The Ball fan, somewhat resembling an airplane propeller, is an expression of a conventional approach to this necessity- the ceiling fan. The Modern Fan Co. took a minimalistic approach, offering a variety of functional options that slightly alter the appearance of the overall design. The standard model comes in brushed aluminum or glossy white. Blades are also available in maple, and come with blade spans of 42″ or 52.” The fan comes in four speeds, and is available with a light at its center.

Inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson used a defect in the Airblade drier as the springboard for an innovative table fan. what looks like a modern sculpture is actually a fan—with no blades. Dyson says the device came out of a defect in the Airblade, the energy-efficient hand drier for public restrooms that his company, Dyson, launched in 2006. Despite its jet-like exhaust, engineers noticed that the machine was trapping a lot of air inside. “We had no intention to make a fan,” he says. “But the failure made us curious. We asked, What could we do with this high-speed air?”

The new fan, branded the Dyson Air Multiplier, launched on Oct. 12 on Dyson.com. The 10-inch version sells for $299.99, while the 12-inch model sells for $329.99.

Producer: Dyson