Space-inspired everyday products prepare us for a zero-gravity future

Many people these days dream about living on other planets or at least inside orbiting space stations, but few actually consider how very different life would be outside the Earth’s gravity. Of course, Hollywood tends to romanticize a lot of everyday life, but as astronauts will testify, living in space, even if just to reach the Moon or Mars, is no walk in the park. Even the simplest activities like drinking water can be awkward and disorienting in zero-g, at least if you consider using Earth-bound objects to do so. That’s why this trio of designs tries to reimagine some of the most mundane products we use in daily life and transform them into objects that are ready for our space-faring future.

Designers: Subin Kim, Jagyeong Baek, Jaeyeon Lee

Most of us understand that without gravity, things tend not to stay down, but few actually envision the ramifications of that fact. Products designed on Earth naturally presume an amount of stability, and the way they are handled or controlled is limited in the same manner. For example, a lot of everyday things only have handles on one side or work in a single direction, a presumption that doesn’t make much sense or even becomes counterproductive when the objects are floating in space.

Spatio is a collection of these everyday objects that have been redesigned with zero gravity in mind. Or to put it more simply, it doesn’t make presumptions on where and how it will function, making it work both on Earth, on Mars, or in the International Space Station. Aqua, for example, is a water bottle that replaces a traditional cup that has a single handle on one side only. In contrast, this bottle has four extrusions in cardinal directions that act as handles and a cover that lets you drink by sucking rather than sipping from the lip of a mug.

Sonus is a wireless speaker that really defies the traditional design of speakers. Inspired by the moon’s spherical shape, each of the “craters” on its surface pops up a tiny omnidirectional speaker when pressed. The more units that pop out, the louder it gets, acting is an unconventional form of volume control. The important difference is that you don’t have to shift or move the speaker to one side or the other just to reach those controls.

And then there’s Lumia, a star-shaped flashlight that can shine in any direction. Simply turning the central wheel switches the direction of the light so that it works regardless of how you’re holding it. While these products were designed with space living in mind, it’s not difficult to imagine them working just as well on Terra Firma, proving that truly accessible design benefits everyone everywhere, even if they’re living in outer space.

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Portable Battery-free iPhone Speaker for Immersive Music Anywhere

The ubiquity of smartphones has made these communication tools the perfect portable media players as well, allowing owners to enjoy their tunes, podcasts, and even videos at any given time or place. But while smartphones are great for private listening, even the most powerful smartphone speakers have limits, especially once the sound starts to distort at maximum volumes. Speakers can help spread the sound, but only as much and as far as their batteries or power cords take them. This distinctive smartphone speaker, in contrast, harnesses the laws of physics to take your tunes farther and immerse you and your friends in moving sounds, all without using any power and looking quite handsome to boot!

Designer: Ooi Masato of Pit-A-Pat for Shimawa

Click Here to Buy Now: $152 $179 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, Holiday Sale ends in 24 hours!

At one point in time, there was a breed of speakers that boasted requiring no electricity, no batteries, and absolutely no power at all to operate. These accessories acted as echo chambers to naturally amplify sounds, offering a simple and sustainable option to common speakers. Most of these, however, used plastic or at most wood to avoid the effects of vibrations, leaving their aesthetics and textures much to be desired.

The speaker is an innovative and unique take on this kind of no-power smartphone speaker that, unlike the rest of its kin, uses metal to offer a product whose value goes beyond its function. It uses Duralumin, a type of aluminum alloy that’s used in the aviation and aerospace industries because of its vibration-resistant properties and durability. Thanks to this, all you need to do is insert your smartphone into the speaker and feel the sound envelope you from all sides.

The choice of metal for this speaker’s material also gives the battery-free speaker a unique aesthetic you’d be hard-pressed to find in similar products. With a minimalist and retro industrial style, the speaker adds some character to any surface or space it is placed on. This elegant design is achieved through the use of the famed golden ratio to create a more natural proportion of the form’s shapes, particularly the different sizes of the speaker holes. Whether standing on its own or holding your smartphone, the speaker easily grabs your attention without being dominating or distracting.

And if you want to give the speaker a little more oomph, figuratively and literally, there are custom accessories you can screw into the holes to tweak the experience a bit. Reminiscent of airplane engines, Jet focuses and delivers sound in the direction the attachments are facing. Bloom, on the other hand, diffuses sound along the curves that try to resemble a blooming flower. Enjoy an immersive audio experience with this electricity-free smartphone speaker that requires no power to use and looks captivating anywhere you place it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $152 $179 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, Holiday Sale ends in 24 hours!

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Futuristic Bluetooth speaker concept is inspired by electric cars

Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen these days, but the majority of them share one particular trait. They’re designed with aesthetics to fit inside the house, sometimes looking like elegant pieces of interior decoration even. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but they do imply or even explicitly state that these speakers should not be taken out of the house. There will always be times when you wish you could bring your trusty wireless speaker along with you, but at the same time don’t want to take out what looks like a military weapon out of your bag or car. This Bluetooth speaker aims to strike a balance between durability and bold design, and it does so by taking a few pages out of an electric vehicle’s design book.

Designer: Billy Ernst

Electric vehicles or EVs are touted to be the cars of the future, mostly because of their more eco-friendly mode of operation and advanced electronics, but there are some EV makers that take that identity beyond just internal components. Rivian’s adventure vehicles, for example, employ a combination of angular and muscular elements, sharp lines, bold proportions, and distinctive lighting that make the EVs look like TRON vehicles come to life. It’s no wonder, then, that the RIFT Bluetooth speaker concept gives off that same futuristic vibe, demonstrating a design that looks great not just outdoors but indoors as well.

Unlike regular speakers, RIFT comes in an oval ring shape that leaves its middle completely hollow. With the speaker mesh that wraps around the exterior surface, it almost looks like the tread of a tank. Although it comes in different colors, the options are limited to earthy tones that match the EV maker’s own selection, including Glacier White, Rivian Blue, Compass Yellow, and Midnight Black. The LED lighting on the rim serves as a unique accent that brings a sci-fi aesthetic while also providing functionality as a battery level and pairing indicator.

There aren’t too many details in the design that distract from the overall appearance. There are only four control buttons for power, volume, and pairing, and they’re mostly hidden from view on the inner surface of the loop. The more visible button on the top serves both as pause/play control as well as branding. Other than these, the entire body of the speaker is one unbroken ring, giving it a unified and bold appearance while also evoking a sense of stability and reliability.

Given the shape of the speaker, there might be some concerns about the direction that the sound will travel because of the positioning of the speakers. There’s also mention of any dust and water resistance that is a must-have for any adventurous pieces of electronic equipment. Of course, these are just implementation details that wouldn’t really affect the core concept of a bold and daring speaker that can accompany you on your adventures, even if that means just staying at home.

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Lush’s Bath Bot brings the bath bomb to a digital level

Taking a bath is a functional experience that we all have almost every day. There are of course people who get bored when in the shower or in the bath tub so they do something else like singing in the shower, listening to music or podcasts, or even having a mini dance party just to relieve the routine. If you have a bathtub, adding a bath bomb every once in a while can make you feel like you’re at a bubble party. What if you could have all of these experiences using just one device?

Designer: Lush

Lush is a brand that you wouldn’t normally associate with gadgets or devices but it is closely co-related with taking a bath. They are set to release their very own “digital bath bomb” called Bath Bot which will be able to give you a “custom light, sound, and colour experience” whenever you take a bath. Basically it’s the same size and shape of their bath bombs but is actually a water-proof speaker that you can put in the bathtub with you or on the sink near your shower if you don’t have a bathtub.

The Bath Bot will give you a 180-degree sound show so you can play your favorite music or audio book or podcast while enjoying a bath. If you want more of a colorful mode, you can also get full-spectrum multi-directional lights so you can have your very own spa or rave experience, whichever end of the spectrum you want. There are several colors available including lavender, pink, red, green, blue, etc. You can also have tiny bubbles fizzing across the speaker if you want even more of a multi-sensory experience.

The devices themselves are just available in two colorways: white or black. But you have several modes available like Rave Mode, Fun Mode, and Sleepy Mode, all of which you can adjust in the Lush app which also has podcasts and playlists. I don’t get bored when taking a bath but this just take my bathing experience to a whole new level.

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Vox Aeris harmoniously merges an air purifier + speaker in a Teenage Engineering-inspired aesthetic

In the bustling rhythm of urban living, there’s one constant that often goes unnoticed: the air we breathe! Indoor air pollution, an invisible enemy, can stealthily impact our health, we know; yet, it is a low priority for most of us. A visionary designer is orchestrating a new tune in air purification, harmonizing it with the melodies of music through the interesting idea of Vox Aeris.

Vox Aeris, designed by Selene Sarı, is an ingenious device that comprises an air purifier and a speaker. Based in London, Sarı has ingeniously woven together two vital aspects of our daily existence – air quality and music – into one harmonious symphony. To the accord, Vox Aeris, by merging these two functions, can reach a broader audience, giving more people the gift of purified air to breathe at home.

Designer: Selene Sarı

The Vox Aeris’ genius lies in its triple-play design – encompassing a cleaning mode, a listening mode, and the remarkable Vox mode, which ingeniously purifies the air while delivering melodious tunes to keep you entertained instead of sitting there ideally like other air purifiers. Further, existing air purifiers bear a hefty price tag and use non-recyclable filters. Vox Aeris breaks free from this mold and is making air purification at home accessible. It uses affordable fabric filters that are both effective and environmentally conscious.

For air purification, Vox Aeris employs a process called agglomeration, which is a process of particles grouping together like snow in a snowball. This scientific choreography is created by a mesmerizing dance of turbulence and acoustics. Vox Aeris’ internal fans create a vortex of turbulence, while its speaker reverberates with low-frequency sounds, both working together to encourage particle agglomeration. These particles are then trapped in a recyclable, laser-engraved filter.

As Vox Aeris resonates in homes or offices, it serves as a melodious reminder that breathing clean is an essential symphony for a healthier future. While in outdoors, it can be used as a portable speaker courtesy of its battery-powered design. The device has both purifier and speaker functions on its façade. Positioned on the left is a screen displaying the air quality of its surroundings. In the middle are the air purifier and speaker buttons, while on the right is a dial that provides precise control over the auditory experience, allowing us to fine-tune both tone and volume.

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Merging Analog and Digital, This Wireless Speaker Resonates With Your Music and Mood

In a world where digital technology dominates our everyday lives, ‘Mark’ sets out to challenge the norm by offering an audio experience that seamlessly blends the analog and digital realms. Mark Hi-fi Premium Audio is not just another speaker or music player; it is a meticulously designed masterpiece that aims to captivate your senses in every possible way.
At the core of Mark’s design philosophy is the idea of expressing an analog form filled with digital sources. The designers have masterfully incorporated a motif that highlights the beauty of dots, lines, and surfaces in three dimensions. The result is a visually stunning device that effortlessly catches the eye and sparks curiosity.

Designer: Mark Choi and Scott Yeom (mark&draw Design)

MARK HI-FI consists of three primary elements: looking (display), listening (sound), and touching (controller). It seamlessly integrates with various internet media, apps, and sound sources, allowing for easy connectivity and access to a vast library of audio content. The inclusion of a large, heavy wheel on the right side of the device adds a touch of magic to its usability. By turning and pressing this wheel, users can control and fine-tune their desired sources, sound sources, volume, and tone, all with intuitive ease. The main body of MARK HI-FI, referred to as the “main display,” can be used in conjunction with the controller or separated as a sub-display on the wheel. This versatility allows users to customize their audio experience, adapting it to their preferences and creating a more immersive environment.

One striking aspect of MARK HI-FI is its cold metallic quality, which contrasts beautifully with the warm tones it produces. The designers have skilfully balanced the visual aesthetics with the audio output, resulting in a harmonious blend of form and function.

The addition of an organic LED at the bottom of the device takes the audio experience to another level. This responsive LED not only enhances the visual appeal but also adds an emotional dimension to the sound transmission. As the music plays, the LED reacts, creating a mesmerizing display that amplifies the emotional connection between the listener and the sound.

MARK HI-FI aims to stand out in the crowded market of speakers and music players. It challenges the status quo by introducing a unique and singing shape that sets it apart from the competition. The device is not merely released; it is unleashed, with an unyielding desire to captivate and delight its users.

Flexibility is another key feature of MARK HI-FI. The display can be angled anywhere from 20 to 90 degrees, allowing users to find their preferred viewing position. With simple touch movements, various graphical user interfaces (GUI) can be accessed and customized, ensuring a personalized and user-friendly experience.

To enhance convenience, MARKHI-FI supports wireless functionality through a C-type charger. This means you can enjoy your audio experience without the hassle of wires and cables. The designers have gone the extra mile to ensure seamless usability by incorporating a magnetic charging terminal, making it even easier to rotate the side wheel.

MARK HI-FI Premium Audio is a testament to the possibilities that arise when analog form meets digital sound. With its meticulous design, versatile functionality, and captivating visual and audio experience, MAR HI-FI stands as a unique offering in the ever-growing market of speakers and music players. Prepare to be enthralled by its magical usability, as it brings your audio dreams to life in ways you never thought possible.

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Bird-Inspired Speaker Wakes You up to the Sounds of nature in your Urban Homes

Doesn’t your jarring smartphone alarm annoy you every morning? Don’t you just want to throw your phone away and wish we were on some vacation in some peaceful cottage? We always crave some hint of nature and serenity in our urban lives. Imagine waking up to the soothing sounds of birds singing, creating a serene and refreshing atmosphere that instantly lifts your spirits. Whistle, a revolutionary speaker, aims to turn your mornings into a delightful experience by replacing mundane smartphone alarms with the sweet serenade of nature.

Designer: Eunsu Lee

The inspiration for Whistle came from a personal experience of the designer, during a trip to Singapore. While staying at a hotel, he had the pleasure of waking up to the gentle melody of birdsong. This unique encounter left a lasting impression, as it offered a refreshing and invigorating start to the day. It was this memory that led to the creation of Whistle, a product designed to bring the joy of waking up to the sound of birds singing to everyone’s mornings.

The conventional smartphone alarms we rely on often shock us awake or force us to engage in a battle of snoozes, making it difficult to start the day on a positive note. Amidst all the preexisting stress for the upcoming day, we surely don’t want our very own smartphones to add to it. In contrast, the sounds of nature, particularly birdsong, have been proven to have a calming effect and alleviate stress-related anxiety, OCD symptoms, and depression. Whistle aims to harness the power of nature sounds to provide a more peaceful and pleasant morning wake-up experience.

Whistle offers a range of four product lineups, each designed to create a harmonious mood while considering user experience and various usage scenarios. The flagship product is the Whistle Speaker, a smart device with a detachable battery. Its versatility allows it to be easily attached to other products in the lineup, such as the Branch LED light, enhancing convenience and functionality.

Whistle speaker & battery

Setting alarms with the Whistle speaker’s application is a breeze. The intuitive user interface allows you to select your desired bird sound, ensuring a customized and enjoyable wake-up experience. The beak-shaped silicone button, known as the Action button, enables seamless operation for functions like pairing, power on/off, and play/pause. The hidden LED inside the fabric filter provides intuitive feedback on the speaker’s current function.

Equipped with three built-in speakers, the Whistle speaker delivers a rich stereo sound experience. The speaker’s back features touch buttons for volume control and a pairing reset button. To ensure portability and extended usage, the bottom battery pack securely attaches to the speaker with magnets, transforming the unit into a wireless Bluetooth speaker. It can be conveniently charged via USB-C cable or wirelessly on the bottom of the battery pack.

The design of the Whistle products draws inspiration from the vibrant and natural colors of birds. The minimalistic white packaging incorporates color stickers for indications, reducing waste and promoting environmental consciousness.

Whistle Nest

In addition to the Whistle speaker, the product line includes Whistle_Nest, a wireless charging pad resembling a bird’s nest. It allows for easy charging of the battery pack and features a hidden LED indicator that fills the space with an EGG icon when charging is complete. The Nest has a vent hole with a patterned bottom to prevent overheating and includes rubber pads to ensure stability and prevent slipping.

Whistle Branch

Another member of the Whistle family is Whistle_Branch, an LED lighting fixture designed with a bird perched on a tree branch as its motif. The Branch lighting can function independently or be paired with the speaker, creating a synergistic effect. This versatile product is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, bringing a touch of nature-inspired ambiance to any space.

The Branch lighting features an electrode on the top, allowing it to connect and dock with the speaker. Users can easily control the lighting through the application. Manual control of the on/off and brightness is also possible using the dot located on top of the light. The stand base doubles as a tray, showcasing the cute logo, and the power supply is via a Type-C connection.

The Branch can be used as a standalone lighting fixture without the stand, making it ideal for various settings. The components of Branch include the main LED, a stand base, two stand poles, and a camping stand pack pole, ensuring flexibility for different scenarios.

Whether you use Whistle in your bedroom or take it on outdoor adventures, it seamlessly integrates into your daily routine. Combined with the Branch lighting, it creates an inviting ambiance for your home or serves as a perfect companion on camping trips. The versatility of Whistle enhances your picnic experience, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing and fun time with minimal baggage.

Whistle has reimagined the morning wake-up experience by incorporating the soothing sounds of nature allowing you to start your day feeling refreshed and uplifted. Embrace the joyful serenade of birdsong and make every morning a delightful experience with Whistle, your faithful morning mate. However, the core idea of replacing it with smartphone alarms cannot be a selling point as the sounds can always be downloaded on any smartphone without an extra expense. Having said that, the visual appeal and thought would surely attract the majority of the population.

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A Braun-inspired portable speaker that charges using anything – from wifi to sunlight

In today’s fast-paced world, innovative gadgets are transforming our lives, making us question the traditional ways we use and recharge our devices. Soon recharging your gadgets using electricity is going to get obsolete. We’ve all experienced the frustration of reaching for our portable speakers only to find them out of charge. It can be incredibly inconvenient, especially when we’re in the mood for some great music or need to enhance a gathering with powerful sound. And to add to that you can’t even recall where you last left its charger. This just leaves you feeling stressed and sad. But what if there was a speaker that never goes out of charge? Cool right?

If you have Faith, there’s no need to worry! (pun intended)

With FaithFull, the worry of running out of battery power becomes a thing of the past. This remarkable speaker is designed to harness multiple sources of energy to recharge itself effortlessly.

Designer: Edoardo Gouffran

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FaithFull ingeniously converts your everyday movements into energy. Whether you’re walking or cycling, the speaker absorbs kinetic energy and transforms it into a power source. It comes with a specially designed band that allows the speaker to remain attached to various surfaces, ensuring continuous charging.

By harnessing the power of the sun, FaithFull lets you recharge while enjoying the outdoors. When you take the speaker for picnics, workouts, or any outdoor activity, it automatically replenishes its energy reserves when exposed to sunlight.

FaithFull offers the convenience of autonomous charging through its robust wifi charging technology. Even when kept in a bag or backpack, the speaker can recharge anywhere within the house using ambient wifi signals. Say goodbye to the hassle of searching for chargers and outlets.

The speaker reflects the design language of the company – Braun. Braun as a company focuses on creating minimal products with geometric forms and rounded edges with simple interfaces and utilitarian functions. The speaker embraces a minimalistic design that seamlessly blends with any environment. Its sleek, plain black shell exudes elegance and subtlety, allowing it to harmoniously fit into any setting. While its exterior may be minimal, its sound quality is anything but. With FaithFull, you can expect the best audio experience, making your favorite music come alive.

FaithFull understands the importance of simplicity. Its interface is designed to prioritize user experience while ensuring effortless control. The touch keys, including Power, Bluetooth, and volume controls, provide just the right amount of interaction without overwhelming the user. The focus remains on the quality of sound and hassle-free operation.

FaithFull Braun Speaker has emerged as a game-changer in the portable speaker industry. By introducing an innovative charging system that harnesses kinetic and solar energy, as well as autonomous wifi recharging, FaithFull offers an unparalleled audio experience without the hassle of running out of battery power. Its sleek design and superior sound quality makes it an ideal companion for music lovers and those who value convenience. Embrace the future of portable speakers with FaithFull and never worry about recharging again.

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This head-turning speaker is a piece of tech art that pays tribute to space exploration

The popularity of wireless speakers has made them a staple in many homes, and that, in turn, has shaped the way these products are being designed. To match many interior motifs, the majority of wireless speakers take on more minimalist and low-key aesthetics that make them blend with their surroundings. Unfortunately, that has also made many of these everyday items less memorable and distinctive, as if they’ve been stripped of any sense of identity. That’s an almost ironic situation for a device that is supposed to inject life and vibrancy into living spaces. Daring to go against the tides, this one-of-a-kind speaker is designed to make its presence not only heard but also seen, taking inspiration from mankind’s own daring ambitions to break free of the Earth’s gravity and reach for the stars.

Designer: Ken Chen

Click Here to Buy Now: $619 $1089 ($470 off). Hurry, Flash Sale ends soon!

If you look at most wireless speakers today, they most often come wrapped in very minimalist designs and shapes. Some, such as those coming from luxury brands, do exude a sense of luxury through their materials, but the majority of these audio accessories might come off as almost bland and too identical to each other. While there’s definitely nothing wrong with minimalism, there seems to be a misconception that it’s the be-all and end-all of design, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Nebula tech art speaker is a glowing example of that, bringing character to the speaker in order to bring your music to life in ways you will never forget.

Inspired by NASA.

Right off the bat, the Nebula speaker looks like no ordinary speaker. Its transparent, cubiform shell and circular windows are almost similar to the bulky helmets used in the earliest ages of deep sea diving or, for a more contemporary image, astronaut helmets. This isn’t by accident, because the Nebula, as its name might suggest, is heavily inspired by the pioneering spirit of mankind’s space programs, like the Apollo missions, the Hubble Telescope, or the more recent Mars landings. Even the specific hue of orange used, namely “International Orange,” was chosen for its connection to space agencies and their use in the spacesuits of old.

Beyond its already uncommon shape, the Nebula wireless speaker boasts a unique feature that truly makes the device feel “space-age.” Instead of a typical digital visualizer, it uses a special Ferrofluid substance that dances to the beat of the music using the electromagnetic field naturally generated by the speaker. This SoundForm technology transforms the Nebula from a powerful speaker into a stunning audiovisual experience that will make you the life of the party and the talk of the town.

The Nebula isn’t just about looks either. Four high-fidelity speakers grouped into two separate chambers, each with its own passive radiator, creates thunderous beats, impressive volume, and palpable vibrations that kick the party’s music up a notch. And if one isn’t enough, you can pair two Nebula speakers wirelessly to create a truly wireless stereo (TWS) experience. Despite all that power, the speaker is super-easy to use with a touch-based control panel on top and support for Bluetooth audio sources, including both iOS and Android devices. Want to really be bold and daring? Simply unscrew the clear detachable JoyShell and flaunt the speakers’ inner beauty for all to see.

Wireless speakers might be very common these days, but that doesn’t mean their designs need to be as well. Taking a page from history’s most daring adventures, the Nebula Tech Art speaker not only delivers excellent audio quality but also creates a striking and memorable visual experience, both through its design as well as its SoundForm ferrofluid visualization. Escape the gravity of monotony with this exciting tech art speaker and bring back the sense of adventure to your life.

Click Here to Buy Now: $619 $1089 ($470 off). Hurry, Flash Sale ends soon!

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