Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Boombastic Surround Sound or Single Stereo, Take Your Pick Posted: 05 Jan 2009 12:26 AM PST Earbuds for iPod and gang are good enough, but in the interest of avoiding ear damage, its always advisable to hear your music over normal speakers at least when you are at home. There are many options available in the market but the Designit Concept takes an edge because it offers the option of cluster or standalone. The key words that David Granath takes to describe these sound clusters are flexible and mobile. Use single pieces or use a bunch of them together, the choice is entirely yours. Collectively they are ideal to create stereo or surround sound. The good news is that you can plug them into the wall socket for power or hook them to some cumbersome cables and then to a power source. Sound is transmitted via Bluetooth, Wlan and works with iPod and many other players. Designer: David Granath David Granath

Affordable Water Kettle, Bad Economic Times Posted: 05 Jan 2009 12:06 AM PST Almost everyone is feeling the economic pinch as our global economy goes straight to hell but consumers are at the tail end of this trickle down effect. Queue the modest product design company. They want to keep designing aesthetically pleasing products but people aren’t going to buy it. It’s clear utilitarianism will be making a comeback and the Kettle Qp is one of the firsts to embrace that trend. This kettle eschews all the frivolous accoutrements for pure utilitarian functionality. All it does is boil water so the designers have opted to make that the priority. It’s designed to do its job as efficiently as possible without sacrificing too much style. I say, this is a pretty good looking kettle. Efficient design leads to cheaper production costs which in turn benefits us as consumers. Designer: Andrey Vostrikov Andrey Vostrikov

Engineered to The Nth Degree Posted: 05 Jan 2009 12:05 AM PST The Grid Chair by Jaebeom Jeong may look like something straight out of Solidworks but it’s a real chair. The design is inspired by industrial super structures, scaffolding, and stainless steel. The result is something eerily modern but intriguing because of all the exposed “work.” At least your bum will be happy thanks to the walnut black satin stained seat. Designer: Jaebeom Jeong Jaebeom Jeong

Kengo Kuma Houses for Muji Posted: 05 Jan 2009 12:02 AM PST Kengo Kuma has designed two prefabricated houses for Muji  They are small, simple, beautiful, can come in many variations, are made of standardized kits of parts, and are generic in a very Zen kind of way.  Just like the rest of Muji’s stuff!  Both house prices start around $200,000 USD, so it’s definitely the Muji of architecture. The Window House (or House of Windows, there is no official translation of the web pages) is based on the idea from feudal-era tea houses where the windows are placed to give strategic views outside, like picture frames, and are mounted low, so that the views are best enjoyed when you are seated.  In addition, the house has several internal windows that allow you to peek through to other rooms in the house.   The window locations are variable, so you can adjust the design to suit your specific site and living tastes. The Tree House (House of Trees?) has been built many times and this page describes , in pictures, the incredible variation the Muji houses have.  It is designed to harness natural light and energy.  From the looks of the diagrams , the floors receiving direct sunlight absorb the energy and radiate it back into the house.  The house has a open interior balcony to introduce cross breezes combined with a chimney effect.  In addition, energy-efficient materials are used elsewhere. Of course the houses look great with Muji stuff in them.  But Muji seems most focused on the relationship to the Japanese Industrial Arts movement in the early 20th century. These houses are studies in combining traditional Japanese house craftsmanship with an industrialized construction industry.  The kit of parts include simple wood beams with a machined connection system (worthy of being openly framed) that are also earthquake resistant.  In addition the system allows for the house to be modified or expanded in the future.  If you were ever going to buy a house for someone, this is a great way to do it.  Kengo Kuma’s greatness with Muji’s refined simplicity. Designer: Kengo Kuma Kengo Kuma, Muji

Time, the Immovable Object Posted: 04 Jan 2009 07:44 AM PST Do you carry a watch anymore? That’d be stylish. Do you wear one on your wrist? That’d be so 90’s. Designer Stas Aki stops the hands of the clock without stopping time. Don’t misunderstand it! It’s a look at global togetherness. If the global economy isn’t evidence enough, the Aki Clock identifies how much we’re tied together, all over time. Designer: Stas Aki Watch from Stas Aki on Vimeo. Stas Aki

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