design blog

A stool and a paper bin are possibly the most commonly used objects in an office. Infusing a new life into these ordinary objects, French designer Aissa Logerot has come up with a utility unit which combines the function of a stool with that of a waste paper basket. Hailed as “Office Stool,” the multifunctional furniture unit keeps your workplace neat and clean by hiding the waste in a paper bin underneath. User can effortlessly lift the seat, connected to the wheels with a hydraulic bar, with his/her feet to dump the waste in the bin. Moreover, the paper bin when required can be detached from the stool, so it could be used as a regular dustbin.

With more people opting for personal commutation, finding a safe parking space in urban environment is becoming more difficult than ever before. Presenting a way out, Mexican designer Malila Gabuardi has come up with an urban parking station dubbed the “Curban Parking” which apart from allowing a safe parking for your vehicle also becomes architectonic symbol to promote urban beauty and technology. Assuming that we will have more electric vehicles in the days to come, this automatic parking station will perk up your vehicle while you have left it idle there.

Wheelchairs may have added mobility to the static life of the physically disabled, but they too have their own limitations. Improving the conventional wheelchairs, designer Tom Robbins has popped up a unique mobility aid which makes use of lever for easy and brisk movement. Called the “Catapult,” the foot-controlled wheelchair is driven by both the upward and downward motion of the levers. Locating the gear shifter on the left handle and the brake on the right, the wheelchair also integrates the outriggers on the front wheel, where the user can place his or her feet for controlled movement.

Intended towards= the professionals working in the area of logistics and distribution of goods, the “Trotter” from the house of Baita Design is an urban transport that allows free movement of small and medium size goods in warehouses, factories, airports, hotels, florists, supermarkets, etc. Working like an average kid’s scooter, the Trotter not only moves goods from one place to another in a quick succession, but also adds fun to the otherwise tiring and tedious tasks of loading and hauling.

Inspired by seemingly rough industrial products in concrete, the “Solid” from Danish manufacturer Vekso is a range of urban furniture and LED lighting fixtures which make a unique balance between craftsmanship, aesthetics and sustainability. Featuring bollards finished in concrete (base) and stainless steel (top) which alters with each model to allow flexibility in production, the Solid, contrary to its name, displays delicate details in a wide range of “modern” concrete objects. In case the concrete base is damaged, the stainless steel top can be reinstalled on a new base, adding sustainability to the fixtures.

With the development of multimedia tools, need for gadgets supporting bilateral communication for better understanding has been felt more than ever before. Developed in collaboration with Domus Academy, LG Electronics and Gino Finizio Design Management, the “Sphere” by Italian designer Federico Weber is a hi-tech mobile phone that integrating GPS and Bluetooth can recognize the position of the user, so it could adapt itself according to their needs and moods. The LG Sphere also presents the 3D interface, based on a half-sphere, for personalization and virtual expansion. Moreover, the cellphone features a convex display, so the user can attain an immediate perception of the three-dimensional space. Check out the video after the jump.

We don’t see modern technology and religious beliefs going hand in hand too often. But the “Buddha Time” by Chinese designer Chao Lin is an innovative wristwatch that brings conventional thinking and modern lifestyle closer to each other. Featuring Buddha Beads made of translucent fogging glass to tell the time, the wristwatch other than displaying the time also soothes the body, mind and heart of the users, as (according to the Buddhism) holding the beads in hands can have a strong sense of stability and realism.

The Potential Energy Walker by Benjamin Carr is a mobility aid for people who require assistance to move in developed paths and streets. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the walker by the German designer incorporates new materials to achieve a fold down design, enabling easy storage as well as transportation, as it easily slips in the boot space of an average vehicle. In addition, the users can adjust the walker to suit their height, covering a large range of people. Moving on hub-less wheels, the PE Walker apart from being functional also touts an ergonomic design. The mobility aid comes in a variety of shades, adding some color in the otherwise bleak life of the disabled.

Public clocks are a common phenomenon in the city centers or towns across the world. However, the “Public Clock” by Industrial Designer Nicolas Le Moigne is a timepiece with difference which instead of telling the time through an analogue or digital numbers spells out the time in words. Designed to be placed in the city of Geneva, the Public Clock makes use of a rotary system to change the letters to spell the current time like a digital billboard. In addition, the minimal design the of the clock gels nicely with any surface and doesn’t obstruct the essence of the building.
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Presenting a cutting edge design, Chinese designer Tao Ma has developed an innovative wristwatch dubbed “2Oct2031” that can display different time zones simultaneously. The “2Oct2031” as its name indicates is a futuristic wristwatch which comes with multiple faceted display to provide wide range of information to the user. Looking like a diamond or a cut stone, the luxury watch apart from being functional would also make a fashionable accessory for the trendy.