Mac is one of those fellows who, for two main reasons (amongst quite a few others,) continues to hit hard on the online publishing circuit with his amazing designs. ONE: because his designs are so innovative, they’re on the verge of “you are a crazy person.” TWO: because not only does Mac do nice design, he does a LOT of it. This guy is a workaholic.

What have we got from Mac today? A phone and a desktop computer.

First, the computer. You’ll notice the clarity instantly, I’m sure. This computer is called “Zafiro” – it’s made of glass and has a round rim. It’s made to work as a home version of the giant Precrime computer seen in the film “Minority Report.” You’ll remember the glass I.D. cards slipped in the side of the monitor. In addition, the keys on the keyboard are made of “deformable metal” which flattens out when not in use.

And the phone. Look at that thing! It’s called the “Cobalto” and it’s also made with deformable metal. It has the option of forming keys or working flat like modern “smartphone” screens already do. This phone has the same ability to project 3D holograms from a 2D surface that at least one Mac design has had in the past.

NOTE: Cool beans! The phone, Mac informs us, is going to be on a Russian TV show that happened upon his designs through his website. I hope we can feature that feature right freaking here soon!

Designer: Mac Funamizu

Future Mobile Phone Concept from mac_fun on Vimeo.

So what have we got here?

Two count them two children’s fold up toys, one a shark, the other a television “puppetTV” inside which a child can pretend to be the worlds greatest action hero and television star: Mister Rogers. Or Captian Kangaroo. Don’t forget Spongebob. Ren and Stimpy not allowed.

Catscratchers made for all you hip kitties out there to sink your claws into. No seriously for cats only. If you are a cat and are reading this, please email me and we can be in touch. I want to talk to a cat that can read.

And finally, an amazing room divider. The room divider comes in a set of 50 pieces. Each piece is a die-cut shape that you can use to slot-connect your way to a new amazing wall in any dimension. Five thousand feet tall if you want.

No tools or hardware required for anything. Cardboard only!

Designer: Ben Blanc Studio

10) Birch-wood Coffee Set by Andrea Branzi

Kicking off this countdown is an elegant silver and birch-wood coffee set designed by Andrea Branzi. Made from silver dipped in acid to get the rustic look, the set is quite a collector’s item.

9) Muji Non-directional Coffee Maker by Kazushige Miyake

I don’t get what a “Non-directional Coffee Maker” is, but I’m willing to hear your opinion on it.

8 ) Kahva by Lina Fischer

Technically Kavha is the Kashmiri way of preparing tea, with saffron and cardamom; so it quite surprises me that a coffee maker has been christened thus. Any ways the Kahva is a beautiful way to brew your coffee.

7) The Barista by Patrik Pettersson

Perfect solution for multiple coffee addicts in an office, this machine dispenses many cups of coffee at one go.

6) Coffee Maker by Tom Metcalfe

This one’s for the serious brewers who go to any lengths for their cuppa java! I love the video in this post, do re-visit and check it out.

5) Cocoon by Jan König

Made of twin-spherical bowls, in the Cacoon, the water is heated via induction in the outer sphere and a pump in the handhold transports the warm water to the filter and finally the ready coffee drips into the inner sphere. The resulting cavity (where the water was before) between the both spheres, now serves as a natural insulator and keeps the coffee warm.

4) Nespresso by Jeremy Myrier

A service tray that doubles up as coffee warmers! I can pictures us warming our hands over it!

3) Enjoy It While Flying by Balazs Millete & Telekes Tamas

Enjoy It While Flying is a concept brewer of Nespresso that is to be enjoyed abord your private aircraft, as you jetset from one glam destination to another. Strictly for those with the moola; Plebs please endure the airline trash you get.

2) Pearl by Andreas Diefenbach

This Ceramic Coffee machine is refined with a gilded touch, and is quite an exquisite creation.

1) Untitled by Brice Genre Hanika Perez

Thanks to its thermo-sensitivity, artistic patterns appear on the surface of this coffee machine when hot water runs through it. Almost like have an art piece hanging up on the wall.

A) Mod System’s GreenPlay software engages your main system with your “set top boxes” and storage units throughout the house for easy management. Music, movies, tv shoes, and photos. It’s connected to Mod Systems online library from whens mass amounts of media can be purchased or rented.

B) The online library of Mod Systems is a fully interactive customer and administrator user interface designed just for the GreenPlay system.

Digital content galore!

C) The GreenPlay Set Top Boxes connect to high definition televisions and other networked devices (such as speakers, your PC control station, etc.) Designed at the same time as a digital interface and a physical object, this is made to fit into the home in more ways than one.

The full integrated experience is what this is all about.

Designer: Samuel Hoang with Teague

As I said before it’s almost too thin. If it weren’t for the softly bezeled edges the Adamo XPS might also be the world’s sharpest notebook. Weighing only 3.2lbs with the 20WHr battery installed is quite impressive but my favorite feature is the capacitive latching device. Por que? There’s no button or indentation to lift open the Adamo XPS. Just swipe your finger across a touch sensitive bezel and the lid magically magnetically unlocks.

The design is quite interesting. In lieu of the usual perpendicular form most notebooks take, the Adamo XPS opens up to an angle. The keyboard is raised for better ergonomics and all that space underneath facilitates cooling. The screen is slightly recessed because the entire keyboard plane folds into the display. When you look at the Adamo’s profile, what you’re really looking at is the screen housing.

I’m avoiding the phrase “wafer thin” because that implies flimsiness. The Adamo XPS is far from it. It’s incredibly sturdy and any give comes from the carefully seamed joints, alas the Adamo is not a unibody design. The keyboard looks almost like polished stone but it’s actually metal. How novel and appropriately chic! On the left edge is single USB  and display port. The opposite side has another USB port, an audio jack and power connector.

All the exterior sex appeal doesn’t mean diddly if it chugs during everyday use (cough – MacBook Air). I’m not a PC user so this was also my first experience with Windows 7. Upon start-up I was greeted with a facial recognition option. I didn’t try it because I was in no mood to see my mug in the incredibly bright 13.4″ HD (720p) screen. Once in, Windows 7 looked like a supremely clean version of Vista. All the nonsensical gadgets were gone and the taskbar now had a companion ala Mac OS X dock. I don’t want to make this a Windows review so lets just say I browsed, interneted and emailed without pause. The Adamo XPS is fast.

Dell has been on a roll lately releasing computers that step outside the proverbial grey box. The Adamo XPS looks like a winner in most areas but since we’re a design site, lets get picky. The corners are a little bit too rounded. The trackpad is too small. The speakers are too quiet. The bezel around the display is too noticeable. You’ve got the grey aluminum on the exterior and the black hugging the display. This double whammy makes the screen feel smaller. It would also have bee nice to move the Dell logo off the display area down into the keyboard because it’s way too distracting where it is. What Dell deserves snaps for is the beautiful, crisp screen. The keyboard is a dream to type on and that capacitive latch is like concept finally making it to reality. It’s unnecessary but design is only half about function – the other is emotion and that latch immediately introduces the idea of a computer far more advance if not a little cooler than anything else out there.

Specs:

• 13.4″ HD WLED (720P) display
• Intel Core 2 Duo 1.4GHz
• Integrated Intel graphics
• 4GB DDR3-800MHz RAM
• Thin Micro SSD 128GB
• Integrated webcam with security face recognition
• Full size keyboard with touchpad gestures
• Built-in 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1
• 2x USB 2.0, audio, DisplayPort
• 20WHr li-ion battery
• Windows 7 Premium 64-bit OS
• 3.2lbs

Optional attachments:

• VGA, HDMI i/o
• External optical DVD+/-RW, Blu-ray Disc

Designer: Dell

 

Deadline: November 30, 2009 (Official rules and entry details)

What this system does is to guarantee your gold bars and laptops are safe while you’re in the bathroom. You just gotta lock it down! This is called the “Desk Guard” library desk system and it works with your RFID (Radio-frequency identification) card. This is basically your library card or your student ID card, they’re all RFID now more often than not. So. Step by step:

You look for a desk that is clamped shut and empty.

Scan your RFID card, it opens. You use it.

For a potty break, scan your RFID again. Desk clamps shut.

Your stuff is safe!

Come back after the bathroom and scan RFID card to open up.

Clamp shut after you’re done!

Designer: Choi Minaa

This shaver right here has one body, multiple heads. Like I said a moment ago, it’s got a ball and socket connection so it can follow the contours of the face and body. The LCD screen on the side recognizes which head is attached, and displays this information along with battery life along the side.

Sleek, lovely, futuristic, majestic carrying case has a home for every head and razor, and works as a drying and recharging station for all the bits. The body, shaving head, trimmer head, and guard are dried through ventilation under their secure spots. Underneath there’s a back door through which water can be emptied.

And that’s that!

Note: this project is called the Braun Continuum Shaving System and it was completed as a concept project at Bergishe Universität Wuppertal, sponsored by Braun.

Designer: Kristen Beck

The space of the upper apartment above uses the Dual Height Bench from David Zachary as a delightfully geometric centerpiece surrounded by a one-of-a-kind lounge from Eva Zeisel as well as cardboard chairs from CardboardDesign.  In a similar nod to cardboard, the winerack from Anthony Caradonna and Pratt architecture students (below) will contrast nicely with your expensive wine and if the recycled cardboard doesn’t assuage your eco-guilt, its alcoholic contents surely will.

One of my personal favorites, the Array Series from Pratt alumnus Jason Pfaeffle (above), will appeal to any former K’nex fans who can’t resist taking apart their furniture and putting it back together as they like.  Evoking similar focus on user interaction, the Rosebud Felt Bowl from alumnus Diane Ruengsorn below has the user snap the bowl together using a magnets embedded in a single piece of industrial felt.

Also displaying a selection of fine art from the school, the Laser Bed Prints (above) were captured from the Architecture department’s often used laser cutting machine by Pratt professor Mark Parsons and transferred to Homasote, rendering otherwise discarded scraps into something beautiful.  Using the same laser cutting process, Anthony Caradonna cut away the disarming lamp shades (below) which, standing erect by their own cylindrical structure, are simply placed over a bare lightbulb.

Finally, seeing Pratt alum Harry Allen’s C’mere Hand Hook in person, holding a Timex watch from Evo Design, confirms every suspicion I had, it is indeed as creepy in person as it is on the ‘tubes.  If anyone in the Brooklyn area has an interest in the condo’s and between 300 and 900 large burning a hole in their pocket, drop by Third and Bond, for those less filthy rich I would suggest the newly opened Yanko Store.

Tap the main unit to turn the speakers on. Once tapped, the unit shows that it’s received the command with a small red light (kind of like what happens when a cheek is smacked). This light goes away after three seconds. Rubbing the unit on either cheek in a circular motion turns the sound up (rotating right), and turns the sound down (rotating left.)

Any votes on what song would be best played on these?

Designers: Younes Daneshvar and Javad Yazdani
Rendered by: Mohsen Tafazzoli