Plant a pen and grow a field of start-up dreams

With iPads on the rise and smartphones the new notepads, pens are facing some serious competition and designers are increasingly seeking to stand out in new ways.

These bright, bendy pens – called the pooleaf – are made from silicon and can be arranged in a pot to resemble grass: useful and right on the trend of green offices.

The need for practical items to have an aesthetic edge is increasingly critical. What basic item could you turn into a must-have desk decoration?