For all of you designer/snowboarder hybrids out there… Design Within Reach’s Denver Studio is playing host to the 2007 Design the Modern Board competition. The event is being sponsored by Ride Snowboards, who will also review the final submissions to determine if they want to use one or more of the deigns on one of their ‘in-line boards’ (whatever that is). The winner of the contest itself, however, will be determined by the attendees of the March 29th judging event at the Denver Studio. If you’re interested, you can find additional info and a list of prizes here. Keep in mind that you must email your intent to compete to denver@dwr.com no later than March 2nd (that’s this Friday). Proceeds go to the Snowboard Outreach Society, which helps at-risk youth get out on the slopes– a great cause, and a really fun way to fundraise if you ask me.

Switzerland-based Imaginary Foundation has some new designs in their repertoire that are worth a look– they follow right along with I.F.’s mission of researching new ways of thinking and the power of imagination. This organization is somewhat mysterious– it’s headed up by a enigmatic ‘Director’ who is supposedly in his 70’s and the son of the founder of the Dadaistic Movement. To stay somewhat out of the limelight with their academic pursuits, I.F. communicates to the world at large through their streetwear line. The last I looked, they were running pretty low on their new stock, so you should head over ASAP to see what you can snatch up.

This reminds me eerily of the Zach Slow + Lady Sovereign fiasco a little while back, but who am I to get in between three men and their dream. Pool Boys at the Mansion is a recently-surfaced guerrilla campaign by Sam Rush, Denman, and The Swede (gotta love their names) to win jobs as pool boys at the holy grail of pools at the Playboy Mansion. They’re basically looking for people to write them letters of recommendation so that when they go in for an interview in August, they’ll have the support of the masses. They want people to be really creative with their letters, so this could be a fun little writing exercise. I’m willing to do my part to help these lads on their quest to scrub unknown substances off of the walls of the Grotto… are you?

When I went back to my ‘Siberian’ hometown recently, the new rave were these Toyo Microbit Tires. People who live in the Colorado Rockies drive on snow and ice during the majority of the year, so they don’t skimp when it comes to their winter tires. I thought to myself, what could get better than the Blizzaks or Nokians? Well, I guess the technology speaks for itself… The Microbit Tires have countless Walnut Shells embedded in their tread. Have you ever felt how sharp a walnut shell is? I found out the hard way one holiday season when I was trying to crack one old-fashion style with a nutcracker and I slipped and cut myself. Come to find out, walnut shells are one of the world’s hardest substances. Combine that with Toyo’s ‘traction sipe’ technology (which turns your tread into little grippy squeegees) and you have some quiet and adept winter tires. They’ve applied the Microbit technology to touring, SUV, and luxury car tires, so there’s a little nut for everyone out there.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate how big corporations like Gap are turing sales into helpful donations to great causes through the (RED) campaign; I think (RED) has been successful from a wide-spread outreach standpoint. But I also really appreciate the response to the (RED) campaign by the (LESS) campaign. (LESS) is a collaboration between Romantic Static and Words Pictures Ideas that allows you to donate to great charities with out buying stuff from a major corporation. Launched only yesterday, (LESS) is already starting to get some great donations flowing through their system. If you don’t view shopping as a solution to human suffering, (LESS) may be more for your donation efforts.

Our insane, and insanely-fun pals at DURKL just sent me a sneak peak of their newest line to share with all the readers. On the left they’ve got a maze all-over print that comes in yellow and black on fuchsia, or yellow and purple on aqua. They describe the shirt to be SO mind boggling that you may actually experience levitation while wearing it. On the right is their new DURKLMANIA T, a shirt they recommend to be ripped off, rather than simply taken off. Lots of neon, patterns and crazy looking designs. Bold, proud and colorful. Keep up the great work you future handsome millionaires, you.