Tag Archives: YD Select

Everlasting all-metal pencil lets you write on and on without sharpening

Posted on by

Despite the variety of pens or the ubiquity of computers, the humble pencil has remained the tool of choice of writers, draftsmen, designers, and artists for centuries. Of course, there are different grades that determine the marks they leave behind, but nothing can be simpler than picking up even the most common Number 2 (2H) pencil and immediately putting your thoughts down to paper. That is, until your tip breaks or becomes too short, forcing you to break your train of thought to scramble for a sharpener. Wouldn’t it be grand if, like a Wacom stylus, you rarely have to replace a tip or barely sharpen it at all? That sounds almost like a pipe dream, but that dream has fortunately become real with this everlasting metal pencil that lets you worry less about lead and focus more on your creative process.

Click Here to Buy Now: 2 for $33 $39 (15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.

It isn’t magic but science, at least a very creative application of science. That special alloy core contains graphite, the very same graphite used in all pencils, and the friction caused by writing or drawing leaves particles of this graphite and alloy behind. But because it uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you. That means you can write on and on, for about 10 miles worth of scribbles, before you even have to worry about things getting a little too dull.

At the same time, however, this seemingly immortal pencil’s marks can be erased just like any regular pencil. Whether it’s gum, rubber, vinyl, or anything else, you don’t have to worry about immortalizing your mistakes, either. But because it uses friction to make the particles adhere to the material, it doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques, but it’s going to be a lifesaver for watercolor artists.

With a core that barely wears down over time, this might be the only pencil you’ll ever need. It’s a good thing, then, that it looks and feels great as well. The metal shaft gives the writing tool a well-balanced weight and a matte texture that makes it feel luxurious in your hand. Stop worrying about breaking your train of thought when you need to sharpen a pencil and start leaving your mark on the world with this handsome full-metal pencil that won’t fail you when you need it the most.

Click Here to Buy Now: 2 for $33 $39 (15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post Everlasting all-metal pencil lets you write on and on without sharpening first appeared on Yanko Design.

Quick-Access Organizer Review: Keeping Your Desk Tidy was Never this Effortless and Satisfying

Posted on by

PROS:


  • Quick and easy access to important EDC items

  • Tray lid swivels in a smooth and satisfying motion

  • Made from beautiful Beech wood and durable milled aluminum

CONS:


  • Requires horizontal clearance around the box

  • Accommodates small items only

  • Fixed sections for the tray, no divisions for the box

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With a stylish combination of wood and metal, the Quick-Access Organizer makes putting your EDC stuff where they belong a fun and satisfying task.

Almost everyone knows they should keep their desks organized, depending on their definition of the word, but few people actually like doing it. Just like any other chore, desk organization feels boring and a waste of time, at least until you actually lose time looking for things you need right at that moment. Ironic as it may sound, the biggest culprits in messy desks are things that don’t even belong there, at least not for long periods of time. Glasses, wallets, watches, and accessories that we bring with us often land on our tables and then seemingly disappear into the unknown. Giving these transient objects a better home goes a long way in fixing this problem, but you still have to build up the habit of putting them there. This minimalist beauty of a box promises to make that habit almost fun, so we take it for a spin to see if we can catch the organizing bug with it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69

Aesthetics

Truth be told, almost any container can accomplish the task of giving your Everyday Carry items a fixed home on your desk. That’s the reason why there’s an inexhaustible number of options in the market for desk organizers of all shapes and sizes. Developing the habit, however, is just as important as the receptacle, and habits, good or bad, are formed when the action has very little friction and can even be fun.

The Revov Tray Box helps you form that good habit by presenting a box that is not only easy to use but also a delight to look at. The form of the organizer itself might not be groundbreaking, but the combination of colors and materials truly makes it stand out among your other desk accessories. It’s something you’ll want to put on display, which often also means putting it within arm’s reach and reducing the friction of putting things in or taking them out.

The top tray is made from Beech Wood, giving it a warm and soft visual. The unique wood grains also make each tray truly one-of-a-kind, adding a sense of luxury to the product. The wood also makes the tray light, assisting in the organizer’s signature revolving trick. The bottom box, in contrast, is made from milled aluminum, and its smooth, cold texture complements well with the tray above it.

This Quick-Access Organizer is definitely a pleasure to look at, making it easier to get used to its presence and, in the long run, its purpose. If there’s one thing that could bother some people, it is the thin gap that exists between the tray lid and the body. This gap makes it look like the lid is floating slightly above the box, and it’s necessary to make its smooth movement possible. The gap is so thin that it could almost be negligible, but small things like that could trip up a few detail-oriented people.

Ergonomics

The Revov Tray Box is designed to be easy to use without forgetting the fact that you’re supposed to be organizing things, not just dumping them in a single bin. There are two distinct containers for that purpose, and the system smartly uses the box’s lid as another container for items you need to quickly drop and pick up again repeatedly. Normally, that would mean not having quick access to the contents of the box, but that is exactly what sets this ingenious desk organizer apart.

A little push of the tray, or perhaps a pull of the finger from one of the corners, makes it swivel around smoothly, revealing the treasures that the box holds inside. There is literally almost no friction, so there’s also no excuse not to make use of space for your EDC or other possessions. Another push spins the tray back to its closed position. It doesn’t go free-spinning, though, because powerful magnets stop it at the right positions.

This spinning action does mean there will be a lot of movement, but, fortunately, the solid aluminum base gives the box the stability it needs to prevent it from tipping over. At the same time, however, it also means that the Revov, as a whole, is a bit heftier than most box organizers. You might also want to avoid putting very heavy objects on the top tray when the box is empty, as gravity could still make the box tip backward when the center of gravity is off.

Although not directly related to its usability, the box does require some free space around it to actually work properly. There should be clearance on all sides for the tray to spin and stay in place, so you can’t have it extremely close to walls or other tall objects. It does also have the side effect of making the box really stand out on your desk, showing off its stylish minimalism, along with your precious EDC possessions.

Performance

This beautiful box organizer makes keeping your desk neat a frictionless task by almost literally removing the friction from putting things where they should belong. For EDC and small tools, the smooth revolving mechanism is a joy to use and is almost addictive in how easy it is to spin. You could almost use it as a fidget toy, though that will be cutting it short in what it can accomplish for your long-term peace of mind.

The Revov box is also intended to house small items, which also explains its small capacity. The box inside has enough space for a small wallet, but anything larger won’t fit. The tray on top might be able to hold some money clips, keys, glasses, a pen, and even a phone lying a bit on its side. If you regularly have larger EDC tools in your pocket or bag, this, unfortunately, won’t be their home.

The two parts of the organizer contrast not only in their materials but also in their layouts. The tray lid has carved sections that determine and limit the objects you can place on top. The bin inside, on the other hand, has absolutely no dividers, which means things will end up getting mixed a lot. You could put in your own makeshift dividers, but that’s additional work for very little gain, especially if you change the layout every so often.

Sustainability

As with any well-designed product, this Quick-Access Organizer also puts a lot of thought into its long-term appeal. Fortunately, the Tray Box checks all the right boxes when it comes to offering a sustainable solution to your everyday clutter. For one, there are no harmful materials used to make this stylish box, from the wooden lid to the aluminum box to the magnets and metal pin that give it a smooth spinning motion.

The Revov box is also long-lasting and durable thanks to those same materials as well as the absence of complex mechanisms. Only a single metal pin serves as the pivot that connects the lid and the box. You can easily oil this pin or its hole when its movement starts to get rough. On the flip side, however, that small metal piece could also be lost, making it hard to find a replacement that will fit perfectly. It is possible, though, so it’s not a complete loss.

Value

Made from premium and sustainable materials, the Quick-Access Organizer brings a beautiful, durable, and enduring tool to keep your desk tidy while also serving as a piece of decoration for that very same desk. Its magic trick of swinging smoothly to reveal a small but spacious container inside never gets old. In fact, you might be tempted to turn it into an ad hoc fidget toy, idly spinning the empty tray around while you let your mind wander. In other words, it’s a multifunctional desk accessory that hides its talents behind a minimalist facade.

It doesn’t come without its price, though, especially the literal one. At $69, it’s not exactly the cheapest box you could place your things in, though it is admittedly not the most expensive either. But while there are plenty of modular or multifunctional desk organizers in the market, few will hit all the right points for something that is that and more. Fortunately, this tray and box combo swings the right way.

Verdict

Keeping your desk tidy shouldn’t be a painful task. In fact, it has to be something you enjoy so that you’ll keep doing it over and over again. Unfortunately, our minds seem to be preconditioned to immediately cringe at the thought of cleaning up. Fortunately, there’s less to clean up if you put things where they should be in the first place.

Desk organizers make it easy to do that, but the Quick-Access Organizer makes it feel fun. A quick push swings the cover away to let you access the storage inside the box, and the way the tray lid snaps into position is so satisfying that it’s almost addictive. Sure, it’s a bit on the pricier side of things, and you’ll need to make some room for its swiveling top, but when you have something so handsome and long-lasting as this, you’ll definitely want to show it off by itself anyway.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69

The post Quick-Access Organizer Review: Keeping Your Desk Tidy was Never this Effortless and Satisfying first appeared on Yanko Design.

20 degree tilt pet bowl keeps food from pouring out

Posted on by

Eating time should be a fun and enriching time to nourish not only the body but also the mind and the heart. That’s true not just for humans who often socialize during these moments but also for our little family members who become closer to their humans at opportunities like these. Alas, eating time can sometimes be stressful instead, both for pets who can’t but help spill food out of their bowls as well as for the humans who need to clean up afterward. Attempting to return dinnertime to its original atmosphere, this fine-looking food bowl for furry friends brings something that’s not only beautiful but also functional, utilizing human creativity and craftsmanship to make a pet bowl that delivers a pleasant experience for everyone at home.

Designer: Ena Metal

Click Here to Buy Now: $296 $349 (15% off and free worldwide shipping at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours.

Some pet owners might think that the stereotypical flat bowl would be enough for pets, and that might be fine if you’re also OK with using plain, mass-produced tableware for yourself. You could argue, however, that just as you deserve well-designed things that make life more enjoyable, so does your little family, especially when it comes to eating food. You don’t need to go the hi-tech route just to achieve that, however. In fact, going “au naturale” might be an even better answer.

Swelltone delivers that kind of solution by focusing not on the food but on the food bowl, putting the eating experience above the expensive edibles. It makes “ease of eating” the focus of its design, and it does so in a simple yet effective way. The stainless steel bowl that holds the food can tilt up to an angle of 20 degrees, which makes it easy for pets to slurp every last bit without spilling their food. Coincidentally, this also gives their human owners peace of mind that they won’t have to clean up after their pets after meals.

This handsome dinnerware for pets is made of two parts, both finely crafted and beautiful on their own. The wooden base is made of fine Japanese cypress that literally and figuratively puts the bowl on a pedestal. That bowl is made from SUS304 stainless steel and is made by the same craftsmen who create precision parts for automobiles and aircraft. Together, this pet bowl looks posh whether it’s on the floor or on the kitchen counterpart, serving as a piece of minimalist decor when it’s not in use.

The bowl, however, does more than offer a visual delight to humans and pets alike. Drop pieces of dry food into it, and you’ll hear the luxurious tones resounding from the bowl, giving justification to its name. Whether your pet is eating from it or you’re still preparing its tasty treat, this handsome food receptacle offers a more pleasant and memorable experience that goes beyond just the act of eating, strengthening the bonds between humans and their little families every meal time.

Click Here to Buy Now: $296 $349 (15% off and free worldwide shipping at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours.

The post 20 degree tilt pet bowl keeps food from pouring out first appeared on Yanko Design.

This tiny bonfire combines an aroma diffuser and pocket stove to bring the outdoor experience indoor

Posted on by

Essential oils are quite trendy these days, and a good number of them try to recreate man-made scents like processed flowers, soft linen, or even coffee. Diffusers come in a variety of designs and gimmicks, with some using flames while others generate gentle winds on their own. Sometimes, however, your nose or your mind might be craving a specific kind of scent, perhaps from a loved childhood memory of camping outdoors or a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a mountain in Japan. Whatever the reason might be, getting your hands on an authentic mountain smell isn’t that easy. At least not without this cute mini bonfire that comes with cute mini firewood that not only lets you smell the woods but also even lets you cook like with a real campfire, all without leaving the safety and convenience of your home.

Designer: Shinchi Ringyo

Click Here to Buy Now: $84 $99 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Aroma is always a touchy subject, and some people are more sensitive to certain scents than others. What might be calming for some might be irritating for others, while some might even have allergic reactions to certain oils. That said, some scents are also difficult to capture, especially using mass-produced chemicals and especially when the scent actually involves what is basically a mixture of smells coming from a variety of sources. The smell of a mountain forest, for example, can be a combination of the different trees that grow there, like how this aroma diffuser combines different trees to recreate the unique scent of Mount Hakusan in Japan.

Aroma de Camp is a rather creative take on the essential oil diffuser situation by designing the experience around a very specific theme, that of enjoying a bonfire or campfire. The “diffuser,” for example, is a miniature bonfire made of rust-resistant stainless steel. Its minimalist design and small size already make it a head-turner, especially when you add the miniature firewood that’s bundled together with a knot, just like real, normal firewood. With looks alone, it’s enough to charm any fan of the wide outdoors, but this miniature bonfire isn’t just for viewing.

Pour a bit of oil on top of the wood, and you have a natural aroma diffuser that’s sure to remind you of the mountains where all these items come from. The essential oil is made from three tree species that grow on Mt. Hakusan, and the hardwood is taken from branches that would normally just be thrown away. Together, the oil and natural wood allow the aroma of a lush forest to spread gently throughout the room, relying on Mother Nature rather than electronics to carry the scent naturally.

The camping experience, however, won’t be complete without a bit of outdoor cooking. Replace the metal fittings on both sides with the bundled metal trivets, and you’ve got a pocket stove that can really cook food when used with solid fuel. This lets you really relive those memorable outdoor experiences indoors or have an emergency stove when a conventional one is unavailable. Whether you’re trying to have a unique cooking experience indoors or simply want to imagine yourself in the middle of a mountain sanctuary, this woody diffuser will deliver a gentle forest aroma in a delightfully charming way.

Click Here to Buy Now: $84 $99 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post This tiny bonfire combines an aroma diffuser and pocket stove to bring the outdoor experience indoor first appeared on Yanko Design.

This personal whiteboard has everything you need to take notes anywhere, anytime

Posted on by

Writing things by hand has become fashionable again despite the prevalence of computers and smartphones. In fact, some have embraced this “analog” system of note-taking exactly as a reaction to the dominant reliance on technology. Whatever the reason, this resurgence in demand for paper products might also have negative effects on the environment when that demand far outstrips what our trees can supply. Reusable notebooks have started popping up lately to help address that issue, but these often require special pens or materials to use. When it comes to speed, simplicity, and reusability, nothing beats a plain old whiteboard, and this innovative whiteboard notebook comes with its own eraser so that you can get down immediately to writing, erasing, and writing, over and over again.

Designer: 9FEET Design for DaiichiGosei

Click Here to Buy Now: $41 $49 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

There’s nothing simpler than how a whiteboard works. You write something on its smooth, glossy surface, maybe take a picture for safekeeping, and then erase all the markings so that you can begin anew. Sure, you’ll need to use a dry-erase or whiteboard pen instead of a permanent marker, but these are a dime a dozen these days. They even come in different colors, sizes, and tips, so you have a variety of styles to choose from and use.

Wipe takes this simplicity and cuts it down to a smaller and more personal size that’s a little bit smaller than A4 paper. Despite the more portable size, the idea is still the same. You write on it, take a photo that you could save or send to the cloud, erase it, and write again. It’s fast, simple, and doesn’t require preparation, just like good, old paper. That said, you do need to have a whiteboard eraser or at least a piece of cloth with you all the time. Fortunately, this personal whiteboard already comes with one.

This whiteboard’s key feature is the soft material that covers its smooth surface. It’s lined with felt, which is the same material used for whiteboard erasers. Yes, this cover is actually one large eraser that you can and will use to wipe the board clean in an instant. You no longer have to fumble around for a separate eraser, especially if you want to completely nuke the whiteboard’s contents. It’s a simple addition if you think about it, but it’s one that has huge significance in making it easier to use.

The innovation fun doesn’t stop there. There’s a newly developed Mag Force system that combines magnets and rubber bands to create a handle that also functions as a pen holder. The very same cover comes with a built-in stand, so you won’t have to struggle with lighting when reading off the board or taking a picture. And if you’re wondering where you’ll keep those bits and pieces of paper notes and receipts, the soft felt cover also has a hidden pocket just for that purpose.

With an eraser, pen holder, stand, and storage pocket all in one, this portable personal whiteboard comes with almost all the necessary tools for a smooth writing experience. And since you can use any whiteboard marker, you can stop worrying about your note-taking tools and start focusing on what matters the most: putting your ideas down so that they will never escape you ever again.

Click Here to Buy Now: $41 $49 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post This personal whiteboard has everything you need to take notes anywhere, anytime first appeared on Yanko Design.

This elegant aroma diffuser is designed to relieve your stress in every aspect

Posted on by

Essential oil diffusers have become a popular tool in creating a calming and peaceful space, especially for people who enjoy the effects that certain scents have on our bodies and minds. Ironically, many of these diffusers can themselves become a source of stress because they simply focus on one aspect of the experience. The simplest ones don’t require much in terms of use, but they often leave it to natural breezes and winds to carry the scent around the room, which doesn’t always work as you might hope. This often leads to overpowering scents that can irritate the nose and cause more stress than it relieves. In contrast, this sleek aroma diffuser simplifies things so that you can have a stress-free experience from the moment you use it to the time you have to clean it.

Designer: Ryota Yokozeki

Click Here to Buy Now: $127 $149 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

Right out of the box, the WEEK END Aroma Diffuser looks nothing like your typical home device, whether those powered by candles, electricity, or Mother Nature itself. The luster of the metallic base immediately catches one’s eyes, but its smooth and unadorned surface doesn’t distract, nor does it cause a spike in emotions. The ceramic plate on top that acts as a filter forms a subtle contrast with that metal base, ensuring that your eyes don’t jump around between the two. It’s a simple and almost uncomplicated design that almost makes the diffuser go unnoticed, which is exactly the goal of this gentle companion.

That simple design belies the battery-powered fan inside, which some might take as a point against it. What this fan does is leave nothing to chance and offers you an even aroma that won’t make the scent overpowering in a single spot. Simply pressing and holding the edge of the base for a second turns on the fan, creating a soft breeze that flows from the gap between the base and the porcelain filter. Another press will switch it to an intermittent mode, where it will turn itself on and off again every three minutes. The next press will turn off the diffuser, and a helpful LED indicator removes the stress of trying to guess whether it’s on or off.

That ceramic plate is an important part of that stress-free experience as well. Handcrafted by artisans from Hida, Japan, using traditional kilns, the porcelain acts as a beautiful base to hold your favorite scented oils. It’s easy to clean with just water as well, so you won’t have to stress about the maintenance of your diffuser either.

With a rechargeable battery that charges over USB-C, this aroma diffuser can last up to two weeks in intermittent mode before you need to plug it in again. That means you can put it anywhere you want or need it, rather than worrying about having to position it near a wall socket or changing batteries every so often. And it will look good wherever you place it, whether in the center of the room on a coffee table or off to the side on a shelf. Subtly beautiful and gentle, this aroma diffuser distills the experience down to its essentials to take away your stress and worry every step of the way.

Click Here to Buy Now: $127 $149 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide last-minute Christmas sale ends in 24 hours!

The post This elegant aroma diffuser is designed to relieve your stress in every aspect first appeared on Yanko Design.

Keep on reading while sipping your tea with this unique book-shaped bookmark

Posted on by

Bookmarks are great for those times you need to put a book aside for a while to do other things. There are even quite a few designs available for these, from simple cards to decorative fixtures or even multi-functional night lamps. But when you want to keep your book open just to reach for a drink or a snack, however, bookmarks can’t do squat. Especially if you actually want to keep on reading the open book. Fortunately, the solution doesn’t require sophisticated designs or complicated mechanics. All you need is some outside-the-box thinking and put a book on a book, just like this rather unconventional acrylic bookmark that, oddly enough, also looks like a book.

Designer: TENT

Click Here to Buy Now: $55 $65 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide Post-Cyber Monday sale ends in 24 hours!

There are admittedly a few bookmarks made from clear acrylic, but those run in the more common design of rectangular pieces meant to be inserted in between pages. There are some that are pretty much paperweights to hold a page down, but their design doesn’t really make that convenient or elegant. You might as well just put weights on every corner of the book to keep it open.

The moment you take a look at Book on Book, you know it’s not your average bookmark. It looks like more than just a regular book but an open book at that, a true page-turner if there ever was one. Sure, it won’t lay nicely flat on a desk if you place it there unused, but that’s definitely not what it was designed for anyway. This bookish bookmark is supposed to sit on your book and keep it open so that you can have your tea (or preferred drink) and keep on reading calmly.

The acrylic bookmark’s unique shape ensures that the book not only stays open but also in its natural curved form. It has enough weight at 220g to make that happen, but it doesn’t force the book to lie flat and damage its binding in the process. It’s the perfect way to keep the book open while you use both your hands for other things, like snacking, sewing, or cooking.

Of course, the “bookception’s” transparent body makes it possible to read the text underneath. Its size is perfect for covering a pocketbook from end to end, but it can be used for larger books as well. If it can cover the entire page, it can also protect the page from, say, oil smudges or crumbs. Now you have the perfect way to keep that cookbook open while you toil in the kitchen over a recipe.

There’s no denying that this open bookmark, despite its simple shape, is also a thing of beauty, like a mystical crystal tome that almost deserves to be enthroned on a shelf like any other book. You can definitely do that, but that would deny it its true purpose, a purpose that encourages you never to stop reading, even when your hands are busy with something else.

Click Here to Buy Now: $55 $65 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, sitewide Post-Cyber Monday sale ends in 24 hours!

The post Keep on reading while sipping your tea with this unique book-shaped bookmark first appeared on Yanko Design.

This sleek CD player lets you display cover art like a picture frame

Posted on by

Vinyl records have been revived in the past years, but ironically, the younger CDs seem to have fallen out of fashion almost completely. Not only have streaming services and digital collections (legally acquired, of course) made the limited capacity of audio CDs pointless, the physical medium doesn’t offer any distinct audio flavor as old-school records do. That said, CDs continue to be made and sold, and there are people that still hold onto their library of collected albums in this disc format dearly. It’s definitely possible to still listen to them, but most CD players these days come in large boxes that stay at home or peripherals that connect to computers. This minimalist CD player, however, offers the freedom to listen to that kind of music anywhere you go and also gives you the opportunity to flaunt that CD’s cover, just like album art in music apps.

Designer: km5

Click Here to Buy Now: $127 $149 ($22 off at checkout). Hurry, Post-Cyber Monday sale ends in 24 hours!

Digital music created the concept of album art as a digital counterpart to the CD cover jackets of old. It’s a visual experience that you lose when you listen to CDs unless you have the jacket in front of you all the time. You definitely can’t display it on the device you’re using to play the CD, especially if it’s a portable CD player that covers everything up to create a compact form fit for traveling.

The CP1 CD Player breaks away from the mold with a device that in itself is a work of minimalist art. The plain, boxy shape of the player looks like a picture frame or an enlarged Polaroid-style photo. The middle of the device is transparent, showing the bed where the CD would lie and spin. As it is, it is already quite striking in its bold transparency, but it is also the perfect place to insert the CD’s cover jacket. In essence, the player lets you create the experience of album art in physical form.

More than just a CD player, this device also becomes a piece of decor, especially when you hang it on walls. It has its own built-in rechargeable battery, so you don’t have to worry about ugly wires until it’s time to recharge it. Of course, that same battery lets you carry it anywhere so that you can listen to your favorite CDs anytime you want. There is a 3.5mm jack to plug in headphones and speakers, but you can also enjoy the music through wireless audio equipment thanks to its built-in Bluetooth support.

This photographic CD player doesn’t really add any advanced features for playing this physical medium. In fact, it even takes a small step back by making you manually insert cover jackets to get the same effect as album art on music apps. It does, however, hone in on how appreciating music also comes with other treats for the senses, and it does so in a very elegant way that puts a CD’s art proudly on display.

Click Here to Buy Now: $127 $149 ($22 off at checkout). Hurry, Post-Cyber Monday sale ends in 24 hours!

The post This sleek CD player lets you display cover art like a picture frame first appeared on Yanko Design.

This sleek metal desk bar makes opening letters effortless and enjoyable

Posted on by

Letters are a fact of life, especially for those that still receive their bills through snail mail. But even when we receive welcomed mail from loved ones, getting to the contents can prove to be a taxing and vexing exercise in patience. There are, of course, countless types of letter openers, and some have even taken the opportunity to design ones that could be mistaken for an heirloom from antiquity. Others will simply use a box cutter or a pair of scissors that get the job done to some extent and with less finesse. All of these letter cutters, however, work in pretty much the same way and rely on both luck and your skill to make the envelope give up its treasures. In this day and age, that may be too much work than necessary, and this rather handsome chunk of metal fixes that by letting you open a letter with just a swipe.

Designer: Tatsuya Kobayashi for Takeda Design Project

Click Here to Buy Now: $41 $49 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, Post-Cyber Monday sale ends in 24 hours!

Letter cutters are practically glorified knives or knife-like tools that behave in the same way, attempting to slice through adhesive or the paper itself in order to reach the letter’s contents inside. Others simply go the more practical route and cut off the short end of an envelope. The former can mess up the envelope, while the latter creates a mess of paper scraps. Neither method is ideal, nor do they remove the friction of simply opening an envelope.

Confocus changes the way you open letters by changing the action completely. Rather than running a blade through the envelope, this letter cutter runs the envelope against the blade instead. If you’ve ever seen a card being swiped at a terminal or have done that yourself, then the movement should be familiar. Granted, it may not be as snappy, depending on the thickness of the envelope, but it’s significantly easier and less work than trying to slice through the envelope yourself.

The trick to this wonder of a stationery tool is that the blade inside only makes an incision on one side of the envelope and doesn’t cut all the way through the other side. It’s like making a slit that’s just the right size to pull out the envelope’s contents. And since no paper is actually cut off, there are no scraps to worry about littering your desk. No fuss, no mess, just a simple gesture to open a precious letter from a family member or a friend.

The letter cutter is a simple block of machined aluminum that is anodized to give it an understated beauty. Even when it’s just on your desk doing nothing, it can look elegant and stylish, like a minimalist piece of decor. Given its heft, you can easily use it as a paperweight as well, calling attention to itself rather than the pile of paper underneath it. And when the blade finally gets dull, you can easily open it up with the included tools and replace the blade. This way, you can use this letter cutter forever, far longer than you’ll be receiving letters.

Click Here to Buy Now: $41 $49 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, Post-Cyber Monday sale ends in 24 hours!

The post This sleek metal desk bar makes opening letters effortless and enjoyable first appeared on Yanko Design.

These guitar scissors will make you feel like a cutting rockstar

Posted on by

We’ve always been warned never to play with sharp tools (unless that’s actually your job), but that never meant these objects themselves couldn’t be playful. No one pays scissors any mind, at least until they’ve gone dull and unusable, and they’re often banished to drawers or containers after use. It’s mostly for safety reasons but also because scissors aren’t much to look at anyway. Not these scissors, though! This pair you’ll want to always be up on display, like a trophy honoring your snipping talents. Or maybe you just want to have it both within easy reach as well as in your line of sight because these stratocaster scissors won’t only help you cut through paper, it might even help you cut through boredom and mental blocks for your next design project.

Designer: Nikken Cutlery

Click Here to Buy Now: $21 $25 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, storewide Black Friday sale ends in 24 hours!

Just like any tool, scissors give grief when they don’t work properly. The last thing you need when you’re in a rush or in a state of flow are dull scissors that can’t even cut through the thinnest sheet of paper. At the same time, like any other object, a pair of scissors’ appearance could affect your mental state as well. After all, no one will buy want to buy ugly things or beautiful but broken tools. Fortunately, the Seki Sound scissors are both sharp-looking and actually sharp at the same time.

There’s probably a metaphor to be had here about how music can cut through the soul, but at the end of the day, these guitar-shaped scissors speak for themselves, metaphor or not. Taking inspiration from one of the most iconic electric guitar designs in the world, these shears deserve to have a special place on your desk, preferably within easy reach. You might find yourself wanting to cut more often simply because of the joy of having such a unique piece of equipment in your hand.

These rocking scissors aren’t just about looking like a guitar. A great deal of effort was made to ensure authenticity, down to the curves of the body as well as the contour on its back that you will rarely see. There are also six strings and the exact same number of frets that you’d see on a real guitar. There’s even a matching cap that not only serves as the guitar’s head when not in use, it also offers protection by blocking the sharp point and preventing the scissors from being opened when it’s in place.

And sharp, these scissors definitely are! It calls on the history, tradition, and expertise of Seki in Japan, a city once famed for its swordsmiths and now for its cutlery. Each pair of scissors is sharpened by hand using a two-stage process called Kobabiki, where different whetstones are used to sharpen different edges. Thanks to its rust-resistant stainless steel material, these scissors will be able to cut through paper, vinyl, and even tape without breaking a sweat.

With pens and desk organizers getting some time on the stage that is your desk, it’s only fair that other tools get their time under the spotlight as well. Distinctively playful and astonishingly sharp, these scissors will add a little life to your desk and maybe even inspire you to go through your projects like a riffing rockstar.

Click Here to Buy Now: $21 $25 (15% off at checkout). Hurry, storewide Black Friday sale ends in 24 hours!

The post These guitar scissors will make you feel like a cutting rockstar first appeared on Yanko Design.