Throwing away those credit card offers, bank statements and other personal mail without shredding it all first is a risky proposition. Maybe that’s alright for the gamblers out there, but we prefer to keep our identifying info safe and obscured. The problem with having a document shredder in the office is that they’re super-ugly and using them once a month doesn’t seem to justify the cost.

The impossibly adorable Manual Shredder designed by IDEA International is a totally different aesthetic for the document destroyer. It’s powered entirely by a hand crank so it’s quiet, and its plastic construction makes it look more like a kids’ toy than a serious office tool. But make not mistake: this cross-shredder really does tear it up when you need it to.

We can deal with the $42 price tag since this shredder can slide right onto the bookshelf or even sit right out on the desk without looking really unpleasant. The cranking arm folds down flat, allowing the shredder to look just like a small plastic box when not in use. Plus it comes in a variety of colors, including pink – so if you must outfit your home office to look like a cotton candy dreamscape, you won’t have to compromise on account of a stodgy old document shredder.

The post Hand-Powered Minimalist Shredder Destroys Papers in Style first appeared on Gajitz.

Despite the miniaturization of most technology objects, printers still seem to be big, bulky, ugly machines that take up way too much room on desks. The Circle printer is a concept from Yang Jae Wook that would let casual home users print the occasional document without completely overpowering the home office.

Rather than the traditional boxy appearance, the Circle is sleek and cylindrical. It stands on its side, so it takes up far less room than any other printer. And maybe best of all, it looks like a high-end vase or piece of art sitting on your desk.

The Circle is clearly not for heavy-duty users – it can’t hold more than a few sheets of paper at a time. But for home users it would be so much nicer to look at than the typical printer.

The post Petite Printer Concept Looks Like a Piece of Fine Desktop Art first appeared on Gajitz.