Tag Archives: refrigerator

Sustainable refrigerator concept turns it into a “Food Station”

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For people like me who live alone and who has no time to really cook or prep meals, the refrigerator can sometimes be either an empty vessel or a wasteland of unused ingredients and leftover food. Some product designers probably had me in mind (even if I’m not Gen Z) when they came up with the concept for turning the refrigerator into a sustainable food station.

Designers: Hyungwoo Lee, Hyerhyn Park, Seokoo Yeo, Haeri Ryoo, Seryeong Hong

The OneTwo Food Station is a concept for a refrigerator for Generation Z that has a separate compartment for Meal Prep dishes. This means that the brand is also connected to a Meal Prep service and the OneTwo is merely a food storage for the dishes before you cook them or consume them. This prevents the unnecessary waste of ingredients that you don’t really need therefore helping you practice sustainable eating.

So basically the main difference of this ref is that almost half of the space is meant for these meal prep containers. Of course there’s still a regular compartment for other items that you still would want to store and there’s also a freezer compartment although this one is located at the bottom. Instead of the regular ref door handle, you have strap handles on the front for a more “appealing” interaction. It also has double-sided doors so you can easily reach the items whether they’re at the front or back.

The Meal Prep component on the OneTwo app is pretty customizable and also has some sharing and social components since we all love sharing what we eat, especially if it’s visually appealing. There was no mention of what material the Food Station is made from but in keeping with its sustainable branding, it should also be more eco-friendly than the regular refrigerators.

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Solar-Powered Fridge Doesn’t Require Electricity And Can Run For 40 Hours Without Power

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In the privileged corners of the world, it’s easy to take for granted the amenities that define modern life—consistent electricity, reliable refrigeration, and an abundance of technological conveniences. However, a significant portion of the global population struggles to access what many consider basic necessities. This disparity underscores a broader issue: our comforts, powered by unsustainable practices, contribute to long-term environmental degradation. EasyFreeze finds a good balance between the two, embracing more sustainable alternatives, which is not just a nod to the past but a necessary step toward a viable future.

Designer: Amped Innovation

Imagine living in Lagos, Nigeria, where daily power outages can last for hours. In such conditions, a conventional refrigerator is nearly useless, and consequently, very few people own one. However, Amped Innovation, a forward-thinking startup, has developed a game-changing solution: the EasyFreeze, a solar-powered fridge designed to operate efficiently even with an unreliable grid or completely off-grid. This innovation is particularly transformative for regions rich in solar energy but poor in infrastructure.

The EasyFreeze is a meticulously designed fridge and freezer capable of refrigeration in under 20 minutes (reaching 8ºC) and freezing in less than an hour (0ºC). Unlike typical cold storage solutions, it maintains its temperature for up to 40 hours during power outages or on cloudy days, ensuring reliability in even the most challenging conditions.

A significant innovation within EasyFreeze is its use of an “ice battery” instead of traditional lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, while common, are expensive, prone to overheating, have a shorter lifespan, and pose safety risks. The ice battery system in EasyFreeze utilizes ice pouches embedded within the refrigerator walls to absorb and release heat. These pouches are cooled by solar panels during the day or by grid power when available, enabling the fridge to remain cold for extended periods without active power. This system not only enhances safety and durability but also significantly reduces costs.

Amped Innovation is rolling out the EasyFreeze across more than a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, focusing on communities that are hardest to reach. Small businesses, such as corner stores, benefit immensely from the ability to sell cold beverages and ice, while medical clinics and hospitals can safely store medicines and vaccines at precise temperatures. The fridge’s design prioritizes off-grid efficiency, with proprietary circuits, software, and mechanical designs to deliver city-like performance in rural settings.

One of the distinguishing features of the EasyFreeze is its durability. Unlike many other solar refrigerators that fail within a year of use, the EasyFreeze is built to last. The equipment is assembled locally to avoid steep import fees and reduce costs, ensuring affordability without compromising on quality. This holistic approach to product design and distribution makes EasyFreeze not only efficient but also economically viable.

The EasyFreeze uses R-600a refrigerant, which has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a very low global warming potential (GWP). It is at least 38% more energy-efficient than other market options, thanks to its powerful 225W compressor and thick, 75mm closed-cell polyurethane insulation. These features ensure the fastest cool-down times and the longest autonomy—maintaining efficient cold storage for up to 18 times longer than other freezers during power outages.

While the EasyFreeze is not inexpensive, retailers charge around $900, it remains within reach of middle-class families in countries like Nigeria. This price point reflects a commitment to quality and long-term affordability, prioritizing the total cost of ownership over the initial purchase price. Amped Innovation’s focus on high-quality materials and efficient design means EasyFreeze offers unmatched value, making it accessible to a broader audience.

The EasyFreeze’s utility extends beyond developing regions. Following the wildfires in Maui in 2023, the fridge garnered interest from residents in Hawaii. With electricity costs in Hawaii being exceptionally high, EasyFreeze offers a payback period of just two years, making it an economically attractive solution for both disaster resilience and everyday use.

As we acknowledge the privileges that many of us enjoy, it is crucial to recognize the pressing need for sustainable innovations that can bridge the gap for those less fortunate. The EasyFreeze exemplifies how thoughtful, eco-friendly design can transform lives, providing reliable refrigeration in areas with unreliable power. Amped Innovation’s focus on efficiency, durability, and affordability positions EasyFreeze to become a conventional choice for refrigeration in parts of Africa and Asia that receive ample sunlight. This remarkable appliance not only meets the immediate needs of its users but also paves the way for a more sustainable future.

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Electricity-free Refrigerator uses Natural Clay to Keep Food Fresh

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In the world of innovative design, industrial designer Lea Lorenz has unveiled Tony, a revolutionary portable refrigerator and food container that takes inspiration from an age-old tradition of using clay pots to store fruits and vegetables. Tony represents a modern reimagination of the traditional clay jug cooler, utilizing the power of evaporative cooling to create an eco-friendly and electricity-free solution for preserving perishables.

Designer: Lea Lorenz

At the heart of Tony lies its porous raku clay shell, a material that naturally absorbs water from a reservoir. Through the process of evaporation, this unique cooling system brings the interior temperature to a range of 13°C-17°C without relying on electricity. Lea Lorenz explains that this temperature range creates an ideal storage environment for foods that are sensitive to extreme cold, such as fruits and vegetables, which can lose flavor and undergo undesirable post-ripening processes in traditional refrigerators.

To achieve the optimal cooling effect, Lea Lorenz conducted extensive experiments with different types of clay and clay mixtures. The results revealed that a Raku clay shell absorbs water from the tank most effectively. Each Tony clay container comprises a water tank, a food container, and a lid, allowing each section to operate independently with its water supply. The outer wall’s surface is meticulously subtractively machined to increase the surface area for enhanced water evaporation and a quicker drop in temperature inside.

Understanding the impact of external factors like sunlight and nearby heat sources on internal temperature, Lea paired Tony with a wooden stand for increased mobility. This allows users to move the clay cooler around, ensuring optimal storage conditions for fruits and vegetables.

Lea Lorenz addressed the importance of proper fruit and vegetable storage by designing Tony as several rectangular clay containers of varying sizes that can be stacked on top of each other. This innovative approach provides a designated space for each group of produce, contributing to longer freshness and reduced spoilage.

Lea emphasizes the environmental sustainability of Tony throughout its lifecycle. The Raku clay is responsibly sourced from the Westerwald region of Germany, minimizing transport routes and reducing CO2 emissions. The production process involves firing the clay coolers at the lowest possible temperature of 1000°C for minimal energy consumption. Furthermore, Tony is built to last, and if it becomes non-functional, the clay coolers can be recycled by grinding them into fireclay, which can then be used to manufacture new coolers.

Tony by Lea Lorenz is not just a functional and aesthetically pleasing design; it represents a thoughtful and sustainable solution to food storage. By marrying traditional methods with modern technology, Tony offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional refrigeration, promoting food longevity, reducing waste, and contributing to a more sustainable future.

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The Super Smart Fridge Is The Compact & Stylish Furniture-Like Kitchen Appliance For Your Living Room

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Owning a second fridge has become a pretty popular and common trend, that has slowly made its way to homes in the past few years. However, fridges tend to be pretty large and occupy a substantial amount of space wherever they’re placed, hence accommodating them in smaller homes and apartments ends up being an issue. But this is where the Super Smart Fridge comes in. Designed by Rocco co-founders Alyse Borkan and Sam Naparstek, the Super Smart Fridge is a compact and stylish refrigerator that looks more like a piece of furniture than a kitchen appliance.

Designer: Rocco

The Super Smart Fridge is a mix between a small fridge and a dedicated wine fridge. The good-looking fridge features a modern and contemporary design, which includes a smart exterior paired with a fluted glass door. The modern exterior is further accentuated by the compact and small size of the fridge which allows it to seamlessly merge with the rest of the home decor and furniture in the room. This makes the Super Smart Fridge an ideal fit for not only your kitchen but also your living room or bedroom.

Measuring 16 inches in depth, the compact fridge is designed to be subtly pushed against a wall, allowing the fridge to further blend in with the furniture and the space surrounding it. If you look at the Super Smart Fridge, it looks more like a bar cart than a kitchen appliance! It is built using a powder-coated steel frame which is available in a wide range of colors, so you can pick the color that perfectly suits your aesthetic and home. The fridge features walls that are 3x thicker than anything available on the market today and boasts the same compressor as the Sub-Zero.

The Super Smart Fridge functions efficiently and smoothly in any living space, without causing any kind of excessive noise. It is covered by a 10-year warranty and has a unique technological feature that enables you to connect the fridge to your phone, via an internal camera system called Sight System. This allows users to glance into their fridge to see if anything needs to be restocked or purchased – pretty cool, eh?!

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Samsung Bespoke smart refrigerators helps you truly own your kitchen

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Most people would probably claim their rooms or the living room as their headquarters inside a house, but those who love cooking or preparing meals for the family will lay claim to the kitchen as their kingdom. There is no shortage of kitchen appliances and products that are designed to help make people’s lives easier, but few among these are also designed to appeal to their personal aesthetic tastes. It’s easier to get that kind of more personalized touch when it comes to kitchen tools and utensils, not so much for large appliances that are mass-produced to cater to the general public. That’s where bespoke products come in, and Samsung’s latest line of smart refrigerators try to fill this niche with appliances that not only look smart but are also pretty smart internally as well.

Designer: Samsung

While many refrigerators already look stylish and, at times, luxurious, not everyone will have the same tastes in aesthetics. Even more varied are the kitchen designs that people try to make, designs that make many refrigerators and oven stick out like a sore thumb. Samsung’s Bespoke Home lineup has been giving homeowners more options to leave their visual imprint in their homes, and this year’s new members expand that roster with refrigerators that offer not only more flexibility but also more functionality.

It might still seem like a strange feature, but Samsung’s screen-toting Family Hub definitely has its fans. The new Bespoke 4-Door Flex with Family Hub+ supersizes that display to a large 32-inch Full HD screen, empowering experiences like a large canvas for family photos, a spacious dashboard for managing your smart home, and even a convenient screen for watching videos while you’re busy cooking.

The new Bespoke Side-by-Side and Bespoke Top-Mounted Freezer Refrigerators embrace the dominant minimalist design trend to seamlessly blend with the rest of your kitchen interior. Buyers can pick their preferred color or front panel materials, including glass and stainless steel, to truly personalize the appearance of this smart appliance. The Side-by-Side fridge features Samsung’s new Auto Open Door tech that conveniently releases the door with just a tap on the recessed handle.

The Samsung Bespoke Infinite Line Refrigerator offers a bit of modular flexibility, letting buyers choose from fridge, freezer, or wine cellar models. Whichever combination is chose, the bespoke fridge bears a timeless design that uses simple lines and hiqh-quality materials, bringing a touch of class to your kitchen. And to match is premium exterior appearance, the refrigerator’s interior is refined with Black Metal Cooling that creates a visual illusion of depth while helping keep food fresher at the same time.

Accompanying these new refrigerators is a Bespoke AI Oven whose minimalist design belies its intelligence. With an internal camera and a powerful AI, the oven can detect and alert you when food is about to be burned, though you could also just let the oven decide the cooking time and method depending on the dish inside. In addition to keeping the food inside safe, the oven also helps keep people safe with a Push to Open door that replaces the traditional handle that isn’t just safer to use but also looks more refined and more streamlined.

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This small refrigerator on wheels was designed with electric vehicles in mind

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We’re still far away from giving up on fuel oil, but more people are thankfully adopting electric cars, which can be a bit more sustainable if you get power from renewable sources. For now, most probably see these EVs as ways to get around cities, often for commuting to work and over short distances. As their numbers grow, however, so would the number of charging stations scattered throughout highways. This would make it possible to take these battery-powered cars for longer trips, maybe even for outdoor camping. Given it already runs on batteries, it might be possible to power other appliances from it directly, which is what this portable fridge concept is going for, in a way that makes it look like it was part of the EV right from the start.

Designers: Joeun Kim, janchi

There are, of course, plenty of portable refrigerators in the market today built with a wide variety of designs. Some look like giant ice coolers, while there are those that look like you just unplugged your home fridge and shrunk it to fit. Fridze, which is a play on the brand that has become synonymous with the appliance, instead tries to look more like a part of an electric vehicle. Or at least what an electric SUV or camper might look like if those became more common. In other words, Fridze looks sleek, futuristic, and minimalist, almost like it would be out of place on dirty camping grounds.

It does look and move like a suitcase, though, a very bulky and solid one at that. Two wheels on the back and a telescopic handle would be similar to what you’d see on most luggage, while a thick U-bar on the front keeps it from toppling forward. The use of mostly straight lines and flat edges almost resemble some EV charging boxes, but this one actually takes rather than gives power to EVs.

Portable refrigerators naturally need to draw electricity, of course, and most of them will draw power from the car via a car charger. There are portable power stations these days for that purpose, but not many have them. That lighter port is still the most common method, but it’s also wasteful in converting to the type of power that a fridge would need. Fridze, in contrast, would plug directly into the EV’s batteries and siphon power from there. It does have a small battery of its own for those moments when it can’t be connected to the car, like when moving it from one place to another.

In all other aspects, the fridge works just like any other, except for the top that reveals holders for drinks to keep them cool. The idea behind Fridze probably isn’t that revolutionary, and it’s a logical conclusion that would eventually arrive as more cars become electric. Its design, however, would perfectly match the EV aesthetic, even if it would clash with everything else that would stay at home anyway.

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Veuve Clicquot brings you 50’s-inspired yellow Smeg fridges for the vintage lovers

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Have you ever sat in your living room while sipping a glass of champagne and thought to yourself, “I probably need a refrigerator that looks like my champagne box”. Well, that’s probably not a specific thing that you’ve thought about, unless you’re a super fan of Veuve Clicquot and its distinctive yellow mustard color. And if you’re thinking you need a refrigerator to keep your champagne bottle cool, don’t worry, they’ve thought of that too.

Designer: Smeg

To celebrate the popular champagne maker’s 250th anniversary, Veuve Clicquot has partnered with Italian appliance manufacturer Smeg to create a special version of the latter’s 50s-inspired refrigerators. Each of the two models have the rounded shape and chrome handle that the FAB10 and FAB28 are known for but this time they used the mustard yellow color associated with the champagne brand. Both brands’ names are etched on the fridge. And not to worry, you can store other things in there and not just champagne bottles.

To make things cuter, there is also a miniature version of the fridge that can hold one bottle of the champagne and it can keep it cool for two hours. After you’ve finished it off, you can still re-use the tiny fridge as a storage for other things that can fit in the bottle-shaped case. It comes in a yellow and pink packaging representing the yellow label and cuvée Rosé bottles. This would be perfect if you’re going to a party and you’re bringing champagne and you want to keep it cool.

This special edition of the refrigerators will appeal of course to those who have a yellow theme going on in their kitchen or for those who are really into the Veuve Clicquot brand. The 50s aesthetics of these particular fridge models can also appeal for those who are looking for a nostalgic feel to add to their homes. Otherwise, there aren’t really any features that will get you to buy these particular models, especially with a lot of refrigerators now giving you smarter options.

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This modern refrigerator optimizes storage and organization with smart technology

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The Aura refrigerator is a modern home appliance equipped with smart technology to optimize storage and use.

As we sink deeper into the world of technology, so do our homes and home appliances. Smart technology dictates most of the controls behind modern kitchen appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers, but their overall look has largely stayed in the past. Hoping to bring the refrigerator into the modern era by reshaping its structure and technical fittings to accommodate today’s smart technology and environmental needs, Aura is a new type of refrigerator. Designed by FUHUA Design Studio, the Aura refrigerator breaks down the conventional fridge into smaller compartments to allocate the energy used and minimize its impact.

Designer: FUHUA Design

The eggs and additional breakfast-ready food items can be found in one slide-out drawer, while the beers and other late-night beverages are reserved for a unique pull-out caddy. Describing the design choice behind breaking down the fridge into small compartments, FUHUA explains, “Dividing the door into smaller compartments allows users to have quick access to the frequently used items, thus reducing the energy waste by optimizing user behavior.”

Additionally, the refrigerator automatically turns its lights off when users aren’t around. Then, once someone enters the kitchen, Aura gradually illuminates its internal lighting to invite the users for something to drink and a bite to eat. Appearing like a genial cabinet, Aura is designed for optimal organization, allowing users to easily pull out food and drink items according to their designated compartment.

Without having to open the door, users will be able to see what’s inside the fridge thanks to the integrated backlight, “When approached by the user, the brightness increases as if AURA warmly greets them. At the same time, the soft back-light creates elegant silhouettes of the items inside on the translucent glass door, to remind the users what they have in the fridge without having to open the door.”

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A customizable refrigerator with take away mini fridge is the ultimate solution to keep beer chilled on the go

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The future of refrigerators is bespoke and portable. Staying in line with the two trends, ARTE Mini Refrigerator is a wholesome package every modern home would crave.

Bespoke refrigerators, such as Samsung has been working on, ensure that your appliance can match with the color of your kitchen interior so that the fridge is not that ugly duck in the space you have developed with choice. The ARTE is part of this space and arrives with a beautifully customizable exterior in a two-door design. The one half of the refrigerator has a top to bottom door with a clock in the center, while on the other half there are two sections with a lower portion comprising a mini-fridge slot. In a freezer-esque section below, the mini-fridge is the second part of the ARTE – perhaps the main part, if you like – that differentiates it from other options on the market.

Designer: Kyeongsu Kim

The ARTE Mini Refrigerator is cut out for the pandemic ear. As a customizable and full-fledged fridge at home, it can take care of all the needs as we spend more time – than ever before – within the walls of our abodes. With the portable mini fridge addition, which can be pulled out, and tagged along like a trolley, it opens up to a range of use cases. It can be carried to the great outdoors in the car, tagged along to the backyard (instead of a beer cooler) for a barbeque party, or maybe to the living room by the couch when you’re binge-watching or gaming with family and friends.

Without compromising its original function as a refrigerator, the ARTE can be used both internally and carried outdoors. The idea behind its design is a future where home appliances combine small parts that can be separated from their source and yet have various usability. ARTE Mini Refrigerator is a step ahead in that direction where the main section of the fridge remains operational on electricity at home, the portable section can be easily transported and moved using a carrier and run efferently on a rechargeable battery. The mini-fridge comes with a table attachment that can be fastened to the top of the ARTE to place your bottle or serve the food stored in it.

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This smart mini fridge’s portable, wall-mountable design can be carried around like a suitcase!

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Samsung is engineering bespoke designs to allow homeowners to customize their refrigerators according to their interiors. But this wall-mounted smart mini fridge that clips out to be carried around is more utility for nuclear families today!

There’s no dearth of smart fridges on the market. Every other manufacturer is adding mobile controls and sensors to place their refrigerators in the smart category. Then these units are topped with energy-efficient tech to make them consume less power, and that’s about it. There is little thought gone into changing the appearance of the fridges we use; despite their size and capacity, they are still boxy and take up a lot of floor space.

In my opinion, a genuinely smart refrigerator is one that adds value and presents more use cases than a regular option easily available. This is where the G-cube smart mini-fridge marches in with its impressive portability add-on. The conveniently sized mini-fridge is first up designed to help users manage food more conveniently. It can be wall-mounted in the kitchen to save you precious space in the apartment. Moreover, the G-cube can be clipped out of the wall mount to be stashed into the boot of the car – or added to your RV’s kitchen – when your adventurous life takes you far and away from home.

In addition to managing the food and keeping your drinks cool when you’re traveling, the G-cube saves you the liability of carrying a speaker along. Yeah, that’s right! The G-cube when collected to a mobile device over Bluetooth can be used as a portable speaker. Fancy as it may sound – do not mistake that for the audio – this little appliance is surely going to make heads turn whether at home or on your next camping trip with friends.

The stylish and attractive G-cube mini-fridge on the inside is divided into compartments to store foodstuff according to the convenience of consumption. For instance, foods that need to be consumed in a short duration are kept separately from items with longer shelf life. Bottled drinks on the other hand have their own compartment. On the outside, this portable fridge door is covered in fabric and features onboard controls for adjusting the speaker volume. The front of the G-cube also has a small display to flash lyrics as the music plays. Designed in two colors: Pearl white and Blue, this smart mini-fridge is a sublime piece of art and worth featuring on every home’s wall.

Designer: Gangyi Lin

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