FUFU | GIZMODO.cz

It keeps you cool and chills your brewskis too.

Meet the Fufu. What it lacks in name catchiness, it makes up for with function. Designed to work as a tabletop air conditioner as well as a mini-fridge, Fufu is your ultimate weapon against a hot and sweaty summer day. With the proportions of a backpack, Fufu sits anywhere in your room, cooling your space as well as preserving your food and drinks. It uses two semiconductor cooling systems that run simultaneously, balancing energy efficiency and cooling efficiency together.

It’s worth noting that Fufu is more of a concept than a real product (otherwise I’d have 5 of them by now). With the design brief of being the ultimate appliance to beat the heat, Fufu keeps you cool externally as well as internally. Its small blower is about the same size as a tabletop fan, while the two-tiered fridge has enough space on the inside to store 12 cans of the beverage of your choice, or you could take a healthier route and store fruits and juices inside too.

Fufu comes with a pretty simple interface that gives you control over the air conditioning. A knob on the front lets you adjust wind direction by orienting fins just like you would on a car air conditioner, while a dial on the side lets you switch the air conditioner on, select wind speed, and desired temperature.

The Fufu’s schematic details how its cooling system would work on paper. Two semiconductor cooling systems work in tandem, creating an efficient balance between cooling the room (or the person sitting in front) and the fridge cabinet. Dual exhausts on the back pushes hot air out, which would probably mean Fufu is best suited for being kept near a window as opposed to against a wall. The designer has even hacked together a proof-of-concept based on the schematic, so maybe we’re close to seeing a working prototype soon?

Fufu was built for the Asian audience, Hong Kong in particular. Referred to as the Most Air-Conditioned City in the World, almost every flat and building in Hong Kong is outfitted with air conditioners that run around the clock, keeping rooms as much as 10°-15° cooler than the outdoors. You could also watch this video that details how “Hong Kong became a giant refrigerator” to understand why something like the Fufu would be an instant hit in the region!

Designer: FUFU

FUFU electronics 1

As a movie-lover who also lives in a small apartment, I have limited space (and funds) for a TV monitor. I have been browsing through options for portable projectors because, in addition to bringing the charm of a drive-in movie, it would fit more easily into my cramped lifestyle. When I saw the Beak laser projector, I was intrigued by its sleeker, cylinder design, as it was such a departure from the boxy-silhouette I expected from similar products.

As the name suggests, the Beak projector from FUFU pulls design inspiration from birds, particularly the toucan, which can neatly tuck its head and long beak against its neck. This is not a new concept: many technological devices draw from animal traits and physicality. In this case, the toucan’s beak helped improve the usability and convenience of the projector. In original designs, the projector’s “skull” needed to fully rotate, which is why the creators settled on the curved shape. However, the projector also needed a mirror so that the refracted image could show right-side-up on the ground. This need for a mirror became the inspiration for the Beak projector’s shape.

I appreciate this design choice as someone who would want a product that was as compact as possible. The Beak projector does not look smaller than comparable devices. In fact, I could probably find other projectors with similar dimensions and weight. The key difference though is that the Beak’s narrow, tall frame makes it easier to store. I could keep it on the corner of my desk or nightstand, and it wouldn’t take up as much surface area as a typical box-shaped projector. Intriguing design + innovative inspiration makes this projector a must-have for your needs!

Designer: FUFU