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Industrial Design: Mexico Paralelo Critical Design
There are some projects that are really incredible but very difficult to understand, especially when the designer doesn't add any description. That's the case of this super intricate industrial design project that Fernanda Morrill shared on her Behance profile for Mexico Paralelo titled Critical Design. I will let you try to guess what it is and if you do, please share with me via Twitter. Fernanda is a designer based in Mexico City, Mexico. for more information make sure to check out https://www.behance.net/FernandaMorrill Industrial Design
Industrial Design: Boosted Backpack
A look at the work from Levi Jacob Price who is an industrial designer based in beautiful San Francisco, California; he has worked on the latest from Boosted Boards, the boosted backpack. It was designed to first-of-all, to be an adjustable board carry system and also an outer storage for the remote. There are a few things that make this backpack quite unique, imagine a crossover from a camera bag with a backpack, now replace the camera for the Boosted board itself. It's not the same size and it looks like this bag has been made quite effectively for your boosted daily commute. More Links Personal Site Behance Industrial Design Here is a video
Peak Design: Say hello to the Travel Duffle 35L & Dufflepack 65L
About little less than two months ago, we have featured the Peak Design Travel Line and they have been crushing their Kickstarter goal. With an initial goal of 500K, now they are over 4 Million with over 11K backers. That's an insane outcome but I am not that surprised. Peak Design proved themselves to combine design usabilities with our daily life. I have been following for a long time and they have never disappointed. With less than 40 hours (as I am writing this), they are introducing more bags to their Travel Line. Introducing the Travel Duffle 35L and the Travel Dufflepack 65L. What you’ve seen so far is just the beginning of the Peak Design Travel Line. We’re fully committed to supporting more carry styles and travel use cases. We’ve got 2 beautiful, versatile new bags coming down the pipeline. The concepts of our new bags are sound, but all sorts of fun little details have yet to be honed. That means some things are bound to change about them between now and when we ship them. The upside is that we have an opportunity to bring backers deeper into our design process. If you’re stoked on either of these bags and okay with a bit of the unknown, you can get a Kickstarter-exclusive discount on them by backing in the next 2 days. And if you’d rather wait and see how they evolve before throwing down that hard-earned cash, we totally understand that. The bags will both be available at their eventual MSRP after our Kickstarter backers receive all of their rewards. Duffle Debrief More Links Support their Kickstarter Travel Duffle 35L Peak Design’s ode to the timeless and utilitarian duffel bag, the Travel Duffle 35L is as beautiful as it is simple. Carry-on size with a 35L capacity, the 35L Duffle is a perfect weekender, over-nighter, gym bag, or sidekick to one of our larger travel bags. Features removable padded top handles, a removable padded shoulder strap, weatherproof nylon canvas construction, and all-custom aluminum hardware. A burly #10 weatherproof zip gives high-visibility access to a single large volume, sized to work perfectly with our Packing Tools (sold separately). Travel Duffle 65L A monster gear hauler, the Travel Dufflepack 65L maximizes your carry capacity without compromising comfort or versatility. Ergonomic padded backpack-style shoulder and waist straps support the heaviest of loads, yet stow instantly beneath magnetically-sealed back panels. Burly side grab handles give quick carrying options. Integrated expansion zips offer a massive 20L of payload expansion (45 min to 65L max). Weatherproof internally-padded nylon canvas offers superior protection and maintains it’s structure for easy loading/unloading. A single burly #10 weatherproof zip runs the length of the bag giving you big, beautiful access. Internal volume is sized to perfectly fit Peak Design Packing Tools (sold separately) for customizable organization. More Links Support their Kickstarter
Watch Love: NU:RO - a minimalist analog watch
We all have heard about the new Apple Watch Series 4, same design just bigger. The amazing pals from ANTON & IRENE have released a minimalist analog watch called: NU:RO now live on Kickstarter. That's a watch worth sharing about on ABDZ. A limited edition of 500 only, the watch has two dials one with hours at the top and the other with minutes at the bottom. What's particular about its design is the current time is shown inside the hourglass, now that's neat. You should definitely check out the videos to see the NU:RO in action. As a labor of love, Anton Repponen of the design studio ANTON & IRENE in New York designed the minimalist analog NU:RO watch. The watch has two dials, one with hours at the top and the other with minutes at the bottom. When they rotate, the current time is shown inside the hourglass. The watch will be manufactured in a limited edition of 500. More Links Support this project on Kickstarter Nuro.co ANTON & IRENE NU:RO Gallery 1 of 10 custom hand-drawn NU:RO sculptures by Shantell Martin More Links Support this project on Kickstarter Nuro.co
Our Picks: Headphones
Whether it’s on public transport, at the office, or kicking back for a round of Fortnite at home, there’s a pretty good chance I’m wearing headphones. And as someone who wears glasses, finding the right mix of comfort, style and sound can be a bit of a hurdle. Luckily, here at ABDZ, we get to test out quite a few gadgets. And out of all of them, there are a few headphones that stood out. Here’s my list of the best headphones to get you through your day, workout, flight, or family dinner. Daily Driver: Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless when you need them to be. Wired when you don’t. Active noise cancellation. USB-C charging. Premium materials. 20+ hour battery life. Stupidly fantastic audio quality. When you add up the sum of its parts, the Bowers & Wilkins PX makes for an unbeatable combination. Well, for me anyway. The PX’s boast a finish of sturdy metal & soft leather, which is comfortable to wear all day or on long flights (even on top of glasses!) Their sound signature produces crystal clear highs & lows — with a bit more emphasis on mid tones. It’s a very “warm” sound, but not overly bass-heavy like a pair of Beats might run you. And I’m not sure what sort of wizardry Bowers & Wilkins have done, but the ANC feels completely natural. Bose’s QC line often leaves me feeling a bit nauseous after heavy use. But I’ll admit, aesthetically they’re not my first pick. Bang & Olufsen has done some seriously impressive work with their Beoplay line (more on that in a minute.) But when it comes to a pair of headphones you want to get you through a busy day or a cross-country flight, I’d recommend these to anybody. Check them out for $399 on Amazon. Runner-up: Bang & Olufsen H9i Oh God they’re so pretty. But here’s the thing about B&O. I just don’t love the sound. At least in my experience, he H9’s tended to emphasize highs, which felt really exhausting after prolonged listening. It’s definitely a personal preference, but it dampened my experience — particularly after using a pair of the PX’s. The other little nitpick I had about these was the touch controls on the right ear. They’re finicky ... and a little clumsy to navigate. The lack of physical buttons really tripped me up a few times when I wanted to navigate between songs. But that’s not to say that overall these aren’t fantastic headphones. Build quality is excellent, and I’ve yet to see a pair of headphones I prefer looking at. At $499 though, they pack a bit of a wallop to your wallet. Luckily B&O makes a slightly reduced pair of over-ear headphones in the H4’s, which happen to come in an array of fancy colors as well. (Coral!) Check out the H9i’s for $499 on Amazon here. And the H4’s for $299 here. Top Wireless Earbuds: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Ok, I gave B&W my top spot for my daily driver, but B&O takes the cake when it comes to buds. The E8’s sport huge sound for their tiny package, and look much, much sleeker than their white plastic competition over in Cupertino. More finicky touch controls aside, (I’m sensing a trend with B&O) there’s just no comparison to these in terms of sound and build quality. I also love the carrying/charging case they come with. It’s sturdy with a leather exterior, and an elastic strap for easy carrying when you don’t have pockets. They come in two colors, black, and sand, and sell for $249 on Amazon.
Introducing the Peak Design Travel Line
Our friends from Peak Design is launching their travel line today! Through Kickstarter, you will be able to get your hands on the latest Travel Backpack 45L, camera cubes, packing cubes and more. I personally found the backpack to be looking quite stunning, can't wait to get our hands on for a review. What is your go-to backpack in terms of bringing your gear for traveling? Make sure to check out the gallery, you will get a sense of the sizing of the backpack itself. In their words The hero of the Travel Line is the Travel Backpack 45L, a carry-on-sized backpack that boasts a collection of best-in-class travel functionality. In addition to full rear access for easy packing, the bag features dual side access, top access to laptop/tablet, and a dedicated front-access organization panel for smaller items. Beefy shoulder and waist straps stowe instantly beneath a magnetically sealed back pad. Expansion zips allow the bag to grow to 45L check-in size, while an innovative compression snap system shrinks the bag down to a 35L daypack. Thoughtful details include 360-degree grab handles, a duffle/luggage carry handle, theft-deterrent zips, hidden passport pockets, a soft-lined sunglasses pocket and tuck-away external carry compression straps. The Travel Backpack comes with a weatherproof 400D nylon canvas shell made from 100% recycled plastics and available in black or sage colorways. Peak Design, the leader in crowdfunding and best-in-class carry solutions, is proud to unveil the first products in their Travel Line: the Travel Backpack 45L and complete system of Packing Tools. With a focus on versatility, organization, and access, the Travel Line aims to satisfy a simple design directive: no two trips are the same, so the best luggage should adapt to them all. More Links Support Peak Design via Kickstarter Learn more about Peak Design Here it is...Travel Backpack 45L Camera Cubes Accompanying the Travel Backpack is a feature-rich system of Packing Tools that provide endlessly customizable organization and protection of clothes, shoes, toiletries, tech items and photo/video gear. Designed to fit perfectly in Peak Design travel bags, each cube or pouch offers easy access, thoughtful organization, durable materials and a consistent aesthetic cleanliness. Packing Cubes Each Packing Tool was designed from the onset as a standalone product, intended to push their respective category forward with unique patterns, features and innovation. Art Viger, Lead Designer at Peak Design, commented on the system: “When you travel, the things you carry become your home on the road. Each and every one of the pouches and cubes are designed to work as a fluid ecosystem that can be easily re-configured for any type of trip.” Tech Pouch Wash Pouch Photo Gallery About Peak Design Since 2010, Peak Design has been building innovative carry solutions with a simple overarching design directive: make the best things. The idea for our first product was born on a motorcycle trip through Southeast Asia and has since expanded to include a cross-functional ecosystem of bags, pouches, slings, straps, and clips. We’ve won applause along the way, but we’re most proud of the fact that we’re 100% crowdfunded and 100% employee-owned. We’ve raised $15.6 Million through 8 Kickstarter campaigns, allowing Peak Design to stay investor-free and focused on the things that matter most: designing great products, fostering happy employees, and taking care of our customers and the natural environment. Learn more about Peak Design
Roku Enters the Wireless Speaker Market
Boldly going where no TV stick has gone before. In the war for our attention in the living room, Roku’s become a household name. Well known for their sleek set-top boxes, sticks, remotes & TVs, Roku’s been a driving force behind much of our steady stream of Hulu & Netflix binging. But unlike Apple, Google, and Amazon, they hadn’t yet ventured into the audio spectrum of our entertainment systems – until this week, anyway. With the Roku TV Wireless Speakers, Roku’s aiming to simplify the home theater experience. Simply plug them in, follow some on-screen prompts on your Roku TV, and you’re all set. It’s a dream setup for anyone that’s looking to improve the audio quality of their smart TV, but without going through the hassle of a higher-end sound system. And for $149 (or $199 once the “presale offer” ends on 7/23) it’s comfortably within the territory of an affordable upgrade to your living room. A notable feature for these speakers is their ability to stream audio, wirelessly, in real-time from your TV. Anyone who owns a Chromecast + Google Home, Apple TV + HomePod, or Amazon Fire Stick + Alexa will tell you: It’s a real drag that they’re unable to replicate this seemingly table-stakes feature. Roku skirts around these hurdles by leveraging their own Roku Connect platform to keep the software and hardware working smoothly together. And yes, it also supports Bluetooth. Speaking of hardware, I’ll be honest – they’re ... fine. They’re black speakers with some plastic. Cheers. Sure, I’ll admit, I appreciate the lack of overt branding or chrome, but I don’t think Roku’s going for any design awards with these. This set of speakers is really looking to scratch a pretty specific itch: Folks who just want better sound than their TV, that works wirelessly, and doesn't break the bank. If that sounds like you, (and you’re already running some Roku hardware,) then I think you may have found yourself a winner. Check out all the info over at Roku.com
Anicorn introducing Order, a timepiece inspired by NYC
We would like to introduce a cool project that launched today on Kickstarter coming from the makers of Hidden Time Watch. Now they are back and introducing Order. They have partnered with we partnered with graphic designers Hamish Smyth and Jesse Reed. You must have heard about their well-known projects like the Standards Manual, the reissue of NYCTA Graphics Standards Manual when they were at Pentagram. Following their departure, the duo team opened the only bookstore in New York specializing in graphic design (would love to visit!) and it sits right in front of their design office, Order. In their words Now, Anicorn is continuing their journey in New York City—the location chosen by backers of their first campaign on Kickstarter—and partnering with graphic designers Hamish Smyth and Jesse Reed to create the next The Trio of Time timepiece—“Order.”. Anicorn Watches Last year, they have launched The Trio of Time, a collaboration where we visit three different cities around the globe to partner with local designers and explore their perception of time. They are thrilled to introduce our newest collaboration—"Order"—a timepiece inspired by New York City. More Links Learn more about Anicorn Watches Follow Anicorn Watches on Instagram How to read the time Order has no watch hands. Instead, the entire watchface is perforated with an ascending number of dots, which rotate to align with the frame and tell the time in 15 minute intervals. The designers hope to inspire the wearer to not worry so much about the exact time; instead, to focus on the world around them. The 40mm case is designed for both men and women. Order runs on a Ronda 512 Swiss Parts Movement. The watch has a 316L stainless-steel enclosed casing, available in black or silver. The casing is ultra thin—only 8.7mm. All straps are interchangeable with TTT#1—Hidden Time Watch—thanks to the smart docking system. Introducing Order, a timepiece inspired by NYC
Industrial Design for Nike Electric Skateboard Concept
I am a fan of industrial design projects, especially conceptual ones. Most of the time this projects illustrate quite well the whole of the designer that is to try to solve a problem in a creative way. Jaehyuk Lim, a designer from South Korea shared this awesome idea/concept of a electric skateboard that carries the Nike brand. I used to be a skateboarder and I never got really interested in the electric trend, however this one is simple enough that would probably change my mind. A lot of people are using the personal mobility, but when you're not using personal mobility, it's very hard to carry around. I designed the personal mobility device, which is easy to carry and charge at the same time. Industrial Design Problem Most boarders carry their boards by hand when they're not using them. Ideation & Sketches Solution: Electric Cruiser Board Cruiser Backpack
Industrial Design: Bunk - The wireless smartphone battery
Let's take a look at this minimal and colourful concept by Will Kail who is a Product Design Graduate based in Norwich, UK. His concept? A wireless smartphone battery named: Bunk. With the current solutions now available on the market, Will saw an opportunity to create a product that is magically working because of magnetic sticker on the back of the smartphone case. For those who are wondering the Multi-Coil solution will allow Bunk to align with the receiver coil on any smartphone. The concept is also IP67 which makes it water-resistant and you can customize your very own as well. What do you think? Would you be interested to buy one? Bunk is a 100% wireless, hot-swappable battery pack, that snaps magnetically onto the back of your smartphone, providing almost double the longevity without the permanence of battery cases or the awkwardness of separate power banks. In his Words 80% of smartphone users actively take measures to extend their battery life throughout the day, while most smartphones are released with non-removable cell, forcing users resort to using various inelegant solutions to extend the lives of their devices. Development Proof of Concept Various aesthetic prototypes were made from foam and MDF to evaluate size and in-hand feel, while a functioning prototype investigated the performance of the magnets and reliability of the charging system. Learn more about Will Kail Follow Will on Behance Follow Will on Instagram Industrial Design
Industrial Design: Xbox Adaptive Controller for gamers with disabilities
Earlier this week, we have shared the awesome new product by Microsoft with the Hub 2. Today, they introduced another product but more specifically for gamers with disabilities which is makes it even more inspiring with great admiration for them to go down with this initiative. I would be highly intrigued to give it a try myself. You just gotta love it when brands cares of accessibility for everyone and props to everyone from Microsoft who have worked on this project. It's a nice to be involved with technology. Designed primarily to meet the needs of gamers with limited mobility, the Xbox Adaptive Controller is a unified hub for devices that help make gaming more accessible. Connect external devices such as switches, buttons, mounts, and joysticks to create a custom controller experience that is uniquely yours. Button, thumbstick, and trigger inputs are controlled with assistive devices (sold separately) connected through 3.5mm jacks and USB ports. Get a glimpse More Links Learn more about Xbox Adaptive Controller Read more via Microsoft Story Labs Xbox Adaptive Controller
Industrial Design: MoDi - a smart sleep aid for smartphone addicts
Technology has come to an era where users are quite demanding of what they want in terms of size, performance, features and etc. The best example would be about our beloved smartphone, there is a long list of demands to tackle for companies in order to create the perfect smartphone. How about if all this demanding generated into an addiction? How many of us (including myself) use our smartphone before bed? Let's take a look at this concept that I would love to see on the market, a smart sleep aid designed by New York-based Industrial Designer Jay Kim. Jay did a stellar job on this project and I would like you guys to put a close attention to the process, especially on the research. It's quite an accomplishment, props to Jay! Smart Sleep Aid that work with Google Assistant More Links Learn more about Jay Kim Industrial Design
Redesigning the 1974 Minolta XL 400 Concept
We have featured the work of PDF Haus before on ABDZ. Now they are back with this cool concept (I presume) of what would look like today if they were redesigning the 1974 Minolta XL 400. It was a Super 8mm film camera that actually uses film cartridges! The team from PDF Haus decided to make this into a project with a question about: "What would this 20th-century filming device could look like today." As a result, they didn't change the essence of the previous design, they just made it more friendly. Would you buy one if it was available on the market? The project was carried out while envisioning how it would appear if a filming device of the 20th century is reborn as a 21st-century camcorder. More Links Learn more about PDF Haus Follow the work of PDF Haus on Behance Industrial Design
Ministry of Supply: The First and Next Intelligent Heated Jacket
We love Industrial Design on ABDZ especially when it's related to a product. We are sharing a product today that is rocking hard on Kickstarter and it's called the by Ministry of Supply. What is it? How about a functional, great-looking, everything-proof, voice-controlled jacket that learns and automatically heats to your optimal temperature. That would be great right? I just can't think enough of wearing this jacket on a very cold day in Canada when it's around -20C/-4F. It's definitely an interesting product and you should check them out their project on Kickstarter. In their words We launched our company just 5 years ago right here on Kickstarter. Since the beginning, we've taken a scientific approach to design, so we can invent clothing that’s both comfortable and makes you look great. Today we're taking that approach to the next level, with the Mercury Intelligent Heated Jacket — outerwear that's voice controlled, built for anything, automatically heats to the right temperature, and learns your behavior to get better over time. More Links Support them on Kickstarter Some Features Voice-controlled Intelligent Heat Durable and everything-proof Beautiful & funtional Ready to go Cozy heat on demand At the core of Mercury are three carbon fiber heating elements that heat all at once, strategically placed to disappear into the jacket. At just 100g, flexible, and 1mm thin (that's thinner than a dime), you’ll barely notice the heaters. These heaters can deliver 10 watts of heating power nearly instantaneously, reaching up to 135ºF/57ºC, the same temperature as a cup of coffee. Mercury creates a microclimate for your body using real-time reactive and proactive heating to constantly adapt heat and optimize your body temperature. Using the accelerometer, body temperature, and outside temperature, Mercury triangulates the perfect amount of heat, so you don't have to worry about overheating. Because of the Mercury's machine learning capability, the more feedback you give it, the better it gets and automatically learns your preferences. And more... Clean & Sleek Waterproof Odor-free Dynamic Stretch Cozy hands Wireless charging Travel friendly and machine washable Product Gallery More Links Support them on Kickstarter
Introducing The Pen Rewritten: RIIND'S New Twist On A Timeless Classic
I'm an admitted pen-aholic. There, I said it. I'm not shy to admit I would look forward to Sunday's as a child when my dad carted me down to his office and I could rummage through the pen drawer to find my new favorite. I'm also truly obsessed with handwritten notes and I'm on a one-woman mission to ensure this beautiful art is not lost in the digital age in which we now exist. I nearly fell off my chair then upon receiving a note from the creative folk over at RIIND to test out their gorgeous, purposefully designed pen that flips a timeless instrument on its very own head. With the sole mission of designing, developing and creating long-lasting products with purpose, we think these two MIT graduate school friends are on to something good. They joined forces to start RIIND with a few simple mandates in mind: build simple, powerful objects that are designed to last. Their first foray in this journey together starts with a most timeless tool as the pen and we think they've got a bright future ahead based on the impeccable attention to every last detail. Product features that set this pen apart include: continuous cam technology meaning you can twist to open, twist to close and any single way you turn is conveniently the right way; a super-duper clip that enables the user to affix to just about any object without the worry of misplacing; a lovely grip featuring a time-tested knurled grip that is awesome for a quick thank you note or long-hours slaving over a piece of art; and lastly, our favorite feature, the pen offers the flexibility to choose any ink that fits your own personal brand so you're not limited to what's in the barrel. Scroll below for a glance at this innovative new tool to help inspire a new spin on your creative writing, illustration, correspondence, etc... Available for purchase here in clear, gray or black anodized with polished clip. The purest transfer of our mind’s content to the world happens when you connect pen to paper. Science has shown the profoundly positive impact that connection has on our ability to express, learn, and remember. Through invention, advanced engineering, and precision manufacturing, this pen was designed to inspire confidence in all you put forth; it was designed to rewrite them all. RIIND'S MISSION To design, develop, and create long-lasting products; everything with purpose. Why the pen? Despite all the technology that surrounds us, nothing has replaced the pen. The pen never needs batteries, an outlet, or a USB cable; it’s always ready–to–roll. It’s one of the most powerful tools in the world and we wanted to make this pen the best one ever. After working together in graduate school at MIT, we started RIIND to build simple, powerful objects; designed to last. It didn’t take long for us to discover that the pen was the perfect place to start. Our design puts a new-twist on a timeless classic. We think it’s perfection—and believe you will too.
Industrial Design: Color of Time Minimalist Wall Clock
Dae-hoo Kim shared this beautiful industrial design project for a wall clock titled the Color of Time. The concept of time is like a numerical representation of a moment. Our time is flowing, time and light are most closely related. Through this design, I wanted to express the continuous change of light with the clock. As the hour hand rotates, you will see a palette that visualizes the light. It shows emotions for the time and continuous light changes during a day. Along with this, even though it is not expressed as a number, it is possible to know intuitively the time through the color of the hour hand, thereby achieving a minimal expression of time. 2017 Norman Zammitt, Blue Burning, 1982 at SFMOMA Industrial Design process While the hour hand rotates 360 degrees for 12 hours, the internal color palette rotates 180 degrees. I have structurally considered the characteristics of a watch that will have two different lights for a specific time point (AM and PM) for 24 hours a day. 23 : 30 19 : 20 13 : 50 For more information and to check out more industrial design projects by Dae-hoo Kim make sure to visit his Behance profile at https://www.behance.net/abledavid
Beautiful Industrial Design for Home Workstation
Adolfo Navarro and Joshua Allen shared an amazing industrial design project on their Behance profile titled Tenderete. Tenderete is a home workstation that easily adapts to most common user’s needs through accessories designed to function as modules and extensions, adapting the desk to any lifestyle and needs. Manufactured by Casa Bobadilla the desk has a mid-century modern type of look but with super smart solutions for the modern days, like phones and cables. The lamp is also an amazing piece of design. Of course a great industrial design will always be celebrated and the work that Adolfo and Joshua did ended up winning the the National Furniture Design Contest DIMUEBLE 2015 in Mexico. Check out below a little bit about the process behind this industrial design project. Tenderete is an honest piece of furniture manufactured without using any steel nail, screw or weld bead. The goal was to communicate the inventive capacity of the Mexican Society to solve practical problems in a clean, functional workstation. Industrial Design