Since I’m on the topic of innovative design, let’s talk about spheres, specifically, the Hoberman Sphere.
You probably know it as that colorful expanding and collapsing circular ball-like toy, but did you know that the Hoberman Sphere was originally a sculpture and the product version has been used as props for marching bands, devices for physical therapy, aids for breathing exercises, and to illustrate organizational and motivational business principles?
In fact, an original Hoberman Sphere was installed in 1992 (and re-installed in 2007) as the central exhibit in the Liberty Science Center’s atrium, which happens to be one of our favorite local museums. Being greeted by the amazing 700-lb sphere at the LSC, is perhaps one of the kid’s most memorable aspects of the Jersey City facility. I love that he associated this sphere with the LSC atrium, before he associated it with a toy. Of course, now he just wants that giant sphere for his playroom!
The Hoberman Sphere, which has been in production as a toy since 1995, is considered iconic for its product design. Aptly, the Museum of Modern Art has added the Hoberman Sphere to its Action! Design Over Time collection. According to MoMA, the exhibition investigates the dimension of time in human-made objects, products and interfaces, with the aim of providing a deeper understanding of contemporary design.
The Hoberman Sphere can be viewed at the MoMA, as well as the Liberty Science Museum, and of course, the toy version can be found at stores such as Target and Amazon.
The MoMA is located at 11 West 53rd St., NY, NY.
The Liberty Science Center is located at 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ, and is just a short train ride away from NYC.