Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

Have you ever arrived somewhere with a friend but there’s only one chair? What about a waiting room with more strangers than seating? Instead of playing an awkward game of finders keepers, you can all have a comfy place to sit with the Dividi chair. As the name suggests, this clever design divides into two distinct seating solutions, transforming from a backed chair to a stool and traditional Japanese zaisu.

Despite being highly utilitarian, it’s beautifully constructed. Birch wood with its natural fragrance and light color gives it a Scandinavian look with wood grains detail thanks to the natural processing. Additionally, the strong padding is obtained using field fabric, with a thick and consistent texture, made by the Danish international company Kvadrat.

Designer: Alex Bocchi

One way to get rid of Darth Vader’s asthma-like voice – use the vacuum a little more around Mustafar. I understand that might be easier said than done, but that’s ok, Samsung have just released a Star Wars themed autonomous vacuum. We’ve seen some insane Star Wars mash-ups over the past year – with the likes of the Darth Vader kettlebells and lightsaber ceiling lights – but the Samsung X Star Wars POWERbot VR7000 robot vacuum is by far the coolest one to date.

These nifty little vacuums come in a choice of either a Stormtrooper or Darth Vader façade. I think you’ll be opting for the Darth Vader version though – with built-in Bluetooth connectivity and an onboard speaker system, it seems like a clear winner here. Boasting a suction power of 10 watts, these vacuums really do have the force, but not the one you’re thinking of, the POWERbot has CycloneForce technology, really sucking up anything in its path. These guys also have the ability to clean those spots that you once had forgotten about, tucked away in those overlooked corners thanks to autonomous home mapping.

Designer: Samsung

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Mokkapikknikk combines trend and tradition in this modern take on the Turkish cezve coffee maker! The ultra-portable design makes it possible to experience the same authentic experience of boiling beans over a fire. The materials are more durable and backpack-friendly than the traditional copper and wood elements. Packed in the special protective wrap, the collapsable cezve fits together with a bean bag and cups for sharing with up to 4 camping buddies!

Designer: Michael Varga

The end of this month gives way to the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show – showcasing some of the largest brands in the game with Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota making an appearance. It’s going to be a great spectacle and one I’m very much looking forward to however, in the mean time we are fortunate enough to get a few spoilers for the event – the largest in the form of the Toyota GR HV concept.

The design of the GR HV is aggressive and edgy with the matte black body color, disrupted by the glossy window and rear headlight trims. The GR HV represents a feel good movement towards the integration of a slick sports car with the green environmental feel of an eco- friendly car. The traces of red found hidden around the GR HV are smartly placed, purposely stealing your eyes attention and directing them towards some noticeably powerful features around this sporty number. The tiered headlight configuration has a somewhat futuristic feel to it, giving the GR HV a truly intimidating feel to it. The interior is no different, imitating the exterior with it’s sports-like feel found throughout, mimicking the traces of eye catching red. What is the most noticeably playful addition to the GR HV is the delightfully cool ignition button located on the gear stick, uncovered with the flick of the lid – talk about cool.

Designer: Toyota

How many kicks should moms-to-be feel every day? The answer is still a mystery as we rely on individual perceptions. However, these micro-movements can be informative if tracked in the correct manner. Bumpe proposes a safe, at home and reliable answer that can be also used after the child is born.

The remote system consists of a wearable device, base station and dedicated app. Its developed passive sensing technology allows for continuous monitoring outside of a hospital and can be safely used from the third trimester. Better yet, Bumpe is there for you and your new baby after giving birth. The sensors gather data over the course of your baby’s development by tracking the infant’s breathing patterns and sleep cycles. Using the Bumpe app, parents can even interface directly with physicians in real time, remotely from the comfort of home!

Designer: Agata Guz

VR is becoming increasingly popular with nearly every electronics company making some form of headset – with the likes of Google, Lenovo, Sony, HTC, Samsung, Oculus and many many more taking a stab at it. Simply put, the market of VR headwear has two definitive sub groups – the smartphone-based units and the computer reliant units. Having pushed the boat at before, Oculus have once again gone one step further and released the Oculus Go VR Headset – the first all-in-one headset which relies on nothing but its own internal hardware. Comprised of crystal-clear optics, integrated spatial audio, and optimized 3D graphics come together to bring your virtual world to life. Starting at $200, you can be welcomed into the world of VR with this standalone headset, using breathable, elasticated straps for an even more comfortable and fitting experience – it can even be used with glasses. Adopting a slightly more stadium shape on the front of the headset instead of the more rectangular look that many of the other headsets have taken, Oculus have a distinguishably cleaner design and look here than the other brands. The fact that Oculus managed to fit so much tech into something that looks so modest, makes the appeal of this headset much higher than anything else I’ve seen.

Designer: Oculus

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Autonomous cars are cropping up everywhere and the market is as competitive as ever. We recently were introduced to some very interesting concepts; the Audi Aicon without a steering wheel and the Renault SYMBIOZ where the car itself was considered a living room when not in use. What we don’t see enough of, are the strides being made for autonomous vehicles with alternative uses like first AID, packaging delivery or even snow plowing.

Ben Collette & Clement Gallois have envisioned a magnificent on-demand healthcare system in the form of a self-driving clinic. This minimizes the logistical burden on the patients and makes them more likely to engage in their care before conditions and costs escalate in the process. This mobile clinic is optimized for self-assessment with diagnostic services like thermography, imaging and breathing analysis – with the addition of a built-in pressure-sensitive scale to measure weight, BMI, balance, and posture, a seat providing an acoustic analysis of respiration and cardiac rhythm. Packed full of sensors and diagnostic equipment, this AI-driven clinic does one better by dispensing the most popular and frequently needed medicines – with the mobile clinic holding a small inventory of medicines, this removes the logistical burden of picking up new medication from the pharmacy.

The Aim mobile clinic is a beautiful look into the ever-evolving technology and innovative systems being adapted day-to-day. The vehicle has a very unobtrusive shape that’s light on the eye, with a protruded doorway on either side – welcoming the user with a warm light following around the door frame. The subtle light details on the closed doors and the rear of this vehicle are what add a strong element of thought to the process – including the use of a black rear to this mobile clinic which makes the already space saving design seem even more compact.

Designers: Ben Collette & Clement Gallois