Creativity At Its Peak: 40 Brilliant Product Designs That Are The Epitome Of Ingenuity
The only things more common than crappy product designs are lists dedicated to crappy product designs. Although perusing such a collection can be fun, we have to even things out a bit. Besides, aren’t you tired of seeing crappy design fails and in need of a drastic change?
So, this isn’t going to be one of those lists.
Oh no, these products represent the best of the best in terms of design. Only the brightest R&D departments in the world could ever hope to create the things we’re about to show you. Scroll on to see examples of peak human ingenuity, from a restaurant partially submerged in water to a bag that can gauge its own weight. Thinking outside the box has never looked so good!
A very chic letterbox
As a letter carrier, this one has everything we love in a mailbox. There is an overhanging shade to protect the handle from being frozen shut, and the number is clearly visible on the side, so you can see it from quite a distance.
And it looks like it’s a decent size that could fit an 8.5 by 11-inch envelope without bending it. That is precisely what good design is all about — practicality, efficiency, durability, and good looks on top of all that.
Penguin umbrellas?
This hydrophobic logo of a penguin got us incredibly excited. Just look at it — it’s exactly the same as the famous Penguin Books publishing logo. A way to show support for good literature, perhaps? Or is it a lawsuit waiting to happen?
Well, that’s something the publishing house and the umbrella company need to hash out. Of course, there’s always the possibility that the publishing house could be behind the umbrellas. In that case, it would make the perfect gift for the book lover in your life!
Quick thinking
Now, this picture is really old. How old, you ask? Try before social media old. People had more time on their hands back then, which we think played a part in the existence of this ingenious shirt. No longer does the repairman need to be wary of interruptions.
Read the shirt, buddy. In a perfect world, this wouldn’t be necessary, but people can be surprisingly thick. He must’ve been asked if the door he was working on was open at least once an hour, especially given that many people are usually in need of a caffeine fix if they’re heading to Starbucks!
OMA Monarch by David D’imperio
The OMA Monarch implements a two-way speaker design that draws inspiration from early horn theater speakers that existed before World War II. They frequently employed two 15-inch woofers and baffles to stretch and enhance low-frequency responses. Packs a punch while still looking pretty!
The Monarch’s “wings” are actually useful baffles that aid the 2 15-inch woofers. Quite a beautiful design, though we can’t help but notice that they look like two dudes who are about to flash! What do they look like to you?
Maico Mobil Scooter
The Maico Mobil was an early traveling motorbike produced between 1950 and 1958. It was designed and advertised as a “car on two wheels.” It featured bodywork that covered the drive train and shielded the passenger from the elements. Looks quite futuristic for something made in the ’50s.
It had an integrated pair of panniers and had a mounting for a spare wheel. The Mobil’s body panels, which were made of steel and aluminum, were connected to a tubular steel frame system. Additionally, the front wheel was encased by a sizable front nose piece. How we wish we could see one up close!
“You call that a knife? This is a knife!”
Bread knives are bread knives. Unless they have a historical significance or are made out of rare, precious materials, they garner little attention. They cut bread; that’s it. But not with the Swiss revamp. With it, the seemingly dull knife becomes art!
The regular grooves on a bread knife, which make it easier to cut through the crust, are replaced. Instead, the grooves are silhouettes of the tallest peaks in Switzerland! That is just amazing. Now we want one as a souvenir even though we’ve never been there!
Double-helix furniture design
Protein synthesis and DNA replication are made possible by the double-helix structure. In these procedures, the coiled DNA untangles and unfolds, enabling the creation of a duplicate of the DNA. Each split thread is then used to create a new strand.
In addition to it being the reason you’re currently reading this, the double helix is a very sturdy design. We would have preferred if the end of the table leg wasn’t pointed but rather left open-ended, but this works too!
Squaaak, open the bottle!
We checked, and yeah, this is an Alessi! A bottle opener is a tool that’s quite simple. Heck, even a Bic lighter can be used as a bottle opener (that one is pretty badass). But we love the parrot design here!
It is more like a cockatoo than a parrot because of the crest. Just by looking at this image here, we can’t assume how this gadget works, but it has great aesthetic value. It would look pretty lovely hanging from a fridge.
How to tilt and not fall
It can be dangerous to tilt back on a chair because, at a specific point, you can really only lean back toward the floor. Although it might appear like a stupid accident at first, there is a scientific explanation for why you can’t get your balance back.
An expert says that after your center of gravity — which is usually positioned close to your belly button — passes the point of rotation, which is the chair’s rear legs, things only get worse. So, if you want to tilt back and not fall, this is what you need.
This has us hooked!
How wonderful would it be if all latches incorporated visual gags like this? We love the Disney version of Peter Pan; there’s no doubt about that. But what about the Spielberg film where Dustin Hoffman plays the infamous “Captain Hook?” That was awesome!
Putting a bit of pizzazz into mundane day-to-day things can spice life up. Ultimately, they become part of a collection of simple things we never knew we needed. Why conform to the norms when you can add a bit of flair?
All you need to mix liquids
Concentration is always a big deal when you’re mixing things. Those who are pretty observant of how their cocktails are made can relate to this fact on a spiritual level, pun intended. Not too much alcohol and not too little mixer. Everything should be in proportion.
That is precisely the reason why a bottle like this would be worth its weight in gold. All you actually need is good hand and eye coordination when pouring the liquids (chemicals in this particular case). Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Math in the kitchen
Some people are born with their patience cranked up to an 11. Some, like us, are, unfortunately, mere mortals. This is why we keep looking at the microwave timer or that stew in the crock pot. We just need to know!
Well, all those worries have come to an end when it comes to this dishwasher. Just look at it. It projects the time left on those dishes as a fraction on a pie chart. However, we think it would have been better if it was in numbers and not fractions.
A scene from the Swedish Subway
There you are, waiting for the subway to come so you can get home quickly. Plus, it’s a Friday night, so you are bracing yourself for another tightly-packed end to yet another hectic workweek. Tired and defeated, you look down.
Then you are greeted with this image right here. At first, you can’t believe what you see, but you are not wrong! It is Pac-Man and the ghosts. For some reason, someone added that small detail to the grill. Smiling to yourself, you join the masses waiting to get home.
The Royal Mail’s newest whip!
It is the perfect design, and what’s more, it’s electric! Just look at how darn cute it is. We would love to have our correspondence delivered in this adorable loaf van! Watch out, souvenir-makers, you have another one to prepare for!
Considering all the negative consequences of unmitigated fossil fuel use, replacing a vehicle that is used daily with an electric one is a great step forward. Plus, it is easily recognizable, like the double-decker bus and the black taxis for which England is known.
Fun dials for a fun toaster
We are not overstating anything when we say that these guys know their customers. Just look at the settings on this toaster. It even has a button labeled “a bit more” if you want your piece of bread to be extra toasty!
It’s not too toasty to the point that you could layer your roof with it like a shingle. Just perfectly done so that it has that satisfying crunch and the right amount of chewiness when you slather it with butter and jam!
Chaise Renversée by Pierre-Louis Gerlier
For contemporaries everywhere, French architect and designer Pierre-Louis Gerlier has created an excellent home/office concept. Chaise Renversée, which translates to “reverse chair,” is a dual-functional workbench that doubles as a work desk when you need it to be one. Score!
It transforms into a recliner or lounge when it’s not being used as a desk. The bottom has an intriguing metal zig-zag foundation that doubles as a cozy lounge for unwinding in between tasks. You can effortlessly modify its positions to suit your mood. Talk about practical designs!
Seatbelts save lives
Now, how clever is this awareness advertisement? Seatbelts save lives, people! That’s the bottom line because we said so (and because it is a proven fact, plus we couldn’t help but insert the Stone Cold catchphrase). Seriously, people! Buckle up!
When put like this, it sends out the message on a more personal level. Your life literally depends on you adopting a simple procedure like putting on your seatbelt. We are grateful to Volvo for coming up with and giving away the patent for the three-point seatbelt for free!
Cute designs
Not to nitpick here, but considering that these are CFL lights, the person responsible for these could have used the appropriate bugs, like fireflies, glow worms, and other bioluminescent creatures. However, she just used the shape of the CFL bulbs, not the light-emitting factor.
But if you look at it from her perspective also, it looks pretty neat. The CFL tube light is long and fits nicely into the shape of a dragonfly, while the coiled CFL is chunky, so its box has what looks like a stink bug.
Galadriel’s cutlery
As people who help out in the kitchen (most of the time), the sight of these things scares us. Just imagine all the cleanup you have to do to make sure you get to every nook and cranny of these utensils!
Plus, the knife seems a bit impractical. Shouldn’t it be longer and flatter and not short and rounded like an ax? You’re trying to cut a steak, not rallying the clans against Edward Longshanks! Though it looks aesthetically pleasing, it’s not that practical, to be honest.
Leprechaun glass
Oh, how cute is this!? It uses the laws of Physics to refract light in a way that it breaks into the visible spectrum (a rainbow). So basically, a prism. Looks quite pretty, but when it comes to practicality, we’ll have to vote no.
Unless you’re looking to market this as a shot glass, it has no apparent value as a water-drinking glass. As an ornament, well, we seem to have something there. But in the end, it’s art, and the thing about art is it doesn’t have to be economical.
Less is more
It’s simple, right? The straps on the bag complete the illusion of a pair of spectacles. But it is that simplicity and the creative use of negative space that really attracts us to designs like this in the first place.
They could have just printed the spectacles on the bag itself. But the designer saw something that could make this an art project. Don’t think that just because it looks simple that it actually was. The thought process that led to this took years of studying for the designer!
Ideal handle for the business
Now, this is nice — a door handle shaped like a meat cleaver. What’s a better place to have it than this French butcher shop right here? Wouldn’t it be great if other places also adopted something like this for their door handles?
You know, to break from the everyday mundane, that is. Imagine a greengrocer with a handle that has a vegetable motif or a fishmonger with a handle that has a shark motif. Maybe one of those ribbon pole things for a salon? Now we can’t stop thinking of more ideas!
Freaking finally!
Yes! Yes! Someone has finally remembered to put labels on a bedsheet. Over here, we struggle because nearly everything lacks such useful labels. Some bedsheets are slightly discolored on the underside, but try figuring that out in a low-light setting.
This would be the perfect solution to a common problem. Plus, it saves a lot of time. If you know what goes where you can quickly align the linen accordingly. It actually makes it a lot easier to maintain your own high standards!
Rock a bye baby…
To maintain both our mental and physical health, we need to get enough sleep. When we sleep, our minds and bodies basically replenish, enabling us to wake up feeling rested. That’s why lack of sleep can result in drowsiness, trouble focusing, depression, and other undesirable effects.
You should get seven to eight hours of sleep every night, according to current recommendations. This is why this IKEA ad hits a home run when it comes to addressing a common problem. A good ergonomic pillow is way better than a pill!
By the Emperor! That’s a gorgeous design!
This designer founded his independent design firm in Barcelona (his birthplace) before moving to New York City. This was after completing his education at Elisava Escola Superior de Disseny. He has honed an instinctive manner of functioning through his design, drawing, and typographic practices.
These aspects have led to his emotive graphic style. For Alex Trochut, typography has two levels of functionality. Comprehension happens after seeing the word’s picture, which occurs first. Just look at his design for the back cover of Frank Herbert’s Dune! It’s amazing!
Whoa there! Hold your horses!
So basically, what this ad says is that the new Jeep model can be driven on any terrain. It is quite capable in that regard. What it does not say is that it can plow through contour lines like a hot knife through butter.
Contour lines on a map denote the terrain of the land. So basically, no terrain is too rough for this particular vehicle. It is a pretty decent car when it comes to all things off-road, like the Toyota Landcruiser. Road trip, anyone?
Jamba Juice is stepping up their game
Banana peels are almost universally used to denote slippery things. Since most of us have slipped and fallen before, we tend to heed caution when we see notices about slippery floors. But out of all the warning signs, this one stands out as the best!
It is eye-catching, and you can see it from a good distance. Plus, from what we have learned, this was found at a Jamba Juice, so it is pretty on-brand with their customer base. Making everyday things unique. Way to go!
Chair designed by Oki Sato
Design, according to Oki Sato (the self-described “spinning-top” of Nendo), is a way to interact with our never-ending human curiosities through a kind of dance. His unbridled and childish enthusiasm for design as well as its boundless possibilities is truly fascinating.
His courageous and persistent belief that the earth is a wonderful thing and a source of equilibrium that extends far beyond anything tangible is a result of his mixed Canadian and Japanese ancestry. His spark is quite well reflected in this unique chair that we see here.
Prop the box lid anywhere!
Finally, puzzle box creators have come up with a simple yet functional addition. Can you even imagine the struggle people face to find something suitable to prop the box lid so they don’t have to keep craning their necks at impossible angles?
This is just another ingenious example of common sense-based design. You just need to prop the box lid using the already attached contraption. It’s not rocket science to know how to bend it properly. It’s little things like this that have the biggest impact.
Burger chairs
Burger King immediately springs to our minds when we see the color patterns featured here. Beige, brown, yellow, red, green, and more beige. From the bottom to the top, that is. The colors represent the bun, patty, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and bun since that is the BK standard.
It’s pretty neat, sitting on a burger-themed chair and eating a burger at Burger King. All in all, we think it would be pretty awesome to have something like this in a restaurant setting like Burger King. It matches the vibe to a T.
A suitcase with a built-in scale
Everyone has faced the dreaded luggage scale during pre-flight check-in and somehow prevailed. But the few times you do get caught with a bag that’s just a little too big, it’s probably because you lacked a weight-measuring instrument when you really needed it. That is why this is just the best!
Imagine, all that hassle and worry about your overweight luggage is now behind you. Your bag now has a scale that saves you precious time and, most importantly, the panic that you always dread before boarding a flight. Isn’t that what we all need?
No more stains!
Here is another ingenious piece of common sense engineering! Yeah, that’s right, we call it common sense engineering. We use that term because that seems to be the foundation upon which most of these inventions are designed. Just look at this!
The soap dispenser is right above the drain. So, whatever amount of soap escapes the hands falls straight down the drain, which in turn minimizes the chances of excess soap staining the sink in the long run. Another victory for common sense!
Now that’s neat!
We all know how frustrating it is to find out you’ve run out of something after you’ve come home from shopping. That is where this thoughtful product comes into play. It lets you know when it is about to run out.
It even reminds you to add it to your grocery list the next time you go out! But seriously, though, use more sustainable options like metallic wraps, saran wraps, or bees wrap. It’s more important than ever for us to think about the plastic problem.
Nothing lazy about this Susan
According to history, a 1917 Vanity Fair advertisement for a “Revolving Server or Lazy Susan” is where the phrase “Lazy Susan” first appeared in writing. One could purchase a Lazy Susan made by the Ovington firm for $8.50. Plus, having it in the fridge must have been so convenient!
The Lazy Susan has a reputation nowadays for being a tacky throwback from the 1950s and 1960s, but its history is far more illustrious than that. The idea has been traced by scholars as far back as England’s 18th century when it was widely recognized as the dumbwaiter.
Invisible Woman hard at work
As a creative way of putting an exit sign, this takes the cake. But it seems like the sign guy is going the wrong way. It looks like he is trapped by an impenetrable force field. Something like a giant soap bubble.
But in a world where people push when they should pull and pull when they should push, this seems like the ideal thing to be done. Quite illustrative, and the room for error is quite low when you consider all aspects.
Two birds, one stone
Cleanliness matters everywhere we go, especially in a public place like a road. That is why something like this is pretty ingenious in its own regard. It divides the road and also cleans it at the same time! Pretty neat!
In places that experience heavy snow, like Canada, this would be an ideal way to clean the roads. Not with normal water but with salt-rich brine water. Some can even argue that it could lead to significant savings in taxpayer money!
Easy drink and easy fill!
We need the help of gravity for the food and water that we swallow to reach the stomach. That is why, as this illustration depicts so clearly, we hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle to make the transition easier.
Plus, everyone knows the hassle of trying to fill up a water bottle from a spout that is too short to accommodate a long bottle. That’s where this ingenious design chips in. Just slant the neck and the cap at an angle, and that’s it!
E-Bike made from carbon fiber
The process of producing carbon fiber is extremely complex. Carbon fiber tows are made by manipulating the atomic structure of the organic polymers in lengthy, fine fibers using chemical and mechanical techniques. To build composite items, thousands of such tows are subsequently incorporated into a resin matrix.
To create a wide range of laminated composites that satisfy the tensile and mechanical specifications for certain parts, composite producers utilize their own formulas, techniques, and material combinations. In other words, carbon fiber parts are made custom for each set of products, which is part of the reason it’s so expensive.
Lamp design by Umut Yamac
British architect and designer Umut Yamac is known for his interdisciplinary designs that explore the interactions between architecture and light. Theoretical concepts are evaluated through a hands-on, creative process, frequently drawing inspiration from the environment to come up with innovative products.
Just look at this lamp, for example. It is simply ingenious. Superb design in all regards. Plus, Umut’s decision to incorporate origami designs into this was just a fantastic idea. We can’t get enough of this design, to be honest.
Now that’s how you do it!
So far, after reading what we have written, you might have gotten the idea that we really love strong design. Even though this is not a design per se, it is still quite pleasing to look at. It looks like something from OCD heaven!
Just look at how the cables are arranged and neatly fed through an outlet specifically designed for them. If there was any fault, it would be really easy to find where the cable in question connects and runs into. Bliss!