SmartCrossBars

An intelligent roof rack solution for switching between gear

Thomas Vollbrecht knows gear. The self-professed “fun hog” lives in Park City, Utah, where a community of avid outdoorsmen creates a demand for functional equipment. Vollbrecht first thought of SmartCrossBars—the flagship product from his company, Wasatch Powder Monkeys—while eating with his family at the B&B Cafe in Castle Rock, Colorado. Vollbrecht kept staring out the window at the family car, unable to enjoy his meal …

London Design Festival 2012: The Copper Impression

The metal reigns at LDF

The use of ultra-versatile copper is on the rise, whether inspired by the 204 copper petals forming this year’s Olympic torch by Thomas Heatherwick, the promise of the metal’s unique patina upon years of use or its ever-increasing street value. The reason for copper’s distinct resurgence is undoubtedly as varied as its numerous applications, and to highlight that we’ve culled nine examples from London Design …

Rare + Fibrous

Colorful side tables built from an Amazonian root

Using Kufa, an aerial root fiber native to the Amazon rain forest, John-Michael Ekeblad builds furniture by hand using a variety of techniques unique to the region. Ekeblad works with local Amazonian craftsman in Georgetown, Guyana to harvest the nomadic plant, then collaborates with them throughout the design process. His latest project, Rare + Fibrous—which is operated by strategic design consultancy, Daytime NYC—presents a series …