The Design blog

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• Atmospheric Water Collector can extract water from air moisture
• Guitar urinal for guys who want to make music as they pee
• Smart pouf rolls out a blanket for a cozy nap
• Care for a glassful of the goodness of wheatgrass? Yes please, 'grass'ias!
• The Tick Mobile Speaker redefines minimalism in audio technology
• LEGO Land Rover will bring out the child in you
• Mobile Phone that brings ‘Clarity’ of use to the visually impaired
• Steampunk wrist cuff with watch makes TAGheuers look like Chinese rip offs
• Tailor made private jets from Brabus Private Aviation
• Loft London Farm Tower holds vertical farms and residential complexes

Atmospheric Water Collector can extract water from air moisture Posted: 17 May 2012 05:31 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: Water scarcity has been named one of the biggest environmental challenges that stand before us today and studies show that potable freshwater supplies could cease down to dangerously low levels within the next few decades. To ensure that the increasing population of the world has an alternate supply of drinkable water, designer Thomas Row has created the Atmospheric Water Collector which draws on the biomechanical structure of the Namibian Desert Beetle that deals with hydrophilic and hydrophobic extremes via tiny bumps on its back that collect water from air. The Atmospheric Water Collector has been designed to fit easily on common plastic bottles and obtain drinkable water from the air. Atmospheric Water Collector The water collection device is completely portable and explores the possibility of creating a system that could harvest enough water from the humidity present in the air around us to provide sufficient drinking water supply for a single human being's use for a single day. The initial testing of the product done with the use of common household products did not return the kind of results that the designer was hoping for though the model could very well serve as a viable option when refined further with industrial components. Atmospheric Water Collector The Atmospheric Water Collector would be equipped with a system that would continue to harvest drinking water from the atmosphere by condensing the humidity in the air and in case the humidity in the air is insufficient to produce viable amounts of water, the device would also come fitted with a warning system that would inform users to locate alternate sources of water. [Cheers Thomas]

Guitar urinal for guys who want to make music as they pee Posted: 17 May 2012 05:27 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: Men like to hum or whistle or even sing when they pee and it is a natural phenomenon that has never been quite understood by either scientists or women. However, the fact was just the inspiration Sao Paulo, Brazil-based advertising agency AlmapBBDO needed to create a urinal that would allow even the most musically unblessed of men to make sweet music as they pee. Following in the footsteps of urinal designs that allow men to let out their creativity using the flow of their bodily fluids like Toink-The Urinal, the Guitar Pee allows men to create unique electric guitar solos as they empty their bladders. Guitar Pee Created for a Billboard Magazine competition, Guitar Pee uploads each musical piece in the Guitar Pee Gallery, which allows men to download their unique "mpee3" on their mobile phones. The Guitar Pee has been installed in several pubs and bars in the city of São Paulo with the Guitar Pee Gallery registering over 1,500 individual guitar solos from toilet users. Guitar Pee Whether the Guitar Pee Urinal would catch on as the trendiest way to empty one's bladder in a public restroom is anybody's guess now. However, we are sure the design would certainly pop in the private bathrooms of famed musicians and eccentric millionaires, though we hope record label do not resort to releasing "pee solos" from these artists to the public. Guitar Pee Via: I Believe in Adv/ Walyou

Smart pouf rolls out a blanket for a cozy nap Posted: 17 May 2012 04:36 AM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: This smart pouf will make the coziest footrest ever. Are you wondering how? Whenever you rest your feet on a piece of furniture, notice how you always fumble around for a cover to keep them warm. Moreover, if you habitually snuggle up when you read a book or sip on a cup of hot cocoa, then you must look at the Collerette convertible blanket pouf crafted by the French design studio Les M. Roll Up Blanket Chair You can cover up in the comfortable blanket when you are getting chilly or want to take a snooze. The soft fabric of the blanket will feel great. The polyurethane foam padding in the blanket keeps you sufficiently warm. Just sit on a comfortable sofa, unfurl the soft coverlet, and bundle up. Cozying up by the fireplace will be a lot more fun with this piece. You can also settle down easily in front of the TV when you are watching a thrilling flick. Roll Up Blanket Chair The blanket rolled up on the pouf serves a purpose even when you have not wrapped it around. Its coiled form supports the back adequately when you sit down. Furthermore, it looks quite neat even when the blanket is rolled up. The dapper looking piece blends easily with your hi-end decor. It will surely make an impression on your guests. The pouf has been manufactured for Casamania, an Italian furniture label. The fabulous piece was unveiled during the 2012 Milan design week at Salone Del Mobile. No one will be able to tell that the dapper piece can turn into a snuggly bedding whenever you feel like taking a nap. Additionally, a pouf that doubles up as a footrest is definitely a handy addition in any house. This is really a fun way to get cozy. Via: Gizmodo

Care for a glassful of the goodness of wheatgrass? Yes please, 'grass'ias! Posted: 17 May 2012 04:26 AM PDT Shallu Sharma: Triticum aestivum or the wheat plant is a crop with multifarious benefits. Not only does it serve as a protein rich cereal, the cotyledons of the plants are utilized in the production of nutritionally charged food, wheat grass. Learning about its health benefits, one is prone to the opinion that the grass is actually greener on the nutritional side of wheat grass. Going to a juice bar, a shot of wheat grass sets you back with 2 to 4 dollars. We'll show you the way to homegrown wheat grass and crush it into a glassful of health for just about 2 to 8 cents! Now that's good health for the wallet too. N indoor hydroponic garden Consider the traditional process of home grown wheat grass (with the N hydroponic system). While the benefits of wheat grass are undisputed and many, growing it at home is a meticulous task, yet rewarding. You will begin by soaking the seeds to enable them to sprout. Then on day two, the seeds would want spreading on soil gathered in a mid-sized dish with closed ends. Once spread, cover the seeds with newspaper and soak. Let it remain overnight in this fashion which will conclude the dark growing stage. Uncover the seeds which should have, by now, become saplings. Expose them to sun until they achieve decent height with fresh green hue and viola! you've homegrown your wheat grass. N indoor hydroponic garden Now let's bring the N hydroponic system in to picture. Using the apparatus, you don't have to worry about soaking, water, shade or sun! Simply by feeding the seeds along with water, fertilizer, you can easily grow wheat grass without the traditional hassles of soil-growing. Once grown, you can juice your wheat grass using the same N hydroponic system. From seeds to grass to a juicy delight, here's to a salubrious glassful, cheers! N indoor hydroponic garden Via: Cargo Collective

The Tick Mobile Speaker redefines minimalism in audio technology Posted: 17 May 2012 04:11 AM PDT Asmita Prasad: When you're doing chores around the house, having music playing in the background makes even the most boring of all tasks bearable. But the problem with most people who like to play music on their big, expensive and elaborate audio players is that they cannot be towed from room to room especially if you happen to live with a roommate or have a family that doesn't like your taste in music and don't want the sound interfering with their own activities. Ideally, people would tell you to simply buy a Bluetooth headset or a Bluetooth-enabled mini countertop speaker. But just in case that is too simple a solution for you, you can always trying something like the Tick Mobile Speaker created by designer Bence Kovácsik. The Tick The moveable plug-in speaker uses the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) system to route music wirelessly from your audio player, iPhone or smartphone though you're music player would have to be DLNA enabled and have a Wi-Fi system setup in your house for you to be able to stream music through it. The Tick Mobile Speaker can basically be plugged into a socket though it also comes with a rather longish wire that allows it to be hung up on pegs or even around your body if you fancy that. Made from recycled tire, the body of speaker is sturdy, fall-proof and electric shock-proof. The Tick comes with a cork stand and an automatically recoiling cable management system to make it almost as equally as desirable as its hassle-free Bluetooth counterparts. [Thanks Bence]

LEGO Land Rover will bring out the child in you Posted: 17 May 2012 04:10 AM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: As kids, colorful LEGO blocks could really trigger imagination and spending hours at a stretch to form something was nothing to get surprised about. But if you thought that LEGO blocks just caught the fancy of children, then here is the Land Rover Defender 110 to prove you wrong. The homemade Land Rover, when photographed and presented, looks real with all details intact. Created by Sheepo, it is not just a toy but a staggering creation in itself. Land Rover made using LEGO The toy car weighs a little more than three pounds and measures 52 x 22 x 23 cm, which means it is not as small as you thought it is. Bringing the creation to life took a good 2800 blocks, mostly in the colors black and gray. This is not it, as the LEGO Land Rover can move around on its wheels when controlled with a remote. It has been fitted with a functional rack, suspension system, pinion steering and disc brakes as well. The presence of a five speed sequential gearbox comes complete with an automatic clutch, which will give it some wicked traits as you see it snarl like an angry beast while enjoying the complete functioning. LEGO Land Rover is one creation which is bound to make eyes do a cartwheel in surprise. See onlookers swoon and wheeze as they rub their eyes in disbelief looking at how cool LEGO creations are and assembling these blocks is no child's play. Via: Autoforum

Mobile Phone that brings ‘Clarity’ of use to the visually impaired Posted: 16 May 2012 11:56 PM PDT Jaspreet Kaur Walia: When it comes to creating smart gadgets, the visually impaired section of the society is almost always ignored. Blind don't really feel comfortable using phones designed for people with normal sight and have to struggle real hard to get the hang of such products. Mark DiLella has come up with a phone design, christened Clarity, which will cater to all the calling and messaging needs of this part of the society. Clarity mobile phone At first glimpse, it looks like any other phone but a closer look will unfurl the special features it comes wrapped in. Clarity Mobile Phone is easy to use and features a Braille interface. This interface will put on show a good 100 characters, which can be felt by the user just like they do when reading using Braille system. The visually impaired will form an instant connection with these raised dots. The keyboard design has six keys, which is exactly similar to the Perkins Braille. Applications, contacts and settings can be easily accessed because of the presence of two user definable keys present on the keyboard. The presence of second display makes sure that messages, missed calls and voice mails are displayed in a clear manner. There is also an option to convert text to speech, which will be well supported by the two speakers present at the bottom of the design. The menu of Clarity can be easily customized by the user for more rapid access, helping the visually impaired enjoy the experience of owning a mobile phone to the fullest. [Cheers Mark]

Steampunk wrist cuff with watch makes TAGheuers look like Chinese rip offs Posted: 16 May 2012 11:51 PM PDT Asmita Prasad: Wrist watches and other timepieces worn on one's person have become somewhat obsolete since cellphone with clocks on the home screen became commonplace. But that didn't stop fashionistas and premium watchmakers of the world from promoting the good old wristwatch as a fashion accessory and this Steampunk wrist cuff with working watch and date function is one such novel product. Created by Cardiff-based designer Nicholas Robatto, the Steampunk wrist cuff with working watch and date function features a funky Steampunk watch that cuffs your wrist in bold style with a fully working LED interface that tells you the time and date. Steampunk wrist cuff with watch Seventy-two separate LED lights are contained within a small device lodged inside a brass resin case which makes this wrist cuff device a great and functional fashion accessory as well. To tell the time or date, you just have a press a button which will initiate a sequence of different light series after which the hour will be indicated by the illuminated top row with the rest of the lights below showing the minutes. The Steampunk wrist cuff with working watch and date function comes complete with all the trimmings that are typical to the genre including brass nut and bolts and brass rivets and the watch comes with a brass powder and resin casing with layer of thin foam cushioning its underside. A 4mm real leather strap gives the $230 watch a timeless look. Via: Etsy

Tailor made private jets from Brabus Private Aviation Posted: 16 May 2012 11:48 PM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Luxury and extravagance know no limits. Products in the consumer market today tender a whole range of offerings with which you can pamper and mollycoddle yourself. If indulgence is on your mind, then a swell way to treat yourself is to book a flight on the statesque Brabus Private Aviation carrier. Just image what it would be like to have an exclusive cabin or a private jet all to yourself. The company has liveries as well as aircraft management services on their list. Moreover, these can be custom made on orders from clients. Offerings from the company include jets like Challenger Aircraft Families, Dassault Falcon Series and also Bombardier Global Express. Brabus to Tune Private Jets Moreover, Brabus gives you the power to modify your inflight experience and design it just the way you want. You can either personalize your aircraft or pick a design line from the company. Brabus offers two different cabin lines of Elegance and Sportive, both of which are EASA and FAA certified. Elegance, as the name defines, has a pristine and genteel quality. The interiors are done up in cream colored fine leather. The fittings are in wood and Alcantara. The glossy surfaces contrasted by wooden trims create a magnanimous effect. The swish cabins have flawless finishing. The ambiance is uptight, classy and bright. Elegance is feminine while stark opposite of this is the Sportive line with its very mannish feel. Its black and gray interiors are quite intense. The whole place done up in Alcantara, carbon fiber and leather looks absolutely cutting edge. The ribbed seats are so sporty. And the red colored seams that stand out against the black seats lend a sporty feel as the design element is borrowed from exclusive sports cars. Apart from these two styles, Brabus accepts all design and color scheme requests for its airlines. Of course, no one can stay bored in a hi-end liner like this. The umpteen entertainment options will make your inflight time literally fly away. Watch movies or listen to music on the hi-fi multimedia devices. For storage of the multimedia equipment, there are custom tailored receptacles with built in chargers. You will be able to use your iPad and iPhone easily here. And if you are glued to something when the flight lands, you can just use the iPad on the rear compartment of your BRABUS 800 iBusiness Sedan after getting off the flight. To roll out this offering, the company has partnered with three well known names in the industry. The top grade aircraft management company PrivatAir, an expert in individual liveries Happy Design Studio and also the impeccable maintenance of its aircrafts by RUAG aviation. The whole package is tailor made, elite and one of a kind. You will never forget the swanky, comfy and absolutely phenomenal flight. The experience really lives up to the company motto of providing customers with their personal tailor-made dream car. With top notch service and hi-end offerings, the company has rightfully remained the largest independent automobile tuner in the world for the last 35 years. Via: Mercedes Benz Blogspot

Loft London Farm Tower holds vertical farms and residential complexes Posted: 16 May 2012 11:46 PM PDT Radhicka S Saxena: Vertically tall high rises are a feasible way out of the space crunch people are tackling with currently. London is also planning frantically to combat its share of challenges and the upcoming Loft London farm Tower proposed by Architect Peter Stasek might help to alleviate the distress to some extent. The structure that looks like a gigantic cylinder resting on the buttress is definitely something to look forward to. It will hold nests within that will serve like a terrain for habitation and settlement. Here is a snapshot of what the structure will look like and what it will do for the capital city of UK. Floating Nests Three bands with a diameter of 100 meters run across this cylinder. Two at the ends while the third is located in the middle. The exterior of the cylinder is enveloped with a mesh like frame where natural vegetation is cultivated. The cylindrical top is actually a spot chosen for vertical farms inside the building. Also, using the organically shaped net structures, algae will be nurtured for the production of bio petroleum. For maintenance and supply to these agricultural farms, moveable bridge structures have been erected. These are conveniently placed on the rails between the rings on inner edges. Giant slabs that are relatively flat and have an uneven edge jut out from middle of the structure. These slabs have 16 levels and are also referred to as nests. The ring axis in between two slabs holds them together. All the slabs at different levels are connected via staircases. The floating nests hold farms, inhabitable residential areas and entertainment zones like shops and gastronomic outlets. There will also be an underground parking area that visitors as well as residents can use. Renewable energy is used in the building. The LED lighting is provided by thermal solar energy while geothermal energy is used for heating and cooling the structure. A great thing about this high rise is that it will not block the view of the city spreading out around it. This is quite a plus considering the strategic location of the building. It is being constructed near the panoramic Thames River. The cylindrical section of the building that branches out is located at a height of 35 meters. The two columns that hold it at this elevation are not very thick and hence do not deter the view. The columns holding the building in air actually have a staircase and elevator on the inside. The structure has green farms and is constructed at a considerable height. This makes the top of the building look like an oasis floating in air. In fact, the entire design of the building has been inspired from the frame of a tree. The cylindrical structure is like the treetop while the buttress is like the truck of a tree. The slabs stashed on top of each other are like the leaves of the tree. They do appear like leaves and this design has been reinforced in its floor segmentation and wall contours also. A rib, right in the middle, runs across the center. Other lines emanating from it spread out along the side. [Cheers Peter]

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