Tag Archives: Women In Industrial Design

Stool with an accordion-shaped seat plays a musical note when you sit on it!

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The Xia Stool, or as I call it, the Philharmonic Whoopie Cushion Chair, is a fun little seat that uses an accordion-shaped cushion to turn the act of sitting down into something rather surprising and entertaining. Seat yourself down on the Xia Stool and it instantly emits a note, concertina in an allusion to traditional Portuguese music.

Designed by Soraia Gomes Teixeira, a Portuguese designer from Oporto, the Xia Stool aims at revitalizing the common seating object through the power of sound. The accordion-shaped cushion provides an ample visual warning to the user, priming them to expect a sound as they sit, so they’re never caught unawares. Even though the accordion-shaped cushion acts as a visual indication, it’s still incredibly fun and entertaining to actually have the seat meet your expectations, letting out a friendly honk as you sit down! Soraia mentions, “[The] Xia Stool is a fun object that makes people smile and unleashes their imagination.”

The Xia Stool is made from wood, Burel fabric, and 100% Pure Sheep Wool. Each stool emits a high-pitched ‘A’ note, although it would be fun if different stools played different notes, creating chords as multiple people sit down together!

Designer: Soraia Gomes Teixeira

Yanko Design’s latest showcase of women designers and their most innovative designs

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On the 12th of December last year, we shared statistics from the Design Council Survey in 2018 that outlined an interesting fact. Even though design universities and colleges see a healthy amount of diversity, with a 60:40 female to male ratio, the industry was a completely different story, with 95% of industrial designers being male. This led us to ask ourselves a couple of questions as a design publication, about how we could be a part of the solution, rather than the problem. YD has always been a platform that equalizes, looking at work from established studios as well as student designers through the same lens. It’s that very experience-diversity that runs through Yanko Design’s DNA… and we’re proud to announce that we’re working towards ensuring the designs we feature are gender-diverse too.

Today, on International Womens’ Day, YD is proud to announce a new Category for Womxn Designers. Among all the designs we feature, from industrial products to technology, and from architecture to transportation design, the Womxn Designer category will act as an ever-expanding archive for innovative work from the women of our design community. The outcomes of this will be two-fold. Not only will it be one of the only places on the internet to find great designs from women designers (for inspiration as well as for recruiters), but we hope it’ll also encourage women to enter the design industry with more confidence, helping bridge the wide gap between the diversity we see in design colleges, versus the design industry. Happy Womens’ Day, everyone! Design is a tool for problem-solving and social empowerment… so let’s start by building a community and industry of diverse voices and backgrounds!

Click Here to see Iinnovative Designs from Women Designers

Layout Image – Voyager Mixed Reality Glasses by Seunghye Han, Sieun Roh & Soomin Son

Using banana peels as a sustainable building material, you can now make everything from eyeglasses to watch straps!

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Along with apples, bananas are the most popular fruits in the world. More than 100 billion bananas are eaten every year, with most of us consuming about 30 pounds worth of bananas every year– that’s bananas. But what happens to all the banana peels we toss out after eating the fruit? Generally, if thrown outdoors, it can take up to two years for banana peels to biodegrade. Sarah Harbarth, a designer based in Switzerland, saw the potential in turning banana peels into a sustainable source of construction material, calling it KUORI.

Harbarth was able to create four distinct products that are entirely compostable and made from banana peels. Harbarth’s first product shows a pair of eyeglasses that swap out a tortoise-shell frame for a banana speckled marble one. Then, in combining recycled PLA material with banana peels, Harbarth produced a 3D printing filament from which one can print anything they’d like. The third product Harbarth created through KUORI is the shoe sole made entirely from banana peels, solving the problem of micro-plastics rubbing off onto the ground as we walk in our street shoes. By replacing the micro-plastic that forms our shoe soles with banana peels, Harbarth created a sole that not only doesn’t disrupt the soil we walk on but feeds it as well. Lastly, in confronting the harmful practice of making leather goods, Harbarth designed a sustainable, vegan, and recyclable leather alternative, which she showcased in the form of a watch strap.

While the time it takes for decomposition to run its course depends on environmental factors, natural litter can have an adverse effect on critters that take to munching on fruit peels and therefore the environment as a whole. With all the bananas we enjoy every year, that same amount is then turned into waste. In order to lengthen the life cycle of bananas and combat the harmful and wasteful practices of making leather goods from animal skins, Harbarth was able to create goods like phone cases and watch straps entirely from banana peels. Upon recognizing the intricate ways in which we contribute to harming the environment through practices like leather making, 3D printing, and micro-plastic construction, Harbarth looked to using banana peels to produce goods instead.

Designer: Sarah Harbarth

By turning banana peels into an alternative building material, like leather, KUORI is sustainable, vegan, and saves resources.

“The result [of KUORI] is four products that are 100% compostable and made from the banana peel as an original food waste byproduct.”

In creating products out of banana peels like eyeglasses, KUORI feeds nature instead of taking from it.

“Due to the fiber composite of the Banana peel in the material, the resulting product has a higher stability compared to ordinary PLA.”

Most shoe soles are constructed using micro-plastics that rub off on the ground we walk.

“The resulting shoe sole is very elastic and returns to its original position. The material was poured into a mold and then hardened out.”

Confronting harmful practices like bleaching leather hides, KUORI offers a sustainable alternative.

“My concept represents a sustainable, resource-saving, organic and vegan, recyclable alternative to animal leather.”

Dyson Award-winning Blue Box helps women easily detect breast cancer at home

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The Blue Box is perhaps one of the best examples of how design thinking and problem-solving can truly make a difference to the quality of life of millions of people. An estimate of 43,600 women die of breast cancer each year… that’s from the millions of women who are diagnosed with it; sometimes often too late in the cancer stages. This stems from the fact that the medical screening procedure for breast cancer can be quite literally painful. According to the CDC, more than 40% of women opt out of getting mammograms done because it’s a pain-inducing procedure that also requires exposing yourself to X-ray radiation. A student at the Universitat de Barcelona, however, is changing that by making breast-cancer screening easy, pain-free, and something you can do at home.

When Judit Giró Benet saw the CDC report that outlined how many women skipped getting mammograms done, she realized the scope of the problem and the need to have an alternate solution. Furthermore, she was frustrated by the fact that 93.55% of breast cancers diagnosed by a mammogram are “false alarms” according to the Catalan Department of Health, and that periodic exposure to X-rays can in fact be a cause for breast cancer. In response, Benet began working on her alternative… The Blue Box – a tiny at-home device that could detect breast cancer with 95% accuracy by just scanning a urine sample. “A household owning The Blue Box can have all its female members tested at their desired frequency and convenience. After creating a profile at The Blue App, the user just needs to collect some urine in a plastic container and subsequently place it inside The Blue Box”, says Benet, a biomedical engineering student who then went on to found her own company to help develop this technology. The Blue Box uses a proprietary set of cloud-based AI-based algorithms that react to specific urine metabolites, delivering results that are up to 95% accurate. The box scans the urine sample and sends the results to the cloud, where the algorithm runs its quick diagnosis, sending the results to the app. The entire process is 100% pain-free, non-irradiating, and actually encourages women to test themselves more, helping catch breast cancer in its early stages. It also brings easy testing to places with no access to medical facilities. Since all the Blue Box needs is an internet connection, breast-cancer testing can easily be brought to remote areas, helping women from all walks of life get tested.

The Blue Box was awarded as the International Winner at the James Dyson Awards in 2020. The team has just started seeking funding to afford both the patent application as well as the next set of human studies to help refine the product and the app.

Designer: Judit Giró Benet (Founder of The Blue Box)

These mittens were designed to reduce stress and prevent social anxiety

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According to most studies, the number one fear people have is public speaking. We’re a heavily social species, which is why public perception or interaction can oftentimes be a leading cause of anxiety. Especially after nearly a year of being locked at home, the very idea of being around too many people, especially strangers, can be daunting for some, and triggering for others. The InTempo, a project that secured a finalist position at the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2021, hopes to alter that by relieving social anxiety.

Designed by Alina Holovatiuk as a coping mechanism to get one through social situations without anxiety or panic, the InTempo are a pair of fingerless mitts that help calm you down. They use a combination of techniques and therapies to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and help distract your mind. Perhaps one of the most telling indications of a panic attack are to feel your hands going cold and clammy. A burst of epinephrine in your body causes the blood vessels in your hands and feet to constrict, forcing blood to rush to your heart and brain instead. By virtue of their design, the mitts keep your hands warm while also absorbing any sweat off your palms. The fingers remain exposed, allowing you to be able to bite your nails if that’s your response to anxiety. It even ensures you can go about your life as usual by being able to use your phone’s touchscreen, etc. However, the most important feature of the InTempo mitts is the presence of a special set of touch-sensitive pads around the palms. Clad in metallic cloth, these pads act as a tactile device that encourages you to tap on it to the rhythm of music playing on your smartphone. The idea lies in the power of Rhythm Therapy, which can help destress a person without antidepressants, beta-blockers, or other medicines.

The outer and central layers of the touch-pads are conductive. When pressed, the layers get compressed together, forming a closed electric circuit. These tiny electrical signals are then sent to your smartphone, which times them with the rhythm of the music you’re listening to. When the rhythm of your finger-taps coincide with the beat of the song, the mittens send positive tactile feedback by mildly vibrating. This reward helps boost your confidence while distracting your mind and effectively reducing your anxiety.

Selected as one of the six finalists of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2021, the InTempo mitts encapsulate the award theme of “Designing for a better tomorrow”. Currently in their 9th year, the Lexus Design Awards are on a mission to ideate and innovate for a better future for humanity as well as for the planet. With the theme of “Designing for a Better Tomorrow”, the awards program looks at solutions that have a uniquely positive impact on society, humanity, and in the process, to reward a new generation of designers by helping bring their impactful ideas to fruition. Along with accelerating, developing, and promoting design projects, the Lexus Design Award helps kickstart design careers too, with exclusive mentorships from international design stalwarts like Joe Doucet, Mariam Kamara, Sabine Marcelis and Sputniko!, as well as funding for prototypes (up to 3 million Japanese Yen or $25,000 per project) and the opportunity to have your work judged by the biggest figures in design in the final Grand Prix competition. This year’s judges include Paola Antonelli (Senior Curator at MoMA), Dong Gong (Founder and Principal Designer at Vector Architects), Greg Lynn (Architect and CEO at Piaggio Fast Forward), and Simon Humphries (Head of Toyota and Lexus Global Design).

The InTempo is one of the six finalists of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2021. Stay tuned as we feature all the finalist designs following the Grand Prix Winner Announcement here on Yanko Design!

Designer: Alina Holovatiuk

Click Here to See All Six Lexus Design Awards Finalists!

InTempo Mitts

InTempo are mitts to aid people facing emotional stress (e.g. Sociophobia) in public spaces/during public actions. Touching certain spots on the mitts to the rhythm of music may help a person to calm themselves down.

The InTempo concept envisions an expansion of the musical experience combined with personalized soothing therapy. A person’s perception of rhythmic pulsations and attempts to repeat them will help reduce the overall level of stress and focus you on something else.

These InTempo mitts are distinguished by fingerprint-shaped touch buttons on the palm side – a plastic consisting of five layers that form a durable touch panel. The outer and central layers are conductive. In addition to these, there are two more insulating layers on either side of the central one. The element is activated by touch: when touched, the layers are compressed, forming a closed electric circuit. These influences are measured and interpreted using electronic controllers (in the form of a button) associated with sensors, which convert the action into a signal for a controlled electronic device (player, smartphone, computer, etc.).

By placing sensors under the fingers on the inner side of the palm, while beating the rhythm, you clench your hand into a fist and this method of coping with anxiety symptoms remains unnoticed by others and, at the same time, you can calm down without anyone’s intervention. With the help of InTempo, fine motor skills of the hands are also developed and the perception of information by hearing improves, which in turn helps to cope with dysgraphia and dyslexia.

Click Here to See All Six Lexus Design Awards Finalists!

This terracotta container provides a natural & energy-efficient way to store produce!

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The trend of growing microgreens and herbs at home has come with its own set of pros and cons – people are starting to grow their own food to be more green but the food storage solutions are starting to get more complex and not green. DUNSTA was designed to bring the age-old tradition of storing fresh produce in a natural way while being aligned with your modern lifestyle. It uses evaporative cooling to create an environment similar to that of the root cellar, but for an urban living arrangement – so your fruits and vegetables will stay crispy and fresh longer without needing electricity!

Terracotta is baked clay, it is natural, high-quality, and maintenance-friendly material that is sustainably made as it doesn’t exploit natural resources like trees or need a high carbon footprint generating things like electricity during its production. Terracotta has distinct red and orange hues due to its iron content and is a porous form of clay. It is preferred in design because the manufacturing process is very simple, sustainable, and eco-friendly – it does not include any harmful chemicals and therefore is the perfect choice to store your food in. DUNSTA keeps the environment inside cool with a base layer of sand and a little channel on the top where you can add water. Once covered with the lid, your produce will remain fresh without the need for plastic wraps or containers.

While terracotta is eco-friendly it is important to remember that it is not biodegradable. This means nothing will happen to the DUNSTA even after multiple centuries because it will not degenerate into the soil as clay does so you can also use it as a sustainable time capsule!

Designer: Alexandra Fransson

This mouse is designed to overcome every shortcoming of its ergonomic counterparts!

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When was the last time you used a computer mouse and said “Wow!” or made you feel young again because your wrist didn’t hurt anymore? There are computer mice that have evolved into a more ergonomic form of the traditional one like the Logitech MX Vertical but the market still lacks options. MAUS is a conceptual computer mouse designed to resolve the shortcomings of its predecessors by diving deeper into the study of the human hand.

Using a non-ergonomic mouse, the design team mapped out all the pain points felt on the hand. The process then involved clay modeling to understand how MAUS’ shape and angle would feel with wrist movements and grip. Prototypes were then 3D printed with the final form that ensured the hand stays in a position of rest even when using the mouse. An interesting functionality to cure repetitive strain syndrome was making all controls gesture-based. MAUS also features a digital display – something we haven’t seen in any mice! The body also features Alacantara fabric for a soft touch and comfortable light grip. It has a soft felt base as well as a rubber grip for smooth motions.

Since work from home has become the norm, we spend an increased time sitting in the same posture for work and probably for entertainment too. Small changes to our furniture and choice of tech can help alleviate things like carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder strain, and the ‘texting thumb’ which can all be aggravated by something as simple as a wrong mouse. MAUS aims to bridge the gap between the traditional devices and the existing ergonomic ones by one-upping them both!

Designer: Somya Chowdhary

This prairie-inspired modular planter puts the charm of the savanna grasslands on your desk!

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What is a planter but just a simple container for your plants? Aditi Kedia’s Prairie Planter reinterprets these containers as landscape-elements in their own right. Designed to look almost like an abstraction of a prairie-grassland landscape, the modular planters stack over one another, resembling mounds of red soil. When paired with succulents or cacti, the Prairie Planters come to life, looking a lot like a savannah landscape! “By adjusting each unit in different orientations, one can play with the shape and placement. The design takes inspiration from how things in nature grow on uneven, unexpected surfaces”, says Aditi, who designed the planters as a part of an Instagram-based design challenge.

The Prairie Planters sport a rather fascinating geometric design, almost looking like a Minecraft landscape. The planters can either be used individually, or stacked atop one another. When stacked, they efficiently manage irrigation, as the planters on the top help drip water into the planters below. A water tray sits at the very base of the planter stack, allowing you to pour water into it so the lowest tier of planters can absorb moisture when the soil runs dry!

Designer: Aditi Kedia

These veggie-shaped sand toys help kids cultivate a love for nature… and vegetables!

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Turn anything into a game and kids are sure to be more receptive to it! I mean, it’s easier to feed a child using the ‘Here comes the choo choo train’ trick instead of directly feeding them food, right?!

Tati Ferrucio’s Veggies Sand Toys take a similar route by turning vegetables into sand-toys. The toys are hollow so they can be filled with sand, and come with uniquely shaped leaves that act as handles for the child to hold. Paired with a neat digging tool, the Veggies Sand Toys enhance children’s curiosity for exploring nature and their ability to socialize with other kids and adults.

“The idea of this project came from observing the natural landscape in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and how families occupy and make use of the outdoor environment. I realize that Rio has many beautiful natural parks and beaches, but none of them were well equipped to promote outdoor play for children”, said Tati Ferrucio, the designer of the toy-set. The standard set has four toy vegetables (carrot, beet, onion, and potato) and two shovels (one kids-size, one adult-size) with three interchangeable heads and interchangeable foliage too. What’s even more clever is the fact that you can bury the toys into the sand, perfectly mimicking how carrots, beets, potatoes, and onions are grown under the ground too! The Veggies Sand Toys are designed to both entertain and educate at the same time… and if somehow kids can cultivate an appreciation for vegetables in the process, that’s just another massive win!

The Veggies Sand Toys are a winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Tati Ferrucio

This earring helps diabetics read their blood sugar levels without the pin-prick

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Revolutionizing how Type 1 Diabetics monitor their blood glucose levels, the Sense Glucose Earring is an innovative non-invasive wearable that incorporates reads blood-sugar levels in the ear-lobe using safe, high-frequency radio waves.

The earring requires just a single lobe piercing (as opposed to the daily pin-prick tests that diabetes patients have to take) and sits on the ear at all times. When you need to read your blood-sugar levels, the earring uses sensors and algorithms to collect data, which is then sent to your smartphone. This massively reduces medical waste, while offering a pain-free solution for checking your sugar levels. At the same time, it turns a medical apparatus into a fashion wearable, removing the social stigma of having to carry clinical-looking blood glucose meters around with them. Instead, the Sense Glucose Earring is fashionable, safe, environment-friendly, and pain-free!

Designer: Tyra Kozlow