design

I'm not a parent, so maybe I don't see the hidden appeal in this prototype known as "Buster," the kiddie ride-on snail who also vacuums the floor, as seen on Babygadget. Isn't this just asking for horrific cat-chasing incidents? A two-year-old on top of a vacuum is like a Roomba with a brain.

On the other hand, I totally think they should make a lawn mower version for grown-ups. If I had, you know, several acres to mow, I'd be psyched to do it if I got to ride on top of a big … Read more

I could say something really deep, introspective, and postmodern-pop-philosophy-ish about recent trends involving large-scale indoor horticulture. You know, about the blurring of indoor and outdoor spaces in the collective unconscious, and the human yearning for closeness to the organic in a sterilized world, and...

Boring.

Here's a better way to put it. These days, it seems to be kind of trendy to take things--like owls and tree branches--that are normally found outside, and put them indoors. Like that wall of plants they've devised over in Sweden. Well, a design group in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has taken the … Read more

There's been a lot of buzz recently about USB flash drives as an art form--these days, it seems like the gadget and design sectors of the blogosphere are all about Mimoco's kind of cute, kind of creepy Mimobots, and now Notcot is showcasing what it jokingly refers to as "Saint USB." But you won't find them in stores (or churches). These high-tech devotional statues are part of "Oh Maria, Keep My Data Safe," a project by Spanish graphic designer Luis Eslava. He considers them a statement about our "adoration" of computers.… Read more

Looking for that perfect accessory to go with your new Versace Lamborghini? You're in luck, Sparky: ASUS, maker of the rumored Prada laptop, is rolling out a new Lamborghini notebook in head-turning bright yellow with black interior and suede-trimmed black case. I4U News says the machine has some go as well as show, with a 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive to go with its 15.4-inch LCD screen.

Is that enough to justify a $2,800 sticker price? Remember, it is a Lamborghini. But be warned: If your neighbor pulls up … Read more

A few months ago, I had the privilege of playing a five-story-tall version of classic video game Space Invaders at Manhattan's Come Out and Play Festival. In the time since then, it appears that the trend has taken hold. Blik is selling a line of wall decals in the shapes of Space Invaders good guys and bad guys, in an array of Atari-worthy hues, which you can stick and unstick on the walls of your kitchen, living room, bedroom, or whatever-room at will.

They were featured as kiddie room decorations on Babygadget, but this grown-up (ha, ha) would totally … Read more

Nothing says anti-corporate like "streetwear" right? One of the biggest names in all of corporate-ness, Microsoft, is reaching out to the cool kids by launching an auction of limited edition Zune players from Oct. 28 through Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.

In an event it is delicately underplaying by naming it "The La Brea Takeover," streetwear shops Union, Undftd and Stussy will periodically auction off two limited edition Zunes they've put their hip spin on.

Leaving aside the fact that "takeover" is a strong word for a trio of stores right next to … Read more

Hey, friars! Taken a vow of silence, but still craving the new Decemberists album? (Give it a listen! It's good!) Well, your prayers may soon be answered--sorry, I had to throw that in there--if this prototype of a digital audio player hits the market. Called the "Saint B" and dreamed up by a Russian design studio, this little music player is shaped like a cross necklace and is sure to blend into any order's habits (though you'll have to find a way to hide your headphones). Just don't turn the volume up too loudly … Read more

Cell phones and MP3 players aren't the only things that can be gussied up. Yes, even the lowly washing machine can become a swan with the right wardrobe. Well, sort of.

Samsung is apparently taking a Vegas approach to domestic appliances with this red washing machine (or is it magenta?) by Korean designer Andre Kim. By the looks of this photo, he and Samsung apparently think the stainless-steel Viking-range look is out. (If this is the alternative, we beg to differ.)

But we're no experts. If Swarovski can do a fridge, why not do your laundry in style … Read more

Get your act together, chair.

Raffaello D'Andrea, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University, has created a chair in conjunction with Canadian artist Max Dean that can crumple itself into a disjointed pile of wood and then reassemble itself. Dean came up with the vision and D'Andrea, who advises the university's robot teams, designed it. Another Canadian artist and a former student of D'Andrea's then helped them build it.

"It has no utilitarian value," D'Andrea said in a prepared statement. "It is an art piece."

No, … Read more