In 2015, Detroit was anointed as the first-ever UNESCO City of Design in the United States. This honor pertains to their astounding past and the continued revitalization coursing through the Motor City as we speak. In celebration of the award and the abundant creative energy, Detroit Design Core has expanded the Detroit Design Festival from one week’s worth of activities to an entire month of events, competitions …
Detroit Design Festival Grows to Month-Long Extravaganza
Rod+Perf Stool/Table
$275
The Rod+Perf Stool/Table is a beautifully designed, foot-and-a-half tall, steel addition to any living space—and it comes in nine different colors. Its multi-functionality is rooted in its simplicity; it’s sturdy enough to be a stool, tall enough to be a side table, and designed with a perforated top to be the perfect plant holder. Just kept away from humid or wet conditions—the steel frame will …
Link About It
Stories from around the web that we think you should read
A Pizza-Making Vending Machine Popped Up in Japan
Italy, the mecca of slow-cooking and pizza perfectionism, drove the first iteration of the pizza vending machine out of town—Claudio Torghele’s Let’s Pizza. Now, the Japanese version, Pizza Self, has appeared outside of a video rental store in Hiroshima. A pizza will set you back around ¥980 (around $9 USD) and, in five minutes, it makes a Neapolitan-style margherita or quattro formaggio pizza, then boxes and …
All the Magical, Technical Benefits of Vollebak’s Graphene Jacket
For the first time, a brand has been able to turn the notoriously difficult to work with, aerospace revolutionizing material, graphene into a piece of consumer outerwear. The thin, expensive graphite-derived matter is very hard to produce and manipulate—especially in large quantities. But London-based Vollebak has utilized it for their $695 reversible jacket—and it’s stunning. The material make it capable of “absorbing heat and then …
The Tricky Expectations of the Photographer/Subject Relationship
Even the language with which we describe the medium—’take’ someone’s picture, ‘capture’ him, ‘shoot’ them—implies a fraught process with an inherent power imbalance. Over the years, photographers have reconsidered what they owe the people in their frames,” Alina Stein writes in her thoughtful piece about photographers and their subjects. The relationship between the two is tricky—both morally and monetarily. For example, compensation for subjects is …
Perseid Meteor Shower Promises 75 Shooting Stars an Hour
On Sunday and Monday night, the Perseid Meteor shower will peak, and during these peak nights, there will be an upward of 75 shooting stars an hour. Conditions like clouds or urban light or pollution may prohibit your view, but scientists suggest setting up early and avoiding phones—your eyes can take an upwards of 20 minutes to adjust to the dark sky. The show, as …
Project F.L.X. at Levi’s Design Studio in DTLA
Revolutionizing the future of jeans with tech from the denim brand's San Fransisco Eureka Labs
Buy Guide
The latest additions to our shoppable directory
Glacier White Toothbrush
$75
After releasing all-black and rose-colored brushes, Goby has just introduced an all-white (referred to as “Glacier White”) edition. The brush will come with all the same features: long-lasting battery, session timer, speed variations, and lifetime guarantee.
Bedtime Tea Dog Treats
$5
Bocce’s Bakery makes small-batch dog treats using locally sourced, 100% natural ingredients. Founder, Andrea Tovar, decided to make healthier snacks after reevaluating her dog Bocce’s health and diet; finding that the preservative-plagued treats she had been giving him weren’t helping with his weight problem. These new Bedtime Tea treats are made from banana, lavender, vanilla and oats—and ensure pooches (and pet parents) rest easy.
BW-Space Underwater Drone
$659
Youcan Robot’s BW-Space is a the ideal accessory for any level underwater explorer. The drone is outfitted with a 4K camera, autonomous and piloted control features, and LED light settings. The drone does not come with the Control Remote, but the unit features an autopilot mode and auto-tracking for subjects the 4K, UHD camera recognizes as the focal point.
“Tomboy” Pajama Set
$150
Made in DTLA from deadstock fabrics, Evewear makes sweet sleepwear that’s also eco-friendly. The “Tomboy” set (available in gray or blue colorways) includes ruffled shorts and a baseball jersey-style top—complete with heart-shaped buttons. Super-comfortable and sustainable, these pajamas will encourage a good night’s sleep.
Aretha Franklin: Live on Midnight Special 1976
A true icon, Aretha Franklin passed away today at 76 years old. Winner of countless awards, Franklin was a legend not just because of the accolades she achieved, but for the way she made her audiences feel. While her vocals can seem, at times, effortless, there’s such emotion and power driving them that listeners can’t help but feel their heart swell. Born in Memphis and …
Cat Power feat. Lana Del Rey: Woman
The final song recorded for—and the second song released from—Cat Power’s forthcoming album Wanderer, “Woman” floods the ears with a bluesy beating heart. Lana Del Rey guests on the track, underlining Chan Marshall’s mantra-like repetition of identity. Visuals come from Greg Hunt, and focus on several beautiful performances of the song. The album will be the first release from Marshall in six years—and all early indicators …
100+ Miles on Norco’s Optic C2 Mountain Bike
Test riding an understated bicycle that's ready for anything
Founded in 1964 in Northern Vancouver (aka The North Shore), Norco is a humble Canadian brand that makes mountain bikes that are up to the challenge. The North Shore is thought to be the birthplace of free-ride mountain biking and is, without question, home to some of the gnarliest trails in the world, giving Norco a leg up in testing. It should be no surprise …
Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ambassador of the Oceans
Despite all our devastating environmental mistakes, the explorer and educator refuses to give up
“Diversity is synonymous with stability.”
Sade: Kiss of Life (KAYTRANADA Remix)
Just about everything DJ/producer KAYTRANADA (aka Louis Kevin Celestin) touches turns to glittery gold, so it’s no surprise that his remix of Sade‘s sublime “Kiss of Life” is a bop. The song (from 1992’s Love Deluxe) has been given KAYTRANADA’s signature infectious, dance-floor-ready touch—which doesn’t take away from the original’s groove. He also shared a rework of A Tribe Called Quest‘s “Midnight” (from 1993’s Midnight Marauders) as well as …
Locksley: Black Ajax
From Forward, the first full-length album released by NYC-based Locksley in nine years, “Black Ajax” marries many beloved indie-rock styles from the last decade to great effect. It’s a bit flashy, a bit rollicking and undeniably catchy from the beginning. As for the 15-track album, it’s really a compilation of work from years’ worth of their recordings that never made it onto other albums, assembled …
MOORS feat. Tune-Yards: Mango
If “Mango” affirms anything, it’s that Lakeith Stanfield has mastered more than one craft. The track sees the acclaimed actor partnering with music producer HH (Hrishikesh Hirway), under the moniker MOORS, and the result is electrifying. tUnE-yArDs features on the song, amplifying the magnetism and underlining the strange magic of it all. Visual artist ruffmercy directed the video, which incorporates pop art visual manipulation that truly …
Rethinking Pittsburgh’s Public Space with Bae Bae’s Greenhouse
With a mission to give back to the community, an eco-minded space for locals and visitors alike
How Hacker-Craft Sport Boats Inspire Buick’s New Avenir Cars
Our factory visit digs in to the essence of boat-building and how it informs auto design
Premiere: “Hard Love” by Julietta
Going galactic in the latest music video from the pop performer
A collage of brilliant bits from the known universe—including galactic star-scapes and jungle flora—the latest music video from Brooklyn’s Julietta, “Hard Love” melts and pops with decisive delight. In the track, breathy vocals drift atop a bright beat supported by guitar, drums and synths. All the while, the tight production acts as an invitation to dance or simply smile. The song appears on Julietta’s just-released debut …
An Atypical NYC Souvenir Pop-Up, Open This Week
The shop will feature anecdotal totes and t-shirts
In the heart of NYC’s Chinatown, a tiny pop-up shop hosted by Verdes (a marketing and innovation consultancy with offices on Canal St) will sell customized New York City souvenirs for the next five days. Known as Today in New York, aka TINY, the store aims to compete with generic tourist buys (like NYPD shirts or I Heart NY tees) by way of tops and totes that …
Word of Mouth: Asbury Park
New Jersey's dynamic coastal destination in the midst of a cultural resurgence
Listen Up
From mind-bending Aphex Twin to a sublime song by Diana Gordon, plenty of new music this week
Link About It: This Week’s Picks
What makes a summer jam, how lava lamps fight hackers, AI for newsrooms and more
CDLP Launches Limited Edition Swimwear
Despite being known for their base layers, CDLP unveils two excellent pairs of swim shorts
Today, Stockholm-based underwear experts CDLP—famous for perfecting the juxtaposition of Swedish design and Portuguese craftsmanship—launches a limited edition line of velvet and nylon swimwear in a campaign fronted by Jay Alvarrez and shot by CDLP’s co-founder and filmmaker, Christian Larson. Alvarrez can be seen posing nonchalantly, with the same vibe that CDLP draws inspiration from, on the rocky coast of Ibiza. The release marks the brand’s first …