So, it’s been almost six months since we hatched the plan to greatly expand our product line and focus exclusively on jewelry. So much has happened since then! Due to the great success of our Kickstarter campaign, it was all made possible, and the new line is here. Check it out in our online store.

We’ll be launching our full new jewelry collection at the upcoming January 2011 New York Gift Fair. Come by our booth and get a first look at it in-person!

The new pieces have started rolling in, and we’re super excited about them.

(1) Pantone boxes, $28 each, available at aplusrstore.com
(2) Stila eye shadow, $38, available at sephora.com
(3) Ramen, French Toast, and Tortilla chocolate, $12 for 3, available at amazon.com
(4) Candy wallet, $16, available at shopexit9.com
(5) Nesting bowls, $50, available at momastore.org
(6) Reveal watch, $100, available at yankodesign.com
(7) Cutting board, $28, available at momastore.org
(8) Smencil scented pencils, 5 for $6, available at smencils.com
(9) Apple notepad, $4.50, available at curiosityshoppeonline.com
(10) Giant gummi, $12, available at fredflare.com

(1) Music balloon speaker, $45, available at yliving.com
(2) Black cards, $16, available at ebmerc.com
(3) Animal calendar, $25, available at momastore.org
(4) Adventure matches, $3.50, available at curiosityshoppeonline.com
(5) Tool bottle openers, $20 each, available at yliving.com
(6) Animal ring, $75, available at aplusrstore.com
(7) Shock pen, $8, available at shopexit9.com
(8) Almond hot chocolate, $9.95, available at chocolat.com
(9) Notebook paper embroidery kit, $14, available at curiosityshoppeonline.com
(10) Bella rain umbrella, $96, available at fiveanddiamond.com

Awkward Moment Cards – Now you can start uncomfortable conversations for a more comfortable price – also marked down from $15.00 to $9.00, for a set of 5. Get them here.

Dow Jones Hanky – One thing’s for sure, the economy still ain’t what it used to be. Hence why you’re loving this sale, right?! Well our beloved Dow Jones Hanky has also just become a little more accessible, down from $28.00 to $16.80. The perfect gift for the stock-market watcher in your life, available here.

Happy holidays everyone!

Money To Burn candle, $9.00 each

Awkward Moment Cards, $9.00 for a set of 5

Dow Jones Hanky, $16.80 each

We’ve been long-time admirers of Adrian Buckmaster and Deity Delgado’s work. He’s the photographer, she’s the stylist and make-up artist, and the scenes they make are magical. A little while back, we interviewed Adrian about how he got into photography, and he told us his inspiring story. This season, as Design Glut just launched a few new products and we were in serious need of new photos, we finally had an opportunity to work with them. It was such an awesome experience in creative collaboration that I thought I’d share some of the behind-the-scenes here.

We didn’t have a real concept for the shoot in mind, and Adrian talked us through many options. Finally, from the fog of vague ideas, a concrete plan emerged. Adrian has done several shoots with painted backdrops that blur the line between fantasy and reality, which we love. He even paints the backdrops himself! Talk about multi-talented.

Inspired by Adrian’s paintings, as well as Edward Gorey’s drawings and Alice in Wonderland, we came up with the concept for a painted backdrop of a huge present. A few days later, Adrian sent back photos of his full-scale interpretation. We were thrilled! He actually painted part of the giant present on the floor of the set, so that when the camera is the correct angle, it looks completely 3-dimensional. Look at how the present appears to be popping off the wall where the backdrop meets the floor. SO FREAKING AWESOME.

The backdrop literally set the stage for the whole shoot, and created a magical, surreal world. Here are the final images, featuring Liz and Kegan with the Balloon Necklace, Vanity Bookmark, Jar Tile, Money To Burn Candle, and World Links Necklace. Enjoy!

Kickstarter is an amazing platform to fundraise for creative projects, and we’re currently running a campaign to make our new jewelry line. As of tonight, we’re at 53% of our goal with just 9 days left to go. Eep, nerve wracking! If you like these designs and support Design Glut, please pre-order now so we can stay in business and keep bringing you awesomeness in the future! Click the link to see even more designs from our new line, as well as all the great rewards we’re offering everyone who contributes.

Pre-order select designs from the new collection on Kickstarter.

Design Glut is a very small company of 2 people. We’d gotten pretty comfortable with that, until our latest adventure. As we curated and organized a show during Design Week called Uncomfortable Conversations, all of a sudden we were working very closely with a group of 15 designers and 6 sponsors.

There were plenty of times when we found ourselves less-than-amused by the number of uncomfortable conversations we had to have to pull this thing off. It was a ton of work, but by rallying a group, we were able to make a statement of such greater magnitude and depth than we ever could have done on our own.

On May 16th, 400 people came out to the opening party. Uncomfortable and comfortable conversations were had. Conceptual design was appreciated. And we realized that Design Glut has the ability to bring together the design community IRL, not just on the internet, which is super exciting. Here’s a recap of the our first event – with more shows definitely to come!

In the gallery, a.k.a. an empty storefront in the Meatpacking District that we took over for a week.

photo by Jacob Krupnick

Chrissy Conant’s A2Zzz Pillows. Cuddle up with some Ambien.

Will Robison’s Kevin Carpet Bench. For an hour each day that the show was open, a fetishist was rolled up inside the carpet and show-goers were invited to sit on him. Here’s a series of pictures showing Julio, the human carpet, going in:

Will sitting on Julio.

photo by Jacob Krupnick

From left to right: Liz, Julio’s wife, Vincent, Julio’s adorable little baby boy, and Matthew Waldman of Nooka

photo by Jacob Krupnick

Demian Repucci’s Consumption dinnerware is decorated with infographics that describe the vast differences in food and water consumption around the world.

Vincent Lai’s Deterrent bag is reversible, allowing you to bust out some spikes on a would-be attacker.

Uncomfortable Typographic Situations by MSLK shows what can happen without proper kerning. Also a good litmus test for how dirty your mind is – different show-goers saw different things on first glance…

photo by Luke Escamilla

Body Function by Matthew Waldman. It’s uncomfortable. Enough said.

photo by Jacob Krupnick

Materious’ briefcase/paper shredder (cleverly titled In Case) is a must-have accessory for crooked CEOs.

photo by Luke Escamilla

Chi-Merica by Paul Loebach is a reconfiguration of his Half Mirror, putting an uncomfortable conversation about the ethics of furniture manufacturing out there. That’s the designer, caught nervously biting his nails.

photo by Ryan Heiser

Ana Linares’ It’s Not You / It’s Not Me necklaces are a conversation starter, but a relationship ender.

photo by Ryan Heiser

Which contrasts with Sruli Recht’s Garrote necklace/choker – a conversation starter, but a life ender.

Karl Zahn’s hanging lamp, Heavy, addresses the terror of the cartoon world – death by falling anvil.

And then there’s the Trashlight by Craighton Berman. What do you throw away? What dirty little secrets get hidden in those black plastic bags? If you think you have nothing to hide, or if you’re a bold exhibitionist, cast light on your refuse and put it out on display.

And the final theme of the show was uncomfortable conversations about touching. For those of you who find the subway too germy and and tightly packed, put on a pair of Andrew Haarsager’s Mind The Gap gloves. Should someone’s hand start to drift down the pole towards yours, you’ll be well-protected and ready to impale them.

If you’re the angry type (and New Yorkers tend to be), perhaps you should consider letting go of some of your grudges. Shaking hands with your enemies might seem too extreme a first step – so use Dominic Wilcox’ Pre-Handshake Handshake Device to get used to the motion.

photo by Ryan Heiser