Awesome Stuff: Unconventional Christmas

Innovation

from the tis-the-season dept

The holidays are almost here, so for this week’s awesome stuff, we’re looking at some innovative or just plain unconventional Christmas crowdfunding campaigns.

AURA: Wireless Christmas Lights

Wireless power could change the word, but it’s still nowhere near that point — so for now, you’ll have to settle for it changing your Christmas tree. The AURA system consists of a transmitter ring that hides near the base of the tree, and a set of wirelessly-powered LED baubles to hang on the rest of it. In a cool design choice, the ornaments showcase their internal circuitry rather than hiding it away. And, of course, the whole thing is controllable via smartphone.

The Krampus Beer Stein

Krampus — the Germanic folk monster that traditionally accompanies St. Nick, doling out punishment where gifts are undeserved — has been undergoing something of a cultural renaissance online, with a new generation latching on to the dark side of Christmas mythology. The Krampus Beer Stein is just one of several Krampus items I’ve seen around this season, but it’s one of the coolest, featuring detailed original artwork by legendary illustrator Mitch O’Connell.

Minimal Nativity Scene

While the rebirth of the Krampus is a new trend in Christmas decor, the nativity scene is one of the oldest. This minimalist take on the classic might appear to be some sort of snide religious critique (and might raise more money from the online community if it were), but in fact it’s a design experiment inspired by the artist’s lifelong fascination with popular depictions of Biblical figures in ornaments and consumer products. Why, she wondered, is Mary’s dress always blue? Why is the baby Jesus always blonde? Why do the staple design choices change from country to country? Who makes these decisions, and how? Her response: an ultra-simplified nativity scene consisting of ten labelled blocks of beech wood.

Filed Under: awesome stuff, christmas, crowdfunding, holiday