Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Link to Yanko Design

Father’s Day Giveaway: Sorapot Teapot

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 12:00 AM PDT

The hype of Father's Day dies down quite naturally coz Mother's Day steals its thunder! It's just not fair that fathers get shortchanged with marginal gifts as all the dosh went into mom's splurging. YD, Joey Roth & Jesse Jacobs take it upon themselves to rectify the situation; tell us why your dad is so special to you and a lucky winner takes home this exclusive $200 worth Sorapot Teapot for him. To make the moment even more special, a limited-edition tea from Samovar is being added to the hamper. Leave your comments after the jump and who knows, it could be you and your dad reliving memories over the perfect cup of tea!

Contest Ends: June 20, 12:00 am PST

No Tags

An Audi for your Wet Dreams

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 06:52 AM PDT

In my opinion, Audi exemplifies the essence of German minimalist elegance. Never known for pretentious or over the top designs, the Ingolstadt, Germany company has stuck to their “Vorsprung durch Technik” or “Advantage through Technology” philosophy since day one. Designer; Markus Klug used Audi’s minimalist approach to automotive design to create this cross-over water yacht concept. In his words: “I wanted my design to be clear and direct, but also luxurious and sport…It has to captivate the onlooker at first glance, in precisely the same way that the cars do” The 25-year-old student said that he drew his inspiration from his passion for sailing with the Audi MedCup, a regatta series in the Mediterranean for TP52 yachts. Measuring in at 15 metres in length, with a mast of 21 metres high and a draught of between 1.5 and 2.5 metres, this ultra-yacht has sex appeal measuring off the charts.

Designer: Markus Klug [ Via: Carscoop ]

No Tags

Ten Creative Garbage Bin Concepts And Designs

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 04:15 AM PDT

Is cleanliness really next to godliness? I dunno about you but I feel we have more messed up brains than trashy trashcans around the bend! Anyways, here's a look at some really unusual and freaky concepts and designs that make the garbage bin a prized possession.

10) Crevasse Prep Sink by Anne Kitzmiller

A classy kitchen sink with an integrated garbage disposal is like HEAVEN! Sophisticated and uber-chic, this sink-disposal system was designed with the collaborative efforts of Kohler. The sink uses Active Touch technology to function; the rinse cycle is indicated by a constant blue glow and the synchronized garbage disposal cycle is indicated by a flashing blue glow.

9) Table of Trash by Marie-Louise Gustafsson

How about sweeping the trash off the table and straight into the bin?

8 ) BIN Concept by Faris Elmasu

An 18 liter trash can that incorporates a motorized sweeper into its system, convenient! The sweeper tucks into the front of the trash can when not in use, thereby charging as well. Looks neat functions well, what more can you expect out of a garbage bin!

7) Trash Bin by Denis Oh

Forget the hazards of a tapering mouth for a bin, these Bongsudae (Korean smoke alarm towers) inspired beauties deserve a place on the pedestal and not some dusty corner of a room.

6) Flexibin by Li Jianye

Not much on the design aspect but the Flexibin scores high on application. Invert a discarded grocery bag around it and the bin is ready to be used!

5) Minus by Cem Tutuncuoglu

I still have to figure out why I would need to freeze my garbage, but for Cem's sake I'm willing to try.

4) Armstrong Bin by Sukwon Park & Sungwoo Park

Let's kill the garbage even if its dead! Stomp it, and stomp it good.

3) Barcode Trashcan by Woo Seok Park

This one is a really amazing concept that allows you to be eco-conscious to the T. In case you don't know which recycle bin your waste item goes to, just swipe its barcode across the scanner and the correct bin opens up. Cool cool style!

2) GreenHouse Effect by Orcadesign

From the collection of 10 items in it's the list, the integrated dustbin concept is by far the best. A trapdoor design conceals the bin till you don't require it. Moreover the clever idea of using discarded plastic bags to hold the trash is super!

1) Condom Ashtray by Jiang Qian

Clever, cheeky, whatever, this is the temptress of them all…..need I say more?

No Tags

Spunky Sputnik

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 12:28 AM PDT

Fellow writer Shane, besides being a brilliant with words is an ID guy with a remarkable edge. His Sputnik LED Lamp and Storage Chest is reminiscent of the iconic satellite that went into orbit in 1957. The concept features 4 individual LED antennae that can pivot on a universal joint to allow it to both fill a space and fit into crevasses. The base area provides the storage and is weighted with the power adapter. It looks spunky and rocks back and forth like those push dolls, without actually tipping over.

Official Warning:

The Zierlabs Sputnik is not designed for lightsaber fights.

Designer: Shane Crozier

, , , , , ,

The Big Giant Chaos Table

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 12:02 AM PDT

Table leaves. Where do you keep yours? Mine are behind the door in the study. I’ve got a 50-year-old table that uses one leaf to double it’s size. Here we’ve got a giant oval of a table that, upon pulling apart, becomes rather large and abstract indeed. The leaves that fit in the openings are made up of the pieces of wood cut off the boards used to make the table. Little teeny tiny waste!

This little doggy is still in the development stage, as most Yanko designs are. The first functional model is contructed of pine and plywood. The real deal will be Douglas fir, steel, and wheels. The expanded size reaches 3.7m long.

By using the waste material created while cutting the elliptical table top, the shape is literally turned inside out and order turns to chaos. Etymologically 'Ellipsis' means to 'leave out' or 'fall short'. - P.M.

How does one answer for creating chaos as an industrial designer? As an industrial designer, graphic designer, web designer - do you aim to create order, or chaos? Peter Marigold knows.

Designer: Peter Marigold

, , , , , , , , , ,

Sands Of Time

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 12:00 AM PDT

Besides the obvious, another purpose of a wall clock is to add a sense of identity to the wall that it hangs from. Sand as a metaphor for time is slipping through our hands and we can't turn back the clock! This digitalized version reflects this sentiment and features two modes: night and day. As Natalia explains, "The main idea lies in the mechanism of the Sand Glass Clock: the lost time - at the bottom, future - on top."

So what do you think….can you keep up with the pace of TIME?

Designer: Natalia Romanova

LEED Platinum Certified in Los Angeles

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 10:13 AM PDT

Cherokee Studios by REthink Development is a new soon to be completed project in Los Angeles boasting LEED Platinum certification. Huge Kudos to REthink since this is only 1 of 12 buildings in California to achieve that rating. The building won’t be completed until September ‘09 but I’m so giddy with excitement that I think REthink and whomever the land owners are should just let me move in. Better yet, lets open the Yanko Design Los Angeles branch in the building!

The live/work units let you live the Hollywood life while staying best friends with mother nature. When we talk about standard of living, we need to re-examine what that means. For me, that means better indoor air quality, better ventilation, more controlled natural/artificial light, less toxins, and a place to escape to like a roof deck. This building has it all. Details, details!

Cherokee Studios will consist of 12 condo lofts and 2800 sqft. of retail space. The 5 story building includes an underground parking garage and a rooftop “green” deck. The lofts will range in size from 1,000 - 2,000 sqft. with unique and distinctive floor plans. The living space consists of a state of the art kitchen, great room, bathroom, and home recording studio or office. Three of the lofts will have 17 foot high ceilings with mezzanines - open to a lushly landscaped courtyard. All lofts will have 2 - 3 bathrooms and 1 - 4 bedrooms. Interiors including kitchens, baths, and finishes will all be 'eco-luxury' with high end appointments that have simple and modern lines while being environmentally friendly. 20kW of the building’s power comes from solar energy. On top of that nearly 50% of the building’s total power will come from renewable energy.

Perhaps one of the things I really dislike about living in L.A. is the blazing sunlight. It’s nice to have when you want it but terrible when the heat wave is on and all you can do is cower in a shaded corner. The unique architecture has a dynamic facade that not only looks good from the street but provides utilitarian function by shading the interior, reducing noise, and enhancing privacy without blocking views.

The kitchen cabinets are all made from formaldehyde-free materials studded with Energy Star Bosch appliances (swoon!), Bertazzoni ranges and one of those snazzy drawer microwaves. Even the countertops are made from recycled content.

My favorite room, the bathroom is decked out; Hans Grohe fixtures, the same eco-friendly countertops, floating vanities, recycled tile, and one of those fancy Japanese Toto Aquia toilets.

There’s so much more to cover so I’m going to try and sneak in somehow, maybe score an interview with the developers and obtain more pictures. Stay tuned, errr - I mean online.

  • Over 40% better than California's strict Title 24 2005 Energy Efficiency standards
  • 20 kW solar electric array
  • Astounding views
  • Dynamic double façade creates shade and buffers street noise while enabling ventilation
  • Electric car charging for every unit
  • Reclaimed Black Forest Walnut from Studio One reused
  • Walkable neighborhood scores "Walker's Paradise" (95 out of 100) on walkscore.com
  • Extensive bike storage
  • Dynamic double façade creates shade and buffers street noise while enabling ventilation
  • Formaldehyde-free cabinets and flooring
  • High efficiency air filtration
  • Low and zero VOC paints and finishes
  • High efficiency tankless water heaters
  • High-tech, high efficiency Variable Refrigerant Flow Heating and Cooling System
  • Designed to optimize natural ventilation
  • Abundant natural daylight
  • Efficient lighting including strategic use of LED lighting
  • Green, living roof and cool roof
  • Upgraded glass enhances thermal and sound insulation
  • High recycled content and locally produced products
  • Forest Stewardship Council certified wood (50% of all wood products)
  • Reduced landfill waste by over 75%
  • Reduced stormwater runoff through groundbreaking under-sidewalk infiltration system
  • Drought resistant landscaping
  • Energy Star appliances
  • Dual flush Toto Aquia II toilets
  • Water efficient fixtures
  • Design for durability
  • Double walls between units for sound isolation

Designer: Pugh + Scarpa and REthink Development

No Tags

JBL On Stage 400P Speaker Review

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 08:55 AM PDT

Really what would we do without music? I’m listening to it everyday. It provides the exact kind of ambient inspiration I need when working. Of course that means having something small yet powerful enough to really make all the money I’ve spent on digital music worth it. Enter the JBL On Stage 400P speaker.

At the time of this review, this speaker wasn’t even out yet. It’s still hard to find but at $250 it’s comparable to the Bose Sound Dock II. It’s the latest in a long line of JBL speakers carrying the “On Stage” name and the most powerful. Like its siblings, on-unit controls are limited to volume. Everything else is controlled thru the RF remote. Inside you’ll find 4 Odyssey drivers and a dedicated Atlas bass driver equipped with far more amplification than previous models.

Sonically the 400P is very full with clear highs, rich lows, and a bassy kick you’d be surprised to hear coming from a small desktop unit. One thing JBL has always been good at is maximizing sound quality while offering little features other manufacturers miss. In this case being fully compatible with iPhones since the unit is completely shielded from cellular interference and the remote being able to navigate different playlists. Music came in distortion free with only the slightest crackling heard when the volume was cranked up.

This isn’t the granddaddy of all stereos. It’s meant to be a mid-range solution for the iPod and iPhone toting cohorts but priced $50 less than the Bose Sound Dock II while packing more features. This is perfect for the office, your desk, bedroom, even a dorm room.

What we liked:

  • Funny pyramid design with the top chopped off
  • Fabric mesh actually makes it look and feel like an expensive unit
  • Fully compatible with all iPods and iPhones
  • RF remote navigates playlists
  • Uses advance digital signal processing
  • Clear highs and rich lows with strong bass
  • $50 less than the Bose Sound Dock II
  • Charges the iPod/iPhone even if the unit is off

What could be improved:

  • No FM radio

Technical specs:

  • Drivers - one Atlas neodymium and four Odyssey transducers
  • Power Output  - 15 watts per channel
  • Frequency - 40Hz - 20KHz

Designer: JBL [ Buy it here ]

No Tags

Mobile Script Phone Needs No Stinkin’ Batteries

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 08:17 AM PDT

Yay! It’s been awhile since we’ve posted a mobile phone concept that promises to do everything under the sun in the thinnest form factor. I was getting withdrawal symptoms. The Mobile Script phone explores what functions any contemporary mobile device should have; internet access, documents on the go, games, communication, and mobility.

It has 2 touch screens, one in a traditional candy bar style format, the other a flexible OLED that stiffens with a low voltage charge when you unfurl it. This layout enables maximum real estate when watching movies or editing documents when you need it.

Okay if that wasn’t enough, there’s more futurist fantasms. You don’t need to charge it, yes you heard right. The case is covered in a photo sensitive nano material that converts sun light into energy. Oh my!

You know what? I like it.

Designer: Aleksandr Mukomelov

No Tags

Gorge Coffee Table, It’ll Stab Ya

Posted: 16 Jun 2009 08:07 AM PDT

Gorge is a coffee table inspired by a gorge. The deep valleys and canyons are created using powdered coated steel bent into a V-shape. The design plays up the muse but also provides structural integrity and storage opportunities for books and magazines. I see a perfect spot for my dog to make his den too. Nevermind that you could accidentally impale yourself on one of those corners. Gotta bleed for design you know.

Designer: Ramei Keum

"Gorge" Cofee Table by Ramei Keum

No Tags

No comments: