Talk about distracting. If you have even a mild case of ADD, this probably isn’t for you. The Play Ground Play Table, designed by Jin-woog Koo, director of the Nothing Design Group, functions as either a table or a desk – but getting work done would be nearly impossible. It’s in direct conflict with sleek monolithic tabletops, ideal for optimizing workplace efficiency. Koo’s Play Ground Play Table practically begs you to monitor fish and evaluate plant growth – so unless these are your current work duties, plan on longer work days.

Play Ground Play Table. Designed by Nothing Design Group.

The beautifully compartmentalized tabletop manages to incorporate ‘fish bowls’, fields of grass and ‘potted’ plants alongside traditional storage space. The table surface is predominantly open with a freely moving transparent acrylic glass providing a work surface (ball bearings set into the table top ensure that it rolls easily). While I like plants (preferably the kind that require minimal maintenance), I’m not a fan of fish (I had some as a child and the mother fish ate it’s baby…which apparently is not uncommon). Regardless, I can understand how watching them while you work could be fairly entertaining. In effect, the table is composed of a multitude of items to “play” with, hence the name.

It’s not the most practical invention in the world – but that’s not the point. The Nothing Design Group creates poetic and narrative designs that playfully address the relationship between people and their environment. “Fish in the sky”, at the Droog Event 2 Urban Play was a collection of beautiful transparent wind vanes in the shape of fishes (a shoal of Dutch herring, to be precise), floating in the wind from high flagpoles along the riverfront. The flagpoles resembled fishing rods so that the fish seemed to be ‘caught’ while swimming in the sky. Miniature versions were given out to the public and attached to bicycles, balconies or car antennas, so that the fish quickly multiplied – and took over the city! A similar theme is evident within through with their ‘Cloud Mug’, a china mug made of white enamel perforated with small cloud shapes. As light shines through the tiny punctures, the clouds become visible. Drink your morning coffee and dream of the sky.

Nothing Design Group is creating experiences rather than standard furniture and spaces. According to their website, “Nothing Design Group with Eastern ideological foundation has a purpose to study the form and the formless contents.”