Posts from — August 2008

Best news all day. The Best Awards, for those of you who don’t know, are New Zealand’s annual design awards. From product design to student design to web design, this event celebrates the best work from New Zealand design companies.

But what makes the event so worth blogging about is Nuzilla is a finalist in the sustainable product category and endemicworld.com is a finalist in the web design category

WAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

So BIG UPS to Nuzilla, go here to check out why they rule. And another BIG UPS to Studio Alexander for designing such a cool site for endemicworld.com

Ataahua, a freindly bunch of textile, linen and fahsion designers from Wellington, have not only been making their mark here in NZ but are shown above to be creating a chatter amongst NYC trend spotters. Their new hats, upcycled from hessian coffee sacks have been plugged by the New York Herald. Nice work Ataahua.

Reminder to all those going to Design Assembly tomorrow night… Doors open 6.30pm and speakers start at 7pm. Some super cool prizes provided by the sposners too, so see you there bright and sparky.

Only the coolest screensaver out

This is a safety video by Virgin America. It’s pretty cool, what do you thnk?

Found via { sushi & robots }

Until September 14th you can see Flox and nine other New Zealand artists on display outdoors in downtown Auckland.

As part of their new ‘inspiration collection’, Robert Harris commissioned the artists to transform the humble napkin into art, and they’ve used bus shelters in the Britomart and Custom Street areas as the gallery.

“We believe that every break should be inspirational and working with these talented artists to provide the public with works of art they can enjoy throughout their day has been very rewarding.” says Robert Harris, Group Brand Manager, Justine Powell.

I’ve heard they look pretty cool at night when they’re illuminated. Go check them out… and if you do, send us a pic.

Click here to checkout Flox’s new range of kids clothes.

First, If you havn’t read new magazine 1am then you neeeed to.

Secondly, go to their giveaway page and enter the draw to win some Catalina necklaces like those pictured above. You can win your own personalised name necklace or the fly…. mean sauce.

Finally to top off your “damn i’m cool” status, join their facebook book fan page.

Now…. as you were.

If your a contractor or freelance designer then you need to check out this new local site that has just launched.

‘Crackerjacks’ – which takes the hassles out of contract recruitment - is set to crack open New Zealand’s contracting market.

Frustrated by the downsides of hiring contractors himself, experienced business manager Tony Wai has created ‘Crackerjacks’ to make it easier for Kiwis to embrace the contracting trend.

The website provides a marketplace where contractors and businesses can meet: Employers seek talent from registered ‘Crackerjacks’ who in turn, receive the tools they need to manage and get great contracts.

Whats cooler is its completely free for contractors. Check it out.

Mai Farm Naturally has come about from the 100 year centenary of the Mai Family. The organic milk and beef farm is in the Beautiful Pohangina Valley. The festival will comprise of natural and organic stalls, live musicians, fire performers and wandering stilt artists, holistic healers, organic water, organic coffee, natural foods and a childrens zone with story times and activities. The proceeds are going to rebuild a wetland on the property and establish a Trust to help other farmers convert to organics.

Zoe Ikin is quickly making her mark in the New Zealand design industry. Full-time designer at Studio Alexander and making jewellery is only the beginning…

Ataahua has just dropped a fresh load of one-of-a-kind hessian bags and hats. We have included an individual photo of each one in stock so you can choose your favourite.

The range is made in New Zealand from upcycling hessian coffee sacks. Just goes to show what great ideas and design can do to what would normally become landfill.

Green gifts for your friends or new eco-accessories for yourself…

Print Fetish is a NYC site that is dedicated to reviewing anything print. They have just given a dream review to the Hanson bros. at White Fungus in Wellington. The review puts them up against the best and praises the mag for being content rich and gloss free.

Big ups from us White Fungus….

Check the latest issue here

Remember this cardboard Robot?

We figured there could only be one company cool enough and creative enough in Lyttelton to construct such a masterpiece. I sent an email to Kingswood skis (of Lyttelton) and they replied:

“Hello Elliot
Yes, it’s ours - made by friend and neighbour artist Oscar Guerrero. Unfortunately, the big guy succumbed to the weather but we’ve got his head lit up in the factory and the little “mini me” survived and even featured in this month’s North & South.
Cheers Kris”

If you haven’t heard of Kingswood, they are hand making what some say are the worlds best ski’s. Using bamboo cores and sustainable ethos, skiing mags everywhere give rave reviews of this design led company.

Here is a pair of Kingswood beauties… maybe they should consider toy robots too.