Tag Archives: Multifunctional

This clever flat-pack furniture can be your WFH desk or walk-in closet for hanging clothes

Posted on by

We are absolute fans of multifunctional and modular furniture since they never ever seem to lose their utility even after years of use. Space-saving being one of their prime advantages, the flexibility to transition from one utility to completely another is something that gravitates people into choosing them over any ordinary piece of furniture.

This modular flat-pack furniture piece carries these merits and the feature of being assembled using just straps. Yes, it has no tools, screws or hinges. This eliminates any unnecessary manufacturing processes, thereby making it eco-friendly furniture with minimal processing.

Designer: Hyunjun Yu

Dubbed “OPO=O” (that’s a very odd naming convention), the maker intends this consumer product to be a dual assembly structure functioning as a desk or a hanger depending on the need. The top and bottom panels of the flat-pack furniture are structurally robust, and each one of them supports the other for integrity. Considering these panels have to bear the weight of a workstation setup or the lateral weight of clothes hung in the walk-in closet configuration, the design has to be spot on.

The adjusting straps provide additional stability and add design detail to the minimalist panels. If we must nick-pick at something, then it would be the exposed strap fastening at the bottom that could be concealed in the panel design, especially if the desk is going to be set up in an open space. While the exposed straps could act as a foot stand, reoccurring tension on the straps with the load of the feet would not be such a good thing.

Coming on to the hanger utility, just rotate the structure at a 90 degrees angle, and you’ve got a compact, open-back cupboard.  That structure at the top and bottom panels can be turned into a hanger with the bottom section acting as a shelf. The straps also perform double utility as hangers for clothes. Those dual straps at the bottom act as visual dividers for the section below. On top of the OPO=O one can keep seldom-used items to reduce any visual clutter.

The post This clever flat-pack furniture can be your WFH desk or walk-in closet for hanging clothes first appeared on Yanko Design.

This innovative charger can charge and backup your device at the same time

Posted on by

In our computing-centric world today, there are two important things that people are concerned about: battery life and data. Mobile devices such as smartphones and even laptops need to be plugged in every so often, and the data that they store is too precious to leave up to fate. Charging and data backup, however, require two separate products, mostly because they have different requirements and goals that don’t always intersect, at least until recently. It turns out that the devices that we’d often like to charge are also the devices that need to have their data backed up regularly. Who says you can’t do both at the same time, especially with this wonder pocket-size charger that can quickly top up your device while it backs up your precious data with military-grade security.

Designer: Jacob Hsu

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $68 (43% off). Hurry, only 9/90 left!

At first glance, you might presume that this handy block is your run-of-the-mill phone charger. But, as they say, looks can be deceiving because even as a charger, the MemKeeper is in a league of its own. Utilizing cutting-edge GaN (Gallium nitride) II technology, this tiny charger is capable of putting out 65W of power, enough for most smartphones and even some laptops. With two USB-C ports and a single USB-A port, MemKeeper can even charge three devices at the same time in a 30W, 18W, and 18W combination.

Military Grade Secure – MemKeeper keeps your data private and secures it with AES-256 encryption.

Massive Storage Capacities – 256GB, 512GB, and a staggering 1TB capacity – ensure effortless and seamless storage for a clutter-free and efficient digital life.

MemKeeper’s real power, however, is hidden in what it can do behind the scenes while your device is still charging. Once plugged in, the charger also functions as a secure data storage solution, automatically backing up the connected device’s data into its built-in storage, available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. Every time you charge, you are ensuring that your phone’s or tablet’s data is also safe and sound and free from the whims and costs of cloud storage.

Simply connect it to your phone, launch the mSync app, and enter a unique PIN for rock-solid security.

Make a switch and transfer your valuable memories to a new smart device with ease!

MemKeeper’s backup feature is more than just a convenient portable drive. For one, it uses AES-256 encryption, one of if not the strongest encryption standards used in the industry today. Using the mSync app, you can set a unique PIN so that you and only you can access the secured files stored within. You can even store data for up to 32 different devices, whether it’s iOS or Android, on a single MemKeeper, and it will know which encrypted backup belongs to which device. Worried that someone will accidentally back up their device just because they borrowed your charger? MemKeeper is smart enough to back up only authorized devices, so don’t hesitate to introduce your friends to the wonders of MemKeeper.

The backup solution lets you secure data from a whopping 32 mobile devices on a single MemKeeper.

The charger and backup solution in one is also smart in other ways. It can automatically pause the process when you unplug your device and then pick up where it left off the next time you charge. It also automatically detects duplication so your storage won’t fill up with more than one copy of a file. Free yourself from the insecurities of backup service and always have your data within reach with the smart, secure, and fast-charging MemKeeper, only $109 for 1TB of encrypted storage ($39 for 256GB, $69 for 512GB).

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $68 (43% off). Hurry, only 9/90 left!

The post This innovative charger can charge and backup your device at the same time first appeared on Yanko Design.

Stackable chair concept transforms into a desk for space-saving efficiency

Posted on by

Space is at a premium, whether it’s at home, in the office, or even in classrooms. Never mind working desks, sometimes there’s not even enough space for more than a few chairs at a time. Common chairs designed for mass production aren’t exactly the most comfortable, nor are they the most versatile when it comes to functionality. Admittedly, it’s not that easy to execute multiple functions in a single product without risking its overall usability. Sit’n’Switch is a concept design that dares to take that risk, proposing a chair that can be used in a few different ways while still maintaining its sleek and modern aesthetic that makes it ideal not just for classrooms but even for workspaces or even your bedroom.

Designer: Shakthi Monesh

There are different chairs in classrooms that serve different purposes. There are plain, armless chairs that are often paired with desks, and there are chairs that have stationary or movable arm desks that are OK for writing on notebooks but not always for typing on laptops. There are also more typical chairs that can be stacked on top of each other when not in use, such as the stereotypical plastic Monobloc, but these are neither comfortable nor flexible in accommodating different sitting positions.

The Sit’n’Switch concept tries to accommodate all these cases with a single design that manages to look appealing despite trying to check multiple boxes at the same time. In its most basic configuration, it is an armless wooden chair with a wide seat and a padded backrest. Its general shape is similar to those Monobloc chairs, sans the arms, so they can also be stacked together to free up space when they’re not in use.

The trick is that the upper half of that backrest can fold down, transforming into a flat surface that can be used as a desk. Although it does mean that you have to turn around and sit “backward” with the central rail in between your legs, it is a lot more convenient for a desk, especially since it’s placed in the center rather than presuming that everyone is right-handed.

The design has another trick up its sleeve when you combine four of these chairs together in a cross arrangement with the desks facing inward. This forms a makeshift bench table for more collaborative activities, which is common in classrooms and office environments. The absence of arms and the wide seat lets Sit’n’Switch accommodate almost any sitting position, making it a versatile piece of furniture, whether for work, study, or just lounging around.

The post Stackable chair concept transforms into a desk for space-saving efficiency first appeared on Yanko Design.

Standing table for collaboration unfolds into a picnic table for fun

Posted on by

Different tables have different uses depending on their design. A dining table needs to be low enough to accommodate comfortable seating, while a standing table encourages more dynamic conversations with the lack of chairs. In most cases, you have to choose the right type of table for the right purpose, but there might be instances where you wish a single one could fulfill multiple functions instead. There might be a constraint on spaces, or you might prefer a more agile and adaptable environment. Whatever the reason might be, this ingenious transforming table offers those two functions in one, providing a high table for standing meetings and a picnic table for four for more informal gatherings.

Designer: Bert Masselus

Designing a foldable table with built-in seats isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Compared to a regular table with separate chairs, such a piece of furniture would need to tackle different areas of concern all at once. Not only does it need to actually fold and unfold properly, it also needs to be stable and comfortable. There’s also the matter of visual appeal, which is even harder to pull off when considering a table that changes forms depending on the situation.

That’s the kind of feat that the JoinTable accomplishes with aplomb. Sporting an industrial aesthetic with its powder-coated stainless steel and aluminum construction, the transforming table offers an environment that can quickly adapt to the owners’ needs. On the one hand, it functions as a standing table that creates an atmosphere conducive to quick discussions and meetings. On the other hand, it can also be a place for more relaxed conversations, with friends or families lounging over meals. You could, of course, also have only one side of the table opened with the two seats, leaving the other side free for wood, work, or other things.

JoinTable is deceptively simple, belying its nontrivial mechanism and difficult manufacturing. The top of the standing table opens up in the middle and folds backward to reveal benches that can seat two people on each side. Even in this opened form, the table retains a stable center of gravity. The folding mechanism is also rigid enough to hold the seats in place and keep them from completely folding backward after a certain point.

This transforming table design is meant to be used both indoors and outdoors, creating areas for collaboration and enjoyment without taking up too much space. There is, however, also a design that is practically limited for indoor use, or at least in places with plenty of walls. This “two-seater” configuration consists of only half the JoinTable attached to a wall, offering a temporary space for working or enjoying a sip of coffee or both, whether by your lonesome self or with a partner.

The post Standing table for collaboration unfolds into a picnic table for fun first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainable wireless power bank is also a compact mirror in disguise

Posted on by

Our smartphones have become more powerful and more sophisticated, but the batteries that power them haven’t really changed much in the past decade or so. They have grown larger, yes, but most of the improvements in battery life come from making other hardware more power-efficient instead. Sooner or later, you’ll have to reach for a charger, which is why many people carry power banks with them when they’re often on the go. That means having yet another thing in your bag that doesn’t serve any purpose except in an emergency. Multifunctional products are on the rise these days, so this particular power bank design combines a useful mobile device with a common lifestyle accessory and wraps it in an eco-friendly package.

Designer: Lenny Ming Lo

Checking yourself in front of a mirror is less about vanity and more about respect for others and yourself. You don’t always have to look like you stepped out of a parlor, though some would definitely prefer that, but you will probably want to look decent and at your best to help give yourself a confidence boost. For some people, checking themselves doesn’t just happen in front of a bathroom mirror, which is why compact mirrors have become a common item in some people’s bags, especially for ladies.

Mica is a lifestyle accessory that binds this item with yet another common thing in people’s bags these days: a small power bank to charge their phones in a pinch. You simply put down a compatible smartphone on its flat surface to begin charging, though you can also opt to charge via a USB cable if your phone doesn’t support wireless charging yet. Flipping the charger open reveals two mirrors on both sides, one with 3x magnification and the other with an LED light strip running around it.

More than just combining functions, however, Mica was thoughtfully designed to take inspiration from everyday objects. In particular, it looked at the basic form of bowls whose design hasn’t changed drastically over millennia. When folded shut, Mica looks like two flat bowls stacked on top of each other, giving it not only an interesting shape but also adding to its comfort of use and ergonomics.

Mica was also designed with sustainability in mind, which is a rather surprising detail that might be easily lost on buyers. Most compact mirrors and power banks employ a lot of non-sustainable materials, so it’s a surprise this product uses 80% recyclable plastic to help reduce its carbon footprint. It’s not exactly a ground-breaking new product, but Mica’s combination of two common items and its sustainability focus make it a unique and desirable accessory to have in your bag.

The post Sustainable wireless power bank is also a compact mirror in disguise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Multifunctional furniture collection offers simple ways to support your hybrid work life

Posted on by

Many of us have probably become acutely aware of how little space we actually have inside our homes, at least not enough to accommodate other activities that go beyond sleeping, eating, and relaxing. Recent shifts in work arrangements have created the need for hybrid spaces, or areas that can function as a workplace as well as a living space. Aside from making room for specialized furniture, homeowners have found themselves trying to either utilize existing furniture for other functions, like a dining table that becomes your office desk outside of meal times or replace those with multifunctional designs. Multifunctional, however, doesn’t have to mean complicated, as demonstrated by this collection of simple furnishings that ingeniously hide their extra features in plain sight.

Designer: Alessandro Stabile

One of the most important requirements when working from home is having a separate desk just for work or school. As many found out in the past two or so years, that’s a luxury for those living in small homes with a limited number of rooms. Sure, you can use almost any table as a work desk, but that also muddles the separation of your work from other parts of your life. Wally solves this by disguising the desk as a wall shelf that folds to reveal a horizontal surface to work on. It does function as a shelf with a hidden space when the table is folded up, while the top shelf can be home to decorations or more visible objects like clocks and storage bins.

1

This theme of easy-to-access hidden functionality is pervasive across the collection. “Mr. Hyde,” for example, looks like an ultra-minimalist wall-mounted wooden desk, at least until you pull that wooden enclosure to reveal hidden storage inside. Its complement, the In&Out shelf, has the same trick, except it uses a more conventional sliding tray to access the compartments.

1

What makes this particular collection extra special is that they’re designed for simplicity and ease of integration with the rest of your living space. Their minimalist and modular designs allow the owner to decide where and how to use them. Sure, there are parts of the collection that do need to be securely mounted to walls, but some, like the modular Dese bookcase, offer a bit more flexibility.

There are even some that are so simple that you might wonder why there aren’t more of these designs around. Double, for example, is a side table that can either stand low on both legs horizontally or stand tall on one side, offering you a place to put your things on, regardless of your available floor space. Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest ones, and this elegant minimalist collection proves how “simple” doesn’t need to be boring, either.

The post Multifunctional furniture collection offers simple ways to support your hybrid work life first appeared on Yanko Design.

UFO-like pendant lamp hides a power socket that turns any table into a workstation

Posted on by

Lighting fixtures above dining tables are almost a necessity. After all, you need ample lighting to enjoy your food, especially with other people. These often long tables, however, sometimes serve purposes other than dining, especially in the past years when people found themselves stuck at home and having no suitable place to set up their office or school work. That, however, can be a bit inconvenient when you need to plug some devices or tools in and wall sockets are too far away. To adjust to the changing landscapes in homes, a few furniture and appliances have started taking on multiple roles, like this circular pendant lamp that offers not only light but also power for your laptop and other electronic equipment.

Designer: Studio Natural

This is one of those ideas that sound so natural after hearing it that you almost wonder why no one or few have ever done it before. After all, lamps already connect to a power source, usually on the same line as other appliances. There are even power outlet accessories that screw into bulb sockets, turning those unused sockets into an additional source of power for other appliances.

The Avro pendant lamp uses that very same concept and implements it in an attractive and convenient manner, turning any table into a multifunctional piece of furniture, depending on what’s hanging down from the lamp. In normal circumstances, the lamp simply hangs by itself, providing light that can be dimmed or brightened depending on the activity happening below it. A softer light, for example, might perfectly set the mood for a relaxing dinner, but something brighter might be needed for games and work.

Things take an interesting turn when you realize there’s a power socket right below the lamp’s diffuser. You can easily plug in a laptop charger if that’s all you need, or perhaps a stylish extension cord to share the power around. Granted, it might look a bit weird with a cable dangling off a lamp, and the lamp itself needs to be at a height you can easily reach while standing up. It’s still a more convenient and more accessible way to get power, though, at least compared to scrambling for a distant wall socket or tripping over extension cords snaking across the floor.

The lamp itself is an attractive decor hanging over your table. Although supposedly named after an aircraft, Avro looks more like a stereotypical UFO, especially with bright light emitting from its bottom. Its aluminum surface, available in bright orange, blue, and white colors, makes it also look like a toy, like a spinning top that reflects light to the point of being a source of light as well. Whichever way you see it, it definitely brings a bit of life to a space while also indirectly bringing additional functionality to any table beneath it.

The post UFO-like pendant lamp hides a power socket that turns any table into a workstation first appeared on Yanko Design.

Enchanting TV concept transforms from regular TV to gaming by pushing the screen forward

Posted on by

Gaming has always been a lucrative business, but it has come under the spotlight lately due to certain global events. Even those who wouldn’t label themselves as a gamer may have found enjoyment in some kinds of games, from location-based AR types like Pokemon GO to exercises and sports on the Nintendo Switch. Regular gamers, however, prefer to use bigger screens, sometimes a computer monitor, and other times a larger TV. There is a bit of a dichotomy, however, between TVs for gaming and TVs for other kinds of entertainment, like watching videos, even if both kinds of TVs offer almost the same features nowadays. Gravity is a design concept that tries to bridge the gap by smashing both worlds together, offering a single TV that can change its form a bit depending on whether you’ll use it for gaming or just for streaming.

Designer: Ibrahim Can Erdincmer

Many of the advanced and smarter TVs these days can also be used for gaming, thanks to specs and quality meeting gamers’ requirements. At the same time, however, these different groups of people have different preferences when it comes to the aesthetics of their screens. Most TV viewers want something sleek and stylish that looks almost like a work of art on their wall. Gamers, on the other hand, go for maximum visual impact, usually with kaleidoscopic lights inside or around their gear.

Gravity tries to cater to both audiences at the same time, using a rather interesting strategy to give both groups what they want. In its normal state for regular TV viewing, the actual screen sits flat inside the frame, surrounded by angled bezels that give it a faceted appearance, like a picture frame with its edges raised around the image. In gaming mode, however, this screen shifts forward, revealing lights that shine behind the screen and on the frame, creating that colorful light show that gamers seem to crave.

1

That isn’t the only shape-changing trick that this TV knows, though. There is a built-in camera on top that reveals itself in gaming mode, for example. The lower bezel also becomes a second display, showing notifications and other information that gamers might want to always be within their peripheral vision. The concept doesn’t mention whether these features are only available in gaming mode, which would be a shape since they could also add value to the TV, like for making video calls.

1

Gravity is definitely an interesting design that tries to solve what may be a problem in households that use the same TV for both viewing and gaming. Then again, it might also be an overly complex design when both parties can settle on a compromise instead. Shape-changing TVs, however, seem to be where the industry is heading to anyway, so something like this might not be that far off in the future.

The post Enchanting TV concept transforms from regular TV to gaming by pushing the screen forward first appeared on Yanko Design.

This multi-level side table becomes a piece of wall art when folded flat

Posted on by

By their very name and nature, side tables often take a secondary role in a room. Some might even be hidden in corners or obstructed by other furniture. They do serve a purpose, of course, often as a temporary surface to put down phones, books, or cups. But when they aren’t in use, they can get in the way or be wasted space, especially if they’re not particularly noteworthy in terms of visual appeal. This foldable side table is already attractive when standing on its own, but you might still want to fold it away and hang it up on a wall anyway because it can add a dash of sophistication to the area as an aesthetic piece of modern wall art.

Designer: Vico Magistretti (Original), Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces (Remaster)

The original Florian was already quite an oddity when it first appeared in 1989. A foldable side table was most likely rare and unconventional, but one that had two or even three tabletops was a peculiar embellishment that is uncommon even by today’s standards. What really made it special, though, is the fact that it looked so beautiful even when folded up that you could hang it on a wall, and none would be wiser that it was actually a functional side table rather than a modern artwork of circles and lines.

The 2021 remaster retains the original’s structure but adjusts the size for modern lifestyles while also expanding the color selection for a wider range of aesthetic tastes. The frame is still made with ash wood, now joined by visually contrasting brass mechanisms. The new colors now include mustard yellow, dark green, and brick red; all lacquered to give the side table wall art an eye-catching sheen.

There is a fourth color that feels like the union of past and present. The brushed veneer black ash is closer to the original Florian while still giving off a more contemporary vibe. The way it shows the wood’s natural veins even after treatment makes it an ideal “open-pore” display on your wall.

Whether standing as a two-layer side table holding your cups and books or hanging on a wall to enhance the room’s ambiance, the Florian demonstrates how a design can be timeless and enchanting even after decades. The table’s simple shapes combined with its ingenious folding mechanism bring a piece of furniture that is both functional and decorative in all its forms. You definitely won’t go wrong with this side table, and it might even amaze your guests when you take down what they presumed is just a wall decoration and turn it into a table for their use.

The post This multi-level side table becomes a piece of wall art when folded flat first appeared on Yanko Design.

This beautiful food container lets you use the lid as a plate without feeling awkward

Posted on by

It’s not unusual for people to cook more food than they can finish in one sitting. That’s especially true for single-person households that have to save money by having leftovers they can eat the next day or so. Storage for these leftovers, however, sometimes becomes just a second thought, at least until you stare at your fridge or start preparing your meal using them. Food storage isn’t just about keeping food fresh and edible, though that is definitely a primary concern. Keeping them presentable is also a key factor that could affect your appetite, and this “two-way” container design concept helps store food the way you would eat them on a plate by officially making the dish cap serve as a plate as well.

Designer: Haechan Ryu

It might sound strange at first, but it’s actually not uncommon for people to use a food container’s lid as an ad hoc plate, both for reheating food as well as eating from it. This often happens when you store food in a deep dish, like a bowl, and then have to transfer it to a plate for serving. The back-and-forth moving of food from different containers and plates not only involves more work but also risks losing some of the flavors in the process.

Roll is an attempt to preserve not only the flavors of food but also their presentation. It eschews the traditional square or rectangular shape of food containers in favor of something round. Admittedly, it might not be the most space-efficient shape, especially when you’re stocking a lot of food in the fridge. It is, however, more presentable and visually interesting, and the single-person households these containers are designed for usually don’t store as much food as large families anyway.

What makes Roll different from bowl food containers (which do exist, of course) is that it wholeheartedly embraces the culture of using the lid or dish cap as a plate. That’s why the cap itself was made to look presentable, using soft and clean tones like ivory, sky blue, and terracotta. The idea is that you set the freshly cooked food on the lid itself and then later just cover it with the glass bowl when it’s time to put it away. The next time you want to eat it, you don’t have to rearrange the food again to make it presentable. Simply take off the cover and dig in!

Roll takes the food container concept upside-down, literally, by making it usable, whether as a bowl with a round lid or a plate with a bowl cover. It definitely saves a bit of work and time and helps keep even leftovers looking scrumptious, something that you might have sorely missed if you’ve been living by yourself for a long time.

The post This beautiful food container lets you use the lid as a plate without feeling awkward first appeared on Yanko Design.