Milan 2014: students from the Piet Zwart Institute created a series of interactive objects exploring sound in a domestic context for their Instruments Reimaging the Music Room exhibition in Milan last month (+ slideshow). More about Piet Zwart Institute students combine musical instruments with furniture and homeware
An instrument played by hitting a series of rocks has been created by designers at Italian research group Fabrica for a member of their music team's latest album (+ movie). More about Fabrica researchers create electronic musical instrument from stones and wood
A keyboard by East London technology start-up ROLI, with soft keys that allow musicians to alter the pitch, volume and timbre of individual notes, has come out on top in the Designs of the Year 2014 product category (+ slideshow). More about Squishy silicone keys control pitch and volume on ROLI's musical Seaboard
Books, records, plant pots and even shoes can be turned into musical instruments thanks to British designer Nick Brennan’s Sound Pegs device (+ slideshow). More about Household objects become musical instruments with Sound Pegs by Nick Brennan
Dezeen Music Project: London artist Di Mainstone is developing an electronic instrument that enables performers to make music from the subtle vibrations of suspension bridge cables (+ movie). More about Di Mainstone's Human Harp creates music from suspension bridges
Researchers in Canada have designed a family of prosthetic musical instruments, including an external spine and a touch-sensitive rib cage, that create music in response to body gestures (+ interview + slideshow). More about Instrumented Bodies by Joseph Malloch and Ian Hattwick
German designer Philipp Weber's glassblowing pipe with valves like a trumpet won the New Talents Award at DMY Berlin last week (+ movie). More about Strange Symphony by Philipp Weber
Food designers Bompas & Parr have come up with a musical spoon that you listen to through your mouth and a set of handmade bowls to match five new flavours of Heinz baked beans. More about Heinz Beanz Flavour Experience by Bompas & Parr
As a needle passes over this vinyl globe by Japanese designer Yuri Suzuki, it plays folk music and national anthems from around the world (+ movie). More about The Sound of the Earth by Yuri Suzuki
Mark Nixon of London studio CZWG has turned a bridge in Aarhus, Denmark, into a musical instrument by hanging metal pipes from the underside. More about Chimecco by Mark Nixon
Japanese designers Nendo have designed these three wooden bells containing mechanisms from children's musical boxes. More about Bell-orgel by Nendo
These pens by London designers Yuri Suzuki and Oscar Diaz can record sound as a line on paper and then play it back. More about REC & PLAY by Yuri Suzuki and Oscar Diaz
This music box designed by ÉCAL University of Art and Design Lausanne graduate José Ferrufino uses the movement of the musical mechanism to cause sticks of barley to gently sway. More about Slightly Windy by José Ferrufino
At a concert in London last week rock band OK Go performed with guitars customised by London designer Moritz Waldemeyer, featuring LEDs and lasers. More about Guitars for OK Go by Moritz Waldemeyer