I am not even an outdoorsy person but I totally want one of these Base Lanterns from BioLite. It’s the first flat packed smart lantern that doubles as your own miniature smart grid. These BioLite folks, always pushing new ideas…
New Seymour Chwast Book Protests 5,000 Years of War
Design icon Seymour Chwast has used his art to battle war since 1957. His new antiwar book features 70 pages of original illustrations.
Seymour Chwast is a design legend. As co-founder with Milton Glaser of Push Pin Studios, he led a revolution in graphic design in the 1960s and ’70s, producing bold, vibrant work that pushed the limits of nearly every visual medium.
Now, he turns his pen and sketchpad toward creating a new book on a subject that has been a personal obsession for nearly six decades: the fight against war, humankind’s never-ending scourge. Definitely supporting this Kickstarter!
CreativeMornings Kickstarter
Have you ever attended a CreativeMornings? Or have you been inspired by CreativeMornings talks online or via our Podcast? Then please support this beautiful engine of generosity.
I believe in the generosity economy, but it only works, if it’s a two way street. It’s time for the givers to be heard and supported:
For the last 7.5 years we have been putting on free events around the world: Free talks! Free breakfast! Free coffee! This is only the second time in our existence that we ask our audience to give back. This means thousands of free events around the world, never asking the audience to chip in.
CreativeMornings started because I believe in the importance of meeting face-to-face and that’s what we want to do with our 1500 volunteers from around the world. We are hosting our second organizer summit this November in Austin to get our volunteer organizers together so we can compare notes and learn from each other.
Our volunteer organizers put countless hours into organizing CreativeMornings events around the world, for you, to attend for free and then enjoy the talks online. Please donate to our Kickstarter and help us make this 3 day 400 people gathering happen. In the end, it will come back to you, in the form of even better local events and a newly energized and inspired volunteer crew!
And, if you work for a company that would like to be corporate sponsor at our organizer summit, please get in touch.
(For those of you who have organized events, you realize that the $50k we are trying to raise doesn’t even remotely cover our cost for a 400 people, three day event! It’s just a start!)
Please Support Our CreativeMornings Kickstarter
Full disclosure: I am not someone that asks for help easily, writing this post has me feeling all the feels:
On Friday my team and I launched a Kickstarter campaign to support and celebrate our 1,500 CreativeMornings volunteers around the world. Every month, they pour time and heart into each and every event, which are open to anyone, at no cost. They passionately and tirelessly fuel this engine of generosity.
Just last year alone, we hosted over 1,600 events, in over 50 countries. Did I say CreativeMornings events are free? As in ZERO DOLLARS? And come with free breakfast? Free coffee? And even hugs?
We often try to imagine how many lives CreativeMornings must have touched. How many people found new jobs? New friends? Spouses? Or simply a place where to feel safe and understood. My team and I believe in the power of meeting up, in the power of creating a safe, kind space to share and connect.
Have you ever been inspired by a CreativeMornings event? Or watched our talks online? Then please, consider donating to our Kickstarter which will help us put on our bi-annual Organizer Summit. It’s a two day chance for all volunteers around the world to get together and compare notes, learn from each other and make your local events better.
We put together some pretty neat rewards, have a look. If you have ever been touched by a CreativeMornings event, please consider giving back.
And, if your company might be interested in sponsoring our Summit, and in that case, be invited to participate and meet our hosts from around the world, please email us!
Thank you! (/ Exhale)
Pen Type-B
Love seeing how Che-Wei and Taylor have improved the Pen Type-A. I use mine often. And love it.
They are now launching Pen Type-B, a minimal pen in a pocketable sleeve engineered to last generations. Their current Kickstarter campaign is way over goal already. Totally happy for them.
Yay to makers of minimal, quality products.
The Invisible Dog – Season 7
I have been a fan of The Invisible Dog since I first learned about it, 7 years ago. And by moving my businesses into the Invisible Dog earlier this year, I can now even call myself a lucky member of this talented community. Lucien Zayan, the director of The Invisible Dog, is a giant ball of love. He has artfully curated a small community of artists and visual storytellers that give a damn. I can’t thank Lucien, and our landlord Frank, enough for letting us do our thing on Bergen Street. I am so totally going to support Lucien’s Kickstarter for the 7th’s season.
YES!
Two weeks ago, the White House reached out to Kickstarter and asked to help the millions of refugees seeking safety in the Middle East and Europe! Kickstarter said yes and launched this aid refugees campaign.
This isn’t a typical Kickstarter project. The rewards are all about giving, not getting. Kickstarter is donating 100% of their usual fee to support these aid efforts.
I applaud this. Go Kickstarter for opening up their platform. And go internet.
I just “backed” the campaign. Will you join me?. (Your donation is is 100% tax deductible.)
Minimalissimo Magazine
Carl Brandenburg, the force behind one of favorite blogs Minimalissimo just launched a Kickstarter campaign to create their first print issue. He is good people. He gets my support.
50 Books | 50 Covers
Established in 1923 by the American Institute of Graphic Arts as “Fifty Books,” the 50 Books | 50 Covers competition is now the longest continually running design competition in the United States. Since 2011, Design Observer has hosted it. And in 2015, for the first time, they are publishing a book and mounting an exhibition to commemorate the competition winners of 2014, narrowed down from a field of 500 entries from fourteen countries. If you love books and want to own this one, support their Kickstarter campaign.
GOBAG
GOBAG is a carry-on duffel bag with an impressive feature: a vacuum compression system that can compact your soft gear. WOW!
Haori Cup
Haori Cup is a beautiful Japanese bentwood drink wear. Works both for cold and warm drinks. Head over to their Kickstarter if you want to call some of them your own.
Invest in Sugru!
I just opened my Sugru community newsletter and learned that I can now buy shares in the company I love so much.
There’s no other company that makes my heart go pitter patter the way Sugru does. (You can watch their story here.)
I am so totally investing a teeny tiny bit of money. (It starts as low as £10) How can I not? I am such a fan and respect Jane and her team so much! What a smart move!
UPDATE: So, if you live in the US, Canada and Japan, you’re unfortunately out of luck. Crowdfunding is apparently not regulated yet in these countries, so, we’re not allowed to participate. Major womp womp moment here!
Pikaplant
Pikaplant will turn your “black thumb” into a green one. Tableau system mimics nature so plants water themselves. Learn more about Pikaplant over at booooooom.com.
Ladislav Sutnar: Visual Design in Action
Graphic design book nerds unite: Out of print for decades, Visual Design in Action is one of the most beautiful books on modern graphic design. Written and designed by Ladislav Sutnar and published in 1961, it has been called a “lost milestone” and a “treasure.” This Kickstarter by Designers & Books is bringing it back.
A-holes: A type book
Did you know that there are at least two A-holes in every typeface? A-holes: A type book. File this under: It made me laugh.
Disco Dog
Please, dog owners, don’t yell at me for posting this absurd dog accessory: Disco Dog is the world’s first smartphone controlled LED dog vest. Best part: If the dog walks too far away from you the ‘lost dog mode’ is activated.
Watch the Kickstarter Video to see all the DISCO modes you can choose.
Magic Paper
Magnetic Notes looks like a magical product, it’s a paper that sticks to any surface. Post-it notes on Steroids! We could totally use this in our studio!
(Great product idea but that Kickstarter video is painful)
Freaker For Your Feet!
The fine folks of Freaker are at it again: They just launched a new (and wonderfully absurd) Kickstarter campaign. First they made cozys for drinks, now they aim to take over the world of socks. I am so totally backing this.
UPDATE: They have 20h to go. Come on everyone, let’s rally and make these sock dreams happen!
(Remember their first Kickstarter campaign? One of the best videos I have seen…)
Bookniture
BOOKNITURE unfolds from a book to a multifunctional furniture. I love this.
Ostrich Pillow Mini
I have written about the ingenious ostrich pillow before and am delighted to see that there is now a more practical version, the ostrich pillow mini in the works. I totally need this for impromptu desk naps. Who is with me?
It’s A Month
This giant calendar called It’s A Month made me laugh! Totally backing this Kickstarter. Well done, Dave!
