Typically when a product or collection comes with the dubious appendage, "for Target," I scoff with the practiced aplomb of far-greater connoisseurs than I, take a sip of my mocha yerba mate, and move on. But with the recent ascendance of design-box store collaborations-most notably, the McQ collection by fashion icon Alexander McQueen-my interest piqued at the mention of "Dror for Target." Named for creator Dror Benshetrit, the artist/designer whose education and professional trajectory span from Tel Aviv to Holland to New York.

Modular storage system. Designed by Dror Benshetrit for Target.

Similarly diverse in scope, the collection is a limited edition affair that includes bedding, stationary, and "decorative accessories," this last being the umbrella category for the most interesting contribution, a modular grouping of nesting/stackable bookcases and shelves. But before getting into the intricacies of the latter, let's inquire a bit into the query that's sure to be on everybody's mind: just who is Dror? His bio offers one answer: "a designer who thrives on the origin of movement while focusing on innovation with new uses of materials, technology and shapes”; while N.Y. Magazine contributor Aric Chen offers another: "he articulates the complex meaning of objects in the simplest of ways. Their uses become part of their narratives, expressed in transformations that are both metaphorical and literal.”

While such praise may border on the high-fallutin, that doesn't mean it isn't true. And in regards to Dror's clever re-capitulation of transformable modular storage, it is that in spades. The collection of four-sided trapezoidal boxes just demands play: they inspire in me the kind of wide-eyed amusement of a kid for Tinker Toys or a first stack of wooden blocks. The texture and shape lend the pieces to easy configuration. And since they're lightweight, the nested or stacked forms can be easily dismantled to set into new incarnations. In high towers they constitute a complete wall unit-dress-able with all manner of knick-knacks and accoutrements (including books, clothing, pictures, and miscellaneous chachka); while in shorter arrangements they might feature showier items like Dror's very own stunning Rosenthal Vase of Phases.

But the best thing about Dror for Target is that it makes top design accessible to the masses. As Dror himself suggests, this collection is many-purposed, portable, and affordable, making them a top draw for city dwellers, college students, or space savers of any stripe. And on top of that, the stackable/nesting units are just plain fun, which-from another perspective-fits perfectly with Dror's claims to poetry in design through narrative and movement. Or put another way from the designer himself, "not only are these products wonderfully practical, they're engineered to create a spark of energy in the lives of their owners.

via Notcot