At first glance the Punkt UC 01 USB Desktop Charger designed by English product and furniture designer Jasper Morrison – revealed at Salone del Mobile 2015 in Milan – offers the nondescript appeal of an unbranded charging accessory packed with any given array of mobile device or photographic gear. Its plain and understated, the multi-port USB design clearly stating its intentions and purpose, only adorned with offset typography befitting a Swiss brand.
But upon closer inspection Morrison’s USB hub design reveals an appealing timeless quality in a segment renown (and detested) for its propensity for obsolescence, a utilitarian accessory designed to declutter and organize the desktop without bringing attention to itself. The subtle details – the chamfer edge, the slight wedged angle, and weighted base – are easy to ignore at first, yet are there for those attentive enough to appreciate the UC 01 was designed to be used daily without ever looking dated. Morrison’s design is the most subtle of statement pieces, a mundane computer accessory elevated beyond today, and existing in the category of forever by embracing simplicity.
“More and more devices are now powered via USB, yet most computers and laptops only offer one or two ports. Not to mention the classic hotel scenario: even if you find the right electric plug for the USB cable, you can only charge a single device. Punkt.’s new USB multi-port charger provides easy access charging and is designed for one-handed operation.” – Jasper Morrison
More about the Punkt UC 01 USB Desktop Charger here.
