That Personal Touch

Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 By JO BAKER

TUNE IN, TURN ON: wouter Geense's DIY radio

GEENSE DESIGN STUDIO

Article Tools

Reprints

Want to release your inner designer? See yourself as a budding Tom Dixon or Philippe Starck? Then you'll love the household accessories on this page, each meant to be customized by its owner. If you can't resist the urge to twiddle and tweak?but aren't into building things from scratch?there's a DIY designer goody for you.

Twisted Transistor Talk about a blank canvas. This retro FM radio from Dutch studio wouter Geense won't even function until properly adorned. Grab a hanger for the antenna, trinkets for the volume and tuning knobs and drill your own set of holes for the speaker. Then sit back and enjoy the static. woutergeense.nl

Lego-like Furniture These award-winning tables and cabinets, by London-based designer Olivier Droillard, are assembled from multicolored fiberboard boxes with drawers and lids that can be stacked to suit your living space. Choose from suggested combinations or take creative control by nominating the size and height of the pieces, as well as the finish and function of each box. Just don't forget which one you left your keys in. olivierandco.com

A Lamp with Locks If you fancy your chances as a hair stylist, but can't find anyone rash enough to volunteer as a model, this hanging lamp is the answer. The brainchild of young Austrian designers Monica Singer and Marie Rahm, the lamp is made from strips of polyester film and comes packaged with a pair of scissors so you can snip it into shape. Just take a little off the sides, please. polkaproducts.com

Pliable Pots These malleable vases seem almost claylike in texture, but in fact are composed of flexible steel coils sandwiched between aluminum skins. They come from Italian designer Giovanni Pellone, and can be molded according to your mood?straight one moment, kinky the next. uptoyoutoronto.com