EVERYBODY LOVES
A GOOD STORY
...THIS IS OURS
Sometimes a good idea just starts on the toilet.
Not in a designstudio.
Not in a garag.
Not during a brainstorming session
Just in a place where you can think in peace for a moment.
This is where the spark for
FLIPGNOME.was born
THE IDEA
Why are gnomes alwayhs so well-behaved?
For years, gnomes have been sitting in gardens, on bookshelves, and on bar counters. Cheerful. Colorful. Sometimes small. Sometimes absurdly large. But usually they carry a message.
So the idea of a middle-finger gnome was definetly not new. But on the toilet, it felt like there was still one missing...
No. Not another funny little statue.
A gnome you actually want to look at.
THE QUESTION
Who says a middle finger can't have good taste?
THE EVOLUTION
The joke could stay. But the gnome had to grow up.
That became the starting point for FLIPGNOME.
Away from the traditional gnome. Away from garish colors. Away from the idea that a naughty gnome had to look plastic, cheap or kitchy.
We wanted to create something that almost disappears into its surroundings during the day a sleek, matte, design object. Until you (or your Smart Home) decide it's time to reveal the other side.
Icon 2.0
Inspired by the rich history of rebellious gnome, reinvented for today
Premium Finish
Casted in high-quality material with an eye for weight, balance and sleek details.
THE FLIP
Beautiful.
Until he flips.
And that's the idea First, you see a stylish gnome. Then the light changes. Then the atmosphere changes. And suddenly, it's no longer just an ordinary gnome.
THE PROCESS
Making a gnome. How hard could it be?
Spoiler alert: very.
What started as a quick sketch, soon turned into a real struggle against the elements.
- Endless prototypes: Dozens of failed 3D prints that, after hours of printing, still warped or fell apart.
- Water resistance: Becasue how on earth do you build a working LED-module into a gnome that also has to survive outdoors during harsh European winters..
- Design & the legal puzzle: It turned out to be surprisingly difficult to completely let go the idea of a standard gnome and at the same time develop a unique, recognizable character of our own
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The USB-C Dilemma:
We started with USB-C.
Modern. Rechargeable. Sensible.
It was a terrible idea.
Cause:
-What happens when the battery dies in two years?
- What happens to that little rubber cover after a few winters outside?
And perhaps the bigger question: Would we still trust it five years from now?
So we went back to something wonderfully unsexy:
AA batteries. No charging port. No cables. No drama.
Put him down. Turn him on. Enjoy the attitude.
THE REDESIGN
A complete redesign with an attitude.
Those setbacks ultimately turned out to be the greatest blessing.
We opted for a completely original redesign.
No more garish middle-finger garden gnomes
but a sleek, matte, streamlined design
with a rugged look and a healthy dose of attitude.
This was the moment a Norwegian Viking met a Scottish Highlander and somehow, they became a gnome.
Casted from heavy-duty premium material,
equipped with an integrated
LED-finger
and designed to withstand the elements.
"Bloed, sweat, failed prints and waterproof elektroncs. FLIPGNOME has come a long way."
FLIPGNOME TODAY
A little rebellious.
Very deliberately.
FLIPGNOME has ultimately become exactly what we were missing.
A design object with a sense of humor.
A conversation starter.
A little provocative.