The Formfjord 'Ruhrsteine' pebble is a packaged concrete pebble made for the ultimate stone-skipping enthusiast. Designers Fabian Baumann and Sönke Hoof were influenced by the German language, which has 1,000 words for "skipping rocks." Cast from real stone, the pebbles are collected from the side of the Rhur river.
Each Formfjord 'Ruhrsteine' pebble is encrusted with a "throw-away-symbol" that claims to make the tosser happy once the stone is flung--its only practical use. I wonder if the Berlin-based design team ever re-collects one of their manmade stones while searching for new material.
Mystical Packaged Pebbles
The Formfjord 'Ruhrsteine' Pebble Gets Our Rocks Off
Trend Themes
1. Packaged Concrete Pebbles - Opportunity for creating unique and curated gift items for stone-skipping enthusiasts.
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3. Throw-away-symbols - Exploring the use of symbolic elements that add emotional value to products, even if their practical use is limited.
Industry Implications
1. Gift and Novelty - Creating and selling unique and specialized gift items for niche hobbies and interests.
2. Product Design - Incorporating language and cultural influences into product designs to create a deeper connection with consumers.
3. Emotional Marketing - Using symbolic elements to evoke emotions and create a stronger bond between consumers and products.