It seems that every other word out of a newscaster's mouth or reporter's notebook is bookended by the phrase: "in these troubled economic times." (There are even drinking games devoted to the catch-phrase, with drinkers taking a swig every time a talking head utters the doom-and-gloom saying; clearly humor and drinking are two tried and true ways to handle a recession.)

But this post isn't about the economy. Well, not really. See, the one good thing that has come out of all of these global money woes is the way design has taken a back-to-basics approach. In a recent article in the New York Times, former NYT editor and blogger at TheDesignVote.com Michael Cannell suggests that unlike, say, Wall Street execs, "design loves a depression."

Now, given that all those slick Miami condos are sitting empty in the sky, designers like the Campana Brothers, with their $8,910 Corallo chair, and Hella Jongerius, with her $10,615 Ponder sofa, might have a harder time selling their wares. Already designers are biting their knuckles over the damage reports. The American Institute of Architects reported that last month’s billings index, a gauge of nonresidential construction, reached its lowest level since it began collecting data in 1995.

The pain of layoffs notwithstanding, the design world could stand to come down a notch or two — and might actually find a new sense of relevance in the process. That was the case during the Great Depression when an early wave of modernism flourished in the United States, partly because it efficiently addressed the middle-class need for a pared-down life without servants and other Victorian trappings.

In the midst of all this post-consumption design redux, the four-year-old, online craft emporium Etsy.com is still chugging along, selling handmade items from independent artisans from all over the globe.

From statistics posted on its website, Etsy members clock in at over 1.75 million (that number counts both buyers and sellers, as you need a free membership to do either), with nearly 3 million items currently listed for sale. From the time Etsy started in 2005, its  sales increased from $166,000 to $87 million. Clearly, people are buying what Etsy's 200,000 vendors are selling.

But, to the uninitiated shopper, Etsy can be overwhelming. Its homepage (above) has so many components, it's easy to get lost before you even start. Etsy founder Rob Kalin put together this video (below) that explains the history and experience of shopping on this site, but we've also culled together a quick guide for the first-time Etsy buyer.

Shop by Color: This is a fun way to browse Etsy if you're not sure exactly what you're looking for, or are interested in browsing the wares and finding new vendors. 

You hover your mouse over the different swatches on the screen, and Etsy will bring up items that match that hue exactly. While it's not the most direct way to find items, it's a fun gimmick or the perfect thing for that sister who is an aubergine devotee. If you've covered the page with color finds, simply click the "clean up" button at the top of the page to start fresh.

Shop Local: Perhaps the most thoughtful way to shop the site, the local feature allows you to plug in your location and find artists in your area. 

This is for people who are interested in the whole "buy local" movement. Plus, it's a fun challenge. For example, trying to do all your holiday shopping by buying from local artisans, or purchasing all accessories and artwork locally.

Shop by Category: If you're on a mission (gotta get your BFF a wacky hat for her 50th b-day) shopping by category is your best bet. Given the plethora of goods on the site, it's best to be as specific as possible when searching. For example, rather than simply searching "hat," try searching "hat," "women," and even "wacky." And looky here: there is just such an item, from seller Ms.KittyFantastico.

TAKE THE HANDMADE PLEDGE: If you hop on Etsy and find that you're crazy for handmade, consider taking the site's Handmade Pledge. At present, nearly 35,000 people have pledged to buy handmade for themselves and request that others to the same when gifting. Do it today, by clicking on the button below.