Field Notes
It struck me how brilliantly “designed” it was, yet we’d never think of it that way. Design is often associated with names, brands, and deliberate intent. But some of the most effective designs are anonymous, shaped not by designers but by necessity. This wasn’t an invention; it was an adaptation. Someone needed a better way to carry eggs, so they made one.
Many of the most enduring designs aren’t what we typically call “designed.” They aren’t in showrooms. They weren’t drawn up by someone with a title, then manufactured at scale. They emerge out of need, shaped by everyday problem-solvers who aren’t looking for recognition, just a way to make things work.
There is a general perception that only things that look designed—cool, fashionable, or tied to a name—are truly designed. But some of the most useful things exist without an author. They belong to no one yet to everyone, slipping into the background precisely because they work so well.
I find myself drawn more and more to these anonymously designed objects. Tools, structures, and artefacts created not to be seen, but simply to function. (Which, given our studio’s name, feels fitting.)
What if the most thoughtful and enduring designs weren’t found in galleries but in the unnoticed corners of our world—markets, streets, and homes—born out of necessity, not recognition?
These objects are all around us, quietly serving a purpose. Once you start noticing them, you see them everywhere.
Found is a new series of field notes on what can be learned from the objects around us.
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Felix Ng
Co-founder, Anonymous
@felix.anonymous