A well-organized dishwashing station isn’t just a prerequisite for a high-functioning kitchen – it’s also a cornerstone of a harmonious domestic partnership. Often considered the heart and soul of any culinary space, the Dish Pit is a rite of passage for many in the food & beverage industry, and a perfect stage for studio WE ARE ONA’s latest immersive gastronomic collaborations with Crosby Studios.

Internationally recognized for their avant-garde approach to design, Crosby Studios’ Harry Nuriev and WE ARE ONA’s Luca Pronzato spotlight the back of house and dish pit setting through a brutalist setup of artistic experimentation. A perfect backdrop to unveil Dirty Dishes, a limited series of irreverent tableware in a minimalist installation and pop-up showcasing the plant based contemporary Thai gastronomy of Michelin-starred Chef Dalad Kambhu.

Hailing from diverse culinary landscapes ranging from Texas and Bangkok to New York and Berlin, this self-taught chef draws on her gourmet upbringing to master the art of flavor by seamlessly incorporating local produce from various countries. Chef Kambhu’s plant-based menu not only defines the essence of her renowned restaurant Kin Dee in Berlin but also set the tone for a unique community gathering of food enthusiasts recently.

From the 17th to the 22nd of October, the ninth arrondissement of Paris buzzed with a series of soirées, marking the 9th edition of PARIS INTERNATIONALE – a daring, multi-generational, and inclusive art fair alternative featuring a select cohort of 65 galleries from 25 countries. Against this vibrant backdrop, studio WE ARE ONA’s curated pop-up event offered a one-of-a-kind meal synchronizing off-screen and real-life experiences where elegance meets the primal.

With the help of their extensive network of talented ceramic, design, and floral artisans, the WE ARE ONA team is redefining conventional fine dining through innovative happenings. The creative culinary studio collaborates with young and celebrated chefs to contribute and embody the spirit and uniqueness of major international events, including the likes of PARIS INTERNATIONALE, FRIEZE Los Angeles, and Milan Design Week. Moreover, it serves as an esteemed art direction studio catering to prestigious clients within the realms of luxury, fashion, and media industries.

Photography by Benoit Florençon, except where noted.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Form yields function in the Lehar and Namiti table series by Delhi-based design studio Vakr, positioning the new collections somewhere between structural art and home furnishings. The two share contour language derived from Hindi and Sanskrit words meaning wave and fusion, respectively.

Inspired by the dynamics of structures under pressure, the furnitures’ solid elements – Lehar in concrete and Namiti of reclaimed wood – appear broken apart to reveal a rattan structure that holds them in visual tension. Each series comprises nearly ten pieces including various geometric coffee tables, consoles, wall shelves, and suspended surfaces.

While the forms are reminiscent of the architect Antoni Gaudi’s hanging chain models, Vakr’s unique construction technique and material palette are a proprietary blend. “The shape of the pieces was the biggest challenge,” says founder Devyani Gupta. “Maintaining the balance overall is integral while combining concrete with rattan. We dropped weights along the curve of the tensile parts to achieve the smoothness of the visible form. Afterwards, the design was further refined using computational methods.”

The rattan is sourced from Assam, a state in northeastern India, while the concrete composition is manufactured in-house. In addition to supporting indigenous arts and crafts, Vakr considers their local impact opting to use biodegradable materials for all prototypes and repurposing material with the goal to move towards a zero-waste policy. And an amalgam of residual foam and reusable wood are used in place of virgin packaging. Vakr delivers collectible design and contemporary statement pieces that prompt greater conversation about India’s craft culture while addressing the industry’s need for ecological responsibility.

For more information on the Lehar and Namiti series, visit vakrstudio.com.

Photography courtesy of Vakr Design Studio.

With professional degrees in architecture and journalism, Joseph has a desire make living beautifully accessible. His work seeks to enrich the lives of others with visual communication and storytelling through design. A regular contributor to titles under the SANDOW Design Group, including Luxe and Metropolis, Joseph serves the Design Milk team as their Managing Editor. When not practicing, he teaches visual communication, theory, and design. The New York-based writer has also contributed to exhibitions hosted by the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture and Architectural Digest, and recently published essays and collage illustrations with Proseterity, a literary publication.

Looking for a tech gift for someone who considers themselves first a design lover and technophile a close second? If so, check out our thoughtfully curated selection of tech gifts ranging from tried and true devices that anyone would appreciate all the way to some truly off-the-beaten-path devices sure to elicit a, “Wow, I didn’t even know this existed!” response.

Synth maestros Teenage Engineering’s eight handcrafted wooden choir members look suspiciously like traditional Japanese wooden figurines known as kokeshi. But this octet of solid beech dolls are a little more modern in their ways. Engineered to operate individually or collectively as audio speakers, each doll “sings” in its own unique vocal tone. Singing solo, it’s a one note trick. But in a group, the dolls conjure something magical, recognizing their fellow choral partners to weave a melodic chorus of counterpoint melodies. Connect it to a a MIDI keyboard or Teenage Engineering’s own OP–1 field or OP–Z instruments, and you’ve got one oddly beautiful way to play a synth.

Preparing coffee in the morning can be an oddly gratifying ritual: the smell of freshly roasted beans, the gentle sound of grounds spilling into a paper filter followed by the quiet gurgle of hot water pouring across the brown mound before it burps, the drip by dip anticipation before that first sip. The xBloom is engineered to recreate that series of slow sensorial steps toward your first cup of good morning, and does so with computerized precision regulating water temperature, pressure, flow, pattern, and ground weight with barista-level attention using convenient and eco-friendly capsules. This is definitely not your parent’s drip machine.

Consider these golf ball-sized devices the Tamagotchi of digital cameras. Infused with an adorable degree of personality, this camera is capable of coaxing even the most camera shy to say “cheese.” It chimes with a satisfying squishy sound when turned on, its shutter can be customized to sound like anything you can imagine, and it wirelessly transfers everything it captures into its onboard memory to a phone or over to the included Mini Link 2 to print out onto instant film. If there’s ever been a camera made for holiday gatherings amongst friends and family, this is it.

Apple has never been afraid to improve a design over the span of numerous iterations until even naysayers have to sheepishly admit, “yeah, that’s kinda cool.” And this ninth update to the Apple Watch saga is more than kinda cool. It’s without a doubt their best offering for most people who want an intuitive and comfortable smart watch to wear daily – one designed to keep tabs on their activities, track their workouts, and if they’re already invested in the Apple iPhone ecosystem, expand those capabilities right from their wrist. The Series 9 is comfortable as ever, faster, and now twice as bright as its predecessor. But perhaps most impressive is the ability to answer calls, launch an app, or navigate a menu without ever needing to touch the Apple Watch screen using Double Tap, a gesture that feels a little bit like magic every time you bring finger to thumb.

I’d be the first to tell you nobody needs an 8K television yet. But… if I was in the market to buy a new television today, I’d strongly consider future-proofing my home entertainment investment with the more than 33 million Mini LED pixels that make nearly anything viewed on the Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K a satisfying experience. In the few weeks we spent with a loaner, we found ourselves impressed with the set’s depth, clarity, brightness, and the immersive HDR picture that made our accurate but dull 4K OLED seem inadequate (especially in comparison within a sunlight drenched room). Again, you don’t need this 8K set, but after you watch the right content, you’ll want one.

Scented candles or incense smell nice… until they begin smelling a bit too much. That’s just the nature of burning things within an enclosed space. A cold-air diffuser offers an improved way to disperse pleasant fragrances without introducing smoke into the air you breathe, using nebulization – a process that breaks down scented oils into an ultra-fine dry mist to perfume a room. It’s a scent that neither fades nor compounds like a burning element. These Bluetooth-enabled cold-air diffusers not only allow you to control when and how often your preferred scent is dispersed, but also the intensity, a level of control no Yankee Candle could ever aspire to offer.

It’s a simple rectangular glass block with an array of LEDs with 166 distinct color zones within, all capable of reproducing 16 million different colors. Yeah, it’s the modern day equivalent of a lava lamp, but as a purely decorative piece of mood lighting that can be placed nearly anywhere and that’s even designed to respond to music, the Neon Crystal Cube is the sort of novelty that might win over a kid or teen’s hard-to-impress heart.

You might have noticed the cool crowd has ventured beyond revisiting vinyl and onto the horribly imperfect analog medium of cassette tapes. Who are we to judge, we grew up listening to our favorite bands with the hiss and whir of an audio tape deck, and we turned out (mostly) okay. This Bluetooth speaker literally puts the act of playback on display, with a clear cover window showcasing the audio cassette on deck like a piece of art. Give it to a young friend who inherited their older sibling’s or parent’s collection of analog nostalgia and who wants to experience pre-internet “streaming” just like the ole days.

Is it just me or are these wireless earbuds giving off strong Marc Newson in the aughts vibes? Huawei says the design is actually inspired by dripping molten glasswork. Either way, they’re rather striking in comparison to other repetitively similar looking earbuds out there. As portable audio devices go, the Freebuds 5 hit all the right notes: Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with dual connection to two devices support, active noise cancellation, and up to 30 hours of playback using the charging case. But really, it’s all about that drip.

Everyone is so afraid of artificial intelligence ruining our lives, but is anyone considering the fact most of us would greatly benefit from the aid of AI when it comes to perfectly cooking brisket? I mean, how many cuts of meat have we collectively ruined over our lifetimes? That problem is exactly what this AI-enhanced pellet grill cooker is engineered to solve, automatically adjusting temperatures like a patient pit master versed in the art of slow cooking and smoking, managing optimal temperature with automated ease whether cooking at 165°F or searing at 500°F. Gift this to the aspiring backyard chef who might actually benefit from the assistance of an app and algorithm, but hasn’t gotten the hint there’s a difference between char and burnt.

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

I love Omsom’s noodles and sauces, and this set that’s paired with a bright orange kitchen apron from Tilt is full of flavor. What’s included? Tilit makes super functional workwear for the kitchen, and the apron includes two sleeves for cooking chopsticks – one up top and one on the hip – for easy access. A pair of chopsticks made in Japan, which feature heat-safe silicon tips, will get you started. Here is where it gets tasty: Saucy Noodle boxes (1 Coconut Lemongrass Curry, 1 Chili Sesame, 1 Garlic Black Pepper, and 1 Soy Garlic) and Sauce Bundle (featuring both the Southeast Asian and East Asian Cooking Sauce lines) are also included. Trust me when I say you’ll thank yourself later.

We love minimalism, but can appreciate when more is definitely more. MAXIMALISM spans centuries, from the 1600s to today, including 220 residential interiors. The style has been with us in one form or another for over 400 years, and the tome features some truly extraordinary spaces that make paging through feel like a full-on experience. From Jonathan Adler to Dorothy Draper, and far beyond, the only word to describe this book is “gilded.”

This pair of slippers is where comfort and design align. Everyone seems to be a fan of the original design, and now London-based multidisciplinary artist Yinka Ilori has reimagined them. The limited supply footwear is available in three bold, bright prints that Ilori created, with meanings that tie back to his West African heritage. I think it might be time to replace last winter’s slippers that have seen better days.

Yes, these candle holders from Lostine would obviously be lovely during the holiday season – but they’d also be used every day for the rest of my life. I don’t know whether it’s the chunky, light maple wood (they’re also available in walnut) or the slim brass arms that have me hooked deeper. You can definitely see the tulip’s inspiration in their design, so maybe they can magically make winter feel like spring?

I must be on a mid-century modern kick right now, because this kibble dispenser immediately grabbed my attention. Clean, simple lines pair with integrated mechanics, furniture-grade plywood, and a miter-folded box for zero visible seams. Slightly lift and pull the locking lever that sits on top to release a perfectly portioned meal for your pet. The BPA-free plastic bin that sits inside can hold up to 30 lbs of food, depending on the size you choose. Is that the dinner bell I hear?

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

It was while searching for a wall-mounted swing light imagined to bring some additional illumination to a perpetually shaded corner that we came upon the smile-inducing wiggly forms of the Louis Collection by Sara Schoenberger. We soon realized Schoenberger’s design looked familiar, eventually remembering the designer was amongst the WantedDesign Manhattan’s Launch Pad Participants a year ago, thrilled to discover the designer had evolved the idea into something even more swinging.

Even without explanation, the light collection’s moniker and curvy shape clearly communicates its musically-inspired origins. The Louis Collection is indeed a nod to jazz great, Louis Armstrong, a musical icon from Schoenberger’s hometown of New Orleans.

Powder coated in bright colors, the lamps take on a graphic, playful, and almost cartoonish personality.

Taking cues from the curved aluminum forms of brass instruments, each light’s swing arm stretches that visual note into delightfully exaggerated crescendos and diminuendos before terminating in an integrated LED light.

The Small, Downlight edition is described as the “perfect bedside reading lamp,” while the Large, Uplight version is suited to produce an ambient mood-enhancing light that bounced light off the walls and ceilings. Each incorporates a wall-mounted swing arm attachment to permit 180 degrees of adjustable positioning.

Colors available include Red Brown, Gentian Blue, Blood Orange, Blackened Metal, and our favorite above, Emerald Green. Each light is made to order, so expect a lead time of 6-8 weeks.

Schoenberger’s Louis Collection is available in both large and a smaller edition, with the $950 Small measuring 5″x 10.5″ D x 15.7″ and outfitted with a dimmable 4 watt LED, and the $1050 Large measuring 2″ x 43″ H x 11″ with the same dimmable 4 watt LED.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

On the 18th floor of the tallest residential building in Poznan, Poland, the 18TH Apartment, with just under 700 square feet, has been reimagined by wiercinski-studio. With an emphasis on functionality and views of the city, this apartment blends minimalism, a natural color palette, and custom details for a unique, yet cozy interior.

A subdued, light background serves as the canvas for natural oak and black grids of ceramic tiles. The elements adorn the walls and baseboards by the floor, creating a visually striking contrast that elevates the space’s aesthetic.

The 18TH Apartment faces Poznan’s western horizon, giving residents full views of the sunset, which casts warm orange light throughout the interior.

The kitchen takes center stage, with dramatic light changes as the sun sets. The patterned granite changes in appearance with the shifting daylight, acting as a dynamic, ever-evolving piece of art within the apartment. Its format and colors interact with the surroundings, turning the space into a living canvas.

The main focus behind the project was to enhance functionality while maximizing the use of the glass facade that spans the entire width of the apartment. The clever use of sliding panels creates flex spaces, transforming the apartment from open and communal to private and intimate at will.

To complete the interior, custom furniture and details crafted by Adam Wiercinski round out the design. These unique pieces, created in collaboration with local artisans, infuse the apartment with a distinctive character that sets it apart from the ordinary. Steel, stone, natural oak, and glass combine to deliver a seamless and elegant finish that appeals to the discerning resident.

Photography by ONI Studio.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Old City, Philadelphia-based Paradigm Gallery + Studio recently wrapped up two solo shows featuring the colorful, saturated art of both Martha Rich and Lisa Congdon. Rich’s It’s Wild Here included a display of painted cutouts on wood, chronicling her signature practice of eavesdropping and observing. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Rich uses words and objects to capture the essence of the City a of Brotherly Love and its people in a very candid way. Congdon’s paintings and printed textiles reside within Ode to Kyoto, each piece sparked by an inspiring trip to Japan. The exhibition pays homage to her own experiences in Kyoto and Osaka, while honoring the cultural heritage of the place and its people.

Rich’s art has been shown throughout the U.S. and internationally, but It’s Wild Here is Rich’s first solo exhibition in her hometown of Philadelphia. As we ride along with the artist for the journey, it’s easy to enjoy the random unpredictability that she’s borrowed from the public. Rich describes it as an “analog Twitter,” a barrage of voices and images just waiting for you to join them.

Rich didn’t gravitate toward painting until later in life, after taking a class taught by painters and brothers Rob and Christian Clayton she enrolled in to help come to terms with a divorce. Rich went on to graduate with honors from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena before earning her MFA in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

It was during bus rides to class that Rich developed her artistic process of listening and documenting quirky bits and pieces of conversations overheard. These phrases now referred to as “Phillyisms,” are hand-painted inside Rich’s recognizable found plywood speech bubbles, accompanied by a complementary group of objects and symbols.

Martha Rich

Ode to Kyoto marks artist, illustrator, and bestselling author Congdon’s debut solo exhibition with Paradigm, and the culmination of a curatorial project with The Jaunt. Founded in 2013 by Jeroen Smeets, The Jaunt helps artists gain inspiration through travel. Each trip is funded by the pre-sale of a limited-edition silkscreen print purchased sight unseen by collectors and supporters of the project.

Congdon’s personal experience in Kyoto is translated through saturated, graphic illustrations of street goods, patterned kimonos, matchboxes, and more. A mixed media installation includes large pieces of linen sourced from Japan, printed in limited editions. Also featured are two large paintings, a selection of screen-printed textile panels, and an arrangement of small paintings that create a visual collage. Two travel-inspired posters produced in partnership with The Jaunt, “Ode to Kyoto” and “Sanjo Dori Street,” were also on view.

Congdon, who is self-taught, didn’t gain career traction until she was almost 40 years old. Since, her untraditional path has awarded her with recognition as an artist, a leader in the industry for her work in social justice, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and teaching. Congdon is known internationally for her work, making art for notable clients, and her 10 books focused on creativity.

Lisa Congdon

Bloom

Bright Eyes

Fish

Lone Tree

Safety Matches

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

If you ever get the opportunity to attend the newly rebranded Japan Mobility Show (formerly the Tokyo Motor Show), we highly recommend it even if you don’t consider yourself an automotive enthusiast. That’s because the Tokyo event showcases some of the most unusual and thought-provoking designs, many that challenge the notion of what a car, truck, or motorcycle can be, as is the case with Yamaha’s sinuous MOTOROiD 2 electric motorbike slated to make its big reveal later this month..

A follow-up to the original concept bike designed around the notion of “what would the offspring of a 4-legged animal and an electric motorcycle look like?,” The MOTOROiD 2 is also engineered to self-balance by swiveling its slightly unsettling biomorphic entomological backside.

The linked swingarm and battery compartment are both part of Yamaha’s Active Mass Center Control System (AMCES).

The bike is supposedly capable of this maneuvering thanks to its unique hub mount position. Placed onto a swing arm connected at a pivoting point under the rider’s seat, the setup allows the rear wheel to swivel and lean independently from the front of the bike, giving the bike the ability to find its balance like a living animal (a premise emphasized by Yamaha’s query, “How do you live with a machine that feels like a living thing?“).

You might notice there’s something missing from your typical motorcycle: handlebars. The MOTOROiD 2 eschews that part for handle grips closely  positioned underneath the semi-transparent layered front fairing. That should make for an aerodynamic seated position, but its unclear how steerable such a bike might ride with such limited permitted movement.

If David Cronenberg ever designed a motorcycle, it probably would look like this.

Sketches and modeling of the original Motoroid electric motorcycle reveal a more exposed system, inspired by the shape and design of a “living creature.” The second iteration builds upon that idea to a somewhat unsettling degree.

Illuminated by blue LEDs underneath the front cowl and centerstand, it’s impossible not to think of James Cameron’s realm of Avatar.

Other features carrying over from the original concept design include haptic feedback and AI-powered facial and gesture recognition, allowing the MOTOROiD 2 to roll over to the rider autonomously like a loyal pet companion on its own when called over (the first concept did so with the speed of a geriatric retriever). We’ll eventually learn more about the what and how at the Tokyo Motor Show.

For more photos of the MOTOROiD 2, venture over to Yamaha’s global site.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Modular and made using a biomaterial-based form, VANK_CUBE has it all. The eco-friendly system of lightweight cubes, made of flax and hemp, individually resemble a box but can be arranged in multiples to create a desk, meeting table, front desk, shelf, or storage space divider. Easy to rearrange as often as needed, VANK_CUBE plays directly into the customized flexibility necessary for co-working spaces, event and trade shows, and other temporary areas of use that still need to look polished and modern. Designed by Anna Vonhausen, the natural material and color palette of the cubes works particularly well with minimalism, Japandi, and boho styles.

The easy modifications are made possible thanks to a bevy of elements, including tops, fasteners, connectors, side panels, and plates made of VANK_BIO biomaterial. You can even add a base with castors or an upholstered seat cushion. Made of hardwood plywood with oak veneer – and optionally coated with water-based varnish in green, orange, or violet – the lightweight tops match the dimensions of a single cube. VANK_CUBE also offers a useful storage function – the user can expose or hide items on the shelf by changing the direction the cube faces, or by using additional panels that also help stabilize the seat.

VANK_BIO emphasizes nature’s imperfections and uniqueness, highlighting the the material’s matte textures and roughness. Because flax and hemp absorb CO2 during growth and convert it into biomass through photosynthesis, the product has a much smaller carbon footprint than other storage systems or similar furniture. The fast-growing fibrous plants are renewable annually and don’t require irrigation or fertilization, meaning VANK_CUBE was designed with the principles of sustainable growth at its heart. This gives way to contributing in the circular economy and continued use of renewable bio-resources.

VANK_CUBE has been awarded a Special Mention in the Excellence in Business to Business – Office Solutions category in the German Innovation Award 2023 competition.

To learn more about VANK_CUBE, visit vank.design.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.