Interesting umbrellas by Ofess - the 0%Graphic is simply black with one triangular color. But the best part of Ofess' umbrella line is the hard shell wine bottle type packaging that the umbrellas come in.

Charlotte X. C. Sullivan mixes ink with soapy water and allows the bubbles to dry on paper. I like how you can sometimes see the burst bubble.

Check out JJ Sulin's photography portfolio - full of interesting, off-beat photos of life in America.

Resofloor by Resopal

Wow - Julien de Smedt Architects' crazy proposal for the Mondri and Elano Hotel in Las Vegas. In most other locations it would be inappropriate, but in Las Vegas it is reminiscent of the big top circus tents and fits right in with Vegas' surreal architecture.

Pentagram's Angus Hyland designed this free bag for CassArt - how many well-known silhouetted artworks can you spot?

The Big Picture chronicles 2008 in photos. This is their first installment of three.

Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia at KnoWine.com is not only a gorgeous site, but i'm blown away by the packaging and branding design ~ you must see the details of these bottles and the custom moleskine!

Created on the dome of the Human Rights room in the UN in Geneva, this gigantic multicolored canopy was designed by the renowned Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo.

The holiday house Breiteneben is situated in the lower mountains of the heart of Austria. The 16th century building has been renovated using traditional methods and materials while integrating the comforts of the new millennium.

7002 is a rollercoaster ride passing through fantasy, mindscape, emotional trickery and sound. A must see!

Amazing knot & tangle sculptures in bronze by artist Joshua Harker

Nail File of Natural Stone from the Pyrenees Mountains, with case - by Lime. 3 very smooth sides for smooth finishing and real control with 1 coarse side for filing down.

'Stop Designing, Start Playing' is the motto printmaker Wendy Chapple and designer Coralie Bickford-Smith pass onto students at the London College of Communication.

Blow up sheet metal:
An interview with Oskar Zieta, architect at the CAAD-professorship at ETH Zurich.

Designboom has a look at fentress architects concepts to modernize los angeles LAX airport ~ about time we get an update!

Depressingly Awesome! Fun posters at Kiosk

7 unique fragrances: gluttony, lust, pride, greed, sloth, anger and envy constitute the last Demèche collection.

With over 60,000 sqm, the UQAM campus in Montreal, Canada features some amazing contemporary buildings - and a rich public space for the students and staff.

And the Burger King launches its deodorant, the "Flame".

New W hotel in Hong Kong boasts the "highest pool in the city" (on the roof of the 72nd floor!). The view from the infinity pool is fantastic.

Artistic action imagined on the elevators of subway in Toulouse / France.

Very fun teapot from talented duo making up Lilach Lotan Pottery. The driving teapot was created by the Canada based team of Lilach & Ron Lotan.

How to create photo realistic hoodie mockups. A cool new hoodie customization package makes it easy to simulate complex printing techniques like all-over prints and cut & sew.

Love this giant pixelated facade on a parking garage in Adelaid - so much more fun that Times Square's typical jumbo screen. Each of the 748 square panels of the Rundle Lantern are lit by two LEDs.

Mr. Moustache - Sirena con Jersey's screenprinted tote bag.

Malus Communis is a shelf designed by Defact Studio - a vine-like shelf for cds and dvds that crawls up the wall.

Classical Jingle Bells Christmas song played by 49 microwave ovens' timers in this nice holiday video from AKQA (American interactive marketing specialists)

Sustainable development in Milan, Italy

The frontdesk at Mama Shelter. The latest low cost hotel endeavor designed by Roland Castro with interiors by Philippe Starck in the 20th arrondisement of Paris.

Hey is the new song of Israelian band Eatliz. The music video, an animated movie.

Take a peek inside the 2009 CIA (Central Illustration Agency) Super Hero 2009 Calendar!!!

Interesting ship-like interiors at the Berge Guesthouse by Nils Holger Moormann. Backpackers can stay in "‘sleep cells" - essentially rooms designed just for that, with a communal space that includes a library, kitchen and gathering area with a fireplace.

Commercials for Bud Light's Drinkability campaign. The main character "draws" in mid-air using animation created by 23D Films.

Adbusters' soft and milky Gel Remote looks like delicious food and get me thinking about the sensation of touch. It is one of the most ubiquitous pieces of modern technology redesigned by Panasonic.

A green organic temporary installation by LAVA, using hi-tech nylon. The organic shape climbs through the atrium of the building.

On color palettes to watch ~ i'm obsessing over Chanel's new Paris Moscou collection ~ there are galaxies in those that you can stare into for ages... website/graphic/interior design inspiration?

'Cane Tables' by Lee Walsh - the aesthetic of hand-woven cane recreated in the form of these laser cut, powder coated steel tables.

Hanna Backman designed the visual identity for these wines by Mont Tauch.

Leif.designpark's Tou chair is an approach to neo-japanese modernism using a traditional weaving method. The shadows cast by the woven seat and fabric covering the sides produce a soft touch, differing from that of ordinary craft work.

The Worst Of The SkyMall: A Holiday Gift Guide

Nendo's Socket Deers - electrical outlet covers that you can rest your phone on as it charges - plus they look super cool! They are covered with a urethane rubber that keeps the phone from slipping and protects the antlers from breaking when bumped.

Cool jewelry made with recycled mother boards and silver, by chilean designer Pamela de la Fuente.

Tequila, as art? Here's a closeup with the 1800 Tequila Essential Artists Bottles ~ and if you thought they were cool on billboards, they will blow your mind even more when you see them in person!

Ruta Peregrino is a pilgrimage path in Jalisco, Mexico. During Holy Week, 2 million pilgrims walk the path. HHF Architects designed a lookout point there, made out of cast concrete. I love the spiraling pathway, used to create anticipation in the visitor.

How awesome is it that the new lomography Diana ~ GLOWS! And with secret hidden stars!!! "Lomography presents the Diana F+ 'Glow in the Dark' Camera - Limited Online Edition"

Ole Henriksen's Ultimate Lift – Eye Gel ~ think of this as a PSA for anyone that stares at screens too much and doesn't sleep till 4am too often... this has been saving my eyes this season!

Pottery maven Adam Silverman looks over the new California based design store, Heath, in Los Angeles ~ nice interview and photoset at LAist

Ornamentgranate - Celebrate!

NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #30: Branch Home is giving away a set of 8 beautiful eco-friendly felt swallows made in germany ~ whether you hang them in your tree, car, or on a present is up to you!

On fun uses for a laser cutter ~ i'm fascinated by these teeny tiny "Build Your Own Tinysaur" creatures from kfarell's etsy shop

the tugboat printshop has many goodies.

Restaurant Gastro - A young upcoming designer (Niklas Madsen) and one of the best High Cuisine creators (Per Dahlberg) in Sweden have created another fantastic restaurant.

"This is a Secret" ~ is there anything more painfully annoying, or a guaranteed conversation starter, than a set of necklaces that screams out you have something to hide? Also comes in "I'm Not Telling"... By:Amt

Playstation 3 "Movie Downloading Machine" ad.

new bags from VAEL Project are looking real slick. im feeling the premium leather and copper accents.

Glass Bone Skeletons by Melli Ink.

Explore the detailed world of the 2008 National Gingerbread House Competition

The Lunchbox Auction, by Gourmet magazine, is an online auction for hunger-relief organizations, featuring custom-designed lunchboxes by artists, chefs, and celebrities.

The VillAnn in Saro, Sweden features an impressive contained terrace and all you could need for your outdoor leisure. By Wingårdh Arkitektkontor.

This congress facility in Holland has been designed to offer flexibility for clients who are looking for a non-conformist meeting space and is a cacophony of light, space and interactive projections.

“Toasty Charger” - you simply slide your lithium ion battery into the slot, push the handle down and wait for it to pop back up again.

Fox has finally released the first official trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber.

Creating the circular handles for the UM tote and winepocket resulted in loads of leftover felt rounds - the perfect size and shape for coasters. Set of 6 linked by a single seam of heavy orange thread. sewing stripe as decorative accent.

Segmented Chair by Revol Design. It is a super comfy looking foam lounge chair.

Smart concept : the pantone calendar : you just have to pick day after day one of the colors

West German Apollo Space Ship - The great NASA scientists behind the Apollo project were former Nazi rocket/missile developers. The title of this little nugget of retrofuturism speaks volumes.

The Tree Stools recall the communal atmosphere of sitting around the campfire, but are built for the most elegant silk-upholstered living room.

Brazilian architects TAMABI turned the unused rooftop of a 50´s building into a sustainable apartment.

Beautiful animation in recent advert for H.Samuel the jeweller by St Luke's, london.

The Promenade Samuel-de Champlain in the Quebec waterfront has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of urban/landscape design i have ever seen. Just picture yourself walking down the river watching the landscape.

The Naughty or Nice List: Instead of obsessing over finding that perfect something, let them know what you really think. Just because Santa isn't real doesn't mean that someone isn't keeping track.

DDB Germany new adds for the Volkwagen Polo Blue Motion looks for inspiration in the works of Magritte and Dali

K6 is the brand new rib from Kardis shipyard. New ideas and solutions have been found in this project . Check it out!

Estonian Woodoo (brothers Ken and Jan Graps) have designed some pretty cool stools from the stumps of Estonian oak.

Another ORDOS 100 villa, by Swiss architects Luca Selva. The abstraction of the local landscape results in a complex interior.

Playing cards uniquely engineered to military precision, with original, iconic style and unsurpassed quality. PROPAGANDA is grunge with an edge of 20th century military imagery.

Wakasa House in the Osaka suburbs, by US architects wHY Architecture. A concrete house with great transparency, a reflection into contemporary Japan family life

It's kind of a bible from Barney, a character of the popular show How i met your mother. Very funny book, that everybody should read and laugh with it.

Hoffman Holiday Card - Fun snowman card creator, complete with some strange stuff to put on snowmen. Definitely a good way to waste a few minutes!

It's here!!! Here are some first unboxing pics of my new Canon 5D Mark II!!! I'm pretty giddy, so here's the first look while i wait for the battery to charge up... there are also some side by sides with the 40D...

We've been guest posting over at Fancast ~ and i was wondering whether you have any favorite picks for Title Sequences (movies, tv shows, you name it!)!

Work of French illustator Julien Canavezes

Fashion photography takes a freaky turn in “Maison Martin Margiela”, an editorial by Craig McDean in Interview Magazine.

Newly restored Hotel Europe in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina has some interesting outer facade and interior decorum. Follow the link for more images.

Great stop-motion by Adam Pesapane, aka PES for Scrabble

"99 Denials" is the name of Belgrade artist Iva Musovic exhibition. On 99 photographs are 99 portraits pictured with long exposition. "I wanted to explore the denials of ordinary people", said Iva.

Beautiful paintings by Ann Toebbe. Love this one of all the boots warming by the fire.

Clean black and white packaging from Taxi for their chain of cafes.

I love Dan Funderburgh's design, City Park, for Flavor Paper. A fun take on the traditional toile, rats and all!

Brandi Milne always loved to draw, paint and color as a child, but her mom never thought she was anything special.

Jason de Caires creates sculptures underwater and leaves them to grow organically. Until we find Atlantis, this does quite nicely.

Chris Gurney's Tatami Bench Sofa combines traditional Japanese materials, methods and craftsmanship with the Western style of sitting.

Grosfeld van der Velde's S House. I like how the glass volume slips through the side facade.

A black-plated steel paper knife shaped like scissors, by Atypyk.

Also by Amore for Svegro (see post #17205) - great packaging for herbs/greens inspired by potted plants.

Fantastic Norway recently completed this cabin in Norway. The architects utilized color to break up the facade of the cabin and to carve out areas of entrance.

The Light Modulator by Studio Lazerian - not sure I'm ultimately convinced by the final bat-inspired shape of the shade, but I do love the modular components that make up the fixtures, and the delicate connections between each piece.

Calamete is a uniquely designed Japanese fork modification made especially for spinning your favorite noodles with ease due to its projecting “thumb” piece that simulates a hand.

NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #29 - Josh Rubin of CoolHunting and his dad (a 2nd gen glove maker!) have teamed up to create Freehands, gloves that keep you warm and let you have easy access to your fingertips for touch screens!