Many toy fans have been closely following Kidrobot’s evolution from designer toy hub to lifestyle brand and media conglomerate. The latest news falls into the latter category, with Kidrobot essentially curating the redesign of the Cartoon Network. Per motion design studio Capacity’s press release:

“Using one unifying body shape (designed by urban vinyl legends Kidrobot) we created an interchangeable system of elements that gathered all of CN's characters into one place. These blank figures, called Noods, are the canvases upon which characters of all shapes, sizes, and styles can coexist. The CN logo is also an extension of that vocabulary as the colors and patterns from the characters — their DNA — find their way on to the network's blocky logotype for the first time. The resulting world is a playground of rich colors and unlimited combinations, ownable only by Cartoon Network.”

Or ownable by you? Sources speculate the company that’s responsible for getting Rosie O’Donnell hooked on toys have developed Noods into platform figures, which are inevitably and eventually destined for retail.

I’m rocking out with Case Mate’s latest creation — the Blackberry Bold Backpack. It’s a form-fitted, leather covered shell that replaces the original, fake leather battery cover. It adds sophistication to the already very grown up device. The crocodile-like embossed leather is available in three colors, and each piece is totally unique.

Also, I’m loving the Privacy Screen, a small piece of tinted plastic that keeps prying eyes off your texts, emails, and sexy picture messages (gasp!). It’s available for a variety of phones. If you’re at all worried about folks on the subway or airplane reading over your shoulder, it’s a must have.

Continuing to further shorten the artistic gap between the U.S. and Brazil, Sao Paulo’s Choque Cultural is extending their connections northwestward to well-respected Scion Space in Los Angeles. The Sao Paulo exhibit starts on Feb. 28 and features some of the strongest artists on their roster, and in Brazil: Calma, Carlos Dias, Titi Freak and Zezao. Influences run from folk art and tattoo iconography to hip-hop and skate culture. Throw in free valet parking and an open bar and you’ve got a party! Now if only they really had free valet parking and non-stop drinks in the real Sao Paulo, the experience would truly be authentic. The show runs through March 28.

From skateboards to toys, the Web 2.0 world of make-on-demand continues to expand for a populace that runs on a mixture of Adderall and instant gratification. Magcloud is just one of the latest in the trend, a print-on-demand service where you upload a PDF and they print you a real, professional paper magazine with saddle-stitched covers. You can order as little as a single issue printed with the Indigo printers developed by HP (MagCloud is an HP Labs project). If you, like me, grew up in the era of zines and got a job at OfficeMax to use the copy machine and long-reach stapler, MagCloud is an interesting endeavor in outsourcing the DIY aesthetic (which makes it more like DIT — Do-It-Themselves). I have to admit I’m kind of excited about it though, and am already brainstorming ways to use the technology. The project is still in the beta phase, but fully usable for those with a major credit card and a US address.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Rafa Jenn, who looks like he’s been busy since his pin-ups first caught our eye. A few limited edition prints later we spotted his newest piece, “Triangles and Rectangles”, a series of shapes that conglomerate to form a familiar foreboding movie villain. Yeah, we know you recognize him, too. Go to the newly redone site to see what Jenn’s been up to.