Doesn’t it seem like pretty much everything has already been invented ? That’s how I feel, at least. But having said that, there are still surprises left for us to discover.
And when designers come up with brilliant ideas, it reminds us that the possibilities are endless. Check out these odd but cool ideas that keep on giving.
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1. This Railing
“This railing on a gazebo in Naples has braille describing the view for blind people. More of this, please.”
I really think this is a step in the right direction of being inclusive of all people. What do you think?
2. This Airplane
When you name a plane a Beluga, then it is pretty fitting to make it look like a whale, no? I think this is pretty cool. I wish all planes had different looks to them. It would make it a lot more interesting to fly, huh?
3. This Friendly Bench
Isn’t it annoying when you sit on a bench at the park by yourself, and somebody starts talking to you? Well, now there’s one designed for that. When you sit on it, it signifies you’re open to chatting with strangers, haha.
4. These Trash Cans
Why are some trash cans in Copenhagen tilted like that? Wouldn’t you like to know that? Well, as it turns out, it’s so people riding bikes can easily throw out their trash. Aha! What a neat idea, right?
5. These Tire Indicators
It’s definitely not safe to drive on tires that are worn out. So I wish there was an easier way to determine when that happens. What do you know — a tire indicator does exist after all.
6. This Shopping Bag
I don’t know about you, but I used to collect unique shopping bags. It’s a bit odd, but we all have our quirks, right? So I was really thrilled when I saw this eyeglasses design at an optometrist’s office in DC.
7. This Plane Window
Is it just me, or do you also feel a little claustrophobic in an airplane lavatory? A window might have changed that feeling, no? Check this out: this Delta plane actually has one, and I really like that.
8. This Furniture Assembly Kit
Call me crazy, but I find it hard to assemble furniture on my own, especially when all the hardware isn’t labeled. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw this hardware was sorted by step rather than by type.
9. This Coffee Cup
Oh my gosh, how cute is that? This nifty coffee cup has a built-in little pocket where you can store your cookie. Wow! Why haven’t more places come up with something like that, huh? I love that idea.
10. This Supermarket Aisle
At first glance, there isn’t anything unusual about this supermarket aisle until you look up at the sign. They have designated this aisle as the “lost spouse” one, ha, ha! I wish every grocery store had that.
11. This Jacket
I don’t know about you, but I find it awkward to pull up a jacket sleeve to look at my watch. So this company recognized that and made a cute peephole design, so you can easily do that.
12. These Bike Racks
I’m really happy to see more bicycle racks set up in various cities encouraging people to cycle more. But when you see ones that look as cool as these, it’s even better, no? I love it.
13. These Bike Tires
If you’re an avid bike rider, you know how annoying it is when those tires go flat. If only there were a way to prevent that, huh? Well, I think it’s time you invest in these airless tires. Voilà!
14. This Shower
I’m pretty sure that all of us like our shower’s water temperature at different levels. So wouldn’t it be cool if you knew what that actually was? This one here does just that, and I want it for our house.
15. This Trash Can
Speaking of corners, what if there was a trash can that could fit into those too, huh? Well, somebody already came up with one, and I think it’s a pretty nifty design. I sure could use one of those, too.
16. These Corner Drawers
I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to waste space, especially in my kitchen. So when I saw these corner drawers, I was like, “Yes!” Finally, I see such a smart yet odd-looking design I can totally get behind.
17. This Carpet
“This carpet pattern at the Minneapolis Convention Center looks designed to make setting up chairs go faster and easier.”
Holy cow! I can honestly say I’ve never seen a carpet design like that. Now that I do, I think it’s incredibly clever.
18. This Hollow Soap
Oh my goodness, why is this soap hollow? Well, it’s actually a “waste-reducing” hotel bar soap designed to eliminate the unused center of traditional soap bars. How awesome is that? I wish more hotels used that.
It’s amazing to see that there are designers out there making our lives easier.
Am I right? I can totally get behind all the ideas here. Even though they might look odd at first, they serve a greater purpose. So let me ask you: which one is your favorite?
