There is one sentence in the bio of Stefan Sagmeister that says both nothing and everything: “He has earned practically every important international design award.” The bio does not continue on to list those awards, it just glides into other subject matter — much like a phrase your lawyer might insert to guard you from getting sued.

From a certain perspective, that statement is funny (because what more casual way to say you’ve kicked ass is there than to glaze over every accolade you’ve received), but in another way, it is potently telling. Stefan Sagmeister is an incredible designer — that much is clear — but his work and his lifestyle have made it abundantly clear where his heart is. It is in art, in simplicity, in communication and the universal nature of emotion. The last place it lives is a trophy shelf.

Design as religion (which is perhaps the most understandable way to describe Sagmeister’s approach) is a far-fetched concept, but if you’ve stuck your face into his latest book, Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far, it is not as hard to imagine. Read on as we chat with Stefan about his studio, his opinions, and his willingness to depart from both from time to time in pursuit of a higher power.

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Over the past few years, Undoboy has been at the helm of a myriad of awesome projects. From designing various members of the mimobot family to collaborating on killer wall decals, this virtuoso of artistic and toymaking talent has more or less remained on the tip of our tongues. While the Malaysian born artist’s website has been displaying doses of design dexterity for quite some time now, one thing has been sorely lacking from his homepage … an online store chock full of goodies ripe for the purchasing. Thankfully, all of that has changed and Undoboy has seen the light by adding commerce to his content. His new online goodie shop features some of his most cherished creations, from the aforementioned bots and wall decals to his wonderful collection of Super Bastard boxes. If you’re looking to add some flash or just some fun to your personal space, we recommend checking it out.

The idea of waxed jackets and (even better) waxed boots always intrigued me. About a year ago, I heard of Stockholm based Gram Designs and I desperately tried to locate a pair. Reasonably priced and uniquely styled (who can say that about most of the brands today?), Gram shoes have been flying slightly under the radar, but never far from people’s minds. Their latest style, the 406g is touted as a part sneaker, part hiking boot hybrid. Do you know what I think? It’s not much different than their previous offerings, which is fine by me! The shoes are crafted out of canvas, include iconic mesh eyelets, and a thick rubber sole for maximum comfort. For this three year old Swedish footwear company, the 406g represents a subtle and noteworthy maturity.

Today marks the summer solstice, and if for some reason you’ve been holding out for the official start of the warm season to shed those long sleeves, you’re probably going to need a few new T-shirts to replace the undershirts you sweat through while trying to beat the heat. Luckily for you the folks behind the imaginative apparel at Hecklewood have a new line that is destined to show off your sweet sense of style rather than draw attention to your overactive sweat glands. The Portland-based brand’s latest line Cult Status consists of a bevy of boss looks that, when plastered to the billboard you like to call your torso, is sure to make you the center of attention at any rooftop party or BBQ this summer — for all the right reasons.

We write about T-shirts a lot on this blog. And, why not? They’re in our closet, they fit — our jeans would be lost without them. However, we’re much more keen to write about tees that help African children get much-needed school uniforms. Common Threadz uses the same spiel other hip T-shirt moguls do about about up and coming artists creating eco-friendly shirts for celebrities that like their shirts arty and eco-friendly. But, the cash you’re dropping on these shirts directly funds children who can’t afford this expensive necessity. And these kids aren’t going to expensive prep schools — the fact is without a school uniform, they’re not allow to get an education. If you’re thinking about heading over to Threadless this morning (of which we’re big fans), detour and spend the same amount to do a bit of good.