Tools by Jakob Jørgensen is a series of handcrafted woodworking tools intended to explore craft traditions and act as a counterpoint to machines.

In addition to the aforementioned designers, catch work from artisan textiles and apparel studio Small Trade Company; textile artist Llane Alexis; handwoven apparel and textile maker Voices of Industry; and jewelry maker Liz Oppenheim. "It's a very diverse group, which we like," Chiang says. "What unifies the participants is a deep relationship with both design and material. Great craft is not complete without design."

Tools of the trade.

IITTALA TOOLS SAUCEPAN $295 Developed with the insight of professional chefs and the material mastery of designer Björn Dahlström, this range of highly designed cookware was created for people with a large appetite for life. The generously sized pieces are perfect for even the most demanding occasions, adding ease and control to every aspect of cooking and serving.

Song waxes poetic about her medium. "Wood is constantly in flux, even when it has been felled," she says. "It is a breathing material. It expands and contracts, depending on its environment. I work with wood because it primordial to me. It feels like an intuitive process to study wood. I need to understand and work with it and allow it to become what it wants to be." The round cole jaw and chucks she uses on her lathe hang on a wall in her studio.

Although woodworking has been an interest for as long as Michael Rupich can remember, the first time he picked up a saw was when, at seven years old, he started building his own skateboard ramps. “Skateboarding was definitely a huge influence and motivation for me, because I needed to build ramps in order to skate them,” he says. “That continued into my early teens and gave me a great understanding of basics like making things structurally sound and the uses of tools and machinery. In my later teens, I started moving away from the carpentry aspect and began doing more refined wood working.” Photo by: Esther Nisanova.

The super-geometric Tool table by LucidiPevere for Debi is formed by 3D laser cutting technology; the lightweight side table comes in two heights.

The Archimetric Notebook and Drawing Tool Set is an elegant notebook designed for architects, designers, or anyone who is interested in scaled drafting. The pages of the notebook are ruled at a scale of 1/100° and 1/50° for precision drafting, and the book also includes blank pages for notes or freehand sketches. The grey pages are lined with white, making the graphs almost appear to fade away from the pages. The result is a surface that sets drawings apart form the lines, letting them stand on their own. The Arhimetric set also includes drawing instruments, including a scale ruler, protractor and t-square, and a bookmark.

TOOL THE MATHEMATICIAN DRAFTING SET Art and science become one in this stunningly sculptural, endlessly practical piece from Tom Dixon. Informed by the unique British aesthetic, this kit of parts is comprised of sleek sheet brass cut into functional tools— a ruler, protractor, set square, and paper clips— etched with the most precise of measurements. Perfect for the mathematics aficionado or precision draughtsman, it brings beauty to any workshop or study.

Aarnio’s tools of the trade,

Tool Stand We love this galvanized Tool Stand for it's simplicity, beauty, and versatility.

Whether you think you have what it takes to be the next master chef or just enjoy whipping up simple, delicious dishes at home, you will love these durable, heatproof and handsome kitchen tools from "Good Design" Award winner FD Style. Discover your inner chef-in-the-making. - with additional writing by Victoria Nguyen

The downstairs office houses the tools of the trade.

The Re: Tool-Kit for Detroit study sought to create an honest assessment present-day manufacturing in the city and metropolitan area.

The Abner Toolbox takes a necessary household accessory and makes it into a work of art. Designed by Aaron Poritz, the toolbox is crafted entirely in teak, including the comb joints that hold the box together. Although designed as a toolbox, this multi-function accessory can be used to hold paints, jewelry, and other small items needing organization.

For those modernists undertaking electrical work, desinger Omer Arbel devised a system for Bocci that eliminates the wall plate of an electrical plug by placing all the necessary details behind the wall. All that's left on the surface is a minimalist circle around the plug. Once you have those plugs in-hand, this Bocci Series 22.1 Removal Tool allows you to remove the receptacles and access the behind-the-wall details for rewiring or installation work.

Adobe Desk Tools Wire “molds” affixed to weighty clay bricks make for an experimental set of work accessories.

A view of the interior pages of the Archimetric Notebook, showing one of the drafting tools.

Tools consists of hand-crafted woodworking tools (saw, plane, knives, axe) and a wooden toolbox that is made up of the tools that it stores. Jakob Jørgensen was inspired by a Viking-age Mästermyr tool chest he found at Gotland and for the Mindcraft 14 exhibition in Milan, he learned to embrace the tradition of a craftsman who makes all his own tools.

With 272 pages ruled at 1/100° and 1/50° scale, as well as others left blank for freehand sketches, the Archimetric Notebook and Drawing Tool Set is the ideal place to devise your renovations, additions, and more. This set includes a scale ruler, protractor, t-square, and bookmark.

A pair of re-tooled bedside tables.

Whitlock hard at work with the tools of his other trade: sound mixing.

Leroy tools around on his mini turbo tractor while munching on a gigantic cookie; his parents look on with envy.

PETER MALY WALL-MOUNTED FIREPLACE TOOLS Peter Maly’s fireside tool set started out as a design challenge: to create the ideal pair of tongs to hold wood. The result: a trio of award-winning tools that meld high functionality with design innovation. Each stainless steel tool is wrapped in round-milled, full-grain leather bands to protect the handle from heat.

Designed to look like a real hammer, this bottle opener is hand-forged in the traditional Nambu Tekki cast iron method. First made in the mid 17th century in Japan, nambu tekki is a celebrated Japanese craft, still popular today. The black color of the bottle opener is derived from a lacquer glaze called urushi, which craftsmen use to prevent rusting on the iron pieces.

All the editors loved the Tools for Everyday Life booth, featuring products by designers-in-residence at Northumbria University in the UK (in fact, they snagged the best-in-show Accessories prize). The One Ton Bag shown here is Danny Duquemin-Sheil's thesis project; each one is made from recycled delivery sacks used to haul construction materials, i.e., extremely durable.

Adobe desk tools in terra cotta by Ilaria Innocenti, $150–$200 Wire “molds” affixed to weighty clay bricks make for an experimental set of work accessories. ilariai.com

Balancing Tools by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, installed at the Vitra campus in 1984.

The Soft Tools felt lamps are all hand-pressed from naturally dyed wool. The shapes are derived from the cutting tools used in the shop.

The secret to keeping their minimalist interiors spare? Lots of hidden storage in the hallway, where they stash their books, their clothes, their tools, and their climbing gear.

The sunny Tool Box by Line Depping melds beauty and utility.

Another conversation starter is the Nambu Tekki Cast Iron Tool Bottle Opener - Hammer. Hand-forged with traditional Japanese techniques, this cast iron bottle opener is lacquered with a glaze that prevents rusting.

Orb bar tools for Crate & Barrel.

Knoll will bring its new "Tools for Life" collection by OMA, which premiered at Salone del Mobile, to NeoCon. Shown here is the 04 Counter, a stacked, horizontal unit which can be rotated to form shelves and cantilevered benches. Below are the 05 Round Table and 01 Arm Chair.