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As Tiffany Meyers observes in her overview of the 100 winners, one can’t peg 2009 as the year of any specific color or typographic convention. But the winning projects are reflective of today’s increasingly diverse design discipline. In fact, one has to wonder if there is any longer such a thing as a design discipline—in light of today’s fast-changing and even amorphous practice, the word discipline seems a little out of place.
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SOFT & HARD WARES
 
Feel-good items for your hands, feet, and butt highlight some of this issue's soft & hard wares. 
July/August 2006
SOFT & HARD WARES
The Latest and Greatest Gadgets and Accessories

SPLIT PERSONALITY
Paolo Grasselli’s Ercolina chaise gives new meaning to executive lounge. Conserve office space and display as a sculpture, or flip over to reveal a remarkable resting place. Metal frame with swing weight is artfully dressed in a removable faux-leather cover for comfort. Show your sophisticated side in either red or black.
Paolo Grasselli Ercolina, $1,498, 866.876.3300, www.topdeq.com

HIP FLIPP
Turn your office waiting area into a modern, urban space open for business with Flipp wall-mounted seats from designers Tove Adman and Hans Edblad, sold at the newly launched PID (Personal Interior Design). Rather than showing visitors a clutter of chairs, clean it up with Flipp’s sleek polished aliminum design. Or use it for small spaces at home, like the entryway—Flipp makes a great seat to pull on your boots, and you can tuck it away when not in use. For colorful variation, spring for the optional reindeer hide leather cover.
PID Flipp wall-mounted seat, $185 (leather cover $91), www.pid.se

ROLL ON
Feel good in so many ways with a Rolling Market Basket from Viva Terra. The stylish basket helps rid shoulder strain, disposable plastic bag waste, and—in its own small way—poverty. The Cambodian fair-trade company that makes these durable, lightweight woven reed baskets provides living wages and schooling options to the local villagers.
Viva Terra Rolling Market Basket, $119, 800.233.6011, www.vivaterra.com

ROCKIN' COMFORT
The FM 500 footrest helps keep your best feet forward. Its rocking chair contour moves back and forth, following the thoughtful movement of your feet. Raised rubber dots keep your dancing shoes in place, and the office savvy design asks why you’d hide it under your desk.
Topdeq FM 500 Footrest, $229, 866.876.3300, www.topdeq.com

TOO FAST, TOO SOON?
Creating a new standard, the Razer Pro/Solutions Pro/Click v1.6 mouse aids users in their hustle to win the rat race. With twice the precision (1600 dpi) and twice the speed (6400 fps) than current mouse standards, an ergonomic design with seven buttons, low-friction Teflon feet, Always-On Instant Response, and on and on, this mouse may be too much at first. See if you can handle it. (For STEP art director Michael Ulrich’s review of Razer’s v1.6, visit http://blogs.graphicdesignforum.com.)
Razer Pro/Solutions Pro/Click v1.6 Mouse, $59.99, 858.764.2454, www.razerpro.com

EAT ’EM UP
Dirty digits? Campers, don’t despair. Wherever you roam, Nomad Travel Silverware from Uncommon Goods can come along. This compact combo fork/knife/ spoon/bottle opener stores neatly into a plastic cover for easy carry and access. Available in orange or black.
Uncommon Goods Nomad Travel Silverware, $20, 888.365.0056, www.uncommongoods.com

TAKE OUT ANYONE?
Something with an international taste perhaps? Netherlands-based Urban Access is delivering the company’s trademark “Pizza Courier” bag collection to Western shores. Making their U.S. debut, the bags feature a number of popular international destination designs on the front flap. The interior is large enough to transport an extra large pizza or more conventional items like books, papers, a laptop, and more, with a separate zippered pocket for smaller items.
Urban Access Pizza Courier Bag, $49.95 (suggested retail), 585.697.3444, www.urbanaccessgear.com

TOTALLY BEACHIN’
Take your choice—’50s Woody or ’60s funk—of retro six-pack cooler to the beach for some randy, sandy fun. Outfitted with the most modern threads, this pack keeps your drinks cool and the grooves flowing. Compatible with iPods, MP3 players, or CD players, this bag is sure to make waves.
Uncommon Goods Cool Tunes Cooler Bag, $45, 888.365.0056, www.uncommongoods.com

THE VIEW FROM ABOVE
Product designers spend loads of time and money creating packages to grab our attention. But suffice it to say, most of us don’t leave our dish soap sitting out next to the sink for all to see. We may be brand proud, but in this case, most soap bottles end up under the sink next to all the other cleaning products. PID aims to change your MO for dispensing with dirty dishes. The Washing Up Liquid Dispenser is one bottle sure to remain topside.
PID Washing Up Liquid Dispenser (turquoise or black), $40, www.pid.se

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