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Top 10 Smart Home Accessories that free up time and enhance your everyday life

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Our homes are getting more sophisticated in terms of technology, but all of that is for naught if it ends up making our lives more complicated as well. Smart home devices are meant to help take some loads off our minds and free up small bits of time here and there. Those few minutes might seem almost inconsequential on their own, but when taken together, they give us more freedom to schedule our days around the more important things in life, like spending time with family, friends, and pets. Of course, there’s a wide variety of such devices and appliances available these days, almost too many for us to keep up with. To help with the overwhelming task of selecting the right products, we’ve compiled a list of ten of the best-designed smart home accessories that can help you live life more productively and more enjoyably.

1. Philips Screeneo U5

Living smarter doesn’t just mean being smart about productivity. It also means being smart about the way we relax and enjoy life, particularly through entertainment. TVs have gotten smarter these days, but their basic design hasn’t changed much, especially in how they eat up so much space. That is why some homeowners have switched to smart projectors instead, especially ultra short throw projectors like the new Philips Screeneo U5 that removes the stress of setting up a high-quality entertainment system that doesn’t take up space when not in use.

All you really need to do is to put the Screeneo U5 11 to 16 inches from a wall and then let the smart projector do its magic. It can automatically set up the right configuration so you can jump right into enjoying a good flick with its brighter and more vibrant 4K UHD projection. It doesn’t slack off when it comes to audio either, so you can immerse yourself in the content you love, pushing away the worries of life even for just a few hours.

Click Here to Buy Now!

2. Apple HomePod 2

If you’re going to have more than just one smart home device in your home, you’d probably want to have a single, convenient place to control them from. While there might be a few smart home platforms in existence, most devices support Apple Home, which means that the 2nd-gen Apple HomePod is one of the best smart home hubs available today. What makes it even better is that it is future-proof and compatible with an even wider range of smart devices, thanks to its support for the budding Matter smart home standard.

Admittedly, the 2nd-gen HomePod looks a lot like the first-ever HomePod, but that’s also because it’s a well-loved design that’s known to work. Looks can be deceiving, of course, because everything inside has been upgraded. That means that not only is the HomePod 2 a great smart home hub, it’s also a great speaker that now supports Spatial Audio for that 5.1-channel home theater effect with a single speaker.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299

3. Bird Buddy

Bird watching is an underrated and unappreciated hobby, mostly because of how time-consuming it is to wait for the right bird to come at the right time. It would probably be more efficient if you just let the bird come to you and just be notified when that happens, rather than going out of your way to search for these feathered visitors. That’s pretty much the idea behind Bird Buddy, a smart bird feeder that also turns you into a smarter bird watcher.

Bird Buddy entices your flying neighbors with snacks that they can enjoy in peace, so it’s a win-win situation for both birds and humans. Once a bird flies into place, it detects its presence and sends you a notification on your phone, where you can view a live feed of the bird without disrupting its natural behavior. Bird Buddy can even use AI to identify the type of bird so that you can record different kinds, almost like Pokemon. And you don’t have to waste time at home waiting for those notifications since you can carry the Bird Buddy mobile app with you anywhere you go.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $199 $249 (20% off).

4. Flic 2 Smart Button

While controlling smart devices from a mobile app can be convenient and flexible, it isn’t always the smartest nor the fastest way to do things if it involves multiple taps or actions. There’s always this dream of pushing a single button that does everything you need at a given moment without trying so hard. That’s the dream that the Flic 2 makes real with a single button that can do almost anything you can imagine, as long as there’s a service that supports it.

Flic 2 connects to over a dozen smart services, including Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, IFTTT, and more, so that you can map a single push of a button to a single action or a routine that triggers a series of actions. Those can include dimming the lights, starting the coffee machine, sending a message, or ordering supplies. Since it connects to your smartphone, you can even clip it on your clothes or bag and take it with you wherever you go, expanding your smart home into your smart world.

Click Here to Buy Now: $169.99 $189.96 ($20 off).

5. SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2

Smart devices often try to be a jack of all trades to cater to different people and different use cases. You might, however, sometimes want something that does one thing but does it so well that you might even forget that it’s there. That’s the kind of experience that the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 brings to the table, turning any old curtain into a smart one in a way that almost makes you think you bought a real smart curtain from the very beginning.

Like any of SwitchBot’s smart products, the Curtain Rod 2 is actually a small robot that attaches to and moves along any conventional curtain rod, which means it can drag the curtain along with it. The robot can be controlled by almost any means, from app to voice command to scheduled times. You can even give it a physical nudge by moving the curtain by hand, and it will move along in that direction, giving you the satisfaction of manually opening or closing curtains but with less work.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99 (Use coupon code ’10TRY’ to get 10% off when you buy 2 products).

6. Tempest Personal Weather System

Many of us might have become accustomed to checking the weather every morning, especially those of us that need to commute almost every day. It’s not an exact science, though, and the results that you get might be completely different, especially if you live quite a distance from the nearest weather station. Fortunately, it’s now possible to have your own personal weather station at home with more accurate and more meaningful information thanks to the Tempest personal weather system.

Unlike most smart home devices, Tempest stands outside to get accurate and real-time weather data as it happens within your vicinity rather than having to rely on a weather station miles and miles away. It can, of course, also tell other smart home devices what to do under certain conditions, so the smart sprinklers won’t turn on when it’s raining, or the smart garage door will close down when it’s too windy. The device is also solar-powered, so you won’t have to worry about your electricity bill spiking up either.

Click Here to Buy Now: $329 (Buy 2 at $575 and save $80).

7. Ecobee Smart Thermostat

Knowing the weather or environment at home is great but means nothing if you can’t be smart about changing that situation for the better. Knowing the right time and amount to heat or cool the house inside is just as important, especially since it saves up money in the long run. You’d need a smart thermostat for that, and Ecobee is not only one of the most established brands in that market, it also has one of the most aesthetic products as well.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat has all the bells and whistles you’d expect and then some. It can, for example, also monitor air quality so that you can take steps to make sure you’re breathing in clean air. What makes this Ecobee product even more appealing is its handsome looks that easily reminds you of an Apple product, like a large Apple Watch mounted on a wall. It can even show something similar to Siri’s animation when controlling it by voice, giving you an interesting visual while interacting with the device.

Click Here to Buy Now: $249.99

8. SwitchBot Lock

When upgrading your home to be smarter, you often find yourself having to buy new products and replace old ones. That might be fine for smart lighting or even thermostats, but some parts of your house might not be so easy to change. Door locks are one such category of home fixtures that would require a lot of effort and money to upgrade to a smart lock. Fortunately, SwitchBot’s Lock device makes it possible to have a smarter door lock using the very same lock you already have on your door.

Just like most of SwitchBot’s products, the Lock simply installs on your door and attaches to your existing door lock, making a regular mechanism smarter in a snap. You can control the lock remotely through a variety of channels, from voice control to Bluetooth to NFC tags to, of course, physical keys. Not only do you save time opening the door exactly when you need to, you also save both time and money when installing this smart door lock without having to change anything on your door.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99.99 (Use coupon code ’10TRY’ to get 10% off when you buy 2 products).

9. Click and Grow

We probably pay way too much attention to the technological aspects of a smart home, but living smarter doesn’t always involve self-dimming lights, robot vacuum cleaners, and watchful security cameras. It also means living a healthy lifestyle, which is also one area where smart home devices can help with. Eating healthy food, especially vegetables, can sometimes be a chore when you consider all the work and money spent keeping your stocks filled. Fortunately, you can also grow your own green leafy treats, and the Click and Grow offers a smart way to do so.

Growing plants indoors has become quite fashionable these days, but Click and Grow smart planter hits multiple birds with one stone. Its patented tray system ensures you have a continuous harvest of greens every week, but its clean, minimalist design also adds to your home’s ambiance in the process. It’s a smart and beautiful way to give your smart home a splash of green while also ensuring you won’t run out of fresh veggies anytime soon.

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $729.95 ($130 off).

10. NordicTrack Vault Home Gym

Everyone wants to stay healthy and in good shape, but those people can also think of dozens of excuses not to hit the gym. Admittedly, that’s not a viable option for everyone, but breaking a sweat by yourself at home doesn’t always feel as effective, especially when you don’t really know what you should be doing. If you need guidance beyond just home fitness machines, you might want to also have the wisdom of experts at your service. The Vault brings all of these together into your home, delivering a personal fitness system that fits inside a mirror.

It’s almost too easy to dismiss The Vault as a regular fitness mirror because that is exactly half of what it offers. You have immediate visual feedback that compares your form with that of an expert, and it also gives you access to world-class trainers demonstrating different training styles. The Vault, however, is also a literal vault that contains the accessories you need for a complete workout, including dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, and more. It’s a true home gym system that happens to look nothing like a home gym, bringing a touch of elegance to the room when you’re not doing exercises.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting from $699 $1499 ($800 off).

The post Top 10 Smart Home Accessories that free up time and enhance your everyday life first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 fun and functional products that are must-haves for your pets

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I’m pretty sure our pets are enjoying this pandemic way more than us, I mean they get to have their hoomans all to themselves almost all the time! And as much as I love spending time with my own cats, I’m honestly running out of ways to keep them entertained and prevent them from knocking down an item or two in my home, out of sheer boredom. If you’re pretty much in the same precarious situation as me, then this collection of pet products promises to come to your rescue! From a drying chamber for cats to a unibody dog house made using hot press machines – these product designs will take good care of your pet, and keep them active and content! You can take a little breather, while they wrestle around with these newfound fun products!

1. The Cottage dog house

The Cottage dog house is a minimalist dog house made from metallic elements and eco-friendly felt coverings.

Why is it noteworthy?

Your dog deserves a corner of the home to call its own. Whether that means creating your own pillow fort around your dog’s bed or buying the latest, greatest dog house that only fits in the backyard, it’s up to you. Typically, dogs aren’t too fussy and they’ll find comfort wherever there’s a hint of it–on your lap or under the couch. The Cottage dog house from LSY and Jaeyeon Choi is a new kind of minimalist dog house that taps into comfort with a felt covering and sturdy build.

What we like

  • The internal cushion is meant to provide ultimate comfort for your canine friend
  • The removable roof allows for open-air or semi-enclosed sleeping

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics are a bit too simple

2. Dmuse

Dmuse is a sauna-like drying chamber for cats to have a comfortable place to dry themselves after a bath.

Why is it noteworthy?

While getting cats into the bathtub for cleaning can feel like pulling your own teeth, it’s only half the battle. Then comes the water and we all know how cats deal with that. Take that in addition to drying your cat in a towel and you’ll end up with scratches and tooth marks up and down your arms. Introducing Dmuse, Designer Dot created a drying chamber that doubles as a cat tower as a solution for cats to have a more comfortable way of drying themselves.

What we like

  • A collection of control options manage the device’s temperature, strength, timer, and heat fan
  • Dmuse doubly operates as a cat tower for cats to rest and play even when they’re dry

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure if cats would actually enter the chamber

3. Solar

MyZoo, a cat goods company, designs modern cat furniture that caters to your cat’s every need, while not disrupting your interior design. Solar, one of their more recent designs, is a wall-mountable floating cat bed that mounts onto any vertical surface so cats rest midair in their own designated space.

Why is it noteworthy?

Shaped like the sun, Solar is a small, but sturdy floating cat bed that’s built from pinewood. In a similar fashion to their other pieces of cat furniture, MyZoo lined Solar with a slotted resting platform for safe jumping. Ideal for small spaces, Solar provides a resting spot and jumping platform for your cat and saves space in the meantime.

What we like

  • Solar doesn’t take up any ground space and easily mounts to any wall where there’s room
  • Easy to assemble

What we dislike

  • There’s no cushioning on the bed, which would make it comfier

4. Cat Nest

The PICA Cat Nest is one such product concept and this one is meant for pets of the feline persuasion. It is a “nest” where the cat will be able to stay inside if they need to rest or hide from the rest of the world. It can also serve as a travel caddy for your pet if you need to carry them around in a sort of container instead of directly picking them up, especially if they’re feeling a little prickly that day. It is basically just one huge felt paper with a few buttons so you can transform it for various purposes.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design is inspired by origami, the art of folding paper most associated with Japanese culture. This time around, you’re not folding paper into various shapes but rather the felt material that the nest is made from. You can fold it into its different functionalities. For example, there’s the half-closed mode which can let the cat rest and relax inside the nest but it can also let him take a look around its surroundings. You can also wrap him around like a little burrito if it prefers to have a more snug enclosure.

What we like

  • Inspired by origami
  • You can turn the nest into a bag for easy handling

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

5. The CIRI-US Beam Projector

Concept CIRI-US Beam Projector 2022

Concept CIRI-US Beam Projector Design

The CIRI-US Beam Projector is an attempt to mourn the death of a man’s best friend more positively and beautifully. The concept beam projector doubles as an urn to contain a dog’s remains and can be used to observe the pet’s journey to becoming a star. Even in your pet dog’s death, you can still show your love by giving the dog a proper resting place. The Rainbow Bridge is out there, but the dog must first become a star.

Why is it noteworthy?

Pet funeral doesn’t always have to be formal and cold. It can be interesting and memorable as every pet is meant to be a star. Even if you don’t believe in the idea, having a star for your beloved pet can make things easier and lighter. So switch on this projector and wait for it to beam your pet as a shining star on your wall or ceiling.

What we like

  • Gives your pet dog’s death more meaning

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

6. The Leo’s Loo Too

Looking almost like a slick front-loaded washing machine, the Leo’s Loo Too by Smarty Pear uses a similar rotating chamber to automatically ‘flush’ out your cat’s poo, saving you the trouble of digging away at kitty excrement with a scoop.

Why is it noteworthy?

After your cat’s gone about its business, the Leo’s Loo Too waits for the waste to clump together before beginning its cleaning cycle. To clean out the cat’s waste, the entire inner chamber rotates a full 360, using gravity and a clever mesh design to sift out and separate the waste from the litter. At the end of one 360° spin, the waste gets sent into the Loo’s waste drawer where it’s collected in a plastic waste bag, while the upper chamber is cleaned and laid down with the litter once again. The entire process happens automatically and can be controlled/calibrated via a companion smartphone app

What we like

  • Sports a modern enclosed design
  • The enclosed space means your cat can go about its business with utmost privacy

What we dislike

  • Occupies a substantial amount of space

7. Pet Bed

This design for a pet bed actually has several functions to fit your pet’s sleeping and traveling needs. It comes with a three-stage folding design and how you fold it or not fold it will determine how your small or medium-sized pet can use the “pet sanctuary”. They can use it as a mattress when it’s spread out fully. Fold one part and it becomes a “sofa” for the dog or cat. Put them inside the folded part and suddenly it has become a sleeping bag for them.

Why is it noteworthy?

Most fur parents that I know love getting all kinds of stuff for their doggies and kitties. It seems like the smaller the pet, the cuter the stuff that is available. Not that there aren’t cute things for regular-sized animals. But the ones created for tiny fur babies are especially eye-catching and adorable. So if you want your pet to look like a very lively burrito and at the same time have help to carry them around, here’s hoping this new product design will actually get made.

What we like

  • Functions as a cozy sofa for your pet
  • Even doubles up as a sleeping bag!

What we dislike

  • It’s still a concept!

8. Alive

Alive is a customizable, 3D-printed wheelchair for dogs suffering from joint-related body ailments. As our dogs grow older, age-related body issues, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, and paralysis make it difficult to enjoy life. When even moving feels hard, aging dogs are less likely to spend time with family members and take care of bodily needs, leading to psychological stress.

Why is it noteworthy?

While technical accessories and equipment do exist to offer some relief, antiquated building methods make it hard for dogs to adapt to wheelchairs and other assistive appliances. Revolutionizing the canine assistive appliance game, industrial designer Martin Tsai conceptualized a wheelchair for dogs called Alive that can be 3D printed to fit your dog’s body data and needs.

What we like

  • It’s a one of a kind design that provides aid to dogs suffering from joint-related body ailments
  • Uses 3D scans of the dog’s body data to generate an optimized wheelchair for each dog

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

9. 3D-printed prosthesis

This dog-friendly prosthesis prototype was 3D-printed and designed for a dog who previously couldn’t run for over seven years.

Why is it noteworthy?

Inspired by a dog who couldn’t run for over seven years due to a missing leg, Printthinks committed to research and design study periods that led to the creation of their 3D-printed prosthesis prototype. Printed from a material called PETG and solely recycled materials, Printthinks created a solution that’s both eco-conscious and pet-friendly.

What we like

  • Eco-friendly design
  • 3D-printed design

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

10. DogTag

Say hello to DogTag – a pet-collar tag designed by the fine folks at Studio Proper that houses an Apple AirTag within it. Designed to work with dogs as well as cats, the DogTag lets you easily keep track of your furry little friend when they’re scampering about outdoors or even playing hide-and-seek with you inside the house.

Why is it noteworthy?

Relying on Apple’s powerful ‘Find My’ network, the DogTag lets you be able to keep track of your pet no matter where they are. You can create no-go zones for them, knowing if and when they scale your fence and jump right into your neighbor’s prized flower-bed… and if they decide to play hooky right before bathing time, you can easily ‘ping’ the AirTag inside the collar to give up your furry little monster’s location, or use the Find Nearby feature to help guide you to them!

What we like

  • Let’s you keep track of your pet no matter where they are
  • Comes along with a secure two-part soft silicone housing that protects the tags from accidental bumps or even getting wet

What we dislike

  • Not sure how comfortable doggos would be with wearing it

The post Top 10 fun and functional products that are must-haves for your pets first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 camping tents to meet your 2022 glamping requirements

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As children, we loved camping simply for the fact that we had sleepovers in tents, and ate an unlimited amount of roasted s’mores! However, as we grew older, camping began to hold a different meaning. It was an opportunity to simply getaway, relax, and re-connect with nature! A chance to leave behind our urban woes, and enjoy the simplicity of the outdoors. Although, camping has now received a massive makeover and a new ferocious nickname – Glamping! Glamping is the new, improved and dazzling version of camping.  Luxurious tents, glamping cabins, glamping trailers, and innovative campsites are all a result of the Glamping movement. So, we’ve curated a collection of super comfy, cozy, and advanced camping options that’ll have you itching to make your next getaway a Glamping one!

1. CARSULE

MOGICS is a Nevada-based company that deals with convenience. Portability, functionality, and usability remain the foundational pillars for MOGICS, producing specialty items like universal adapters and wireless light spheres. CARSULE, a pop-up cabin for your car, is one of the latest specialty items to come from the company. Your next best travel companion, CARSULE can attach to a variety of car models to provide a comfortable, spacious tent on camping trips that take you as far as the road goes.

Why is it noteworthy?

Constructed from UV-resistant and waterproof materials, when fully assembled, CARSULE provides up to 2 meters worth of headroom. Unlike most tents, CARSULE is designed to provide space for more than just sleeping. Large enough to function as a sleeping area and a lounge space, the designers behind CARSULE describe, “Unlike most tents that are only meant for sleeping, CARSULE provides you with a living room in the outdoors and offers mobility since the simple installation makes the movement possible and easy.”

What we like

  • Provides space for more than just sleeping
  • CARSULE can fit a variety of different vehicles with trunks that swing upward

What we dislike

  • Rates low on aesthetics
  • Unsuitable for extreme weather conditions

2. Iam Sauna

For moments when you want a portable sauna, Iam Sauna by a Japanese start-up is the go-to option for two primary reasons: it’s highly portable and convenient to set up! Iam Sauna is a lovely tent-style sauna provided with a wood-burning stove that allows people to enjoy the outdoors even in the cold weather to regain the lost energy after a long day.

Why is it noteworthy?

A Japanese-style sauna tent is extremely portable; you can carry it along whether you’re biking it up or driving for a picnic with your family. In addition to its portable design, the sauna tent is effortless to set up. A single person can install the tent in under a minute. One will be required to stretch out the pull tabs on all four sides and instantly, a stable and usable tent is ready.

What we like

  • Portable design
  • Can accommodate up to 6 people

What we dislike

No complaints!

3. ‘Tranendreef’ tree tents

Designed by the Dutch artist Dre Wapenaar, these ‘Tranendreef’ tree tents blend architecture and sculpture into one functional structure. The tent is suspended above the ground and basically hangs on the tree like fruit. The guests use a ladder to get inside/outside. It can host two adults and two small children. Originally installed as part of a public art project called ‘Pit’ (hence the avocado shape we assume) organized by Z33, it brought art into the public space of Borgloon. The designer also created ‘field furniture’ – seating, washing, toilet, and BBQ units to complete the camping site with the tents.

Why is it noteworthy?

They are low-impact and promote sustainable tourism as the pathway they are on also leads to the Castle of Hex. It makes camping a little more quirky and fun, since we are going to be flying for a while this is the only way we can ‘hang in the air’. A reader in our Instagram comment section also called it a Hershey’s Kiss for bears, but I think the bears in Belgian would be rather repulsed by green chocolate but if this was Los Angeles…maybe!

What we like

  • Sustainable
  • Budget-friendly

What we dislike

  • We have to fly to Belgium to enjoy these tents!

4. The Wolf + Cloudbreak

Electric pick-up trucks are going to be the next big rage as Cybertruck paves the way for others like the Rivian R1Tor Lordstown Endurance to bring the taste of this new revolution to eager consumers. The upcoming trend has also aroused California-based Alpha Motor Corporation. Still, they are already looking ahead of time with an electric pick-up truck with an outlandish Overlanding version in the pipeline. Meet the Wolf + Cloudbreak – created in collaboration with HEIMPLANET – as the exciting future of electric mobility for outdoor adventure seekers!

Why is it noteworthy?

HEIMPLANET is a German camping and adventure gear specialist company that has worked with Alpha Motor Corporation to build a unique version of the Cloudbreak geodesic tent. The expansive tent becomes a part of the vehicle, extending the usable footprint of the electric truck to give the adventurous riders almost double the space to set camp safely. The structure is highly weather-proof and stable, with dual access points to the vehicle – resulting in a safe and functional camping setup.

What we like

  • Highly weather-proof and stable
  • It promises a driving range of around 260 miles on a single charge on the dual-motor 4WD

What we dislike

  • Solar panel attachments are optional

5. AERI

Meet Aeri, an inflatable canopy that you can carry anywhere inside a backpack, and inflate in 3 minutes with the press of just one single button. Aeri helps you effortlessly set up a canopy or an outdoor shelter in an instant. Designed to be used for recreational outdoor use, Aeri can easily be carried to the beach, campsites, the park, or even your backyard. It uses a four-pillar arch design that provides the perfect shelter against sun, wind, and rain, and its entirely inflatable design runs on a rechargeable air pump that can be operated independently by a single person with zero assistance.

Why is it noteworthy?

The patent-pending inflatable shelter fits into a moderately sized backpack, and when unfolded, can comfortably provide a 10ft x 10ft shelter to an entire family or a group of 5-6 people. Its UV-blocking fabric works wonderfully against the sun, creating a shaded sanctuary against harsh sunlight, and the fabric’s even waterproof, making Aeri ideal for rainy weather too. While Aeri doesn’t come with metal supports like traditional tents or canopies, it makes up for that with a clever arched architecture. The arched pillars create a rigid support structure that stays stable even in windy conditions, and if things get too out of hand, Aeri’s built-in tether system lets you hook it to the ground.

What we like

  • Ultra-light
  • Easily portable

What we dislike

  • Unsuitable for extreme weather conditions

6. The Bailey Discovery D4-2 Camper Trailer

The Bailey Discovery D4-2 Camper Trailer is one such creation, tailored for adventure enthusiasts who can’t help but satiate their wanderlust – exploring the untrodden trails. The USP of this camper trailer is its inflatable awning which creates almost double the private space you need for your escapades under the star-studded nights.

Why is it noteworthy?

On the inside, D4-2 is equipped with all the amenities and a fully furnished interior. Enough to suffice the needs of a couple on their long road trip – with the odd guest coming along the way for a couple of days. The big windows on all sides and the skylight fills the interiors with enough sunlight for a calming feel. The lounge area includes two couches and a fold-down table. In the kitchen, you’ll get an oven/grill combo appliance, a drop-down worktop extension, and a sink. On the opposite side, there is a mini-fridge with space underneath to store food and beverages. You also get the convenience of a shoes and clothes closet along with a separate area for cabinet storage. Of course, there is a good-sized bathroom too!

What we like

  • Feels like a separate space
  • Made from weather-resistant fabric

What we dislike

  • The attached sleeping tent is optional

7. The Switchback Trailer

If you always wanted to hook a hardcore off-roading trailer to match your Jeep’s capability to conquer tough terrain, then the Switchback trailer by Off Grid Trailers is a god-sent blessing. Perfectly tailored for people who are a bit skeptical about going for an off-roading trip to the Rocky Mountains with a trailer towing at the rear, this hardcore trailer won’t let you have any semblance of even the slightest doubt. If your Jeep can conquer that stretch of a rocky patch (not meant for your average vehicle), then this trailer will have you covered.

Why is it noteworthy?

Although the trailer has a tow-friendly construction for any off-roading four-wheeler you hook onto it, the Jeep-matched wheels and the wheelbase makes it ultra-compatible with the vehicle. Switchback weighs just 1,300 lb thanks to the aluminum and steel body construction –giving it the right balance for any arduous trip. The makers have been mindful enough to offer the storage abundant trailer in two configurations – one having a rear kitchen setup (popular with most of the US Overlanding vehicles) while the other offering a side kitchen option.

What we like

  • Equipped with solar charging
  • The tent increases space for two people

What we dislike

  • Hefty price tag

8. The AERIAL A1

The AERIAL A1 is a fusion of the best aspects of three separate products. It combines the safety and sheltering of a tent, with the comfort and carefree nature of a hammock and the tautness/springy-ness of slacklines. Designed by industrial designers with a true passion for the outdoors, the AERIAL A1 quite literally elevates the idea of camping. Rather than pitching tents in the ground, this one straps itself to trees (or even cars), taking your camping experience up a notch.

Why is it noteworthy?

Climb into the AERIAL A1 and you literally feel like you’re sleeping on clouds. The tent’s slackline structure requires you to stretch the base out so it’s virtually flat (unlike a hammock, which naturally takes a curve)… this effectively gives the AERIAL A1’s tent-bed its ‘spring’, making it feel like a cross between a hammock and a waterbed. The AERIAL A1 can easily be mounted over rocks, roots, or even a river. If the ground isn’t suited for tent-pitching, or if you just want to ‘upgrade’ your camping experience, the AERIAL A1 can quite easily be suspended above the ground. Conversely, if you’re in an open meadow with nothing to tie your shelter to, you can just pitch it onto land like any other tent.

What we like

  • Can take as much as 440lbs of weight once suspended
  • Uses a 2-point connection on either side, keeping your tent from ever rotating or flipping over

What we dislike

  • Has space for only one person

9. Romotow

Camping and caravanning have always been about getting down to the bare necessities of life, living life on the road and at the mercy of the elements. However, New Zealand based design and architecture firm W2, has decided to help amp up the experience! Their revolutionary trailer design, ‘Romotow’, the name an amalgamation of ‘room to move’ contains all the usual RV features but with an innovative 90-degree twist.

Why is it noteworthy?

With the press of a simple electric button, it swivels open, rotating at 90 degrees, to reveal an open synthetic teak deck. With this, it increases the living space by 70 percent, and the area can also be used as a party deck! Measuring 30 feet by 8.5 feet and offering 290 square feet of living space (the same as a lot of tiny apartments these days), the caravan comes along with a living area, bedroom, kitchenette, and bathroom, all with stylish fixtures and spacious interiors.

What we like

  •  Designed with lightweight materials and supported by calculated aerodynamics
  • Equipped with solar panels

What we dislike

No complaints!

10. The Solar-Air Tube

This new-generation outdoor tent is a nature-interactive and energy-independent tent with two main parts: the Solar-Air Tube system that generates electricity from sunlight and creates airflow throughout the tent; and the Sound Drum which captures sounds to allow users to interact with nature even when they’re inside the tent!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Solar-Air Tube has a dual-layer structure that enables it to generate solar-powered electricity from one layer and ventilate air from the other layer at the same time. There is a fan at each end of the tube and natural airflow mechanism is employed. Thus, during winter, the air ventilation system keeps the tent interior warm. During summer, the upper fan absorbs and blows out the hot air from the tent to keep it cool.

What we like

  • The Sound Drum captures sounds such as raindrops, wind, birds, bugs and more
  • Solar-powered

What we dislike

No complaints!

The post Top 10 camping tents to meet your 2022 glamping requirements first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Tiny Homes of 2021

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It’s my favorite time of the year – when I get to explore and dive into the best tiny homes we’ve seen in the entire year! Sustainability has been running on everybody’s mind. Ever since the pandemic shook up our world, we’re trying to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our life, including our homes! And, with everyone aspiring toward’s eco-friendly and mindful ways of living, tiny homes have completely taken over the world of architecture and cemented their place as sustainable, minimal, and economical micro-living setups. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth! They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And, we’ve curated a wide range of micro-home setups that totally grabbed our attention in 2021! From an original tiny home in the countryside that is the ultimate freedom from the city to a bilevel tiny cabin that comes with a 100-square-foot floor plan –  there’s a tiny home out there for everyone!

1. Nido

Nido is a tiny cabin with a 100-square-foot floor plan to meet Finland’s zoning laws that do not require a building permit for houses with a floor plan between 96 and 128 square feet. The cabin comprises two levels and keeps a low profile exterior, with unstained wooden siding and white painted frame elements that tie the cabin together with a touch of elegant simplicity. A bare ramp walkway composed of wooden planks leads to the tiny cabin’s entrance and connects to the cabin’s side deck. Inside, angled, expansive windows drench both floors with natural sunlight and compliment the home’s natural wooden interior and soft hues of the Nordic-inspired color scheme found throughout the cabin.

2. Russel and Leah’s Tiny Home

‘Living Big in a Tiny House,’ a YouTube channel that covers a variety of tiny homes, met up with Russel and Leah, a police detective and social worker, who swapped the stress of urban life for an original tiny home on their friend’s plot of farmland in New Zealand. While many tiny house builders coat their home’s interior walls in white paint to enlargen the living space, the windows that punctuate almost every wall in Russel and Leah’s house provide an open-air feel and allow room for moodier interior design elements.

3. Hüga

Grandio uses its technology to keep the architectural industry to date with its building system that allows for 99% offsite construction. In October 2020, they unveiled their very first prefabricated concrete home called Hüga. Today, the team has developed an advanced enough system using the same technology that can be deployed for commercial, hospitality, and residential functions thus scaling up its positive impact on sustainable construction. Hüga was made to find a solution for the unsatisfying demand in housing and public buildings because that industry has remained the same for centuries. ‘the use of brick in our constructions for over 5000 years is a clear example of how the construction industry is reluctant to change. The construction industry is still looking for a satisfactory solution, one that replaces the slow and expensive traditional systems that require skilled labor.

4. Wai House

This modern architectural concept is designed to be built in New Zealand and focuses on collecting water and using it sustainably. The house itself is constructed with sustainable materials, cedarwood is used for the exterior cladding and the interiors use concrete with recycled plastic instead of sand. It has an almost Japandi-inspired aesthetic which is elegant enough on its own without taking away from the environment it is in. It is designed to collect and store rainwater for use with systems in place that funnel it to the kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor greenery. Since it is just a concept, there is potential for it to become even more sustainable by adding solar panels for energy efficiency.

5. Kingfisher

Kingfisher is a tiny home from the New Zealand-based tiny home company, Build Tiny, that doesn’t feel so tiny on the inside, featuring room for a full kitchen, shower and bath, dining area, living room, and two-bedroom loft. Measuring 8m long x 2.4w x 4.2h, Kingfisher keeps an average, approachable size. From the outside, Kingfisher sports a steel frame clad in vinyl with a cedar feature wall to the side that’s lined with vertical timber panels. The aluminum windows are double glazed to provide ultimate thermal insulation during the colder months.

6. VMD

VMD (Vivienda Minima de Descanso) from STUDIOROCA is a line of prefabricated tiny homes built from disused shipping containers in Mexico, with an interior equipped with off-grid capabilities and simple luxuries. STUDIOROCA designed the line of prefabricated homes to provide a “no-fuss, low-cost building solution,” outfitting the exterior and interior with environmentally friendly materials and smart home automation systems. Tracing the interior’s open layout, each one-bedroom shipping container provides an open-plan kitchenette, a dining area, and living space on one end, then a bathroom and storage space can be found in the middle, whereas the bedroom finds privacy on its own end.

7. The Draper

The Draper is a tiny home from Colorado-based RV company, Land Ark that features a mudroom, clerestory windows, and versatile interior design elements to find a balance between adventurous spontaneity and homelike comfort. From the outside, the Draper exudes mystery with black corrugated steel cladding on all sides. Shaped almost like a reversed trapezoid, the Draper unfurls its all-black exterior to reveal a Cumaru fold-down deck constructed from renewable Brazilian hardwood. When unfolded, the Cumaru deck provides the Draper with a cozier appearance that immediately asserts the RV as a homey oasis designed to get away from the humdrum of everyday life.

8. Gawthorne’s Hut

Gawthorne’s Hut is stationed on an expansive plot of Wilgowrah’s farmland, right beside a small, quaint pond. The tiny home was born out of Wilgowrah’s desire to introduce the possibilities of alternative income sources for farmworkers. Designed in a similar form to other farmland structures like hay sheds and outbuildings, Gawthorne’s Hut’s 30-degree roof hosts an array of north-facing solar panels to provide the farmhouse with internal and external power.

9. Redukt’s Tiny Home On Wheels

Prepared for all elements, Redukt’s tiny home on wheels is thermalized with oiled pine boards that give the home a tidy, yet natural personality. Dissolving the barrier between the outdoors and interior space, the tiny home comes with twin glass doors that are just short of reaching floor-to-ceiling heights. Keeping an off-center pentagonal shape, Redukt’s tiny home maintains an elegant look that’s prepared for all four seasons through the home’s roof topped off with galvanized metal sheets. Built to last, the metal sheets and pinewood facade were chosen as they only look better with time.

10. IKEA Japan’s Tiny Home Campaign

IKEA Japan launched a Tiny Homes campaign that finds a 10sqm apartment in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district to make full use of its floor plan through space-saving furniture and a vertical layout. In the Shinjuku district, IKEA’s 10sqm apartment is organized vertically to make use of the floor plan’s lofty heights and furnished with an array of various space-saving furniture. Dividing the apartment into two levels, residents are greeted by the entryway, kitchenette, bathroom, and laundry machine. Bringing residents to the apartment’s sleeping mezzanine area, a step ladder connects the first level to the second. Throughout the home, storage pieces like the IVAR storage system and SKÅDIS shelf unit outfit the apartment’s desk to make full use out of the home’s working area.

The post Top 10 Tiny Homes of 2021 first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Top 10 Eco-friendly Products that are the ultimate gifts for sustainable design advocates!

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Our unhealthy practices and way of living are truly harmful to the environment and have been slowly leading to its deterioration. And the world has been changing (for the worse) because of this. Hence, it is extremely important to live sustainably and consciously and to take care of the environment. Integrating sustainability into our day-to-day lives has become crucial! And we can do this in various ways. Designers and creators are coming up with sustainable alternatives for almost everything! Every product that is necessary and utilized by us in our everyday routine has an eco-friendly alternative to it. Replacing our usual mass-produced designs with these greener options will make a huge difference to the environment and Mother Earth! And they would also make awesome Christmas presents, and encourage others to lead a more sustainable life as well! From a DIY wooden bicycle to sustainable mushroom lamps – we’ve curated a whole collection of sustainable product designs to help you and your loved ones go green!

1. Openbike

This bicycle made of plywood was created with an intent to get more people to focus on sustainability. The open-source design is called ‘Openbike’ and despite the obvious problems that come with a bike made from plywood, it is still an affordable and lightweight alternative to those who want to live on a budget but are also eco-conscious. You can download the files to build your own bike here! To fabricate the bike, you have to download the drawings from their website. Then you can take the drawings to a local digital fabrication workshop where the CNC machine cuts the body of the bicycle from plywood and uses 3D printing for elements such as the saddle, front hub, and hand grips which could also be recycled from old bikes depending on the resources available.

2. Mycelium + Timber

Teaming up with researcher Ninela Ivanova, British designer Sebastian Cox’s “Mycelium + Timber” examines the viability of mycelium as a potential material in commercial furniture design. The mycelium fibers are bound to scrap strips of willow wood, which provides the base and fodder for the fungus to grow. The result is the absolute antithesis of mass production. Designed in part by nature, each lamp is unique, has its own aesthetic, and is beautiful in its imperfections. The lamps take anywhere between 4-12 weeks to ‘grow’. The scrap willow wood is first sourced from Cox’s own woodland and cut into fine strips before being woven into shape and placed inside a mold. The mold is then filled with a fungus called fomes fomentarius, which was cultivated using more scrap strips of wood. Inside the mold, the mycelium and wood fuse together, creating a unique type of composite material.

3. Calzone

Calzone is a reusable folding plate, inspired by (you guessed it), the Italian crescent-shaped turnovers that are so loved by everyone. The colorful product is perfect for picnics and hikes, because not only can it store food, but it also functions as a plate! When folded, and closed in half, Calzone functions as a nifty little container, but when opened, it takes on a flat form and can be used as tableware to serve food. It’s the perfect replacement for one-time use zipper bags and plates! Created from medical-grade silicone, Calzone is safe enough to be placed in the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and oven.

4. The Hana Sneakers

Sneaker culture is technically a part of fast fashion which contributes largely to the mounting waste problem. But if you can find a cool pair that is sustainably designed right down to its packaging, like the Hana sneakers then we’re all here for it! Designed by Italian sneaker brand ID.EIGHT, not only is this paid unisex and cruelty-free but it is made from materials that are by-products of the food industry and are counted as waste – apple skin and hearts, grape skin, seeds, and pineapple leaves! Inspired by the 90s with references to the navy look, the sustainable shoes express the ironic and dynamic style of ID.EIGHT. The contrast between the upper in white recycled polyester and the AppleSkin details in shades of red and blue create a mix of contemporary and light colors.

5. Boundary Supply Rennen Recycled Pouch

The Boundary Supply Rennen Recycled Pouch is an everyday bag created from 70% recycled materials, eco-fabrics, and yarns crafted from four recycled plastic bottles. As eco-friendly as the bag is, it is also extremely functional. It features a business card sleeve, a pocket sleeve, as well as a pen loop to store all your everyday necessities! It measures 8.5 inches wide, and 2 inches deep, providing sufficient space to store all your knick-knacks. The recycled pouch is available in three colors, so you can pick one according to your personal taste!

6. The Kawamboo Bamboo Coffee Press

The Kawamboo Bamboo Coffee Press is crafted from authentic bamboo wood, and each coffee press comes with its own unique natural pattern. Featuring a 12 fluid ounce capacity, the bamboo coffee maker can make enough coffee for one person at one ago. The outer bamboo body protects the glass, ensuring it lasts longer than the usual coffee makers. It’s also very easy to take apart and clean! The Kawamboo Bamboo Coffee Press is a sustainable and eco-friendly gift, with an interesting appearance, that would be much appreciated by whoever is lucky enough to receive it!

7. The Coarse Pottery Air-Humidifier

Led by Haibo Hou, the team of student designers produced the Coarse Pottery Air-Humidifier as a sustainable alternative to electric air humidifiers. Designed to moisten dry interior spaces, the Coarse Pottery Air-Humidifier almost appears like a radiator made from clay. The air humidifier is made from a type of pottery that contains just the right amount of porosity and moisture absorption qualities. By adding water to the Coarse Pottery Air-Humidifier’s basin, the droplets will gradually rise and evaporate through tiny cavities located near the Coarse Pottery Air-Humidifier’s top. As the water rises, the interior space’s air is moistened with small water droplets.

8. The Seventh Generation Beam

Seventh Generation’s goal is to limit harmful chemicals and they use plant-based ingredients, scents made from real ingredients, and no synthetic fragrances/dyes in their products. It encourages the importance of wellness is in our personal care, household products, and generally in our everyday lifestyle. The concept demands we expand our understanding of what nourishes us without harming the planet through beautiful and innovative design. The aim is to create 100% plastic-free packaging. The challenge is to rebrand a traditional product line and redesign the packaging system to be fully sustainable while utilizing no plastic or bioplastic. Biomaterials like tin, wood pulp, plant cellulose, food waste, grass, algae, and mushrooms are being considered.

9. The Lucca Bozzi Solar Charging Wallet

The Lucca Bozzi Solar Charging Wallet is an advanced wallet with a built-in battery that recharges your device on the go! It can provide almost ten hours of battery life to your iPhone, Android, and other gadgets. It comes with an integrated charging cable such as Lightning, micro-USB, USB Type-C, and more. Though at the end of the day, it’s still a wallet. It boasts a bi-fold style and is perfect for holding your bills, cards, and coins. Crafted from beautiful Italian leather, it has a sleek and stylish aesthetic.

10. Vento

Inspired by his desire “to reinvent the ways we use and produce energy,” on small-scale levels, Vento is not merely a bicycle light, as Bestenheider describes, but “a power plant, a way to question energy consumption, and an object to connect like-minded individuals. Vento is a mindset.” Composed of four main components, Vento is like a miniature wind turbine. Constructed from recycled plexiglass and aluminum, Vento’s microturbine harvests wind energy while the bicycle is in motion. Then, the energy is converted into electricity through electromagnetic induction that takes place in the turbine’s generator. The bicycle light’s battery then stores this energy and the LED bulb generates light. While moving in your bike, the wind is always whipping past you, so the light will always work when needed. Positioned conveniently right between the handlebars, Vento also features on/off and blinking switches for day use.

The post The Top 10 Eco-friendly Products that are the ultimate gifts for sustainable design advocates! first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Top 10 Apple accessories with exciting Black Friday deals to save big this holiday season!

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Since its foundation in 1976, Apple has been always been at the peak of modern innovation! And let’s take a moment to appreciate all the awesome products and inspiration Apple has provided us with. The groundbreaking tech giant never fails to surprise us, we always find ourselves biting our nails and squirming with curiosity, whenever Apple announces a new product launch! Needless to say, we all have our favorite Apple products, and although they are pretty amazing as is, it’s always fun to amp them up further with some cool and innovative accessories. And what better day to purchase these accessories than Black Friday?! Our favorite brands have some mind-blowing Black Friday deals on our favorite Apple accessories! And, we’ve curated the best of the lot for you. Happy shopping!

1. Twelve South’s HoverBar Duo

More versatile than a stand or a tripod, the HoverBar Duo for the iPad and iPhone is better described by the things that it’s capable of… and it’s capable of quite a lot! Simply put, the HoverBar Duo holds your iPad or iPhone wherever you want it, and in any orientation you need. The multi-hinge arm is infinitely adjustable (sort of like the lamp on a dentist’s chair), and the choice between a flat-base and a clamp-base gives the HoverBar Duo the ability to be placed practically anywhere – on a table or a kitchen counter, or even suspended from a shelf or a rod. A universal clip allows the HoverBar Duo to hold onto a wide variety of devices, including older and later models of the iPad as well as all generations of the iPhone. Twelve South has an amazing Black Friday Deal on it! The HoverbarDuo was originally priced at $79.99, but you can now grab it for $59.99!

Click Here to Buy Now :$59.99

2. Twelve South’s PlugBug Duo

Built by the true geniuses at Twelve South, the PlugBug Duo simply connects to your MacBook Charger, supplying power to it while also giving you two extra USB ports to plug other devices/cables into it. The red adapter is compliant with all MacBook chargers and even works as a travel adapter, allowing you to use your MacBook charger with international sockets. It comes with 5 different snap-on plugins that let you plug your MacBook into any international socket you may be subjected to. Besides giving your MacBook charger international compatibility, the PlugBug Duo’s two USBs are heaven-sent, since they let you run your MacBook as well as power your iPhone and iPad simultaneously. Twelve South has an amazing Black Friday Deal on it! The PlugBug Duo was originally priced at $59.99, but you can now grab it for $35.99!

Click Here to Buy Now: $35.99

3. Moment iPhone 13 Starter Kit – Two Lenses

Moment’s iPhone 13 Starter Kit is perfect for those photography lovers who don’t know where to start! The kit contains two of Moment’s bestselling lenses, a phone case with a mounting system, and a lens pen. Everything you need to click the ultimate pictures on your smartphone is included in this nifty little kit. And, Moment has an amazing Black Friday deal on it! You can now purchase the kit for $114.94 instead of $154.94.

Click Here to Buy Now: $114.94

4. Elago Snapshot Case

Elago Snapshot Apple AirPods Case with AirTag

The Snapshot case for the AirPods Pro comes with a camera-shaped design that neatly houses an AirTag inside the faux camera lens. Aside from looking like a tiny little point-and-shoot, the Snapshot protects your AirPods Pro from physical damage as well as theft. The all-silicone design helps absorb shock, while still enabling wireless charging… and the fact that you’ve now got an AirTag strapped to your AirPods Pro makes it really easy to use the Find My feature to track the exact location of your earphones. You can celebrate Thanksgiving with Elago, by using the code TURKEY21 for 20% off on this cool case!

Click Here to Buy Now: $12.99

5. Twelve South PowerPic mod Wireless Charger

Designed to look like a slick lucite photo frame, Twelve South’s PowerPic mod has a way of being useful at all times – either as a tabletop or bedside decor or as a gadget that charges your smartphone… because under the photo and the lucite frame sits a Qi-compatible 10W wireless charging module. The concept of a photo-frame wireless charger isn’t entirely new. In fact, the original PowerPic was just that… although it came with a much thicker frame (or bezel if that’s what you want to call it). Although just like tech companies strive to make bezels smaller each year, the PowerPic mod focuses on going absolutely bezel-less, with a clean, minimalist design that still lets you mount photos and charge your phone. And, Twelve South has an amazing deal on it! The PowerPic mod was originally priced at $59.99, but you can now grab it for $47.99!

Click Here to Buy Now: $47.99

6. Twelve South Compass Pro

Twelve South’s Compass Pro is the easel your iPad needs! They launched a redesigned version of the Compass Pro, which basically functions as an all-metal fold stand that can hold and support your iPad at three different angles. You can use the versatile gadget as a hands-free display stand, a typing or sketching wedge, and an interactive desktop. Also, Twelve South has an amazing Black Friday deal on it! The Compass Pro was originally priced at $59.99, but you can now grab it for $49.99!

Click Here to Buy Now: $49.99

7. Elago Apple Pencil Cover

Designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia, elago’s Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) covers come with that familiar hexagonal pencil aesthetic, complete with the rubber tip at the back. Slip them onto your Pencil and apart from giving you a blast from the past, the covers enhance your grip, thanks to the silicone construction, and protect your hardware from accidental drops and scratches. Moreover, the cover is compatible with the iPad Pro and even supports charging the Pencil by magnetically attaching it to the side of your tablet! You can celebrate Thanksgiving with Elago, by using the code TURKEY21 for 20% off on this cool Pencil cover!

Click Here to Buy Now: $11.99

8. Twelve South ActionBand

The ActionBand is a new sweatband with a frame for your Apple Watch so you can work out and track your activities while keeping the sweat from loosening your grip! The ActionBand is essentially a sweatband with a carved-out frame to hold your Apple Watch, allowing you to sweat all day without loosening your grip. Sold in pairs, Twelve South sends each customer one ActionBand with a secure Apple Watch frame and one normal sweatband to wrap around your watch-free wrist. Providing full access to the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown and Side Button, users will have full control over their watches. And, Twelve South has an amazing deal on it! The ActionBand was originally priced at $29.99, but you can now grab it for $24.99!

Click Here to Buy Now: $24.99

9. Elago Wristfit

At the time of their release, the Airpods were criticized for being too ‘easy to lose’. This spawned a wide variety of products like the Elago Airpods strap that helped you secure your expensive earpieces in place, eliminating the danger of losing them. The Wristfit is another such ‘sensible’ product that simply gives you the ability to dock your Airpods on your Apple Watch. Keeping them in a place that’s easy to access, the Wristfit secures the Watch around your wrist, and the Airpods right on the strap like a sort of holster for your earphones. Push them right in when you’re not using them and you won’t have to worry about them at all. It also means you don’t have to carry around their dental-floss-box-shaped carrying case either! You can celebrate Thanksgiving with Elago, by using the code TURKEY21 for 20% off on The Wristfit!

Click Here to Buy Now: $8.99

10. Twelve South AirBag for AirPods

Twelve South’s AirBag is crafted from genuine leather and is the perfect micro-mini bag to store and carry your AirPods. The vintage-style bag protects your precious AirPods at all times. You can carry it over your shoulders, around your neck, or replace the strap with a leather top handle. Twelve South has an exciting Black Friday deal on this super cute bag. You can now purchase it for $19.99, instead of the original $24.99!

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.99

The post The Top 10 Apple accessories with exciting Black Friday deals to save big this holiday season! first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Top 10 product designs that are sure to make the top of every industrial designer’s wishlist!

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If you have any product designers in your life, then you know that gifting them something is almost always impossible. They usually have everything they need – which basically includes their precious design equipment and gear. But there’s always a product or two in their must-have wish list. They are usually innovative product designs that can really help or support them through their creative process. They add a whole lot of value, and can even make or break their entire design process. And, we’ve curated a whole collection of products that are on every product designer’s secret wish list – making your holiday gift shopping a whole lot easier! You can thank us later.

The Jadelabo J1 is quite frankly two 3D printers built into one enclosure. With two extruder heads that can move independently on their own, you can practically print twice as many parts in the same amount of time, speeding up your workflow by 2X. The J1’s dual extruders can work simultaneously, printing two different designs at the same time, or even the same design twice, using its “Duplicate Mode”. If you’ve got a larger, more complex design, you can split it in half and have the J1’s extruders share the workload… and if you’ve got a bilaterally symmetrical print, the J1’s “Mirror Mode” allows you to input one half of a 3D model and have the printer create a mirror image too!

For long, 3D filaments have focused on more technical features, like being able to be printed seamlessly without strands of plastic ruining surface texture, or being easy to remove off your printer’s print-bed… but the guys behind Graft Milk realized what truly was lacking in this particular market. You see, printing filament is just like any art medium. A filament’s quality should not be limited to its physical property, but should also consider an artist’s aesthetic needs. Graft Milk’s PLA filaments come in a beautiful set of pastel colors, unlike off-the-shelf filaments and their standard reds, blues, greens, and blacks. Graft Milk’s filaments are a spectrum of colors that mimic natural materials like terracotta, sandstone, and marble, and are custom-engineered to be printed with a beautiful matte finish, making prints really showcase contours and details beautifully.

The Snapmaker 2.0 builds on its predecessor’s ability to let you change modules and turn your 3D printer into a laser-engraver, a CNC carver, or even a 4-axis CNC lathe machine. In its second generation, however, the Snapmaker 2.0 boasts of a customizable assembly that lets you build exactly the fabricating tool you need, allowing you to expand or scale it down based on the size of your operation or your workspace, add a protective enclosure, or even addons like an IP Camera or an emergency kill-switch. All of Snapmaker 2.0’s components come precisely machined from an anodized aluminum alloy, giving you a device that’s as robust as it is accurate. The machined components boast of incredibly low tolerances, resulting in precise outputs, and the Snapmaker 2.0’s own firmware like its automatic bed leveling system, or the software, the Snapmaker Luban, which lets you preview laser-patterns and artwork before you etch them, just gives you the extra bit of control you need to create the kind of designs you’ve got in your mind.

Recognizing the multiple issues that arise with artists, specifically designers, and their desks, Long Chan constructed Lift, a desk that can adjust to meet your needs. From the right angle, Lift almost appears like a heavy-duty, oversized wooden TV tray table, but looking at it head-on, it’s rectified as the designer’s workstation. While my days spent eating chicken noodle soup on a TV tray table while watching Cartoon Network are over, Lift utilizes a sliding mechanism that echoes the same one as the iconic living room staple from yesteryear. In order to assume different shapes, Lift depends on two sliding wooden pegs on both sides. The sliding wooden pegs on Lift’s front legs lower the desk’s working space to assume the shape of a traditional writing desk, with additional storage space is made available in the process, similar to that of a traditional secretary desk. Then, the other sliding wooden peg, placed along the side of the desktop, adjusts the desktop to form a drawing workstation, which sets the working space of the desk at an angle.

Even product designers need a little break from their constant mental stimulation and creative process. And what better way to de-stress than with LEGO?! The LEGO Star Wars Scout Trooper Helmet lets you put together your own helmet, made from 471 pieces! The kit also comes with a display stand, allowing you to proudly display your LEGO build. The stand even includes a little nameplate, doing true justice to your piece of art. 7 inches tall, 4.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches deep, this kit puts your LEGO-building skills to the ultimate test!

The Carvera ships fully assembled, with a work-area measuring 14.2″ x 9.4″ x 5.5″. It self-levels at the start of every job, and will automatically select the right tool for the right job on its own, calibrating along the way for an accurate end result. The tools at Carvera’s disposal include multiple drill bits from broad to narrow, a probe tool, and even a 2.5W laser etching/cutting module. The Carvera automatically switches between bits and modules based on the job, and a rather clever dust-collection pipe located alongside the spindle sucks in wood chips, plastic dust, and metal shavings/burrs as the machine does its job, keeping the work area clean throughout. The enclosed design helps keep any other fragments or dust particles from littering your area, and cuts out sound too, making Carvera perfect for having within your home or on your workspace.

The X LapDesk Multifunctional Lap Desk Workstation promises to improve your daily work productivity! It comes in two interesting models – the X LapDesk B and the X LapDesk G. Created from bamboo plywood, the X LapDesk was designed to be placed onto your lap. It features a comfortable cushion base, built-in mouse pad, fast charger, plug-and-play USB hub, and an ambient light. The X LapDesk B is meant for business, and features a calculator, digital notepad, and wrist pad pillow. Whereas, the X LapDesk G is for gaming purposes, and is amped with hand and wrist sliders, and a built-in storage drawer.

A cross between a brush, a pen, and a quill, the DRILLOG is stationery at its absolute finest. Designed and made in Japan, the dip-pen features a drill-inspired nib that catches ink in its different hollow grooves when you dip it in ink, and the ink gradually travels down to the tip by virtue of gravity, giving you a new, elevated writing experience that doesn’t just translate to great penmanship on paper, it’s also a sheer pleasure to look at as the ink gathers in the nib’s finely machined spiral grooves, and travels down as you write. I like to think of the DRILLOG as a rather steampunk approach to stationery – in that it combines old styles with new technologies, resulting in a fusion of past and future. The DRILLOG dip-pen shifts the idea of an internal refill to the outside, using multiple channels in its metal nib to hold ‘rivers’ of ink that travel to the pen’s metal tip.

The multi-touch toolbar may be found its way out of the company’s premium laptop lineup, but it still remains a fascination for designers. Extending the Cupertino company’s idea of selling various accessories separate from the primary product, a designer has introduced us to the idea of a Magic Bar, which is nothing but a portable Touch Bar that can be used externally with any Apple (presumably) peripheral. As the renders suggest, this portable toolbar with significantly similar features as the ill-fated Touch Bar, complies with a recognizable design that would align horizontally as the keyboard. And when combined with the new iPhone may be, it could allow smart home shortcuts always in reach.

The MultiPro is a versatile $109 pen with the ability to cut, engrave, drill, etch, solder, and even 3D print using a variety of interchangeable heads that snap right onto the pen’s body. The pen, along with a bit of skill and 3Dsimo’s tutorials, enables you to repurpose everyday household items into quality wearable masks, and face-shields. The nose and mouth mask just requires a piece of cotton cloth that you can cut accurately with the pen’s cutting head. Switch to the 3D printing head to add dabs of plastic that help seal parts of the mask together creating a finished product that you can tie right around your face to filter out any particulate matter as you breathe. The face shield requires a fair bit of expertise, but 3Dsimo’s ever-expanding channel of YouTube tutorials and downloadable templates are more than sufficient to guide any novice through the process of building the shields from scratch.

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The Top 10 Automotive Designs all automotive lovers will be itching to take on the streets for a spin!

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We’ve been seeing a torrential and exciting downpour of automotive designs at Yanko Design. Each automotive was innovative, bringing to us something we had never seen nor experienced before. From killer speed to dashing good looks, to impenetrable safety standards, every automotive we featured at YD broke some design barrier for us, and hopefully, they did the same for you as well. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of automotive designs that we feel were the best of the lot! From a Batman-worthy muscular bike to a Volvo off-roader concept – each of these drool-worthy automobiles is mercilessly pushing the boundaries of the automotive industry! Automotive enthusiasts will be itching to get their hands on them, and take them for a spin on the streets!

When subtlety was being handed out, the Lamborghini Huracán STO was at the back of the line napping. Actually no, that’s not true. It had snuck away from the queue and darted to a nearby race track to get an injection of steroids and a full race car cosmetic makeover. Because that’s what this car is all about. Loud to look at and loud at 8500 revs. It’s basically a street-legal race car. With its ultra-low sleek profile, huge air intakes, massive rear wing, and screaming V10 engine, this model is the most eye-opening Huracán and best handling yet. Descended from the DNA of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo one-make series—hence the ‘STO’ name that stands for Super Trofeo Omologata (Italian for Homologation)—this hypercar is more tailored to track use than city driving. Much more.

Titaa is a dual-purpose, electric vehicle that can transform from a two-wheel e-bike into a self-balancing unicycle. While riding manual unicycles might be too much of a learning curve for most, self-balancing, electric unicycles sound more like something we could all get behind. Titaa, a unicycle with just those sorts of mechanics, conceptualized by Husky Design is a dual-purpose, modular vehicle that can transform from a bicycle into a self-balancing unicycle. Getting to know our cities through different modes of transportation brings us to sights and places we previously hadn’t known existed. Titaa is the type of electric bike you’d see zooming down the wooden planks of Santa Monica pier or up the cobblestone avenues of Paris.

Dubbed the Bax Moto MK3, the motorbike is highlighted by the sleek flowing silhouette of the exposed mechanical parts, giving it a very muscular feel. The headlights and the front section edges forward – sort of intimidating the onlooker, giving me the ultimate Batcycle vibe the first time I glanced at it. The double-sided long swing arm gives the crime-fighting ride a low-slung position as the leaning forward position of the rider means it can be driven at break-neck speeds. Bax Moto MK3 is draped in an all-black finish with hints of gray to add contrast and depth.Funiq. The instrument cluster and the wheels carry the same grungy feel spiced up by the subtle lines that are apparent on the fuel tank are as well. This in a way signifies the spirit of speed and motion. Another peculiar addition to the bike is the offset headlight with the pair of fog lights – giving it a very unique sense of styling.

The bold Scandinavian design of the Volvo concept pictured here is apparent in the clean surfaces with a fused geometry of the simple shape. This dominating design language brings a timeless sophisticated look to Volvo XC. Automotive designer Chris Lah likes to express his digital creation’s visual domineer as comparable to the solid mass of Thor’s hammer and shield. It’s fluid yet rugged according to him. The front section of the electric Volvo SUV has a bullet profile for the nose – lending it an intimidating form. Since the SUV is electric powered, the front grill section is covered off. Bold Fender design is oriented and contrasted with a simple boxy geometric volume for a modern yet robust persona.

Currently exclusive to Japan (where it’s classed as a moped), the Gyro Canopy e comes with seating for one, with a cargo tray at the back. To give the rider stability, the moped sport three wheels (like a tricycle) while still maintaining a relatively slim profile that’s perfect for zipping through narrow streets and bylanes. If the rider finds themselves in a bit of a jam, the Canopy e even has a reverse gear to back out of traffic, potentially bad roads, and other sticky situations. Finally, as its name suggests, the Canopy e comes with a canopy that sprawls from the front all the way to the back. Sure, it leaves most of the sides exposed, but its profile is perfect to block out most of the rain that would hit a rider from the front as they drive forwards. The front of the canopy (or the windshield) even has a wiper to ensure perfect visibility in bad weather.

Chevrolet Beast Performance Truck SEMA 2021

Chevrolet Beast Performance Truck SEMA 2021

Built from a modified Silverado chassis, the Beast concept was created to turn any terrain into tarmac, although the photoshoot heavily hints at desert-driving. Under its hood lies a Chevrolet Performance LT4 crate engine – a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that’s rated at a mind-numbing 650 horsepower, paired along with a 10-speed automatic transmission that sends torque directly to a two-speed transfer case and distributes it to 37-inch-tall off-road tires mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels. Although it’s built strictly for performance, the Beast is, as its name suggests, rather intimidating to look at. Aggressive angular lines and slim lights give the truck a mean, no-nonsense demeanor.

Leveraging upon the concept of autonomous vehicles – akin to the Volkswagen’s Sedric concept car – that sense their environment and operate without any human intervention; the HOMM envisions the future of such AVs as Experience Pods. The basic intention of the HOMM AV concept designed in collaboration with NextOfKin Creatives is to propose possibilities of how the space within a Pod-like autonomous vehicle can be used with greater flexibility. To give people various possibilities to conjure up their own layout, the HOMM starts out as a black canvas that can be customized for an unprecedented experience. Where it differs though is its three-wheeled design and the option to modify the interiors at will. This democratization of space permits users to plan a layout from select specific interiors. For this new concept of urban mobility (considering the three-wheel design will limit it to well-designed roads) and honoring an interconnected relationship between people occupying the vehicle, HOMM arrives with five presets. The pod experience can be tailored effortlessly for a kinetic tour, mobile party, multi-living, solitude or for work and adventure.

Passionate automotive design student Jan Bendixen relives that golden era of Porsche open-wheel racers with his modern interpretation that’s purely magnetic. The concept renderings here of the Porsche open-wheel racing car is in fact Jan’s internship project done at Porsche’s Designstudio in Weissach. So a very good probability you might get the traces of the design elements in future Porsche designs or even better, a similar-looking open-wheel racer. According to him, the idea was to create a “tiny E-Fuel driven formula car for Porsche.” The final 4 cylinder boxer engine-powered car came out to have minimal aerodynamic drag, lightweight credentials. This Porsche concept is highlighted by clean, flowing lines that give it a unified dimension. The classic open-wheel racing character is pretty evident in the very low center of gravity dimensions – hug very close to the tarmac. The car is only going to be limited to race tracks and the cockpit positioning suggests that.

A Japanese drone company by the name of A.L.I. Technologies have put forth the first practical hoverbike on the market. Backed by Mitsubishi and star footballer Keisuke Honda, the drone marque’s hoverbike is a future-forward way to ride on –err- over the ground, man, and a few superheroes too! Opening up a new dimension in personal transportation, where hoverbikes will be a common sight, the XTurismo Limited Edition is powered by real-world tech. It arrives with an upper-body reminiscent of an everyday motorbike and is powered by a conventional engine. Driving the engine is four battery-powered motors that propels this innovation at top speeds of 62mph for good 40 minutes on one go.

Meet this robust version of the compact electric vehicle, ready to take on the treacherous trails for boundless adventure. The Microlino off-road modification brings with it the assurance of a robust chassis and reinforced exterior body frame to take on the harsh road conditions, as well as inclement weather. The solid metal framing on all sides provides protection from accidental bumps into rocks or trees, and also doubles as a platform for keeping essential tools or accessories. This brings freedom to pack in more stuff for the journey. Secondly, there is a rack on top to keep things like surfboards or extra luggage. Tires, suspension, and underbody also get the off-roading capable treatment as the ride height understandably gets a boost. Since the vehicle is meant for dusty roads and difficult road conditions, there are extra fog lamps on the reinforced metal protection. The rear section can be either used to carry a couple of bicycles or an extra set of tires. The size of this modified Microlino off-roading vehicle is the core advantage here, and ideal for ones who always wanted a small hatchback to suffice their needs for adventure trips.

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The Top 10 Kitchen Appliances designed to be the perfect gift for all MasterChef ready home cooks!

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The pandemic birthed a lot of home chefs, who discovered a deep and profound love for cooking! Surprisingly, I was one of them. Before the pandemic took place, cooking was a chore I completely avoided. But now, I honestly find it quite therapeutic! The pandemic, and all the free time that came along with it, somehow awakened my inner chef. To encourage and motivate all the inner chefs that came to life during the pandemic, we’ve curated a collection of kitchen appliances that promise to transform cooking from a Herculean feat to an enjoyable and fun process! From a hidden induction cooking unit to a smart refrigerator designed with a built-in food preparation space – these kitchen products promise to transform your disastrous cooking experiments into MasterChef-worthy delicacies! These products can reduce your prep time in half, make the little cooking tasks much easier, and help you with tedious and complicated techniques. They make cooking effortless and easy. Enjoy!

The induction cooking system is seamless and very easy to operate. All you have to do is place the Lapitec Chef silicone mat on your worktop to activate the touch controls and switch on the system. The mat is key, without it the induction unit and controls will be inactive and the worktop is like any other kitchen counter only distinguished only by small engravings that align with the mat’s controls. Lapitec Chef allows for easy cleaning and storage so the counter can be used for other activities like preparing food, plating dishes and hosting social occasions. Interestingly, Lapitec is a 100% sintered stone and it is also non-porous, non-absorbent as well as resistant to chemicals which makes it ideal for both indoor and outdoor kitchens. You can choose to have either two or four cooking rings for your induction system.

Fooding, a new kitchen appliance concept from Yifeeling Design, combines the best of the microwave and air fryer. Turns out, we can have it all. Inspired by the bulbous shape of an astronaut’s helmet, Fooding merges the microwave’s traditional rectangular shape with the air fryer’s modern rounded edges. While air fryers heat up some tasty meals, they typically take up a lot of counter space which makes them less user-friendly. By combining the air fryer with the microwave, Fooding takes up less space in the kitchen and merges two appliances into one for a one-stop-shop.

Made from heat-resistant and food-safe plastic, the Egguins are an innovative way to store, boil, or serve eggs. The hollow penguin shape allows you to slide eggs (both small and large) into it, completing it visually and making it look like a flock of Emperor Penguins ready to dash right into the water (the visual metaphor of connecting the egg, the bird, and the water is just perfect)! Immerse the Egguins into a saucepan of boiling water using the handle above, and just lift them out when you’re done boiling them to the softness or hardness of your choice.

While new trendy diets make their way across social media platforms and health food stores, no single diet will fit everyone’s needs. Ditching trendy diets for mindful eating, the Fresh Fridge designed by Tati Feruccio is paired with an array of technical features that encourage a health-conscious lifestyle. The Fresh Fridge is a sort of smart refrigerator that analyzes each user’s distinct eating and health habits to portion out nutritious meals throughout the day. The main technical detail that stands out is the Fresh Fridge’s digital interface that’s located just above the small refrigerator. Broadcasting mindful facts and cooking recipes from its screen, the digital interface is like your own personal cooking show for various meals throughout the day. Just below the interface, allocated space for meal preparation feels intuitive and makes following along with recipes while chopping up produce items easier than ever before.

The Terracooler is a modern interpretation of the traditional Zeer pot or pot-in-pot refrigerator, an evaporative cooling refrigeration device that has been used for centuries and is still used today in countries across the globe, such as India and Nigeria. Requiring no electricity whatsoever, Zeer pots only need a source of water and some dry air to keep produce and other food items cool. Reinterpreting the Zeer pot for modern use, London-based designer Ellie Perry created the Terracooler, a tri-tiered pot-in-pot refrigerator that fits right at home on the kitchen counter.

Providing leverage for one-handed users, Moray is built with an assortment of chamfers, angled surfaces, and curved edges that hold dishes in one place while they’re getting washed. In refining her universal kitchen sink, Baltazar identified the obstacles faced in the kitchen for one-handed dishwashers and sought to solve them with Moray. Following a series of indirect observation and ideation periods, Baltazar learned that it’s less so about introducing new tools and more about redesigning the sink from the basin up.

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

ODNY.BOX is a food storage concept with an intuitive control dial and a minimal aesthetic for users to store any type of leftover, from hot baked cookies to cold Greek yogurt. Inspired by the bulbous shape that water makes when it drops on flat surfaces, the glass lid of ODNY.BOX comes together as half of a globe and almost curls under the platform where food is kept to ensure sealed storage. The seasons have an effect not only on the food we eat but also on how that food is kept for tomorrow. During the winter months, the hot food we order or cook at home is subject to cold temperatures, while during the warmer months, perishables like produce are the first to go bad.

Samsung Cuisine is a conceptual all-in-one portable oven made keeping the Samsung design language in mind. It allows you to heat up your food anywhere anytime. Think of it as a lunch bag and a microwave having a high-tech kitchen appliance baby! Samsung Cusine features the built-in inductive heating technology of Samsung that can go up to 300-degree F and it will heat up anything you put in the oven. Sullivan explains that this portable appliance is perfect for any trip – camping, hiking, or picnic! The portable oven has clean lines, minimal form, a smooth surface, and that iconic pill-shaped button. It is divided into two sections: top and bottom. The top heating container is perfect to cook or keep your food warm, while the bottom container can be used to store fruits or desserts.

Instant Cooking Pot with Lantern

Instant Cooking Pot with Lantern

Meet WAMP, an instant cooking pot made from ultra-durable duralumin material, ideal for campers who value multiple uses of things they stuff in the backpack. Although a pretty basic utensil, this solves a very useful purpose. You can put it on top of any oil lantern to employ the heat dissipated to good use. Case-in-point, heating or keeping the food warm without expending any extra energy. Be it cooking piping hot canned food or preparing energy-boosting tea on a long trip to the mountains.

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The Top 10 Tiny Homes of October designed to transform you into a hardcore sustainable architecture lover!

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It’s my favorite time of the month – when I get to explore and dive into some pretty cool tiny homes! Sustainability has been running on everybody’s mind. Ever since the pandemic shook up our world, we’re trying to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our life, including our homes! And, with everyone aspiring toward’s eco-friendly and mindful ways of living, tiny homes have completely taken over the world of architecture and cemented their place as sustainable, minimal, and economical micro-living setups. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth! They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And, we’ve curated a wide range of micro-home setups that totally grabbed our attention in the month of October! From an original tiny home in the countryside that is the ultimate freedom from the city to a tiny home built from an old shipping container –  there’s a tiny home out there for everyone.

In New Zealand, the views are aplenty. No matter where your gaze goes, different views of sloping, grassy hillsides, golden hour sunsets, and towering trees seem to follow. For Russel and Leah, their tiny home was designed especially to bring the outdoors and all of its wonder inside. “Almost every wall,” Leah describes, “has got a window or a door and that, of course, makes the house feel bigger, bringing the outdoors in and keeping the house cool during the summer.” While many tiny house builders coat their home’s interior walls in white paint to enlargen the living space, the windows that punctuate almost every wall in Russel and Leah’s house provide an open-air feel and allow room for moodier interior design elements.

The Draper, a new tiny home from Colorado-based RV company, Land Ark finds a minimalist, yet adventurous spirit through a balance of Scandinavian-approached interior design elements and thoughtfully modern exterior features. From the outside, the Draper exudes mystery with black corrugated steel cladding on all sides. Shaped almost like a reversed trapezoid, the Draper unfurls its all-black exterior to reveal a Cumaru fold-down deck constructed from renewable Brazilian hardwood. When unfolded, the Cumaru deck provides the Draper with a cozier appearance that immediately asserts the RV as a homey oasis designed to get away from the humdrum of everyday life.

Estúdio Lapinha in Belo Horizonte, Brazil is a tiny home constructed out of two conjoined shipping containers, designed by architecture studio Plano Livre. By design, the corrugated steel boxes are prepared for every season and all the elements that come with them. In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Plano Livre, a Minas Gerais-based architecture studio, designed and constructed Estúdio Lapinha, a tiny home formed out of two conjoined shipping containers. The hydraulics of Estúdio Lapinha reside in the former module, while all of the home’s furniture and living spaces are located in the latter. By creating a dynamic tiny home out of modular shipping containers, Plano Livre constructed Estúdio Lapinha to be flexible and indeterminate in shape and size–a tiny home that can be expanded upon over time.

Ela, a tiny home currently available for booking on Airbnb, is one of two shipping containers turned cabins designed by Bethany Hershberger that sits in the forested clearing of Walnut Creek, Ohio. Arriving at the tiny home, guests descend a long timber staircase that brings them to the forest floor where Ela is located. Situated on a slight incline, Ela emerges from the trees on an exposed wooden foundation that carries the shipping container and outdoor leisure area. Accessible via a folding loft step ladder, the outdoor living area features a lounging area with plenty of chairs, a natural gas fire pit, an outdoor shower, and a tub. From the shower to the deck chairs, Ela finds warmth in natural wooden accents and textured glass elements to create a private, yet intimate leisure area.

Accruing nearly three weeks in construction time, Short Story was built in the same Territorial Revival architectural style as its adjacent buildings using sustainable building materials and a low-impact construction method. Clad in recycled paper and adobe, Short Story uses both materials like insulation and render for the walls. Designed and built using the Raumplan theory, Short Story comprises a single cubic volume with an interior space that’s divided into varying wooden tiers and quadrants. From different angles of the building, Short Story’s living spaces change in size and function, housing compact spaces that resemble sleeping nooks and even lofty atriums with high ceilings.

Cube Two XD is a prefab unit available in two models – a one-bedroom or two-bedroom configuration, and is clad with steel and fiber-reinforced plastic. The Singapore-based architecture studio has designed this modern home by drawing inspiration from sci-fi and spacecraft imagery. Ever since the launch of their Cube series, the studio received several requests for a larger unit with the option for two bedrooms to accommodate a family of four comfortably and that’s why they made Cube Two X. The company’s latest unit builds on the aesthetics and the functionality of their Cube 2 model. “We figured it was time to give the Cube 2 line an upgrade, and thus Cube Two X was born,” said the Nestron media representative. The compact cubic home looks like if Apple and Pinterest collaborated to create a modern dwelling.

Developed from the Danish word Hyggee, Hüga was conceptualized, designed, and built over a span of 24 months, during which Grandio’s team of designers were able to produce a 45 m2 residence with space for a bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen, and dining area. The final results are these hüga units that are built with reinforced concrete and designed for minimal maintenance as well as reducing your energy costs. These compact homes can withstand all climates and adverse conditions, including earthquakes, wildfires, and hurricanes. Hüga homes are also mobile and modular so much so that you can extend your house in plan in just one day. Weighing about 55-Tn, Hüga requires a team and machinery for transportation but can be placed according to the prospective resident’s preference.

When building Cabin Moss, the architects at Béres would return to the old proverb, “Measure twice, dig once.” Designed by Attila Béres and Attila Hideg, Cabin Moss seems to float atop an area of untouched forest ground, one of many choices made to preserve and respect the natural world that surrounds the cabin. Describing the home’s stilt-based foundation, the architects at Béres note, “Thin stilts are carefully located so that we could keep and protect the roots of the surrounding trees. No need for any excavation or filling with machines that ruin the natural context. The structural system of the house had been created so that it offers some flexibility for this effort at realization.”

The Ursa tiny house is currently located in Cascais, Portugal, and can function completely off-grid as a cabin or a remote office! The roof features a 5% slope which allows rainwater to easily drain into a couple of tanks with a total capacity of 650 liters. This water is then redirected to the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, and the shower where it’s filtered and reused. Then the reused water goes into another tank which redirects it to water the plants. On top of the roof, Ursa features south-facing solar panels. The panels’ inclination can be adjusted up to 30% in order to maximize the energy that can be harnessed all year round, making it super energy-efficient as a mobile tiny home.

Designed by David and Jeanette Reiss-Andersen of Oslo-based Norske Mikrohus, Rast is a modern tiny home clad in dark-stained Norwegian spruce. It is constructed with Nordic weather conditions in mind – the roof can withstand heavy snowfall and the walls incorporate thick insulation made of wool, glass, and aluminum – all sustainable materials. On sunny winter days, occupants can stay warm and comfortable inside while still feeling tied to the outdoors. “The large window in the shower really puts you in touch with the natural surroundings,” David says. Rast is clad in local timber because Norwegian spruce is light and weather resistant. It is also super lightweight which makes it easier for the team to set up the home in dense or remote areas and since it has wheels means it doesn’t leave any footprint.

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