Approved by Alice

Wonderland mushroom? Dumbbell for giants? Whatever you imagine, it comes to mind comfortably and ergonomically on designer Don Chadwick’s innovative Ballo Ball. With a compact central column, lightweight air-filled domes and a range of colors, this conversation starter makes productivity playful and active sitting a breeze. Ballo’s counterweighted base helps it remain upright for stable movement and convenient storage. Will collaboration spaces, reception areas or home offices ever be the same? Meet this 13.5-pound wonder at humanscale.com.

Eternally sly and stunning

For his lifetime of trickery, Sisyphus was forever condemned to push a boulder up a steep hill – only to have it roll down every time he neared the top. Little did the gods know Sisyphus had fooled them once again, inspiring this kinetic sand art table permanently on display in museums across the world. Created by artist Bruce Shapiro, the Sisyphus table brings meditative beauty, cutting-edge technology and functional design to your home. Become mesmerized at sisyphus-industries.com.

Zen for all

Created in the spirit of Buddhist and Hindu mandalas, these spinning masterpieces radiate in captivating displays of color and motion. The metal pieces pop out in layers, revealing a vibrant three-dimensional design. And considering their calming presence, maybe they’ll dazzle everyday backyard creatures, like birds and squirrels, as well. Enlighten your outdoor space at uncommongoods.com.

The universe in your backpack

What’s your astronomical pleasure? The moon, Andromeda Galaxy or Hercules Cluster? Something farther away? Meet Vespera, a combination telescope and camera engineered to share your space explorations in real time at magnification equivalent to 33x. With one of the most accurate and powerful optical designs on the market, Vespera illuminates the previously invisible with mind-blowing pictures. Simply choose the celestial object you want to observe and Vespera will automatically point and track it, compensating for Earth’s rotation. Reconnect with the stars at vaonis.com/vespera.