Umbrella Lamps

Japanese umbrella manufacturer Hiyoshia is launching a line of lighting in Milan this year based on traditional Wagasa (umbrella) construction technologies.  More info on the line here.

via: Designboom

Fantastical Objects

I saw these two posts on Designboom and couldn't help but think of Lui's project.

"Marie Coquine" by Phillipe Starck for Baccarat

"Homework" chair, by Nika Zupanc - part of the "self discipline" collection on display in Milan currently.

Fantasy Mechanics

Wooden gadgets

This guy is an woodworking engineer and makes all kinds of fun stuff out of wood. He also has good explanations of what he's doing and how he did it. Website: http://woodgears.ca/machines.html

Here's a wooden binary calculator that he made:


Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Matthiaswandel

Hi-Tech Umbrella

Blunt Umbrellas makes umbrellas with blunt corners, among numerous other innovative design features. By removing the pointy corners, it makes for increased safety, but it also distributes the tension of the canopy more evenly.