Top 10 Innovative Tools To Boost & Supercharge Your Creative Thinking

In today’s day and age, creativity is more valuable and prized than ever. To maintain and boost your creativity, you need the right set of tools by your side. They can make all the difference. Irrespective if you’re an artist, designer, writer, or student, you need a bunch of innovative products and gadgets to enhance your creative thinking, helping you break through creative blocks. We have curated a collection of ten must-have tools to supercharger your creative process.

These unique and innovative tools have been designed to increase your creative thinking, helping you come up with new ideas. By incorporating them into your creative process, you can unlock new levels of imagination and productivity. Embrace these tools to supercharge your creativity and bring your ideas to life. Happy creating!

1. Oasis Kinetic Sand Table

Dubbed the Oasis Kinetic Sand Table, this innovative product is the perfect blend of art, relaxation, and creativity. It is a one-of-a-kind furniture design that transcends its role of a simple table, by providing an exciting and mesmerizing visual experience that will captivate your mind and help calm it down.

The Oasis table includes a slow-moving metal ball that traces lovely intricate patterns in the sand, forming an ever-changing landscape of fascinating shapes and textures. It is a dynamic and free-flowing artwork that helps users take a break, pause, reflect, and engage with their creative instincts in a calming setting.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is a worthy product to consider since it converts any space into a sanctuary of peace, calm, and creativity. It allows users to recharge their creative juices, and the gentle motions of the sand patterns offer a meditative experience that promotes mindfulness and introspection. When you’re this relaxed and calm, you can think deeper, unlocking new levels of creativity.

Ideas flow more freely, allowing you to truly push your mental limitations, and helping you create better. The table features visual as well as practical appeal, making it an excellent addition to any creative setup. It functions as a source of inspiration, and a tool for relieving stress.

What we like

  • Promotes relaxation and mindfulness, reducing stress and enhancing focus
  • Doubles as a functional piece of decor, enhancing the aesthetic of any space

What we dislike

  • Requires space in your home which may be an issue for smaller areas
  • May need occasional maintenance to keep sand patterns clear and tidy

2. ClearMind Kendama

Say hello to the ClearMind Kendama – a lovely creation by Tokyo Kendama. It isn’t just a toy, but a thoughtfully designed tool for personal growth. It is created to sharpen coordination, ignite creativity, and offer a mindful and productive escape from the stresses of daily life, helping you focus on tasks better.

If you’re looking for a moment of calm to allow your mind to rest or challenge your mental limitations then the ClearMind Kendama is the product for you. It packs tranquility and excitement in one good-looking and elegant package. It perfectly merges traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality, creating a holistic experience.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59.00

Why is it noteworthy?

This product features larger cups which make landing tricks easy and efficient, thereby boosting confidence and encouraging consistent play. The recalibrated balance provides smooth and precise movements which elevate accuracy and enjoyment. It also features a unique bearing system that reduces string twists, offering players more control for a smooth experience.

The larger tama hole increases success rates in advanced moves like spikes, stalls, and stilts, thereby empowering users to expand their trick repertoire and challenge their limits. This helps users feel refreshed and challenged, allowing for more flow of ideas and thoughts.

What we like

  • Crafted from premium walnut and maple wood for durability and visual appeal
  • Develops a unique patina over time, making each product unique

What we dislike

  • May require practice and patience to master
  • As a physical skill toy, it may not appeal to those looking for digital or tech-based entertainment

3. Stress-Free Aroma Diffuser

Named the Stress-free Aroma Diffuser, this little diffuser is a must-have if you’re looking to relieve stress. You need to simply sit back and relax, allowing the excellent mix of aromatic blends to soothe your mind, helping you unwind. A stress-relieving aroma diffuser helps reduce tension, allowing you to focus on what matters – creative thinking and productivity.

It refreshes your mind, allowing you to think better and come up with exciting and innovative ideas. Adding the Stress-Free Aroma Diffuser to your desk is a great idea, as you can get the diffuser working, and allow yourself to be enveloped in soothing and lovely scents.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149

Why is it noteworthy?

The Stress-Free Aroma Diffuser creates a gentle breeze. The aroma will softly and evenly disperse wherever you’re sitting, while a porcelain filter soaks up the oil to offer a long-lasting experience. It helps you unwind during your breaks, creating a wholesome and soothing environment, where you can truly relax.
Adding the Stress-Free Aroma Diffuser to your repertoire of creativity and productivity-boosting tools is the way to go. It also features a minimal and adorable ethos, which makes it an aesthetically pleasing addition to your workdesk or whichever room you decide to place it in.

What we like

  • The polished base and porcelain disc form a lovely contrast, creating a great decoration piece

What we dislike

  • Must be handled with care, as it seems delicate

4. Wondlet Graphics Tablet

Called the Wondlet Graphics Tablet, this concept is a true innovation in the realm of digital art tools. It prioritizes function over form and merges aesthetic appeal and advanced functionality to form a unique product. It is designed for the modern artist and designer and serves as a visually captivating tool that truly enhances the creative process.

The Wondlet Graphics Tablet is bold and elegant, and a true testament to how tools can be inspiring and innovative, much like the art they help create. It is unlike the conventional graphics tablets you often see on the market, serving as an engaging tool to promote creative thinking.

Why is it noteworthy?

It ditches the traditional and utilitarian design of most graphics tablets and instead features a vibrant and innovative aesthetic that perfectly aligns with the creative spirit and attitude of its users. It provides an experience that is beyond traditional functionality and includes an aluminum knob that serves as a tactile element to enhance precision and control.

The stylus has a unique faceted barrel design to provide better ergonomics. These little touches and features make the Wondlet a unique and innovative tool that will enhance and extend an artist’s vision, making it more intuitive, fluid, and free-flowing.

What we like

  • Aesthetic design that inspires creativity and enhances desk appeal
  • Innovative stylus design with a faceted barrel for better grip and control

What we dislike

  • Since it is a concept, it isn’t available for sale

5. Precision Metal Sakura Puzzle

Dubbed the Precision Metal Sakura Puzzle, this brain teaser is masterfully crafted, drawing inspiration from Japan’s most iconic symbol – the sakura or cherry blossom. It is a fascinating puzzle that perfectly captures the beauty and complexity of the flowers. It provides a mental challenge that is satisfying and demanding.

The puzzle is created for puzzle enthusiasts, especially those who appreciate both form and function. It isn’t simply a game, but also a work of art that celebrates the harmony of nature and human ingenuity. It also helps you take a break from work, allowing your mind to rejuvenate and restart later.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299

Why is it noteworthy?

The puzzle is designed to engage your mind in a unique and rewarding fashion. It is made from high-quality, mirror-finish stainless steel, and designed with meticulous attention to detail. All the different pieces come together and fit with seamless precision, so the solver needs to be patient and creative to solve it.

As you finish the puzzle, it takes the form of a sakura, providing a visual and intellectual reward that beautifully mirrors the magic of the natural world. Such an activity is great for getting your creative juices flowing, allowing you to think deeper and brighter without exhausting yourself.

What we like

  • The puzzle’s sakura-inspired design pays homage to Japan and its beautiful culture
  • Portable and compact size, making it easy to carry

What we dislike

  • The puzzle’s complexity may be overwhelming and challenging for those who want a more relaxed puzzle experience

6. Mindset Headphones

Dubbed the Mindset Headphones, these innovative headphones are the perfect fusion of neuroscience and audio technology. They are designed to help you focus, and enhance creative thinking. The headphones are equipped with EEG sensors that monitor brain activity, offering real-time feedback that supports users to concentrate even deeper.

Paired with high-quality sound powered by Onkyo, Mindset offers an immersive auditory experience that is tailored to the needs of creative professionals seeking to maximize their productivity and creative output.

Why is it noteworthy?

Mindset is truly an innovative product since it leverages EED technology to train the brain, thereby improving your ability to focus and block out distractions. If you’re looking to elevate your creative thinking and enhance your creative capabilities, then it is the perfect tool for you.

It is great for anyone working on complex projects or exploring fresh ideas. It features a wireless design and active noise cancellation which helps create a distraction-free work environment, wherein you can truly focus on your creative endeavors without being distracted by deterrents.

What we like

  • Provides an exceptional listening experience with high-quality sound
  • The EEG tech offers personalized focus training, enhancing productivity and creativity

What we dislike

  • It will require regular charging to support wireless functionality and EEG monitoring

7. BeYou Transforming Chair

Called BeYou, this unique transforming chair is a revolutionary seating solution that can adapt to the ever-changing needs of creative individuals and professionals. It provides over ten different seating positions, helping users find the perfect posture for comfort and productivity.

It features an innovative design, combining soft durable fabric with oak veneer. It offers ergonomic support and aesthetic appeal, hence giving you the best of both worlds. It is a versatile solution making it perfect for creative professionals who spend long hours at their desks. This dynamic seating experience promotes movement and flexibility.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair can transform and adapt to different seating preferences, hence providing comfort, while reducing the physical strain that comes with sitting for long hours. It encourages movement and flexibility, which helps maintain energy levels and elevates creative thinking in users.

The chair features a stylish design with user-friendly features making it a functional and attractive addition to any workspace. It is designed to support user’s creative process, providing them with both comfort and adaptability. If you’re a creative professional, looking to upgrade your work setup, then this chair is ideal for you.

What we like

  • Offers multiple seating positions for comfort and versatility, reducing physical strain
  • A stylish design with an oak veneer finish enhances the aesthetic of any space

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming design not well-suited for smaller spaces

8. Flipo Flip

This little captivating kinetic skill toy is called the Flipo Flip. It is designed to provide moments of relaxation and mental clarity throughout your work day. The kinetic toy is made with precision from solid metal, and it merges flipping, rolling, and falling motions to provide a mesmerizing and satisfying experience.

The Flipo Flip is a great choice for those who want to take a quick mental break to recharge themselves and spark their creative thinking. It features a compact size, making it an excellent addition to your workspace, while providing a fun and tactile escape from the daily grind.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Flipo Flip helps you engage the mind through a simple yet fascinating motion. The simple act of flipping and rolling the toy helps you clear your mind and reduce stress. It serves as a form of meditation, helping you focus better on work, and promoting creativity. It features a durable construction, making it a sturdy and long-lasting addition to your desk.

It is perfectly suited to help you take breaks during work. You can play with the little toy, and add a playful touch to your tedious work routine.

What we like

  • Portable and easy to use anywhere, making it a versatile tool for relaxation.
  • Helps reduce stress and improve focus, aiding in creative thinking.

What we dislike

  • It will not offer long-term engagement for those looking for complex simulation

9. The Memojector

Dubbed the Memojector, this innovative concept reimagines the traditional sticky note for the modern age. It combines the tactile satisfaction of writing on paper with the limitless potential of digital tech. The tool is designed to fit into the palm of your hand, providing a familiar yet modern approach to note-taking.

The Memojector features a built-in projector that converts any flat surface into a dynamic canvas for ideas. It creates and promotes a seamless transition between individual brainstorming and collaborative discussions, allowing you to think and work better.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Memojector can supply a steady bunch of digital sticky notes, reducing the clutter and waste you often find due to their physical counterpart. It uses projection technology, allowing users to interact and engage with their notes. They can use gestures to organize and arrange information.

It is a clever and invaluable tool for creative professionals who need to visualize ideas and collaborate with others. It bridges the gap between analog and digital, creating a versatile tool that supports creative exploration and thinking.

What we like

  • Infinite digital sticky notes reduce paper waste and clutter
  • Gesture detection allows for intuitive note manipulation and organization

What we dislike

  • It is a concept, hence we are unsure how well it will translate into a tangible product

10. Moleskine Smart Writing Set

Say hello to the Moleskine Smart Writing Set – an innovative tool that bridges the space between digital tech and traditional handwriting. It features the classic Moleskine notebook which is renowned for its quality, and a Smart Pen, and companion app that digitizes handwritten notes and sketches.

This one-of-a-kind tool provides creatives the tactile satisfaction of writing on paper while gifting them with the versatility and convenience of using digital storage and organization. It provides them with the best of both worlds – the analog and the digital.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Moleskine Smart Writing Set helps protect and preserve the art of handwriting in an age where we don’t get opportunities to write. It provides users with the opportunity to capture their ideas in a natural and free-flowing manner, while also converting them into a digital format for easy editing and sharing.

The set is a clever and noteworthy tool since it merges digital and analog capabilities, making it a must-have for creative professionals who appreciate tradition and innovation. It is made using high-quality materials and a thoughtful design which provides a seamless and smooth writing experience.

What we like

  • Seamlessly integrates handwritten notes with digital storage, enhancing productivity
  • High-quality Moleskine notebook with Ncoded paper for a premium writing experience

What we dislike

  • The Smart Pen needs to be charged, which can be inconvenient

The post Top 10 Innovative Tools To Boost & Supercharge Your Creative Thinking first appeared on Yanko Design.

This crafty little bed comes with overhead storage… just like on an airplane!





Perhaps the most ingenious inspirational overlap I’ve seen in a while, the COBBO bed gives beds a rather clever little upgrade! The COBBO bed uses the empty space between the mattress to put a nifty cabinet, reminiscent of the overhead storage you get on airplanes… so you can live out your wanderlust airplane fantasies while sitting at home!

An airplane’s cabin is perhaps the most ideal example of space optimization. Every single nook and corner of an airplane cabin goes unwasted… with the seats being packed in the most space-saving orientation, tables being folded up to eat less space, and overhead areas being used to store luggage, that would otherwise need to be kept on the floor. Michael Hilgers decided to carry this utilitarian approach from aircrafts into regular homes, giving it a minimalist upgrade that looks much more visually aesthetic than functional.

The COBBO bed, designed for furniture manufacturer OTTO, comes with a simple Nordic-inspired design with solid oak legs and white storage cabinets that are located above the sleeping area. The bed’s slightly tapered design serves two purposes, it gives the piece of furniture both visual and physical lightness, since the cabinet above the bed is significantly slimmer than the bed itself. This allowed Hilgers to use slim wooden pillars instead of metal ones, since the cabinet above the bed wouldn’t end up being overly heavy.

The slim cabinet/shelf comes with four doors (two on either side) that open to reveal a perfectly slim nook to store items like books, quilts, throws, and cushions. It’s a clever way to provide storage without cluttering the floor, making it perfect for smaller rooms, student housing, people who like minimal interiors, or just the wanderlust who wants the experience of being in an airplane but can’t travel much because of the pandemic!

Designer: Michael Hilgers for OTTO

The post This crafty little bed comes with overhead storage… just like on an airplane! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Get your daily design inspiration in the New Tab of your Browser with this Google Chrome Plugin!

Yanko Design’s articles can now be found on the News Veranda extension for Google Chrome. Consisting of dozens of other design + creative publications, the News Veranda extension gives you a quick bird’s eye overview of the creative world and the design industry, right in your blank new tab!

The extension turns your otherwise blank new-tab experience into a creative newspaper, offering you the latest industrial, graphic, architecture, UX, and transportation design articles along with creative editorials. Clicking on the thumbnail will redirect you to the relevant website, or you can even save articles to be read later. If you just want to perform google searches (as one does in a new tab), a search bar at the top of the News Veranda page lets you continue using it like you normally would.

The tab comes designed by Veranda Color, a website which lets you build, customize, and explore color palettes for your creative projects and inspirational moodboards.

Earlier this month, Yanko Design and News Veranda partnered to bring Industrial, Architecture, and Transportation design articles to the new tab’s mix. The extension is currently available on the Chrome Web Store for desktops and laptops, which means it works with Google Chrome, Brave, and even Microsoft Edge! Oh yes, and it has Dark Mode too!

Click here to visit the News Veranda extension page and add it to your Desktop/Laptop browser!

Click here to visit the News Veranda extension page and add it to your Desktop/Laptop browser!

The post Get your daily design inspiration in the New Tab of your Browser with this Google Chrome Plugin! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Polaroid’s ‘most creative instant camera yet’ lets you edit photos, use lens filters, and click long-exposure shots




Polaroid is, once again, at a crossroads. It famously survived the death of celluloid film cameras as everyone pivoted to digital media, and somehow managed to remain a relevant product even as smartphone cameras became more and more popular, but now as people are constantly pushing to create content and be more ‘creative’ on social media, a simple click-and-print instant camera doesn’t sound like a big deal anymore. To make the instant camera appealing to this new wave of ‘content creators’, Polaroid debuted the Now+, an i-Type camera that comes with a slew of features that upgrade the instant camera experience with filters, lenses, art-styles, and a remote shutter feature through Polaroid’s own smartphone app.

Polaroid’s always had a reputation of being a cool-kid toy, although the definition of ‘cool’ has certainly changed over the years. The Now+ keeps that in mind, with its unique set of features that let you capture images with a twist. The camera comes with snap-on lens filters that give your images different effects, while the camera now even supports capturing styles like long-exposure photography and double-exposure photography.

The snap-on lens kit features multiple tinted lenses as well as a ‘starburst’ lens for more vivid shots. The Now+ even comes with autofocus capabilities (a feature that was also built into its predecessor, the Now) and extensive creative control thanks to the accompanying Polaroid app. The app lets you adjust the camera’s aperture for either crisp, clear shots, or bokeh-filled low DoF images, while the camera intelligently handles the exposure to give you the best shot. The camera works with a tripod too, and can be remotely triggered via the smartphone app – a feature that’s integral to the Now+’s long-exposure photography mode that can be used for light-painting amongst other things. You can combine and photos too, for double-exposure photography – a feature that’s new to the Polaroid lineup.

The Polaroid Now+ supports both i-Type and 600 Type film. It comes in 3 colors (black, white, and blue-grey) and costs US$149 with the accompanying filter kit.

Designer: Polaroid

Unusually creative cabinet opens by tilting forward!

The Pivot rightfully uses gravity as a design feature! Instead of sliding drawers, a nifty little pivot joint at the base of this cabinet allows individual drawers to open by tilting forward. It’s clever, fun, and makes it easy to access your belongings without having to dig around! Just don’t expect it to be hyper-organized though!

Designer: Raw Edges Design Studio for Arco

The Pivot is an incredibly fun chest of drawers designed to be used independently or as a part of a desk. The pivoting mechanism is convenient and easy to use, allowing the drawer to slide open with little to no effort since gravity does most of the work. There are no sliding components, no bearings and railings, and nothing that would cause the drawers to get jammed, forcing you to yell “PIVOTTT”! (I couldn’t NOT make that joke)

Its simplicity extends beyond the cabinet’s unique pivoting detail. The cabinet comes with a wall-mounted design, and sports just two legs, sort of like an easel. It’s definitely interesting to look at and probably a lot of fun to interact with!

This French Press Coffee Maker has an hourglass built into its handle that lets you perfectly time your brew!

The idea for a french-press coffee maker with a built-in hourglass is probably the best example of ‘a brain on caffeine’! To be honest, it’s downright genius too. Measure your brew, pour your water, flip the timer, and you know exactly when your coffee is ready! This French Press from the guys at StramperPress lets you do just that, allowing you to calibrate your brew with a nifty little sand hourglass that has a countdown time of 4 minutes, letting you know when your brew’s just perfect.

Click Here to Buy Now (Stainless Steel)

Sporting a wonderfully Scandinavian design, the StramperPress french press is minimal yet has a commanding presence – along with a brilliant little feature. Outwardly, it’s like any french press, allowing you to brew your coffee in hot water, then press the plunger to push the coffee grounds and pour fresh coffee out. However, to ensure that you don’t over-brew your beverage (resulting in bitter, burnt notes) or even under-brew it (causing your coffee to taste weak), the coffee maker comes with a nifty hourglass built into its handle. Just flip it after you pour your hot water and the hourglass will tell you when your coffee’s ready. No batteries, no electronic timers, no beeping, no fuss. Just a really simple and sophisticated product with a stupidly brilliant idea at the heart of it!

Designer: StramperPress

Click Here to Buy Now (Stainless Steel)

This umbrella-shaped folding chair is the most brilliantly creative furniture design I’ve seen this year!

An umbrella-shaped chair. The idea itself sounds absolutely outrageous until you realize how incredibly clever it is. Think about it… would you rather be carrying an umbrella with you wherever you go, or have those godawful wearable chair-legs strapped to your torso like Gabe from Silicon Valley? The answer is obviously the umbrella, given how ubiquitous it is. It’s compact, and more importantly, is socially acceptable. So when designer Yanagisawa Sera was looking for a way to reinvent the folding chair, hiding it inside an umbrella sounded like a perfect idea!

What’s brilliant about the Hide And Seek chair is its sheer absurdity… along with the fact that it actually works! Sera went straight from the drawing board to the metal workshop to test his idea out and from the looks of it, the umbrella-shaped chair works – at least on a prototype level! The frame of the umbrella was fabricated from stainless steel rods, and is designed to fold right into the umbrella shape when closed. A stretched fabric mounted on the frame helps distribute the weight when you sit, allowing the chair to actually take the weight of an adult human. It does look a tad fragile if I’m being candid, but that’s something that can easily be fixed by using materials like titanium or even carbon fiber. The best part about the entire product is that it folds right back into the shape of a standard umbrella, which means you can place it in backpacks, handbags, or even carry it to the grocery store or a concert… blending right into the crowd right before you open the Hide And Seek and take a seat on the world’s only umbrella-shaped chair! That should definitely grab a few eyeballs!

In fact, under certain circumstances, you could use the Hide And Seek as an umbrella too! Although considering its framework (which is designed to easily take somewhere around 160 lbs of weight) is much more robust than the kind found on most umbrellas, the Hide And Seek would be much heavier than your average umbrella, making it difficult to carry for longer periods of time. Nevertheless, the level of creativity and ingenuity the Hide And Seek demonstrates is truly marvelous… especially given the fact that the outrageously brilliant idea is even backed by a working prototype! Yanagisawa Sera, I hope you’ve filed your patents on this, because it may easily be the most brilliantly creative product design I’ve seen this year!

Designer: Yanagisawa Sera

Apple patent reveals a new type of Pencil with replaceable nibs for different creative applications

Watch out, Wacom and Adobe! In a new patent granted to Apple by the US Patent and Trademark Office, the company is reportedly looking at a next-generation Apple Pencil with swappable nib modules. While the patent doesn’t exclusively outline what these nibs would look like or be used for, it focuses more on the underlying technology, which would allow nibs to connect to the pencil handle via a special lightning-style connector.

The Apple Pencil is arguably the iPad Pro‘s secret sauce. Along with the Pencil, the iPad Pro becomes the ultimate creator’s setup (for both 2D as well as 3D creation). It would therefore make sense to explore how the Pencil could further become a ‘power-user’ tool, allowing creators to unlock new potentials. Yanko Design has imagined what these new nibs could look like, with explorations for more niche 2D uses. The interchangeable nibs include a fine-tip nib, a chisel nib, and a flexible brush-pen nib. Other nib styles could unlock 3D modeling features like being able to sculpt on the iPad.

While the current Apple Pencil has features like tilt recognition and pressure sensitivity, allowing it to function as any sort of drawing tool, the presence of a specialized nib helps seamlessly replicate the tactile experience of, say, drawing with a brush pen or a chisel marker. Moreover, the ability to replace nibs essentially increases the lifespan of the Pencil by allowing you to replace nibs when they wear down after constant use. “The filing suggests the nib could contain several different sensors for varying purposes. The component list includes tactile sensors, contact sensors, capacitive and touch sensors, a camera, a piezoelectric sensor, a pressure sensor, or a photodiode”, reports Apple Insider.

Designer/Visualizer: Sarang Sheth

Patent via: USPTO

Gifts for Designers: Apple’s patents, turned into graphic posters that you can hang on your wall!

As someone who knows a bunch of designers, I’ll attest to the fact that it’s mighty hard finding a creative gift for someone who’s entire job revolves around creativity. Buy them something and there’s a sizeable chance that either they already own it or don’t like it. It’s rare to find something they’ve never seen before… something that takes them by surprise and delight, but you’re in a fair bit of luck if you’re reading this and looking for something to gift a designer friend, relative, colleague, or the person you got in the Secret Santa sweepstakes at work.

Retro Patents’ graphical posters literally put design history on your walls. Taking graphical representations and diagrams from actual patent files available at the US Patent and Trademark Office, Retro Patents turns them into posters you can hang on your wall. Their catalog spans a bunch of products and services, but we have our eye on three of the most recognizable products of our time… the original iPhone, iPod, and the Macintosh computer which put Apple on the map. All three posters feature the patent images taken directly from the open-source files, complete with the patent number, application name, and the holder of the patent. The posters are printed using Epson UltraChrome water based HDR ink-jet technology on Ultra Premium Luster Photo Paper for the finest results, before being framed and shipped.

Designer: Retro Patents

Click Here to Buy Now

Click Here to Buy Now

Creative storage solutions designed to declutter your life: Part 2

Store or not store, there is no try. That is the line I often use to ensure my husband replaces everything back to their place once he is done using them. While organizing and being neat is a compulsion of mine, I never really paid attention to the vessels aka furniture that carries our things from more than a functional point of view, that is until I came across these designs! Who knew a shelf could be so much more? These transforming, smart and extremely useful designs are the perfect mix of functionality and aesthetics, making them perfect for every home!

Designed to be compact enough to fit into any space, yet comfortable enough to have you sink right in with your favorite book, the Conch by Wei He comes with a molded-plywood inner body and a dual-density foam outer body, giving it structure as well as supple softness. The chair’s form conforms to the contours of the body, allowing you to sit comfortably, while also conveniently having a storage unit right under you for everything from books to a cushion to other bric-a-brac. It’s the perfect reading spot for one!

The Becky Corner Shelf by Noook comprises of a selection of stackable shelves, that turn even pointless little corners into useful storage spaces. This one’s been crafted just for your bathroom!

shelf

Vasco Cabral’s The SHELF is furniture installation made incredibly easy. With two wooden sleeves that slide against one another, The SHELF can be mounted on any drywall just simply by pushing it in. When you push forward, the outer sleeve slides towards the wall, prompting a mechanism in the inner sleeve to deploy incredibly small but powerful hooks that lock into the wall (I suspect they do this diagonally). When locked, they’re so firm that the shelves can take the weight of two cinder blocks (the largest TheShelf can carry as much as 30 lbs) without breaking a sweat. If you ever want to relocate the shelf, just pulling the outer sleeve with moderate force allows the hooks to disengage, and the shelf to detach from the drywall.

In urban homes, one often has to compromise on the kind of furniture they would like because there isn’t enough space to have a separate piece for each function – in this case, Alessio Romano’s Orte saves the space you would need for a full shelf and a mirror by blending them into one. Its limestone base supports a rotating wooden frame with the mirror on one side and six hidden shelves on the other. The pop of red brightens up the corner where the furniture will be and stretched oblong shape makes it easy to fit in any corner. It can be used as a dresser, a bookshelf, or the stuff you need to grab quickly without it being on display always.

kurio

The KUR!O was featured here on YD after Markus Hofko of Von Morgen won a Gold A’ Design Award, and has, since then, developed and refined into a product that consumers can now buy and own. The construction hasn’t changed much fundamentally, but a few tweaks make it more durable and allow you to even dock dowels/pegs into it to hang items like keys, photos, or that dreamcatcher you bought at the flea market. The base of the shape-shifting, the infinitely customizable shelf is its underlying grid, made from sandwiched wood-fiber boards. The cuts in the grid go as much as 20mm deep, allowing you press-fit powder-coated steel panels into it. The steel panels come in a variety of colors, giving the KUR!O its uniquely vibrant appeal, and feature carefully-placed cuts that let individual panels interlock into each other. The 2mm thick panels are heavy-duty enough to take on large loads, making the KUR!O robust, despite the fact that there isn’t any screwing or gluing of parts.

This conceptual side-display-table by Zinus Inc. comes either from a place of complete vanity or sheer creativity, but nevertheless, the Photo Table definitely feels like an instant must-have. Imagine never having to worry about setting up your mini-studio for a product photo-shoot. Just place it on a table, point some lights through the table’s diffuser-hood, and there you have it….perfect images for posting online. And the best part of it is not having to pack your studio up after you’re done because it goes right back to being a piece of furniture that sits somewhere in the living-room-space of your quirky studio apartment.

It will be very easy to confuse the Folding Wall Chair by designers Ahmad Ahmadian and Reyhaneh Rajabzadeh Samani as a waffle making machine that is placed at an odd height! Open the contraption, and you have a seat for yourself. Close it, and the bottom cushion part has an exclusive niche for holding magazines and books.

GATE’s designer Artem Zakharchenko identified that a shelving unit only occasionally holds the same items for its entire life, more often than not the items will be swapped out over time and the environment that it is placed in will change, therefore the product needs to be able to adapt to this. Being able to choose where you want the shelves to be positioned is just the beginning! The ‘zones’ allow for the unit to be used as a wardrobe, storage for wine glasses, shoe shelving or even a small desk! This level of adaptability makes GATE perfect for use in the home as well as commercial environments such as bars and restaurants. I know I want one!

Twofold

Made completely out of wood, the Twofold reinterprets a traditional wooden connection, turning the product into a hinge itself. Made from plywood with a melamine coating, the Twofold can simply be mounted on any wall. Without any external fittings i.e., hinges, flap-holders, Studio Michael Hilgers for Müller Möbelwerkstätten designed the Twofold to open and close, turning into a neat bookshelf when you need it to be, and a rather comfortable work desk when you want it, without disrupting the arrangement of objects kept on your shelf. Elegant, isn’t it?

Studio NINE’s Lego compatible furniture aims at being a playground for your children. The furniture comes with a machined textured layer that’s all too familiar. Made from Corian, the polymer-based marble substitute, the furniture has a premium feel and a simple design… The purpose of this simple design being twofold. It can either blend well into a house with Scandinavian styling, or can be infinitely decorated by using pieces of Lego that just simply snap onto the furniture’s dot-embossed surface. Yes, it also means lesser chances of your foot accidentally stepping on a loose piece of Lego lying around on the floor… Plus, like Lego itself, the furniture is perfect for all people of all ages!

Check out more creative furniture options in the first part of this series for the love of all things furniture!