Hey kids, are you a serial pop drinker? Sure recycling is good but lets say for some oddball reason you collect bottles. As long as the neck is a standard size, and you collect 16 of them, you can make yourself a little stool or table. Chairs & Toys is really for children but I know a few adults that would try and pass this off next to their Herman Miller furniture.

Designer: Jinhong Lin

Silent Energy is an interactive exhibition concept that helps us become aware of energy usage. The amount of energy we use has a direct effect on overall consumption. We usually think of energy as invisible so if that veil were lifted, and every moment clearly visualized, we’d might think twice about leaving lights on, turning off appliances, etc. This energy awareness is an important tool for all of us to learn if we’re to practice the first part of this mantra; reduce, recycle, reuse.

Designer: Jannis Huelsen

As oxymoronic as it sounds, there is a parking garage that is considered “green”. “How?” you ask. Designers Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners, constructed the garage, which is on its way to being the first LEED Certified parking structure in the USA. The structure provides 900 parking spaces (14 of which are devoted to electric vehicles) throughout six levels of above ground parking and one and a half levels of below ground parking.

Architect: Moore Ruble Yudell

Toyota is getting seriously body conscious with its latest fuel efficient concept the 1/X. Taking everything they learned from their highly successful hybrid Prius, Toyota is looking for more ways to squeeze every inch from a gallon of gas possible. This 1/X concept design was built from the ground up with light weight materials, with which they hope to double the Prius’ already impressive mileage ranking.

Designer: Toyota

Keeping a house plant alive can be more challenging than most people think. Some plants needs more light and less water, while other pot dwellers need more water and less light. Still others prefer you call them Sally and talk dirty to them…last time I buy a plant in  Kabukicho.  With its unique watering system, designer Karim Rashid’s “Grobal” plant pot keeps your house plants lush, green, and looking sharp.

Designer: Karim Rashid

For sale: This charming “Tea House” by architect Shigeru Ban, is perfect for those cozy afternoons drinking tea and healing from paper cuts. Designed as an exercise in low-tech, adaptable and recyclable construction. The use of paper based building materials might prove to be a reasonable temporary housing solution in disaster zones around the globe.

Architect: Shigeru Ban

What better way to tell someone you love them then to have nature’s creatures do the dirty work for you? Now you too can play God by having and army of caterpillars spell out your stalker tendencies. Yes, I realize this is not the usual “product concept” you are used to seeing here on Yanko Design, but it is an interesting way to work with nature as a replacement for your tree killing printer.

Designer: Kyung-Ah Park

Every year, here in the U.S., during the Christmas holiday season, televisions airwaves are filled with commercials for some of the silliest gift ideas ever invented. Year after year we are inundated with ads trying to get you to succumb to the charms of legendary products like the magnetized “miracle-cure” bracelet, 9/11 Commemorative Collectable Coin, US Civil War Chess Sets and the king of all useless items, the Chia Pet.

Designer: Jamie Wieck

The GreenHouse Effect is a collection of 10 product concepts by Orcadesign exploring the approaches to sustainability through design. What could green design be? Beyond statistics, technology and sacrifices? How can the (green) product sincerely and meaningfully connect with people, making it a truly more appealing alternative to other (not-so-green) products?

Designer: Orcadesign

The packaging lights show the transformation of a mass-product into a unique item. Through individual adaptation the packaging of products like juice, cookies or soap gain a new purpose. The packaging which purpose it is to support the sale of its content becomes a product itself. It survives the point where it usually turns into garbage.

Designer: Anke Weiss