Tag Archives: iF Design 2020

This vacuum pump merges the functionality of ziplock bags with a hard casing to reduce your leftover food wastage!

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Storing leftovers in airtight zip-lock bags is a trick hard to follow. While mastering the dance of rolling your food tight and simultaneously sliding its bag closed might teach you patience, the prospect of leftovers always seems to circle back for seconds, and they’re just aren’t enough bags in the kitchen. Zhuhai Kelitong Electronic Co. Ltd., the company that brought us electric wine openers, has recently been recognized by iF Design for its new set of vacuum-sealed containers and automatic vacuum pump that render zip-lock bags a thing of the past.

Designed to provide food containers with high-vacuum storage to curb bacterial growth, Zhuhai’s vacuum storage system boasts that it can keep your leftovers sealed for three to five times longer than the standard food storage container. The hard plastic containers come with pre-delineated food zones that help users separate their food items and with a vacuum-sealed lid that works as the base for the accompanying pump. Zhuhai designed the vacuum pump to be automatic so that once it’s placed on top of a container’s lid and activated, the pump immediately begins pulling out the excess air inside of the container until it reaches a high-vacuum degree of -0.03 Mpa.

Each food storage container is constructed using FDA-approved Tritan materials, which means that the plastic used is BPA-free and can safely be reheated in microwave ovens. The designers built the food containers to be 70% lighter than common glassware containers so that once the containers have been vacuum-sealed, they can just as easily go into the lunch box and be transported anywhere. Once the container is ready for use again, the lid comes easily apart from the container so that each component can be properly cleaned and prepared for its next use.

Designer: Zhuhai Kelitong Electronic Co. Ltd.

Coming in three parts, each vacuum pump and lid attach to different containers.

Once the vacuum pump is activated, then excess air that could lead to bacterial growth is sucked up from the container.

An automatic vacuum pump works by draining in the container’s excess air until a vacuum degree of -0.03 Mpa is reached.

Each food storage container can be easily disassembled and put back together for cleaning and storing.

Designed to be 70% lighter than average glass food storage containers, these containers from Zhuhai are perfect to bring for lunch.

Samsung’s Dual Oven gets an upgrade with matte aesthetics, new UI & seemingly invisible glass!

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This year Samsung has been moving in the direction of bespoke and customized appliances. In 2020, we all spent more time at home, and therefore the interaction with appliances significantly increased (remember the banana bread phase?) which led to many of us wanting to upgrade the otherwise ignored mundane products – ovens being one of them. They are traditionally bulky but Samsung changed that with its dual cook oven which gave it a sleek makeover. Now the brand has teamed up with Relvāokellermann to take it one step further and seamlessly integrate it into your surroundings to a point that they make the glass “disappear”!  Called the Infinite Line Dual Cook,  this design will be a part of the brand’s new mainline built-in oven.

The Infinite Line Dual Cook is designed for better integration within the furniture while simultaneously offering an exceptional user experience. The designers believed in the need to find new ways of innovation, not only centered in technology but more towards culture and behavioral changes in society which echoes the sentiments of JaeSeung Lee (President & Head of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Appliances Division) who said, “Consumers, especially millennials, are spending more time at home and demanding products that enhance their everyday lives with customized features. Great, reliable performance is now a basic expectation. The standard for a better, smarter home experience is now decided by how closely appliances can be ‘fit’ to various customer lifestyles,” and that is where form can upgrade the functionality of tech.

Kitchen and living room boundaries are increasingly disappearing due to mass urbanization and the lack of space in big cities – so how do ovens fit in the new, modern, interior architecture set up? To address this contemporary issue, the Infinite Line Dual Cook oven was created to blend harmoniously into the living environment. It showcases advances in materials and finishings, takes into account that appliances have become more haptic, and the popularity of matte surfaces due to their aesthetic. The best part? The perfectly clear glass’s reflection was made to disappear by the design team. “By reducing the size of the window without compromising the view of the consumer while cooking and adding a satin finish to the door’s surface, it was possible to design an oven that performs exceptionally while in use but merges with surrounding when not needed,” explained Kellermann and Ana Relvao.

Interaction with the appliance was the next priority. Nothing is more frustrating than a complicated digital interface when all you need to do is bake the banana bread at 350°F – the interaction should be very intuitive since appliances are fundamental tools. The protruded knob is the center for all the action and is supported by a matte touch screen where simple instructions can be followed. All interaction points are aligned into a control panel, almost like a cockpit, underlining the area from which a user controls the appliance. Think of how simple it is to use a microwave, the same simplicity is being applied to ovens so you are able to operate them without looking as if you are solving a math problem.

Samsung’s Infinite Line Dual Cook oven has been awarded the iF Award 2020 and the IDEA Award 2020 in Bronze.

Designers: Gerhardt Kellermann and Ana Relvao

This sleek, accessible Braille Computer is like a MacBook for the visually impaired!

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Designed to make technology accessible but also desirable, the iF Design Award-winning Braille Computer from Hangzhou DesignDo Innovation brings the sleek design language of modern consumer technology products and introduces it to special-needs design. The computer works like any standard desktop or laptop and supports regular desktop and mobile operating systems and programs like note-taking software, mail software, e-book readers, and even internet browsers. The all-in-one computer comes with a keyboard for input on the top, and a dynamic braille display at the bottom that lets users read what’s on their screen, one line at a time. Joysticks on the left and right let users navigate through their computer too, allowing them to switch between apps, open files, and even scroll across documents and pages!

The Braille Computer’s design noticeably deviates from the design DNA of other computers for the visually impaired. Designed for functionality but also made to look and ‘feel’ desirable, the computer is small, portable, sleek, and features a satin-finish metallic body that looks and feels great to the touch, combined with concave-capped keys that make typing on the Braille Computer an absolute breeze! Designed with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built in, the computer can even connect to other peripherals, bridging the gap between consumer tech and special-needs tech!

The Braille Computer is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Hangzhou DesignDo Innovation

These innovative jelly encased medicines let you swallow pills without drinking water!

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Let’s be honest, it would be a lot more fun to take medicines if they were wrapped in Haribo gummy bears. While it is mainly a problem to get children to swallow tablets, I know many adults too who will go to any lengths to swap their tablets with syrup. This water-free medicine jelly is a life savior for many!

Not only does this medicine design make swallowing easier, but it also addresses the larger problem of access to clean water in poorer countries. Since drinking water is a problem, even if medicines are available, it is harmful to people to be taking them with contaminated water. This innovative jelly medicine is created to be water-free so people don’t have to pick between curing themselves or adding on to existing health risks. The jelly is the same size as a sip of water so the patient wont need to drink anything when taking the medicine. “Poor hygiene and poor water quality are causes of many diseases, including cholera and typhoid fever. When taking medicine in such conditions, there is a risk of acquiring additional illness if the medication is taken with unsanitary water. Jelly medicine eliminates this hygienic problem because it can be easily swallowed without water,” says the designer.

Jelly medicine is individually packaged to minimize air contact and to prevent almost oxidation of nutrients from the moment it comes into contact with oxygen. It also provides customized medicines by individually tailoring the packaging. You can order medicines for specific diseases and age groups instead of having all tablets coming separately and wasting resources. The aim of this water-free jelly medicine is to ensure that people in developing countries do not needlessly suffer from diseases caused by contaminated water.

This design was awarded the iF Talent Design Award and certified as an internationally beneficial design.

Designer: Jeongho Oh, Dongho Choi, and Ryangtak Oh

This geometric pet house will ease your separation anxiety

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Dog houses are can be too high-end looking or too casual and either way, they draw attention in the room. If you are someone who wants to always be able to see their pets and are equally particular about your interior design aesthetic, then the Casano dog house was made for you!

Casano has a light and airy feel that extends to the room it is placed in, especially if you have a smaller apartment then it is a well-designed alternative to the traditional bulky dog house. It gives your pet a natural territorial separation while blending in seamlessly with your interior settings. It is created with a simple black iron frame that adds minimal elegance to your existing decor. The choice of using an iron frame for the build was so that the upkeep and care can be minimal. The floorboard is made of 15 mm thick laminated maple lumber – you can add a cushion to match the color scheme and for a little extra comfort.

The geometric visuals of the Casano make it stand out from the out pet houses in the market. Pets will have a feeling of “my space” where they can wind down and have some distance from the people in the house while the owners can put their separation anxiety at rest because they will still be able to see their best friend.

Casano is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Kazutoshi Miura of Miuka Design

Animal psychology governs the design of this smart pet water dispenser

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Have you ever walked into someone’s house or office and they have this cool showpiece with a water fountain? I am talking about those mini zen gardens or crazy shapes that have constant flowing water – it always catches your attention if you see it. That same behavior works for pets too actually, they are more attracted to flowing water than a stagnant water bowl and this award-winning smart pet water dispenser does exactly that!

The PetX smart pet water dispenser designed by Beijing Kitten&Puppy Technology Co. was one of the iF Design Awards 2020 winners and rightfully so – they used the simplest animal behavioral psychology pattern and applied it to a product that worked for pets. Instead of a regular water bowl, this smart water dispenser provides clean running water for pets anytime. Flowing water is better for your pet’s health as still water has a higher chance of becoming contaminated and leading to things like urinary tract infections. Your pets are likely to drink more water due to the innovative and inviting mechanism.

The brand has a patented water flow structure designed for keeping the water clean by filtering impurities and keeping the volume below 30dB. The form of the product has a 7° slope which works universally i.e. pets with different face shapes will be able to comfortably drink water and you won’t have to buy separate bowls for multiple pets. The PetX water dispenser offers access to the IoT and has a voice control feature as well. The water frequency can be automatically switched for day and nighttime use and in case of a power failure, the water tray will still store 100 ml so your pets can remain hydrated. You’ve reached the end of this article and this is a reminder for you and your pet to drink some water.

The PetX smart water dispenser is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Beijing Kitten&Puppy Technology Co.

This 3D-printed protector lets you shift your plants between nurseries without damaging the roots

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I assume the word ‘transplant’ had something to do with plants to begin with, which makes it a pretty fitting word to describe what the Roots Protector does… it helps with transplanting. Printed using PLA bio-filament, the Roots Protector is a tiny sapling-container that helps plants grow into the soil but prepares them for being uprooted and replanted. The protector, which acts as a cage that the plant’s roots grow through, helps gardeners uproot plants safely, by letting you directly lift them off in a way that doesn’t damage the plant’s base. The protector comes with an upper lip that one can hold while pulling up, and a mesh base that safeguards the plant’s primary roots from damage. Once transplanted, the PLA polymer begins biodegrading in a matter of 2-3 months as the plant grows older. By the time the plant’s completely grown, the protector will have completely broken down and decomposed into natural matter.

The Roots Protector is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: icamp Product Design

A simple design-upgrade to the staircase handrail allows elders to take a break while climbing

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One of my favorite things in the world is stumbling across a design that’s both creative yet so painfully obvious, it makes me wonder why nobody thought of it before. A staircase handrail serves two important purposes. It A. acts as a barrier between flights of stairs, so you don’t accidentally fall over and hurt yourself, and B. more importantly, it gives you a resting platform for your hands, allowing you to take support as you climb down. Here’s my question. What if you could reinterpret the word ‘support’ as something that’s more encompassing and isn’t limited to one’s hands?

The Rest For A While staircase turns portions of the handrail into a resting zone for people who get tired of climbing flights of stairs. At the landing of every flight of stairs, the handrail extends downward into a makeshift seat with a backrest, allowing senior citizens or people with disabilities to take a short break from climbing long flights of stairs. It’s a simple solution that, in the absence of elevators, gives people a well-deserved moment of respite to regather energy for the next flight of stairs.

The ‘Rest For A While’ Staircase Handrail is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Shenzhen Jinwei Innovation Design Company

Lenovo’s cloud-based hard-drive gives you unlimited, expandable storage in your palm

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So Google really screwed me over the other day. I’ve owned my Pixel 2 for over two years and by far its most compelling feature has been the fact that Google promised unlimited storage for my photos, but of late, Google’s been reneging on that promise. My Google Photos account is tied to my Google Drive account, and here lies my problem. I was promised unlimited storage for my photos, but my Google Drive has limited storage, which it distributes to my photos, as well as to my Gmail… and Google isn’t distinguishing between the two services anymore. It’s like saying you get unlimited sugar with your coffee, but your coffee already has sugar in it, and there’s no sugar available separately. I’d normally consider shelling out money for expanding my Google Drive’s storage, but the fact that it’s a monthly subscription and not a one-time fee is a bit of a dealbreaker.

If anyone is, like me, against the idea of paying monthly for cloud-storage, Lenovo may have stumbled across an interesting idea. The Lenovo Awan is a conceptual hard-drive that basically lets you carry your dedicated cloud server along with you. Rather than being an external hard-disk or SSD, the Lenovo Awan is basically a plug-and-use device that connects you to a cloud-drive. Buy the Awan and you get access to cloud storage with a one-time payment. When you connect the Awan to a machine like a laptop or computer, you’re actually connecting it to the cloud. Lenovo’s Awan, in theory, brings cloud storage into something that’s a piece of hardware that you can carry around with you and plug into devices. The advantage? Not having to pay pesky subscription fees that can often end up costing you thousands of dollars over the years. Besides, in theory, since the Awan provides cloud storage, and isn’t a storage drive itself, you can easily upgrade the amount of storage by paying a top-up fee. The Awan’s screen tells you how much storage you have, and an in-display fingerprint sensor lets you secure your data. Pretty convenient, eh? Rather than buying a drive, you buy access to cloud storage! And yes, there’s probably an app for it, but hear me out. Do you really want to install an app on every device you use to access your files? The Lenovo Awan gives you the convenience of plug-and-use storage… and no annoying app-update notifications!

The Lenovo Awan Storage is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Lenovo

Why lust after an AirPower mat when this flexible device lets you charge and dock all your devices

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Rumor has it that the AirPower mat, which Apple suddenly and surreptitiously axed behind closed doors, isn’t quite dead yet. The company is reportedly working on a smaller wireless charging mat, but until Tim steps up on stage (or in front of a video camera) and makes the announcement, let’s just re-evaluate our alternatives… like this 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat which works as an angled dock for your devices too.

The 3-in-1 mat is named for its ability to charge 3 devices at once. The foldable mat also flips open into an angled stand, becoming an easel for your devices. A three-pronged LED indicator on top points at three separate charging zones where you can place your devices. You can either charge your phone in portrait or in landscape, although the former frees up space at the bottom for a pair of AirPods. The mat even comes with a dedicated charging zone on the top right for your Apple Watch, allowing you to even secure it in place using a cutout at the base to slide your band through. All in all, the charger is as flat as an AirPower mat and can handle as many devices, but it’s much more versatile, allowing you to not just charge your devices but dock them too in a way that makes them easier to view while kept on a desk or bedside table. ‘Classy’, as Jim Halpert would say.

The 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Shenzhen Renqing Excellent Technology Co., Ltd.