Well it was bound to happen. There seems to be a USB everything these days. From a humping dog to sushi to even a severed bloody finger, designers and novelty manufacturers are determined to turn anything into a USB thumb drive. Designer Arwye Wan wants you to taste the finer side of Universal Serial Bus with his “Wine Stopper USB Memory Stick”.
Designer: Arwye Wan
Once again it is time for the YD Design Digest; A compendium of easily digestible design delights from around the inter-webs. First up is this yummy looking sofa design by designer Ron Arad. Called the “Do Lo Res”, this sofa is a set of separate chocolate looking cubes anchored at the base.
What could be more fun than flying a kite or riding a Waverunner? Try both at the same time! That’s the basic idea behind the “Nereus” water craft by designer Mathias Koehler. Powered by none other than Mother Nature herself, this water craft can deliver hours of fuel free fun above and below the water. Steering is managed via foot pedals and the diving function is handled vie the hand grips controlling the pivoting fins at the base.
Designer: Mathias Koehler
Wilsonart today named Eric MacDonald as the winner of its 2008 Wilsonart® Challenges… student design scholarship competition at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). MacDonald’s winning entry adapts a simple shape into new dimensions.
Designer: Eric MacDonald
Designer Sherwood Forlee (love the name) has a sense a humor for stating the obvious. A speaker is a device that converts electrical energy into sound waves. It’s also someone who expresses in language. So if you combine those two definitions together to form some sort of iconic gesture to retain both aspects, you get the Speak-er. As Sherwood puts it, putting the “speak” in speakers.
Designer: Sherwood Forlee
Pilo Pilo ring is a finger ring with a mini cushion attached to it, designed to be both stylish and useful. I myself know I leave all kinds strange marks on my face as I ponder the genius bestowed upon me. I’m not really a ring wearer but I’ve had more impressions of my wrist watch than I care to admit. A cushion on a ring? Hey, I’ve seen stranger and this concept actually makes sense to me.
Designer: Sae Shigeto
Essential, fascinating and mysterious, artificial light has gradually turned from its simple ‘victor over light’ status as the first light bulb was invented in 1882 to a sublimating vector of our universe, both unique and part of our daily life.
Its successive (r)evolutions have made it more compact, more flexible, infinitely more open to creative uses. It has become a material that artists and designers can shape to create emotions.
Now here is a perfect example of concept design bettering the world in previously unimagined ways. The deaf of the world are not just being deprived of music, a sweet whisper and a simple phone call. They are also lacking the ability to be fairly warned of impending danger from out of sight sources. Designers Kwang-seok Jeong, Min-hee Kim and Hyun-joong Kim really deserve a round of silent applause for this inspired design.
Designer: Kwang-Seok Jeong
Most speaker related peripherals have a very modern or futuristic flare to their design. The SpeakerBox by Mark van Giessel eschews that trend for another – retro. It’s 50′s rounded curves and slick lacquer like finish are reminiscent of home appliances of yore. Don’t be fooled, underneath is a full array of USB ports and other whiz-bangs to interface with today’s MP3 players and mobile phones.
Designer: Mark van Giessel
The Kompressor Luggage is a concept that uses seatbelt like straps to compress its volume by nearly 40%. The space savings means you can take it as carry-on luggage, especially helpful since some airlines now charge for check-ins. The center dial does double duty by keeping your contents locked up and as a ninja star when needed. Okay so that last bit was a jest but surely that would be totally cool if true.
Designer: Gary Wilkinson
Here is a coffee table design that literally marches to the beat of a different drummer. Tor Clausen makes these musical coffee tables dubbed “Musical Rumba Series” in his studio in Olympia, Washington. Custom design your own personal drum table with interchangeable and rearrangeable percussion inserts that make any late night party, that much more special for your downstairs neighbor.
Designer: Tor Clausen
A watch for keeping time is becoming less and less a part of society. With many of us now looking at our mobile phones for the correct network calibrated time, the watch industry has seen a massive decline in sales over the past decade. Wearing a watch in 2008 is becoming more of a utilitarian fashion accessory, than a way to count the hours.
Designer: Denis Guidone
Every month we take a look around and select some of the most interesting designs that was showcased here. Below you’ll find the most popular designs we’ve tracked over the last 30 days – an overview of designs you shouldn’t have missed in May 2008.
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