design tide tokyo 2009

i know i am overdue for updating the blog for my visits to tokyo, taipei, seoul, manila and singapore, but i'm readjusting to NYC time today! i wanted to get the word out for anyone in tokyo to check out design tide at tokyo midtown starting friday october 30th through november 3rd. the alternative to the much larger 100% design exhibition is always a treat with more independent designers and smaller companies like nooka taking part. yu yamada of nooka japan is one of the organizer/curators so make sure you check out our new products in the market section. the tide website is here.

oh, and they produced a nice looking book this year [as they always do!]

nooka press: instyle magazine

text by michael traverzo
nooka was recently featured in the november issue of instyle magazine. the nooka fragrance has been receiving some great press and instyle has placed us amongst fierce competition!

the nooka fragrance is available online, here!

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

nooka sighting: gossip girl

text by michael traverzo

apparently even the nooka watch gossips on the cw! on gossip girl this past monday, october 19th, dan (penn badgley) was seen downtown near nyu getting close with hilary duff rocking a cobalt blue nooka. be sure to purchase yours here!

if you happened to miss the episode, catch a clip of it here!

disclaimer: this watch does not give compliments; however, you may receive them from strangers!

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

noo press: new york times scent notes

text by michael traverzo

nooka [the fragrance], if you think about it, embodies nooka perfectly. The scent is a precision machine, smooth as glass, deep as time, startling in its functionality, captivating. - chandler burr of the new york times

on september 21st, author of new york times scent notes, chandler burr, wrote a flattering article reviewing the nooka fragrance giving it 4 stars! burr describes the nooka scent as "one of the most delightful, perfectly complex, wearable woods" he's ever smelled. special thank you to chandler burr for his review.

SRP: $80

the nooka fragrance is available here!

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

nooka zaz

text by michael traverzo



nooka has taken the art of customization to the next level with the release of the zaz. it's innovative display screen and futuristic design complements a line of products that are sure to evoke a feeling of a glam-future.

the most prominent and unique feature of the zaz is its transparent face (zenv), giving the illusion that the time is displayed directly on the individuals wrist. aside from the face of the watch, the zaz comes equipped with a green led light, a first for nooka.

the placement of the strap distributes the weight of the watch in a way that makes it feel weightless. unfortunately, unlike the zon, the strap can not be adjusted to sit on the right side or the middle of the watch. this is for the left arm. in order to wear it on the right wrist, the individual must wear it upside down; however, legibility is not affected.

three models of the zaz will be available: silver face with black or white leather bands, or a silver mesh band for $395 each. pre-order yours here, all orders will be shipped out early november.
nooka is available at fine shops all over the world and online here.

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

nooka zem

the next generation is here and no i'm not talking about star trek. nooka has unveiled its newest line of watches, the nooka zem. the zem line brings a new shape and aesthetic to nooka timepieces with a gem-cut case that completes the look of our nooest products, the nooka strip, ao and fragrance. the crystal itself is the thickest of any we've ever produced, creating a jewel-like quality and adding weight to this design. the case back is also unique to this model and shaped to mirror the form of the crystal. you can thank nooka lab member alexander yoo for these details.

the models with the metal bracelet also introduce a custom touch to the zems. we spent over a year perfecting a unique metal link bracelet, and the effort has finally paid off. so though a huge watch, this is a product for the people out there requesting something bigger and heavier. should i add the words "heavy metal" to "glam future"?

the zem line consists of 16 separate models featuring nooka’s four most popular faces: zot, zenv, zenh and zoo, as well as 4 different styles: night and silver with black leather, night with black mesh and silver with silver mesh. pre-order your new luxury item, the nooka zem, here. prices are $375.

the zem has already been getting an incredible amount of attention online and hopefully soon in the magazines. moreover, people just love it when i wear it, and it is fast becoming one of my favorite pieces.

nooka is available at fine shops all over the world and online here.

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

nooka X the one club

let me start by saying that it is truly an honor to be featured in the 2010 college competition for the one club. for those of you who are not familiar with the one club, they are the world's foremost non profit organization that promotes creativity in advertising.

each submission needs to tell both the nooka story and the stories of the products included in our current product line through print, online and broadcast media. eligibility is open to any college or university student anywhere in the world.

the judges will rate each submission on the factors listed below:

+ innovation: is the design new and unique?
+ aesthetics: is the delivery of the message novel and compelling?
+ technical ability: does the design require mastery of the tools of the trade?
+ manufacturability: is the design practical and viable?
+ nooka’s mission: is the design culturally and environmentally responsible?
+ subjective criteria: how does the design appeal to the judges.

and of course, what you are all wondering about, whats the award for winning? well, winners are featured in a very glamorous show in NYC each year (the indian food at last years award show was really yumm!). and if that isn't enough, in addition to winners selected by one Show, nooka, in its sole discretion, may select one or more entries in any category in order to develop them for possible use by nooka in its promotions. there is a cash award for work that may be chosen to be used as an actual campaign, but get full rules and information in the link below.

For more information, please visit the one club here! i highly encourage anyone to post this info on their design and school related blogs. i personally am looking forward to seeing the submissions (fortunately for everyone, i am not a judge). submission deadline is february 19, 2010.

nooka is available at fine shops all over the world and online here.

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

Nooka Sighting: Gossip Girl

text by michael traverzo

the CW's gossip girl, the series known just as much for its costume design as it is for its plot, featured actor penn badgley (dan from gossip girl) rocking a cobalt zub zoo38 while filming a scene with newly added singer/actress hilary duff.

be sure to tune into the cw on monday, october 12th at 9pm to catch a glimpse of the nooka!

nooka is available at fine shops and online here.

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

the making of the nooka pop-up shop at den

Nooka Pop Up Shot @ Den NYC from The Supervisory on Vimeo.

as many of you know, i am traveling in asia at the moment. had a great event to reintroduce the brand to taiwan and now in korea for the design olympics! of course, i will have expanded posts on everything but wanted to post a cool little documentary video and a blog related note now.

bylines: if i write the post here, it's most probably written by me. if a nooka lab staff member posts, there will be a byline. for example, text by michael traverzo. i think this will help the speed of posts and help differentiate what's my voice and what's more press related. let me know if there are more types of posts you would enjoy reading.

for now, enjoy this mini documentary for the making of the nooka pop-up shop at den! i think i look fat, but i think i really was a bit chubby this summer. back to being skinny now. video edit thanks to the supervisory, learn more about the supervisory here.

nooka is available at fine shops all over the world and online here.

also, don't forget to vote for nooka at pulchra. the voting process may seem a bit tedious, but it is actually really simple. simply drag nooka to the number 1 spot, if that's your choice of course and choose the other 9 objects until you have completed your list. In order for your vote to be valid, you will need to complete the details form. remember you can only vote ONCE PER DAY, so make sure to log on the next day and do it all over again. link is here!

follow nooka on facebook and twitter.

tokyo party report

the party for the tokyo custom nookanooka exhibition was this past friday. it was a lot of fun, and happy to see so many people show up...around 300 by my rough count of people coming in and out over the course of 3+ hours. it was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and business associates. some major players in both fashion, music and urban vinyl/toy world were there [which is to b expected as most of the 9 japanese artists for the custom show are from that world]. i got to meet mutual friend and sony music recording artist immi who was there with her manager and producer. i was very honored to have ryu akashi, founder of medicom toys there as well. i got to meet makoto kajii, the editor of the brilliant online magazine, openers.jp which i write for. gloomy bear fame mori chack was there as well and we talked about him participating in our next event.

the space, designed by yu yamada, featured display blocks of solid white styrofoam arranged as a giant nooka zen-h face. music by my favorite tokyo dj kurasho who spun my request of italo-disco+electronica. wine, beer and shochu for me + galceau vitamin water guaranteed a good time for all who came.

all the artists were in attendance so i was abe to thank each and every one of them for the amazing work they did with the nookanookas! again: thanks! i will write a more expanded post on each of their bios for the november 10th exhibition in NYC.

next stop tomorrow is taipei in taiwan. there will be an invitation-only event with an auction to benefit typhoon survivors on October 7th which i am looking forward to.