Time in Objects is a speculative design project by Louise Klinker and Anab Jain that plays with the notion of time.

Louise and Anab looked at various everyday objects such as books, pens and cigarettes asking what would happen if we were made visibly aware of the time it takes to consume them.

What happens if page numbers in books are replaced by the time you're supposed to take reading them? Or if you could order a 10 or 30 minute pint at the pub?

The theme of the project resembles the practice of Chris Speed who in 1999 created WordTime, which is a simple control panel that allow users of Microsoft Word to calculate when their work will be done. Users simply enter the amount of words they anticipate producing and WordTime calculates when the work is completed.

• Louise W Klinker / Anab Jain

The winner of Mediamatic's El Hema design competition has been announced. First prize went to The White Room for their design Satellite Dish Sticker.

As previously mentioned, EL Hema is a humorous and slightly provocative project exploring what an Arabic version of the Dutch chain-store and superbrand Hema would be like and designers were invited to submit ideas for new Arab-Dutch products.

The winning design is a decorative add-on that enable people to pimp-up their uniform dull looking satellite dishes. According to the winner, satellite dishes are often associated with Arab countries but naturally the product is for anyone owning one

A shared second prize went to Eva Gonggrijp's henna-decorated dishwashing gloves and Nellie Keijzer's cotton pillowcase.

A list of all the nominated designs can be found here.

• Satellite Dish Sticker

Bureau of Workplace Interruptions is a time-stealing agency who work with employees to interrupt the flow of their workday. The purpose is to invigorate some of the time people spend at work in order to create new experiences and possibilities outside the flow of capital.

So, if you're an employee who needs a break from the daily routines you can apply for an interruption at the bureau's website. Subsequently, they will do their best to find the right interruption for you.

When planning the event, they'll take your occupation, work hours, and the means by which they can contact you into consideration. The interruption can take place via mail, email, telephone or, if you're lucky, a workplace visit.

Don't worry. The Bureau of Workplace Interruptions will strive to keep their actions invisible to your employer!

• www.interruptions.org

Cera Perdida (Lost Wax) is an ongoing project by Barcelona-based sculptor Tanya Sierra.

Every month Tanya leaves one of her sculptures somewhere in Barcelona for a stranger to find and claim.

Each sculpture has a URL engraved where the finder can get more info about the object. The websites contains a photo-gallery of each lost sculpture as well as messages from people who actually found a sculpture.

The project has been running from January 2007 and will end this December.

• www.ceraperdida.com

One of my favorite art shows this year was Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting at the Musuem of Arts & Design in New York. A timely exhibition of work by international artists using fiber in unexpected and unorthodox ways.

Within the past 5 years or so, knitting has experienced quite a renaissance and it is no longer viewed as something of the 70's. One of the reasons for this comeback is the fashion cycle which traditionally brings dead things back into life sooner or later. Another reason is the possibilities and inspiration that new technologies provide.

An example of the latter is the knitting project Schalalala! by Rüdiger Schlömer (not included in the aforementioned exhibition).

Schalalala! is a fan-scarf project inspired by social media and remix culture. The project addresses the lack of flexibility and individual freedom when supporting a sport club. Either you are for team A or team B, you are with or against it.

In response to this situation, Rüdiger created a web based interface where people can re-mix existing club scarves in order to meet the individual need for flexibility, customization and fashion.

Schalalala! is primarily a digital project but people are encouraged to use the website as inspiration for knitting their own multi-fan-club scarves.

Related entry: Generative Knitting

• www.schalalala.de