Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

Pixelpillows!

Posted: 24 Jun 2016 12:13 PM PDT

How do you retain a minimalist, geometric style yet cater to ergonomics? The Pillowed Furniture series manages to do that with its stepped design. With an almost 8-bit style, the series sets a new aesthetic trend where an edgy design still manages to portray coziness. Confusingly clever, ain’t it??

One thing is for sure. We all know given a chance, you wouldn’t resist wanting to try it out!

Designer: Paulo Henrique Storch

The Salvation of Suitcases

Posted: 24 Jun 2016 10:02 AM PDT

It’s 2016 already, can we have upgraded suitcases now? The only innovation I’ve seen in baggage design in the past decade is the fact that we’ve got more colors… and that doesn’t cut it for me. Nor does it work for the guys at Trunkster who gave the travel bag a brand new avatar. For starters, let’s take some time to fully appreciate the shutter style lid. It’s classy, it’s compact, it’s waterproof, and it’s a shame no one thought of this before. It’s like the cheese-stuffed crust pizza of the baggage world. We should have been doing it all along! Plus, good riddance, zippers… you won’t be missed.

The innovative design of the suitcase is well showcased in the handle too. Unlike the slim ones that end up eating crucial luggage space inside the suitcase, the Trunkster’s handles extend from end to end, so that you don’t have that awkward beam running right across the bottom of your bag. The guys at Trunkster made a better suitcase for sure, but they also made it smarter. Within the handle area is an integrated weighing scale. The display on the handle tells you how much your bag weighs so you can outsmart those pesky airline crew members. Along with the weighing machine is also an integrated power bank, allowing you to charge your gadgets inside as well as outside the suitcase. And just when you thought I was done preaching the gospel of Trunkster, the bag has an inbuilt GPS module, which means you’ll always know where your luggage is.

Now unless the Trunkster packs and unpacks for me, you can safely say I’m thoroughly impressed! This truly IS the 2016 way to travel!

Designers: Walter Castro, Doug Golenz & Phil Rowe

Buy It Here: $349.00 $435.00

The Answer to Alzheimer’s

Posted: 24 Jun 2016 06:00 AM PDT

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most difficult for patients and their loved ones not only because of the mental deterioration but also the lack of independence and stigma associated with dementia. This system of devices, called Emma, work together to bring the user independence and positive behavioral reinforcement to ease their suffering during the moderate stages of the disease.

Emma uses EEG brain sensors to read brainwaves and sense confusion. This allows Emma to help when help is needed and passively monitor the patient’s activities when help is not needed. Emma learns and grows with the patient to provide the best care throughout the progression of the disease. Transparent AR display shows information in context to the user’s surroundings using graphic overlays. Emma speaks to the Alzheimer’s patient through bone conduction speakers. This allows the user to listen to Emma while still being able to hear their surroundings. The two front-facing cameras let Emma understand the user’s situation by using image recognition technology.

Emma speaks to the Alzheimer’s patient through the speakers in the bracelet when the patient is not wearing the glasses. The bracelet has RFID sensors that can scan medications and other things around the house. The design also includes a feature that allows family members to send gentle squeezes to the Alzheimer’s patient. The elastomeric polymer inside the strap contracts to simulate a gentle squeeze from their loved ones. The gentle squeeze provides positive reinforcement by reminding the patient that their family members are thinking about him/her when they are separated.

When the day comes that patients are fully reliant on caregivers, EMMA and the data that has been collected are then handed over to their caregiver. It informs the caregiver of the patient’s habits and routines to provide the best care for the individual.

Designer: Joshua Woo

A Philosophically Advanced Automobile

Posted: 24 Jun 2016 02:52 AM PDT

BMW has been on quite a roll, showcasing some of their most jaw-droppingly futuristic concepts. Only last week we saw a simply stunning rendition of the future as interpreted by Rolls Royce. This time it’s MINI’s turn, with the MINI Vision 100 concept car. The reason why the MINI concept is such a big deal is because it approaches automobiles and automobile ownership in a radically different way. Behind the futuristic exterior lies a well crafted philosophy that talks about a future where multiple people own one car. That way the car doesn’t sit in the garage or a car-park for 80% of the day. The cars are autonomous, which allows them to be their own Ubers, so to speak. A buyer can also choose to exclusively own a vehicle.

The car design captures the sensibilities of MINI, but all the focus goes to the circular dashboard, visible through the front of the car too. The dashboard is a visual representation of the car’s AI that boasts of its impeccable driving experience. All other intelligent services are laid out around this dashboard. Since the car belongs to different owners, the option of customizing your drive lies available by means of adapting automotive graphics. Each owner selects a custom ‘paint’ job for their ride, and the graphics on the car change from owner to owner. My personal favorite is the way the circular headlights have been retained. While the circular LED strips act as a symbolic element that is characteristic of MINI’s designs, the actual headlights are placed much higher, in the form of a strip that extends and forms a suave looking rear view mirror on each side!

Designer: BMW

Noise-cancelling Never Looked So Good!

Posted: 24 Jun 2016 12:00 AM PDT

Earphone makers may have managed to cancel out the noise but they’ve yet to cancel out the ugly! Sure, the tech has come a long way considering it’s now available in an in-ear form, but styles haven’t quite caught up. Sparrow earbuds combine the best of form and function, delivering high-def audio with noise-cancellation in a compact, minimalistic package! Two detection microphones equipped inside the body of each earbud (one close to the inner, one close to the outer) can generate feedback signals immediately in order to achieve enhanced noise reduction.”Perched” in your ear, they offer a surefire snug fit thanks to their beak-like shape that fits comfortably within the concha!

Designer: Weiting Yeh

The ‘Z’enith of chair design

Posted: 23 Jun 2016 02:00 PM PDT

The Z Chair gets its name from the ‘Z’ shaped structure of its framework, but there’s more to it than just alphabetic resemblance. Its faceted design gives it a real edgy, modern character that one usually sees in bar-stools. The Z curves upwards providing a serif-ish foot rest that definitely grabs my fancy! The welded pipe frame ensures the chair remains light, and with such minimal upholstery, the Z Chair is just heavy on aesthetics!

Designers: Oleksii Karman

Say hello to 3D painting!

Posted: 23 Jun 2016 12:20 PM PDT

I’m sure you’ve heard of 3D printing… but have you ever heard of 3D Painting?? Skins, by ATO is an experimental textile project that involves a newly developed felt + velcro fabric. Each fabric piece is inspired by brush strokes of eastern traditional paintings. Using an individual piece of Skin as a pixel, one can develop beautiful, minimal yet expressive sculptures or paintings that can be hung, or wall mounted using the velcro stickers.

The Skins project comes in two different shapes, and a variety of colors. My personal favorites are the Olive Green and Salmon Pink!

Designer: ATO