Small Business Saturday

Magnetic objects, leather Baggus, a smart thermostat and more in this week's look at the web

While Black Friday always promises to be a total consumption fiasco, we can get on board with the American Express-sponsored program to support independent merchants the following day. The credit card giant has leveraged various social media channels to get millions on board to shop small and bolster the economy in the process.

Broached Commissions

Prison, wooden spikes and bedrock in an Australian design collective's first history-based collection

When it came time for a concept to drive new design consortium Broached Commissions, rather than turn to exotic, far-flung influences, the firm looked to much more provincial sources—literally their backyard. Founded by Creative Director Lou Weis, the Melbourne-based collective includes three permanent designers, Trent Jansen, Adam Goodrum and Charles Wilson, who collaborate with an annually rotating cast of contributors on products related to Australian …

O Tea

Function meets design in a service exclusive to Phillips de Pury

Behind gregorysung’s understated O Tea design lies more than a year of research and development to produce a supremely functional tea service that combines cool-to-the-touch surfaces with a drip-less pot and cups sized with the hand in mind. Aside from its deeply thoughtful construction, the set is beautiful. Korean porcelain experts and Italian master wood artisans crafted by hand each hand-cast-porcelain vessel and oil-polished walnut …