Restored Tempo Matador

If I had $110,000 laying around, I would seriously consider buying this beauty. What an amazing truck and what an amazing restoration!

Dieter Rams - Cold War Modern

Dieter Rams - Cold War Modern seen on viaFrank.

Explanatory Slings

What a fun idea!

A Continious Lean

"A Continuous Lean is about things. American things, good looking things, well designed things and all sorts of other things. Sometimes A Continuous Lean even talks about people and ideas. That’s it, keep it simple. More good, less bad."

Matchbooks

Matchbooks. Lots and lots of matchbooks.

Hi-Fi Literature

A great collection of Hi-Fi Stereo manuals and literature - Hi-Fi Lit.

Socket Deer

These fun and simple electrical outlet covers are interesting to look at and practical as well!

Ampersand Cutting Board

I recently purchased this amazing Ampersand Cutting Board from the fine folks at House Industries. Cutting cheese has never been better!

Objectified

Gary Hustwit (of Helvetica: The Film fame) has a new film coming out called Objectified. It is about industrial design and the process of making things. I know it sounds lame, but I am excited about it!

Modern Birdhouses

Modern Bird: A Collection of Modern Birdhouses.

Proudly linked from DDC.

The World's First Car Navigation System

Think GPS is a new idea? Think again: The World's First Car Navigation System.

RGB Glasses

Fun idea! RGB Glasses.

via GirlInTheGreenDress.

Designer Tape

Tired of the same, old packaging tape? How about some designer tape?

Where Will You Eat Tonight?

A really great (but too expensive for my taste) idea: City Plates.

via Coudal.

Type Chair

Need a new chair? Perhaps this Type Chair is for you!

Matches Calendar

Looking for a new and unique calender for 2009? Can you read Ukrainian? Then this calendar made of matches is for you!

The Branding of Polaroid

A great read for anyone interested in Polaroid, packaging, or advertising: The Branding of Polaroid.

via Coudal.

Flight to Nowhere

More flying nerdery - A 90 minute flight to nowhere aboard the first Emirates A380.

via Coudal.

Vintage and Retro Typography

Here is a nice collection of vintage and retro typography.

Thanks to former student Adam Bowlin for the link.

Visualized Wi-Fi

A study of the Wi-Fi at The State Library of Queensland, Australia and sketches of how people interact with their laptops.

Via SwissMiss.

Typewriter Ribbon Tins

Uppercase has an amazing Flickr set of old typewriter ribbon tins.

Frustration-Free Packaging

I know this is a silly thing to get excited about, but Amazon is introducing Frustration-Free Packaging. It gets rid of the stupid, dangerous plastic clam-shell packaging that always cuts my hands as I try to open things that I purchase.

Also, it should help reduce packaging waste. Yea!

Thanks for the heads-up, Frank.

Painted VW Buses

Yet again, this is why the internet is awesome: Painted VW Buses.

The Old Car Manual Project

This is why the internet is great: browse hundreds of old car manuals at The Old Car Manual Project

Control, Alt, Delete Tea Cups

Such a great idea - Control, Alt, Delete Tea Cups!

I Own This!

Driving back from a nice visit to Kansas City, I stopped off at a flea market ... and I walked out with this eight-foot hand-painted sign! It came from an old shoe store in Windsor, Missouri and it was love and first sight.

I can't tell you how excited I am about it! See more pictures on my Flickr.

This Table Will Self-Destruct

A table that slowly destructs itself each time a new table is sold: This Table Will Self-Destruct. Interesting idea!

via Coudal.

Vintage Polish Soap Labels

I am loving these Vintage Polish Soap Labels!

Making Maps in England

I really really love maps. This printing, the colours, the type - everything about maps I love. Yet somehow, seeing this 1953 documentary about making British Ordnance Survey maps makes me love them even more.

via ILike.

Type Cubes

Want to create your own typeface out of wooden blocks (and who doesn't)? You can with Type Cubes.

And if you are more of a digital person, you can do it online with FontStruct.

Alphabet Bags

Good friends Lucas and Hayley (of Keep Calm and The Manicule fame) have started a new line called Alphabet Bags. They are exactly what they sound like - 26 cotton tote bags each printed with a nice, big letter of the alphabet.

TV Cosy

You know the test patterns on TV? Well, now cover your TV with the the hand-made version!

Anti-Theft Lunch Bag

Tired of your co-workers stealing your sandwich from the company refrigerator? Well, just get these anti-theft lunch baggies and you can guarantee your sandwich will be waiting for you at lunch time!

I Feel Golden

The Golden Ratio is awesome. So is this t-shirt.

via Swiss Miss.

Calculators

More than you would ever need to know about the history of calculators!

Jumbo Hostel

Unless you fly first class, it isn't a very comfortable sleep in an airplane. Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Dios is out to change that with Jumbo Hostel - a hostel built inside a grounded Boeing 747. Read more about it here.

Looks like I'll be flying through Stockholm sometime!

Mono Scoot

I have been considering getting a scooter recently and the one above is totally the one I want! If only it was actually ever built...

via the recently rediscovered Paleo-Future.

Online Pocket Protector Collection

Exactly what the title says: Online Pocket Protector Collection. Awesome!

via Coudal.

Hidden Radio

I haven't seen a product design that has impressed me this much in a long time...

The Hidden Radio has no visible user interface - but in fact, the entire radio IS the user interface. Push the radio down (or pull up) to adjust the volume and rotate the radio to tune in a station.

Read more about it here.

Beautiful. Simple. Elegant. Did I mention I like this?

Onion Nalgene Bottle

Pretty much everything The Onion does is hilarious, but
this water bottle hit close to home as I am known by my students for always carrying my Nalgene water bottle everywhere.

*Note* I do actually go camping with my Nalgene, I swear.

Type Coasters

For the true type nerd that likes to drink: Type Coasters. (unfortunately, sold out!)

Hand Dryers Around the World

I have uploaded my collection of photographs of electric hand dryers from all around the world to my Flickr account. After my recent trip to Europe, I now have 75 dryers in the collection. Enjoy!

Some of these have also been featured at Polar Inertia.

Bubble Calendar

What a clever idea - Bubble Calendar!

Leadholders Collection

Following in the footsteps of my previous post, Coudal has pointed me in the direction of another great online collection of drafting pencils - but apparently, if you want to be fancy, you call them "leadholders."

Brand Name Pencil Collection

Who knew there were so many different brands of pencils in the world? Bob Truby does and he collects them. With so many different type styles and letterforms packed into such a small area, they are definitely worth a look!

via H&FJ.

We're #1!

Have you ever wondered about the history of the "#1" Foam Hand? No? Well, read about it anyway!

via Coudal.

The Manicule

Good friends, Lucas and Hayley (of Keep Calm fame) have opened a new online store called The Manicule. They are selling tea towels, coffee mugs, and other such lovely things. Check it out and enjoy their phrases in your home soon!

The Family Tree of the Mortarboard

Ever wonder why you wear a mortarboard hat when you graduate from University? Yale University Magazine has a great family tree of all things hat.

Shaving Blades

Here is a nice small set of old shaving blades and boxes on Flickr.

Mechanical Digital Clock

UK product designer, Duncan Shotton has created a beautiful clock that appears to be digital but is in fact, wonderfully analog.

Linecaster Documentary

If you have ever seen a Linotype machine, I am sure that you were fascinated by such a complex and amazing machine. You also were probably curious to learn how the thing works, seeing all of the wheels and gears and levers.

Even if you have no idea what I am talking about, you should check out this great 1960 documentary on linecasting machines that was created in Italy. The narration is in English, and it is well worth your time!