Industrial design and the holiday season combine in these incredible Christmas tree ornaments. Artists and product designers are here to offer you something more design-led and modern than conventional plastic baubles.

Christmas Star Campaign stars by Snøhetta (also header image)

Every Christmas since 2012, the Norwegian Cancer Society raises money for lifesaving cancer research through their Christmas Star Campaign selling decorative stars to hang in the windows. Last year, on the occasion of the campaign’s 10th anniversary, renowned Norwegian architecture practice Snøhetta has designed a collection of three stars utilizing different means and materials.

Christmas Star Campaign stars by Snøhetta

Rather than creating a version of a traditionally shaped star, Snøhetta’s team has reinterpreted a star as objects that portray specific aspects of stars, like reflection, movement, and presence.

Christmas Star Campaign stars by Snøhetta

The smallest one is a paper star that can be used for decorating the Christmas tree but also functions as a to-and-from note for Christmas presents. A larger paper star is mainly meant to decorate the windows at hospitals but can also be bought for businesses and private households, and the third is a limited edition, handmade candle holder in untreated brass – made by the traditional and highly skillful artisans of a 140-year-old factory in Tønsberg, Norway.

Christmas Star Campaign stars by Snøhetta

Two of the stars are made of paper, to ensure that they are lightweight, recyclable, and accessible for most people that would like to support the campaign. Both paper stars can be assembled by the user themselves from flat circles that are then bent and put together to form a three-dimensional shape. The shape moves a little when it catches the wind, and its surface reflects and spreads the light from outside, embracing the surroundings with its soft shape.

In addition to selling the star in stores and online, Snøhetta has also created an online template of the star that is available to download with instructions on how to assemble it for a donation.

The Throwflake® by The James Brand

US-based everyday tool maker The James Brand has created a snowflake-shaped Christmas tree decoration that doubles as a shuriken (or “ninja star”).

The Throwflake® by The James Brand

With six very sharp points, The Throwflake® can be used as a make-shift defense weapon or tool, which is as good as a knife, good enough to cut through objects like wood or even tin cans.

Christmas tree ornaments by Frank Stella for The Whitney

3D printed Christmas tree ornaments created by American minimalist artist Frank Stella exclusively for The Whitney Museum of American Art combine geometry, symmetry, and organic design.

Christmas tree ornaments by Frank Stella for The Whitney

The incredible tree-hangers come in a variety of designs, exploring facets, combinations of form and negative-space, wireframes, and parts of parametric design.

Gimbal Christmas Ornament by Jouni Ahola

3D printed Gimbal Christmas Ornament by Jouni Ahola have been conceived not just to be hung on a tree. With multiple joints, this kinetic decoration offers both visual and tactile fun.

Gimbal Christmas Ornament by Jouni Ahola

The item is developed as a single-print design. Still, though printed flat, it can be flipped around like a Rubik’s cube, or more accurately, a gimbal that has endless configurations.