Hollister Hovey, HollisterHovey.blogspot.com:
Baggu laptop cases by Baggu (Brooklyn, NY) 
“It’s highly functional, affordable and comes in a variety of beautiful, bright colored canvases. The logo is subtle and the design, simple – just a rectangle and a half circle. They add a classic, preppy aesthetic to a high tech device.” www.baggu.com

Kate Reynolds McLeod, DailyGrommet.com:
Belle Helmets by MODEL CITIZENS NYC (Jersey City, NJ)
“Danielle Baskin created her line of original hand-painted helmets as a way to express her personality and creativity. We all know that helmets are a safety requirement, but with Danielle’s new line, they no longer have to be strictly utilitarian. The first painted helmet she created drew so many comments and compliments, she joined Model Citizens NYC, and is debuting her collection at NYIGF. We love that they're beautiful, expressive and fully functional safety helmets for riding and skateboarding.” www.modelcitizensnyc.com

Danielle De Vita, Design-Calendar.com:
BANG! by bitplay, inc. (Taipei City, Taiwan)
“I saw a lot of playful designs and products that reminded me of my childhood. In particular, I loved BANG! by first-time NYIGF exhibitor bitplay. This toy gun combines fun and function. By pulling the trigger, a desk lamp illuminates. Shoot the light again and it turns off.” www.bitplayinc.com

Marisa Marcantonio, stylebeat.blogspot.com:
BANG! by bitplay, inc. (Taipei City, Taiwan)
“BANG! is an unexpected take on a table lamp with a gun you point and shoot at the lamp to turn it on and off. This whimsical interactive feature is part conversation piece, part gas. As you shoot the lamp, the shade tips back to let you know you’ve hit your mark. It takes a functional, essential object and injects playful humor into it. Its minimalist design has a pop art sensibility and would look right at home in an art collector’s contemporary setting.” www.bitplayinc.com 

Evan Orensten, Coolhunting.com:
Chick-a-Dee smoke detector by neo-utility (Brooklyn, NY) 
“It’s a surprisingly clever and innovative take on a very utilitarian – and important – object that has never seen the love of good visual / industrial design.” www.neo-utility.com

Stephanie Murg, UnBeige.com:
Chick-a-Dee smoke detector by neo-utility (Brooklyn, NY) 
“The traditional smoke detector gets a cheep and cheerful avian makeover with the Chick-a-Dee – a plastic bird perched on a branch and ready to emit an 85-decibel-alarm at the first sign of smoke. Designed by a Dutch firm with an eye to residential interiors, the Chick-a-Dee is available in several colors, and NYIGF marks its U.S. market debut.” www.neo-utility.com

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Apartment Therapy.com:
Helen Lamp by Gambrel Workshop (Seattle, WA) 
“It’s hard to find new design that is both functional and delightful. This has both and I am pleased to discover a new designer.” www.gambrelworkshop.com

Dickson Wong, HuffingtonPost.com:
School Joke Chair by Alessandro Zambetti for Seletti North America Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
“In the modern home versatility is key, especially when it comes to seating. The School Joke Chair by Alessandro Zambetti for Seletti addresses that issue without forgoing style and good design. It’s simple to assemble without tools, is lightweight yet sturdy, and all the chair parts come off for easy storage. Another plus is the eco-friendly, recyclable packaging!” www.selettinorthamerica.com

Heather Clawson, Habitually Chic:
Eleven Design Studio (Miami, FL) for Twoolies. “Their adorable 100% natural wool animals are completely handmade by artisans in the highlands of south Mexico. The company relies on artistic trends, materials and techniques from the regions in which they are made. Every piece is a unique combination of textures, colors and patterns that make them all one of a kind and super cute!” www.twoolies.com

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Apartment Therapy.com:
Pablo (San Francisco, CA) for The Clamp Lamp by Dana Canaan. “This is one of the simplest, most elegant and fresh designs I have seen in years. And it is practical and by using LED – it’s green.” www.pablodesigns.com

Hollister Hovey, HollisterHovey.blogspot.com:
Mira Design Corp. / D-Torso (New York, NY) for D-Torso gigantic cardboard giraffe. “If a child ever received this die cut kit – and got to put it together and then fall asleep with this cardboard creature looking over the  bed every night – they’d be the coolest, most imaginative kid in school…the happiest. It’s a puzzle, a piece of art and totally show-stopping.” www.mirausa.com

Glen Jackson Taylor, Core77:
Caleb Siemon (Santa Ana, CA) for Growlight designed by Carmen Salazar. “As a New Yorker living in a small dark apartment, the Growlight immediately resonated. Super minimal, it solves two interior issues for the space conscious dweller at once: light and greenery. The glass planter is removable allowing you to re-pot outside and swap out plants to change the look of commercial interiors such as restaurants and building lobbies. The light bulb is full spectrum to help the plants grow and, best of all, it’s hand made in California from materials that will last and age well.” www.calebsiemon.com

Marisa Marcantonio, stylebeat.blogspot.com:
Serene House (Sturtevant, WI) for Donut. “It is a new take on home fragrance that provides a sensory experience. Shaped like a donut, the piece releases a fragranced water vapor, has LED lights that change color and plays music from your ipod. It is a great way to unplug and escape everyday stressors. It is a modern clean design in a product that helps well being and appeals to the senses. The piece looks great, while performing a variety of functions, proving a luxurious escape.” www.serenehouse.com

Danielle McWilliams, Design-Calendar.com:
NATIVE UNION (Hermosa Beach, CA) for its PLAY. I love its compact playful shape and user friendly interface. The video memo pad is a clever and more personal alternative to traditional pen and paper. What a great new way to leave a message for a friend or colleague.” www.nativeunion.com

Stephanie Murg, UnBeige:
Brinca Dada (New York, NY) for Brinca Dada Blocks. “Modernist dollhouse maker Brinca Dada brings its flair for architectural fun to building blocks with a set of curvy, asymmetric wooden shapes that will inspire kids to think outside of the Lego box. ‘I wanted a set of blocks that could be rearranged and made to look like a Frank Gehry Building,’ founder and CEO Douglas Rollins told us.” www.brincadada.com

Kate Reynolds McLeod, Daily Grommet:
LO-RES LABS (Mill Valley, CA) for Paper Punk. “As a completely modern update to paper modeling kits and tangram puzzles, Paper Punk's pop-out shapes nurture creativity and spatial thinking.  Grace is the perfect person to introduce this product line, and it will become an instant classic — a go-to gift for kids, makers, geometry and design lovers, and everyone else, too.” http://paperpunk.com

Bloggers selected one product from 200+ companies participating in the juried Accent on Design, which, in their estimation, was most representative of the "next big thing." Urgent, odd and delightful design were among key criteria considered by the judges.

Hollister Hovey, HollisterHovey.blogspot.com:
Bellocq Teas by Bellocq, Ltd. (Brooklyn, NY)
“The package design is traditional yet completely modern. The teas could be used over and over as key kitchen accessories. They will be a center piece in upscale boutiques. The yellow seems like a classic a là Hermès orange.” www.bellocq.com

Heather Clawson, Habitually Chic:
Moustache corkscrew by Jonathan Adler (New York, NY)
“It was one of the most fun and original products I saw at NYIGF. It’s really hard to find good gifts for men and the moustache cork screw would make a perfect gift!” www.jonathanadler.com

Jennifer Lockwood, Daily Grommet:
Emily Rothschild USB lockets by American Design Club (Brooklyn, NY) 
“Emily Rothschild brings a fresh new twist to something we think of as days gone by. She takes inspiration from a 1900’s locket and updates it with a USB inside. Fun and function meet in one piece of beautiful jewelry!” www.emilyrothschild.com

Amy Preiser, AOL Shelterpop:
Gregory Buntain’s colorful blocks by American Design Club (Brooklyn, NY)
“The perfect mix of playful and elegant. Yes, typically blocks are for kids but these also have a wider appeal. The colors are rich and their jewel-like silhouette makes stacking them a study in balance and design. I would display these on my windowsill and have a blast changing the order and composition for different vingettes. Of course, it’s also the perfect conversation starter for guests, from toddlers to adults. There’s so much creativity and functionality in these that they inspire those same virtues in the user.” http://gregorybuntain.com

Danielle De Vita / Kristin Coleman, Design-Calendar.com:
Hot-Pot BBQ by black+blum (London, England)
“Creative, functional, original, urgent, odd and delightful design! Masked as a ceramic planter, this BBQ is perfect for New York City renters who love to cook on a grill. An added plus, the herbs on top can be used to season the food below. It is a creative and charming alternative to the traditional charcoal grill.”
www.black-blum.com

Eleanor Cleverly, design-milk.com:
Modern Ventless Fires by Brasa Fire LLC (New Orleans, LA)
“Brasa’s design is approachable without compromising the modern design aesthetic. These fireplaces are also nostalgic without being dishonest about nowadays needs: eco friendly compact and priced competitively. It’s great to support an emerging small business." www.brasafire.com

Marisa Marcantonio, stylebeat.blogspot.com
Pedestal Collection Resin Bowl by Tina Frey Designs (San Francisco, CA) 
Working with resin, Frey creates interesting and functional pieces, such as this bowl which reinterprets a classical form into a translucent, glowing material. The interplay of form, material and function are a sculptural and colorful way to display fruit, hold keys or enhance a fireplace mantel. “Her work would fit right in at the Flinstones’ house for its whimsical sensibility.” www.tinafreydesigns.com

Click here for the 2009-2010 award winners.