Previewing their latest selection of design wares for this fall we couldn’t help but think how influential and instrumental MoMA has been in showcasing great design to the world. The museum has always been known to feature exciting and new products ever since they helped propel the Eames into a household name. Season after season the team at MoMA scour the world for items that serve more than their function but are also playful, well designed, and environmentally conscious. While over a hundred items were on view, a few outstanding items stood out for us. Take Emeco’s Navy chair, a popular design that dates back to 1944. Coca-Cola approached Emeco with an idea to incorporate their recycling program. The result is the 111 Navy Chair, made up of 111 recycled Coca-Cola bottles based on the Navy design. MoMA’s PS1 will be working with Uniqlo. A curator for the museum will be introducing a line of t-shirt that will feature artists all incorporating text into their designs. The line will be available just in time for Uniqlo’s second mega store opening in midtown. And finally, one of our favorite brands, Braun. Braun is reintroducing a series of clocks and watches designed by Dietrich Lubs and MoMA has picked up an updated version of its iconic black and white alarm clock. This newer version is voice activated, so you don’t even have to move to put the alarm on snooze. All the items mentioned will arrive in September. If you’re nowhere near Manhattan, you can always purchase these items online. A redesign of the store will relaunch on July 11th.

Tucked away in the Finger Lakes region of New York, is the small and sustainable-minded furniture company, Miles & May. Brandon and Amy Philips have been designing and crafting furniture for 14 years, beginning in Brooklyn, and then relocating their studio to a converted cracker factory in Geneva, New York. The beauty of their work lies in contrast. Solid and sturdy forms seem to levitate on delicate legs. Deep, dark Wenge wood is laid seamlessly into buttery Walnut. Old and discarded wood is reclaimed with a new, contemporary life. While each piece has a distinctive sculptural quality, it is inviting and begs to be lived-in.

Miles & May furniture is produced with a minimal environmental impact, re-using building timbers and felled trees from local farmland. They stay true to form, by making minimal cuts to preserve the original size and texture of each piece, using the tiniest scraps to heat their workshop. Waste not, but we definitely want.

Carl Aubock, the Viennese designer amassed an enormous body of work throughout his career and was recognized by many as an important figure in Mid-Century Modern design. However, not much of his work is seen by the masses. A collection of his brass pieces have been reissued but so much more is waiting to be discovered. For the design enthusiasts, there is a site that documents his achievements. Carl Auboeck Architekt takes us through his work through archival photographs, magazine ads, and personal accounts. A post celebrating his birthday back in January shows a prolific amount of work that goes far beyond what he is known for. We can only hope that a manufacturer is willing to reissue some of his lesser known work and to expose his talents to a newer generation.

Jasper Morrison, the world renown designer, has collected an assortment of housewares from around the world with a few of his own products sprinkled throughout, all assembled into an online shop. The inventory ranges from pens and pencils to everyday functional objects and is displayed in a similar way to his Super Normal exhibits. But in the world of best practices and user friendly interaction, his online shop fails many of the fundamental rules. It is of course, done intentionally. What you see is minimal, just like the designs of the products, but there is much more, only to be discovered through the search. There’s no category listing, no hierarchy, just products waiting to be discovered. (via Arkitip)

Since 2001 1stdibs has given antique dealers from all over the world a chance to offer their selections in an open marketplace online. Originally specializing in furniture, 1stdibs expanded its categories and started showcasing shops that dealt in fine art, jewelry, watches, and fashion. After 10 years in business, they are expanding from digital to brick and mortar. 1stdibs@NYDC has taken over the 10th floor of the New York Design Center. The 33,000-square-foot gallery houses 54 dealers ranging from industrial to modern furnishings and lighting, with 1,100-square-foot reserved for rotating exhibitions. The gallery is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Visit the space at 200 Lexington Avenue or peruse the inventory here.

Japan always recognized the quality in American products long before we knew and celebrated it. Little did we know during the 80’s and 90’s that our old pair of Jordans, vintage denim, or classic Eames shell chairs, were sought after and collected six thousand miles away. One of the more coveted brands is Herman Miller and for years it was difficult for the Japanese market to acquire Herman Miller products. That was until now, Herman Miller opened a showroom in December in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo, designed by Torafu Architects. The showroom features furniture from their office and home collection but also includes products that aren’t available in the U.S. including the exclusive House Industries blocks. See more photos of the space on Herman Miller’s blog, Torafu Architects, and Men’s Non No.