Tag Archives: Tool

Flashlight design concept reframes an ordinary tool as a familiar smartphone

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There’s no rule that says everyday tools need to be mundane and boring. With the trend in everyday carries and kits, people are discovering how ordinary objects can become more interesting or even more functional by changing their designs. Sometimes that means giving the object a fresh new look, one far removed from the original design and yet even more familiar to people. A flashlight, for example, doesn’t have to just be a cylindrical or rectangular stick you point with, and this concept design runs with that freedom to envision alternative forms, giving it the shape and interface of one of the most familiar products of this age: our smartphones.

Designer: Sihyun Choi

There is, of course, a good reason why conventional flashlights are shaped as long fat cylinders. They’re easy to grab and wrap your hands around, and their length allows you to possibly insert it in narrow spaces. There might also be some traces of their original inspiration, the equally cylindrical candlesticks. It might be an ergonomic design, but ergonomics can change over time as well.

Today, for example, many people are just as adept at grasping their smartphones in their hands, which is the inspiration behind the WHITT concept. In a nutshell, it takes the basic form of a smartphone but puts the internals of a flashlight instead. It’s not a completely faithful recreation of a smartphone, of course, considering it tapers to one side a bit. It actually looks more like a lopsided flask or even a handheld laser projector in this case.

WHITT is also operated like a smartphone, at least when it comes to turning it on and off. The button is at the side, like where you would find a phone’s own power button, which is something we probably unconsciously push dozens or even hundreds of times a day. The similarities end there, however, as the flashlight isn’t even powered by rechargeable batteries. It uses two AA batteries that can be easily swapped out, unlike the fixed batteries inside smartphones.

As interesting as the design might be, it still leaves the question of ergonomics hanging. Opposite the tapered side is a curved edge with a ribbed surface that should improve the flashlight’s grip. Even then, a cylindrical flashlight is probably still easier to grip firmly, which is an important aspect of the tool’s utility.

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Glue gun concept gives the crafting tool a modern and ergonomic makeover

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Anyone who has done any kind of craft would have at one point or another used a glue gun. This tool simply melts solid glue and dispenses it through a nozzle, and its design hasn’t changed one bit over the decades. It’s a very simple tool that’s shaped like a toy gun, and while it does get the job done, it is inefficient, uncomfortable, and even unsafe. Perhaps it’s because it has fallen out of use that the glue gun hasn’t seen any action in the design department, something that this concept design tries to make up for by taking inspiration from an iconic houseware brand commonly associated with kitchen tools.

Designer: Sahitya Kashyap

Kitchen tools like whisks and tongs are probably the last things you’d expect to be given the beauty treatment, but that’s exactly what Joseph Joseph brought to the kitchen countertop. The brand’s products are famed not just for their utility but also for their simple charm, turning their use from a chore to a joy. Given the expectations of a glue gun, this tool definitely deserves such a treatment as well, but one that also redefines the basic shape that is at the heart of the glue gun’s woes.

There’s really no reason why it needs to be shaped like a gun anymore, at least not one that faithfully sticks to that form. Any L-shaped form with a trigger mechanism can easily be considered a gun, and our brains will fill in the rest. This concept goes through various iterations to achieve that design, until one that is distinctive and more interactive makes it to the top. It comes in the form of a tube that has been flattened on its long sides and is actually made of two parts connected at an angle. Thanks to that cut, twisting one end creates that angle that associates the form with a gun.

The design also resolves the problem of precision with a significantly smaller and thinner rod-shaped nozzle. Unlike the conical nozzle of today’s glue guns, this allows the tip to get closer to narrow spaces without the hot metal touching the surface. The design also adds an LED light to signal when the gun is ready to use, a feature that 3D printing pens had for years now. And when you’re done, simply twisting the gun back to its original straight form is enough to turn it off, and you don’t have to worry about how to put the still-hot gun down.

More than just the form, the aesthetics of the glue gun also changes significantly. Gone is the plain, unattractive, and cheap plastic, replaced by a smooth and glossy finish befitting of a Joseph Joseph product. The design does still leave a few problems to be solved, like how the glue stick is supposed to bend as well, but it’s an interesting thought experiment for a product that has barely been given the long-overdue attention it deserves.

The post Glue gun concept gives the crafting tool a modern and ergonomic makeover first appeared on Yanko Design.

8-in-1 EDC multitool scissors are the perfect sidekick for your urban and outdoor adventures

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All of us are probably familiar with the feeling of helplessness when we encounter a problem that we can’t solve without some equipment. Even worse, we’re often caught unprepared when we do bring along some tools and, much to our exasperation, discover that we are actually missing the right tool for the job. It’s nearly impossible to bring along all possible tools you can think of, not unless you’re actually a handyman carrying a toolbox with you all the time. That’s why multi-functional tools have become quite popular these days, and this rather ingenious take on that design crams no less than eight functions in a pair of handsome scissors small enough to fit on your palm.

Designer: Eiger Design

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Having scissors in your EDC kit is nothing new, especially in places where you can legally stash sharp tools to be ready for any eventuality. Most of these scissors often come in foldable forms to save up space, but this design often sacrifices power for the sake of size. These are also single-purpose tools that offer nothing beyond cutting and snipping objects, presuming they’re thin and weak enough for that.

The Eiger Tool 8-in-1 Multi-functional Scissors proves that you don’t have to make sacrifices just to keep something small. Even without resorting to a foldable mechanism, these tiny shears reach only 13cm or 5.1 inches, enough to fit in your hand, pocket, and definitely any bag. Even with that size, however, the scissors’ cutting ability isn’t compromised and it can even cut through food ingredients, including pieces of meat.

As the name suggests, cutting is just one of the small scissors’ eight functions. Almost every side and part of the scissors’ body is used efficiently to provide a critical function that you’ll need when you’re on the go. One of the handles, for example, can be used to open lids, while both handles can crush nut shells or hold caps for easier twisting. One of the blades has cutouts for a bottle opener, a can opener, and a degasser, while the other blade also functions as a small knife. Those are 8 distinct use cases that this tool can handle without taking up any additional space in your bag or pocket.

Even with all the features crammed into a single tool, these palm-sized scissors are still made with aesthetics, usability, and durability in mind. An oxidation coating technique not only increases the stainless steel’s rust resistance, it also gives the scissors an elegant black appearance that easily stands out among other EDC tools. The two halves are also easy to detach and reattach, making cleaning a trivial task. Whether you’re crafting crafts indoors or having a stress-free day outdoors, these multi-functional palm-sized scissors will always stay with you, ready to cut through any problem with style.

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