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Masters of Design 2006

Widgets We Love

  • <p><strong>The scoot concept</strong> recaptures the moral high ground from the Vespa and every other mini-motored vehicle. A collaborative effort from GRO Design, TIM Modelmakers, and Korff & van Mierlo, it'll go 25 to 30 miles at about 20 mph--silently, cleanly--on plain old electricity.<br /><a href="http://www.electroscoot.com/" target="_new">www.electroscoot.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>More trilobyte</strong> or armadillo than household fixture, Assa Ashuach's lamp is an example of the new breed of "techno-organic" shapes spawned when nature meets digital wizardry. Laser-cut from a single piece of nylon, the lamp can be twisted into different shapes, diffusing light in novel ways and turning it into a kinetic sculpture. <br />$2,295 <a href="http://www.julesseltzer.com/" target="_new">www.julesseltzer.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Eco design firm</strong> Rana Creek knows split levels aren't going anywhere, so it made them environmentally friendly, with living roofs and walls that decrease runoff, insulate, and reduce noise. And you'll never clean another gutter. Corporations are going green too: The Gap and the new California Academy of Sciences are both Rana Creek clients.<br /><a href="http://www.ranacreek.com/" target="_new">www.ranacreek.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>It may look like</strong> a stolen Tilt-a-Whirl cup, but this lightweight plastic hot tub can be used virtually anywhere. Water is heated by a wood fire in the coil and circulates through natural convection, with cool water pulled from the bottom of the tub and forced back in at the top. <br />$6,000 <a href="http://www.dutchtub.com/" target="_new">www.dutchtub.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Raffaele Iannello</strong> reimagined the knife block in a bit of felony-themed whimsy called "the Ex." <br />$159.95 <a href="http://www.csbcommodities.com" target="_new">www.csbcommodities.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Charles Rose's mahogany split-level desk</strong> keeps obstreperous offspring in sight--but out of reach of your keyboard. In an odd bit of neotraditional branding, the piece is called the Executive Mother and Child Desk, but we're guessing nonexecutive dads could use it too. <br />$19,500 <a href="http://www.charlesrosearchitects.com/" target="_new">www.charlesrosearchitects.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>The latest accessory</strong> for the Junior Master of the Universe. We hate the price on design-bot Yves Béhar's new Calla High Chair, but can't help loving it anyway. Shaped like the eponymous flower, the adjustable seat angles forward phototropically over the aluminum base, easing the back strain of doting middle-aged parents; the plastic tray pops off for dishwasher cleaning, and plastic wheels guarantee a silent ride across your new wenge wood flooring. And no doubt it will still look great with a patina of old SpaghettiO's. <br />$1,000 <a href="http://www.fleurville.com/" target="_new">www.fleurville.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Don't take it</strong> to a Giants game (we couldn't guarantee your safety), but the JustinCase portable bar would make for the perfect beverage-obsessed accessory anywhere else. It snaps together in just three minutes, hides spilled Bloody Mary mix nicely, and can even do service at the odd trade show. <br />$3,200 <a href="http://www.justincase.at/" target="_new">www.justincase.at</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Rearranging the deck chairs</strong> on the <em>Titanic</em> would've been a lot easier with Charles Kaisin's K-bench, a flexible but firm beehive structure that can take an almost infinite number of forms. Collapses for easy storage. <br />$1,800 <a href="http://www.vange.be/" target="_new">www.vange.be</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Even Zaha Hadid</strong> still goes to the office sometimes. Her hydrogen-powered, three-wheeled, two-seater concept has an adjustable suspension that raises and lowers the cabin depending on driving conditions. </p>
  • <p><strong>We know, we know.</strong> Unlike other MP3 players, though, the Samsung K5 has built-in speakers that slide out from the back and fill a room with sound. No docks, ports, or sound waves needed. Includes an FM radio, alarm clock, and OLED screen. 1, 2, and 4 GB versions available. <br />$199--$299</p>
  • <p><strong>Designer Ezri Tarazi</strong> used to break his glasses constantly while out shooting hoops. So he made a new kind of frame by sandwiching carbon fiber between thin layers of walnut. His shades are light, flexible, and practically indestructible. <br />$550 <a href="http://www.tarazistudio.com/" target="_new">www.tarazistudio.com</a></p>
  • <p><strong>Diller Scofidio + Renfro's</strong> first U.S. building, the 65,000-square-foot Institute of Contemporary Art, is slated to open this fall on Boston Harbor. A 325-seat theater, looking onto the waterfront, will anchor the cantilevered glass structure, the first art museum to be built there in 100 years.</p>
  • 01 /13

    The scoot concept recaptures the moral high ground from the Vespa and every other mini-motored vehicle. A collaborative effort from GRO Design, TIM Modelmakers, and Korff & van Mierlo, it'll go 25 to 30 miles at about 20 mph--silently, cleanly--on plain old electricity.
    www.electroscoot.com

  • 02 /13

    More trilobyte or armadillo than household fixture, Assa Ashuach's lamp is an example of the new breed of "techno-organic" shapes spawned when nature meets digital wizardry. Laser-cut from a single piece of nylon, the lamp can be twisted into different shapes, diffusing light in novel ways and turning it into a kinetic sculpture.
    $2,295 www.julesseltzer.com

  • 03 /13

    Eco design firm Rana Creek knows split levels aren't going anywhere, so it made them environmentally friendly, with living roofs and walls that decrease runoff, insulate, and reduce noise. And you'll never clean another gutter. Corporations are going green too: The Gap and the new California Academy of Sciences are both Rana Creek clients.
    www.ranacreek.com

  • 04 /13

    It may look like a stolen Tilt-a-Whirl cup, but this lightweight plastic hot tub can be used virtually anywhere. Water is heated by a wood fire in the coil and circulates through natural convection, with cool water pulled from the bottom of the tub and forced back in at the top.
    $6,000 www.dutchtub.com

  • 05 /13

    Raffaele Iannello reimagined the knife block in a bit of felony-themed whimsy called "the Ex."
    $159.95 www.csbcommodities.com

  • 06 /13

    Charles Rose's mahogany split-level desk keeps obstreperous offspring in sight--but out of reach of your keyboard. In an odd bit of neotraditional branding, the piece is called the Executive Mother and Child Desk, but we're guessing nonexecutive dads could use it too.
    $19,500 www.charlesrosearchitects.com

  • 07 /13

    The latest accessory for the Junior Master of the Universe. We hate the price on design-bot Yves Béhar's new Calla High Chair, but can't help loving it anyway. Shaped like the eponymous flower, the adjustable seat angles forward phototropically over the aluminum base, easing the back strain of doting middle-aged parents; the plastic tray pops off for dishwasher cleaning, and plastic wheels guarantee a silent ride across your new wenge wood flooring. And no doubt it will still look great with a patina of old SpaghettiO's.
    $1,000 www.fleurville.com

  • 08 /13

    Don't take it to a Giants game (we couldn't guarantee your safety), but the JustinCase portable bar would make for the perfect beverage-obsessed accessory anywhere else. It snaps together in just three minutes, hides spilled Bloody Mary mix nicely, and can even do service at the odd trade show.
    $3,200 www.justincase.at

  • 09 /13

    Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic would've been a lot easier with Charles Kaisin's K-bench, a flexible but firm beehive structure that can take an almost infinite number of forms. Collapses for easy storage.
    $1,800 www.vange.be

  • 10 /13

    Even Zaha Hadid still goes to the office sometimes. Her hydrogen-powered, three-wheeled, two-seater concept has an adjustable suspension that raises and lowers the cabin depending on driving conditions.

  • 11 /13

    We know, we know. Unlike other MP3 players, though, the Samsung K5 has built-in speakers that slide out from the back and fill a room with sound. No docks, ports, or sound waves needed. Includes an FM radio, alarm clock, and OLED screen. 1, 2, and 4 GB versions available.
    $199--$299

  • 12 /13

    Designer Ezri Tarazi used to break his glasses constantly while out shooting hoops. So he made a new kind of frame by sandwiching carbon fiber between thin layers of walnut. His shades are light, flexible, and practically indestructible.
    $550 www.tarazistudio.com

  • 13 /13

    Diller Scofidio + Renfro's first U.S. building, the 65,000-square-foot Institute of Contemporary Art, is slated to open this fall on Boston Harbor. A 325-seat theater, looking onto the waterfront, will anchor the cantilevered glass structure, the first art museum to be built there in 100 years.

Fast Company Staff 12.19.07 11:09 AM

The scoot concept recaptures the moral high ground from the Vespa and every other mini-motored vehicle. A collaborative effort from GRO Design, TIM Modelmakers, and Korff & van Mierlo, it'll go 25 to 30 miles at about 20 mph—silently, cleanly—on plain old electricity.
www.electroscoot.com

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