Flat-packed dish rack has a beautiful but questionable design

Flat-packed furniture and products have become popular these days because of their simplicity and their economy of space. If needed, you can easily disassemble some of these products and move them to another location without taking up too much space in transport. Of course, you won’t be moving a table or chair around that much, but smaller items are free game. Some furniture might even be designed to be portable from the get-go, easily folding or collapsing when it’s time to pack up and go. At first glance, this set of minimalist dish racks seems to be made exactly for that purpose, but its choice of material might make one wonder if it was really designed to hold wet tableware in the first place.

Designer: Ernest Perera

Dish racks are designed not just for holding plates, utensils, or drinkware, though there might be a few that are indeed made for that purpose only. In most cases, however, they’re also meant to help dry this tableware by letting water drip off them. This is the reason why most drying dish racks are made from stainless steel, coated metal, or even plastic, materials that don’t get easily ruined by water or moisture.

The Aurea collection of dryers and racks, however, is noted to be made from “stratify wood,” which might be a translation error for layered wood veneers. Whatever the correct translation might be, the choice of wood remains an odd one. Even with some coating, the wooden surface would still stain and be damaged over time, especially when repeatedly exposed to liquid.

It’s a shame, though, since the Aurea racks are quite visually and mechanically interesting. At first glance, they almost look like cardboard cutouts, except they’re made of wood, of course. That wouldn’t be far from the truth, though, as the pieces do seem to have been cut out in such a fashion to provide insets and gaps for putting plates in, holes for wine bottles, and protrusions for cups. There is also a variety of color options offered, including ones that try to emulate natural wood grains.

The racks also assemble like those wooden model toys, and their construction looks simple enough to assemble and disassemble repeatedly. This makes them ideal for use in outdoor trips or camping, except for the fact that they might not be able to weather the wear and tear of such use cases, not to mention constantly getting wet from holding wet plates and cutlery.

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Cantilevered wooden chair experiment puts simplicity and efficiency on a pedestal

The primary purpose of a chair is, of course, to provide something to sit on. The basic shape of a chair, from its legs to its back to its actual seat, has evolved over the centuries, resulting in a design that provides stability and comfort. That’s not to say that there’s only one way to design a chair, though, and there is plenty of wiggle room for tweaking forms and materials, depending on what the focus of the design is. This design experiment, for example, makes use of a rather unconventional design structure that gives it a unique silhouette and construction, though it may have admittedly reduced the comfort and stability of the overall design in the process.

Designers: Mirko Ihrig, Casey Lewis (LOTTO)

A good chair design would need to have stable legs to stand on, ample room to sit on, and a reliable back to lean on, though that last bit sometimes becomes optional when talking about stools and similar seating furniture. The combination of these three elements leads to a usable piece of furniture, but many designers try to change the formula a bit by using different forms, materials, or structures. Canti, for example, is an experiment that uses a common architectural structure to create a chair that highlights the use of wood as an industrialized material.

When used for construction, timber is often cut into planks because they are the most space-efficient form for production and transportation. The final product will, of course, look very different from this initial shape, but the Canti chair skips a few steps to reflect the original form of the plank. In short, it uses a simple plank of wood as the “spine” of the chair and uses another cantilevered plank as the seat.

This results in an interesting design that is almost brutalist in both its raw shape and material, though the wood is definitely finished to look and feel more approachable. It pays tribute to bare wooded planks used in construction and production. It also gives off a sense of imbalance and discomfort, which is ironic for something that is supposed to be designed for stability and comfort. The way the plank that serves as the main structure tilts backward might make you feel it will tip over, and the somewhat short protrusion that is the seat doesn’t inspire much confidence either.

Of course, the Canti chair does attempt to provide a bit of comfort by carving out an extremely subtle curve for the person’s body. That curve is indeed so minimal that you can even put things on the seat, turning the chair into a makeshift side table. It might not be the most comfortable chair to look at or even use, but Canti definitely sparks the imagination as a design experiment that could be close to being ready for production.

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Wooden headphone holder is also a magnificent piece of sculptural art

As the number of gear we use grows, so, too, the number of things littering our desks. Some, like phones or pieces of paper, are more transient, staying there only while you’re using the desk. Others take up more permanent residence, and therefore require a proper place to call home. That’s true not only for pens or stationery but even more so for device accessories like chargers, earbuds, and headphones. The latter often just get left lying around where you last laid them, which isn’t the best way to take care of them. There are quite a few headphone holders these days, but while some are just pieces of plastic or metal that hang headphones by their bands, this particular design is something you’d also be proud to show off on your desk, even without the headphones.

Designer: Carl Liu

Headphones are designed to be vertical, but that only works if they’re hanging on your head. When unused, they often lay on their sides, which isn’t visually appealing and could even ruin the coating of the headphones. Of course, it’s trivial to just hang them on some hook or stand, but if you’ll be displaying your favorite expensive pair, why not go all out and put them on something worthy of their stature?

That’s pretty much the rationale behind the origin of Figure EIGHT, a wooden headphone holder CNC milled from a single piece of North American walnut before being finished by hand. It gets its name from the two perpendicular holes that make up its core, basically two cylinders that hold different parts of the headphone. The top that faces forward creates a gentle ark for the headband. The bottom cylinder faces sideways, and their gently dipping curves are the perfect nooks for the ear pieces.

The design is an example of how form can follow function in a very elegant manner. There are even some extra hidden features, like how the space in between the ear cups could be used to hide the headphone cable, if it has one. The smooth surfaces and gentle curves of the holder’s form also means that there are no rough edges that could damaged the headphone material while it rests on its wooden bed.

Figure EIGHT’s biggest pull, however, is really its appearance, as it serves as a beautiful piece of decoration whether it’s in use or not. And while it is stylish in its own right, it also doesn’t pull your attention away from the headphones, making sure that your $600 pair is proudly on display in the best way.

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This collection of minimal wooden furniture celebrates the natural grain and texture of wood

There’s something about wood as a material that instantly puts you at ease. Wood radiates a certain warmth, and sense of zen, that no other material can exude. And, sometimes a wooden piece of furniture is what your living space truly needs. I feel a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces! And I recently came across a collection of wooden furniture designs that promise to do exactly that! Beomsuk Ko designed a beautiful collection of storage furniture called Live Edge. The furniture pieces celebrate the natural grain of  wood and were designed by Ko for Kobeomsuk Furniture, the South Korean furniture brand of which he is the founder.

Designer: Beomsuk Ko for Kobeomsuk Furniture

The furniture collection includes a glass cabinet, a walnut TV stand, and a freestanding shelving unit. “The wood itself was so beautiful, I thought about how to put this beauty into the furniture as it is, and I came up with the design. Kobeomsuk Furniture pursues a bold design that is natural, not artificial, with a sense of Korean aesthetics,” said Ko.

All the pieces in the collection are beautifully designed with a minimal yet attention-grabbing appearance. The TV stand has been equipped with a rather minimal and delicate silhouette. The front panels of the stand truly allow the natural grain of the walnut wood to shine through. It is a true celebration of the natural texture of wood. “When the horizontally flowing wood is cut horizontally and arranged by changing the top and bottom positions, it gives the feeling of looking at the flowing river from the sky,” said Ko.

The glass cabinets also have a frame crafted from walnut, whereas the internal drawers were built using sapwood and heartwood. The shelving unit, on the other hand, is deeply inspired by the composition of traditional Korean furniture. It features open glass shelves and two drawers that openly showcase the Live Edge wooden front, which has a rather distinctive appeal to it. The entire collection is a great addition to your home if you’re looking to add a rather unique wooden touch to your living space.

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This copper tubes vase lets you create a lovely minimalist flower arrangement

When you think of vases, you will most likely imagine a single vessel that is able to hold a bunch of flowers, often with half a dozen stems or so. These tall containers can be made of anything, though ceramic, stone, or metal seem to be the favored materials. Of course, they can actually be made of anything, nor does the concept of a vase dictate that there should be only a single receptacle to hold the stems. There is definitely plenty of room for variety in shapes and design, and this rather unusual vase challenges all those assumptions by using not one, not even two, but seven tubes that may or may not even hold a single stem.

Designer: Hiroyuki Yuasa of MOTON

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It’s easy not to think of the Bulbous Lotus as anything other than a vase if there aren’t stems sticking out of it. Metal pipes of various heights often conjure up images of musical instruments instead of something like a utilitarian container. Perhaps that is a fitting association, considering how this unique vase produces a melody of a different kind, one that sings of the beauty of nature and the artistry of humans.

The vase is made of two parts, both independent of each other and both beautiful in their own right. The circular base is made of wood, either oak or walnut, and provides the stability that the vase needs, ensuring it stays standing, no matter how large the flowers above might be. It also has holes into which the copper tubes are inserted in your preferred arrangement. After all, there is no hard rule that these cylinders be arranged in a specific order.

The slim copper tubes offer very little room for one or two stems only, pushing you to think about how your flower arrangement will go. Of course, you don’t actually need to even stick anything inside them, leaving some of the pipes empty to give some dramatic effect to the flowers that are there. You don’t even have to match the tube’s height with the stem’s length, giving you complete freedom in how you want to combine different design elements. You are the artist, and this vase is your canvas.

The use of copper for the tubes is by no means accidental. The metallic material has the effect of keeping the water inside from becoming odorous. Copper also discolors over time, and rather than being an eyesore, the unique patinas will give each cylinder a unique appearance and character. Whether you want to fill the corner of the room with flowers or prefer a more minimalist arrangement that would remind people of Zen gardens and bonsai, this distinctive metal and wood vase gives you the artistic freedom and the creative exercise you need to bring some life into your space.

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This distinctive coffee table blends contrasting elements to give it a unique character

Coffee tables today do more than just hold your coffee or your coffee table books. They have become both literal and figurative centers of a room, providing visual impact through their eye-catching appearances. Some coffee tables grab your attention with their exquisite shapes, while others prefer to do it through remarkable materials. This unique coffee table does both, creating a piece of furniture that could almost be described as sculptural art. What’s more noteworthy, however, is that it uses what seems to be opposing or contrasting materials, giving it a distinct personality that’s like a Yin and Yang of furniture design.

Designer: Donatas Žukauskas

There are some materials, both natural and man-made, that seem to be associated with certain emotions and concepts. Water, for example, can be calming and cleansing, while plastic is soft and pliable. Wood is warm and cozy, while stone, in its many forms, is cold and impersonal. These latter two might seem to stand on opposite ends, but they come together in a harmonious and even artistic way in this sculptural coffee table made of natural wood and a new concrete-like material.

The very shape of the table itself seems to convey this character of combining contrasting elements. The wide, irregularly-shaped wooden top is held up by three conical legs that end in very thin feet that seem to test fate. Its form has elements of both stability and irregularity as if challenging the mind to decide whether the table is steady or is ready to collapse on one end.

What makes this table even more interesting is that its concrete legs aren’t exactly made from actual concrete. Instead, it is a solid yet elastic mass that is actually closer to wood but was designed to look like concrete. It is made from paper mass, which is again the opposite of the rigidity of concrete, but mixed with various other materials to give it the desired texture, water resistance, and rigidity. Fusing this wet mass, which is poured into a mold, with the wood top proved to be a tricky task, but the result was well worth the trouble.

This sculptural coffee table of opposites is definitely a sight to behold in a room, and of course, it’s quite functional, too. So yes, you can place your favorite mug and books on top without fear of breaking down. Its special character, however, doesn’t stop at its aesthetics. Recycled materials were utilized in creating this table, making it a sustainable piece of furniture and sculptural art as well.

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This simplistic wooden chair imagines a future Google that has gone back to nature

It’s not uncommon for design trends to swing back and forth like a pendulum, making what was once old new again or seeing old practices in a new light. That kind of back and forth seemingly applies to almost all facets of life and history that it became even part of major philosophies. All that it means is that what may be the prevalent style or mindset now could take a U-turn after a few decades, and all our obsession with advanced technologies could lead to a counter-movement that will bring us back to nature and the basics. The tech companies today won’t be the same decades from now, and some of them might even adopt a style that might even be perceived as devoid of tech completely, like this wooden chair that might be Google’s signature furniture 24 years from now.

Designer: Povilas Grigas

When it comes to tech companies, Google is definitely one of the big three, along with Microsoft and Apple. With its hands in so many different technological fields, you could almost say that it is the most popular icon of technology. The company has undergone so many changes since its birth, not least of which is splitting into different companies under Alphabet, but its biggest change is probably yet to come. Just as humans are wont to return to simpler and more natural things, so too Google’s design language might swing that way a few decades from now.

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One speculative design project envisions what Google’s design language would be like by 2046 or so, based on the principle above as well as Google’s current design philosophy. Google has always had a penchant for minimalism, though the exact application of that design philosophy changes over time. And what could be more minimalist than pieces of furniture that are not only natural but are also inspired by nature’s more basic designs. The Seed Chair, for example, looks like nothing more than a few short logs joined together to form a seat, representing the most basic interaction between nature and man.

Admittedly, the Seed Chair doesn’t look like the most comfortable seat around, though it does embrace Google’s spartan aesthetics and preference for geometric shapes. At the same time, however, it is almost the complete opposite of Google’s spirit. The chair is large, heavy, and has plenty of friction, while Google’s culture is always associated with agility and fast-paced change, almost to a fault.

Of course, it is unlikely that Google will adopt this nature-centric design wholesale, at least not in the foreseeable future. It is, however, more likely to dip its toes into this area of product design, researching and experimenting with ways technology can make such designs possible, especially with a nod towards sustainability and the use of natural materials. That might be more in line with Google’s character and mindset, one that tries to inject technology everywhere, especially in places where data can be harvested, utilized, and maybe even turned into a profit.

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This graceful coffee table will make you want to wrap yourself up in a comfy blanket

Coffee tables often serve as centerpieces in a living room, providing a visual focal point for anyone entering that space. It may indeed sometimes serve as a table for resting coffee or tea cups, and it’s also a place where homeowners display their favorite books, magazines, or other reading materials, whether or not they’re actually reading them. Given this purpose, coffee tables are designed to be eye-catching or at least visually pleasing to enamor guests without being overbearing. To some extent, this design concept for such a table does capture one’s attention, but it also evokes feelings of coziness and warmth that will almost make you feel like curling up beside it, along with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

The “standard” design of coffee tables comes in rectangular or circular shapes, the former for space efficiency, while the latter aims for visual impact. From those two shapes, designers try to create interesting forms and combinations that serve to attract attention without becoming an obstacle to the table’s functionality. We’ve seen quite a few designs in this regard, ranging from super minimalist metal furniture to stunningly elaborate pieces of sculptural art.

The Cocoon is a design that embraces all those elements in a rather simple way. At its core, it is just a flat wooden plane where two opposite edges are raised and curved to almost meet, creating an elevated surface that acts as the tabletop. The gap between these two edges becomes a rather unique slot to display part of a book, while the space underneath can be used as storage for small items or other reading materials.

The very form of the coffee table itself is already quite stunning, but the images and emotions it conjures up are just as appealing. The word “cocoon” often evokes feelings of having a snug home or blanket wrapped around you to give comfort. Some people do love this arrangement when relaxing and reading books, so the imagery is quite fitting. Alternatively, the design might also remind one of burritos.

Given how this design needs to bend wood at a rather large radius, it might be difficult to pull off in practice. The coffee table will also take up more floor space than typical tables, though you can always use the open area inside to hide things you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Regardless of whether it’s a practical design to turn into a real product, it’s undoubtedly a beautiful one that creates a notable presence in a room without being overpowering.

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This beautiful MagSafe collection offers a sustainable way to top up your devices

Some might consider Apple’s new MagSafe tech for iPhones and Apple Watches as simply catching up to the already existing wireless charging technology, but it clearly does a lot more than what its industry rivals have accomplished so far. The smart addition of magnets is no small matter, as it enabled many different forms of wireless chargers that no longer required devices to lie horizontally flat on a desk or charging bed. That kind of freedom and flexibility gave way to rather interesting designs, some minimal, some multi-functional. It also gave manufacturers a bit more leeway when it came to materials, which this new collection of MagSafe chargers takes advantage of in order to bring accessories that are not only handsome but also less harmful to the environment.

Designer: Magdalena Gembala (Oakywood)

Apple’s first-party MagSafe chargers are already extremely minimal, comprising only a small puck that magnetically latches on to an iPhone or Apple Watch. While that did offer more flexibility in how to use it, the designs were not entirely elegant. Fortunately, it’s also possible to actually use those official chargers in ways Apple doesn’t, like putting them inside bases and holders that add a little more functionality and style to the charger.

This Oakywood MagSafe collection does exactly that, utilizing the Apple MagSafe chargers to provide the actual charging function of these beautifully designed products. What they offer, instead, are solid and multi-functional bases that not only keep your iPhone or Apple Watch in place but also add some life to your desk. With a mix of wood and matte aluminum materials, these stands and mounts look handsome on any motif you might have going for your desk, providing eye-catching ornaments without being distracting.

These MagSafe accessories are not as trivial as they might seem. One actually mounts onto an edge of a shelf, preferably one on or near your desk, while another sticks to a wall. In all cases, the MagSafe charger they hold can be removed and used as normal, just in case you prefer not to see the device’s screen but still want the beautiful presence of these wood and metal ornaments.

This Oakywood collection isn’t sustainable just because of the materials used, though that definitely plays an important role. None of these accessories actually come with an Apple MagSafe charger, so you can and will have to use what you already have anyway. Not only does this mean that the stands and mounts themselves don’t have any non-sustainable components, it also helps prevent more e-waste in the long run. It’s definitely a win-win situation when you get not only a multi-functional MagSafe charging stand but also beautiful accessories that, at the very least, don’t contribute to the death of the planet by their mere existence.

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This wooden debit card puts your money to work in saving the planet

Money makes the world go round, and it comes in many forms these days. While there are many proponents of e-wallets and digital forms of currencies, physical representations of money still make up the majority. Usually, cash has a minimal direct impact on the environment until they are used to fund activities or products that do harm to the planet in the long run. Credit cards and debit cards, however, are the clear exceptions because their very nature as pieces of plastic immediately makes them non-sustainable. That plastic design is mostly by convention, though, and this unique card proves that not only can these cards be sustainable, they can also help make the planet heal every time they’re used.

Designer: Treecard

The reason for plastic’s ubiquity is simply that there were no viable alternatives to it until recently. Plastic is cheap to make and durable, ideal properties for mass-produced products, including credit and debit cards that get distributed by the hundreds, if not thousands. Of course, there are no more sustainable options, like bioplastics or other newer materials. Some designers, however, have always preferred actual natural materials like wood, especially because of their unique characteristics and aesthetics.

Wood might not always be the best material to use for everything, and you might think that a card that sits in your wallet or jeans pocket isn’t a good place for it. Treecard, however, challenges that assumption with a debit card that is made from wood, at least except for the chip that is now standard in such cards. That does confirm that this isn’t just a decorative card but a fully functional one that can be used anywhere that accepts MasterCard. It also supports digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even Samsung Pay.

What makes Treecard extra special is that its commitment to sustainability goes beyond the card itself. It tries to give back to the environment by working with a partner so that a tree gets planted for every $50 spent using the card. Given how much people, especially in the US, make use of “plastic,” Treecard’s strategy will almost ensure that more trees will be available for future generations. It takes its mission one step further by promising never to use what it earns to fund fossil fuels or deforestation activities.

A wooden debit card is admittedly a novel proposition and one that actually looks handsome and eye-catching wherever you use it. There might be some concerns about its durability, though, since wood is less resilient under pressure and wear and tear, something that plastic does have over it. That said, the idea that you’ll be helping make the Earth greener while you spend might be enticing enough for environment-conscious consumers to make the leap of faith. They just need to take better care of their stylish debit card now.

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