Author Archives: Yanko Design

Titan x Yanko Design “Retrofuturism Challenge” Announces Innovative Winning Designs

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The first Titan x Yanko Design “Retrofuturism Challenge” finally came to a close in April, with the companies revealing their grand winners. Three winners were chosen from hundreds of entries and were awarded cash prizes and KeyShot licenses.

Participants were required to design one of the following – a watch, eyewear, jewelry, or backpack – keeping in mind the ‘Retrofuturism’ brief. The brief invited designers to marry the golden yesteryears with the uncharted tomorrows, creating designs that resonate with the warmth of nostalgia yet pulse with the promise of the future. The Titan x YD Jury Panel awarded Tejas Sunil Suryawanshi as their grand winner, with Swetha Shanmuhavel getting the 1st Runner Up Prize, and Serhan Yenilmez getting the 2nd Runner Up Prize. Winners were selected across 3 of the 4 product categories, and the jury even gave participant Jack Wells an Honorable Mention for his entry.

Winner – Tejas Sunil Suryawanshi

Suryawanshi’s Aerion watch captivated the judges for its unconventional design that married new technology with unique form factors, and an eye-catching brutalist design language that still managed to be both exciting and practical. The timepiece boasts a captivating design with a semi-circular dial on the right marking the hours and a smaller counterpart on the left for minutes. Evocative of the Earth and Moon’s interplay, these dials charmingly illustrate the lunar orbit. Incorporating practicality, two buttons flank the watch for activating the chronograph function. This feature seamlessly transforms the minute hand into a seconds hand for precise timing, aided by a secondary dial measuring half-second intervals within the hour display. A top-right disc on the watch face elegantly presents a map with crucial longitudes, alongside a rotating hand pinpointing the sun’s position overhead, indicating local solar time. Notably, the outer bezel of the disc also includes a discreet arrow for user location reference.

1st Runner Up – Swetha Shanmuhavel

Swetha Shanmuhavel, who goes by ‘_.enigmiala._’ on Instagram secured second place for her jewelry design – Collar Pins. The unique interpretation of creating jewelry that affixes to the corner of a collar or a chest pocket really resonated with the judges as unique and interpreting the brief perfectly. The art deco styling of the pin was a perfect pick for the retrofuturistic theme, given its distinctly luxurious yet geometric patterns. “In the hopes of a utopian retro-futuristic world that will be culturally sensitive and celebrate inclusivity and self-expression, I aim, as a designer, to break down societal expectations and exercise creative freedom to explore innovative and unique designs that transcend traditional gender boundaries,” said Shanmuhavel. Striking an 83-degree angle, these pins are a statement piece crafted in 18k gold, black enamel, and diamonds. Their bold geometric lines and rich embellishments showcase both individuality and imagination. Secured by a screw at the back, these versatile pieces can be worn on a crisp shirt collar or a jacket lapel, adding a touch of retro charm with a futuristic twist. They are a nod to the past, reimagined for the modern era.

2nd Runner Up – Serhan Yenilmez

Serhan Yenilmez’s “Cat Eye” glasses won the final prize for its call-back to the cat-shaped quintessential ‘librarian’ glasses of the 50s and 60s. Unlike those, however, these glasses come with layers that add volume and chunk to the glasses, giving them a distinct appearance that’s sure to have you look twice. “Main target was to keep the classic unique form and make it look more sophisticated and up-to-date by some ideas such as leather pads and mix & match material options,” described Serhan, adding that “All the parts are detachable and mixes with each other as the user sees fit…”

Honorable Mention – Jack Wells

Finally, the judges awarded Jack Wells an honorable mention for his watch entry ‘Rotograde’. Although the watch’s design lacked feasibility in its current stage, it reinterpreted timetelling by relying on something as rudimentary as a belt and gear. This, coupled with the unique aesthetic of the watch made it a retrofuturistic dream come true. “This retrofuturistic watch utilizes a belt-driven analog handset to convey the time. The dial’s linear display enables the time to be read like lines of text, making it more efficient as a time-telling process than the traditional three-hand set-up,” Jack said, referencing Gerald Genta and Sir Jony Ive as his inspirations.

The post Titan x Yanko Design “Retrofuturism Challenge” Announces Innovative Winning Designs first appeared on Yanko Design.

Titan and Yanko Design announce the “Retrofuturism Challenge” with Internships + Prizes over $2200

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Oblivion Watch by Rajesh Sriram

Titan and Yanko Design are bringing 2024 in with a bang! A challenge by designers and for designers, the YD x Titan Design Competition is open for everyone to participate with cash prizes, free KeyShot licenses, and even job and internship opportunities at the Titan Design Excellence Center, the core design innovation arm of the Titan Company. The competition, which begins on the 27th of January 2024, is looking for young, aspiring visionaries to reimagine some of life’s most popular products with a unique twist.

At the heart of this competition lies a theme as timeless as it is forward-thinking: retrofuturism. It’s about marrying the golden yesteryears with the uncharted tomorrows, creating designs that resonate with the warmth of nostalgia yet pulse with the promise of the future. Your mission, should you choose, is to rethink, reimagine, and reinvent objects that define our daily lives. There are four categories to choose from – using the theme “Retrofuturism”, you can choose to design either an analog wristwatch, a women’s handbag, a piece of wearable jewelry, and eyewear.

Click Here to Submit your entry to the YD x Titan Design Competition. Hurry, the competition ends on February 25th, 2023.

PREMIÈRE ROBOT Watch by Chanel

The Brief

Imagine designs that capture the essence of our past, seamlessly blending with modern design principles.
This is your opportunity to propel Titan’s iconic brand into the future, intertwining functionality, aesthetics, and personal values.

Categories:

  • TITAN Brand – Design an analog watch for the wrist. You may choose the functions from plain 3 hands to multifunction based on design requirements.
  • IRTH Brand – Design user functionality and ergonomic bag for women along with unmatched chic and refined styling.
  • TANISHQ /MIA Brand – Design a wearable jewelry piece for any body parts of your choice, using precious metal and gemstones.
  • FASTRACK Brand – Design Fastrack eyewear that looks stunning and evokes a sense of familiarity and comfort.

Disclaimer: Designers can contribute to one, multiple, or all four lifestyle categories, creating entries that are elegant, modern, and thoughtfully crafted.

Ear Cuff by Mario Bellini

CS-500 Hybrid Watch by Carl Hauser

How to Participate + Eligibility

  • Upload your design to Instagram and use the hashtag #YDxTitan in the caption.
  • The post caption should describe in detail the design direction as imagined by the designer.
  • The designers must upload at least one or multiple designs for each category.

This competition is open to all designers (students or professionals) across all nationalities.

Evaluation

The 3 winning designs will be selected based on four judgment categories – User Potential, Visual Aesthetics, Differentiation, and Technical Excellence.

Neptune’s Daughter Bag by Cassandra Verity Green

Over The Top Goggles by Oakley

Prizes

Winner – $1200 USD + KeyShot License Hamper
1st Runner Up – $500 USD + KeyShot License Hamper
2nd Runner Up – $500 USD + KeyShot License Hamper

Students/Graduates win a 6-month paid internship opportunity at the ‘Titan Design Excellence Centre’

Timelines

Contest Opens: Saturday, Jan 27th 2024, 4:30 pm PST
Contest Closes: Sunday, Feb 25th 2024, 11:59 pm PST

Distortion Bag by BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE

Line Watch by Telekes Design

About Titan

Founded in 1984, Titan is India’s largest branded jewelry maker and also holds the spot of being the world’s fifth-largest watch-making company. Over the years, the company has solidified its leading position in industries like eyewear, fashion, and jewelry too with its sub-brands Fastrack, Irth, and Tanishq. The Titan Design Excellence Center forms the company’s design epicenter, guiding the creative vision for all its sub-brands and charting the path for design and innovation in India.

Click Here to Submit your entry to the YD x Titan Design Competition. Hurry, the competition ends on February 25th, 2023.

Dune Goggles by Naz Ayhan Arda & Denizan Arda

Multifunctional Backpack by Peter Tarka

Dizzler 18K Gold Ring by Bucherer

Click Here to Submit your entry to the YD x Titan Design Competition. Hurry, the competition ends on February 25th, 2023.

The post Titan and Yanko Design announce the “Retrofuturism Challenge” with Internships + Prizes over $2200 first appeared on Yanko Design.

How Participating in Design Awards Can Elevate Your Career and Creativity

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We believe there are 4 fundamental ways to level up your career – Studying further (specializing), changing/upgrading your job or industry, getting coverage in media, or winning an award. The first is incredibly expensive, the second has a high amount of risk… the third and fourth are somewhat interconnected (both involve getting recognition), and are relatively easier if you play your cards right. Design awards are a great way to compare yourself to your peers, get your work seen by elite jury members, and win all kinds of accolades – whether it’s a trophy/certificate, a cash prize, or having your work featured in a post-award exhibition… and if you play your cards right, you don’t even have to pay to enter the competition.

Now in its successful eighth year, the Design Intelligence Award is a free-to-enter program organized by the China Academy of Art since 2015. The award’s mission has been simple – to identify good design and reward creatives for their potential, helping them take their work to the next level.

Beyond recognizing good design, Design Intelligence Award (or DIA for short) also seeks to propel international trade, foster global connectivity, and open up commercial opportunities. This initiative is a bold step towards balancing the global design industry, which has long been West-heavy, by introducing and promoting the creative prowess of the Global East.

At its core, DIA believes that design gains true impact when it resonates with a wider audience, both in its appeal and its utility. DIA’s jury is a panel composed of global design luminaries, featuring 550 experts and judges from 37 countries and regions around the world. Their expert critique ensures your creation undergoes rigorous examination, cementing the award’s commitment to quality and innovation. To encourage the materialization of exceptional ideas into tangible designs, the DIA program offers a prize fund of ¥5 million RMB, equivalent to $726,000 USD. This substantial support serves to incubate innovative concepts with the potential to create ripples of significant difference in the design world.

Click Here to Enter Now: Registration Closes on 30th June, 2023 (24:00, UTC+8).

How DIA Bolsters Your Career and Creativity

1. Prize Money: A ¥5,000,000 RMB Grand Fund

A jaw-dropping prize fund of ¥5 million Yuan ($726,000 USD) makes DIA an unmissable opportunity for designers of all ages, experience levels, and across the world. These financial rewards are divided among various categories and tiers of winners, a substantial boost that not only recognizes winners’ exceptional talent but affirms the value of design as a key contributor to societal progress. This prize money not only acknowledges the winners’ exceptional talent but also affirms the value of design as an essential societal contributor.

2. Exposure: Spotlight on Talent

Winning the DIA (or even landing an honorable mention) is by far the easiest way to enter the global spotlight. Your work reaches not just the eyes of esteemed jury members (who could also be your potential well-wishers, mentors, and employers), but also the rest of the world through a coordinated PR campaign and media push both in China as well as globally. This exposure is a golden opportunity to showcase your creativity and ingenuity to the industry’s influential figures, earn global recognition, find new inroads for your product or your career, and potentially catapult your career to new horizons.

3. Prestige: China’s Largest Design Award

Widely acknowledged as China’s largest design award and a leading international award for design and innovation, the DIA carries an immense prestige that significantly strengthens your standing in the international design community. Winning or even being shortlisted for the DIA validates your talent and demonstrates your competitive edge, ensuring your work is recognized and respected; award winners often wear these accolades proudly on their sleeves, in their portfolios, and in their resumes.

4. Protection: Sheltering Your Innovation

For designers keen on entering the Chinese market, the DIA offers invaluable guidance in being able to swiftly apply for patents in China. Through introduction to specialized institutions and a referral system for competent legal representatives, DIA helps participants protect their designs locally. This assures your innovative ideas are safeguarded, offering confidence as you venture into new territories.

5. Networking: Connections that Count

The DIA extends beyond the boundaries of traditional competition. It evolves into a vibrant, dynamic hub of visionary talents, industry experts, and potential collaborators. Participating in DIA opens doors to forge invaluable connections with other designers, peers, experts, and potential business partners/investors. You might be able to find a job, get feedback on your designs, or even see your work entering a new market through strategic business partnerships – all thanks to the massive DIA community.

6. Education: Learning from the Masters

Participation in DIA comes with the golden chance to attend D-WILL expert lectures, sponsored by the Zhejiang Modern Intelligent Manufacturing Promotion Center and Design Innovation Center of China Academy of Art. These enlightening sessions serve as a deep dive into the evolving trends of the design world, enhancing your knowledge and refining your skills. The objective of these talks is to encourage creativity and teamwork through the participation of education specialists, business executives, and trailblazers who impart their expertise and accomplishments to the upcoming cohort.

Bonus tip – Embrace the Opportunity, Free of Cost

Dispelling the common misconception surrounding prestigious awards, the DIA does not impose any submission fees. This encourages a wide spectrum of talent to participate without the barrier of cost, ensuring the competition truly stands as a beacon of creative meritocracy. This attribute makes DIA an even more attractive proposition for designers around the globe. So, seize this golden opportunity, share your unique design narratives with the world, and propel your career to an international stage. The DIA is not just an award; it’s your launchpad to global recognition and success.

Click Here to Enter Now: Registration Closes on 30th June, 2023 (24:00, UTC+8).

The post How Participating in Design Awards Can Elevate Your Career and Creativity first appeared on Yanko Design.

How to make your own KeyShot environments with this simple, free AI-powered website

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Every great render can be separated into two parts – a foreground, and a background. The foreground is often the subject of your render. It’s the model you spent days making, detailing, and adding materials, layers, and textures to. The background is the environment in which your model sits. It includes the scenario, lights, and other elements that surround your model. The tragedy, however, is that 99% of your energy goes into building the foreground, but when it comes to your background, it becomes all too easy to just drag and drop an HDRI environment from your rendering software.

Making your own custom environments for 3D rendering can often be a long, laborious task, which is why most people just use template environments. Traditionally, HDRI (High Dynamic Range Images) 360° environments are captured using 360° cameras, or by taking multiple photos of an environment and stitching them together in a software. However, you can now get an AI to make you a 360° environment with just one sentence. Developed by game dev studio Blockade Labs, Skybox is a free-to-use website that makes AI-generated environments with a simple text prompt. All you do is describe the environment you want, choose from a list of visual styles, and hit Generate. In seconds, the AI creates an environment that you can preview directly on the website. You can then download the environment and easily use it in your rendering software like KeyShot 11, vastly enhancing your workflow; or even in any AR/VR experience you may be building. For now, the service is entirely free, and Blockade Labs gives you the right to ownership of all the images you create (although they get perpetual access to it), allowing you to freely use the environments or commercialize them by selling them online too.

Free KeyShot 11 Trial: Download Now | Free KeyShot Report: Download Now

How to use Skybox AI

If you’ve ever used Google, you know everything there is to know about using Skybox. The website’s UI has just a single text box that you type your environment description prompt into and a Generate button that gets the AI working on your prompt. A drop-down menu lets you select from a variety of styles, like digital painting, realistic, sci-fi, interior, manga, watercolor, and many more, giving you control over your final output. However, most of these themes are targeted toward game developers and artists, so it’s best to stick to themes like Realistic, Interior, or Advanced (No Style) for the most photorealistic results.

When typing your prompt, more is always better. Skybox runs on a modified version of Stable Diffusion, so it’s best to be as expressive and detailed as possible with your description so that the AI doesn’t surprise you with something you didn’t ask for. Skybox lets you input prompts in two ways. A ‘Create New’ feature lets you generate something entirely new, and if you like what you’ve made but you just want to fine-tune it or change the image style, a ‘Remix This’ feature proves to be handy.

How to write your prompt

Prompt writing is an acquired skill, and if you haven’t ever used any AI tools, stick around. If you’re familiar with Midjourney or Stable Diffusion or any Text-to-image program, you can skip this part.

When writing a prompt, you need to express clearly to the AI what you’ve got in your mind. If you’re looking for a realistic road scene, specify whether it’s an urban or a highway setup, describe the scene, the time of day, and any details like the style of road you’re looking for. Throw in a few adjectives if you want. Here are a few examples, along with their results. (You can right-click and download the hi-res images)

Prompt – Cobbled Stone Pathway in an Old Italian Village. Vibrant modern buildings
Style – Realistic

Prompt – Cyberpunk TRON world with TRON motorcycles and illuminated grid floor
Style – SciFi

Prompt – Office meeting room table. Empty conference room.
Style – Realistic

Prompt – Empty warehouse. Large space with skylights and volumetric light rays.
Style – Advanced (No Style)

Additional Skybox AI Features

With subsequent updates, the Skybox AI has gotten some very nifty new features that give you further control over your HDRI creation. A toolbar on the side of the interface now lets you use a brush tool to create preliminary shapes, guiding the AI to make exactly what you have in mind, rather than give you something totally uncontrolled and haphazard. This helps you create a 360° HDRI that exactly fits your needs. A brush and eraser tool help you create an overall skeleton that the AI will then use as its input. You can draw your own buildings, roads, lampposts, tables, etc. to get exactly the right kind of HDRI. Viewing options also let you choose to view your HDRI in a spherical or cube grid, and with or without a ground plane, to give you a better sense of how your HDRI will look in rendering software like KeyShot. Finally, while downloading your HDRI, you can now even download a Depth Map of it to use in other 3D rendering software for a more immersive environment that reacts well to camera movements and creates that parallax effect that makes your renders look absolutely real!

How to import the environment in KeyShot

Once you’ve generated your environment, browse around within Skybox’s interface using the cursor to make sure it has no warped edges, imperfections, or random errors. You can download the image using the download button, and save it to your desktop.

To use the environment in KeyShot, open the software and first set your scene by adding a model to it (or hit Ctrl + 8 to generate a sphere). Once the model’s in place, head to the Project tab on the right side (hit Space if you can’t see it) and click on the Environment button. Click the ‘Create Blank Environment Map’ button to create a new map. Head to the HDRI Editor and select ‘Image’ from the list of options. Select the image you generated and KeyShot automatically turns it into an environment. You may need to play around with the scale, brightness, or contrast in the Settings tab. When you’re happy with how the environment looks, rename your New Environment by right-clicking on it. Then, head back to the HDRI Editor and press the Save To Library button.

Where to find the options on the KeyShot 11 interface

A Better, Faster Workflow with KeyShot

Earlier this year, KeyShot surveyed thousands of industrial designers and leaders to understand which rendering software they preferred, and the reasons behind it. 88% of them mentioned that KeyShot “provides the best 3D rendering quality output” in comparison to other software, that either take time and expertise to master, or just don’t have the same quality standard as KeyShot.

“KeyShot allows you to maximize your artistry and accuracy, providing expansive materials and color libraries along with in-depth tools that allow you to tweak the smallest details,” the report says. The software gives you instant yet advanced control over all your parameters like lighting, environment, material, and even color, thanks to partnerships with companies like Pantone to make their libraries a part of the KeyShot rendering software. Click on the report below to learn more.

Free KeyShot 11 Trial: Download Now | Free KeyShot Report: Download Now

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Nike, Google, Tonal, Uber, Peloton: How Whipsaw’s Global Vision as a Design Studio is Changing Brands and Worlds

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Dubbed “Design’s Secret Weapon” by Fast Company, Whipsaw’s designs are so ubiquitous they simply can’t be ignored. With over 300 design awards, and nearly a hundred clients comprising the likes of Meta, Google, Samsung, Dell, Ford, Sony, and Peloton, Whipsaw’s work exists across multiple industries, covering the kind of breadth that most design studios only dream of. The studio was founded by Dan Harden in 1999, headquartering in San Francisco, where Whisaw established inroads into what would eventually become the Silicon Valley of the world… However, its impact can be seen across diverse industries including consumer electronics, housewares, computing, robotics, medical, scientific, and commercial products.

This spotlight hopes to capture Whipsaw’s approach to design by chronicling some of its latest work and analyzing the design trends that emerge from them. Whipsaw’s multidisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and engineers work across four categories, covering all aspects of a product journey from research & strategy to industrial design, visual design, and mechanical engineering. In October last year, Harden even announced the formation of the Whipsaw Design Lab (WDL) – a space for designers to truly explore the potential of creative thinking without the constraint of technology, budget, or a ‘client concern’. “WDL has no requirements, clients, timelines, or limits. Just pure Design spelled with a capital D. And most of all, no compromises,” he says.

View More Projects on Whipsaw’s Website
Click Here to see Careers at Whipsaw

Tonal Strength Training System

Created over a period of 3 years, Tonal combines exercise with technology and machine learning to bring the gym trainer to your home. Tonal is a wall-mounted fitness device that offers a unique combination of modern hardware and personalized coaching. Unlike traditional gym equipment that relies on large metal plates and gravity, Tonal uses an electromagnetic resistance engine to provide smooth and precise weight in single-pound increments. This is supplemented by an intelligent touch-sensitive display that acts as your feedback machine, allowing you to measure every ounce of progress as you get through your reps.

The device was a result of a 3-year collaboration between Whipsaw and Tonal. Every aspect of its design was meticulously crafted to ensure optimal performance, durability, and aesthetics. When not in use, Tonal is sleek and unobtrusive, blending seamlessly into any wall. However, when activated, its arms pivot out on vertical columns, allowing for a wide range of exercises, including standing lat pulldowns, low squats, and lateral chest flys. Tonal marks a steady shift in home-based exercise, an emerging trend in the fitness space that also propelled companies like Peloton to fame.

Kabata Smart Weights

Yet another innovation in the fitness space, Kabata smart weights are a revolutionary set of adjustable-weight dumbbells designed for strength training. With just a simple turn of a knob, the weights can be instantly adjusted from 5 to 60 pounds. The weight plates are locked or unlocked together using a hidden camshaft mechanism, allowing you to assemble the desired total weight in 5-pound increments. The Kabata weight handles are equipped with advanced sensors that can detect movement, acceleration, angular velocity, and position, making it easier for you to optimize your workouts. Additionally, the handles feature haptic drivers that vibrate to correct your physical form and motivate you during your workout.

The Kabata isn’t your average pair of weights. The Kabata system is fully connected and comes with a mobile app that incorporates data analytics and predictive AI to automatically adjust the weights for you in tailored workout programs. The app pulls data from the weights to your smartphone, allowing you to access training programs, monitor key performance metrics, and share your workout with your community. This sleek system is a great example of how Whipsaw aims at modernizing a conventional product category by relying on bleeding-edge technology to truly uplift a product’s UX.

Tile Bluetooth Trackers

Creating a Bluetooth Tracker isn’t easy when it’s an absolutely new category. Tile’s first devices were sold in 2013, giving it a significant edge over other trackers like the AirTag, which came nearly 8 years later. This meant pretty much starting with an entirely blank page, which was the challenge for Whipsaw and Tile. The companies have been close collaborators ever since, working on all the newer SKUs like the Mate, Sticker, Slim, Pro, and Ultra. Each Tile device offers a greatly increased finding range of up to 400 feet, a louder ring, and voice-enabled finding through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. “We designed these trackers in several form factors with optional attachment methods in order to fit every use case, whether attached to a key chain, in a wallet, or directly adhered to your favorite items,” say the folks at Whipsaw. “There are many design improvements from our previous 2018 line, including smaller dimensions, lighter weight, and softer forms that feel great in the hand.” Tile was recently awarded #5 on Fast Company‘s list of Most Innovative Companies 2021.

Google Trekker Backpack for Google Earth

Google’s Trekker backpack is a mapping device that works in tandem with Street View, Google Maps, and Google Earth. It captures and creates interactive maps of locations that are inaccessible to vehicles, such as nature trails, iconic landmarks like Machu Picchu, and crowded city centers. The Trekker is a valuable tool for cartographers due to its unique mobility, and it is currently being used to document some of the world’s most magnificent places for everyone to learn about and enjoy. It’s even spawned a sub-culture of travelers committed to revealing new frontiers and sharing their experiences with the global community.

The backpack is an all-in-one system that includes a 360-degree camera array, two positioning LIDARS for mapping terrains, a computer with heat sink cooling, and two hot-swap batteries. For Whipsaw, the challenge was to create a portable solution that was waterproof, highly durable, and worked seamlessly. Additionally, it was also prudent to make the Trekker backpack comfortable for extended wear time, ensuring it was well-balanced, lightweight, and easy to put on and take off.

Koda AI Robot Dog

In 2018, Whipsaw was approached by KODA Inc. to collaborate on a project integrating their fusion multi-processor and AI-based software. The result was the KODA Robot Dog, the first high-end domestic robot dog to run on a decentralized blockchain network. Equipped with an 11 teraflop processor capable of A.I. machine-learning, the KODA Robot Dog relied on a hive-mind of sorts to optimize its behavior. It even sported four 3-dimensional surround-view cameras and 14 motors, including in the neck and tail, giving it dog-like gestural qualities. By sharing data with other KODA dogs on the network, the robot was able to learn from experiences it had never encountered before. For example, a KODA dog in Phoenix could learn how to avoid slipping on ice by receiving knowledge from other KODAs based in colder climates like Anchorage, Alaska, or Toronto, Canada. Whipsaw’s design ensured that the KODA Robot Dog retained a friendly, cute demeanor despite its incredible capabilities.

Bear Robotics Servi Food Service Robot

Sort of like a Roomba for hospitality, the Servi automates table-waiting with its unique design that’s built to help with restaurant workflows by both delivering food to tables and clearing the tables at the end of a meal. When guests arrive, Servi promptly welcomes them with a friendly voice and courteous gestures. Customers can easily place their order with Servi, who then transmits it directly to the kitchen. Once the order is prepared, Servi is equipped with one of her two top platforms to efficiently deliver the food to the designated table. While navigating, Servi adeptly avoids any individuals or obstacles in her path. After the meal, diners can conveniently place their dishes in Servi’s bottom bin as she returns to the table.

Whipsaw considered every type of restaurant environment while developing Servi’s custom design—from cramped and crowded rooms to gleaming banquet halls with spotless interiors—and made her as safe, quiet, and washable as possible. “We also packed a ton of technology into her small footprint so she never gets in the way,” the company says.

Hisense Projector

We’ve covered a fair number of projectors on YD, and UHT projectors seem to overwhelmingly be the future of the technology. They require no distance from your projection surface, and are capable of vivid, highly detailed imagery, while also projecting audio from in front of you to match the visuals. Hisense and Whipsaw worked extensively to develop a line of UHT projectors with timeless beauty, quality materials, unique form, and exquisite detailing. “Throughout this project, our primary goals were to innovate on product configurations that would be compact enough to compete with standard TVs and to create aesthetic solutions that would excite internal stakeholders and ultimately end-users,” say the Whipsaw team.

PacBio Revio™ Sequencing System

Proving that there’s really no industry that can’t benefit from Whipsaw’s approach to design innovation, the company worked with PacBio to help design Revio –  a gene sequencing system that can be utilized for various purposes such as human genetic analysis, cancer research, and agricultural genomics. The Revio has the capability to sequence up to 1,300 whole human genomes annually for less than $1,000 per genome. Whipsaw collaborated with PacBio to create a new user interaction model and a stunning industrial design for the instrument, which includes an intuitive user interface.

Revio’s bold monolithic design creates an impression of solid reliability, sophistication, and cutting-edge tech. Meanwhile, the black towering box comes with a hint of color, tying in with PacBio’s own visual branding. “Every detail was meticulously crafted for perfection, from the single sheet of back-painted Gorilla glass on the sliding door to the Bugatti-inspired woven wire ventilation grill. The fit and finish are exemplary, with premium materials and textures throughout.”

View More Projects on Whipsaw’s Website
Click Here to see Careers at Whipsaw

The post Nike, Google, Tonal, Uber, Peloton: How Whipsaw’s Global Vision as a Design Studio is Changing Brands and Worlds first appeared on Yanko Design.

YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub Design of the Week #1 – AirShock Inflatable Controller

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We kick off the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub’s first Design of the Week with this absurdly innovative PlayStation controller that opts for an inflatable design as opposed to those hyper-ergonomic solid forms. Blow air into the controller and it puffs up into a lightweight handheld device that conforms to the shape of your hand the way an inflatable neck pillow adjusts to your body’s contours. Would such a device even be feasible? We’d have to try it out to really have actual answers… but there’s no denying one thing. That this concept from Running Guy Studio is refreshingly different and catches the eye with its unique style and brilliant rendering.

Click Here to view all designs on the YD x Keyshot Inspiration Hub website!

If you don’t know what the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub is, it’s best to think of it as the ultimate destination to find the most inspirational design work, as well as to have your own work featured, so it can be seen by a global audience of thousands of designers and creatives… an ever-expanding encyclopedia of good design and great rendering

The hub helps fulfill YD and KeyShot’s broad goal of recognizing exemplary work from a distance and helping amplify it without having to rely on an algorithm, unlike with portfolio sites and social media. It relies on YD’s 20-year history of curating great ideas, concepts, and case studies and ties it to KeyShot’s powerful position as the design industry’s most powerful and preferred rendering software.

The Inspiration Hub’s jury panel will hand-pick and highlight an outstanding design each week, also awarding a ‘Design of the Month’ and ‘Design of the Year’, featuring them at the top of the hub’s page while giving winning designs a permanent badge and entering them into the Inspiration Hub’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Hall-of-Famers will also be featured on Yanko Design’s Instagram page and will win exciting prizes from KeyShot. Learn more about how to participate by visiting the hub, and also get your hands on a free trial of KeyShot 11.

Click Here to view all designs on the YD x Keyshot Inspiration Hub website!

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Yanko Design and KeyShot are creating the ultimate destination for industrial design inspiration

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Dubbed the Yanko Design x KeyShot Inspiration Hub, it’s the one place designers and creatives can visit to find the most inspirational design work. Simultaneously, the Inspiration Hub will also propel good designers to the forefront by helping them showcase their great designing and rendering skills to a broader global audience.

The hub helps fulfill YD and KeyShot’s broad goal of recognizing exemplary work from a distance and helping amplify it without having to rely on an algorithm, unlike with portfolio sites and social media. It relies on YD’s 20-year history of curating great ideas, concepts, and case studies and ties it to KeyShot’s powerful position as the design industry’s most powerful and preferred rendering software.

Click Here to Check Out the Hub!

Together, YD and KeyShot are creating an ‘ever-expanding encyclopedia’ of design work that you can either participate in or get inspired by. Learn more about how to participate by visiting the hub, and also get your hands on a trial of KeyShot 11 to see how it upgrades your work output. Our jury panel will handpick some of the best work found online and share it with the rest of the world, helping inspire other designers, helping inform companies/recruiters/investors, and helping move the conversation on good design forward. The hub will also award a ‘Design of the Week’, a ‘Design of the Month’ and a ‘Design of the Year’ to the best work, featuring it at the top of the hub’s page while giving it a permanent badge and entering it into the Inspiration Hub’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Hall-of-Famers will also be featured on Yanko Design’s Instagram page, and will win exciting prizes from KeyShot.

Unlike awards programs, the Inspiration Hub is free, and unlike Instagram, it isn’t completely controlled by an algorithm. We recommend adding the Inspiration Hub to your weekly diet of good design, and encourage you to be a part of this elite community that’s made of designers, for designers, and by designers! Moreover, the hub also serves as a one-stop destination to find inspiration for your work and your own personal skill-building as a designer. Finding inspiration can be a bit of a challenge. You end up searching on Pinterest, on Behance, on Yanko Design, maybe you browse Instagram, search a few hashtags, find saved bookmarks in the IG app, or in your web browser, or you look for links you’ve saved in your Notes application. There’s no one great place to go for design inspiration, and that’s what the Yanko Design x KeyShot Inspiration Hub aims at being.

The Inspiration Hub showcases great design projects in a way that’s easy to browse and share with your team members and fellow design collaborators. The format helps you scan through multiple designs and take a closer look at stuff that inspires you. Bookmark them, share them, or study them to help boost your own skill set. The Inspiration Hub helps keep those creative juices flowing.

The hub will constantly evolve and expand with time, featuring inspiring and good design powered by YD’s curation. You can further filter out the designs by searching for keywords, categories, and designer names. So what are you waiting for, go visit the Inspiration Hub to see what your peers are up to, and share your work with the hub to be a part of the fastest-growing community in the design industry!

Click Here to Check Out the Hub!

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3 Tips on How To Be an Innovative Designer from “The Innovator’s Handbook”

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Innovation is often seen as a reactionary force—a response to a problem or an opportunity. But when you consider it holistically, innovation isn’t just about developing new ideas. It’s about taking action and making those ideas a reality.

Hi, I’m Hussain Almossawi and I’ve worked as a Senior Designer and Art Director with companies such as Nike, Apple, Adidas, Ford, Amazon, and others. Throughout my career as a designer and VFX artist, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with many of today’s top innovators in some of my favorite companies. Through those roles, I’ve had the chance to witness how these individuals think, how they approach problems, and how they take their ideas and turn them into action.

Innovators often have a different mindset than the average person. They see opportunity where others see problems. They’re not afraid to take risks and experiment. And they’re constantly learning and growing so they can be prepared for whatever comes next.

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Here are a few things that have helped me throughout my design and innovation process, no matter what kind of project I’m working on:

1. Break a Concept Down to Its First Principles

Innovation is often birthed from a desire to fix a problem. It makes sense, right? You see a need in a particular area, and you want to create a solution that fills that need.

But an issue that many designers run into is that they try to solve the problem at face value. They see a need and an instant reaction is to come up with a solution that addresses that need.

One of the greatest ways to reconsider a problem is to break it down to its first principles. A popular method used by inventors and great thinkers such as Elon Musk, the “First Principles” method, is a way of deconstructing a product to its most basic parts and then starting to question every single part before reconstructing it back together again.

This allows you to really understand the nature of the problem you are trying to solve, ask the right questions, and come up with more creative solutions that address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Often, the resulting innovation is something beyond what anyone could have expected.

When I worked in the footwear industry, I had the chance to work on multiple high-level projects, as well as design for signature athletes. The first principles method was something we always used at the start of our projects and process.

Rather than diving right into sketching and creating ideas of what the future of a particular shoe could look like, we simply took the previous model of that shoe and broke it down into all its different parts. We laid them out on a table and started questioning what each piece does, does it truly need to be there, and if it could be improved.

As a result, we started asking more interesting questions – or rather, more insightful questions. This led to a better outcome and understanding of everything that went into the shoe. We would usually not only come up with great ideas but also ask questions that would lead to more innovative ways to manufacture the shoe and reduce our costs.

The first principles method is one of my favorite ways of getting to the core of the problem we are trying to solve. I love how it leads a designer down a path of seeing things with a newer and fresher perspective and offers a much higher understanding and appreciation for the minor details that go into a product.

2. Shift Your Mindset from Reaction to Action

There’s a common mindset I’ve found in many of today’s thinkers and leaders – I like to call it “The Follower Mindset.” This mindset takes previous ideas and attempts to resurrect them into something new.

In other words, these individuals constantly react to the world around them. They take what’s already been done and try to make it better. It makes sense – why reinvent the wheel when you can use existing ideas as a springboard to further innovation? However, sticking solely to a follower mindset can lead to incremental innovation and miss other unique possibilities.

Higher impact innovation is possible when you shift your mindset from limiting reaction to transformative action. This means taking a proactive stance in the world and approaching problems with a fresh perspective.

It’s about being curious and constantly learning so you can see the world in new ways. It’s about taking risks and experimenting with new ideas, even if they might fail. And it’s about having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even when it’s not popular.

You’ve seen this at play in some of the giants in the business. Think of Apple vs. Samsung in the device wars. Perhaps my favorite example is Adidas’ famed Ultra Boost shoes – a design that used compressed palettes to create an ultra-comfortable sole. When Ultra Boosts began to fly off the shelves, competitor shoes began to spring up with the same design look and feel while trying to add their own twist to it. Rather than act on the consumer’s desire for lightweight, soft shoes, they simply slapped a new name and logo on Adidas’ innovation.

This mindset can occur on a personal level with design teams as well! I’ve seen teams with talented designers who find themselves hyper-focused on chasing designs based on existing ideas. Imagine what concepts are missed when we don’t push outside our comfort zones and explore the unexplored of design possibilities!

Designers and creatives have to balance the line between action and reaction. We have to be able to take in the world around us and process it in a way that allows us to see things differently – and then act on those insights.

3. Live Like a “Curious Sponge”

I love a good sponge. The ability to take in far more liquid than its own weight and then expand to hold that liquid is pretty amazing. And it’s this quality that I think we can all learn from when it comes to innovation.

You see, to be truly innovative, you have to be curious. You have to be willing to take in new information and ideas without judgment. You have to be like a sponge, soaking up everything around you.

Our brains are wired to categorize and filter information so we can make sense of the world. And while this is helpful in many ways, it can also prevent us from seeing things in new and different ways.

It’s far too easy to get siloed in our own little world, only taking in information that reinforces our existing beliefs. But if we want to be innovative, we must break out of that mindset and become curious sponges.

So how do you do that? Well, it starts with a willingness to learn. You have to be open to new ideas and perspectives, even if they challenge your existing convictions. You must be willing to step outside your comfort zone and explore new territory.

And you have to be constantly learning. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to conferences – do whatever you can to expose yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking. The more different and diverse information you take in, the more likely you will have those “a-ha!” moments that lead to true innovation.

Here are four practical steps you can take in your next design process to help you cultivate the life of a curious sponge:

1. Look Around

The world is much larger and more diverse than you may realize. And there’s a lot of interesting stuff out there if you’re willing to look for it. So take some time to explore your surroundings and see what you can find.

2. Be Open-Minded

When you’re exposed to new ideas, don’t immediately write them off. Give them a chance and really try to understand where they’re coming from. You may be surprised at what you learn.

3. Get Curious

If you hear something that doesn’t make sense or see something that doesn’t fit into your existing worldview, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more curious you are, the more you’ll learn.

4. Push Boundaries

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a lane? Maybe you’re comfortable with the way things are and don’t want to rock the boat. But if you’re not pushing boundaries, you’re not going to find true innovation. So take some risks and see what happens!

The sky’s the limit when you open your mindset up to new possibilities. So go out there and start being curious! You won’t regret the new and fun ideas that come from it.

Supercharge Your Creativity with The Innovator’s Handbook

These three techniques are some that I always use amongst other insights that have helped shift my mindset and process towards innovation as a designer.

That’s why I am excited to announce the release of The Innovator’s Handbook: A Short Guide to Unleashing Your Creative Mindset. This new book, built on years of first-hand experience at some of today’s leading design companies, is packed with practical tips, tricks, and exercises to help you increase your innovation confidence and design mindfully.

This book is for you if you’ve ever wondered how to shift your mindset from being a reactive problem-solver to a proactive idea-generator. When you can unleash your unique creative mindset, you can start to bring innovative ideas to life. The Innovator’s Handbook is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook – pick up your copy and let’s start innovating together!

Click Here to Buy Now!

Hussain Almossawi is an industrial designer, visual effects artist, and author, who has worked across industries and around the world consulting for companies such as Nike, Apple, Amazon, Adidas, Intel, and Ford, among others. He is a regular keynote speaker on innovation and design and has taught at several universities. In 2019, Hussain founded Mossawi Studios, a multi-disciplinary design studio specializing in creating memorable, iconic, and bold experiences.

Official book page: https://theinnovatorshandbook.com/

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Yanko Design and KeyShot announce the winners of the Material Design Challenge

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With hundreds of entries over the 3-week competition time period, the YDxKeyShot Material Design Challenge finally came to a close with the winners being announced this week. The three winning entries showcase an incredibly versatile approach, proving exactly how capable KeyShot 11’s Material Graph and material designing abilities are.

The three winners distinctly stand in three separate categories. The Gold winning entry from Shahin Fathi explores the ability to put a realistic froth of bubbles on top of products, the Silver winning entry from Colin Ginn explored a unique parametric ‘chocolate chip cookie’ material with a lot of versatility, and the Bronze winning entry came from Nacho Riesco, who created an alluring cracked gold-leaf on wood texture that has great potential in furniture, interior, and even fashion rendering applications.

The judges declared Shahin the unanimous Gold Winner, but there were a few strong contenders for Silver and Bronze positions. Ultimately, the judges rated the entries on creativity as well as potential to be used across various industries. We congratulate the winners and are extremely grateful to everyone who participated!

Click Here to know more about KeyShot 11

Gold Winner – Shahin Fathi


Shahin Fathi (also known on Instagram by Predexign) was unanimously selected as the winning entry for its sheer creativity and impeccable execution. Jury member Sarang Sheth said, “Loved the idea and execution. This is exactly the kind of material I was expecting to come out of this competition.” The bubbles really push KeyShot 11’s textures to the limit. They’re incredibly realistic, and a simple drag and drop of the material onto a 3D object turns it into a foamy mass that has tonnes of applications in bathware, drinkware (think beer froth it coffee crema), and potentially even outdoor water scenes!
View Shahin’s winning entry below.

 

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A post shared by Shahin Fathi (@predexign)

Silver Winner – Colin Ginn


Colin Ginn secured the silver prize for his unique parametric chocolate chip cookie material. While the jury definitely found the material unique, they were impressed by the execution, the fact that it’s entirely parametric, and even the development animation that Colin created on his IG post. Jury member Janis Sne mentioned, “Collin did an outstanding job on this material challenge. I am very impressed by just looking at Collin’s Keyshot node material setup. He also made a great presentation, with a short animation of the texturing, that I highly appreciate. I think this designer really thought through everything and you can feel this love & passion into each 3D image.” The jury collectively also agreed that there was immense potential to adapt this material into a rocky, muddy ground material.
View Colin’s winning entry below.

 

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A post shared by Colin Ginn (@colin_ginn)

Bronze Winner – Nacho Riesco


The bronze prize was awarded to Nacho Riesco for his ‘cracked gold leaf on wood’ material. The material combined the best of both worlds, a realistic wooden texture and a cracked gold film on top. Jury member Preeti Jesudoss appreciated the “worn edges and organic-looking cracks” on the material and the jury collectively believed that the material also could potentially be used in creative art direction and even in fashion design applications.
View Nacho’s winning entry below.

Click Here to know more about KeyShot 11

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Parmigiano Reggiano Design Challenge 2022 comes to a close. Here are the winning designs!

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Designers were invited to imagine new “Masterpieces for the Table”

Organized by Parmigiano Reggiano® in collaboration with Alessi, and with the participation of Kartell as the hosting partner for the Awards Party, The Parmigiano Reggiano Design Challenge 2022 closed on May 6, 2022, after attracting hundreds of entries from across the globe.

The competition invited the design community to imagine products at the intersection of food and design, across two categories: ‘In the Kitchen’ and ‘At the Table’. The brief required that the entries consider one or more of the following themes: biodiversity, aging, and zero waste.

The jury evaluating the entries included some of the most influential thought-leaders in the design industry, including: Mauro Porcini, the highly respected Chief Design Officer for PepsiCo; Karim Rashid, described by Time Magazine as “The Most Famous Industrial Designer in All the Americas”; Debbie Millman, curator, and host of the podcast Design Matters; Donald Strum, president of Michael Graves Design; celebrated Italian architect and designer, Fabio Novembre; Alessia Genova, managing partner at Tihany Design; Kevin Bethune, founder of Dreams, Design and Life; and Qing Yan, the 2021 Parmigiano Reggiano Design Challenge Best of Show winner. Additional two renowned chefs joined the jury to proved a culinary perspective: Chef Michele Casadei Massari, the U.S. brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, and four-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Nischan.

Ultimately, the jury selected a total of 12 Award Winners with separate Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for Professional Designers and Design Students in each of the two categories. From these, the judges selected one project as the recipient of the Best of Show Award, and that honor went to John Jack Elliott, the Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor of Human Centered Design at the College of Human Ecology, Cornell University in New York.

Click here to learn more about the Parmigiano Reggiano® Design Challenge.

The scraps from machining the aluminum ceiling holder are re-used to make the diffuser of the lamp, resulting in zero waste

John Jack Elliott enjoying a plate of Fettuccine with Parmigiano Reggiano at the Awards Party on May 19, 2022 at the Kartell Showroom in New York

BEST OF SHOW + GOLD AWARD

Matassa Lamp by John Jack Elliot

The Best-of-show-winning Matassa lamp’s bundled-up shape takes inspiration from a ball of tagliolini, a long, flat pasta that is cut into thin strips and sold as tangled clumps. However, its inspiration isn’t just the only interesting thing about the lamp. Its unique design is effectively created by the waste the lamp itself generates! Each Matassa comes with a machined aluminum ceiling rose, and the strands that are generated as waste during the machining process are then used to create the pasta-inspired aluminum wool mass, which does a marvelous job of reflecting and bouncing off light in all directions to create a ceiling lamp that’s eye-catching, but also appetizing!

‘At The Table’ Winners

Totem by Isabella Lovero & Enrico Bosa (Silver – Professional)

Totem is a system of stackable food containers designed to double as a centerpiece at the table. The slanted cut of each piece and their shades of grey help define the stacking order, creating a play of veins inspired by the stones of the Reno river – which cuts across the region of origin of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. According to the two Italian designers, “Diversity was one of the inspirations for the design, both in terms of the organic shapes of the bowls, and its use as both a functional and a decorative object. Additionally, we envisioned that the containers would be made from natural organic wheat straw fiber, which is a byproduct of wheat production, – therefore aligned with zero-waste principles. Lastly, this durable bioplastic material is 100% BPA free, non-toxic, odorless, and biodegradable”.

Apertivo by Ryan Twardzik (Bronze – Professional)

The design of the “Apertivo” was inspired by the iconic shape of a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheel. Divided into four sections, Apertivo offers an attractive solution for a happy hour spread featuring our favorite cheese. The Apertivo design incorporates the diversity theme through a variety of materials, like wood, steel, and soft cloth, each offering a different kind of touch, adding a rich tactile experience. Also, the Apertivo is made of materials that will acquire a patina and look better over time – which addresses the aging theme.

Sensei by Kim Bujak (Gold – Student)

Sensei radically reimagines how we look at our food on the plate. Made of beige earthenware with a thermochromic coating, Sensei glows to show you what food on your plate is warm versus which elements aren’t. From 30C°, the plate turns in light orange in a radius of two centimeters and shows which part of the food is warm by the framing effect. From 5-15C°, the area around the colder food turns whitish. Millimeter-sized thermo-sensitive speckles become visible through a change in temperature and offer a new level to put the work of art on the plate in the right light. This isn’t just a usability feature, it also becomes an artistic one, creating new avenues for plating and food presentation!

LIDfree by Chia-Chun Chuang & Pei-Chun Hsueh (Silver – Student)

Meet the LIDfree, a to-go paper cup that comes with its own fold-in lid. While the lid isn’t 100% spill-proof (not even the plastic ones are), it does a few key things really well. A. Preventing spillage. B. Merging of two products (cup and lid) into one. C. Giving you a central channel to put your straw (and even giving you the option to not use one) and finally, D. replacing a wasteful plastic part with a recyclable paper one. The LIDfree cup features a nifty folding rim that collapses inwards to shut the cup. While it leaves a central hole open, the design still, for the most part, remains spill-proof as the hole remains at an elevated position when the cup is lying on its side. Moreover, the central hole is perfect for inserting straws of any width (hopefully eco-friendly ones!) as the origami elements expand and contract to the diameter of the straw.

Bean Chair by Lulu Pennell (Bronze – Student)

Championing the idea of recycling waste, the Bean Chair, as its name alludes, is made entirely from used coffee grounds. An estimated 18 to 20 million tonnes of wet, waste coffee grounds are discarded each year, creating a perfect opportunity for it to be recycled. By incorporating spent grounds, the chair maintains a slight coffee aroma, enhancing your eating experience through your sense of smell. The material used also gives the chair a natural brown color without having to use any dyes or pigments. Ultimately, Bean isn’t designed to be just another recycled chair – it also hopes to make seating uniquely multisensorial. By incorporating the mild fragrance of coffee into the chair, the Bean Chair makes for a rather multi-dimensional product. I think every café should have these chairs!

‘In The Kitchen’ Winners

Haptics of Cooking by Boey Wang (Gold – Professional)

Building on a theme similar to the previous Folks Project, this design from Boey Wang further helps the visually impaired with food preparation. Called the Haptics of Cooking, it relies on the science and technology of transmitting and understanding information through touch. Ranging from your chopping board and knife to even measuring cups that have intuitive bumps to let the user know how much water they’re filling, the Haptics of Cooking allows food-prep to be as intuitive to the visually impaired as it is to other people. “This project embraces the concept of diversity by the simple fact that it is about a product for the segment of our population whose vision is impaired”, says designer Boey Wang.

HUB by Rotimi Solola (Silver – Professional)

HUB approaches the problem of planned obsolescence and product repairing from a different perspective. Designed as a modular appliance, HUB serves as a blender, processor, and stand mixer while relying on one singular motor element that connects to all three modules. Called the HUB, this motor element becomes the primary appliance that shapeshifts based on the module you use. “Through research I found that people aren’t willing to service or fix damaged products themselves if they don’t understand how to do so—they’d simply rather simply buy a new thing,” said designer Rotimi Solola. “If complex products were simple to understand, diagnose, and disassemble, would this change consumers’ willingness to fix them?” The HUB expands on that idea by uniting different appliances in a way that pushes consumers toward wanting to repair broken gadgets. The HUB is designed to be repaired, and since it’s essentially a 3-in-1 appliance, you’re less likely to throw out all three appliances if your HUB stopped working.

Cooking Totem by Adrian Perez (Bronze – Professional)

The Cooking Totem might look like a massive cauldron, but it’s actually every cooking utensil you’ll ever need. Packed with seven different utensils cleverly stacked one into another, the Cooking Totem’s uniquely integrated design helps save space as well as money. Made primarily out of cast iron, the Cooking Totem has a crepe pan, soup pot, saucepan, skillet, wok, two lids, and a detachable handle all built into one design. When packed, the Cooking Totem comes together like a Matryoshka Doll, with elements nesting one into another. However, when you need to cook, virtually everything you need rests right within the Cooking Totem’s space-saving design!

Unità by Nicole Tan (Gold – Student)

Unità wonderfully brings pasta into the modern age by fusing contemporary design with the age-old tradition of hand-making pasta. It comprises a rolling pin, a pasta cutter with 2 different wire cutting sizes, a gnocchi board, a ravioli cutter, and a drying rack, all designed to elevate the art of pasta-making by being objects of art in themselves. “In today’s context, our hectic lifestyles often hinder us from the joys of creativity”, says Nicole. “Unità was created to put a modern twist on the various pasta-making techniques. This makes the process fun and convenient, yet traditional in methodology.”

Folks by Kevin Chiam (Silver – Student)

Designed as kitchenware for the blind, Folks consists of a knife, chopping board, and teaspoon that helps guide the visually impaired into intuitive cooking and prep without mistakes or accidents. The knife has a pivoting guard which protects and guides the fingers like a physical anchor during the cutting process while reducing the likelihood of getting cut. Food that is stuck on the blade can also be cleared with a simple trigger. The chopping board is paired with a side tray, which pegs freely on all sides of the board, acting as an extension of the hand and reducing spillage. The teaspoon, a personal favorite, comes with its own integrated buoy, which allows the spoon to float when you add a liquid. It thus becomes a reference point that informs the blind of impending liquid contact and lowers risks of scalds or burns.

Grow-N-Glow by Jez Sun (Bronze – Student)

Grow-N-Glow is an intelligent countertop garden designed to bring a breath of nature and sunshine to urban homes. Styled as a modern lamp, Grow-N-Glow comes with sun-mimicking LEDs that help you cultivate your own kitchen garden from seed to harvest. Designed to be a smart-planter, the glow light also serves as the assistant to tell you when to change the water and add nutrients. Equipped with both ‘grow’ lights and ‘glow’ lights, the tabletop planter helps create the perfect environment for your plants to flourish, while also doubling as a wonderful ambient light that’s ideal for your home.

THE AWARDS PARTY

A celebration at the intersection of food and design

The winners were celebrated in New York City on Thursday, May 19 2022 at the Kartell showroom. The event was timed to coincide with the last day of NYCxDesign and it attracted many prominent members of the design community. The majority of the judges attended the event and presented the Best of Show Award to the winner during a short ceremony. The Best of Show winner will receive a one-week trip for two to Italy, including VIP tours of the Alessi and Kartell Museums, as well as a special visit to an artisanal Parmigiano Reggiano cheese dairy.

Learn more about the Parmigiano Reggiano Design Challenge Awards Winners and the Awards Party
Visit the site for additional information, photos and videos.

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