All posts tagged: product design

A Procrastinators Gift Guide: Six Last Minute Ideas

Better late than never, folks. If you are desperate for a late minute gift for family, friends, or the office Secret Santa, maybe one of these cool ideas will do the trick. And look, you are probably going to have to pay for express shipping at this point, but whose fault is that? Happy Holidays! For the Stylish Art Lover Capella Design’s Grab Bar Picture Frame This unique assistive product integrates seamlessly into a living space to provide discreet support with style. The grab bar is made in North American from solid ash (in light, dark, and white finishes), white coated powder coated steel, and acrylic art protection. A hidden, flexible mounting system allows for easy installation in hallways, landings, and thresholds. $279.00 USD For the Minimal Table Dresser Mud Australia’s Porcelain Dishwater Handcrafted in Sydney, the expansive range of Mud Australia’s porcelain homewares are dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe for seamless prep and simple cleanup. Shown here are the brand’s 8”-wide serving platter, a Fish Platter for medium sized fish, snacks, or dips, and a Water Jug …

NYC Trash Can Accessories from MoMA Design Store

Being able to squeeze just one more piece of garbage on top of an already overflowing green bin was a classic NYC right of passage. If you are feeling nostalgic for the days of playing trash Jenga, you can now buy a compact reproduction of the iconic green metal NYC trash cans that have since been replaced by newer models on the streets of NYC. Made from enamel-coated stainless steel metal with mesh panels, this “Keep New York City Clean” NYC Trash Can can be used as a wastepaper basket or for other forms of household trash — without getting that pesky $100 fine. It measures 15”-high x 11.5”-diameter. MoMA also sells a coordinating pencil holder to help keep your desk neat and tidy. Made from sturdy aluminum alloy that’s spray-coated the can’s official green, the DSNY Trash Can pencil holder measures 4.25”-high x 2.5″ diameter, and can store a multitude of desktop tools. The makers of this design will donate a portion of proceeds that directly benefit the City of New York. Trash Can: …

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea: Pieces of Time Flower Objet d’Art

If you are looking for a different way to give flowers this Valentine’s Day, consider gifting your loved one the MoMA Design Store’s Pieces of Time Flower Objet d’Art. Designed by Soojeong Shin and Jiseon Park from Korean Studio Style Jieum, these sculptures feature fresh flowers that have been encased in domes of hand-blown glass and filled with preservation fluid. When viewed through sunlight, the object seems to contain a calm forest of plants that feels like a real landscape. Each Pieces of Time Objet d’Art is handmade by specialists in floral design, and its design will vary slightly. The handcrafted glass may contain small bubbles that are a natural part of the creation process. They can be displayed individually or as a group. To care for your objet d’art, store indoors in a cool place and do not open its silicone plug. Each measures 2.8”w x 5.1”h. $80 each at the MoMA Design Store. Images courtesy MoMA Design Store.

Designy Things Holiday Gift Guide

Here are some designy gift ideas for your holiday season, from a snowflake you can cuddle to pencils you can plant in the garden. Jellycat Holiday Soft Toys Jellycat arguably makes some of the most adorable plushies in the world, combining the softest materials with a small smiling face that brings personality to all types of everyday objects and animals. Designed in London, this snowflake ($30.00), Christmas Tree ($40.00), or potted Poinsettia ($48.00) can adorn a mantle or work as a festive table centerpiece. Available through the MoMA Design Store. Embroidered Holiday Ornaments Designed in London and handmade in India by a team of master embroiderers, these ethically sourced fabric holiday ornaments are made through the traditional technique of “zardosi” (sewing with gold), historically used to decorate the most luxurious of courtly finery. Ornaments in the collection include Claude Monet, Alma Woodsey Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frida Kahlo, and Vincent van Gogh. $16.95- $18.95. Available through the MoMA Design Store. Taste Collection by Paola Navone The Glass House design store offers an exclusive design collaboration …

Patented: 1000 Design Patents by Thomas Rinaldi

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 All images courtesy of Phaidon.

My-Lid Reusable Cup Lid by Nendo

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 …