FLICKR/SCHMAP!

Flickr users may be familiar with Schmap. Schmap is an online travel and destination guide that happens to mine Flickr users' photos for their online imagery. It's pretty cool. They search tagged photos on Flickr looking for imagery of the destinations and travel services they list. Once they've pooled relevant photos they contact the respective photographers and request that they submit those photos for use in the Schmap online guide. Final photos are selected by Schmap and the photographer gets a credit on the page. It's a great example of using networking sites like Flickr as legitimate design resources.

The above photo they chose from my Flickr set of shots from the Pod Hotel (né The Pickwick Arms Hotel) where I did a few setups in our room. I had thrown in a PowerBook as a prop and the composition must have caught their eye.

DETROIT TECHNO Foundation

Apparently Paxahau is so pleased with this design they'd like to make a slight alteration (swap out Pax logo for DTF website) and use it as the official shirt for their non-profit arm, the Detroit Techno Foundation. The DTF will serve as a NPO dedicated to bolstering electronic music culture through publicity events, musician support, and other services.

There may still be Movement shirts, like the one above, available. Contact Paxahau. Or keep watching this space for the new ones. I'll be sure to let you all know.

PONOKO Make & Sell

Imagine having your own factory and production facility for producing art, furniture, gifts, and home accessories. Ponoko is just that. For designers, for consumers, for consumer designers, Ponoko offers the resources to design and produce unique design items without really having to know the industry, its vendors, or even its available materials.

At the Ponoko website you can browse items designed by others, or upload your own design, produce a prototype and a final production model. Start by downloading the free plans for this chic wine rack designed by Dan Emery.



[THX4THIS: Core77 Ultimate Gift Guide]

The Gift of EMIGRE

For the design-head on your Christmas list, take them back to the days of the Emigre publication. (R.I.P.)

The Emigre Sampler Bag, according to their customers, remains one of the most popular items from their line of analog products. It includes a constantly evolving selection of out-of-print rarities and other graphic and audio odds and ends. Currently, the sampler bag includes, among other items, both the Emigre Exhibition Catalog and the Hard Sleeper CD (without custom box).

A Letter to COCA-COLA Regarding Decreasing Availability in Southeastern Michigan