Author Archives: Sarang Sheth

The Only Skillet You’ll Ever Need: This Titanium Skillet is Naturally Non-Stick and Virtually Indestructible

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Titanium is durable enough to last for centuries, is naturally non-stick, and doesn’t rust or corrode. For decades, it’s been the go-to choice for all sorts of EDC, from knives to multitools to even wallets – but nobody’s really made titanium cookware popular… until now.

Rather simply called the Titanium Skillet, this unique piece of kitchenware costs about as much as a good cast-iron or carbon steel skillet, without the hassle associated with skillet maintenance. Cast iron requires proper care, and even carbon steel doesn’t do well unless it’s seasoned over time – but the Titanium Skillet scoffs at that pageantry. Designed to be used right out of the box without any of that seasoning nonsense, the skillet lets you easily (and perfectly) cook all your dishes. Scrub it afterward with a metal scouring pad or chuck it in the dishwasher, the skillet’s designed to easily withstand the most demanding conditions without breaking a sweat.

Designer: Linco

Click Here to Buy Now: $155 $235 ($80 off) Hurry! Only 8 out of 30 left.

The Titanium Skillet is more than just easy on your ingredients—it’s also remarkably efficient. Sandwiched between layers of GR1 titanium on the inside and steel on the outside is a core of pure aluminum, providing fast and even heat distribution. With 40% better thermal conductivity, it heats up in just 30 seconds, ensuring that your food cooks evenly and thoroughly. No more hotspots, no more burnt edges. Plus, the design is energy-efficient, cutting power consumption by about 30%, which means you can feel good about a more sustainable choice in your kitchen. And all this tech doesn’t come with extra heft—at just 1 kg, it’s far lighter than your traditional cast-iron pan, so your wrist won’t be begging for mercy after a session of flipping pancakes.

The naturally non-stick surface means no synthetic coatings—just a smooth titanium oxide layer that resists food sticking and makes clean-up simpler, and just gets better with time. You won’t find yourself scrubbing off burnt-on residue, but it also means there’s no Teflon to potentially scratch or degrade over time. That’s a win for anyone who’s experienced the frustration of a pan that loses its non-stick magic after a few months.

The wide cooking surface and 2-inch-high sides are perfect for retaining heat while offering plenty of room for searing, simmering, and even deep-frying. This clever design brings versatility to your skillet, allowing it to be your go-to for pretty much any sort of dish, be it on the gas stove, an induction, or even in an oven. Need to finish a steak under the broiler for a good sear? No problem. The skillet can handle up to 500°C (932°F) without breaking a sweat. The outer 430 Stainless Steel layer prevents warping and deformation, so you can chuck the Titanium Skillet in a regular oven, on a grill, or even a wood-fired pizza oven to get your cook on.

The handle comes crafted from stainless steel and is designed to contour nicely to your hand, making the skillet comfortable to maneuver, even when working with heavier dishes. And the use of titanium rivets to secure the handle speaks to the brand’s commitment to durability. Yet, like any product, there’s a balance between innovative features and practicality. It’s great that the skillet can withstand high temperatures, but for most home cooks, that’s overkill. High-heat searing is important, but unless you’re reverse-searing filet mignons on an hourly basis, you’re good.

The use of titanium is fairly novel for cookware. It’s found extensively in EDC for its durability, in prosthetics for its biocompatibility, and in space exploration for how unfazed it is under temperature fluctuations. Titanium in cookware, as far as I’ve ever seen, is fairly new (beyond the occasional titanium spork designed for camping), and that’s pretty exciting if you’re a cooking enthusiast like me, an early adopter, or an EDC collector who preaches the gospel of titanium.

But here’s the thing: titanium doesn’t impart any flavor or minerals into your food, unlike cast iron, which can release a bit of iron into whatever you’re cooking. That can be a small but significant health benefit, especially for those who might need an iron boost in their diet. So while titanium’s non-reactive nature is perfect for cooking acidic ingredients like tomatoes, it lacks that additional nutritional contribution. For some, that might not matter, but it’s a detail that’s worth noting, especially when the comparison comes up between these new-age materials and the old-school favorites. In that vein, the Titanium Skillet’s more apt competitors are stainless steel and carbon steel, which just have a durability advantage over cast iron – an area where titanium passes with absolute flying colors.

For those interested in backing this project, Linco’s offering comes with a few perks on Kickstarter. Early adopters can grab the 10-inch skillet for around $155, while the 11-inch version is about $168. And with global shipping estimated for November 2024, the promise is that you’ll be cooking with this futuristic tool sooner rather than later… and your great-grandchildren will probably cook with the same skillet too!

Click Here to Buy Now: $155 $235 ($80 off) Hurry! Only 8 out of 30 left.

The post The Only Skillet You’ll Ever Need: This Titanium Skillet is Naturally Non-Stick and Virtually Indestructible first appeared on Yanko Design.

Award-Winning Electric Cooktop with DJ Console Design gives you Ultimate Cooking Control

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The deejay console is a thing of marvel – it’s designed to be highly intuitive and accessible at any given moment. Think about it, you’re at the console, you’ve got a crowd of thousands in front of you. One mistake and the entire atmosphere of the room changes. Heavy stakes require heavy design intervention – which is why the deejay console is made the way it is. Controls and knobs are located precisely within grasp based on how important they are or how often you need them. If you’re working with a 4-deck set, the four discs are located in a 2×2 layout, so you don’t have to move around to change songs, load up tracks, or scratch beats. The deejay console encourages creativity and is built for impulsive mixing, scratching, and production where milliseconds matter.

The Impulse Cooktop, as its name suggests, is designed around this very concept too, with a format that emulates the 4-deck console. The four cooktops are laid out like spin discs on a console, with the control panel being right in the center, within reach, and with controls that are both intuitive and easy to operate. Here’s where things get even more interesting – the entire cooktop is designed to be electric, and run on a combination of a power outlet as well as batteries, working even during a power cut. Individual elements are modular and repairable, so cooking meals should be just about as easy and creativity-driven as cooking fire beats.

Designer: Studio Blond for Impulse

Designed by Studio Blond for Impulse Labs, the cooktop is made to plug and play right out of the box. Drop it into your worktop, plug it into a socket, and you’re ready to cook. Four knobs at the center control the four electric ‘burners’, while a display helps you understand how hot or cold your burner is. The text is big, has a high contrast, and is accompanied by visuals that help anyone grasp the temperature they’re cooking at. Unlike conventional burners or induction stove that just show flames or power levels, this display gives you actual temperature readings so you’re more well-informed while cooking. Meanwhile, an LED strip around each burner glows to let you know which burners are active and how hot they are. A white strip indicates low or sim, while a bright orange or red means your burner is on full power.

Touchscreens are fiddly, and deejay consoles don’t have them for that reason – everything should be so intuitive that you can work it with your eyes closed. Similarly, the Impulse ditches touch-sensitive screens for an all knob-based interface that feels much more grasp-worthy. You don’t need to worry about heat affecting the touch-sensitivity, or water/oil/gravy spilling on the screen and messing up your stove’s settings. The raised cooktop surfaces (which really look like spinning discs) prevent the heat from reaching the screen, and four minimalist knobs let you do all the controlling you need to. The knobs are removable too, leaving you with a flat plate that’s easy to wipe down between uses. The only thing really missing is a child lock and we’re absolutely perfect.

A winner of this year’s Red Dot Award: Design Concept in the Best of the Best category, the Impulse Cooktop combines visual appeal with true user-friendliness. It helps homes transition to 100% electrical energy, without a fuss. A power socket is all you need to run the cooktop, and if you’re in a place with frequent power cuts (like I am), an internal battery allows you to continue cooking even during a blackout – something that induction cooktops struggle to do. The modular design simplifies repair, upgrade, and disassembly, paving the way for future accessories too.

The post Award-Winning Electric Cooktop with DJ Console Design gives you Ultimate Cooking Control first appeared on Yanko Design.

Turning 350 Razor Blades into a Super-Sharp Damascus Steel Knife

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But why make a massive blade out of something that can ALREADY cut things – you ask? It probably sounds like using a lot of small LEGO bricks to make one large LEGO brick, right? Well, the thing with razor blades is that they’re made to serve a finite purpose. They’ll last a few days, maybe a few weeks, and then they need to be discarded. Razor blades are ridiculously sharp, but they’re also ridiculously flimsy and you can break one with your own hands… so YouTuber Knives Project decided to just use a bunch of them to make something more everlasting, more worthy of being cherished, while being just as sharp.

It took 350 blades being forged together into a metal ingot to make this final knife. The result is truly heirloom-worthy. The knife sports a gorgeous marbled blade created thanks to the combination of the steel used in the razors as well as the steel powder added into the ingot to fill in the air gaps. The knife finally gets a nice wooden handle with a bit of metal at the beginning of the hilt.

Designer: Knives Project

The 15-and-a-half-minute video guides you through Knives Project’s process, from forging the steel ingot to shaping it, etching it, honing it, and then building the handle for the knife. The result looks rather artisanal, with a kitchen knife-style design sporting a drop-point edge and a wonderful marbled body reminiscent of Damascus Steel. The knife also comes with a wooden handle with an octagonal cross-section that’s easy to grip and maneuver.

Razor blades are primarily made from martensitic steel – a steel alloy known for its high strength and wear resistance, with the more expensive ones being made from carbon steel. Given that the knife uses 350 of these razors, it’s possible Knives Project sprung for regular blades, adding them one by one into a bolt to create a cylindrical form. The cylinder was then dropped into a hollow metal block and all the air gaps were filled with steel filings, resulting in a solid block that had no air gaps.

Once the metal block goes into the furnace, the steel inside begins melting, forming a rough cluster that Knives Project extracts by opening the outer box using an angle grinder. The reason is that this outer box is made of iron, while its internal components are the steel you need to form into an ingot.

The process involved constantly heating, hammering, and forming the resulting metal ingot into a flat strip that could then be cut into the knife’s shape. Once cut, the surface was made smooth before being dipped into an acid bath to reveal the marbled pattern caused by the different kinds of steel used in the knife.

Once the blade was completely ready, Knives Project added a handle to it, using primarily wood combined with metal and a black block of presumably polymer to create a fair amount of contrast. The handle was given an octagonal cross-section and a fairly simple silhouette. Arguably a knife this pretty could be given a prettier, more ergonomic handle, but then again, that may steal from the star of the show, its blade – forged from 350 razors. Now if only Knives Project could cut that blade up into 350 pieces and turn them back into razors!

The post Turning 350 Razor Blades into a Super-Sharp Damascus Steel Knife first appeared on Yanko Design.

Prada Designs Spacesuit for the First Woman Astronaut On The Moon. Here’s what is different…

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When you think of spacesuits, luxury fashion probably doesn’t come to mind—but Axiom Space and Prada are changing that. Together, they’ve unveiled the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a next-generation spacesuit designed for NASA’s Artemis III mission, which will return astronauts to the Moon. This suit represents a groundbreaking shift in both form and function, blending the technical precision required for space exploration with the high-performance materials and design innovations Prada is known for. And it’s more than just a style statement: the AxEMU has been carefully crafted to support the historic lunar landing of astronaut Christina Koch, who will be the first woman to walk on the Moon.

Designers: Axiom Space and Prada

An Unlikely Collab between NASA and Prada

At first glance, the AxEMU may not look like the bulky spacesuits we’ve come to expect. In fact, that’s the point. Designed with a scalable and adaptable architecture, this suit breaks free from the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach of traditional space gear. The AxEMU is built to accommodate a wide range of body types, allowing astronauts from various anthropometric percentiles—meaning different heights, weights, and builds—to feel comfortable and functional in the suit. Whether you’re on the smaller side or fall into the larger percentile, the AxEMU adjusts to ensure maximum mobility, a critical factor for a mission as demanding as Artemis III.

Prada’s expertise in material science plays a key role here. The luxury fashion house worked closely with Axiom engineers to develop an outer layer that not only looks sleek but also performs under extreme conditions. Crafted from a reflective white material, this layer helps regulate temperature by reflecting the sun’s heat while simultaneously protecting the astronaut from lunar dust and radiation. While traditional spacesuits focus on pure functionality, the AxEMU integrates aesthetics with performance, combining Prada’s advanced sewing techniques with Axiom’s life support technology to create something truly revolutionary in both appearance and utility.

High-Tech Meets High-Street Fashion

What truly sets the AxEMU apart from its predecessors is its balance between high-end design and cutting-edge technology. The suit boasts enhanced safety systems, including a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system that ensures astronauts can breathe safely during spacewalks lasting up to eight hours. It also features advanced cooling technology, which is crucial for maintaining comfort in the extremes of the lunar environment. Astronauts will be better equipped to perform complex tasks thanks to upgraded dexterity in the gloves—something previous spacesuits struggled with, often limiting the fine motor control astronauts need to manipulate tools or conduct experiments.

The helmet also offers significant upgrades, with an advanced visor that improves visibility in the harsh lighting conditions of the Moon’s surface. The design of the AxEMU is about more than just protection; it’s about enabling astronauts to push the boundaries of what’s possible in space exploration. Thanks to Prada’s involvement, the suit’s exterior may feel more like high-performance sportswear than traditional space armor. But make no mistake—this is gear built to survive the extreme cold and searing heat of the Moon’s surface, with every detail engineered to keep astronauts safe and functional in one of the most hostile environments known to man.

What Makes The AxEMU So Different?

Compared to existing spacesuits, the AxEMU is a leap forward in versatility and user experience. Most current spacesuits, like NASA’s EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit), were designed decades ago, with little adaptation for the variety of missions astronauts now face. The AxEMU, by contrast, is built with a flexible architecture that can evolve for different missions, from the lunar surface to low-Earth orbit. This flexibility allows Axiom Space to customize the suit for a wide range of environments and tasks, whereas older suits were often mission-specific, with limited adaptability.

Safety is another area where the AxEMU shines. Conventional spacesuits are built with basic redundancy, but the AxEMU integrates a more robust set of redundant systems, ensuring multiple fail-safes in life support and mobility functions. This suit also goes beyond standard temperature control, using Prada’s material expertise to provide better heat management, allowing astronauts to remain comfortable during long spacewalks, even in the harsh lunar environment. Furthermore, the AxEMU has been tested with advanced simulations, including underwater testing to mimic the reduced gravity on the Moon, setting a new standard for preparation and reliability.

Designed for Christina Koch: A Spacesuit for the First Woman on the Moon

Christina Koch will make history as the first woman to walk on the Moon, and the AxEMU has been designed with that momentous occasion in mind. While traditional spacesuits were largely designed for male astronauts, the AxEMU has been engineered with inclusivity at its core. One of the key differences lies in its customizability: unlike older suits that often required uncomfortable modifications for female astronauts, the AxEMU offers a better fit right from the start, making adjustments seamless and comfortable for a wide range of body types. This is particularly important for Koch, as a properly fitted suit means enhanced mobility and reduced fatigue during long spacewalks.

Additionally, the suit’s gloves, helmet, and overall design have been tailored for precision, allowing Koch to work more efficiently on the lunar surface. The improved dexterity of the gloves will enable her to conduct more intricate scientific tasks, such as collecting samples and performing experiments, without the restrictions of older spacesuit designs. For Koch, the first woman to explore the Moon, having a suit that adapts to her needs, rather than her adapting to the suit, marks a symbolic and practical step forward in space exploration, ensuring that future missions can be more inclusive.

The AxEMU represents the future of spacesuits—one where technology, design, and inclusivity come together to push the boundaries of human potential. With Christina Koch set to wear this groundbreaking suit during her historic moonwalk, the AxEMU is leading the way into a new era of space exploration, where astronauts of diverse backgrounds, genders, and physiques will have the tools they need to reach new frontiers.

The post Prada Designs Spacesuit for the First Woman Astronaut On The Moon. Here’s what is different… first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Ultra-Compact Full-Size Backpack folds down to the size of a Flip Phone

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Barely the size and thickness of a single hash brown, the Nanobag Daypack might just be the thinnest, ultra-compact folding backpack ever made. Small enough to carry around with you in your pocket, the Nanobag Daypack folds open to become your traditional shoulder-worn backpack, fitting as many as 16 liters worth of stuff inside its full-scale design. It does so thanks to a unique high-performance fabric thinner than a human hair, but capable of folding in on itself in seconds without leaving air pockets. This means your entire backpack can compress down to a pocket-friendly size in seconds, disappearing like a magic trick

This isn’t the Nanobag’s first rodeo. Originally designed in 2017, the designers behind the bag have worked tirelessly on 7 different iterations, going from a tote bag in 2017 to a proper backpack in 2024, capable of carrying 66 lbs or 30 kilos worth of weight effortlessly. The designer duo behind the Nanobag, Ursus and Rune, have created quite the masterpiece. The nylon ripstop fabric used by the bag is half the thickness of a human hair, but is capable of taking on your everyday use. Armed with YKK zippers and bartack reinforcements, the Nanobag Daypack is just as capable as your regular backpack… it’s just thinner, lighter, and small enough to fit into your pocket after use. Think of it as the MacBook Air of backpacks.

Designer: TipTop Things LTD

Click Here to Buy Now: $21 $30 (30% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $377,000.

“Every year, we consume up to 5 trillion plastic bags, placing an immense and unnecessary burden on our planet,” says Ursus-Mortimer Negenborn, one of the Nanobag’s creators. That’s 160,000 bags per second if you do the math… and there are no points for guessing how many of them end up being thrown away after use. The reason plastic bags are still so popular is because they’re lightweight, get the job done, and are therefore ridiculously convenient. If you’re the eco-conscious kind, you’ll probably carry your own reusable bag around instead of choose single-use plastic bags. Most people choose not to, because reusable bags are bulkier than plastic bags… so Ursus and Rune just decided to make a backpack that’s just as small and light as your average plastic bag.

The fabric only measures 0.05mm thick or half the width of a human hair.

The Nanobag Daypack features a YKK zipper for reliable operation, and is reinforced with bartack stitching on stress points.

The Nanobag Daypack’s secret sauce lies entirely in its supersoft diamond ripstop fabric. The softness allows the fabric to fold on itself incredibly compactly, eliminating air pockets, giving you a backpack that can go from fitting 16 liters worth of stuff to being small enough to fit into your pocket. The fabric measures a staggering 0.05mm thick (that’s half as thin as a human hair) but is durable enough to withstand regular use. Combined with bartack stitching and YKK zippers, the Nanobag Daypack can take on the role of a backpack, allowing you to carry books, groceries, clothes, or anything you’d casually use a backpack, sling, or tote for. Given its ridiculously compact size, it obviously doesn’t come with padding or compartments the way traditional laptop bags do – but then again, a laptop bag doesn’t fold down to the size smaller than your average wallet or flip phone. The straps are non-adjustable too, but then again, the bag comes in one universal size with wide straps that anyone can carry/wear comfortably.

Wide, balanced straps, provides a comfortable and even distribution of weight.

Using the Nanobag Daypack is just as convenient as you’d think. The bag unfolds in seconds and can be slung around your shoulders, with a main zipper that holds all your belongings inside. When empty, the Nanobag Daypack doesn’t need meticulous folding either – just casually fold down the backpack and tuck it into the tiny pouch it comes with. The entire process takes mere seconds too.

You can grab your Nanobag Daypack in as many as 12 prints featuring different patterns ranging from geometric to floral to camouflage or even psychedelic. If you like your backpack plain, you can grab the Nanobag Daypack in solid colors too. Each Nanobag Daypack comes in a single universal size, and even ships with a keychain loop so you can carry your entire ultracompact backpack around your keychain when you don’t need it. The Nanobag costs just $21 which includes free global shipping and for each bag sold, TipTop Things will plant a tree on your behalf.

Click Here to Buy Now: $21 $30 (30% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $377,000.

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Powerful Mini-PC Fits Inside a Foldable Keyboard with AMD Ryzen 7 and 1TB SSD

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Barely the size of a Mac mini, the Lunar is a 2-in-1 Foldable Keyboard that packs an entire PC into its compact design. Think of it as a laptop’s spiritual sibling – designed to fit anywhere and be carried wherever you go. All you really need is a display, be it a monitor, an iPad, or even those newfangled carry-anywhere AR glasses.

Sometimes, innovation surprises you not with flashy features, but with a simplicity that redefines an experience. The Lunar mini PC is exactly that—a folding keyboard that, when unfolded, reveals the heart of a powerful AMD Ryzen-powered computer. I’ve been following the trends in portable computing for years, and rarely does a device manage to balance performance, design, and practicality as seamlessly as this. It’s easy to overlook, especially if you’re used to thinking of PCs as large, cumbersome machines, but the Lunar mini PC changes that perception the moment you hold it.

Designer: ling long

Click Here to Buy Now: $579 $699 ($120 off) Hurry! Only 67 of 100 left. Raised over $110,000 USD.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor inside might sound like overkill for something this small, but it’s not just about raw power. Think about how we work today: jumping from a coffee shop to a co-working space, sometimes connecting to external monitors, sometimes working straight from a tablet or even AR glasses. Lunar’s decision to skip a built-in screen in favor of external display options is more of a design statement than a compromise. Why drain battery life on an extra screen when you can wirelessly stream to a device you already carry, or plug into a larger display for more serious tasks? It’s an approach that resonates with anyone tired of carrying excess tech that never quite fits their routine.

Sure, it’s portable, but how does it feel? The Lunar PC’s keyboard is surprisingly satisfying, especially given its folding nature. It’s designed to feel like a proper typing experience, not the cramped, flimsy experience you get from so many portable keyboards. Folded down, it weighs just 800 grams, and its slim profile (6.1 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches) means it can easily be slipped into a backpack or messenger bag. When unfolded, the keyboard stretches to nearly 30 cm, offering a comfortable layout even for extended typing sessions, with 1.2mm scissor switches that offer a fair amount of travel. With up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB SSD, and nearly 10 hours of battery life on a full charge, you could easily use the mini-PC for everything from gaming to editing photos and videos – something you wouldn’t be able to do on, say, an Android tablet that’s just as portable.

Surprisingly, the foldable keyboard packs more port variety than your average MacBook Air or Chromebook. It’s equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring you’re getting the latest in wireless technology. You’ve also got the flexibility of a USB 3.0 Type-A, a USB 3.2 Type-C, and a USB4 port, which means you can connect pretty much anything you need, whether it’s external storage, a monitor, or even a full docking station. With a 16,000mAh battery inside, it’s designed to get you through a full day of light work without being tethered to a wall. This kind of flexibility in a mini PC is rare, especially when most of us are constantly juggling devices and chargers.

The appeal of Lunar extends to its flexibility—if you need a screen, it’ll connect to virtually any display you already own, and for something more immersive, AR and VR headsets like the XReal Air 2 or Apple Vision Pro are compatible. This makes it particularly appealing for creatives or those who need to switch between work and entertainment modes seamlessly. It’s not limited to individual use either. The Lunar can create a hotspot to share its connectivity with other devices, making it a great solution for team projects or collaborative work away from the office.

As someone who’s always on the lookout for tech that balances design and functionality with a creative approach, the Lunar 2-in-1 is exciting. Currently, it’s live on Kickstarter with a starting price of $579 for the base model, which includes 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (that’s about as much as my gaming laptop for half the price and half the size). Shipping is expected to start in January 2025, with a GaN charger included with each Lunar mini-PC for easy charging. Whether you’re a designer, a writer, or just someone tired of carrying too many gadgets, the Lunar 2-in-1 feels like the kind of device that could simplify your setup without sacrificing performance. And honestly, isn’t that the dream? A full PC in your pocket, ready to work wherever you are.

Click Here to Buy Now: $579 $699 ($120 off) Hurry! Only 67 of 100 left. Raised over $110,000 USD.

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These Color E-ink Cases let you put Wallpapers on the BACK of your Smartphone too

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A phone case that goes perfectly with MKBHD’s Panels app subscription…

Phones have been getting smarter, faster, and flashier, but let’s be honest—most cases? They’ve been playing catch-up. E-ink displays on phone cases made their debut years ago, but they’ve remained stuck in a world of grayscale… until now. Reinkstone’s new 4-color e-ink cases aren’t just breaking that mold; they’re practically reinventing it. Forget the drab black-and-white screens of the past. These cases bring vibrant cyan, magenta, yellow, and black into the picture, transforming the back of your phone into something that feels almost alive. It’s the closest thing to having a foldable phone with a dual screen!

Designer: Reinkstone

It’s not just the color that grabs your attention—it’s the seamless integration with your phone. There’s no bulky battery strapped to the back, no charging cables to wrestle with. Reinkstone’s clever use of NFC technology takes care of that. Your phone powers the case wirelessly, transmitting both power and data through NFC. E-ink displays have negligible power consumption (they only need power while changing pixels), so the cases work just fine without needing a battery pack or a dedicated charging port. Change the display using a companion app, and just like that, the back of your phone updates in real-time. It feels effortless, the kind of feature that makes you wonder why it wasn’t done sooner. It’s not magic, but it’s pretty close.

About the e-ink screen – it’s roughly the size of a trading card, which might not sound groundbreaking, but in the world of phone cases, it’s a revelation. Gone are the days of dull, static covers. This little screen is the perfect canvas for photos, to-do lists, your boarding pass, or a QR code of your website or social media if you’re heavy into networking. And yes – while it might not replace your main screen for binge-watching or endless scrolling, it does offer a burst of practicality. Quick flashes of information on your phone’s backside? It’s a feature you didn’t know you needed until you have it.

Reinkstone didn’t stop at just a pretty screen – durability is baked into these cases as well. They’ve wrapped the e-ink display in explosion-proof tempered glass, ensuring your photos and lists stay protected even if your phone decides to take a tumble. The body of the case is built from Bayer TPU—a material known for being tough, flexible, and capable of surviving drops up to 1.8 meters. Inside, the tech gets even smarter, with a patented multi-layer flexible PCB keeping everything running smoothly without adding bulk. In a world where form often outpaces function, Reinkstone is balancing both like a pro.

And just when you think it might interfere with your day-to-day phone usage, Reinkstone’s already thought of it. Their custom-designed NFC antenna ensures you won’t run into any trouble when making contactless payments or scanning for public transport. You still get to tap and go without any hiccups. It’s almost as if the case isn’t even there—until, of course, you want it to be.

As for pricing, Reinkstone knows how to sweeten the deal. Normally, their cases sit around the $100 mark, but they’re currently on sale—$74.90 for the Reink Case C1 (iPhone 13 to 15 Pro Max) and $79.90 for the Reink Case Knight (Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra)… that’s just a few bucks more than the Panels+ annual subscription for MKBHD’s wallpaper app, and should be no big deal if you are a “wallpaper power-user” like Marques.

 

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Daft Punk’s Iconic Coachella Pyramid Stage gets turned into a 2000-piece LEGO set

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Four years ago, a father-son duo won the Grand Prize in the global LEGO competition Music To Our Ears! for their LEGO rendition of the Daft Punk Pyramid Stage from Coachella 2006. Although the MOC (My Own Creation) won the award, it wasn’t selected by LEGO’s internal team to be turned into a box set. However, the duo responsible for the design are hoping to Get Lucky by submitting this entry One More Time, and they’re banking on support from Around The World to help turn this one-off piece into a set that LEGO and music enthusiasts can buy and play with!

Designer: Robotrock

Not many people knew that Daft Punk’s 2006 Coachella set would be the last time they headlined the event. When the duo took the iconic pyramid-shaped stage back in 2006, they set what’s still considered a gold standard in Coachella performances – something that even nearly 2 decades later is difficult to match. However, being the elusive robots they are, Daft Punk never really decided to pull off such a feat again, and they disbanded in 2021, after 28 years together. The Coachella Pyramid is an iconic part of music history, and Robotrock – the moniker behind the LEGO set – did full justice to it with their 2,000-brick recreation of this moment.

The set features the two artists on a colorful pyramid-shaped stage, with lights inside the pyramid glowing as the duo performed music. The two artists are perched on their platform, dressed in their robot-shaped garb, while working on the mysterious electronic console that helps them produce, remix, and perform their music.

“This project began in 2020 as a fun father-son collaboration, growing into something epic as we found ourselves needing a creative escape during lockdown,” says Robotrock. “Both huge Daft Punk fans, this build is a fusion of 2 passions. I spent my teenage years listening to Homework on my Walkman, while my son’s 1st favorite baby song was Get Lucky. It felt only natural to blend our love for Daft Punk’s music with our love for LEGO. My then 8-year-old son started with a prototype built from the bricks we had at home, and I expanded on it digitally.”

The centerpiece of the design—a rotating box of transparent bricks inside a pyramid—is powered by a motor, with a set of lights dangling inside to recreate that iconic Daft Punk Alive 2007 pyramid. This 2000-piece set was a real challenge. Lego bricks aren’t typically used to create triangular shapes, so we had to get creative in finding ways to make all those angles fit together.

LEGO builders are very meticulous, and abide by a strict code of conduct to ensure bricks aren’t used in ‘illegal’ ways to create MOCs or My Own Creations. Here, Robotrock points out that LEGO doesn’t have an official Daft Punk retail set, which means the helmets being shown in the MOC can’t be bought off the shelf. Although this would mean they’re an ‘illegal’ creation, Robotrock points out that there’s a technical legality in their design since Pharrell’s upcoming LEGO biopic, Piece By Piece, features LEGO minifigures of Daft Punk too!

The LEGO Ideas Daft Punk Coachella Pyramid is currently a submission on the LEGO Ideas forum, where fans and enthusiasts can vote for their favorite fan-made LEGO creations. With enough votes, the LEGO Ideas team reviews the design and decides whether to turn it into a retail box set or not. As a massive Daft Punk fan myself, I sincerely hope they do! You too can vote for the LEGO Ideas Daft Punk Coachella Pyramid on the LEGO Ideas website here.

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Life-Saving Pneumatic Inflatable Helmet declared the 2024 Red Dot Award: Design Concept Luminary Winner

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The Ventete aH-1 Cycle Helmet, awarded the prestigious Luminary Winner title at this year’s Red Dot Award: Design Concept, is an innovative take on personal safety for urban cyclists. At a time when cities are embracing cycling as a sustainable and efficient mode of transport, the aH-1 helmet emerges as a design-forward solution, combining portability, comfort, and protection in a way that challenges traditional helmet conventions.

What sets the aH-1 apart is its pneumatic design—a notable departure from the foam helmets that have dominated the market for over five decades. Instead of bulky, rigid foam, Ventete utilizes an inflatable air chamber system that collapses to a thickness of just 3.5 cm when deflated. This compact form allows the helmet to fit easily into a bag or even a large pocket, addressing a key pain point for cyclists who often struggle with where to store their helmets off the bike. When it’s time to ride, a small USB-C pump inflates the helmet in under 30 seconds, providing a quick and convenient transition from portability to protection.

Designer: Ventete Limited

Click here to view more Award-winning designs from the Red Dot Award: Design Concept

Beyond the obvious convenience, this inflatable structure offers functional advantages. Ventete has engineered the aH-1 with a chambered design that significantly improves airflow around the rider’s head. Traditional foam helmets trap heat, often making them uncomfortable during longer rides or in warm weather. By contrast, the air-filled design of the aH-1 promotes natural ventilation, keeping the rider’s head cool. Testing conducted by the Swiss Federal Lab for Material Science (EMPA) confirmed that the helmet’s cooling performance matches that of riding bareheaded, a remarkable feat for a safety device.

While inflatable, the helmet is far from fragile or ineffective. It is fully certified to CE/UKCA standards (EN1078), meaning it meets stringent European and UK safety requirements. Extensive research at Imperial College London’s HeadLab revealed that the aH-1 offers superior protection, particularly against rotational impacts—a leading cause of brain injuries in cycling accidents. With over 15 global patents protecting its design, the aH-1 is a product of nearly a decade of research and development, marrying innovation with practical safety.

The design process, led by Ventete’s team of architects and engineers, was guided by a philosophy that integrates functionality with minimalism. The helmet’s understated aesthetic reflects a growing trend in urban mobility design, where products are expected to seamlessly fit into the user’s lifestyle. Its compact and foldable nature speaks to a more flexible, spontaneous approach to transportation. Produced in Switzerland, the aH-1 also embodies the precision and craftsmanship for which the country is known, ensuring that the helmet is as durable as it is stylish.

The aH-1’s innovative design aligns with the broader cultural shift towards sustainability and urban mobility. As more cities promote cycling as a key component of their transport infrastructure, there is an increasing demand for gear that is not only safe and functional but also adaptable to the fast-paced, space-conscious lives of urban dwellers. By addressing the limitations of traditional helmets, the aH-1 positions itself as a forward-thinking solution for the modern cyclist.

Click here to view more Award-winning designs from the Red Dot Award: Design Concept

The post Life-Saving Pneumatic Inflatable Helmet declared the 2024 Red Dot Award: Design Concept Luminary Winner first appeared on Yanko Design.

Titanium 10-in-1 EDC Tool PryMax 2.0 Packs a Ratchet Screwdriver, Wrench, and Survival Gear

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There’s something uniquely satisfying about a tool that manages to condense an entire toolbox into a single, beautifully crafted object. The PryMax 2.0 from EDC MONSTER does exactly that, and yet, it’s more than just a multi-function gadget—it’s a design refined through time, blending technical innovation with understated elegance. The PryMax 2.0 comes from the folks at EDC MONSTER, who saw a great deal of success with the first-generation PryBar from 2023. Over the past year, the team’s worked towards refining the design, building not just on their own personal experience with the device but also on consumer feedback from the nearly 900 people who bought the EDC multitool. Retaining the Grade 5 titanium construction, this redesigned tool combines toughness with a refined sense of minimalism, measuring just 13.7 cm (5.4 inches) and weighing 95 grams (3.3 ounces). It’s not trying to impress with bulk; instead, it’s a masterclass in efficiency and restraint, ready to handle everything from everyday tasks to unexpected challenges.

Designer: EDC MONSTER

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $239 ($80 off) Hurry, only 67 of 100 pieces left!

Within its compact frame (which is a hallmark of its design) lie 10 features, ranging from general to specific tools. The prybar gets first mention (thanks to the tool’s name), following the CNC-machined wrench that also doubles as a bottle-opener and a caliper. The caliper’s measurements are courtesy a set of etched markings on the side, which can also be used to measure items normally like a regular scale. Other features include a ratchet screwdriver, regular bit driver, everlasting pen, emergency glass breaker, and other non-essential EDC details like a pocket clip and tritium-slots.

Tucked into this sleek titanium body is an adjustable wrench that takes versatility to another level. Need to tighten a loose bolt on your bike or a leaky faucet? The PryMax 2.0’s wrench is ready to adapt. It handles a wide range of nut sizes with a smooth adjustment mechanism that feels far more robust than you’d expect from something this compact. And when precision is key, the integrated caliper comes into play, offering quick, on-the-go measurements. No need to lug around bulky measuring tools—this one stays quietly at your side, ready when you are. These features don’t scream for attention; they simply work, making your day just that bit easier.

The dual-direction ratchet screwdriver integrated into the PryMax 2.0 is designed for serious work. Unlike the typical multi-tool, where screwdrivers are often an afterthought, this one delivers precision and ease. The magnetic bit driver, which comes pre-installed with two S2 alloy steel bits, allows for quick changes and ensures a smooth, frustration-free experience—no more fumbling with tiny parts. For tighter spaces, the fixed-position bit holder steps in, offering a controlled grip when the situation calls for more delicate maneuvering. It’s not just a screwdriver; it’s the tool you didn’t know you needed.

At the tip of the PryMax 2.0 lies its most prominent feature (and where it gets its name from too), the prybar. The wedge-shaped prying tool, combined with the EDC’s titanium construction, is perfect for prying out nails, shimmying open lids, and even cutting through boxes. The blunt edge tucks perfectly into crevasses, and the titanium body takes on pretty much any sort of stress, allowing you to wedge open even the tightest of lids or the rustiest of screws. The box-opener feature is neat too, because it’s just sharp enough to cut tape without posing a safety threat to humans.

With practical, the PryMax 2.0 packs tactical features too – in the form of a strategically placed glass-breaker that can shatter even reinforced/laminated glass with a single strike. Compact but powerful, this feature is designed to break through glass with minimal effort, potentially saving your life in an emergency if you’re trapped in a vehicle or in another critical situation. These are the kinds of details that don’t just make the PryMax 2.0 a tool for tinkering—they make it a tool for everyday survival.

While functionality is clearly at the core of this tool, there’s a certain pleasure in the quieter, more thoughtful additions. The everlasting pen, for instance, tucks neatly along the side, always there when you need to jot something down. It’s not just any pen, either—it writes on nearly any surface, wet or dry, and never runs out of ink. Designed using a special alloy that mimics the effect of pencil on paper, this everlasting pen can write for years without needing sharpening or generating waste – that offsets the 8 million trees cut each year to make pencils. Pair that with the ruler etched discreetly into the side of the tool, and you’ve got everything you need for small-scale precision work, whether it’s marking wood for a DIY project or quickly measuring something on the go. It’s these subtle touches that make the PryMax 2.0 not just a practical tool, but a pleasure to use.

The PryMax 2.0 measures 13.7cm (5.4 inches) and weighs just 95 grams (3.3 ounces)

A true everyday carry wouldn’t be complete without a few features that make it worth carrying everywhere you go. The PryMax 2.0’s bottle opening feature fits that bill perfectly, because you never know when you’ll need to crack open a brewski. The bottle opener’s cleverly (and rather discreetly) built right into the wrench, giving you a 3-in-one feature that opens bottles, tightens bolts, and even measures objects! The integrated phone stand is a nice touch too, allowing you to instantly dock/mount your phone in either landscape or portrait and watch a video while sipping on said brewski. Even the finer details of this tool are tailored for those who value both function and form. Five tritium slots line the tool, allowing for personal customization with glowing inserts. Whether for practical low-light visibility or just a touch of aesthetic flair, these tritium tubes offer a level of personalization that’s rare in such a compact device. It’s the kind of thoughtful design element that resonates with those who appreciate a tool that’s both personal and functional—more than just an accessory, it’s an extension of its owner’s style.

The PryMax 2.0 comes in a single color – after all what’s classier than bare, machined titanium?! It starts at $159, which is a steal considering the 10-in-1 nature of the multitool, and the fact that it’s literally designed to outlast you. The deep pocket clip and lanyard hole make the EDC perfect to carry around with you everywhere you go, and the lack of a blade or sharp edge immediately makes the PryMax 2.0 TSA-approved for carrying on flights too. The PryMax 2.0 ships globally for free starting January 2025.

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $239 ($80 off) Hurry, only 67 of 100 pieces left!

The post Titanium 10-in-1 EDC Tool PryMax 2.0 Packs a Ratchet Screwdriver, Wrench, and Survival Gear first appeared on Yanko Design.