Form meets function in this sleek water-saving faucet design that uses a system of turbines to create variegated flows of different kinds, each also reducing the water output at any given time. This so-called Swirl Faucet was designed Simin Qiu, a student at London’s Royal College of Art.

The design is meant to be both visually pleasing but also quite functional – a button-touch interface lets you change settings quickly and easily.

Meanwhile, each configuration creates a slightly different lattice-like pattern reminiscent of DNA or fractals – definitely well-suited to a semi-public space like a kitchen but equally useful in a bathroom.

An attractive alternative to traditional spouts, the sleek look was the product of a great deal of sketching and design development – it reduces water usage by 15% or more as currently conceived but could also be further optimized for additional savings.