Tag Archives: Sports

Innovative muscle oxygen monitor helps take your workouts to the next level

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Most people probably think that training for competitive sports is just a matter of repeating a series of exercises with increasing intensity. That, however, is an extremely simplistic and quite dangerous strategy because our bodies are just machines. Knowing when to push harder and when to stop isn’t just a matter of feeling it and athletes have to rely on medical science and equipment to properly set their pace. That can be quite costly and inconvenient, especially for budding athletes or people with active lifestyles. Fortunately, you don’t need to break your wallet or become a scientist yourself just to get the information you need at the right time, thanks to this revolutionary wearable that lets you measure your muscle’s oxygen level so that you can train more efficiently and avoid injuries at the same time.

Designer: CLOMP

Click Here to Buy Now: $259 $420 ($161 off). Hurry, only 3 left!

While heart rate monitors and blood oxygen (SpO2) monitors are important health indicators, they aren’t the only factors to consider when exercising, whether it’s for an upcoming competition or simply getting into shape. Oxygen saturation in muscles or SmO2 is just as critical because it’s what draws the line between just pushing the limits and fatigue. You can be breathing normally or taking in lots of oxygen, but your muscles might not actually be getting them properly. Unfortunately, this is something that can’t be accurately measured by smartwatches or trackers, and traditional methods are either too invasive or too bulky to really help athletes. That’s where CLOMP comes in, a muscle oxygen measurement device that you wear around your thigh to deliver real-time data without getting in your way.

CLOMP works by utilizing medical-grade functional near-infrared spectroscopy or fNIRS, the same technology used to monitor brain activity, oxygenation, and blood flow. It works almost in the same way as SpO2 or blood oxygen sensors that shine light through the skin and measure the reflected light to determine how much oxygen is being carried by the hemoglobin and myoglobin molecules in muscles and tissues. It’s an effective way to do non-invasive Lactate Threshold (LT) tests that tell when fatigue is about to set in.

With this information at hand, you or your coach can determine the most optimal training strategy while also reducing the risk of injury. It can even measure how much fat you’re burning by correlating muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) with O2 intake and CO2 outtake, allowing you to tailor your training intensity based on your diet and calorie goals.

Despite its advanced functionality, using CLOMP couldn’t be easier. You simply strap the exercise band or patch on your thigh and you’re literally good to go. The wearable is so lightweight and ergonomic that it won’t drag you down and add to your body’s stress. CLOMP gathers data as you train and feeds it to the CLOMP app on your connected smartphone, where this data is interpreted and presented in a way that’s easy to digest and take action on.

Like many smart health platforms today, CLOMP will be able to use this information to not only guide you but also to suggest personalized workout plans, designed with USA Triathlon certified coach Gerardo Barrios, that fit your specific body’s needs and goals.

As with many things in life, the secret to training and exercise success isn’t just a matter of working harder. You also need to be smarter and more efficient, pushing your body to the limits while reducing the risk of injuries. That requires keeping track of the different biometrics of your body, which has traditionally been costly and cumbersome to do. With the CLOMP muscle oxygen measuring device, you get a medical-grade device to get the personalized information you need in a comfortable and ergonomic wearable that helps you work your way to gold the smarter and safer way.

Click Here to Buy Now: $259 $420 ($161 off). Hurry, only 3 left!

The post Innovative muscle oxygen monitor helps take your workouts to the next level first appeared on Yanko Design.

Innovative muscle oxygen monitor helps take your workouts to the next level

Posted on by

Most people probably think that training for competitive sports is just a matter of repeating a series of exercises with increasing intensity. That, however, is an extremely simplistic and quite dangerous strategy because our bodies are just machines. Knowing when to push harder and when to stop isn’t just a matter of feeling it and athletes have to rely on medical science and equipment to properly set their pace. That can be quite costly and inconvenient, especially for budding athletes or people with active lifestyles. Fortunately, you don’t need to break your wallet or become a scientist yourself just to get the information you need at the right time, thanks to this revolutionary wearable that lets you measure your muscle’s oxygen level so that you can train more efficiently and avoid injuries at the same time.

Designer: CLOMP

Click Here to Buy Now: $259 $420 ($161 off). Hurry, only 3 left!

While heart rate monitors and blood oxygen (SpO2) monitors are important health indicators, they aren’t the only factors to consider when exercising, whether it’s for an upcoming competition or simply getting into shape. Oxygen saturation in muscles or SmO2 is just as critical because it’s what draws the line between just pushing the limits and fatigue. You can be breathing normally or taking in lots of oxygen, but your muscles might not actually be getting them properly. Unfortunately, this is something that can’t be accurately measured by smartwatches or trackers, and traditional methods are either too invasive or too bulky to really help athletes. That’s where CLOMP comes in, a muscle oxygen measurement device that you wear around your thigh to deliver real-time data without getting in your way.

CLOMP works by utilizing medical-grade functional near-infrared spectroscopy or fNIRS, the same technology used to monitor brain activity, oxygenation, and blood flow. It works almost in the same way as SpO2 or blood oxygen sensors that shine light through the skin and measure the reflected light to determine how much oxygen is being carried by the hemoglobin and myoglobin molecules in muscles and tissues. It’s an effective way to do non-invasive Lactate Threshold (LT) tests that tell when fatigue is about to set in.

With this information at hand, you or your coach can determine the most optimal training strategy while also reducing the risk of injury. It can even measure how much fat you’re burning by correlating muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) with O2 intake and CO2 outtake, allowing you to tailor your training intensity based on your diet and calorie goals.

Despite its advanced functionality, using CLOMP couldn’t be easier. You simply strap the exercise band or patch on your thigh and you’re literally good to go. The wearable is so lightweight and ergonomic that it won’t drag you down and add to your body’s stress. CLOMP gathers data as you train and feeds it to the CLOMP app on your connected smartphone, where this data is interpreted and presented in a way that’s easy to digest and take action on.

Like many smart health platforms today, CLOMP will be able to use this information to not only guide you but also to suggest personalized workout plans, designed with USA Triathlon certified coach Gerardo Barrios, that fit your specific body’s needs and goals.

As with many things in life, the secret to training and exercise success isn’t just a matter of working harder. You also need to be smarter and more efficient, pushing your body to the limits while reducing the risk of injuries. That requires keeping track of the different biometrics of your body, which has traditionally been costly and cumbersome to do. With the CLOMP muscle oxygen measuring device, you get a medical-grade device to get the personalized information you need in a comfortable and ergonomic wearable that helps you work your way to gold the smarter and safer way.

Click Here to Buy Now: $259 $420 ($161 off). Hurry, only 3 left!

The post Innovative muscle oxygen monitor helps take your workouts to the next level first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bugatti x adidas X Crazyfast is the sweetest blue football boot for those who appreciate speed and precision

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In a thrilling new collab, luxury meets athleticism; The result? A mesmerizing, limited edition football boot that transcends the ordinary in a flashing harmony of Bugatti and adidas.

Meet the adidas X Crazyfast Bugatti: Crafted as an ode to speed and precision, this remarkable cleat is a fusion of adidas’ X Crazyfast laced boot and the vivid heritage of early Bugatti Grand Prix cars. But these boots aren’t just about pace; they encapsulate the ethos of “Form Follows Performance,” mirroring the very design philosophy that underpins the creation of Bugatti’s hypersports cars.

Designer: adidas x Bugatti

Limited to merely 99 pairs, each X Crazyfast exudes opulence with bespoke Bugatti design elements, making them an emblem of exclusivity. Notably, on the sides are mantras that capture the core values of both companies: adidas‘ “Impossible is Nothing” and Bugatti’s “Create the Incomparable,” symbolizing its relentless pursuit of pushing the limits in sports and automotive engineering.

The infusion of carbon fiber in the boot’s construction makes it lightweight and sturdy. The choice of material plays along with Bugatti’s use of material in exclusive engineering. But the soul of these football boots lies in adidas’ revolutionary Speedframe sole plate, technology that ensures both feather-like weight and formidable strength, enabling lightning-fast acceleration, from where the name is drafted.

The Aeropacity Speedskin, a single-layer breathable mono mesh not only helps with swiftness but also provides stability. It is designed in Bugatti’s iconic hue; the recognizable Bugatti Blue, which aligns it with the brand’s aesthetic. Add to this the boot’s Aerocage lining for support and stability, and these shoes wear snugly akin to the high-performance standards upheld by Bugatti, and requisite of the high-delivery performer on the pitch.

Much like the hyper sports cars, these boots are destined to become cherished collectibles. To add to their exclusivity, the X Crazyfast will be shipped in a unique box designed from carbon fiber, and sold through a very distinctive approach. The 99 pairs will be auctioned via the adidas Collect Web 3 platform from the 8 through 11 of November.

The post Bugatti x adidas X Crazyfast is the sweetest blue football boot for those who appreciate speed and precision first appeared on Yanko Design.

J.Laverack’s Limited-Edition Aston Martin .1R Bicycle Uses the Same Process as an Actual Aston Martin

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What happens when one of the most luxurious automotive brands in the world teams up with one of the most luxurious bicycle brands in the world? That would be the J.Laverick Aston Martin .1R — the direct offspring of a fruitful partnership between the two high-flying British luxury brands, who are jointly calling it the “world’s most bespoke, advanced and meticulously engineered road bicycle”. This design is definitely bespoke, considering that no two Aston Martin .1R bikes will be created the same —and it isn’t exactly clear how many will be constructed in total — seeing as how every purchaser who orders from Aston Martin’s “multi-award-winning” online configurator will receive a personal invitation to get their own unique Aston Martin .1R fitted at Aston Martin’s HQ in Gaydon, UK.

Designer: J.Laverack x Aston Martin

Evidently, Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ is where a new owner can individually select and install their bells and whistles (literally) after mixing and matching Aston Martin’s signature color schemes — which mirror those of the prestige British auto designer’s most popular luxury vehicles — on the tubes, lugs, forks, stem, seat post, and handlebar drops via the aforementioned configurator. For what it’s worth, yes, you can also choose between saddle and handlebar type. Right now, it’s not clear how much this will all cost, but it makes sense to expect a higher price than most other J.Laverack bicycles, which start at around $5,000.

This advanced titanium road bike design uses a mixture of 3D-printed titanium lugs and sculpted carbon fiber tubes for a lightweight yet sturdy build without any exposed bolts on the outer body. Aston Martin’s designers call this a world first, and I can’t deny it looks like a cross between a bike and a sports car. Though, calling it a “sports bike” would be redundant. That said, Aston Martin’s Executive VP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, dug into this idea even further in an official press release, calling the Aston Martin .1R a “titanium hypercar on two wheels.”

Its max speed probably doesn’t equal that of a shiny new Aston Martin supercar, but it’s likely the speediest (and sturdiest) bicycle we’ve ever seen. Several elements of the ($3 million) Aston Martin Valkyrie’s engineering and design process made their way over to the .1R, including the bicycle’s 40-micron badges. The wheels themselves, plus the stem, also use similar processes. According to Aston Martin, “The hypercar’s wheel design can be glimpsed in miniature in the titanium piston caps of the brakes on the bike, while if you inspect the beautifully machined cups on the threaded bottom bracket of the .1R and you will notice parallels with the central wheel nuts on an Aston Martin Valkyrie.”

The post J.Laverack’s Limited-Edition Aston Martin .1R Bicycle Uses the Same Process as an Actual Aston Martin first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Sleek & Innovative Accessories For Your MacBook

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I honestly cannot do without my MacBook, probably because it is one of my most prized possessions! It contains basically everything I hold important in my life – from work documents to memorable pictures from even ten years ago. And not to mention, I do end up spending most of my day, typing away and working on my MacBook. Since it is such an integral part of my daily and work routine, I’m always looking for ways to elevate my MacBook. I love innovative and nifty gadgets that function as the perfect sidekick to my MacBook, helping me boost my daily productivity and efficiency. Here, we’ve curated a few of our favorite MacBook accessories that’ll promise to level up your already awesome and beloved MacBook. From a 6-in-1 MagSafe charger to a Satechi Triple 4K docking station – these are must-have accompaniments to your MacBook, and the best investments of 2023 for Apple lovers!

1. Magic Bar

The Magic Bar is essentially a portable Touch Bar that can be utilized and paired externally with any Apple peripheral. The portable toolbar has similar features to the Touch Bar, with a recognizable design that aligns horizontally with the keyboard. When you merge the Magic Bar with your iPhone, it allows for multiple smart home shortcuts!

2. CASA Hub Stand Pro

The CASA Hub Stand Pro is designed for the MacBook, and it is able to elevate any laptop up to 29cm in height. It offers an ergonomic position that will not strain your neck. You can set it lower in case you don’t have an external keyboard or if you want to use its inclined platform. It features a high-precision load-bearing mechanism that can support loads of up to 3.5kg.

3. 6-in-1 Charger

Meet the world’s first Apple-certified 6-in-1 MagSafe Charger designed by ESR. The charger is equipped with a GaN semiconductor, and it doesn’t simply charge your smaller Apple devices, it can directly charge your MacBook too by delivering 100W of power. It is an all-in-one solution for your charging requirements!

4. Pixy Mini

Touted as the most powerful power bank for its size, the Pixy Mini is this pocket-friendly, granola bar-shaped power bank with a capacity of 5,000mAh and a 20W power delivery, making it capable of recharging practically any portable gadget you’ve got on hand… even your laptop. What’s so impressive about the Pixy Mini is its deceptively small size.

5. Triple 4K Docking Station

Called the Triple 4K Docking Station, this accessory is designed to expand the limitations of the Mac. The dock is an appropriate fit for the M1 which has a single monitor or even the M2 which can be extended to two screens. It can extend to three extra displays and it provides a 4K HDMI port at 60Hz, and a pair of HDMI slots or the DisplayPort outputs.

6. Belkin’s Continuity Camera

Belkin’s Continuity Camera accessory is an all-white circular peripheral that can you attach to the iPhone’s back with MagSafe. Made from soft silicone, you can mount it on your Mac and it leaves no scratches. When attached to the Mac at the ideal spot where the webcam features, the Continuity Camera automatically activates to allow the iPhone to be used as the webcam.

7. The Slim Dock

Designed to look as sleek as something Apple itself would release (it’s an art that Satechi has wonderfully perfected), the Slim Dock upgrades your 24″ M1 iMac with extra ports and even extended SSD storage. The Slim Dock comes with the same machined aluminum outer as the iMac itself and is available in the default silver as well as the anodized blue to match your blue iMac.

8. OS

Called the OS, this wallpaper and icon pack by Ben Vassey gives your new MacBook or iMac a super cool retro appeal. The OS provides a vintage appeal to the Mac machines by using the original ‘hello’ wallpaper from the 1984 Mac. It also offers a pack of 166 matching vintage icons for all your common software and apps!

9. HUB-OX

Designed to be portable and compact, HUB–OX initially comes as a lightweight, palm-sized USB-C hub, which splits into two halves, both equipped with plenty of charging slots, HDMI connections, and ethernet ports. HUB–OX is compatible with MacBook Pro models that have four USB-C ports, generally any MacBook Pro from 2016 or any of its succeeding generations.

10. SuperTank

Sixty minutes is all that it takes for the SuperTank to power up and be ready for deployment. This 27,000 mAh portable charger with dual USB-C PD (100W + 60W) and dual USB-A ports, has the potential to quickly charge MacBook Pros and many other devices. What this means to people on the go, is that they don’t have to worry about carrying excess wires, multiple power plugs, and compatible sockets, when they are out of the home or office.

The post Top 10 Sleek & Innovative Accessories For Your MacBook first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nike’s Phantom Luna Soccer Cleats Specifically Aim To Reduce Injuries in Female Athletes

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Are there any soccer fans out here?! If you’re following the women’s world cup this season, do notice if the ladies have been playing more comfortably than their previous games and if there has been a noticeable reduction in injuries. And if you already have, Nike has been successful in designing the athlete’s shoes this season! This newfound agility and safety can be attributed to Nike’s innovative design of the Phantom Luna soccer cleats, which have been specifically engineered to reduce injuries for female players.

Designer: Nike

Gender equality discussions are to be revolved around rights and remuneration, it’s essential to recognize that there are inherent physiological differences between men and women. One striking fact highlighted by Yale Medicine is that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to suffer an ACL tear compared to their male counterparts. These injuries often occur in sports that involve rapid pivoting, such as soccer.

If you’re wondering what an ACL tear is, it’s a common injury, particularly in sports that involve pivoting on one’s foot, like soccer. The ACL is a ligament in the center of the knee that prevents the shin bone from moving forward on the thigh bone. Female athletes face a higher risk of this injury due to the biomechanical differences resulting from the wider female pelvis, less muscle mass surrounding their knees, and hormonal factors like lower testosterone and higher estrogen levels, which can lead to looser tendons and ligaments.

Taking these challenges into account, Nike’s designers embarked on a three-year journey to create a solution – the Phantom Luna soccer cleats. The primary goal was to provide female athletes with enhanced traction, confidence, and speed on the field.

The key focus during the design process was on traction. Soccer cleats are intended to provide grip on turf, but if not designed thoughtfully, they can work against the body during pivoting movements. To tackle this issue, Nike’s designers introduced the Nike Cyclone 360 Plate, a circular traction pattern on the cleats’ bottom. This innovative plate is engineered to optimize traction while also maximizing rotation, allowing footballers to make agile and confident cuts on the field without compromising safety.

Another notable feature of the Phantom Luna is Nike’s GripKnit texture, covering the ball-contacting surface. This texture, slightly sticky in nature, enhances the player’s control over the ball, facilitating precise dribbling, passing, and shooting. The material molds to the shape of the foot, providing an equal grip in wet or dry conditions. Additionally, micro-molding texture works in conjunction with GripKnit to ensure better boot-to-ball strikes, ensuring amplified touch during gameplay.

The secure fit and feel of the Phantom Luna contribute to its overall effectiveness on the field. The cleats feature asymmetric lacing, offering a larger touch surface for dribbling, passing, and scoring. The repositioned lacing pattern allows for increased midfoot adjustability, accommodating players with different foot arch types. Furthermore, the asymmetrical Flyknit cuff material provides a snug fit, while subtle ribs in the cuff enable higher ball contact on the ankle during trapping and passing.

The Phantom Luna soccer cleats are a game-changer, addressing the unique challenges faced by female athletes and empowering them to perform at their best. By reducing the risk of injuries and providing enhanced control and traction, Nike’s innovation can elevate the game for players of all levels.

While the design has been tailored from a woman’s perspective, it is essential to note that the cleats will be available in men’s sizes as well, making them suitable for all players who desire improved performance and reduced injury risk.

While Nike’s Phantom Lunas have already been a hit among professional athletes, they are now available to civilians for $275. So, whether you’re a seasoned player or an enthusiastic soccer fan looking for high-performance footwear, these cleats might just be the perfect fit for you. As the old saying goes, “If the shoe fits…” – it might lead you to victory on the field!

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The Adidas M is a Leica-inspired film camera concept to tantalize shutterbugs and sports aficionados

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I’ll be waiting for my Nike 360° camera and my Under Armour FPV drone too, thanks…

Although I’m fairly certain Adidas isn’t trying to enter the photography world after abandoning its $1.3 billion deal with Kanye, this Adidas M film camera concept absolutely made me do a spit-take. Not for one second did I think that the company’s retro branding would carry forward so well onto high-end camera brands, but this concept by Thiago Botelho has me absolutely hooked. The camera styles itself on the Leica M6, but with a cheeky rebranding featuring the same camera body (albeit a little cleaner) along with a new lens, and a red Adidas logo on the top… As the company says, Impossible Is Nothing.

Designer: Thiago Botelho

The camera is unapologetically a Leica, although that Adidas branding on it really feels like a winning collab to me. There’s a macro Elmar 50mm lens mounted on the front, and the rest of the camera’s details and trimmings are on point too, from the textured body to the controls on the top that give you the flavor of full analog photography.

Right beside the Adidas branding is the camera’s built-in flash (although there’s a mount for an external flash too), and a viewfinder on the top right corner.

A textured knob on the top helps you control the camera’s shutter speed, offering the only real control on the camera apart from the focus ring on the lens itself. Beside it lies the camera’s “accessory shoe” that’s used to mount external flash modules for a more powerful light source while shooting in low light or at high shutter speeds. On the other side, lies the shutter button with a threaded socket for ‘cable release’, and a reel counter that lets you know how many more photos you can click.

Designed as a CGI exercise by Botelho, a Brazil-based designer, photographer, and CG artist, the Adidas M shows that there’s really no limit to how versatile some logos can be. The three-leaf logo really feels like it belongs on the camera, although the best way to really make this a Leica x Adidas collab would be to also include a highly powerful sports photography mode within the shutter speed knob. Also, is it just me or would an entirely red camera look even more appealing?

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Clever Table Tennis racket lets you add weights to its hollow handle for better control

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Table tennis is a game that requires absolute coordination between your hands and eyes. You need to watch the ball, predict its path, and make sure your racket aligns exactly at the right position and angle to ensure the ball goes exactly where you want it to go. A lot of this hand-eye coordination happens without you really knowing or noticing, but sometimes your hand just moves a little too fast or slow for your liking. The reason? Well, maybe it’s your racket.

If you’ve ever played golf or gone bowling, you know how much influence weight has on your performance. Go for something with less weight, and your hands can often miscalculate their trajectory. More weight usually means better control, but too much and your hand really gets influenced by the weight rather than the other way around. The Nimbus brings that strategy to the table tennis racket. With the ability to add weights to the racket’s handle, the Nimbus lets you fine-tune your gameplay for better control. The weights can alternatively be replaced with a tracking module that helps you track your racket trajectory in 3D for post-game analysis.

Designer: Shubhangi Chuhadia

Rendered on KeyShot: Click Here to Download Your Free Trial Now!

The Nimbus racket comes with an ergonomic design that’s characterized by a streamlined form that transitions seamlessly from grip to paddle. The grip, however, has a hollow slot in it, which lets you insert weights into the racket. Made from titanium, these weights range between 2.5 and 5 grams, giving your handle a distinct heft that can influence your gameplay. Choose the weight that benefits your game the most, and once you’ve perfected it, downgrade to a lower weight to train your muscles and reflexes.

“I began by studying the needs of players with a learning mindset and focused on enhancing both digital and physical elements to improve gameplay. This involved developing a customizable racket and improving the handle’s ergonomics for extended play”, said designer Shubhangi. “After extensive rapid prototyping and testing, I proceeded to refine the surface to ensure durability during prolonged use.”

To help further improve your game, Shubhangi even created a tracker module, made from plastic. When inserted, the module can track your paddle’s position, movement, speed, and tilt to help you understand your technique and improve upon it. The Nimbus is conceptual for now, but Shubhangi mocked up a prototype to test the product’s performance and ergonomics. Here’s hoping that we see a realized product on the market sometime soon!

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How a table tennis racket concept tries to level up your game

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Most sports equipment haven’t changed their overall design in decades. Yes, materials and parts have been improved, but the general shape has remained the same, especially when they need to conform to certain standards. That’s mostly true for equipment used in actual competition, but there’s definitely plenty of room for innovation when it comes to learning and training tools. Of course, you can’t simply change a standard and well-tested design willy-nilly, but you can definitely make changes here and there to improve a player’s experience and comfort. The table tennis racket, for example, hasn’t exactly changed for over a decade, so this design concept tries to breathe new life into the sport by introducing not only flexibility but also a bit of intelligence to the traditional paddle.

Designer: Shubhangi Chuhadia

The table tennis racket is probably one of the more sustainable pieces of sports equipment even today. It’s mostly made of wood, though laminated for longevity, and rubber pads on one or both sides of the paddle. Unfortunately, this design has also made the paddle less flexible for customization after assembly. Professional players will have to choose the weight and materials to match their playing style before the racket is fully assembled.

Nimbus is a concept design that changes the core makeup of the tablet tennis racket in order to give it more flexible and ergonomic properties. By moving away from wood, the design is able to introduce a new element into the handle, a nook that can be fitted with different kinds of tabs depending on the need of the player. In this manner, a single paddle can be adapted to different use cases without having to wastefully manufacture a new paddle for every instance.

Those removable tabs, for example, can provide the desired weight to match the player’s grip or playing style. It can also be a tracker that can gather the player’s metrics and send the data to a paired phone for analysis. This way, the paddle itself can be an effective training tool without having to attach awkward sensors to the racket or the player’s body.

The redesigned handle is also designed for better comfort, especially for extra-long games. Although traditional table tennis rackets also keep that detail in mind, their conventional design includes sharp edges that cut into the skin after prolonged use. The Nimbus concept will hardly become a standard adopted by international sports organizations, but it shows how even the simplest changes can have significant benefits, especially when given the freedom to think outside the box.

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AI-generated Hìtëkw Tennis Racquet – YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub Design of the Month #2

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The second-ever YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub Design of the Month goes to the Hìtëkw, a rather interesting-looking tennis racquet with an even more interesting back story. Designed using a combination of AI-based tools as well as generative design, the Hìtëkw boasts of a futuristic visual aesthetic that’s never been seen before… and that isn’t all. The redesigned racquet is lighter and stronger too, as a result of this AI-powered makeover!

Designer: All Design Lab

Click Here to view all designs on the YD x Keyshot Inspiration Hub website!

All Design Lab experimented with using OpenAI’s Dall·E2 to generate concept directions for the racquet’s design, only to realize that almost the AI could only work on a dataset of existing images; and nobody had ever made a racquet like the Hìtëkw before, which made it difficult for the AI to really think outside the box. This became the starting point for All Design Lab’s creative brief, which was to completely redesign the racquet’s silhouette itself.

To create new racquet archetypes, the All Design Lab team relied on new CAD tools. The designers created their rough form in Gravity Sketch, a VR-based 3D program that lets you sketch and sculpt in virtual reality, before taking the product to a generative algorithm to optimize the racquet’s unique frame for strength and reliability. The result was the Hìtëkw, a racquet that’s stronger and lighter than its competitors, with a distinct visual edge thanks to its organic, 3D-printed generative metal design.

“Rackets have become more lightweight and durable through new materials and advanced manufacturing techniques”, the All Design Lab team mentions. “Yet the potential is still there to envision an even lighter and stronger racket that takes advantage of new design techniques, specifically, advanced CAD processes such as generative design tools.”

If you don’t know what the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub is, it’s best to think of it as the ultimate destination to find the most inspirational design work, as well as to have your own work featured so that it can be seen by a global audience of thousands of designers and creatives… an ever-expanding encyclopedia of good design and great rendering, if you will.

The hub helps fulfill YD and KeyShot’s broad goal of recognizing exemplary work from a distance and helping amplify it without having to rely on an algorithm, unlike with portfolio sites and social media. It relies on YD’s two-decade-long year history of curating great ideas, concepts, and case studies and ties it to KeyShot’s powerful position as the design industry’s most powerful and preferred rendering software.

The Inspiration Hub’s jury panel will hand-pick and highlight an outstanding design each week, also awarding a ‘Design of the Week’ and ‘Design of the Year’, featuring them at the top of the hub’s page while giving winning designs a permanent badge and entering them into the Inspiration Hub’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Hall-of-Famers will also be featured on Yanko Design’s Instagram page and will win exciting prizes from KeyShot. If you think your design has a chance to get featured on the hub and win, submit your design with us here.

Learn more about how to participate by visiting the hub, and also get your hands on a free trial of KeyShot 11.

Click Here to view all designs on the YD x Keyshot Inspiration Hub website!

The post AI-generated Hìtëkw Tennis Racquet – YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub Design of the Month #2 first appeared on Yanko Design.