This tabletop clothes washing machine was designed to clean your undergarments and save water!

Posted on 02/04/2021 by Shawn McNulty-Kowal

Underwear and socks take up a lot more space in the washing machine than we might give them credit. Most of the time, I reason with the overflow of socks by removing a bulky pair of jeans or a couple of t-shirts, otherwise, I keep the socks in the laundry basket to await next week’s load. It’s a good thing I own a lot of socks. The creators from EZVALO have created a miniature washing machine to take care of our smaller undergarments called NIX so they don’t take up most of the space or get lost in the cycle of our regular loads of laundry.

NIX is a miniature washing machine specifically built to clean, dry, and sanitize our undergarments, like underwear, undershirts, and socks, using less water in the process. The miniature washing machine features an inclined drum that promises to save water while also making it easier for users to load, unload, and keep an eye on their laundry. Additionally, NIX comes with an integrated water tank, allowing users to place their miniature washing machine anywhere they’d like without the hassle of having to attach hoses or electrical appliances to a wall outlet. Featuring a vertical-lifting door, the designers behind NIX boast its futuristic and clean design scheme. Along the top of NIX’s main door, a digital display screen allows users to denote which cycle they’d like NIX to perform all through the use of haptic sensors.

Shortlisted for 2021’s iF Design Award, NIX is a miniature laundry machine that saves water and space so that users can clean their smaller clothing items like pairs of underwear and socks. Even besides that, NIX seems like an especially convenient household appliance for more urgent washing matters like accidental red wine spills or guacamole mishaps. Yes, I’m speaking from personal experience.

Designer: EZVALO

NIX comes with a vertical, touch-and-lift door that opens to a tilted drum for easy access to load and unload laundry.

The door’s main digital display screen indicates how much time is left in a wash or dry cycle and features the machine’s on/off and pause buttons.

With an integrated water tank, NIX does not require any additional hose attachments.

Users only have to lift the machine’s door for access to its drum.

Available in optic white, NIX’s design is clean and sophisticated.

Just lean forward and this electric skateboard uses in-wheel motors and imu sensors to move for you

Posted on 25/03/2021 by Shawn McNulty-Kowal

I’ve never had a knack for skateboarding, let alone any form of transportation that replaces my feet with tiny wheels. The combination of balancing my two feet on a ten-inch wide board and also kicking off the ground to move forward has never clicked. Nowadays, electric scooters make it easier to remain balanced and they’re making a major comeback in a lot of popular cities and electric skateboards might be on deck. For instance, VLND Design’s electric skateboard concept PLMM, which utilizes the user’s balance for ground movement, relies on intuitive usability so even I could use it.

PLMM accelerates, decelerates, moves in reverse, and changes direction according to the leaning tilt of the rider. By simply leaning forward, PLMM users accelerate the board, and to move backward, riders can slightly lean back and the skateboard adjusts accordingly. The designers wanted to make a skateboard that everyone found easy to use, so the built-in mechanics of the skateboard were manufactured with intuitive motion in mind. Four in-wheel motors equip PLMM with possible speeds up to 25 MPH and direct power that otherwise would come from a conventional vehicle’s gas engine.

In addition to PLMM’s in-wheel motors, the skateboard houses gyroscope and IMU sensors which work to measure the angle of the board’s center of gravity 1,000 times to the second, providing each rider with a controlled sense of balance for smooth riding. Vlnd Design produced PLMM so that moving is easy to both control and navigate – extra leaning is never required, instead riders only have to lean forward ever so slightly for the skateboard’s sensors to register movement. The insides of the PLMM electric skateboard are multilayered with added mechanical protection so that each ride feels effortless and each tilt from the rider will be detected by the integrated sensors even after consistent and long-term use.

I’ve only used a standing electric scooter once and while moving as fast as some of the cars I rode next to was… an experience, the mechanics of the scooter were difficult to understand and made the ride last much longer than expected. Intuitive usability is everything when it comes to the design of electric transportation vehicles like scooters and skateboards. That’s why with Vlnd Design’s PLMM, all you have to do is lean back and let the ride take you away.

Designer: VLND DESIGN

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

Posted on 08/02/2021 by Ruchi Thukral

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 geometric pet house will ease your separation anxiety

Posted on 12/04/2020 by Ruchi Thukral

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

The iF Design Awards 2016 – Are You Ready For This?

Posted on 02/10/2015 by Radhika Seth

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Design Awards are like Apple iPhone – if you can afford them, then you love them, if not … then you love to hate them. Bottom line is that you can’t be indifferent or ignore their value and impact. I recently spoke to a past winner from India and asked him what value did winning the iF Design Awards bring to his product and he said that it not only added creditability and gave his company a valuable seal of approval. But also instantly put his design in a league where you could blindly buy it, because quality, craftsmanship and sustainability were assured.

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In Fact, in countries like Europe, Japan and China, having won the iF Design may influence the buying decision, which is why you have companies like Apple, Samsung, LG etc. participate.

For now it’s your chance: Companies, designers, agencies, building owners, architects and interior designers are invited to participate in the iF Design Awards 2016 in categories that include Product, Packaging, Communication, Interior Architecture, Architecture, Service Design, Professional Concept.

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15 October 2015: Last registration deadline
19 to 21 January 2016: Judging session
26 February 2016: Awards Ceremony (iF design award night)

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In the heart of it all, if you have a project that is good and impacts your society for betterment then the new iF PUBLIC VALUE AWARD 2016 is all about this. Projects that help finding solutions to the most pressing questions of our time, developed by Designers, public administration bodies, companies and NGOs can apply for it.

Registration deadline: 15 October 2015

It has eleven categories: Power Shifts Globally, Using Resources Smartly, Better Life in Cities, Living Together in the 21st Century, Internet, Media and Data, Climate Change, Vehicles and Mobility of the Future, Ageing Society, Labor Relations Changing, Unleashed Bioengineering and Empowering the Individual.

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The evaluation process – Using a specially developed evaluation methodology – the Public Value Scorecard – each submission will be evaluated based on five standard criteria:

1. Does it solve a relevant problem?
2. Does it reflect or promote high moral/ethical standards?
3. Does it strengthen group relations?
4. Does it create a positive experience?
5. Does it balance effort and use value?

The award ceremony, the iF PUBLIC VALUE AWARD NIGHT 2016, will take place at 23 February 2016 at the Neue Sammlung – The International Design Museum Munich, Pinakothek der Moderne.

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iF PUBLIC VALUE Student AWARD 2016 is aimed at empowering student projects focused on concepts that tackle the big issues of our time. Does the project solve an important social problem? Does it thus create a dimension of use that also considers ethical questions, that has outstanding aesthetic qualities and that might even lead to new political consequences?

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Students and university/college graduates who have completed their studies a maximum of two years prior to their registration.

Registration deadline: 15 October 2015
Awards ceremony: 23 February 2016 in Munich
Fees: Participation is free of charge

Further information on the awards and fees can be found here. Deadline for all the above three awards is 15 October 2015.

Munich Musings and the iF Design Awards 2014

Posted on 07/03/2014 by Radhika Seth

There is no other place, this time of the year that I’d like to be other than Munich. The pride of Bavaria played host to the 2014 iF Design Awards Ceremony. As media partners, YD was at the event, covering the Awards Night & Gala. We (Nancy Wang and I) got to see and meet some interesting people. Stefan Diez, Claus Potthoff, Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, Ralph Wiegmann, BMW Welt … ring a bell?

Thankfully Munich was a warmer city this year, with temperatures steady at 9 degrees Celsius, we didn’t have to layer up too much (last year it was around -10 C). Day 1 was all about visiting the BMW Welt and getting acquainted with the Museum. Two main things to report back from here: the BMW Concept Cars that are hidden from the spotlight. We had exclusive access to this area and got up close with the Gina. The other area of interest was an introduction to the BMW i3 City Car.

We had a one-on-one session with the head designer, Jacob Benoit, who told us all about this Mega City Car. Some of the details like a pure carbon roof and plants (material) used on door panels impressed us very much. Did you know that the front and back door open from the central point and the middle divider is completely removed? So, when you open both the doors together, it gives you such a sense of space! Zaha Hadid has designed an exclusive factory space for the manufacturing of i3 and i8 cars! Too bad that 35,000 Euros is out of our budget!

The next stop for the day was the Neue Werkstätten, where we met with Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby. They were brought in by Knoll to discuss the collaboration on the Lounge Collection. Many of us associate Knoll with office furniture only, so this new sofa collection comes as a pleasant surprise. What stand out is the modular legs of the sofa; they are designed to fit in a modular fashion and compliment the body very well.

The evening rounded up with dinner with CEO of the iF Design Awards, Ralph Wiegmann. Dinner discussions included an in-depth view on watches, especially the beautiful Panerai he wore. What impressed us were his views on value, he still treasures his humble Swatch (gifted by his father) over the most expensive watch in his collection. Sweet!

Day two began with an elaborate visit to Munich’s very own Furniture Designer – Stefan Diez. We love him, period! His is the kind of place where every one is welcome; the studio has a warm homely atmosphere. We spoke a lot on how the current generation of students are not as dedicated and focused on their craft and have too many distractions to cope with. Yes, Stefan is a teacher as well and feels that 90% of the students are not committed and only 10% are above the bar. His association with Rosenthal is legendary. His main forte has been working with glass, ceramics, steel and plastic. He is constantly inspired by the car industry; we guess the proximity to BMW, Audi and Mercedes may have something to do with it.

What caught our fancy was this sideboard – storage project that he was working on for Hayes. It was light and super-super thin. He has done away with the hinges and instead used plastic. Interestingly, the material used is the same as Tupperware; it is very durable and tough. Not a great fan of MakerBot and other instant 3D printers, Stefan relies on the expertise of his trusted printers with the real deal. His word of advice is not to get involved in many projects at one go (he works on only 10 at a time) and keep questioning if the company you are collaborating with is investing the right way, are they moving in the right direction?

Post lunch we moved to the International Design Museum where we caught up with Claus Potthoff, Head of Design Strategy AUDI AG to view the Audi Wall. Audi has commissioned this very impressive installation using 1800 cars on the wall, milled in metal (aluminum), and each car weighs one kilo! A towering Audi in white hangs vertical on the wall. Still reeling under the magnitude of this installation, we walked passed curated design products from the early days to the new-age product design.

A quick change and our latest 7-series BMW drove us to the BMW Welt for the iF Design Awards Night and Gala. The red carpet welcomed designers from across the globe. This year marks the 61st year of the iF Awards. A total of 75 iF Gold Awards were handed out to ecstatic designers from across the globe.

A total of 4,615 entries were received and 1,626 were awarded the iF Label (Product Design, Communication Design and Packaging Design). A new introduction this year is the iF Design App (get it here), you can view all the award-winning entries in a stunning digital format. Two things warmed our hearts: watching the designers pose like crazy in front of the iF Design Winner’s Wall and dance like crazy at the after-awards party! Aww, designers you’re the best!

We got to our hotel early (3:00 am) because we needed to head to Hamburg in the morning. Why? Because the award-winning entries were on display at the iF Design Exhibition at the Harbor City. The Communication Design winners were displayed in a digital format, however the Product Design and Packaging Design winners will be showcased in three shows. It was nice to have a visual connect with the award winning products.

This just about wraps up our three-day stay in Germany! Met great people from across the globe, connected with a lot of designs that we saw and overall enjoyed watching the hard work of our beloved designers get its due recognition. As they say in Germany, bis wir uns nächste!

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(Munich Musings and the iF Design Awards 2014 was originally posted on Yanko Design)

Yanko Design And iF Design Awards – Live In Munich!

Posted on 19/02/2013 by Radhika Seth

YD is going places and we are taking you with us. Hop on the ride to Munich, where we will be a part of the iF Design Awards. The event is all set to honor the 2013 product design winners, and we have a ringside view to all the events. Stay tuned YD homepage, Facebook and Twitter for all the updates. Our editors have compiled a list of our favorite product design winners from 2012, take a peek and let us know which one you liked the best.

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Yanko Design Store - We are about more than just concepts. See what's hot at the YD Store!
(Yanko Design And iF Design Awards – Live In Munich! was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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