Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

The original BMW CS E9 was an important automotive achievement that brought BMW to the forefront of carmakers and set them apart from big players like Ford and Volkswagen. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E9, designer Dejan Hristov has redesigned it with a fresh facelift for the 21st century.

Like its predecessor, the BMW GCS tribute is a long coupe with seating for 4. Unlike the swing doors of the previous, however, it sports a cool pair of gullwings that make perfect sense for their size. Its exaggerated, sharp nose is also reminiscent of the original but, for the most part, its styling is largely on par with BMWs more curvaceous, modern design language.

The inside is the true star of the show. It features an unbelievable panoramic display in contrast with a minimalistic control panel. Drivers can use the display to enhance their view of the road ahead or keep an eye on kids in the backseat with rear facing cameras. The more obvious use of the display is complete customization of the interior aesthetic. Users can set and swap out their visual vibe for a myriad of interactive environments to match any mood!

Designer: Dejan Hristov

I remember being very interested in drawing animal hybrids as a kid. I’d name them too, and my mother, even today, has a record of all my work as a child. I’d make animals that were half-tiger half-snake, or half-peacock half-zebra, and I’d made Ligers and Tigons before I even knew they actually existed. All of this was before I went to school.

It’s no secret that the education system (no matter the country) is designed around certain professions. It’s made in a way that replaces the illogic one associates with creativity, with rational thinking. I gradually turned from creator to consumer as I went to school, not exercising my free spirit with a crayon on paper, but learning the alphabet and arithmetic, and that if Mary had 7 apples in one hand and 9 apples in another, she had 16 apples in total, and not the fact that she had massive hands!

It is in the interest of society to keep our creative streak alive for as long as possible. A lot can come from the lateral approach to problem-solving, and toys should in every way, challenge the primitive educational setup by not having rules or regulations… Toys should indulge the world of make-believe, just the way the FableWood does. Created by three fathers who saw more sense in making something that fuels the creative nonsense of their children, the FableWood comprises three abstractly designed wooden animals with embedded magnets. The idea was that each animal came with detachable parts and limbs that could snap onto the body-pieces. Without context, this allows children to build their own imaginary animal toys, and subsequently imaginary worlds around them too.

The FableWood are made from North American Walnut and Ash wood, with lead-free Neodymium Magnets on the inside that allow the parts to satisfyingly snap to one and another. Designed in a way that only allows for magnetic attraction (kids began to get frustrated when the magnetic parts repelled each other), the Fablewood toys have literally no rules, allowing your creativity to run wild without any constraints. The magnets also allow the parts to move and rotate the way hinges and joints would, letting legs move, wings flap, and heads turn.

Designed around the idea that toys are made for exploring, not teaching, the FableWood encourages children and even adults (I’d play with that!) to put logic aside and let your imagination take over… after all more society-changing ideas have come from the creative spark than from logical deduction, right?

Designer: LetsGOrilla

Click here to Buy Now: $120.00 $320.00

Click here to Buy Now: $120.00 $320.00

Humans have always looked to the stars to help form our perception of time. Inspired by this, the Astrace wall clock presents the time of day in a heavenly, artistic way. Within its circular frame are thousands upon thousands of minuscule clusters of white dots that resemble the night sky. A couple of these, however, stand out in the form of star trails similar to those captured by multi-exposure photography. Moving as subtly as the stars at nighttime, it’s an enchanting reminder of our place in the universe. Hit the jump to see how you can tell the hours, minutes and seconds!

Designer: Jihyun Park

Every so often you stumble across a furniture design just a tad too late and kick yourself for not coming across it sooner. I just purchased a new desk chair, so that’s exactly what I’m experiencing right now as I’m admiring the Swan chair. Grrrr.

It takes elegant inspiration from the creature of the same name. Though contemporary in construction, its atomic legs give it a familiar mid-century feel. It’s not so far out that it won’t fit in with the rest of an eclectic collection of furniture pieces.

Unlike other designs with a full back, it offers support only for the essential lumbar and dorsi muscles. While its sectional construction makes its material and color combinations limitless, the grey felt, clear acrylic and raw wood is our favorite by far. Don’t miss out like me – contact MIIO Studio to see how you can get your hands on one!

Designer: Baptiste Maingon