Industrial designer Henry Caird’s premise is straightforward: when he can’t find what he’s looking for, he makes it. It’s an ethos that has proved particularly successful, with Oddthing’s growing collection of unique objects quickly becoming cult favourites.
Oddthing’s products often answer questions we didn’t quite know we were asking. Take the Display Book Stand, for example, a wing-like wedge of aluminium that treats a book like a functional sculpture; or the Simple Soap Bottle Shelf, a slimline bracket that elegantly suspends bottles rather than shelving them. Then there’s The Long Light, which is modular by design and fits over kitchen islands of any size.
“My design process often starts with an interaction, something noticed in everyday use, or a passing comment. Sometimes, it’s spotting a chance to improve a space or exploring a manufacturing technique to form an object in a unique way. From there, I refine those ideas into simple, functional products that can be made in low volumes here in Auckland, New Zealand,” Henry explains.
Arguably the most iconic of the brand’s offerings to date are the Wiggle Wall Hanger and the Chris Cross Coffee Table. A playful take on everyday utility, the Wiggle Wall Hanger brings character to the humble hook. Whether it’s coats in the hallway, towels in the bathroom, or hats, scarves, and shirts in between — this wriggly line is ready to hold it all. Crafted from powder-coated aluminium, it’s tough enough for the outdoors as well as being moisture-resistant for bathrooms. Each hanger comes with matching screws and wall anchors for a tidy, tone-on-tone finish.
The Chris Cross Coffee Table is equally joyful. Low-slung and sculptural, it plays with balance and form. The intersecting base gives the piece its name — a graphic X crafted from 5mm-thick aluminium that anchors the minimalist top — while the aluminium construction keeps things light in both look and feel. Finished in a durable powder coat, the table’s clean silhouette works as a quiet centrepiece or a refined supporting act in any space.
Each piece from Oddthing speaks to something playful while presenting unexpected utility with a generous dose of eccentricity.
WIN a Chris Cross Coffee Table in a colour of your choice, valued at $899!
The runner up will win a Wiggle Wall Hanger in either the 3, 6 or 11-hook version in a colour of choice.
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