Newton’s cradle (aka, Newton’s balls) named after Sir Isaac Newton is a five balled, pendulum device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy. Made popular in the late 1960’s, this device was mostly known to sit on the desks of bored executives counting down the minutes till their next round of golf and a martini injection. What does all this have to do with spices? Absolutely nothing!

Designer: Qian Jiang

Problem: Spoon or knife, I can’t seem to get the last bit of peanut butter out! Ugh, I know there’s totally enough left for a nice even layer on a slice of bread but short of cutting the jar I have no alternatives - or do I?

Designer: Sherwood Forlee

Wow, where do I begin with this one? This is definitely going in my WTF File under WTF?!?! It seems as though a bunch of students at Bezalel Academy for Arts and Crafts got together and thought about how to best criticize societies consumer driven tendencies. Ironically, after philosophically agreeing on making an object (for purchase no less), they were convinced that society needed to be more “intimate” with their purchased objects, and should be encouraged to “caress” them in order to get said objects to function.

Finally a spoon that will satisfy those of us that can never get enough. No more embarrassing caught in the act moments of sticking your tongue in your pudding or yogurt container to get that last remaining bit of delight cowering at the bottom of the inconveniently shaped containers. This new “Yogurt Spoon” is the ultimate tool for savoring those last moments.

Designer: Nojae Park

Remember Project A? In what is surely one of Jackie Chan’s best performances there’s a scene where he can’t find any chopsticks to eat his lunch with. Ever the innovator, he grabs a couple of handy pencils to chows down with, and ends up eating both his noodles and the little erasers on the end of the pencils. Clearly designer Brad Gressel has run into similar such difficulties.

Designer: Brad Gressel

I absolutely love tea and anyone who knows me knows I avidly collect satchels from all over the world. Like coffee, a good cup of tea is all in the brewing and steeping. Steep it too long and it tastes bitter; too short and you’re drinking muddy hot water. TeaCubes make it easy by placing the tea bag on a timed retractable spool. Hands free and a good cup of tea. What more could a tea lover ask for!

Designer: Jieun Yang

What is the easiest way to get attention for your product or design? You already guessed from the title, SEX! Phillippe Di Méo is no stranger to this concept and has teamed up with companies like Baccarat, Goyard, Cristofle and Orfèvrerie d’Anjou. They created this series of sexy housewares items that are sure to inspire saucy conversations with some spicy results.

Designer: Phillippe Di Méo

Inspiration can come from anywhere. A book, a dream, a news report and occasionally some deeply dark and disturbing places in our society. Take for example this crystal collection that showed at this years Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan. Designed by Koncern Design Studio for Rückl Crystal, this collection dubbed “Domestic Violence - Golden Edition” abstractly commemorates violent moments with these crystal designs that highlight the sad aftermath of domestic violent moments.

Designer: Studio Koncern

Cigarettes have long been a source of power for song writers and brooding actors. For years, these cancer stick starlets have lit up the silver screen and play a major role in countless movies and pop culture. They are used as a universal currency in prisons around the world, as post sex rituals, as part of magic tricks, as conversation starters.. ” got a light?”, as a last right before execution and even as timers on bombs.

Designer: Myan Duong

Are your objects of tactile reality not quite giving you enough depth, dimension and shading? Neither are mine and thankfully Swedish designers Front are exhibiting their “Shade” project at Spazio Rossana Orlandi during this years Milan furniture fair. Using standard silhouettes of common household items and shading them as if on paper, the designer states his intriguing designs are “like materialized illustrations.”

Designer: Front Design Studio