Tag Archives: Concept Designs

This AI Music Sketchbook Captures Ideas Before They Disappear

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You know that feeling when a melody pops into your head while you’re walking down the street, but by the time you pull out your phone to record it, the magic’s already gone? Or when you’re hit with a musical idea but don’t have the technical skills to translate it into something real? That frustrating gap between inspiration and creation is exactly what designer Woojin Jang is trying to bridge with their concept project, Everglow.

Think of it as a sketchbook, but for sound. Just like artists carry notebooks to capture visual ideas before they fade, Everglow is designed to help musicians and creators capture sonic inspiration in real time. The concept combines a physical hardware interface with generative AI technology, creating something that feels both wonderfully tactile and futuristic at the same time.

Designer: Woojin Jang

What makes this particularly interesting is how it rethinks the relationship between humans and music-making tools. Traditional instruments require years of practice, and digital audio workstations can feel overwhelming with their endless menus and options. Everglow sits somewhere in between (hence the design name “InBetween”), offering immediate access to sound creation without the steep learning curve.

The hardware interface is key here. Instead of clicking around on a screen or fumbling with software, you’d interact with physical controls that respond to your touch and gestures. This tactile element matters more than you might think. There’s something about physically manipulating sound that connects you to the creative process in a way that mousing around never quite achieves. It’s the difference between typing a description of a drawing and actually sketching it with your hands.

But the real innovation happens when you pair that physical expressiveness with AI-generated sound. The generative system doesn’t just play preset sounds or samples. Instead, it responds to your input by creating and shaping audio in real time, almost like having a collaborative partner who instantly understands where you’re trying to go musically. You guide it with your gestures and adjustments, and it fills in the gaps, suggesting possibilities you might not have considered. This approach democratizes music creation in a fascinating way. You don’t need to know music theory or have mastered an instrument to explore sonic ideas. The concept suggests a world where musical literacy isn’t a prerequisite for musical expression, where the barrier between “I hear something in my head” and “here’s what it sounds like” becomes paper-thin.

Of course, as a concept, Everglow exists in that exciting space where possibility meets imagination. We’re not looking at a finished product you can buy tomorrow, but rather a vision of what music-making tools could become. That’s what makes design concepts so valuable. They push our thinking forward, challenge assumptions about how things should work, and inspire both creators and technologists to pursue new directions.

The timing feels right, too. We’re living in an era where AI is rapidly transforming creative tools, from image generation to writing assistance. Music has been part of this evolution, but often in ways that feel disconnected from the physical, intuitive experience of making sound. Everglow suggests a different path, one where AI enhances rather than replaces the human touch, where technology becomes invisible enough that you can focus on the creative flow rather than the technical obstacles.

Whether or not Everglow itself becomes a reality, the questions it raises are worth sitting with. How do we design tools that capture the fleeting nature of inspiration? What’s the right balance between human control and AI assistance in creative work? And how can we make music creation feel as natural and immediate as doodling in a notebook? For anyone who’s ever had a musical idea slip away before they could catch it, concepts like this offer a glimpse of a more intuitive future. One where the tools get out of the way, and the space between imagination and creation becomes just a little bit smaller.

The post This AI Music Sketchbook Captures Ideas Before They Disappear first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Looped Umbrella Stand Soaks Up Rain and Looks Like Art

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There’s something quietly revolutionary happening in the world of everyday objects, and it starts with something as humble as where you put your umbrella. Arihant Israni and Anoushka Braganza have created InBetween, a piece that challenges our assumptions about what functional design can be. It’s not just a place to stash wet umbrellas. It’s a whole vibe.

Let’s be honest: most umbrella stands are afterthoughts. They’re plastic cylinders hiding in corners, collecting dust and forgotten receipts. But what if that neglected corner could hold something beautiful? What if the act of coming home on a rainy day could feel a little more intentional, a little more like a ritual worth noticing?

Designers: Arihant Israni and Anoushka Braganza

That’s where InBetween comes in. The design is built around flowing loops that curve and connect, creating this continuous rhythm that feels almost hypnotic. It’s sculptural in a way that makes you stop and look twice. The loops aren’t just aesthetic choices, they’re functional, too, each one cradling an umbrella while creating negative space that gives the whole piece a sense of movement. Even when it’s sitting still, it feels alive.

The designers say the form is inspired by the idea of transitions, those moments between leaving and arriving, between chaos and calm. And honestly? You can see it. There’s something about the way the curves flow into each other that captures that feeling of moving through your day, of pausing to shake off the rain before stepping into your space. It’s design that understands that our homes aren’t just backdrops. They’re where we reset, where we breathe.

Now let’s talk about the base, because this is where things get really interesting. It’s made from Diatomaceous Earth, which sounds incredibly science-y but is actually just fossilized algae. And here’s the genius part: it’s naturally porous and absorbent, which means it soaks up all that rainwater dripping off your umbrella without you having to do anything. No puddles, no mess, no gross waterlogged mats that smell like mildew after a week. The material is also antimicrobial, so it resists mold and odor naturally. It dries fast, stays clean, and if it ever needs refreshing, you just give it a light wipe or a gentle sanding. That’s it. In a world where everything seems to require constant maintenance and upkeep, there’s something deeply satisfying about a product that just works quietly in the background.

But beyond the practical magic, there’s a conceptual layer here that makes InBetween feel special. The base becomes this mediator between outside and inside, between the storm you just walked through and the calm you’re entering. It’s material intelligence meeting emotional design, and it works on both levels.

Visually, the stand fits into almost any space. The minimalist aesthetic and organic geometry mean it doesn’t scream for attention, but it definitely holds its own. Whether you’re living in a sleek modern apartment, a cozy studio, or something in between (pun intended), it adapts. The deep, muted burgundy tones in the images give it warmth without being loud. It’s the kind of piece that elevates a space just by existing in it.

What really gets me about InBetween is how it reframes something we barely think about. We’re so used to design being about big statements, about the couch or the coffee table or the art on the wall. But what about all the little moments? What about the act of setting down your umbrella when you get home, shaking off the rain, taking a breath before you move further into your day? InBetween turns that mundane gesture into something worth noticing. It’s a reminder that thoughtful design doesn’t have to be loud or expensive or complicated. Sometimes it’s just about paying attention to the details, about understanding that every object in our lives has the potential to be more than just functional.

In a culture obsessed with productivity and optimization, there’s something radical about slowing down enough to appreciate the poetry of an umbrella stand. InBetween proves that even the most ordinary objects can become opportunities for beauty, mindfulness, and a little bit of wonder. And honestly? We could all use more of that.

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AI Lantern Speaker Designed to Reduce Anxiety With Light and Sound

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Most home gadgets are designed for function, not feeling or emotional connection. Lamps and speakers fill their roles effectively enough, but rarely do they offer comfort or companionship during quiet nights or moments when you need a little extra calm to soothe anxiety. Finding a device that addresses both practical needs and emotional well-being remains surprisingly difficult in modern home technology.

Calmtern reimagines what a home object can be by blending a portable lantern with an AI speaker in one thoughtful package. It turns light and sound into a source of emotional support, making every room feel a little more welcoming and a lot more personal. The concept is simple yet powerful: bring comfort wherever you go in your home, whenever you need it most.

Designer: Hyun Jin Oh

Calmtern’s silhouette is inspired by classic lanterns, with a translucent upper body for soft, diffused light and a ribbed base that houses the speaker and controls. The integrated handle makes it easy to carry from room to room, hang on a minimalist stand, or set on a bedside table wherever comfort is needed. The portable form invites movement and flexibility throughout your daily routine.

The minimalist design, matte white finish, and lack of visible branding let Calmtern blend into any space seamlessly, from modern apartments to cozy bedrooms and hallways. The ribbed texture provides visual interest and tactile grip, while the clean silhouette feels timeless rather than trendy. It’s a device that looks as good on display as it does tucked away when not in use.

The lantern emits a gentle, warm glow that reduces anxiety and creates a cozy atmosphere perfect for late-night reading, winding down before bed, or simply making a dark room feel safe and inviting. Touch controls on the top panel make it easy to adjust brightness or volume without fumbling for switches or apps in the dark when you’re half asleep.

Calmtern is designed to move with you throughout your daily life and routines. Use it as a reading lamp beside your favorite chair, a bedside companion that plays calming sounds for sleep, or a portable speaker for music and podcasts in any room. The rechargeable design means it’s just as useful on a patio as in a hallway, and the gentle light is ideal for nighttime trips.

Beyond practical functionality, Calmtern is a calming presence that helps reduce feelings of loneliness or anxiety when living alone, making the home feel warmer and more inviting during difficult moments. The combination of soft light, smart sound, and intuitive controls creates a daily ritual of comfort and relaxation that goes beyond what typical smart home devices offer users.

The sculptural form and ambient glow turn Calmtern into a visual anchor for any room, sparking conversation and encouraging moments of pause in otherwise hectic days. For anyone who wants their home to feel as good as it looks while maintaining simplicity and emotional comfort, this concept offers a compelling vision of design where technology and well-being move together naturally.

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This Japanese Architect Just Designed Dubai’s Most Poetic Museum

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Dubai has never been shy about big statements. We’ve seen the tallest building, the largest mall, and artificial islands shaped like palm trees. But something different just emerged on the waters of Dubai Creek, and honestly, it’s making me think about museums in a completely new way.

Japanese architect Tadao Ando has unveiled the design for an art museum in Dubai, which will be housed in a rounded, twisting building overlooking the emirate’s natural saltwater creek. If you’re not familiar with Ando, imagine someone who speaks through concrete and light the way poets speak through words. He received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1995, which is basically the Nobel Prize for architects, and his work has this incredible ability to make you feel something before you even understand what you’re looking at.

Designer: Tadao Ando

The Dubai Museum of Art, affectionately called DUMA, does something I find completely captivating. Its distinctive silhouette draws on the sea and pearls and will be raised on a circular platform that extends over Dubai Creek. There’s something romantic about a museum that literally floats above water, especially in a city that was built on pearl diving long before it became synonymous with skyscrapers and luxury.

What strikes me most about Ando’s design is how it refuses to scream for attention. Renders of the five-storey Dubai Museum of Art reveal a curving building finished with white walls, punctuated by triangular windows as they swoop and twist upwards. It’s like watching fabric caught in a gentle wind, frozen mid-movement. The white exterior isn’t trying to compete with Dubai’s glittering towers. Instead, it seems to whisper while everything else shouts.

The interior is where Ando’s signature magic happens. Gallery spaces will be located on the first and second floors, illuminated by a central circular skylight designed to cast light with a pearl-like shimmer. Can you imagine walking through an art gallery where the light itself feels like part of the collection? That shimmer effect, mimicking the pearl that inspired the building’s shell, creates this dreamy atmosphere where contemporary art and natural light dance together.

What I love about this project is how deeply it connects to Dubai’s actual history, not just its futuristic ambitions. The museum’s distinctive, curved shell represents the pearl, a symbol of Dubai’s heritage and its historic relationship with the sea. Before oil, before the towers, Dubai’s wealth came from pearl diving in these very waters. Ando didn’t just design a building. He designed a memory.

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Ando for Dubai-based conglomerate Al-Futtaim Group, Dubai Museum of Art, also known as DUMA, is hoped to become a cultural landmark for artists and art enthusiasts. And it’s not just for looking at pretty things. The museum will feature artist talks, panel discussions, educational programs, and even art fairs. There’s also a library and study rooms specifically designed to nurture the next generation of creative minds. Omar Al Futtaim, CEO of the group behind this project, spoke beautifully about choosing Ando for this vision. He expressed pride in working with the renowned architect, noting how Ando’s work captures something intangible through light, silence, and emotional depth. For Dubai, this museum represents a peaceful conversation between the natural world, water, and human creativity.

There’s this gorgeous tension in Ando’s work where massive concrete structures somehow feel delicate and contemplative. At sunset, the building’s surface absorbs the shifting amber tones of the sky, softening its engineered geometry into something quietly atmospheric. I can already picture collectors and art lovers sitting in that third-floor restaurant, watching the creek turn golden, surrounded by walls that change color with the light.

What makes this museum feel important isn’t just its design or its floating platform. It’s what it represents for Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, emphasized how this cultural addition strengthens the city’s ambition to become a global center for creativity and culture while establishing its significance in the contemporary art world. The city is evolving from a place you visit for shopping and spectacle into somewhere you go for culture and contemplation.

The Dubai Museum of Art proves that the most powerful architecture doesn’t need to be the tallest or the flashiest. Sometimes it just needs to tell a story, capture light beautifully, and create a space where art and humanity can have a meaningful conversation. Ando has done exactly that, and I can’t wait to see this pearl shimmer above the creek.

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Projector and mini-fridge in one concept will solve problems of snackish couch potatoes

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If you ask people how they spend their rest days or leisure time, most will probably say go to a mall and shop, meet up with friends, or travel. But there are also homebuddies like me who would say an ideal rest day is consuming media, whether it’s a book, a TV show, a movie, and snacking while doing it. There are products and concepts that will appeal to couch potatoes who love that kind of alone time.

Designer: Changhwi Kim

fits is one such concept that will, well, fit, that kind of lifestyle. Basically it’s a media projector and a refrigerator in one compact device. You will be able to watch whatever your heart desires and if you get snacky (which of course, you will eventually become), then you just have to reach over and get whatever it is you stored in the mini fridge.

The device also has an adjustable height function so whatever position you want to take, you can calibrate it to the perfect position. The product renders show that it looks just like a typical mini fridge but with a projector on top. In theory, you can also connect it to an app that will give you content recommendations and even suggest snacks that will go with it.

While most of the time I will consume media on my phone or tablet while lying in bed, it will of course be more convenient if I had a mini fridge nearby as I’m watching. So this will probably be marketable for people like me.

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Noise-canceling headphone concept creates sound bubble for clearer conversations

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When you need to have a serious conversation with someone or a small group, you probably need to find a place that has a private room or where there will only be a few people. But for times when you have no choice but to have it in a not so quiet place, then you probably wish you had a cone of silence so you can drown out other people’s voices while still being able to hear what your companions are saying.

Designers: Tuochao Chen, Malek Itani, Sefik Emre Eskimez

Well that might soon come true if this concept by the engineers at the University of Washington becomes a reality. The headphones is powered by AI and has the power to filter out the noise from as far as a few feet away so you’ll still be able to hear the conversation around you. It creates an imaginary “sound bubble” so you can focus on what you need to hear.

The noise-canceling headphones has six microphones on its headband, with a small onboard computer running a neural network. It will be able to analyze the distance from various sound sources around you. The ones that are farther away will be filtered out while the sounds closer to you will be amplified. If they come in within your imaginary bubble, you’ll be able to hear them clearly too.

It’s an interesting device to have especially if you have a lot of meetings or conversations outside. It would look strange though to have a group of people talking and all wearing headphones. They are working on smaller versions like earbuds or even hearing aids so that should work better.

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Tricorder-like device concept envisions a futuristic portable health scanner

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Smartphones and smartwatches today have a variety of sensors and apps that give us a glimpse of our health. We can track heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and even temperatures, and combine that data to create a more holistic picture and actionable steps. Of course, nothing beats professional medical equipment, but we can’t carry those around with us.

Phones and wearables might be convenient, but they don’t always offer the best user experience for specific needs. This concept device, for example, tries to imagine a dedicated health scanner that is able to cram more features while still retaining its portable size. And it even looks and feels quite advanced to boot!

Designer: Vadim Trofimenko

When talking about handheld scanning devices, many sci-fi and pop culture buffs will probably think of Star Trek tricorders. These fictional devices can detect and analyze almost anything, from materials to creatures to people. Of course, we haven’t yet reached that level of technology, but we’re getting pretty close thanks to computer vision and AI.

The MediScan Pro concept design tries to deliver some of that futuristic experience to the realm of personal health. It’s a pocket-sized metal box that offers more specialized functionality than generic smartphones and smartwatches, at least in theory. Based on the concept, it still scans your finger to get data, similar to how IR and laser scanners work today.

In terms of design, the MediScan Pro has a bit of a retro-futuristic aesthetic. It’s quite box and angular, not hiding the fact that it’s a technological product. There’s a sizeable fingerprint scanner near the top, a small display in the middle, and buttons and wheels at the bottom for controlling the devices. It has an aluminum body but, curiously, the textured surface on its back is supposed to be made from recycled plastic.

Much of the functionality it tries to offer is, to be honest, already available today, especially with the limited data you can glean from a fingerprint. It also uses AI to evaluate the data, give you recommendations, or contact your health provider. The difference from smartphones and smartwatches that already exist today is that MediScan Pro offers a distraction-free experience so you don’t suddenly forget what you’re doing because of the flood of notifications and alerts that greet you.

One unrealistic feature, however, is the use of holograms to display your health status. We’re not yet at that point where small devices can display detailed holograms, let alone ones that contain enough information at a glance. That’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility, but by then we might also have less bulky and more elegant designs by then.

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Food preservation unit concept should keep food fresh and lower energy consumption

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Most households cannot live without a refrigerator as most of their food is stored there. The problem of course is that it consumes a lot of electricity and even contributes to 30% of annual food waste since you sometimes forget you have this particular food stored there. There are product designers looking into creating food preservation units that will have less energy consumption and also reduce food waste.

Designer Name: Matéo Robin

Totem is one such food preservation unit that is able to integrate both modern and ancestral technologies. The inspiration actually comes from the Zeer pot which is what they used back in the day to keep food fresh by using evaporative cooling. This piece of furniture also uses that old school technology in certain parts due to its double clay walls. It is able to cut energy consumption in half, which is important for those who want lower electricity bills.

What’s also great about the Totem is that there are different compartments and segments to place different food. There’s a compartment for fruits and vegetables, for tubers, and for food that need ethylene like apples, bananas, and tomatoes. There’s the freezer compartment as well that has a vacuum between two walls to reduce heat loss. It also uses various materials and textures for those different storage zones.

The prototype of this food preservation unit looks like a typical kitchen cabinet that has different kinds of storage materials. The fact that this will potentially lower electricity bills is of course very attractive. Now as to whether food will actually still stay fresh and delicious, that is the question.

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Turntable-inspired graphics card concept adds a retro-futuristic flavor to desktops

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In the not-so-distant past, desktop computers were almost literal black boxes, closed and obscured from view. Although they’re still enclosed today to block the easy entry of dust and harmful particles, many desktop towers have adopted transparent designs that show everything inside.

This aesthetic is mostly to appeal to gamers who dress up their rigs with RGB lights and fancy-looking cooling systems, but the majority of the hardware you can see inside is hardly aesthetic (unless you go for that look). Graphics cards are slowly getting a facelift, but they still have a more technical and geeky look. This concept tries to challenge that status quo with a GPU design that could interest even non-gaming computer users.

Designer: Seunghun Lee

Of all the components inside a desktop computer, at least the ones built for gaming or heavy-duty creative work, the graphics card is the bulkiest, boxiest, and most visible one. Of course, that design is intentional because of the electronics it has to pack inside as well as the large fans that keep things from overheating. Such graphics cards today come with some RGB lighting or accents to make them look a little livelier, but the overall aesthetic remains the same.

G-Turn360 is a concept design that tries to add some visual appeal by taking inspiration from a completely different product. It chose the turntable, now a staple of the retro movement, as the foundation of the GPU redesign, combining mechanical elements into a more pleasing composition using basic geometric shapes. The cooling fan, after all, is already a large circle, so why not use that form to represent a record player on a box?

The concept also goes beyond that simple association with the record player. It completely throws out the conventional LED lighting which, in addition to being over the top, also prevents visual consistency. In fact, the G-Turn360 embraces a lighter color scheme, which better fits desktop designs that are moving away from dark and black boxes commonly associated with gaming gear.

The result is a graphics card design that somehow looks both retro and futuristic at the same time, adopting a clean aesthetic that can appeal to a more diverse audience. That said, the G-Turn360 concept could be sacrificing performance and safety with its unconventional design, so it’s definitely not something that can simply be used without some modification and careful engineering.

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AI-powered machine concept helps you sort and dispose of waste properly

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According to studies, almost 83% of our every day garbage is not sorted and recycled. That means a lot of it is just thrown into landfills and most of them just stay there rotting for years, maybe even decades. If we are able to properly sort them properly, even just a small percentage, and dispose of them in a more circular manner, including recycling and upcycling, then it will be better for our planet. The problem sometimes though is that people and even machines still don’t know how to sort and recycle properly.

Designer Name: Romain Pellat

With the advent of robotics and A.I, our garbage disposal should be better. This is what Binko aims to do. It is an AI-powered recycling robot that should help homes and offices to improve the way they do their waste disposal. It is able to auto-recognize the different kinds of garbage, sort them properly, and then crush them accordingly.

The concept device looks like a vendo machine but instead of it giving you your drink or snack of choice, you feed it your garbage. The machine and the accompanying app should be able to recognize more than 2.6 million waste items. Then it will compress or crush the garbage into small pieces and is able to hold an average of 8 times more resources. The system is able to sort it into one of the 7 transparent compartments that can be adapted according to location.

The app will be the first to launch and it can immediately help people into recognizing how to sort their garbage using the AI-powered photo recognition process. It also gives you a map of nearby recycling bins and even reminds you to take out your trash. That in itself is useful even as Binko will probably take more time to be created.

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