Belgian filmmaker Vincent Bal refers to his work as "Shadowology." The artist uses found objects and light to complete doodled illustrations: Bal has posted more fun videos here, and sells his work as both prints and postcards here. | Continue reading
Despite the name, Swiss company Model Group makes paper, not models. (It's a family-run business, and Model is their last name.) For several years, the company has been experimenting with creating injection molded products derived from paper.They've developed what they call Paper … | Continue reading
Everyone knows what a car seat for children is. But this little-seen safety object is for the expecting parent before the car seat is needed. "INSAFE Seat-Belt Guide redirects the lap belt away from the belly of a pregnant woman. It eliminates the danger of putting too much pres … | Continue reading
Barns in Scandinavia have steeply-pitched roofs, to deal with heavy snow loads. A steeply-pitched roof also provides useful space for a hayloft or grain storage area. Stored well above ground level, there's no danger of the hay or grain being ruined by flooding, and the abovegrou … | Continue reading
Would furniture design have evolved this way, had there been no pandemic? We'll leave it to design historians to debate.Steelcase's Ocular line of conference tables are designed for modern reality, where videoconferencing has become the norm. Whereas pre-videoconferencing tables … | Continue reading
When I was at ID school in the early '90s, they taught us "No one wants a toaster. What people want is toast."The times have definitely changed, if the success of this Vaaka device is any indication. It's an analog scale designed to provide "a meditative exploration of the balanc … | Continue reading
In recent years, we've seen an exo-splosion of exoskeletons. Models for factory workers, medical caregivers, contractors, and even for recreational hiking have all made their debut. Hyundai's Robotics LAB division, meanwhile, has been working on medical exoskeletons. Their H-MEX … | Continue reading
When Bosch wanted to produce their own espresso maker, they leveraged both their in-house design team and Munich-based ID firm Fluid. The result was this Tassimo concept:The ChallengeDevelop an iconic range of espresso maker concepts for the Tassimo system that serves as a strong … | Continue reading
Here's what we looked at this week:Project I-XRAY uses Meta's Ray-Ban 2 smart glasses to instantly access people's personal information. Unusual auto mods: Infinity taillights, and headlights with animated eyeballs.The Pi Foldable Lap Desk, for working/eating in cars.Cabin An … | Continue reading
In all workshops, subtractive tools come in one of two flavors: Bring the tool to the workpiece (e.g. a router), or bring the workpiece to the tool (e.g. a shaper). But Chinese manufacturer Tyvok has created a sort of hybrid with the Spider X1S. It's a large-format laser cutter w … | Continue reading
French fashion brand Coperni's Swipe Bag is one of their distinctive offerings.For an exhibition at Disneyland Paris, the company has created a special Ariel edition made of silicone and, appropriately, created underwater. They made it using Rapid Liquid Printing (the MIT-created … | Continue reading
In a bid to reduce plastic bag use, Thailand-based company Tiptop Things Kickstarted this Nanobag back in 2018. It's made out of ripstop nylon, and the idea is that it folds down to pocket-sized, yet can expand to hold 50 lbs. It's an ultracompact alternative to tote bags. Demand … | Continue reading
These new Nike Grind Dumbbells are made using Nike Grind Rubber, waste material generated during the footwear manufacturing process. The material makes up roughly 20% of the volume of each dumbbell, providing a durable, rubbery texture. The handles are ergonomically-shaped, and i … | Continue reading
Texas-based Massimo Modular offers this stunning, futuristic take on the prefabricated home.Their Model E9 is trucked to site, where you need to have laid the foundation in advance and prepared for utilities, then craned onto the foundation. It's been designed with anchor points … | Continue reading
The UK's Wine Society, a member-owned community of oenophiles, has contracted some unusual packaging for some of their wines: Flat-shaped plastic bottles, made from recycled ocean plastic, and recyclable themselves. After conducting a study, the group has concluded that using thi … | Continue reading
In 2020 we wrote about this shed-like house that slides open to the elements. It was designed by Dutch architect Casper Schols, who planned to sell pre-fabricated versions of the house for roughly $100,000. Now production has arrived, but it has crashed into reality along the w … | Continue reading
Remember Google Japan's bizarre single-row keyboard?Those pranksters are at it again, this time creating a keyboard with a Möbius strip form factor:"Our continuous efforts to develop the keyboard have always focused on surface level problems," the engineering team write. "But wha … | Continue reading
Auto modder Amir produces these unusual accessories: Infinity taillights……and headlights that have programmable eyeballs:I believe these wouldn't be Department-of-Transportation-approved for use in the U.S., but Amir is based in Tehran.Lots more of his unusual mods here. | Continue reading
I don't envy those who have to work, or live, out of their cars, but that's the reality for some. Chinese manufacturer FansDreams aims to make those tasks a bit easier with their Pi Foldable Lap Desk. It's made out of fiberglass wrapped in waterproof faux leather. It folds down t … | Continue reading
Well, this is mildly terrifying. Harvard students AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio proved, as a safety warning, that you can use a pair of Meta's Ray-Ban 2 sunglasses to instantly access the personal data of anyone you see. They pulled it off by simply using face search engines, … | Continue reading
This project, "Bringing Interactive Unity to All Starbucks In-Store Connected Devices," is by design consultancy Tactile. The firm straightened out the coffee chain's behind-the-counter systems by tackling the work in five phases. Starbucks Professional Design SystemAt the heart … | Continue reading
Here's what we looked at this week:Production methods: Pultrusion, for producing lonnnng (up to 10km!) carbon fiber profiles. A stunning spectacle: The world's largest drone display. This is surely how we'll be advertised to in the future.Gerber's EAB utility knife is minimum … | Continue reading
These photographs are by Felix Alejandro Hernandez. The thing is, Hernandez isn't just a photographer, but an expert modelmaker and digital artist.His Instagram features a bunch of fun videos showing you the behind-the-scenes. In this one, he creates a sci-fi set using a combinat … | Continue reading
More multi-screen madness. This TriCreate object consists of three 15.6", 1080p screens, an internal battery and a built-in stand. It folds flat into a briefcase form factor for easy transport, and weighs 3kg (6.6 lbs). It works with both Macs and PCs. The stand is height-adjusta … | Continue reading
UK-based Costa Coffee has rolled out this elaborate robotic coffee station. The company says their completely automated, AI-powered station is "capable of matching or exceeding human barista quality," and is targeting locations where a 24-hour unattended small-footprint coffee sh … | Continue reading
Flowing with Blessings is a nonprofit that provides free, hot showers to Atlanta's unhoused population. Founder Nicky Crawford aims to restore hygiene, dignity and hope to the disadvantaged with his mobile shower units.Crawford saw a need to expand into mobile laundry services. T … | Continue reading
We really are hurtling into the future here, folks.So this company Serve Robotics makes these sidewalk delivery robots. A restaurant worker loads them, then the autonomous 'bot drives itself over to your building. While the 'bots have a range of up to 25 miles, they're not that f … | Continue reading
As a pure object, I'm really impressed with the form of this Pathfinder modular mouse, by startup Orbital Works. Intended to provide the best possible UX for gamers, it's been designed with fanaticism.Developed from hundreds of hand scans and match analyses, Pathfinder fits your … | Continue reading
Ikea's new, improved anchor and lock system should give parents some extra peace of mind. Once installed, it allows every drawer in a chest of drawers to be open, and the unit will not tip. The improved design adds an interior metal strip that runs the entire height of the cabine … | Continue reading
It's a small detail, but I suspect it will go a long way. French cookware company Staub has collaborated with British hardware manufacturer Buster + Punch, adding the latter's hardware to the former's cookware. This has yielded two sizes of cast-iron cocotte and one cast-iron fry … | Continue reading
The Spaghetti Chair, designed by architect Giandomenico Belotti in 1979, became a design classic of the '80s. The parallel lines of the PVC noodles gave it a striking look, and the steel-framed chair was suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It's still in production today.Over the … | Continue reading
Gerber's EAB Lite is an example of well-executed minimum viable product. It is the smallest possible form you could have for a folding utility knife that takes standard blades. There's a liner lock, and the grooves in the handle are meant to provide the grip you need on something … | Continue reading
Hot on the heels of their record-breaking 7,598-drone light show, the city of Shenzhen has broken the record again. In celebration of China's National Day, which is today, the city held a 10,197-drone light show, all run from a single computer.The footage looks even more impressi … | Continue reading
As Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeastern United States, Tampa General Hospital managed to ward off flooding using this AquaFence system. Unlike sandbags, these barrier wall systems are reusable, and can be stored flat.The design is simple, but ingenious: The more water they'r … | Continue reading
"We are here to change the rules of the game," writes German company Revoltech. "Prove that it is possible to reinvent materials. Make them clean. Honest. Uncomplicated.""Our mission is to have maximum impact by making responsible and creative use of what the earth has in abundan … | Continue reading
Footwear designer Dr. D'Wayne Edwards has designed ÜNOS by Sz, a line of sneakers designed to grow with your kids. The sole is divided by a Z shape, which allows the shoe to expand, in length and width, up to a half-size (or a full size in the adult sizes, if your kid's got big … | Continue reading
Like many people in Copenhagen, Danish designer Jens Martin Skibsted is a bicycle enthusiast. In fact, "enthusiast" is quite an understatement, as in addition to his day job as VP Foresight & Mobility at the strategy, design and technology consulting firm Manyone, he is also the … | Continue reading
The city of Shenzhen recently held the world's largest drone display. Some 7,598 drones took to the night sky to create a stunning display of images including dragons, tigers, Chinese landmarks and more. Incredibly, they were all run by a single laptop. If you enjoy visual specta … | Continue reading
I'm trying not to write about negative things on here (you should see the things in my in-box), but I really dislike this new speculative HMI design called Pulsar. It's billed as a "Plastronics" system, which the developer defines as an "ultra-thin smart interface for interacting … | Continue reading
Here's an amusing project by Unnecessary Design Studio, a/k/a Matty Benedetto. Who knew, when CAD and 3D printing were invented, that they'd one day allow such creations as the Burrito Bumper: I'm kind of surprised he's not selling these. | Continue reading
A French company called Epsilon Composites has developed a production method called pultrusion. As you can guess, it's a form of extrusion where the raw materals are pulled, rather than pushed, through the die. This is because Epsilon's raw material is multiple strands of carbon … | Continue reading
Dynamic Controls, a manufacturer of wheelchair control devices, worked with Australian ID firm 4design to bring their LiNX to market."Linx is the very first touchscreen wheelchair controller. A carefully considered approach to both the user interface and the product design meant … | Continue reading
Here's what we looked at this week:New production method for quickly building walls: Impact printing with clay. The world's underwater fiber optic cables.From MIT, sustainable 3D-printed glass masonry.Caroline's Cart is a shopping cart designed for special needs individuals … | Continue reading
This ceramic espresso cup, which I badly want to touch, was designed by Luxembourg-based Metaform Architects. The form was inspired by the firm's design for the Luxembourg pavilion at the World Expo in Dubai 2020. The original form was 3D-printed, then used to make ceramic molds … | Continue reading
It's a matter of time before China becomes known for innovative industrial design. The country has been saddled with a reputation for design piracy, a reputation earned through legacy systems; but with 1.4 billion people, eventually the designers interested in true innovation wil … | Continue reading
With few local options, I buy my groceries at Walmart. One thing I hate about it is that the pricing, at least in my Walmart, is never clearly listed on the shelf. It makes comparison shopping impossible.German grocery brand Penny has rolled out a new line of "Price Packs," which … | Continue reading
Aimed at outdoorsfolk, these ruggedized power banks are by Nestout, a subsidiary of Japanese consumer products brand Elecom. Each features USB-A and USB-C ports. They're shock-resistant, dust-proof and waterproof. The bottoms have a threaded insert so you can attach accessories, … | Continue reading
Robotics researchers at Seoul National University have developed the Palletrone, a sort of flying shopping cart. Drones beneath the loading surface, surrounded by a cage, do the lifting. You do the guiding."The platform is designed with a spacious upper flat surface for easy carg … | Continue reading