Netflix Necon Pro gaming controller with its multi-directional control input could be a part of our reality soon!

Posted on 08/09/2021 by Gaurav Sood

A cool gaming controller for the most popular video streaming service will bring an unprecedented level of control to the in-game action for hours of fun on the go.

Netflix has redefined streaming content in more ways than one for more than a decade now. The platform has a whopping 207.64 million paid subscribers worldwide as of the first quarter of 2021 as reported by Statista. But according to internal reports, Netflix’s growth graph is on a flattening trajectory in the last couple of years, and the next big avenue to look forward to is gaming. The gaming service will be a part of the current Netflix portfolio and will be offered at no extra cost to the subscribers. This will give Netflix an edge over current competitors like Disney+, Amazon Prime Videos and Apple TV+.

The cloud gaming service is set to debut early next year and we could expect an announcement by the end of this year too. This gives the perfect opportunity to concept designers for coming up with Netflix branded gaming accessories that will ultimately brace the platform just like Google Stadia, Xbox Gaming pass, Nividia GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna. The gaming controller has a very distinct form factor – something akin to the Nintendo Joy-Con controllers but still very unique in its own rights.

Designers Seong Bin Yoon and Cheolhee Lee have envisioned the video streaming service to get a gaming controller that is good for casual gaming as well as AR and VR-assisted gaming fun. The vertical grip positioning with bumper buttons on the sides coincides with that vision for the freedom of movement in all directions. The front has the customary joystick, directional pad and buttons for in-game input. Interestingly the left and right sections of the controller can move independently for a more immersive game input and better control in the game for tactical advantage.

On both sides, there are volume dial buttons, so I’m assuming the controller can beam stereo audio through the speaker-like vents on the bottom front on both sides. This cool Netflix cloud gaming controller design gets a thumbs up from my side. For sure it is a refreshing take on the gaming controller accessories which have not evolved much in terms of design over these years. Moreover, it aptly matches the distinct image of Netflix as a video streaming platform!

Designer: Seong Bin Yoon and Cheolhee Lee

The post Netflix Necon Pro gaming controller with its multi-directional control input could be a part of our reality soon! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This spaceship-inspired reverse humidifier is a design every space enthusiast really needs!

Posted on 30/06/2021 by Neha Mistry

If you have ever wandered through Muji playing with the beautiful vapor that escapes from its minimal humidifiers, you know this design is a keeper! Meet the HUM! – a reverse humidifier that actually puts all that vapor to good use. The interesting visual scenario of the spaceship with the vapor is a mesmerizing scenario I cannot stop watching!

Humidifiers by default are a must-have in our homes, and given the core functionality of the design, we rarely see more than a rectangular box. The usual upward humidifying activity gets inverted here, with the vapor escaping through a perforated bottom. Form follows function, but HUM! is the perfect example of how form amplifies engagement! As an added cool feature, the intensity of humidification increases when you lift the spaceship body, reinforcing the visual of a rocket taking off into space.

The body of the humidifier holds the water in the body of the rocket, with a light inside it that keeps your gadget lit up when in use. The transparent body also showcases the water levels so you know when your rocket may run out of steam.

Designer: Cheolhee Lee and Minsu Kim

The Nike AirBuddy drone gives you an airborne AI-powered trainer that tracks your workout

Posted on 09/06/2021 by Sarang Sheth

Nike AirBuddy Drone

Designed as a response to several restrictions imposed during the lockdown, the NIKE AIRBUDDY is a conceptual drone that ‘spots’ you while you exercise. It can be carried around via a shoulder-strap located on the base of the drone, and can be deployed anywhere. Once in the air, the drone connects with your Nike Fitness App and tracks your performance, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of your routine at the end.

Nike AirBuddy Drone

The drone embodies a clean, sophisticated design language, with 4 rotors branching out of a capsule-shaped body. The drone’s body is outfitted with a single camera that acts as a watchful eye, observing every movement you make like a trainer would. This would hint at the fact that the drone doesn’t come with any obstacle avoidance, so it’s best used in open fields (as opposed to densely forested parks or the woods). The AirBuddy does come with a light-strip located right in front of its camera, which means for the most part it can see what’s in front of it, avoiding obstacles as it flies forwards. Just in case the drone suffers wear and tear, the AirBuddy’s modular design solves this problem as the propellers are detachable and can be easily replaced with newer parts if they ever do get damaged.

Nike AirBuddy Drone

The AirBuddy is a conceptual drone designed by South Korea-based designer Cheolhee Lee. It features a customizable design that allows users to choose their own color-ways to match their workout-garments and gear, and although conceptual, sounds like quite a flex from a company that has always been at the forefront of innovation, having also worked on laceless shoes in the past, which were recently upgraded with the world’s first-ever hands-free shoes!

Designer: Cheolhee Lee

Nike AirBuddy Drone

With detachable storage units and a lightweight frame, this e-bike design looks to the future for inspiration!

Posted on 11/01/2021 by Shawn McNulty-Kowal

Electric bikes have hit a stride in cities across the globe, promising eco-alternative modes of transportation to practically every street corner. Capable of turning a 40-minute walk into a 10-minute ride, e-bikes save both time and energy for a lot of people who live in larger cities. GEO, a new e-bike design from a trio of creatives based in South Korea, looks to futuristic electric bike frames for storage, structural, and functional inspiration. Cheolhee Lee, Dahae Lee, and Hyewon Park designed GEO based on the geometry of a typical bicycle.

Looking at GEO head-on, three circles catch the eye – the bike’s two wheels and round middle area that doubles as a storage unit and might also contain the e-bike’s power supply. The e-bike’s center circle manages to store a lot of the magic. Narrow in width for smooth pedaling, the center storage unit is completely detachable so riders can easily pack a lunch and bring an extra bathing suit for rides to the beach on those summer Fridays. Adding to the bike’s slender body, its dual-spoke wheels and sparse tubing give the frame a casual and approachable feel. The wheelset’s spokes meet each wheel’s central hub, connecting the bike’s chainstays to its pedals and gears, which join at the base of the bike’s center of gravity. The creative team’s decision to make the top and down tubes of GEO run parallel to one another gives the e-bike an unconventional, slim frame, evoking ideas of how a future electric bike’s structure might look years from now. Another nod to the world of future e-bikes is found smack dab in the middle of GEO’s handlebar, where riders will find the e-bike’s minimal digital interface that indicates riding speed, driving mode, battery level, along with the date and time.

For all the bike-buffs out there, GEO’s structure might get confusing when it comes to analyzing different measurements like fork rake, but the beauty of the e-bike’s design is that it lives somewhere in the future, far away from the constraints that might come with modern design. The slender e-bike packs a lot of power into its narrow and lightweight frame, which only adds to the bike’s overall portability value. In the 21st century, with getaways like tiny homes surging in popularity, and eco-tourism becoming the new golden standard for traveling, GEO joins the growing movement of a greener lifestyle with a simple bike frame that recycles all the clutter for a more agile and balanced electric bicycle.

Designers: Cheolhee Lee, Dahae Lee, & Hyewon Park