Pixelmator 2.2 and Vectormator
About a week ago, the guys at Pixelmator released version 2.2 of their popular image editing app, code-named “Blueberry”. It was packed with new features, such as smarter shape-selection tools, a palette with drag-and-drop shapes, a new light-leak effect, and … (More)
Briefs for Mac and iOS
Remember back in 2009 when designer Rob Rhyne unveiled an ambitious UI prototyping toolkit for iPhone called Briefs? After several years of waiting, and a couple of rejections by Apple, Briefs has (*finally*) made its introduction to the public. Briefs … (More)
“HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites” by Jon Duckett
I like to joke that my approach to editing CSS goes something like this: Right-click, ‘Inspect Element’ Find the appropriate selector Mash the keyboard until it works Needless to say, I can always use a little help when it comes … (More)
Engraved – Wooden Business Cards
Standard business cards are pretty boring. Unless you’re Patrick Bateman, you probably can’t even tell one from the next in that pile of yours. If you want your card to stand out from the crowd, you might check out this … (More)
Inkwell Sketch Kit
The Inkwell is a sketching kit made just for app- and web designers. It’s got the essential tools one needs to put together an awesome UI wireframe: Hand-crafted bag Copic C-1 marker Copic C-3 marker Micron 05 pen Sharpie fine … (More)
OpenFrame
While I don’t have many of them hanging anymore, many of my posters from college have had their corners destroyed by years of taping, tacking and stapling to numerous walls. The OpenFrame is a Kickstarter project that tackles this problem … (More)
Portsmith Co. Ekoustic Docks
Yesterday I posted about the CINCH wallet, which is made by the fine folks at Portsmith Co. In addition to that wallet, they sell a variety of lovingly-crafted wooden acoustic docks for the iPhone and iPad. Each dock is made … (More)
Dyson Airblade Tap Faucet
Sir James Dyson has done it again. This time, he’s come up with a sink faucet called the Airblade Tap that not only washes your hands, but dries them right there in 12 seconds by blasting out air at 420mph. … (More)
City Transit Lineposters
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to appreciate beautiful signage and cartography. These hand-illustrated, stylized transit posters are a great mix of both worlds and will fit in with just about any decor. As of this writing there … (More)
Pixel Ruler
Many of our favorite apps and websites started out as simple concept sketches on paper. And let’s be honest — the best designers tend to be perfectionists. The Pixel Ruler ensures that those early sketches are perfectly aligned and scaled … (More)
Below The Boat: Laser-cut Undersea Maps
Below The Boat is a collection of laser-cut, wood undersea maps. Starting with data from bathymetric charts, these artists use birch pieces to build a layered look at what’s under the surface. Once complete, the maps are placed in solid-wood … (More)
Appledesign: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group
Published in October 1997, Appledesign: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group is a 288-page book that looks at the design languages Apple used up until that time. With 400 color photos, this coffe-table book documents the industrial design … (More)
Neu Year 2013 Calendar Giveaway
The Neu Year 2013 Calendar started as a Kickstarter project, and after being funded, is now for sale for $30. The calendar is two-in-one: it can fit on almost any desk horizontally, but can be used vertically to hang on … (More)
UI Shape Sketchbook
If you’re working on a iOS app or mobile web app, having something well-designed is critical. Drawing is a lot cheaper and quicker than coding or mocking up in Photoshop. These notebooks come with iPhones printed on them, to scale, … (More)
The Compendious Coffee Chart Poster
Coffee is always an adventure. Here at the Tools & Toys headquarters we prefer a coarsely-ground cup of Guatemalan coffee brewed in our trusty AeroPress. And every now and then we bust out the Espro Press. But even that just … (More)
Designy Temporary Tattoos
Ask any guy or gal with a permanent tattoo (including yours truly) and they’ll tell you that tattoos are addicting. They’re painful, permanent, expensive, and you’re always thinking about the next one you could get. And then there’s the world … (More)
The Letters Poster
And here is another fine typographic poster to adorn your wall. This one, The Letters Poster, is printed on an 18×24 sheet of 60# Black Licorice stock. It’s 2-color screen printed with metallic gold and silver, and features original letterforms.
Helvetica Exploded Poster
The Helvetica Exploded Poster is printed on eight individual Burgundy Keaykolour uncoated A5 cards using metallic silver ink. It’s an outline of all ten numerals set in Helvetica Medium. It’s a limited edition print run that would look great framed … (More)
Wacom Inkling
Wacom is well known for their tablets, which designers all across the globe use for creating digital sketches with their PCs. However, for those who draw and like to do creative work freehand, paper is the default medium. And the … (More)
Neutra Typeface House Numbers
Heath Ceramics partnered with House Industries to bring Neutraface, a classy and clean typeface, to your home. Literally. Neutraface was originally designed as a headline typeface, based on the architecture and design savvy of Richard Neutra, and it looks fantastic … (More)