KAI XIA | GIZMODO.cz

This mini washing machine is a portable travel companion ideal for lighter, more delicate loads of laundry that requires only one-third the amount of water that traditional washing machines use.

Getting around to laundry can sometimes feel like a headache. Sorting through our laundry to pick out delicates and white clothing items and ensure we don’t end up with a pink closet can feel more taxing than the actual chore. Besides, once all of our clothing items are sorted, sometimes our pile of white laundry isn’t big enough for its own load in the wash. Streamlining the entire process, a mini portable washing machine designed by Kai Xia hopes to be the small solution for lighter loads.

The mini washing machine as designed by Xia features ultrasonic high-frequency vibrations for increased sterilization rates that ensure a gentle, yet thorough cleaning for each load. The portable washing machine can be plugged into any power outlet prior to use and activated with the touch of a button. Once users have thrown in their clothing items into the machine’s drum, holding the power button down for two seconds will wake up the machine, and pressing it once more will start the wash.

From there, washing is completed in about 15 minutes following a cycle that moves through a forward rotation, reverse rotation, ozone sterilization, forward rotation, reverse rotation, ultrasonic, so forth. By the time each cycle ends, the mini washing machine shuts down on its own.

Constructed from eco-friendly ABS plastic, the mini washing machine is lightweight for easy carrying and impact-resistant, making it ideal for traveling. Xia downsized their washing machine to be more energy-efficient, requiring only one-third the amount of water that traditional washing machines use.

Designer: Kai Xia

Envisioned in mint green, Kai Xia’s washing machines are conceptualized to suit each user’s taste.

Blush beige accents tug on an all-white polished exterior.

We’ve all either missed a connecting flight or even our first one and have had to find that somewhat (hardly at all) comfortable spot in the airport where we could kill a few hours before our rescheduled flight. If you haven’t been there–consider this a cautionary tale. While being stuck in an airport is never comfortable, designer KAI XIA developed a Sleep Experience Center, a snoozy oasis where users can kill those hours, otherwise spent sleeping upright in a worn-down, leather waiting chair, in blissful comfort.

Sleep Experience Center is essentially a sleeping and living pod that can be stationed in any setting from an airport to a remote science research center. The pod offers a soundproof place of respite stocked with everything from a full entertainment system to a smart mattress that adjusts to your preferred sleeping conditions. Designed for Keeson Group, Sleep Experience Center took to spaceships and luxury automobiles for inspiration, fusing advanced technology with a contemporary, sleek interior to deliver optimal resting conditions.

The showstopper of the pod is definitely the mattress, boasting integrated smart technology that uses software algorithms and hardware sensors to automatically adapt to each user’s body and ideal sleep settings. The freestanding pod is defined by four separate zones: a sleeping area, entertainment center, storage zone, and control module. If users hope to catch some Z’s or play their favorite video game while waiting for their flight, an automated service offered through WeChat grants them access to the pod. Inside, an operation panel allows users to choose their own (restful) adventure.

Everything from aromatherapeutic lamps to a built-in air filtration system fills out the interior of KAI XIA’s Sleep Experience Center. Atmospheric lighting can be manually adjusted, while the air filtration system runs out of sight underneath the pod’s bed. Inside, users can top off their smartphones with some battery juice and enjoy a quick bite to eat before takeoff.

Designer: KAI XIA