All it takes to transform something in an unexpected way is just the spark of an idea. And for those who are able to pull it off, the results can be pretty impressive.
Blast from the past.
Phone booths have stood the test of time — some are even iconic. Payphones themselves, however, are pretty much dinosaurs. Why not repurpose these serviceable booths to house lifesaving defibrillator equipment?
For visual learners.
Have you ever been to a real Italian restaurant and felt overwhelmed by the exotic pizza toppings? This place structures its menu so each double-page spread is literally an image of one of their pies.
This is how you thrift.
Besides being aesthetically pleasing, this Japanese thrift store makes it super easy to find things in your style by color-coding all off their goods.
Genius.
I never thought I’d associate print media with innovative thinking, but this movie ad in a Japanese newspaper is pretty cool. The full spread is mirrored, allowing for this lighting effect.
Think outside the box.
If Nintendo’s Labo has taught us anything, it’s that people really just want to play with cardboard all day. This Amazon box understands this, and includes a cut-out paper plane.
It’s taken ages.
This kind of map/chart/whatever shows a totally different view of history than most books or maps. It helps contextualize when certain civilizations were dominant, along with how far they reached, plus a glimpse of what else was going on at the time.
Leafy.
This walkway at Atlanta’s airport brings the jungle to what’s normally a stark and soulless area. It’s a little taste of heaven before you return to the hell that is airline travel.
My kind of aisle.
If you’ve ever dealt with a pest problem, you get it. You walk into the hardware store with a singular purpose, but it feels weird telling the employees that you need their murder aisle. This solves any awkwardness.
Dual threat.
I’ve seen water bottles with belt clips, built-in misters, built-in straws, you name it. But this simple invention is the best one yet: the rubberized sleeve on the bottle turns into a dog bowl when turned inside out.
I always wanted business cards as a kid.
This business card is actually a pretty good idea. It doesn’t seem as socially acceptable to allow “free range” kids in the 21st century, but for those who want a little freedom, maybe business cards are the way to go.
Best party this side of Alderaan.
From the distance, it looks like an abandoned English pub. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll see that some heroic artist has painted a Star Wars cantina scene on the boarded-up windows.
The Finns have done it again.
This planter box in Järvenpää, Finland doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary. What’s truly awesome, though, is the fact that if business owners set up such a box, the city will take care of the plants within.
Seems convoluted, but okay.
This unique box of gum includes pieces of paper to wrap your gum up in after you’re done with it. But speaking as a guy who always carries random receipts around, this isn’t a problem I’m familiar with.
Better than stumping it.
Tree removal is costly, but dead trees are unsightly. What do you do? If you’re this artist, you turn it into something beautiful. If you’re not an artist, your guess is as good as mine.
Thanks, liquor purveyor!
The conscientious people who run this liquor store offer free mojito garnish right outside the front door. Add citrus trees to accompany any six-pack of Corona and this place would be a one-stop shop.
Every relevant surface.
A shoe shop having a mat with several different outdoor textures is a stroke of genius. A shoe shop having a mat with several different outdoor textures and Lego? That transcends genius.
Tough choice.
This phone charger is powered by pedaling a stationary bike. It begs the question of which is worse: having to deal with a low battery, or having to do some unexpected exercise.
Why waste water?
This toilet allows you to use the water you wash your hands with for your next flush. Don’t worry though, it’s not the other way around.
Dogs need drinks too!
The design of this fountains allows you and man’s best friend to have a nice cold drink together!
A sign from the universe.
To be fair, hitting the bottom of a sign with your car is much less traumatic than getting stuck under a bridge, so these folks have the right idea.
Step by step
This man’s desk parts arrived in separate steps rather than being all mixed together. Honestly, IKEA should take note.
Everyone deserves a beach day.
Pictured here is a rubber accessibility mat for wheelchairs and strollers, in order to allow easier access along a beach.
Forgot the last time you took your meds? Me too.
Not anymore with this awesome contraption. The pill case tells you the exact time you last opened it, ensuring that you never skip a dose or double up by accident.
Benches are so old news.
This guardrail is designed to create seating for patrons who are taking a walk on the beautiful boardwalk.
Which scene from ‘Back To The Future 2’ is this?
Feast your eyes upon air-less bike tires. No need to check your pressure, just put em’ on and go!
No need for mental math any longer.
This shopping cart has a calculator attached, so you’ll never arrive at the checkout surprised about how much you’re spending.
You’ll never be board again.
This laundry mat has a small gym inside, so you can get a workout in while you wait for your clothes to finish.
Now that I think about it, there really should be washing machines at gyms too.
Nice try, NSA
With a laptop webcam cover, you’re free to browse as you please without fear that you’re being, you know, “watched”.
The perfect date.
In Sweden, quite a few benches have a fold up table built into them so that couples or lone travelers can easily place their drinks or personal items in front of them.
Who goes to the library for books anymore?
This library lets you borrow baking pans of all kinds, perfect for those random holidays in which you need to prove to your mom that yes, you can cook a fruit cake by yourself.
These miniatures let you know exactly what you’re buying.
I know that they’re supposed to help customers buy real tents, but wouldn’t they also be the greatest tends for dolls or action figures? Kid me would be all over this.
Bring on the heat…or not.
This shower shows you the exact temperature of your water, which gives you no excuse to exit the water looking like a ripe tomato.
Art.
Anything can be art, and this proves it: an employee got mad and smashed a hole in the drywall. Rather than using some plaster, his colleagues used a frame to immortalize his anger.
You have a dentist named Crentist?
On one hand, this seems somewhat suspicious and even ominous. On the other hand, if health professionals all used this naming convention, it would be a lot easier to keep appointments straight.
Getting the word out.
In the United States, having missing kids on milk cartons is almost a cliche. But in other countries, it’s not the norm. Here’s a pic of milk bottles in Australia that now have missing kids on them.
