Five Finds is a monthly collection of five inspiring things we deemed worthy of sharing. If you’d like inspiration in your inbox each month sign up here.

A May muddle

This month’s finds are a random collection of objects, stories and ideas with some sweet soul music thrown in for good measure. Dig in!

Everything in the studio is a work-in-progress at the moment and not ready to show just yet. Instead I thought I’d share a little personal project of some custom patches I’ve made for a yearly camping trip with friends. Tell me you’re a designer without telling me you’re a designer…

Lastly, a big welcome to new subscribers. There have been quite a few sign ups recently so welcome and thanks! If you want to, check back through the online archive for previous issues.

I’m off to polish my walking boots.

Keith / Founder

A modern chair with a light-colored, textured frame and a slatted back and seat sits on a light-colored floor against a textured wall. Natural light illuminates the chair from the side. — Image: © Sungai Design

River plastic products

Sungai Design are on a mission to up-cycle Bali river plastic into beautiful, long-lasting products to help fund river cleanups around the world. Born from 2,000 plastics bags rescued in Indonesia’s rivers the Ombak Lounger is a thing of beauty.

Find out more →

Dark-themed digital text displays a dialogue exchange with options for user interaction. — Image: Screenshot from AI Dungeon

Choose your own AI-dventure

AI Dungeon is a text-based, AI generated fantasy simulation with infinite possibilities. Pick a character, world or scenario and dive straight into a unique storyline that you can direct and star in.

Start your story →

A close-up of a blue and white patterned textile or knitted fabric. The letters are formed by alternating stripes of blue and white. — Image: © Rüdiger Schlömer

Knit one, kern one

Designer Rüdiger Schlömer combines type and textiles in his project Typeknitting. Projects include workshops, patterns, prototypes, manuals, books and hand or machine knit editions. There is even a free pattern for his type blanket if you’re handy with the ol’ needles.

See more typeknits →

A green branch with berries stands in a clear, reflective puddle on a light gray surface. — Image: © YOY

Blooming puddle

Tokyo-based design studio YOY have created ‘Puddle’, a vase for a flower stem that uses surface tension to look like a real puddle. Smart!

Via: Spoon & Tamago

See more puddles →

A person with blonde hair wearing headphones and a brown and white plaid shirt is DJing in a record store. The store has shelves of vinyl records, speakers, and customers browsing in the background. — Image: Still from *‘Sunday Vibes with Seprock, Aunteh K, Funky Brewster (all vinyl)’*

Sunday soul

Okay, so now I want to go to Honolulu and hang out in Aloha Got Soul. Their YouTube channel was shared with me last week and I haven’t stopped listening since. Seriously I’ve wasted too much time watching the footage of strangers spinning decks! If you need nearly three hours of soulful deep cuts, look no further.

Hear for yourself →

Studio news
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Camp Dads

Each year four friends and I organise a weekend camping holiday (affectionately know as Camp Dads). It’s become a tradition that I design commemorative patches for each one as a memento of the trip. This year it’s year five and we’re climbing a mountain.

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