It’s not hard to see the future of electronics is all about slim and sleek, metal and glass, technogadgetmatry and multimedia. Is there any room for the retro stylings of yesteryear? And what about nature? Shouldn’t something organic make its way into our hyper-tech designs? Designer Seungchan Lee thinks the CulArt (pronounce Cool Art) concept fulfills both.
Designer: Seungchan Lee
Reminding us of the 1930s’ Industrial American Era is the latest collection of Steam Valve Faucets from Jaclo. The retro steamline style is quite evident in the line-up and I quite like it! The collection includes Faucets, Spouts, and Pot Fillers. The most interesting one of course is the Pull-off Spray that unwinds from the bridge mixer (both wall and deck mounted) to be used as a handy hose. The green brigade will love the fact that this collection complies with WaterSense criteria.
Designer: Jaclo
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
Debating with a colleague of mine on what inspires designers, we concluded that since 90 to 95 % of designs (in any field) have already been created, inspiration comes from the ones that already exist. Like I know for a fact that many of you readers come to Yanko Design to be inspired, and during those Random Searches, the Cassette Tape inspired an idea thus the eTape born! Whatever the reason behind it, I love the refinements and in-sync designing. It’s the era of touchscreen and detailing, both of which are reflected in the product.
Designer: Song Han Xin
Cool dude sitting behind the wheels of a vintage car, does your sound system match the classic interiors? Nope? Oh don’t get hung up, take in the Tivoli AutoSound. A player that’s as retro looking as your vintage! But don’t be fooled by looks alone, coz it’s as modern beneath the skin. Features include MP3 player hook-up, FM radio and a Blu-ray player with a prominent touchscreen channel selector. Move the selector to the left to access disc slot. It has one more cool feature….
Designer: Niklas Palm
Did you notice the sudden retro wave that’s hit most ID designers? It’s like they’ve gone nostalgic and strung an emotional cord with gadgets from the past. The Philco PC here is a prime example of such inspirations, totally reminiscent of the 1954 design classic Philco Predicta! Indulge in it for the aesthetic value, as for the specs…yea it does host Windows 7. But then again we’re here for the love of design, specs can take a hike for the moment!
Designer: SchultzeWORKS designstudio
The striking Gran Marlin 46 is characterized by strong, clean lines inspired by contemporary architecture & the sporty aesthetic of classic Fisher-man boats. Though the exterior is futuristic, the interior spaces are more traditional & utilizes every inch of space to maximize comfort, privacy & overall livability at sea. Like any great yacht, the Marlin has a countless number of modern features like a tender garage, high-tech acoustic insulation, & a separate living area with direct access to a sea-level platform.
Designer: KEYFRAMEstudio
After World War II General Motors let their designers pretty much go hog wild with automotive concepts. They featured these futuristic designs in a series of eight auto shows called GM Motorama, punctuating the new feeling of prosperity and optimism sweeping through the USA at that time. The result was an absolutely mind blowing collection of some of the greatest and strangest concept vehicle designs ever created. Enjoy this peek into your grandparents future that never was.
I’m always on the look out for new design talent and many of them are coming from groups, like Monocomplex from South Korea. These four young designers are creating new ideas in the realms of product design, furniture and lighting. Their collaborative efforts have created some of the most interesting modern pieces I’ve seen.
Designer: Monocomplex
Just three days into CES, the buffet foods, complimentary candies, sleepless nights, coffee and energy drinks are taking their toll on everyone, everyone but me because I came prepared. I’m dressed to the nines, rocking my freshly knitted tabi boots, constantly sucking on my Water Bobble, here to bring you part 3 of our coverage.
Exhibition: CES 2011 Part 3
The wires are abuzz with the Zune HD News, and many are wondering what Jobs has in store for the iPod this summer. However, the thread that ties both these MP3 players together is their form. Besides the obvious rectangle shape, very few people like Sony have ventured into a daring cylindrical shape for the MP3. Here’s a look at the adventurous folks who broke away from the mold and gave us Unique And Creative MP3 Players
Designers: Various
No matter how much we progress as far as technology is concerned, we always look back towards retro stalwarts for inspiration in the designing field. NVDRS Tape foxes around in the Cassette Tape construction but is actually a digital player. Deceptive looks aside, the player continues to follow the 45/60/90 minutes norm, holding 10/15/20 select songs in digital format; uploaded via USB.
Designers: Stefano Pertegato, Massimiliano Rampoldi, Eloisa Tolu, Francesco Schiraldi & Giovanni Mendini
Green People rejoice! Stuart Sharples’ designed the Energy Mate system, making it simple to convert the energy you spent in your home into pounds and pence! Simply clip or screw on the four different energy sensors and read the output on your hand-held screen!
Retro-fitted goodness.
Designer: Stuart Sharples
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