Katerina Kamprani is a designer who loves to mess with our minds by creating everyday objects that are completely impractical. Her project, "The Uncomfortable," is all about taking things we use every day, like a chair or a spoon, and redesigning them to be almost impossible to use. Imagine a rain boot with a hole in it or a cup that spills your drink. Katerina’s funny and clever designs make us laugh and think at the same time.
What makes Katerina’s work so interesting is how it gets us to question the way we look at ordinary objects. By turning familiar things into strange, unusable versions, she challenges us to see the world in a new way and think about how design affects our daily lives. Her creations aren’t just funny—they also make us appreciate good design and maybe even start conversations about how important it is in our everyday routines.
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#1 Chain Fork
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
Katerina Kamprani aims to break down the unnoticed design of everyday objects and change their basic features to surprise and amuse people. She also hopes that through her work, people will gain a deeper appreciation for how complex even the simplest objects can be.
#2 The Uncomfortable Rain Boots
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#3 The Uncomfortable Ruler
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
The journey into creating uncomfortable objects began around 2010. Kamprani explained that it started right after she completed a design postgraduate program, though it was never something she truly enjoyed. Before getting into design, she was studying architecture, but being an architect comes with a lot of responsibilities—and Kamprani admits she really hates responsibility.
"I always wanted to be playful. I was going to start design because it’s more playful, more fun. When I went to study design, the teachers warned me that there’s even more responsibility, because you have to create things people actually use. And when you think of design, it’s not just the quirky art I had in mind—quirky chairs and weird things—it’s about the things we use every day. That was eye-opening for me because I always thought design was just a fun way to play with materials, shapes, and forms."
#4 Long Mug
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#5 The Uncomfortable Wine Glass
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
After finishing her postgraduate program, Kamprani started taking design more seriously but felt frustrated, thinking she might never become a designer. Then, one day, she imagined an uncomfortable situation and thought, "That's it, I'll design things that are meant to be uncomfortable."
At that time, the most important lesson Kamprani learned about design was user experience—that an item should be comfortable and easy to use. "I thought, what if I make it difficult? Then I have no responsibility; I’m doing whatever I want. That was liberating, and I just kept doing it."
#6 Ball Glasses
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#7 The Uncomfortable Chair
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
These days, many people are excited about innovation, but Kamprani aims to shift the focus to the everyday, conventional things that we often take for granted. "I like it when things take a funny or ironic turn!”
#8 The Uncomfortable Key
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#9 The Uncomfortable Watering Can
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#10 Owl Glasses
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#11 Side Eye Glasses
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#12 Thick Button
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#13 The Slingshot Needle
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#14 Hourglass Salt & Pepper Shakers
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#15 Slipper Spoon
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#16 The Uncomfortable Toothbrush
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#17 Concrete Umbrella
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#18 The Uncomfortable Briki
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#19 The Uncomfortable Teapot
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#20 Inflatable Doorknob
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#21 The Uncomfortable Champagne Glasses
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#22 Hoop Chair
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#23 Forking Fork
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#24 The Uncomfortable Peg
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
#25 The Uncomfortable Double Mug
Image credits: katerina.kamprani
