Who says peanut butter has to be spread! PBslices creates the easy to spread peanut butter slice, much like cheese slices. It was introduced in 2002, but hasn’t really spread out in the market..hehe. I love the idea, but then again, it seems odd. I eat slices of meat, cheese, and bread…but jam, peanut butter, perhaps a vitamin slice one day? This again is an example of perceptial familiarities. If peanut butter was first introduced by the slice, would we find the spreadable version odd?PBslices

I’ve noticed a growth in mainstream “Create-It-Yourself” products. Usually I’d only see these options in a hobby store, but it’s nice to see some hitting the mainstream with style. It’s a definite question of “mass customization”, success or a mess. Are consumers willing to pay more for a blank canvas and a sense of individualism? Do they want to do more?(Betty Crocker Egg Cake Case)

Puma Mongolian Grill (Desgin your own shoe)
Bytrico Chalkboard Shirt
Adicolor Shoes, via SneakerFreaker
Timbuk2 Artist Canvas Bags
Sketch On Munny Vinyl, Kidrobot

Did it fool you? It fooled me! It’s amazing how the smallest details trigger your perceptions. These cute pincushions by Alesina Design appear to be inflated by air, but are in fact filled with polyester fibers. Can simple elements within a design, such as these air valves, entirely change your perception of an object? For sure! I’d love to see more examples of visual triggers like this one. As far as I know, these colorful soft objects might be hard painted pieces of concrete, but who knows.Alesina Design

update: seems you can buy these through this company, kikkerland.

I love it when design integrates opposites together. Molodesign brings to us “felt rocks”, the soft and pliable rocks that are irresistibly playful. It’s great how kids today are hugging ugly dolls, talking sponges, and now theses soft rocks! I’d buy a truck load of theses felt rocks to throw around my office for brainstorms!via notcot
molodesign

NuScup is a simple and beautiful solution to those many measuring spoons you have stashed in your kitchen. Pollen Design in nyc worked on this project awhile back.Pollen Design

You think Google Earth is cool? Well, get ready to be blown away by Spore, a PC game by Will Wright, creator of The Sims and Sim City.
I’m not sure what kind of cpu power this game will require, but you pretty much create and affect every single element within a galaxy and let time happen through “procedural” content development.
The magnitude of this game is ridiculous and you feel like a god of a god! Check out the video of Will presenting Spore at the 2005 Game Developer’s Conference!Google Video of Spore
GameSpy Article

“A team of American-led divers has discovered a new crustacean in the South Pacific that resembles a lobster and is covered with what looks like silky, blond fur…”How freakin crazy cool is this! How about some inspiration from this crustacean for your next design project.

via boingboing
yahoo news

Fashion designer Alexander McQueen has a collaborative partnership with PUMA to bring out a refreshing line of men and womens shoes. The line-up includes a series of shoes inspired by the human DNA. Go to ‘hotspot’ in Pumas website to get the full story on the design methodology. The series will be available at select retailers Spring 2006.

AlexanderMcqueen.Puma Site
eLuxury

Yugo Nakamura creates some of the most facinating, inspiring, and amazzzzing interactive systems in digital and networked environments. His artwork spans from engaging interactive interfaces to breathtaking displays of pure creativity and ridiculous coding.
I’d keep typing, but his work speaks for itself.Yugop
Interactive Lines (use your cursor)

Tokyo Plastics at it again with some great animated videos to promote their new “Opera Dude” Vinyl. Check out their website, have your sound on, and get mystified.Opera Dude Video
Buy Opera Dude
Tokyo Plastic

If your seeking a physical materials collection of the coolest and most innovative mechanisms, electronics, and materials to get your hands onto, then check out Inventables! Their wonderful quarterly sample kits are filled with several inspirational objects that will likely wow you.
Inventables

If you need inspiration, get these books!!! All of them have a rich variety of material descriptions, applications, and photos along with information to get your hands on some remarkable materials.

Transmaterial
Books by Chris Lefteri (6+)
Materials Connexion

update: Transmaterial 2 is out!