Tag Archives: Concept Designs

A Diabetes Device You’d Actually Want to Carry Every Day

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I’ll be honest. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, one of my biggest fears wasn’t just managing my blood sugar or giving myself injections. It was the thought of walking around with devices that screamed “medical patient” everywhere I went. I wanted to feel like myself, not like someone who needed constant hospital-grade equipment just to get through lunch.

That’s why the INSPO smart insulin delivery system caught my attention. Designed by Minseo Lee and Haneul Kang, this isn’t just another glucose monitor or insulin pen. It’s a complete rethinking of what diabetes management could look like if someone actually considered how we want to live our lives.

Designers: Minseo Lee, Haneul Kang

Current diabetes technology has made incredible strides, don’t get me wrong. Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors have genuinely saved lives. But they come with baggage that goes beyond their physical weight. The financial burden is real. High upfront costs, endless consumables, insurance companies that may or may not cover what you need. And then there’s the psychological weight of wearing something that looks like it belongs in a medical facility rather than at a coffee shop or the gym.

I’ve watched the design world transform emergency kits and fire extinguishers from eyesores into objects that blend beautifully into modern homes. INSPO applies that same philosophy to diabetes care. The message is simple but revolutionary: medical devices should expand their design language so we can use them naturally in daily life, not just in clinical settings.

What makes INSPO different starts with its approach to glucose monitoring. The continuous glucose monitoring device straps onto your upper arm and measures blood sugar levels non-invasively. No more finger pricks throughout the day, no more finding discrete places to draw blood when you’re out. The CGM quietly does its job while you do yours, and the best part? It comes with customizable straps in various designs. Finally, someone understood that personal expression matters, even when we’re talking about medical devices.

The insulin pen itself is where INSPO really shines. It works in real time with the CGM, automatically adjusting the dosage based on your current needs. When you need to inject, a hidden interface appears at the top of the pen, displaying your exact dosage. It’s discreet, elegant, and gives you the information you need without announcing your condition to everyone around you. The sensual, natural design means I wouldn’t think twice about using it at a restaurant or during a work meeting. It looks like something I chose to carry, not something I’m forced to manage.

The system includes a sleek case that holds both the insulin pen and CGM, with built-in pogo-pin charging terminals. Everything stores and charges simultaneously, which means one less thing to remember, one less task in an already complicated daily routine. The case is designed to go anywhere, which matters when your life doesn’t revolve around being near an outlet or a safe storage spot.

Using INSPO is refreshingly simple. You wear the CGM on your upper arm. It measures your glucose continuously and transmits that data to the insulin pen. When you need insulin, you check the hidden interface for your precise dose, then inject with a single touch. That’s it. No complex calculations, no second-guessing, no mental gymnastics while you’re trying to enjoy your meal or focus on your day.

The designers talk about transforming diabetes devices “from something you once hid, to a lifestyle device you’re proud to reveal.” That resonates deeply with me. I’m tired of feeling like I need to apologize for my condition or hide the tools that keep me healthy. INSPO represents a shift in thinking where managing diabetes doesn’t mean sacrificing style, confidence, or the simple pleasure of blending in when you want to.

This is what the future of diabetes care should look like. Not just smarter technology, but thoughtful design that acknowledges we’re whole people with lives we want to live fully. INSPO doesn’t just help manage diabetes, it helps us reclaim the parts of ourselves we shouldn’t have to give up in the first place.

The post A Diabetes Device You’d Actually Want to Carry Every Day first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Tiny Accessory That Gives Your Umbrella Main Character Energy

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You know that feeling when you walk into a coffee shop on a rainy day and have to awkwardly lean your dripping umbrella against the wall, hoping it won’t slide down and crash onto the floor? Or when you get home and realize you’ve been propping your umbrella in the same dusty corner for years because, well, what else are you supposed to do with it? We’ve all been there. And honestly, it’s kind of ridiculous that in 2025, we’re still treating umbrellas like they’re design afterthoughts.

That’s exactly the question that sparked Standpoint, a brilliantly simple solution to a problem we didn’t realize was bothering us. What if your umbrella could just stand on its own? Not leaning, not tucked away, not shoved into some clunky umbrella stand, but actually standing there with a bit of confidence and personality.

Designer: Edwin Tan

Standpoint is a small 3D-printed resin attachment that clips onto the bottom of your umbrella, transforming it from a functional rain shield into something that can hold its own ground, literally and figuratively. It’s one of those designs that makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner, the kind of idea that feels so obvious once you see it but required someone to actually stop and question the status quo.

The beauty of Standpoint lies in its understated approach. This isn’t some bulky contraption or overwrought design statement. It’s a gentle, minimal base that complements rather than competes with your umbrella. Each base features a soft color gradient that transitions from darker to lighter tones, creating a subtle visual flow that enhances the umbrella’s form without screaming for attention. You get to choose from different base variations, each with its own personality. Some are organic and flowing with petal-like loops, others are more geometric and structured. It’s like picking out jewelry for your umbrella, a small detail that adds unexpected character.

What makes this design particularly smart is how it taps into a bigger conversation happening in the design world right now. There’s this growing movement toward reimagining everyday objects, questioning why things have always been done a certain way, and finding opportunities for improvement in the most mundane corners of our lives. Standpoint fits perfectly into this philosophy. It’s not trying to reinvent the umbrella itself. Instead, it’s asking how we can make an existing object more self-sufficient and expressive in our spaces.

The use of 3D-printed resin is also worth noting. This technology has opened up possibilities for creating small-batch, customizable accessories that would have been prohibitively expensive to manufacture traditionally. You can have multiple bases in different colors and styles, swapping them out based on your mood or aesthetic. It’s the kind of personalization that feels very now, very in tune with how we think about our belongings as extensions of our personal style.

But beyond the practical benefits and the aesthetic appeal, there’s something quietly radical about Standpoint. It celebrates the idea of objects having dignity and presence in our spaces. Your umbrella doesn’t need to hide or apologize for existing. It can stand tall (pun intended) and become part of your interior landscape. In an era where we’re constantly trying to minimize and hide away the functional stuff of daily life, Standpoint takes the opposite approach. It says, let’s make these everyday tools beautiful enough to be visible. The gradient colors, ranging from soft blues and greens to warm corals and neutrals, are clearly influenced by contemporary design trends but feel timeless rather than trendy. They’re sophisticated enough for minimalist interiors but playful enough to bring a smile to your face on a dreary morning when you’re grabbing your umbrella on the way out.

Ultimately, Standpoint is about more than just keeping your umbrella upright. It’s about recognizing that thoughtful design can transform even the smallest moments of our daily routines. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to accept things as they’ve always been, and that sometimes the most delightful innovations come from asking the simplest questions. Your umbrella deserves better than being shoved in a corner. Let it stand proud.

The post The Tiny Accessory That Gives Your Umbrella Main Character Energy first appeared on Yanko Design.

What If Houses Were Spheres and AR Glasses Showed the Facade?

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Buildings consume massive amounts of resources just to look a certain way. Houses could function perfectly well as simple, efficient structures that keep us warm, dry, and comfortable, but we demand gables, columns, brick facades, and decorative trim because we want them to look appealing. The materials and energy required to build and maintain those aesthetic choices far outweigh what’s actually needed for shelter. If we were all blind, the argument goes, our houses would be optimized spheres or domes with minimal material use and maximum efficiency.

The Virtual Reality Veneer proposes a radical split between what a house is and what it looks like. The physical structure would always be a simple white sphere, built from the most environmentally friendly materials available and outfitted with efficient energy systems. The appearance, however, would be entirely digital, generated by a computer inside the sphere and broadcast to special AR glasses worn by anyone nearby. Look at the sphere through those glasses and you’d see whatever aesthetic the owner chose, from a traditional suburban home to an abstract sculpture.

Designer: Michael Jantzen

The concept is illustrated through a series of renderings showing the same spherical structure in a green landscape. The base condition is just a plain white sphere on supports, accessed by a simple staircase. The other images show that same sphere with a virtual skin unfurling to cover it, transforming into a classic American house complete with gables, shutters, and landscaping. This isn’t a different building but just a digital veneer unfolding over the same unchanging physical form.

The system would work both inside and outside. When you approach the sphere wearing the glasses, you’d see the chosen exterior facade overlaid on the plain structure. Step inside, and the glasses would switch to a different set of images, replacing the minimal interior with virtual walls, furniture, and even window views showing landscapes that don’t physically exist. The owner could change everything on a whim without touching a single material.

Of course, this raises plenty of questions. What happens when different people want to see different aesthetics for the same building? Do non-wearers just see plain spheres dotting the landscape while everyone else experiences virtual variety? The concept assumes widespread adoption of AR glasses or possibly future retinal implants, which is a big leap from where we are now, even with mixed reality headsets becoming more common.

What makes the Virtual Reality Veneer interesting is how current technology is catching up to the idea. AR glasses, spatial computing, and AI image generation already let us overlay digital content onto the real world. The concept simply pushes that logic further, asking whether we could satisfy our desire for beautiful homes without actually building beautiful homes, using light and computation instead of lumber and stone.

The proposal works best as a provocation rather than a blueprint. It forces you to consider how much waste comes from wanting things to look a certain way, and whether we’d trade physical aesthetics for virtual ones if it meant reducing our environmental footprint. That’s a question without an easy answer, but worth asking as AR technology continues blurring the line between what’s real and what’s projected.

The post What If Houses Were Spheres and AR Glasses Showed the Facade? first appeared on Yanko Design.

Designer Turned the Boring Umbrella Stand Into Wall Art

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You know that awkward moment when you walk into someone’s home and realize your dripping umbrella is about to become everyone’s problem? We’ve all been there, clutching a soggy umbrella while desperately looking for somewhere (anywhere) to stash it that won’t create a puddle or knock things over. Enter the Justin Case umbrella stand by Eduardo Baroni, a piece that proves even the most mundane household items deserve a glow-up.

First, let’s talk about that name. Justin Case. Just in case. It’s the kind of clever wordplay that makes you smile before you even see the product. And honestly, it perfectly captures the whole vibe of this design: something you keep around just in case, but that looks so good you’ll actually be glad it’s there rain or shine.

Designer: Eduardo Baroni

What strikes you immediately about this piece is how it refuses to be just another boring storage solution hiding in the corner. Made from powder-coated steel sheet, the Justin Case has this bold, angular presence that reads more like wall art than a utilitarian object. It’s essentially a sculptural triangle that leans away from the wall at just the right angle, creating this dynamic, almost defiant stance. You could hang it in your entryway empty and it would still make a statement.

But here’s where the design gets really smart. That lateral tilt isn’t just for show. The angle naturally cradles your full-size umbrellas, keeping them secure without any fussy clips or complicated mechanisms. Gravity does the work. Meanwhile, three dedicated hooks accommodate your compact umbrellas, so you’ve got room for up to five total. It’s that perfect balance of form meeting function that makes you wonder why all umbrella stands aren’t designed this way.

The wall-mounted aspect is another game-changer, especially if you’re dealing with a small entryway or apartment living. Traditional umbrella stands take up precious floor space and always seem to be in the way, creating an obstacle course right where you’re trying to get in and out the door. By moving everything vertical, Baroni frees up that floor real estate entirely. You can mount it right next to your entrance without blocking the flow of traffic, which is pretty much the dream scenario for anyone who’s ever tripped over an umbrella stand in the dark.

And let’s talk about the practical details, because good design isn’t just about looking cool. At the bottom of the stand sits a removable plastic reservoir that catches all the water dripping from your wet umbrellas. No more mysterious puddles forming on your hardwood floors or entryway rugs. When it fills up, you just pop it out, dump the water, and snap it back in. It’s such a simple solution, but it addresses the actual reason you need an umbrella stand in the first place: to contain the mess. The powder-coated finish means this thing is built to last, too. It’s going to stand up to the constant wet-dry cycle of umbrella storage without rusting or degrading. And while the images show it in a vibrant red that practically demands attention, the beauty of powder coating is that it can come in virtually any color to match your space.

What really makes the Justin Case stand out in the crowded world of home accessories is how it elevates something we usually try to hide. Most organizational products are designed to be invisible, to fade into the background. But Baroni took the opposite approach, creating something with such a strong visual identity that it becomes part of your home’s aesthetic narrative. It’s discreet in terms of space (that slim profile barely projects from the wall), but it’s definitely not shy about making its presence known.

This is the kind of design that makes everyday life just a little bit better. It solves a real problem without sacrificing style, proving that functional doesn’t have to mean boring. Whether you’re a design enthusiast or just someone who’s tired of umbrella chaos, the Justin Case makes a compelling argument that sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference in how we experience our homes.

The post Designer Turned the Boring Umbrella Stand Into Wall Art first appeared on Yanko Design.

TOLO Stacks Tea Lights in a Vertical Tube Like Polo Mints

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Candle holders have always favored traditional taper candles and their elegant, statuesque forms. Tea lights, meanwhile, get relegated to shallow dishes and basic glass cups, functional but hardly inspiring. The problem is practical as much as aesthetic. Most holders treat tea lights as single-use items, offering no solution for storage or replacement beyond keeping a stash somewhere in a kitchen drawer. That leaves you with a scattered collection of metal tins and the constant need to hunt for spares when one burns out.

The TOLO Tea Candle holder takes a different approach, drawing inspiration from an unexpected source to solve both issues at once. Designer Liam de la Beyodere looked at how Polo mints stack neatly inside their cylindrical wrapper and applied the same logic to tea lights. The result is a minimalist metal tube that holds multiple candles vertically, with one sitting at the top ready for use while others wait below. It’s a simple idea that gives tea lights the height and presence of traditional candles without any of the usual mess or inconvenience.

Designer: Liam de la Beyodere

The holder itself is straightforward in construction. A seamless metal tube, likely brass or gold-plated steel, features a precise cutout at the top that exposes just enough of the uppermost candle for lighting. The polished finish adds a touch of elegance, while the clean cylindrical form fits easily into modern interiors. Different heights are available depending on how many tea lights you want to store inside, turning what’s typically a storage problem into part of the design’s appeal.

Of course, the real advantage is how effortless this makes candle replacement. When the top tea light burns out, you simply remove the spent tin and the next one rises into position. No rummaging through drawers, no loose candles rolling around in cabinets, and no need to interrupt your evening to fetch replacements. The tube keeps everything organized and accessible, which is exactly the kind of thoughtful detail that separates good design from merely functional objects.

What sets TOLO apart is how it reframes tea lights entirely. Instead of treating them as cheap alternatives to proper candles, the design gives them structure and verticality that command attention. The holder looks intentional even when unlit, standing as a sculptural object rather than just another utilitarian accessory. That shift in perception, from disposable to deliberate, is what makes the concept feel genuinely fresh rather than just clever packaging.

TOLO remains a concept for now, existing only as renderings rather than a finished product. That said, the design’s simplicity and practicality suggest it could translate well into production, offering a more elegant solution for anyone who prefers the convenience of tea lights but wants something better than the usual uninspired holders cluttering store shelves.

The post TOLO Stacks Tea Lights in a Vertical Tube Like Polo Mints first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Tiny AI Device Turns Awkward Solo Travel Into Adventure

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While I love traveling with friends and family, I also enjoy traveling alone. My time is my own and I can do whatever I want. But let’s be honest: solo travel also comes with its own unique challenges. Getting lost in translation at a local market, struggling to take a decent photo of yourself without looking like you’re holding a selfie stick, or standing paralyzed at a subway station trying to decode which train goes where. We’ve all been there.

Designer Siwoo Kim clearly understands these moments because Comes, their latest design concept, feels like it was born from real solo travel experiences. This isn’t just another gadget trying to solve problems that don’t exist. It’s a thoughtful response to the growing culture of solo exploration that’s taken over social media feeds and reshaped how we think about travel.

Designer: Siwoo Kim

The rise of solo travel isn’t just a trend anymore. It’s become a full-blown cultural movement. YouTube channels dedicated to solo journeys rack up millions of views, not just because people want travel tips, but because there’s something deeply relatable about watching someone navigate a foreign city alone. These videos lower the psychological barrier that once made eating alone at a restaurant feel awkward or booking a solo trip seem lonely. Now? It’s empowering.

Comes taps into this shift with an approach that’s refreshingly human-centered. It’s a small AI-powered companion device equipped with a high-performance camera that can observe your surroundings and offer assistance exactly when you need it. But here’s where the design gets interesting: Comes features a modular, detachable structure that adapts to different travel situations. Think of it as a Swiss Army knife for the modern solo traveler, but way more elegant.

Picture this scenario. You arrive in a new city, step off the train, and immediately feel that familiar flutter of “okay, now what?” Just tell Comes where you want to go, and it becomes your personal guide, helping you take those first uncertain steps into unfamiliar territory. The device walks you through navigation in a way that feels supportive rather than intrusive.

The real genius shows up in how Comes splits apart. The head can attach to a necklace module around your neck, capturing your point of view while recording your journey. Meanwhile, the body remains accessible in your hand or pocket, ready to provide information about whatever you’re looking at. It’s like having a curious travel companion who can answer questions on the fly without you having to pull out your phone and break the moment.

For those who love zipping around cities on shared bikes or scooters (because who doesn’t anymore?), Comes includes a strap module that securely mounts the device onto various mobility options. It guides your route while documenting your ride, turning practical navigation into visual storytelling.

But perhaps the most valuable feature addresses every solo traveler’s occasional nightmare: the language barrier. Standing in front of a menu board, making awkward gestures at a shopkeeper, desperately trying to communicate something simple. Comes looks at both faces in a conversation and translates in real time. You speak naturally in your language, they respond in theirs, and Comes bridges the gap. No fumbling with translation apps or pointing desperately at pictures.

And then there’s the social aspect. You find the perfect spot for a photo, but you’re alone. Asking strangers for help can feel awkward, but Comes makes it easier. Because the device detaches, you can hand someone the camera module while keeping the main body with you to check the frame in real time. Composition slightly off? Comes relays your feedback instantly, even from across the plaza. It transforms what could be a frustrating experience into an opportunity for genuine human connection. Who knows, you might even learn about a hidden local gem in the process.

What makes Comes compelling isn’t just its functionality but its underlying philosophy. Solo travel has always involved embracing uncertainty and turning unexpected moments into memorable experiences. This design doesn’t eliminate those variables. Instead, it provides just enough support to help travelers feel confident facing them. It’s the difference between removing adventure and enabling it. Comes offers something different: a tool designed to help solo travelers engage more deeply with the world around them, not retreat from it.

The post This Tiny AI Device Turns Awkward Solo Travel Into Adventure first appeared on Yanko Design.

This modular power bank splits in two to match your charging needs throughout the day

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In a world where screens rarely go dark and our devices feel like extensions of ourselves, a reliable power source has become almost as essential as the devices it fuels. Yet even after years of iterations, power banks still fall into the same trap; they’re either bulky blocks with too much capacity to carry comfortably, or slim and portable but unable to keep up with a full day’s use. The Portable Magnetic power bank brings a smarter, more adaptable approach to this everyday struggle, one that feels designed for how people actually move through their day.

Rather than locking users into a single capacity or form, this concept introduces a modular, magnetically connected system that lets you choose what you carry. The main body works as a high-capacity unit capable of charging a phone or multiple devices, while a detachable “Energy Capsule” offers a lightweight option for topping up smaller gadgets like earbuds or smartwatches. Together, they form a cohesive all-in-one charging system; apart, they become personalized tools tailored to different needs.

Designer: Hongkun Cha

The intrigue of this approach lies in its simplicity. The two modules snap together magnetically, merging into a single seamless unit when you need more power, and separating instantly when you prefer to travel light. The magnetic connection feels deliberate and intuitive, eliminating the fuss of cables or clips while ensuring both units align perfectly. It’s a design that adapts as quickly as the pace of your day, from desk to commute to travel, offering flexibility that traditional power banks never quite mastered.

Visually, the Portable Magnetic Power Bank maintains a sense of calm precision. Every surface is smooth and uncluttered, avoiding the heavy industrial look most portable chargers carry. The minimal silhouette, clean geometry, and refined finish make it feel more like a lifestyle accessory than a tech gadget. It’s the kind of product you wouldn’t mind keeping visible on a work desk or coffee table. It’s understated yet purposeful!

Functionally, it aims to simplify multi-device charging. With the growing ecosystem of gadgets (phones, watches, earbuds, and beyond), carrying separate chargers for each is both impractical and messy. This concept eliminates that need through modular integration, ensuring one device can meet multiple scenarios. While detailed specifications, such as capacity, charging wattage, or battery chemistry, remain undisclosed, the concept clearly prioritizes versatility over raw numbers, focusing on the user experience instead.

There’s also an emphasis on comfort and balance. Detaching the capsule reduces the weight you hold while still keeping essential power within reach. Attaching it back extends your battery life without adding visual or physical clutter. This fluid adaptability embodies a quiet kind of innovation, one that improves daily usability without reinventing the wheel.

The post This modular power bank splits in two to match your charging needs throughout the day first appeared on Yanko Design.

When Slower Actually Means Better: The RAW Camera Concept

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We take thousands of photos on our phones without thinking twice. Snap, scroll, forget, repeat. But here’s a wild thought: what if a camera literally forced you to slow down? That’s exactly what designer Seulgi Kim is exploring with RAW, a pinhole camera concept that’s part time machine, part meditation device, and entirely about reclaiming something we’ve lost in the digital age.

The name RAW works on two levels. First, it means “unrefined,” which perfectly captures the camera’s back-to-basics philosophy. Second, it references RAW image files in photography, those unprocessed originals that contain all the data before any digital manipulation happens. It’s a clever double meaning that sets up everything this concept is about: stripping away the excess to get back to what photography actually is.

Designer: Seulgi Kim

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Normally we can shoot a hundred photos in seconds with our phones but RAW does something almost rebellious. It uses a pinhole aperture instead of a lens, which means each exposure takes several seconds or even minutes to complete. You can’t rapid-fire shots. You can’t casually capture every moment. Instead, you have to stand there with your subject, waiting, observing, really seeing what’s in front of you. It’s the photographic equivalent of choosing to walk instead of drive, not because you have to, but because you want to notice things along the way.

What makes RAW fascinating beyond its function is how Kim translated traditional Korean architecture into its design language. This isn’t just aesthetic borrowing; it’s a thoughtful connection between two forms of slowness and intentionality. Traditional Korean architecture embodies what Kim calls “the aesthetics of slowness,” where every element reflects careful consideration of space, time, and human presence. Those principles shaped buildings that have stood for centuries, and now they’re informing how we might think about capturing a single photograph.

Look at the curved panel on the camera’s side. It’s directly inspired by the gentle curves of traditional Korean roof tiles, which were designed to protect houses from rain and wind. But here, that curve serves a completely modern purpose: it prevents slipping and creates a comfortable, stable grip. It’s functional heritage design at its best, where historical wisdom solves contemporary problems.

Then there’s the twelve-sided dial on top of the camera, which controls exposure time. In traditional Korean architecture, polygonal structures weren’t decorative flourishes; they provided stability and balance. Kim applies that same geometric logic to the timer dial, creating something that ranges from B (Bulb mode) through various seconds up to 30 minutes. That dodecagonal shape makes it intuitive to read and adjust your exposure settings at a glance. The design literally transforms time into something you can touch and see.

At the camera’s front, an octagonal hood acts as the window for incoming light. It’s not just there to look cool (though it does). The hood directs light rays evenly into the body and minimizes glare, ensuring balanced exposures. Every geometric choice serves both form and function, creating what Kim describes as “harmonious balance” between mechanical precision and traditional aesthetics.

The whole package comes in matte black with subtle mint-green accents on the shutter button and side controls. There’s a minimalist viewfinder on top and a woven camera strap that adds tactile warmth to the technical precision. When you see the camera disassembled in one of the concept photos, all those gears and components laid out like an exploded diagram, it drives home just how much mechanical thought went into something designed to be analog in a digital world.

What’s really striking about RAW is how it challenges our relationship with image-making in 2025. We’ve reached a point where our phones can computationally enhance photos before we even press the shutter. AI can generate entire images from text prompts. Photography has become almost too easy, too fast, too disposable. Kim isn’t saying technology is bad; she’s asking what we lose when everything becomes instant.

The pinhole camera format forces a different kind of presence. When you need minutes to capture a single frame, you can’t be casual about it. You have to choose your subject carefully, consider the light, commit to the moment. That extended exposure time becomes a form of meditation, a way of connecting with what you’re photographing that simply isn’t possible when you’re machine-gunning through dozens of shots. RAW proves that sometimes the most innovative design move is stepping backward. By reaching into centuries-old architectural wisdom and combining it with one of photography’s oldest techniques, Kim has created something that feels genuinely fresh. It’s a camera that doesn’t just take pictures. It changes how you see.

The post When Slower Actually Means Better: The RAW Camera Concept first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Minimalist Oven Concept Redefines Kitchen Style

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There’s something refreshing about a kitchen appliance that doesn’t try too hard. The Samsung Bake Ultra concept by Octavio Leon Villareal proves that minimalism, when done right, can be anything but boring. This compact electric oven manages to look like a premium piece of tech while maintaining the kind of simplicity that actually makes sense in real life.

At first glance, the Bake Ultra’s two-tone design catches your eye without demanding attention. The soft gray body paired with a black glass front creates a visual balance that feels both contemporary and timeless. It’s the kind of aesthetic choice that works whether your kitchen leans industrial-chic or warm-and-cozy. The rounded edges soften what could have been an overly boxy silhouette, giving it an approachable quality that invites you to actually use it rather than just admire it from afar.

Designer: Octavio Leon Villareal

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What really sets this concept apart is how thoughtfully the details have been considered. Take the control panel, for instance. While many modern appliances chase touchscreen interfaces and digital everything, the Bake Ultra embraces tactile controls with two substantial dial knobs. There’s something inherently satisfying about turning a physical dial, getting that immediate feedback in your hand as you adjust temperature or time. It’s intuitive in a way that doesn’t require you to remember which icon does what or whether you need to hold or tap.

The function buttons sit flush against the black panel, their minimalist pictograms becoming visible when backlit. This clever detail means the interface stays clean and uncluttered when the oven is off, but provides clear visual feedback when you need it. No squinting at faded labels or wondering if you’ve actually pressed the right button. The yellow accent on the play/pause indicator adds a pop of warmth to the otherwise monochromatic palette, serving as both a functional cue and a subtle design element.

The compact footprint makes this particularly relevant for how many of us actually live. Not everyone has the space or budget for a full kitchen renovation with built-in everything. The Bake Ultra sits comfortably on a countertop, fitting into small apartments, office kitchens, or as a supplementary oven for larger spaces. The renders show it in various settings, from minimalist concrete-and-wood kitchens to warmer spaces with traditional cabinetry, and it holds its own in each environment. That versatility is the hallmark of genuinely good design.

Looking at the ergonomics, the controls are positioned on the right side panel at a comfortable height for standing operation. The knobs have a non-slip finish and substantial presence that suggests quality and ease of use. These aren’t flimsy plastic dials that will wear out after a year. They look like they mean business, with clear temperature markings and a tactile response that gives you confidence in what you’re setting.

What makes this concept compelling is how it aligns with Samsung’s broader design identity while still feeling fresh. You can see echoes of their smartphone and television aesthetics in the clean lines and premium materials, creating a cohesive ecosystem for people who appreciate that kind of design continuity across their tech and appliances. It’s the difference between a collection of random stuff and a curated space.

Will we ever see the Bake Ultra on store shelves exactly as rendered here? Maybe, maybe not. But that’s not really the point of concept design. Projects like this push the conversation forward about what our kitchen appliances could be. They challenge manufacturers to think beyond the status quo and remind us that functional objects can also be beautiful, that technology can feel human, and that minimalism doesn’t have to mean cold or boring.

The post This Minimalist Oven Concept Redefines Kitchen Style first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Foldable iPhone Never Actually Folds, and That’s Genius

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Foldable phones promise devices that shrink for portability and expand for productivity, but they consistently run into the same problems. Hinges wear out or develop resistance over time. Screens crease visibly where they bend. The devices end up thicker than standard phones, even when folded. Most foldables also force users to accept awkward seams running through their primary displays, creating visual interruptions that never quite disappear.

Mechanical Pixel’s iPhone Fold concept sidesteps these issues by keeping the phone itself rigid and adding a separate foldable screen to the back. The main iPhone body stays conventional, maintaining the familiar feel and dimensions people expect. A thin, flexible display sits raised on a platform above the rear panel, almost like it was stuck there as an afterthought. When needed, that screen unfolds outward to create a larger, squarish tablet surface.

Designer: Mechanical Pixel

The raised platform is visible when viewing the device from the side, creating a layered appearance that signals something unusual is happening on the back. This isn’t a flush integration where the foldable screen hides seamlessly. The screen clearly sits above the phone’s rear panel, which gives the concept an experimental, modular quality. The camera module remains in its typical position, unaffected by the additional display layer.

Unfolding the screen pulls it away from the phone’s back and opens like a book. The result resembles a small tablet with nearly square proportions rather than the typical elongated phone-to-tablet transformation most foldables offer. The phone’s primary display can continue functioning normally, while the flexible screen adds surface area when tasks require it. The main body never bends or flexes during this process.

This approach solves several foldable phone complaints. Hinge durability becomes less critical because the phone’s structural integrity doesn’t depend on a folding mechanism. Screen creasing affects only the secondary display, leaving the primary screen untouched and pristine. Daily phone use feels identical to a standard iPhone because that’s essentially what it remains when the extra screen stays folded.

New problems emerge with this design. The raised platform adds bulk to the back, making the phone thicker overall and potentially awkward to hold or pocket. Wireless charging might struggle with the raised section interfering with coil alignment. Camera usage in tablet mode is nearly impossible because the unfolded display covers the lenses.

The concept exists as speculation rather than serious product development. Naturally, Apple hasn’t officially endorsed this design, and manufacturing challenges make actual production unlikely. It addresses real durability concerns while introducing new ergonomic and practical challenges. The raised platform aesthetic makes the experimental nature visible rather than hidden, which feels honest about what this design represents as a thought experiment.

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