Out of Orifice

The orifices of our bodies are the thresholds at which we meet the outside world. They are places of entry and exit; input and output; consumption, emission and exchange. These are the gateways between our interior and exterior universe. Some take in the materials we need to live, some are outlets for waste, some are erogenous zones, and some are all three and more. When we need medical interventions, orifices are the non-surgical entry points. When we seek sexual pleasure, orifices are frequently the focus of our stimulation. Orifices are where we receive information about our environments, as well as sites of intimacy and taboo – both sensor and censored. In this eclectic catalogue of insertables, global design collective Heirloom presents a selection of third-party objects designed for our orifices, whether for reasons of healthcare or personal comfort, for fashion or for fun. Join Heirloom in exploring our internal landscapes and the tools we use to navigate them, taking in mouth, nose, eyes, ears, vagina, urethra and anus. From contact lenses to Kegel toners, cotton swabs to catheters, the products presented here explore what it means to design for the human body at its most literal extreme, asking questions about whether and why the objects we put into ourselves inspire trust or spark joy – and how we can make them better.