in a compression chamber where it is converted into liquid carbon dioxide, a byproduct that is easier to store and manage. It’s [...]
June 22, 2009
Spaceport America
Virgin recently broke ground on the site of their spaceport in New Mexico. In less than 20 months, the company hopes to construct a 3000 ft runway and facilities called Spaceport America to act as the launching pad for Virgin Galactic and other space-bound flights. The BBC has this report on the project that had [...]
Marathon Training to a Tailored Mix
Running and technology have been on a collision course since Nike introduced their Plus training products. Now, creating playlists for your workout is simple. iTunes offers training mixes hosted by runners like Kara Goucher or even artists like De La Soul. However, it’s also simple to create your own mix to your pace with some [...]
June 18, 2009
Street Lab’s Minneapolis Balloon Hunt
The Minneapolis College of Art and Design runs an interesting class called Street Lab. Interactive designer Piotr Szyhalski heads the class, which recently saw Sandra Chui Huynh creating a ‘Balloon Hunt’ throughout the streets of Minneapolis.
[via World Famous Design Junkies]
Hood to Aid Autism
Leo Chao’s ‘Beagle Scarf’ was created to aid Autistic people in times of stress. Some studies have shown music, textured toys and aromatherapy to be of great benefit in alleviating the stress and discomfort often associated with Autism. The Taiwanese-born, American-raised designer created the scarf which can be gently wrapped around the head. Inlaid speakers [...]






