You know those big holes you find in some desks? They’re supposed to help keep all cables in one place but things still end up kinda messy. The Cord Trap is just a coupling you snap into the hole. The notches help keep cables separate and hopefully from tangling up.

Designer: Ram-hae Keum

Don’t you love the days following a rainstorm? The streets seem to gleam, the air is cleaner, and people are generally in a better mood to finally see the sun again. The only thing that sucks are all those wet benches and chairs. Fortunately clever designers (the Korean design gang) came up with a simple solution. The slats on these benches can rotate to the dry side by cranking the handle.

Designer: Sungwoo Park

Every month we take a look around and select some of the most interesting designs that was showcased here. Below you’ll find the most popular designs we’ve tracked over the last 30 days - an overview of designs you shouldn’t have missed in January 2008.

I bet some of you have potted plants somewhere in your garden and half of you actually take care of them. Why not be a little kind to nature’s creatures and get the City Oasis pot. It’s pretty much a regular pot with a modern flare but what’s unique is the drain plate. It’s a lot wider than normal and holds a lot more water; perfect for the neighborhood alley cat. Clean water is hard to come by so share and share alike.

Designer: Iwashin Design

The Jelly Click takes mouse portability to the extreme. All the electronic circuity lives on a small flexible board. The body itself is just soft plastic. Whenever you need a mouse, blow up the Jelly Click, attach the USB cable and you’re good to go.  As a bonus, it’s a total floaty for you swimming challenged people.

Designer: Bongkun Shin

Some people get palpitations just from weighing themselves. Perhaps the affirmation the last 15 lbs came from Christmas is weighing heavy on their minds, no pun intended. It’s one of those “I need to know, but don’t wanna look” situations some of us have had in our bathrooms. Sometimes a few self words of encouragement are necessary to prepare for the shock. Make it easier on yourself. The Secret Hole scale moves the “window of weight” right underneath your feet. Take a deep breath and take a peak when you’re ready.

Designer: Wooteik Lim

Reflected light on paper can be annoying, especially when one is reading. Soft Light provides the user with a luminescence that can be positioned to best suit the user’s needs. It functions both as indoor and outdoor lighting, and gives the user the flexibility to “mould” its form to suit specific environments and conditions.

Designer: Yang Hai

With more than 1,300 exhibitors from around 60 countries, imm cologne opened the doors of the global furnishings and design market and gave the 2008 furniture year a strong start. Top exhibitors, international design stars and creative newcomers provided settings that showcased the interiors of tomorrow.

Bears like it so why not humans? This bamboo inspired stereo looks good (ignore the pink) and thru the natural acoustics of cylindrical objects, sounds good too. But it’s not just nature-ry, it also has every accoutrement a technophile would want. Think wifi enabled, wireless speakers, integrated LED screen, MP3 line in, remote desktop syncing, radio, and yes - cd player.

Designer: Soohyuk Im

Barcelonan designer, Jordi Canudas presented his new design WALLFA at the D3 Contest at the Imm Cologne 2008. WALLFA is a 2-sided piece of furniture that is both a wall and a sofa combined. WALLFA is made from a stretchy membrane type of material that allows the users the ability to sit on either side for simple relaxation or communicating with friends or co-workers. WALLFA is a fun and inviting design by Canudas.

Designer: Jordi Canudas