12 Ping Pong Innovations

Whether you refer to it as ping pong or table tennis, this simple game has enchanted designers in nearly every genre.

In the slideshow below, you'll read about everything from DIY lighting made from old ping pong balls to 12-player ping pong tables.

Implications - The recession forced many families back indoors for evening entertainment, which helped revive non-digital pursuits such as table games and board games. As a sport that's easy to pick up and difficult to master, ping pong is an ideal family game; designers have updated its classic aesthetic with luxury ping-pong tables, bigger playing surfaces for large families, and even pop-up tables perfect for small spaces.