Our early Industrial Design training of course involved tools, keeping it a top category on this blog. Here's the best of what we saw in the tool world in 2023.

This cardboard box resizing tool, by Japanese manufacturer Nissin Boeki, is cleverly designed.

These deck anchor pegs provide a quick, convenient tie-down point.

Industrial design firm Herbst Produkt has designed tons of interesting forms for cutting tools.

Here's a sheet metal fabricator's nifty snow shovel hack.

This tweezer-based multitool has an interesting way to keep the tips shut in transit.

This Tac-N-Tweeze, by knife designer Bob Terzuola, has retractable tips and can be safely stored in a pocket.

For his Provoke First Responder, knife designer Joe Caswell adapted the design of a farming knife. It's meant to be used by EMTs working in close quarters.

Turns out there are Feng-Shui-specific tape measures marked with auspicious dimensions.

This tiny Artemus multi-tool contains split-ring pliers.

Module is a wild, designey cordless drill concept by industrial designer Maya Prokhorova.

From Japan (of course) come these anti-tampering screws and bolts with smiley face heads.

For a good industrial design firm, like Germany's Noto, even a cable puller can be sexy.

Also from Germany, these Bayha scalpels are designed for easy blade changes.

Industrial designer Cairn Young spotted a nice design detail on Olfa's CK-2 retractable craft knife.

Olfa also makes this handy rotating-head leatherworking cutter/scraper.

This unusual design is billed as the "smallest ratchet EDC tool in the world."

The Lollipop, by bicycle tool company 711L, is a nifty design for a compact ratcheting screwdriver.

German tool manufacturer Felo's Smart Screwdriver has a swivel mechanism that switches it from standard to T-handle.

The MetMo Pocket Driver is a compact ratcheting screwdriver based on an antique German design.

A painting business owner invented this RagCutter tool to extend the life (and reduce the cost) of rags.

This rechargeable flashlight by Uco has a built-in windproof lighter.

This nifty BetaLock carabiner can be locked with a TSA-compliant key.

We looked at two different design approaches to adjustable wrenches: The Knipex Pliers Wrench and the Wera Joker.

This piece of plastic from Lowe's turns 5-gallon buckets into dustpans.

The versatile Jeri-Rigg is a simple, useful tie-down invention that uses a minimum of materials.

Cool tool: This tiny handheld belt sander for detail work.

Engineer Sergii Gordieiev used bicycle parts to create this wrapping machine.

Festool's new TSV 60 K circular saw features a second blade for scoring.

Timothy Wilmot's multi-function tool cart is a masterclass in smart, functional design.

Enter a caption (optional)

Makita makes this line of battery-powered wheelbarrows.

Not really a tool, but this worker's improvised method of getting down from a roof must be seen.