Stay Gold, Amit
My friend Amit was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. These gold-plated Sorapots will be auctioned to help locate a bone marrow donor.
Why?
South Asians are severely underrepresented in the pool of registered bone marrow donors. 100% of profits from the auctions will go to drives, both here and in India, to find and register potential donors.
More info here: amitguptaneedsyou.com
Click here for a free bone marrow test kit: j.mp/freemarrowkit
Sorapot?
Amit was one of the first people to see the Sorapot, back when it was just a rendering. His input on marketing the Sorapot was invaluable, and led directly to the successful start of my company.
These Sorapots, limited to an edition of three, are plated with food-safe 24 karat gold.
Office Hours @ Swissmiss Studio
After introducing the Felt Mouse and glass teacups at ICFF this year, I’m trying something new. Whenever I travel to New York, I spend at least one day catching up on work. Tina Roth Eisenberg of Swissmiss has always given me a space at her Dumbo studio while I’m in town, and I’ve gotten to meet some of the fascinating Studiomates while working there.
This year, I’m inviting anyone who’s interested to stop in while I work. I’d love to share my process, give advice, and discuss opportunities for collaboration. Like an open studio crossed with a teacher’s office hours.
RSVP here: http://joeyrothopenstudio.eventbrite.com/
I’ll be there on Tuesday, May 17 from noon until 3 pm.
Location:
10 Jay Street
Suite 612a
Brooklyn NY 11201
Felt Mouse
A computer mouse made from wool felt, teak, and aluminum.
This prototype will be show for the first time on Friday May 13 – Monday May 16, 12PM to 7PM daily, as part of the American Design Club’s exhibit “Use Me” at 45 Great Jones Street.
Glass teacups for Sorapot
These teacups will be shown for the first time with Fair Folks and a Goat in New York:
7 East 88th street, buzzer #0006
The opening is Thursday, May 12 from 5 to 9 pm
More information here: Room for Two
Ceramic Speakers in June / July issue of Out.
Ceramic Speakers: November Press
The Ceramic Speakers are featured in the current issues of ID, Men’s Journal, and 7×7:
ID Magazine “New and Notable”, page 56:
Men’s Journal “The Wish List”, page 46:
7×7 “The Holiday Issue”, page 76:
Rain, Feedback Loops, and Missed Opportunities
Urban designers seem to consider rain to be an intruder, and the city tries to hide the downpour as quickly as possible. The weather’s swept under the carpet with inconsistent success.
The same thinking informs cars that lose value the second you drive them off the lot, fashion that only lasts one season, and iPods that look terrible when they get scratched through daily use. Our culture so values factory-freshness that the moment of box-opening is the only stage of a product’s life that’s usually designed. The rest is left to fate. We need to make products that exist in a user’s world, over a substantial period of time, instead of in stasis on a hoped-for shelf in MoMA’s design wing.
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Harnessing the Gift Fair’s Waste Stream
I’ve been to a few tradeshows with my work at this point, and I always find an obscene amount of waste as booths are constructed. It’s all the more ridiculous because these booths are taken down after a few days.
Interview with Kevin Rose
Sorapot from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.
Showing at IMM Cologne
I’m excited to introduce some new work at IMM Cologne next week, and to visit Germany for the first time. If you’re in the area, I’d love to get a drink and meet up.
I’m showing my designs at the entrance to Hall 3.1, as part of DesignSpotter’s d3 exhibit.
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