Twice a month we’re inviting one of the Design Milk team members to share five personal favorites – an opportunity for each of us to reveal the sort of designs we love and appreciate in our own lives from a more personal perspective. Senior Contributing Editor Vy Yang joins this week for our Take 5 series.
1. Trinket Pools by Shistine
I already have more catchalls than surfaces to put them on, but these glossy, candy-toned trays by Shistine have me reconsidering my limits. Measuring just 4.25″ × 3″ × 1″, each mini polymer clay “pool” is the perfect place to toss in your tiniest treasures – no water required. I especially love the playful color combos that make these trays feel like pop-art sculptures rather than functional storage.
2. Hearth Display
As a mom of three (plus a newly adopted rescue pup!), I get the occasional “how do you juggle it all?” compliment. The truth? Sheer luck – and a brain that somehow remembers at least 85% of our family’s schedule. But the Hearth Display might finally give my overworked nervous system a break. This sleek, wall-mounted digital display syncs effortlessly with calendars, to-do lists, and chore charts, helping everyone stay on the same page. It’s beautifully designed, blending smart functionality with clean aesthetics – no soulless, corporate vibes here.
3. Pretty Good Boy
A lot has changed since I last had a furry family member five years ago. Today’s pet gear is thoughtful, design-forward, and way better looking. One of my favorite new discoveries is Pretty Good Boy, a Los Angeles-based small business that curates conscious, sustainable, and modern dog goods. From locally-sourced single-ingredient treats to cleverly designed toys and minimalist accessories, their shop reads like the cool general store of your pup’s dreams, aka exactly how I want to shop for my newest family member.
4. Les Monets Sculptures
These Les Monets wooden flower sculptures by Jantien Baas – freelance art director for Studio Roof that created the ever-charming Atelier Toit – occupy my mind on a near-weekly basis. Crafted from birch plywood and finished with water-based paints, they would fit perfectly in our playroom-slash-craft room as a nod to childlike wonder and the whimsical imagination of kids. With bold colors and graphic, cut-out forms, they nod to Matisse, yet unmistakably channel Monet in their painterly, floral abstraction.
5. @pavlovpulus
Scrolling through Pablo Azócar’s Instagram (@pavlovpulus) feels like stepping into a fever dream – in the best way. The Chilean artist blends pen, paper, AI, and machine to create hypnotic visuals that dance between analog and algorithm. The gradient-soaked color palettes, warped geometry, and mind-bending patterns practically pulse off the screen, and his song of choice paired with every post makes you scroll further into his mesmerizing world.
