In Part I of our Holiday Wishlist, we asked members of our design firm to tell us about the products that caught their attention this season. What we got was an interesting list of products enhancing where we live, what we wear, and how we play. Well, they say good things come in twos, so we tapped another group at Essential for a second round of coveted items.
Cotopaxi Sueno Sleeping Bag
Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear company with a great mission and a unique Altiplano-meets-80s throwback style. A certified B-Corp, they use up-cycled fabric and sustainably sourced materials, and donate 2% of their revenue to alleviate poverty and provide health and education in developing countries. This sleeping bag is fun, warm, and weird, with a great story. - Chris Parlato, Principal, Innovation Strategy
Nomad Desktop CNC Mill
The Nomad from Carbide 3D is a compact desktop CNC machine that enables small-time makers to machine complex parts out of materials ranging from foam to steel. There are few products on the market that fit within such a small envelope. This machine offers a lot of new capabilities to makers who are low on space. - Dennis Rogers, Engineering Intern
Modernist Cuisine by Nathan Myhrvold
The six-volume series, The Art and Science of Cooking, is virtually an encyclopedia of cooking that takes you through a visual exploration of all things food. Created by a team of research and development chefs, chemists, physicists, and machinists in the pursuit of new cooking innovations, Modernist Cuisine is equal parts gastronomic as it is scientific. If that intimidates you, the ingenious photography is reason enough to get your hands on it. - Katja Lierhaus, Engineer
Glowforge Lasercutter
This Glowforge Lasercutter may have come out last year, but it’s still one of the best on the market. It’s versatile, efficient, and looks great. It’s also incredibly easy-to-use and affordable, which makes it more accessible to a wider audience than the traditional sheet metal boxes that normal laser cutters are. Even the Engineers in the office will be able to figure out how to use it! - Evan Hutker, Senior Designer
Lyra Rembrandt Colored Pencils
The summer of my second year in Design School, I worked for the amazing and innovative designer, Irma Boom. As a parting show of appreciation for my work, she asked me if I would prefer money or a gift. I had worked through school and while I "needed" the money, essentially, a gift seemed like a much more meaningful sign of our time together. She gave me a box of 120 Lyra Rembrandt colored pencils. I have had the pencils for over 20 years and they still bring back memories of our awesome summer together in Amsterdam. Having said that– they are all worn down to nubs. For this holiday, I would love to get a box of replacements for my favorite colored pencils. - Sonya, Director of Digital Experiences
Enzo Ferrari: Power, Politics and the Making of an Automobile Empire
I'm fascinated by businesses built around great design, and the Ferrari brand is universally recognized for performance, racing prowess, and state-of-the-art Italian design. The company's founder, Enzo Ferrari, was a dominant figure in Italian culture on a level well beyond what Steve Jobs achieved. - David Knies, Chief Growth Officer
X-Carve
I recently bought my first palm router and found myself quickly wanting to do more than just fillets and chamfers... Beginning to 3D print router templates to get precise pockets and forms really opened my eyes to the potential of a home workshop tool like the X-Carve. If I were to get one of these, OOO will probably really mean ITW (in the workshop). - Jason Cooper, Design Manager
NikeLab ACG 2 in 1 System Jacket
Boston winters are in a league of their own - cold, snowy, and unpredictable. Having (barely) survived the last few, I’m in need of a functional and versatile winter jacket. Nike’s ACG is a 2-in-1 system with a waterproof shell and an insulated inner jacket that can be worn alone or layered. They say it’s “designed to equip the urban pioneer for the ultimate landscape”. I guess this means they did product testing in Boston. - Taehak Kwon, Industrial Designer
Floating
Something I've always wanted to experience is floatation therapy. It's basically a sensory deprivation tank, though that sounds more like something you'd find in Guantanamo Bay than the relaxing and peaceful experience this is supposed to be. In "floating", a small pod or pool is filled with water so dense with Epsom salt that you float with zero effort. The space is also devoid of sound and light, creating the ultimate disconnected environment. It's dark, it's quiet, and you're alone and weightless. This can either be absolutely blissful or maddeningly terrifying. Either way, I want to try it. - Leahanna Savain, Marketing Specialist
Ultimaker S5
Ultimaker is pushing past the beginnings of their RepRap roots and into the offices of the design community. With the S5 they are bringing professional features and ease of use at an affordable price (for a business anyway) within a package that is maker chic. We can make some beautiful designs together. - Mark Matthews, Senior Designer
