Core77 2014 Year in Review: Top 15 Posts · Year in Photos · Drones · Transportation Design · Food & Drink · Wearable Technology · Power Tools and Hand Tools · Tool Storage · Organizational Solutions · Material News · Design Thinking · Architecture and Design GIFs

In 2014, the animated GIF continued to prove itself a remarkably durable vehicle for capturing the full range of human experience, from the triumph against adversity to the realization of the ephemerality of existence. Even the relatively niche world of architecture and design saw a number of stellar examples. Here are our 14 favorites.

14. (Tie) Pasta-Making Machine / Paper Clip Manufacturing Two of our top picks from the always hypnotic things-being-manufactured genre. (Honorable mention: Pop-Tarts assembly line)

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13. Relics of Technology by Jim Golden From a collection of beautiful animations of obsolete tech by the Portland-based photographer

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12. Household Objects vs. Block of Ice No additional explanation required

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11. Bendgate The news that the iPhone 6 is bendable set off a firestorm of Internet commentary (and GIF spoofery)—but ultimately didn't seem to hurt sales of the new smartphone.

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10. Nike Power Laces This Back to the Future II clip dates back to 1989, but it gained new relevancy this year when Nike designer Tinker Hatfield said at an industry event that power laces are coming in 2015.

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9. Japanese Maglev Train Hits 300 MPH Whoosh!

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8. Frank Gehry Gives a Press Conference

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7. Swiss Army Lightsaber The Episode VII trailer tantalized and confused all manner of Star Wars fans—but especially industrial designers, who seized on the ergonomic and safety issues of the crossguard lightsaber, and proposed some inspired redesigns like the one seen below.

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6. Making the Eames Shell Chair One of a series of GIFs from Herman Miller on the manufacturing of the iconic chair

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5. Robot Feeding Machine What could possibly go wrong?

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4. Virtual Sculpting with the Oculus Rift A glimpse into the future of how giant red insects will be designed

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3. Architecture Animée A collection of fanciful animations of contemporary architecture by the French architect Axel de Stampa

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2. Klemens Torggler's Evolution Door An impractical but seriously cool reinvention of the door (we explained how it works here)

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1. Skyscraper Selfie This video selfie from atop Hong Kong's Centre Skyscraper—the world's fifth tallest building—is spectacular and terrifying. But it's the nonchalant banana-eating that pushes it into all-time-classic territory.

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