Not to worry, the future our kids inherit won’t be entirely horrible. Sure, things might look grim if you only look at things like global diplomacy and climate. But when it comes to design, well, smart minds have been coming up with cool ideas to make the future brighter, easier, and just plain better.
And that’s what we all want for our kids, right? A better world than we had. And that better world will be built in increments, with small things and clever ideas that snowball into bigger things. If the ideas below are any indication, I think we’re on the right track.
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How often have you had to grab something at a strange grocery store and wandered the aisles in an increasingly frantic hunt?
This shopping cart removes that stress with a map of the store right on the handle.
And how about trying to shop and read all the small print on labels these days?
This shopping cart includes a magnifying glass to help decipher some of the trickier labels.
This parking garage doesn’t want you to lose your car, so they provide reminders on paper you can tear off and take with you.
Just don’t lose that slip of paper!
A shelf isn’t exactly a sparkling innovation so much as the placement of it can be.
Putting one next to an entryway so employees don’t have to juggle their coffees while finding their swipe cards, for example, will make many friends.
I don’t know if I would be willing to drink orange juice bottled in light bulbs, but somebody wants me to try.
Mind you, at $4 a bottle, I’m not exactly thrilled by the idea.
I hope that, in the future, we will all be able to enjoy secret entrances to our underground parking structures.
It might be some fanciful thinking, but I do hope for it because secret entrances are inherently cool.
Why didn’t anyone think to put a net over sewage drains before?
This is clearly working, collecting all kinds of debris. All you really have to do is make sure to empty the net regularly so the drain doesn’t get backed up.
There’s snacking, and then there’s making a “hot dog” from peanut butter, Nutella, and a banana.
This is the kind of comfort food snacking innovation that makes America so wonderful.
I don’t know how practical this is, but I think I would still love to have this below-ground walk-in fridge in my house.
As long as I don’t have to worry about power bills ever again, of course.
Okay, this might be controversial, but this Japanese restaurant in New York doesn’t allow tipping.
So, there’s no math at the end of the meal.
And although some will say they want to be able to reward or punish their server with a tip, it’s worth remembering that the threat of being fired can still deter bad service.
Even people who are visually impaired should be able to get frustrated by a Rubik’s Cube.
By putting braille on the squares, the puzzle becomes tactile. By making it all white, it makes those of us without impaired vision want to cry. Serves us right.
This bus company has a simple way to help drivers quickly see if a ticket is valid for the day.
Each one is printed with a word of the day, randomly selected. The words are short so that they’re easy to read quickly as passengers wave them at the driver.
Barbecue is delicious, but oh-so-messy.
Sometimes, the bib and wet wipes just aren’t enough to save your clothes from sauce splatters. Don’t worry, though, because this restaurant smartly provides stain remover pens for their patrons.
For those who just can’t figure out what they want to eat, this restaurant offers darts to throw at this board.
Because some days you crave a burrito, and some days you’re too hungry to care.
The middle of this bench pops up to make a little table between two people.
That makes it the perfect spot to rest a coffee while you catch up with a friend without losing full functionality of the bench.
You have to admit, this is a better way to stow your toilet paper than looping it over the plunger’s handle.
Because why shouldn’t your toilet paper storage be a little fun?
I love this sign. It’s simple and effective.
While professional truck drivers should know how tall their vehicle is and pay attention to the maximums posted, it’s occasional drivers who often get caught by low bridges.
Nothing like renting a U-Haul only to smash it into a bridge, amirite?
Instead of pushing the swing for their child, this one lets parents swing with them.
Besides being fun for both, this also allows for more careful control of how high and fast the swing goes.
This may look like any old USB plug, but look closer: You can plug it in both ways.
Why aren’t they all this way, you ask? Sadly, it’s due to costs. To plug it in either way requires double the parts, so companies don’t bother.
I get the choice to use paper towel to grasp a bathroom door, but I hate how it adds extra waste.
This bathroom solves that problem by providing a way to pull the door open with your forearm instead of your hand.
This miniature church can be found in Belgium.
Besides being a lovely scale model, it’s meant to allow people with visual impairments to enjoy the details of the architecture.
For the most part, I’m 100% into the idea of reusing the water from the tap to refill the toilet bowl.
It helps cut down on waste and is also great for small spaces.
However, as a short person, I always wince at the idea of how far I’d have to lean over the toilet bowl to reach.
Perfect showers every time.
This tap shows you the exact temperature of your water, so once you know your preference, it’s easy to get it right every time.
I love burger places with tons of options.
But I hate trying to remember every single detail I need to list off to the server. This place uses a form instead, which is genius.
This doesn’t just look neat, it also saves on energy costs.
Instead of needing electricity to power individual motors for each fan, a single motor can power them all.
No need to cover your PIN.
To keep prying eyes from watching the pattern of button-presses, this keypad randomizes the order each time.
We’ve all been sprayed by sprinklers coming on at strange hours, right?
Well, this place took sprinklers out of the equation by hooking trees up to IVs instead. That might also help keep their water bills down.
I’m all for any design changes that save me from touching public things with my hands.
Like this elevator with the buttons down by the floor. Instead of touching the buttons with your hands, you can press it with your foot.
It’s great for cold and flu season, or simply when you hands are full.
As an introvert with social anxiety, I need more stores to do this.
If you want help or don’t mind being interrupted, take the orange basket.
If you don’t want to make eye contact with strangers and always use the self-checkouts to avoid it, pick the green.
If you’ve ever been in a room without windows when the power goes out, then you know how hard it can be to find the door.
This stick-in ring goes around the handle and glows in the dark to help you find your way to safety.
If you’ve ever taken medication on a schedule, then you know the sense of dread when you can’t remember if you took your last dose.
This bottle solves that problem by having a timer built into the lid. It resets each time the bottle is opened.
When it comes to cutting down on waste, every little bit counts.
Coffee shops go through a lot of cartons of milk, so this one repurposes them to act as carriers for multiple cups.
It may seem silly, but since many municipalities don’t recycle the waxed cardboard of milk cartons, it gives it one more use before going to the trash.
Not that I would want a cabinet right above the sink when I’m doing dishes, but when space is at a premium, using the bottom shelf as a drying rack is ingenious.
And I never would have thought of it.
This guy has beach naps figured out, with his head propped up on a tiny deck chair.
Looks like it’s more supportive for his neck than a pillow, and much easier to carry.
Shipping containers work as living containers, too.
This outdoor market is constructed entirely of shipping containers, and houses restaurants, boutiques, and specialty food shops.
No one likes leaking pipes. Least of all, your water bill.
This gizmo will not only alert you to a leak, but it will also automatically shut off the water if a pipe bursts. Plus, the app will alert you to the problem.
Imagine being able to create colored mood lighting in your house at the touch of a screen.
You don’t have to anymore. These lights are controlled via Bluetooth or voice command, and will illuminate your room in a spectrum of colors.
Cue the dance party.
This is a company that understands my needs.
Because never do I need a hot beverage more than when it’s raining.
This is one of those things that can change lives, people.
I also love an accidental discovery that leads to reusing items that would otherwise land in the trash.
Um, all I can say here is thank you!
I’m always down for a healthy reminder of what not to forget when I’m leaving the house.
Because everyone is always complaining that the guy next to them got the bigger slice.
These pizza scissors measure each slice exactly, so that there are no more pizza wars around the kitchen table.
I consider it a personal challenge to get out every last bit of toothpaste.
Unfortunately, I sometimes strain my fingers in the process. This will help me know that I’m truly getting every last cent out of my toothpaste tube.
Now I have a spot to place my rings without worrying about losing them down the drain.
This wall outlet shelf is the perfect place to store small bathroom items, and for me, an ideal place to rest precious items that I don’t want to lose to plumbing.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve nearly blinded myself while trying to squeeze a little bit of lime juice on my guacamole.
This citrus spritzer is a must in every kitchen, near every bar, and frankly, in my bedside table. (Because yeah, sometimes I like to enjoy some chips and guac in bed).
