nooka in vegas

text by michael a. traverzo

while in vegas, robert was kind enough to take a picture of reebok's booth at project, where they had a trade show display which featured the lime green zub zenh 38. Be sure to order yours 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 needs your input

Hello Fan of Nooka—

We're taking a closer look at our website and we need your help. We're curious to hear what you like and dislike about the current design. Are there things you wish we had on the site but don't? Is it easy to find or buy stuff as it currently is, or are there times when you wish the layout of the site was different?

We're interested to know why you're coming to the site. For example are you only visiting to buy something, or maybe to see what's new. We have an idea why some people come to the site but any stories about why you come to the site will help us make a better experience for people that visit.

We're in the beginning process of collecting feedback as we consider options for the site as it evolves. Please feel free to email us at redesign[at]nooka.com or leave a comment below.

groovy nooz

well, today is my birthday. i started it by going to the gym, something i've been very lax with the past 2+ years! got to the office, wrote a bitchy blog post [seen below], had chinese take out with my team [we did a fancy b-day lunch for me yesterday as alex is off to thailand for vacation today, and he wanted to be a part of it], and then caught up with the nitty gritty of holding a design biz together.

i am actually writing this blog to let you know about our fire engine red nooka strip [belt]. i know i designed it and it may seem that i'm supposed to say this, but seriously, i LOVE this product. here it is on our e-store but the photo is a bit more electric than the reality – it's really fire engine red. goes great with my sounds good neon yellow hoodie [thanks yu in tokyo for the hoodie!] and zem watch.

i'm also wearing one of my favorite t-shirts from graniph in this foto which leads to a really exciting upcoming news bite – yours truly, matthew waldman, will be a featured designer for an upcoming t-shirt promotion! more on that soon...

one show updates?

i feel i have to blog about something that has been quite troublesome the past few weeks – students publishing their submissions for the nooka X one show competition.

from my few discussions via email and twitter, it seems that some students felt that they could publish on their own after they submitted. do students not read rules, terms and conditions? it clearly states in the forms:

"Submissions may not be published without the prior written consent of Nooka, provided that, entrant shall have the right to include the submission in his or her portfolio following the official announcement of the Competition winners by One Show."

it's frustrating that i have to explain this, but i do realize that the students do not have real world client experience. to them, please ask yourself: would an ad agency publish a client advertisement with out their input? would they publish work created for a client without getting paid? only the client can give feedback on their core values and whether or not the work produced reflects them.

publishing the work outside of the context of the one show competition shows a complete disregard for normal design process and the client, which in this case, is nooka. it's a competition, and the rules and regulations of competitions are specially crafted to protect the client and the applicants.

a few more questions for the students:

publishing the work outside the context of the one show creates confusion for my customers. is "confusion" a core value you want to promote as your special skill when you're looking for a job?

this is not to say that a lot of the work i'm seeing isn't good, but is it not the job of the fine judges the one club has gone through much expense to assemble to decide? how do you think your work will be viewed for originality if they saw it before the judging?

i hate to sound like a curmudgeon, but this is simply an issue of context and a key point of design that can not be ignored. publishing out of the context of the one club runs the risk of the submission being disqualified. publishing any work using another person or company's trademark opens you up to even greater problems.

so if you're happy to bypass the one club, that's cool, but you must add this to your work and to all the people/sites posting:

"Nooka" is a registered trademark of Nooka Inc. (all rights reserved) and may not be used without its express written permission. Nooka Inc. has not reviewed and does not endorse any products, concepts or viewpoints expressed on this website, and no business relationship with Nooka Inc. is implied through any use of its trademark.

here is a link to a student project published the correct way, and yes, it won awards!

nookafesto

ok, here it is, the nookafesto, core values for the nooka brand that i have been working on. i'm not 100% happy that it's complete, but then again, when am i ever 100% happy with anything? i'd be more than happy to entertain comments and suggestions to make it 100% ! that writ, it is a great little piece of copywriting and a wonderful tool for me and my design/marketing staff to check back on, to keep the brand moving forward in a cohesive fashion. for that, i think i can pat myself on the back.

Nooka speaks of a world of the tomorrow that is happening right now. It seems gloriously unattainable but is here in the palm of our hands. It is optimism, it is progress, and it is our future.

Core Beliefs
Universal Communication
Nooka believes in the power of universal languages like those used in math, science and commerce to increase understanding and enable diverse groups of people to work together. The universal visual language of Nooka creates a communication tool for all, promoting the exchange of ideas across the globe through great design.

Passion
Nooka believes that constant advances in technology and cultural change necessitate originality in design. Our lust for innovation through technoculture and our childlike belief that anything is possible drive us to constantly strive for the perfect design.

Interaction
The alternative approach to everyday objects in Nooka’s designs triggers thoughts of new possibilities and examination of our surroundings. Nooka products change the brain state of anyone they touch.

Purpose
Every Nooka object is designed with intention. It has the power of clarity, the power to reach the heart of everyone who interacts with it. Nooka is committed to the belief that anything is possible. It is only through a truly open mind that we may face the challenges ahead of us.

Inspiration
Nooka sees the whole world as inspiration; it absorbs energy from it and creates new forms.

Futurism
Nooka changes how we experience technology by placing it in new contexts. The futurist believes that this process always results in progress. Nooka is a futurist brand.

Nooka® - mindstyle™

it's fashion week again

it's fashion week again though i haven't gotten invited to many shows this season. i did go to the lacoste show this morning at the tents in bryant park. it was very interesting [or should i say perplexing] and i am curious to see how many new stores they pick up for this collection as i can't see it in many sportswear doors that already carry the brand. it was both men's and women's with the men's being a bit too on the conservative side for my tastes, though there were a pair of grey pants that look like they double easily as sweat pants for the gym – something i've been looking for!

last week i was the subject of a photoshoot for an upcoming issue of YRB magazine. the photographer is esteban aladro, and he was really laid-back and fun. the photo above is from the shoot and is only one of many cut that i liked. check out his online portfolio here. also, don't forget to look for me in the page on me in YRB magazine!

also, a bit hard to spot, but there is a bright green nooka zub 38 in this sunday's new york time's STYLES magazine.

press: marie claire

text by michael a. traverzo
in the newest issue of marie claire, it appears as though camouflage is the new "in". be sure to draw atten-tion to your latest outfit with the nooka zenh camo that can be purchased here!

In response to the tragic events in Haiti, Nooka Inc. will donate 10% of all online purchases* between January 21st and February 21st to Architecture for Humanity. Although food aid is important, it is a temporary solution. A better Haiti must be structurally prepared to weather another earthquake or hurricane.

update via photo of my desk today: promo CDs from our friends at mute records, my newest gommi arcade t-shirt, my signed miss november from the show at rotofugi in chicago, and last week's edition of the economist.

zub zirc

the music of the spheres, orbits, and the straight lines of the horizon – the zirc face was up until now only available as part of our high-end stainless steel line. we have adapted the zirc face to the popular polyurethane zub body while introducing some great new colors evoking the sky, leaves and fruits of equatorial jungles.

the zirc is also the interface variation i designed as "nooka training wheel" as some people are intimidated by the zen h and zen v faces. the dots of the zirc occupy familiar points in space referencing an analog watch dial, while the minute bar is pure nooka.

i'd say the original zirc night version [all black] is a versatile elegant piece of jewelery and the new zub iteration is for sweaty raves or licking fruit juice off of people's bodies – so obviously you need both! get yours here! they ship february 10th [or slightly sooner]. the zirc nt is available here.

In response to the tragic events in Haiti, Nooka Inc. will donate 10% of all online purchases* between January 21st and February 21st to Architecture for Humanity. Although food aid is important, it is a temporary solution. A better Haiti must be structurally prepared to weather another earthquake or hurricane.

Architecture for Humanity is a nonprofit design services firm founded in 1999. They are building a more sustainable future through the power of professional design. Recently, Architecture for Humanity launched a fund-raising appeal to support long term reconstruction efforts in Haiti. learn more about them or make a direct donation here.

nygif: javits center

twice a year, an astounding array of the world's best home, gift and lifestyle resources converge at the nygif in the javits center. this year, nooka, is showcasing their noo spring/ summer line featuring exciting new color ways of the ao and strip as well as an introduction to the new zub zirc line. the nygif runs until february 4th, so if you're in town, be sure to stop by booth #4067. note, this is not a consumer show, no individual sales are permitted, just wholesale orders. it is a great opportunity for product design students to meet industry people and do market research though.

also, don't forget, starting february 16th, nooka will be showcasing their new products at the project, in las vegas!

In response to the tragic events in Haiti, Nooka Inc. will donate 10% of all online purchases* between January 21st and February 21st to Architecture for Humanity. Although food aid is important, it is a temporary solution. A better Haiti must be structurally prepared to weather another earthquake or hurricane.

Architecture for Humanity is a nonprofit design services firm founded in 1999. They are building a more sustainable future through the power of professional design. Recently, Architecture for Humanity launched a fund-raising appeal to support long term reconstruction efforts in Haiti. learn more about them or make a direct donation here.