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If names like Yeti, Tundra, and RTIC strike a chord, you’ve likely gone through the sticker shock associated with deliberating between very large rectangular blocks of insulated plastic. Ice coolers fall under the product category of “you wouldn’t believe how much these things cost,” at least when considering options amongst a top performing tier of coolers attached to price tags of hundreds of dollars. Oyster, a new Norwegian brand will still set you back $500, but it introduces a uniquely smaller and more efficient design aiming to suck out the air from its larger and bulkier competition.
Typically thermal energy is circulated within a cooler very slowly, affecting the overall temperature within. The Tempo thermal circulation is 380x faster than a comparable hard cooler, the equivalent of 190 watts/meter Kelvin versus 0.5 watts/meter Kelvin.
The Tempo is the most engineered ice cooler, inside and out, with an intelligently designed accessories system allowing easy and fast switches from a metal carrying handle to the included shoulder strap with only a couple turns of a dial. This assembly/disassembly construction also makes cleaning the cooler simpler and more thorough.
Even the best hard cooler requires pouring large amounts of ice to retain a cold drink temperature for hours, making for a laborious haul, ironically heating the carrier while attempting to keep the contents cool. The Tempo proposes something a bit wild: subtracting ice out of the equation. That is, if you start off by throwing in cold drinks or food to begin with. The Tempo’s patented double-wall vacuum insulation technology is so efficient in preventing heat transfer from occurring – keeping cold temps within from escaping and warmer ambient air from intruding. The cooler can keep cold foods or drinks chill for hours without ice… or for much longer aided by two included ice packs.
Two ice packs designed to fit perfectly into the Tempo are included, helping keep food and drinks cold(er) for longer periods. The precise fit of the two accessory packs into the aluminum lined interior illustrates the level of detail the Oyster team put into developing the Tempo over the span of six years. \\\ Photo: Gregory Han
The sleek extruded aluminum cooler essentially works just like those popular double-walled metal flasks you might already carry around everywhere to keep your coffee hot or water cold throughout the day, creating an insulated and vacuumed sealed interior large enough to fit 36 cans of beverages within. The only caveat of the design is if you dent it, it’s going to wear the signs of your mishaps forever (but that’s what strategically placed stickers are for).
The cooler’s rectangular shape is in itself an innovation; previous attempts to manufacture anything beyond a cylindrical vacuum-insulated shape would fail to retain their shape over an extended span of time. Oyster stands by their design so confidently, not only will they replace any broken parts, they claim their replacement policy even extends out to damage if your cooler is “mauled by a bear.”
The lid locks into a vacuum seal by securing two long handle hinges on both sides. Leave one in place and the lid levers open in a clamshell configuration. \\\ Photo: Gregory Han
Photo: Gregory Han
A strap or handle can be switched out quickly and easily thanks to the Tempo’s twist dial securing system. \\\ Photo: Gregory Han
A red nylon shoulder strap attaches easily to the Tempo for longer, heavier hauls after loading the 12.3-lbs (empty) cooler for outdoor destinations. \\\ Photo: Gregory Han
Outward appearances may give off the impression the Tempo is designed only for modest loads. But because of the thin-walled design, the Tempo offers three times the capacity compared to other rotomolded coolers of similar size.
Photo: Gregory Han
As the owner of an enormous and unwieldy rotomolded cooler, the Tempo’s manageable size is revelatory, and to be frank, suitable for more than 80% of our typical hiking, camping, or picnicking adventures. Pair that with the Tempo’s extraordinary ability to keep contents cold without bagfuls of ice, the quick-switch handle or strap carrying system, superior portability, and its subjectively standout industrial good looks, and the Tempo is arguably the coolest cooler on the market.
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1. “Don’t worry about style. It will be expressed no matter what you do. Style is part of the way your brain is wired.”
—Luke Sullivan
2. “I never went out of my way to invent a style. I haven’t got a style — I just draw and it’s that way.”
—Ralph Steadman
3. “The problem with art today: the artist believes he must find a style (or a schtick really) and defend it with his life. And if all the schticks are already taken, he must pull one out of his ass. He must find one, invent one, fabricate one, for he can be nothing if he cannot be original.”
—Eddie Campbell
4. “‘One of the problems for the great modern dancers is that they developed their own style,’ which led to an overuse of the same muscle sets. A body needs balance and, as it ages, different ways to build strength and stamina.”
—Twyla Tharp
5. “Style is a capitalist invention. It’s a trademark. It’s very useful in the world of commerce to have a good trademark, but it wasn’t my first concern. I got restless…”
—Art Spiegelman
6. “Self-plagiarism is style.”
—Alfred Hitchcock
7. “The way to professional accomplishment: you have to demonstrate that you know something unique, that you can repeat, over, and over and over until ultimately you lose interest in it… The model for personal development is antithetical to the model for professional success….Whenever Picasso learned how to do something he abandoned it.”
—Milton Glaser
8. “In our current cult of originality, the pressure is to have a personal style as soon as possible, and the classroom environments often have this mentality as well. Everyone is freaking out: “What’s my style? What’s my thing?” It’s too much too fast. This race for originality has, over the years, spread from that future-goal timeline to just after college to (now) inside college itself. A safety zone no longer exists.”
—Dash Shaw
9. “When I talk to young composers, I tell them, I know that you’re all worried about finding your voice. Actually you’re going to find your voice. By the time you’re 30, you’ll find it. But that’s not the problem. The problem is getting rid of it.”
—Philip Glass
10. “Don’t worry about a style. It will creep up on you and eventually you will have to undo it in order to go further.”
—Gary Panter
11. “Style is selection. These things all exist in the world. We don’t invent anything, but we do look around and go towards the things that connect with something within us.”
—John Patrick Shanley
12. “Artists; you do know, don’t you, That your mistakes are your style.”
—Jerry Saltz
13. “I always think of style as something that’s the distance between what you want something to look like, and what your hand and brain make it look like unintentionally. And there’s quite a gap there, and there’s some interesting stuff in that gap.”
—Daniel Clowes
14. “Originality, personality, or style can neither be encouraged nor prevented. Forget the matter.”
—Lou Harrison
15. “Comments about style sound strange to me. ‘You work in this style or that style.’ As if you had a choice in the matter. What you’re doing is trying to stay alive! And continue! And not die! What you want is an experience of making something that you haven’t seen before.”
—Philip Guston
16. “You heard the style / I think you missed the point”
—Beastie Boys
17. “Punk was not a style of music. It was the state of your mind.”
—Mike Watt
18. “Your style comes out of your attitude — what kind of a person you are, your personality, how you see things.”
—Elmore Leonard
19. “A writer’s personality is his manner of being in the world: his writing style is the unavoidable trace of that manner. When you understand style in these terms, you don’t think of it as merely a matter of fanciful syntax, or as the flamboyant icing atop a plain literary cake, nor as the uncontrollable result of some mysterious velocity coiled within language itself. Rather, you see style as a personal necessity, as the only possible expression of a particular human consciousness. Style is a writer’s way of telling the truth.”
—Zadie Smith
20. “After 40 years, what I came to care about most was not style, but the breath of life.”
—William Maxwell
Black women worldwide value their hair. From afros to wigs, braids, and blowouts, Black women have used hair to symbolize their gendered racial identity. Indeed, Madam C.J. Walker, the first Black woman millionaire in the U.S., highlights the significance of hair to Black women as a form of labor and enterprise. In this blog post, I present five crucial insights anchored in Black feminist thought regarding Black hair.
“Black beauty: Shade, hair, and anti-racist aesthetics,” by Shirley Anne Tate, Professor and Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Feminist and Intersectionality at the Sociology Department, University of Alberta, Canada, is a commonly cited paper in Black hair studies. In the essay, Tate investigates the performance and instability of black beauty through an examination of conservations amongst mixed race Black women. Historically, natural Black beauty has been associated with textured hair and darker skin, which is then further associated with antiracism, whereas hair straightening is viewed as an artificial attempt to resemble white or Eurocentric beauty standards.
Since they are often perceived as having more European physical traits, mixed race Black women have historically been put in a complicated position in the hierarchy of feminine and racialized beauty ideals. This leads in a persistent experience of othering and difference, as Rachael Malonson experienced though in backlash for her election to Miss Black University of Texas in 2017.
Tate explains that the way mixed race Black women grapple with the normalized racialized aesthetics of Black beauty exposes how physical signifiers have political meaning that reinforce the boundaries of what constitutes Black beauty. Rather than attempting to comply to specific aesthetics, some reinterpret what defines Black beauty in diverse ways, illustrating how the performance of racialized beauty aesthetics is fluid yet indeterminable.
Good or bad; authentic versus inauthentic; natural versus straightened. In a 2009 Women’s Studies article, Cheryl Thompson, Assistant Professor in Performance at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University, discusses how these opposing hair perspectives affect Black women’s sense of self. Thompson overviews the history of Black hair to illuminate how slavery, emancipation, and Black social movements constitute key political contexts that affect how Black people style their hair.
Beauty standards for Black women are shaped not just by white society, but also by members of their own community. Because of the cultural association of straightened, long hair with feminine beauty, Black women are pressured to alter their naturally kinky hair to conform to these expectations. Further, in their everyday life, they must manage how these standards justify prejudice and discrimination; for example, workplace hairstyle standards may impede their economic mobility in the long run. For these reasons, Thompson explains that we can’t depoliticize Black hair because of how western values affect Black people’s lived experiences.
Black women have a complex and nuanced relationship to beauty, hair, and embodiment. In western society, black hair has become politicized and hyper-scrutinized, with longstanding hegemonic standards of beauty privileging straighter hair and looser curl patterns as “good hair.” In “Rooted: On Black women, beauty, hair, and embodiment,” Kristin Denise Rowe, Assistant Professor of American Studies at California State University, Fullerton, examines the ways hair is tied to their embodied experiences for many Black women.
According to Rowe, the natural hair movement, which has gained momentum in recent years, offers a vehicle for Black women to reclaim embodied agency and interiority, in the face of misogynoir. Through this movement, Black women have created a space to rearitculate standards of beauty and to affirm their natural hair textures. However, the beauty industry has also commodified and commercialized Black women’s growing emphasis on their natural hair, with a predicted worth of over $13 billion
Overall, Rowe’s essay provides a comprehensive examination of the history, politics, and dynamic relationships to beauty culture for Black women in relation to their hair. Additionally, it acknowledges the importance of Black women’s experiences and narratives to expand and complicate ideas of beauty that shape the unique relationship of women of color to beauty culture. By understanding the complex constellation of interlocking factors that inform how Black women experience and conceptualize beauty, we can reveal what Rowe calls the intimacies, (re)negotiations, (re)articulations, and radical possibilities of Black women’s embodiment and the potentiality of “beauty” as a construct.
From precolonial Africa to the present, Black women’s hair has had political importance. Throughout the history of the Americas, Europeans used hair to demonstrate political authority over the Other. In her 2022 Sociology Compass essay “Historicizing black hair politics: A framework for contextualizing race politics,” Sylviane Ngandu-Kalenga Greensword, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Texas Christian University’s (TCU) Race and Reconciliation Initiative (RRI), explores these dynamics. Greensword discusses the intersectionality of race and gender in the political oppression of Black hair, as well as resistance to this oppression. The essay also explains that Black hair culture has progressed from enslavement and colonialism to globalization and decolonization, yet Black women still suffer hair discrimination and policies that privilege white hair practices.
Black women have long used West and Central African practices of hairstyling and ornamentation to resist these injustices. For example,in the 1780s, then-Governor Miró issued the “Edict of Good Government,” which forced women of color to either cover their hair with a handkerchief or comb it flat or face incarceration. In response, Black women began to wear “tignons,” elegant turbans that emphasized their textured hair rather than concealed it.
The tignon laws exemplify the weaponization of hair in order to control, hypersexualize, and defeminize Black women, denying them any claim to womanhood, femininity, or piety. As a form of political resistance, Black people praise their hair as beautiful, redefining normative standards of human value. Black people make a political statement about this (de)valuation through the time, money, energy, and care dedicated to their bodies via hairstyling.
Hair is an important part of Black women’s identities. However, for decades, the categorization of Black hair diversity into good and bad hair has been a source of disagreement. Eurocentric societies value long, straight, and silky as good, while they consider tightly coiled and kinky bad. In her 2011 Howard Journal of Communications piece, “Hair as Race: Why ‘‘Good Hair’’ May Be Bad for Black Females,” Cynthia L. Robinson, Black Studies Department Head and Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, unpacks this “hair hierarchy.”
Robinson argues that the concept of good and bad hair is based in the color complex, which refers to some Black people’s self-hatred and disdain for their Blackness. This complex is the product of years of enslavement and a lack of collective African identity, which causes Black people to discount physical attributes that reveal African heritage, notably skin color and hair texture. Rated on a scale of good to bad, good hair communicates European, Native American, or Asian trace ancestry through wavy or straight texture, and is likely to be long. In contrast, society categorizes tightly coiled, thicker, short hair that plainly reveals African heritage as bad. Thus, Black women have had to develop their own beauty standards that are particular to their hair textures, allowing for more creative range in popular Black hairstyles.
The dichotomy of good and bad hair is still a challenge for Black women. As Robinson explains, hair valuations are harmful to Black women because they elevate white beauty standards while undervaluing Black women’s hair textures. These labels also reflect the color complex and Eurocentric beauty ideals that have devalued Black women’s natural hair textures. Therefore, we must reject these harmful aesthetic standards and embrace the uniqueness of Black hair in order to move forward.
The post Black Hair: Black Feminist Perspectives appeared first on Blackfeminisms.com.
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Imagine setting out to explore a distant barren alien landscape, or somewhere earth bound like the “tortuous” glacial-carved topography of Sarek, Sweden, all accompanied by an electronic score composed by the likes of Carbon Based Lifeforms. Your imagination might very well conjure adventuring accessories similar to the Teenage Engineering’s Field System, a collection of functional bags and accessories equipped for exploration, earthly or otherwise.
The monochromatic collection is characterized most notably but its all-white minimalist theme, one realized in nylon 66 shell fabric complemented by black detailing across closure and zipper lines. The nylon material is both fire retardant and backed with polyurethane leather offering the wearer a 3000mm water repellent rating, affording confidence the contents within remain safe regardless whether you’re climbing up to investigate volcanic activity, plumb the depths of a glacial carved stream… or simply make it back to your car in the rain in this extremely wet winter.
The series is designed to go anywhere, with dry water repellent Japanese mini ripstop nylon accessorized with aluminum alloy hardware, including zips and rings.
Numerous pieces of the Field Series collection, like the Field Medium OP–Z Bag and Field Large OP–1 Bag, are designed specifically to secure Teenage Engineering’s catalog of synths and other musical devices, but are also adaptable for carrying all shapes and sizes of gear.
The Field Backpack includes a field keychain carabiner and even a sitting pad.
Embroidered graphic patches further play up the Interstellar-themed designs.
Beyond bags and carrying cases, the Field Series full range also includes t-shirts and sweatshirts emblazoned with mission/music oriented graphics, water bottles, notebooks, and bottle openers starting from $9 with the entire collection available now at TeenageEngineering.com.
Well known in the tattoo world, artist Amanda Wachob is going back to her painting roots for a collaboration with ROAM. The Amanda Wachob x ROAM Limited Edition collection includes just 100 suitcases, each hand-painted by Amanda herself, resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces of luggage in gradient shades of blue, purple, teal, green, and gold. Four years in the making, the collection is the first, limited edition hand-painted luggage.
Amanda Wachob
The idea for the design came to Amanda while she was tattooing a scientist who studied beetles. Their intriguing iridescence led her to translate that same luminosity to luggage. To make it happen, Amanda went down to ROAM’s factory in Georgia where she painted 200 shells (two shells make one suitcase) with five to seven layers of paint. The labor-intensive process was well worth it when you see the results, as each one is its own piece of art. To make each suitcase even more unique, ROAM allows the customer to choose their own trim colors from Carolina Lilac, Kyoto Black, Venetian Green, Como Blue, and Ibiza Sky.
Two colorways are available: Cerulean, with blues and purples highlighted by radiant teal-green, and Noctorne, featuring black and purples with gold and green accents.
As with all ROAM luggage, each suitcase is made-to-order in the United States, which means no waste. Even the stitching is done by hand! The 100% U.S. virgin polycarbonate shells are durable and strong while also being lightweight – ideal for carry-on luggage.
The interior complements the vibrant exterior with an iridescent shimmering lining that’s washable. An interior compression system on each side allows for maximum storage, while a laundry pocket and two accessory pockets keep your goods organized.
A TSA-approved lock and water-resistant zipper keep personal items safe.
The aircraft-grade aluminum handle can be set at four heights for easy handling, while four Hinomoto ball-bearing wheels make for seamless glides through airports.
Each suitcase is numbered and signed by Amanda and comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.
Mixing iridescent paint in the factory
Shells during the painting process
An Amanda Wachob tattoo
Amanda Wachob tattooing client
Works by Amanda Wachob:
Dimensional Transmutation, tattoo ink and temporary tattoo paper on canvas, 46″x 60″, 2019
Tsunami, tattoo ink and temporary tattoo paper on canvas, 46″x 60″, 2019
Amanda with a finished suitcase
For those of us that have longed to get a tattoo by Amanda for years (she’s always had a very long waiting list), perhaps carrying her art around in a different way could suffice. You’ll definitely be part of a small group of people – 1 in 100 – to own one! The Amanda Wachob x ROAM Limited Edition collection launches today at roamluggage.com with suitcases priced at $975.
Everything that Signature Kitchen Suite creates is a masterclass in demonstrating respect for food at every level. From performance to intelligent design to precision, the brand honors the ones who are producing and preparing it – and, of course, the lucky individuals who get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. It’s through these details and dedication that the brand stays True to food and wellness. Now, Signature Kitchen Suite has introduced the 48-inch Built-in French Door Refrigerator/Freezer, providing never-before-seen capacity and functionality – imagine the possibilities!
Ideal for large families, entertainers, and home chefs, the 48-inch French Door Refrigerator/Freezer is a true workhorse that features innovative preservation features, a sleek design, and more. A standout element is the 5-mode convertible drawer that allows you to select a temperature zone to best suit what you’re storing. Choose between Chilled Wine, Fridge/Deli, Meats/Seafood, and Cold Drinks – or drop the temperature to turn the entire unit into an extra freezer. This functionality goes a long way toward increasing food freshness and lifespan, while also making the appliance work in the way that best suits your needs and lifestyle. Dual compressors, a stunning metal interior, and engineering to minimize temperature fluctuations to +/-1° F provide further enhanced food preservation.
Signature Kitchen Suite’s latest episode of True to food with Mark Bittman features Kaitlin Guerin, owner and pastry chef at Lagniappe Bakery in New Orleans. Guerin stresses the importance of using fresh ingredients and being able to control time and temperature when in the kitchen. These are the main elements that decide how long it will take to produce different parts of her pastries – be it hours or days. As Guerin shares, the desserts she makes can only be as good as what goes into them, and high tech refrigeration like that from Signature Kitchen Suite keeps ingredients at their peak for longer. Once the various components of the desserts are created, everything is stored at different temperatures for different lengths of time using temperature zones. “These pastries are temperature controlled so they maintain their balance of flavor and texture,” Guerlin explained. What she does and how she achieves it is truly an art form, with Signature Kitchen Suite eliminating worry of freshness and helping Lagniappe Bakery achieve success.
Signature Kitchen Suite puts a lot of effort into designing and bringing to life appliances that will improve your quality of living. But beyond exceptional food preservation, what else can you do to increase well-being and eliminate stress within your kitchen? With spring on the horizon, we spoke to experts Sarah Barnard, Blair Costello, and Diana Ryu to learn some ways to easily create a joy-filled space where we look forward to spending time.
The 48-inch French Door Refrigerator/Freezer’s ample capacity is impressive, with enough space to accommodate the largest of trays and tallest of bottles. Say goodbye to contorting containers or relegating leftovers to the basement fridge – there’s space enough for it all and then some right here.
The overall design also makes it easy to see what you have in stock. Blair Costello, of Vera Iconica Architecture, designs retreat experiences, workplaces, and life experiences at home with health and holistic wellness in mind. With so many seasonal fruits and vegetables making their appearance this month, there are more options at hand than we’ve had all winter. “Being part of the [cooking] process kicks off digestion and hones your relationship with food, and with yourself.” Costello suggests stocking a diverse pantry full of whole grains and legumes – as well as spices – to help boost nutrition and give you the tools needed to change up meals rotated through on a regular basis. Fresh foods are many things, but boring is not one of their qualities.
Costello added, “Digestion begins with the eyes, so put healthier snacks (fresh fruits, fresh bread, fresh vegetables, etc.) within eyesight to encourage those habits. These small environmental nudges can have a big impact.” Costello added, “Our mind and body are truly connected. What you eat will impact your body function, mental function, and state. Invest in quality food. For me, wellness in the kitchen space revolves around the quality of the ingredients, with a big focus on locally grown produce and locally raised and pastured meats.”
The 48-inch French Door Refrigerator/Freezer also has something special for the ice lovers – you know who you are. The freezer includes a dual ice maker that gives you the option of traditional ice or slow-melting, spherical Craft Ice. If your cocktail game is strong, this is a way to take it to the next level. Relax more with your afterwork beverage or entertain with ease while enjoying this fun feature.
Putting groceries away and meal prepping just got a bit more stress-free with Signature Kitchen Suite’s exclusive Lift and Go Drawers. They make interacting with the appliance incredibly easy, with minimal effort on your part when it comes to lifting. The drawers also make regular cleaning and accidental spills easier to remedy, something we can all appreciate when it comes to unwelcome messes.
Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional well-being. When it comes to a more convenient kitchen, Barnard suggests creating a setup while spring cleaning that will help streamline daily routines and reduce moments of friction apt to build up throughout the day. This can be as simple as knowing where regularly used items are stored and keeping countertops clean for a peaceful start to cooking. Digging deeper, it might mean utilizing a pantry to its fullest capabilities or purging cabinets of their belongings to create more order. “It’s also essential to ensure that the kitchen is more than a place of utility and includes items of joy,” Barnard finds. “If listening to music is part of the cooking experience, having quality kitchen speakers will make a substantial difference in the pleasure of preparing food.”
We can also bring more wellness into our kitchens through good light and a view of nature. This doesn’t mean you need to knock down an exterior wall and install floor-to-ceiling windows – there are workarounds to make both elements a part of your cooking space. If you do have windows in your kitchen, take advantage by making sure the blinds or curtains are open and letting in fresh spring air when weather permits. And if those windows happen to face a backyard or greenspace, all the better.
Diana Ryu is the owner of Namu Home Goods. The brand strives to highlight the natural beauty of wood, sourcing gallery-quality woodwork from Korea with a Korean-American aesthetic. She recommends adding a table lamp to brighten up the room, something that we’ve been seeing more of recently in kitchens. It adds a layer of comfort and warmth that can make a difference during those lingering dark mornings of spring.
Ryu also suggests creating a relaxing ritual. “I keep an incense chamber and incense that I light every morning when I put my kettle on for tea. I like the ritual of lighting the incense, smelling the scent, and hearing the water start to boil.” Easing your way into the new day sets the tone for the rest of it, and savoring even a small moment can make for a stress-free start.
When it comes to incorporating nature, the solution may be as simple as a windowsill garden that can be utilized to add flavor and vitamins to your favorite dishes – and it’s the perfect time of year to start one. “I love growing my own produce, and having that experience extend into my kitchen space has become a significant part of the joy of cooking,” Barnard said. “I keep a small garden on my windowsill of herbs and plants I’ve started from vegetable scraps and have views of my garden from my kitchen, which helps make the gardening experience feel like an active part of my food preparation. Being conscious of where my food comes from and having that be a part of my kitchen design makes me feel more mindful and connected to what I’m cooking.” Adding a garden space in your kitchen can also nicely coexist with creating efficient systems for recycling and composting.
Costello recommends we stay away from cookware coated with Teflon or other “non-stick” coatings when enameled, cast iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel cookware have been proven non-toxic. “Invest in high-quality, heirloom cookware and bakeware. It will be healthiest for you (from a toxicity standpoint) and future generations will get to share in the use and experience of these items as well.” You can also choose to swap out pieces seasonally for more variety when sitting down to a weeknight dinner or entertaining on the weekend.
Many people don’t view the kitchen as a room where art belongs, but we have to disagree because it brings joy, just as Barnard mentions. “It doesn’t have to be fine art,” Ryu suggests. She suggests doing a quick spring refresh by adding “Prints, beautiful ceramic plates, cups from small artists, pretty spoons and forks – and lots of big bowls on the counter filled with fruits and vegetables. They’re attractive and also healthy.” Barnard adds that visible storage of produce may also encourage the prioritization of these foods, which is something to make a habit of.
Spring’s warmer weather is the impetus to come out of hibernation, optimize your kitchen space, and welcome life back into your home. Ryu and Barnard agree that the positive experience circles back to who you’re surrounding yourself with, with Ryu adding, “There’s nothing better for our health than a loving community.” Technology, like that used in the 48-inch French Door Refrigerator/Freezer, can help further improve upon these times spent together with its capacity and capabilities. “Increasing options in diverse refrigeration systems can be a great asset when hosting, giving guests more independence and hosts more privacy and time to socialize,” shared Barnard. Pastry chef Guerin agreed, adding “There’s always a reason to celebrate, there’s always a reason to eat good food, to be around family and friends.”
The 48-inch French Door Refrigerator/Freezer is available panel ready or with accessory stainless steel panels. Through temperature control, capacity, and flexibility, Signature Kitchen Suite’s refrigeration products can help you confidently keep your food fresh longer and improve on your time spent in the kitchen. To learn more, visit signaturekitchensuite.com.
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OUT is a Berlin-based furniture studio by Christoph Steiger, David Spinner, and Reinhard Wessling that stands for Objekte Unserer Tag, or “objects of our days” in German. These objects have been turning heads for their playful use of color paired with minimalistic forms that feature unexpected details, like a cloud-shaped seat or asymmetric side table. One of their latest releases is the studio’s first ever throw. At first glance, SEIDEL looks like just another striped throw blanket until you examine the stripes a little further.
Made of pure organic cotton, SEIDEL has a velvety texture that’s achieved by repeatedly brushing the material after it has been woven. The abstract shapes in bright, punchy hues are a signature move of OUT as the studio loves expressive colors. The throw is produced at a traditional weaving mill in Bavaria that already has a repertoire for supplying its products to princes and royal courts. While there is no wrong way to use a throw blanket, the six colorways OUT has given SEIDEL allude to where and how they can be experienced: SEIDEL GONE WILD, SEIDEL ME TIME, SEIDEL DATE NIGHT, SEIDEL NAP TIME, SEIDEL BINGE WATCHING, and SEIDEL UP FOR FUN.
For more information on the SEIDEL Throw, visit objekteunserertage.com.
Coffee aficionados know that what goes into a good cup of ‘jo are subtle details that enhance the experience. This is true from the process of sourcing and roasting the beans, to brewing and extracting the perfect shot of espresso, all the way to the end of selecting the best café wares to hold your beverage. notNeutral, a coffee brand founded by multidisciplinary design firm RIOS, pays close attention to these details when designing its new Pico collection, a line of ceramic wares that pay homage to Los Angeles’ Pico Boulevard and elevates the art of enjoying a hot cup of coffee or tea.
The Pico collection was also inspired by California’s historic design heritage, which gave rise to the Arts and Crafts movement and Mid-century Modernism, as well as the natural landscape of Los Angeles. Combining those sensibilities with the technical precision of modern technology, the designers created coffee mugs, saucers, and a specially-made spoon to fit the plates. The cups and saucers come in four different sizes (espresso, cappuccino, small latte, and large latte) and feature a partially glazed design that highlights the beauty of the exposed terracotta. Conversely, the spoon is fully glazed and, with its smooth handle, offers a different form of tactility. While the spoon is often an afterthought, notNeutral dedicated time and attention to its design, creating a contour fit for the cups’ interiors and ensuring it “locks” into the saucers when not in use.
Pico is available in three colorways – white, neutral, and black – on notnetural.com.
This design studio in Warsaw, Poland founded by Justyna Fałdzińska & Miłosz Dąbrowski captured my eye for their vibrant, 3D-printed vessels. I learned that sustainability is a high priority for the designers, so they only use compostable or highly recyclable materials. From vases to sculptures, totems to candleholders, each piece is manufactured as needed, which means zero overstock and zero waste.
I’m not planning a wedding or big fancy dinner in need of centerpieces anytime soon but I can’t help but continue to be inspired by modern day florists, namely the ladies behind Studio Mondine, a San Francisco-based floral design studio that creates very moving, very intentional floral creations. When you start following many florist IG accounts (which is easy to do because who doesn’t like beautiful flowers peppered into their feed?), you’ll start noticing lots of similar trends and styles, but Studio Mondine strays from staying inside any one specific box as they continually evolve and finesse their style (I love what they’re currently doing with braided grasses and lotus leaves). The next time you’re at a Proper Hotel or checking out the latest Vogue Weddings feature, do a quick scan for the florist credit – you might find that you’re a Studio Mondine fan, too.
(PS: they’ve also written a book called Ikebana Unbound, a beautiful book that’s full of inspiration, even if you’re not arranging flowers anytime soon.)
Following the floral theme here, I highly recommend checking out the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show this year if you’re able to attend. Landscape architect and artist Lily Kwong has transformed the grounds into a wonderland of colorful, exotic, and beautifully fascinating orchids, offering visitors a natural zen relief from the busyness of the city. Inspired by her heritage in designing the space, Kwong seemingly pulls illustrations from Chinese scrolls out and into the real world. The show, now in its 20th year, is on view through April 23, 2023.
What can I say? I guess I have spring on the brain! Unlike my previous flower picks, Danish artist Silke Bonde’s paper art lasts forever. I enjoy discovering the different ways artists incorporate paper folding into their works and especially love that Bonde folds in the art of watercolor into her creations.
Finally, I’m just going to leave this video here for your endless wonderment…
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As a food designer, I firmly believe people “eat with their eyes.” The more appealing the colors, the textures, the display… the more fulfilling every bite tastes. When food is presented beautifully, it can trigger our appetites and stimulate our taste buds, making the dish more appetizing and desirable. As humans, we are highly visual creatures, and we often judge a dish based on its appearance before even taking a bite.
Lysée Bakery, located in New York’s Flatiron District, is a charming and unique bakery that has gained a reputation for its high-quality and visually stimulating pastries. Founded by pastry chef Eunji Lee and chef and husband Matthieu Lobry, Lysée Bakery is known for its delicate and delicious baked goods that are made with the finest ingredients and an incredible attention to detail.
“I wanted to have a space that corresponds to my identity and my dessert style: Korean-French-New Yorker,” says Lee, who spent ten years training and working in Paris, notably under Alain Ducasse and Cedric Grolet at Le Meurice, before becoming the executive pastry chef at the two Michelin-starred Korean restaurant Jungsik in Tribeca.
The name Lysée (lee-zay) is derived from the French word “Musee” which means “museum,” the perfect name to encapsulate the gallery-like take on the meticulously crafted pastry art on display.
The seasonally rotating menu is playful yet executed with highly technical style. From their signature mousse cake made with Korean toasted brown rice mousse with caramel, to the corn mousse dessert that went viral on social media, whose corn sablé is topped with an airy corn crémeux piped over with a grilled corn cream to resemble the vegetable in its entirety.
Chef Eunji Lee in her NYC pastry shop
“To me, pastry is an edible art.” says Chef Eunji Lee.
And thus, when entering the sparse and refined boutique space itself, you feel like you’ve walked into an art gallery in Chelsea. Reflecting similar attention to detail and cultural influences that Lee brings to Lysée’s menu, the decor is a beautiful harmony of both traditional Korean culture and modern NYC design.
“I wanted to create a culturally meaningful space that is also well-balanced and harmonious. We have traditional Korean materials, like a mother-of-pearl wall, a Korean wood pillar from an ancient traditional mansion in Korea, and used traditional [granite] stone [from Pocheon in Korea] for the bottom of a table. The design highlights the pastry as edible art, as the hero of the stage. Using this very understated, minimalistic design puts the emphasis on our pastries as the main objects.”
There is no question, Lee’s dessert “gallery,” where her edible art is on full display is a delight for the eyes and taste buds.
And to make it sweeter… Lysée just announced their first pop-up collaboration with chef Roy Shvartzapel. On March 11 and 12th only, the bakery will offer an exclusive, unique panettone menu for dine-in and take-out. Reservations are available through Resy, and pre-orders will start at 10am on Saturday Feb 25th. Set your alarms!
Lysée bakery is located at 44 E 21st Street, New York, NY 10010.
Sarah Thomas, a tutor to the super-rich, spills the tea on what it's like to tutor the children of the ultra-wealthy. She spent a lot of time on mega yachts and hotels, including an underwater suite in Dubai where sharks swim past the windows. — Read the rest
The original HomePod was notoriously difficult to repair, to the point where cutting tools were sometimes necessary. Apple isn't giving nearly as much grief with the second-gen model, however. iFixit has torn down the new smart speaker and discovered that it's far easier to pry open. The large amounts of glue are gone — you can get inside using little more than a screwdriver, and the internal components are similarly accessible. Combine this with the detachable power cord and it should be feasible to fix at least some parts yourself.
iFixit cautions that it hasn't tested for possible software restrictions on repairs. It's not clear that you can replace circuit boards and still expect a functioning HomePod. Even so, it's evident Apple considers repairability to be a priority this time around, much as it does with the standard iPhone 14 and other recent products.
Not that Apple has much choice but to make the HomePod more fix-friendly. Both federal and state governments are pushing for right-to-repair mandates. If Apple didn't make the speaker easier to maintain, it risked a political pushback. And while we wouldn't count on Apple adding the HomePod to its Self Service Repair program, the second-gen's design makes that prospect more realistic.
Apple HomePod 2 teardown
Apple HomePod 2 teardown
As promised, Meta has restored former president Donald Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts, two years after it suspended him from both platforms. The company previously said it would apply extra "guardrails" to his accounts to "deter repeat offenses."
Meta, like Twitter and other services, kicked Trump off of its platforms in January 2021 after he praised those participating in the Capitol Hill insurrection. The company initially locked the accounts for 24 hours over two policy violations before it suspended him indefinitely. Meta's Oversight Board was among those who criticized the handling of the ban.
The company later said Trump's accounts would remain suspended for two years, after which it would reassess things. In late January, it emerged that Trump would soon regain access to the platforms, not long after it was reported that he had pushed Meta to restore his accounts.
By 2:30PM ET, Trump, who is running for the White House for a third time, had not posted anything on either platform. He has an agreement with his "free speech" app Truth Social, whereby he has to share social media posts there first and can't plop them anywhere else for at least six hours. Twitter restored Trump's account on its service late last year, but he hasn't returned to what was once his favored social media platform either. Maybe he's still too butthurt about that one thing Chrissy Teigen wrote about him.
USA-TRUMP/
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop to unveil his leadership team, at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Two of the biggest Nordic brands have united to bring us the BASTUA collection, launching globally in March 2023. The limited-edition series of 26 products, created by home furnishings giant IKEA and iconic printmaker Marimekko, brings together Nordic design and self-care rituals. From furniture to glassware to textiles, vibrant patterns reflect nature back at you.
“Collaborating with Marimekko was a natural choice for IKEA as we are both committed to enabling a better everyday life at home, and with the BASTUA collection, it begins with focusing on wellness first,” says Henrik Most, Creative Leader at IKEA. “The collaboration encapsulates the sensations of endless summers and the simple and aesthetic beauty of Nordic nature in furniture and accessories for the home.”
“BASTUA” describes a sauna in Småland, the region in southern Sweden where IKEA was founded. Self-care and Nordic sauna were the starting points of the collection that’s meant to be used when relaxing outdoors in warm weather or simply winding down at the end of a long day.
The launch of BASTUA marks the first time that Marimekko has designed prints exclusively for a brand collaboration. “Capturing the essence of Marimekko’s Finnish roots and its connection to the historic origins of sauna culture was a fundamental part of the design journey and the creation of the BASTUA prints,” says Rebekka Bay, Creative Director at Marimekko. When gathering inspiration from nature, the brand gravitated towards the large, decorative rhubarb leaves that are often found growing near saunas in Finland. You’ll find it throughout the collection, including on the ever-popular FRAKTA bag.
Within the BASTUA collection lies furniture, glassware, and textiles that include robes and towels – and even the first-ever sauna bucket – among other items. These are all things one might traditionally use when enjoying a sauna, or right before or after the ritual. You’ll find elements that can be used during a meal, a place to sit and feel grounded, and even a candle infused with the scents of elderflower, rhubarb, and sweet vanilla.
BASTUA’s furniture pieces are inspired by classic Nordic design. A side table offers a clever feature: the collection’s patterned trays fit perfectly on the top. You may even want to pull up the coordinating bench to enjoy a relaxing moment of Zen.
“Nordic furniture design has always been characterized by clean lines and simple constructions that focus on function” says Mikael Axelsson, Designer at IKEA. “The BASTUA side table is my take on this heritage, as it is made of birch veneer and with a high edge that keeps things in place.”
The BASTUA collection feels like a perfect partnership, neither pattern nor design overshadows the other. It’s a wonderful marriage between two brands that complement one another in harmony.
To learn more about BASTUA, visit ikea.com.
Computer monitors keep evolving rapidly, with new technology like OLED Flex, QD-OLED and built-in smart platforms just in the last year alone. That’s on top of big improvements in things like color accuracy, image quality, size and resolution.
The choice is nice but overwhelming, as there are a lot of products in this market and a lot of features. Buyers looking for computer monitors now have to consider things like HDR, brightness, color accuracy, type of display technology, input lag and more. And then there are the usual considerations like size, adjustability, inputs and so on.
To help you with all that, we’ve researched the latest models for all kinds of markets, whether you’re a gamer, business user or content creator. Read on to find out which is the best computer monitor for you and, especially, your budget.
The cheapest monitors are still TN (twisted nematic), which are strictly for gaming or office use. VA (vertical alignment) monitors are also relatively cheap, while offering good brightness and a high contrast ratio. However, content creators will probably want an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD display that delivers better color accuracy, image quality and viewing angles.
If maximum brightness is important, a quantum dot LCD display is the way to go — those are typically found in larger displays. OLED monitors are now available and offer the best blacks and color reproduction, but they lack the brightness of LED or quantum dot displays. Plus, they cost a lot. The latest type of OLED monitor, called QD-OLED from Samsung, just came out in 2022. The most notable advantage is that it can get a lot brighter, with monitors shown at CES 2022 hitting up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness.
MiniLEDs are now widely used in high-end displays. They’re similar to quantum dot tech, but as the name suggests, it uses smaller LED diodes that are just 0.2mm in diameter. As such, manufacturers can pack in up to three times more LEDs with more local dimming zones, delivering deeper blacks and better contrast.
In this day and age, screen size rules. Where 24-inch displays used to be more or less standard (and can still be useful for basic computing), 27-, 32-, 34- and even 42-inch displays have become popular for entertainment, content creation and even gaming these days.
Nearly every monitor used to be 16:9, but it’s now possible to find 16:10 and other more exotic display shapes. On the gaming and entertainment side, we’re also seeing curved and ultrawide monitors with aspect ratios like 21:9. If you do decide to buy an ultrawide display, however, keep in mind that a 30-inch 21:9 model is the same height as a 24-inch monitor, so you might end up with a smaller display than you expected. As a rule of thumb, add 25 percent to the size of a 21:9 monitor to get the vertical height you’d expect from a model with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
A 4K monitor is nearly a must for content creators, and some folks are even going for 5K or all the way up to 8K. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need a pretty powerful computer to drive all those pixels. And 4K resolution should be paired with a screen size of 27 inches and up, or you won’t notice much difference between 1440p. At the same time, I wouldn’t get a model larger than 27 inches unless it’s 4K, as you’ll start to see pixelation if you’re working up close to the display.
One new category to consider is portable monitors designed to be carried and used with laptops. Those typically come in 1080p resolutions and sizes from 13-15 inches. They usually have a lightweight kickstand-type support that folds up to keep things compact.
HDR is the buzzy monitor feature to have these days, as it adds vibrancy to entertainment and gaming – but be careful before jumping in. Some monitors that claim HDR on the marketing materials don’t even conform to a base standard. To be sure that a display at least meets minimum HDR specs, you’ll want to choose one with a DisplayHDR rating with each tier representing maximum brightness in nits.
However, the lowest DisplayHDR 400 and 500 tiers may disappoint you with a lack of brightness, washed out blacks and mediocre color reproduction. If you can afford it, the best monitor to choose is a model with DisplayHDR 600, 1000 or True Black 400, True Black 500 and True Black 600. The True Black settings are designed primarily for OLED models, with maximum black levels at .0005 nits.
Where televisions typically offer HDR10 and Dolby Vision or HDR10+, most PC monitors only support the HDR10 standard, other than a few (very expensive) models. That doesn’t matter much for content creation or gaming, but HDR streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other services won’t look quite as punchy. In addition, most models supporting HDR600 (and up) are gaming monitors, rather than content creation monitors – with a few exceptions.
Refresh rate is a key feature, particularly on gaming monitors. A bare minimum nowadays is 60Hz, and 80Hz refresh rates and up are much easier on the eyes. However, most 4K displays top out at 60Hz with some rare exceptions and the HDMI 2.0 spec only supports 4K at 60Hz, so you’d need at least DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 120Hz) or HDMI 2.1. The latter is now available on a number of monitors, particularly gaming displays. However, it’s only supported on the latest NVIDIA RTX 3000- and 4000-series, AMD RX 6000-series GPUs.
There are essentially three types of modern display inputs: Thunderbolt, DisplayPort and HDMI. Most monitors built for PCs come with the latter two, while a select few (typically built for Macs) will use Thunderbolt. To add to the confusion, USB-C ports may be Thunderbolt 3 and by extension, DisplayPort compatible, so you may need a USB-C to Thunderbolt or DisplayPort cable adapter depending on your display.
Serious content creators should consider a more costly 10-bit monitor that can display billions of colors. If budget is an issue, you can go for an 8-bit panel that can fake billions of colors via dithering (often spec’d as “8-bit + FRC”). For entertainment or business purposes, a regular 8-bit monitor that can display millions of colors will be fine.
The other aspect of color is the gamut. That expresses the range of colors that can be reproduced and not just the number of colors. Most good monitors these days can cover the sRGB and Rec.709 gamuts (designed for photos and video respectively). For more demanding work, though, you’ll want one that can reproduce more demanding modern gamuts like AdobeRGB, DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 gamuts, which encompass a wider range of colors. The latter two are often used for film projection and HDR, respectively.
Both the Xbox Series X and Sony’s PS5 can handle 4K 120Hz HDR gaming, so if you’re into resolution over pure speed, you’ll want a monitor that can keep up. 4K resolution, HDR and at least 120Hz is the minimum starting point, but fortunately there are 27-inch displays with those specs starting at well under $1,000.
Though the pandemic has eased, monitor supply is still a bit tighter than pre-pandemic levels due to supply and demand issues. To that end, you may have trouble finding monitors at Amazon, B&H or elsewhere for the suggested retail price. For our guide below, we’re basing our picks on the MSRP, as long as the street price doesn’t exceed that by more than $25.
The monitor with the best balance of size, refresh rate and color accuracy is Samsung’s 27-inch 1080p T35F. It’s good for business or light gaming and content work, thanks to the IPS panel and 75Hz refresh rate. Plus, it’s fairly attractive and modern looking. There are some things you don’t get at that price, of course – it can only tilt and has an HDMI 1.4 connection.
If you’re fine with a smaller display and are more into gaming, another solid option is LG’s 24-inch 24GL600F. It offers a high 144Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync support, a 1ms response time and low input lag. You also get HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, but like the T35F, there’s no height adjustment.
Buy LG 24GL600F at Amazon - $200The 28-inch HP U28 4K HDR monitor is a great all around choice, especially for content creators. The 60Hz IPS panel and factory calibration delivers excellent color accuracy and it’s a nice size for creative or business work. It comes with DisplayPort, HDMI and three USB 3.0 ports, along with a USB-C port with 65W of charging for a laptop or tablet. And it’s easy to set just right, thanks to height, swivel and pivot adjustment.
If gaming is more your thing, the $300 Gigabyte G27QC is a top pick. The 27-inch, 1440p curved monitor has an ideal size and resolution for gaming, and it has a quick 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. You can connect via HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 connections and get HDR support – albeit, without DisplayHDR certification.
Buy Gigabyte G27QC at Amazon - $300The $400 BenQ 27-inch 2K QHD HDR model is ideal for creative work, particularly photo editing and graphic design. While resolution is limited to 1440p, it covers 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut with a “Delta E” accuracy value of less than 3 for consistent color performance. You also get height, pivot and swivel adjustment (a full 90 degrees), with HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C daisy chaining and 65W power delivery.
Buy 27-inch BenQ QHD monitor at Amazon - $400The 32-inch LG 32UN650-W is a great 4K monitor for entertainment, creative chores and gaming. The 31.5-inch, 60Hz IPS panel covers an excellent 95 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut with 10-bit color, but also supports AMD FreeSync for gaming. It also supports HDR, albeit with just 350 nits of maximum brightness. It has HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports, tilt and height adjustments and even built-in speakers.
Sometimes speed rules over size and resolution, and the 24.5-inch 1080p ASUS ROG Swift PG256QN is fast. It maxes out at a 360Hz refresh rate (with NVIDIA G-Sync support) and 1ms GtG response time. At the same time, you get 1.07 billion colors with HDR support (up to 400 nits brightness) so you can see your enemies quickly and clearly. Other niceties of this best monitor pick include a fully adjustable stand, ASUS’s GamePlus Hotkey Enhancements and a large heatsink.
Buy ASUS ROG Swift monitor at Amazon - $499Gigabyte’s M28U 28-inch 144Hz 4K gaming monitor sure does a lot. It has an IPS panel with a 2ms (MPRT) response time, 94 percent DCI-P3 coverage, DisplayHDR 400 certification, 2 HDMI 2.1 ports and FreeSync Premium Pro support. It comes in a little bit more expensive than $500, but we've often seen it on sale for less.
Buy Gigabyte M28U at Amazon - $649In this price range you can have resolution, color accuracy or brightness, but not all three. The one with the best balance is ViewSonic’s $1,000 ColorPro VP2786 27-inch 4K HDR Monitor. The true 10-bit IPS panel covers 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color palette with an excellent Delta <2 accuracy figure, and is certified for soft-proofing by the demanding Fogra print industry. At the same time, it offers HDR10 support, albeit with a limited 350 nits of output. It even includes a “ColorPro” wheel control compatible with Adobe or Capture One apps.
The best 4K gaming monitor under $1,000 is Dell’s G3223Q 4K 32-inch HDR 144Hz monitor because of the speed, brightness and compatibility. It has an IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms GtG response time, 95 percent DCI-P3 coverage and DisplayHDR 600 certification. Plus, it comes with a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports and is both FreeSync and G-Sync compatible.
Buy Dell G3223Q at Amazon - $1,000Dell’s P3223QE 4K USB-C Hub monitor is productivity-oriented, thanks to the wired Ethernet connectivity and USB-C ports that offer up to 90W of power delivery for laptops. It’s a 4K IPS panel with a 178-degree viewing angle and 350 nits of brightness and support for a billion colors (8-bit + FRC). It offers height, pivot, swivel and tilt adjustment, a VESA mounting interface and DisplayPort/HDMI inputs.
Buy Dell P3223QE at Amazon - $742In general, monitor compatibility issues with MacBooks and Macs are a thing of the past, though you can still experience issues with things like refresh rates, particularly on M1 Macs. If you’d prefer to stay within the Apple family, the most cost-effective option is still the 27-inch Apple Studio Display. It supports 5K resolution (5,120 x 2,880) with up to 600 nits of brightness, so it can handle creative chores with ease. It even includes a 12-megapixel UltraWide camera that keeps you in frame via Center Stage, along with a three-mic array.
The best third-party option is LG’s $700 UltraFine 4 display, also sold on Apple’s Store. With a 24-inch 4K panel, you not only get very high resolution but also 500 nits of brightness (albeit, without HDR capability). It’s color-accurate out of the box, making it great for video- and photo-editing work on a Mac or MacBook. Finally, it supports Thunderbolt 3 with daisy chaining and power delivery, all of which is very useful for Mac users who may want multiple displays.
Buy LG UltraFine 4 at Amazon - $700Ultrawide 21:9 monitors are a great option for some types of content creation, games (particularly driving and flight sims) and productivity work. The best model this year is LG’s 34GP950G-B, a 34-inch 3,440 x 1,440 curved monitor. The curved IPS panel supports HDR10 with 400 nits of brightness and maximum (via overclocking) 180Hz refresh rate. It’s also G-Sync and FreeSync compatible (the latter over DisplayPort only).
For the best balance of performance and price, LePow’s 15.6-inch C2S is a solid option. It offers decent brightness (220 nits), solid contrast and a very respectable 96.1-percent sRGB gamut coverage. You get a generous selection of ports (one mini-DisplayPort, one mini-HDMI port and two USB-C ports, along with a headphone jack. The metal stand is solid and practical, and it even has built-in speakers of decent quality.
ASUS still holds the prize for best luxury monitor, but it discontinued the previous mini-LED $4,000 ProArt PA32UCX monitor and replaced it with the $5,000 PA32UCG-K display. It uses the same mini-LED tech, but ups the ante with 1,600 nits of brightness via 1,152 backlight zones, an HDMI 2.1 port, 4K 120Hz resolution, 10-bit, 98 percent DCI-P3 coverage and an impressive 85 percent Rec.2020 coverage. Oh, and it’s one of the few monitors out there that supports Dolby Vision, along with HDR10 and HLG.
You’re probably doing it wrong if you’re using a $5K monitor for gaming. However, it does support AMD FreeSync (good for gaming creation) and has a 5-millisecond response time, very respectable for a display essentially designed for professional colorists. And to that end, color accuracy is calibrated to Delta E < 1 and it’s a true 10-bit panel delivering billions of colors. To verify that, it even comes with an X-rite i1 Display Pro color calibrator, normally sold separately for around $500.
On top of this model, ASUS now makes several slightly less bright and less expensive variants, namely the $4,180 PA32UCX-PK, (plus -P, and -K variants with slightly different features), offering 1,200 nits of brightness and a 60Hz (not 120Hz) refresh rate. Specs are nearly identical otherwise.
ASUS ProArt Display PA27UCX-K
ASUS ProArt Display PA27UCX-K monitor in a video editing setup.
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Every other week we’re inviting one of the Design Milk team to share five personal favorites – an opportunity for each of us to reveal the sort of designs we use and appreciate in our own lives from a more personal perspective. Editor-in-Chief Caroline Williamson returns this week for our Take 5 series.
I admit, I’ve long been on the miniature loving train. How can you not fall for teeny tiny objects made with such detail? So when this landed in my inbox, I had to share! British miniature artist Nadia Michaux created the world’s smallest sub – 12x smaller than a regular Subway® Footlong – at just 2.2cm (less than 1 inch). The design is a clay replica of the new Footlong Teriyaki Steak Sub that’s been added to the sandwich chain’s new Japanese-inspired menu. She even nailed the exact colors by mixing clay colors, firing them, and then making necessary adjustments to get it right – a laborious task. Bottom line, it fascinates me.
Louis Vuitton® recently released their 2nd collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and to celebrate they launched several exhibitions to pay homage to her and her iconic dots. Each immersive, and most definitely Instagrammable, exhibition had a different look, including Harrod’s in London donning colorful dots both inside and out and complete with a human-looking Kusama robot, while the Tokyo pop-up was a yellow-dotted dream with a larger-than-life Kusama sculpture in the middle. Wish I could visit them in person!
For some reason, I’ve been really gravitating towards home furnishings in the color lavender lately. If you look around, you’ll notice lavender goods popping up more and I’m loving it… except when it’s paired with other pastels and the palette all of a sudden looks like Easter. Instead, my eyes lean towards more dramatic pairings, like these two tables in lavender and electric red. It’s shocking but delightful!
I’ve had a life-long obsession with Polaroid and I love when they release anything new – cameras or film. And when they launch a collection with one of my favorite musicians of all time, I’m sold. Available in packs of 10, the David Bowie Edition film features 10 unique frame designs that reference his iconic album art and imagery, allowing you to make your own art alongside Bowie’s (even though we have to accept the fact that none us will ever be that cool).
I’ve been intrigued by this piece by Elias Sime, part of a recently opened exhibition titled Tightrope: Behind the Processor. Sime uses recycled electronic components – keyboards, circuits, wires, and various other e-waste – that he braids and layers together to form abstract art, like this massive piece that spans 99-5/8″ x 157-1/2″. From far away, it almost looks like a landscape, like the view looking down while flying on a plane, but closeup, you see all the intricate braiding and weaving of the different components.
In this week’s Milkshake, ceramicist Helen Levi welcomes us to her studio in Queens, New York. This is where she creates her highly regarded work: mugs and cups, plates and bowls, and – our favorite – her colorful tiles. Her work is distinguished by highly graphic vibes (like these incredible Color Field tiles) and a determined sense of whimsy – like her Artist’s espresso mugs, with a rainbow splatter pattern covered in a clear glaze or her Snow Drift mugs, with a textural, and very snowy, white glaze. In addition to their sense of welcome and warmth, her pieces exude a sense of easy style.
Here, she sails through a few of our questions: Was her big break – which came courtesy of famed retailer Steven Alan – a product of fate or chance? Levi had been working in pottery since childhood, even teaching the discipline to kids – but until she met Alan in 2013, she hadn’t sold it to the public. “I was at a pop-up in one of his stores, and I went with a friend who had been working on the store,” Levi says. “I saw he had some handmade pottery out, and I thought, ‘Why is a clothing store selling handmade pottery?’” The answer was straightforward: Alan planned to open a home goods store. “I had been completely unaware of the community of functional potters that existed – obviously they had been doing their thing and I just didn’t know about it, but it was so exciting for me to think about these small studios,” she says. “Since I had been making pottery for a very long time as a hobby, it kind of lit a little light bulb in me that maybe this was a path that existed.” Alan asked her to share pictures of her work, and when she did, he placed an order. “That was my first experience selling wholesale,” she says. “My first experience getting my work out there – and it was also my first experience making work not for myself or as a gift. So, a huge learning curve there – I think I remade that order three times.”
Also in this Milkshake, Levi shares how she splits her artistic identity between potter and photographer (settling on the “pot-ographer” of her Instagram bio) and a technical challenge she’s faced. For the latter, she has a (very large) piece to share – one that was so big, it didn’t fit in her kiln. “And so it remains here, half-finished five years later,” she says. Tune in for more!
Diana Ostrom, who has written for Wallpaper, Interior Design, ID, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets, is also the author of Faraway Places, a newsletter about travel.
Milkshake, DMTV (Design Milk TV)’s first regular series, shakes up the traditional interview format by asking designers, creatives, educators and industry professionals to select interview questions at random from their favorite bowl or vessel. During their candid discussions, you’ll not only gain a peek into their personal homeware collections, but also valuable insights into their work, life and passions.
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