Many home accessories that make life a little easier forget design and succumb to functionality only, much like the U-Hook. Ziggy — not to be confused with the comic strip character (even though it resembles the detail on Charlie Brown’s shirt) — is a functional hook with a little bit of interior design added on. One Ziggy looks simply like the top of a triangle, but when put together, these hooks look like zigzags. Items either hang off or rest on top of this nifty hook system and sizes are easily customizable. One of these Australian-made hooks goes for $15 AUD with a black or white option and an estimated delivery date of August 2014. Its creators hope to raise $10,000 AUD in their 30-day Kickstarter campaign.
Category: Accents
The Premise. The alarm clock is the one thing that seems to be universally dreaded. It’s always there to go off in the morning, cutting off the most perfect bit of sleep with a harsh, shrill, and frankly alarming sound. Shouldn’t the alarm clock go off to announce the perfect start to a new day?
The Product. Alarming Clock is an unusual alarm clock with some thoughtful design touches. The bottom panel of the clock is like a traditional digital clock, where alarms can be set and the time can be viewed. When it’s time for sleep, the Alarming Clock goes off nine hours before wakeup time, telling owners to wind down for the day and start counting sheep by the end of the next hour. But even the alarm is different – designed to simulate the sounds of the woodpecker, the alarm is a small, wooden-tipped piston that will knock against any surface set next to it whether it’s wood, metal, musical, or any other surface. To turn off the alarm, just touch the top of the oak surface with a hand.
The Pitch. London’s Alarming Industries is behind the Alarming Clock, and shows off how simple this oak obelisk is to use and sleep by. Everything about the presentation of the Alarming Clock screams modern, from the design itself to the campaign videos and pictures. The end result is something charming and curious that will surely interest those looking for a new kind of morning. Alarming Industries needs to raise £15,000 to complete manufacturing.
The Perks. £180 will get backers an Alarming Clock to get them up in the morning. £235 will include three of the Alarming Tumblers that can be filled with liquid to create a custom alarm tone, and for £350, backers can pick their own type of wood to have a custom clock. All rewards are scheduled to be delivered in July 2014, and require additional shipping for orders outside of the UK.
The Potential. While certainly more artisan exercise than mainstream bedside companion, the Alarming Clock shows a serious rethinking of the standard digital display-blinking alarm clock that integrates getting enough rest the night before. However, there are legitimate worries for heavy sleepers whether or not the gentle pecking tone is enough to rouse those who sleep like the dead. It will certainly be picked up for those that want a more alternative morning routine without the jarring sensation of a klaxon.
The Dutchman has been around for a long time as a simple joint used in woodworking. Now, this versatile little peg has been revamped to create a product aimed at accommodating smart phones and tablets. The wood joint can be affixed to different bases, allowing it to transform for different uses. In addition to a device holder, it can also be used as a key hanger, organizer, bookshelf or sunglasses holder. For $20, backers get a pair of Dutchman to be delivered by June 2014. Dutchman hopes to raise $7,500 in its 33-day campaign.
The Premise. In the ocean, fish and plants seem to live together without too much need for intervention. However, growing plants in the home can be tedious. Constant feeding and watering can fall the wayside resulting in sad or even dead vegetation. Similarly, owning a fish can make for a fun companion, but tank cleanings and constant maintenance of the aquarium can become annoying.
The Product. An ecosystem in a box, AquaSprouts offers the best of both owning a fish and growing plants in your home. AquaSprouts’ product is basically a fish tank with a place to grow plants on top. The waste from the fish is pumped up into the plants and acts as their food source. In this way, the plants keep the tank clean so that you don’t have to. The clean water is then released back down into the tank. Simply feed the fish and the rest takes cares of itself. The tank looks very sleek and simple, but with lush vegetation growing on top. Options for fish include goldfish, betas, tetras and guppies and these fish can support growing lettuce, basil, garlic, mint, cilantro and a slew of other herbal delights.
The Pitch. The video shown on this Kickstarter campaign shows the tank’s creators talking about their passion for aquaponics. They also explain how they have teamed up with experienced product designers in order to make their tank even more sophisticated. In order to continue, however, they need funding in order to make the manufacturing process more efficient. AquaSprouts hopes to raise $100,000 in its 31-day campaign.
The Perks. The reward tiers are where AquaSprouts falter a little bit. There are several early-bird specials, but none seem to offer both the garden and the tank. For $139 backers receive just the garden and for $149 backers only receive the tank. It isn’t until $179 that backers actually receive both together. Presumably, the other tiers offer more of a DIY alternative, but an expensive one. Reward tiers go all the way up to $10,000 with an estimated delivery date of August 2014 for the product itself.
The Potential. AquaSprouts is certainly a very cool concept and an attractive implementation. The idea of having one’s very own ecosystem in their home is appealing to many. However, there are very similar products out there for far cheaper. Back the Roots offers the smaller Aqua Farm for $60. AquaSprouts offers a bigger variety of fish and plantlife, but for triple the price. Still though, the concept is interesting and does offer a fun and functional addition to animal/plant life enthusiasts.
The Premise. Origami is beautiful and fun to make with paper. Usually it is used as décor or a fun hobby, but never really found in the functional parts of life.
The Product. The Bloom Blanket is the best of art and geometry inspired by origami. Bianca Cheng Costanzo, Bloom’s creator and well-traveled Barcelona guitarist and designer, was inspired by a tessellation to come up with the idea for the Bloom Blanket. She uses Italian wool cashmere to make the blankets. Bloom comes in either white or gray, or a mixture of both. Costanzo also offers backers customization in the size of the tetrahedrons that make up the blanket’s pattern.
The Pitch. Bloom Blanket’s Kickstarter video features Costanzo talking about the evolution of her product, waxing on the intersection of math and design and tossing in the occasional smile and giggle. Her slow, soft voice mixed with the pastel colors of her apartment and the fairy-like music are all hypnotizing and reminiscent of a spa. The video also shows slow-moving footage of the blanket, but lacks any sort of shot of the blanket laid out anywhere, which would be helpful to see. The rest of the campaign shows different versions of the blanket and the prototyping process. Costanzo hopes to raise $14,000 in her 30-day run on Kickstarter in order to make the minimum factory order.
The Perks. Backers looking to get all cozy with the Bloom Blanket must donate $249 in order to do so. This tier comes with a choice of color for the blanket. The next and highest reward tier goes for $2,000 and offers complete customization of the blanket including color, size, and arrangement of tetrahedrons. Estimated delivery is currently set for October 2014.
The Potential. Everyone loves to cuddle up on a cold night with a blanket. The luxury material of the wool/cashmere blend is especially pleasing. However, geometry nerds may not be willing to shell out $249 for blanket, despite how many tetrahedrons it may have. The Bloom Blanket is certainly an artisan novelty in the elusive luxury home goods/geometry geek market. If the blanket could actually fold into a triangle or if the geometry had some heat-retention benefits, it would be an easier sell.
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Mogics Light fits in your pocket or purse and may very well be a tri-functional luminary legend in the making. Your choice of a bright light for bike rides by moonlight, red signal for added rear-wheel safety, or a flickering candle-like light for romantic encounters upon arrival. Enjoy for up to 20 hours. But all won’t be lost in the end because it can be recharged with the accompanying USB cable. The magnet on the back of the light allows you to attach it to any magnetic surface, and it’s also waterproof. On the other hand, sinking is also an option. Just hold the button down while it’s in a body of water for underwater illumination. For $18 backers get a complete product with an expected delivery of May 2014
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Tablets, iPhones, pens, pencils, paper, and other important things always seem like they’ve sprouted legs and have run off somewhere when you want them. With spring right around the corner, Bench aims to cater to the ambitious souls out there who are thinking thoughts like, How can I organize the mess that I can still find? The glorified desk organizer is ten inches long and made of acrylic plastic. It’s lined with acrylic foam so as not to scratch or damage tablets, iPhones or other gadgets. While there are many gadget docks and desk organizers out there, Bench seems to be the first to combine the two concepts. For $20 backers get one Bench and an estimated delivery of May 2014.
Decades before there were LCD displays, Nixie tubes showed off digits in glowing vacuum glass containers. Their retro appeal and geek cred have led them to adorn the wrist of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. And while they’re a tad impractical for such a small timepiece, they have no problem working on the aluminum brick that serves as the base of Blub. Due to ship in backers in May, the clock is more art than functional timepiece, as one would certainly surmise from its $369 AUD price tag. It features a night-time shutoff and an alarm, although you probably shouldn’t try slamming it as you would a snooze button.