Author Archives: Ida Torres

Cooking range concept lets you share your kitchen space with other people

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I live alone so I can cook whenever I want (which is almost never) and move around freely in my kitchen. But I’ve also experienced living with several people and manoeuvring around everyone during meal times can be a challenge. There are a lot of people who share their living spaces with other people but most kitchen appliances are meant to be used by one person at a time. When you’re living with other people, that’s not always the realistic scenario.

Designer: Anil Ramesh

This concept developed for Electrolux is designed for such a situation. The Peninsular free-standing cooking range can be accessed from 3 sides so that a couple of people can prepare and cook their food simultaneously. The range can be operated by 1 or more users since it has a rotatable inferface for the oven and the hob. The sliding over door opens to the left but it can also be opened from the front.

The cooking range also has other features to help not just with the cooking but also the preparation and even the eventual service once you’re done cooking. There are borders that can protect you and also to attach accessories to store cutting boards and other kitchen utensils. There are also rotatable drawers that can be accessed from the front and the right side.

There is also an upper storage shelf so you can put your spices and other ingredients. It even has an LED lamp for when you need some extra light. There’s also an option to have a modular hood. It’s a pretty nifty thing to have in your kitchen, especially if you’re sharing it with family members or roomates.

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Cast metal speaker is made from marine-grade aluminum for aesthetics and acoustics

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When it comes to choosing speakers to adorn your home and play your favorite music in your space, the look or design is not always the priority. The first thing you’re probably looking at is the sound quality (or maybe the cost if you’re working on a tight budget) and how it looks is just an afterthought. There are brands though that have teamed up with designers to make their speakers stand out in the sometimes overly crowded audio market.

Designer: Tom Fereday for Pitt & Giblin

Tasmanian audio brand have teamed up wtih Australian designer Tom Fereday to bring something called the Cast speaker. It has an industrial but aesthetic design, if the look you’re going for is simple but steely. The speaker is mostly made from marine-grade aluminum that not only adds to the acoustic properties of the device but also makes it more durable. This kind of aluminum can combat oxidation and degradation so it can last for a long time without looking so old.

Each speaker is made from four aluminum elements whose casting brings about a soft texture with a certain sheen. This is because the external surfaces are honed and hot waxed. The speaker itself has a complex curve on a circular pattern with a small opening at the center, the only interruption in its cohesive design. The casting is both the cubic framework and the acoustic design for the speaker.

When it comes to quality, the Cast speaker has a Hypex FusionAmp module that is able to power a 10″ subwoofer, four 4″midrange drivers, and a high frequency unit. The Digital Signal Processing is able to re-align the 3-way geometry that powers the unit. It’s a pretty high-end piece of audio equipment so the price is pretty steep. But if the look and the quality is what you’re looking for, you wouldn’t mind spending that much,

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Modular Pedestrian walking aid can adjust to users’ needs (and height)

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There are a lot of walking aids in the market for those who need short-term or medium-term assistance due to some walking-related disability. But of course there’s always room for improvement. Great product designers think about what they can do better for existing products to make it more usable and to improve the quality of life of the users. The Pedestrian is one such product that tries to make using the walking stick more modular and more practical.

Designers: Jonas Krämer and Ayla Warncke

Pedestrian is a 3-in-1 Assistance System for those who need assistance and is actually in between short-term solutions like crutches and long-term assistance systems like wheelchairs. Its goal is to minimize the consequential damages that can sometimes result in using the usual walking aids. They also want to be able to adjust to the needs of the user and when not needed anymore, pass it on to someone who needs it more and adjust to that person’s needs as well.

The walking aid has three modes for the different needs. Mode 1 or strong support is for those that may need an aid as they work through their arthritis. Mode 2 is medium support and serves as forearm crutch. Mode 3 is light support for those who may just need a walking stick. Shifting through these three modes is actually pretty easy and the elements are interchangeable and modular.

The foot or base is made from flexible rubber material and has a textured surface to prevent slipping. It can stand by itself in any mode but can also be compressed. It is also hands-free so you can do other actions and you can make it more secure by using the wrist strap. There is also a mechanism so you can adjust the height so it can be used by users with different heights. This seems to be a pretty useful aid to those that would need assistance walking.

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Insta360 X4 releases variant in collaboration with BMW Motorrad

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Action cameras are pretty much in demand now in the age of content creation as they are more practical compared to using digital cameras or even smartphones. We see the more adventurous type of creators or even just “ordinary citizens” as they do things like surfing, mountain climbing, skydiving, or even something more mundane like walking. One of the more popular brands out there is Insta360 and now they have released a limited edition version in collaboration with BMW Motorrad.

Designer: Insta360

The Insta360 X4 BMW Motorrad Limited Edition is similar to the original version. The main difference is that you have the BMW Motorrad branding on the back, in case you want to flex that as you’re shooting. They don’t really specify if they want it to be used as you’re cruising on your expensive motorcycle, but those who will get this variant will probably use it for that purpose. The two brands previously collaborated on creating motorcycle action shots content.

But otherwise, it’s basically just the Insta360 X4 which is not bad in itself as it boasts of impressive features like it’s 72MP 360-degree lens system that can capture 8L 30fps videos and 5.7k 60fps videos. You can even do some slow-motion videos as it supports 4K 100fps, 5.7K 120fps, and 3K 240fps recording. Other things you can do with it is shoot 4K 30fps ultra-wide-angle videos with a 170-degree field of view and 11K time-lapse videos.

This action camera has other advanced features like a 360-degree active HDR, Flow State stabilization, 360-degree horizon lock, wind noise reduction, and an invisible selfie stick. So if you didn’t have this camera yet but would like to have one to go on adventures with you, and if you’re a BMW Motorrad fan, then this would be a good sign to get one. Well, that is, if you’re in China since they don’t have information yet if it will be available in other markets.

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Floating solar still made from old tires can purify 15.5 cups of water every day

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Even though 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, there is still a water shortage in our planet because only a small percentage of that is safe to drink. It is also pretty expensive to purify water so not everyone can afford to drink safe water, not to mention all the pollution that makes it even more dangerous. There are several research projects out there to come up with eco-friendly ways to do this but this one from Dalhousie University in Canada is probably the cheapest.

Designer: Matthew J. Margeson, Mark Atwood, Jaser L. de Larrea, Joseph Weatherby, Heather
Daurie, Katlyn Near, Graham A. Gagnon, Mita Dasog (Dalhousie University)

Image courtesy of viktelminova

This floating solar still from researchers at the Canadian university is able to produce 15.5 cups of fresh water per day, which is 1.5 times the amount that a person needs to consume every day. It is able to do this by soaking up water from below it and then use the heat from solar radiation to evaporate the purified water. It condenses on a dome on top of the still and then the water is collected.

While there are other projects similar to this, what makes it different is that it’s made from old tires that are processed through pyrolysis. The carbon-rich char that is produced from here is mixed into plasmonic titanium carbides. This means that you just have to spend 0.86 cents per liter to purify the water, which is pretty cheap compared to other devices that use precious metals and are therefore more expensive.

The solar still can even generate a small amount of electricity because of the thermoelectric effect. This can be enough energy for water quality sensors although it may be useless for other things since it’s just a small amount. If this becomes successful then lower income communities can benefit from this and get the clean water that they need for every day living.

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Leatherman’s Stainless CX is a lightweight 7-in-1 tool to carry around

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I just love people who are considered “boy scouts” as they have whatever it is that you need at the moment in their bag. Sometimes I want to be that person but I am almost always too lazy to carry a lot of things around (except probably for stationery and journaling stuff). Fortunately there are more and more 1 million in 1 (okay an exaggeration) tools available out there for you to become your group’s go-to person when it comes to tools on the go.

Designer: Leatherman

The Skeletool CX is one such tool that is pretty lightweight so it can fit into your bag or even your pocket. All the 7 basic tools that you may need to use when you’re out of the house can be found here: needlenose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, hard-wire cutters, carabiner/bottle opener, large bit driver, and a 154cm knife. The knife itself is made from high-quality stainless steel so it can resist wear and corrosion and stay sharp far longer than other knives. You can even lock it into place if you want to be safe when not in use.

The tool has other features which make it even more convenient. You can store tool bits in the handle so you can access them easily when needed. You can even use some of the features even when it’s in folded or closed position. If you’re good, you can even just use it with one hand, There’s also a pocket clip if you want to attach it to your belt loop or pocket.

The Skeletool CX weighs just 5 oz so it won’t be a pain to carry it around. It comes in seven different colors to match your aesthetic: guava, verdant, nighshade, onyx, paradise, black and stainless, and OD Green. While there are several tools out there that may have more functionalities, this is a pretty good basic tool that is lightweight and handy.

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Blocky Wi-Fi router concept is inspired by smokestacks factory

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Usually, we don’t really think of where to place WiFi routers since they just look like ordinary devices. It doesn’t matter where they are placed as long as it does what it’s supposed to do. They’re also not that well-designed anyway so it’s better to hide them away. But what if the router’s design is actually well thought out and can actually be part of your decoration?

Designer: In Je Lee

This is the idea for the Wi-Fi router concept called Complex ‘1’ which has found inspiration in the most unlikely places: a factory smokestack. The designer says that just like the chimney diffuses the smoke, the antenna of this router spreads the Wi-Fi signal throughout your space. There is really no direct correlation between the two of course except that he got the cylindrical shape inspiration from the smokestacks.

Instead of the usual slim antennas that you see on routers, this one actually looks like a lego piece, with the square body and the two cylindrical and asymmetrical antennas. It also comes in a bright, yellow color so if you display it on your desk or shelf, you can get a spot of color in your space. It also has a clock on it so you can use it for another purpose. There’s a small, orange button at the back for resetting or toggling the clock on and off.

This is an interesting take on the common router, which is usually hidden under or behind stuff because it’s not that aesthetic. This way, since you’ll display it in the open, there’s no interference with the signal reception. Well, hopefully there will also be other colors since not everyone is fond of this kind of yellow.

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Beam projector concept designed for daddy-kids bonding time

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When you look at products in the market that are meant for parent-child bonding, it can be a little skewed towards mothers. But of course most fathers also want to spend quality time with their kids, especially with activities like camping or being in the outdoors. This product concept comes out of that idea for some “emotional” bonding between dads and their kids, but can also be used by any parent, regardless of gender.

Designer: Kim Taeyeon

Key_Story (or Key-Story, which are both indicated in the concept page) is a concept for a beam projector that you can take along to your camping trip or to any outdoor activity. It is meant to foster an emotional, bonding moment between father and children by watching videos projected on a surface. We assume that you need a wall or a cloth to project of course.

The device is designed to look like a robot and has bright colors in order to attract the attention of the kids, especially the younger ones. The top part, which looks like the robot head, is the beam projector and the bottom part is the speaker for “vivid sound”. The package will supposedly come with three Keys that have different content available. You touch the key to the top of the projector to view the videos.

There’s also USB and Bluetooth connectivity in case you have your own video content and you can charge the projector on a C-type port. The two parts have “free movement” because of magnets which should make kids more interested to operate it, but hopefully not break it.

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Aether creates special jacket for photographers, designed with Leica

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I’ve had the opportunity to see some of my photographer friends in action while shooting sports and events. It’s not just as simple as carrying around a camera anymore as they also have to carry a lot of accessories and gears while running around. Bags are of course handy but wouldn’t it be better if they had something lighter to wear and still be able to hold all of their stuff?

Designer: Aether for Leica

The AETHER + Leica Reporter Jacket is one such item that would be convenient for photographers and even just mere travelers. It was designed with Leica photographers so they had the input of the actual people who will use it. Well, if they’re one of the 125 people who can get a hold of this limited edition jacket, which actually matches the Reporter camera series of Leica, color-wise. As expected, this jacket is designed for all kinds of weather and has a lot of pockets and compartments to hold their gear.

The army green colored jacket is weather-resistant and has waxed cotton-nylon blend fabric. This means it becomes breathable in warm weather but when it becomes colder, it creates a windproof barrier as well. The front pockets can fit a Leica camera, specifically any of the Q or M series while the back stash pocket can carry larger items like lens and even a tablet. It also has a built-in microfiber cloth so you can use it to clean your lens. The internal pocket is able to hold 4 Leica batteries while the chest pocket can hold your SD card case. There’s even a hidden SD card pocket at the collar, in case you need to hide something.

These features of the jacket can also be used by non-photographers who want to carry around stuff while traveling without using a bag. But they were of course specifically built for photographers and there are only limited items available. So if you have $795 to spare, you should get it while you still can.

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Hatch partners with KFC to create frying chicken ASMR

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Anyone who’s ever been on TikTok knows that there are a lot of weird rumors that start on the platform and not all of them are good for the brain. But one of the more interesting and harmless ones that trended lately is the idea that the sound of rainfall that helps people sleep is actually the sound of cooking fried chicken. Out of this funny trend comes an unexpected collaboration.

Designer: Hatch for KFC

Hatch, a sleep wellness company, has partnered with probably the most popular fried chicken brand, KFC, to come up with new content that you can sleep to. Based on their “investigation” conducted at the KFC headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, they have come up with 20 minutes of audio which you cannot distinguish if it’s frying chicken or falling rain. There’s a funny, behind-the-scenes video of a Hatch investigator recording the KFC guy deep frying chicken to prove that it is the same sound as falling rain.

The brand partnership content is actually to promote KFC’s new Original Recipe® Tenders. The recorded sound is apparently them frying these tenders and now people can drift off to sleep and maybe dream of eating chicken while they’re at it. The sound is available in Hatch’s Restore 2 smart sleep device if you have a Hatch+ premium content subscription. But you can also find it on both Hatch’s and KFC’s YouTube channels and the Hatch for Sleep Spotify page.

And if you’re really into this thing, there’s even a limited-edition Hatch X KFC Sleep Shirt with “Fell asleep to fried chicken” on it that you can buy at KFC’s online store. Too bad though, you still won’t get the secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices even if you fall asleep to the sound of frying chicken.

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