Life Box

Seed-infused cardboard ups the sustainability of shipping

Fungi expert Paul Stamets’ Life Box infuses cardboard with seeds for a plantable shipping container. Simply tear up the box, bury it in the ground and water the area to get various forms of vegetation to sprout. Made from recycled paper and printed with soy-based inks, the box contains about 100 tree seeds that have mycorrhizal fungal spores. Trees and fungi live in a symbiotic …

VeikYndi

An Icelandic series of stuffed monsters designed to help sick children feel better

VeikYndi (Icelandic for “SickNices”) are the offbeat monsters created by Reykjavik-based graphic designer Hildur Hermanns. Like a psychedelic version of Care Bears, Hermanns designed the plush characters to cheer up sick children. She came up with the concept as part of her graduation project from the esteemed Iceland Academy of the Arts, and hopes to see them fully developed into a cartoon one day. Each …

Microplane Easy Prep Vegetable Peelers

Cone-shaped veggie peelers make food prep easy

From the makers of chef-approved graters, Microplane‘s peelers skip traditional handles for a cone-shaped palm grip. The ergonomic design not only means they’re more comfy to use, but adds functionality for righties and lefties alike. Other features include a soft touch coating and sharp stainless steel blades help that make food prep chores easier too, and a built-in end piece removes blemishes and helps with …