Author Archives: Sarang Sheth

Tabletop Wind Tunnel lets you Run Aerodynamic Tests on your entire Die-Cast Toy Car Collection

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Ever seen those behind-the-scenes videos of car design where they show the vehicle prototype in a wind tunnel test? These tunnels blast streams of smoke towards a car, and engineers analyze how the smoke lines contour and travel down the car’s body – it’s a phenomenal way of accurately analyzing literal air movement or aerodynamism… and there’s a company that’s now selling a scaled-down version of the wind tunnel that is small enough to place on your desk. Starting at just $159, the Windsible is a desk toy that lets you scale down and mimic automotive wind tunnel tests that usually require infrastructure worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Designed to be used with your die-cast car collection (Hot Wheels, Maisto, Fastlane, Matchbox, etc.) or even your small-scale LEGO Technic builds, the Windsible turns your static car into a kinetic art installation, allowing you to actually capture the beauty of wind tunnel tests on a scale compact enough to sit on your workspace tabletop!

Designers: Jayden Han and Jarvis Jiang

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $239 (33% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $260,000.

Miniaturized Wind Tunnel for Your Die-Cast Collection

Perhaps the most exciting way to display your car collection, the Windsible also lets you perform the same tests that engineers did on real cars before they were released. The tabletop gizmo comes in 3 sizes, depending on the scale of your toy cars. The smallest 1:64 scale is perfect for tiny Hot Wheels and matchbox cars, while the mid-size 1:24 scale and large 1:18 scale are for bigger car models.

A fogger on the front generates smoke, allowing you to visualize aerodynamic drag in real-time, while lights on the back of the Windsible turn bright red, paying a hat-tip to car taillights. A knob lets you turn the Windsible on and adjust the wind intensity (while a display tells you the wind speed), and the transparent casing gives you a glorious view of the wind tunnel test in action from both the side as well as the top.

Visualize Aerodynamics in Action

The Windsible generates airflow using a series of fans that are precisely calibrated to simulate the real-world conditions of a life-size wind tunnel. Modular smoke cartridges produce a fine mist, which can be adjusted and calibrated to get different shapes and patterns. A knob on the outside lets you adjust wind speed, while LEDs inside the tunnel’s main chamber illuminate both your car as well as the smoke lines, allowing you to observe fluid dynamics in action.

The fogger and fog fluid are designed to be easy to use and maintain, ensuring that the device remains operational with minimal effort. A mild, non-toxic oil-based fog fluid also prevents your expensive car collection from being damaged by mist or water vapor contact.

More Than Just a Toy: A Learning Tool for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Depending on its size, the Windsible accepts die-cast cars or even 3D-printed models. A linear chamber allows you to place any design of your choice in, and test aerodynamics. Designed to be silent, odorless, and incredibly precise, the Windsible is perfect for analyzing the drag coefficient of your favorite cars or even your design prototypes. The smoke glides seamlessly down smooth surfaces, pooling around at corners and edges to help you visualize how your car would cut through air as it moved down the road. Adjust the wind speed and you can see the tunnel’s results exaggerate further, depicting accurately what it would be like, driving at high speeds – and whether the car’s aerodynamic design actually translates to fuel efficiency. Different car designs exhibit vastly different results, allowing you to understand exactly how automotive surface design works.

The Windsible was conceptualized at Cranfield University by Steven, an engineer with a passion for aviation and vehicles. Steven’s expertise in aviation and vehicle design laid the groundwork for the product. Joining forces with Axia, a vehicle engineering expert from Politecnico di Torino, and Jayden, a skilled vehicle designer, the team combined their talents to create a Windsible that was not only technically sound but also visually striking and extremely user-friendly.

Bring Your Collection to Life: A Breathtaking Display Piece

The entire miniature wind tunnel runs on a DC power supply, which provides juice to the fogger system, the aerial LEDs, the display on the front, and the edge-lit futuristic taillights at the back. The Windsible’s build is fairly robust, which means you can even use it to display your rare and expensive car miniature models. Whether you’re a designer, a collector, an enthusiast with a penchant for cool objects, or even a technical professional who would like to perform small-scale tests on their models, the Windsible makes for an incredibly eye-catching and breathtaking tabletop gizmo. The smallest model starts at $159, while the medium and large variants are priced at $199 and $289 respectively, which includes a 1-year warranty along with global shipping. No matter which size you go for, each Windsible comes with a DC power adapter, 2 modular smoke cartridges, a fogger, a bottle of fog fluid, a cleaning cloth for keeping your Windsible spotless, and a user manual.

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $239 (33% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $260,000.

The post Tabletop Wind Tunnel lets you Run Aerodynamic Tests on your entire Die-Cast Toy Car Collection first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Gorgeous Dunkirk Watch pays tribute to the Boats that rescued British Soldiers during WW2

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The year was 1940. Thousands of Allied soldiers were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. The enemy was closing in fast. Panic spread as the soldiers looked out to sea, hoping for rescue ships. With every tick of the clock, their chances of escape grew slimmer. The Germans were quickly advancing to the shores, effectively surrounding thousands of soldiers and trapping them in what could only be viewed as certain death. That was until nearly 700 boats started appearing on the horizon. Sailing over from the UK, these boats gave the Allied soldiers the escape route they needed. Among them, a British fireboat called the Massey Shaw was responsible for saving as many as 600 soldiers.

It’s estimated that over 300,000 British and French soldiers were rescued that day from an impending German massacre. To pay tribute to the boats that ventured out to rescue the soldiers, and the Massey Shaw fireboat in particular, William Wood designed the Dunkirk Watch. Inspired by the boat’s engine order telegraph, the Dunkirk Watch has a face featuring various commands that the captain would trigger while commandeering the boat’s engine.

Designer: William Wood

The Dunkirk Watch is perfect for history buffs and steamboat nerds who like wearing a relic of marine exploration on their wrists. The watch’s face gorgeously captures the details of the engine order telegraph seen on almost all boats from that time. The telegraph would have a handle that you could rotate to select one of multiple commands, allowing your boat to stay still or move ahead. The handle would have a hollow window, allowing you to ‘highlight’ an option on the telegraph – so to celebrate that, the watch boasts hollow outline-shaped hour and minute hands.

On the side of the watch, two red pipes reference the Massey Shaw’s firefighting system, comprised of multiple red pipes that pumped water to help douse fires. Inside, a Sellita SW200 movement powers the timepiece. The watch also comes with luminous markings on the dial and straps made from military leather as well as fabric from firefighter suits. Flip the watch over and you’re greeted with artwork on the back, capturing the tense scene of Operation Dynamo which rescued roughly 338,000 soldiers from the shores of Dunkirk. In the center of the artpiece is a small metal fragment pulled from the engine of the Massey Shaw, putting literal history on your wrist. The watch also has the message “We Will Remember Them” inscribed on the back, along with a serial number unique to each timepiece.

The Massey Shaw played a pivotal role in Britain’s history through the years. While it was best remembered for its role in Operation Dynamo, the London Fire Brigade Fireboat also helped save St. Paul’s Cathedral in London during the German Blitz. It’s said that planes dropped as many as 28 bombs on the cathedral in December of 1940, but the Massey Shaw continuously pumped water from the Thames, keeping the cathedral standing even after an intense bombing campaign. In 1947, the fireboat was one of many secret meeting locations that helped form what we know today as Britain’s NHS or National Health Service.

The Massey Shaw was retired from service in 1971, and now sits on London’s harbor, with a scheduled visit to Dunkirk in 2025 to mark the event’s 80-year anniversary. Aside from making the watch, William Wood also donated £10,000 to help repair and restore the Massey Shaw. The first 600 people to purchase the Dunkirk Watch will also receive a commemorative limited-edition Operation Dynamo coin, and will even have their names engraved on a plaque installed within the Massey Shaw.

The Dunkirk Watch starts at £3,995.00 GBP ($5100 USD approx), and delivers in November 2024. You can order yours on William Wood’s website.

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Mini-PC the size of a Mac Studio comes with a Ryzen 9 Chipset and a 7-inch Touchscreen

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Imagine if your iPad Mini had ports, a powerful computer, and the ability to work alongside your main machine as a perfect productivity sidekick. That’s what the Miniproca is aiming to be.

Slightly wider than a Mac Studio (thanks to its rectangular design), the Miniproca is a mini PC with the attitude of a conventional desktop. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, this mini-PC delivers robust performance capable of handling demanding tasks with ease. Complementing the processor are Radeon RX 680M graphics, which ensure smooth visuals for gaming, video editing, and other graphically intensive applications. However, the mini PC also packs a 7-inch touchscreen on the top that folds outwards to face you, turning it into what I can only describe is the opposite of a laptop. The tiny touchscreen display becomes the Miniproca’s visual unit, allowing you to use your PC in a variety of ways. Sure, you could use it as a secondary display while you connect a larger monitor to the Miniproca, or the touchscreen could become your dashboard or widget center, acting as a place to display other core information, whether it’s stock prices for traders, gaming stats for gamers, hotkeys for streamers, or just YouTube or Netflix on the side while you work for most people.

Designer: Miniproca

Click Here to Buy Now: $699 $1259 (44% off) Hurry, only 9 days left.

The Miniproca really tries to create a new category of computing by combining two existing categories – the mini tablet, and the mini PC. Tablets are great because they’re touch-sensitive and portable… but they’re not powerful. A mini PC on the other hand packs power, but without a screen. In comes the Miniproca, hitting two birds with the same stone. The integrated touchscreen transforms the device into a versatile computing solution. The touchscreen can be positioned in various angles, from flat to a 90-degree upright position, offering flexibility for different use cases. As a secondary monitor, it can enhance productivity by providing additional workspace for applications, communication tools, or reference materials. For those seeking a more portable setup, the Miniproca can serve as a standalone device, with the touchscreen providing a convenient interface for various tasks.

Design-wise, the Miniproca adopts a minimalist aesthetic that complements modern workspaces. Its aluminum alloy chassis exudes durability while maintaining a sleek profile. The standout feature is the integrated 7-inch touchscreen, which flips up to reveal a multi-touch display. This innovative design offers flexibility in usage, allowing it to function as a standalone device, a secondary monitor, or even a digital photo frame. The inclusion of anti-slip pads on the base ensures stability on various surfaces.

Under the hood, the Miniproca packs a powerful punch. At its core lies an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, delivering robust performance for demanding tasks such as video editing, content creation, and gaming. Complementing the CPU is Radeon RX 680M graphics, capable of handling visually intensive applications with ease. Users can further enhance performance by opting for up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and a spacious 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

Connectivity is a crucial aspect of any modern computing device, and the Miniproca doesn’t disappoint. The device boasts a comprehensive array of ports, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and a mix of USB 2.0, 3.2, and Type-C options (in theory, you can connect as many as 3 monitors to the Miniproca, giving you a multi-display setup). Dual Ethernet LAN ports cater to users who prioritize wired connections for stability. Wireless connectivity is ensured through Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E, allowing seamless integration with other devices.

The Miniproca measures 175 x 137 x 55 mm and weighs 855g, making it highly portable and a great complementary machine to a laptop or existing peripherals. The Miniproca is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter. Pricing starts at US$699 for the base model with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, while the top-tier configuration with 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage is priced at US$919.

Click Here to Buy Now: $699 $1259 (44% off) Hurry, only 9 days left.

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This Tiny Titanium Screwdriver with 8 Interchangeable Bits is Compact Enough to Fit on your Keychain

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A little larger than your average AA battery, the Otacle D1 is a toolkit small enough to fit on your keychain. Made from a titanium outer body, the Otacle D1 opens up to reveal not one but four double-sided hex bits that fit into the handle-shaped cylindrical outer body. Dock a bit in either at the front for a regular driving experience, or at the back for a high-torque screwdriver and the world is literally your oyster. You can assemble, disassemble, repair, or even tinker with objects around you without needing to fish out your massive screwdriver kit.

Designer: OKNIFE

Click Here to Buy Now

Designed by the folks at OKNIFE, the Otacle D1 is all about practicality. It’s compact enough to hang out with your keys on your keychain, but has a flap that opens to reveal a crawl-space for storing 4 double-sided hex bits. The Otacle D1’s body is machined from Titanium, a common material found in the EDC industry these days, which also vastly increases its durability while allowing it to be fairly lightweight at just 1.5 oz (42.5 g).

The entire device measures under 3 inches long, while being broad enough to offer a sturdy grip. The rounded square cross-section enhances the grip too, allowing you to twist and turn with confidence. Just in case the screws you’re working with are on the stiffer side, the Otacle D1 offers high-torque operation too. Instead of mounting the bit on front, you can mount it sideways using a hole at the back (shown above), which allows you to apply more turning pressure to loosen tight screws. It also lets you work in tighter spaces where the screwdriver won’t fit in a linear manner.

The Otacle D1 comes in silver and titanium-blue variants, although there’s also a brass version with the graphic of a crack on it if you want something a little edgy. The D1 comes with 4 S2 steel bits included, tucked away in the magnetic holder inside the D1’s hidden compartment. There’s also a lanyard hole at the back (aside from the bit-mounting hole) for stringing a cord or attaching a keyring, so you can carry your toolkit in your pocket or around your neck!

Click Here to Buy Now

The post This Tiny Titanium Screwdriver with 8 Interchangeable Bits is Compact Enough to Fit on your Keychain first appeared on Yanko Design.

World’s Lightest and Thinnest Smart Ring from RingConn boasts 12-day Battery and AI-health tracking

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Before you go out on a limb buying a Galaxy or Oura ring, the RingConn Gen 2 already holds the title for being the thinnest/lightest smart ring. It still manages to also boast of a 2-week-long battery life, the ability to track your health and sleep with AI-powered insights, IP68 water resistance, and here’s the kicker… a subscription-less smartphone app that gives you all your health data without hiding behind a paywall. With not one but TWO design awards under its belt, the RingConn Gen 2 boasts a $209 starting price – less than half of what its competitor’s smart rings go for. Here’s everything the Gen 2 can do…

Designer: RingConn

Click Here to Buy Now: $209 $299 (30% off). Hurry, only 742/5800 left! Raised over $1.3 million.

Lighter than an AirPod, Thinner than a Credit Card

I’ve long proclaimed the superiority of smart rings to smartwatches. They’re ultimately a bunch of sensors hooked together – but the smart ring does offer a much more efficient format. It’s minimalist, can be worn alongside other rings (you can’t wear two watches), and all your data goes to your smartphone so your ring doesn’t need to worry about having its own display. This translates to a MUCH longer battery life, and the absence of a second display to get addicted to or to have inundate you with notifications. Smart rings are almost ALWAYS designed to be entirely waterproof so you can even swim with them, and they usually last a week or more on a full charge, making them vastly more superior to smartwatches.

Weighing between 2-3 grams, the RingConn’s Gen 2 is lighter than a single AirPod (which weighs 4 grams), and with a cross-section that’s 2mm wide, the ring is also about as thin as your average credit card. That lightweight and sleek form factor makes it perfect for wearing all-day every day because chances are within a few hours of slipping it on, you’ll forget you’re wearing it. Meanwhile, the ring will be hard at work, tracking your sleep, fitness/activity, heart rate, body temperature, stress levels, sleep apnea, and even acting as your period calendar (for women wearers).

Comprehensive AI-powered Sleep + Health Tracking

The RingConn Gen 2 does everything any wrist-worn health tracker does, but better. Its upgraded photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors can measure heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels with great accuracy. These sensors are embedded in a design that takes advantage of the finger’s unique anatomy, which allows for MUCH more precise readings compared to wrist-based devices. The temperature sensor gauges your temperature levels as well as fluctuations, pairing it with your heart rate data to get a sense of your stress levels or even if you’re on your period. Combine all three with the accelerometer and the Gen 2 captures all your steps and other physical activity, tracking various sports from running to cycling, soccer, swimming, and a bunch more.

At the end of your day, the ring also tracks your sleep using AI. In 2024, RingConn unveiled its first transformer-based deep learning model for sleep apnea detection – the ring uses this AI-based learning model to identify sleep risk events that could be affecting your health – something other smart rings currently cannot because they haven’t built out such AI models. The more you wear the ring, the more it learns and the more personalized it becomes, getting better at tracking and identifying your quality of sleep and even detecting any drops in blood oxygen caused by apnea events and obstructed breathing (snoring, etc.)

Fitness Insights without a Monthly Subscription

I can’t stress this enough but your health should never be behind a paywall. It really doesn’t make sense to buy a fitness tracker only to then have an app that gates pro-level health tracking metrics behind a subscription model. To that end, the RingConn Gen 2 makes a pretty bold claim of not hiding behind any sort of freemium or premium business model. The RingConn app, available for Android and iOS devices, is free to use, and locally backs up all your health data. This allows you to monitor your health even when your smartphone isn’t connected to the internet. Picture yourself trekking in the wilderness with no cellular service but still being able to track your metrics in real-time.

Your health data is also compatible with leading fitness apps such as Apple Health and Google Health Connect, allowing you to comprehensively track workouts, sports, and all other activities within one singular dashboard. For specific insights, the RingConn app is still your go-to destination… and its sleep-tracking feature gives you a holistic look at your body’s metrics through your entire sleep journey, allowing you to catch any potential concerning events immediately. The app also analyzes data throughout the day to provide a detailed stress index and ratio, helping you gain a clear understanding of your stress levels. Additionally, the RingConn Gen 2 features comprehensive menstrual health tracking right within the app, allowing users to monitor cycles, predict ovulation, and track symptoms for deeper insights into their health patterns.

Sleek Metal Design with 12-day Battery Life

The RingConn sports a hypoallergenic aerospace-grade titanium alloy exterior, while the inside of the ring has a medical-grade epoxy coating that allows the sensors to work accurately when in contact against the skin. Between these two layers lie all the hardware and sensors that power the Gen 2, along with a best-in-class battery. Lasting a stunning 5 more days than even the Galaxy and Oura rings, the RingConn Gen 2 boasts a 12-day battery life. It’s rather impressive considering exactly how small and thin the Gen 2 ring is. When the ring runs low on charge, it comes with its own charging case that begins working the second you slip the ring into its cylindrical platform. A simple 2-hour charge brings the Gen 2 ring’s battery to 100%, lasting nearly 2 weeks… and the case houses its own 500mAh battery so you can charge your ring without necessarily having the case plugged in.

The RingConn Gen 2 boasts a starting price of $209, which includes the ring itself, the charging case, and free global shipping. Upgrading to the $239 package also gives you a clear silicone ring protector and a separate bedside charging dock. The RingConn Gen 2 comes in 3 colors – Future Silver, Royal Gold, and Matte Black, across 9 sizes, ranging from a size #6 to a size #14 depending on your index finger’s diameter.

Click Here to Buy Now: $209 $299 (30% off). Hurry, only 742/5800 left! Raised over $1.3 million.

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This Urwerk-inspired Watch has a Stunning Custom Linear Movement within its Titanium Watch Body

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For the Urwerk and MB&F fans on a budget, the MS1001-Ti does what those brands do best – it challenges the very archetype of a wristwatch on every level… but does so on a $319 price tag.

Take one glance at the MS1001-Ti watch from MECEXP and I guarantee you’ll be compelled to look again and again. The watch’s avant-garde design goes beyond its chiseled shape. Instead of one watch face, it sports two – in the form of linear windows on the left and right, with moving arrows that point at the hours and minutes respectively. The windows are separated by a metal channel that serves as branding, but also provides cover for the watch’s unique backlight, giving the entire timetelling experience a modern facelift. The watch itself boasts a titanium alloy outer casing, complete with sapphire crystals on the front… and on the inside, the entire watch runs on MECEXP’s own self-developed movement, drawing power from a lithium-ion battery that recharges using a contact-point charger like the ones you get with smartwatches. In short, there’s nothing conventional about the MS1001-Ti and that’s precisely what makes it so incredible.

Designer: MECEXP

Click Here to Buy Now: $319

I know it’s an overused metaphor but the MS1001-Ti does share a lot spiritually with the Cybertruck. It challenges existing norms, comes with a uniquely geometric design and a highly durable construction, and runs on a lithium battery. In short, it’s electric on the inside, and unconventionally edgy on the outside. The watch itself sports a machined titanium-alloy body, known for being both hypoallergenic and hyper-durable. The oddly appealing low-poly design puts the watch in a visual class of its own, while its linear time-telling experience instantly turns it into an iconic wristwatch.

The time-telling UX is a masterclass in its own right. The watch doesn’t come with rotating hands or a digital screen. Instead, it uses a screw-based linear flyback movement and a traveling arrow to help tell the time. This unorthodox experience doesn’t require a learning curve – simply put, the hour is indicated on the left, and the minutes on the right. CNC motors operate the rotating screw, which allows the arrow to travel up and down the hour or minute window. It’s an experience that just as satisfying to watch as it is easy to read. Clear, large, 3D numbers on either side make the time easy to read in broad daylight… and if you want some added flair, pressing the crown on the side triggers the watch’s blue backlight, allowing you to read the time at night too.

A lithium-ion battery powers the entire experience bridging the gap between horology and technology. The MS1001-Ti replaces the conventional spring with CNC motors, which utilize digital programming and digital tracking for time calibration. “The complicated mechanical movement of the watch is achieved through algorithmic programming, perfectly integrating modern intelligence with mechanical timekeeping,” say the folks at MECEXP. In short, this timepiece isn’t for traditionalists or purists.

The MS1001-Ti bases itself on the company’s MS1001 design from not too long ago. The upgraded variant now sports a titanium outer shell, making it more durable but simultaneously lighter than its predecessor, weighing a mere 86 grams or 3 ounces, while also boasting a marginally larger dial and display window. The display window is capped with anti-scratch sapphire crystal which also gives the watch up to 30 meters or 3ATM of water resistance. Meanwhile, fluoro rubber straps offer a classic yet sporty aesthetic with the added benefit of being water/weather resistant. The inner 270mAh battery lasts a respectable 35 days on a full charge, and a contact-based charging cable lets you recharge your watch in a jiffy.

Despite its groundbreakingly different design and movement, the MS1001-Ti starts at an affordable $319, which includes a classy packaging box, a charging cable, 2 years of warranty, and free global shipping.

Click Here to Buy Now: $319

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Architecture Used To Be An Olympic Sport: Pharrell Williams Calls For Its Return To The 2028 Olympics

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Created using AI

Music icon and Louis Vuitton Creative Director Pharrell Williams called for the International Olympic Committee to reinstate the ‘arts competitions’ which were held as an official part of the Olympic events until their phasing out in 1948. Between the years 1912 to 1948, the Summer Olympics gave out medals for excellence in art forms like architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture, going beyond just conventional sports. These art-forms were heavily inspired by the summer sports, tying well into the competition.

Williams has recently created waves by advocating for a return of the arts competitions to the Olympics, an idea that evokes a sense of nostalgia and intrigue. Once a cornerstone of the Games, the arts competitions, which included architecture, literature, music, and visual arts, fell away after the 1948 London Olympics. Concerns over professional versus amateur participation led to their demise. Yet, the legacy of these competitions lives on through iconic structures like Jan Wils’ Amsterdam Olympic Stadium, which celebrated the powerful synergy between sports and design.

Jan Wils’ Olympic Stadium Design in Amsterdam

Now, as the world eagerly anticipates the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Williams has proposed a renaissance of architectural competition within the Games. Speaking at an event celebrating the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Louis Vuitton creative director expressed his desire to “put the arts back in.”

The idea of an architectural competition within the Olympics is undeniably compelling. It offers an opportunity to showcase the world’s most talented architects and to inspire future generations of designers. By integrating architecture into the Olympic platform, we celebrate not just the athletes who push the boundaries of human performance, but also the architects who push the boundaries of design.

Moreover, architecture is intrinsically linked to the Olympics. The host city’s architectural landscape becomes a stage for the world’s greatest athletes. From the ancient Greek stadiums to the iconic structures of modern Games, architecture has played a pivotal role in shaping the Olympic experience. Reviving the architectural competition would elevate this relationship to new heights.

Created using AI

Of course, challenges lie ahead. Reintroducing the arts competitions into the Olympic program will require careful consideration. Questions of format, judging criteria, and the potential impact on the Games’ overall structure need to be addressed. Furthermore, ensuring a level playing field between professionals and emerging talents is crucial.

Yet, the potential rewards are immense. An architectural competition could spark a global conversation about the role of design in society. It could inspire innovative solutions to urban challenges, promote sustainable development, and foster cross-cultural collaboration. Moreover, it could create a lasting legacy for the host city, far beyond the closing ceremony.

Pharrell Williams’ vision of a new Olympic era, one that embraces both athleticism and artistry, is a bold and inspiring one. It has the potential to redefine the Games, transforming them into a truly holistic celebration of human creativity and achievement. As the world watches with anticipation, we can only hope that Williams’ dream becomes a reality.

Pharrell Williams was tapped to be Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director after the passing of Virgil Abloh

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Someone 3D Printed A Millennium Falcon Wireless Mouse And Now I Want One

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Image Credits: @itsrillo

Now that I think about it, the Millennium Falcon’s shape sort of looks like it would lend itself well to a wireless mouse.

In yet another episode of ‘Things I don’t need but want desperately’, here’s the Millennium Falcon wireless mouse. Designed by ‘parkeryaojj’, the mouse sports a design reminiscent of a scaled down model of Han Solo’s spaceship from Star Wars, except with left and right click paddles and a scroll wheel. The only thing really missing are laser blasters and minifigures of Solo and Chewie but a little bit of paint could probably fix that.

Designer: parkeryaojj

Image Credits: @itsrillo

Although I’d expect the Star Wars merch team to already be selling this exact product, the mouse in question is entirely fan-made and has a fair amount of DIY. The outer shell needs to be 3D printed, while the internals use Bambu Labs’ Wireless Mouse Kit, which contains the inner components like the optical sensor, PCB, buttons, and battery enclosure.

You can download the 3D cad files from Maker World and print your own outer shell from ABS or PLA. The shell does come in multiple parts that fix together (and the left and right buttons are held together using pillars you need to break off), and can be printed in any color. In fact someone even managed to print one in transparent filament which does look pretty cool.

You can either print the mouse in a single filament/color and paint the details on, or edit the 3D model and print your final CAD using a multi-filament setup.

Once printed, all you need to do is put all the pieces together, which doesn’t take too long. The result is a mouse that’s gorgeous yet functional. Don’t expect it to be comparable to your ergonomic or gaming mouse, but it still does have a certain flair that will appeal to most true-blue nerds and Star Wars fans. The Bambu Labs kit starts at a mere $12, but the sensor packs a DPI range of 800-1600, which I’d say is pretty impressive.

Image Credits: @itsrillo

The post Someone 3D Printed A Millennium Falcon Wireless Mouse And Now I Want One first appeared on Yanko Design.

Gorgeous Cicada-inspired Pocket Knife may just be the most beautiful EDC I’ve ever seen

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It isn’t often that you have knives mimicking nature or being inspired by natural details, but this one gets a special mention for just how beautiful it is. The Cicada from Rike Knife takes inspiration from one of nature’s noisiest insects, but translates the cicada’s shape and form into a gorgeous piece of art that looks as beautiful closed as it does open. Available in 3 color options, the Cicada knife measures just under 3 inches in length wen closed, making it an incredibly compact number. Open it, however, and you’re greeted with a tiny yet mighty blade that’s perfect for everyday activities.

Designer: Rike Knife

The Cicada pocket knife sports an all-metal design, with a blade made from Bohler M390 (martensitic chromium steel) offering high durability and edge retention. The blade measures a mere 1.96 inches long, and sports a spear-point design with a dual-edge, so you can use it in any direction, or rely on its pointy tip for piercing. A cutout in the blade adds visual drama while reducing material to keep the knife light and spry… and even when open, the entire knife measures just a mere 4.9 inches, putting it in the more compact small-size knife category.

The knife’s 3 color options offer different aesthetics within the same jewel-like format. The matte-black with gold accents is subtle yet eye-catching, while the gold/blue and metallic silver variants glimmer more, drawing one’s attention. The cicada’s wings offer a decent grip while you use the knife, and a Flip Tab opener and frame-lock mean reliable operation.

The entire Cicada knife weighs a paltry 2.46oz (70g), which checks out given how the knife is literally a few fractions of an inch larger than an actual cicada. The $215 knife comes with a tiny hole on the rear end to string lanyards through, and a fairly ambidextrous design that allows you to use the knife with either your left or right hand. Unfortunately, there’s no pocket clip on the cicada – I assume adding one would really help, turning it into a brooch of sorts… but that only means the gorgeous insect-inspired design can be seen on both the front as well as the back of the handle.

The post Gorgeous Cicada-inspired Pocket Knife may just be the most beautiful EDC I’ve ever seen first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tekto’s EDC Folding Knives get upgraded with Damascus and Forged Carbon design accents

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They say you shouldn’t mess with perfection… but you could certainly give it a new paint-job and make it look even better than before. Tekto’s flagship folding knives are getting a design refresh, with variants made with forged carbon and Damascus marbling accents. The new variants will be available for enthusiasts, EDC users, and collectors as a special spin on some old favorites.

The three knives getting a refresh are the F1 Alpha, the F2 Bravo, and the F3 Charlie – all a part of Tekto’s folding knife lineup. The company is best known for their OTF knives (Out The Front Knives), but folders remain a classic part of their catalog, catering to people who love sticking to the basics. All knives are designed as collector-worthy knives that pack an absolute punch. They’re compact, deadly, and built for all sorts of outdoor and tactical scenarios.

Tekto F1 Alpha (Forged Carbon Handle with Silver Blade)

As Tekto’s most fierce folder, the F1 Alpha gets first mention. The new knife boasts the exact same crowd-pleasing design, but with a forged carbon handle and a silver-finish D2 steel blade. The F1 Alpha measures a respectable 4.5 inches when closed, opening up to reveal a 3.1-inch drop-point blade that handles everyday tasks like a breeze. A liner lock holds the blade in place, and jimping on top gives you a perfect grip as you maneuver the knife around. The reverse end of the handle also features a lanyard hole that doubles as a glass-breaker, allowing you to make a quick exit in any emergency scenarios. The entire knife weighs a mere 3.3 ounces, has an ambidextrous pocket clip design, and even comes with its own carrying pouch.

Click Here to Buy Now: $119 $139.99. (Use coupon code “YANKO15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Tekto F2 Bravo (Damascus Pattern Handle with Black Blade)

Don’t let the Bravo name fool you – this one is Tekto’s slimmest, sleekest, and lightest folder of the three. At just 2.4 ounces, it’s miraculously light, making it great for quick maneuvering while cutting ropes, opening boxes, whittling wood, or slicing through leather and fabric. The knife has a 4.3-inch handle that houses a folded 3.3-inch drop-point blade made from D2 steel that’s hard enough to take on any sort of activity. Although the original did come with a speckled carbon fiber handle, this new variant gets a marbled Damascus pattern, with the same black-coated blade to give the F2 Bravo an extremely covert demeanor. Makes sense given how thin and light it is. The F2 Bravo also comes with its own carrying pouch, although the built-in pocket clip and lanyard hole should also suffice.

Click Here to Buy Now: $127.50 $149.99. (Use coupon code “YANKO15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Tekto F3 Charlie (Forged Carbon Handle with Black Blade)

At 4.5 ounces, the F3 Charlie is the big brother of the three. It comes with a 5.2-inch handle that houses a large 3.8-inch titanium-coated D2 steel blade on the inside. Fold the blade out and its drop-point design is just as functional as its siblings, but the larger form factor gives it much more heft and power. The renewed variant sports a forged carbon handle with the same black-coated blade that gives the knife a stealthy aesthetic. Holding the F3 Charlie feels vastly different from something like the Bravo, which has a much slimmer design. The F3 Charlie is meaty, ergonomic, and is made for tactical use although it’s more than happy being used for opening boxes too. It sports a button-lock, which gives it reliability too, while simultaneously having the tactile satisfaction of being able to quickly deploy or close your knife with a flick of the wrist!

Click Here to Buy Now: $127.50 $149.99. (Use coupon code “YANKO15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Tekto’s EDC Folding Knives get upgraded with Damascus and Forged Carbon design accents first appeared on Yanko Design.