Tag Archives: Product Design

Secret Santa Categories For 2023 Guaranteed to make you the Best Santa ever

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Christmas is a beautiful time to exchange gifts, and Secret Santa gift exchanges are the best. However, choosing the right category for the right person will surely make the gift even more valuable. We have shortlisted the popular categories to make shopping as a Secret Santa easier.

1. Hobbies and Interests

Find out the recipients’ hobbies and interests and choose your gift wisely.

Experience the delight of listening to CDs and frame the album art in a visually appealing manner. This device not only allows you to effortlessly insert a classic audio CD but also enables you to slide in its jacket for an enhanced visual experience. The device features a minimalist design with a frame for jacket art, a built-in battery for portability, and Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless connectivity with wireless speakers and earphones.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $199 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

FUSSBALLLIEBE’s innovation centers around Adidas’ Connected Ball Technology, a collaboration with Kinexon. This tech marvel includes a 500Hz IMU motion sensor, providing detailed insights into the ball’s movement, a first in football history. This real-time data not only enhances the accuracy and speed of in-match decisions but also integrates with UEFA’s semi-automated offside technology, marking a significant leap in the sport’s adjudication. The ball’s precision engineering, with a 20-piece panel shape and deboss grooves for airflow control, ensures consistent play and maximum accuracy, supported by the CTR-CORE for shape and air retention.

2. Tech Gadgets

Useful tech gadgets like phone stands, wireless chargers, mice, quirky USB devices, and headphones cannot go wrong.

Though owls delivering mail is fiction, birds, especially pigeons, were once used to carry messages due to their homing instincts, providing a swift alternative when using humans on horseback was too perilous. The USB thumb drive concept is inspired by this imagery, blending whimsical design with practicality. In the age of the cloud, storing files on a USB flash drive remains efficient and secure. Instant data access is guaranteed by plugging it into your device, and its physical nature ensures exclusive access. Technological advancements have led to the availability of 1TB flash drives, albeit as a luxury for a few.

Stay connected globally with this clever world clock. Just roll the 12-sided clock to see the correct time in major cities like London, Paris, New York, and more. Its minimalist design and simple operation add a fun, tactile touch to timekeeping. Perfect for any desk or shelf, it’s available in black and white.

Click Here to Buy Now: $44 $49 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

3. Self-Care Items

This is a pure indulgence that promotes relaxation, like self-care, scented candles, and bath and body products.

Imagine a spa gift basket that includes all the essentials for a woman’s relaxation! It could feature items such as a Shower Gel, Bubble Bath, Body Scrub, Body Oil, 2 Large Bath Bombs, Bath Salt, and a luxurious Bath Towel. Presented in a beautifully wrapped handmade basket, it’s the perfect indulgence.

4. Office Supplies

If a budget-friendly option is preferred, the best choice is to go for office supplies like notebooks, pens, and desk organizers.

Avoid the frustration of losing your keys by consistently placing them in one designated spot. This organizer features a magnetic rotating mechanism that simplifies the process of stashing your belongings, eliminating the need to recall later where you left your wallet. Offering ample storage and a lid that doubles as a tray, it accommodates both your pocket essentials and everyday carry tools. With a sleek design crafted from durable aluminum and warm beech wood, this functional organizer is available in both Black and White color options.

Click Here to Buy Now: $62 $69 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

Indulge in hands-free reading with a bookmark designed to keep your book open, eliminating the need for unsightly solutions like using unattractive weights on both sides. Shaped like a book, this paperweight features perfect curves that preserve your reading material without causing damage to its spine. Its transparent acrylic resin construction allows you to continue reading while your hands stay occupied with other tasks, and it also provides protection against accidental smudges on the pages.

Click Here to Buy Now: $58.50 $65 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

5. Food and Drink

Everyone adores gourmet chocolates, specialty teas, or coffees, and even a personalized mug can create a delightful surprise.

Celebrate the holiday season in style with a Christmas Hamper—a truly festive and exquisite gift. Go for a wicker basket with timeless delights, including festive marmalade, a traditional Christmas pudding paired with brandy butter, chocolates, wines, and a bottle of Champagne to raise a toast to the joyous season and the moments ahead.

Drinking is typically a routine, but it doesn’t have to be monotonous. The HMM Mugr, made from Japanese ceramic and wood for the handle, offers a Zen vibe with its earthy design. Resembling cast iron, its humble appearance has a calming effect on the eyes, providing a smooth and cool texture for a delightful sipping experience. This mug is the perfect companion for a tranquil break in the midst of a busy day.

Click Here to Buy Now: $54 $60 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

6. Funny or Quirky Gifts

Why not inject a sense of humor into your gift?

The Vinterfint advent calendar reveals an adorable Christmas scene with Santa, snowmen, and nativity goats, accompanied by decked-up Christmas trees and countryside-roofed houses against a snowy landscape. Lift each paper element to discover a daily sweet treat, including chocolates like pralines, nougats, and truffles. Designed by IKEA’s Paulin Machado, it serves as a holiday arts and crafts kit, providing all you need to create a festive winter landscape with Christmas trees and snowmen.

7. Plants or Succulents

Opt for thoughtful and eco-friendly gifts by incorporating a small potted plant or succulent into your present.

Phone cases are typically made of plastic due to cost, durability, and longevity. However, iGreen Gadgets breaks this norm with a 100% compostable case crafted from cornstarch, a common biodegradable substance. The cases are not only eco-friendly but also protective, ensuring your iPhone’s safety. What sets them apart is the inclusion of living seeds within a water-soluble film. Once the case is no longer needed, planting it in a pot allows it to transform into plants within weeks, offering a creative and sustainable solution to discarded phone accessories.

8. DIY and Handmade Gifts

Try homemade treats like cookies or cupcakes, and experiment with crafting a knitted scarf this Christmas.

9. Travel Accessories

Just consider travel accessories for someone who likes to travel!

The 38L Hybrid Duffle Pack is not your average backpack; it’s entirely carbon neutral, utilizing materials that eliminate waste and strengthen the fabric with CO2 captured from the atmosphere. Constructed from 123 recycled plastic bottles, it’s 100% storm-proof, endorsed by explorer Ed Stafford, and seamlessly transitions between backpack, side-strap, and duffle modes for all scenarios and weather conditions.

10. Fitness and Wellness

Let your gift promote a healthy lifestyle.

Experience a tranquil day with an essential oil diffuser that diffuses aromas gently. Designed to prevent overwhelming scents, it operates with a rechargeable battery for up to two weeks, allowing cable-free placement anywhere. Its minimalist look complements its functionality, and cleaning is hassle-free – simply rinse the porcelain filter under running water.

Available in Silver, Black, and Gold base options, this diffuser combines ease of use with stress-free maintenance.

Click Here to Buy Now: $126.65 $149 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

Inhaling salt-infused air has health benefits, creating a protective mucous layer in airways that traps dust, toxins, and viruses. Salt air, known for its calming effect, mimics the relaxation experienced at the beach. The antimicrobial nature of salty air helps combat allergies and enhances immunity. While salt breathing indoors is rare, the Salt Stone offers a solution by dispersing salt into the air, recreating the beach atmosphere.

Don’t forget to be your own ‘SECRET SANTA’

While buying gifts for others, don’t forget to pamper yourself with that expensive gift you’ve wanted—an artisanal product for your home that you’ve longed for. Unique, handmade home decor items, such as pottery, wall mirrors, artwork, or a custom-made piece of furniture.

The post Secret Santa Categories For 2023 Guaranteed to make you the Best Santa ever first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 EDC knives by CIVIVI to gift that enhance your outdoor adventures

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Opportunity rarely knocks twice, but this is one of those times. If you missed CIVIVI’s Thanksgiving Month discounts, you may be in luck! Their top-of-the-line EDC is still on a 15-25% discount, which means your new favorite folding knife is still quite literally within grasp. CIVIVI’s knives are loved by tens of thousands of patrons who form the broad EDC community. Designed to be a handy carry-on that you can keep in your pocket, bag, or even attached to the strap of your backpack, CIVIVI’s folding knives are perfect for everything from opening holiday gifts to using as a survival tool in the great outdoors if you plan on heading camping or alternatively to more temperate climates for the wintertime. The discounts make these knives absolute no-brainers, and like all of CIVIVI’s gear, they’re all built to be incredibly resilient, so your first CIVIVI folding blade might just end up being the last one you ever need… Unless you’re a collector like us!

01. CIVIVI Mini Praxis

CIVIVI’s Mini Praxis knife is a compact powerhouse that draws inspiration from its larger counterpart, the Praxis. With a 2.98-inch D2 steel drop-point blade, it balances strength and sharpness. The wide G10 handle offers excellent grip, supported by a skeletonized stainless steel liner for added stability without excess weight. Remarkably, the Mini Praxis comes at an affordable price point, making it accessible to a broad audience. Engineered as a reliable workhorse, this pocket-sized gem offers blade options in both D2 steel and stunning Damascus steel, known for its marbling patterns. The handle choices include G10, translucent Ultem, and the luxurious Guibourtia Wood for the Damascus variant. The blade measures just under 3 inches, while the overall design prioritizes compactness for everyday carry (EDC). Weighing a mere 2.77 ounces (78.5 grams) and equipped with a practical pocket clip, it ensures easy and discreet portability.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $26.25 $35 (25% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Mini Praxis seamlessly blends compact design with uncompromising performance, making it an essential companion for modern adventurers.

What we like

  • Portable and lightweight
  • That 25% discount makes it even more attractive!

What we dislike

  • The 2.98-inch blade may be too short for certain applications

02. CIVIVI Baby Banter

The CIVIVI Baby Banter excels as an everyday carry (EDC) knife, combining compact design and practicality for effortless portability. Its petite 59mm (2.34 inch) blade is surprisingly versatile, thanks to the drop-point shape, suitable for various tasks indoors, outdoors, or in tactical situations. Crafted from durable Nitro-V steel with a hardness rating of up to 60HRC, the blade ensures long-lasting sharpness. The full-sized handle, made from G10, offers a comfortable and secure grip while remaining lightweight and rugged.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $52.50 $70 (25% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

Incorporating the perfect balance of compactness and functionality, the CIVIVI Baby Banter is a reliable companion for daily adventures. Whether you’re tackling everyday challenges or outdoor escapades, this EDC knife is up to the task, delivering dependable performance in a compact form.

What we like

  • Small and powerful, like dynamite
  • Nitro-V Steel is much tougher than D2 Steel

What we dislike

  • It’s smaller than the Mini Praxis, but double the price because of that Nitro-V Blade

03. CIVIVI Qubit

Designed for those who appreciate efficiency in a small package, this unassuming knife boasts a clever feature – an integrated bottle opener discreetly hidden within the closed blade. Unfold the Qubit, and you’ll discover a classic drop-point blade, now crafted from Swedish 14C28N Steel. This choice of steel ensures exceptional resistance to corrosion, chipping, and everyday wear and tear. The Qubit also offers the convenience of a button-lock mechanism for quick and secure closure. Its aluminum handle adds both heft and maneuverability, enhancing not only functionality but also the knife’s all-metal aesthetic appeal. The knife is running a site-wide 25% discount, and CIVIVI’s just dropped a pink-handled variant which has an introductory 15% discount.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $59 $78.70 (25% off. Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off on the pink colour). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Qubit effortlessly combines practicality and style, making it a versatile companion for various tasks. Whether you require a reliable cutting tool or a bottle opener, this knife has you covered. Its compact size and innovative design make it an essential addition to your everyday carry toolkit.

What we like

  • Aluminum handle gives the Qubit a premium touch
  • The integrated bottle opener makes the Qubit a jack of all trades

What we dislike

  • At 80 grams (2.82 ounces) some small-knife cravers may find the Qubit a tad too heavy

04. CIVIVI StellarQuill Pen & Button Lock Elementum II Knife Combo Pack

Although well known for their knife craftsmanship, CIVIVI also has a reputation for stepping out of its comfort zone ever so often. By which I mean that if its audience demands it, they’ll redesign one of their best knives with a new feature, like the Elementum II which now has a button lock. Heck, they’ll even design pens if there’s enough buzz from the fan base. The StellarQuill Pen and Button Lock Elementum II Knife Combo Pack are a perfect culmination of this, giving you an updated crowd-favorite pocket folder, along with a compact all-metal ballpoint pen. The Elementum II retains its modern classic status with a beloved drop-point blade, now made from Nitro-V Steel. The most notable detail is the absence of the liner-lock from the previous model, replaced by a tactile button-lock mechanism that most enthusiasts will love.

Click Here to Buy Now: $76.50 $90 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

Dedicated patrons get a special-edition version of the Elementum II with an ivory-colored G10 handle and bright red liner on the inside. The knife is accompanied by CIVIVI’s StellarQuill pen, a precisely machined piece of stationery made from aerospace-grade aluminum that’s perfectly sized to slide right into your pocket. It even comes with a lanyard hole to string into your keychain or a lanyard.

What we like

  • The button-lock and caged ceramic ball-bearing allow you to easily deploy that gorgeous Nitro-V blade
  • The StellarQuill pen gets all the points for its small-yet-hefty all-metal build

What we dislike

  • The pen could use a pocket clip to prevent it from rolling around

05. CIVIVI Button Lock Praxis

Built on the framework of one of their most popular knives, this variation of the full-size Praxis now comes with a button lock, allowing for a more engaging and reliable deploying and retracting experience. Unlike the Mini Praxis (which has its own fan base), the Button Lock Praxis is a little larger and a little more capable, thanks to its full-size grip and 3.75″ Nitro-V blade. The blade still retains its drop-point design, which most people will say is the most popular design in the knife world, but the handle now comes made from Aluminum, giving the knife a balanced grip and a wee bit of weight (6.55oz / 185.6‬g) that makes it much more stable during use. If you felt like the Mini Praxis was the right design but just a tad too small for your liking, the Button Lock Praxis may just be the perfect alternative.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $74.80 $88 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Button Lock Praxis is just one of those knives that has been perfected over time and has reached a place where it arguably couldn’t be improved any further. Aside from adding extra tools/features, there’s not much you can do to make this knife better than it already is, aside from a discount I guess?! *wink wink nudge nudge*

What we like

  • Great value for money with that Nitro-V blade and Aluminum handle
  • Reliable button lock makes opening and closing easy

What we dislike

  • The clean design is great, but a thumb stud would have really given the Button Lock Praxis a fun opening interaction

06. CIVIVI Chevalier Ⅱ

The Chevalier II isn’t too different from its predecessor, the Chevalier, except for the fact that it now comes with a gorgeous machined aluminum handle that elevates the knife’s design. When you close your eyes and imagine a classic pocket knife, chances are your brain thinks of something like the Chevalier II – a simple, sophisticated little EDC that’s no-fuss and no-nonsense. The 3.47″ 14C28N steel blade is arguably the perfect size (not too small or big) and comes in a sheepsfoot profile that is great for cutting and slicing, and minimizes the risk of accidentally piercing yourself with the blade’s tip.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $69.70 $82 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

There’s something beautiful about how clean and slick the Chevalier II’s design is. This doesn’t, however, compromise on its functionality, whether it’s the balanced all-metal design, the pocket-clip that can be reversed, or the years of expertise its maker CIVIVI has in the knife business.

What we like

  • Gorgeous clean design with a premium metal handle

What we dislike

  • The lack of jimping on the top of the blade, which was present on the older Chevalier

07. CIVIVI Propugnator

The Propugnator stands out in this entire list because unlike every other knife, it comes with a fixed D2 blade that doesn’t fold into the handle. This significant design directions means the Propugnator is significantly more robust and is designed for heavy-duty tasks. If you want an EDC that doubles as a letter-opener, owning the Propugnator would be like using a flamethrower to light a candle – it’s kind of overkill. Instead, the Propugnator is built for a more hardcore lifestyle, whether it’s hunting, fishing, bushcraft, survival, or tactical use. The knife comes with a full-tang design, which means the blade’s metal extends all the way to the back, forming the skeleton of its handle. The edge of the blade measures well over 4 inches and comes with a rather edgy-looking reverse-tanto design that resembles the raw appeal of chiseled obsidian. You’ve got a choice between G10, Micarta, or Ultem handles, which give your knife a distinct design and tactile grip. The fixed-blade structure means each knife also comes with its own sheath crafted from Black Kydex, with a loop that lets it attach to your pants or belt loop.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $75.99 $89.40 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Propugnator, which means defender or vindicator, is far from your average EDC knife. It clearly means business and nothing else. The full-tang fixed D2 blade is sturdy and reliable, and that sculpted reverse tanto edge works remarkably well for all sorts of cutting, piercing, slicing, stabbing, and scraping tasks. Look away if you’re faint-hearted…

What we like

  • The raw, brutish design and grippy ergonomic handle is perfect for tactical use

What we dislike

  • The fixed-blade design makes the Propugnator significantly bigger than its folding friends, which won’t appeal to people looking for compact knives.

08. CIVIVI Typhoeus

The Typhoeus takes the term ‘folding knife’ to an entirely new level. While most knives simply have a blade that folds into a handle, the Typhoeus has a folding handle too that transforms from your regular handheld knife to a push-dagger-style knife that’s better suited for all-out tactical warfare. While the likelihood of needing a push-dagger as EDC is fairly low for us common citizens, the Typhoeus conveniently gives us the option with its convertible design. The knife sports a 2.27″ clip-point blade crafted from 14C28N steel, sitting within a two-part G10 handle that morphs from a linear form factor to a T-shaped one that you can hold in the grip of your hand with the blade pointing out between your fingers. “Perfect for general work or self-defence,” says one reviewer on CIVIVI’s site, and we can’t help but feel that might just be the best way to describe the Typhoeus… a perfectly good everyday folder, but with a wild alter-ego!

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $63.75 $75 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The knife’s Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde persona is perfect for anything life throws at you, whether it’s an Amazon parcel or a mugger. Each knife also comes with its own black leather sheath that lets you stash your bad-boy away when not in use.

What we like

  • Innovative shapeshifting design
  • Fun to fidget with!

What we dislike

  • The folding handle means there’s no locking function, which might be a deal-breaker for some
  • There’s no pocket clip on the knife, but CIVIVI makes up for it with a leather sheath

09. CIVIVI Button Lock Brazen

Like the Typhoeus, the Brazen too has a tactical personality. It boasts an edgy, aggressive design with an American Tanto-style blade that offers dual edges and a pointed tip, perfect for piercing, slicing, chopping, and more. Crafted from 14C28N steel, the 3.46-inch (88mm) blade is housed within a slim yet grippy G10 handle, and in this variant, it ditches the liner lock for a button lock. Rightfully christened Brazen, it isn’t afraid of challenges, making it the top choice for those who confront adversity head-on. With a weight of 3.91 ounces (101.8 grams), it’s a practical everyday carry that’s ready to prove itself, and be carried everywhere you go, thanks to the deep pocket clip attached to the handle.

Click Here to Buy Now: $63.75 $75 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Brazen, now with a button-lock, is effortless yet tactical – which sound like conflicting attributes, but they aren’t. The Button Lock Brazen is a lovely companion that gives you two edges for the price of one (thanks to the American Tanto blade), allowing you to cut, pierce, score, and do everything you would with your knife, using whichever edge you find more convenient. It also has a cool-kid aesthetic that should rub off on you too, making everyone ask you where you got your EDC from.

What we like

  • Two separate edges, where one can be used for scraping or opening packages, while the other can be used for slicing

What we dislike

  • The double-edged American Tanto blade can be a little tricky to sharpen

10. CIVIVI Vision FG

The Vision FG is our new favorite CIVIVI knife because it ticks all the boxes with an eye-catching ambidextrous design, a unique handle that comes with holes that let you peek through and see the blade when closed (and also make the knife lightweight), and a Superlock on top that lets you effortlessly deploy and dock the knife’s highly capable blade in seconds. Before we admire the superlock and the handle, it’s worth noting that the Vision FG comes with a different kind of drop-point, boasting a straight-back that gives the blade a ‘belly’ of sorts that lets you rock the knife back and forth while using it. The blade, crafted from Nitro-V, measures a respectable 3.54 inches (89.9mm), and will slice even through paracords with practically zero resistance. The handle, on the other hand, comes in translucent Ultem, highly durable Micarta, and the standard G10 variants. A noteworthy detail is the presence of holes that make the handle rather interesting to look at, giving it visual as well as physical lightness (the Vision FG weighs 4.35 ounces or 123.4 grams). Built into the top of the handle is a superlock that relaxes the blade, allowing you to deploy or retract it in milliseconds. The superlock is unique to just the Vision FG, and play with it once and you’ll never want to go back to a button or liner lock ever again!

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $78.20 $92 (Use coupon code “yanko15” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Vision FG is a rare combination of good-looking, powerful, and uniquely pleasurable to hold and use. The ambidextrous handle and superlock are sure to keep your hands and fingers occupied at all times, and that straight-back Nitro-V blade is formidable, to say the least.

What we like

  • The unique design is unlike any of the other knives on this list
  • That superlock is both functional and fidgety, and is arguably the feature you’ll love the most

What we dislike

  • Superlock exclusivity! We wish more CIVIVI knives had this kind of satisfying action.

The post Top 10 EDC knives by CIVIVI to gift that enhance your outdoor adventures first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Japanese flat-pack fire pit sets up effortlessly and uses a dual combustion system to amplify heat

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When I say campfire, it would evoke a different emotion in each one of us. Time for self, chat with friends, searing meat for dinner; everything besides an ignited fire pit. One thing that remains constant though is the usual fuss of igniting the fire, tending to it, and ensuring it burns with less smoke and more heat. Finally, there may be a flat-packed fire pit that wants to ensure setting up fire is a breeze and you can control intensity and ambiance, thanks to its customizable metal plank design.

Designer: UM Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $225 $299 (25% off). Hurry, only 1/20 left, less than 48 hours to go!

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Gif 3

The user-friendly UM Fire Pit is a product of Japanese craftsmanship and immaculate metalwork. The design is pretty straightforward: you have a round base, that collects ash and has air vents to help in combustion as wood burns in the pit. The pit comprises eight similar-sized laser-cut and bent sheets of metal, which vertically fasten into the dedicated grooves in the base. You can choose to use a few or all of the planks, depending on whether you want to watch the fire burn when you’re sitting alone outside your tent, or want to barbecue steak for family dinner at the park next to your RV.

Gif 4

Given its design, the UM Fire Pit disassembles and can fit – along with its grill grate – into the carrying bag the size of a laptop case. When you’re at the campsite, you can assemble the fire pit back up in under a minute and build an effective campfire with minimal hassle. Interestingly, the fire pit packed up for transportation weighs 13 lbs, so if you’re a backpacker, this may not be the best bet. But if you’re driving or riding into the wilderness, there cannot be a more utility fire pit companion for you.

Gif 2

Airflow

I say this not because the UM Fire Pit has a fancy design and appears trendy and everything. In fact, I base my argument on its dual combustion design. The air vents in the base generate airflow into the pit helping boost air circulation, which permits the wood to burn more efficiently with less smoke. The eight panels making an enclosed heat chamber create secondary combustion which allows the wood to burn well. A grill plate can be added to the top (covers half portion) of the vertically aligned planks to prepare a good, smoked meal made possible by the pit’s adjustable combustion system and optimized airflow.

And when you want more visibility of the fire and don’t want to use the grilling option, you can remove a few panels and create the balance of warmth and visibility you want. The ash collected in the base of the UM Fire Pit is easy clean up, while the corrosion-resistant stainless interior of the base and the metal planks assure durability and years of usage. The exterior black color of these panels exudes a rustic charm made possible with mill scale coating instead of paint. The fire pit is currently being crowdfunded, it has already reached the funding goal and should be in line with its estimated shipping time of January 2024. The UM Fire Pit will retail for $299 but is for now available at a discount of $225. The product is made and will be shipped from Japan, so overseas customers will have to bear shipping and customs fees.

Click Here to Buy Now: $225 $299 (25% off). Hurry, only 1/20 left, less than 48 hours to go!

The post This Japanese flat-pack fire pit sets up effortlessly and uses a dual combustion system to amplify heat first appeared on Yanko Design.

This utilitarian electric scooter is economical and faster way to move cargo in urban locales

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As businesses are shifting focus from more polluting and space-consuming cargo vans and cars to cargo-hauling bikes for the last-mile approach, there is a huge demand for better options. Tapping on the opportunity, a Vancouver-based startup is designing what it calls the Scootility – precisely a portmanteau of scooter and utility. A reasonable and compact alternative for last-mile delivery; the cargo-hauling Scootility is for now in the prototype stage with production to begin in the next 12 months.

Given its unique design, the Scootility is not another electric bike. In fact, it draws design inspiration from a segway with a column handle for maneuvering it. By virtue, however, it is an electric scooter that allows the rider to stand up and ride while the cargo remains intact in the covered box right in front of the eyes.

Designer: Scootility

In the design then, a lockable cargo box with a standard load-bearing capacity of 140 liters is the biggest takeaway. This weatherproof box becomes even more beneficial for the delivery guy with the swappable feature. The cargo box can be taken off and replaced with a swappable option on the fly minimizing time between pickup and delivery.

The e-scooter with its compact size and narrow footprint in the traffic, can also be used for delivering medication or supplies in affected areas where access to other forms of transport may be hindered. Interestingly, Scootility has full suspension and wheels measuring 16-inches on the front and 13-inches on the back. The smaller wheel size allows more space for a cargo box on this scooter with utility as its basis over a simple mode of commutation.

For the safety of the rider, it’s installed with LED lighting and has a small turning radius, the manufacturer claims. A foldable leg rest of the Scootility can double as a glove compartment, and the long steering column and handle can fold down for easy storage. Powered by a swappable lithium battery offering a 100 km range in the standard variant, the Scootility is easier to ride (no license needed) and more economical (as opposed to cargo e-bikes on the market).

Since Scootility is only raising funding for its utility scooter at the moment, there is no definite word on the retail price. Given its benefits of minimum parking space requirement, swappable cargo box and battery, and substantial drive range, we are sure many businesses already have their eyes out for the Scootility.

The post This utilitarian electric scooter is economical and faster way to move cargo in urban locales first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung Galaxy A15 and A25 launched with an odd design element

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Compared to its rather rowdy past, Samsung has been changing its phone designs less frequently these days. This allows the brand to cement its image, especially when those designs remain unique to it. The absence of a large camera bump, for example, has become a signature element in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S phones, espousing a level of minimalism not found in other brands. It’s also becoming a standard even in its mid-range Galaxy A family, almost turning into Samsung’s design DNA. That’s not to say it no longer experiments with different designs, as demonstrated by its latest mid-range models that bear what might be the strangest design detail to have come across a Samsung phone in recent years.

Designer: Samsung

At first glance, the new Galaxy A15 and A25 look quite plain, almost like the smaller versions of the Samsung Galaxy S flagship. In fact, given what we know so far about next year’s upcoming Galaxy S24, you could almost say they prefigure Samsung’s next big thing. The Galaxy A15 and A25 feature very flat edges on all sides, at least except where the volume and power buttons are.

In most smartphones, the volume and power buttons are the only pieces that protrude from the side of an otherwise flat or featureless edge. It’s a necessary style to allow the fingers to immediately locate and press the buttons even without seeing them. Samsung, however, seems to have gotten the idea to raise not the buttons themselves but the area surrounding the buttons. It calls it “Key Island,” and it seems to be inspired by the common camera island or camera bump design on most smartphones.

The area flanking and in between these two buttons are raised almost to the same height as the buttons themselves. The sides of this mound gently curve upward while the island itself has a curved surface that contrasts with the flat edges of the rest of the phone. It’s not immediately clear, but it seems that the volume and power buttons still rise a little bit higher than the island, making it a two-step elevation also like some smartphone camera bumps.

While it adds a bit of visual uniqueness to the Galaxy A15 and A25, it is still puzzling why Samsung decided to go with this Key Island design in the first place. To some extent, it defeats the purpose of tactile physical buttons since it will be harder for fingers to sense where the correct buttons or areas actually are. The extruded portion might also snag more than simple buttons, not to mention taking up more space and becoming incompatible with cases that would have otherwise fit these two phones. Thankfully, these are mid-tier products and Samsung can afford to play around with what might become unpopular designs. Hopefully, this isn’t a foreshadowing of what the Galaxy S24 will have in a few months.

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Your EDC Collection Is Incomplete Without a Good OTF Knife… Here’s the One We Recommend

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Described by the folks at Tekto as “Compact and Formidable”, the A2 Badger is an impressive little picket blade that’s sure to be a favorite in your EDC collection.

What’s an OTF Knife you ask? Short for Out The Front, OTF Knives are switchblades with a vertical deploying action. Unlike traditional folding knives with folding/rotating blades, the blade of an OTF knife slides forward and backward out of the handle rather than swinging open on a pivot. This mechanism is typically operated by a switch or button located on the handle. OTF knives are known for their quick and easy deployment, making them popular among military, law enforcement, and outdoor enthusiasts… and if you still don’t own one, this might as well be the universe giving you that sign.

Designer: Tekto Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $118.99 $139.99 (Use coupon code “A2YANKO” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Featuring an oversized lanyard hole, this knife design accommodates a wider range of attachment options, including larger cords and paracords. This enhances convenience and accessibility, especially in low-light conditions or when wearing gloves, making it an ideal tool for any situation.

Pioneered by the folks at Tekto, OTF Knives have a tactile thrill to them that folding knives don’t. There’s always that bit of surprise and a slight amount of recoil associated with activating an OTF knife that you’re bound to fall in love with. The A2 Badger, like all of Tekto’s OTF knives, is deployed by a contoured switch located on the top of the handle, right underneath your thumb. Slide the switch and the blade gets deployed out the front (hence the name). The entire process can be done with a single hand in under a second, and even with gloves on, making the OTF knife perfect for scenarios with split-second consequences.

The A2 Badger button boasts an exceptional grip, ensuring maximum grip and control in any situation.

Its precisely contoured button allows for fast and effortless ejection and retraction of the blade.

Measuring a mere 5.26 inches when open, the A2 Badger is Tekto’s smallest OTF knife sporting a 1.8-inch tanto-style blade made from titanium-coated D2 steel. Although the 1.8-inch blade is smaller than your average pocket flipper, the A2 Badger still is quite a nimble beast, making it a favorite among both enthusiasts as well as tactical personnel and first responders. The tanto-style blade comes with a pointed tip and two sharp edges that make it perfect for all sorts of knife strokes. The titanium-coated D2 steel blade holds its edge incredibly well, taking on benign indoor activities, outdoor excursions, and even tactical scenarios with ease. For getting out of emergencies, the A2 Badger also packs a glass-breaker on the rear of its handle, helping you make quick exits.

With its compact and lightweight design, the A2 Badger is both easy to store and transport, making it a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts and those with limited space.

Weighing a mere 2.18 ounces and measuring just 3.3 inches when closed, the A2 Badger holds the title of being Tekto’s smallest and lightest knife. It’s built to be ambidextrous, and comes with a 6061 Aluminum handle that houses the OTF mechanism that’s backed by a button lock system so the blade doesn’t slide in while you’re cutting. A pocket clip can be attached to either side of the handle (depending on whether you’re right or left-handed), and a wide lanyard hole allows you to string your A2 Badger to your backpack, around your neck, or even your keychain for carrying wherever you go. The A2 Badger comes in 3 grip color variants – Black, Desert, and OD Green (Olive Drab Green) with a black-coated blade and a 15% discount on its $139.99 price tag.

Click Here to Buy Now: $118.99 $139.99 (Use coupon code “A2YANKO” to get 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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Minimalist wall-hanging CD Player visualizes your music in a unique way

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Although digital music, especially through streaming channels, has become the most common way to listen to music these days, they are hardly the only options available. Vinyl has made a comeback in the past years, and audio CDs haven’t really disappeared despite their lower sales. Physical media such as these still have their advantages, especially when it comes to the jackets and sleeves they are packaged in. These usually have images and art that were carefully chosen to visually complement or represent the collection of music the album contains. For convenience’s sake, these jackets and sleeves are often set aside once the discs start turning, but this rather charming portable CD player gives them a special spot so that you can enjoy the art of both the music as well as the cover wherever you go.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $199 (10% off at checkout).

Anyone who has used a music streaming service or media player app will probably be familiar with how these display the album art associated with the currently playing track. In a sense, these have replaced those jackets that come with physical CD cases, though the irony is that there is no physical equivalent to the way they function. Once you pop a CD into a player, the case and the jacket are practically forgotten until it’s time to put away the CD again. While practical, it loses the unique flavor that these CD jackets provide by adding a memorable visual element that can be associated with the music.

This minimalist CD player delivers a rather distinctive listening experience that combines the pleasure of audio with the impact of visual art. Rather than having to set aside the CD jacket or sleeve, you can slip it inside the specially-designed pocket so that you can show it off to anyone in view. It’s like the physical equivalent of displaying digital album art, except you have the opportunity to boast about owning the physical original CD, especially if it’s a rare, limited run.

What makes this unique CD player extra special is its portability. It has a built-in 40mm full-range speaker as well as a woofer unit, ensuring that you can listen to your favorite albums wherever you are or wherever you place it in your room or home. The 1,800mAh rechargeable battery promises 7 to 8 hours of playback before you need to plug it in again. Of course, you can still connect an external speaker via the 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth 5.1, but those would probably be the exception rather than the norm.

Despite the addition of a speaker and a battery, this Portable CD Cover Player retains a simple, minimalist, and thin design at only 27mm thick. Thanks to this and its wireless operation, the player can even serve as a piece of decoration, whether standing on a shelf or hanging from a wall. With this ingenious and elegant portable CD player, you get to enjoy your favorite music not just with your ears but also with your eyes.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $199 (10% off at checkout).

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This companion robot motivates socially inactive youth to venture out with mood-based conversations and persuasive activities

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With the advent of social media, most of us have found long-lost friends or made new meaningful contacts. This movement in technology has helped shape our personality; in some cases, however, it is threatening the fabric of social interaction with people closer and more physically available, leading to social phobia. The fear of venturing out or being social can have a significant impact on the “occupational” and “educational” attainment of many reclusive, leaving them with fewer friends, a pessimistic viewpoint about self, and a lifestyle confined to the four walls of their living quarters.

Staying inclusive to the pretext, enters Mori: A robotic buddy for the younger generation dealing with social anxiety disorder. Studies on the behavior of seniors – recovering from dementia – with companion robots show that the elderly prefer “soft, furry, interactive animals” as partners. There is a considerable difference in favor of robotic pets that can simulate real-life animal in terms of eye contact and order-obeying ability. To that accord, “Joy for All” or “Paro,” companion bots have fine-tined the relationship between humans and technology. Now Mori, with a gadget-esque, interactive approach wants to help the youth by being that partner they can confide with and catapult out of the anxiety of being socially inactive.

Designers: YeEun Kim, Taewan Kim

Designed to help young adults deal with mental and physical health issues, Mori benefits by assisting them overcome these challenges offering consistent support to reclaim the lost zeal. Whether the person is dealing with lifestyle-related problems or social anxiety, Mori provides a solution with mood-based conversations and designs achievement activities to motivate individuals to venture out.

The robot itself comes in a two-part design. The base comprises a control unit with a speaker and volume rockers and cradles within a spherical device that can crack open in half to convert into over-ear headphones. The user can put on the headset to communicate with the integrated AI assistant that guides through activities to rekindle the person to resume outdoor activities.

The positive motivation would work best in favor of the socially inactive, who are cocooned in the nexus of the virtual world, frame their life’s objectives and routines based on the opinions of online friends and lifestyle of the influencers. Mori embedded with an emotion recognition sensor immediately identifies the mood of the user and initiates conversation to build rapport with positive empathy. Mori as a unit is powered by a rechargeable battery: you dock the headset in the cradle base, which wirelessly charges it, while drawing its power through a USB-C port in its rear.

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Innovative Bottle Cap can tell you if your Food is Still Fresh or Not.

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In the world of packaging innovation, United Caps and Mimica have teamed up to introduce a groundbreaking solution for ensuring food safety – the Mimica Bump Cap. These specially designed bottle caps provide a tactile indication of the freshness of the contents, offering a reliable method for distinguishing whether a product has spoiled.

Designer: United Caps and Mimica Lab

Originally conceived with the visually impaired in mind, the Mimica Bump Cap has evolved into a versatile tool that benefits a broader audience. For individuals who cannot rely on visual cues such as best-by dates, these caps offer a tactile alternative to determine the freshness of the product. Moreover, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, where loss of smell became a prevalent symptom, these caps become invaluable to those who can no longer smell and determine the freshness of products.

These caps contain a patented gel technology that activates upon the first opening of the beverage. This innovative gel doesn’t come into direct contact with the beverage contents, maintaining a hygienic barrier. Instead, it utilizes a combination of time and temperature to accurately gauge the freshness of the product. The simplicity of the technology ensures that consumers can easily interpret the status of their beverage.

Reading the Mimica Bump Cap is a straightforward process. A smooth swipe across the surface of the cap indicates that the beverage is still fresh and safe for consumption. However, a bumpy texture suggests that the contents have started to spoil, prompting users to be cautious. This intuitive design makes it accessible to a wide range of consumers, regardless of their visual or olfactory abilities.

 

The versatility of this cap extends to its compatibility with a variety of perishable products, including milk and juices. As these caps rely on the fundamental principles of time and temperature, they can be effectively employed across a spectrum of goods, ensuring that consumers can trust the freshness of their purchases and store them aptly for waste reduction.

By incorporating the Mimica Bump Cap into their packaging, companies can elevate consumer confidence in the quality and safety of their products. The transparency offered by these caps empowers consumers to make informed decisions about their purchases, reducing the likelihood of consuming spoiled or expired goods.

Ultimately, the Mimica Bump cap helps boost sustainability too, allowing people to rely on real metrics instead of an arbitrary expiry date. This helps people ensure they’re eating fresh food, and finishing their perishables before they expire. Approximately 17% of global food production ends up getting wasted, but the Mimica Bump Cap can help reduce that.

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Stussy’s special edition Beats Studio Pro headphones boast a retro elemental design

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If you are looking for a stylish and versatile pair of ANC headphones, then Apple-owned Beats Studio Pro could be your choice. The cans go neck and neck with the Sony WH-1000XM5, and just edge over in design and ergonomic comfort. Even though the Studio Pro dives in the same waters as the AirPods Max, they don’t impede on the prospective buyer base of Apple’s headphones.

Released in July 2023, the cans have a new design profile as Apple has collaborated with streetwear brand Stussy for a limited-edition version of the Studio Pro. The Apple-owned label has joined forces with other big names like Olive & June and Kim Kardashian in the past for special edition versions of their products, and this one is yet another example.

Designer: Beats by Dre and Stussy

The design of this special edition Studio Pro is inspired by the 1990s culture of owning electronics. The warm beige color and deep blue hues along with the inline logo get its design cues from the urethane skateboard wheels. The sublime finish is reminiscent of the resin and fiberglass material used in surfboard manufacturing. The cans come with the same hardware as that in the stock Studio Pro – the 40mm driving unit and the signature acoustic performance. This is complemented well by the adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, transparency mode, spatial audio (with dynamic head tracking) and a battery life of 40 hours.

The Stussy Beats Studio Pro headphones are going to be up for grabs from the Stussy online store, select Dover Street Market locations and select Stussy chapter stores from December 15. Priced exactly as the stock Studio Pro’s available already at $350, the special edition headphones will surely be out of stock before one can blink an eye.

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