All an illusion: Storage design distorts perspective

08 : 04 : 2013 Office : Tables : Iceland

Iceland – Icelandic designer Thorunn Arnadottir has created a set of storage units that look natural and yet are made from artificial materials, causing disorientation.

Designers are increasingly playing with different textures and materials, masquerading them as something they are not, as we reported in our Haptic Illusion Inspire. They are also embracing simple materials and utilitarian designs as we reported in our Uni-Forms Inspire.

The items in Arnadottir’s Berg collection are in three sizes and can be used as storage boxes, stools or low tables. They all have a geometric shape that resembles the rough structure of icebergs and the basalt columns that are common in Iceland. The three shades of grey used on the boxes accentuate the geometric shapes and create a disorientating effect whereby the viewer does not know exactly what the objects are or what they are made of. 

The grey colouring also gives the items a marble effect, creating the illusion of a natural aesthetic when in fact they are made from MDF and fake-stone veneer.

Discover More Daily Signals
Irn-Bru turns its girders jingle into a World Cup anthem

Daily Signals

Irn-Bru turns its girders jingle into a World Cup anthem

Irn-Bru has re-imagined its 1980s Made in Scotland from Girders jingle as an anthem for the Tartan Army ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Drink : Advertising : National Pride
What Google Maps’ collaboration with Dua Lipa tells us about the future of discovery

Daily Signals

What Google Maps’ collaboration with Dua Lipa tells us about the future of discovery

Google has partnered with editorial platform Service95 and its founder, pop star Dua Lipa, to bring celebrity-led travel recommendations directly i...
Travel : Culture : Discovery
Stat: Why micromobility is outpacing forecasts

Daily Signals

Stat: Why micromobility is outpacing forecasts

According to McKinsey & Co, Europe’s micromobility market reached an estimated £52.5bn ($70bn, €60.8bn) in 2025, exceeding the consultancy’s ea...
Society : Mobility : Statistic
Burberry celebrates the rituals of football fandom in new campaign

Daily Signals

Burberry celebrates the rituals of football fandom in new campaign

Burberry is putting football fans front and centre in its autumn 2026 campaign, A Good Sport.
Fashion : Luxury : Sport
Fields Good brings flavour to functional nutrition

Daily Signals

Fields Good brings flavour to functional nutrition

Austin cookie start-up Fields Good has launched with £1.3m ($1.8m, €1.5m) of funding led by Female Founders Fund.
Food : Functional Nutrition : Flavours
Stat: TikTok overtakes stress as top sleep disruptor for Gen Z

Daily Signals

Stat: TikTok overtakes stress as top sleep disruptor for Gen Z

New research shows that 60.1% of Gen Z report TikTok snacking – eating while scrolling in the evening – with 47.9% using TikTok or social...
Sleep : Snacking : Statistic
Visual: Hilton Launches Undergraduate by Hilton, Accelerating Lifestyle Portfolio Growth

Daily Signals

Visual: Hilton Launches Undergraduate by Hilton, Accelerating Lifestyle Portfolio Growth

Travel : Placemaking
Undergraduate by Hilton bets on college-town hospitality

Daily Signals

Undergraduate by Hilton bets on college-town hospitality

Hilton is expanding its lifestyle portfolio with Undergraduate by Hilton, a new upper-midscale hotel brand for college and university locations. Bu...
Travel : Hospitality : College
Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, principal strategic foresight analyst

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, principal strategic foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, principal strategic fores...
Foresight Friday : Beauty : Makeup
Stat: Gaming industry reaches 212m people, with nearly two-thirds of Americans playing weekly

Daily Signals

Stat: Gaming industry reaches 212m people, with nearly two-thirds of Americans playing weekly

A new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) shows that video gaming’s mainstream popularity is continuing to grow. Two-thirds (6...
Gaming : Streaming : Leisure
You have 2 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN