How the ST-01 Was Designed
It Started as Something He Wanted
Antonio Lo Presti is an industrial designer based in Amsterdam. He’s spent over twelve years designing physical objects professionally. When he started developing what became the ST-01, the premise was direct: he wanted a small, well-made object on his own desk. Something that earned its space.
“I wanted to make a small object that earns its place on a desk,” he said. “Something you naturally come back to throughout the day.”
The Design Brief
The brief was functional: a spinning top that could also be interacted with when not spinning. This meant the form needed to support multiple modes of engagement — not just optimise for one. Most spinning tops are optimised exclusively for spin performance. The ST-01 needed to be good at spinning and good at being held, clicked, snapped, flipped, and attached to surfaces.
That’s a harder design problem than it looks. Each interaction mode imposes constraints on the geometry. Modularity (the snap-together mechanism) requires precision fit between components. The magnetic attachment requires embedding a neodymium magnet without compromising balance. The click mechanism needs to be satisfying without being flimsy.
Three Components
The ST-01 is made from three machined aluminium pieces: an outer ring, a middle coin, and the central body. They snap together via magnetic connection. When assembled, the object is a spinning top. When disassembled, each component has its own tactile character.
The middle coin flips. The outer ring clicks against the body. The whole assembly can be attached to any ferromagnetic surface — a whiteboard, a filing cabinet, a steel desk edge.
Material and Manufacturing
Anodised aluminium was chosen for its combination of lightweight feel, machinability, and surface durability. Anodising adds a hard oxide layer that resists scratches and holds colour without adding visible coating thickness.
Every component is CNC-machined from solid bar stock. Why CNC machining matters for an object like this: tight tolerances mean the components fit precisely, the top balances correctly, and the clicks and snaps feel deliberate rather than loose.
What the Kickstarter Proved
The ST-01 launched on Kickstarter on 17 March 2024. It reached 430% of its funding goal, with 637 backers across 30 countries. The signal was clear: there was an audience for a spinning top designed as a desk object rather than as a collector's item or a pure performance tool.
An Object That Makes Its Own Rules
Lo Presti’s description of the ST-01 is precise: “ST-01 is playful by nature. The interaction is open, and people decide how they want to use it.” There’s no prescribed way to engage with it. Some people spin it. Some click it. Some attach it to the side of their monitor. The design supports all of it without prescribing any of it.
Read more about the brand: Amsterdam Dynamics.
The ST-01 is available in Gunmetal from €49 and Matte Black Limited Edition at €65.
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