The Design blog |
- Plypod iDevice Cable Holder makes cable management green
- Audi sets the stage on fire with its new hybrid A6 L e Tron
- Foroba Yelen: Light and life to poor African communities
- Sisifo, an adaptable light piece emits soothing disk shaped radiance
- Thumbdrive USB works just like the pipette from chemistry labs
- Best 25, a remote controlled device to fulfill your multimedia needs
- Sentient eyeball sculpture glances all around
- Disabled children can communicate easily with the Little Helpers
- Chinese farmer creates his own wind driven electric car
- The Ring 'Asian on the move' brings back the charm of traditional physical games
| Plypod iDevice Cable Holder makes cable management green Posted: 25 Apr 2012 06:02 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: Everyone loves the wire-free connectivity and on the go entertainment that the iPhone and the iPod provide, but when it comes to charging these fab gadgets we all face the same plight dealing with messy wires. Counter, desk, nightstand-top docks and charging stations promise to make the nightmarish wires go away but they just add to the electronic clutter in your home or office and are often equally as hellish to dispose of once they have outlived their useful life. The Plypod iDevice Cable Holder by designer Liely Faulkner offers users the same level of functionality in cable and cord management though it doesn't come with the same amount of eco-guilt. Fashioned out of two easily recyclable parts, the stylish charging dock can be used with any standard iPod/iPhone charging cable.
 Plypod The back of the unit features a screw that can be hand tightened into a plywood cradle to lock the standard cable in the Plypod. The sleek industrial design of the device provides a safe and easy to reach place to store your iPhone or iPod while its charging and the cradle protects your gadgets from the scratching up against the surface of the table or counter as well. Unlike other charging docks, the Plypod doesn't muffle the sound of the devices' in-built speakers. Instead, the speaker and microphone of your Apple device can be accessed via the front of the dock channel that has speaker and microphone ports built into it for the purpose. Finished in natural beeswax, marine grade, sustainably grown Australian plywood of the highest quality was used to create the Plypod which makes it a totally green and eco-safe product.
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| Audi sets the stage on fire with its new hybrid A6 L e Tron Posted: 25 Apr 2012 05:23 AM PDT Sahil Khurana: Audi, the German motor maker is truly back to stun its audience again. They have raised the covers off another model, titled as the A6 L. Being a hybrid model, the L e Tron model unleashed its true potential in the 2012 Beijing Motor Show.
 Audi A6 L e-tron Concept
Picture Gallery  Audi A6 L e-tron Concept Brings a Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain to the A6 The car has been fixed with an all electric driving range, letting the car travel at a speed of 37 mph, spanning a distance of 50 miles in one go. The battery backup of the car is different from the rest of the cars from Audi, given the fact that it has a set of liquid cooled lithium ion batteries. The batteries are capable of providing 95 HP to the electric motor. A set of turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinders provides the motor complete company. The car’s complete version is further modified with the Chinese touch the new version is entrusted with. The new battery backup has further been enhanced to provide extra mileage to the car's interiors. Audi has yet again outdone themselves, when it comes to providing extra comfort and extreme utility. The car's interiors have been fixed with a dashboard, which gives a clear indication of the car's battery power, range and drive system power. The car is a wondrous piece of metal, which will ensure that the drivers have nothing but the best for their car. Via: AutoBlog
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| Foroba Yelen: Light and life to poor African communities Posted: 25 Apr 2012 05:09 AM PDT Brown Bear: The villages of Bamoussobougou and Soanogola in the impoverished district of Cinzana, Mali are completely agro-based. In a bid to expand and improve the educational, cultural and business activities of the village, the students of Innovation Design Engineering from the Imperial College and the Royal College of Art, London have worked in collaboration with Matteo Ferroni, an Italian architect, to come up with the Foroba Yelen, a community-based lighting venture. These mobile lighting systems with detachable batteries can be easily charged through solar-powered charging stations that have been established in the respective villages.
 Collective Light
The venture is the result of researching, discussing and concept development done by the students throughout the summers. The team members were spread across the globe and knowledge sharing took place via email, social networking websites and video conferencing. The team members actually met in Mali in September 2011 to realize the project. The actual construction of lights was done using local materials that were freely available and robust construction techniques were followed. Wood, mild steel, high-power LED bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, PV panels and dry cell batteries were used in the making of these sustainable lights. All the fabrication is done locally with the help of diagrams and drawings. The idea is to ensure that such a project can be replicated and reproduced in other needy villages as well. The villages gain new business opportunities by renting out lights and new work timings are set since sunset is no longer a factor that determines working hours. The social life along with the business and educational level of these villages is bound to improve with this infrastructure addition. Via: Peter Krige
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| Sisifo, an adaptable light piece emits soothing disk shaped radiance Posted: 25 Apr 2012 05:09 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: There are so many upsides to this neat looking light piece. The simple and clean cut design looks quite trendy. There is a glassy disc shaped shade jutting out from the cylindrical base. The light piece looks very ethereal and exudes a pristine and romantic aura. The unique light fixture actually combines the benefits of a task lamp and a table lamp. It can be easily placed on large as well as compact surfaces.
 Sisifo Artemide
The design is truly ergonomic. The base gives maximum freedom to the disc shaped top thus allowing light to disperse easily in every direction. It is capable of a full 360 degree rotation. A disk of soft yet very powerful light radiates from this lamp. The glow is mellifluous and diffused. Moreover, the radiance appears to be cleverly balanced and can also be rotated. The light has an adjustable diffuser that makes its radiance comforting and also removes any harsh shadows coming in the way. The piece actually uses energy efficient LEDs for illumination. Although LEDs function efficiently and have become affordable, they are not always exploited intelligently. Most LED light fixtures look just like the run of the mill lamps, scones and pendant lights when one can craft extremely innovative designs using them. In fact, very few designers keep this vital fact in mind before crafting LED light pieces. However, Sisifo on the other hand, looks very different from the regular arrangements. Many cutting edge breakthrough's have been used in these light pieces. Micro lenticular surface details have been used to amplify the radiance of this light. The heavy base of the piece bears a double ball joint. Sisifo has actually been created for Artemide. The cutting edge hybrid luminaire is a creation of Scott Wilson. Via: MNML
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| Thumbdrive USB works just like the pipette from chemistry labs Posted: 25 Apr 2012 05:08 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Pocket sized USB drives go everywhere with us. People carry them around in bags or sometimes also their pockets as one needs to plug and unplug these devices often. Instead of carrying around the same routine looking rectangular tubes, designer Sasi Tharan from Nanyang Polytechnic has come out with a very innovative concept. The design of this USB has been inspired from a pipette. Remember the thin glassy straw like apparatus using which you transferred acids and solvents from one beaker to another.
 Pipette Thumbdrive
Well, this device will relocate data just like the pipette in laboratories transfer liquids from one container to another. Well, not actually the data, but the release mechanism of the plug will work in the same way. After filling up the pipette with a liquid, you have to seal its open end with your finger. Only when you release the finger, will the liquid flow into another beaker, otherwise it will stay inside the pipette. The dandy design takes off on this mechanism also looks real neat. It resembles the crest of a spinning top, only it holds a data storage USB at its base. Although the two pieces of the USB are separate from each other, both come in handy when you are working on your desktop. The plug of this USB can be used as a support for your machine. The plug has a flat surface on one side while the other end holds a pointed tip. The flat surface, when attached to the base of your machine, props it up at an angle. Thus, whilst acting as a support, the plug gives a boost to the air circulation and also enhances the screen view of your machine. Via: Gizmo Scout
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| Best 25, a remote controlled device to fulfill your multimedia needs Posted: 25 Apr 2012 03:01 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Multimedia devices are a true blessing in this modern world filled with various kinds of gadgets. Taking it a step further is designer Andrea Zardoni with Best 25, which is quite compact and portable. The attention grabbing design maintains the essence linked while handling CD and DVD players, which is a real charm.
 Multimedia Device
Best 25 can be placed anywhere the user wants it to place. It can be wedged on a wall, placed on a table, in a corner or between the floor and a wall. All such arrangements have been made possible because this amazing multimedia player doesn't have a front side, like most of the other products in this category. The removable part in the design makes it easy to place it in the corner, apart from giving Best 25 additional flexibility in terms of placing it in various ways. As is suggestive from the name, 25 CDs can be inserted in the center cylinder of Best 25 at a time which is quite commendable. These CDs can be placed in an order manually as per a user's whims and fancies. The awe amazing piece of equipment can easily read latest audio and video devices like MP3 and Dvix. It can be operated easily with the help of a remote control via Bluetooth, which gives it n edge over others that too without exploiting any future or actual media. So, select your favorite CD and relax as you listen to your favorite songs with Best 25.
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| Sentient eyeball sculpture glances all around Posted: 25 Apr 2012 02:58 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: This enthralling exhibit will literally leave people bewitched. The gigantic installation that looks like an eye is tantalizing, slightly blood curling and absolutely jaw dropping. The sculpture is posted inside the Cortile d'Onore of the Ca' Granda courtyard of the XVIII century building. Dubbed as "Eye of the Architect," it is a three dimensional depiction of the human eye. It has been created by SPeeCH Tchoban & Kuznetsov, an architecture firm based in Moscow, Russia.
 Moving Reflective Eyeball Sculpture
What heightens the drama is that the sculpture is not standing still, it is actually capable of animated movements and gestures. This eye gazes at the surroundings and also loops its eyeball round and round. Its pupils can dilate and contract. The eye can look at the ground, sky and also all around. Adding to all these theatrics is the ability of the eye to change the color of its iris. The glassy and smooth piece contrasts drastically the ornate 18th-century courtyard it is stationed inside. It spherical outline is shiny and reflective. The hi end piece is made from stainless steel. LEDs have also been embedded in it. The sculpture symbolically honors the most valued organ of an artist - the eyes. It is through the eyes that we all create and appreciate designs in our environment. The spectacular exhibit has been created by the Russian architects, Sergei Tchoban and Sergei Kuznetsov. It was actually displayed at the Interni Legacy event that was supporting the theme of preservation of art monuments. At the Milan Design Week, this sculpture intends to draw attention towards abandoned Russian monuments and avant-garde art pieces. Via: Interiorholic / Mymodernmet
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| Disabled children can communicate easily with the Little Helpers Posted: 25 Apr 2012 02:57 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: This clever apparatus is designed to help disabled children mingle and communicate with others. Using these devices children who cannot talk will be able to express themselves easily. Most of the times, such children are not able to participate socially in mundane tasks like talking to others or playing. This inability also makes it difficult to go about mundane chores like eating, cooking or even going to the restroom.
 Little Helpers
To help out disabled children, the designer has included three products in the collection, namely, luis, cep and talking bricks. All three products have a voice recording facility and thus help mute children to communicate. On the plane faces of luis and talking bricks simple images and messages have been imprinted. For instance, words like bathroom, eat, talk, school and weather have been impressed on them. The words are accompanied by simple drawings that further facilitate communication process. The sketch of a dinner plate indicates that they are hungry while the image of the football means that they want to play. It is very easy to operate these devices. Luis, for example, has volume settings and a speaker. There is a loop shaped handle at one end to hold the device and it also slots in a mini USB tab. In the middle, the tray bears a resistive touchscreen, which you can move forward and backwards using the directional tabs. The small hand held torch like voice recorder called cep also comes handy. A speaker and push button have been slotted into the device to help you operate it properly. A battery and USB have been embedded at the end. All children will get a grip on the handle easily. The device actually looks somewhat like a torch and button for track selection and volume controls have been placed on front of the device. Via: Felix Haffner
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| Chinese farmer creates his own wind driven electric car Posted: 25 Apr 2012 02:18 AM PDT Shallu Sharma: To an urban mind, the thought of a peasant comes attached with the notions of a simpleton or a yokel. But there's more than meets the eye. If feeding nations were an easy task then any "simpleton" would've taken to this “sure to work” calling. There's got to be a latent spark lying dormant in a farmer's psyche for want of a flame of resources. This aforementioned conviction has been convincingly substantiated by this Chinese peasant who has "wind-powered" his dreams.
 Wind-Powered Electric Car
Tangzhou Wangji Yongle, a small town in China would be proud to be home to Tang Zhenping, a 55 years old peasant who has employed his genius and a sum of money to bring to life his wind powered, electronic, eco loving set of wheels. Tang's love affair with automobiles spawned during childhood. Now, at the age of 55, his object of affection has come to life. The monetary and durational efficacy of the project is a model to behold.
 Wind-Powered Electric Car It took Tang just three months to design, manufacture and build his swift, wind powered machine with an expenditure of 10,000 Yuan. How about that! Swift minds have swift intentions it seems. Speaking of speed, the car can push the speedometer as far as 140 km/h. The styling of the car is of its own grain, quite distinct and respectable. It would be fair by no means to compare it with the "high-born" automobiles from formalized manufacturers. What Tang Zhenping has created is a one of its kind marvel which wants no condescension, only recognition.
Wind-Powered Electric CarWind-Powered Electric Car Built By Chinese Peasant Via: China Smack
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| The Ring 'Asian on the move' brings back the charm of traditional physical games Posted: 25 Apr 2012 02:03 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Modern day games means sitting in front of a computer or TV and clicking buttons vigorously to make an animated character win. But, a few years back children loved going to open areas and interacted with children of their age group, which has taken a virtual form in today's era. Bringing back the bygone charm is product designer Nguyen Anh, with The Ring-Asian on the move.
 The ring
The game device will allow more interaction amongst players as the traditional childhood games have been enhanced and modified. The design comprises of a silicon and metal strip, which is quite supple and can be comfortably worn on the hand or leg. The functional band an Amoled flexible screen that will put on show instructions, commands and signal displays. It can easily sense the device of another player and will in turn also inform about the speed and direction of the other person. It has a wireless charging station, which will save you from getting entangled with ugly black cables. The Ring can fit various sizes, which will allow comfortable movement when playing. The product is light in weight and just needs a gentle tap to roll around the arm or leg. A user can also create an avatar of himself, after which he will get complete assistance while playing a certain game that has been selected from the menu. Asian on the move beautifully modifies traditional games with modern technology, which have somehow lost their charm in this modern world.
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