Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

A Cover-case Worthy of the iPhone

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 10:45 AM PST

UPDATE: less than 72 hours left, grab yours now!

Apple isn’t a tech company anymore. I first heard this saying a few years ago as designers and tech experts sat and analyzed Apple’s recruitment of Marc Newson and Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve to work for the world’s most valuable company. Apple is a fashion company. Their motive is to produce gadgets that look as precious as jewels, with colors like Rose Gold and Champagne Gold only driving the point home. People line up outside Apple Stores not because their phones are superiorly functional (that’s arguable), but because the phones have people in a trance.

It’s however difficult to find accessories for Apple’s phones that follow the same philosophy of being fashionably functional. Phone cases, for instance, are way too utilitarian, and while phones grow thinner and more beautiful, cases are more and more necessary to keep those phones looking good… but at the price of destroying their aesthetic. What the Rmour does differently is that it protects the iPhone, but more importantly, it doesn’t steal the iPhone’s thunder… it adds to it.

Minimal in size, but heavily expressive, the Rmour beautifully echoes Apple’s new philosophy of creating products that are objects of desire. It adds precious silver and gold to the edges of your phone in a bumper format that highlights your phone’s design by showing off as much of it as possible, while its beautiful design sits on your iPhone like a solitaire diamond ring. Made from 925 Silver with a 18K White Gold enamel, the Rmour come in various styles that add aesthetic beauty to your phone while making sure it stays protected from accidental drops. The Rmour’s individual members adhere to your phone’s corners and absorb impact from all directions. Designed to provide all-round protection, the Rmour even comes with a variant that forms a ring around the camera bump, making sure your phone pretty much never makes contact with the floor or any flat surface when dropped.

With a variety of styles inspired by iconic design details (including Dame Zaha Hadid’s Mesa Table as one of its inspiration sources), the Rmour case does the right thing by treating the iPhone as a fashion gadget, rather than a smartphone. Made for the iPhone 8, 8Plus, but more importantly the most stylish iPhone of them all the iPhone X, Rmour adds protection to your phone like most cases, but at the same time, it also adds style and value, without subtracting anything from the iPhone’s already gorgeous design because there’s no reason you should need to choose between the beauty of a sleek smartphone and the need to preserve that very beauty.

Designer: Creatio Design

Click here to Buy Now: $49.00 $129.00

ARES was inspired by the works of renowned Iraqi-British architect and designer, Zaha Hadid. One of her most famous pieces, the Mesa table, incorporates the form and space found in natural environments.

The triangular element on the surface creates a modern and elegant look. The triangles on the surface are from a quality enamel, and underneath is a 925 sterling silver that is plated with white gold.

KNIGHT consists of two which two angular smooth lining compliments iPhone X’s new design. It consists of a series of futuristic lines and shapes. There are two hollow straight lines that extend upwards from the top and bottom of, intersecting on both sides to give a futuristic feeling. This design is perfect for any business environment or users who are constantly on the move.

The LUNAR design was inspired by the most exquisite cuts of diamond in the world. Creatio Design sought to capture the spirit of these precious gems, at an affordable price point for their backers. The precise artistry used to cut the silver combined with the dazzling bezel facets will make your device shine.

Lunar’s ultra thin design allows each corner to fit seamlessly with your iPhone X. No bulky cases. No obstructed views. The luxury and detailed craftsmanship of Lunar’s design will make any iPhone user feel like a million bucks.

The INFINITY was inspired by modernism architecture and geometric shapes. This design features a polyhedral spin that gradually twists in all four corners. The result is an extraordinary looking shape that feels unique yet familiar at the same time.

Their lens guard protects your device’s camera from scuffs and scratches. You will appreciate having peace of mind that your camera lens is safe and sound.

Click here to Buy Now: $49.00 $129.00

One Hot Smartphone Accessory

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 09:50 AM PST

This infrared camera concept by Neo Dong allows anyone to see their world in a whole new way. Designed as a peripheral attachment to your IOS or Android smartphone, it snaps on in an instant and works by translating thermal energy (infrared light) into a visible image on your phone.

It can be used to enhance outdoor adventures, assist in DIY home fixes like water leaks and drafts, as well as spot from human or wild animal intruders. With its twisting focus, you can take aim and work with precision or zoom out for a comprehensive thermal reading on landscapes. About the same size as a screwdriver handle, it’s also compact enough to throw in your toolbox or carry in a backpack pocket.

Designer: Neo Dong

An acura-te look into the future

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 06:00 AM PST

I’m a firm believer that, come the year 2025, the climate will have changed our landscape, and the utility element of the sports utility vehicle will be more needed than ever. Aggressive, in-control and safe, are attributes that are heavily needed in such a vehicle and the ACURA NEX by David Pichla & Jessica Suh gives us exactly that, and a little more. Envisioning the future of ACURA to be Autonomous, Performative and Driven, Pichla and Suh have strived to depict this through the ultimate all-weather terrain beast that is NEX.

With a similar aesthetic to a not-yet-Bladerunner-era concept, you can see yourself strapping in here and confidently tackling whatever the road ahead holds for you, especially if there is no road. The striking neon inspired headlights and taillights accentuate the unique design of this concept while keeping in line with an edgy surface design that really makes this concept pop. The higher-than-average height of the body gives the vehicle a lighter feel than most SUVs, and the wheels themselves look to have an almost indestructible appeal. For the ever-changing landscape moving forward, this is something I’m sure we could all use.

Designer: David Pichla & Jessica Suh

Headband-less Headphones are a Thing Now

Posted: 08 Feb 2018 03:30 AM PST

This peculiar pack of headphones combines the freedom and flexibility of wireless earbuds with the isolation and audio quality of on-ear phones. Ergonomically adapted to attach to each independently, they easily slide on and stay put. Rather than take them out of your ears when you want to converse or better hear your environment, a simple swipe of the finger over the earpiece will trigger them to open. It’s almost as if you were wearing nothing on your ears at all. Swipe again to reactivate the enclosure mechanism and you’ll be immersed in your favorite tunes or entertainment again. What’s more is, when you join both earpieces, Iris becomes a Bluetooth speaker for background noise or livening up any atmosphere!

Designers: Mauricio Carvajal & Susana Restrepo

Take a Breath of Fresh Design

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 11:22 PM PST

According to data from World Health Organization (WHO), 92% of the world’s population lives in air-polluted places, and thus, breathes a lot of contaminated air. A problem most of us take for granted and continue to contribute and pollute it on a daily basis. It is said that within each year, an estimated of 6.5 million people died because of both indoor and outdoor air pollution. A staggering number of a world looking at making smarter audio equipment instead of smart air sensors.

Inspired by the look of the plant, AirQuality is designed as a handy product where the design relates to the function. Designed by Ryan Yeung, the AirQuality is a Bluetooth wireless connected device that measures VOC/CO2, the temperature and humidity in the surrounding area. Carrying a somewhat playful aesthetic, the natural and artificial contrast here is an ironic twist on such a well-needed product. What may seem at first playful, may be a product which helps you live better and healthier in the long run. Time to ditch that minimalistic steel desk sculpture and replace it with this functional smart air sensors.

Designer: Ryan Yeung

YD Handpicks: 5 Valentine’s gifts to ease your troubles!

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 04:00 PM PST

You could buy a $100 wine, or foot the bill at a fancy restaurant… again (or make a DIY sock puppet and regret it for the rest of your life). Or you could gift your loved one something personal, unique, and out-of-the-box to show that you care. You could wait for inspiration to strike… or you could just scroll down to check out our eclectic selection of expressive gifts that are sure to win you some brownie points for the rest of the year! The thing with gifts is that they can say things that words can’t express. So if a picture can say a thousand words, a gift can say a million words. The list below will make sure they’re the correct million!

The “Can’t stay apart” gift
Quirky, dorky, and borderline ridiculous, this umbrella is sure to make the both of you laugh, or at least crack a smile. The two umbrella structure keeps both of you dry (and in the shade), while its single handle ensures both of you have your hands interlocked. Cheesy? Probably… but a little cheesy never killed anyone, right?

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The “Long Distance Lovers” gift
I’ve been there, and it’s one of the biggest bummers, but this gift is sure to ease some of the pain. Philippe Starck’s watch comes with two independent watch faces that let you set separate times on them. Ideal for if the both of you are in separate time zones, the Dual Time watch is a wonderful way of saying that you’ve always got ‘time’ for each other!

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The “When it all began” gift
What if… you could capture a picture the planets and their positions the moment the two of you met? The STC Color Art Print does just that! It’s a cosmic photograph of the complex ballet dance the planets and their moons did at a precise given time and date. Choose the special day, month, and year, and the STC print will show you exactly what the solar system looked like the moment you two set eyes on one another. Nothing could be more grand!

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The “Where it all began” gift
Bad with dates? How about places?? The first place you met, the first coffee/house you bought together… The You Are Here series of ornaments capture the place that’s special to you and turn the map into a piece of wearable jewelry. Talia Sari’s work of art allows you to select a precise location or neighborhood, which she then converts into a vector map, which in turn is fed into a laser cutter that turns it into jewelry, allowing you to carry your happy place with you wherever you are!

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The “Love that’s untouched by time” gift
There’s something truly enchanting about the Sola Cube. Usagi no Nedoko’s series of acrylic cubes capture wonders of nature rather beautifully, making them look like relics, but moreover, immortalizing them. The Dandelion (shown below) is one of our favorites, although there’s a wide variety you can choose from. A favorite flower, perhaps. the Sola Cube is an absolutely breath-taking product to look at, and even more exhilarating to own. The flora inside will stand the test of time, like your love… will never wither, or weaken. And will always be there for everyone to look at, and to admire!

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Master of the brew-niverse!

Posted: 07 Feb 2018 02:00 PM PST

Designed to look as high-end as an expensive telephoto camera lens, the Hiku isn’t for photography, but it’s rather photogenic. This pretty-as-a-picture device is capable of being the highlight of your coffee preparation process because it works as marvelously as it functions. The Hiku Coffee Grinder can precisely (and with minimal effort) grind your beans to a fine powder. What’s even more interesting is its ability to set the particle size, giving you full control over even the tiniest yet most crucial aspect of the brew.

The Hiku comes in this beautiful, brooding black color, with the demeanor of a camera lens. It even contains particle size markings that are reminiscent of those on lenses, and the rotating ring feels like it just completes the visual metaphor. Above it lies Hiku’s patented axle that rotates with ease while keeping the burr precisely in its place without deviating even the slightest. This arrangement ensures that each and every ground particle is exactly the same size, with no room for error. The Hiku can hold up to 50 gms of beans, which can make over 10 cups of coffee, so one round of bean-grinding is enough for a family/group of ten… or even a single drinker on a rather stressful day! Let the grinding calm you down before the caffeine perks you up!

Designer: Kanso Coffee

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