The spirit of the Catalogue of Unfindable Objects

Jacques Carelman & the Catalogue

In 1969, French artist Jacques Carelman published the Catalogue d'objets introuvables (Catalogue of Unfindable Objects), a brilliant parody of mail-order catalogues. Each page shows an everyday object twisted to the point of absurdity: a coffee pot for masochists with a scalding handle, a bicycle with square wheels, glasses with opaque lenses…

Carelman's work reminds us that invention is often born from dysfunction. By making objects useless, he forces us to rethink their purpose and question our relationship with design, consumption and norms.

Our philosophy

Inventarium is a collaborative playground created by Game4Work, the marketplace connecting companies with the world of games. The idea is simple: chance gives you ingredients (objects, adjectives) and your imagination does the rest. Name your invention, pitch it, and let the community vote.

No patents, no intellectual property here. Every creation belongs to the community: it can be commented on, remixed, repurposed. The goal isn't to own an idea, but to celebrate absurdity together.

A collective work

The catalogue grows thanks to you. Every invention, every vote, every comment enriches this gallery of impossible objects. It's a living, participatory tribute to Carelman's spirit.

Want to know more about the rules of the game? Read our Terms of Use.