Dedicated to inspiring designers, inventors & the creative spirit in all of us.

At one time or another I’m sure we have all been seated at a table, or next to a table, that has used one of these tricks to accommodate less than favorable seating situations. Now they have been designed as novelty products.

This phonebook booster seat is hilarious, and functional too. I come from a generation where I really had to sit on a phone book or two when I was young.

Reminds me of the old sugar packet trick everyone has used to even the height of the table at a restaurant.

Creating perspective is a great tool in communicating visual ideas. The problem is that not a lot of people are skillful at exercising correct perspective with the wisp of their pen. Introducing Ilovesketch, the 3D sketching program. Now you can turn your paper, do parallel sketching and rotate your work as you create 3D objects from 2D gestures. Watch the video and see for yourself how revolutionary it is!

nebulous building sketches                                 airplane ideations

conceptual automotive sketches        architectural and landscape sketches

Thinking outside of the box has been used so many times to describe an approach toward design. I really do think that the designers who worked on this touchpad case were thinking outside of the box. When slipped onto the bottom of an iPhone, this tactile guide gives boundaries to your fingertips, allowing for more than just a visual line between pressing a ‘D’ and an ‘S’ on your QWERTY touch keyboard.

Dahon has debuted an ingenious gadget for bicycle riders at this year’s Eurobike Show. The Biologic FreeCharge, a kinetic powered bicycle adapter, harnesses the energy created as your wheels turn while you ride. This is a means to an end for diehard cyclists who travel great distances and want to avoid having to charge GPS, cell phone or electronics at hotels or public places after a long day’s ride. Available in 2010.

Simple ideas are the best, and this is an example of one – a reusable lid for plastic bags. Buy in bulk, or cut open a bagged package of food and then use this to snap it closed without a twist tie or chip clip. Copoc Bag Clips can be used on big bags of M & M’s, bulk grains, sugar; the possibilities are endless.

September 22 is Elephant Appreciation Day. In honor of the largest land animal, here is a collection of everything elephant from fine art to origami. Enjoy!

Here are a few ways to store and pour things from the kitchen including brown sugar, milk and tea. Some unique, some clever, some functional; but all double walled in design.

bottle inside of a glass blow molded utter milk decanter, wine glass in a bottle double walled coffee mug tornado in a glass brown sugar castor double walled cruets double walled tea press champagne flutes stackable double walled glasses

At first glance, this appears to be an illusion, perhaps an invisible table with a clear table cloth. At second look you can see it is an actual table, supported by legs created from the draping of the ‘fabric.’ A fantastic idea, cleverly executed with precision.

This design is an award winner from Japan’s Ryoji Takahashi that offers a new look and feel to shredding. The tube-like paper shredder can be held over a waste basket and is less obtrusive than the traditional rectangular electric paper shredder. Seems to be a desk-friendly redesign; now we have to wait until it comes to the States.

With Halloween right around the seasonal calendar, a lot of people are going to begin designing their own costumes. I have found a few creative costumes for your enjoyment and inspiration — some cute, some scary, and some just really clever.  

Construction machinery  dinosaur with a cage   baby monster  baby Nacho Libre  chicken crossing the road  Indiana Jones video game monster  iPhone vending machine  Bumblebee