Let us consider teapots.

Teapot design has created a variety of shapes but the basic issue is the ratio and proportions of handle and spout to body. Many of the earliest Chinese tea "pots" copied wine ewer shapes but to brew tea you need a round body. 

Do you make that round body interesting by painting or decorating it or by changing the actual shape? 

Here's two Chinese antiques in styles and shapes still used today.

Both beautiful both different approaches.

and here's a Shino tea vessel with a different approach to attaching the handle.

Something to to think about.

White Houses in Japan

I rarely comment on architecture but the house in this book are such weird and wonderful and strange yet functional examples of design I just had to share!

The book with text by Chua Yen Ping and photos by Sergio Pirrone features a wide variety of housing including this :

Yes that is an actual home! 

Even if you're not normally into architecture you will find the designs intriguing!