Author Archives: Ida Torres

Modern take on disco balls brings kinetic panel with 25 lights

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Disco balls were a staple of the clubbing scene from the 70s until 90s or until discos were not popular anymore. If you ask kids these days, they probably cannot tell you what an actual mirror ball looks like, unless they’re into all of these “nostalgic” things. Since we’re in a different era, the disco ball is also probably due for a comeback or even a rebirth.

Designer: Studio Élémentaires

For a design studio that has “Light + Movement” as its motto, you can expect a different kind of disco ball. Studio Élémentaires designed Flasher which looks like a modernist take on the disco ball, taking inspiration from the stage spotlights we see in concerts and plays. The movement of the light source adds to the kinetic and hypnotic beauty of this light fixture meant to light up stages and spaces.

Basically you get a large panel-like 25-light grid with 25 perforated discs. These discs move around in continuous motion but in different directions and timing. The lights flash continuously, appearing and disappearing “in vivid chiaroscuro contrast”. The panel itself has a monochromatic look and the high shine aluminum plates give it a shining appearance. There are also pulleys, belt paths, and bearings involved in the structure.

What the renders fail to show is the actual effect of this kinetic lighting on the space that it’s lighting. But I can just imagine that it is not for those that are affected with flashing strobe lights or even those that have vertigo.

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Zen-like music player concept is inspired by vinyl design and ancient Chinese poetry

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Vinyl players are having a resurgence as the younger generation has discovered the joys of listening to analog music. There are also some music players and even gadgets that have adapted the vinyl player aesthetic even though they don’t actually play LPs. It’s all about the nostalgic vibes that come with it since it seems we’re all about reliving the “classic” days even for those who were not even alive at that time.

Designers: Ziqiang He, Hao Zhang, Yunan Lin, Sihong Chen, and Yue Gao

The Musipple music player is one such device but it adds another dimension to its design: ancient Chinese poetry. Its inspiration is from a poem written by Wei Yingwu during the Tang Dynasty. Basically the idea is that trees create ripples when they touch the water and the birds on these trees are singing. So adapting both the idea of the poem and the vinyl player aesthetic, we get a unique looking Bluetooth music player that brings together Chinese culture and modern technology.

The music player has ripples in the center with a pole on the side. To turn on the player, you need to place the pole into the center of the ripples just like you would a vinyl player. In this case however, it’s a Bluetooth music player rather than an actual vinyl. There are controls for volume and bass on the side which lets you turn a dial to adjust, adding to the analog aspect of this digital player.

It would have been nicer if it was an actual vinyl player though, rather than just a music player since as mentioned, this kind of nostalgic devices are making a comeback. If it becomes a commercial product, it would be interesting to see if there’s a market for such faux vinyl players.

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Smart cane automatically adjusts to your walking terrain

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According to the World Health Organization, falls, specifically for senior citizens, is a major public health problem. There are a lot who use canes and other walking aids but there are also some who prefer not to use any since they’re inconvenient at times or because of their pride. But we’re also seeing some aids that have become smarter and can adjust to the needs of those that need these tools to move around.

Designer: Claire Ko

Halo is one such tool that may appeal to those who are still hesitant to use canes because of their limitations. This one is a smart cane where you can adjust your smartphone so it can adjust its height automatically. It can adjust the height of the cane depending on the terrain that you’re walking on. This includes walking up and down the stairs, which is one of the most difficult daily tasks that senior citizens and other people with walking difficulties experience.

The Halo Smart Cane provides control to those using it as you are not limited to just the standard height of most canes. It also provides stability to the user as it will not let you slop or stumble even when it changes its height based on what the smartphone and the app detects. Once you attach your phone, there is a button on the cane that switches to automatic mode.

The height-adjustment mechanism included in the cane is still patent-pending but on paper, it is a pretty useful tool for those who need better assistance while walking. There isn’t a lot of detailed information yet on the materials used and the mechanism involved probably because of the ongoing patent application.

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Inflatable helmet lets you carry it around conveniently when not in use

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If you ride a bicycle or a motorcycle regularly, one of the most necessary but cumbersome things is to carry your protective helmet with you at all times. Of course you need one for safety and legal purposes but they’re usually bulky, heavy, and a pain to bring around. We’ve seen several start-ups attempt to come up with an inflatable version and this is one of the latest ones to be announced.

Designer: Ventete

The Ventete aH-1 bicycle helmet is designed to be flattened and portable when not in use but with just a few pumps of air, it is inflated into an actual protective helmet. It comes with an electric pocket pump so you don’t need to worry about running out of air to blow it up, so to speak. When it’s time to pack it up, you can deflate it and fold it like an accordion then put it in your bag.

The ribbed design of the helmet gives it a texture that lets you fold it like an accordion but flattened to fit into your bag or to carry it lightly around. When deflated, it actually looks like a boomerang but they say that the thickness is that of a laptop. When inflated, it looks like a cosplayer’s crown with its ribbed design that sometimes looks like spikes. So you also have that unique and interesting looking factor.

They have not yet announced the specifications and pricing of the Ventete aH-1 bicycle helmet but they are already promoting it heavily so details may come out soon. It would be interesting to see how it can compare to other startups that have their own inflatable helmets starting out in the market as well.

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Tulipan Pod lets you keep your privacy but still be connected to the outside world

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As much as I love working with my officemates, there are times when I wish my cubicle had a mute button so I could focus on whatever task I need to finish at the moment. But of course unless I had my own room where I could close the door or I step away from my space and hide somewhere, that cannot happen. Companies that have a more creative work space can use the more innovative open space layouts and furniture that we’re seeing lately.

Designer: Industrial Facility for +Halle

The Tulipan Pod is one such kind of furniture that was developed for +Halle by London design studio Industrial Facility. It’s basically an enclosed workspace that is not totally isolated but gives the user the option of temporarily shutting away other people in the office or still working in a private space but being a bit more “open”. It also has a softer look than other enclosed workspaces that we’re seeing as it gives off a plush texture.

The pod has a cylindrical shape with one half of it stable and immobile, featuring a small table where you can place your laptop and other small work tools. The other half swivels around and can serve as your door to close out the outside world. There’s a seat with a soft back so you’re comfortable even when enclosed. If you want to talk to other people or see your environment, you just swivel out. The top part is also open so you still get to be connected to your surroundings and you also get properly circulating air.

Of course if you’re claustrophobic, you probably will not want to swivel into the pod or use the pod at all. But for those who need a bit of privacy while still have the option to be connected to the rest of your office, then this is a pretty good alternative to keep out chatty officemates when you need to focus.

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Vacuum-sealed flat pack lamp unfolds into a Japanese inspired lamp

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Lamps are some of the things that you either look for functionality or design. Well, you can always go for both as well but sometimes other considerations like budget, space, and aesthetics will make you choose either or. Portability is not something that you really think about when it comes to this kind of accessories but it is something that’s nice to have. And as we’ve been seeing a lot of flat pack products lately, we knew we would get something like this for lamps.

Designer: Kazuhiro Yamanaka

Tsubomi, named after the Japanese word for bud, is a vacuum-sealed flat pack that opens up and becomes a lamp. It is inspired by a couple of Japanese traditional cultural things: paper-folding and the Shoji screens that we see in doors, windows, and room dividers. It’s basically like a crumpled piece of paper put into a vacuum-packed flat rectangle package that “magically” becomes a source of light once it is unfolded.

What’s interesting about this is that even when unfolded, the paper still shows the wrinkles and creases and that is intentional. The designer actually wants this product to challenge the idea that only those items that are “perfect” in form are considered beautiful. With this lamp, the plain white or grid pattern are able to highlight the wrinkled, imperfect appearance of the lamp. If you choose the grid, you even get a tinted lighting that will illuminate the surface that is lighted by the lamp.

The material used for the lamp is actually a special plastic compound that is used in the aforementioned Shoji screens that we see in traditional Japanese establishments. So with the Tsubomi lamp, you get the best combination of traditional materials and practices but with a contemporary functionality because of its flat-packed form. And you get a portable, pretty lamp of course.

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Gudetama 35mm camera lets you embrace basic analog photography

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Gudetama is one of my favorite Sanrio characters as I find that I relate a lot to it even though it’s an anthropomorphic egg yolk. I’ve watched its “Eggcelent Adventures” on Netflix and I also collect various stationary stuff featuring this lazy ennui-filled cute egg. I’m not alone in this obsession as the character has 852,000 followers on Instagram and has probably sold a lot of Sanrio merch as well.

Designer: Retrospekt for Sanrio

Another Gen Z thing that has been trending lately is a throwback to 35mm digital cameras. And no one does retro tech products better than Retrospekt. Their latest collaboration with Sanrio is the limited edition Gudetama Restrospekt FC-11 35mm Film Camera which has the egg yolk character on center stage, or rather, center camera. The camera has a silicone lens cap and the body has faux leather artwork with the different Gudetama versions.

It is a pretty simple point-and-shoot camera with a 1m fixed-focus lens and built-in optional flash. All you have to do is look through the viewfinder, line up your shot, press the shutter button, and then get your 35mm film developed in your favorite film developing shop. It’s just like any other 35mm film camera except you have the Gudetama butt staring at you when you look into the viewfinder.

The camera has a 200-400 ISO with a 31mm f/9 lens and 1/120 second shutter speed. It’s pretty light as it only weighs 122g and may even be lighter than your smartphone. It’s pretty cute that kids these days are enjoying taking analog photos and having cute cameras like this one adds to the appeal.

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Toko Meeting Pod is a modular, flexible, beautiful office space

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Most of my professional life has involved working in start-ups or small companies. And most of the time, our offices don’t have the regular cubicles and set-up you see in the corporate world. I’m thankful for that because just seeing those constricting environments already stifles my creativity. A lot of the smaller companies have learned to adapt more creative modular setups in their workspaces to give employees better working conditions.

Designer: Carl Gustav Magnusson

The Toko Meeting Pod is a modular system for offices that want to have a more unique and open space working environment. The way the basic structure is set up, it can become a regular working space for several people, a place where you can do meetings, a space where you can eat together, or maybe even all of the above at different times. It is also meant to be a freestanding design that you can relocate or reconfigure according to what you need at the moment.

The pod can be made from different combinations of materials like wood veneer, engineered wood, and wool felt panels. The wall structure also lets you have visual and acoustic separation while the textile-like properties lets light into the space and the acoustic panels also give you sound absorption for your meetings and conferences.

The Toko Meeting Pod also comes with integrated power and has build-in credenza storage and wall mounts so you can put monitors, whiteboards, shelving. The space can also accommodate tables and seating areas so it’s basically an affordable, sustainable, and flexible space that’s an alternative to the usual office design.

The post Toko Meeting Pod is a modular, flexible, beautiful office space first appeared on Yanko Design.

Toko Meeting Pod is a modular, flexible, beautiful office space

Posted on by

Most of my professional life has involved working in start-ups or small companies. And most of the time, our offices don’t have the regular cubicles and set-up you see in the corporate world. I’m thankful for that because just seeing those constricting environments already stifles my creativity. A lot of the smaller companies have learned to adapt more creative modular setups in their workspaces to give employees better working conditions.

Designer: Carl Gustav Magnusson

The Toko Meeting Pod is a modular system for offices that want to have a more unique and open space working environment. The way the basic structure is set up, it can become a regular working space for several people, a place where you can do meetings, a space where you can eat together, or maybe even all of the above at different times. It is also meant to be a freestanding design that you can relocate or reconfigure according to what you need at the moment.

The pod can be made from different combinations of materials like wood veneer, engineered wood, and wool felt panels. The wall structure also lets you have visual and acoustic separation while the textile-like properties lets light into the space and the acoustic panels also give you sound absorption for your meetings and conferences.

The Toko Meeting Pod also comes with integrated power and has build-in credenza storage and wall mounts so you can put monitors, whiteboards, shelving. The space can also accommodate tables and seating areas so it’s basically an affordable, sustainable, and flexible space that’s an alternative to the usual office design.

The post Toko Meeting Pod is a modular, flexible, beautiful office space first appeared on Yanko Design.

SOS Stool serves as side table, glass holder, and yes, a stool

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When it comes to chairs, I prefer the ones that are functional and comfortable over the ones that are aesthetically pleasing. I would rather have something simple as long as I can sit on it properly rather than something that would look like an art piece in a museum but is uncomfortable to sit on. But if you could have both, then that would be a great piece of furniture to own and display.

Designer: Josh Owen

The SOS Stool is a pretty simple piece of furniture that actually has multiple functions in its tiny body. It is, of course, a stool on which one person can sit on. But it can also be a side table to hold your drinks, books, or other small items you need to place on its surface whether it’s beside your couch or bed or workspace. It’s perfect for small spaces as it can serve several functions.

There are also two S hooks built in to the side of the stool so it can hold your glass or water bottle so you can reach for it easily when you’re sitting on the stool or using it as a side table. It’s a convenient mini storage solution especially if you can’t afford to have another piece of furniture which can hold your glass. It is also eco-friendly since it is made from Linear Low-Density Polyethylene that has 25% post-consumer recycled material.

The SOS Stool is available in five different colors: Olive, Red, Bone, Black, and Tomato. Its minimalist but stylish aesthetic has become part of several institutions like the Design Museum Brussels, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art. I’m still not convinced that I’ll be comfortable sitting on it but the side table and glass holder functions can be useful to me.

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