Laser-cut timber veneers ensure slow-growing trees don’t disappear quickly. It also puts some very lovely timber art in your hands when a design duo puts design and nature together. Ben Collette and Erick Waldman are the clever things behind the Lazerwood label that offers laser-etched, timber veneers for the iPhone4. Warm wood meets mobile coolness here, with classic patterns and portraits to boot.

Keeping the special factor high is that each skin is as unique as the tree it comes from. Holding a slice of black cherry, walnut and birch is an opportunity these designers were passionate to share and we’re grateful as can be. On the practical side, Lazerwood skins resolve that pesky antenna issue and protect the sleek metal from scratches. Words that spring to mind right now are must and have.