Author Archives: Ida Torres

Bedside lamp combines ambient light and focused reading light in one

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As someone who lives alone most of the time, reading in bed with the lights on has never been a problem. But I know of couples who have a constant tug of war with their partners if one reads late into the night while the other is a light sleeper and is bothered by light sources. I also know of those that prefer not to have lights on at all while the other needs to have some sort of light within the room to fall asleep. This new innovative lamp may solve those issues for partners and stop future bedroom wars from happening.

Designer: Jess Gupta

Nightside is an LED bedside lamp that serves as an ambient light that doesn’t really disturb those who are sleeping while still providing illumination. The secret weapon built into it is that there’s also a “spotlight” that is a focused reading light, in case you would still like to read in bed and let the person beside you continue sleeping. There’s just one control button and that’s a front-mounted dimmer switch knob which turns on and extends the reading spotlight for those who can’t put that book down just yet.

The lamp has a soothing warm-white LED light with a color temperature of 3000k. It also has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 80-85 which is a pretty good measure of how accurately it can reproduce colors. The shape of the lamp is one, long, elongated body with the option for gray or white colors for the top and bottom parts. The focused reading light when extended makes it look like a tiny robot came out of the light to accompany you as you read well into the night.

The Nightside Personal Task Lamp may seem a bit pricey at $350 but each piece is actually assembled by hand at their factory. The plastic parts actually come from China while the machined ones are from some parts of Asia while the gas sprint is from Germany but all the parts are put together in California. They had an initial limited run of 1,000 pieces and all of these are numbered and signed. So if you want you and your partner to have a harmonious sleeping and/or reading time, you might want to check it out.

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Billboard that smells like French Fries tempts you to go to McDonald’s

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There’s a chocolate drink factory near our place and when the wind blows down the main street, the smell of chocolate fills the entire area and every person is brought back to their childhood drinking a cup of hot cocoa in the morning. Also, on my walk to and from the office and my house, I pass by a McDonald’s store. When I’m especially hungry, that distinct smell of burger and fries (and sometimes chicken) actually tempts me to make a detour and enter the store to buy my dinner.

Designer: TBWANeboko and Raul & Rigel for McDonalds

There are just some food brands that triggers our olfactory nerves and makes us want to buy their products to satisfy this craving brought about by smell. McDonald’s believes they’re one of those brands and in Netherlands, they’re putting this to good, creative, and aromatic use. Their ad agency TBWANeboko worked with production company Raul&Rigel to put up a series of unbranded street billboards with just the red and yellow colors. When you pass by within 5 meters of them, you get to smell the distinct aroma of McDonald’s French Fries, hopefully triggering a craving.

These scented billboards actually have a hidden compartment in them to store the aforementioned fries. There’s also an internal heat and ventilation system that is responsible for intensifying this smell and tempt anyone passing by to get fries. Of course they are located strategically near a McDonald’s, 200 meters away in fact, so that you can sate that craving and get your favorite fries (and maybe other things) because of that billboard smell.

It’s a pretty creative way to take advantage of that feeling evoked in us when we smell something so distinct. It’s bad news though for people like me who are trying to stay away from carbs. Good thing that fries-scented billboard is only in the Netherlands, although passing by that McDonald’s every day is already temptation enough.

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Stool has tree shadows printed on top to bring you closer to nature

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Before I started focusing on writing for design, I never really paid attention to how mostly functional things like chairs are designed. As long as I could sit on it comfortably on it, then i believed it did its job and I didn’t really need to choose based on how well designed it is. But there are pieces of furniture out there, or even just as a concept, that were really thought of well by the designers to bring something not necessarily new, but at least interesting, to the table. Or in this case, the chair.

Designer: Shota Uruasaki

Capture the Light is one such design for a stool. The furniture itself is not a groundbreaking stool but is made up of the usual three blocks (seat, two legs) connected together by one small block. It looks just like your typical wooden stool/bench that you might see at a park or at a museum. But what makes this different is what you’ll see on the seat itself. You might think there’s a tree nearby casting its shadow but if you’re inside, then that may be a mystery.

It’s actually the unique design that this stool brings. The shadows casted by trees that you may see at parks or public spaces are immortalized on the seats as the designs are printed on them. The designer went around photographing the patterns that these tree shadows make, carrying a white board with them. The photographs were then inkjet printed on top of the stools and so you have the illusion of trees hovering on you as you sit on them.

It’s a simple design addition to your regular stool/bench but it’s interesting, if you’re into nature and trees. Even if the stool is inside, you get the illusion of still being surrounded by trees because of the shadows. Of course it’s still best to actually be around trees but in cases where you can’t then this stool may be the next best thing.

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Jar blender concept brings both aesthetic and function

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A lot of aspiring product designers get inspiration from existing brands whose aesthetics are very distinct. One famous brand of hair dryers and stylers has made its mark on those interested in product design (and pretty devices) and has served as a basis for concepts. We get a lot of “what if _____ made _____” concepts from aspiring designers and it’s actually pretty interesting to see what they come up with just based on the current product line of these brands.

Designers: Anika Patel, Arya Shewale, Prapti Shah, Pratyasa Samanta, Nandana B. Nair, Pia Walia

A lot of the blenders we see are more functional rather than aesthetic. But who says you can’t have both? This concept for a Jar Blender blends (pun intended) the two as you get a cylindrical form that uses chamfered surfaces to connect to the various parts. Using the industrial and minimalist aesthetic, you have what looks like one of those modern-looking gas lamps. But it is in fact designed to be a functional blender that you can use in your kitchen or even bring with you if you’re traveling.

Aside from the sleek aesthetics, you get key functional elements, at least on paper and in renders. It has things like a liquid level window, lock alignment indicator, and a power switch and in keeping with their visual inspiration, they use rounded rectangles as a key element. And if you’re the type who likes seeing the blender in action, the section around the blade is transparent so you can see how it works in blending the various ingredients you put in it (or if you’re doing a “will it blend?” kind of content). There’s also a perforated mesh at the bottom so the blender gets proper ventilation and air circulation.

The blender also comes with a cap so if you need to carry around the juice or energy shake that you blended, you don’t need a separate bottle for it. The jar is 500ml which should be enough for a drink for one person. It would be interesting to see this aesthetic jar blender come to life.

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One-piece silicone measuring cup concept saves space in your kitchen

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If you do a lot of cooking (by choice or by necessity), you probably have a lot of kitchen tools lying around. But not everyone has a spacious kitchen or cooking area so having instruments and accessories that are space savers can be a big blessing. We’re seeing a lot of pretty simple yet innovative solutions to small ticket kitchen items like silverware, cooking tools, accessories, etc. They might not revolutionize your kitchen but they do provide convenience (and space) which can sometimes make all the difference.

Designer: Hatice Esra SUNGUR

One such product, or at least concept, is for a measuring cup called Boi. If you cook regularly, then you’re in need of different sizes of measuring cups. But sometimes they take up space and if you have a small kitchen or storage, then that can be a problem. This concept solves that by designing a measuring cup that is just technically a one-piece silicone cup. Because of its material, it is flexible so the size can change according to what you need.

The idea for Boi is to use the flexbile material and the slider to adjust the size according to the measurement that you need for your ingredients and your recipe. The maximum capacity of the measuring cup is 250 millimeters and it is 20 centimeters long and 6 centimeters high. There are notches and labels in the cup so you know what size you need, ranging from 1 cup (250 ml), 1/3 cup (80m ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml), 1/4 cup (60 ml), and 1/8 cup (30 ml).

The renders shows the measuring cup to have an orange color but it’s easy to visualize it having other bright colors. This kind of kitchen tool will not only help you save space but can save you water and dish detergent since you’re just washing one item. It’s a pretty simple but interesting solution if you want a more space-saving and convenient tool for your cooking adventures.

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Former oil refinery will be turned into renewal energy park

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We’re seeing a lot of recreational places like amusement parks, public spaces, museums, etc that are looking for ways to use renewable sources of energy and to be more eco-friendly. There is also a slowly growing call to turn places that used to be major pollutants into something that can benefit mother nature as well as become places that are useful for the general public. One such place in Italy may soon be turned into a clean energy park in order to reconnect this area with the city and its neighbouring areas.

Designer: Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA)

What used to be an oil refinery in Trieste, Italy may soon become a renewal energy park and become part of a 365,000 square meter reclaimed seafront park that will be open to the public. The six former oil reservoirs in the area will be converted into tanks with water batteries and will be used to power the needs of the park. The tanks are 15 meters tall and have a capacity of 110,000 cubic meters and can turn what was once an inaccessible area into a useful public space.

The tanks will be used to store power by having seawater pumped into them and turning them into potential energy. When the power is actually needed, the stored seawater will then be turned into hydroelectric energy and consequently, they will be pumping water back into the sea. The energy needed for this whole “pumped hydroelectric” plant process uses agrivoltaics or dual-use solar panels. The elevated photovoltaic panels will be located around the urban park.

Aside from the fact that it will turn a former pollutant into an environmentally-friendly place, it will also bring Trieste into a closer relationship with the neighboring municipality of Muggia. There are other spaces like green areas, urban farms, and even an Innovation Park with a biotech research facility included inside. Hopefully we’ll see more projects like this in various cities so they can become more sustainable in the future.

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Minimalist water dispenser concept sits on your desk or table for easy access

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Water dispensers are essential and well, indespensable, for any office or even homes (if you don’t have a water filtering system). But a lot of times, these dispensers are just functional and a clunky fixture in our kitchens or pantries. We don’t really look for a pretty or well-designed one since we just need it to give us clean water to drink. One challenge though is that you have to walk to and from it several times a day and that those water jugs are pretty hard to replace or refill.

Designer: Lee Yi Chung for Square Design Works

The Metapure Desktop Water Dispenser is a concept for a well-designed dispenser that can actually be stored on your desk, dining table, or your meeting table. It looks like a combination of a coffee maker and a printer’s ink refilling system. The machine itself is minimalist looking and with various controls built in so you can adjust the temperature so the water can fit in with your needs, whether you want it cold or hot or anything in between.

The refilling of water dispensers can sometimes be challenging so for this concept, they thought of something that would be pretty easy and can be done by anyone. You can just put the water inside the device (similar to some coffee makers and coffee capsule machines) and then there is a filter box placed inside. The filters look like those ink cartridges that you use for printers so we assume that taking them out and replacing them is also pretty easy.

If you’re using different kinds of cups and bottles, you will also be able to adjust the tray for these different accessories so there will be no water splashing. As a concept, this one is pretty interesting and is also good looking so you won’t need to hide it in the pantry. As someone who struggles with water dispensers, this is something I will be interested in if it eventually gets made into an actual product.

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Electric inversion table concept makes back therapy more comfortable (and pretty)

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If you’ve never seen an inversion table before, you might be shocked when you walk into a room and you see someone lying upside down on this table. It brings some Silence of the Lambs vibes with Hannibal Lecter strapped into a bed, only this table is upside down. But it’s actually a thing that people with back problems do alongside other therapies to treat their back problems without having to resort to surgery. But most of the ones in the market don’t look very comfortable and may even be difficult to operate on your own.

Designer: Eui Ju Lee

This concept for an electric inversion table for Lime, a company that manufactures healthcare equipment, aims to solve those issues. Aside from looking clunky, most of these tables look like they belong in a hospital or a public gym and not your living room. The designer did use exercise equipment as basis for how such a table can fit in your environment but the renders show a much more homey looking device that can rotate in 180 angles to help your back issues.

They also tried to solve some issues that users had with operating inversion tables on their own. The handle is normally attached to the motor but is a bit hard to reach when you’re lying on the table. But with this concept, they put it in a place where it’s easy to reach and turn the inversion table to whatever angle is comfortable and useful for you. And since you’ll be lying on it for a few minutes, it should be pretty comfortable. The backrest is wide enough to make you feel stable and the soft square plate shape is the core visual as shown in the renders.

Compared to existing inversion tables, this one will look at home in your living room and your bedroom as it can blend with the other pieces of furniture. The pastel colors and the shapes of the various parts in the renders also adds to the comfort level of the user. In theory, it should work so the next challenge will be to see if this design, as well as the principles like ankle fixation and rotation can be applied.

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Bibi Bazz collection uses upcycled trainers for eco-friendly, fashionable bags

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I personally know some people who go through sneakers and trainers like they go through toilet paper. Okay that maybe an exaggeration but there are a lot of collectors and wearers out there who do spend a lot on this kind of footwear and dispose of their old ones in a not so sustainable manner. So when we see designers and brands that recycle or upcycle these things as part of sustainable fashion, we pay attention and if we can afford it, we support them. If you also like owning limited edition pieces, then this new collection may be something you’d like to add to your closet.

Designer: Bibi Bazz

Bibi Bazz is a brand that focuses on upcycling and their Genesis Collection brings handcrafted bags made from damaged or deadstock trainers. This is just the first drop in their collection and is made up of limited edition shoulder bags and crossbody styles that can make you look like an eco-friendly rockstar. Aside from the different colors and textures, these bags also come with denim shoulder straps for a chic look. They also have interior pouches if you need to secure some small items.

The Fresh Start Trainer cross body bag uses deadstock Puma trainers in white and black colors. The Emerge Trainer Bag is a shoulder bag using a blue base with pink details and a denim strap as well. If you want something with bolder colors, the Rebirth Trainer is a crossbody bag with blue and neon orange hues with white accents. Meanwhile, the Revive Trainer is a crossbody bag with a red base and black patterns. If you’re more adventurous in your color palette, you can get the Renewal Trainer bag with its mix of neon lime, black, and green colors or the Pioneer Trainer Bag with its neon orange, pink, and yellow hues.

The bags from the Genesis Collection has a price range of £70-100. They’re in fact the first items available for the launch of Bibi Bazz’ online store. Even though the model on their website is a woman, the bags “transcend gender” and are meant to not only be eco-friendly but also inclusive. Since there are only limited items available, you might want to buy your upcycled trainer bags now.

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Edible AirPods-looking earbuds are (expensive) fanciful candy

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We see a lot of Airpod dupes out there in the market that are not as expensive and therefore may also not last as long as the originals. I’ve heard of some people who keep getting these non-authentic earbuds that look the same as Apple’s original because either they stop working properly or they keep losing them. And with the way that a lot of these earbuds are made, it’s not surprising that people keep losing them. What if there are AirPods though that are meant to be lost….into your mouth?

Designer: MSCHF

The Brooklyn-based art collective called MSCHF, known for their unserious and sometimes prank-ish products, have come up with their own take on the AirPods. But instead of giving you music, this may very well give you a toothache. That’s because their Candy AirPods are just exactly what the name says. They are edible earbuds that don’t have any other function except to be consumed. Well, unless, you want to keep them around for a long time even though they can’t let you listen to your favorite songs or podcasts.

The AirPods-looking candy come in a box just like the actual AirPods. They really do look like the earbuds as they are “ergonomically fitted to your ears” even though they’re not meant to be actually be put into your ears. The edible earbuds are made from isomalt, water, food coloring, and natural and artificial flavors and only contain 10 calories per container. If you have any allergies, you shouldn’t worry as they are GMO-free, fat-free, and allergen-free. They’re even manufactured in a nut-free facility so you can be sure you won’t get an allergy attack if you eat them.

Right now, it looks like they’re already sold out on the MSCHF website and we don’t know if they will still be restocking. But in case they will, it will cost you $50 which is a pretty steep price for two pieces of candy. They also can’t ship outside of Continental America since it’s not meant to travel far.

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