The Microbial Home is viewed as a cyclical biological machine where wastes like sewage, effluent, garbage, wastewater are filtered, processed and recycled to be used as inputs for the various home functions. The project includes various aspects like a Bio Digester Island and Larder in the kitchen, Urban Beehive, Bio-light, Apothecary, Filtering Squatting Toilet and Paternoster Plastic Waste Up-cycler.
The thing about Nooka watches is that they are constantly evolving and setting new trends in the way people wear their timepieces and read time. Using this as an inspiration, we have here the Xon, a kitsch version of how we can carry our Nooka: with keys, carabiner, dog tags, lanyard, necklace and more! Superb fun!
The Dune 90 strays from the common “wedding cake” stacking style of the current yacht market and instead boasts monolithic approach inspired by stealth frigates and rippling sand dunes. The result is a crisp, lean, and classy look that still maintains the modern luxuries you’d expect from a yacht of this size; including 10 guest cabins, swimming pool, berths for a submarine or wave-runners, and like any good megayacht- a helipad.
The idea behind the Brothers in Arms espresso set was to express a sense of unity between objects within in the series. Using embedded magnets as connectors, each set of cup, saucer, and spoon becomes a conjoined false single piece. A clever design sure to catch the curiosity of each new user.
Gotta love Iva Dinulovic’s bare-bones design: the Antithesis lamp. With all elements exposed, the aim of this design was to achieve equilibrium within a moving structure- to do this, the unique floor lamp uses a counterweight to balance between different positions. The light can change tilting positions up to 45 degrees, can be rotated 360 degrees, and also stand in a completely upright position. 
When redesigning my house front door, we actually went through the discussion of peephole placement. While most of my family members are tall enough for standard placement, my mother-in-law and daughter are not. I wish I had chanced upon this creatively designed “Who is out there” peephole back then! It is such a simple solution to the age-old problem of how children or adults can safely open the door by seeing who is on the other side.
To up the creativity quotient in photography, we have here the Digimo Camera Concept. It is a modular set of multiple cameras that can be placed in any position and be controlled wirelessly from a considerable distance. The thought behind the concept is to encourage originality and give flexibility to the photographer, so that he can capture natural stills from different angles at the same time. I love its simple form and outstanding controls. One of those concepts that we wish was live now!
Freestyle kayaking is a relatively young offshoot of the canoe sport, where athletes perform maneuvers similar to those of skaters, snowboarders or surfers. This freestyle kayak design by David Laudert aims to improve upon the ergonomics, appearance, and overall user connection to the kayak. The athlete “fuses” with the hull and is fully supported within the interior without the use of straps that normally hold an athlete in place, relieving the fear of getting stuck under the boat in the event that it turns over and simultaneously enhancing the adrenaline-pumping experience. 
The goal of the In My Fridge project is to simplify the process of food management by focusing on the technical & communicative aspects of the refrigerator. Using new RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology, the fridge is equipped with readers that collect data about quality, quantity, expiration date, & even recipes & presents it on a unique touch-screen interactive display. The user experience is quite uncommon & even has a 3D feature that allows the user to see the contents of the fridge without opening the door!
Michael Jantzen’s Web-Shaped Pavilion is a conceptual design proposal for a large, solar-powered, interactive, public gathering place. The 130 foot tall structure is clad with motored, hinged panels that can be manipulated over the internet by people from around the world. Visitors can climb to any of the 7 levels via the central spiral staircase to get a first-hand glimpse of the pavilion’s transformation. 
We love our coffee so much that we are doing two posts on it today! Plus I am totally intrigued by the Black Luk, a wall mounted coffee machine that dispenses a cuppa java at a time. It is quite a radical form and I have never seen anything quite like it. Sadly the specs are unavailable and not much info is forthcoming. All I can say that anything that dispenses coffee is already on my favorite list.
In simple terms the Water Elevator is a bottle or water canister redesign. One that sports a flexible body, much like an accordion. Due to its flexible form, pouring out water is much easier, plus it has the added benefit of an integrated measuring system. So if your cooking requires 2 cups or precisely 4 oz water, you can pour out just that amount without any hassle. My only concern will be of cleaning the system….
I love the idea of taking the scanner to the book rather than the other way around. Let me explain, my children have to often scan and print images and information for school projects. Many a times the books are these heavy encyclopedias (downloading from the internet is not the same as hardcopy books), and trying to scan fat books is troublesome. The concept Scan Board offers an easy solution; it captures the image of the page and transfers it to the computer via USB. Easy and no trouble at all!
I’m all for anything inspired by familiar fragments, like this design by Minwoo Lee. Top Lighting is an attractive pendant lamp that subtly takes the form of the traditional Korean spinning top toy. The ash wood accent connecting the electrical wire and steel shade makes a great accent that transforms an otherwise generic aesthetic into an elegant and harmonious blend of materials.
Every year at the Festival of Lights, Berlin’s world-famous landmarks and monuments are dressed in spectacular light by international artists and lighting designers. Featured at this year’s event is this installation by designer Manfred Kielnhofer- the Time Guards play with the concept of space and sculpture and are an ominous and enchanting reminder of the power of mysticism
The day is coming when people are judged for their choice of stylus as much as they are for their favorite pen. The Architect Stylus is sort of like the Mont Blanc of the stylus world, only it doesn’t have the price tag and… your grandfather probably isn’t interested in owning one. The dual purpose cap protects the silicon tip and can also be tethered to a lanyard so the user can take it anywhere. An anodized, aircraft grade aluminum surface has a smooth, matte finish that gives it an appealing, tactile feel. Get yours here!
A pencil sharpener cannot get more basic than this! Twist is a stainless steel sheet, bent with one sharp side, mimicking a pencil shaving. Simple, functional and fantastic! In short, Steve Jobs approved!
The “To Be Nature Wood Chopstick” has a convoluted name but presents an interesting contribution to the “grow from waste” ethos that’s so popular these days. It starts life in your hands just like an ordinary set of chopsticks except it’s tipped with a starch cap hiding a seed. When you’re done with it, stick the starch end down into the ground and watch as new life climbs up your sweet and sour chicken coated chopstick.
I’m sure you remember Roly-Poly toys or “Bop Bags” as they’re known in the States. They came in many forms and shapes but all had a weighted curved based that always returned the object to an upright position. Take the same idea and make a lamp out of it, and you get the Roly-Poly lamp. The shape is somewhat reminiscent of a matryoshka doll but less “self-centered” if you get my drift. Love the idea since it’s pretty much kid and dog proof. No more shattered lamps.
Functionality meets funky in this stylish and contemporary take on the espresso machine. The ANIMO OptiBean features a combination of stainless steel and subtle color details that give it a touch of whimsy, while color-adjustable LED lights can be set to the user’s preference. Aside from looking cool, the OptiBean also brings high quality parts like a Swiss made grinder and Italian espresso system together to ensure a long life of use.
A winner at the 2011 Shitsurai Art International Competition, Crater Lake is an environmental installation that serves as a meeting place to visit with friends, contemplate the surroundings, or simply sit for a moment. The design was inspired by the social revitalization of the city of Kobe, Japan after the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake of 1995. 
The Citroen EGGO concept by Damnjan Mitic is a breath of fresh air in a world full of hot-rod speedster concepts. The electric coupe is powered by 4 motors built in to each wheel that can be supplemented with power from a solar panel roof. The egg shaped provides a compact, strong structure & glass, scissor-style doors ensure total visibility of the area around the vehicle. ATV-like suspension makes for a comfy, adjustable, & weather-ready driving experience. Perfect for the hot soccer mom of the future!
I hate the process of chopping ingredients while cooking so I rely heavily on those German contraptions that you see on teleshopping networks. However there are times when I envy the kitchens of Masterchief and all those glossy tools and equipments that the participants get to use. The Chopp – chopping board looks fit enough to be in one of the shows. It’s a board with interchangeable functionality and features a hollow base to hold all the chopped food.
I’m loving this design! Featured at Moscow Design Week 2011 with other objects showcasing organic architecture, Alexander Ceron’s Beautiful Mess chair represents symbiosis between technology and nature. Completely unrecognizable as a chair, it looks almost lifelike, that is… until someone’s sitting. Hmmm, I think I just got inspiration for the next place I furnish!
