Curves are the new black when it comes to industrial design. From the elongated drop silhouette of Apple’s Macbook AIR laptop computer, to the very sexy swooping lines of the Fisker “Karma” Hybrid Sports Car. At Yanko we sometimes run across objects of desire that are truly intriguing by design but confusing when it comes to function. This collection of leather home accessories by Jerome Olivet for French home furnisher ROCHE BOBOIS, is a perfect example of this.

Designer: Jerome Olivet

The Dutch Danes really have a thing about needles. So bad is the problem with bloody or possibly HIV infected needles being found throughout city centers, parks, beaches and stair wells, that there is actually need for this device. It’s called the Urban Needle Box by Hån Pham, and this Zippo Lighter sized storage container is simple in design but tackles a complex and growing drug problem worldwide.

Designer: Han Pham

You know those big holes you find in some desks? They’re supposed to help keep all cables in one place but things still end up kinda messy. The Cord Trap is just a coupling you snap into the hole. The notches help keep cables separate and hopefully from tangling up.

Designer: Ram-hae Keum

Need help making simple decisions? The Instant Feeling concept may just be the ticket. Simply rip off each petal one by one muttering you indecisiveness and let the last petal standing be your answer. It’s supposed to stimulate a person’s sensitivity with an unorthodox reaction because each petal bursts into flames after pulling it out. A reminder that once a decision is made, there’s no going back.

Designer: Cung-Young Chu

Contrary to belief, city water nowadays is quite safe and clean to drink. What you smell and taste are trace minerals in pipes. It won’t kill you but the stigma is damning. The BottomsUp concept is a portable water purifier. You fill any PET type bottle with water, screw on the top and like Brita (or Pur), what comes out is a whole lot better tasting.

Designer: Samgmin Bae

Hey, wanna get in on all that flexible LED goodness going around these days, but hesitant because you’re fashion conscience? How about a Gucci bracelet watch with a sliding door revealing a glass LED display? Just a concept for now but you never know. . . someday.

Designer: Nuno Oliveira

This product is designed to exchange basic information with new people in the first meeting by shaking hands. The most essential part of a nomadic life is frequent travel, and nowadays, people are traveling more often and more easily. Increasing opportunities to travel indicate increasing opportunities of meeting new people, and expanding your social network.

Designer: Hideaki Matsui

The Saverclip is a clothespin like device that reads electric usage on any power cable it’s clipped onto. Say for example the slow cooker crock pot you leave on all day. How much power is it actually using and would the results make you change your mind to using something faster, like a pressure cooker?

Designer: Lee Young Don

Designer Nikita Golovlev has created a watch for the hearing impaired. AlarMe is a very unique and stylish design that has the ability to alert those who cannot hear an audible alarm by vibration on the watch. The watch has two built in multidirectional microphones that measure the surrounding ambient sound levels.

Designer: Nikita Golovlev

With that question asked, most people are embarrassed to say yes. Now you don’t have to be. XYXX is a new design of Condom cases. Pulling the XYXX container from your pocket or purse will be pleasurable in more ways than one. Just to have the opportunity to show off this stylish, 6cm by 3cm by 1cm condom case will make you all proud and those who do not have one quite envious.

Designer: Jason Rubino