Core77

When designers get asked to re-do a room of the house for publicity purposes, it's usually a sexy room, like the Kitchen of the Future, the Living Room of the Future, or maybe the Bedroom of the Future. More practical rooms, like maybe the Hallway of the Future, or Toolshed of the Future, not so much. So we're bummed that we missed this one day event from last week: baby stuff maker Similac pulled a bunch of innovative existing products together with some conceptual ones to create a Nursery of the Future show.

The event, held in a tent on Columbus Circle in New York last Wednesday, the 24th, showcased some clever existing products for baby, like Scott Henderson's "Mate" table setting for Skip Hop, and a leak-proof sippy cup from Thermos, seen above.

Trying to bring what star power the design world can offer into play, the show featured commentary by Extreme Home Makeover's Ty Pennington (with the bracelet), and recently anointed IDSA president Frank Tyneski (with the earring) -- shown above, demonstrating a couple of IDEA award winners: Henderson's "Splash" bottle drier, and Whipsaw's Adiri bottle.

It also tapped several designers and consultancies to come up with their own infant-oriented conceptual projects, with concepts from some relative newcomers, along with heavy hitters like SF's Lunar Design and Boston's Altitude. Concept images after the jump.

Altitude's accordion-like changing bag, flippable temperature-sensitive baby bath, and modular rocker:

Lunar's integrated sleeping and feeding system:

Heidi Newell's Offi Ovum Bassinet:

Min Kang's Yi Ahn Bassinet:

Scott Henderson's Changing Pod concept: