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Mike Newman

Managing Editor at Cool Material

Below Zero: Adventures out in the Cold

Not all outdoor activity happens in the middle of summer when the sunlight breaks through deep green tree leaves. In fact, some of our favorite escapades have occurred when there was a crunch of snow beneath our boots. Below Zero: Adventures out in the Cold is an ode to icy excursions.…

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60 Years of Logos: Chermayeff & Geismar

Only a couple of days ago, we shared with you Identity, a new book profiling the legendary design firm of Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv. Well get ready for another dose of epic logo design because Dress Code recently dropped this brief documentary about the same team. "60 Years of Logos"…

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‘Ocean’s 8’ Trailer

Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and that bendable guy who can fit inside small boxes are hanging up their heisting hats for a bit and letting the ladies take over. Here's your first look at Ocean's 8, the next installment in the Ocean's franchise. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling,…

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‘Mortal Engines’ Teaser Trailer

Peter Jackson returns with his next epic tale and this time he has his eyes set on a dystopian future. After a cataclysmic event, cities traverse the planet on giant vehicles, capturing others on their pursuit of survival. Jackson teamed up with Christian Rivers, the Oscar-winning visual-effects artist, to craft…

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Gift Pick: Amazon Echo Spot

Amazon just unveiled yet another device in its Echo range, as the Echo Spot hit virtual shelves not that long ago. What's new and exciting? Not a whole lot, but it does offer Alexa capabilities in a small package that also boasts a screen and mic, meaning you can use…

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Be Kind Online Is Modeled After WPA Posters of the 1930s

The poster you see here started over a few beers. Designers Michael Buchino and BT Livermore wanted to create a print that addressed a modern subject but depicted it in a style reminiscent of WPA (Work Projects Administration) posters from the 1930s and 1940s. Not only did they want to…

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National Geographic’s Best Photos of 2017

When it comes to stunning photography, National Geographic is tough to beat. As we close out 2017, the magazine has combed through nearly 2 million photographs shot by its photographers over the last year and selected the 57 best. From nature images that Planet Earth would be jealous of to photographs that capture…

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MUJI Is Building a Hotel

MUJI is known the world over for being minimal to the max. Everything the brand makes, from shirts to desk accessories, is simple, clean, and affordable. As the brand continues to expand its reach, it's taken on new and unique projects, with the latest being a hotel in Shenzhen, China.…

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The Waist Bowl Is a Bowl That’s Easy to Carry

Fill a bowl with chili, cereal, or homemade ramen and you'll quickly realize that transporting it from the stove, microwave, or kitchen counter to the table is easier said than done. The best method we've found is sticking your thumb in and cradling the bottom, but this still results in…

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‘Extraordinary Records’ Is an Ode to Great Album Art

The album jacket was the first thing we thought of when the digital era began. Without a hard copy of a record, where would we get the artist-defining visuals? Luckily—and maybe partially because of this—vinyl is experiencing a renaissance. Tachen's latest is a celebration of great album art, of the…

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Airbnb Reveals the Most Wish-Listed Homes of 2017

Airbnb has changed the travel game forever. No longer are you relegated to Best Westerns and fine hotels that cost more than the airfare to get to them. As we close out 2017, Airbnb has revealed the properties that were wish-listed the most this past year. The most wish-listed for…

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InstaSaber Is an App That Puts a Lightsaber in Your Hand

Augmented reality is probably going to be the next big thing in games and time-wasting apps, and 2020CV, a company founded by Hart Woolery, a recent grad, is giving us an awesome glimpse into what that future could hold. The company is set to release InstaSaber, an AR app that…

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What to Watch This Weekend: Jean-Claude Van Johnson

With cable, Netflix, and internet options, finding the best thing to watch during your downtime is difficult. Instead of flipping through menus all weekend and settling on nothing, turn to What to Watch This Weekend, a series in which we give you our pick for the best new show or…

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‘Identity’ Profiles One of the Most Legendary Design Firms

For the uninitiated, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv is a New York-based design firm that's responsible for some of the most iconic logos you see every day. What logos? NBC. PBS. Showtime. Mobil. Chase Bank. We could go on. Now the legendary firm is getting the retrospective it deserves. Identity: Chermayeff…

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Blitzen Is a Rooftop Beverage Cooler

Everyone knows the feeling of being on your way to a holiday get-together with nothing for the host. What do you do? You stop at a bottle shop for a bottle of wine or beer on the way and then hightail it to the dinner. Problem is, you then arrive…

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