Archive for the ‘design’ Category
wood you? September 27th, 2009
As part of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong illustrator and toy maker Michael Lau’s Gardener Series, Nike are releasing a collaboration between Lau and Stefan Janoski. The design echoes the shoes worn by his latest characters [below], and along with other products designed especially for the 10th anniversary, the Zoom Janoski will become available on the last day of his CSBOOTH17 exhibition [details above] at the Michael Gallery in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.
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a shameless plug September 27th, 2009
Put simply, this is functional design innovation at it’s absolute best. The market ready Folding Plug, designed by South Korean student Min-Kyu Choi has been turning heads at this year’s Royal College of Arts Graduate Show - and is set to change our lives. Yes I’m putting my head on the line by saying that, but the simplest ideas are often the greatest - and the Folding Plug exemplifies that statement. Amazingly, when folded flat the plug is only 10mm wide - the same as a MacBook Air - and the design was inspired by Choi’s realisation that The MacBook Air is the world’s thinnest laptop ever. But in the UK, it still use the world’s biggest plug. To unfold it, the two live pins swivel 90 degrees, and the plastic surround folds back around the pins so the face of the plug looks the same as a standard UK plug. With a bit of luck this design gem will earn Choi a tidy packet, and make the rest of our lives more convenient at the same time…
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live young September 23rd, 2009
Evian’s collaborative relationship with fashion designers began in 2008 with a special edition bottle designed by Christian Lacroix. 2009 saw a Jean Paul Gaultier edition hit the shelves of selected gourmet retailers, and this year the iconic French bottled water brand is collaborating with an icon of British fashion design: Sir Paul Smith. Adorned with Sir Paul’s characteristic colourful stripes painted in organic ink, the iconic glass bottle is given a playful and vibrant character through this stunning collaboration.
Watching the video [below] gives you an insight into the life and world of a very down to earth and insightful individual – and offers a glimpse of the studio that inspired the Paul Smith stripe, and obviously the latest Evian collaboration. Sir Paul himself proclaims life is about living young, being useful, and enjoying yourself everyday. Who better to collaborate with an equally iconic brand, whose mantra and slogan is Live Young?
Available from selected retailers - including Selfridges Food Hall - from November…
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it’s complex August 28th, 2009
This cover shoot for Complex Magazine’s August/September Design/Style issue features Keri Hilson and illustration from French designer/artist So-Me. The cover shoot been widely written and talked about for a hot while now – and time is fast sailing by. So rather than let this fall by the wayside - and in keeping with the Capicú mantra to deliver the freshest and finest, but not necessarily the newest – here it is. One cover story [below] features Keri shrouded in So-Me illustrations, which are hotter than the sun right now. So-Me has previously worked on the videos to Kanye’s Good Life, and Crookers/Kid Cudi’s Day n Nite, and the featured combination is on point.
The other cover story [below] has Capicú favourite Kid Cudi enveloped in illustrations by the graffiti artist Auger. Like So-Me, Auger’s style is distinctive and on fire – if a touch more polarising. The result is a style annual with 2 photographic/illustrative covers so colourful, engaging, playful and striking that they’re guaranteed to brighten up news stands and the weblog world alike…
Complex Magazine’s August/September issue is available now
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naNO shame August 21st, 2009
I know I said previously that it’s shameful to cover up your cutting edge technology with a protective case - and then proceeded to post the Arlanda iPod case from Want Les Essentials De La Vie - but that opinion doesn’t apply to the nano. Simply because it’s just not that cutting edge. Yes the technology is largely the same as it’s older brother [the touch] and cousin [the iPhone] but it is undeniably the budget version, and the design confirms that. It is the Porsche Boxster of mp3 players. Don’t get me wrong, it had it’s advantages - namely portability and convenience - but to be honest, the iPod nano isn’t beautiful. So, after all is said and done it’s fair to conclude that you can be forgiven for, or even encouraged to, cover the nano up with a case of superior design. Like the 45 Nano case from Vancouver based Contexture Design for example. Fasioned out of salvaged cassettes [that are then gutted, routered, and rebuild to house your nano], it is of a completely different ilk to the Arlanda iPod case - but deserving of credit for what it is. Harking back to bygone days, the cassette - which has itself become a design icon in recent times - is guaranteed to appeal to youthful trend setters and nostalgic older generations alike…
Available via their website
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ferris real [estate] August 14th, 2009
To anyone who – like me – wished you were Ferris Beuller [or at least one of his friends], this post will surely be of interest. There is no argument to be had, he was the man, and his day off the subject of one of the classics of our time. Be it his cheeky swagger, ingenuity [boy I used to wish I could hook up my room like he did] or total recklessness [think Ferrari and this, the Ben Rose House in Chicago], the chance to own anything he had always was – and I guess still is – an exciting prospect. I’ve come a long way since those days, but sadly not quite far enough to be able to fork out $2.3m for a piece of teen cinema history. If you can though, head to Sotheby’s…
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vespAdidas August 11th, 2009
As part of their Celebrate Originality campaign, adidas Originals have teamed up with Italian moped engineers and creators of a modern icon: Vespa. The collaboration apparently stands for a contemporary interpretation of modern lifestyle and classical casual looks, and judging by the PX Mid Canvas [above] PX Perf [below] they are doing just that. With enough design elements to be instantly recognisable as adidas [not least the three stripes], yet recognisable influences from the classical Italian styling of a Vespa [notably the identity and curves on the PX Mid] these designs achieve the perfect balance that any collaboration strives to achieve. Available from Size, or directly from Adidas Originals…
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between a rock and a hard place July 19th, 2009
Following on from last month’s Crayon rings, the second of today’s posts also features rings crafted from materials ordinarily reserved for other purposes.
The handmade concrete rings from Taiwanese 22 Design Studio aren’t cheap at $65 [above] and $54 [below] - plus you’ll need to fork out for international shipping - but their industrial forms create appeal you wouldn’t usually expect in jewellery…
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par avión July 19th, 2009
This piece - the Tyvek Wallet from New York based Designomighty Design - is the first of a brace of design posts today. It’s neither that I’m getting blasé nor zealous with my posting, but simply that Capicú has been away for the weekend, in the city of love, and the trip inspired me to show the site some love in return.
These 2 posts are intended to put a product out there for no deeper reason than their aesthetic beauty and design mertits. They don’t require - or even necessarily deserve - great explanation or debate and are, as you’ll see, simply a celebration of great modern product design.
The wallet is made from one single piece of tyvek, eliminating stiching and therefore meaning it shouldn’t fall apart as quickly as conventional stitched leather wallets. Obviously designed to replicate an air mail envelope, it is proving very popular internationally, and selling out fast. If you’re quick enough they’re available here…
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all is not lost. at sea July 9th, 2009
I’m a dreamer. Not the type to fall asleep beneath the flowers for a couple of hours on a beautiful day - but I do have ambition and aspire to things. Desire drives me and aesthetic beauty is my motivation - both of which power this particular post. It’s likely that none of us could afford a boat like this [unless Capicú's arms reach further than I thought] but most of us appreciate beautiful design and fine form. For those reasons, here is the Hybrid 757 St. Tropez Boat by Austrian boat builders Frauscher. If the hand stitched leather upholstery and superior decking isn’t enough, it’s also the world’s first luxury motor boat with an environmentally friendly hybrid engine. The Bentley of boats - a snip at €165k…
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