Hamburg-based publisher Automatenverlag has transformed old cigarette machines into book vending machines and has installed them around the University of Hamburg. The small books include graphic novels, fiction, poetry and travel guides written by local authors. Let’s just hope that the smoking bans don’t turn into book bans…

via cool hunting

Take back the streets!

by Antoine at Bike Friendly North Shore

At every FREITAG flagship store there are now five Gorilla fixed gear bikes, TSG helmets and FREITAG bags for you to borrow so you can take a tour of the city. FOR FREE! Improve your fixness!

The Pantone Hotel opens today in Brussels, Belgium.

The guest rooms are works of art – white walls and bedding provide a clean, crisp canvas for saturated pops of vibrant color. The 59 affordably priced rooms and suites empower guests to transform their travels by selecting a room that complements their mood through color. The rooms and suites are patterned after one of seven distinct PANTONE Color palettes.

PANTONE Color consultants are also available by appointment for informal color consultations or to present educational seminars on color psychology and trends.

And if you can’t afford the Pantone, you can always stay at the CMYK on the other side of town.

Made with 2 mm thick full-leather the Retrovelo frame bag carries your laptop in style while you ride to work. Compatible with many classic bike frames with horizontal top tubes, the Retrovelo frame bag offers two compartments for your gear, quick attachment via two belt hooks and a style more compatible for your office uniform. Attractive.

via popwuping

Check out textile artist Elodie Blanchard’s 2009 Top Searches Google pillow. This is the fifth year that Elodie has commemorated Google’s top 10 searches of the year on a canvas pillow. Brilliant! Get one now at her Etsy store…the prices just went down to only $59 each!

Metropolis Magazine hosted The Design Revolution Road Show’s mobile exhibition at ICFF this year. Housed in a 1972 Airstream trailer, the exhibition consists of 40 humanitarian design solutions that have been showcased in the book: Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People.

One of my favorite pieces in the show is Martí Guixe’s “Football Tape,” a simple roll of adhesive tape printed with a traditional soccer ball pattern on it. Allows you to construct footballs out of whatever trash you might have lying around. According to Mr. Guixe, it works better if stuffed with sports publications. Brilliant.

Get your roll here.

Another ICFF fave of mine is the SheetSeat by Ufuk Keskin and Efecem Kutuk.

SheetSeat is made from a single piece of wood laminate. The production process is straightforward, generating almost no waste. The simplicity of the design allows for savings in workmanship, manufacturing and transportation costs and energy consumption. The flat panel can be unfolded into the final chair position in a few easy steps, and folded back into the original 3/4 inch thick sheet, facilitating easy stacking and bulk transportation….and apartment storage.

Unfortunately, SheetSeat is still a work in progress. Please email: ufuk@ufukkeskin.com for more information or if you are interested in collaborating to bring it to life.

One of my favorite things at this year’s ICFF has got to be Mio’s flatpack Pop-Up Bicycle Basket. The basket is part of Mio’s 2010 “Design on the Go” collection. Available soon.

mioculture.com

WOW! Run (or better yet, ride) to the Museum of Art and Design to see ‘Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle.’

Organized by Michael Maharam (the owner of Maharam and avid bicycle collector) and Sacha White (builder of Vanilla bicycles Portland, Oregon), the show introduces viewers to 21 road racing, cyclocross, mountain and commuter bicycles - even a child’s tricycle.

The exhibition features bicycles by: Mike Flanigan, Alternative Needs Transportation (A.N.T); Jeff Jones, Jeff Jones Custom Bicycles; Dario Pegoretti, Pegoretti Cicli; Richard Sachs, Richard Sachs Cycles; J. Peter Weigle, J. Peter Weigle Cycles; and Sacha White, Vanilla Bicycles. It is insane!

Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle
May 13th - August 15 2010
Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle,  New York City

above (top to bottom): Sacha White, Jeff Jones

above (top to bottom): Sacha White, Richard Sachs