Bootleg objects

Rebraun by Marcus Wolf + Marcus Bader

Designed in 1962 by Dieter Rams, the “Audio 1 Kompaktanlage” is a milestone of german post-war design. It embodies, even more than its predecessor, the famous “snow-white’s coffin”, the design ideals of the rationalist “Ulm School”. These sober paradigms of utility and matter-of-factness are playfully remodelled in the “ReBraun”: Two TFT-Displays take the place of the radio scales, the lettering on the anodised front plate ironically quotes the lingo of the radio era. A randomly positioned button, labelled “Zufall” (Randomness) stands for the freedom from mechanical constraints. The antenna does not receive any FM radio, but is used to connect the system to the internet via Wireless LAN. The case and acrylic hood were lowered by several centimetres for sporty reasons (think: hot rod!), and the window that formerly contained a signal strength readout now becomes a tabernacle for the old Braun nameplate.

A phono-radio without the phono, a cassette receiver sans cassette, and a non-turning turntable are the first three pieces in a series called “Bootleg Objects”. Obviously, something has been stolen here from these three right honorable design classics. Or rather, was something added?

A Poster with an alterable Structure

Jessica Nebel created this poster with an alterable structure that I discovered on Type for you. The poster displays tangible pixels as messages.“Pixel It” consists of two layers of paper. Cuts on the white outer layer allow the user to fold parts out and therefore create a "Pixel-Structure" by showing the colored layer underneath.

Simple sink

A nice way to teach kids about erosion.


Picture discovered on Its nice that.

Toast messenger

Once upon a time, a morning, a child who would like to hang out with his friends and play Dungeons and Dragons instead of visiting his grand parents, well this toaster would do it. A subliminal request can be printed on the parents' toasts and the little gesture of preparing the breakfast will convince the parents that role playing games assure their child the development of a sense of otherness and care. I don't really know what designer Sasha Pure envisioned when developing this concept, but I believe there is a poetic and idealistic rationale behind it.

Chrono Shredder

The Chrono_Shredder is a device that makes past time tangible. It is a hybrid between calendar, clock and waste producing automaton. It has no on/off-button, thus it is unstoppable, just like time. It features the 365 days of the year represented on a paper-roll. The paper-roll is led through a hacked paper-shredder, which is programmed to use exactly 24 hours to shred one "day".

Designed by Susanna Hertrich the Chrono Shredder invents a near-future scenario, in which people have embraced human hibernation as common practice and efficient method to delay their natural ageing. The chrono_shredder is one product from a fictional series of products, which are developed under the umbrella of "memento vivere" (remember that you also have to live your life). Those products target at people with hibernation obsession.

Aerial Jewelry

I design Jewelry in the form of aerial patterns of a city. My vision is to have in miniature the multitude of patterns that one can see from a distance.

I research on how digital technologies make us re-evaluate the physical world. We perceive a new physicality through digital materials. In this project, I study the materiality perceived through aerial technologies. I believe that this modification of our perception of the environment is developed through our experience with the digital.

Now that we constantly travel by plane, use GIS, google map, satellite imagery, our vision is expanded. Our everyday objects have a language that adapt itself to our influences. As much as the car has influenced painting and the representation of space and movement, I want to show how the use of new technologies can change our way to design personal objects as exemplified by Aerial Jewelry.

Aerial Jewelry web site

Automatic stapling

A stapler that automatically assembles your most valuable documents. The visible board makes it irresistible! I bought it today at The design town.

The making of toys for everybody

A secret firm: Charlie's chocolate factory.


A toy plant in China.

A reality on toys: a large quantity of them needs to be mass-produced. MaZm offers a visual documentary taken in one of Chinese toy making plant unique in its optimism, clean-looking feel while featuring the serialized cherished toys and the 'scandalous' working conditions.

A cup

An ordinary mug cup, with the handle being slightly square and big enough to fit two fingers through. Designed by Plusminuszero.

Block party

I recently played with these cubes created by Radica Games. These pixel men are interesting. One pixel man per cube, they each have their individual behaviors. They can play, visit and interact with one another. They can play games and be pestered: just tilt the cube and the pixel man falls!