Or, How a Waterwing Became a Lampshade. We don't read German, but by some midnight internet path as disappeared as Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumbs, we managed to find this German website with picture after picture of creative repurposing of everyday objects.
This seems to be inspired by, or perhaps a variant of Chindogu, the art of useless inventions and a term coined by Japanese inventor and author Kenji Kawakami.
Unlike Chindogu, however, we see this more like a very creative and witty form of recycling.
We've divined that an entity named Atelier V is somehow involved, but that's it. If you happen to be a reader who speaks German, perhaps you could shed some caution-orange light on the project.
Check out the rest of the pictures here.
Reposted from 10.18.07
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
I thought that cotton ball/whisk thing was really lame the first time I saw this post. It still is.
view Cynthia in SF's profile
For anyone who cooks, the whisk would probably be more helpful in the kitchen. Who really uses those cotton balls very often anyway? Still kind of clever though.
The legos turned into dominoes is my fav.
view jackie_22's profile
aw, the swissies are really just having some fun. These are not actually serious design ideas-- I think the lame-factor is part of the parody.
The how-tos are great (which is rough if the German eludes you, true.) They thoroughly explain the super obvious in the instructive imperative. it is, how can I put it-- sehr deutsch.
view 212gretchen's profile
Whisk/cotton ball as usable item? = lame
Whisk/cotton ball as reason I want cotton candy all of the sudden? = Totally Rad
view MonsterMash's profile
I dig repurposed stuff & some of these are cool. BUT the whisk looks like a dust catcher & that floaty lamp is just tradgedy waiting to happen.
view MoJonson's profile
You have to look past the whisk. That's a delightful website. I encourage people to explore the whole thing, not just umdenken (whatever that means).
view K T G's profile
I think the whisk is cool (if unnecessary- small jars are cheap and easy to come by). But yeah, now I want cotton candy.
view insanity_pepper's profile
My favorite is the cactus binkie... (very last photo)
view Monica's profile
love the post-it note holder
view mrs yow's profile
What a funny site! I really enjoyed it thanks for bringing it to my attention. I'm going to share it liberally.
view Carol K's profile
I use cotton balls every day, so no, easy access like that is not lame. That whisk holding cotton balls is funny.
The pictures on the site are funny! Go check them out.
view genxmom's profile
Wowzers.
view missjelisa's profile
The small lesson to take is that you can find something to serve a purpose. If what you need is a place to put cotton balls, you don't have to go out and buy a special container. You don't have to use a whisk either. Etcetera. So, yes, this is a design idea you can use, if you're not fixed on the idea that you have to use it literally.
view K T G's profile
That bike pedal thing is GENIUS! I always hated having to put on shoes to pedal around when I ran around in bare feet all the time anyway.
view That70sHeidi's profile
Good Lord...these things are freakin riot!!
view mander-ella's profile
Is AT recycling ideas? I swear I've seen these items/photos (among others) before on this website...
view KrapArtist's profile