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This puffer jacket is filled with single-use masks and shows the pandemic-related environmental issues!

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The pandemic has led to a huge lifestyle shift and in the bid to stay safe, the environment is suffering from the excessive use of plastic to wrap items, chemicals to sanitize, and the millions (or billions) of single-use PPE that eventually contribute to pollution. There are photographs of medical masks floating in the ocean with the animals and washing up on beaches is a heartbreaking sight. To bring this issue to light, designers Tobia Zambotti and Aleksi Saastamoinen created Coat-19, an icy blue puffer jacket made of discarded single-use masks, organic wool, and transparent recycled laminate.

The designers are based in Iceland that still has a mask mandate. Icelandic winds can be very strong so masks that aren’t carefully discarded blow from the streets into the otherwise pristine environment. To prevent this from happening they collected around 1500 light-blue masks from the streets of Reykjavík, thoroughly disinfected them with ozone gas, and shipped them to Helsinki where they became an unusual filling for “Coat-19” – a modern puffer jacket that highlights this absurd pandemic-related environmental issue.​

Most of the disposable masks available in the market are made with a thermoplastic called polypropylene which is also used to produce poly-fill, the most common acrylic stuffing for cheap down jackets – same material, same function, different look. Some of the light-blue masks were partly filled with organic cotton wool in order to create the puffy silhouette of the trendy oversized jacket.

The outer layer is a semi-transparent breathable and waterproof laminate based made from bio-sources that let the disposable masks be visible.​ There are about 1500 masks that make the filling along with organic cotton wool. While the sight is jarring, it is a reminder we all need to practice safety sustainably. We may come out of this pandemic or learn to live with it, but the climate crisis is not something we can solve with a shot. This is a plea to use alternatives if possible so that your safety in the present doesn’t compromise on the future of the planet.

Designer: Tobia Zambotti and Aleksi Saastamoinen

This cabin can easily transported to remote places & reduces construction carbon emissions!

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Ever since the pandemic, escapes to secluded local destinations have become the norm which means more cabin designs for us to explore! This is Cabana, a compact and functional cabin that is designed to facilitate a unique experience. Cabana was made to fit in any space and location while making sure it had minimum impact on the environment which guided every detail such as the choice of materials or the process of assembly. The black, boxy unit with contrasting warm wooden interiors feels like the perfect place to read my entire pile of unread books for days!

It offers a cozy refuge from the chaos of our fast-paced lives. Since reducing construction impact on the surrounding was a priority, the team chose steel, cement slabs, and reforested wood for the structure as well as sealing materials. This minimized material waste through leftovers, water consumption, and carbon emissions which increased the overall energy efficiency of Cabana from design to construction and ultimately its usage.

Cabana has a very warm ambiance which it owes to the thermal, lighting, and acoustic comfort provided by rock wool on the walls and ceiling, as well as large PVC frames – a material known for its excellent insulation – that are strategically positioned in order to facilitate cross-ventilation. I would have loved to see a rainwater harvesting system or solar panels to make it more energy-efficient and sustainable.

Additionally, the use of LED strips and a wood-burning stove also help maintain a cozy atmosphere without using excessive energy. “All these actions aim to reduce the need to use air conditioning systems, improve performance in the use of artificial lighting, and consequently minimize the consumption of electricity,” elaborates the team.

Cabana was developed so that it could bring a sustainable cabin design to remote locations. To make that easier, it was divided into multiple modules that could be carried by two people which eliminated the need for cranes and allowed the cabin to be assembled quickly and in usually hard-to-access places.

It can also be transported with the aid of just one box truck which reduces the logistics and all the adversities caused in the process. The metallic pile foundation was designed to minimize its impact on the surroundings and to reduce the use of concrete which actually is the construction industry’s biggest generator of carbon emissions.

The building system is suitable for most terrains, but if necessary, a specialized engineering team will consult the terrain conditions and a specific new foundation will be developed. The team will also accompany the owner with materials and tools to assemble the cabin efficiently and quickly.

It has two levels – the lower area is the living space with a kitchenette and a fireplace while the upper area is entirely a sleeping zone. The bed mattress rests on a raised wooden platform and is positioned in a way to let catch the view of the sky through a window on the angular roof without leaving your bed. Cabana offers a complete cozy cabin-in-the-woods vibe but with a modern aesthetic and a sustainable construction process!

Designer: Liga Arquitetura e Urbanismo

KeyShot and Yanko Design team up for a Design Challenge. Participate for a chance to win an Apple iPad & AirPods Pro

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We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with KeyShot over our first ever Design Challenge! The premier YDxKeyShot Design Challenge has a broad brief and some exciting prizes! Your mission, should you choose, is to add your own spin to the ENVOY Helmet to make it safer. You can find images of the ENVOY Helmet below, and use this link to download the ENVOY Helmet 3D file for free.

Click Here to Participate Now! Hurry, Contest Closes on 19th September 2021, 11:59 pm PST.

The ENVOY Helmet by KeyShot’s design team, comes with 3 standout features – a hard-shell design, a detachable visor on the front, and a dynamic LED panel on the back that helps alert riders/drivers of your presence. The redesign could be as simple as creating new patterns for the LED matrix and experimenting with different CMF for higher visibility and better safety, or you could add your own features too, like a HUD, an inflatable life-vest, the sky is quite literally the limit.

To participate in the YDxKeyShot Design Challenge, upload your renders/animations/designs to Instagram and tag + follow the @yankodesign and @keyshot3d accounts while also using the #YDxKeyShot hashtag. You can get your hands on a free trial of the latest KeyShot 10 rendering software by downloading the software on KeyShot’s website and using the Trial Licence Code KSYANKO21 while installing the software to unlock all the features. Participants in the KeyShot x Yanko Design Challenge must be above the age of 18.

The Design Challenge will be judged by Ti Chang – Designer and Founder of Crave, Reid Schlegel – Educator and Designer at Aruliden, and Sarang Sheth – Editor in Chief at Yanko Design. The challenge will see three winners who will receive licenses to KeyShot, along with a 10.2-inch Apple iPad (first prize), Apple AirPods Pro (second prize), and an Apple HomePod Mini (third prize). The deadline to submit your designs is 19th September 2021, 12:00 PST. Hurry!

Here’s all the information you need:

The Design Brief
How can you make the ENVOY Helmet safer?

How to Participate
Step 1: Download the ENVOY Helmet 3D assets
Step 2: Upload your design to Instagram + Follow @yankodesign and @keyshot3d
Step 3: Tag @yankodesign and use the hashtag #YDxKeyShot in the caption.

Contest Opens: 6th September 2021, 12:00 am PST
Contest Closes: 19th September 2021, 11:59 pm PST

First Prize: 10.2-inch Apple iPad + KeyShot Pro License
Runner Up 1: Apple AirPods Pro + KeyShot HD License
Runner Up 2: Apple HomePod Mini + KeyShot HD License

You Have to Use KeyShot to create your renders.

Click Here to Download the ENVOY Helmet 3D Assets

Click Here to Download a free trial of KeyShot 10 (Use the Trial Code KSYANKO21 after installation)

Click Here to Participate Now! Hurry, Contest Closes on 19th September 2021, 11:59 pm PST.

This wooden treehouse is constructed without a tree to minimize environmental impact & maximize adventure!

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Normalize adults living and chilling in treehouses because we are certainly going through a lot more than children and this is the escape we need! Cassiopeia is one such shelter that every grown-up dreams of having, it is a treehouse that was born in a garden without a tree for us to disconnect from the virtual world. It has multiple levels, a fire-man pole, a slide, a swing, a zip-line, a net bed, monkey bars and a climbing wall in sculptural form with legs that grow in the garden!

It has utmost privacy and was constructed with a very low impact on the territory. Cassiopeia is a playground for kids at its core but has been designed to provide the same nostalgia and whimsy for adults too. It seeks to touch the ground lightly through clever architectural design and woodworking which also ensures that it is durable and environmentally sustainable.

The contemporary treehouse aims to blend into its surroundings while providing a sanctuary for adults and kids to escape the monotony of everyday life. Especially since the pandemic, people are avoiding public spaces which restrict outdoor activities but Cassiopeia brings that adventure back to your backyard!

Cassiopeia, in astronomy, is a constellation of the northern sky easily recognized by a group of five bright stars forming a slightly irregular W. The multi-level playground is a privileged place to watch the complexity of the universe through the telescope lens.

The foundation of the treehouse is the invisible metal ground screws that give support to columns and beams. “At the top of it, we built the skeleton (interior frame) that receives the skin (walls and roof) that are built with CLT panels painted black that receive a horizontal slatted wood system that follows the treehouse shape,” adds the team.

This project highlights Madeiguincho’s combined heritage of both architecture and carpentry. The Portugal-based studio retains the charm of a traditional treehouse with the warm wooden aesthetic but brings modern architecture into play without needing a tree in the first place. The angular shape, systems for multiple activities, large windows and doors truly encourage us to take a break, play and bring back the innocent joy from our childhood.

Designer: Madeiguincho

This 3D printed cabin was designed to give you an escape from the everyday urban lifestyle!

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If you are looking for an unconventional staycation, this 3D-printed Urban Cabin could be it! It has transformed a former industrial area in Amsterdam from a vast empty space into an urban retreat with a pocket park for picnics and an outdoor bathtub that will teach you to not focus on what others might be thinking. The compact sustainable dwelling is actually born from research about building in urban environments. It is entirely 3D printed with bio-plastic and can be fully recycled to be reprinted in the following years!

The compact sustainable dwelling is actually born from research about building in urban environments by Amsterdam-based firm Dus Architects. DUS designs indoor and outdoor furniture, interiors, and architectural installations made by means of 3D printing, to accelerate a new way of building: smart, 100% circular, and on-demand.

The design plays with the relations between indoor and outdoor spaces creating luxury within a minimum footprint. Entirely 3D printed with black-colored bio-based material, it showcases different types of façade ornament, form-optimization techniques, and smart solutions for insulation and material consumption. The floor and stepped porch are combined with a concrete finish creating a beautiful pattern that extends into a path in the pocket park. In the green around the cabin, you can enjoy the sculptural printed bathtub, and watch the sunset surrounded by waving poplar trees.

The 8 m2 x 25 m3 house fits the ‘tiny house’ trend in which small dwelling designs solve large housing issues. The design comprises a mini-porch and indoor space in which a sofa can be doubled up as a twin bed. 3D printing techniques can be used particularly well for small temporary dwellings or in disaster areas. After use, the bio print material can be shredded entirely and re-printed into new designs.

The Urban Cabin is part of the 3D Print Living Lab by DUS architects. It is another step in using the in-house developed 3D print technology to build sustainable, customizable, and on-demand housing solutions for the fast-growing cities around the globe.

The 3D Printed Urban Cabin rethinks intimacy and individual space within the city. A precise insertion changed the former industrial area from a vast empty non-place into a retreat to escape the speed of everyday life and to enjoy summer, the waterfront, and the sunset with friends or by yourself.

The Summer House is the first step in using our 3D print technology in developing sustainable, customizable and on-demand housing solutions for the fast-growing cities around the globe.

The design plays with the relations between indoor and outdoor spaces creating luxury within a minimum footprint. Entirely 3D printed with black colored bio-based material it showcases different types of façade ornament, form-optimization techniques, and smart solutions for insulation and material consumption.

The floor and stepped porch are combined with a concrete finish creating a beautiful pattern that extends into the pocket park. In the green created around the house, you can enjoy the sculptural outdoor printed bathtub. Urban Cabin truly offers a unique perspective into urban architecture, sustainable construction and one-of-a-kind experience in your own city!

Designer: DUS architects

The world’s first 3D-printed parkour playground was made with recycled concrete!

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We see 3D-printed architecture all the time now, but then Czech Republic-based organization Buřinka thought outside the box and literally took 3D printing outside to create a parkour playground!  The 3D-printed parkour playground is the first of its kind constructed from recycled concrete and other eco-friendly construction materials. Parkour is the activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing so the structure was made to be durable and resistant to urban climate.

Designer: Buřinka

Buřinka also made the country’s first 3D-printed house, is adding to its list of 3D construction innovations with a new project. This is a joint project between the private sector, the public sphere, and research ventures. Spanning 14 by 12 meters in size, the parkour playground uses cast rubber for the impact area with individual obstacles made of concrete. Obstacles are printed on a frame printer with materials from Master Builders Solutions CZ to highlight safety and strength. The foundations are printed out of recycled concrete, known as rebetong, in collaboration with researchers from the Brno University of Technology.

The playground, which is designed by Buřinka architect Daniel Samek, is set to open at the end of September 2021 and will be included in the new leisure area at Kupecký Elementary School in Prague. Samek said he was drawn to the project for its accessibility, as parkour doesn’t require any expensive equipment and can be enjoyed by both children and adults. “The playground that is now being created is unique in that it works with rounded shapes,” said the architect. “It brings a revival to parkour.”

In an industry facing many challenges, such as worker shortages and rising building materials, Buřinka maintains that robotics and 3D printing could provide necessary solutions among Czech construction companies. “Housing does not mean just four walls,” said Libor Vošický, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Buřinka. “It is also essential to have a possibility to spend free time outdoors, safely, close to home. There are many playgrounds for preschoolers, but older children don’t have many options, so we decided to use innovative 3D printing technology to create a parkour playground. At the same time, we want to confirm the benefits of using recycled concrete called rebetong. It is another milestone in the use of this innovative technology.”

This sustainable beehive is designed to replicates the microclimate of the bee’s natural habitat!

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Bees are essential to keep our ecosystem running as we know it, these master pollinators play a huge role in supporting the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants that serve as food + shelter for all living beings. They contribute to complex, interconnected ecosystems that allow a diverse number of different species to co-exist. HIIVE is a beehive designed to help beekeepers to keep their bees in a more natural way compared to traditional hives. It is crafted from sustainable materials and with low-energy sensors to give the beekeeping experience a much-needed upgrade since it has been 150 years since the conventional bee box design!

It supports the inherent behavior of the Apis Mellifera aka the European honeybee which is one of the most common types. “At first we just wanted to design a more ergonomic beehive. While studying design, we accompanied several beekeepers. The first time we saw the treatment against the Varroa Mite (biggest enemy of the honeybee), it was shocking. The chemical treatment had a direct effect on the bees‘ behavior. We found that there is a more serious problem to be solved than the ergonomics of beekeeping. So we spoke to scientists for advice and they repeatedly pointed out the problem with the wrong microclimate in conventional bee-boxes,” explained Potthast and that is how the concept came to bee.

HIIVE is designed to replicate the microclimate of a tree cave which is the natural habitat of the European honey bee. According to research, honey bees in tree caves live healthier lives and are better equipped to deal with parasites because of circumstantial lessons. HIIVE is essentially the first tree cave that can be produced at an industrial scale.

It offers a tree cave-like geometry without cold bridges which makes it easy for the winter bees. The frame is made from recycled plastic and a textile cover to protect against the weather. Its also insulated with natural thermo hemp wool and an additional vapor barrier film for optimum moisture control. Thanks to the insulation the animals have to use less energy to heat up or cool down the house and this “leisure time” has positive effects on their behavior which promotes grooming naturally.

Potthast spent a year researching and studying design with beekeepers to understand the demands of both animals and humans. When biologists pointed out that the microclimate is the biggest issue, the build of the first version of HIIVE was made and insulated with natural hemp wool. “For the prototyping phase, we used 3D printing for all structural components and laser cutting for the wood parts. We have tested the first prototype with a bee colony and it worked well for the microclimate. But the handling wasn’t satisfying and the volume needed to be adjusted,” explained Potthast.

The redesign was more efficient and has a two-chamber system – one honey chamber and one brood chamber – which are easily extractable. This makes it possible to harvest honey respectfully. The amount of plastic was also reduced by over 85% thanks to the use of the textile cover. It has a low manufacturing cost and therefore can be affordable for beekeepers across the globe.

Conventional bee boxes neglect the demands that honey bees actually make on a home. Bees prefer a round shape and good insulation which is naturally found in tree caves. But in conventional boxes, they need to spend a lot of energy on keeping the desired temperature during the seasons. There is also no living space for symbionts and if parasites enter then the bees get in trouble which results in beekeepers having to treat them with chemicals. In contrast, HIIVE was designed with a human-animal-centered approach. It brings beekeeping back to nature and ensures a healthy life for bees.

“At the moment we are conducting a field test with 10 prototypes of the latest version. The plan is to bring HIIVE to series production after all tests are made,” said Potthast as he spoke about the design’s future. “The next step is also the development of the campanion app, which will create a new way of keeping bees. With smart sensors we have the possibility to create not only health tracking of each colony, but also a swarm alarm combined with a swarm net. In this way beekeepers get notified when exactly to expect a swarm so they can keep bees in a very natural way without regulating their swarm behavior,” he added.

HIIVE is the perfect combination of a natural and healthy home for bees as well as ergonomic and easy to use by beekeepers. The integrated app will make beekeeping more efficient and safe while the low-cost design will make it easy to be mass-produced without adding to the plastic pollution problem. It is un-bee-lievably good for a beehive!

Designer: Philip Potthast

HIIVE is a runner-up for the James Dyson Awards 2021 and has many more notable achievements through its journey from concept to completion.

This minimal money bank’s design takes “low-hanging fruit” very literally!

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Money is not usually considered a “low-hanging fruit” but this money bank is here to change your mindset about abundance and savings! Fruition is a minimal money bank or coin box or piggy bank – based on where you live – that falls once it has accumulated enough treasure. While most money boxes are designed for kids, this one has a modern aesthetic to appeal to grown-ups who probably need to save more than a child does!

Fruition is named because your efforts to save literally come to fruition with this design. It demonstrates a semiotic effect that appeals to human psychology and makes us feel good about the amount we’ve saved. The simple action of the box or ‘fruit’ falling is satisfying and gratifying at the same time! The money box itself represents the ripe fruit that is ready to be enjoyed just like your savings. The money box is attached to the ‘tree’ with strong magnets that give in to the weight of the money after a certain point. The lower tray is always ready to catch the ‘fruit’ and you can also use it otherwise to store smaller items like keys, masks, or stationery.

The ‘fruit’ is made of silicone and magnets, so coins are safe and secure. It can also be reused over and over again. When the ‘fruit’ drops there is a clanging sound that lets you know it is time to treat yourself…or deposit it in the bank. “This notifies users when to empty the money box while giving them a sense of accomplishment of harvest,” says Kim. I love how simple, playful and dynamic this design is – it truly makes money boxes look like an art piece for your desk with a post art auction bounty for your wallet!

Designer: Younghyun Kim

fruition

These office desk accessories are all designed to be a mini factory of productivity!

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In an imaginary world, I would love if there was a factory of productivity so that we never had those Monday blues or the pressure to finish everything by Friday. Well, that dream is not coming true but perhaps what can boost productivity just as equally is this cute, minimal, tiny Factory Object set which includes everything you need for the perfect office day!

It’s a series of products inspired by the commonality between factories that constantly produce things and employees who do productive work at the desk (as I write, I realize I am very much that employee right now – very meta!). It consists of a humidifier, diffuser, pen holder, charging tray, USB, and a USB splitter.

The humidifier mimics the smoke-emitting factory chimneys. It has a 4-6-8-hour reservation function and a knob to control it. “It also provides more smoke with two cylinders and filters,” elaborated Park. Another set of objects inspired by the smoke pipes in factories are the wireless charger and pens. Two pens rest in a magnet holder attached to a tray that can be used to organize desk supplies. The tray also supports wireless charging! Moving on we have the powerplant-inspired diffuser which is a perfect mini replica of the real structure down to its shape. You can simply turn it off and turn it on with the front button, and enjoy aromatherapy (very much needed anytime you open your inbox) with capsule-type electronic diffusers.

Now to my personal favorite object – the USB trucks and the warehouse USB splitter! “The USB hub is inspired by the commonality of transporting something. It lights up when a USB is detected and supports four ports as well as SD cards,” explains Park. The USB drives are shaped like mini trucks and come with 16GB and 32GB storage capacity. The Factory Object desk set is playful yet sleek and makes being productive a whole lot easier – almost as if it was manufacturing it!

Designer: Jaehong Park

This multifunctional product has been designed to work as a clothing rack and a treadmill!

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We love multifunctional product designs here but I have to admit, I have never thought of a treadmill and a clothing rack in one! But then again, we use our office chairs as an “open closet” so this concept isn’t entirely alien. ‘Walk and Hang’ is a project that functions as a basic treadmill as well as a clothing rack in one sleek design.

Both clothing racks and treadmills are usually an eyesore in any home because they look out of place and are super bulky. One of the key aspects of ‘Walk and Hang’ is its aesthetically pleasing form that looks neither like a treadmill nor like a clothing rack. In fact, it looks like a minimal standing table if I ever saw one inside someone’s house and had to take a wild guess. It rests in a folding table-like form and can be opened fully into a treadmill or only partly at the top for the racks. It saves a lot of floor area indoors, especially if it’s a shared space and even more so after the pandemic where you need more room for a work-from-home setup.

“I tried to satisfy everything of the product’s original function and user’s habits, and solved space problems and considered usability by combining the two products together,” says designer Jinyoung Noh. Since this is a concept, I will let my imagination run wild – clothing racks are often placed where sunlight hits the hardest so clothes dry fast, I would love to see this treadmill be turned into a solar-powered one by capitalizing on that same sunlight. ‘Walk and Hang’ is a slim treadmill and definitely the most beautiful clothing rack I’ve ever seen!

Designer: Jinyoung Noh