Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

I can conclusively say, with just enough evidence that the French make some irresistibly sexy audio devices. The Devialet Phantom, even today, remains my favorite speaker (god bless me with enough money to afford it someday), and now the Marble Sound System comes in at a close second place. Unusually simple and simply unusual, the speaker uses a marble body and a wooden audio deflector to create a balanced, surround sound feel.

The choice of marble seems unusual, but it gives the speaker an aesthetic that feels almost built for Scandinavian-style homes. Made by marblemason Jérémy Caudron, the Marble Sound System comes in white marble and black granite. In front of it, is a wooden deflector that looks far from being wooden. Coated with a thin pearlescent film, the deflector changes color based on where you look at it from, but that’s the only part of the experience that changes. The audio, thanks to the skills of acoustic engineer Mathias Rémy, is well balanced and dispersed. The Marble Sound System is literally a visual and acoustic delight!

Designers: Jérémy Caudron, Mathias Rémy & Fabien Lemarchand

Images by Alexandre Echasseriau

Whether you’re living the remote life or a digital nomad who camps out at coffee shops to work, you know how multifunctional gadgets like this one can enhance your experience. It’s called CAPSO and it combines audio and light functionality into one simple unit.

It’s actually two types of speakers in one. For users who don’t want to wear headphones but don’t want to disturb those around them, its directional speaker design immerses you in music while remaining quiet to others. With the easy push of a button, however, it can turn into a full-fledged Bluetooth speaker to share tunes with friends or colleagues. An integrated light feature makes it possible to work in dimly lit spaces or read in the dark. To cycle between light and audio modes, just give it a twist. You’ll change its form and its function!

Designer: Ju Chia Lee

Turn the head of the speaker to face themselves, and it will automatically activate the parametric sound device to play music only for them. Unlike traditional loudspeakers, parametric speakers are more like a laser beam, with the sound focused with high intensity into a relatively small area.

Turn the head of the Capso speaker vertically and this will trigger as a regular loudspeaker device.

The semi-transparent case is made of cloudy and durable TPU. It provides sturdy protection when the user puts the CAP in their backpack. The case can also be used as a reading light. There are three adjustable LED light bulbs bringing up to 1000 lumen lighting when users are working in a dark place. The top of the case stores one speaker charger cable and one smartphone cable, so users will never forget to bring their charger cable for the speaker.

We’ve made leaps and bounds in car safety. AI image recognition, algorithm after algorithm being able to predict what to do what not to do… so that the driver is safe, but what about two-wheelers? Little has been done to allow bike riders to enjoy that sort of safety. In the USA alone, bicycle casualties are in the 4-digit figures (per year).

Probably the smartest thing to find itself on the bicycle, the Lucnt SRL1 looks at the bigger picture. While the world works on making bicycles more efficient, electric, durable, versatile, the Lucnt SRL1 makes bikes SAFE. Sitting right under your seat, the Lucnt is like car brake lights but on your bike. It knows when you’re accelerating or braking probably before even you can realize, and relays that information to the driver/rider behind you and the world around you.

As smart as it is, the Lucnt is also smartly designed. Milled out of a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum, the Lucnt is light yet durable. It contains 4 LEDs and multiple sensors that know exactly when you’re speeding up or slowing down, relaying the signals to the LEDs that can then efficiently indicate to the driver behind. The Lucnt can be used in two different modes, a steady mode that shines all four LEDs at 10% intensity when you’re moving and at 100% intensity when you brake. It also has a blinking mode, that uses all four LEDs to blink and indicate speed to the driver behind you too. The Lucnt is weather-proof, and the LEDs have incredible visibility, allowing it to be used in virtually any scenario, be it urban or on an adventure trail. The battery on the Lucnt can run for 20 hours on a single charge in blinking mode, and uses your go-to MicroUSB for charging.

What Lucnt does is brings technology on the right track (no pun intended). There’s little a helmet can do to save you, but the Lucnt does the rest. Its ability to gauge, analyze, and execute in a split second makes it less of a bike light and more of a safety device that should be given as much importance as any of the protective gear you wear while riding a bicycle.

Designers: Arash & Mehdi Malek

Click here to Buy Now: $100.00

Click here to Buy Now: $100.00

The AXUM GEAR workout buds are designed to not only deliver a powerful punch of sound while you work out, but stay put while you do it. Despite their compact size, they can really get your blood pressure going thanks to their base-enhanced custom 8mm dynamic drivers. A robust recharging case protects the buds when they’re not in use and is durable enough to toss in your gym bag when you’re finished. According to designer Jake Lee, their signature red triangle indicates whether they’re active and symbolizes dynamism, and balance – core keywords that have defined and shaped AXUM.

Designer: Jake Lee

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Click here to Buy Now

Get it? It’s a home for your cat! Ok… bad pun. What can I say? I’m just not much of a cat person. But even if you’re like me, there’s no denying the cute-factor of this minimalistic feline domicile! Better yet, it transforms into a scratching “post” and chill out pad when they’re not nestled comfortably inside. Made in super-soft felt material, it’s foldable and transportable. Heck of a lot better than those cat towers! Yuck.

Designer: Lei Yang

The Dotti is cute, but more importantly, it’s versatile. In fact, it’s so versatile it’s capable of being used for a dizzyingly large variety of things. Outwardly, this box is an array of lights that can light up to notify you when you get… well… notifications, but it’s much more than that. It’s a canvas, that allows you to not just create your own art within its 8X8 framework, you can even pair multiple Dottis together to make a larger canvas for you to draw on.

The Dotti comes with a few tricks up its sleeves too. It acts as a clock when not delivering app or phone notifications to you. Play music and the Dotti comes alive by showing a dancing equalizer… and my favorite Easter egg is the game mode, that allows the Dotti to function as a die (singular for dice?). Shake the Dotti and it’ll flash a random number from 1 to 6, functioning as a die that you can play games with. Built with a lithium-ion battery that gives it as much as 750 hours of use on a single charge, there’s a lot the Dotti can do to not just keep you in the loop, but also keep you entertained!

Designer: Witti Design

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Introduce one, just one Evade Clip into any kidnapping movie and its outcome would be completely different. That’s because, just as its name suggests, the Evade Clip was designed to let you escape from virtually any scenario. Tied up by ropes? The Stainless Steel blade will cut through the toughest paracords. Trapped in a car? The clip comes with a carbide tip that can shatter most glass panes with a single strike. Locked in/out of a place? The Carbide rod will literally cut through metal padlocks and chains. How about door-locks? The Evade Clip even comes with a 3-piece lockpick set that can best any lock, if you choose.

Designed to fit easily into pockets, the Evade Clip is a literal key to freedom. In the unlikely event that you may need to escape, the Evade Clip provides you with potentially life-saving tools in an incredibly small form factor. It’s sometimes much easier to evade problems than to tackle them. The Evade Clip ensures you’ll have everything you need to get out of any sticky situation.

Designer: TIHK

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Click Here to Buy Now