The Sling-IT desk by Peter Leslie is inspired by the traditions of the writing desk but is adapted for modern lifestyles. Recognising that the needs of the user and space have changed dramatically, this modern writing desk offers a large, versatile work surface and two storage systems aimed at improving and increasing its use. Made from timber, the desk has a leather storage pocket and laptop sling to house personal objects, keeping them close at hand but clear of the…

To-gather by Minsung Lee is a double-sided park bench that provides a variety of seating options. Made from oak, the double-sided bench offers a flexible way of sitting with others and attracts interest thanks to its unusual shape. Intended to promote communication and interaction, the To-gather bench allows people to sit in a way that is more flexible and social, a good place to rest body and mind for a while. www.minsunglee.com

Eliza Bott’s series of earthenware vases explore the properties of a vase and provoke the question of how we identify and define the objects around us. Three sets of vases explore these properties. The pictured set was pre-fired and dropped from different heights, distorting the classic form of the vase to varying degrees. In another set, the vases were cut down until little remained and in the third set pieces were cut out from the vase bodies, so they became…

The Show-off by Edward Taylor is the result of an investigation into how people store their clothes. It recognises the desire to show off key garments or accessories while supplying closed storage for less favoured items, or simply providing an alternative storage solution to the floor or a chair back. Constructed from oak, walnut, laminate and ply, the Show-off provides the missing link between formal and informal clothing storage. www.edwardtaylor.info

Jenny Oughton’s dining table features a central serving area made of Corian which provides a heat-resistant strip, so dishes can be placed straight on to the table. Within the Corian strip, placemats are located for easy access when setting the table; the placemats are available in 80 different colours. The benches have a hinged lid providing additional storage for spare place settings and table clutter. www.jennyoughton.co.uk

The Emotive Office System by Michael Tawadrous is versatile and customisable due to its removable shelves and drawers, which can be quickly packed up and transformed into a carry case. The shelves are designed to be practical as well as a way of putting a personal touch into the workplace; they can be used to display family photographs and other items. www.tawadrousdesign.com

A stone’s throw from the train station in a surprisingly gritty area of Chichester I find design company BroomeJenkins inhabiting what appears to be some converted holiday chalets. Company founder and director Barry Jenkins greets me at the door. He is neatly dressed in ironed shirt and slacks, but I don’t get the feeling this is for my benefit. In modern parlance, Jenkins is old school, having been in the design industry in one form or another since 1979. But…

It’s easy to take the mick out of a company like Innocent. Its yummy-yum-yum marketing spiel is patronising, as is the fun wobbly font on its website. But ever since I discovered that cider doesn’t count as one of your five a day, Innocent Smoothies have become a regular feature in my diet. And I’m not alone. Founded in west London in 1998 by three friends, the company’s rise has been meteoric. Today, Innocent claim to sell 2m fruit smoothies…

Who doesn’t love a bit of colour, eh? The new office for fashion group Fabric Retail is awash with it. Red, yellow, green, blue, white, black, grey – all are hues to be found in varying degrees of intensity in this new workplace in central Gothenburg. The space sits within a three-storey, early-20th-century building, which has been spruced up to house a trio of companies that are part of the H&M group. The inspiration for the scheme, says Catharina Frankander,…

At Glas Italia’s Lombardy headquarters, customers are led to the company’s furniture collection through a building so filled with daylight that no electric light is needed here during the day. After they’ve passed along the last bright minimalist corridor, the sales assistant will turn a handle and they will be ushered into a contrasting, black-painted space, full of the manufacturer’s glass furniture.  Export manager Flavio Parlato calls this “a sacred space,” explaining that the extra-clear glass used in the products…