Fighting Air Pollution with Plants

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The breathable barrier is designed to stop CO2 emissions right at the source. Utilizing a honeycomb system of interconnected moss, which survives by absorbing nutrients and water from the air, the panels act as a filter and collect emissions particles before they can make it into the local environment. Capable of being integrated onto the existing transportation infrastructure, the green moss also makes for a stunning visual and triples as a padded sound absorber to keep road noise to a minimum.

This design is a winner of the 2018 Red Dot Design Concept Award.

Designers: Hsuan Ting Huang & Tsung Ying Hsieh

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The Cushion Tamer

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In just a couple of simple steps, SHO transforms from sofa to sofabed in seconds by taking control of the cushion! The design utilizes a unique metal frame that snaps together to hold a twin-size latex mattress in an upright position that’s perfect for sitting and reading. Simply undo the clasp and unfold the mattress to create a proper lounger where you can extend the legs and relax while enjoying the back support. With its small footprint, its perfect for the micro-est of micro-living spaces!

The SHO is a winner of the 2018 Red Dot Design Concept Award.

Designer: Pan Biwei

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One Robot To Rule Them All

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Don’t be deceived by the name, this adorable robot isn’t going to clean your floors, but it might be able to control another device that does. It’s called the IHR (Intelligent Housekeeping Robot) and its primary function is to act as a central hub that can manage all your smart devices efficiently.

Using a mobile app, home users can sync up everything from floor vacuums and nanny cams to alarm systems and air conditioners. The IHR will make informed decisions by monitoring the condition of the interior and assigning “jobs” to your devices. If your floors are dirty, it can trigger the vacuum… or if your home has been inactive for a period of time, it can set the alarm and lock the doors… all while looking pretty darn cute. The possibilities are endless!

Intelligent Housekeeping Robot is a winner of the 2018 Red Dot Design Concept Award.

Designer: Wanheng Chen for Sichuan Konka Smart Technology

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“We hope the robot to be more like humans, communicating with the robot just as humans do. We want to optimize the user experience of intelligent platform and combine artificial intelligence technology with smart home,” Chen told Yanko Design.

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“The design is made to exemplify the spirit of “harmony” in China through blend eastern aesthetics into technological feel. The design is made up of gentle, concise curves and surfaces. The curves and some details are abstractly designed from traditional elements and give us a friendly feeling,” continued Chen.

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“You can communicate with the robot via an app on your phone to know what’s going on in your home or give it an order. Geofence technology saves energy by using your iPhone location to know when you’re away and adjust the mode.”

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“Through the combination of smart home and intelligent community platform, we will obtain a large amount of data to provide more accurate marketing and service, which shows a great value to promote development of commerce:the more data,the better the product;the better the product,the more data we will get.”

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“As well, the robot can provide companionship, interact with children, help children learn and develop good habits.”

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“Cooperated with speech interaction, far-field sound control, geofence technology and working with various platforms, you can control the robot via many ways. The AI steering gear with several microcontrollers built in the fuselage can support omnidirectional rotation and achieve multi-angle and high-precision action.”

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Trike Meets Tote

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Just like the name suggests, the TAKEME trike aims to tag along with its user everywhere they go. Designed with the elderly in mind, it features a thoughtfully designed folding system that allows it to transition between riding, carrying, and storing modes in mere seconds. Functioning as both an e-tricycle and cart, the different modes accommodate a variety of activities including last-mile commuting, shopping, and more. In addition to having a triple-wheel design that provides enhanced stability and safety, its automated folding system creates a seamless rider/transporter experience that elderly users will appreciate.

TAKEME is a winner of the 2018 Red Dot Design Concept Award.

Designers: Kinson Chan, Ronsben Huen & Rice Mak

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The Salon Faucet Just Got a Makeover

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Easy for hairstylists and therapeutic for customers, Salon Q is an all-new faucet solution that rethinks the hair-rinsing process. It features a ring-finger attachment that places the nozzle comfortably between the fingers of the hairstylist. Instead of alternating between hand and nozzle, stylists can rinse and massage the scalp simultaneously. Better yet, they can adjust temperature directly from the top of the spout. Other signature details include ultra-thin water holes to achieve a reduced size and an integrated magnet that allow it to be attached to the basin for easy access.

The Salon Q is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2018.

Designers: Lin Yi-Su & Shen Yi-Lin

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The single-person-operated stretcher promises faster rescue times

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The Just One is fundamentally simple. A cross between a stretcher and a wheelchair, it allows patients to be taken from one place to another not by two, but by just one person. The stretcher’s horizontal design gets ditched for something that’s more like a recliner, and the patient gets strapped in place too. Carried around like a hand-pulled rickshaw, a medical assistant pulls the stretcher from the front, with wheels at the back replacing the need to have a second human carrier. The patient lies in place, bound by harnesses, and can easily be transported to medical zones with just one assistant. That being said, the Just One stretched comes with handles at both ends, allowing it to be used as a conventional stretcher too!

The Just One Stretcher is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2018.

Design: Qi Qiu, Xin Guo & Ning Wang.

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Drone in a Jiffy

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The Xenon Adventure Drone is an ultra-portable alternative that aims to make the setup process a cinch so you can do more playing and less assembling. Better yet, it’s simple to store and transport so it will be ready when you are.

The design is made possible by stacking sections that attach magnetically. Just snap the black and white pieces together and the drone will be prepared to fly. A third section acts as both a storage container for the drone and a launching platform that can be held in the hand. As for the control element, it attaches onto any smartphone, augmenting the display with surface haptics that provides a tactile, dynamic, flat surface, replicating a joystick. Here, users can view and control its 3-axis gimbal stabilized camera which unfolds during flight to record 4k video and photos.

The Xenon Adventure Drone is a winner of the 2018 Red Dot Design Concept Award.

Designer: Kendall Toerner

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Shining a Light on Developing Countries

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Created for those living in developing countries with limited access to power, the Bottle Pedestal Solar Lamp serves as a low-cost lighting solution with little environmental impact.

The design features a small solar panel on one side and a light source on the other. These components are housed within a biodegradable cork shell. In addition to harnessing the sun’s energy and being at least partially composed of environmentally-friendly materials, it also encourages the reuse of plastic bottles with its functional stand. The metal stand doubles as a bracket that grips onto the neck of a bottle to elevate the light source, instantly transforming it into a desk lamp.

The Bottle Pedestal Solar Lamp is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2018.

Designer: Thinkdo Design

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The Cooking M3 lets you cook individual parts of a full meal together

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Built with multi-unit cooking control, the Cooking M3 lets you prepare entire meals at once. Its innovative 3-compartment structure allows you to cook separate dishes (two small accompaniments and a main dish) at the same time in one single unit, allowing you to look at the bigger picture of preparing a full meal in one appliance, rather than individually cooking different elements.

The three compartments come with their own induction-ready containers (like in a rice cooker) that can be placed into the M3. The M3 uses induction technology to heat the food and even contains a steamer unit that lets you prepare rice or steam-cook vegetables (I imagine with a little practice, you could use it as a sous-vide machine too. Armed with voice control, the Cooking M3 lets you talk to it, passing down instructions to start or end a cook, or even heat up your food minutes before eating!

The Cooking M3 is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2018.

Designers: Xiao Zhihua, Gao Junwu, Li Lei & Xu Qinqin.

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The SHO is two chairs made of two parts

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Practically a hallmark of simplicity and effectiveness, the Sho is made of literally two parts. A frame and a mattress. However, it can exist in three states. As a bed (with the mattress used as-is), as a comfortable chair, and as a reclining lounge chair.

The SHO works well as instant furniture, be it in low-cost apartments, or at disaster relief sites. The metal framework is foldable, and when opened out, allows you to tuck the mattress into it, turning it either into a comfortable chair with a backrest, or into a lounging recline you can lean into. Independently, the mattress serves as a bed for one, allowing you to have three pieces of furniture that use just two simple objects.

The SHO is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept: Best of Best Award for the year 2018.

Designer: Pan Biwei

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