Objects of Desire (NSFW)

Product Description

The world of erotic product design is revealed in this curated showcase of over 100 beautifully crafted objects and the creative minds behind them. The latest adult toys, jewelry, and accessories from leading companies, as well as intriguing prototypes, are featured. Each product, from high-tech gadgets to handcrafted pieces of art, is presented with concise descriptions in a minimal graphic format that emphasizes the flowing curves, materiality, and overall design of the products. Once taboo, sex toys are in the midst of a design revolution. Including a foreword by Sarah Forbes, curator at New York City’s Museum of Sex, and in-depth interviews with leading sex bloggers, shop owners, and designers, the book will appeal to both fans of good design as well as "lovers" of good design interested in acquiring these pieces for their own collections. 

Top Reviews

Beautiful Inspiring Book!
by Morgine (5 out of 5 stars)
October 29, 2016

This is quite a beautiful book that you could leave out on your coffee table except for the subject material. Very high quality book with elegant and beautiful photographs.

It really opened my eyes to what is available which I had no idea about since I had never seen things like this in stores or on the internet. My life was transformed seeing all these beautiful toys designed to increase the pleasure in our lives!

The photographs were so beautiful you almost wanted to reach out and feel the pages! Some you can program and charge with a USB cable. Some are used alone and others with a partner. Most are created for lovers of beautiful and elegant designs.

Most of the book introduces you to the people who designed these items and their personal stories and how and why they created their products. It is not merely a catalog of such toys.

It is the kind of book you read a little bit from now and then. I found it interesting, and yet I had no desire to read it cover to cover in one sitting.

There are many different and varied kinds of toys from vibrators, exercisers, to jewelry and lingerie. Beautiful shapes and colors, some with remote controls, can be computer programmed and charged. A wonderful and varied selection are shown and you can research more of these people's work on your own. I am very happy I purchased the book and intend to share it with friends.
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A mature book about the many varieties of sex toys ...
by Timmy McTimersons (5 out of 5 stars)
November 12, 2016

A mature book about the many varieties of sex toys that are out there now, and how design is making big changes in how people think about sex toys. Definitely a conversation starter if you leave it on a table, but appropriate enough for an adult crowd. The contents are not vulgar by any means. Everything is portrayed more-or-less without context as if it were in a museum.
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Five Stars
by Craig Copelin (5 out of 5 stars)
April 21, 2016

awesome book to leave on the coffee table for the unsuspecting. It is also a good read.
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Beautifully thought-provoking
by Earl (5 out of 5 stars)
April 28, 2017

When I am looking at books on Edelweiss to read and review I usually choose ones I know fall into a genre I would likely buy. Technically, this book qualified because, as a beautifully designed and illustrated book it would be a wonderful coffee table book or maybe an end table drawer book if you don't want to have the discussion with the kids yet. But, to be honest, the main reason I chose this was to see how the products would be displayed and what might be said about them, well, besides the obvious. I was so much more than pleasantly surprised by this wonderful volume.

In Objects of Desire Rita Catinella Orrell manages to create both a visually stunning book and a very interesting glimpse at the creativity and inventiveness that goes into these products. While I was amazingly ignorant of the variety of erotic products available I found myself getting an education in design general principles as well as contemporary erotic accessories.

If I had a physical copy (I read an ecopy) I would be very willing to leave it out for display. While the products may be erotic the book is very tasteful and artistic in its presentation. I would think that people who entertain would enjoy the likely range of topics this book will generate, and largely on a level well above what one might think prior to reading the book.

I would recommend this to those who like beautifully crafted books as well as those interested in erotic products. Those interested in design, of almost any kind, will also find much to appreciate. While the end products might be in the line of erotica the thinking processes involved in their creation are applicable across the design spectrum.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
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Put this on your coffee table and see what the neighbors say!
by Daniel (4 out of 5 stars)
April 20, 2016

This review originally published in www.lookingforagoodbook.com. Rated 4.0 of 5

I knew, going in to this, that this was going to be a book about 'adult sex toys' (more kindly referred to as "erotic products"), but beyond that, I wasn't sure what to expect here. I think the subtitle, "A Showcase of Modern Erotic Products and the Creative Minds Behind Them," is really key to this book.

This is not a catalog or even a review of modern erotic products. While it does feature some of the newest (currently) erotic products on the market, it does so in an artistic fashion (as opposed to either clinical or sensual) making this more like a coffee-table photo book than anything else. In her preface to the book, author Rita Catinella Orrell (who writes a consumer product design blog) writes: "The products in this book were chosen to appeal not only to lovers of good design, say the casual, curious observer, but also to those lovers of good design with a serious interest in acquiring these pieces." And I'd say this is a pretty apropos statement.

The primary focus here appears to be the design of the products. I think it's safe to say that the sex toy has come a long way from the days of simple vibrators or dildos and cheap plastic vaginal socks or mouths for male use. And yet, the ultimate purpose or result of the product remains the same. So where are the changes? In the quality of the materials in the product and the fine-tuning of shapes, angles, curves, and stimulation additions. What also has changed is the use of technology and the ability to control devices through the use of cell phones.

One of the more interesting products within is the "long distance" sex toys. One company (I won't advertise individual companies here ... you can read the book) packages a his-and-hers sex toy set in which each partner can control the vibration intensity of their partner's toy through their own cell phones. So... while apart, instead of just the sexy talk over the phone, you can add another dimension and actually control the action your partner is getting, while still talking.

There are even vibrators that react to music or specific sounds. Who knew!?

But as is often the case with coffee-table style photo books, the objects within are not the sort that are easily available, or at least not usually in expensive. The above mentioned his/hers toy retails for $400. This doesn't strike me as something for the average couple, but for those who are serious about their sexual toys.

I will admit, with a chuckle, that there were times when I viewed a product and I had no idea how it would be used (I guess I'm a little out of my league here). Fortunately, I may not be the only one as on some rare occasions, along with the classy photography of the product there might be included a very sterile, clinical diagram of the product in use.

Also, along with the product display, there are very brief interviews with some of the leading designers of some of these new products

There is still a sense of taboo surrounding the world of sex - specifically the world of sex for fun or as a pastime, rather than for procreation only - but books such as this show that we're becoming a little more open to talking about and sharing these sorts of things. And as we can make these products more personalized (curves and shapes designed for the uniqueness of an individual's body) the more likely we are to realize that these objects aren't just for 'deviants,' but for anyone who wants to enhance their sensual pleasure experiences. Books like this make us realize that these products are available and that intelligent, qualified experts are always working to design new products. Now if we can work on the product prices and availability perhaps more people would purchase a product of this sort, and not just those whose lifestyle really revolves around these experiences.

Looking for a good book? Objects of Desire, by Rita Catinella Orrell, is a photo book of modern sex toys, presented in nicely photographed, artistic fashion. Put one on your coffee table and see what your neighbors think the next time they come over for drinks.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
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The design art of adult toys
by Ursiform (4 out of 5 stars)
February 28, 2016

So, a publisher offers me the opportunity to review a book about, er, intimate toys. Am I going to say no?

No, I'm not.

Let me say up front that this is a book primarily about the design of such toys, not an illustrated manual on their use. So a certain group--you know who you are--can drift off now.
(Although, to be honest, there are some slightly racy pictures in the jewelry and lingerie section.)

There is some fun stuff in this book before you even hit the main sections. One of the up front sections cautions: "Before using any of the products in this book, first become familiar with the manufacture's directions, safety warnings, and cleaning instructions." The introduction is written by the curator of the Antique Vibrator Museum. And so it goes.

The book does open with vibrators. Of many shapes and colors. Some have remote controls. Some can be computer programmed. One has memory and doubles as a "thumb" drive. (Even though it's not designed to be used as a thumb surrogate. Unless you know a guy with very long thumbs.) His and her devices communicate over the internet for when you can't be together.

And more unfolds. Intimate exercisers. Jewelry and lingerie. Men's rings not designed to go on a finger. Replacements for the female body (or at least selected orifices.) Replacements for the male body (or at least one part of it.) Devices designed for rectal insertion. Which might include a faux animal tail. Or, as one description notes, be "boilable, bleachable, and dishwasher-safe, but not harness compatible."

There are products to inhibit conception, and to artificially induce it. There is even furniture upon which to do it.

The range is amazing, but perhaps not surprising. Even absent toy designers people will, it seems, find a way to make almost anything an intimate object.

But back to the book. This is very much a book of images, but not an entirely coherent one. There are two pages of photo credits at the end, and that diversity is evident in the final result. There are gallery quality images, marketing images, and some rather "huh" images. I felt a bit let down by the brief interviews. I expected more to feature designers and be about art, but they range over people from retailers to bloggers. Other than the subject, they read a lot like newspaper interviews of local business owners. How they got into the field, their vision, where the business is going. Perhaps, not surprisingly, there are many versions of needing to design products consumers like. (Or, given the subject, products they get off on.)

Sometimes the short bios of the people interviewed are more engaging than the interview. One begins: "Epiphora claims to have a very discerning vagina." I don't believe I've ever heard those last three words used in that way before. (I will say I think the sketch of her is one of the hottest pictures in the book.)

I guess I would describe this as a coffee table book for people with no kiddies around. Especially if they hang out in lingerie a lot.

As suggested above, I was provided a copy for review by the publisher.
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A must-have collection book
by liliana narbone (5 out of 5 stars)
April 23, 2016

This book has started many interesting conversations among my circle and it is a good reference to go back to. The work put into the final product is apparent; the short but concise descriptions are enhanced by the full page photos. It is a must-have, in my opinion.
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fantastic design and a fun
by Vera Naughton (5 out of 5 stars)
May 21, 2016

Woderful book, fantastic design and a fun read
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Great for a gift or even your coffee table -- if you dare!
by SSFeeney (5 out of 5 stars)
April 27, 2016

Wow! What a creative and thoughtful look at an often taboo topic! I'll admit I did not know quite what to expect with "Objects of Desire," but I am inspired. I really had no idea how many "options of desire" are available.

Innovation, fun and creative problem solving are strong threads throughout the book. While it is certainly a sexy and erotic package, this book has real "meat" to it. It artfully and tastefully showcases what's new in the category of pleasure toys in a manner that informs and inspires, but doesn't make one blush (too much!) Read it and get to shop!
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Fun book!
by Lisa Della Croce (5 out of 5 stars)
March 6, 2016

What a fun book! The book is about product design for erotic objects, if you want to explore some intimate objects to use with a love one I recommend this book for some inspiration. ( I personally didn't realize how many options we have!! ) The book has some interesting interviews about designers, shop owners, and other people in the industry. Just one thing don't leave it around if you have young children unless you want to explain some things. Otherwise it was great book. Thumbs up!

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