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Beautiful And Original Product Designs
May 26th, 2008 in Monday Inspiration | 173 Comments
Successful product design manages to reveal useful functionality beyond its appealing form. No matter how excellent a design looks like, most customers aren’t likely to spend money on something they won’t be able to use. On the other hand, most people are likely to buy something useful despite the design it has.
Yet the key to a truly successful product design lies in designer’s ability to combine both beautiful design and functionality making it obvious to the customers how the product can be used and which benefits it delivers. However, one can combine the beauty of design with the utility it is supposed to provide.
Most products fail to pass this test and never reach the production stage; some products do manage to get to the stores. In the overview below you’ll find an overview of some beautiful and original product designs which will hopefully make the cut and will be available in the next years. Some of them are already available today.
You may want to take a look at our related posts
- Innovative Designs and Devices
- User Experience Of The Future
- Slick Laptop Designs and Concepts
- Cutting-Edge Gadgets and Technologies
- 25 Mind-Blowing Gadgets
Way Out Fridge Magnet
Way Out Fridge Magnet
Way Out magnet is an original imitation of the standard exit sign illustrating a run to the fridge for a midnight snack. We, however, are not sure why this sign should actually be placed on the fridge.
Bracelet Watch
Bracelet Watch
The idea for this watch is classic plastic bracelet, with incorporated lines inside the watch that show the current time. Those three lines are rotating around the watch and show the time, while the seconds line is going around all the time. It is a simple concept, atractive and eye-catching. Adjusting the clock is easy as the watch is the touchscreen. All you have to do is to touche the line, click the adjust icon and slide current time line to correct time. Design by Djordje Zivanovic.
Made in China
Made in China
This product targets the entire 1.3 billion Chinese population. Each aspect of the hardware derives from an oriental inspiration which improves the PC experience for the targeted market. The hardware features a “No CPU, No Hard drive, No Graphics Card and No Sound Card” concept. These PC components are stored in a Service Provider of the new infrastructure.
Thus, subscribing to a plan of the Service Provider will allow the use of these components. The data from the components is then wirelessly transmitted to the user’s hardware. Thus, all PCs are administered by the Service Provider. MADE stands for Massively Administered Digital Entities.
MARRO computer system
MARRO computer system
This computer system analyzes, organizes, and customizes daily media activities. It is comprised of a stationary central unit and a separate mobile satellite unit. The central unit contains components such as the media card, CPU, drives and network card. The satellite unit houses the built-in Life OS, CPU, and flash memory.
Compared to the typical OS, which are limited to the resources and hardware of their physical location, the Life OS operates digital files and electronic devices that we use day to day. The MARRO ring records users’ daily media activities within the life system, constantly learning life patterns and making suggested improvements.
External Touch Screen Concept
External Touch Screen Concept
Wouldn’t it be nice if you had an external touch screen that works as a keyboard, macbook cover and a photo/movie stand?
DDM PC
DDM PC
This concept is supposed to be “integrated device for all” that is easy to use. The “DDM” is normally used as a typical LCD display for a powerful desktop CPU yet can be detached from the main body. In this detached form, the DDM acts much like the desktop PC yet supports portability. In this way, multiple DDM’s can be taken away from the main CPU and used separately. When placed back in the CPU cradle, each unit automatically syncs the its data with the local machine’s database offering one-step, seemless back-up and sharability.
Concrete Art
Concrete Art
“Concrete Art” is a beautiful way to enhance any room with pretty much any design you can think of. Contrasting the cold austerity of concrete, these floral designs are a great way to enhance any room. This design concept allows for the application of any pattern to the surface, either when pouring or afterwards when the concrete has set.
Action Method
Action Method
The “Action Runner” includes standard 3″ x 5″ sheet (when ripped), and keeps you focused on Action Steps with the elegance of the silky and sexy covers and blended paper. This ultra matt finish is spiced up with an ultra glossy UV varnish.
Slice Computing System
Slice Computing System
The ‘Slice’ concept is an organically inspired computing system which envisions a new approach to accessing, organizing and interacting with information and data stored on the PC. Current file management systems force users to store and manage files in a hierarchy of folders. The files are buried deep within folders providing no visual indication of where files are located, further adding to the confusion.
Slice brings the information out of the computer putting it into the users hand. By physically interacting with the slice, users can organize and place files accordingly. Each of the slices visually represent different folders seen in current operating software such as My Documents, My Music, My Videos, etc. The visual and touch based experience associated with slice provides the user with a tangible connection to their information stored on the computer reassuring the safety and placement of their files.
Concept Cell Phone
Concept Cell Phone
In times wenn all-rounder-phones dominate the market, more subtle, intuitive and minimalistic designs provide a sound alternative. This is just a cell phone to provide communication. No mp3, no video or camera etc. Designed by Tamer Koseli.
Rocking Chair
Rocking Wheel Chair
A concept and a modern interpretation of a rocking chair. The near circular form seen from the side is what makes the design unique. It allows for the rocking motion without being an attachment, but instead flowing into the rest of the chair. The upper part features a light source, which can be used as a reading light.
Airtrav
Airtrav
Airtrav is an electronic boarding pass concept. The touch screen interface allows for users to access airport information. Travelers can know anything and everything about their flight, dual headphones are available for multiple users and the deaf or hearing impaired can stay alert to important changes. The system has a stackable charging system (charged by an alternative power source).
Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Jar
This is a design we’ve all been waiting for a loooong time now. The Easy PB&J Jar is a jar with two lids that allows you to access all of your peanut butter easily without having to resort to breaking open the jar. As you near the end on one side, simply flip the jar over to get the rest. The straight and smooth internal walls also ensure that no peanut butter is ever left behind a nook or cranny like existing jars.
Carry On Luggage
Carry On Luggage
A carry-on luggage to articulate the lost romance of air travel. The design also pulls from the golden age of ocean liners: the black lacquered finish will become beautifully scraped and chipped as the suitcase travels with you, revealing the bamboo plywood beneath. The patina will develop with each trip you take. Designed by Joey Roth.
Nokia 888
Nokia 888
In Nokia 888 form follows you: it is a light personal mobile communication device. You can change its form according to your needs during the day. You dont have to carry it in your pocket or on your wrist. You can carry it anywhere, in any form. You can roll it, bend it, put on your clothes like a clip.
It also makes some form changes that makes it more ergonomical: i.e. when you want to talk on the phone, the body form turns into the form of the good old telephone. You can personalize these forms and record them. Communication takes place via electronical motions that 888 has. E.g. you can send a heart shape to your girlfriend, so her telephone turns into an icon of heart.
Zeed+
Zeed+
Zeed+ is a computer which maximizes the mobility of its hardware components. All the hardware, such as the video card, sound card, CPU and network card are no longer located inside the box. Instead, each of the stem-shaped devices are well packaged standard units that sit on the vase base.
Zeed+ has the meaning of when you need something, you seed something. Each stem, or “zeed”, can be easily upgraded or changed, since they are located outside of the vase base. This also offers the benefit of trading or recylcing old “zeeds” to different market segments. Under the “zeed++” project, the older, but still usable zeeds, can be collected and reused in other Zeed+ computers for special groups, charities, education.
The overall design concept of the form is inspired by “Ikebana”, the Japanese traditional art of formal flower arrangement with special regard shown to balance, harmony, and form.
Virtual Ideas Watch
Virtual Ideas Watch
Slick, compact, beautiful and elegant watch design by Julien Soret.
Bello Concept PMP
Bello Concept PMP
Ryan Han has developed a concept with an interesting conceptual feature. The standard finger clicks, swipes and flicks are all incorporated, but the most interesting features involve utilizing shaking and pouring motions.
Printer Table
Printer Table
For those of us cursed with limited space, this is the answer. It’s a combination printer and table that blends in well with small offices as furniture. The faux drawers are actually paper loading trays and the slit is where your prints come out. Now nobody will scold you for setting your drink on top of the printer. Designer: Lukas Koh.
Onyx Concept
Onyx Concept
A next-generation phone concept, Onyx. Enabled through Synaptics clear, capacitive sensing technology, Onyx illustrates the future of mobile communications by combining an intelligent and adaptive user interface with sleek industrial design and next-generation user interaction design. The Onyx concept does not base its experience on treating applications as separate windows or entities that work in isolation. Rather, the Onyx concept seamlessly integrates functions into activity based experiences.
Aquarium Sink
Moody Aquarium Sink
Moody is not only a simple washbasin, but also an aquarium for goldfish, a Zen garden or a simple pebble river bed or whatever you would like it to be. It is completely watertight with a sand bed for fish, and provides the necessary lighting for maintaining your fish in healthy conditions. Price: $4,700.00.
Pixel Perfect Hour Glass
Pixel Perfect Hour Glass
Designer Pavel Balykin believes that retro timepiece is on schedule for a comeback. It’s fittingly called the Sand+Time Watch and has the distinct feature of a digital hour glass screen saver mode. It’s a “screen saver” mode, because this particular feature does not actually count time for you.
If you want to know the real time, click a button and a more modern interpretation of time, we like to call “numbers”, will appear. Add a motion sensor, like the one used in Apple’s iPhone, and this screen saver mode might get that extra little cool factor to push it into production.
Swiss Desk Station Model
Swiss Desk Station Model
Reconditioned phone based on a vintage Bundespost design. It is a beautiful and original product design. Which is why it is in this overview. Price: £ 215.00.
Circle Sofa
Circle Sofa
The Circle sofa unit is made up of four parts, two of which make up a semicircle; all of which together create a round sculpture. The outline and contour looks highly sculptural and vigorous - and it is left open how one arranges these sofas in a room. Due to the “segmentation” of the circle, the sofas facilitate a great diversity of options and multifunctional solutions as well as interesting sculptural forms and lines. Designed by UN Studio, Amsterdam (Ben van Berkel).
The Bulbdial Clock
The Bulbdial Clock
The Bulbdial Clock has no hands — just one pole in the center of the clock, and three light sources of varying heights which revolve around the pole casting shadows. In the model illustrated above, the light sources are each attached to a ring which rotates around the pole. The innermost ring rotates once per minute, casting a “second hand” shadow. The middle ring rotates once per hour, and casts the “minute hand” shadow. And the outer ring rotates once every 12 hours, casting the “little hand” shadow.
Keyboard Shortcut Skins
Keyboard Skins
Models available for notebook computers and desktop keyboards. Molded exactly to fit your keyboard like a glove. Quick to remove and reapply as often as you wish.
Barbouille Blackboard
Barbouille Blackboard
The Barbapapa transform themselves at will since 30 years. Marie Leblon, very inspired by their universe imagined and created all a series of objects, such these blackboard. Isn’t it just perfect for brainstorming sessions? Price: £19.86.
JZ (May 26th, 2008, 12:32 am)
Wow, it’s COOL!
Especially the Aquarium Sink.
Vinod (May 26th, 2008, 12:37 am)
Awesome!.
The BlackBoard idea is brilliant :)
Eli (May 26th, 2008, 12:38 am)
Love the fridge one. All are very cool & unique! :)
Andy (May 26th, 2008, 12:43 am)
Absolutly WOW, coolest post I have ever seen here. Nice future, isnt it ? :)
Mostaque Ahammed (May 26th, 2008, 12:46 am)
I want all of em!!!
rizwan (May 26th, 2008, 12:52 am)
Most of the product designs featured above are awesome, but am not sure about the functionality aspect of many of these….take for example the slice concept for storing files, what happens when you need to share data on one float……might not work as well in a shared user environment, hence restricting it to individual users.
Anyways, the products featured above are simply amazing from a design perspective.
Timmay (May 26th, 2008, 1:22 am)
I need to get myself one of those Action Runner - if only it came longer than the 3″ x 5″ - more like 3″ x 20″ with all the projects going on
Link [www.timothysykes.com]
Mini0n (May 26th, 2008, 1:36 am)
The aquarium sink is AWESOME!
Bilal C Mohammed (May 26th, 2008, 1:52 am)
Soooo nice!
Rakesh (May 26th, 2008, 1:58 am)
This list is amazing. Really innovative collection. Keep posting
Daemon (May 26th, 2008, 2:18 am)
You know what would be a cool innovative design, that Smashing Mag is actually USING already - a website that is listing something, and lists is on one page, instead of breaking it to 10 pages just to generate more clicks. Radical stuff!
I love you, Smashing Mag!
trice22 (May 26th, 2008, 2:25 am)
Great collection!
gr8pixel (May 26th, 2008, 3:22 am)
hehehe… crazy stuff!
beepoll (May 26th, 2008, 3:28 am)
Awesome collection. I want almost everything!
PixlNinja (May 26th, 2008, 3:49 am)
Wow, Really Cool.. All of them are eye candies.
One thing I am sure is “Future will be polished, Glossy, Piano Black, and structure less” !!
Varun (May 26th, 2008, 3:55 am)
One of the best.Thanks.
Miguel (May 26th, 2008, 4:06 am)
Fantastic selection. Since i found SmashingMagazine i visit you every day.
Thanks guys.
Maxim Syabro (May 26th, 2008, 4:08 am)
Aquarium looks pretty but in real life suck. All fishes will die, because temperature will be changed every time owner’ll wash hands
dirk worring (May 26th, 2008, 4:16 am)
simply WOW! i´m speechless.
sad that most furniture will not fit into my place :)
Beth (May 26th, 2008, 4:20 am)
Some gorgeous things. I really, really wanted that rocking chair until I saw the reading light, which looks like it would function better as an interrogation light. Light should come from above and behind the head, not in front of the head. But chair is beautiful.
Beau de Noir (May 26th, 2008, 5:26 am)
I wish I could get them ALL :-D
sandrups (May 26th, 2008, 5:38 am)
Gracias por inspirar cada mañana de luens, asi comienzo muy motivado la semana.
Gran trabajo muchachos!
haavard (May 26th, 2008, 6:11 am)
awesome collection!
the Bracelet Watch is extraordinary!
haavard (May 26th, 2008, 6:12 am)
the Bracelet Watch is awesome…
Osccar (May 26th, 2008, 6:29 am)
very good designs, however I am with “Blackboard Barbouille”
Barend (May 26th, 2008, 6:42 am)
Some very Cool Design.
Lipton (May 26th, 2008, 6:50 am)
That is an amazing collection! I think the Peanut butter Jar is the most innovative LOL! Like WHY didn’t they do that before! haha
Also I love that fish tank sink.
mayur (May 26th, 2008, 7:03 am)
very nice post …
karbon nonoxide (May 26th, 2008, 7:15 am)
product design needs to evolve to the next phase. not to invent more cool effects and features, but to invent the way out of objectification and materialist lifestyles. DO WE REALY REALY need another watch, phone, or lamp design pretier that the next? If we were stuck with the iPhone for a couple of decades and focused on fixing what is wrong in the world values systems via new inventive products, how bad wiyld that be? Our world cultures need to embrace less acquisitionist life styles so we as humans can break through to relating to the people next to us and less with objects, especially those of pure vanity an entertainment, based which very production is the source of toxic elements pumped out in to the environment (sylicon, warfare games, etc).
Shahar (May 26th, 2008, 7:17 am)
With the exception of the peanut butter jar, this is a great example of all concept no application.
Go to any Industrial Design graduation show, in any university for the last 10 years and you’ll see more of the same.
Isn’t it time for something really new?
ryan (May 26th, 2008, 7:39 am)
I honestly think that the peanut butter jar should be in every grocery store in the world. And not available for just peanut butter, I can think of at least a half dozen different food that get my hand sticky every time I try to get that last little bit out of the bottom.
cmepthuk (May 26th, 2008, 8:12 am)
great work! зачод!
ashvin (May 26th, 2008, 8:13 am)
woW! :O
Rene (May 26th, 2008, 8:57 am)
Fantastic selection. Since i found SmashingMagazine i visit you every day.
Thanks guys.
Gisele (May 26th, 2008, 10:11 am)
incredible selection!!!!
Greg (May 26th, 2008, 11:53 am)
Wonderful designs, if that Nokia 888 is durable, it will be a hit!
bas (May 26th, 2008, 12:43 pm)
*rolls eyes*
Josh (May 26th, 2008, 12:49 pm)
Heck, they’re all awesome!
Paul (May 26th, 2008, 1:39 pm)
Nice to see product design now and then.
Here in New Zealand, this new design for the mouse made big waves just a few months back.
Link [www.futuremouse.com]
msubasi (May 26th, 2008, 1:46 pm)
Aquarium Sink & Printer Table are the best (and most aplicable) for me.
Spiral (May 26th, 2008, 2:47 pm)
The luggage looks like it would be a huge pain to carry. Hard-edged, square, with a strange handle. Looks very awkward, and it’s carry-on? Designed to have it’s finish scraped? While you attempt to wrestle it through lineups and labrynthine airports?
nicky barnett (May 26th, 2008, 3:25 pm)
amazing rocking chair… i have to have one!!!
SantaCruz (May 26th, 2008, 7:23 pm)
Do you guys know what kind of school or diploma is needed to work in Product Design?
This awesome selection gives me ideas…
ganex (May 26th, 2008, 8:11 pm)
This is truly Amazing Stuff !!! I love the content ! Esp. APPLE Interface !!!
-Ganesh INDIA
Dick Gozinya (May 26th, 2008, 9:09 pm)
i think all these design ideas are awesome, really cutting edge stuff. Stuff that iron man has at his house . I also think that the web design at Link [www.rejectionism.com] is Beautiful And Original.
Alberto (May 26th, 2008, 11:05 pm)
Really nice selection with stunning stuff!
Is there any way of submitting our own projects?
chris (May 26th, 2008, 11:05 pm)
About the ‘Made In China’ entry — I really wouldn’t want the government to control and have access to my information.
I’m sure we’ll be seeing this in the U.S. real soon.
Here comes Google.
Koosha (May 26th, 2008, 11:59 pm)
That was prefect!
Thanks
renganathan (May 27th, 2008, 12:11 am)
The Bulbdial Clock and Aquarium Sink. are really Wonderful
and great stuff
renganathan (May 27th, 2008, 12:11 am)
The Bulbdial Clock and Aquarium Sink. are really Wonderful
…. Its a great stuff
Ramón (May 27th, 2008, 12:42 am)
Perfect!
unimpressed (May 27th, 2008, 12:49 am)
Wow what an incredibly useless list of vaporware…
Young (May 27th, 2008, 1:18 am)
some are playful
some are useful
some are smart
but some are just wanky
some of the best ideas are the simplest ones
Mr Kuzio (May 27th, 2008, 1:30 am)
Che spettacolo!
Sono tutte idee fantasticehe.
Secondo me non bisognerà aspettare neanche troppo prima di vederle sul mercato. Alcuni oggetti sarebbero utili già oggi. Probabilmente occorre soltanto che ci sia un finanziamento per vedere dei prodotti del genere in casa nostra.
Great stuff!
Thanks for this magic moment! XD
sasan (May 27th, 2008, 1:44 am)
thanks
too nice
sasan (May 27th, 2008, 1:46 am)
thanks
they were the most beautiful designs that i ever seen
Kurayamino (May 27th, 2008, 2:18 am)
The MADE in China gave me chills.
The only way that machine could get more orwellian is if it had a mic and camera that couldn’t be turned off. The chinese people need cheap, rugged laptops that are easy to hide and internet access that isn’t controlled by thier govt, the exact opposite of that machine.
Kiran (May 27th, 2008, 2:56 am)
oh god f**king collection.im loving IT!!
kliknanda (May 27th, 2008, 3:30 am)
all is very cool!! specially ‘made in China’, awesome
dude (May 27th, 2008, 3:57 am)
Simply fantastic post!!
Thanks guys!
hang (May 27th, 2008, 10:33 am)
amazing list! very inspiring..
loxodon (May 27th, 2008, 12:42 pm)
simply amazing !
chris (May 27th, 2008, 6:12 pm)
especially if you like someone else having access to your info
dr k raju (May 27th, 2008, 7:59 pm)
fabulous exciting
Abdolhosein Vakilzadeh Ebrahimi (May 27th, 2008, 10:20 pm)
Great!
It’s an astonishing collection of ideas.
sogand (May 28th, 2008, 11:15 am)
That’s Great!!!
Florian Maindl (May 28th, 2008, 11:55 am)
the link to the swatch clock is broken.
Mike the pcrobot (May 28th, 2008, 1:26 pm)
These are all awesome designs… the one that really caught my eye was the Nokia 888… tight!
hosein (May 28th, 2008, 6:59 pm)
Very Very Beautiful
Thanks!!!
Praveen Vijayan (May 28th, 2008, 8:21 pm)
its awesome
love it :)
Rich (May 28th, 2008, 8:40 pm)
funny, my uncle created somethign just like that aquarium tank in his house. except the fish got to big and he had to move them!
Billifer (May 29th, 2008, 1:50 am)
Why hadn’t anyone ever thought of the double-lid peanut butter jar?! OMG It’s so simple! And I’d also love to have the aquarium sink. But I’m most impressed by those chopstick styli. Those are really something!
krayen (May 29th, 2008, 5:36 am)
i dont speak english but….amazing!
googoo (May 29th, 2008, 6:22 am)
i want my ice cream in that peanut butter jar.
Ron (May 29th, 2008, 9:22 am)
Regarding the Keyboard skins: I’d like a keyboard whose keys were little LCDs. When you are using Word, the Word shortcuts show up, and when you’re using Photoshop, little icons for Photoshop shortcuts show up, etc.
Fabz (May 29th, 2008, 9:49 am)
The orbit time swatch is genial
Jibu Mathews (May 29th, 2008, 8:37 pm)
Amazing!
…. Its a great stuff
Mohammad Esmaeili (May 30th, 2008, 12:04 am)
So good idea. very very nice. thank you so much.
jawahar.m (May 30th, 2008, 12:17 am)
“Excellent VERY NICE. I LIKE THIS.
jawahar.m (May 30th, 2008, 12:18 am)
“Excellent VERY NICE. I LIKE THIS.”
OnlyYoursPiyu (May 30th, 2008, 3:22 am)
Awesome post…really…great…
Too good designs….the swatch watch and onyx phone was excellent creativity
Sofia Kim (May 30th, 2008, 4:30 am)
The Bello Concept PMP is similar to a celphone in korea–its called Anycall: Haptic. It looks like an iphone and does all the 6 interactive motions. :)
Lana (May 31st, 2008, 5:26 am)
Very cool stuff :D
tar (May 31st, 2008, 7:29 pm)
@Ron: There is such a keyboard, called the Optimus Maximus. According to reviews, though, the keys are hard to press. I think they’re working on a new model.
Everything in this list is pretty cool. The MADE in China is a little creepy, but the concept of the dual styli is awesome. And I agree with what some commenter waaaay up near the beginning said about the aquarium sink: cool idea, but the temperature change every time the faucet is used can’t be good for the fish. I want that rocking chair, and that skinny concept phone (not the nokia one, the other one) looks cool.
gkriv (June 3rd, 2008, 3:02 am)
Cool list of innovative designs.
Thiago Pereira (June 3rd, 2008, 6:10 am)
Cool List Design
Confuzzled (June 3rd, 2008, 9:41 am)
I’m a bit confused on how the retro telephone is “a beautiful and original product design” [emphasis added]. It’s a copy of an old phone… And why is a plain refrigerator magnet on this list? I also agree with others about the bulky, rigid carry on luggage.
With that said, I simply love the orb watch. I want to get one right now for my wife’s birthday, so hurry up Future.
saba (June 5th, 2008, 3:03 am)
fantastic
delmer (June 5th, 2008, 4:50 pm)
i love to have the pretty aquarium sink.. however i’m just a bit worried the fishes might suffer membraine damage each time the dishes, or other tools tap into the glass whenever your washing them. i also like the morphing phone.. just hope it’s durable enough.
Im scared (June 6th, 2008, 5:51 pm)
WE ARE LIVING IN THE WORLD OF JAMES BOND GADGETS!
Vineetgupta (June 8th, 2008, 12:58 am)
Great stuff!
john (June 8th, 2008, 6:02 pm)
lol. I felt I was looking at stuffs you buy on The Sims. haha. =)
Scott (June 13th, 2008, 8:57 am)
What an incredibly refreshing collection of stuff! I think you should publish the credits and designers names whenever possible. Thanks for the breath of fresh air.
Vicky (June 14th, 2008, 1:43 am)
amazing.
i want Aquarium Sink badly….
Farzaneh (June 18th, 2008, 1:50 am)
WOW!!! the Bulbdial cllock was great! I LOVE IT…
Nicole (June 19th, 2008, 3:17 pm)
pretty cool :-) a pond of inspiration! thanks
Falkor (June 25th, 2008, 2:49 am)
one of the coolest, most amazing thing I have seen in a long time.
rukiddingme (June 27th, 2008, 7:16 pm)
The introduction explains that successful product design is both beautiful and functional. Measured against that criteria, the bulk of these designs are rubbish. I can’t believe the glowing remarks. Shall we run through them one-by-one?
1. Magnet: No function whatsoever. What does it do? It doesn’t even look strong enough to hold a shopping list.
2. Bracelet watch: The stripes rotate around your wrist? So you’ll have to hunt all over the thing to figure out the time? I’d just ask someone with a real watch to tell me the time.
3. Made in China: Besides the big brother aspect and the fact that it looks like a griddle and a pair of chopsticks, this thing puts the user at the mercy of the communications infrastructure. If my Internet connection goes down, at least I can play Solitaire until it comes back up. Plus, performance on this thing is going to suck.
4. MARRO computer system: I’m still not sure what this thing does. I guess it’s a remote controlled media server with non-intuitive input devices running a limited operating system that only plays media files?
5. External touch screen concept: A non-tactile keyboard/display combo. If the glare doesn’t get you, the fingerprints and scratches will.
6. DDM PC: So, on one hand, it’s a normal computer with a display in multiple pieces. On the other, it’s a central server with wireless display parts that can be used separately. Sounds like neither function will work well. When used as a PC, the spaces between each of the screen parts and the smudges from fingerprints left from when the screen parts were carried around will drive you nuts. When used separately, you’ll have to deal with a non-tactile interface.
7. Concrete art: Furniture made out of concrete? Are you kidding me?
8. Action method: It’s a note pad. Nothing to see here. Move along.
9. Slice computing system: What the hell? Instead of an organized file structure, files are stored in orange slices in a fruit bowl? That’s supposed to make them easier to find? You have to disassemble the thing, find the slice you’re looking for, and then place it in another bowl to transfer files? How is this an improvement?
10. Concept cell phone: Here’s that non-tactile interface again. How about some buttons I can feel instead of a stylus I’ll lose the first day?
11. Rocking wheel chair: The light will point directly at my face. That sounds pleasant. Also, if I rock backward in this thing what’s going to stop me from going over backwards?
12. Airtrav: Hmm, ticketless travel or expensive electronic gizmo that gives me information already available on big overhead displays already installed at every airport on the planet. Why would I need this?
13. Peanut butter jar: Wow, this one might actually work. As long as the bottom lid is on tight and doesn’t come loose with the wrong end pointing down.
14. Carry on luggage: Carry on? Is that a joke? They’re not going to let you take that thing on a plane. The airline will make you check it and the baggage handlers will do everything they can to expose that beautiful bamboo plywood they’re so proud of.
15. Nokia 888: No buttons? No form? So, if I have this thing rolled up in my pocket and it rings, I have to unroll it, form it into the shape of a phone, and then talk into it? Sound like a hassle and doesn’t look like it will be very comfortable to hold such a thin phone up to my ear.
16. Zeed+: Instead of having the components securely installed inside a computer case, they’ll stick out of a vase? So, when I’m almost finished with that important report that’s due to the boss tomorrow, my kids will yank out the CPU and video card and hide them behind the TV? And, I won’t be able to replace the parts because they’re completely, entirely proprietary?
17. Virtual ideas watch: I don’t get it. It’s a watch. Where do the virtual ideas come in?
18. Bello concept PMP: I don’t want to shake, rattle, and pour my MP3 player. I want to click buttons that say Play or Transfer. Come on, how is having to move the thing around like it’s a Wii controller a better design? I’ll yank the headphones off my head with this thing.
19. Printer table: A printer apparently designed to hold drinks? Why would you want to put drinks on a printer? What happens when someone spills one of the drinks?
20. Onyx concept: More of the same. Another unusable phone with no buttons.
21. Aquarium sink: It’s already been covered. Hot and cold water will wreak havoc on the fish. Cleaning the thing will be a nightmare. Tapping on the glass will disturb the fish. Stupid idea.
22. Pixel perfect hour glass: So the hourglass is just a gimmick. It’s a screensaver and doesn’t actually tell time. You have to push a button to see the time. Oh, it’s also ugly.
23. Swiss desk station model: An old rotary style phone. The push button phone was developed several decades ago and everyone said, “Wow, that’s so much easier to dial”. So, what makes this a better design?
24. Circle sofa: Might work fine if you have a circle house. It’s not exactly going to fit in my living room though.
25. The bulbdial clock: I actually like this idea. Of course, it will light up the room it’s in 24 hours a day. And, the light from the hour and minute hands will be blocked by the second hand as it sweeps past creating confusing shadows. Still, cool idea.
26. Keyboard shortcut skins: This is obviously supposed to make you more productive, giving you a visual reference for shortcut keys, but it doesn’t look very tactile and will probably interfere with button presses. Plus, you have to look at the keyboard to find the shortcuts. I’m looking at the screen. I type by feel. How about putting the shortcuts on the screen where I want my eyes focused? I know where each key is, just tell me I can use Ctrl-V to paste. Oh, wait, most programs already do tell me that in the menu next to the item I want to select. I guess I don’t need a keyboard condom.
27. Barbouille blackboard: It’s just a blackboard. Nothing outrageous here. The spiky, horned monster might give younger kids boogeyman nightmares if you put this on their wall, but no worries.
jimmy (June 28th, 2008, 7:45 pm)
Awesome! This is one of the greatest sites ever. Keep up the good work guys!
wowsdown4tuesdayandimboredenough (July 1st, 2008, 9:27 am)
@rukiddingme
You seem like an educated person, but have trouble comming off as one.
Many of your comments have merit, but a few discredit the rest by sounding like you just quickly browsed through all the products and found a single feature to whine about.
The magnet for instance, should have no trouble holding small paper objects like a shopping list, kid’s schoolwork, or any other thing that isn’t several pages long.
Concrete art is not the furniture…it is the floor if you had bothered to look at anything other than the first picture you would have noticed the glaringly obvious designs etched into a bare concrete floor, not really functional as this floor would be hella cold, but it is pretty. I can see this as a cheap but unique alternative to marble flooring. Good for a studio, or perhapse an office (maybe?). They probably chose grey upholstry to accentuate their product, not “concrete furnature”.
Peanut butter jar: You had nothing negative to say about this, but could not resist the urge to at least add in user error to the equation. User error is an internal flaw to almost anything and does not render everything useless.
Aquarium sink: I actually agree with you here, as well as anyone else who pointed out flaws to this, but I am surprised no one mentioned anything about removing dead fish with only those tiny little holes.
Circle sofa was likely designed for people with excess room to fill in, namely, large homes with large living rooms or dens. Sorry sir, if the fact that not every product can appeal to every potential consumer offends you.
Bulbdial clock: This is cute, and so you know, I doubt the lights are much stronger than a nightlight as they seem rather small, and if the ‘lamp posts’ are of differing lengths (as the photo suggests) then the outermost will be the longest (hour hand) and the innermost will the be shortest (second hand), not only avoiding light collision with the other lamps, but also the illusion of hands of differing lengths due to the angle of the light hitting the central post.
Barbouille blackboard: This is a character from a children’s book, and your arguement is a little weak.
anthony (July 4th, 2008, 5:43 pm)
Very inspiring.
Nato (July 12th, 2008, 10:54 am)
COOL MAN!!!
i want a Swatch ORB
aref (July 22nd, 2008, 7:38 pm)
wow, cool
nice designs…
:)
dark (August 12th, 2008, 6:06 am)
Very very beautifull.
Amir.VilDeN (August 17th, 2008, 1:53 am)
NICE!WTF is Swatch Orb?!
kaitlyn (August 27th, 2008, 7:52 am)
koooool =]
long (August 27th, 2008, 7:55 am)
thats a cool sink