Creo Concrete Studio began as a collaborative effort between Maysun Wells and Eric Green. The two Californian’s understand well the inherent potential of concrete to produce beautiful forms. Their outdoor furniture, inlayed with cut glass or ammonite, is far cry from Brutalism. The chairs, tables, fire pits, and benches take soft, warm form, with an emphasis on curve and geometric shapes. (via Contemporist).

Further examples follow.

Moncler continues to open boutique doors in new markets outside of Europe. Following up on their Hong Kong shop, which complemented their London, Milan, and Paris shops. “Designed by the Gilles & Boissier architecture studio, the Shanghai boutique in Plaza 66 covers an area of 130 m² and recalls the DNA of the Moncler brand in its conception, whilst at the same time giving it a contemporary-luxury twist… Two large windows open into the Moncler world, emphasised by French panelling in carved wood with floral relief motifs. It is a welcoming look which is in stark contrast with the glass used for the central counter and the pierre bleu used for the walls and floor.”

More looks at the Moncler Shanghai Boutique after the click.

While a good many books have released recently that deal with the ‘how to’ of design, few take a stand against ramifications of certain design practice on consumption. David Berman, a Canadian communication designer, strikes against branding in his new book Do Good Design. His thought is that rather than produce more to entice further spending, we should be designing our way out of the cycle.

Good points, and the book received a strong review from DesignBoom (4 out of 5). You can read the review here.

Available now through Amazon.

A peak inside the book, published by New Riders, after the jump.

The face on this new Milestone 1942 watch from Omega’s Museum Collection is a busy one but for the gentleman who enjoys the complexities of information design, this may well be for you. ”The ‘Milestone 1941′ Collector’s Piece is the ninth release in OMEGA’s Museum Collection. The Museum Collection is the result of OMEGA’s desire to combine the historic values of the brand with its dedication to state-of-the-art horological standards. Each year, the OMEGA Museum Collection selects one classic timepiece – it has to be more than fifty years old – and honours it with a reissue blending its design excellence with OMEGA’s tradition of innovative contemporary watchmaking.” (timez)

A full look at the Omega Museum Collection Number 9 “Milestone 1941” Watch after the click.

Here’s another sneaky peek into B Store’s SS10 footwear collection (don’t worry, we’ll be showing all of it later on this week). B Store are known for their dandy twists on classic footwear but the new Martin model sees them take a new direction.

In comparision to their usual fare these are almost Common Projects-esque in their restraint – and they’re all the better for it. As long as they don’t forget their dandy roots (and judging from our other SS10 previews they haven’t) they’ll be a-okay with us.

Continuing our top 5 series is Holly Harnsongkram of Nom De Guerre. There’s nothing we can say about NDG that hasn’t already been said a million times before, so let’s get into it – her picks are after the leap.

We’ve been on the look out for some good trousers to combat our denim fatigue and a few points have cropped up. Firstly, it’s surprisingly hard to find good trousers that either too tight or too big. Secondly, it’s even harder to find a good pair of trousers that are winter weight.

These CDG shirt trousers tick both points on our (admittedly extremely brief) shortlist by being a great pair of winter weight trousers. At £260, these aren’t cheap – but you should expect no less from CDG. (ASOS)

We’re gonna make another oh-so-bold prediction here – all you ‘influencers’ take note – but it looks like the high neck cardigan is set to replace the shawl neck as the go to cardigan style. It’s versatile, easy to wear and is the best cardigan to wear as a makeshift jacket. And when you’ve got folks like Opening Ceremony making great versions of it, what more proof do you need? If you wanna get ahead of the game (and you obviously do, why else would you be here?) get on the high neck cardigan. (Opening Ceremony)

Song remains the same, detailed images after the leap.

01. Fire & Knives: Print, Resurgent (above)

“We recently received issue number one of Fire & Knives, a new print quarterly of “new writing about food” out of the UK. In their own words: “We give established writers a place for work that would not be published elsewhere; new writers a place to show themselves and experts in other fields an opportunity to write about our favourite subject.” It’s a rather handsome and inspiring publication, lovingly-designed, all in a format (smaller, thicker stock than your typical magazine) that eschews the glossy.” (eatmedaily)

02. Niagara: It Has It All

“A memory. I am twelve years old and win my local newspaper’s writing contest, along with the $100 prize. I planned my piece carefully and, with the day’s most boosterish tourist slogans in mind, chose my headline: ‘Niagara: It has it all’…It’s a clear winner, particularly in the context of early 1980s Niagara, a place which really did have it all, but in all the wrong ways.” (designobserver)

03. Ten Calendars For 2010

“For all the uses of a calendar—marking engagements, identifying days, counting down time and organizing schedules—digital might suffice but nothing beats the charm of a well-designed paper version. More than just a simple record of duties and celebrations, calendars themselves add a chic touch to environments with beautiful illustrations and images.” (coolhunting)

04. Led Action Façade, Digital Façade for Medialab Prado

“The city is created under emergency conditions: On the one hand, the obligation to update its infrastructures and, on the other hand, the need to maintain the same standards as in other cities, both of which require the continuous incorporation of new technologies to public spaces. If the now rare telephone booths were an example of this modernising in their day, today’s urban screens are so now. Once the economic factors were overcome, they were implemented all over the city following confused criteria linked to business performance and inertia inherited from previous examples, such as in Times Square in New York.” (archdaily)

Worker’s brings back more classics with this duck canvas cotton tote bag. Now, this is no ordinary tote. Takashi Tateno, the mastermind behind the Workers line/project meticulously examines original product to output his own perfect replica. In the case of this duck canvas tote, you’re looking at handcrafted goodness that features rivet reinforced pockets, American cut leather strapping. All in all, you have a wonderful perfect tote. It does not get much better than this.

More looks at the Workers Duck Canvas Tote after the click.