run by monica khemsurov and jill singer, former editors of i.d. magazine, sight unseen is a new website aiming to provide an intimate and behind-the-scenes look at design, art, fashion, food, photography and other creative disciplines.

takata lemnos, a japanese company, is running a competition for clock and product designs to add to their product line.

pioneers of change is a festival of dutch design, fashion and architecture on governors island in new york. it continues this weekend, september 18-20.

governors island is always a great little getaway, just a short (and free) ferry ride from downtown manhattan. although it did get very crowded last weekend.

love the design of tondo, a super 8 projector sold in italy from 1970-72.

via retrothing

scandinavian design originals.

after spending an afternoon at the new york international gift fair (nyigf), i stopped by the opening of the areaware pop-up shop at the port authority bus terminal yesterday. nice setup and collection of products. core77 and flavorwire have some more info and pics.

it will be open for another 6 weeks, stop by if you’re in town.

the iF product design award is open for its 2010 competition.

businessweek has a slideshow on the 2009 winners of the ‘plagiarus award’.

action plagiarius "grants this negative award at the annual ambiente trade fair, given to manufacturers and distributors found guilty of making or selling ‘the most flagrant’ (design) imitations. … the aim of action plagiarius is to inform the public about the extent, damages and dangers incurred by fakes and plagiarisms."

some of the knock-offs are truly unbelievable, with not the smallest attempts to add or change any design details to hide their origin. and of course, several pieces that solely copy the outer appearance, while choosing cheaper or non-effective materials for the actual construction. and that’s without even mentioning the disregard for all the work and intellectual efforts that went into designing the original pieces.