Take 5: Artful JELL-O Shots, an Upgraded Incense Burner + More
Twice a month we’re inviting one of the Design Milk team members to share five personal favorites – an opportunity for each of us to reveal the sort of designs we love and appreciate in our own lives from a more personal perspective. Director of Branded Content Kelly Beall returns this week for our Take 5 series.
1. Solid Wiggles
I’ve been following Solid Wiggles since they first popped up in my Instagram feed more than a year ago. How could you not take notice of these little cubes of edible art?! These are the JELL-O shots you actually want to take because they’re as delicious as they are Instagrammable. Solid Wiggle has been creating handcrafted cubes and “jelly cakes” since 2020, when the brand was founded by pastry chef Jena Derman and master mixologist Jack Schramm. Choose from a menu of delicious boozy and non-boozy party treats if you’re based in New York City, and the jelly cakes are available to ship nationwide in the US.
Photo: Courtesy of Olivia Snow Ceramics
2. Pebble Lighter by Olivia Snow Ceramics
This handmade ceramic table lighter/ashtray combo was designed in collaboration between interior design firm Maison Ko and Olivia Snow Ceramics. I didn’t immediately realize it had vintage roots, but soon found out when my mom stopped by and saw it on my coffee table, exclaiming that she hadn’t seen one since the 1970s. The updated version features a clay base – the ashtray with rest notches – and a chrome lighter insert that can be removed and refilled. Pebble’s weight is substantial in your palm and measures in at around 4.25″ x 3″. Choose from two colors: Yin, a brown clay body with satin black glaze, and Yang, a cream clay unglazed body.
Photo: Courtesy of L’Objet
3. Kérylos Eau de Parfum by Jean-Claude Ellena + L’OBJET
Warm, citrusy, and bright, Kérylos’ scent is a blend of aromatic yuzu, mandarin, and grapefruit, with white musks, sandalwood, and wild herbs. It’s an olfactory interpretation of the Mediterranean’s landscapes, created by L’Objet founder and creative director, Elad Yifrach, and master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena. Beyond the scent, the packaging reflects the attention to detail, with a handcrafted wood cap and beautiful blue glass bottle. We can’t all head to Capri this summer, but maybe we can pretend.
Photo: Courtesy of Phaidon
4. I love it. What is it?: The power of instinct in design and branding by Turner Duckworth and Gyles Lingwood
You can take the girl away from the worlds of advertising and graphic design, but you can’t take them out of her. Both have helped lead me to my current position at Design Milk, and I can’t help but pay attention. Design Agency Turner Duckworth has gathered a book of stories and advice: ‘I love it. What is it?’, from those who work with the world’s biggest brands, no design firm has worked with quite as many. The pages include their unique outlook and philosophies told through a series of essays, think pieces, and 150 illustrations that explore the importance of instinct in creating successful brands that stick.
Photo: Courtesy of Houseplant
5. Gloopy Incense Burner Bundle from Houseplant
If you haven’t already, maybe it’s time to consider upgrading from the wooden ski-shaped incense burner you’ve had since college to something more interesting. Handcrafted in porcelain by Felt + Fat, the turquoise blue dome and coral pink blobs make this burner art in its own right. The limited-edition piece is designed for use with both bamboo incense sticks and charcoal cones and comes with ten of each in Scent 1, with top notes of bergamot, lemon, and cardamom; mid notes of nutmeg, jasmine, and cypress; and base notes of amber, sandalwood, and smoked birch. And as a little bonus, the airflow notches also act as rests when turned upside-down.
