Designer : Ludovic Peperstraete

Designer : Paula Adina Sumalan via Core77

This concept device can be held in ways that is comfortable by the user and enables the utilization of the index finger and thumb. Most amazingly, this device can produce electrical energy by any kind of movement, even slight vibration persuades electricity, which is used to charge this device. More energetic interactions, such as, swinging the device repetitively between and around the index finger and thumb, gives a greater charge. The user can learn, develop and combine varieties of techniques for not only powering the device, but also increase the hand dexterity and coordination.

The track control section includes an electromagnetic inducer that generates an electric charge for the device from any kind of vibration or motion. The volume control segment includes all the major electronic modules of the device, including phono input, headphone output, memory storage unit and logic board. The volume control contains basic controls only and no screen, allows less energy requirement. The soft exterior casing of both main parts and beads provide easy grip and tactility, and is consists of thermoplastic polyurethane, which is an energy efficient material to manufacture and consequently, can be effectively recycled. The inner casing is made of stainless steel and provides protection to the electrical equipments and offers a tactile weight to the device. Aside from giving the device a unique form, the cable connects the two sections and transfer energy to all other components from the power supply.

Revealing the cable detach screws can be done by pulling out the soft outer casing. Unscrewing these will separate the entire device into different components that will let the user customize, repair and replace the components. Adjusting volume and track selection can be controlled by turning the end beads within the consequent end sections. The power and play or pause is controlled by clicking the beads into the sections.

Designer : Thomas Mascall

Designer : Andrew Bedov

[Press Release]

Husqvarna, the global leader of outdoor power products, has developed a quiet, powerful and environmentally friendly ride-on mower for the future garden. The concept mower, developed by Husqvarna’s designers and engineers, is made of recycled materials and gives an indication how the future of mowing might come to look.

-Husqvarna Panthera Leo™ demonstrates our innovation capacity and ambition to develop high performing products with less environmental impact, says Magnus Yngen, President and CEO of Husqvarna.

Husqvarna Panthera Leo™ is a hybrid made up of two ride-on mowers, Rider and Zero-Turn. A battery that can be charged at any electrical outlet has replaced the traditional gas engine. Five powerful electrical motors partnered with a sound absorbing cutting deck, allow the Husqvarna Panthera Leo™ to glide effortlessly and silently across your lawn. The tree individually suspended cutting decks enables this mower to mow smoothly over bumpier parts of your garden, avoiding lawn scalping. The cutting decks each have razor sharp blades for a close cut finish and can be controlled to suit wide or narrow lawns (from 85cm up to 120cm).

All functions and are managed via paddles on the steering wheel. Via an LCD-display gardeners are told everything they need to know to achieve a perfect lawn, from how fast they are driving, cutting height, cutting width, remaining battery time, service needs and warns the user about objects that are too close. With the help of sensors, Husqvarna Panthera Leo™ can recommend the most suitable speed and cutting height for the perfect lawn.

Husqvarna is the leader in several areas in terms of products with reduced environmental impact. The Group’s new engines comply with the strictest exhaust-emission criteria in the US and Europe .

Features

* Equipped with zero-emission technology
* Produced from recycled materials
* Rechargeable Lithium-phosphate battery
* Plug-in product, charged at any electrical point
* Five brushless electrical engines, easy and clean to maintain
* Three separate cutters equipped with razor sharp blades
* Cutters individually suspended to glide smoothly over bumpy terrain and prevent lawn scalping
* Variable cutting width (85-120cm)
* Zero-turn functionality
* Lifting cutting deck (90 degrees)
* Ergonomic steering wheel
* Easy to control dashboard
* Cutting time 2 hours, overnight charging
* Detailed LCD display monitor (featuring cutting height, width of cutting deck, speed, service information, steep hill warning, objects that are too close)

Designer : Husqvarna

This electronic device is combined with a speech synthesis and a digital camera with a shape of a traditional product. The speech synthesis is able to decode texts to voice streams and the screen can be used as a magnification in conditions when the speech synthesis is not working. One good example of such situations is when a visual handicapped person wants to illuminate for instance images or illustrations which can be portrayed in endless ways. This device comprises a bendable OLED display featuring non-photosensitive images, fast speech synthesis and a digital camera module. Not all of these devices are ready to use today, but many of them are already operational.

This project took ten long weeks to accomplish aiming to create a product that will enable various options to clarify information for those people who are visually handicapped. The intention was not to replace the physical companion. Rather, it is an attempt to strengthen the self confidence of the users by feeling more self-governing.

Designer : Erik Rydell

[Press Release]
Priestman Goode has designed the new first class suite for airline Swiss.The suite will enter service in April as part of the airline’s new first class cabin. This is in conjunction with a fleet renewal programme that will see Swiss’ Airbus A330-200s replaced with A330-300s. Priestman Goode has previously worked on the interiors of Lufthansa’s intercontinental fleet and the Airbus A350 cabin design. Goode says the consultancy worked with Swiss on the design concept, and then worked closely with the super first class division of US manufacturer BE Aerospace to develop the suites.

He says, ‘BE has a seat mechanism that has been certified and passenger tested, and everything else in the suite is bespoke. We worked closely with BE, at this level you have to be very precise.’

Designer : Priestman Goode

James Salvidge own words :
In the UK today the introduction of new technology has meant that people have a far greater choice of how they access the post office services. Consequently, people are visiting post offices less, making the current service unsustainable. As a result the Post Office has already closed 500 post offices and has proposed the closure of 2500 more.

In the rural areas of the UK, the Post Office still plays an important economic and social role. So it is important that the services are not lost completely as this could make life for the elderly and poor increasingly difficult and also reduce the opportunities for social contact and communities to interact.

The project brief was to look at the role of the Post Office in a rural area and then to design a new service to be created in its place, one which was more sustainable and enabled the continuation of the postal services.

My concept was for a compact, automated post office unit which could be easily moved between villages, with each one being capable of supplying the services to around seven villages; saving materials and energy as fewer have to be produced

Following a timetable would allow the locations to be pre-arranged, the benefits of doing this are that larger villages, which have a greater need for the services, can be allocated more time and smaller villages less time. It also allows the people using the services to know when it will be situated in their village. As well as parcel and postal services, via a wireless internet connection it can provide users access to all the online post office services, including their insurance and bank services; allowing them to withdrawal their cash, pensions and benefits.

By constructing the mobile section out of relatively lightweight materials and by incorporating a trolley into the structure of the design, it will easily moved by the employees of the royal mail. To ensure it remains in location, via the screen, authorised employees will be able to activate the internal locking mechanism, which will securely lock it onto the post box; at the same time it will automatically lower itself to the ground, preventing it from being moved.

It would be a financially viable solution to problem facing the Post Office because it removes the need for a permanent structure and does not need an employee to supervise it. It can be entirely maintained by the Royal Mail, using their vans to transport it before their daily collection of post and parcels.

Designer : James Salvidge

From the designer :
We bring up a new American icon in the subject of Brave and Bold. We were inspired by Harley-Davidson, the American motorcycle symbol and Pontiac-Firebird, a muscle car, therefore we designed the body from which is dynamic and progressive.

The entire body has been designed to have the wheels in front of it like motorcycles, so it is totally different from other cars. The wheel design, which is unique and aggressive, maximizes the design of the body. We call the wheels “the Transforming Multifunctional Wheels”.

A wheel has 24 spokes and each spoke is made up by a special carbon-fiber which has very strong elastic characteristic. The wheel associates a caterpillar tread of tanks. And each spoke can tilt 15 degrees back and forth to be formed to steer the car without any additional steering equipment. The wheels transform and the body tilts in the same direction when the car changes its direction so you can drive safely and dynamically.

Each spoke is constructed independently so that you do not need to replace whole wheel when the tire is flatted but only spokes which are flattened. Therefore, it is an environment-friendly concept. The body can minimize impact of collision to a driver by its body construction of the arms of the wheels. Due to the advantage of the construction, it can run easily off-road, such as the deserts of the United States of America.

Designer : Su-Yang Park & Chang-Hoe Heo

Designer : Fredrik Hyltén-Cavallius via TheDesignBlog