ID, a magazine that I follow religiously, recently released their 2008 Design Review. Rather than go through each category, piece by piece, I decided to feature my top ten favorite projects or products. Each of the objects has a number of fantastic characteristics, but to keep Text to a minimum and image to a maximum, I’ve decided to choose a theme of “firsts”. Don’t understand what I’m talking about? No big deal. Just look and click. Let’s Begin…

Apple Wireless Keyboard: The first ultra-thin aluminum keyboard that’s easy to clean.

Real Good Chair: The first modern classic under $100!

Panna Chair: The first experimental chair I’ve ever wanted to own.

Adiri Nursing Bottle: The first and only bottle my son would drink from (no joke. It’s so easy to ween with these).

Hotel Aire de Bardenas: The first hotel to rival the work of Donald Judd.

12 Blocks by Loom Studio: The first Concrete Block I’ve ever wanted to build with.

Beach Thingy: The first useful beach accessory in years.

Puma PT3 Table Tennis Set: The first time I’ve ever wanted to play table tennis.

Monoface: The first interactive face making program that made me laugh. This is a must see!

Bikedispenser: The first vehicle vending machine.

• Apple Wireless Keyboard
  
• RealGood Chair by Blu Dot
• Panna Chair
• Adiri Nursing Bottle
• Hotel Aire de Bardenas
• 12 Blocks by Loom Studio
• Beach Thingy
• Puma PT3
• Monoface
• Bikedispenser

I was eating an everlasting gobbstopper today. Maybe you remember this candy? It is a candy that has a beautiful, shiny candy coating and within the coating are the multicolored strata of candy goodness. I’m not sure why, exactly, but the Waldo/45 table by James Burleigh when I saw it immediately transported me to 9am this morning when the sweet slickness of the gobbstopper rolled back and forth over my tongue. This piece of furniture just begs me to break a piece off and eat it for dessert.

Zoe Mowat has come up with something I find quite special. Her Circumflex accent chair is a perfect triumvirate of steel, cast plastic, and walnut which creates something that is forward thinking and yet retains an old-world richness. Usually, when I see chairs like this they’re either too clumsy or look like a robot made the chair, but this chair is just right. I can’t wait to actually sit in this chair, though. I see this as a very good restaurant chair except that your back may be a bit fatigued after two hours of dining. Maybe the best use of the chair is somewhere where design is paramount but sitting around should be no longer than a few minutes.