hand crafted

ABSOLUT Glass.

ABSOLUT VODKA commissioned Designer Thomas Feichtner to design of a new vodka glass to compliment their new hand crafted small batch vodka , ABSOLUT ELYX. The vodka is distilled from wheat that is grown within a few miles of the distillery, in the original copper kettle from 1921 used by ABSOLUT.

Drawing inspiration from other design projects he has been working on, Feichtner created a three leg glass that is produced by hand with the highest quality workmanship of which was key to this vodka’s concept. The glass picks up formally on many of his previous works while retaining an independent character.

“I’m fascinated by the formal alternation between positive and negative, between sine and cosine. And here, I absolutely wanted to separate the glass’s body from the surface upon which it stands and thereby also create a visually independent and self-sufficient object,” Thomas Feichtner

To compliment the glass, and the special vodka ABSOLUT and Thomas Feichtner have created a unique cocktail to go in it. The “Absolut Feichtner” which is comprised of a bit of wheat syrup and lime juice, and a shot of Peychaud’s syrup and a dash of Angostura Bitters. I haven’t tried it yet, but the ABSOLUT web site describes it as “rather light in body with floral aromas, supporting the vodka’s natural taste. The soft coppery hue that refers back to its origin: The nearly 100-year-old copper kettle No. 51 in Åhus, Sweden.

Gentleman Scholar Presents “Sprout 3D-scanning PC”. For HP.

As someone who is deeply rooted in graphic design, who’s career began with hand lettering before computers, and is insanely fascinated by video, storytelling, and motion graphics, the video below makes me all happy inside. Gentleman Scholar has produced a video for HP that is chocked full of killer typography, amazing shots, solid editing, and graphic design. The short spot is timed and paced so fluidly, with a soundtrack and voice over that help keep you focused on the visuals. Love, love, love this.

Oftentimes we find that our creativity is reduced to the footprint of our computer screens. But what happens when the digital and tactile work in tandem? Teaming up with 180LA, Gentleman Scholar explored this notion with piece below for HP’s new “Sprout 3D-scanning PC.” Using handcrafted vignettes that make up the spot, and presenting a new frontier in creativity: “where digital innovation meets tangible reality, a world in which imaginations take flight.”

The Bushmills x Grado Labs Headphones. Cans Made From Whiskey Barrels.

I like whiskey, music, and design. When you combine all three, it’s love. Grado is producing a line of headphones made from Bushmills whiskey barrels. The limited edition headphones are hand crafted, feature vented backs, leather headbands and ear cups.

Designed by Elijah Wood & Zach Cowie, these aren’t light on tech specs. They feature dynamic operating transducers with a frequency response of 16hz to 26kHz spl at 1mW – 98dB nominal impedance – 32 ohms driver match – .05dB.

NW3 Speakers. Clean, Simple, Functional. What More Do You Need?

Clean, Simple, Elegant design is one way to describe these speakers from NW3. Hand crafted, high quality, and choice materials is another.”

NW3 is a Germany based interdisciplinary collective where products are designed, manufactured and distributed in close collaboration with local craftsmen and businesses. In addition NW3 tries to explore alternative forms of production and graphic shapes. The NW3 speakers create a natural looking and sounding stereo system that can be used in every area of your house.

The drivers are manufactured by the Danish company Pearless. The simple box housing, is made from local wood, solvent-free stain and protected with natural wax finish. All work is done by a small carpenters workshop in Germany. The front speaker grills are made of powder-coated steel that compliments the simple shape and lines of the speakers.

“Our products are simple and reticent. It is not our intention to make just beautiful forms. We are concentrated on function, comprehensibility, ecology and durability.”