Author Archives: Jay Alba

A stackable cooking container that goes from stovetop to the dinner table with ease

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My first cooking set was a hodgepodge of pots and pans that were shared between four roommates. They were piled haphazardly in one of our bottom cabinets, as there was no clean way to stack them neatly. We kept them out of sight and out of mind, but this also means we were reluctant to cook on a daily basis.

The Cooking Totem set covers the essential cooking needs of any young adult, while also presenting itself in a beautiful package. It contains five pieces: a wok, soup pot, skillet, saucepan, and crepe pan, which all stack neatly together like nesting dolls. The set also comes with two modular lids and detachable handles — a game-changer that allows for easy, compact storage.

Of course, as you saw in the picture above, this eye-catching set was meant to be displayed, not just on your kitchen counter, but in the dining room. Just remove the handles from the Cooking Totem pots, and you get a set of simple, sleek serving bowls. This product’s duality as a kitchen and dining room set truly separates it from other products in the space … and it clearly deserved to win this year’s RedDot Award.

Designer: Design2Gather

This dog-friendly muzzle design tightens only when your dog feels threatened

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There are several reasons why a dog might be wearing a muzzle. They might be recovering from a painful injury or get anxious in crowded areas. Yes, these feelings of vulnerability and anxiety may prompt a dog to nip or bite as a defensive reflex, but that doesn’t make the dog dangerous. Unfortunately, a muzzled dog attracts negative attention, even if the animal is actually a sweetheart.

The Joyda muzzle presents a more subtle, comfortable alternative to existing products. Instead of following a common muzzle design, which essentially looks like a cage over the dog’s mouth, the Joyda uses a light strip of fabric around the snout. For the most part, the Joyda muzzle hangs loosely, not restricting the dog’s mouth at all. The strap will only tighten when it senses a potential attack. How can the Joyda tell? Well, the muzzle comes with a sensor that clips onto the dog’s collar. If the monitor notices a change in heart rate or other signs that might indicate aggression, it will send a signal to the muzzle and tighten around the dog’s snout until the perceived threat passes.

The Joyda is such a simple, smart solution to a common problem. I think the most impressive aspect of the design is its ability to destigmatize the use of muzzles. I would love to see this product be available for dog shelters because it would be incredibly helpful for socializing nervous animals in a safe, comfortable way.

Designers: Choi Jong Hun, Kim Dong Gyu, Kim Jong Myoung, Kim Kyeong Jun, and Lee Chan Jae

This air purifying face shield + smart display concept shows doctors medical data in real-time!

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Medical workers, who are on the front-lines of this pandemic, need the best protection against the virus. Traditional medical masks are cheap and effective but can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods because the material prevents fresh air from coming in. (After months of consistently wearing masks, most of us are probably familiar with the unpleasant sensation of wearing one after a big lunch.)

The Medisight aims to solve this comfort issue and improve on existing PPE options for a post-pandemic world. Unlike a standard surgical mask, this product allows for continual airflow behind the face cover, so the user isn’t trapped breathing the same stale air. For added comfort, the Medisight’s frame wraps around the head, staying secure with minimal face contact. The clear shield also lets patients see the user’s face, helping them form a more personal connection. It is also helpful for hearing-impaired individuals, who may rely on reading lips to communicate. Additionally, as a small but important bonus: the Medisight is reusable, unlike standard medical masks, which would help reduce medical waste. The designer says, “The plan is to continue the functional study of materials through various experiments. In addition, in order to realize the concept design of medical devices, we would like to contribute to the development of international medical services by conducting joint research through contact with various medical device companies. Through this, the ultimate goal is to provide more convenient products in the medical environment of medical staff.”

The most unique feature of the Medisight face shield is the embedded smart display, which presents the patient’s medical information in real-time. Equipped with a real-time black box camera for live recording and transfer of information, this shield can potentially transform the way doctors communicate in a situation – by consulting with specialists who can view the patient and confer/relay instructions without delaying any precious time. Instead of reading off a physical chart, a medical staffer can simply read the information on the glass. This is a small convenience for sure, but in the future, it could significantly change the design of other medical devices. Hospital rooms would no longer need bulky machines to monitor patients’ vitals; that information, which would typically be shown on a large screen, could be stored in an online database and accessed through the Medisight. The concept of the Medisight face shield is exciting because of its immediate and long-term benefits. If this product was available today, it would provide thousands of medical professionals with secure and comfortable protection. In the long-term, widespread adoption could save money and put a dent in the millions of pounds of one-use medical supplies thrown out each year.

Designer: Wonkyoung Kim

This Audi-inspired light therapy wearable aims to resolve your Vitamin D deficiency!

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Have you stepped outside today yet? Even to stretch your legs or check the mail? No? Neither have I. Just like many office workers around the world, I spend 90% of my time indoors. Even in a pre-pandemic world, I didn’t have many opportunities to soak up some vitamin D during my workday, especially during the winter months. Not everyone has a workspace next to a window or, with winter approaching, is willing to spend their coffee break outside. However, natural sunlight has documented health benefits, especially for easing symptoms of insomnia and depression. The Audi-inspired headlamp conceptualizes a product to fit this need, while also matching the design language of the brand.

First, let’s talk about function. How well does this headlamp address the presented problem? We don’t have any Amazon reviews to reference, but we can look at the research that informed the product’s design. The headset is lightweight and hooks around the ears like a pair of glasses. The LED lights align with the user’s temples, positioned at a specific spot where light is most easily absorbed by the brain. The headset also comes in three sizes, to accommodate the skull shapes of most adults.

As a design, the Audi Lux concept matches the Audi brand seamlessly and hence is the national runner-up of the James Dyson Award for 2020. The headset’s side view features a slanted, slightly rectangular shape, similar to the headlights on an Audi car. The product also matches the brand’s general color scheme: black and metallic gray. These elements are subtle, but help the product match Audi’s design. As a branding concept, I think the Audi Lux blends well with the Audi family. However, I’m mostly excited by its function as a mobile light therapy device, which is especially relevant at this moment, when most people are stuck inside 24/7.

Designer: Luca Urlicic

An award-winning wifi router +wireless charger that helps you disconnect from the digital world

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Last year, the Bium wifi router took home the Bronze award from the Asian Design Prize for its unique mission: to help users disconnect from the internet. Ironic? Perhaps. But in the Internet age, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with information and mild distractions. The occasional break from social media can do wonders for your mental health.

Sometimes, it’s hard to step away from our devices. The Bium has a setting that switches off the internet periodically, helping users clear their minds of digital distractions. The length of these internet-enabled intervals is indicated by four glowing antennas on the router. As the data “runs out,” the light fades — almost like a candle flame. Users can also extend the Bium’s self-imposed internet limit by placing their phone on the little tray that appears to double as a wireless charger. This is such a clever feature because it truly stops users from going online; they can’t be tempted to use their phone data. No cheating allowed.

When you first look at the Bium, its function (as a wifi router) is not immediately apparent. It looks more like an electronic incense holder – a smart design choice that helps foster a calm, meditative environment. However, its appearance and function perfectly embody its name, bium, which translates to “emptiness” in Korean. The digital world is full of distractions, which is why the Bium encourages users to put down their devices and embrace the bium.

Designer: Jonghoon Yoon

This Portable UV-C Lamp can Sterilize an Entire Room with the Push of a Button

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With the whole world in a public health emergency, there is a significant need for heavy-duty sanitation devices. As public spaces reopen, disinfecting surfaces thoroughly and often is very important. However, there’s only so much an employee can do. The UV Irradiator streamlines the process of sterilizing an entire room, relieving some work-stress for the managers, and keeping patrons safe.

UV-C radiation is an effective disinfectant against bacteria and viruses, often used in hospital rooms and on surgical tools. Recent studies also indicate that UV-C is effective against the SARS-Coronavirus. The UV Irradiator takes the existing technology and adapts it into a portable, automated sterilizer. It consists of six UV lamps which distribute UV-C rays across a 360-degree radius. Its slender structure takes up minimal space and allows for easy maneuvering between rooms and tight hallways. The two handles on the device allow users to move the UV Irradiator without physically touching the lamps themselves. It also has a retractable plug that stores the wire chord neatly in the base, saving users the trouble of wrapping a cable securely around the machine.

In addition to being highly portable, the UV Irradiator looks very user-friendly, with a straight-forward four-button set-up. The start-button has an automatic 30-second delay, giving users time to leave the room before being exposed to the radiation. The device also comes with all-around motion sensors, as an extra safety measure in case someone enters the room during the decontamination process. Because the UV Irradiator is so easy to use, it could significantly decrease the risk of viral spread in public places.

Designers: Max Mysechko and Artemiy Drobyazko

The Logitech Ultra concept transforms from a keyboard to a sketchpad for the ultimate multitasking experience!

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As a freelance writer, I’ve had to work in a multitude of spaces: coffee shops, airport waiting areas, subway cars, and more. It’s difficult to find a truly travel-friendly device. Most laptops, even ultra-slim ones, still take up a lot of space in the average backpack. Other smaller touch-screen devices, like iPads, are lighter and more travel-friendly, but the lack of a keyboard is a deal-breaker for a freelance writer.

The Logitech Ultra combines the best of both worlds. At first glance, the device looks like a touch-screen product, which allows you to swipe between windows, including a calendar/to-do list, a virtual meeting room, or various keyboard interfaces. The screen has IR-Cameras built-in, which tracks users’ finger gestures across the surface. This finger-tracking ability is similar to the controls on a smartphone or tablet. Underneath the touch screen lies a bed of small press-able points that give you the haptic feedback of a keyboard without the limitations of a specific keyboard arrangement. Basically, any point on the tablet’s surface can function as a key.

Interestingly enough, the Logitech Ultra was imagined as a communal device, something that could be available for rent at a shared office space. Workshare spaces could offer these devices as a unique amenity; they would also be easy to store in bulk since they are so thin. More importantly, the Logitech could be the mobile-friendly device that replaces the need for iPads. They have the functionality of a PC and the mobility of a tablet. Unlike travel-friendly smart devices, like mini-keyboards, or iPads, the Logitech Ultra doesn’t require you to sacrifice functionality for space. You can have all of it.

Designers: Tillmann Schrempf and Shuai Li

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This Lego-inspired modular furniture design lets you to custom-build your seating arrangement

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Imagine if you could build your dream couch out of Lego-style cushions. That is essentially the design inspiration behind the Blok seating arrangement. With this set of upholstered building “bloks,” and a simple grid-frame, this product allows users to create a modular furniture set that can be easily changed to fit your comfort needs.

How does it work? First, you build the frame: a 2500 x 2000 mm textile board that is folded into a U-shape and reinforced by vertical panels. This serves as the seating base and backrest, the barebones frame of the couch. A larger screen is then fixed behind the backrest, acting as a makeshift room divider from anyone who might also be sharing the space. Once you finish the base, the customization of the seating arrangements can begin. The base has a grid system of strategically placed holes, which align with small pegs on the seating bloks, allowing each cushion piece to fit snugly, no matter where you place it — just like with legos. The cushion pieces come in various sizes: some are flat and long, used as seats or backrests; others are thicker and taller, used as armrests; there are even flat wooden pieces that serve as small tables. The possibilities may not be infinite, but they are in the multitudes.

The Blok system has been marketed for workspaces, but it could easily be integrated into cafes, food courts, waiting rooms, or any public indoor space. Since the pieces are so easy to dismantle and reassemble, it could also be easy to transport and rebuild in a new environment.

Designer: Markus Melcher

blok workspace

From Amazon to FedEx, this eco-friendly transport pod concept is the solution every shipping company needs!

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When you order a package online, it likely travels hundreds (maybe thousands) of miles to reach your doorstep. Until Tesla unveils a fleet of eco-friendly delivery trucks, designers should focus on smaller-scale solutions to reduce carbon emissions. For instance, you don’t need a gasoline-powered truck to drive through residential neighborhoods, stopping in-between each house. Instead of burning fossil fuels to travel those short distances, the POD electric-powered delivery vehicle offers an alternative solution.

The POD was designed for the final leg in a shipment’s journey. Its main draw is that it is easy to operate. It doesn’t require a license or insurance … in fact, it might be easier to ride than a standard two-wheel bike. (As someone who refused to take the training wheels off hers, I would confidently choose the POD’s three-wheel vehicle any day.) Additionally, the POD has placed its cargo hold in front of the bike’s pedals, a strategic choice to keep the packages secure during travel. The POD vehicle comes with its own cargo container, which clips into the flatbed. The container has two compartments: a shallow tray for long/thin items and a large rectangular box that stacks on top. The larger compartment also comes with removable dividers, allowing you to organize the items into five separate groups. According to Statista, Amazon was responsible for 45% of US eCommerce spending in 2019  – this number is sure to shoot up in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic shooing everyone from young to old into their homes. If a giant like Amazon decides to update their model of the ‘last mile delivery’ to this eco-friendly solution, the numbers should help you imagine the scale of the change this idea can make!

If the POD delivery vehicle enters mass-production, I could imagine it being adopted by a variety of companies: bike messengers, food-delivery drivers, postal service workers, and more. The product seems very easy to operate and inexpensive, allowing for easy integration into an existing business. These qualities, I think, set the POD apart from other clean-energy vehicles … and I would love to see this concept manifested into an actual product (or, at the very least, inspire other developers’ electric-powered designs).

Designer: Juan Jose Foc

Starbucks redesigns their pour-over stand to amplify coffee lovers experience of brewing their coffee!

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A Starbucks Reserve roastery, unlike its standard locations, is more than a pitstop on work commute or a place to write this article (in a pre-pandemic world). It looks like a high-end bar or brewery, with comfy couches and long, empty wooden counters. A Starbucks Reserve is not just a cafe: it’s an experience, one that invites the drinker to observe and appreciate the coffee-making process.

The first thing that hits us, even before entering a Starbucks store, is that intoxicating smell of coffee which acts as a siren to all the caffeine addicts. It is this anticipation and vibe that Starbucks captures, not just with its setting, but with its espresso-making tools, like the IVY Pourover coffee maker. Its clean, elegant design fits its environment perfectly. The holder is the same shade as the Starbucks paper cup and complements the brand’s overall color scheme. Also, unlike bulky metal espresso makers that block your hardworking baristas from view, the IVY lets you watch the coffee drip down into the cup. The Starbucks Reserve also fosters this behind-the-scenes brewing experience with its minimalistic Phantom Espresso maker, which Yanko Design previously covered. The IVY Pourover was designed to brew a top-notch cup of coffee. The metal cone helps distribute heat evenly, which ensures that each brew is consistently high-quality. The grooves inside allow for optimal airflow between the paper filter and the cone’s walls, allowing the coffee to bloom and release more flavor. There’s even a small lip on the funnel that helps create the perfect stream of coffee, avoiding any rough splashes or drips.

The best part about the IVY Pour-over is that you can take it home with you. It’s available for purchase at Starbucks Reserve locations and, more importantly, is designed to adapt to your coffee-drinking routine. You can display the stand proudly on your kitchen counter or, if you prefer a more mobile coffee-filter, detach the metal cone and place it on your mug. Simple. The IVY doesn’t fully capture the ambiance of a Starbucks Reserve, but it is a worthy substitute to satisfy homebound coffee fans.

Designer: Tai Geng