Yanko Design - Latest Posts

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• 100% Design Tokyo 2009 – Part I
• Step Onto The Manhole
• One Liter Racing Madness
• Welcome Blocks of Power
• Stir Fry Kids
• Tea Time, Modenn FLO Review
• INU YOCHI Dog Pod, Hound Heaven
• Squishy Drain Plug Wrings Itself Out

100% Design Tokyo 2009 – Part I Posted: 04 Nov 2009 03:50 AM PST The 100% Design Exhibitions are a great time to mingle with the cream of the Design Industry and I really had a great time covering the Tokyo Edition. The theme this year was "Love Green" and the Exhibitors did a great job interpreting and weaving in the sentiments into their designs. The theme was well reflected in products made using alternative energy sources and natural materials. In short everything looked green too, I mean the color green! Let's kick off this coverage with the Cube Exhibition, which is a brand new addition to the 100% Tokyo. This nook actually showcased works of young designers who brought to life the Love Green Concept. TOHO-Leo Corp and plant designer Harumi Suwa of Atelier Yukiyanagi worked with forty-five talented designers to recreate the green-magic! The dominant installation was this 2.2 m-squared cube that with a planted green façade. This Vertical Garden included beauties like Calathea and Peperomia. Many Exhibitors brought out their innovations and sparked debates on the real fundamentalism of Eco or Green Concepts. In the next coverage expect the 100% Café by Subway! Pine Beetle Wood Gate by Judson Beaumont Dumbbell Flower Vase by Satoru Okazawa & Takako Chinoda “Grass” Chair by Kaori Yamamoto Trigona-swing by Mie Matsubara TRC (Transparent Reflective Chair) by Tomoaki Yoneta “Plane” Bedside Table by Oyadica Studio Ryoku-Kagu by Hiroya Kajiura “Frame” by Shinichiro Nakai Drip-drop by Keisuke Hirata & Tomomi Seki Bolt Stool by Takumi Ichihara Sanagi by Taichi Fujita

Step Onto The Manhole Posted: 04 Nov 2009 12:20 AM PST Don't worry you won't fall in. This is the "Eco Sign" for you, a digital manhole cover that harnesses the rainwater to power it. Tap a foot left or right and it gives you instant info on the nearest train station or bus stop. Maps and signboards be damned! A multifunctional manhole with a rocking display…and all the thieves vying for it! Designers: Cheolyeon Jo & Youngsun Lee

One Liter Racing Madness Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:01 PM PST What kind of vehicle race would you see if each driver were limited to only one liter of gasoline? Thats what Moritz Martin is asking right here. Inspired by growing interest in speed and energy efficiency races, Martin’s concept challenges the driver to summon their tactical intelligence and skill to finish the race using only the energy of one single liter of fuel. Setting the race on thin water film areas and projecting the track on in interior display of the vehicle, this type of racing’s only been seen thus far in science fiction arcades. Racing has become stale (Nascar fans throw popcorn and soda cups like rain) SO this is what’s needed to spice it up! Inspired by the insanity of Swamp Buggy, Land Speed Record Races and the Eco Marathon. Skimming across the water using almost no energy at all, retractable wheels for easy interchangeability between glide and drive. Wheel-mounted air nozzles for frictionless steeering, steering unit programmable to operate multi-directional operations all at once. I can’t imagine how this wouldn’t be totally engaging and fun! Designer: Moritz Martin

Welcome Blocks of Power Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:01 PM PST So you’re driving along in your electric car, right? And you’re thinking gosh, now that I have this Hybrid or whatever I am driving today, I feel like I should go another step. How can I generate more power? How? I need to not only generate enough energy for me to drive, I need to generate power for the buildings I’m driving past. “Carbon Zero” road block system has the answer for you! So what have we got here? Positive and negative. Energy, not consequences. It’s all good, it’s all green. This system is composed of several elements. The only one you’re going to see is the blocks on the road. As you drive over these blocks, the pressure from your vehicle pushes the blocks down, creating kinetic energy. N-type silicon and P-type silicone work together like a battery, creating a DC-direct current. This energy is then turned into AC-alternating current, which can be used for powering electric devices in the homes and businesses near the road. Makes sense? Yes. Let’s see it work now. Designer: Jaeyong Park

Stir Fry Kids Posted: 03 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST No, we're not cannibals; and kids are precious too. I just wanted to introduce you to a new lineup called Wedo - a table top induction cooking system that allows children to learn the art of Stir-fry cooking without the risks. The system includes a chopping board, individual insulated cooking pods with anti-spill lid, and an induction cooking plate. The external temperature in this system doesn't exceed 35ºC, which is good enough for Stir-frying. Heat resistant properties of 'Polysulfone' and Silicon Rubber have been incorporated to the design. As a mother of two children I know I would want this for my children. The concept is quite indulgent and I wonder how many kids will actually use a specialized Stir-fry cooker. I mean aren't all kids allergic to healthy meals; don't they all want fries n cookies n burgers! Designer: Jonny Freeman

Tea Time, Modenn FLO Review Posted: 03 Nov 2009 08:43 AM PST Love me a cup of homemade tea, don’t you? I haven’t heard much about this Canadian brand  Modenn but one of my favorite design studios (OHM) designed it and were kind enough to send me one for review. Hands down it trumps any generic tea set and it was a good excuse to put aside my Sorapot (which isn’t a tea set) and steep the traditional way. Hit the jump and come join me. I gots me a story to tell. Mmm nice hot freshly made tea. Nothing better than that, well maybe except for freshly made hot chocolate but that’s besides the point. The Modenn FLO Tea Set consists of a pot, creamer, and sugar pot. It’s strikingly modern. Every curve looks as if the smoothest hands guided each arch into place. Everything is beautifully bezeled, from the lid to the handle. I believe the set is made from white ceramic porcelain because even the blackest of teas didn’t stain it - a problem I’ve had with other white tea sets. Okay but my LOVE LOVE LOVE feature is the spout. Why? I wish I captured this on video but it’s elegantly formed to give you one continuous stream of liquid, sort of in a high arch. Basically the set not only looks good but makes you look good. I totally looked so PRO moving the stream from cup to cup and without spillage. As soon as you set the pot down, the stream stops. No dribbling or running down the neck. Mmm this tea still tastes good. Epiphany! I could use this for hot chocolate too! Stay turned kids as I try and figure out where you can purchase one. This would be a fantastic holiday gift. HINT HINT. What we loved: Beautiful organic minimalist design High quality white porcelain doesn’t stain or crack Nicely weighted when pouring Price point is on the money ($80) What could be improved: Include a spoon Include a couple tea cups Designer: OHM (Buy it here)

INU YOCHI Dog Pod, Hound Heaven Posted: 03 Nov 2009 08:17 AM PST SCORE ONE for the designer and for MUJI if they ever intend to manufacture it. The Dog Pod takes the Japanese minimalist aesthetic and serves up a cozy mound of mindfulness for your favorite pooch. The wrinkled blanket may look a mess but I can attest having owned 2 dogs they love to mess up their beds before plopping down. Supersize it and I may want one for myself. Just an excuse not to make my bed. Designer: Liron Tzanhany

Squishy Drain Plug Wrings Itself Out Posted: 03 Nov 2009 08:13 AM PST I was once referred by a friend as “unnecessarily complicated” because I always look for products that continue to improve or enhance my way of life - even if it’s just on the aesthetic front. The Octor drain plug is just that. There’s nothing wrong with current drain plugs but are they as cute? NO. Are they as colorful? VERY FEW. Functionally it does wring itself out when you press down on the tubby top before returning to its normal shape. The designer calls it a finger hole, yes kids A FINGER HOLE. Draw your own conclusions. Designer: Min Seong Kim

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