Author Archives: Ida Torres

Aztec architecture inspires unique mug concept

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While I have a lot of mugs at home, most of them are just your normal liquid vessel. They just differ in color and the design printed on the cup itself, but otherwise they’re just your typical mugs. But I’m always open to adding more to my collection if I see a design that is pretty eye-catching. Whether I actually use it or not sometimes depends on my mood though.

Designer: Luminous Design Group

If this concept for a mug for a conceptual chocolate brand gets made, it’s something worth adding to my collection. The Horeca mug is a concept for Xocoyo, a brand that doesn’t actually exist but can possibly in the future. It draws heavily from Aztec architecture since the fictional brand also draws inspiration from that ancient civilization. You would think that steep staircases and ancient design would not have anything to do with a coffee or hot chocolate mug, but they were able to incorporate it.

The matte dark ceramic brings back the feel of the earthenware vessels from the Aztecs. The mug itself has geometric shapes from their architecture including the stairs-like bottom part and an angular-shaped handle. The wooden base complements the “steps” and adds a more organic look to the entire product. The name of the brand is etched into the mug.

This kind of design blends storytelling and functionality into what is usually a utilitarian object. But if you can sip your hot liquid of choice from such a mug or even if you just have it on display, wouldn’t you want to add something uniquely designed to your collection?

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Blackird demonstrator may show the future of flying cars

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If you think that we’re still decades away from having flying cars traversing the atmosphere, you’ve probably not kept up with the latest news in aviation. While we still probably won’t see any by next year, there are a lot of companies working on testing out their respective technologies when it comes to developing electric flying vehicles. An Austrian startup is looking at letting a demonstrator fly by next year.

Designer: CycloTech

CycloTech is developing the Blackbird demonstrator that will be using a new propulsion system that will hopefully revolutionize how we will be looking at the potential of flying cars. The CycloRotor technology is the only system right now that can control the thrust vector in a full circular path (360°). This means it can brake and stop in mid-air, which will eventually be important when our airspace becomes busy.

The six 7th generation CycloRotors that will be part of the demonstrator will be able to do vertical take-off and landing and also have control in all directions. It will even be able to do parallel parking and mid-air braking/deceleration. Passengers will be able travel comfortably as the flight path and aircraft orientation will give them a stable flight even if they may encounter turbulence.

As a nervous flyer, I probably will not be falling in line to try this out when it will become commercially available. There are still a lot of safety issues that they will have to overcome but having six CycloRotors in the flying car may be a step towards safety as it can ensure the vehicle will continue to fly in case there’s an engine failure. They’re already looking at the first quarter of 2025 for the first flight of the electrically powered demonstrator. It looks nothing like what they’re envisioning the eventual flying car to be like though. For now, the demonstrator looks like a drone but eventually we’ll get the Jetsons-like flying cars of our dreams.

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White noise speaker concept helps lull you to sleep

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Are you the kind of person who’s always sleepy when at the office but suddenly feels energized as soon as you leave? Then when it’s time to sleep, you have so much energy and you find it hard to fall asleep? It’s a vicious cycle that affects a lot of modern employees now. It may be that they just don’t like the work but it can also be because of things like insomnia and even Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS). It can affect your work, social life, and overall quality of life.

Designer: Jinkyo Han

One thing that works for some people to help them fall asleep is having some kind of white noise playing in the background. You can use your phone or smart speaker to play white noise playlists but what if there’s a device that just does that? That’s the idea behind the concept for a white noise speaker. It doesn’t have any other purpose that may distract you from sleeping. All it’s supposed to do is play white noise and accompany you as you drift off to dreamland (hopefully).

The speaker looks like one of those digital photo frames that can display random photos from your collection. The rectangular device has a glass frame at the top and then the speaker grill at the bottom where the white noise comes out. The glass seems like a screen where white-noise related videos can play (like falling rain, leaves blowing in the wind) that can accompany the white noise as it lulls you to sleep.

There wasn’t much information about the other features or aspects of the concept design but the product renders seem to be self-explanatory. As someone who also has much trouble sleeping at night (and then consequentially has problems waking up in the morning), this can be a pretty useful device to have.

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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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