Toff & Zürpel, a Dresden-based brand that designs natural, and reusable beeswax wraps, is now available in North America through AMEICO. An alternative to wasteful one-use products such as cling wrap and aluminum foil, Toff & Zürpel beeswax cloths bring a colorful touch to covering salads, cheeses, cut fruit, veggies and more.
Toff & Zürpel beeswax cloths are made of bio-cotton, regional organic beeswax, traditional pine resin, and fair trade organic coconut oil. The wraps are water repellant and are available through AMEICO in four sizes and three color schemes.
The wraps come with a natural beeswax soap bar which can be used to clean the wraps after use and as a general kitchen or hand soap.
A starter kit including four different sized wraps sells for $40.00 and the soap sells for $13.00. All images courtesy of AMEICO.
While you can’t go wrong with roses and chocolates, why not earn some extra points this year with a Valentine’s Day gift that is both unexpected and well designed? Here are a few new designythings for all the ones you love. Single this year? Then, in the immortal words of Tom and Donna from Parks & Rec, Treat yo’ self!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
The Heart Bowl by Lukas Urbanec
Image courtesy of Philip Johnson Glass House Design Store.
Handmade in Prague using traditional Czech methods, this lovely 6” x 3” porcelain bowl gives you its heart. When filled with coffee or tea, soups, or snacks, the bowl transforms its contents into a heart shape. The bowl is paired with the Apiniste Limoges Serving Platter (shown below). Available in white or pink through The Glass House Design Store. $45.00
Image courtesy of Philip Johnson Glass House Design Store.
Wordbits
Wordbits are lightweight yet strong alphabet magnets to surprise your Valentine with a personal love note on a fridge or any magnetic surface. Available in a premium matte finish and a custom typeface four colors (blush, mustard, slate, and white). Comes with 60 characters measuring 1.2” tall. BPA and phthalate-free. Intended for ages 14+.
Here are some heart-warming, well-curated gifts available through the MoMA Design Store, including a magic heart bulb, a flower vase, and a comfy robe and slippers.
The Heart Rechargeable Bulb Light features a dual-colored, heart-shaped filament (pink on one side, orange on the other) within a clear bulb. It is powered by a USB-rechargeable battery (cord included) that delivers 5 hours of light after about 90 minutes of charging time. The bulb can be held safely in your hands and has a flat bottom so it can stand on a table or desk. Measures 4.75h x 2.5″ diameter. $30.00 (non-member), $24.00 (member).This special edition of the best-selling Subu Slippers is made from recycled nylon fabric derived from consumer-waste PET bottles. Featuring the MoMA logo and a patchwork of colors, these water- and stain-resistant slippers are like a warm down jacket for your feet.) $69.00 (non-member)Inspired by the artwork of the Netherland’s De Stijl movement, the Mondri Vase is composed of transparent acrylic panels in primary and neon colorways. The vase is designed with three different chambers to accomodate different floral arrangements and flower sizes. The Mondri Vase measures 7.5h x 9.5w x 3.25″d. $100.00 (non-member) $80.00 (member)Brooklyn-based designer Ellen Van Dusen is known for her vibrant color palette. Her extra-soft Dusen Dusen Striped Bathrob is made from 100% cotton terry in colors inspired by Frank Stella paintings from the 1960s. It features contrast-color stripes on the inside. $132.00 (non-member), $105.60 (member)
Moooi Pillows
Design brand Moooi offers a collection of quirky and bold animal-themed pillows to give your Valentine something to snuggle up to when you aren’t there.
Part of the Extinct Animal Pillows collection, the rectangular Denim Indigo Macaque Pillow depicts two Indigo Macaques and is crafted in Moooi’s Denim fabric that is environmentally produced, does not fade, and does not leak color. Insert sold separately. $140.00.
A Quirky Take on Hearts
Italian brand Seletti offers several quirky takes on the heart motif with these clever gift ideas.
The Mouse Lamp Love Edition by Marcantonio features a cute resin mouse stands on its paws presenting someone a heart-shaped red light bulb. Indoor use only. An LED lightbulb is included. The I Love You case by Toiletpaper Home features photographic compositions by Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari. Not for the faint of heart. Yes, I went there. $37.00.The I Love You notebook by Toiletpaper Home features photographic compositions by Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari. Not for the faint of heart. Yes, I went there. $20.00The special-edition Love in Bloom Color porcelain vase comes with a stand. Purchases support AISM – Italian Multiple Sclerosis Society. $140.00.Created by the artist-designer Marcantonio, the Love in Bloom white porcelain box offers a clever take on the traditional symbol of love. Perfect for fans of Nirvana, doctors, It also stores things! $99.00.
Shameless Plug Alert!
Objects of Desire: A Showcase of Modern Erotic Products and the Creative Minds Behind Them by Rita Catinella Orrell and Jason Scuderi
Yes, it’s a shameless plug, but my book on erotic product design truly is a fantastic give for a romantic partner, design lover, or someone who is a little of both. Schiffer Publishing. $34.99.
Product design junkies will be in awe of Patented, a thick tome featuring 1000 design patent documents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The one-of-a-kind field guide includes patents from well-known names such as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Buckminster Fuller, to more surprising entries from celebrities such as Francis Ford Coppola (packaging for beverages – wine perhaps?) and Prince (guitar, obviously.)
Author and architectural designer Thomas Rinaldi offers readers and future patent makers more than a century of product and industrial design that’s been organized chronologically from 1900 to 2020. The uniform aesthetic of the patent drawings means all 1,000 designs are illustrated in the same style — from bottle openers to bicycles. If you don’t have a shelf big enough for Patented, don’t worry. You can just go and design a patent for one.
$35.95 U.S. Order from your local independent bookstore or at Phaidon
Inflatable soccer balls are hard to maintain in impoverished communities because of the unavailability of air pumps or the deterioration and damage of the tube inside the ball. In response, Japanese design firm Nendo has designed a non-inflatable soccer ball that gives the same kicking sensation as a standard ball.
Inspired by the structure of the traditional Japanese woven bamboo ball, the My Football Kit is assembled with three types of components and includes a total of 54 parts. The instructions for assembly are designed like a picture book in easily understood illustrations. Instead of relying on internal air pressure, the ball uses the resilience of its surface material, soft, recycled polypropylene and elastomeric synthetic resin components, to bounce.
The material won’t hurt bare feet and is unlikely to develop a sharp fractured surface that might cause injury, even if broken. If a component comes off during play, the interlocking structure ensures the ball will not disassemble. Components may be shipped in disassembled states in compact packages, potentially cutting shipping costs.
The ball comes in multiple colors, allowing children to create their own personal color schemes. Nendo also designed a packaging sack to be used to carry around the ball like a backpack.
There is potential for businesses and organizations to print original logos or develop brand-specific color schemes, which might encourage contributions to educational institutions and club teams.
Muji’s stripped down aesthetic might seem basic to some, but many find it a refreshing change. For those looking to update their work-at-home and school-at-home spaces with some Muji style, here are some new options.
Many restaurants, cafes, and other food providers have done away with disposable plastic straws and plastic cups to help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our waterways and landfills. With that in mind, the Japanese design firm Nendo designed the My-Lid reusable coffee cup lid for the convenience store chain Lawson.
The My-Lid coffee cup lid not only reduces waste for take-out drinks, but is designed to create a more enjoyable drinking experience. The main feature is the partially domed space on the opposite side of the lip. The drink’s aroma rises through ventilation holes and is briefly captured beneath the shell, to be enjoyed while drinking. Made of silicone rubber, a heat-resistant, and hygienic reusable material, the lid is double grooved on the inner side to grip and seal the rims of two sizes of cups sold by Lawson. A special washable lid carrying case made of Tyvek also serves as a sleeve for hot drinks.
The project aims to reduce the disposal of approximately one billion plastic coffee lids, the equivalent to 2,000 tons of plastic that is provided annually at convenience stores.
Images courtesy of Nendo. Photographer: Akihiro Yoshida
