areaware
Brooklyn-based design brand known for its playful, functional home accessories and iconic wooden puzzles.
ORIGIN
United States
PRICE TIER
premium
SPECIALIZATION
UNISEX
Areaware is a Brooklyn-based home and lifestyle brand founded in 2005 by Lisa Yashon and Noel Wiggins. Operating with a unique model akin to a record label for independent designers, the brand handles product development, sourcing, and distribution while creators retain their intellectual property and earn royalties. This collaborative approach has allowed Areaware to build a diverse catalog of everyday objects that balance concept, humor, and functionality. The brand is best known for its playful, design-forward aesthetic, offering sculptural home accessories, clever desk objects, and engaging puzzles.
Featured Items
Animal Key Ring
$12.00$28.00
Ceramic Bracelet Flask
$40.00
Tall Pluma Stool
$195.00
Animal Key Ring
$12.00$28.00
Ceramic Bracelet Flask
$40.00
Tall Pluma Stool
$195.00
Learn More
Why Is Areaware Closing? | The Strategist
An in-depth look at Areaware's closure, detailing its unique record-label-like business model, its history of launching independent designers, and the impact of tariffs on its operations.
Looking Back: Our Brand Story – Areaware
A retrospective on Areaware's 20-year history, highlighting its founding in 2005, key product launches like Cubebot, and its evolution in the designer collectibles market.
Lisa Cheng Smith, chief design officer at Areaware
An interview with Areaware's former Chief Design Officer, Lisa Cheng Smith, discussing the brand's creative vision, product development process, and the balance between art and commerce.
Making Playful Objects: An Interview with Noel Wiggins, Areaware Founder - Core77
Founder Noel Wiggins discusses Areaware's origins, its approach to collaborating with independent designers, and the philosophy behind creating playful, functional objects.