This picture frame by Odoardo Fioravanti is specifically designed to annoy people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The Inbolla frame has a spirit level in the top but the image is mounted at an angle, so Fioravanti's victims must choose between a level frame and a level horizon.
It's in production with Italian brand Corraini.
Photographs are by Emanuele Zamponi.
Here's some more information from Fioravanti:
Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions. It’s a common mental disorder, usually with innocuous consequences. Symptoms of the disorder include excessive checking of car’s lock, turning repeatedly on and off lights before leaving a room, climbing a stair starting always with the same foot or straightening the picture frames. At the worst these rituals can bring people to a “decision’s paralysis”.
Inbolla is a picture frame with a bubble level in its edge; the frame contains a specific slanted picture.
This object challenges ironically the OCD by putting people in a dilemma: is better to maintain the bubble level in balance, leaving the picture slanted, or to prefer an upright picture and a misplaced frame?
Excellent idea for my husband’s birthday. Thank you dezeen!
Reminds me of the intro of the old Pink Panther cartoons.
If I had OCD I'd be offended by the fact that someone used their talent do create a product that instead of helping to tackle the issue, enhances it.
Don't be too offended, confronting the condition (rather than appeasing it) is a legitimate angle on helping the sufferer overcome it.
See Ferran Lajara's work: http://www.ferranlajara.com/OCD
Would be a shame if Odoardo Fioravanti has seen Marc Owens’ project <a href="http:// (http://www.marcowens.co.uk/?page_id=238)” target=”_blank”> <a href="http://(http://www.marcowens.co.uk/?page_id=238)” target=”_blank”>(http://www.marcowens.co.uk/?page_id=238) and repackaged it as his own. Well hopefully not.
It would be funny if water came out of one of the sides :3
just to say that is not the first one who made it…..
Errrr, a friend of mine (artist) has already made it 7 years ago. Is this a joke or a rip-off? Here is the original: http://jankomatic.co.uk/blog/spirit-level/
James Foweraker – Brunel University ID student (class of 94) designed and produced same concept in 1999. His was unique in that it was a flat packed plastic frame that you folded and tabbed together much like the old fashioned car models off the back of 1970's cereal packs – you then slotted in the spirit level bubble in the recess provided – Brilliant stuff