"Characterized Design - extracting the essential qualities of things and restructuring them."

& Design, which is a 4 person design collective from Japan, has come up with a collection that aims to have no borders between graphic and product. The designs are familiar icons that take on their literal meaning in product form, while maintaining the graphic simplicity of its 2D design in 3D.

The Extension Cord illustrates its function on the socket exterior. The Bird Alarm gently awakens you with its gentle bird song, and the Power Switch controls devices with a wireless connection. But my favorite piece by far is the Icon watch. The watch face is stripped down to its pixel element and looks surprisingly modern.

Check out all the designs on the & Design website.

via Big Perk.