here at designboom, maintaining an open dialogue with our readers is of great importance. thanks to our submissions portal, in 2021 we received several thousands of products from designers and artists across the globe. we saw design products that aim to make our lives more practical, creative, and fun. we also came across projects that seek to honor the past, as well as concept and ideas that focus on the future.

as we move into 2022, we’re very eager to see what innovative projects our readers have in store, but for now we take a look back over the past year. from a ‘loveseat’ that combines armchair and cat running wheel in one, to a phallic lamp that gives a new meaning to turning on, we highlight our TOP 10 reader submissions of 2021 – design products.

THE LAPITEC CHEF IS A TECHNOLOGICALLY-ENABLED COOKING SYSTEM FOR THE HOME

image courtesy of lapitec

after years of research and development, italian company lapitec presents ‘lapitec chef’ – a cooking system completely concealed under a modern sintered stone worktop and activated by a technological cooking mat. the system is patented, with the electrothermal part developed in collaboration with the university of padua.

SLENDER WALL CABINET BY NILS HOLGER MOORMANN ROLLS OUT TO REVEAL FUNCTIONAL WORKSPACE

image courtesy of moormann

nils holger moormann presents ‘der vorstand’, a slender wall cabinet that transforms into a multifunctional think tank, creating the sense of space whenever users need it. the structure features a back wall on wheels that rolls out with a single pull to reveal a work desk with integrated bookshelves and a top light at the center. the project seeks to provide maximum atmosphere and minimum surface area at the same time.

ONE-EYED OBAKE LANTERNS REINTERPRET JAPANESE SPIRITS IN A POP STYLE

image by nik van der giesen

designer ryosuke harashima looks to japanese folklore to animate a pair of lanterns named OBAKE ‘A’ and ‘UN’. the one-eyed light fixtures reinterpret spirits known as ‘youkai’ or ‘obake’ in a pop style, giving the traditional lanterns a contemporary twist. the original design, without the eyes, formed part of harashima’s STILLIFE collection, which was exhibited inside a tadao ando-designed museum in japan.

THE ‘LOVESEAT’ COMBINES ARMCHAIR & CAT RUNNING WHEEL IN ONE FURNITURE PIECE

image courtesy of catham city

designers stephan verkaik and beth horneman from pet furniture brand catham city introduce ‘the loveseat’, a newly created chair that brings cats and owners closer together. the design merges two different worlds into one, giving owners the opportunity to comfortably relax, while the cat is actively playing right beside them. since cats feel their human companion close and involved, they are encouraged to use the wheel more often.

ORIJEEN EXPANDS COLOR-CHANGING LENTICULAR FURNITURE SERIES WITH NEW CABINET

image by tomorrow studio, and sooin jang supported by KCDF and culture station seoul 284

seoul-based design studio orijeen expands its color-changing furniture collection with the ‘color flow_V2’ cabinet. made with ribbed curved surfaces, and using lenticular technology, the newly added piece changes its color depending on the user’s position and movement.

JUNG-HOON LEE’S LATEST FURNITURE SERIES IS A NOD TO ANCIENT KOREAN ARCHITECTURE

image © powerstudio

created by designer jung-hoon lee, the ‘heritage series’ is a collection of sculptural furniture inspired by the symbolic form and color of ancient korean architecture. more specifically, it masterfully reinterprets the beauty of the traditional korean house model (hanok) through the lens of modern design and craft. the collection features seating objects, tables, and shelf.

THE LAYER X RESONATE ‘LIGHTVISION’ HEADSET TAKES USERS INTO A DEEP, MEDITATIVE STATE

launching at design miami 2021, the ‘lightvision’ meditation headset by benjamin hubert from LAYER design is the wellness product of a new normal. created for US startup resonate, the headset features an LED light matrix allowing users to enter a powerful meditative state, regarldess of their experience level.

MEET RECHAIR, A 3D PRINTED SEAT MADE FROM PLASTIC YOGURT CUP WASTE

images © delo

russian design studio delo continues its exploration into recycled plastic with ‘rechair’, a 3D printed seat made using plastic waste from yogurt cup production. the project aims to change perspectives of recycled plastic and elevate it to a material on par with wood or metal.

DEVINE PROTECTION IS A DUMMY SEATBELT PLUG THAT PUTS LIFE IN GOD’S HANDS

image courtesy of chairbox

‘devine protection’ is the latest satirical project by design agency chairbox. the conceptual product is a cross-shaped dummy seatbelt plug that silences annoying vehicular alerts and puts your life in god’s hands… yes, that’s right.

with a healthy dose of black humor, the designer says the product aims to solve a common driving frustration while ‘allowing drivers to demonstrate their faith in god’s ability to protect them from all harm.’

MONSBY’S LOVE IN LIGHT GIVES A NEW MEANING TO TURNING ON

image courtesy of monsby

monsby, an artist that prefers to remain anonymous, has shared with us the love in light lamp, a NSFW luminaire that looks like a penis and it’s turned on the same way as you would turn on the other one. measuring 25cm x 15cm, the lamp is made of fabric, biodegradable plastics, wood and aluminum.