100 Blue Containers

100 Blue Containers, 2010
Lot: #3294 (90 flower pots), #1593-90/97 (6 grey wooden trays), #PH09-378 (4 metal trays)

Ceramic, metal or wood container + flock coating

Droog rescued 100 plain blue plastic containers and gave them a luxurious twist with a soft, flocked coating. The transformation turned utilitarian storage into tactile design — everyday boxes suddenly inviting touch and attention. 100 Blue Containers plays with perception, showing how a simple surface change can shift an object from the shelf to the spotlight.

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Droog bought 5,135 leftover items from Dutch liquidation auctions: everything from handkerchiefs and dog baskets to mirrors and salt shakers. They invited 14 designers to “revive” the lots into a collection of 19 products, each sold in editions limited by the size of the lot, and launched the result during Salone del Mobile, Milan, 2010.

The concept was accompanied by a short manifesto (about re-directing creative energy and redesigning lifecycles) and a charming “new owner” photo campaign that documented each purchaser right after checkout.