Tag Archives: Lifestyle

This Disaster-Preparedness Clock Will Support You With A Flashlight, Radio And Charging Abilities

Posted on by

When disaster strikes, staying informed and prepared is crucial. The Rhythm 4RQ002-003 Disaster-preparedness Clock is a remarkable gadget designed with precisely that in mind. It’s not just an ordinary clock, it’s a multifunctional tool built to serve you both in daily life and during emergencies, offering peace of mind when you need it most.

Designer: Rhythm

On an ordinary day, the 4RQ002-003 sits quietly on your nightstand, performing its duties as a reliable alarm clock. Its Citizen quartz movement ensures accurate timekeeping, while the three levels of electronic sound alarms with a snooze function help you start your day on the right note. Its sleek and compact design, measuring 152 by 179 by 68 mm and weighing 610 grams, makes it an unobtrusive addition to your bedside setup.

However, this clock is much more than a timekeeper. In times of disaster, when conventional power sources and communication channels might be compromised, the 4RQ002-003 shines as an essential survival tool.

Radio Functionality:

Equipped with a built-in radio, the clock allows you to stay informed about critical updates. The inclusion of Wide FM (FM supplementary broadcasting) ensures that you can access broadcasts even when AM signals are weak or unavailable. Whether it’s a natural disaster or any other crisis, this radio function becomes a lifeline, providing vital information from the authorities.

Device Charging Capabilities:

In a world where we rely heavily on smartphones, the ability to keep them powered during an emergency is invaluable. The clock offers two charging methods – four AA alkaline batteries or the built-in rechargeable NiMH battery. Additionally, it features a USB Type-A port (5v/500mA output) for charging smartphones and other gadgets, and a USB Type-C port (5v/300mA) to power the device itself. This dual charging capability ensures that your devices remain functional, even when the power grid is down.

Emergency Lighting:

The 4RQ002-003 features a powerful LED flashlight, perfect for navigating through darkness during power outages. This built-in light source is essential for emergency situations, helping you find your way or signaling for help when needed.

Hand-Crank Generator:

One of the most crucial features of the 4RQ002-003 is its hand-crank generator. When all other power sources fail, this manual option allows you to generate the necessary energy to power the clock, and the radio, and even charge your devices. It’s a feature that could prove to be a lifesaver in the most dire situations.

Additional Functionalities:

The clock also includes a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, allowing for private listening to the radio or other audio outputs. The low battery indicator ensures that you’re always aware of the clock’s power status, helping you stay prepared.

Built with a durable plastic enclosure, the 4RQ002-003 is engineered to withstand the demands of daily use and the intensity of emergency situations. The thoughtfully designed handle provides a secure grip, ensuring ease of use when it matters most. Its rugged construction is made to endure the harsh conditions of a disaster, while its practical design ensures it remains a versatile tool in any scenario.

Currently available in Japan for 16,500 yen (approximately 112 USD), the Rhythm 4RQ002-003 is a worthwhile investment in your safety and preparedness. It’s a comprehensive tool designed to be your companion in both everyday life and during emergencies. Whether you’re facing a storm, a power outage, or something even more unpredictable, the 4RQ002-003 is there to ensure you’re always prepared.

The post This Disaster-Preparedness Clock Will Support You With A Flashlight, Radio And Charging Abilities first appeared on Yanko Design.

Yamaha Outdoor Tools concept brings a fusion of music, metal, and fire to your adventures

Posted on by

Yamaha is a name that can mean two different things to different people. On the one hand, you have the famed maker of musical instruments. On the other hand, you also have Yamaha Motors which imprints the brand on motorcycles. Their products might be unrelated, but the two Yamahas share a similar spirit and passion for good design. Not a few concepts have come out from trying to bring these two different worlds together, resulting in novelties that delight and, in some cases, even become useful products. This collection of outdoor tools could have the same effect, highlighting the spirit of outdoor adventure and commitment to craftsmanship that both Yamaha companies embody.

Designer: Kazuya Washio

When camping outdoors, one of the most important tools you need is fire, whether it’s for keeping warm or, more importantly, cooking food. There’s no shortage of bonfire and grill products available in the market today, but the majority of them seem to be content focusing on utility alone. The Yamaha Outdoor Tools concept, however, doesn’t forget that aesthetics and fun are just as important, adding flavor to the experience and making it even more memorable.

The Bon-Burner, for example, is nothing more than five metal sticks joined at different angles to create the semblance of sticks of firewood lying against each other. This form isn’t just for looks, though, as the top formation functions as a trivet for holding pots and kettles. The metal bars can be easily folded or detached, making transport a walk in the park, or in this case, the campsite.

The Bon-Player is a twist on the typical gas stove that is like an amalgamation of a metallic vinyl record and the experience of throttling the engine of a motorbike. You turn the metal disc to control the radius of the fire, represented by concentric rings radiating from the center, and you push it down to increase the intensity of the flame. It is a more involved and more interactive way to control the fire, better than simply turning a boring old knob.

Bon-Grill takes that turntable metaphor even further with a rectangular box that lets you choose the appearance of your grill marks. You simply switch between different mesh jackets, just like you switch record sleeves, to select the best grill marks that will bring out the best taste from your food. Plus, it makes the steaks and veggies look fun as well!

The Bon-Flame outdoor heater is probably the most beautiful and most poetic of the set. A bimetallic sheet changes shape with the heat, opening up like a flower and providing both heat and an enchanting visual representation of that warmth. Unfortunately, all these are just concepts at this point, but hopefully, Yamaha will pick them up and turn them into actual products that we can bring to our outdoor adventures someday.

The post Yamaha Outdoor Tools concept brings a fusion of music, metal, and fire to your adventures first appeared on Yanko Design.

Woven leaf lamp concept harmonizes traditional crafts and industrial production

Posted on by

Advancements in technology, material science, and processes have taken man’s production capabilities to a whole new level. However, with advanced manufacturing, traditional craftsmanship and values have been left by the wayside, sometimes forgotten, and other times discarded as if they were no longer important or were even counterproductive to progress. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as there will always be elements of traditional crafts and modern tooling that could be mixed in an elegant way. Such is the premise behind this rather striking lamp, highlighting not only the beauty of traditional, handmade crafts but also promoting the culture and the livelihood that also grow alongside it.

Designer: Antoni Martorell Pascual

Handmade products are admittedly not suitable for mass production. As many have realized by now, however, not everything has to be mass-produced in the first place. Simple, everyday items might be fine with generic and standardized designs, but in exchange for speed and ease of manufacturing, they often lack personality, depth, and impact. Fortunately, you don’t always have to go to either extreme and find some middle ground that showcases the strengths of both methods.

Catalina is a lamp design that does exactly this by combining ordinary lamp electronics and foundations with a lampshade that’s meticulously woven by hand. Specifically, it uses palmetto leaves and traditional weaving techniques called “llata” from Mallorca on one of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Unsurprisingly, this technique is passed down through generations and is mostly done by the women of the locale, a practice whose existence is being threatened by the rise of mass-produced furniture and lighting.

This lamp, however, illustrates the beauty that can come from the melding of past and present. The woven palm leaves form two cylindrical shapes in the form of an eight that encloses two bulbs inside each space. A gap between the two circles is filled by a transparent sheet of glass or fiberglass, serving as a diffuser for the light. The effect is a serene glow that passes through the weave like an otherworldly light.

Lamps like Catalina take time to make and are often more expensive because of the labor involved. That, however, also makes the design more special, giving it a unique character similar to a limited edition product. And unlike factory-made lampshades, these handwoven materials will have differences and imperfections, flaws that become selling points exactly because they are different from any other lamp from the same product line.

The post Woven leaf lamp concept harmonizes traditional crafts and industrial production first appeared on Yanko Design.

How to make Clay Pottery look like Cardboard

Posted on by

Inspired by the designs of Jacques Monneraud, YouTuber Mia Mueller decided to put her skills to the test, making pottery that mimics the delicate, craft-like feel of corrugated cardboard. While Monneraud’s pieces look fantastic (and probably feel just as incredible to hold), Mueller’s approach actually guides us through the process, helping regular-folk understand the nuances of building clay pieces that look like cardboard. Mueller’s YouTube channel, Pottery To The People, is absolute gold for terracotta/ceramic enthusiasts, and although a lot of her content is centric to traditional use of the potter’s wheel, this particular project took a less conventional approach, but yielded results that look genuinely fantastic! Watch the video above to see how she did it, or just scroll to read more.

Designer: Pottery To The People

Mueller’s attempt at cardboard pottery is a part of her ‘steal like an artist’ video series, where she mimics the styles of pottery artists online. Monneraud’s designs have taken the internet by storm over the last few weeks and it only made sense for Mueller to give it a shot too, to see how easy it was, and whether the resulting pieces were, in fact, functional as pottery goods.

Choosing the right clay was perhaps the most crucial starting step. Different clays take on different hues after firing, so ensuring you’re left with the right cardboard-like color at the end of the firing process is key to nailing that illusion. Mueller used an Indian clay, known for its perfect cardboard-like brown hue.

Once selecting and softening the clay, she took to the potter’s wheel, throwing and shaping the clay in a fairly geometric style. Paper doesn’t bend in complex curves, so Mueller ensured most of her designs had straight lines and sharp edges. Ridges were then ‘stamped’ with the corrugated design, and details like grips, handles, and spouts were given a ridged design using a set of specialized roller-pins with ridges on them.

A few keys to nailing the aesthetic were ensuring the clay dries out significantly before stamping details onto them. Paper isn’t seamless either, so each paper part had to have a distinct start and end, which meant not blending in the edge lines. Even when joining multiple parts together, it’s instinctive to blend them in, making sure the joint is strong. However, cardboard doesn’t ‘blend’ either, so edges where different parts joined had to be left unblended, allowing the edge-line to show. Sure, this results in a fairly weak end-product, but then again, this entire endeavor is an aesthetic-driven one, not a functionality-driven one. The resulting pots are great for looking at, maybe even using as bouquet holders, but aren’t meant for holding water or any liquid. Since they’re unglazed, they’re still incredibly porous and will absorb water too, which means it’s best left displayed on a shelf as a statement piece rather than being put to use.

The post How to make Clay Pottery look like Cardboard first appeared on Yanko Design.

Biomorphic handles on these ceramic mugs add a touch of nature and quirk to lifestyle design

Posted on by

Jessica Thompson-Lee, a ceramic artist and educator originally from Kansas City, MO, now thriving in Brooklyn, New York, is transforming the way we think about ceramics. Her work is an exploration of the dynamic relationship between form and function, with each piece inviting a tactile journey as much as a visual one. Thompson-Lee’s creations don’t just sit on a shelf, they beckon you to touch, to hold, and to explore their intricate, biomorphic designs.

Designer: Jessica Thompson-Lee

Inspired by the organic beauty of coral reefs, cellular structures, and the delicate networks of mycelium, her pieces are alive with movement. Handles on her mugs, for instance, aren’t mere attachments, they stretch and sprawl like living extensions of the vessel itself, creating web-like patterns that challenge the very idea of how a mug should be held. Each curve and twist invites you to find new, playful ways of interacting with the object, transforming the simple act of holding a mug into an engaging sensory experience.

However, as beautiful as these designs are, one might wonder about their ergonomics. How comfortable is it to actually put your fingers through those differently shaped holes, and what kind of grip can one get? The intricate designs may offer visual allure, but they could pose a challenge when it comes to practical use. The unconventional placement of the handles might make it difficult to get a secure hold, raising concerns about the balance between art and utility. The delicate structure, while visually striking, might make one hesitant to use the mug for its intended purpose, fearing that it could break. But, you would never know until you actually hold one, it might just surprise you with great comfort. Either way, the piece can definitely add value to your space with its charm.

The magic of Thompson-Lee’s work doesn’t just lie in the finished product but in the journey of its creation. In her Brooklyn studio, she begins each piece with what she calls “sketching with clay,” an approach that’s as spontaneous as it is deliberate. With a squeeze bottle filled with liquid clay, she lets her hands guide the design onto a plaster slab, embracing the unpredictable nature of the process. This element of surprise and fluidity infuses her work with joyful spontaneity, making each piece as unique as the moment it was born.

Once the vessel takes shape on the wheel, Thompson-Lee shifts to the meticulous hand-building phase. With an exacto knife, she carves handles from thick slabs of clay, carefully refining the form until it’s just right. After smoothing the edges with a damp sponge, the handle is attached to the mug, which then undergoes its first firing. But the journey doesn’t end there. Layers of intricate patterns and vibrant glazes are added post-firing, transforming the piece into a vivid, abstract work of art.

Thompson-Lee’s creative exploration doesn’t stop at mugs and vases. She’s pushing her biomorphic designs into new territories, with plans for jars, lamps, and even small furniture. Committed to sustainability, she’s also experimenting with recycled paper pulp as a medium. Her unique, tactile creations are available on Etsy, where each piece offers an adventure waiting to be discovered.

The post Biomorphic handles on these ceramic mugs add a touch of nature and quirk to lifestyle design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nike Honors Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gigi with ‘Girl Dad’ and ‘Halo’ Protro Sneakers

Posted on by

Nike is honoring Kobe Bryant’s legacy with a series of new sneaker releases that celebrate his life, achievements, and special bond with his daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. This fall, Nike will introduce two new sneaker collections that resonate with fans and sneaker enthusiasts, highlighting Kobe’s impact on and off the basketball court.

Designer: Nike

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro Low ‘Halo’ @lasbestkicks

First, Nike is set to release the all-white Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro sneakers, continuing the popular “Halo” theme introduced in 2023. This year, the Flyknit-based sneaker will be available in its original high-top build and the Kobe 9 Elite Low variation. These sneakers mark the first time the Nike Kobe 9 Elite, initially launched in 2014, will be offered in its Protro retro form. Previously, the only rerelease of the Kobe 9 Elite was part of the 2016 “Fade to Black” collection, which did not feature the Protro enhancements.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

The Kobe 9 Elite Protro “Halo” features nearly all-white uppers, with black carbon fiber shanks at the midsole providing contrast. The sneakers utilize full Flyknit uppers, a design trend common in Nike’s performance sneakers from the 2010s. The high-top version includes a glossy TPU Swoosh and a tonal repeating print of the Kobe logo, while the Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro features an iridescent Swoosh. The Kobe 9 Elite Protro “Halo” will be released on Aug. 23, Kobe’s 46th birthday, at a retail price of $240, followed by the Kobe 9 Elite Low Protro “Halo” on Sept. 19, priced at $210.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

In June, Nike released the “Girl Dad” sneakers, honoring the special bond between Kobe and his daughter Gigi. This special edition of the Kobe 4 Protro was inspired by a memorable courtside moment shared between Kobe and Gigi. The sneakers featured a striking green color, black shoelaces, the words “Girl Dad” printed on the inner tongue, and Kobe Bryant’s signature on the side. The design was completed with a total orange insole, reflecting Kobe’s support for women’s basketball and the WNBA hoodie he famously wore. The “Girl Dad” sneakers quickly sold out, showing fans’ strong connection with Kobe and Gigi’s legacy.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

Nike highlights the sneaker’s premium materials, including a chrome heel clip, metallic silver branding, and an icy outsole, adding elegance to the design. The Kobe 4 Protro has been retooled for enhanced performance, featuring Nike’s Zoom cushioning technology and a springy foam midsole that houses Zoom Air in the heel for extra bounce, perfect for a spirited dad-versus-daughter basketball showdown.

Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro ‘Halo’ @jw0574

Vanessa Bryant shared the release news on Instagram, celebrating the shoes as a tribute to Kobe’s commitment and love for their daughters Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. She wrote, “For our Most Valuable Girl Dad. This Father’s Day, we celebrate Kobe’s commitment and love for our daughters with the Kobe 4 Protro ‘Girl Dad.'”

Special Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” sneakers in honor of the late Kobe Bryant and his late daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.

These sneaker releases are more than just shoes—they’re heartfelt tributes to love, family, and legacy. They let fans celebrate and keep Kobe’s memory alive in a meaningful way.

The post Nike Honors Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gigi with ‘Girl Dad’ and ‘Halo’ Protro Sneakers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Become a Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master and get a Galaxy Z Flip6

Posted on by

Aside from the actual sports events and the Olympians themselves, another popular activity in Paris during the Olympics is pin trading. You see the athletes and fans trying to get as many pins as they can, a practice that actually goes back to the 1924 Paris Olympics where it was a sign of international friendship. One of the games’ major sponsors, Samsung, is bringing a new spin to this tradition, and bringing prizes into the mix.

Designer: Samsung

The Samsung Olympic Games Pin Masters Challenge lets visitors in Paris get the chance to collect 16 specially created pins by playing different Galaxy AI-powered challenges at the Olympic™ rendezvous @ Samsung pop-up experiences all over the city. You can even get the chance to get the extremely rare Golden Pin in order to become an official Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master. If ever you’re in Paris, you have until September 8 to play this challenge.

The 16 pins were designed by French illustrator Jean André and they are actually made from recycled aluminum from old Galaxy smartphones. Eleven of these pins represent Olympic sports like breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing, and four Paralympic sports – blind football, para athletics, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis. There are also four Special Pins that feature three-dimensional landmarks of the city. And then, there is that rare and elusive Golden Pin.

If you’re able to collect all 16 pins, you’ll get a new Galaxy Z Flip6 and a raffle entry to win a round-trip package for two to attend the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Several have already become Pin Masters, and it looks like most of them are kids. They’re the ones who probably enjoyed playing the challenges to get the pins. If I was there in Paris, I would probably be all over this challenge, even just for the pins.

The post Become a Samsung Olympic Games Pin Master and get a Galaxy Z Flip6 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Breville’s new Oracle brews barista-quality cold and hot coffee at “Jet” speeds with precision

Posted on by

I’m a coffee buff but have a limited sense of good coffee. A simple machine keeps me satisfied but a nice brew at a café really tells the difference. I wouldn’t say I’m going to translate into someone keen on brewing specialty coffee at home anytime soon. But if you’ve been yearning for barista-level precision and control over your cup of coffee, you can settle for the new Breville Oracle Jet, which is now available in the US.

A keen coffee machine that can produce hot or cold-press espresso, most of it automatically, the Oracle Jet is Australia-based Breville’s first-of-its-kind option on the market. From how it appears, it’s an impressive coffee machine with a brushed stainless steel finish (available in a range of exclusive colors) featuring a touchscreen display that would let you control it in most cases. Interesting however is the fact that the intuitive machine automatically does the grinding, dosing, and tamping to eliminate the human intervention, yet enhancing the brew quality in return.

Designer: Breville

What really distinguishes Breville’s new entrant in the world of specialty brewing at home concept is its ability to brew perfect cold espresso drinks. In fact, it’s the first in the Breville’s portfolio that makes cold brew but then the price of the machines really makes me skip a beat. Not that I was going to make an effort to secure finances for purchase, but $2000 for the coffee machine will have many like me deterred and setting in return for a regular drip coffee maker.

This doesn’t at all mean that the Oracle Jet does not have its mouth where the money is. Of course, the price is nothing for a good shot of cold brew espresso that this machine has been designed and manufactured to achieve with little to no effort. A definitely lift up of your stature from a barista visitor to a full-blown coffee specialist at home!

As an auto cold-brew espresso machine, it requires a bit of doing to install it and get the beans and water calibrated. Thereafter the process is pretty automatic and straight-forward. The touchscreen panel onboard is where all the controls are for you to set the grind size, switch between hot and cold brew or add your choice of milk to the coffee. The controls on the screen are generated with the tech-based ‘barista guidance,” and the machine helps execute the moves to brew you a perfect temperature espresso every time of the day.

The post Breville’s new Oracle brews barista-quality cold and hot coffee at “Jet” speeds with precision first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tilting water cup concept gets you to drink more water by scaring you

Posted on by

We all know how important water is to our health, but simply knowing those facts doesn’t immediately translate to action. Most of us simply forgo drinking water until we feel thirsty or when it’s time to eat, even though we actually need to hydrate regularly throughout the day. It’s easy to forget to do that in during the busy day, and it’s also just as easy to snooze or skip alarms you set to remind you. You wouldn’t be so complacent, however, if your water cup or tumbler is fated to fall over unless you drink water at the right time, and that’s somewhat the kind of scare tactic that this concept device employs to try to get you to drink water more regularly.

Designers: Yuxiong Dong, Yaoxin Cai, Yongde Zhu, Kang Han

No, the cup thankfully doesn’t actually threaten to spill your water if you don’t rush to catch it, but it makes you think the tumbler will indeed tumble over if you don’t. It only tries to make you stand up and make the effort to walk to the device, presuming you put it far from your desk. The way this tilting water cup works is a mixture of simple mechanics and psychology, though some will probably have doubts about the efficacy of the latter.

The design is made up of two parts, the actual cup that holds the water and the base that does the mind trick. You simply put the cup of water on top of the base, turn the ring on the base to set the timer, and then go back to what you were doing. Once the timer runs out, an alarm presumably sounds and the surface of the base where the cup rests begins to tilt, forcing you to rush to its side and pick up the cup. And since you’re already there anyway, you might as well drink the water from it, which is the whole point of this rather odd system.

Of course, the cup won’t actually fall off since it’s magnetically attached to that base. The question is whether the contents will start spilling at that angle, so you might have to make sure not to fill it up in the first place. You might also wonder if it will be difficult to pick up the cup from the base considering it has to be held by strong magnets to prevent it from slipping when it tilts.

The biggest concern, however, will be whether the strategy actually works. It might be effective for the first few times, but once your mind has adjusted to it, it won’t be so easily tricked again. At that point, you might very well start ignoring it, too, just like those alarms and reminders, turning the titling water cup into an odd but pointless design.

The post Tilting water cup concept gets you to drink more water by scaring you first appeared on Yanko Design.

Skylight can brighten up your campsite with multi-directional lighting

Posted on by

When you’re going camping or staying outdoors overnight, having a light source is one of the most important yet sometimes most difficult things. You can of course have lamps and torches but they are only able to light a small portion of your space, depending of course on how large the site is or how many you are bringing. There are a lot more options now as more brands are getting into creating outdoor products.

Designer: Goal Zero

Skylight is a Telescoping Area Light that can illuminate a large part of your outdoor space, up to 300 feet to be specific. The 6,000 lumens device can give you “dramatically more visibility” than the usual camping lights that are available in the market. It also gives off a warmer light and can be raised from 4 to 12 feet, depending on how large of a space you need to illuminate.

The Skylight also has an IPX4 water resistant rating so even if it drizzles, you can still use it even as you take shelter in your tents or umbrellas. The multi-directional lighting is also pretty useful as well as the 4 brightness settings that you can choose from. The design of the 6 articulating petals of the area light makes it look like a dragonfly or insect that can fly around at any second.

It also has an internal battery that can make it last for 8 hours at its lowest brightness setting but you can also connect it into a Yeti to power it for 250 hours or a larger power station for longer. This means it can be used for power outages as well. The Skylight has a hard plastic protective case so it will be easier to carry it around.

The post Skylight can brighten up your campsite with multi-directional lighting first appeared on Yanko Design.