Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

We’ve seen a great deal of lathe-made toys in our time. Japan has a rich history of lathe-spun toys, the Kokeshi doll being probably the most famous. India too, even today, has a legacy of wooden toys made on the lathe. The most cult of the lot is probably the Russian Matryoshka doll-in-doll. All these toys explore indigenous techniques of toy-making that haven’t really seen re-invention in decades. The Tomogram toy creates a new wave of lathe-made toys with an unusual aesthetic. The Tomogram comes in a fresh and delicious palette of colors that are absolutely new to the lathe toy industry. Each toy also has a bespoke quality about it, and you’re encouraged to build your own, choosing from a set of heads, torsos, lips, etc. Not only does this bring back a dying craft, it also encourages children to explore their creativity and make a new toy for themselves or their friends every single day!

Designer: Tomogram

The air conditioner of our day, contradictory to pretty much everything we meticulously choose in our houses, is somehow bound to be ugly. But what if it could be beautiful?

The Heir a/c explores this idea in the form of a freestanding unit that’s as a sculptural as it is functional. Its artistic vertical shape is complimented an elegant mixture of materials including wood and stone. Capable of being placed nearly anywhere in the home, it looks cool while making you feel cool!

Designer: Debaser Design

Stealth planes had aesthetics completely different from those of regular planes, didn’t they? You would expect a stealth fighter jet to be incredibly aerodynamic/flowy, but no… they had this fantastically faceted design that garnered at least a few “whoa”s when we were children. There’s at least one point in a child’s life where their ambition was to be a pilot, and more times than none, their plane of choice was the cool-looking stealth-fighter!

The Tessel Jet Pack gives you them nostalgic feels with its stealth-fighter inspired faceted design. The faceted panel’s alluring design boasts of being durable and at the same time have the flexible properties of a fabric. Aesthetically, the faceted panel looks great under lighting, while also having a tactile experience so uniquely calming, you won’t want to stop stroking it.

The Tessel is crafted not just with style, but also with a great material selection. The faceted panel is manufactured from a composite fabric, while the rest of the bag has a 210D Nylon construction, perfect for the urban lifestyle. The Bag comes with a front pocket right below the faceted panel for your easy-to-access essentials. The Insides of the bag prove to be spacious with a faux-fur lined sleeve that’s guaranteed to hold and carefully cushion your 15″ laptop or tablet from not just outer impact but even the tiniest scratches that may arise from objects within the bag.

Obviously, the Tessel comes in the signature covert Black, paying tribute to the Nighthawk Stealth fighter. Pair this with a black hoodie and shades, and you’ll blend into the darkness! Or maybe you won’t because the Tessel Jet Pack is sure to grab eyes… and garner a few nostalgic “whoa”s!

Designers: Aaron Puglisi and Daniel Shirley

Buy It Here: $99.00 $140.00

With as many opportunities to work from home now a days, there are so many pros, and very few cons that come along with that. However, the biggest con is space. It’s hard to find a home or apartment that offers enough room to live and work.

The Celerina Table, designed by Damien Regamey for Reinhard AG Sachseln, was designed just for that. At first glance, you see a beautifully designed, solid oak dining table with beautiful details that is mounted on either still or wood tilted legs – perfect for entertaining or a nice meal at home. What’s hidden underneath is the gem of the table.

Once you release the leather security strap, the hydraulic system opens the top of the table, transforming it into a beautiful, modern office desk with storage, optional magnetic boards and a cable management system. A perfect solution to keep your workspace hidden and out of the way, once you finish work for the day.

Celerina Table also won an A’Design Award for 2016. What a perfect addition to any modern home.

Designer: Damien Regamey

The Vispa eBike combines a bit of nostalgic appeal with modern e-drive tech, breathing new life into the Piaggio brand. The little, green, baby brother to the Vespa, the Vispa pays homage to the original style with retro details and lighting as well as swept side cover fairings. For all its classic flavor, it seamlessly integrates a few distinct modern twists.

The frame and seat come together in a unique arc that extends back and above the rear tire. From here, the seat is both stabilized and made flexible to adjust the seat with just the push of a button located near the handlebars.

The e-drive system allows users to enjoy short range fully-powered trips or extended rides with pedal assist. With the power system neatly tucked under the arc and seat, it’s able to maintain a true retro aesthetic almost indistinguishable from vintage cruisers.

Designer: Luca Lazzini