Tag Archives: Modular appliance

This sustainable coffee machine concept is modular and easily repairable

Posted on by

Coffee lovers and their friends often joke about how the world actually runs on coffee, but there’s no denying how much of the drink is made and consumed on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it’s a kind of human fuel that does have its own negative effects on the environment, even if indirectly. Used coffee grounds are thrown away and wasted by the tons, cups either increase plastic waste or paper use, and coffee machines get broken and disposed of indiscriminately. While there are already attempts to address the first two problems, there are very few solutions when it comes to the sustainability of coffee machines. Just like every other appliance, not much thought is given to their life cycles, which is what makes this modular coffee machine design rather revolutionary while also being aesthetically interesting.

Designer: Thomas Mair

Appliances are made for human convenience, not only in their use but also after they can no longer be used. While repairing broken appliances is ideal and more cost-effective, chances are people simply dispose of them and buy new ones. Whichever path they take, most appliances end up in landfills, and only a fraction of their parts can actually be reused or recycled because of their composition. Either way, it’s not a sustainable situation for our future.

Coffee machines might not be the most common consumer electronics in homes, but their widespread use and the way they operate make them ideal for a thought experiment. Kara is the result of one such process, resulting in a modular coffee machine that’s meant to last forever, even when the manufacturer has stopped producing replacement parts. The secret is that these parts can be 3D printed if access to the original is no longer possible. The more technical components can be replaced or substituted with other electronics, presuming those are still in production.

Unlike most designs that promote repairability, Kara doesn’t require advanced knowledge or skills to make that possible. Some parts are connected using magnets, making it trivial to take the coffee machine apart and put them back together again. For those parts that need a bit more handling, a small screwdriver is also included with the machine and replacement parts. The process is easy enough for anyone to do, but the machine also offers step-by-step instructions through its built-in screen or a connected smartphone.

Different parts of Kara use different materials, and these use different colors for easier identification. It also creates a unique visual of the coffee machine, which easily makes it stand out from other coffee makers that usually embrace black and silver motifs. It is definitely an interesting solution to the problem of sustainability, one that coffee enthusiasts can embrace to make them feel good while they sip their cup of Joe.

The post This sustainable coffee machine concept is modular and easily repairable first appeared on Yanko Design.

This modular power tool system is user-centered to adapt to changing needs

Posted on by

Atlas is a user-centered power tool system meant to adapt to changing needs through a modular design.

As technology advances, the expectations of consumers become more demanding. Technology has made instant gratification the standard, turning many of us onto modular designs that are meant to adapt to our changing needs.

Designer: Peter Wilden

Within the scope of smart technology, the transition between demand and gratification really can be instant. It gets a bit blurry when it comes to manual devices like power tools. Designed by Peter Wilden, Atlas is a modular, user-centered power tool system designed to adapt to users’ changing needs.

The concept behind many modular designs is to make the experience of operating devices more individualized for each user. Through modular designs, users can change the purpose of the device to accommodate their needs.

Atlas is comprised of several different modules, each of which carries its own function and form. Starting out with the handlebar, users can switch out different power tool heads to finish different tasks.

“The modular product structure offers the user a highly individualized product system that represents the specific needs of a wide range of applications in the private and professional sectors,” Wilden goes on to describe, “At the same time the focus is on configuration, adaptability, and reparability of product and components.”

Different parameters restrict the ways we interact with power tools–“different use cases, various levels of knowledge, competence, and usage, body specifications” are among the many parameters that keep us from confidently applying power tools to different tasks. Atlas is designed to be an interchangeable power tool that anybody can use, with any level of experience.

The post This modular power tool system is user-centered to adapt to changing needs first appeared on Yanko Design.

A modular kitchen bin design is the ultimate organization hack for sorting and taking out your trash

Posted on by

GoodHoome’s line of kitchen bins is a modular solution for sorting and taking out the trash.

No matter where you live, no one likes taking out the trash. It can be a messy job—the bin is usually overstuffed and removing the liner is never fun when that’s the case. Plenty of solutions have come out in the past, but too often, designers trade simplicity for highly technical designs that don’t stand the test of time. GoodHome, a home appliance brand operated by Kingfisher Design Studio, developed a line of kitchen trash and recycling bins to help simplify sorting trash and throwing it out.

Designer: GoodHome x Kingfisher Design Studio

GoodHome’s line of trash bins features several different configurations of three different trash bins consolidated into one product. Kingfisher Design Studio worked with GoodHome to create trash bins that help, “[encourage] households to improve the quality of their recycled waste by making it easier to sort and store.”

GoodHome’s trash bins are comprised of three different sections that help make sorting trash simple. While each household can assign different types of waste for each bin, a typical household would allot one for recyclables, regular trash, and then food waste for compost. To provide enough storage capacity while maintaining a compact size, GoodHome merged those three different compartments to create a one-stop shop for all of your trash needs.

The different modules can also be configured to meet your spatial needs. Each trash bin is made from stainless steel for a simple, modern look that’s also impact-resistant to maximize the product’s shelf life. Then, when it’s time to take out the trash, users can lift the bin’s internal container to gain access to the garbage bag’s liner.

The post A modular kitchen bin design is the ultimate organization hack for sorting and taking out your trash first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Modular Café lets your ‘pick and choose’ your kitchen appliance, delivering an easily customizable station to brew your favorite coffee!

Posted on by

One of the things I miss the most is the smell my neighborhood coffee shop entices with. While our lifestyle is returning to normal, I still don’t feel comfortable entering crowded places, including the aforementioned coffee shop. With the idea of a modular café – the designers prefer to call Oblige – we can decrease the load from our kitchen and get the best of what the café down the street promises. How do you ask? By creating one sleek appliance, you can easily install it anywhere in your home without worrying about connecting multiple power/water outlets to keep it functioning!

Meet the Oblige, an entertainment space where homeowners can depict their personal traits by customizing the modular appliance to their individual lifestyle or living space. The modular cafe intends to go beyond the idea of the basic functions the appliances in your kitchen perform. The designers behind Oblige feel setting up a café at home is inconvenient for now because it’s not easy to set up space with all the appliances required. Connecting them all to water and electrical sources is another headache. Simply thinking of brewing a good coffee – you need a list of appliances – from your coffee grinder, the pod-maker, espresso brewer, milk frother, and more, depending on your choice!

Oblige lets the user select and combine an appliance (ice maker, soda maker, water purifier, coffee grinder, espresso machine, kettle, and oven) as per their convenience and preference. If the need arises, users can combine more modules to cater to their extended demand while retaining visually similar aesthetics. These products club up together with a simple mechanism in the bottom; adding and removing them or installing the café setup on modular furniture outside the kitchen is feasible as Oblige will work on one power and water supply connection, irrespective of the interconnected modules needed in the setup.

If you’re looking to achieve a café-like experience, to quench the urge of working out of a Starbucks, an Oblige can really oblige you through the setup one day. It’s the designer’s vision to partner with furniture and lifestyle companies going forward to deliver, say, a LEGO-style modular café for your apartment someday.

Designer: Soo Jung Hwang, Seongyong Lee, Ki-Beom Hwang