Author Archives: Ida Torres

Caraway Kitchen Gadget Set is made from premium, stainless steel

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I do not cook a lot and my kitchen is a hot mess right now. But that doesn’t mean i don’t dream of one day having an instagram-worthy cooking area with utensils and gadgets that match and are not mostly made from harmful plastic. Of course that remains a dream for now because of many reasons but when I see kitchen accessories that match that dream, I pay attention.

Designer: Box Clever

One such kitchen-related item is the Caraway Kitchen Gadget Set which is made up of 5 different important kitchen tools. All of the items here are made from premium, non-toxic stainless steel with no cheap plastic or silicone in sight. The evenly-weighted material also means the items are durable and corrosion-resistant. It also comes with an organizer that is made from 100% FSC-certified birch wood, adding to the instragammable look of this set. And while each piece has a specific function, they can also be mostly used for things other than what they’re named after.

The set has five tools: a can opener, a pizza cutter, a garlic press, an ice cream scoop, and a vegetable peeler. The can opener has ergonomic handles that lets you use minimum force when piercing the lid and the opener part itself makes for a smooth, clean edge. The pizza cutter has a thumb rest so you get evenly-weighted body offer precision and the cutter is razor sharp and can also cut flatbread, brownies, and other food that needs to be divided, other than pizza. The garlic press has as ergonomic and evenly-weighted design which can mince several cloves at once and can also press other things like olives, ginger, anchovies, pepper, etc.

The ice cream scoop lets you serve picture-perfect scoops without straining yourself too much and can also be used to portion, scoop out, or squash other things like cookie dough, meatballs, etc. The vegetable peeler is able to adapt to various surfaces so you get evenly peeled veggies and has a swivel blade that works with the shape of whatever food you’re peeling. The sustainably-made organizer keeps all these five tools, well, organized. It’s a premium set I wouldn’t mind having, if I had an extra $195 lying around.

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Birdhouse lets budding ornithologists interact safely with the birds

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One of the more interesting and “interactive” ways we can commune with nature is by observing birds. There’s a reason why there are a lot of birdwatching groups and bird watchers themselves, even though it’s not always a hobby for everyone. While most of the time birds are observed in their natural habitat, there are also times when helping them nest in birdhouses is needed, especially during harsh weather.

Designer: Siberian Design Centre

Domik Ptashki is a wooden birdhouse that was especially designed to be attractive to both birds and humans but be as close as possible to the natural habitat and also be environmentally safe. The round shape is designed to resemble the natural tree hollow which birds take shelter in at times and also to reduce the impact of weather conditions like rain, snow, and wind. Its tophole also has a deep cylindrical shape to protect them from other predatory animals.

Because it has a low centre of gravity, the birdhouse can be fastened between the branches of a tree without the danger of damaging the tree itself or needing additional fasteners. It doesn’t have sharp corners that may harm the birds and it is also less visible in its natural environment. It is also made from natural materials and impregnations and can be assembled and disassembled easily.

The Domik Ptashki is meant to be used by humans to not just protect the birds but also take the position of an ornithologist. The designers recommend studying what’s the best place to put the birdhouse in and also comes with instructions on what to do with it once the birds leave this particular nest. It is meant to be used in places like gardens, parks, and personal plots so the minimalist design lets it blend seamlessly into the background.

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Microalgae packaging becomes biostimulant after use

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Most people (at least those who are thoughtful and aware enough) are now pretty conscious about how we consume things and where all our waste goes. This also means there is no shortage of product designers who have been experimenting on how to recycle and upcycle materials and products that reach end of life. Product waste is something we also need to think about since this will forever be part of human development.

Designer: Laura Bordini

By Osmosis is a project by Laura Bordini that explores how to use product waste and turn it into a biomaterial that can serve a different purpose and then eventually be used to help grow plants, creating a circular process. She used microalgae biomass that came out of the water purification process of a waste disposal center in Lindlar, Germany. Out of that, she was able to create agricultural biostimulants. The microalgae biomaterial can be turned into things like packaging before turning them into stimulants to promote plant growth and create better soil quality.

One of the packaging that she was able to create is a flower holder made from microalgae and wood powder. Since flowers have an end date as well, the packaging can them be repurposed as biostimulant if you’ll not be using it anymore. Another item she was able to create was seed containers, which again, is pretty apt for this circular process of ecological regeneration. We can also see plantable cards with messages like “Nice to seed you” and it’s made up of seeds and microalgae.

Algae is not a major material that product designers think of but with this experiment, she’s hoping that creators can see it as a future material for their products. It’s materials like these as well as the process to extract and create them that make the ecological regeneration a reality and hopefully, eventually become the norm.

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Mario Kart™ comes to LEGO® with six super sets to arrive in 2025

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The Mario Kart series is probably the most played series on Nintendo Switch. Aside from the games itself, we’ve seen several toys and tie-ins, the most recent being the appearance of characters in the Super Mario Bros Movie last year. Fans of the Mario Kart series and collectors of LEGO® sets will have something to look forward to next year as not one but six LEGO® Super Mario™: Mario Kart™ sets will be available in 2025.

Designer: LEGO®

The addition of LEGO® versions of beloved characters in the Mario Kart universe brings a new dimension to an already popular franchise. Aside from the characters, you also get customizable karts and unique track items in each set so that collectors, fans, and builders will be able to experience the digital game in the physical universe, even though of course you won’t be able to actually race. At least, not like in the games.

The Yoshi Bike set includes the light-blue Yoshi, a shell item, and a brick-built bike and is made up of 133 pieces. The Standard Kart is a 174-piece set which has a buildable standard edition Mario Kart, a workstation, a Toad toy figure and a detachable Super Glider. The Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo set features the DK Jumbo kart and launch items like shells and a banana and has 387+ pieces.

Baby Mario vs Baby Luigi has 321 pieces and features the former in his Biddybuggy and the latter in his Tri-Speeder and includes 6 buildable balloons. The 390-piece Toad’s Garage has two Blue Toads (Pit Crew) getting the B Dasher kart ready. Lastly, the Baby Peach & Grand Prix set features Baby Peach in the Wild Wiggler kart, Lemmy in the Landship kart, and Toad on the standard bike. This comes with a whopping 823 pieces, making it the set with the most pieces.

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Heart-shaped chair brings organic lines into a functional chair

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When it comes to choosing a chair for my apartment (and I’ve had several over the years), I will almost always choose one that is comfortable enough to sit in for a long period of time. That’s because I do a lot of sitting, whether for work or my down time. So I end up with a bean bag or a couch type of chair for my reading, watching, and working comfort. But of course there are a lot of well-designed chairs that can look at home in a museum or are really well thought of, even if they don’t seem to be the most comfortable place to sit in.

Designer: Woocheol Shin

The Heart Chair seems to be one of those kinds of chairs, although it probably looks a bit comfortable and homey as well the way it’s designed. Its name comes from the inspiration for the design as it has a heart-shaped silhouette (the art kind of heart and not the biological). It actually extends beyond the usual vertical and horizontal lines, “subtly breaking its implicit harmony”.

Although the flowing, organic lines makes it look more like an art piece than an actual chair, they designed it in a way that a human body is draped over the lines. They envisioned these organic lines blending into the straight-line spaces, achieving “optimal synchronization. Supposedly, you get less tension by sitting on this compared to the usual rigid chairs you can find in public spaces.

Chairs that are both functional and aesthetic are always a plus point in my book. Now if I can sit on it for hours without hurting my back, legs, or other parts of my anatomy, then it is even more of a winner and is something I’d want to add to my space.

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Vinyl player concept shows off transparent design

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You would think that in this age when we mostly listen to music through streaming services, old school ways of listening to music would be all but extinct. While we probably won’t see cassette tapes make a comeback soon, we still see CDs and vinyls have a pretty niche but passionate market. So we’re seeing several music players that are able to still play these “relics”, mostly for the vinyls (sadly, I have yet to see excellently designed CD players with great sound quality).

Designer: Vadzim Sadouski

There is no lack of great-looking and great-sounding turntables out there if you’re in the market for one. And there is also no dearth of interesting concepts for vinyl players, ranging from retro to cutesy to premium to sci-fi/out there levels. This concept for a “record player transparent design” is one of those that catches the eye and would be interesting to see as an actual vinyl player (and hopefully it gets a specific name too). From the moniker itself, you probably have an idea of what it would look like even if you don’t see the renders.

There’s a certain fascination with transparent things now and seeing how the inside looks like as it does its thing. This one is inspired by the play of light inside ribbed glass as the light refracts and plays around. The designer says the starting point for the design are things like glass, lighthouse lenses, tableware, and even lamps. What you get is a vinyl player with its base showing off the light inside from the glass grills.

Now as to how the vinyl records would sound like from having a transparent design like this is a problem for another day. But the concept itself seems pretty interesting and is definitely eye-catching. But real music lovers would tell you that no matter how well designed something is, the important thing is the sound quality of course.

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Proposed urban swimming pool in Lisbon brings river closer to the city

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My ideal place to live in is one that is near enough to the sea that I can go to it whenever I want but still be able to live in the city and all its creature comforts. Having a river where I can also swim in and do other activities without spending hours to go there would be the next best thing. Alas, I currently don’t live in a place like that so I have to live vicariously through other people who live in cities that are blessed to be near bodies of water.

Designers: X Atelier and Atelier BAUM

Lisbon is one such city although the nearby River Tagus is not immediately accessible to the city center. A couple of architectural firms have teamed up to propose an urban swimming pool to connect both residents and tourists to the river directly without having to travel or at least spend hours stuck in traffic jams. The Loop Pool Tejo is inspired by the movement of the water and wants to make several aquatic pursuits easier to access for whoever wants to spend a day at the river. It uses the industrial area of the Braço de Prata pontoon as the link from the city to the river.

From the pontoon, you get a walkway to the circular center in the midst of the river which actually draws the circulation flow around it. There is a solarium and amphitheater facing the west and to the south, there is a second slope where people can sit and rest if they get tired from swimming. It’s also the entry point to other activities like paddling and rowing. The west wing also has a diving jump point into the tank in the middle while underneath the water level there is a shaded rest area for those who want to escape the sun.

If you just want to sit on the amphitheater, you’ll get a view of a rippling water drop and the steps around it create a looping effect. It’s a pretty interesting structure to place in the city and in the middle of the river and can also be inspiration for other cities that also have a nearby body of water that can be used for recreation.

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Morphing wheel research can ride over uneven surfaces and obstacles

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Wheelchairs and mobile robots are useful (and sometimes necessary) tools for those who need them but because of the way their wheels are built, there are a lot of limitations as to where they can go. Uneven surfaces and high obstacle areas can sometimes be unaccessible for them. Researchers have been trying to reinvent the wheel so to speak by coming up with a wheel that can adjust to different terrains. This latest one from Korean researchers may just be the most promising.

Designers: Jae-Young Lee, Seongji Han, Munyu Kim, Yong-Sin Seo, Jongwoo Park, Dong Il Park, Chanhun Park, Hyunuk Seo, Joonho Lee, Hwi-Su Kim, Jeongae Bak, Hugo Rodrigue, Jin-Gyun Kim, Joono Cheong, Sung-Hyuk Song

This Variable-stiffness–morphing wheel that they are testing out is actually inspired by the surface tension of a droplet of liquid. The main thing about this experimental wheel is that it is able to ride through uneven terrain and go through obstacles while still keeping what makes a wheel a wheel when driving through flat ground. You’ll have to go back to your physics notes to fully understand but the basic idea is to create an imbalance in the cohesive forces between molecules.

This deformable wheel that they’re developing has a “smart chain structure” which is a chain of blocks outside the wheel that is connected by wire spokes to opposite sides of the central hub. From the demo video that they showed, the wheel is able to deform and adapt to the surface so it could travel over the obstacles it encounters. The two-wheeled wheelchair they used was able to ride through grassy ground with uneven surfaces. There was not video of the four-wheeled vehicle but they said it was able to drive over rocks and large steps.

It’s still early stages in this research so there are things they need to improve on. For example, dust and particles are able to get through to the smart chain blocks so the wheels are easily damaged. And the video of the wheelchair shows there’s an extreme forward tilt to the chair part so it’s not that safe for passengers yet. But this morphing wheel is promising and may eventually be useful for wheelchairs, mobile robots, and other uses.

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Spatial video camera concept lets you capture photos and videos hands-free

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The way we capture videos and view them has constantly been changing and along with that, mobile devices have also been evolving. With the introduction of spatial videos, we see brands like Apple trying to become the pioneer in this new form. Basically, this is a video that lets you view photos and videos as if you were there instead of looking at them with just a single fixed view. It’s a more immersive form of 3D since you’re able to turn your head and see different perspectives.

Designer: Suosi Design

As more people get into spatial videos, we’ll see all kinds of tools that will be able to capture and view videos like these. One concept tool is called VISOO, a spatial video camera that you can to take videos that can later be viewed using devices like Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro. It is not a bulky camera at all as probably one of the things that will be taken into consideration when developing tools for this kind of video is that it’s easy to carry around.

Based on the product renders, VISOO is a pretty light device that you can either carry around or attach to the accompanying glasses. For the handheld option, the cameras will be stored onto the battery case as you shoot your photos and videos. It seems there’s also a tripod where you can attach the case to for times when you need to have it placed on something a little more stable. For the glasses option, the cameras are attached to the hinges so you can move around easily while capturing moments.

Since this is still in the conceptual stage, there’s no information about the quality of photos and videos that it will capture. And with spatial videos still in early days, there’s still a lot to be discovered and explored for brands that are developing tools that can be used to enjoy capturing and viewing them.

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E-cargo bike lets you transfer cargo without much effort

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If you work in a business that needs to transport cargo but not that heavy that needs an actual truck, there are few options in the market that can fit that need. And of course if you’re looking for something that is eco-friendly and easy to manage and maintain, then of course the options become fewer. A German startup is offering something that operate like a mini HD truck but also seems like a pedaled dump truck.

Designer: Dynamic Drives Giessen

The Intelectra E-cargo bike is a four-wheeled, pedal-based tool that can work in cargo transport in urban areas. It is also easy to drive around in as it uses the INTELECTRIC drive system (iSHS) that turns your pedaling power into up to 250 Watts of electrical power to drive the 270-lb truck-cycle forward. So the driver will not be so stressed in “carrying” the cargo even as they pedal to their destination.

It actually looks like a regular bike or trike but with a rear cargo box with an aluminum frame at the back that is 4-foot-long, can carry up to 450kg (driver included) and can load up to 12 euro boxes. The square aluminum tubes are supported by tall, plastic-rimmed wheels. The pedal drive that extends past the wheelbase lets the driver sit upright as they power the bike through their pedaling.

The purely electric drive technology gives the Intelectra a maintenance-free system so there’s no need for things like oiling and less wear and tear. The drive system can go for 30,000 km without needing any maintenance. It can travel up to 93 km per charge while the battery can charge for an hour and a half. There are L and XL options with the latter being one euro crate width longer.

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