Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

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Take ME With You This Weekend

Posted: 04 Mar 2009 03:07 AM PST

Airlines really know how to ruin your vacations and I'm not just talking about flight delays. On my last trip Down Under they managed to screw up not one, but two of my luggage pieces. Thankfully they DID replace both of them, but to be fair for some part my suitcases were to be blamed as well. They were definitely not as sturdy as this Alliance Modular luggage that we see here.

This attractive trolley transforms into a valet when zipped open and has enough capacity to hold all your weekend stuff. Shoes-fetish people will love that extra box where you can load em Choos. It may not be the Setgo Rack, but its an interesting option.

Designers: Stephanie Bellanger, Pierre Parmentier & Sophie Martraire

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Does This Dip Taste Any Different?

Posted: 04 Mar 2009 01:44 AM PST

I don't know if you fellow YD'ers are aware of the fact that my co-writer Long Tran is rumored to be an awesome cook. Rumored I say, coz I haven't sampled his cooking yet! Anyways, the point here is that I would like to see how LT (that's what I call him) tackles a Guacamole dip. Traditionally people like to use molcajete and tejolote (mortar and pestle) but if I give him this electric Elahuaca Guacamole Mixer, will it make any difference to his recipe?

Designer: Charles Crawford

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The Biggest J in the World

Posted: 04 Mar 2009 01:33 AM PST

From the expansive designer mind of Meryem Ozturkoglu comes this structure which will one day sit on the SE side (NY side) of the Hudson River, and will also stand as base for a giant walkbridge that connects Central Park and Hudson Park. This design, dubbed CITY-PARK, aims to create a pattern of parks in the city, as visible and as essential to the identity of the city as its skyline of business-oriented towers.

Our friend M.Ozturkoglu calls upon the words of Kevin Lynch from his book The Image of The City, saying thus:

…This leads to the definition of what might be called imageability: that quality in a physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given observer. It is that shape, color, or arrangement which facilitates the making of vividly identified, powerfully structured, highly useful mental images of the environment… - Kevin Lynch, The Image of The City

When you plan on constructing a giant tower which sits base to a super-extensive walk-bridge, you’d darn-well better be prepared to take on the city for years to get it approved, for you’re altering its aesthetic, its identity, and its appeal. No matter how nicely you set everything inside a mega-structure, no matter the community appeal, you must take on primarily the look of the entire city - as seen by the rest of the world.

Meryem is right to consider the environment first, as this subject will dominate the project throughout its entire existence. That said, I’d love to skate it someday.

P.S. If you are confused by the preview pic : it’s an illusion. There’s only one tower in this project, I just took a close-up and put it over the far-away. Detail, pan-out. That’s what’s up.

Designer: Meryem Ozturkoglu

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You’ll Need the Exoskeleton to Stop Poor People

Posted: 04 Mar 2009 12:55 AM PST

Because poor people will be throwing their milkshakes at you when you drive this bad mother down the street. It’s called the “Lamborghini Insecta Concept,” and it’s got no real defense against strawberry or vanilla flavoring. The coloring has some sort of nice relationship with mint though, don’t you think? It’s length is the same as a Lamborghini Gallardo, it’s 1k mm tall and 2k mm wide, and it’s got a 2,650 mm wheelbase. Made for super fast power creepin’.

It’s designer, Romania-born Iulian Bumbu, says, “The idea was to create an extreme race-oriented supercar with a style that introduces softer and more organic lines and integrate them into the geometrical style of Lamborghini.”

The aim of this vehicle was to put the Lamborgini brand and a bunch of armored insects in a blender, maybe add some mint flavoring (like I said earlier), and hit the blend button. It is often an excellent idea to call upon the aesthetics of mother nature’s defense systems. What about this bigtime shell?

As I often say to Takashi - “when they send Yanko a promo copy to test out, put me on top of the list.”

Designer: Iulian Bumbu [ Via: Car Body Design ]

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Thirsty Plants Demand Attention

Posted: 04 Mar 2009 12:00 AM PST

What would you do if I sang out of tune? Nothing!
What would you do if I talked to you? Grow Well!
What would you do if I didn't water you? Remind Me!
How? Coz you are a plant, and we don't live in futuristic times where plants can talk…HOW? Ah…now I get it, you're housed in that MonPot thingie that has a reminder of sorts. How forgetful of me!

The thing with MonPot is that it's a potholder with an inbuilt rotating timer and is inspired by the sorts you see on an oven. There are plants like cactus, buddleia, California poppy, red-hot poker and many herbs that don't need watering every single day. So if you are the forgetful sorts use this alarm and do the job timely. Just rotate the base to a setting of your choice, like a day or a week and a reminder light will go off at the end of the duration.

Those looking for tech-details, there is Bioplastics, solar cells, rotating base and LED involved here.

Designer: Julien Bergignat

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Tools Of The Trade, 3Dconnexion SpaceExplorer Review

Posted: 03 Mar 2009 02:11 PM PST

3Dconnexion is synonymous with tools designed for 3D graphics so I thought a review on their IF DESIGN awarding winning SpaceExplorer was in order. When I started learning 3D graphics (not going to mention how many moons ago that was) 3-button mice were mandatory unless you were proficient with numerous keyboard commands and shortcuts. Designed to make life easier and more efficient, does the SpaceExplorer deliver on its promises?

You still need a mouse to manipulate your OS’s GUI. The SpaceExplorer is just a complimentary companion designed specifically for 3D applications. Drivers are included but I suggest going to their website for the latest updates. I love the midnight blue coloring. In keeping with their other products, the wrist pad and knob are covered in a grippy rubber. Tiny rubber feet on the bottom keep it from sliding around. There are a total of 15 buttons but before you scream in ambidextrous confusion - there’s a rhyme to this madness.

The buttons on the left basically replicate your ALT/SHIFT/CTRL/ESC buttons along with 2 programmable buttons marked “1″ and “2″. On the right side are standard view buttons; top, left, right, font and 2D. The 2 buttons below the knob are FIT and and VIEW which brings up different panels depending on the application environment.

It took some getting used to since my left hand is about as coordinated as my left foot but there is nothing like flying thru your models and environment. It’s all very fluid, fast, and intuitive. The knob is conveniently marked with raised points for tactile positioning. Moving the knob forward and back zooms in/out tho that can be customized. I prefer using it to change and position my camera view. - far more intuitive than a mouse.

I only tested it with Maya but 3Dconnexion supports nearly every major program on the market with more to come. Drivers are available for Windows, OS X, and Linux but at $299 it may be out of reach for some people. Thankfully you can purchase it with a student discount and the improvements to any professional’s workflow far exceeds the initial investment. Would I recommend it? Yes.

 

What we liked:

  • Solid build, grippy and nice touch with the glowing blue LEDs
  • Buttons feel clicky and tactile
  • Included drivers and software make customization easy
  • Beautiful design, unique dark blue coloring
  • Offers significant workflow improvements reducing the number of mouse clicks
  • Simultaneously zoom, rotate, pan and move without ever touching the keyboard

 

What could be improved:

  • The FIT and VIEW buttons are oddly placed as it requires you to move your hand or contort your thumb to reach them
  • Wrist pad is a nice addition but found it uncomfortable while trying to manipulate the knob. The angle and arch seems off
  • Cost is slightly prohibitive

 

Designer: 3Dconnexion [ Buy it Here

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An Unhealthy Bond With An Xbox (future!)

Posted: 03 Mar 2009 11:10 AM PST

Once upon a time the complete technological infancy of our game consoles made starting, playing and maintaining a video game a ritualistic feat. Who doesn’t remember inserting, reinserting and if that don’t work, blowing the cartridge before inserting a game? Yes I’m spoiled cuz all I have to do is press the start button on my wireless controller but the Xbox Portal eschews all that in the name on “bonding.” Sounds dirty don’t it?

To insatiate the younglings used to touch interfaces and wireless controls - the entire orb is touch sensitive. Nevermind the gratuitous logo because it’s functional; it glows (natch!). There’s still an optical disk tray for nostalgic purposes and you may even have to blow into it to get things started. How vintage! Each gamer has his/her own way of jostling a console to work. Some get rough with it, some talk to it in a baby voice, and some get outright violent thereby forging a bond with your Xbox Portal. Can we say red rings for days?

Designer: Taylor Phillips-Hungerford

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