Awesome Art & Design

The planning that went into this projection mapping really makes it shine. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into a site-specific theater piece from the creative professionals at URBANSCREEN.

Film student Adam Grabowski created these brilliantly primitive animations using household tools and appliances for the 2011 Motion Graphics Showcase at NYC’s School of Visual Arts.

Peter Bristol’s clever Cut Chair has a metal plate (concealed by carpet) with a cantilevered seat and 3 well placed leg “stumps” to make the chair look like it has just been magically sliced apart.

Teacarina? Ok, sign us up for 10. From Legend of Zelda inspired to more inventive and artful options, look no further than the quality craftsmanship of St. Louis Ocarina for all your earthen-flute needs.

Jaryn Miller‘s concept uses the handlebars as one of the bicycle’s locks, so the rider will always have the lock with him, but most of all it renders the bike unusable if a thief breaks or saws off the lock.

Hao-Chun Huang‘s Flexbook concept has hinges at the center of its keyboard and display, so it has an e-reader, tablet and laptop mode. It also has a waterproof keyboard and swappable rubber skins.

Al Farrow uses ammunition and firearms to make amazing religious sculptures, such as miniature churches, mosques, synagogues. Pictures taken by Meighan O’Toole; more at her Flickr page.

Who here among us created this rather hilarious and (somewhat accurate) infographic that explains the difficulties of the modern-day internet lifestyle? Whoever you are, we love that belly full of vitriol.

At once both whimsical and practical, this concept gadget fires single shots of espresso into your cup thanks to a unique reusable coffee cartridge design. See il Tiro in action here.

Artist Nikki Rosato makes intricate portraits by cutting maps along the street and river lines, forming a vein-like structure for her art. These 3D human forms are her most dramatic works.

Christian Schallert made the most of his 254sqft apartment through extensive use of shelves and drawers. It may not be as complex as what this man did, but it’s still very creative and practical.

Jonas Damon has created a cool collection of wood-framed modern gadgets offered through Areaware. We especially like his latest, an old cathode-ray tube TV set that he built for the iPad.

Etsy seller Pipe Dreams 2010 makes beautiful puzzles of continents and countries using laser-cut wood. Each piece has a magnet on its back so you can display them separately or as one.

(Possible Spoilers) Flickr user wd.farmer loved the 50s style art and icons in Portal 2 so much and decided to make posters out of them, along with quotes from Aperture Science CEO Cave Johnson.

Patkau Architects created this group of temporary skating shelters huddled together by a skating trail along a frozen river in Winnipeg, which include a timber frame, plywood floor and seating inside.

Created by professor Sheila Kennedy and a team of MIT students, these rockers capture solar and kinetic energy, passing it along to USB gadgets and a cool electroluminescent lighting system at night.

The breathtaking views of Norway’s natural scenery don’t need much enhancement. Still, kudos to the Public Roads Administration for authorizing these amazing National Tourist Routes.

We can’t seem to find the pin on this bar of soap, cast from an actual WWII steel grenade. We’d advise against traveling with this in your luggage, unless you want “special” treatment from the TSA.

Conceptualized by 5.5 Designers for Saazs, the Matières à Chaud radiator is a pane of glass with “Quantum Glass”, a thin metal coating that emits infrared light when the radiator is plugged in.

This cool machine lets you cut foam and other sheet materials up to 27″ wide and 2″ thick using your computer as a controller. Computer and Shop-Vac not included. Also draws with Sharpies.

Cartoonist Dan Hipp created a these Adventures of Tintin-inspired book covers as tributes to classic science fiction films lie Star Wars, Alien and Tron. We only wish these books were real.

Designed and produced by professional musicians, HANDSON’s PePaKuRa are detailed pre-cut miniature paper models of musical instruments. Watch a violin PePaKuRa being assembled here.

With concerns about the fallout from Japan’s recent disaster affecting food supplies, Nils Ferber created this concept combining dinner plate with radiation meter. Whimsical, but well-intentioned.