A twist on the traditionally dull folding chair, the ‘Cinch’ is simple to assemble, requiring no screws, glue or tools, but it also comes with a twist: a belt that buckles up to hold everything in place.

The designers from Box Clever in San Francisco note that the belt is both practical (a way to provide critical tension for structural reasons) but also a conversation starter — something to get guests curious and talking.

Coupled with the wood frame, the belt adds an aesthetic dimension, too, repurposing leather (a material often found on furniture) in a fresh way.

The idea, in part, was to build something that would look nice if left out, but that could also be taken apart and stored as needed.

In prototyping the chair, its makers played with having a keystone-like piece that would physically tie it together, but wanted to reduce complexity and ensure durability.

As a result, the final design slots together in intuitive ways, then cinches up with the simple pull of a strap. This holds the legs in place, which would otherwise be a limiting structural factor in minimizing parts and steps.

Its shape inspired by goats, the creatures that helped humans discovered coffee, this modern-day drinking horn is curved to make drinking easier and capped to let you take your java on the road.

Designed by desnahemisfera in cooperation with Equa, the Goat Story drinking device comes equipped with a leather holder to act as a heat barrier while walking or a stand while sitting.

The travel-ready cup also comes with a short and long leather carrying strap, which can also be combined to form an even longer version.

From its creators: “As easy as 1-2-3, your GOAT STORY coffee mug will be able to stand on your office desk and it will be at a hand´s reach all the time. Just take the handle off, turn it around, place the mug in it. Voila! The ergonomic shape will help you drink your coffee. Have we mentioned that it won’t fall over?”

“It comes with a cross body strap, which lets you carry your business case in one hand while replying e-mails on your phone, in between sips. Also, you can use the shorter strap to attach it to your bag or carry it around your wrist and keep your hands free.”

Providing an elegant, robust, accessible and tree-friendly alternative to ladders or branches for climbing trunks, this spiral step solution lets you scale trees without harming them.

Developed by Thor ter Kulve and Robert McIntyre, the CanopyStair uses lightweight birch plywood, adjustable ratchet straps for leveling on uneven trunks and neoprene padding for soft contact points with the tree itself.

As the creators of this system point out, tree canopies are some of the least-explored places on Earth, in some ways as mysterious as the deep oceans or outer space.

The design was inspired in part by a stay off the coast of Portugal in a place with high walls blocking views. The designers found themselves turned into tree climbers in an effort to get a better look at the surrounding vista, then trying to figure out a way to take that approach to the next level, so to speak.

A curved top tread, wooden poles and plastic guidelines all help make the experience smooth and straightforward, letting those who may not normally be able to scale trees still climb them. The team also consulted arboriculturalists to make sure their approach would not damage or harm the trees being employed. The system takes a few hours to set up and as little as 30 minutes to deconstruct.