Hyundai’s IONIQ Pixel Toy Illuminating the Future and the Evolution of EV Design

In a dynamic era of electrified mobility, Hyundai Motor Company has embarked on a groundbreaking journey with the launch of its dedicated electric vehicle brand, IONIQ. Committed to redefining the automotive landscape, Hyundai’s vision for the future is not only reflected in its state-of-the-art electric vehicles but also in the innovative and visually captivating accessories that accompany them. One such standout item is the IONIQ Pixel Toy Flashlight, a creation by Citrus that seamlessly encapsulates Hyundai’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and technology.

Designer: Citrus design

At the heart of the IONIQ Pixel Toy Flashlight lies the inspiration drawn from Hyundai’s main design theme, Pixel. The company has ingeniously utilized parametric pixel lights as a design signature across its award-winning electric vehicles. This unique design language is not just a visual delight but symbolizes a journey that connects the past (analog), present, and future (digital). This common thread is integral to Hyundai’s EV design philosophy, signifying a harmonious blend of heritage and futuristic innovation.

The distinctive front pixelated lights of Hyundai’s electric vehicles are not merely a design choice; they represent a unique and unmistakable signature for the IONIQ series. These small cubic light clusters showcased prominently on the ’45’ concept EV and IONIQ 5, have become synonymous with Hyundai’s commitment to innovation. These pixel lights aren’t confined to the exterior; they also make an appearance inside the charging door, providing illumination regarding the charging status and the amount of charge.

As Hyundai Motor Company continues to shape the future of electric mobility, the Pixel Toy Flashlight serves as a tangible representation of the brand’s dedication to creating a cohesive and visually stunning ecosystem around its electric vehicles.

In the world of electric mobility, Hyundai’s IONIQ Pixel Toy Flashlight stands out as more than just an accessory; it’s a symbol of innovation, design excellence, and a bridge between the past and the future. As Hyundai Motor Company continues to lead the charge in the electric vehicle revolution, the Pixel Toy Flashlight serves as a shining example of how cutting-edge design and technological advancements can be seamlessly integrated into everyday products, bringing the future of mobility into the hands of consumers.

The post Hyundai’s IONIQ Pixel Toy Illuminating the Future and the Evolution of EV Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Paris 2024 Olympics And Paralympics Torch With a Symmetric, Rippled Design Symbolizes Equality

Both the Olympics and Paralympics share the same torch design for the first time in history, promoting the message of equality.

French designer Mathieu Lehanneur unveiled the Olympic and Paralympic torch ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The torch uses an interplay between matte and gloss textures, as well as plain and rippled surface treatment to represent the stillness of land and the moving water of the French river Seine. For the first time, both the Olympics and Paralympics torches are designed with the same form, size, and weight, with the sole differentiating factor being the symbols on each torch. This reinforces a message that all humans are equal in their spirit, sportsmanship, and potential. Paris 2024 also marks the first time that as many women are participating in the Olympics as men.

Designer: Mathieu Lehanneur

The steel lamp, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur and manufactured by ArcelorMittal, boasts of a symmetric design, both vertically and horizontally. The torch comes with a warm champagne color finish (celebrating French culture) and is fabricated entirely from recycled scrap steel, continuing a tradition from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The torch was designed with soft, flowing lines and a smooth, rounded shape, all in an effort to evoke a sense of tranquility. The inspiration for the ripple effect and the reflective surface on one side of the torch came from the serene presence of water and the majestic River Seine.

The main difference between the torches for the Olympics and the Paralympics will be the symbols located around the center. While the Olympic torch will have the Paris 2024 insignia and the iconic 5 intersecting Olympics rings, the Paralympics will replace the 5 rings with the Paralympics logo of three radially arranged arcs, shown above.

The upper half of the torch sports a matte finish on a plain surface

The lower half has a glossy mirror finish on a rippled surface, evoking the feeling of rippled water

Each torch weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and is 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) tall, and has a center of gravity that’s located in the middle of the torch, making it easier to carry than the top-heavy torches seen in the past. Organizers say that only 2000 torches will be produced for this edition – 5x fewer than the number from the previous Olympics and Paralympics, with the torch relay starting on the 8th of May next year. The torch will be lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, beginning its journey to Marseille by boat.

The post Paris 2024 Olympics And Paralympics Torch With a Symmetric, Rippled Design Symbolizes Equality first appeared on Yanko Design.

Victorinox’s Swiss-army multi tools fit right inside this credit card-shaped device!

Victorinox has long prided itself in creating some of the most useful and compact high-grade multitools the world has seen, but none match up to how compact their SwissCard Lite is. Shaped to look exactly like a credit card (it’s about as thick as one too), the SwissCard fits in any wallet, and comes with as many as 13 different tools all integrated into its slick profile.

The SwissCard Lite (named so because it also has a torch integrated into it) contains everything from grooming equipment to tailoring instruments to stationery and even multitools. It’s got its own ballpoint pen, pocket-knife, scissors, tweezers, straight-pin, magnifying glass, scale (with both metric and imperial units), LED torch, and as many as four different screwdriver-heads. All the elements sit within the SwissCard Lite’s nifty frosted-plastic casing, and can easily be carried in bags, wallets, even pockets, serving both indoors as well as the great outdoors. Just don’t carry it onto an airplane… the TSA won’t be too happy about that!

Designer: Victorinox

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The 2026 Winter Olympics torch, imagined by a designer inspired by Milan’s architecture

While the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics are currently being shifted to 2021, the games of the subsequent years are still on track, with Milan successfully bidding to host the 2026 winter games. Amidst this news, Italian designer Matteo Ercole decided to envision what the torch for the Milan Winter Olympics for 2026 would (or rather should) look like.

Ercole’s rendition of the Olympic Torch captures the true essence of Milan’s heritage and culture. Inspired by the spires of the Milan Duomo, the torch uses an inverted conical design, taking the cathedral’s intricate details and modernizing them. The modern interpretation retains the true essence of heritage Milanese architecture, while having the modern appeal of the works of architects like Stefano Boeri, who’s vertical forest also represents an iconic figure in Milan’s skyline. This fusion of styles is perhaps the perfect representation of Milan, merging the city’s rich heritage with its vibrant and colorful modern life. The top of the torch even comes with a red-colored cross, representing Milan’s flag… allowing it to act as the surface on which the ceremonial and symbolic fire burns.

Designer: Matteo Ercole

Quirky flashlight mimics the feeling of holding a smartphone

So much has been crammed into that rectangular bar that we call a phone, that it only makes sense that the rectangular bar be recognized as one of the most iconic shapes of our time. Referred to as the candybar, the smartphone has spurred movements where wallets, power-banks, and even projectors are literally the shape and size of a candybar. Ouyang Ling’s playful flashlight adds one more product to that list.

The quirky flashlight comes with a grip that’s literally smartphone-shaped, because we’re so used to holding that form. Almost like a boolean-union between the conical head of a flashlight and the 10mm thick block of a smartphone, the Next Flashlight (as Ling calls it) feels instantly familiar to the touch, and even comes with a switch on the edge where you’d see the phone’s volume rockers. I wonder if the flashlight runs on smartphone-style lithium ion batteries too…

Designer: Ouyang Ling

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch takes inspiration from Japanese cherry blossoms

The Sakura, or the Cherry Blossom holds an iconic role in Japanese culture, finding its firmly rooted place in Japanese tradition, art, outdoor spaces, music, manga, anime, and film. It now finds itself as the inspiration source for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch.

The torch, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, pays tribute to the flower that literally covers the country in a pool of pink every spring. Made from extruded aluminum, the torch comes with a pipe-shaped design that branches out into five outward truncated sections to form the motif of the Sakura cherry blossom – the traditional flower of Japan – when viewed from above. The torch comes with a rose-gold tint too, to complete its appearance, giving the torch a pink hue, just like the blush-colored flower.

The torch comes made from recycled metal used in the temporary housing units that were created post the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Olympic medals are also being made recycled metal too, obtained from electronic waste across the country.

Yoshioka claims that the recycled nature of the torch was a way of “transforming materials that witnessed the rebuilding of shattered lives into a symbol of peace,” according to the creator, “to convey to the world the extent to which the affected areas are recovering, one step at a time.”

The release of the torch design is also coincidentally timed perfectly with the beginning of spring, and the blooming of the cherry blossoms all across the country.

Designer: Tokujin Yoshioka

Death to Double A

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You know, I’d much rather retain the headphone jack and phase out pencil batteries instead. We’re over them, aren’t we? Our remotes should just have USB outlets that allow us to charge them. Our bedside alarm clocks should too. And our torches. Definitely our torches.

Ziran shows us what an easy transition it would be. The torch doesn’t really change much, but an interesting detail gets added at the bottom. The bottom has a USB cable that does a little loop, making it great for hanging, while also ensuring your charging cable is always attached to your flashlight!

Designer: Venko Lynn

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Solar beads can make some very cool lamps and flashlights

Conventional solar panels aren't exactly the prettiest objects on the planet, which is why companies like Tesla, SRS Energy and SunTegra have been focusing on blending this technology into roof tiles. As for those who don't have a roof or land to spa...

The FlashTorch Mini Can Start Fires and Cook Breakfast

We know Wicked Lasers for their handheld lasers and flashlights that are crazy bright compared to others on the market. A few years ago it released a flashlight that was intense enough to start a fire. Well, now they have a more compact design so you can bring it with you anywhere. It is perfect for taking with you when camping.

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It still measures over eight-and-a-half inches long, so the FlashTorch Mini still isn’t truly mini despite its name. But it is about 40 percent smaller than the original FlashTorch, plus it’s still powerful enough to start fires, or even fry up an egg. It has a 2,300 lumen output. That’s about the same brightness as one of those video projectors used in a large lecture hall.

At maximum brightness though, the rechargeable batteries will only last for about 30 minutes. So you better cook dinner fast. You can get up to 100 minutes of light by dialing the brightness down, but your meal will probably be raw. Smartly, they included an automatic lockout mode that prevents it from accidentally powering on in your bag and burning everything in sight. The FlashTorch Mini will cost you $200(USD) and is available now.

[via Gizmodo]