Author Archives: JC Torres

IKEA JETSTRÖM smart LED wall light panel embodies the brand’s minimalist spirit

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It’s almost too easy to get into the smart lighting scene, especially if you consider bulbs you can simply screw on, string lights you just need to hang, or panels you can stick to walls or other flat surfaces. That said, the theory might be simple, but the design and features of these smart lights can sometimes be complex and confusing, requiring owners to spend time, effort, and energy on setting up the “perfect” installation. Ever the masters of minimalism, IKEA is fighting against the flow with its newest smart light design, basically just a simple, nondescript square panel that does one thing but does it to beautiful perfection.

Designer: Andreas Fredriksson (IKEA)

IKEA can probably be credited for popularizing two things: flat-packed furniture, and Scandinavian minimalism. Granted, some of its designs straddle the fine line separating design trends, and it has also become infamous for simple yet overpriced products. The new IKEA JETSTRÖM, however, seems to go back to the roots of the brand’s design language, championing elegant minimalism that can fit any interior motif over complex shapes and features.

Like the ceiling lamp of the same name, the new JETSTRÖM is a single-piece lighting panel, this time just a 30cm x 30cm (11.8in x 11.8in) square. It’s not a plain square though, as it has rounded corners and curved edges, softening some of the harshness that usually comes from straight edges and inorganic forms. There’s only one color available for the diffuser cover, and you can’t really go wrong with white in order to blend well with different wall colors and decors.

That’s pretty much it in terms of visual design and aesthetics. There are no connecting mechanisms to worry about, as each JETSTRÖM is intended to be a self-sufficient and sometimes isolated unit. You can place several of these squares side by side if you want to, but there’s no requirement or expectation to do so, unlike wall-mounted smart lights like those from Nanoleaf. In a way, it’s a “what you see is what you get” kind of experience, and it’s a simple yet powerful one.

It might look simple, but the JETSTRÖM isn’t lacking in smart lighting features, at least when it comes to the essentials. The default cold white light can be made warmer to set the mood, or set to different colors to match a theme. All of these can be set from the IKEA Home mobile app, whether on its own or in concert with other IKEA smart lights via the DIRIGERA hub. To keep things even simpler, you can use a dedicated remote, though that’s a separate purchase. And contrary to expectations, the IKEA JETSTRÖM actually only costs around $44, which is pretty affordable for a large smart LED panel, especially one that comes from IKEA.

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Apple Pencil 3 might come with important usability improvements

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The late Steve Jobs might have ridiculed the stylus of old, but it’s arguable that we would have approved of the Apple Pencil, or at least its second generation. It’s minimalist to a fault and, as of the current models, finally has a reasonable and not unattractive charging method. That simplicity, however, may have come at the cost of some features that many people have come to expect from digital pens in this industry, especially when it comes to buttons that can trigger different functions. The 2nd-gen Apple Pencil remedied that with a double tap gesture and rumors claim that the 3rd-gen model will expand that with a new gesture, among the other expected upgrades that will help give Apple’s creativity and productivity tool an even bigger edge.

Designer: Apple (via 9to5Mac)

The original Apple Pencil arrived with a smooth and completely circular barrel and a cap that hid its awkward Lightning charging connector. The 2nd iteration added a flat edge for a better grip and switched to wireless magnetic charging for a unibody design. Neither model, however, had the traditional buttons you’d see on styluses like those from Wacom and Samsung, which meant you couldn’t execute some special action instantly without having to dig through an app’s menus and options.

The Apple Pencil 2 does have a touch-sensitive area that you can double tap to the same effect. For many people who use iPads for creative work, however, that single gesture is hardly enough. According to the latest unofficial information, however, the next Apple Pencil will add another action to that list, allowing you to squeeze a section of the barrel to trigger a different action. Depending on how it’s implemented and how sensitive the pressure sensor might be, the feature could turn out to be very useful or very annoying.

Image courtesy of Majin Bu

Another major change expected for the Apple Pencil 3 is an interchangeable nib system using magnets. According to the information, users will be able to switch between different nibs with different shapes for points, and they will be able to do so using simple yet strong magnets instead of the screw mechanism available today. It’s still unknown what practical benefits this new system might bring, but it could make the Apple Pencil feel a little bit more natural for different digital brushes that might require broader or finer tips.

The Apple Pencil 3 is also expected or at least hoped to finally support Apple’s Find My network, a long overdue feature that would have saved many Pencils from being lost permanently. Most of Apple’s wireless devices already support this feature, so it’s unthinkable if the Apple Pencil 3, which is probably going to cost more than the current $129, would still be left out of this tracking capability. The new Apple Pencil is expected to be revealed next month alongside a new iPad Air and iPad Pro.

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Elegant, minimalist smartphone design meets appealing features and price tag

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Smartphone manufacturers are now thankfully more aware of the important role that design plays in a product’s success, especially its aesthetics and materials, but some tend to go overboard with that knowledge as well. We’ve seen pretty overbearing and garish phone designs that steal your attention in an aggressive way, particularly with camera bumps that make you feel like they’re the most important feature. The smartphone design landscape right now is dynamic, exciting, and sometimes a little too lively, so there are times when you want to take a breath of fresh air and settle down with something simple yet beautiful. That’s the kind of minimalist beauty that Motorola seems to be bringing with the new Edge 50 Pro, but it’s fortunately more than a pretty face, at least for a mid-range smartphone.

Designer: Motorola

Truth be told, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro’s design looks a bit familiar, at least if you’ve been keeping watch on the key market players for the past two years or so. Back in 2022, we reviewed the OPPO Find X5 Pro, a refreshing break from the design trends of its time. What differentiated OPPO’s flagship and this new Motorola entry is that their backs are made from a single, unbroken sheet of material with no visual or material break from the rest of the panel.

This trait gives the Motorola Edge 50 Pro a smooth and gentler aesthetic, exactly like how the cameras slope gracefully upward rather than being confined inside a metal enclosure. Other than the camera lenses and the iconic Motorola “bat logo” dimple, the phone’s back is pretty clean yet also attractive, a fitting tribute to the pervading minimalist design trend. Motorola also paid careful attention to the materials it used for the phone, which include soft vegan leather and eye-catching pearl acetate, surprising choices given the phone’s market segment.

The Motorola Edge 50 Pro runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and has a decent though underwhelming set of cameras led by a 50MP main sensor. A similar 50MP selfie camera is housed in a rather noticeable punch-hole cutout on the forehead of the 6.7-inch 1220p 144Hz screen. A real killer feature, however, is the 4,500 mAh battery with a 125W super-fast charging speed and support for equally fast 50W wireless charging.

As a mid-range smartphone, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro thankfully comes with a matching price tag that starts at around $400, which is a pleasant surprise given its features. But just like the OPPO Find X5 Pro, limited availability and exposure might make this simply elegant smartphone fly under the radar despite the closer look it probably deserves.

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Bedside lava lamp concept improves sleep with white noise, warm lights

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People are finally realizing that sleep actually plays an important role in productivity and shouldn’t be sacrificed for its sake. Unfortunately, many people by now have acquired one sleeping disorder or another, or at the very least have developed poor habits that lead to poor-quality sleep. There are plenty of methods being offered these days, from supplements to meditation to aromas, but sometimes the simplest solution is to use our body’s natural faculties to induce sleep and correct bad practices. That’s the kind of answer that this concept lamp tries to give, using light and sound to lull our minds and bodies to a more peaceful slumber and an even more refreshing awakening.

Designer: Alessandro Pennese

There are plenty of reasons why we have trouble sleeping in this day and age, but most of them boil down to our habits and lifestyles. Many of us flood our eyes with harmful blue light from our phones even while lying in bed, or let our ears be hammered by noise and distractions. Supplements rely on chemical changes to the body, which might be effective in the short term but could do more harm than good in the long run. Meditation is a good habit to develop in any context, but it only goes so far into actually inducing a physical change in our bodies.

EPY is a lamp concept that tries to trigger those changes by using white noise and warm lights. White noise has been known to be effective in canceling out ambient noise that could be keeping our brains active, using sounds from nature to lull our minds to sleep. Warm light, which is closer to natural light, also soothes the eyes and helps generate melatonin, mimicking the setting sun’s gentle glow that signals our bodies to slow down as well.

This lava lamp-like design encourages the user to develop good sleeping habits in order to help repair and rejuvenate their bodies. But although good sleep is important, waking up properly is also a significant factor in a good day. Like the sun at dawn, that same warm light helps our body slowly wake up in a more graceful and peaceful manner, ensuring that we’re ready to face the day full of energy and zest each time.

EPY’s very design is also meant to evoke a sense of calm with its minimalist aesthetic and simple controls. The translucent cap of the lamp acts as a timer when you twist it, letting you set the time of playback for up to 45 minutes. Hidden at the bottom of the lamp are two dials, one for setting how long you intend to sleep while the other sets the volume of the white noise playback. It doesn’t have complicated features, nor does it require you to reach for your phone, which would defeat the entire purpose of getting you to sleep swiftly and peacefully.

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Retractable ceiling-mounted laundry rack saves space and functions as a lamp

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Space is a very expensive commodity these days, especially for people living in cramped apartments in cities. Every square inch counts, especially on the floor where most things are placed unless they stick to walls or hang from the ceiling. Because of how most furniture, appliances, and tools are designed, you can quickly lose precious floor space even for things that you don’t have to use daily. A laundry rack, for example, should really only be there when you have clothes to dry, so it makes little sense for them to take up space on other days. That’s the principle behind this rather unique retractable clothes rack that descends from the ceiling when you need it and serves as a ceiling lamp on the days that you don’t.

Designer: GoodLiving

Furniture designs are becoming smarter when it comes to space-saving tricks, which include modular parts, foldable sections, and the like. Most of these, however, are still placed on floors and are unable to utilize the free space of walls and ceilings. Singaporean company GoodLiving is trying to change that for at least one kind of household product, the rack where we hang clothes to dry even indoors.

These racks are installed on ceilings and are automatically deployed using scissor mechanisms at the press of a remote control button. This means that the collapsed form of the rack pretty much hides itself and gets out of the way when not needed. To make sure that even the space it occupies isn’t wasted when not in use, the base of the rack serves as LED lighting for the room.

These peculiar hanging machines, however, do more than just hang your clothes to dry. They’re equipped with fans and heaters that blow hot air to dry clothes even faster. It also has repellents for dust mites and bacteria, as well as ionizers that prevent the buildup of odor and keep the fabric soft to the touch. It’s definitely more than what you could get with a traditional dryer, and you don’t even have to sacrifice space to place such a large box in your house.

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Granted, your room probably won’t look that presentable with clothes hanging from the ceiling, but that’s something no one else has to see. For single-person apartments or small houses, the practical benefits of having such a space-saving laundry rack far outweigh the temporary unappealing visual of hanging clothes. Then again, you would have probably hanged them on an equally visible regular rack as well, so might as well just bear with the sight for just a day than to always see that rack every day, even when there are no clothes hanging from it.

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Kohler brutalist smart toilet conveys the transformative power of water

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It’s almost too easy to take for granted what a toilet looks like, especially considering what we use it for. At the same time, that’s the very reason why these fixtures need to not only be well-designed but also aesthetic, providing a sense of comfort and maybe even delight despite and in spite of the context. That is why the majority of toilets are designed with shiny white surfaces and smooth curves in an attempt to provide a visual and tactile contrast to their purpose. That said, that is hardly the only way to design a striking product, and this rather unique toilet design concept uses a different strategy that still manages to capture the eyes and the mind with its brutalist form inspired by the powerful waters that course through it.

Designer: Kohler x SR_A

There’s really no hard rule on what a toilet should look like as long as it functions as intended and is more or less comfortable to use. That toilets are often white, smooth, and curvy is simply a matter of convention and convenience. There are, of course, exceptions to these that add a bit of flair to the bathroom, and the Formation 02 is one design that immediately stands out from the crowd both in its shape and its unconventional color.

As if its orange paint weren’t enough to get it noticed, the Formation 02’s blocky and faceted form evokes a different imagery from typical toilets. It has a rough sort of character as if the whole body was hewn from stone, giving it a brutalist aesthetic you won’t find in any toilet. It’s a design chosen not merely for the sake of being different but for the message it tries to convey.

In particular, it tries to demonstrate the effects of moving water on its environment, shaping and changing the way things look. Sometimes it can smooth out rocks into pebbles, but sometimes it can also wear them down to rough surfaces. The Formation 02 represents both possibilities, with some sides smooth while others left rough and raw.

While it might indeed look rough on the outside, the Formation 02 is still a functional toilet that brings comfort and convenience once the lid is lifted, which can be done without even touching it. It’s a smart toilet, after all, and it offers a heated seat, customizable bidet cleansing, and more, allowing you to do your thing neatly and cleanly while appreciating the distinctive design of this one-of-a-kind toilet concept.

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RedMagic VC Cooler 5 Pro attaches to any phone using magnets or clips

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As smartphones become more powerful, the need to keep them from overheating becomes even more critical. Relying on simple heat dissipation is no longer enough, and sometimes even the more advanced passive cooling solutions, like vapor cooling chambers, are unable to compensate as well. This is especially true for phones used to play games, whether they’re formal gaming phones or just high-end models that have enough muscle but not the right cooling systems. RedMagic, nubia’s gaming sub-brand, believes that the answer lies in an external accessory, and it is now sharing that technology with others so that they, too, can benefit from it, even if they don’t have a nubia or RedMagic phone.

Designer: RedMagic

Smartphones generate a lot of heat when pushing their capabilities to the limit, and this causes not only discomfort but also degradation in performance, not to mention potential safety hazards due to the volatile battery powering the device. Unlike laptops and especially desktops, you can’t fit a reasonable cooling system inside a very thin phone, especially if it involves fans or more liquid. Delegating that to an external accessory is certainly possible, but the effort to attach and detach that gadget might be too much of a hassle.

The RedMagic VC Cooler 5 Pro remedies that by utilizing a feature that’s becoming more common among smartphones these days: magnetic wireless charging. This small squarish block can attach to any smartphone that supports this feature, which of course includes Apple’s MagSafe. What’s interesting is that RedMagic isn’t making it exclusive to these phones only, thanks to an optional back clip that can attach to any smartphone, making the VC Cooler 5 Pro almost universally compatible with all models.

But why would you want to stick or clip a small box onto the back of your phone? The RedMagic VC Cooler 5 Pro includes a 7-blade fan 3,060 sq. mm. vapor chamber liquid cooling plate that helps further pull the heat away from the phone and, consequently, away from your fingers. RedMagic claims it can drop the phone’s temperature by as much as 1­°C, though your mileage may vary.

Rather than just offering a simple fan and cooling plate, RedMagic is unsurprisingly advertising the use of some AI to automatically adjust the VC Cooler 5 Pro’s speed. This feature, along with the customary RGB lighting controls, is available through RedMagic’s “Goper” app. Unfortunately, this is only available on Android, so while iPhone owners can still use the cooling add-on, they won’t be able to take advantage of AI-powered dynamic settings as well as custom RGB lights. The RedMagic VC Cooler 5 Pro launches on April 15th at 59 EUR ($64) for the magnetic version and 64 EUR ($69) with the optional back clip.

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Smart crib concept monitors if the baby wets the bed so parents won’t have to

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Having a baby can be a very magical moment, but even the best, most patient, and kindest parents will struggle with some of the aspects of raising an infant. They need constant monitoring, even late at night when even adults should be resting. One of the most problematic things to watch out for is when the baby wets the bed, because it can happen any time, day or night, and even when parents are not paying attention. It might already be too late when the infant cries after having spent long minutes wearing or lying on something wet, which then could bring skin complications and other problems. It’s for that reason that this crib concept was designed, offering a more efficient way to monitor the baby by employing the very same technologies used to monitor plants and their soil’s wetness.

Designers: Anuj Pate, Piyusha Naik

Soil moisture, or the volume of water content in the soil, isn’t exactly the same as determining when a baby wet the bed, but the technology works the same for both cases. The sensor is only able to measure water content indirectly by taking into account other factors like electrical resistance, dielectric constant, and the like. Fortunately, this is enough to also detect if the mattress of a crib is now wet, which is the critical component of the Wee Watch Crib Concept.

In a nutshell, the crib uses copper coils attached to the mattress to implement the moisture detection hardware, since copper is considered to be harmless for the baby in this context. The sensors can sense the wetness of the bed and immediately fire off a notification to parents or caretakers, either audibly or through a phone app. It’s a much more efficient way compared to constantly watching the baby, which is tiring, or waiting for the baby to cry, which could be too late for the infant’s comfort and health.

Of course, the baby crib also has to be comfortable, not just functional, and the Wee Watch design opts to use natural cotton fibers for the mattress as it is gentler on the baby’s skin. The frame is made from laminated timber that’s put together using a moisture-resistant adhesive, and there are tall vents at the bottom to facilitate airflow and regulate temperature. More importantly, the crib is also made to still be useful as the baby grows, about up to two years as long as they still comfortably fit in that space.

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Enchanting glass bubble lamp peeks from surfaces like a playful fairy

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We all need a little magic in our lives, whether it’s a truly life-changing event or a simple scene or object that pulls the corners of our mouths up into a smile. We don’t have to go around looking for magical things, especially when we can more easily just bring them into our homes and into our lives. Of course, we’re talking about furniture, accessories, and designs that add something special to our spaces with their enchanting designs that tickle the mind and spark one’s imagination. This lamp, for example, made of metal and glass, combines two contrasting materials to create a design that evokes feelings of fun, wonder, and playfulness that you get when playing with seemingly magical bubbles.

Designer: Youngeun Seo

There are very few things in nature that have the innate ability to bring out our inner children, things like snowflakes, butterflies, and bubbles. A common trait among these things is their ephemeral lives, appearing and bringing joy one moment and then disappearing forever the next. It’s like they pop in and out of existence, like a curious little fairy that briefly appears to look around the human world before suddenly vanishing without a trace.

PEEKA is a table lamp that tries to recreate that feeling every time you look at it. Its main structure is an uneven glass sphere that might remind one of a bubble, one that gently floats to the ground and settles for a few seconds before suddenly popping, often causing surprise and a burst of giggles from children. The glass, which transitions from murky bottom to clear top, diffuses the bulb’s light inside while also adding specular reflections that give the bubble a magical appearance.

The lamp is set on a cast aluminum base in the shape of a very thin disc. It serves as the “ground” on which the bubble rests, its dark and cold surface contrasting with the warmth of the glass. The composition is also meant to capture the image of a fairy popping its head out of the ground to explore the human world, another playful picture that’s sure to bring a smile to anyone imagining it.

Aside from its unique associations, PEEKA is also a work of art and craftsmanship. The blown glass and cast aluminum are carefully made and polished by hand, resulting in minute imperfections that actually add to the design’s charm. The contrasting glass and metal materials also result in a striking combination that adds beauty and, in a way, magic to any room the lamp stays in.

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Aesthetic air purifier concept also doubles as a stylish plant pot

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Recent events have made people more concerned about the quality of the air inside their homes, leading to a rise in interest and sales of air purifiers. These appliances, however, haven’t seen much design iteration in the past, which is why many of them look so dated and out of place in modern homes and interiors. Thankfully, that status quo has changed and a new trend is beginning that transforms these cold, impersonal devices into something that looks more at home in your home. Some disguise themselves as pieces of furniture or art objects, while this particular concept functions as a place to grow short plants and flowers, giving a splash of green as it keeps your indoor air green as well.

Designer: Sukchand Saren

In order to maximize airflow and performance, most air purifiers are tall, white boxes or cylinders placed in conspicuous locations, often at the center of a room. This often makes them an eyesore and an obstacle to movement, so some homeowners might end up just storing them away, allowing low-quality air to circulate and put themselves and their families at risk. There isn’t really a need to compromise between function and aesthetics, as this concept tries to prove by fusing air purification with botanical elegance.

FloraPur is technically two separate products designed as one. It is primarily an air purifier, of course, albeit one that is designed for smaller rooms or at least to work in tandem with other similar units spread across the space. Unclean air is sucked into the circular base where it passes through four purification levels, including HEPA, activated carbon, and UV light, before the clean air is blown out of the top half. Given the size of the device, it won’t be effective in large rooms so placing a few of these in strategic locations would be a better idea.

What makes FloraPur different from the majority of air purifiers is its focus on visual appeal without compromising functionality. In addition to this colorful powder-coated metal finish, the container that makes up the bulk of the purifier’s form serves as a convenient pot for growing plants and flowers indoors. The design combines two of the trends that rose during the pandemic, cleaning the air inside while adding natural beauty as well.

Granted, the design also has some shortcomings, not including how it would struggle to cover a very large room on its own. The connection between FloraPur’s two functions is completely superficial, with the plants playing no role in cleaning the air despite being nature’s own air purifiers. And despite having smart features that can monitor air quality around it, the device has no function to monitor the state of the plant growing inside it. The latter shouldn’t be too hard to implement with the right sensors and software algorithms, and a larger air purifier that can house more plants and use those plants to keep the air clean is also possible. All it takes is some creative thinking and ambition to breathe new life and fresh air into an old and tried appliance design.

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