Grooming Goodness

Posted on 08/03/2017 by Troy Turner

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One often overlooked disadvantage of homeless or impoverished people is their lack of access to basic grooming necessities… and sometimes a decent appearance is all they need to get back on their feet whether it be for an interview or general public perception. Designed with this in mind, the VITRUS multitool aims to provide individuals with all the grooming essentials in an inexpensive, accessible way.

It houses four essential grooming tools: A pair of safety scissors, a fine toothed comb, a removable safety razor and a deployable toothbrush. Its design aesthetic was specifically aimed to reduce excess material requirements while creating a simple form that was a functional as it was beautiful. Constructed from ABS plastic, VITRUS is entirely 3D printable. This process of manufacturing allows each component to be integrated into the casing without being manufactured and fitted separately.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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Trust Tesla with futuristic drone designs!

Posted on 11/10/2016 by Sarang Sheth

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From attempting to conquer the red planet, to building red and white drones, Elon Musk does it all! The Tesla drone concept really does a revamp on drone design, with an upper and lower propeller layout, carrying the payload in the middle. The payload in question here is a rather marvelous 4K camera. The upper/lower layout helps in take-off and landing, between which the drone shapeshifts into the regular side-by-side propeller orientation we all know and love. The shapeshifting ability of the drone also does wonders for image stabilization for the 4K video. The drone even comes with its own charging dock (and it’s literally a docking station!) that also doubles up as a pretty tech-y display for the drone. Color me impressed!

Designer: Fraser Leid

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Trust Tesla with futuristic drone designs!

Posted on 11/10/2016 by Sarang Sheth

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Designer: Fraser Leid

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The Dustbuster of Lawnmowers!

Posted on 26/07/2016 by Troy Turner

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Say you’ve got a small yard but it’s not quite large enough for a full size lawnmower… you’re pretty much confined to using a string trimmer but then you’ve gotta deal with all the clippings! The Brushmaster is an intermediate solution that combines a cutting system with a vacuum motor to both clip and clean up your lawn. Wireless and rechargeable with a dedicated dock, users can hand groom their grass in a similar fashion to a dustbuster vacuum! When you’re finished, simply press the quick-release button to easily dispose of yard clippings.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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Go-anywhere Chair

Posted on 24/03/2016 by Troy Turner

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The Nika Chair is the result of a brief set by Herman Miller UK to design a personal and enriching piece of furniture that would be utilised by rural school children. Many of these children travel great distances to school every day and are not guaranteed a seat in their classroom, which means that they end up on the floor. The transition from classroom to education outdoors occurs frequently because of the severe heat indoors. The piece of furniture had to be adaptable and had to be capable of withstanding amplified weather conditions. Taking the above into account, it had to be simple to understand and easy for a child to assemble. Designer Fraser Leid approached the task with a mindset to ensure that every child would have their own seat. The final design is lightweight, portable, weatherproof and durable. By combining the properties of a hardshell plastic case with repurposed wooden legs to make the framework sturdy, the satchel can be utilised as a seat or work surface.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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A Cooler Alternative Kettle

Posted on 22/12/2015 by Troy Turner

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The Trapèze Kettle aims to be a simpler interpretation of the modern electric kettle, relating closely to traditional stovetop kettles by incorporating higher quality materials as well as straightforward functionality and aesthetics.

The open trapezoidal shape is the kettles most unique feature. The handle is directly inline with one of the kettles leading edges which acts as its pouring lip. The open top indicates where the kettle should be filled and importantly, visually promotes the disposal of stale water and cleaning the interior more often.

The body is a single sheet of folded Aluminium, with a reinforced underside. The interior is coated with Stainless Steel The handle comprises of hollow, matte Polypropylene which follows the direction of the kettles body. The base, which houses the electromagnet componentry, comprises of injection moulded Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)

The boiling aspect of the kettle is performed by induction, which is more electrically efficient than both standard hob kettle boiling and electric elements. Though a new development, induction heating is a system that will have a great impact in the near future.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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A Total Twist on the Toaster

Posted on 24/11/2015 by Troy Turner

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The latest from designer Fraser Leid, the Conique toaster (designed for the ALESSI brand) envisions the toaster in a whole new way both functionally and aesthetically. The wild-looking design is the result of contained components that make for better, easier toasting. When the canopy cover is pressed, it slowly rises and recedes backwards as two glass ceramic toast slots elevate out of the toaster and present themselves at a 35 degree angle to the user. Once user inserts the bread and returns the canopy to a closed position, contact Semiconductors begin toasting the bread. The closed canopy allows the toast to stay warmer for longer after the process is finished. A heat sensor located in the rear of the enclosure detects the variance of temperature inside the toaster and engages the extractor fan if the exterior becomes unhandlable.Unlike those other big, boxy toasters, it’s got a 1930s space-age retro look that you won’t mind being on display on your kitchen counter.

The areas that the designer highlighted and attempted to improve upon were as follows:

– An angled slot elevation, rather than a vertical configuration allowing the toast to be accessed easier by the user.
– Remove exposed toast slots to produce a better aesthetic and to limit foreign objects from falling inside.
– Introduce a more energy efficient heating element, substituting convectional current for a viable sollution.
– Remove the electromagnet bread carriage mechanism and replace with a gradual system and doesn’t pop up harshly.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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Forget iPhone 6S… Introducing, Apple Radio

Posted on 30/09/2015 by Troy Turner

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Designed around the ethos of Apple’s level of simplicity, elegance and attention to detail, the Apple Radio is a device designed and aimed to promote and make Apple Music more accessible to a wider audience. Not only does the device stream live events from any radio station in the world, it can also be used as a portable speaker for use in any setting.

It’s entire design consists of an aluminium enclosure, which not only increases the devices rigidity, but also promotes a very clean aesthetic. Both the handle and the devices stand are one unit, which promotes the design’s form follows its function. It houses two 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound Speakers, which produce an extremely clear and loud sound.

The only port on the device is a single USB-C port, which is the Radio’s charging source, but also allows for manual connection if the device is required to connect to separate external devices. Pairing the Apple Radio to other devices via Bluetooth is extremely simple, since the Apple logo in the front dictates its pairing process. There isn’t a single button on the Apple Radio, instead, all the user needs to do to sleep / wake the device is to swipe the top of the carry handle with two fingers.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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A Different Kind of Drone Tech

Posted on 17/09/2015 by Troy Turner

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The Tesla Drone is unique reinterpretation of drone ingenuity. The design is comprised of two independent propellers that can be manipulated into both vertical and horizontal positions at the flip of a switch. This allows for advanced stability control and enhanced video capture in a variety of scenarios from sports to art. By straying away from conventional quadcopter configurations, the Tesla Drone introduces a new means of flight and video capture without the need of a gimbal for stability. With a flight time of 60 minutes and charging in less than 20, along with a myriad of features like a 30 megapixel camera and 4k video recording, it’s almost a sure bet you’ll get the shot!

Designer: Fraser Leid

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E-Board of the Future

Posted on 07/08/2015 by Troy Turner

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EXO (an abbreviation of “exoskeleton”) denotes the aesthetic behind this E-Boards skeletal construction. Taking the interpretation of a personal electric skateboard and turning on its head, the board was designed with the intention of being the worlds first compactable electric skateboard that not only looks entirely unique, but also functions like no other.

Simple to understand at a glance and highly intuitive when being used, the rider simply depresses and pivots the board’s individual pedals, which in turn operates the two 150W motors located at the base of each wheel. Acceleration, braking and steering can all be determined by the users feet. The board is able to determine which foot is placed in the front, and can change the orientation of the electric motors quickly to accommodate. On either side of the wheel is an inlet fan for cooling the electric motors and an outlet vent to let the hot air escape from inside the wheel. This is a new interpretation of air-cooled technology.

When the board is required to be packed into a smaller space, or to be carried, the user simply has to press the red button located in the centre of the board (This is also where the boards battery housing is found). Once the button is depressed the board can be manipulated into its compacted shape.

Designer: Fraser Leid

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