What constitutes good design can be endlessly debated. For some it’s more about stylistic expression and others, re-assessed functionality. Most, if not all, agree that sustainability is non-negotiable. Design and consumers alike have a responsibility when it comes to not just being less harmful to the environment but also ensuring the well-being of others. One could argue that keeping a product as aesthetically simple and formally straightforward as possible is in fact sustainable.

The components of a paired back object can more easily be replaced and refurbished than one with fused together elements or that requires convoluted assembly. A design that is essential in shape can be adapted, added-on-to, according to the specifications of the individual user. Normally bogged down by passing fads or the pressure to stand out in saturated markets, few brands adhere to these principles. Some do. Cue Stockholm-based start-up Transparent.

Self-proclaimed as the first circular tech brand, the company looks to cut through the fluff of corporate marketing språk, and greenwashing, to actually develop products that fully meet these standards. How it achieves this: creating speakers (stationary and portable) and turntables with just aluminum and glass (hence, the brand’s name). The various parts of these devices can be removed, refurbished, recycled, and replaced; attaining that unicorn paradigm of design: objects that actually improve with time rather than deteriorate, as is more common. In doing so, Transparent pushes against the planned obsolescence that defines much of the rest of the industry.

By nature of this proposition, the devices – with some exceptions – are designed sparingly. There’s no superfluous detail or stylistic flex. There’s just quality production, refined form, and of course, superior performance.

Lending this at once seemingly obvious – ”why didn’t I think of that” – but actually ingenious approach to new, unexpected typology (facilitating another one of the six senses), Transparent has just debuted its Aroma Diffuser. Venturing into the world of scent, the company has applied its essentialist mindset, letting the ethereal chemical compound be the start of the show. That isn’t to say that the actual object isn’t as sophisticated and well proportioned as its sound-emitting counterparts.

“[Like music], fragrance gives us the ability to experience powerful, instant emotions and memories,” says Per Brickstad, Transparent Creative Director. “We’ve engineered this device in honor of that beautiful sensory phenomenon – to enrich homes in a natural, clean and timeless way.”

Using ultrasonic technology, the Aroma Diffuser turns essential fragrance oils (a curated selection of especially grounding Pine, Red Cedar, and Spruce) into a fine mist. There’s no need for open flames, smoke, or pollutants. Users can add their own variants as well.

The aluminum and glass diffuser takes on near archetonic dimensions in its straightforward yet elegant design. The configuration is inspired by the precision and purity of the proverbial, controlled laboratory, where fragrances are meticulously compounded with very little distracting or tainting agitants allowed-in.

The Aroma Diffuser is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter here. For more information on the Aroma Diffuser by Transparent, please visit transpa.rent.

Photography courtesy of Transparent.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he’s committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines.