What is humanity made of? To each person, life has gifted unique talents, abilities and beauty. All of this is written in genetic code. Now DutchDNA enables people to express their uniqueness, to capture the most defining elements, through timeless forms.

The version of the glass-topped Darwin table pictured here was formed from the DNA of Giulia Wolthuis, a contemporary dancer and the daughter of Dutch DNA founder Eric Wolthuis. The process starts with a standard genetic profile. After being analyzed by a lab in Holland, a piece of software translates the individual’s unique genetic characteristics into personalized 3-D forms.

“Dutch DNA starts the creative process with a sample of a person’s life-code using a DNA profiling test and through the language of design plots the distinguishing genetic characteristics on a visual design map. Based on a unique design process, these beautiful and elegant forms capture the eloquent expression of life.”

Exactly how this happens isn’t entirely clear, but if you don’t like how it looks, well, sorry, but it’s really no one’s fault but your own. Or maybe your parents.

Milan 2013: Spanish designer Jaime Hayón presents aluminium and terracotta outdoor furniture designed for BD Barcelona Design in this movie. The collection went on show at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan earlier today.

The new collection, entitled Gardenias, includes cast aluminium seating in muted colours and terracotta vessels with small hoods. Armchairs and benches in the collection have slatted backs, with some extending over to form canopies. The chairs have padded seats and backs, with aluminium tubes that loop around to form armrests and flick out to create feet. “We have worked with aluminium in the way you would work with wood,” adds Hayón.

The Sweet Pot by Jeong Kim is an innovative plant pot design where the bottom basin acts as a growth patch for extra grass. Essentially the design takes care of excessive watering and drainage at the same time. More like the extra water acts like a feed for the grass patch at the bottom, hence no drains required.

Furniture creations aren’t typically the most creative pieces that get put into a home, but there are designers out there who are putting together furniture with a purpose. Aga Brzostek from Poland is proud to announce her Autumn/Winter chair that is a fashion based seat for the home.

Instead of having to drape your favorite blanket, this chair has one already built in. It’s ideal for the colder climate winters, and it’s removable cover allows for the user to remove and wash themselves as well as re-orient for the best blanket coverage. Each seat has a corner pocket for the necessities– books, small electronics, remotes, etc.

The handy Lucy Folding Table is ideal for use in homes, schools and community centers — really anywhere that this sort of furniture might be required only occasionally. The object has a set of wireframe legs that tuck into the bottom of the wooden surface, making it compact, easy to stack and ideal for keeping in storage.

There are no hinges in Alexander Lervik’s design that facilitate this simple manipulation. You’ll see that the top of each triangular support actually separates into two metal tubes, seemingly making it awkward to maneuver. This design decision actually makes the Johanson Design product much stabler while standing, but has required the carving of clever channels through it to make the Lucy Folding Table bend in such a way.

Fixed-end shelving defines the boundaries for your books with no flexibility – bookends on longer shelves, however, always feel somehow additive, sometimes fall over when moved (or stationary), and may not mingle well with your collection. There had to be a middle path – and here it is.

From creators Colleen & Eric, “Your books are no longer in danger of toppling over. Over-sized wing-nut allows bookend to slide into place and be secured wherever it’s needed. Offered in Beech, Walnut and Oak. Water based stain and all natural Shellac finish. Aluminum cube and wingnut powder-coated.”  Right now it remains a prototype, but unlike many more far-fetched and high-tech concepts, this one is a very reachable reality for the designers if there is enough interest in their work. You can vote for the Shelf to get into production here.

“Nar” is a new approach to the traditional use of a coffee table and a bookshelf. It brings together their functions to create a practical method of using both.

“Nar” can hold as many books as a conventional book shelf while adding the comfort of not loosing the page read.

Rows of thin metal sheet that line across the table are the ribs that form the structure of the table. These metal ribs carry the books as the books are hung from their bindings. They can also be used as bookmarks.

Metal plates which easily slide above these ribs and books protects the books from dust and brings forward the function of the coffee table.

The design and the materials have been kept simple so that the table becomes almost invisible when filled with books, therefore making its aesthetics more unique and personal.

Flat Time by designer Finn Magee is a poster of a digital alarm clock that is actually a functioning clock. See if you’re late, by checking the poster. Image of an alarm clock that uses a 7-segment LED display to tell the time. Flat Time is hand made in the UK in an edition of 50. It is joined by the Wood Effect version, also an edition of 50. available for pre-order at AREAWARE.

Check out the rest of the Flat Life Series.