DIYers have their own sense of doing things with ingredients that for you and me may sound foolish to begin with. Teardrop trailers, besides the size, have to be durable and stable. Throwing the two aspects out of the park, Thomas Burick has created a micro teardrop trailer, to go with his 1962 Vespa, from foam topped with a sheet of homemade fiberglass.
Yes, that is pretty fragile from a safety point of view. But motorcycle campers and bike-packers will have different thoughts. For them, the lightweight form factor and kind of space created within is a definite inspiration.
Designer: Thomas Burick
The micro teardrop trailer, towable by a vintage Vespa, is made in partnership with YouTuber and trailer maker, ‘The L Wood by Lucy.’ Its design is based on a 1947 Cabin Car trailer, which has been worked up to let Thomas “Roam in Foam.”
Since Thomas wanted the trailer to be more than a place to snooze in after a long ride; a kitchenette has been provided with ample storage space: cabinets and shelves with sliding doors. The shape of the trailer is nicely arched for headspace and stability on the 25-pound base it stations itself on. The interiors are well-lit with natural light penetrating the windows made of acrylic. The door is finished with metal skirting for additional stability.
Under the hatch of this foam teardrop trailer resides the kitchen complete with a gas stove and crockery. A special section has been created to store the silverware and the cooking essentials. When Thomas is done cooking and eating, he enters the trailer furnished with a mattress for a good night’s sleep.
While the micro teardrop is made robust enough for bright summer days, it may not be the most stable ride against strong winds and rain. Nonetheless, this interesting contraption is finished in blue color to align with hue of the Vespa it trails; a pleasing sight to behold!
Vespa joined forces with mega pop superstar Justin Bieber to design a scooter draped in an all-white finish with built-in smartphone fittings.
After launching a teaser video for a collaboration with mega pop superstar Justin Bieber, Vespa has finally released the final model of the long-awaited Justin Bieber-designed scooter. Wrapped in a monochromatic white finish, the Justin Bieber X Vespa collab is modeled after the brand’s Piaggio Sprint base.
The collaboration with Vespa has been a longtime dream, Justin Bieber says, “The first time I rode a Vespa was somewhere in Europe, probably either London or Paris. I just remember seeing a Vespa and being like, ‘I want to ride one of those.’ And I had such a great time, just the wind flying through my hair, the freedom. It was fun.”
Treading on his own experience riding the iconic scooter, Bieber coated his design in optic white livery on the exterior panels and rims for a sleek look to go with the scooter’s feathery light frame. Then, he added his own bad boy flair with a flame decal that’s etched across the scooter’s body.
The Justin Bieber X Vespa scooter design is also available in 50, 100, and 100cc guises. Located right between the two handlebars, a full-color digital display syncs with the rider’s smartphone to play music and adjust the LED light’s brightness and color tones. Additionally, Bieber’s collaboration includes gloves, a driving bag, and a matching flame-printed helmet for riders to scoot in style.
While it’s not the first collaboration with a brand, this project with Vespa marks Bieber’s first-ever automotive collaboration. It makes sense that his first automotive collab was with Vespa as Bieber describes, “I love Vespa, and to partner with such a classic brand is so cool. Being able to express myself, whether it’s through art, music, visuals, or aesthetics, being able to create something from nothing – it’s a part of me. Ultimately the goal in creating and designing is always to put your own unique spin on things.”
Vespa scooters were made initially from spare aircraft parts as an affordable but modern mode of transportation for masses in the aftermath of World War II in Italy. The most celebrated scooter now turns 75, and LEGO is celebrating the occasion with a detailed kit inspired by the classic 1960s Vespa Piaggio.
Arriving in an eye-catchy pastel blue hue – a rare one for LEGO – the LEGO Vespa 125 is going to appeal to building fans and scooter enthusiasts alike. The mindfully created, and immensely detailed model has been designed for adults as a throwback to our childhood when most of us either sat behind our dads or took the Vespa for a ride with a girl holding tightly to the waist from behind.
Detailed enough to fit alongside the LEGO technic McLaren F1 and the BMW M 1000 RR, the LEGO Vespa 125 comprises 1,106 bricks, which put together form a 13-inch long scooter that stands 8.5-inches tall in its striking blue color scheme. The Vespa model will launch on March 1, also when the McLaren and BMW sets are likely to go on sale. A motorhead with LEGO as your weakness, you should already be ready with your wallet. March is going to be an expensive month for you given all the exciting builds scheduled for launch.
As the press images give away, the entire LEGO scooter arrives in an interesting blue shade with many authentic details to tickle our memories. The model features a realistic design with two seats and a front-wheel mounted on one side. For a far more interactive design, the LEGO Vespa 125 has a removable engine cover that reveals underneath an engine built entirely from LEGO bricks. The steering and kickstand are functional, while the Vespa logo and classic 1960s Italian license plate add to the detailing. The scooter is accompanied by a flower bouquet placed in the accessory’s basket attached to the back of the scooter and a helmet for safety. LEGO Vespa 125 kit as a complete package is priced at $99.99.
Relying heavily on the Vespa (and even SMEG’s) soft, rounded, colorful, fun-loving image, the SMEG Futro is an e-scooter concept that embodies the feeling of driving down to the beach, the park, or the lake for a lazy Sunday. The scooter’s curved form language is a direct inspiration of SMEG’s own design styles and leans heavily into the golden age of Italian automotive design (when companies like Vespa and Lambretta came to be), while its side panels open up to reveal a whole host of picnic items and tiny kitchen appliances, all the way from tiffins and thermoses to even a toaster and wine cooler!
This unique niche approach seems rather interesting, as the SMEG Futro positions itself as the perfect recreational two-wheeler. Meant clearly for lounging, the Futro doesn’t come with a spare tire stored in its side panels… instead, its panels open up to reveal a comprehensive picnic kit. The Futro comes fully equipped with thermoses to store tea and coffee, cups to serve them, tiffin-boxes for food, platters for sandwiches and cheese charcuterie boards, cutlery to dig in, and perhaps two of my favorite features, a literal toaster and wine-cooler! The two electrical appliances run on the Futro’s own detachable battery unit (which can be found right under the seat), giving you a comprehensive picnicking experience that’s sure to have everyone around you feeling jealous!
The overall scooter’s aesthetic feels like a culmination of a few design languages, including SMEG’s own visual aesthetic, combined with the likes of modern-day scooters like Vespa, NIU, and Gogoro. The scooter sports a ring-light on the front, with two indicators below it and the SMEG branding in between. Like the Vespa, the scooter uses a glossy finish complete with chrome accents and leather trims to look like a modern classic. Its dashboard, however, is an entirely modernized touch-sensitive display that lets you access Futro’s laundry list of features, including a navigation dashboard, and even a music player that serves as the perfect accompaniment during your picnic!
The SMEG Futro comes in a deliciously vast range of pastel colors that look incredibly eye-catching from afar. The muted color schemes are a hat-tip to SMEG’s kitchen appliances that sport the same pastel shades to blend into your kitchen’s decor.
Look at the Niche Zero and tell me it doesn’t possess the soul of a Vespa! The beautifully curvilinear design of the Niche Zero coffee grinder isn’t a result of function, but rather of expression. Inspired by old-timey automobiles (and even appliances), the Niche Zero coffee grinder celebrates the bold, beautiful design languages of icons like Piaggio, Fiat, Alessi, and Olivetti.
The Niche’s commanding presence in your kitchen is a stark deviation from most burr grinders that look to be compact, sleek, and portable. Designed by UK-based brand Niche Coffee, Niche Zero is a specially designed single-dose grinder that refreshes you with not just a cup of coffee, but also with its eye-catching design. The grinder, which comes in either white or black, features a gently curved metal body, retro-style switches, and wooden accents and stubby legs that make it look warm and approachable. On the inside, the Niche Zero comes with 63mm conical steel burr grinders with a step-less adjustment system that gives you precise and complete control over your grind size. Load the coffee beans into the hopper, secure the safety lid, and flip the antique toggle-style switch on the side and the Niche Zero begins whirring to life, delivering a single dose of ground coffee powder that you can then use with your espresso machine, French press, pour-over, cold-brew carafe, or any style of coffee-brewing apparatus you may have!
The Niche Zero measures a little over 12 inches in height (311mm) and boldly sits on your kitchen counter almost like a sculptural piece. It operates at 72 decibels too, which some might consider just a tad loud (if you’re one of them, maybe invest in a hand-grinder).
Each Niche Zero comes in either Pure White or Midnight Black (both equally classy colors, although the white one looks less visually heavy) with oak wood accents. The grinder comes along with a 58mm grind cup (perfect for most portafilters), a wooden-handled cleaning brush, a user manual, and a socket driver.
The grinder itself is incredibly easy and intuitive to use. The safety lid on top helps secure the beans while the machine is operational, and a step-less adjustment disc on the inside even comes with a marked guide that lets you calibrate your grind-size to suit the kind of brewing you plan on doing (finer grind for Espresso, coarser grind for a French press). A single switch on the side lets you turn the Niche Zero on or off, and the grinder’s direct outlet path ensures that no bits and specks of coffee dust remain behind inside the machine. However, a nifty little accompanying brush lets you clean out your Niche Zero every couple of uses.
Ask any Indian what their country runs on and the answer will inevitably come, “Chai”. Introduced to the country by the British and the Portuguese, Chai (or tea) is as much of a legacy to India as the New York Pizza Slice or the Chicago Deep Dish is to America. We’ve taken the drink and co-opted it, introducing our rich culture and complex flavors and spices to what’s otherwise a simple beverage of tea leaves, water, milk, and sugar. Today, chai can be found everywhere – At tiny roadside stalls in the city or on highways, and even in the up-market urban Chai cafés that are the “tea-quivalent” of Starbucks. However, possibly the most iconic form of Chai is found on the roads, sold by people on push-carts or even out of canteens on the back of scooters. The CHAIGAADI builds on that culture, modernizing it and turning it into even more of an icon.
ChaiGaadi is the world’s tiniest tea stall ever made. At just 1.5 sq. ft, the foldable tea stall fits right on the back of a Vespa, allowing the tea vendor to easily set up shop anywhere and sell tea along with select confectionery and snacks. Everything fits right into a 1.5 sq. ft. box that’s mounted on the back of a Vespa. Designed to work like a food truck, traveling from location to location (and often parking outside large offices in the evenings to businessmen can get their ‘chai break’), the ChaiGaadi can be set up anywhere in minutes. The box opens out into an elaborate setup comprising a copper tea boiler, a cup-warming tray fitted with signature ‘cutting chai’ drinking glasses, a tray for confectionery like buns and tea-cakes, and a fold-out counter for serving your wares and collecting cash. Once consumed, used tea glasses can even be docked in a special tray on the side, along with a small compartment for food waste.
The copper construction on the tea boiler is a bit of creative fusion from the designer, Arun Prabhu. Inspired by the copper glasses used by Turkish baristas to brew their coffee, the ChaiGaadi’s copper boiler relies on the metal’s conductivity while hinting at that cultural inspiration from the Middle East. Vents on the top of the boiler serve two purposes. Not only do they help keep the chai-glasses above warm (the vendor or ‘chaiwallah could pre-pour 10-15 glasses to quickly serve hot to customers), but they even occasionally let out steam, spreading the familiar whiff of strong milky tea in the air.
“We spent months prototyping, itching to find the right balance between usability and the skeleton of the structure”, says Arun Prabhu, founder of cross-disciplinary design and research firm The BILLBOARDS® Collective, and the designer of the ChaiGaadi. Touted as the world’s tiniest tea café, the ChaiGaadi was designed for Hyderabad-based cafe chain, Chai Kahaani, and is currently going through testing and trials as it prepares for an eventual nationwide rollout.
I am a Vespa fan, I love the minimal design and smooth lines because it makes you feel like you can ride it easily. It isn’t bulky or too masculine, it actually is a gender-neutral scooter in my opinion and therefore loved by everyone. Fun fact: Vespa’s original design was inspired by the Cushman scooters used by the American military during WWII, but its name “Vespa” which means “wasp” in Italian was given to it by iconic aircraft manufacturer Enrico Piaggio because the scooter really looked like a wasp! In an attempt to blend a piece of history with modern design, Mightyseed has created Vespa 98 – a conceptual electric scooter that fits with the needs of today’s world.
Vespa is known to have kept it’s retro aesthetic while still being modern. “We believe looking back to history will give more insight into the future. The Vespa 98 electric concept version is a reincarnation of the original design. The concept is much more like a modern incarnation with sleek styling cues with streamlining features,” says the design team. This electric scooter showcases a bolder look compared to the original one with modern design details like the handles. The mudguard is still placed like it was in the original scooter but now it holds the LED headlight instead. One major difference is this single-seat scooter uses lidar sensors placed at the rear end to notify the rider instead of having rearview mirrors.
The Vespa 98 is powered by a 30 Ah lithium-ion battery pack located in the belly of the scooter which also includes a spacious storage compartment. The hub motor wheel features a sporty look while the sloping tail lamp strip at the rear indicator unit adds a futuristic touch to the concept. The design respects the history while still tailoring it to the preferences that the current audience will have. Vespas just make you happy, and electric ones make the planet happy too!
“What will a Vespa look like a hundred years from now?”
It isn’t the sort of question I usually ask myself, but now that Artem Smirnov’s posed the question, I’m forced to imagine what perhaps my favorite two-wheeler brand will look like a century from now. Smirnov’s answer to the question is to simply take Vespa’s attributes as a brand and carry them to the year 2120. In short, look for answers to questions like – What will classical Italian automotive design be in a hundred years? Hundred years since the debut of the Cybertruck, will there be any curvilinear vehicles? And if there are, will they look like the Vespas of today, or maybe a little more modern? Most importantly, will Vespas of the future look ‘cute’? And what exactly will the word ‘cute’ even mean in our technofuture world?
Smirnov’s iteration of the next-gen Vespa surely raises some eyebrows. It looks nothing like the Vespa we see on the road today, but in all fairness, cars today look nothing like they did in the 1920s, so it seems futile to really argue that the next-gen Vespa looks radically different. It, however, does capture a few elements that answer the questions I raised in my previous paragraph. The next-gen Vespa by Artem is clearly an e-scooter. Interestingly enough though, it comes in the format of an e-bike, but still retains that hollow leg-space that scooter designs are famous for – with a rear suspension capping it off. The seat, for the most part, is cantilever, resting directly on the suspension at the back, while the Vespa logo on the front plays a double role of branding as well as being the vehicle’s headlight. On the overall, the vehicle still retains curves in the right places. I could imagine a future where the next-gen Vespa sits in the status quo of ‘cute’, although my only gripe is the absence of that vibrant color palette! What do you think?
Named as Pantone color of the year for 2019, Living Coral is an animating and life-affirming coral hue that signifies light-heartedness and positivity. The color is the kind that instantly makes one happy, with its touch of vibrance and warmth, and the minute you add it to a product, it stands out. Companies have, for long, used the coral color to make products look and feel youthful, and to make them add a splash of color to a space. Living Coral’s beauty especially lies in the fact that it goes well in any domain, fashion, interiors, consumer electronics, or even appliances. Heck, I’d wager that a Ferrari with a Living Coral paint job would look absolutely dope too. Almost a month into 2019, we’re here to take a look at ten of our favorite products that have wholeheartedly embraced Coral as a hue, using it wholly, or in part, to create a product that stands out, and looks great while doing so! __
01. Apple Watch Series 4 Nectarine Sports Loop The Nectarine Sports Loop (along with the Watch Series 4) came just weeks before Pantone debuted their color of the year, and it’s almost as if Apple either knew, or they had some spectacular CMF Designers who just happened to feel that the color absolutely did justice to the Watch. There’s a silicone version of the Nectarine band too, but we prefer this woven nylon loop that’s breathable yet sweat-resistant. And it’s compatible with all versions of the Apple Watch!
02. Google Home & Home Mini (Living Coral Edition) The coral version of Google’s smart speakers were released shortly after Pantone announced the color of 2019. While the Mini comes completely coated in the Living Coral hue (with a rather remarkable contrast between the woven texture on top and the hard plastic at the bottom), the Google Home does a dual-tone, with white on top, and the addition of a detachable coral fabric grille at the bottom. Don’t make me pick favorites. I like them both.
03. Urbanears Plattan Coral On Ear Headphones The tragedy of these headphones is that Urbanears only produced the Coral edition as a limited run. I still maintain that the Plattan headphones look absolutely heavenly in their coral color, treading a fine line between sporty and fashionable with a color that isn’t as red as the Beats headphones, but is the perfect hue to look absolutely dapper. Yes, dapper’s the word.
04. Retroduck Q Wireless Charging Dock Unlike its previous, wired version, the Retroduck Q comes with two changes. Firstly, the dock works wirelessly, charging your phones simply by placing them on the retro TV-esque stand… and secondly, the Retroduck Q ditches its ancestor’s more orange-heavy color for a delightful coral version, or as they call it, Carmine Red. The Retroduck Q just finished its round of crowdfunding and is still under development at the time of writing this article. We’ll be sure to drop a link when they’re ready to buy online!
05. Kvell Pop Clock Rather strangely titled Pop, the Kvell clock actually comes in a single color, making it quite the opposite of pop… but it makes up for that with the use of such an incredibly rich hue that I’m sure it’ll pop off any wall you mount it on. I’d recommend a white or light teal colored backdrop for this beauty. Even a light blue would work, given that corals are originally found against a backdrop of oceanic blue.
06. Dot&Bo Coral Pantone Clock While most products embrace a hue, Dot&Bo’s Coral Pantone Clock embraces the entire shade card! With multiple hues arranged around the face of the clock, Dot&Bo’s timepiece is much more subtle than Kvell’s Pop Clock. After all, in-your-face vibrant decor isn’t for all homes.
07. Vespa Coral Visor 2.0 Helmet Vespa, the brand, stands on two pillars. Retro-Italian design, and an absolutely delicious color palette. The Visor 2.0 helmet has its share of both. Designed to pair perfectly with the adorable Italian legend-of-a-scooter, the Visor 2.0 Coral helmet will protect your brain and will blow the brains of pedestrians as they catch a glimpse of the Coral-colored helmet blurring past. Pairs well with a coral colored Vespa and the Italian countryside. Both sold separately.
08. Hip Bottle by Karim Rashid Rashid was using vibrant hues like Coral long before Pantone named it the color of the year. A major part of Karim Rashid’s design legacy is his use of CMF as an absolute weapon. Take the Hip Bottle for instance. Add any other pastel color to the Hip Bottle and chances are it probably won’t stand out. Its form is simple, and the bottle isn’t as edgy as most sports bottles out there… but carefully drop the Coral hue on it and the Hip looks stunning. Also available in 5 other colors that don’t match up to the sheer beauty of the Coral variant.
09. Bird of Paradise (2018) by KitchenAid I could totally imagine myself walking into a kitchen with a tropical teal wallpaper with pineapple graphics on it, and surrounded by KitchenAid’s coral-colored appliances. Kitchenaid, in fact, began its own Color of the Year series last year, and believe it or not, Coral was their color of the year for 2018. Titled the Bird of Paradise, the entire collection of kitchen appliances sports the beautiful coral hue, right from the range of blenders to the stand mixer that I personally love most, probably because of its distinctive design, and my obsession for meringues (what, I’m human).
10. Pantone Color of the Year Mug (2019) I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a product from Pantone’s own catalog. Every year, along with their announcement of the COTY (Color of the Year), Pantone also releases their own merchandise, from notebooks to thumb drives to mugs, that feature the Color of the Year in its Pantone-branded color accuracy. The mugs, however, are a standout because notebooks are too basic and thumb drives are practically obsolete. Besides, look at that mug and tell me it isn’t simply the most eye-catching mug ever.
Vespa's electric scooter has long been slated to start shipping this year, and now the timeline is a little clearer on when you might be able to get your hands on a Vespa Elettrica. Production will start next month, and Vespa will open up online sale...
Vespa's electric scooter has long been slated to start shipping this year, and now the timeline is a little clearer on when you might be able to get your hands on a Vespa Elettrica. Production will start next month, and Vespa will open up online sale...