Posts | | Page 10

Latest Posts

Dopper Reusable Water Bottle

Published by designy things

Dopper founder and CEO Merijn Everaarts felt compelled to develop a new type of reusable water bottle after watching a documentary about the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” that is roughly twice the size of the U.S. After holding a design competition to find the perfect reusable bottle for drinking water, Everaarts selected a design by Delft Univeristy of Technology alumnus Rinke van Remortel. The bottle comes apart to be easily cleaned and features a built-in cup that also doubles as a stand.

The original version of the Cradle to Cradle-certified water bottle is made of polyproplyene (for the bottle and the cap), ABS plastic for the white cup, TPE for the sealing rings in the cap and the cup, and Bisphenol A, a plasticizer that may leach from its material and enter the food chain. A steel version of the bottle, which will be available in a few months, replaces the polypropylene with steel and does not contain any Bisphenol A. The bottle is produced in Holland with a net zero carbon footprint.

5% of all sales go toward the Dopper Foundation, decidated to bringing safe, clean water to underserved communities. The Dopper Foundation has contributed over $100,000 to date for sanitation projects and education programs in Nepal and other developing countries. $14.99

Images courtesy of Dopper.

DNA Jewelry from Identity Inside

Published by designy things

The concept of giving someone your heart is so overused and cliché, why not give them your DNA instead? As science-fiction as this might sound, a group of scientists based in Switzerland have figured out a way to embed fossilized DNA into a piece of jewelry.

It all started when Swiss chemist Dr. Robert Grass wanted to find the perfect present for his wife to celebrate the birth of their first child. So, like any curious man of science, Dr. Grass wondered if he could combine his research of DNA preservation to create the worlds most unique “push present.” He developed a patented process to store his DNA in a diamond that he placed in a custom-designed ring, which has expanded into a small collection of jewelry including a custom-made watch and an 18kt rose gold pendant.

To get your DNA in the jewelry, you simply provide a mouth swab sample which is then (not simply) fossilized in glass particles to form a white powder that safeguards the DNA, similar to what is found in ancient amber and bone samples. A small insert is cut in the jewelry, inside of which the fossilized DNA is placed. The opening is then sealed, closed, and protected with a flawless, 0.02 carat diamond.

The DNA sample goes through stringent quality management procedures to avoid mix-ups and for a fee, you can recover the DNA through a “de-fossilization” process — just in case you are the type of person who worries about being reaniminated sometime in the next thousand years. A Kickstarter campaign is currently running to fund the project, which the company hopes to deliver by Valentine’s Day.

Images courtesy Identity Inside.

Triangle Roomshoes by Nendo

Published by designy things

Leave it to Nendo to come up with an entirely new look for the slipper. While this new cone-shaped footwear concept looks triangular from the side, a natural crease forms in its in-step portion. Only available in Japan, the gnomish shoes can stand on their own without taking too much space, and several can be stacked up in the foyer with no need for slipper racks — ideal for typically small Japanese residential spaces. Made of polyester and synthetic leather, the shoes come in two sizes and four colors.

Photos by Akihiro Yoshida.

Croissant-Shaped Baby Rattle

Published by designy things

Mary Arnold Toys, an Upper East Side institution since 1931, is bringing an outpost of the Oxford, Mississippi art and design shop Amelia to its Upper East Side store starting October 20 through the holidays. After F.A.O. Schwartz closed its doors for business this summer, Mary Arnold Toys became the oldest continuously run toy store in the U.S.

One of the first items on offer through the Amelia outpost will be this adorable croissant-shaped baby rattle. The idea of a toothless baby chomping down on this soft rattle is almost too cute to bear. Handmade in the USA by the Los Angeles-based toy maker Wild Pines, the linen-wrapped rattle is available in a limited number for $28.00 exclusively at Amelia’s website and the Amelia Outpost at Mary Arnold. Doughnut shaped rattles are coming out next, so the question remains … can Cronuts be far behind?

Images courtesy of Mary Arnold Toys & Amelia.

Travel Dice by Walnut Studiolo

Published by designy things

Walnut Studiolo‘s line of handmade accessories and games are produced in the company’s Portland, Oregon workshop. The latest addition to their growing line of travel games is a lightweight, portable set of dice ideal for players of any game using six or less die. The dice are secured inside the brass tube with a brass-beaded chain that can be worn as a necklace or carried as a keychain. The solid brass square tube perfectly houses six (6x) 7mm travel dice. A chain secures the dice in the tube at one end, and inlaid walnut wood closes the other end. Over time, the brass will develop a patina from hands and scratches. The die are available in either white or black and the chain comes in two lengths. $25.

All images courtesy Walnut Studiolo.

Paper Punk Jewelry Fold

Published by designy things

There is something very satisfying about folding the paper jewelry from the Paper Punk Jewelry Fold kit. Designed to make 3D necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, the kit includes easily foldable punch-out shapes with tabs that are inserted into numbered slots. These create geometric forms in a sort of instant-origami that you can then stick to paper bases and decorate with stickers.

While the kit says the recommended age range starts at six, I think that eight would probably be a more likely age that kids would more easily begin to master the tab-insertion process. Inside every kit are punch-and-fold shapes (in either triangle or square options), glitter stickers, gloss stickers, metallic stickers, adhesive dots, and an instruction booklet. The best part is you don’t need any glue or scissors for the kit— everything you need to go from a flat piece of paper to a 3D piece of art is included. You don’t even have to be an arty person to successfully get the final result – it’s pretty foolproof, even for someone like me. $19.95