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

Fresh pictures from the Apple event live. Thanks to Gizmodo for live blogging, nice reporting!

This video shows the shape memory and super elasticity properties of nitinol, a combination nickel and titanium alloy. Commonly used in watch springs, bra underwire and eyeglass frames, it can be instantly and repeatedly transformed into its originally formed shaped with exposure to heat. Take a look for yourself.

Okay, the next time a grocery cart mysteriously appears on my street, it’s turning into one of these. This shopping cart has been transformed into a lamp, chair and table set. Nice work.

In the 1920’s, someone decided to create this screw-driven contraption and documented it for us to enjoy today. So take 10 minutes to enjoy it!

All of the above items can be found on Solutions, an online megastore for innovative products around the house. This post, though, is all about nifty kitchen gadgets.

Check out this video showing how Perplexus works by twisting, leaning and shaking your way to winning. It’s like an Amish toy meets a pinball machine.

Take another look. That’s not a sandwich, that’s a cake. This cake pan creates a thick, bread shaped form that you can slice in half and dress as your favorite sandwich, PB&J in this case. A great culinary toy for your favorite baker.

At second glance these are not pen drawings; they are wall organizers. The objects blend right in and are hidden by proportion and placement. Another nice find, courtesy of Spoon & Tamago (of Davison Creators design interview fame).

Yes, those are real glasses, cell phone and scissors.

“You’ve got mail.”

Marketed as a vice-free alternative to keeping your projects in place as you work, Bench Cookies are a slip-free, non-marking, high friction support. 

You can sand, rout, cut and carve without worrying about marring up the surface of what you are working on.  (They look to be a great way to manage furniture on wood floor surfacing too).

ID Selection has a few designs worth mentioning. The video below is of a sand sculpting tool created by a self-described toy designer. Where were these things 5 months ago when I was at the beach?  Simple, yet effective. 

Then there are these two kitchen gadgets that are a pleasure to look at and are clever in how they function. First is a lettuce cutter, used to core a head of lettuce. And if it works as I imagine, its plastic edge can be used to press and roll circularly to chop lettuce without browning the edges. 

The second, a handled cheese grater, is not only safe but sleek in appearance. Hollowed and with a built-in container in the handle, this grater allows you to shave the surface of a block of cheese (or chocolate) and then pop off the handle to reveal a mound of grated cheese (or chocolate).