Form and Function Meet High Design

It’s not often that I get excited about branded laptop cases, lunch totes, or cell phone carriers. Lets face it – these are industry verticals full of unimaginative and unexciting products that seem to be a dime a dozen.

BuiltNY products are a distinct exception to this rule. Based in the Soho neighborhood of New York, BuiltNY applies the tradition of American industrial design to the development of everyday objects such as bottle totes, lunch bags, and laptop sleeves that are both functional and fashionable. And they do it so well that they’ve won numerous awards for their designs, including the 2005 award for Best Product Design in the Ideal Industrial Design Competition, and the 2003 Product of the Year Award from Fortune Magazine.

One of the reasons I like BuiltNY products is they have a definite retail look and feel to them. In 2009 alone, they’ve been featured in Parenting Magazine, Consumer Reports, Boston Globe Magazine, New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Women’s World, Star Magazine, and Pregnancy Magazine!

Best of all, did you know that BuiltNY products can be decorated with your logo or message? Their high design and strong retail appeal make them ideal promotional items that will definitely not be thrown away or given away by the recipient.

My favorites including the Lunch Tote, winner of the Gold Prize 2005 Idea Industrial Design Awards. It actually opens into a placemat and insulates food and drink separately. This would make a terrific back-to-school promotion or a gift for employees who brown bag-it to work.

I also like the Laptop Porter, which makes a great gift for employees or salespeople who travel with their computers. And finally, the One Bottle Tote is the perfect way to package a wine gift!