New Zealand's Definitive Design Destination

These look like design-asaurs to us. They are actually part of Israeli designer Gad Charny's 'Mutants' exhibition. Each animal is constructed as a hybrid between two or more species. He hopes to explore the notion of transformation of the physical body and genetic modification. If he fails in getting the message across, we still think they would look amazing on the bookshelf, that is, if little Tommy doesn't steal them for his toy chest first.

The exhibition will run from the 17th of August 2009 at The Artists House Gallery in Tel Aviv in Israel.

For more information about the designer's work click here.

We like designers that take ordinary objects and make them beautiful. Take designer Susie MacMurray's deflated balloons  - they couldn't look prettier. Perhaps she gives us an even better excuse to pop them.

Direct from the Jetson's archives comes the SmartFaucet with it's facial recognition technology. Once it knows you, the SmartFaucet tap will automatically turn on the water to your preferred temperature and flow. And if that’s not enough, you can also use the touch screen to access e-mails, check the outside temperature or review your calendar.

For more information go here.

If you're in anywhere near Auckland you should check out the newly opened Shed 5 Cafe. Located in an old warehouse in the ex Courier Post site off Wellesley Street, the cafe forms part of the Deus Ex Machina showroom; part gallery, part retail and part cafe. The folks behind the space are passionate about all things motorcycle related, they build custom bikes on site, a process that you can watch in action over a coffee. The entire space has an raw, yet thoughtful design ethos to it that makes you want to don a helmet and leather pants and be part of the action.

For more information go here.

Presented at this years Milan Fair designer Philippe Starck presented the Ring chair, developed with Eugeni Quiyllet, for manufacturers Driade. The plastic dining chair has an opaque base and a transparent backrest.

Driade is avialable locally here.

Inspired by classic menswear such as suits and dinner jackets that never go out of style, designer Fredrik Färg has invented a process he calls slow fashion for furniture. His furniture pieces are made by plane pressed moldable polyester that  fold around the body to embrace you when sitting. 

For more information on the designer go here.

Louis Vuitton as you've never seen it before: in lego. We've seen some amazing lego interpretations this year, from Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic architecture to Dispatchwork. These handbag and wallet creations are made by Chiu Keung, an official member of the 'Hong Kong LEGO user group'. It seems that these days there are organisations for everything. Pretty cute.

If we ever thought film cameras were going out of style, Lomo reminds us that 25 years after they graced the analogue world with their colourful and extraordinary beautiful pictures, it's time to celebrate their birthday. To get the party started, they've launched their first ever special edition named: LOMO LC-A + 25th Anniversary Edition.

Pocket sized and robust with colours of the deepest saturation and contrast, the limited edition sports  a textured skin and a 25th Anniversary badge on its body. It even comes packaged together in a commemorative wooden box.

Perfect for party photos - look out.

For all more information click here.

Hands down one of my favourite fashion designers, Martin Margiela sure knows how to push the boundaries when creating his wearable works of art. The latest F/W 2009 Artisanal collection uses an assortment of everyday items, including pen caps, fake eyelashes and synthetic door curtains to create the avant garde ensembles.

Designed as both a sculpture and a functioning chair the Chair Construction chair uses human figurines to create and illusion that tells a narrative of the traditional parts of the chair that are missing.

For more information go here.

What do you get when you cross two typographers and a pro race car driver? The three collaborated using custom designed software that allowed them to track the movements of the car and create the letters and figures shown.

French photographer Gregoire Alexandre creates some imaginative and complex sets for his studio shoots. This oragami-esq installation is fantastic.

For more information on the photographer go here.

Any hands up for global warming? Nope didn't think so. Japanese photographer Kawano Takeshi's work on the other hand is stunning.

For more information click here.

Despite looking like photographs Juan Francisco Casas's artworks are in fact created entirely using the common old ballpoint pen. Fantastic.

Consisting of six interlocking brass plates, the Cubist Mirror by Voonwong + Bensonsaw serves up multifaceted reflections in one easy to assemble package.

For more information go here.