In Feng Shui, the lucky cat, also known as the maneki-neko or fortune cat, is a Japanese figurine that represents good luck, wealth, and prosperity. The figurine depicts a cat, usually a calico Japanese Bobtail, with a raised paw in a beckoning gesture. LEGO builder ‘2PPL’ decided to give this cultural icon its own brick build. Meet the LEGO Ideas Maneki Neko, an adorable sitting cat that waves its hands at you, practically giving you blessings for a more prosperous life!
Designer: 2PPL
“Distinctive features of the Maneki Neko include the raised paw, which can be either right or left depending on local tradition or belief, and it often wears a decorative collar or necklace with a bell,” says 2PPL. “The color of the Maneki Neko also has symbolic meanings: white is associated with purity and happiness, black wards off evil, gold symbolizes wealth and success, and red is linked to love and relationships.”
Although it’s entirely unclear how the Maneki Neko waves its hands, it’s likely to rely on a mechanism similar to the one found in the original. The original Maneki Neko uses an electromagnetic coil and a pendulum-style mechanism powered by a battery – it isn’t inconceivable that this LEGO one does so too, although making the mechanism out of LEGO bricks may be a bit challenging.
However, with over 2,300 supporters, the Maneki Neko is surely prospering on the LEGO Ideas forum, where fellow LEGO builders and enthusiasts gather to vote for their favorite fan-made creations. If a creation reaches the coveted 10,000 vote threshold, it’s sent to the LEGO internal team for review, following which it gets turned into a buyable box set. The LEGO Ideas Maneki Neko definitely has a long way to go till it gets to that mark, but if you do fancy a perpetually waving LEGO feline, head down to the LEGO Ideas website to vote for this project!
How much does it take to change the world? Some people would immediately think of literally big world-changing events, but it’s actually the little steps taken each day that gradually build up to make a longer-lasting difference. The same is true for design, where some of the most significant improvements don’t have to be drastic or even conspicuous. Little improvements here and there all add up to a whole new experience that turns an everyday tool into a delightful encounter each and every time. Case in point are these sleek scissors that look almost alien in their form, bringing just the right amount of design innovation that not only makes it seem like a piece of equipment from the future, it even makes using the simple tool a delightful quest as you snip, slice, and cut through your tasks every day.
The most distinctive thing about these sleek scissors is their form. The drop-shaped handle is something you’ll rarely see in scissors, but it’s a small change that makes plain, boring shears look a little more interesting. Especially when those handles are made from transparent resin that, together with the organic shape, gives the scissors a unique character not unlike alien spacecraft. Of course, that alone isn’t enough to elevate the status of the tool, and indeed its biggest benefits are from things you can’t see but can definitely feel.
Many people use scissors as makeshift box cutters with often disastrous results, forced to precariously hold the tool with the blades wide open. The smart SEKI-TEX scissors avoid this dangerous situation by using a simple yet ingenious sliding mechanism to push one of the blades forward just a little bit while still keeping the rest of the scissors closed. This lets you swiftly and safely cut through the adhesives keeping the box shut like you would with an actual box cutter. And when you’re done, simply slide the blade back to its original position to keep your fingers and hands safe.
Given that use case as well as many other uses of the scissors, there is a real concern that the blades will eventually get covered in sticky sludge from these adhesives. As before, the solution is both simple and clever, coating the blades with fluorine to stop the sticky substances from building up in the first place. Now a simple wipe every now and then is all that it will take to keep the blades always sharp and ready to cut through work tasks.
Such an innovative design doesn’t come from the future and is, in fact, well-rooted in the past. Crafted by expert knife makers from the swordsmith town of Seki in Japan, these scissors are made with meticulous attention to detail, yielding excellent sharpness married to an exquisite and almost organic design. Whether you’re cutting paper or opening boxes, these sleek scissors promise to not only make each task feel effortless, they also add a bit of excitement to your daily work.
Although electric cars are becoming more common, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what they’re capable of. Removing the need for traditional fuel and relying on batteries opens up new possibilities, and not just in terms of power sources. It can offer a bit more flexibility when it comes to the form and function of the vehicle, like cars with completely digital interfaces or screens all around. There might even be room for a modular design, as this concept for a tiny Japanese electric van tries to show, allowing the manufacturer or even the owner to switch out certain parts both outside and inside to match their needs, just like pieces of a puzzle.
To be fair, a modular car might be a bit far down the road considering the industry is hyper-focused on standardizing electric vehicles and making self-driving features more acceptable to the masses. That’s not to say that the design is a distant possibility only, especially when the features are made to be more practical rather than fantastical. Switching out panels is probably more feasible than switching out whole car parts or components, which is the kind of modularity that the Puzzle concept embodies.
At first glance, the boxy shape of the Puzzle will already look strange to those not used to so-called “Kei cars,” but this kind of van design is popular in Japan for striking a balance between large interior capacity and small compact size. It’s a design that screams practical efficiency, and making it modular is taking it to the next level. But unlike what you might be imagining, the Puzzle’s pieces, pardon the pun, are limited to swapping out certain panels at the sides, corners, and even inside. It’s a bit of a generic system that opens up quite a number of possibilities but, more importantly, it also doesn’t tie them down to a specific design or part. It also makes replacing damaged panels easier and more economical, something that you can only dream of with regular cars.
The Puzzle van also has secrets to reveal inside its extremely spacious cabin. The interior door panel has slots that make it possible to add and remove different modules, such as containers, cup holders, and the like. Even the dashboard has this kind of design, yielding a clean yet flexible space for expanding the van’s capabilities, especially in the infotainment aspect. The cargo space, which is practically a cube, is also more space-efficient for storing boxes and all sorts of large objects, making the EV a potential delivery vehicle.
Thanks to the boxy form of this Kei car, it’s possible to put a solar panel on the roof to really maximize its battery mileage. Modular and sustainable, the Puzzle minivan concept offers an extremely simple yet effective solution to the future of electric vehicles, one that espouses the Japanese spirit of minimalism and practicality where form clearly follows function.
The attention that outdoor activities like camping and cookouts have made us painfully aware of how many of the tools we rely on haven’t been upgraded yet to modern times. That has led to the rise of new categories of products such as portable solar generators, new types of tents, and all sorts of hi-tech appliances for making outdoor life a little bit more convenient. That said, you don’t really need to go all out on technology just to enjoy the best things about outdoor adventures. Cooking a juicy steak or a delicious meal, for example, can be easily done with nothing more than a simple yet ingenious modular grill plate that can be quickly assembled with different parts to let you cook on whatever kind of fire you have, whenever, wherever.
Some say that the secret to a perfectly cooked steak or delicious food is heat conduction, heat uniformity, and plate thickness, and this Compact Modular Grill Plate definitely checks all those boxes, which is quite impressive given how simple and unadorned it looks. As they say, looks can be deceiving, and you’ll need to literally get inside the plate to understand how the magic works.
The Compact Modular Grill Plate uses a three-layer architecture with two steel layers sandwiching aluminum. The outer (or lower) Stainless Steel SUS439 lets the grill be used on induction stoves, while the inner/upper Stainless Steel SUS304 is noted for its excellent corrosion resistance. The middle aluminum layer is responsible for spreading the heat evenly across the inner layer, and that inner layer also sends the heat back down so that the temperature doesn’t drop when the food is just resting on the plate. Despite this multi-layer structure, the plate is only 5mm thick, making it lightweight and compact to save you space and effort.
Cook Anywhere, Assemble with Ease
The Compact Modular Grill Plate is also a flexible piece of cookware in more ways than one. Thanks to that triple metal composition, you can use it on unstable outdoor campfires, typical gas stoves, induction cookers, and other kinds of fires and still be assured of even heat distribution and a well-cooked steak. And as its name suggests, the grill plate can be put together or taken apart easily, making cleaning and storage a breeze. In fact, you can mix and match the different handles and stands to make the grill plate fit your cooking setup.
Basic for Daily Use; Special Adds Board & Belt
The Basic set comes with a grill plate, a long handle, and a short handle that will meet the needs of most people. The Special set adds a wooden cutting board that can also serve as a trivet, as well as a dedicated belt that helps keep the modular pieces together when it’s time to stow them away.
Tsubamesanjo Craftsmanship
Made by experts from Tsubamesanjo in Japan, this grill plate is not only a functional piece of cookware, it is also a product of craftsmanship. It has a simple aesthetic with a distinctly industrial flair that proves you don’t need complicated designs to take cooking to the next level. Whether you love grilling outdoors or prefer cooking indoors, this Compact Modular Grill Plate will be ready to meet your needs in a blink of an eye, letting you cook scrumptious, mouth-watering dishes each and every time.
We live in a world that gets a little bit smaller each day as advancements in transportation and communication connect us with anyone anywhere anytime. It isn’t unusual anymore to have family members living half a world from each other, or friends scattered across different countries. Unfortunately, that also means having to keep tabs on different timezones, lest you land in the awkward and embarrassing situation of calling someone at the wrong time. World clock apps have become a necessity for such people, but the information that they offer comes with complexity and inconvenience, especially when you have to dig through a handful of screens just to get the time you needed. You can have one clock for each timezone you’re interested in, but that can get messy really quickly. This minimalist one-handed analog clock, in contrast, offers a solution that is simple yet so clever that checking the time in other countries feels almost like a game instead of a chore.
Even at first glance, you can already tell that the World Clock is not your typical desk or shelf clock. Never mind its unusual but not unheard of dodecagonal shape, the clock only has one hand on its minimalist face. The design is intentional, of course, because it gives you just the right information you need when you want to know what time it is in another part of the world. With a quick look, you’ll be able to immediately tell the hour, and a closer inspection could even tell you which quarter of the hour it is.
Of course, this isn’t an ordinary clock that just tells your time, as its name plainly indicates. Without complicated screens or complex mechanisms, the World Clock can easily clue you in on another timezone with a single and simple action. Simply roll the clock on its side until the city of the timezone you want is pointing straight up (a.k.a. the 12 o’clock position) and watch the single hand stay in place, “converting” the current time to the correct timezone. Actually, you don’t have to literally roll the clock on a surface for it to work. The internal bearings ensure that the hand remains in the right position, no matter which side is pointing up. It’s a simple yet ingenious way of converting time without actually doing the math for it.
Each of the 12 sides of the clock has markings for a city that represents a particular timezone, starting with London at UTC+0. Admittedly, you’ll have to remember places with their respective time zones, but putting a name to that time zone is a lot more familiar than memorizing numbers. Unfortunately, if the place you’re interested in falls outside of these 12, you might find yourself still doing some mental math in the end.
The World Clock’s simplicity applies to both its function as well as its design. It uses a simple movement mechanism no different from wall clocks, except for the addition of that bearing that keeps the hand in place when rotating the clock. The clock also has a certain charm familiar to lovers of minimalist designs, allowing it to blend in with its surroundings in a subtle yet pleasant way. More importantly, the manual method of turning the clock to check different timezones gives it a more intentional and personal aspect, creating a stronger connection between the act of checking the time and thinking about the loved one living in that timezone.
Flower vases are not an uncommon product in interior spaces, but the majority of them are designed for a single style of flower arrangement. This style often involves a handful of flowers surrounded by rich foliage that create an almost bulbous shape, bringing a splash of color to any area. Of course, that isn’t the only way to arrange flowers, but the standard shape and size of vases put a heavier emphasis on the flowers themselves, using leaves as a background and their stems as invisible scaffolding. Sometimes, however, you can have an even more striking presence with just a single flower and a stem with just a few small branches, and this small metal vase provides not only the support but also the flexibility to embrace that minimalist design, using whatever you may have as the base for such an enchanting floral arrangement.
The Japanese Ikebana style of arranging flowers is almost a stark contrast to what most see on vases. Where typical arrangements bundle a bunch of flowers that are mostly in full bloom, Ikebana might sometimes present a bud that slowly opens up over time, much to the viewer’s delight. Just like with many Japanese designs and philosophies, every aspect of the flower comes from a thoughtful decision, including the length of the stem, the cuts made, or the number of pieces used. A regular tall vase that hides those intentional details, however, isn’t cut for such an arrangement, which is where the HANAKUBARI vase comes in.
Named after the Japanese words for “flower” and “twig,” this small metal barrel looks nothing like a vase. Its size can hold just enough water to keep the flower alive, and its short stature means that it will only cover up a few centimeters of the stems, putting the focus on the minimalist arrangement rather than calling attention to itself. Despite its small size, however, it won’t topple over because the center of gravity is maintained by the main body’s 197g weight. There’s also a small 10g adapter that fits inside, allowing the vase to hold thinner stems.
This cute flower vase, however, isn’t meant to stand alone, although it can definitely function that way. Thanks to that diminutive size, you can place the vase on top of or inside anything, turning that thing into an Ikebana vase. You can, for example, put it on a ceramic plate with an oriental design or place it on top of a metal dish to complement the vase’s stainless steel body. You can even place it inside a transparent plastic or glass container to add some visual accent without detracting from the stem’s natural beauty.
Most flower arrangements are made to dazzle and excite, and their large vases are designed to support their weight and even embellish the image. This tiny yet elegant stainless steel vase, in contrast, encourages a more thoughtful, almost meditative, way to make a delightful arrangement, allowing even a singular flower and its stem to enchant the beholder with its natural beauty.
Like any other season, summer can mean different things to different people. While images of beaches and pool parties immediately come to mind, some see the hottest season of the year as a time to enjoy the wide outdoors, take a well-deserved break from the stress of school and work, or even use the downtime to catch up with life goals and plan the months ahead. Whatever your plans might be for summer, you will want to have the perfect companion that will be by your side, rain or shine or even more shine, helping you make the best out of your time without getting in the way. What you need is a dose of elegant and minimalist Japanese designs, and these five top-notch products will help you enjoy summer to the fullest, whether outdoors, indoors, or everywhere in between.
1. CD Jacket Player
No one will blame you if you want to spend your summer just chilling out. Some people find relaxation in movie marathons, while others find solace in their favorite tunes, especially older music that may bring up fond memories of summers past. What better way to enjoy that kind of music anytime, anywhere than with a special kind of CD player that mixes old technology with new designs, bringing together past and present in sweet harmony.
The CD Jacket Player is more than just a portable device that plays audio discs like any other CD player. As if its clean, minimalist design doesn’t already make it stand out from the crowd, its special feature adds a distinct flavor to the listening experience. Slide in the CD’s jacket cover, and you’ve got a physical facsimile of how modern digital music apps display album art, creating a unique audiovisual experience that combines the best of analog and digital worlds. Enjoy audio CDs the way they were meant to be with a CD Jacket Player that enthrones both the music as well as the art that gives it visual expression.
The pen might be mightier than the sword, but the pencil is definitely easier to yield. It takes no training to use a pencil to write on paper while still providing a variety of marks, depending on how you hold it. Pencils are also more forgiving, allowing you to take back what you wrote and start anew. The only problem is that pencils require more maintenance with sharpening and are gone for good once they’ve been reduced to useless wooden stubs.
Fortunately, the Everlasting All-Metal Pencil is exactly what its name claims it to be. The innovative use of materials allows it to deliver the same exact same experience and line quality as regular pencils, minus the need to sharpen anything. Its unique design not only provides an ergonomic grip, it almost makes the pen eye-catching, leaving a mark not just on paper but also on people’s minds. Put your thoughts on paper for posterity and experience the joys of writing that go on and on with a pencil that lasts just as long.
Just because school is out or you’re spending days away from work doesn’t mean your brain stops working completely. In fact, you might even get your best and most creative ideas while you’re on your summer break, whether you’re lounging in your room or putting your feet up by the campfire. In times like those, you probably wish you had some sheets of paper at hand, and this Magnetic Clipboard makes sure there will always be some within reach when inspiration strikes.
The simple yet talented board is designed to hold as many as 30 sheets of A4-sized loose paper, giving you the complete freedom to add, remove, and move pages around as no regular notebook could. A magnet and lever system makes it super-easy to clip those sheets of paper, so you don’t waste time fiddling with the tool instead of scribbling down your thoughts. Don’t let your inspiration dry up this summer, and have the confidence to write down ideas and dreams as they come, knowing that the Magnetic Clipboard and your paper are an arm’s reach away.
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4. Anywhere-Use Lamp
Summer always conjures up images of the bright and sometimes scorching sun, but the Day Star won’t be much help during the night or inside darkened enclosed spaces. Whether you’re camping, spending the night at the beach, or simply reading before bedtime, you’ll definitely need some light source to enjoy your time. You could have a lamp for each of those uses and cases, or you can have a single lamp that you can easily use anywhere you need a light, whether it’s to see in the dark or to set the mood.
The modular design of the Anywhere-Use Lamp makes it trivial to disassemble the device and stow it in your bag for a quick getaway. Powered by regular AA batteries, you won’t need to worry about running out of charge in the middle of a campsite with no power socket in sight for miles around. Simply pop in replacement (and perhaps rechargeable) batteries, and you’re good to go. The lamp’s soft and warm light provides enough illumination for whatever you need to do in a low-lit environment, whether it’s reading or even eating. Like a mushroom that can pop up anywhere, this Anywhere-Use Lamp makes even the darkness of summer nights fun and engaging.
Some people love the vastness of the seas and the sound of crashing waves on the shores, while others prefer the feeling of the wind on their faces and the smell of trees and grass. Summer is also the perfect time to experience the latter, turning outdoor activities into adventures and opportunities to bond with family and friends. Of course, no outdoor stay is complete without an outdoor meal, and this distinctive fire pit stand gives you both a functional place for fire as well as an interesting conversation starter.
The Portable Fire Pit Stand’s industrial aesthetic gives this outdoor companion a unique vibe that doesn’t get in the way of its functionality. Easy to assemble for quick fires and easy to disassemble for a thorough cleaning, this fire pit stand removes any excuse or hindrance to carrying this tool anywhere you go. Whether cooking for yourself or cooking for friends and family, the Portable Fire Pit Stand will rekindle your love for the outdoors, for nature, and for the people that make your summer days extra special and memorable.
Traveling might be an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also be stressful when you consider the preparation and maintenance involved. Packing can be a frustrating puzzle game of fitting as many clothes in a suitcase as possible, which can be problematic the longer your spend away from your home base. It’s definitely impossible to pack enough clothes for more than a week’s trip, and you’d be forced to do laundry one way or another, which can itself be a source of stress when trying to survive in a foreign land. Wouldn’t it be grand if you could bring your washing machine along with you in the first place? Fortunately, that’s actually possible, at least for small and light pieces of clothes, with this collapsible washing machine that can even fit inside your suitcase.
Truth be told, it’s always possible to do laundry on your own in whatever hotel or AirBnB you’re staying at, but it’s not exactly convenient nor affordable. Not all accommodations even provide such an amenity, forcing guests to search for laundry machines or services elsewhere. Given how washing machines work, it’s almost inconceivable that you’d be able to bring one along with you, not to mention cramming it inside a travel suitcase, but that’s exactly the miracle that this portable washing machine tries to pull off.
You’d be forgiven if you mistake this odd appliance for a gigantic collapsible silicone cup because that’s exactly the same mechanism that the G-Soak uses to implement its shape-changing feat. Its collapsed form lets you stow it inside a suitcase, though you will have to sacrifice some space for it. When expanded, it has a size of 6 liters, large enough to hold 4 shirts or 10 pieces of underwear at a time.
It functions pretty much the same way as a regular washing machine, except on an extremely smaller scale. It spins soapy water around together with your clothes to take the place of manual scrubbing. It can even “dehydrate” or spin dry clothes, though we all know how effective that is in actually drying clothes. Still better than having to hang dripping clothes inside the room. There’s a special drain valve at the bottom to make it easy to remove the used water without having to tip the whole container over.
As far as appearances go, you can’t really say that the G-Soak is inspired, but few washing machines are, anyway. The focus, after all, is on portability, and in that arena, there are few or even nothing like it in the market. It’s not going to solve all your travel laundry problems, though, especially when it comes to heavier and bigger pieces of clothing, but it will most likely get you by without having to stress over where to do your laundry in an unfamiliar place.
Although technology and progress have definitely made many aspects of our lives easier, we’re also bombarded with so many things that make those same lives stressful. From visual or sensory overload coming from computers and phones to the information overload that we have to juggle for work and personal life, our brains and even our bodies are sometimes screaming for a break at the end of the day. Fortunately, you don’t need to drop and abandon everything to go on a month-long retreat to recover your sanity. Even simple things can help you rediscover the joys of life, and here are five great gift ideas that will not only help you relax but also solve some of the problems of everyday life, thanks to some Japanese design creativity and ingenuity.
1. Miniature Bonfire Wood Diffuser Set
Different people have different preferences and tolerances for scents. While some might love the fragrance of vanilla, others might prefer the smell of different flowers instead. Still, others might have a fondness for the smell of the woods and the mountains, something that isn’t always offered by most essential oils and aroma diffusers. The Miniature Bonfire Wood Diffuser Set easily sets itself apart with a cute collection of mini wooden logs and a tiny pocket stove that recreates not only the smells but also the experience of a memorable outdoor campfire.
The miniature hardwood, collected from branches that would normally be thrown away, gives off a smoky scent when burnt on the stainless steel miniature stove. Add a few drops of essential oils extracted from Mt. Hakusan trees, and you’ve got an authentic outdoor scent that will bring your mind to the soothing embrace of nature. And with a piece of solid fuel, you can even use the same stove as an actual cooking or heating tool, completing the circle of an outdoor experience at home or in your backyard.
Aroma diffusers are a popular tool people use to relax, but some produce more stress than they relieve. Some overwhelm or irritate your nose with vapors, while others leave you praying for a good breeze to carry those calming scents to you. Rather than leave it up to chance, this beautiful Stress-Free Aroma Diffuser really lets you just sit back and relax, making sure you’re breathing in the perfect mix of aromatic blends to soothe your tired mind. It creates its own gentle breeze to softly disperse the aroma evenly, while a porcelain filter soaks up the oil for a longer-lasting experience. Cleaning that filter is equally stress-free since you only need to rinse it under the tap.
The diffuser’s polished metal base creates a beautiful contrast with the more organic-looking porcelain disc on top, forming an elegant decoration that looks just as appealing as it smells. And thanks to its built-in rechargeable battery, you can place it anywhere you want, and it will work just as well, not to mention standing beautifully on top of any desk or shelf design.
While our noses can give us a bit of a reprieve from hectic and stressful days, our eyes are the ones that probably need the most help in stepping back from visual information overload. We can’t always keep our eyes closed, of course, so the next best thing is to always have something pleasing to look at nearby or in places we often look at. Pictures of loved ones and pets will always bring a smile to our faces, but a minimalist yet beautiful flower arrangement can also keep us thinking beautiful thoughts, especially when they’re set on a vase as unique as these Modular Flower Tubes.
Instead of a single container for a large bunch of flowers and stems, this “modular” vase uses thin copper tubes of different heights placed on a circular wooden base. The size of the tubes limits how much they can hold, letting you be more creative in how you arrange different elements, including empty tubes, just for effect. These Modular Flower Tubes not only bring a one-of-a-kind vessel for plants and flowers, it also helps give your creativity an outlet to keep your mind off more stressful concerns.
One of the biggest sources of stress is when things don’t go according to plan or when things don’t work like they’re supposed to. The latter is especially applicable to gadgets, particularly computers and smartphones, that we often rely on to keep everything, including our notes. As they say, simple is best, and nothing gets simpler than pen and paper. Actually, that’s not entirely true because this Personal Whiteboard not only gets simpler but also removes some of the worries and concerns surrounding plain pen and paper.
Imagine the liberating experience of never running out of paper. With an A4-sized whiteboard that you can carry with you everywhere, that dream easily becomes reality. The Personal Whiteboard, however, brings those little extras that truly make life worry-free, like a cover that protects what you wrote but also acts as an eraser that is with you all the time. There’s even an innovative Mag Force system that is both a handle and a pen loop, so you never have to stress over losing that all-important whiteboard marker ever again.
There is probably nothing more stressful, frustrating, and dangerous than falling over while putting on your shoes when you’re already in a rush. While shoehorns try to make it easier to, well, shoehorn your foot into your footwear, they aren’t exactly the easiest to use nor the safest. They aren’t also the most attractive tools in your house, which is why they’re often hidden and then get lost when you need them the most.
The Invisible Shoehorn, in contrast, is something you’d proudly put on display precisely because it looks nothing like a shoehorn. The stainless steel tool combines with a clear acrylic handle to form a beautiful rod ornament that hides the shoehorn in plain sight. The shoehorn’s sturdy metal body and elongated shape also make it easy to put on a shoe without bending and breaking your back. Finally, you can have an ergonomic tool that’s also beautiful to behold, presuming you can even see the shoehorn masquerading as a unique piece of home decoration.
Most people treat lamps and lighting fixtures as mere functional products that illuminate a given space. While that is indeed their primary function, the kind and quality of light can actually have an effect on our minds and moods. Some lamps have decorative designs that spark interest and awe, while others use different tones and intensities to soothe or excite. Most lamps that provide these varied experiences, however, are often tied down to their locations or are impractical to move around. Portable lamps, on the other hand, are more utilitarian in design. This simple-looking lamp tries to bridge the gap between those two extremes, offering a lighting solution that can easily be carried anywhere to set the right atmosphere while also looking stylish in any setting.
At first glance, this lamp might not even look like a lamp. On the one hand, it almost looks like a miniature stool, similar to those with round, rotating seats you’d see in some bars and diners. On the other hand, it might also remind you of mushrooms with its tall, thin stem and circular cap. Whichever way you look at it, the ICHI table lamp is going to grab your attention with its distinctive shape, its powder-coated iron finish, and its minimalist design.
The mushroom table lamp is so minimalist that you will see neither cords nor buttons on its pristine surface. Pressing anywhere on the edge of the lamp’s top turns it on and cycles through its different brightness settings before it turns off again. There’s no specific area you have to press, making it easy to operate the lamp even without looking at it. Each press has a soft and comfortable clicking feel to it, so don’t be surprised if you get a bit addicted to the gesture.
Six high color rendering LEDs generate the clicky table lamp’s warm light while a thick milky-white board diffuses it to a softer glow. The yellowish tone creates a more soothing atmosphere compared to bright white, and it can also make certain colors and compositions pop up, making food look more delicious, for example. The absence of cables suggests that the lamp is battery-powered, but it eschews the trend of using built-in rechargeable batteries and opts for AA batteries instead. This helps prolong the life of the lamp since you can easily replace the batteries when they run out of juice. Of course, you can also use rechargeable AA batteries to really capitalize on the lamp’s sustainability.
Almost like a mushroom, the ICHI lamp can pop up anywhere you want it to. Simply unscrew the top and the base and stash all three parts inside a bag to carry the lamp with you. With its warm light, tactile experience, and modular design, this minimalist lamp lets you create the atmosphere you want anywhere you go, allowing you to bring your own bubble of light and calm inside the house or outdoors.
