25 Awesome Kickstarter Design Campaigns

From a giant ball pit to a bi-annual magazine, these designers are creating the future.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Epic Mario

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Epic Mario

Created by: Zachary Pollock.

Goal: $26,400 ($6,587 pledged so far)

Why we back it: This guy Zachary is taking on the huge mission of recreating the entire first level of Super Mario Bros. out of LEGO® bricks, using one LEGO® brick per pixel. He's gonna need all the donations and moral support he can get!

Kickstarter

The Cassatchel

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The Cassatchel

Created by: Bhavesh.

Goal: $25,000 ($3,272 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Cassatchel is a cool idea paying homage to the cassette, while also serving as a good-looking, durable bag for a laptop and/or iPad. We like the yellow and black options, as well as its lightness.

Kickstarter

FACET

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FACET Removable Vinyl Floor Tiles

Created by: Sara Czosnyka.

Goal: $2,300 ($4,477 pledged so far)

Why we back it: These removable vinyl floors tiles are brilliantly versatile, interactive, and customizable, featuring bold, geometric designs. For a modern look that's easy to adjust, these floor tiles are perfect.

Kickstarter

Live Long & Poster

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The Bro-Llow

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The Bro-Llow

Created by: Toban Nichols.

Goal: $5,000 ($3,855 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Bro-llow is an awesome idea by designer Toban Nichols, because its aim is to make pillows that appeal specifically to guys. The designs are super dope, so not sure why the ladies wouldn't buy them, too.

Kickstarter

Blime Light

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Blime Light

Created by: Alvaro Soto.

Goal: $5,000 ($1,637 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Blime Light is awesome because it allows you to actually make it yourself. Following the trend of all things DIY lately, you can pick the color scheme you want, make a cool project, and have a new addition to your space.

Kickstarter

Blink Steady

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Blink / Steady

Created by: Benjamin Cohen.

Goal: $35,000 ($36,277 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Blink / Steady light is a smart tool for the smartest bikers, automatically turning on and off depending on whether you're moving or whether it's light or dark. It's not clunky or annoying, but instead looks really nice and would compliment any bike nicely. It's got blink mode and steady mode, and it's super easy to install.

Kickstarter

The Ultimate Clicky Pen Project

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The Ultimate Clicky Pen Project

Created by: Jack Roman.

Goal: $5,000 ($29,837 pledged so far)

Why we back it: Designer Jack Roman loves pens, and his quest to make the perfect clicky pen is impressive. Using 6061-T6 Aluminum and a modular design, the pen is meant to last a lifetime.

Kickstarter

999Bottles

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999Bottles

Created by: Fernd van Engelen at Artefact.

Goal: $99,999 ($20,905 pledged so far)

Why we back it: 999Bottles is an awesome environmental initiative that helps you track and visualize the positive impact you can have by drinking from re-usable bottles instead of disposable ones. Each time you refill the bottle, you advance the sleek dial up a notch to help you realize how many bottles you're saving. If nothing else, its clean, stainless steel design should be enough to get you on board.

Kickstarter

CUBBY

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CUBBY

Created by: Materius.

Goal: $29,000 ($42,870 pledged so far)

Why we back it: CUBBY takes the idea of a coat hook and transforms it into, well, a cubby. You can put sunglasses, keys, gloves, etc. in it. The designers are also consciously using recycled materials to create it.

Kickstarter

Philosophy Posters

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Philosophy Posters

Created by: Max Tempkin.

Goal: $2,000 ($34,784 pledged so far)

Why we back it: Max Tempkin's Philosophy Posters are awesome, and he wants to create them out of a passion for design and a love of these 10 philosophical quotes. For only $20 to ship in the U.S. and $30 anywhere else, the hand-made 18x24" screen prints are signed and numbered by him. We particularly dig this Socrates one.

Kickstarter

Corter Leather Bottle Hook

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Wobble Bowls

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Wobble Bowls

Created by: Jesse Phillips Andersen.

Goal: $10,000 ($11,038 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The simplicity of the Wobble Bowls would make one easily underestimate them, but their design makes them an attribute to any space, and not just because they look good. They have round bottoms that rock and spin but come back up. According to the designer, they're "Simple to set in motion, but surprisingly stable."

Kickstarter

Giant Ball Pit

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A Giant Ball Pit in an Abandoned House

Created by: Josh Ente.

Goal: $2,500 ($3,000 pledged so far)

Why we back it: Josh Ente is making a good situation out of a terribly unfortunate one, Hurricane Katrina. Using one of many vacant houses in New Orleans, he's making a giant ball pit for kids in the neighborhood.

Kickstarter

The Trading Tortoise

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The Trading Tortoise

Created by: Souther Salazar.

Goal: $13,325 ($23,233 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Trading Tortoise is an amazing community art installation planning to tour cities around America. What's more incredible than trading objects and stories with others?

Kickstarter

Day Maker

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Day Maker

Created by: Habitco.

Goal: $275,000 ($11,573 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Day Maker is actually capable of making your day, by both charging your iPhone and treating it like a piece of toast. Yes, their design accommodates a "pop" movement, so that the day begins with a little more excitement.

Kickstarter

Amplifiear

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Amplifiear

Created by: Nonlinear Studio.

Goal: $10,000 ($30,508 pledged so far)

Why we back it: Ever wished your iPad's volume could go higher? The Amplifiear conveniently uses no batteries or electricity to do just that, and on top of that, it looks awesome.

Kickstarter

Nesl

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Nesl

Created by: Birdhouse Studios.

Goal: $30,000 ($10,766 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Nesl is a new way to organize your desk, which we adore for all practical, fun-loving, and design purposes.

Kickstarter

Flint and Tinder

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Flint and Tinder

Created by: Jake Bronstein.

Goal: $30,000 ($145,331 pledged so far)

Why we back it: Flint Tinder's mission is to create men's underwear made in the USA using high quality materials and fair prices. Apparently only 1 men's underwear brand out of the top 50 manufactures in the U.S.

Kickstarter

Alden & James

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Alden & James

Created by: Michael Kvamme and Jordan Dunn.

Goal: $8,000 ($4,062 pledged so far)

Why we back it: Filmmakers and designers Jordan Dunn, Michael Kvamme, and Mark Lester created a Kickstarter for the post-production of the show they wrote, produced, and filmed already. Read its summary, and you'll see why we want to back this.

Kickstarter

Post Haste Project

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Post Haste Project

Created by: Elizabeth Ribera.

Goal: $2,500 ($4,504 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Post Haste project is in response to the proposed closure of 3,700 post offices and the layoffs to follow. Ribera plans to organize an art show in Oakland, California, at MacArthur B Arthur Gallery, to show how the closure of post offices is a sad reflection of the digital age.

Kickstarter

Champions of the World

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Champions of the World

Created by: Rob Schamberger.

Goal: $20,000 ($8,475 pledged so far)

Why we back it: This guy wants to paint a portrait of every world heavyweight champion, ever. There are over 200, and his ambition definitely inspires us enough to back him!

Kickstarter

Day Job Magazine

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Day Job Magazine

Created by: Elliott Walker.

Goal: $15,000 ($7,936 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The bi-annual Day Job Magazine celebrates good work for its own sake and explores how we find meaning in our day-to-day lives. Using interviews, essays, and stories from contributors around the world, chances are it'll make our year, twice a year.

Kickstarter

Pebble

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Pebble

Created by: Pebble Technology.

Goal: $100,000 ($7,752,869 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The sleek Pebble connects to iPhone and Android smartphones using Bluetooth, alerting you with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages. It's customizable based on your lifestyle and interests with various apps, and is making history as one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns to ever exist.

Kickstarter

The Principals

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Cosmic Quilt Interactive Installation

Created by: The Principals.

Goal: $8,000 ($5,556 pledged so far)

Why we back it: The Cosmic Quilt Interactive Installation project is both an installation and a workshop for 20 students at the Art Institute of New York. The workshop will instruct students on the responsive architecture used on The Quilt, which will be open to the greater public May 19-21, 2012 during New York Design Week.

Kickstarter

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