Helit Foster Series Desk Set by German manufacturer Helit. Each piece has the form of a box of high-quality extruded aluminium sealed with a black plastic lid. This gives the range a coherent identity, while adding an element of mystery – it is initially unclear what each contains. When the lids are removed and attached to the base of the boxes, they reveal one box to be a clock and another to be a pen holder. Other components include a paper clip holder, as well as storage boxes for computer disks and business cards. The element of surprise is heightened in the note paper container by a simple mechanism that raises the paper above the top level of the box when the lid is attached to its base. The contrasting materials – the smooth matt aluminium and ‘soft-touch’ plastic add a tactile quality to these functional objects. To accompany the range, a waste paper basket, a filing tray, a writing mat and a mouse pad were also designed by Foster + Partners for Helit.