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25 Awesome Design Objects We Want This Year

From portable speakers and cameras, to horizontal showers and beer slushie makers, we've compiled a list of 25 awesome design objects we want this year.

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The design world is filled with a lot of mediocre stuff that we could do without, but every once in a while an object comes along that is smart, attractive, and most importantly, useful. From portable speakers and cameras, to horizontal showers and beer slushie makers, we took a look back at some of the best things that designers have to offer and compiled this list of 25 Awesome Design Objects We Want This Year. Some of the items are available for purchase and others are prototypes, but links are included to all of them so that you can check them out for yourself.

Cube Camera

Designed by: Polaroid

The first reaction that most people have when they see the Polaroid Cube is that it's cute, but this sweet camera is much more than that. The 35mm camera covers 124 degrees and is mountable to metal thanks to a magnet on the bottom. It records 1080p video and the Micro SD slot supports up to 32GB, so you can take lots of fun photos of your life. There is no screen, so you can't see if your photos are any good until they've been uploaded, but that's half the fun. From the rounded edges to the color scheme, everything about this little guy is just right.

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Stay-Brella

Designed by: Nendo

This smartly designed umbrella features a pronged handle that works as a stand so you don't have to lay it flat on the ground or find a basket for it. It can also be hung from the edge of table or propped against a wall. There are eight cool colors to choose from, so we just might have to cop more than one.

Minipresso

Designed by: Wacaco

Office coffee machines are cool, and we definitely support our local shops, but there is something to the idea of making espresso without having to leave the desk (or bed). This hand-powered device has a semi-automatic piston inside and only requires your hand power to deliver that much-needed boost at any time of day.

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Frozen Beer Slushie Maker

Designed by: Kirin Ichiban

The name pretty much says it all, right? Kirin Ichiban has finally made this genius invention available for consumers after introducing the idea back in 2012 and offering the grown-up treats at special beer gardens and at Dodger Stadium. The patented freezing technology adds a slush topping to the beer, which is fun to drink but also keeps your beverage cold longer.

Portable Speaker

Designed by: Nixon

The Mini Blaster may be the only speaker that you need. It's small and portable, but packs big sound. It is also water, sand, and shock resistant. It has true wireless technology with a 10m range, so you can pair it with your devices without having to be tethered to it. Plus the battery lasts for 6-8hours, so you don't have to worry about ending the party early. With eight great colors to choose from, this one is a no-brainer for us.

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bottleLoft

Designed by: bottleLoft

Need more space in your fridge, or just want to look cool when you reach for a brew? The bottleLoft uses strong magnets in a mounted strip to hold your bottles up by their caps, freeing shelf space and improving your life ten fold.

Selfie Drone

Designed by: Nixie

Why use a selfie stick when you can have an autonomous drone that lives on your wrist? The genius invention recently won Intel's Make It Wearable competition with a cash prize of $500,000, giving us hope that it could land on our arms in the near future. The product is geared towards people who do things like rock climbing and other adventure sports, but we could all use an aerial shot of ourselves every now and then, and not having to awkwardly hold a stick is definitely a plus.

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Hoverboard

Designed by: Hendo

By now, you've seen the headlines about the world's first real hoverboard, so we'll spare you the details. We don't think we'll be dropping $10,000 for the pre-order, but this is still at the top of this year's (and every year's) wish list.

SlatePro Personal TechDesk

Designed by: iSkelter

Organize your stuff with the handy table slots, which have holes in the bottom so all of your cables are hidden away. There are also ventilation holes in middle of the table to keep your laptop from overheating. You can configure the table to suit your needs, and there is also a standing table option for people who like to be on their feet at work.

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Collapsible Belt Scooter

Designed by: Ádám Török

This insane scooter was made for a degree project by Hungary-based designer Ádám Török, so it’s one item on the list that we can't have, but still really want. Getting across town with wearable transportation could be the wave of the future, and we would gladly follow that trend.

Fire Pit

Designed by: AK47

This product provides the best of both worlds; you get to build and enjoy a real fire without having to destroy much of your land, and you don’t have to deal with the eyesore when it's not lit.

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Horizontal Shower

Designed by: Dornbracht

Showers are supposed to be relaxing, but after a long day there is nothing that you want to do more than lie down, so combining those two things is like a gift from the Gods. This shower promotes balance, energy, and de-stressing with pre-programmed settings, and we want to use all three, every day, forever.

Glass Pot

Designed by: Massimo Castagna

Boiling stuff is one of the least exciting parts of cooking because it's all a waiting game. Massimo Castagna made it a spectator's sport, crafting a beautiful pot out of tempered Borosilicate Glass so that you can see the action inside. Dance pasta, dance.

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Fuut Hammock

Designed by: Fuut

A comfortable worker is a productive worker, and nothing says comfort like an under-desk hammock for your feet. The idea, as well as the design, is simple, but the product is so smart and necessary that we're shocked that it wasn't a thing a long time ago.

TUL Suitcase

Designed by: TUL Thustrelie

One of the most annoying things about flying is dealing with airline weight restrictions. We understand that planes are delicate vehicles and can't be too heavy for safety reasons, but having to pay an extra $50 for a bag that is 3 lbs over the limit is just ridiculous. The TULhardshell suitcase has a built-in scale so you never have to have that uncomfortable dance with the ticketing agent again, where you beg them to let it slide, they say no, and you end up taking clothes out of your suitcase and wearing them to save money. The Kickstarter project for the suitcase failed to reach its goal, but we have a feeling this product will surface again.

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Swing Table

Designed by: Duffy London

Staff meetings would be the highlight of every week if you had this table at the office. Pretending that you're a knight while reliving you're childhood could be distracting, or it could make for a more creative environment. To justify the purchase, we're going to go with the latter.

Labyrinth Aquarium

Designed by: Opulent Items

Rectangular aquariums are boring and your fish know it. This awesome tank has tunnels and six chambers for them to navigate, making you, your fish, and your room look a whole lot cooler.

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FR Flexible Refrigerator

Designed by: Yanko Design

Never run out of freezer space again with this incredible partition fridge by Yan-Liang Guo. The user decides if he or she want larger or smaller "Fresh" and "Frozen" sections, and the sections can be configured at the top or bottom of the appliance.

Portable Solar Charger

Designed by: Solartab

External battery packs for each of your electronic devices can be a pain, especially when you have to remember to charge them fully the night before. With this device, all you need is a sunny spot and a relatively flat surface, and you're good to go.

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Grazing Grill

Designed by: Grazing Grill

There are really only two seasons as far as we're concerned: summer, and the days leading up to summer. This dope backyard table has a built-in hibachi grill and coolers, so everyone can be responsible for their own meal and can have more fun with the family on a nice day.

REK Expanding Coffee Table

Designed by: Reinier de Jong

Need a larger table surface when your friends and family visit but don't want to have a huge piece of furniture taking up your precious space all the time? The REK Expanding Coffee Table by Reinier de Jong grows as you need it to, with hidden sections that slide out in two directions. Reinier de Jong also designed a bookcase that expands to reveal extra shelves, so getting the matching set would be a really smart idea.

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Thermal Imaging Camera Attachment

Designed by: Seek Thermal

Most cell phone cameras have cool filters that are never used, but this is much more than a filter. Connect this little device and you can see thermal images as if you're a U.S. Navy Seal or one of the creatures in Predator. It's useless when you need to see things through walls or in the dark, but it's also just really cool to play around with.

Nomadic Chair

Designed by: Jorge Penadés

Heading to your favorite chill spot or queuing up for the latest streetwear drop? This cool Nomadic Chair by Jorge Penadés disassembles into small pieces that can be bundled into a handy backpack. The process is a bit involved, but not everything has to be quick in life. Also, if you're going somewhere where you need your own chair, you shouldn't be in a rush.

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Ambio Light

Designed by: Teresa van Dongen

Amsterdam-based designer Teresa van Dongen combined her knowledge of biology and design to create a lamp filled with bioluminescent bacteria taken from octopi. When tilted, the bacteria move around the tube, and the oxygen and movement causes it to glow blue.

Dyson Humidifier

Designed by: Dyson

Dyson recently introduced its first-ever humidifier, and she is a beauty. The water in the base is exposed to ultraviolet light for three minutes, which kills bacteria that other humidifiers just push into the air. One tank of water gets you up to 18 hours of humidifying action, and there are both automatic and manual settings so that you can get the air in your space exactly how you want it.

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