Extremity MRI concept  Why do we still put an entire body into a magnetic field to scan an arm or a leg when the magnets in magnetic resonance systems are becoming smaller? That was the spark behind the Extremity concept. The fully adjustable chair moves to meet the magnet, so only the area that needs scanning will be scanned. Plus, the unexpected reference to furniture with use of ash wood and light strips help put patients at ease. Design by Lionel Wodecki of GE Healthcare (France) pico collection for mutina     French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have developed the 'pico collection' for Italian ceramics company Mutina. Composed of compressed sand and mixed minerals, this series of tiles maintains the rawness of handmade cement and traditional earth floors, letting the materials convey their natural characteristics. Omhu Cane  The Omhu Cane is a walking stick with attitude. Inspired by Scandinavian furniture, bicycles, hockey sticks and skateboards, this joyful design brings style and performance to mobility aids. The generous birch handle has grip strips for better hold, and doesn’t slip when leaned against a wall. Kicker Tea Tumbler    Kicker Tea Tumbler is a combination of tea kettle and pot where water heats on the bottom of the device while tea leaves are placed into an infuser at the top. User can heat the water up to the desired temperature for the type of tea and flip the pot over to let the water lands on the tea leaves. Once the tea is done steeping, the user can flip the pot back over. WS1204  The WS1204 is an innovative system specially designed for wheel-chair bound patients. It consists of four low profile wireless weighing pads. Weighing is simple; a weighing pad is placed in front of each wheelchair wheel. The wheelchair is rolled onto the four pads, and the pads send data wirelessly to the remote display where the patient’s weight is calculated and stored. Masterpieces  “Masterpieces” is a string art kit from MO MAN TAI Design based on famous paintings. Performance vs Preference Sometimes the best products and business models do not win in the market, while lesser products get the triumph. The well-known QWERTY-layout from the keyboard was designed to prevent that the mechanical parts would grab each other during typing on old typing machines. The efficiency of typing and its connection to the place of the letter on the keyboard was not considered as a priority that time. The Dvorak-layout, which is not that broadly known anymore in our days, on the contrary was based upon deep research and has shown good results in improving the speed of typing. The results of a comparative test show an improvement of 30% in terms of efficiency of work. Nowadays computers do not have those mechanical parts of the typing machines, so you would say, the Dvorak-layout would be the first choice layout for most of the people. But where the Dvorak wins in terms of efficiency QWERTY wins in terms of preference.  This great example teaches us a good lesson: obvious improvement of performance does not give a guaranty for success. People make their choices and build preferences upon many factors, and most of the time unconsciously. What you think is good for people, it is not necessary the same what people would find themselves best for them. Even more: people very often do not go for the good thing. More often, they go for a feeling-good experience. Design Tips The best way to find a balance between performance and preference is good observation. Do not trust only what people say, watch them doing things. Make conclusions, create design, and test it, observe and improve again.
Quickstart Did you not work before with a design studio? Or do you like to try out our way of working, compared to your partner design office? Then the Design Quickstart is an excellent project, offered to you for reduced rates. Read more about a quickstart project / Turn-key product design Do you want to realise a turn-key design project from plan to production? Do you need extra knowledge or capacity for your product development? We love to work with your team and take care of your concerns. Our speed of product development and the possibility to develop both the product as the electronics and software are two reasons why companies work with us. Read more about turn-key product development /
Design News Amphibian Inspiration   Named after it’s inspiration, the Auratus chaise lounge by designer Wilson Niño mimics the form of a poison dart frog and has brilliant coloring to match. Finest paperware   The paper cup from Rebecca Wilson’s “Finest paperware” is a transformation of the ultimate throwaway into a "cast paper", an art object. SavePaste    SavePaste is a new toothpaste packaging design has a three-point agenda: to eliminate the hard-to-squeeze dead space, minimizing toothpaste residue left inside the container and reduce two packaging to one. Musical gloves  Developed specially for the musician Imogen Heap, these gloves are equipped with an accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, wireless mics and a bunch of other sensors. It's making music just out of the hands. Jewelry   These series of accessories don't include jewelry. Anything you find and put up becomes your own "Jewelry". Find wonderful jewelry in your daily life. We like to inspire you with above mentioned products and concept. All rights are kept by the designers of the products. Above mentioned products and concepts are found on several public sources: Core77, IDSA.org, DesignBeans, DesignAddict, Product Design Forum, the Red Dot Design Zentrum, Designet.ru, Novate.ru, Omami.ru, mocoloco.com, apartmenttherapy.com, www.tuvie.com, www.techfresh.net, www.wikipedia.com, www.conof.jp, gizmodo.com and others. |
In this issue: SoundLens, Y1, The egg holder, The Leverage Freedom chair and more.
The Leverage Freedom chair
The Leverage Freedom chair is designed to give wheelchair users the same access to the woods, trails and difficult terrain that mountain bike riders have. Its twin-lever drive and bicycle-style drivetrain gives riders the increased leverage to get over obstacles and climb steep grades.
The egg holder
This egg holder from Eva Valicsek is made from natural mikrowaved carton and as a complementary material rubber and consists of one piece. It is open from the top, but if its turned upside down, it will still hold firmly the eggs, they will not fall because of the elasticity of the rubber. Besides its special aesthetics the packaging has a very clear functionality: and it can be stored in piles, you can get the egg without having to open it, it is easy to produce and to recycle. That is how packaging should be.
Y 1
Espresso coffee machine Y1 offers the coffee connoisseur an entirely new approach to enjoying the culture of preparing and drinking coffee due to the device’s well-balanced functionality and language. This coffee machine is based on cubic shapes and is reminiscent of the early days of modern twentieth-century architecture. It thus pleasingly differentiates itself from the familiar shapes and generic materials used for other coffee machines. Well thought out, technically functional, highly compact, as well as user-friendly and self-explanatory.
The Dentris mobile
The Dentris from Clemens Aueris a mobile dental treatment system, the complete dentist station is packed into a lightweight, robust case that includes all the necessary tools for cleanings, fillings, and other operations.
Paper Punk
Paper Punk is a system of paper blocks that allow you to create spectacular looking paper toys and art forms with a few simple folds. Consider Paper Punk as building blocks for your imagination. It’s easy to use (everything you need is included) and very educational (spatial and dimensional thinking, motor skills, math, science, etc.)
Toyota window to the world concept
Imagine when a journey from A to B is no longer routine as your car in the near-future encourages a sense of play, exploration and learning. This is the image engineers and designers from Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) had of Toyota's "Window to the World" vehicle concept.
The 'window to the world' concept envisions the interior of the cars of the future as an interface for young passengers to learn and be creative. The concept converts backseat windows into transparent touch screens, providing users with games and educational tools as well as information about landmarks and other objects visible from outside.
the concept is composed of five parts:
- 'drawing in motion', in which the window is used as a canvas for passengers to draw on with their fingers;
- 'zoom' that lets passengers zoom-in on objects visible through the window;
- 'translation', in which riders can click on an object visible through the window and see and hear a foreign language translation for it;
- 'augmented distances' that estimates the distance between the vehicle and an object viewable outside;
- and 'virtual constellations', in which the car's panoramic roof can display stellar constellations and information about them, using the actual sky as a backdrop.
Watch the video /
Design Tips
A cross disciplinary approach has a lot of advantages, it could create the possibility of knowing how to dream like a child, observing the world with a great portion of curiosity and admiration and not letting the word “impossible” to enter the brain too fast. Following the latest technological achievements and seeing unusual ways of application – it is a great part of a successful design business strategy.
New team member
Bluelarix Designworks has enlarged her design team. Hillar Roos supports the team with electronics design. He has a strong university background in computer systems design, electronics design and software development for embedded system, and nine years experience in the field.
We develop embedded systems: electronics and software for products, both consumer products as well as products used every day by professionals. Our electronics design is driven by the need to design a good experience for the user. Whether we design schematics, layouts, pcb's or prototypes, the basis is always obtained by observing and studying consumers and users. Read more about our electronics design services /
Quickstart
Did you not work before with a design studio? Or do you like to try out our way of working, compared to your partner design office?
Then the Design Quickstart is an excellent project, offered to you for reduced rates. Read more about a quickstart project /
Turn-key product design
Do you want to realise a turn-key design project from plan to production? Do you need extra knowledge or capacity for your product development? We love to work with your team and take care of your concerns.
Our speed of product development and the possibility to develop both the product as the electronics and software are two reasons why companies work with us. Read more about turn-key product development /
Design News
Hart
Hart's Framing Hammer saves you some hassle with both the side-pulling nail capability and a side-strike.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
An awesome tale of an old classic. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the first installment in the PopOut! series of unique interactive digital books. In spite of sometimes being old school people, who cherish a good paper book above anything digital, we truly feel in love with this one. A book, a game, a story and a whole experience.
Watch the video /
Transparent LED Film
Embeds lights without visible wires. It is generally difficult to embed electronics into glass, but this process makes it easy. The sheet with embedded electronic devices is thin and lightweight enough to be rolled up and shipped to a glass laminator near the product’s final destination.
Cheerful seats and tables
Joel Escalona based in Mexico has designed a cheerful collection of outdoor seats and tables. The synthetic fibers are resistant to UV, and all kinds of outdoor environments. The fibers used are a non-toxic and 100% recyclable.
SoundLens
SoundLens opens up completely new possibilities for hearing with and using such a device. It is invisible and is “made to measure”, because it is designed for each ear individually, other people are unaware of it.
The FireText
The FireText has a GSM SIM card on board that allows you to send fire-related texts to up to four cell phone numbers. Great idea. Say you left the stove on before running out to work. Or something's burning while you sleep. Your alarm will let you know, either directly or through a friend, that there could be a fire.
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Try2Cycle
'Try2Cycle' from the Belgian designer Arnaud Eubelen is a progressive bicycle for 2 to 5 years old children. It helps to learn children, in a progressive way, how to ride a bicycle. The piece which allows the conversion of tricycle to bicycle mode is very easy to move. Once in bicycle mode, that piece is reused to keep the bike fixed upright once put away.
Hand-Held Fire Extinguisher
This is the first completely hand-held fire extinguisher we've seen. Apparently the one-time-use DKL can shoot suppressant about 10 feet out of the nozzle.
Life
Life from Andreas Ponti is a recycled paper-made water container. The idea is to dissuade people from using plastic bottles and use this one-day-use bottle instead. It’s crafted from natural cotton and recycled paper layer and it doesn’t use any chemical ink or adhesives that are tough to recycle. The handy green cord makes it easy for you to carry it along.
Babybloom
In a regular incubator, prematurely born babies can suffer brain damage due to overexposure to light and noise. Parents feel sad and powerless because of the limited contact. Heleen Willemsen graduated a few years ago on an improved design that invites parents to embrace their child and to sit in a comfortable position. A flower shaped cap can shut out light and noise. "The friendly design brings back the 'babyness' in the hospital''. Now the product is almost ready for market introduction. Watch the video /
Slurp
There have been many efforts in making digital gestures more tangible, and the Slurp digital eyedropper is another very interesting concept. It is a tangible interface for manipulating abstract digital information as if it were water. Rather than plug a usb drive into the port that corresponds with a specific file seen on a screen, just suck the file directly off the screen itself. Slurp is used like an eyedropper, it vibrates and displays light to indicate it’s state to the user. Watch the video /
Water purifier
This is an innovative reverse osmosis purifier, but it actually looks like a piece of art, not an appliance. The design is minimal and meant to be slightly organic – fluid like water. Hot, cold or room temperature – serve it up however you like.
Enamor
Enamor (an anagram of “one arm”), by designer Grace Lim, gives users with only one arm the opportunity to expand their cooking skills. The kit is simple and easy to clean and consists of both vegetable and meat cutting units that hug tightly onto any counter top.
Efficient design: enlarge sales and marketshare
What impact can design have on your business performance? A very large one. Especially if you implement design for a specific goal, so that it will give measurable results. In this serie about efficient design this time how design can be used to enlarge your sales and marketshare.
Do you compete mainly on price because your products do not dramatically differ from your competitors? Also other companies suffer from that. Mostly they will add more and more features to the product or come up with countless product variations.
That is how they loose contact with the consumer, who might not need those features and hence they loose more market share. As we design for experience, we help corporations to come up with new adorable offerings, that help them to differ from competition, raise higher margins and gain back market share.
Case: Music Centre
 We designed a totally new concept with 250% higher margin potential then the present products of the company and we found a new distribution channel willing to run this product with 600 stores and a better shelf position, leading to more market share.
Client
Dutch manufacturer of consumer electronics
Strategy
Using design for experience, research into positioning of competitors, user friendly design, a lot of attention to details and attractive styling.
Case: Snooc
 We developed a fully new hair styling product with 400% higher margin potential compared to competition offerings for the European markets. We received new distribution offerings for this product for Europe and the USA, leading to more market share.
Client
Asian manufacturer of personal care products
Strategy
Design for experience, testing with hair stylists, cross pollination by using automotive design styling, much attention to details.
Quickstart
Did you not work before with a design studio? Or do you like to try out our way of working, compared to your partner design office?
Then the Design Quickstart is an excellent project, offered to you for reduced rates. Read more about a quickstart project /
Turn-key product design
Do you want to realise a turn-key design project from plan to production? Do you need extra knowledge or capacity for your product development? We love to work with your team and take care of your concerns.
Our speed of product development and the possibility to develop both the product as the electronics and software are two reasons why companies work with us. Read more about turn-key product development /
Design News
David Carter's POP UP
It's not magic . . . It's the power of your imagination! Follow the instructions and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising, irresistible book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt them, and even blow on them - who knows what will happen next!
Kevin Angeloni Gris 12
Another way of seeing the gray pencil that everyone knows and is an indispensable tool for all creative minds.
Rubber Glass
Looks like glass, breaks like glass, but feels like rubber. This is a polyurethane that enables you to create glass and ice-like objects without the hassles of conventional breakaway plastic products. Unlike other plastics, this product cures at room temperature; once cured, it is odorless and easy to handle. You mix it up and shape it into whatever you need.
The Scroll Bookshelf
The Scroll Bookshelf is one of the most basic ways of managing your books in a tidy fashion. A metal sheet covered with a plastic sleeve and two sturdy end-rolls is what its all about.
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Philco PC
Created by design studio SchultzeWORKS this stylish computer was inspired by the 1954 Philco Predicta television. Keyboard and mouse are created in the typewriter style but also have steampunk features.
Easy Access Bottle Cap
The teardrop shaped Easy Access Bottle Cap is an example how better designed things indeed improve peoples lives.
Engrain Tactile Keyboard
Michael Roopenians Engrain Tactile Keyboard seeks to strengthen the relationship between users and interfaces by giving them a new experience of moving their fingers across waves. These waves are not freely carved but strictly follow the users habit of typing and their figures movement on keyboards. As a result, you may feel your fingers are part of the keyboard when you use the Engrain.
Estelle Sauvage
A lamp with a very unusual design, created by Estelle Sauvage. The lamp can be used to heat water for a cup of tea with the help of a small light bulb. Sensual and captivating work indeed.
Gobug. Autism connects
Gobug is an interactive toy designed to facilitate an inclusive social learning experience for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Up to two or three children can play with the toy simultaneously. Each user takes ownership of one controller. These controllers work in conjunction; each user points his remote in a direction, and the Gobug moves in the combined direction of the active controllers.
Zerotouch
The Zerotouch infrared touchscreen lets users paint into the air. It is a screenless, transparent multi-touch display that uses infrared sensors to detect user input.
Watch the video /
Infinite Combo Longboard
The Downhill Machine from Nuno Pereira isnt your conventional longboard. With the adjustability of a race car packed into a skate, the DM was made for speed. Each of the deck-mounted aerospace grade aluminum trucks can be fine-tuned independently so adjusting the width, angle, wheelbase, ground clearance, lift, and downforce are all possible without the need for multiple decks, trucks, and risers of conventional skates.
Efficient design: creation of intellectual propery
What impact can design have on your business performance? A very large one. Especially if you implement design for a specific goal, so that it will give measurable results. In this serie about efficient design this time how design can be used to create more intellectual property.
Knowledge and creativity are important assets on your balance. They create added value for your company, but as well for your clients and end users.
Your knowledge and creativity could for instance mean enormous cost cuttings for your clients or peace for parents with kids having diabetes. That is why your clients do business with you. We deliver you the knowledge and creativity to be an added value for your clients.
Case: Glucashield
This patented medical device with unique closing system for kids having diabetes has been developed by our team as a concept and prototype. The product is meant to be an emergency kit for kids that unexpectedly enter into a serious hypo attack, where they might lose consiousness. Hence the product can be operated by bystanders and care takers, thus giving a feeling of peace and rest to the parents.
Client
In house development, in cooperation with many parties.
Strategy
In depth analyses, user research, creativity, knowledge of materials and production.
Case: Tensio+
With this measuring device for the paper industry our team succeeded to improve the measuring deviation from almost 100% for some German devices down to less then 5% in the toughest circumstances in the papermachine. We also succeeded in dissolving the differences in measuring results when different people do the measurements. This results in higher paper quality and less wear in the felts in the machine, which means a substantial cut of costs for paper manufacturers.
Client
Dutch manufacturer of high quality tools for the paper industry.
Strategy
design for experience, early stage testing with proto's, smart integration of mechanical measuring technology, electronics and software.
Quickstart
Did you not work before with a design studio? Or do you like to try out our way of working, compared to your partner design office?
Then the Design Quickstart is an excellent project, offered to you for reduced rates. Read more about a quickstart project /
Turn-key product design
Do you want to realise a turn-key design project from plan to production? Do you need extra knowledge or capacity for your product development? We love to work with your team and take care of your concerns.
Our speed of product development and the possibility to develop both the product as the electronics and software are two reasons why companies work with us. Read more about turn-key product development /
Design News
Sprout pen
Igor Lobanov's Sprout pen concept reveals the ink within its clear body in the form of a plant-like sprout. As you use the pen, over time the ink diminishes and the sprout shrinks as if dying, but when you stick the pen into its inkwell, the pen fills with ink, "growing" the sprout.
Sosia sofa
Emanuele Magini's nutty "Sosia" sofa is a highly innovative, transformable piece of furniture. The model is completely convertible, thanks to a malleable fabric flap that allows the owner to rearrange it into a variety of shapes and sizes. No matter which configuration you decide on that day, the soft-cushioned seats will provide plenty of lounging comfort.
Squishy magnet
This magnet is soft and squeezable to the touch. In every other way it is like a normal magnet; it has a north and south pole, opposite poles attract, like poles repel, and it is attracted to standard magnets.
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