City Objects is a pattern library for the physical world, browsable by object and country. For those more digitally-inclined, it’s similar to Pttrns or Little Big Details but for the physical world. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather a place for objects that show an interesting detail or point of view.

My name is Nikki Sylianteng and I’m an interaction designer. My parents run a 100-year-old building in Old Manila and are constantly faced with everyday design problems. “How do we draw people in?” “Where can people park their bikes?” In these situations, I always start by asking “How have others solved this?” “How should we think about this instead?” I study past attempts and take what’s useful because good ideas are a shameful thing to waste. I thought there should be a reference library of good design from around the world that anyone can learn from and apply to their own everyday problems.

Here are some of my favorites:

• this amazing little basket delivery system from Istanbul
• these universally friendly stairs in Japan I’ve decided to call ‘rampstairs’
• these swiveling traffic lights in Spain

The more examples you see, the more you’ll realize that it’s the thinking behind these objects that makes all the difference and that we can all learn from. 

If there’s an object you think belongs here, follow this submit link. 

And if you’d like to chat, you can find me on Twitter @nsylianteng or email me at nicole.sylianteng@gmail.com.