A selection of brilliant and simply unusual design solutions
Fresh ideas in the world of design always surprise and inspire. In this selection, you'll find brilliant and truly unusual solutions that break common stereotypes and change the way we look at everyday things. Some may seem strange or even ridiculous, but there's no accounting for taste.
This isn't a surreal work of art, but a genuine soft closet. Dutch furniture designer Dewi van de Klomp created cabinets made of dense foam that can store everything from dishes to books and clothes.
Sometimes you need to wash a couple of socks or handkerchiefs. Is it worth running the washing machine? A design by Chinese designer Yun Li has simplified things. This portable hand-held washing machine requires no batteries: just load the items, add water, and shake well.
A wonderful idea for a child's room. Wallpaper from the American company Cavern Home features thousands of mysterious eyes that children can use to draw funny creatures.
Artist Stefan Turner, in collaboration with Pad Studio, created an unusual floating home made from sustainable materials. The egg-shaped wooden structure is anchored to the shore and floats in the Beaulieu Estuary in the UK. It's the perfect summer retreat for those who value being at one with nature.
The world's largest set of colored pencils from the Japanese company Felissimo—500 shades. The set can be used for more than just drawing: the flat plastic box with a transparent lid, filled with pencils, will brighten up any room.
The CT room at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in New York City. To help young patients feel comfortable with the large and noisy machine, the designers transformed it into a pirate ship.
Nihilist Toothpaste is for those who hate dealing with salespeople. No scent, taste, color, or additives. Just toothpaste.
Baskets that help sellers understand whether a customer needs assistance or prefers to choose on their own.
An exclusive puzzle parquet flooring that requires a strong nerve to install. But the result is magnificent!
What inspired the designer of these shoes from an unnamed Indian brand? Perhaps he wanted to create the perfect sneakers for the Sultan's fast walker?
Door handles at a butcher shop. These can save you money on signage.
A phone booth without a telephone in a Tokyo shopping mall. Nowadays, everyone has their own phone, and a phone booth like this can help you find privacy for an important conversation in a noisy place.
In Japan, wavy handrails are common on stairs. This design is much more comfortable for older people, providing more points of support.
A pizza box that's effortlessly stable. Now you have a chance to get your pizza home safe and sound.
An emergency box in a Japanese elevator. If you get stuck, you'll find food and water supplies, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a power bank, and even magazines to keep you entertained. This isn't a luxury, but a necessity in case of an earthquake.
A useless but very interesting design for a saucepan lid.
If you're going away for a few days and have no one to look after your green pets, these pots will solve the problem. Instead of tongues, dinosaurs have capillary tissue that carries fluid up to the roots.
A jellyfish-shaped wine decanter. A stunningly beautiful and very fragile piece.
Lightning teeth in the shape of miniature skulls.
These unusual projects demonstrate how bold ideas are changing our understanding of architecture and design. Do you prefer practicality or creativity in such solutions?