This shelf is part of a collection called 'Weeds, Aliens and Other Stories'. Using the passion of the British for their gardens as a metaphor, the designers proposed prototype objects that examined the sense of alienation and frustration that lies beneath the surface of our personal relationships. Many of their solutions were witty and ironic, but the humour barely concealed a darker layer of anxiety. These prototypes are not intended to be mass-manufactured, but are intended to allow reflection on our relationships with objects, with nature and with each other. As such they show an interest in the conceptual content of designed objects that has inspired much innovation amongst contemporary designers.

The shelf is called 'Rustling Branch'. Rather as you might cut flowers in your garden and display them in a vase, the designers proposed this device to display a bough instead. It incorporates a motor that intermittently shakes the branch, suggesting the way a breeze moves the leaves of a tree.