Imagine you could design a ladder, with complete freedom of choice over materials, dimensions, capabilities and accessories.  What sort of ladder would you design?  A major concern for many people when choosing a ladder is where it is going to be stored when it is not being used, or how it will be transported to and from work if it is a trade ladder.  For that reason, it is tempting to think that telescopic technology might be favoured in the design of a fantasy ladder, as this is one of the most compact types of ladder out there.  The concertina style folds of the space saving loft ladder are also appealing, but there is a risk of getting fingers caught up in the mechanism. For this imaginary ladder, we will stick with telescopic legs. The most useful ladders are multi-functional, serving many purposes and being used in nearly every job around the home.  A step ladder function is essential, but then a straight ladder, 90-degree step ladder and work platform are also all very useful. Maybe we could design a ladder that comes in two parts, one telescopic step ladder that also works at 90 degrees to the wall, and the other part that works as a straight and extension ladder, of course with telescopic legs to control the heights of the two sections when it is also used as a work platform.  The two parts, step and straight ladder, can be joined together to make a much bigger extension ladder, or an extending step ladder. The 90-degree step ladder would be ideal for painting, changing external security bulbs, cleaning windows and pruning trees or picking fruit. This fantasy design could also be used easily on the stairs, with the telescopic step ladder part working well straddling different heights on the stairs and the other part serving as a stabiliser for a work platform placed between them.  The work platform function would also work just as well for decorating normal rooms and doing work outside. In built paint and tool trays, as well as a fold out step for each rung (to provide a wider area on which to stand when working at height for any considerable length of time) would top this super ladder off quite nicely, but while we're thinking of the best ladder we could ever dream of why not add in-built leg levellers and a stabilising, anti-slip base that can be detached when not needed.  This fantasy ladder could be getting quite heavy with all these bells and whistles, so wheels at the base of the legs, lockable for safety, would make moving it around on flat surfaces very easy.  If carbon fibre were used as the material for constructing this ladder it would be very light indeed, much lighter than an aluminium ladder and stronger at the same time. This ladder would set you back a pretty penny (if only for the fact that carbon fibre is very expensive) but it would meet all your needs around the home and at work. Perhaps the only thing it is missing is an inbuilt level to tell you when it is at the right angle, and a safety net that deploys from the bottom when it is climbed, catching you if you fall.  Another cool safety feature would be airbags or legs that deploy when the ladder tips with a weight on it, thereby breaking the fall for anyone on the ladder when it goes over.  Little Giant Ladders already meet most of these criteria, but perhaps these extra features have inspired you to go forth and design a super ladder.  We'll keep watching Dragons Den just in case!