Author Archives: Ida Torres

Herb growing panel concept can help restaurants reuse water

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Have you ever wondered what happens to all that water that customers leave at their tables in restaurants? We sometimes see glasses and pitchers left on the table which obviously, the staff can’t reuse anymore for drinking purposes. If the management or staff are conscious about water usage, then they will be used for other things like washing dishes or watering plants. But a lot of times, they’re just thrown into the sink. This concept proposes a more intelligent and eco-friendly way of saving and re-using that water and involving the customers in the process.

Designer: Sebastian Delerba

Withless is a concept for herb growing panels that restaurants can put up in their spaces. This way, not only do they have plants around for decoration and for environmental purposes, but they can also encourage customers to raise awareness in saving and reusing water. The stackable panel can hold up to twenty pots and has a grid design which can be expanded to multiple grids depending on the space and the needs of the establishment.

If you’re like me that doesn’t really know much about plants, there is a risk of over-watering plants if there’s no one to tell me that it’s too much. This is where the Withless concept comes in. The pot and the front area are connected so the water reaches the textile when you pour into it. It will show you when the ring and the textile have the same color which means the plant is growing efficiently. When there is a contrast to the color, then it means there needs to be some adjustments. The humidity of the area also affects this so it will reflect that as well.

The establishment can also use this to grow their herbs and other edible plants and get the customers to help them take care of the plants. This is an interesting way to teach people to reuse water and help grow plants as well. Hopefully, something like this gets made and that restaurants and cafes can adapt it.

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Reimagined clay water filter uses white ceramic for a better design (and taste)

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Brazil apparently has one of the most effective (and affordable!) water filtration systems in the world. You can find clay water filters in almost every home and markets and they are actually created by local craftsmen. There are some challenges to this though as it is not always aesthetically pleasing and some people say there is a certain aftertaste to the water that goes through this system. There is even sometimes a problem about mold as well. Now a reinterpretation of the clay water filters may have solved some of those issues.

Designer: Estúdio Biologique

A Brazil-based design studio has come up with the Biologique water filter which still uses the same filter system. However, it uses white ceramic so that the water should taste about the same but of course it is filtered. It also doesn’t leave any mold but is also easy to clean, which was also a problem with the traditional filter. The important thing though is that it is able to bring clean, drinking water with the simple filtration system that doesn’t require any complicated installation or instructions.

For those that are concerned with the aesthetics of the water filter, then this is also where Biologique shines. It has a simple, minimalistic design that still keeps the original idea of the clay water filter but brings a more modern feel to it. It has two round parts on top of each other, a wooden stand, and a faucet that looks like those you find in draft beer machines. It comes in different colors: terracotta, rosé, green, brown, off white, black, gray, and capuccino.

The Biologique water filter comes in 9.0L and a petit version in 4.5L so you have two options depending on your space and the drinking water capacity of the people you live with. Of course it is more expensive than the traditional clay water filters that you’ll find in the usual Brazilian households. That’s the price you have to pay to have something prettier and better designed. Estúdio Biologique says their products are done by hand and on a small scale, so that’s also one of the reasons for the price point.

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Singing Bottle concept rewards kids when they take their pills

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According to my friends who are already parents, one of the most difficult things to get their young kids to do is to drink medicine. Aside from the fact that most of the pills actually taste bad and may be too big for their little throats, it’s also hard to convince them to do something if they don’t really understand why they need to do so. Some actually use rewards just to get the kids to take their meds but there should be better ways to get through this every time they need to do it.

Designer: Fengrui Wang

The Singing Bottle is a concept for a different kind of pill packaging and dispenser for kids ages 6-10 to help them take their meds a bit more easily. It is shaped like those ship in a bottle things that your dad or uncle probably displayed. But instead of a ship, you get personalized pills and a corresponding paper card strip with an NFC tag attached which is the secret to getting the kids to get the pills down. The dispenser also has a built-in speaker in which the cards, which contain music and stories, can be played.

The idea is that parents need to purchase the first pack of 14-21 personalized pills from the pharmacy and the dispenser. Turn the handle to dispense the first pill, separate the card strip and then insert it into the NFC reader. The first card is actually inspiring words to get the kids to take the pill and explain why they need to do so. Every two days, a new strip is unlocked and this can be a story or a piece of music to serve as their “reward” for taking the pill.

This is a pretty interesting way to encourage children to take their much needed medicine. This concept will work with Dozer, a start-up that specializes in 3D medicine printing which is able tp provide personalized medicine which should be less expensive and maybe also makes the taste a bit better, since that’s one of the major reasons why kids don’t want to take their pills.

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Nest light installation at Tunisian port is inspired by a child’s sketch

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I live in a city where our idea of shared spaces are mostly malls. The fact that we don’t have any outdoor public places is a combination of bad city planning, the often too hot or too rainy weather, and maybe not seeing the need for places like these. So I envy cities where there are all kinds of parks, public squares, seafront quarters, and other spaces where people can just hang out without having to buy anything. And when there are even more interesting art installations there, I get even more envious.

Designers: Velvet, UN-LIKE, Stina Onemar

The Noblessner port in Talliinn, Estonia has existed even before World War I but now that it’s not a submarine shipyard anymore, it has become a public seafront quarter. A major attraction in this space is an illuminated bird’s nest made from metal, disused industrial objects and light art . What’s even more interesting here is that it was inspired by the sketch of 5-year-old Stina Onemar who thought about seeing something like this on top of the former lighting mast.

The eggs in the nest are made from polyethene and are actually weather resistant because of the rotational molding technology. The branches are made from materials from construction sites, including leftover roof edge trim to make the steel frame. These metallic materials also serve as reflectors for the lighting installation. The paint will also sport the eventual wear and tear until it blends with the light pole where it’s on top of, matching the natural ageing process since it’s located outside.

This is an interesting piece of art that combines reused materials with a natural design. The team from Velvet said that their design also shows how actual stork nests actually become “intertwined with human-made objects”. It’s also nice how they still involved the 5-year-old kid who inspired all of this in the production process. The nest light installation is visible from the road and also from the ships at sea.

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Spiral Storage Tray concept shows a minimalist way of organizing small things

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The table near the door to my apartment is witness to the fact that I have a lot of stuff. Whenever I enter the house, I dump some of my stuff there for easy access to when I need to leave. But over the months, it has accumulated a lot of small things that I forget to put away or bring with me. As a hoarder and also a naturally messy and lazy person, it’s really hard to organize all these things. So I need all the help I can get, including organizing accessories and furniture.

Designer Name: Ping-Lun Chung

This concept for a Spiral Storage Tray is a pretty simple and minimalist idea but one that can be helpful to people like me eventually. The basic idea is that it is just a simple, circular tray but you get a spiral storage. This way you can compartmentalize little things like coins, keys, eyeglasses, medicine, and other small items that you may need to have easy access to when entering or leaving the house. It’s meant to be placed in the tables located in the entryways of houses or apartments.

The design isn’t that complicated. The base is a small round disk and then you have two semicircular pieces of wood placed on top to create the “compartments” to separate your small items. There is even a hidden spiral compartment if you need to place small items that you want to conceal for some reason. Knowing me though, I’ll probably forget that I placed something there which means I may get a surprise or two when I decide to clean the tray by lifting up the top pieces.

The “seamless, continuous spiral surface” that we see in the rdners actually looks pretty satisfying. The renders show different wooden textures and colors for the Spiral Storage Tray so we may get different options if it gets turned into an actual product. Who knows, because of this I might actually start organizing my table in my entryway?

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Croissant Pendant Light from Gantri adds a delicious warmth to your space

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Normally, we don’t really associate food with lamp designs since they’re not really connected. But as we always say here, you can find design inspiration in the most unexpected places. We’ve seen several food-inspired accessories like fruit-shaped candles, food-decorated clocks, accessorised bottles, and a few fruit and vegetable inspired table lamps. But a bread-inspired pendant lamp may be a rarity but it is indeed interesting how you can get inspired by a piece of bread and apply the design principles to your product.

Designer: João Teixeira

We’ve seen some cone-shaped lighting designs but the Croissant Pendant Light designed for Gantri takes it one step further by using the shape of the, you guessed it, croissant. But it’s not because they just want you to think of this savory pastry but because of the shape and the layers, the lamp is able to “cast a cozy, comforting glow” in different directions. It is created specifically for dining tables or kitchen islands but you can also use its “purposeful illumination” for other spaces in your home that may need it.

The angled shapes, sculptural layers, and lighter edges are all inspired by the croissant shape, even though we don’t really notice that when we eat the actual bread. The asymmetrical shape has two unique rings encircling the main shade, giving the lamp both a functional directed beam as well as a soft ambience in the other angles. There is an interplay of light and shadow as well because of its silhouette and the slices and curves.

The Croissant Pendant Light is available in three colors: Carbon (black), Snow (white), and Smoke (brown). There’s also an option for black or white cords so you can match it with your interiors. Because also of its unusual shape, the pendant lamp can also serve as an “art piece” of sorts for your space even when you’re not using it as a lamp. It is also pretty easy to install because of the Gantri-engineered mounting mechanism that it uses.

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Tiny PhoneCLIP lets you have an adjustable and balanced phone stand

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These days, having a phone stand is not just a want but actually a necessity. Aside from taking selfies or doing vlogs, it’s also needed for when you’re on online meetings, video calls, or even just watching videos in public. There are a lot of different kinds of phone stands available in the market but some are too bulky, some are not made from quality materials and some don’t adjust to the size of the device. It would be great if there are more truly portable stands available for both content creators and regular phone users.

Designer: Gokhan Cetinkaya

PhoneCLIP MAX is a truly portable phone stand made through the CNC machine method and made from aluminum. What makes it different from most of the stands in the market is that it allows adjustable angles so you can move it around as needed. It also has a balancing mechanism that keeps the center of gravity and your phone is able to be repositioned when you adjust it to different angles. If you need to attach it to a stand or tripod, it also comes with 1/4″ and 3/8″ universal thread.

We assume that no matter the size of your phone, this small stand will be able to carry the weight and adjust accordingly according to the angle you need. They also have other models available for your budget or feature needs. The PhoneCLIP is a plastic model while the PhoneCLIP PRO is a “durable CNC machined model”. However, these two other models don’t have the built-in stand feature and is just a phone holder. All three models have the 1/4″ universal thread so you can mount it on any compatible stand or tripod. The PhoneCLIP MAX is the only one that has the 3/8″ universal thread option.

The fact that this is tiny enough to put in your pocket or small bag is a distinct advantage over the bulkier stands available in the market. Of course if you’re a vlogger, you still need to carry around other stands or tripods that you need but for those of that just to watch videos or do a quick video call while outside, this tiny phone stand will do.

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Tea maker lets you smell your tea while steeping and relaxing

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Making and drinking tea is highly relaxing for a lot of people, even more than making coffee (at least, for some people). When you need to relax or destress, people tell you to drink tea rather than another kind of drink like caffeine and alcohol. Another way to destress is to light up your diffuser or scented candles. If you could combine the two plus add some other relaxing techniques, then you can come up with a pretty great nighttime relaxing routine.

Designers: 빈 허 (Heo Been), Jaewoo Jang, 이 지호 (Jiho Lee), 최 예은 (Choi Yea eun)

U Soo is a concept for a tea maker that can help you “relax and chill”. The difference with this compared to other tea makers is that you can also smell the tea as it steeps so you also get an aroma diffuser with the machine. The machine itself looks like a coffee maker or something that belongs in a laboratory. You see the whole process from the boiling of the water to the steeping of the tea to when it pours out to your cup. The transparency actually adds to the therapeutic feels of the machine.

The tea to be used in U Soo are dried leaves that are compressed into balls. They will “unfurl” once in the machine being steeped into the water. There is a cylinder like part in the machine with a tube inside where you put the water in and then it goes to the other side where the tea ball is dropped, unfurled, and steeped. The water then goes back onto the other side through a small tube and then dispensed to the cup that is in the middle.

There are of course controls on the machine to help you through all those processes. On paper, it’s a pretty interesting product. And for someone who is incorporating tea drinking into her routine, this is something that can definitely help me with that.

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Helinox Tactical Cot Tent lets you not sleep directly on the ground when camping

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Camping or sleeping outdoors is one of the things that you probably cannot make me do (unless it’s a really comfortable or glamorous glamping kind of thing). But if I am forced to do so, I’d prefer to have something that will not let me sleep directly on the ground and also something that means I won’t share it with other people. Of course there are sleeping bags out there but again, I’d prefer not to have contact with the ground. So a cot that I can sleep in by myself would be the ideal thing (if you’re forcing me to sleep outdoors, that is).

Designer Name: Jake Lah

The Helinox cots are pretty innovative accessories that you can bring with you when staying outdoors. The designer is now making it even more comfortable if you want to sleep outdoors using the compatible cots by giving you the Tactical Cot Tent. Made from your choice of mesh or fabric, the tent attachment will turn your cot into a fully enclosed sleeping space for one person that is off the ground. This means when folded, it can also be easily carried on your vehicle and then assembled when needed since it’s 22.5” x 8” x 8” ultralight ripstop cinch bag and weighs just 3.5 lbs when packed.

The tent uses shock-corded poles to lock the frame into place while the pole clips make it easy to install. There are also reinforced corners, ties, and corner sleeves so you get a more secure sleeping space. To anchor it to the ground, it uses four J-stakes, one for each corner. Inside your tent, you have four interior mesh pockets, two on the ceiling and two on the sides, to store your valuables. You can also hang your gear on the four interior loops found inside the tent. The 40D polyester hexagon mesh is breathable for the mesh version while the durable 70D nylon ripstop can withstand the elements for the fabric version. Both have water-repellent PU-coated 70D nylon taffeta floors.

If you know that you might get some rain, there’s also the Tactical Cot Tent Solo Fly that you can attach to put on top of the tent to protect you from the elements. It uses velcro tabs to attach to the cot tent while four J-stakes secure it to the ground. You get two front doors skewed towards the side with a single back door and rear ventilation window for better air flow and reduce condensation inside as well.

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Memoraphy is an aromatherapy device that can produce perfume to alleviate mood issues

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Among all the senses, smell is probably the one that I don’t really pay attention to (or may be the least popular for ordinary folks). But it is actually the one that is most associated with memory. We associate specific smells with memories of our childhood or with certain episodes in our lives. It is also something that can help you manage your emotions as evidenced by the popularity of aromatherapy. This concept for one such product is pretty interesting especially if your nose is sensitive to smells and moods.

Designer Name: Kanglee Lee, Jiwon Lee, Jeongmin Ham

Memoraphy, a combination of the words memory and therapy, is a concept for a device that can “prescribe” a scent for you depending on your mood and need. It looks like one of those laboratory devices with different pods or a coffee machine but instead of dispensing liquids or caffeine, you get different fragrances that can help you uplift your mood, relax, or whatever your emotional need is that can be helped by smelling something. You can choose to use it as a diffuser or to produce a perfume or a plaster air freshener.

There are six types of main fragrances available: bergamot (for depression, anxiety, and apparently, UTI), rose (to give a positive mood), orange (to relieve stress and enhance taste bud), sandalwood (relieves nervous tension and anxiety), chamomile (helps relax the mind, counter insomnia), claysage (mood stabilisation). You start off the process by inputting into the machine your current mood and drawing or writing to get a “diagnosis” for the right scent. Then you choose the output type and the machine will then create the product for you.

This is a pretty interesting product to have, at least on paper. There may be some feasibility questions if it gets turned into an actual product since there are different outputs for it but that’s a problem for another day. If you’re a believer in aromatherapy, you’d probably want something like this in your home to help lighten your mood, help you fall asleep, and even combat other mental health issues.

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