GUI / Graphical User Interface is a re-presentation of the Adobe Photoshop interface within 3-Dimensional space. The illusion is created by using carton, photocopies, glue and sewing thread.

The humorous artwork is made by Joel Swanson who is a digital artist, writer, and researcher investigating the interconnections of literary theory, art, and technology. His work involves the creation of multimedia narratives that exist within digital space (and sometimes within carton space too).

• GUI / Graphical User Interface

What do you give someone who has everything? - problems.

Yes, in case you have run out of gift ideas or just lead a perfectly boring life, you can now buy first class problems from another person and make yourself and someone else happy at the same time.

Jake Wulff, the current owner of some serious issues, will attempt to cash in on people's apparent willingness to pay for almost anything by auctioning his problems, worries & troubles to the highest bidder on eBay.

Jake hopes to make a clean break from all his past troubles and trials, and to make the auction even more interesting, the specific nature of the problems are not even clear (although, a quick search on the web reveals that a scammer called Jake Wulff, has a pretty bad reputation on eBay).

• my problems, worries & troubles (defunct)

The panic button is a piece of computer accessory that doesn't actually do anything - other than offering a sense of relief.

The button can be stuck on the keyboard (or anywhere else) and with a little modification it can even replace one of the standard keys, thereby allowing users to interact with their computers in a more semantic, personal and humorous way.

• iwantoneofthose.com

Back in 2001 German artists Volker Morawe and Tilman Reiff created PainStation, a game which integrated real physical pain in a video game.

The game - which is based on the classic arcade game Pong - became very successful in- and outside the world of media art but copyright infringements, bleeding hands and the risk of infections and other legal issues made it difficult for the duo to continue their work, especially within the gaming-industry.

Apparently, a new optimized and infringement-free version is in development and at their website you can get a glimpse of the process. While you are there, don't miss the Hall of Pain gallery!

• www.painstation.de

BioJewellery is a collaborate design and bioengineering research project with the aim to create a ring of biologically engineered human bone tissue.

The project is currently seeking couples who would like to donate bone cells, ideally by removing a wisdom tooth. Subsequently, the cells will be prepared and seeded onto a bioactive scaffold. This pioneering material encourages the cells to divide and grow rapidly in a laboratory environment, so that the scaffold disappears and is replaced by living bone tissue.

After the cells have grown it will be designed as of a pair of rings, so that each has a ring made with the tissue of their partner.

So far, a prototype has been made using a combination of cow marrow-bone and etched silver. Interested in the real thing? Sign up at BioJewellery's website.

• www.biojewelry.co.uk

SeeFree is a Visual Spam Blocking System™ that removes unwanted elements from your sight.

The system is designed for those who are fed up with the commercialization and visual pollution of public spaces.

The special high-tech glasses from SeeFree provides users with the ability to see the world without billboards, signs and other commercial visual spam.

• see-free.com

A few years ago Spanish Designer Marti Guixe, produced the 'branded food' series. A concept that was featured in international magazines and exhibitions but apparently without attracting much corporate interest.

Guixe suggested that multinational companies such as Calvin Klein, IBM and Fujitsu would sponsor food so that people could eat for free and avoid the stress of having to provide food.

It still sounds like a good idea.

• http://www.guixe.com

'Appliances of the future' was a design challenge by Electrolux to students around the world.

The students were challenged to design products for a daring, but not too distant, future of the year 2015. The concepts could be free from the constraints of tradition, but should be innovative and build on in-depth research into consumer needs within four product areas: cooking, laundry, refrigeration and dishwashing.

At the Electrolux Design Laboratory 2004 event in New York City eight of the results were exhibited, among them the winning concept 'Electrolux Rockpool' - a waterless dishwasher that combines a waterless cleaning technology with a simple user interface. Carbon dioxide is used in a closed loop operation to clean the dishes.

• abc.net.au

Danish Architecture - and Design for that matter - is not exactly known for its strange and crazy concepts but rather for its cool style and quality.

As an attempt to reinvent this slightly boring identity that hasn't been cultivated much since the 40's, The Danish Architecture Centre asked Canadian Designer Bruce Mau for some help. Connected by the idea that Denmark was a corporation, Mau came up with a list of challenges that seven Danish agencies were asked to conceptualize.

The motto was: 'Too Perfect – 7 New Denmarks and the result was exhibited at the 9th international Architecture Biennale in Venice.

Illustration: Do five million people need more than one port? Superharbour by studio PLOT integrates all Danish harbours in one, thereby creating city and housing areas worh a total of 20 billion euros.

• www.tooperfect.dk

City of Tomorrow is a site with a collection of imagery and links of how the City of Tomorrow has been perceived since 1939.

As the site illustrates, it is not always that difficult to foresee new technologies and shapes but to foresee and illustrate social change is a different matter. E.g. imaginative illustrators and trend forecasters of the 30/40's could easliy envision new high-tech appliances and wireless technologies - but failed to envision the women as an individual - outside the kitchen and with a life of her own.

• City of Tomorrow