Tag Archives: Concept Designs

Bluetooth speaker concept moves a tiny gondola lift while your music plays

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Wireless speakers are a dime a dozen these days, and they come in a wide variety of forms, ranging from rugged tubes to glamorous art objects. The ones that are meant to stay indoors often hide their physical controls or do away with them completely in order to blend in with the rest of the room’s decor. Many don’t even have displays so you can’t view information at a glance without having to pick up your phone and unlock it. It doesn’t have to be an “either-or” situation, however, and you can maintain a speaker’s analog simplicity and beauty while still providing a useful visual, as this concept design for a travel-inspired Bluetooth speaker demonstrates.

Designer: Sungmin Hwang

Truth be told, a gondola lift is probably the last thing you’d associate with music. Also known as cable cars, these compact boxes carry a small group of passengers from one height to another, allowing them to see the journey from a completely different perspective. It adds a sense of wonder and awe, and maybe even a bit of thrill, as you slowly make your way to your destination, which is often on the top of a mountain or tower.

That’s the association that the Gondola Bluetooth speaker design concept makes between playing music and the journey, both of which take you into exciting new worlds that feel different from your current situation. The speaker’s design is specifically inspired by the cable car system that goes to and from Korea’s famous Namsan Tower, a magical journey even for frequent visitors. The two ends of the speaker house cones, one of which is significantly taller and represents Mount Namsan where the tower stands. This cone is actually the speaker, which diverges from the conventional cylindrical form of Bluetooth speakers

Connecting these two points are two fishing lines representing the cables of the gondola lift. Two tiny modules move back and forth between these lines, which represents the speaker’s main gimmick. The movement of these miniature gondolas syncs with the playback time of the current track playing on the speaker, giving a visual representation of the digital progress bar found in most music apps. This mechanism allows the user to see how far along the music is even without looking at their phones. Admittedly, not many people probably do that anyway, but the movement of gondolas still creates an almost magical atmosphere that could surface joyful memories of travels and adventures.

The Gondola speaker concept pays tribute to the Namsan Tower in another way. The small conical stub on top of the speaker has an LED light that changes color depending on the state of the speaker, signifying things like pairing, playing, battery level, and the like. It’s definitely an interesting idea that shows relevant information without relying on screens, integrating such controls into the theme of the design in a seamless and beautiful manner.

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Headphones concept reimagines comfort with clear silicone headbands

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Even with the popularity and ubiquity of wireless earbuds, many audiophiles and gamers still have a soft spot for over-ear headphones. Despite their bulkiness, they still promise better noise isolation and fuller sounds, which is to be expected given their size. They are also expected to be less comfortable to wear over longer periods of time, despite many attempts at using different materials and even designs. This concept design for an aptly named “Comfortably Headphones” takes another stab at that problem, but its solution is more ambitious and, if we’re being honest, less practical. Then again, having a flexible and transparent silicone band is sure to get you some attention, at least during the time you’re comfortably wearing them.

Designers: Belrtarducci, Garabatfire (MinimalChat Studio)

Headphone headbands have always been solid and rigid for a reason. They need to provide sufficient structure and support to hold the large and heavy ear cups together while also ensuring the whole device sits securely on your head. That said, that same rigidity is one of the biggest sources of discomfort for users, and many designers have tried to alleviate the issue with comfortable fabrics or soft materials wrapped around the band or, better yet, make the band slightly more bendable to accommodate different head shapes.

This design concept, however, throws tradition out the window completely by replacing the usual metal bands with nothing but silicone, a material known for its flexibility and plasticity. Silicone can retain the shape it was formed into during production, but it can also slightly bend and even twist with enough force. It won’t perfectly conform to everyone’s head shapes, but it will at least put less pressure on your head while you’re wearing it, at least in theory.

It isn’t just regular silicone that was chosen for this design either; it is a transparent variety. This creates reflections and refractions that add a unique visual flavor to the headphones. At least under some light, it creates more playful and more natural rainbow colors better than what any RGB LED lighting can provide. Of course, it doesn’t do much in the dark, but even the organic form of shadows can become a source of fascination.

Sadly, such a mesmerizing design does have its share of flaws, particularly with the longevity of silicone as a material. It can warp and deform over time, and discoloration is a common phenomenon with “clear” silicone products. Then there’s also the fact that wires bridging the two halves of the headphones mars the transparent beauty of the silicone band unless the headphones are completely wireless even internally. At that point, however, the benefits of such large audio equipment become moot, and people might as well switch to lighter earbuds. Of course, you could just create a solid, opaque silicone band, but then where would be the fun in such a design?

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Outdoor heater tower concept keeps you toasty on those cold, winter nights

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Since I live in a tropical country, the idea of outdoor heaters (even indoor, actually) is something totally foreign to me. But when I visited New Zealand during the winter season, I finally realized the importance of having this piece of appliance. You need to feel a bit of artificial warmth when you have to stay outdoors especially late at night. It helps a lot to have some sort of heater when you want to enjoy a cool night by the lake or in your backyard.

Designer: Yuhang Lei

This concept for an outdoor heater called Terra Hiker is meant to be placed in places like outdoor cafes, backyards, camping sites, etc. It can heat up to 30 square meters as it has a heating power of 16KW (55,000 BTU). The 13-kilogram propane tank that comes with it can burn up to 38 hours so you can enjoy heated temperature for several hours.

It actually looks like a machine from a sci-fi movie or show with its geometric cutting design and its capsule-like shape. I feel like a creature will arrive at any time but thankfully, heat is the only thing that will come out of it. It is made up of pre-assembled modes so you can assemble everything in around 15 minutes (providing you follow/understand the instructions).

The outdoor heater can be installed in two different ways so you get two height options which adjusts to your need and how you’ll use it. The prototype shows it’s easy to move around although it’s not really that portable because of the propane tank aspect. But it’s well-designed enough that it won’t be an eyesore to your outdoor space.

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Bubblic Public project offers a modular vehicle for passengers, delivery, mobile farms

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When you think of transportation in the near future, you probably dream of flying cars or hoverboards since that’s what we see on sci-fi movies and shows. Even though there are experiments already on that kind of vehicles, we’re probably still a few years away from that. But there are also concepts and experiments on a more grounded, so to speak, kind of public transport that is more practical and realistic but also futuristic.

Designers: Move Lab and ID+IM Design Lab

Bubblic Public is a project that conceptualized a modular and lightweight kind of transportation system. It is meant to be on-demand and can fit the needs of whomever will be hailing the single-module design vehicle. It is basically made up of extendable bamboo stem-inspired chassis and airbags that is flexible enough that it can be used as passenger transport, delivery vehicle, or even a mobile smart farm. It can adjust to the size and needs of the end users during different time periods.

The design inspiration is “like bubbles that appear out of nowhere” since it is meant to show up to users when they order it. It is made of military-grade TPU but is also easily replaceable if some parts are damaged because of its modular design. It has inflated bubble seats when functioning as a passenger transport and the front, back, and side rows can be opened at the top. Package bubbles will be used if it is hailed as a delivery transport.

There will be an app where people can join a rideshare group or ride the nearest available Bubblic Public. That is where you can also hail one for your delivery or smart farm purposes and the vehicle will be transformed according to your need. It is an interesting concept and one that we may actually see in the near future. Maybe eventually there will be even be a flying bubble so it will stay true to its name.

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Foldable heater and camping stove concept attaches to your bike for outdoor adventures

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Those who enjoy spending time outdoors regularly or occasionally need to have a lot of tools with them especially if they will be spending the night camping. There are a lot of different products that they can bring along but if you’re just biking, you need some things that are more portable since you can only carry so much. There are also designers that are more into creating concepts and sometimes actual products to cater to this market.

Designer: Andrea Casagrande

The Leikki is a concept for wood-burning camping stove that is all about portability. The design is inspired by the Risuketin, a traditional Finnish stove found in homes that serve as heaters and as cooking stoves. The designer was also inspired by hexagon shapes since it is “the most efficient way to organize a space symmetrically”. What he came up with is a lightweight stove that is easy to assemble and bring around even if your transportation is only a bike.

The assembly process only takes three basic steps if you’re able to follow instructions easily. Open the gusset face, insert the different grills, and then close the whole thing with a pin. On paper it should be pretty easy and I assume that most hikers and campers are good at following instructions. There’s an upper hole where you can inser twigs and then to insert wood, lift the pan and then put it inside.

The stove can fit different types and sizes of pots and pans and you need to place different support pieces depending on the size. If you don’t have wood to cook, you can take the ash pan, turn it upside down and then place on the top of the grate then use solid fuel or alcohol. It comes with a case which you can strap to your bike and also place other stuff inside that you may need to bring on your trip.

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Espresso machines concept gives you more space in your modern kitchen

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Espresso machines are basic necessities for coffee lovers. But most of the ones that are available in the market now follow the iconic traditional design of Italian coffee machines which are luxurious-looking but pretty bulky. And if a kitchen has limited space, then it most likely takes up the entire counter or coffee lovers cannot actually have such machines in their homes.

Designers: Gerhardt Kellerman, Ana Relvao

This concept for an portafilter machine wants to change this traditional design and instead come up with something that rethinks the form factor. The Youn – Ligre gives you your caffeine shot but also makes space in the kitchen for you to be able to do other things rather than just coffee. This machine is as thin as your average computer monitor or small LED TV set but has the usual espresso machine trimmings.

By making the machine simple enough but still highly functional, they were able to conceptualize something that can fit in with small but modern kitchen spaces. It is also made from aluminum so it can integrate easily with other appliances or the aesthetic of your kitchen. It even has a steamer (that looks like a faucet) integrated into it so you get your complete setup.

For noobs that are intimidated by espresso machines, this has an Easy mode so it’s easy to use. For the experts who like more control over various brewing parameters, there is the Nerd mode. It’s a pretty interesting redesign of the usual espresso machines that we get so hopefully someday it will be commercially viable and available.

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Meditation device concept hides earbuds inside to help shut off external noise

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When I want to shut out the outside world and just focus, I put on a pair of noise-cancelling earphones. Sometimes I also want to meditate and since I live in an area where outside noise is constant, earphones and headphones are pretty helpful. What if you actually have a device that is primarily meant to help you meditate, relax, and get in touch with your inner self, with listening to music just being a secondary function?

Designer: Suosi Design

Medispace is a concept for a meditation device inspired by the singing bowls from the Himalayas. Just like the Tibetan bowls that are meant to help you relieve stress and get into your inner self by tapping and touching it, this device is meant to do that but with an urbanite twist. The device is small enough to fit into your palm so it’s easy to make it “sing” as you try to meditate. And what makes it more modern is that there are noise-canceling earbuds that you can use to fully immerse yourself in your meditation.

The device is able to simulate more than ten kinds of singing bowl sound changes. This makes you feel like you are actually using one of those Tibetan bowls as you touch and tap the metal disc on top of the Medispace. Inside, it functions more like a charging case for your earbuds which are part of your meditative experience. Medispace itself looks like a night cream moisturizer container which makes sense since that can also be part of your self-care routine. The earbuds look like your typical listening device but a bit bigger and with a seemingly textured/pebbled surface.

It’s an interesting concept to combine a meditative device with earbuds. But since we live in a world that offers up a lot of distractions, we need all the help we can get to shut off the outside world every once in a while and focus on things like deep breathing, meditation, and our inner lives.

The post Meditation device concept hides earbuds inside to help shut off external noise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meditation device concept hides earbuds inside to help shut off external noise

Posted on by

When I want to shut out the outside world and just focus, I put on a pair of noise-cancelling earphones. Sometimes I also want to meditate and since I live in an area where outside noise is constant, earphones and headphones are pretty helpful. What if you actually have a device that is primarily meant to help you meditate, relax, and get in touch with your inner self, with listening to music just being a secondary function?

Designer: Suosi Design

Medispace is a concept for a meditation device inspired by the singing bowls from the Himalayas. Just like the Tibetan bowls that are meant to help you relieve stress and get into your inner self by tapping and touching it, this device is meant to do that but with an urbanite twist. The device is small enough to fit into your palm so it’s easy to make it “sing” as you try to meditate. And what makes it more modern is that there are noise-canceling earbuds that you can use to fully immerse yourself in your meditation.

The device is able to simulate more than ten kinds of singing bowl sound changes. This makes you feel like you are actually using one of those Tibetan bowls as you touch and tap the metal disc on top of the Medispace. Inside, it functions more like a charging case for your earbuds which are part of your meditative experience. Medispace itself looks like a night cream moisturizer container which makes sense since that can also be part of your self-care routine. The earbuds look like your typical listening device but a bit bigger and with a seemingly textured/pebbled surface.

It’s an interesting concept to combine a meditative device with earbuds. But since we live in a world that offers up a lot of distractions, we need all the help we can get to shut off the outside world every once in a while and focus on things like deep breathing, meditation, and our inner lives.

The post Meditation device concept hides earbuds inside to help shut off external noise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nature-inspired toy-like calculator tries to get kids more interested in math

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With plenty of phones and tablets around, kids are becoming more and more tech-savvy every generation. That, however, doesn’t always mean they are getting smarter or more skilled in other aspects of learning as well, particularly sciences and math that are more closely related to tech. There are plenty of apps that try to teach the basics, including reading and writing, but younger kids also need to develop their sense of touch, which requires more tactile experiences while learning. This calculator tries to pique children’s curiosity and engage not just their minds but also their senses, and it takes inspiration from one of nature’s hardest workers: bees and their geometric honeycombs.

Designer: Mohit Joshi

Calculator designs are not uncommon, but the vast majority of them utilize simple shapes like squares, circles, or even rounded squares, sometimes known as “squircles.” Not surprising, as these tools are designed for adults who value efficiency and performance primarily with aesthetics coming second only. The opposite is true for kids, however, whose short attention spans require designs that are captivating and intriguing, and keeping the design still functional is the challenge.

Some consider the hexagon to be the perfect shape because it isn’t flat like a square, can fit together better than circles, and is more space-efficient than triangles. Nature has a perfect example of this geometric shape in action as can be seen in beehives, particularly the honeycomb structures they form. While the real thing can be dangerous to children, bees are sometimes portrayed in fun and funny ways, especially given how hard they work and how well they guard their honey.

Hive Hex combines this shape and inspiration into a device that should be more interesting to use than even the sleekest and most minimalist calculator. The yellow color alone is eye-catching enough, but the puzzle-like hexagonal keys give a sense of whimsy and playfulness with their unbalanced composition, unlike the symmetrical arrangement of calculator buttons. That said, the non-standard layout of keys could prove to be confusing when the child “graduates” to grownup tools.

This toy-like yet functional calculator is a great example of how a bit of creative design can significantly change how a product appeals to different groups of people. Of course, some adults might criticize the use of calculators in the early stages of math education, but the calculator does more than just help kids solve number problems. The Hive Hex Toy Calculator could help give children a more lasting impression of how math doesn’t have to be boring or even scary, a positive attitude that they could carry with them throughout the rest of their lives.

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Eight-pointed start censer adds a regal and mystical presence to your space

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There is no shortage of censers and incense holders these days, and considering how many of them are either designed for the home or for travel, it’s no surprise that the majority of them embrace more minimalist aesthetics. These can fit in almost any kind of interior design theme and they tend to avoid being distracting. Some people, however, prefer to have a different kind of imagery when trying to settle their minds, one that may remind them of worlds beyond what we can see or physically feel. This wood and metal censer may look simple at first glance, but it can easily evoke feelings of awe and wonder thanks to its use of one of the most mystical symbols known to man: a star.

Designer: Rafael Maia

Given their distant and almost ethereal appearance, stars have always symbolized not just the heavens but also the majesty associated with it. Human history is filled with symbolism, art, and jewelry that use these heavenly bodies for inspiration, so what’s to stop modern designers from applying the same tradition to products intended to relax or elevate people’s consciousness to new heights? The eight-pointed star design, in particular, has associations with some religions and is an interesting geometric figure in its own right.

Star of the Orient is a censer inspired by religious themes, though the emotional and psychological effects of the design often apply universally, regardless of people’s inclinations. The censer’s star-like shape can be fully appreciated when looking at it from the top, usually when preparing the incense or cleaning the censer. The repeating pattern of lines radiating from the center and following the shape of the star creates a mesmerizing effect as if the golden star is pulsating and flickering like a real star in the sky.

In addition to this stellar theme, the censer’s tall form is also a bit contrary to the often diminutive sizes of most home censers. It has an almost imposing character, standing majestically on any surface while also blending with its surroundings. The combination of wood and bronze creates a sense of duality, not unlike the separation of the Earth and the sky where the star resides. At the same time, the sustainable materials also give off a guiltless feeling as you focus on the gentle puff of smoke rising from the top.

The censer’s design is simple without falling into the minimalist box. At the same time, the details and non-trivial shape create a point of visual interest that won’t distract you from lofty thoughts. And when you’re not using the censer, the Star of the Orient stands as a majestic piece of home decoration that adds a bit of a mystical accent to your space.

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