Tag Archives: books

BOOF! Reading lamp lights up to embody the appearance of a house lit during the night

Posted on by

I have never fallen asleep reading with my face buried under the book, but I wouldn’t be lying when I say my chest has borne the weight.

Bookworms, graying their hair submerged in black on white would relate to what I’m saying, but for the Kindle age, the hardcover book may feel pre-historic. However, for the love of those who still ruffle through the pages for their smell and feel; we know reading is not a daily activity all the time. You can’t always sit with your favorite book during the day; sometimes, it’s beside the book lamp that we find refuge.

Designer: Eunae Ko and Janchi

Reading lamps are reckoned for the soft shades they shed on the pages, when the surrounding is dark. To elevate the pleasure of reading to a state when a book itself is the source of light, BOOF deserves a mention! Shaped like a house, the reading lamp basically comes on a metallic disk, but the fun is added when you put a book on top of its roof. BOOF, the lamp lights up, embodying the appearance of a house lit during the night.

The subtle light on the window and the ground floor of the house light up when the book is placed on top. Here, the triangular roof serves as a natural bookmark for the book you place on it. The light is soft and inspiring which will allow you to focus on the handwriting you’re flipping through in the pitch-dark ambiance of your room.

If you like to read in bed and your partner complains that your reading lamp disintegrates the bedroom décor, BOOF has the charisma to not look dubious to an eye for aesthetics. All the while being an enticing light for your bedtime reading sessions as you turn pages and toggle between books.

The post BOOF! Reading lamp lights up to embody the appearance of a house lit during the night first appeared on Yanko Design.

3 Tips on How To Be an Innovative Designer from “The Innovator’s Handbook”

Posted on by

Innovation is often seen as a reactionary force—a response to a problem or an opportunity. But when you consider it holistically, innovation isn’t just about developing new ideas. It’s about taking action and making those ideas a reality.

Hi, I’m Hussain Almossawi and I’ve worked as a Senior Designer and Art Director with companies such as Nike, Apple, Adidas, Ford, Amazon, and others. Throughout my career as a designer and VFX artist, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work with many of today’s top innovators in some of my favorite companies. Through those roles, I’ve had the chance to witness how these individuals think, how they approach problems, and how they take their ideas and turn them into action.

Innovators often have a different mindset than the average person. They see opportunity where others see problems. They’re not afraid to take risks and experiment. And they’re constantly learning and growing so they can be prepared for whatever comes next.

Click Here to Buy Now!

Here are a few things that have helped me throughout my design and innovation process, no matter what kind of project I’m working on:

1. Break a Concept Down to Its First Principles

Innovation is often birthed from a desire to fix a problem. It makes sense, right? You see a need in a particular area, and you want to create a solution that fills that need.

But an issue that many designers run into is that they try to solve the problem at face value. They see a need and an instant reaction is to come up with a solution that addresses that need.

One of the greatest ways to reconsider a problem is to break it down to its first principles. A popular method used by inventors and great thinkers such as Elon Musk, the “First Principles” method, is a way of deconstructing a product to its most basic parts and then starting to question every single part before reconstructing it back together again.

This allows you to really understand the nature of the problem you are trying to solve, ask the right questions, and come up with more creative solutions that address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Often, the resulting innovation is something beyond what anyone could have expected.

When I worked in the footwear industry, I had the chance to work on multiple high-level projects, as well as design for signature athletes. The first principles method was something we always used at the start of our projects and process.

Rather than diving right into sketching and creating ideas of what the future of a particular shoe could look like, we simply took the previous model of that shoe and broke it down into all its different parts. We laid them out on a table and started questioning what each piece does, does it truly need to be there, and if it could be improved.

As a result, we started asking more interesting questions – or rather, more insightful questions. This led to a better outcome and understanding of everything that went into the shoe. We would usually not only come up with great ideas but also ask questions that would lead to more innovative ways to manufacture the shoe and reduce our costs.

The first principles method is one of my favorite ways of getting to the core of the problem we are trying to solve. I love how it leads a designer down a path of seeing things with a newer and fresher perspective and offers a much higher understanding and appreciation for the minor details that go into a product.

2. Shift Your Mindset from Reaction to Action

There’s a common mindset I’ve found in many of today’s thinkers and leaders – I like to call it “The Follower Mindset.” This mindset takes previous ideas and attempts to resurrect them into something new.

In other words, these individuals constantly react to the world around them. They take what’s already been done and try to make it better. It makes sense – why reinvent the wheel when you can use existing ideas as a springboard to further innovation? However, sticking solely to a follower mindset can lead to incremental innovation and miss other unique possibilities.

Higher impact innovation is possible when you shift your mindset from limiting reaction to transformative action. This means taking a proactive stance in the world and approaching problems with a fresh perspective.

It’s about being curious and constantly learning so you can see the world in new ways. It’s about taking risks and experimenting with new ideas, even if they might fail. And it’s about having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even when it’s not popular.

You’ve seen this at play in some of the giants in the business. Think of Apple vs. Samsung in the device wars. Perhaps my favorite example is Adidas’ famed Ultra Boost shoes – a design that used compressed palettes to create an ultra-comfortable sole. When Ultra Boosts began to fly off the shelves, competitor shoes began to spring up with the same design look and feel while trying to add their own twist to it. Rather than act on the consumer’s desire for lightweight, soft shoes, they simply slapped a new name and logo on Adidas’ innovation.

This mindset can occur on a personal level with design teams as well! I’ve seen teams with talented designers who find themselves hyper-focused on chasing designs based on existing ideas. Imagine what concepts are missed when we don’t push outside our comfort zones and explore the unexplored of design possibilities!

Designers and creatives have to balance the line between action and reaction. We have to be able to take in the world around us and process it in a way that allows us to see things differently – and then act on those insights.

3. Live Like a “Curious Sponge”

I love a good sponge. The ability to take in far more liquid than its own weight and then expand to hold that liquid is pretty amazing. And it’s this quality that I think we can all learn from when it comes to innovation.

You see, to be truly innovative, you have to be curious. You have to be willing to take in new information and ideas without judgment. You have to be like a sponge, soaking up everything around you.

Our brains are wired to categorize and filter information so we can make sense of the world. And while this is helpful in many ways, it can also prevent us from seeing things in new and different ways.

It’s far too easy to get siloed in our own little world, only taking in information that reinforces our existing beliefs. But if we want to be innovative, we must break out of that mindset and become curious sponges.

So how do you do that? Well, it starts with a willingness to learn. You have to be open to new ideas and perspectives, even if they challenge your existing convictions. You must be willing to step outside your comfort zone and explore new territory.

And you have to be constantly learning. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to conferences – do whatever you can to expose yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking. The more different and diverse information you take in, the more likely you will have those “a-ha!” moments that lead to true innovation.

Here are four practical steps you can take in your next design process to help you cultivate the life of a curious sponge:

1. Look Around

The world is much larger and more diverse than you may realize. And there’s a lot of interesting stuff out there if you’re willing to look for it. So take some time to explore your surroundings and see what you can find.

2. Be Open-Minded

When you’re exposed to new ideas, don’t immediately write them off. Give them a chance and really try to understand where they’re coming from. You may be surprised at what you learn.

3. Get Curious

If you hear something that doesn’t make sense or see something that doesn’t fit into your existing worldview, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more curious you are, the more you’ll learn.

4. Push Boundaries

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a lane? Maybe you’re comfortable with the way things are and don’t want to rock the boat. But if you’re not pushing boundaries, you’re not going to find true innovation. So take some risks and see what happens!

The sky’s the limit when you open your mindset up to new possibilities. So go out there and start being curious! You won’t regret the new and fun ideas that come from it.

Supercharge Your Creativity with The Innovator’s Handbook

These three techniques are some that I always use amongst other insights that have helped shift my mindset and process towards innovation as a designer.

That’s why I am excited to announce the release of The Innovator’s Handbook: A Short Guide to Unleashing Your Creative Mindset. This new book, built on years of first-hand experience at some of today’s leading design companies, is packed with practical tips, tricks, and exercises to help you increase your innovation confidence and design mindfully.

This book is for you if you’ve ever wondered how to shift your mindset from being a reactive problem-solver to a proactive idea-generator. When you can unleash your unique creative mindset, you can start to bring innovative ideas to life. The Innovator’s Handbook is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook – pick up your copy and let’s start innovating together!

Click Here to Buy Now!

Hussain Almossawi is an industrial designer, visual effects artist, and author, who has worked across industries and around the world consulting for companies such as Nike, Apple, Amazon, Adidas, Intel, and Ford, among others. He is a regular keynote speaker on innovation and design and has taught at several universities. In 2019, Hussain founded Mossawi Studios, a multi-disciplinary design studio specializing in creating memorable, iconic, and bold experiences.

Official book page: https://theinnovatorshandbook.com/

The post 3 Tips on How To Be an Innovative Designer from “The Innovator’s Handbook” first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bedside speaker serves as book holder, audiobook player, note taker

Posted on by

When I’m reading a book late at night in my bed, there are times when I want to write down a fleeting thought or a mini-review of my current reading companion. But when a notebook or phone is not near me or I’m too tired to get up, I just tell myself “I’ll write it down in the morning” only for me to eventually forget. A device that can help me with that would be very welcome.

Designers: Yujin Je and Hanyoung Lee

This new product concept called Tlas may be the answer to that particular problem of mine. Basically, it is a book place holder that is also a speaker and a recorder. The name itself means “to listen and speak” and so you get the best of both worlds, whether you’re reading a physical book or listening to an audiobook, plus it also gives you the ability to record your thoughts if you don’t have a notebook or a phone nearby.

The renders of the device look like any other Bluetooth speaker. It’s obviously bigger than most that are in the market now but when you place your book on top of it, you’ll realize why it’s that size. There are book lovers who will cringe at the thought of breaking the spine and spreading the book over it but those who don’t mind this and who don’t have a bookmark handy will find it useful when reading in bed. You just have to lean over and place the book, go to sleep, and pick up where you left off when you wake up.

Aside from it being a placeholder for your book, it also has speaker capabilities. Supposedly, you can listen to your audiobooks on it but it seems like it’s only through the app that should come with it. It wasn’t really mentioned if you can connect it to other audiobook apps like Audible. You can also record your thoughts on a specific chapter or record a quote that you would like to remember later on. There isn’t much info about the connected app so we don’t really know how it will work.

The Tlas device also has a mood light function so it can serve as your light source at night whether reading or sleeping. You can also adjust the volume as you listen to your audiobook or as you record your thoughts. I would still need to know more about how the device actually works if it does become a reality before deciding whether I want to have one beside my bed or if I just continue falling asleep on my book and forgetting about what I wanted to write down the next morning.

The post Bedside speaker serves as book holder, audiobook player, note taker first appeared on Yanko Design.

This miniature bookish nook holds an entire world inside a food can

Posted on by

Books are life. In my case, it can be literally since I live and breathe books and it is also a huge part of my livelihood. So anything that has to do with books and reading, I’m there. But what if the books are just something you can’t actually read and are for aesthetic purposes only? Well, I’m still there and would still consider purchasing or taking a look at it as any book-related design is something interesting for me. Even if it’s so tiny that it can fit into a can.

Designer: Kiyotaka Mizukoshi

A Japanese designer wanted to recreate a library and reading nook inside a can, of all places. The element of surprise is at play here since you wouldn’t expect something like that to exist in an upcycled can of tuna or something. This is actually similar to some of his previous works where he converted an electrical socket into a miniature but hyper-real tiny room. He likes to explore the expect the unexpected when it comes to his designs.

This time around, he created a Book Can where an empty food can details the miniature wonders of the most precious place for bookworms: their reading nook. Everything inside the can is meticulously designed and incredibly detailed, which is what fascinates us a lot about well-designed miniatures like this. There is a wooden parquet floor, a rug so some books can still be placed on the floor, potted plants, a small half-circle desk, a red, comfy-looking chair, and of course all the books.

The books themselves are also pretty detailed, even if no one will be able to read them anyway (maybe tiny elves?). You see a mix of different book cover colors, most of them being hardbound. In true bookworm fashion, they’re not just on the actual shelves but scattered all over the room, on the desk, on the floor, even on top of the tall shelves. There’s also a tiny ladder going into the room, as if inviting you to climb from outside the can and into this magical bookish world.

The designer spent around two weeks creating this Book Can and she shares how he was able to do it in a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube.

The post This miniature bookish nook holds an entire world inside a food can first appeared on Yanko Design.

This digital highlighter may be the new must-have for heavy readers

Posted on by

To say that I’m a huge reader is an understatement. I am both addicted to collecting books and to actually reading them (although not all that I buy have been read, to be honest). Reading non-fiction books is not a problem for me. The challenge is retaining all the information that I get, organizing them, and getting back to them later on when needed.

Designer: Possibility Design

This is the problem that the folks at Possibility Design were trying to solve for a startup based in Germany and what they have come up with is a product concept for a digital highlighter called Quo. Basically, it’s a device that you can use to highlight important passages or chapters in a physical book that you’re reading and convert it to a digital file that you can store on your phone or tablet, or laptop. Not only that, but there are also other tools that you can use to further understand and organize what you want to save from that book.

The design for the Quo tries to recreate what an analog highlighter actually looks like and can even be clipped to the book like a bookmark. They wanted to recreate that experience of highlighting something in the book so that the learning curve for using the device will not be steep. Aside from just scanning the sentences that you will highlight, the device and the app that is connected to it will let you save and organize what you need. They also mentioned a dictionary and translator in case what you’re reading is not your first language. There’s also a record function that they did not go into detail but we assume that it can record your personal notes while you’re reading.

To further bridge the physical with the digital, they also came up with a collaborative platform so you can connect with other book readers. It may work like with what Amazon and Goodreads is doing for their Kindle readers where the notes that you choose to make public can also be read by people reading the same book. There are not much details about how the app will actually work but for now what we’re seeing is what it can do on paper.

This is a pretty interesting product for heavy readers like me who would like to keep a database of all the important information that I get from reading mostly non-fiction books. The design of the actual Quo highlighter is more functional but in terms of aesthetics, I might mistake it for my airconditioner remote when it’s lying around my house. But I would rather have a useful device with many tools to choose from rather than a pretty one that doesn’t really do anything.

The post This digital highlighter may be the new must-have for heavy readers first appeared on Yanko Design.

‘The Art of Paper Craft’ book features one-sheet paper creations using different techniques

Posted on by

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Folding

Paper art can be more appealing especially if done right. In a world where almost everything is transitioning to digital and electronic media, paper may be considered obsolete and that’s not what creatives don’t want to happen.

Paper creations are beautiful. Paper crafting is not yet a lost art but it’s a tradition that must be preserved. We’re not just talking about origami as there are other types of paper art like weaving, pop-up, and quilling. There are plenty of other inventive techniques not many people know but Helen Hiebert has always been generous in sharing her talent.

Designer: Helen Hiebert

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Weaving

Hand papermaking is Helen’s passion. This love for paper art is being shared further in her upcoming book “The Art of Paper Craft” published by Storey Publishing. Helen has always believed in the versatility of paper as a material. She also believes there are numerous and diverse ways to transform just one sheet of paper–from a flat form into a colorful masterpiece.

The Art of Papercraft

The book offers different ways to turn a single sheet of paper into a masterpiece. Different dimensional techniques will be presented whether origami, quilling, folding, weaving, pop-ups, or stretching. (Via Colossal)

There will be 41 unique projects you can try working on. Helen teamed up with other artists from different parts of the globe to show off different techniques and designs. Special projects include pop-up cards, votive lights, envelopes, folded paper gift boxes, and woven paper wall hangings among others.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Lights

Crafters, designers, and artists will love this book for it presents new papermaking techniques developed by other people. You will definitely be challenged and learn new things you haven’t known or tried before. In this book, the creative author further proves there is more to paper art than just folding, cutting, or crumpling.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Text

Helen Hiebert’s various experiences make her a worthy artist to follow. She’s been known for paper as her primary medium. She has done notable installations, sculptures, movies, and artists’ works and books with paper. She was once featured on Sesame Street, offering Papermaking Class to the children.

She’s an author who shares her knowledge via how-to books like the upcoming “The Art of Paper Craft”. She’s also a teacher doing papermaking masterclasses and retreats in her Red Cliff, Colorado studio held in September of each year.

The Art of Papercraft 2

According to Hiebert, her imagination is sparked every time she discovers new paper. She quickly sees new creations in her mind. It becomes a magical process as soon as she gets hold of paper and starts cutting, tearing, crumpling, or folding. She says paperwork is fun. It can also be inspirational as it teaches you to be patient and diligent in following in-depth instructions.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Pop ups

In her new book, Helen Hiebert will wow you once more with the different single sheet paper creations you can do on your own. The 320-page book contains dozens of projects that are a mix of easy ones to those with more advanced techniques. If you want to be challenged, you can try the projects and prove that it can be easy.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Folding Origami

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Cutting

The post ‘The Art of Paper Craft’ book features one-sheet paper creations using different techniques first appeared on Yanko Design.

Stormtrooper Bookends: Hopefully Better at Holding Books Than Aiming

Posted on by

Because if they can’t hit the broad side of a barn with their blasters, they should at least be good at something; these are the Stormtrooper Bookends made by Nemesis Now and available on Amazon (affiliate link). Congratulations, you two; based on your inability to hit even a single rebel on Endor, you’re on book detail from now on. Try not to screw this up too, or it’s the garbage compactor for you.

The officially licensed bookends are cast in resin, hand-painted, and stand approximately 7.5″ tall. They feature the likeness of two stormtroopers trying their hardest to keep your books upright and avoid the inevitable Force choke from Vader if they fail. That’s a lot of pressure.

I think these stormtroopers will compliment your existing AT-AT bookends nicely. And you do already own a set of those, right? Who doesn’t? Granted, I don’t own any books and use them as napkin holders, but I’ve always been more of an eater than a reader.

[via DudeIWantThat]

This slim shelf’s minimal design looks like an open book to encourage you to read!

Posted on by

Imagine instead of having a self-care app send you a notification that reminds you to read (especially if that is your resolution for the new year), the furniture itself can be a reminder! That is what Slice essentially is, a minimal, compact, elegant bookshelf that looks like an open book so that it can nudge you to read without having any more screens or digital stimulation.

“In amazingly digital era books aren’t easily opened, having this in mind ‘Slice’ is a bookshelf that intends to motivate individuals to read more often,” says Portuguese designer Joao-Teixeira who is known to always understand the assignment and delivers every single time with unique pieces like this.

Slice connects the environment, the activity, and the user very seamlessly through its form and function. Besides its emotional character, the bookshelf also takes on an aesthetic approach based on minimalistic and sleek shapes. Its elegantly formal look allows the product to become modular, enabling dynamic configurations as a means to highlight its presence and therefore its use.

You can access books from both sides (front or back) easily and the shelf was deliberately created with a slim profile to better fit in smaller spaces. It is horizontally stackable if you want to add more colors or create a piece for your home library, but Slice is certainly a slice of heavenly furniture for every book lover out there with big dreams and little floor space!

Designer: João Teixeira

The post This slim shelf’s minimal design looks like an open book to encourage you to read! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Looking to reduce your Tech Addiction this new year? This book could help…

Posted on by

A quick Google Trends search will show you that the first instance of the term ‘Doomscrolling’ dates back to April 2020. The word was coined at the starting of the global lockdown following the pandemic, intended to mean “the act of consuming a large quantity of negative online news, typically without pause, to the detriment of the mental health of the person consuming it.”

It’s no secret that smartphones are designed to be addictive and bad for your mental health. Couple this with repeated lockdowns, confinement, and isolation, and you’ve got a pretty bad recipe for tech addiction on your hands… quite literally on your hands! Goodbye Phone, Hello World was published to help take that device from out of your hands and give you back control of your happiness and overall mental health.

Author: Paul Greenberg

Click Here to Buy Now

The book, which combines beautiful illustrations and bite-sized pieces of text (for an easy transition), is filled with ‘ideas, wit, and wisdom to help you break away from technology and get back to living’. Within its covers lie 60 different exercises to help you find happiness, inner peace, and break away from the addictive activity that is staring at your phone… which ironically enough you’re probably doing right now!

The hardcover book is a perfect gift to yourself and/or a loved one this year. Created to help people be more mindful, the book helps you spot addictive behavior traits and break them using exercises that are much more ‘mentally nourishing’.

Click Here to Buy Now

The post Looking to reduce your Tech Addiction this new year? This book could help… first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cactus Bookcase: Prick a Book, Any Book

Posted on by

Reading: it’s fundamental. Cactuses? Not so much, unless maybe you’re a desert. But combining these two unlikely companions is the Babyletto Cactus Bookcase from West Elm. It’s a bookcase that looks like cactus. Obviously, if you don’t fill the entire thing with western novels about cowboys, you’ve done it all wrong.

The powder-coated steel bookcase is finished in sage green and measures 48″ tall, 31″ wide, and 8″ deep, with eight individual cubbies for storing books and toys. Or, in my case, snacks. As I always say, even a great book without a snack is hardly worth reading.

Don’t already have a western-themed library? What better way to get it started? Personally, I’ve always wanted an old west-inspired reading room and was finally making my dream a reality when my wife caught me trying to lead the horses inside and put an end to that plan real quick. Like even faster than the fastest gunslinger quick.