These spray-painted cocoons are actually playful stackable lamps!

Nothing brightens up a home better than some artistic lighting, designed with utmost precision, to illuminate the space it is placed in. Israeli studio Aqua Creations started off in the homes of Ayala Serfaty and Abi Serfaty almost 15 years ago, but are now centerfold in creating aesthetic lights using sustainable technology. Their recent collection called ‘ToTeM’ is quite unlike anything I’ve seen before. A series of tall, thin and squat sculptural lighting structures, it features three pieces: To, Te and M. Each piece possesses their own geometric shape, form, and structure. They can either be placed separately, each holding their own or combined all together as a quirky family, forming a chandelier within minutes! Handcrafted, To, Te and M boast white polymer shades. Though they all feature almost rectangular shapes with rounded edges, one is quite tall and thin, the second one tall and wide, and the third is shaped like an elongated square!

What makes ToTem stand out is its unique manufacturing process. A metallic stand with a cage-like structure on top is taken and swiftly spray-coated with polymer, which forms a lithe cocoon around it. This method creates beautifully diffused lighting with an interesting, uneven texture that is unique for each piece. The end result is a collection of stackable lamps, the epitome of versatility and playfulness. Standing tall on a black steel frame with tripodal legs, ToTem also comes with a white-ash wood shelf that can be attached and reattached depending upon your mood. It’s the kind of design that can fit harmoniously into any space, whether living or working, to liven it up in seconds!

Designer: Aqua Creations

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Inside the Nike+ Accelerator: Fueling the quantified-self movement

Inside the Nike Accelerator Fueling the quantifiedself movement

Imagine setting aside three months of your life to pursue a dream. As romantic as the idea may seem, it requires a gut check somewhere along the way. Recently, a handful of entrepreneurs said goodbye to their families and loved ones, and in some cases, flew across the globe for an opportunity to do just that. Some put their budding companies on hold, while others came only with an unwavering belief in their idea. In all, 10 companies converged on the Nike+ Accelerator in Portland, Ore., this past March, each united with the goal of building products that integrate with Nike's line of fitness trackers.

DNP Inside the Nike Accelerator Fueling the quantifiedself movementIt's hard to underestimate the sacrifice, or the opportunity. With less than three weeks to relocate, many had to act quickly. But with a vote of confidence from Nike and its accelerator partner, TechStars, support from a vast network of mentors and industry contacts -- and just as importantly, early access to the Nike+ API -- it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get a head start over the competition in the burgeoning wearables industry.

From the moment these entrepreneurs touched ground at PDX, the clock was already running. In just 12 weeks, they'd pitch their products to potential investors at Demo Day -- first in Portland on June 10th, and again in San Francisco on the 20th. It's a lot to accomplish in three months, and certainly unfamiliar territory for Nike as well. But even amidst the breakneck speed, one must hit the pause button and ponder Nike's motivation behind the accelerator. Ten companies were certainly given an upper hand, but can the same be said for Nike itself?

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