When looking at options for furniture for their new or current house, people either look at the design and aesthetics while some prefer the more comfortable ones over the ones that would look good in their space. But of course there are those that can probably offer you both so wouldn’t you want to have something that looks good in your space and also is pretty comfortable that you’d want to use it for a long time?

Designer: Mudu Studios

SOLO is a concept for a furniture collection that could offer both comfort and design. The focal point of this collection is the plush upholstery that is seemingly placed on a pedestal because of the materials used. The collection includes an armchair, sofa, and a pouf, all of which feature a soft aesthetic, in contrast to the metal or natural veneer of the base which acts like a pedestal to showcase the luxuriously soft upholstery and textile. This contrast highlights the plushness of the seating while adding a touch of modern sophistication. Accent seams further enhance the visual appeal, adding subtle detailing and contributing to the overall character of the collection.

The collection’s expressive design language allows it to seamlessly integrate into a variety of interior styles, from contemporary minimalist spaces to more eclectic settings. The varied color palette offers a range of options to suit individual preferences and complement existing décor. A standout feature of the SOLO armchair is its innovative twist mechanism. This thoughtful addition enhances comfort and allows users to easily find their perfect lounging position, further emphasizing the collection’s focus on relaxation and well-being. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a harmonious balance between form and function. The elevated design not only adds visual interest but also contributes to the overall comfort by providing optimal support. The combination of soft textiles, a sturdy base, and thoughtful features like the twist mechanism in the armchair make SOLO a truly exceptional collection.

Alas, the SOLO collection is still a concept and they are currently looking for a manufacturer. But to have something that is visually attractive and seemingly comfortable should make it easy for them to eventually find someone that can make this design a reality. I am now currently dreaming of taking a nap on that sofa or reading a book for hours on that armchair or sitting on that pouf while chatting and drinking with friends.

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Most chairs are designed for the everyday act of sitting – at a desk, relaxing, or enjoying a meal. But what about those who require a more dynamic and specialized seating experience? Painters, for example, often work on vertical canvases, require a chair that offers mobility, support, and freedom of movement. Industrial design student Teo Primo Frizzarin recognized this need and developed the “Leo” chair, a concept specifically designed for artists.

Designer: Teo Primo Frizzarin

Frizzarin, studying at ECAL (University of Art and Design Lausanne), focused his efforts on creating a chair that caters to the unique demands of working with a vertical surface. The Leo chair aims to provide painters with enhanced mobility and crucial arm support, essential for the creation of their masterpieces. The name itself, “Leo,” likely evokes the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, hinting at the chair’s artistic purpose. The Leo chair draws inspiration from the form and function of a horse saddle. This design provides a stable seat while simultaneously granting the user greater freedom of movement compared to a traditional chair.

You get a conventional looking backrest but it also appears to be an arm support, which is probably what’s needed more. This support is not only adjustable in height but also in position, accommodating the varied postures and angles painters adopt while working. This adaptability is key, as artists often shift their positions and reach across the canvas as their work progresses. The prototype of the Leo chair showcases its mobility-enhancing features, including integrated wheels. These wheels allow the artist to easily maneuver around their workspace, retrieving paints, brushes, solvents, or other materials without needing to stand up and disrupt their creative flow. This thoughtful detail addresses the practical needs of painters who often require quick access to a variety of tools and supplies.

Frizzarin’s innovative design earned him a “Très Bien” mention for his diploma project, suggesting a promising future for the Leo chair. This recognition underscores the potential market for specialized furniture that caters to the specific requirements of artists. Currently, painters often rely on standard chairs, rolling chairs, or swivel chairs, none of which are perfectly optimized for the demands of their craft. The Leo chair offers a compelling alternative, potentially revolutionizing the way artists interact with their workspace. While still a concept, the Leo chair represents a significant step towards a more ergonomic and artist-centric approach to furniture design. It raises the question: will the Leo chair become the new standard for artists’ seating, or will it inspire further innovation in this often-overlooked area of design?

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Thanks to Apple, popping earbuds in and out of their charging cases almost feels natural these days. That doesn’t mean they’re convenient or easy, especially when you have to actually open the case first to get the earbuds out. It shouldn’t be that hard, but convention isn’t always on the side of common sense, especially when sticking to the norm is more cost-effective.

This concept design for a pair of modular wireless earbuds tries to challenge the status quo on many levels. It tries to create an ecosystem that goes beyond just playing audio in your ears, resulting in a few features that are, admittedly, a bit peculiar. Curiously, one of the most interesting parts of its design isn’t actually the modules but is instead its equally unconventional charging case.

Designer: Dongkyun Kim

Yes, the charging case, which is actually a lot larger than your typical design, still has a cover that you open up to reveal its contents. In fact, it might even be weirder than most charging cases because the cover opens down like a drawbridge. That doesn’t matter much, though, because you don’t even need to open it to access the earbuds. There are openings on each side that allow you to take them out and put them back in without opening the case at all.

It’s becoming more common for TWS earbud cases to have screens of their own to display important stats, and the Orbit concept is no different. Where it differs is that the screen is so small to avoid being distracting, though it also raises the question of whether it will be readable at all. It’s just a minor convenience anyway, something to add some flavor to the already intriguing design.

Created using Luxion Technology (luxion.com)

Created using Luxion Technology (luxion.com)

Of course, the real meat of the Orbit design concept is its modularity and the modules it comes with out of the box, or rather out of the charging case. There’s a cog-shaped wheel, for example, that magnetically latches onto one of the earbuds to add some tactile feedback for more precise and satisfying controls. Presuming there will be other products in the Orbit ecosystem, this wheel could also be a controller for those.

The camera modules are a bit of an odd feature. They’re supposed to improve motion tracking and spatial awareness, though that could also raise privacy concerns. It could be used to take photos or record videos that are sent to a paired smartphone in a way that looks almost natural because of their proximity to your eyes. Given their size, however, they might not be that capable of recording important memories.

The wireless earbuds themselves have a rather unusual design. In addition to adopting an open-ear technology, the buds are meant to clip to the sides of the ear, which could be uncomfortable and unstable. Indeed, the concept has quite a few interesting ideas that go beyond the actual purpose of the earbuds, but it’s really the case that could be considered to be its selling point.

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Multi-tool designs have become a common sight in many EDC kits, offering a range of tools for almost every occasion. While these might be fine for those quick and unplanned tasks, dedicated tools for specific jobs still have the advantage of offering the best experience as far as that purpose goes. When you’re at home or at your workshop, for example, a proper screwdriver is probably a better option than a tiny one that fits in your pocket.

That said, there’s also a variety of designs available for screwdrivers, ranging from the manual type to electric tools. But while the latter tend to offer more power and convenience, people still tend to reach for a classic design because they’re instantly available without having to worry about cords or batteries. This concept for an electric screwdriver tries to address that remaining flaw by introducing a design that’s ergonomic, versatile, and ultimately more reliable.

Designer: Simone Rizzi

The convenience of electric screwdrivers comes from the fact that you don’t have to strain your hand while twisting the tool. But like flashlights and other battery-powered devices we keep in drawers and toolboxes, we tend to forget to check their state until it’s too late. The stress of discovering a drained electric screwdriver right when you desperately need it is why people surprisingly still prefer the conventional and manual type of screwdriver.

Delta is a concept design for an electric screwdriver that fixes that problem with a very simple solution. The screwdriver comes with a dock for its home that acts not only as storage for driver bits but also as a charging base, not unlike the charging cases of wireless earbuds today. With that design, you can always be sure that the screwdriver will be ready for action the moment you pick it up, and there’s also a very visible indicator of just how much battery it has left.

The design of the screwdriver and its base is also unlike your typical electric screwdriver, paying close attention to aesthetics and ergonomics. Rather than a straight stick or a gun-like shape, the Delta has a slightly bent form that makes it easier and more comfortable to grasp, increasing confidence and pleasure in the use of the tool. Familiarity makes you more likely to immediately reach for this screwdriver rather than second guessing if it’s the right tool or not.

The triangular shape of the charging base isn’t by accident either. It provides stability whether it’s lying on its side or standing on one end, while also making it easy to pick up and carry the duo wherever it’s needed. The location of the driver bits offers easy and immediate access without worrying about them falling off in transit. The Delta concept doesn’t radically change the formula for an electric screwdriver, but through the combination of small improvements, it creates a design that is not only more usable but more reliable as well.

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NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was a groundbreaking piece of equipment that was able to be the first human-made object to fly to a different planet back in 2021. And while it crashed in January of this year, it was still able to make 72 flights in under three years. Now that it’s not functioning anymore, NASA is looking at building the next object that will give us a peek into another planet.

Designer: NASA

They have unveiled the early design renderings of the Mars Chopper, their proposed follow-up to the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. It’s a huge leap from the original as this one is the size of an SUV with six rotor blades to help it fly across the planet. It will be able to carry up to 11 pounds of science payloads across 1.9 miles per Mars day.

The initial renders show the three-legged drone gliding over the supposed landscape of Mars. Since Ingenuity was much smaller, this will hopefully be able to surpass its achievements and give us an even better view and understanding of Mars. It should be able to help scientists in studying Martian terrain and at a faster rate.

While it’s still in its “early conceptual and design stages”, there is already anticipation in how the Chopper can give us a glimpse into the previously inaccessible areas. It’s not clear though if it will actually be sent to Mars.

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People who have a hard time falling asleep at night usually try to become sleepy by scrolling through their devices, most of the time to no avail. So if you’re trying to get away from your gadgets, staring up at the ceiling and counting sheep may be your other option. But what if you could see something else other than your blank ceiling.

Designers: Dongkyun Kim, Jaeyeon Lee, Yujeong Kim, Sumin Park, Dugyeong Lee

Loom is a concept for a beam projector that can project images onto your ceiling. It is meant to add to the atmosphere of your room, whether you’re trying to fall asleep or just relaxing after a hard day of work. Not everyone has the luxury to actually go outside and stare at the stars or at the nature surrounding them, so this is probably the next best thing.

The device is something that you attach to the wall and turning it on or off is designed to be like opening a door, letting you step into another world. Once you turn the knob so to speak, which is actually a small telescope-like device, your ceiling will be transformed into whatever image you want to see up there. There’s a controller that looks like a round speaker that you can rotate to adjust the angle of the projection and to rotate the image horizontally or vertically.

This is a pretty interesting idea especially if your ceiling is just a boring, plain color. It would also be nice if it can also project short videos that can loop so you can see things like clouds moving across the sky or anything that can lull you to sleep or relax.

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There are a lot of thermal printers in the market right now. People use it for scrapbooking and journaling, labeling, and even printing out receipts for small businesses. If you own one, have you ever wished that it had a screen so you could watch videos on it? No? Well, this concept for a thermal printer is apparently not mainly a printer but actually a learning device with a video screen.

Designer: DPP

Even though the name has the words thermal printer on it, it looks like that is just a secondary function of the device. The N2-Thermal printer is a concept for a screen-equipped learning device. It looks like a regular camera and it also has a camera function as well. It seems to be a lot of things to appeal to people who need all of these things.

It’s primarily being pushed as a learning device as there are videos to be loaded on it so students or even grown ups will be able to view these video explanations. The camera has an AI-powered photo-based question search function and can even correct the homework of the kids (although that isn’t really explained). There’s also a flip stand so you can adjust the viewing angle and it can also be replaced with other designs as it has a quick release structure.

As for the thermal printing function, it’s still there since it’s what it’s called but for why you need a printer though is unclear. Maybe they can print their homework or something, although of course the options for that is limited.

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Given your seemingly uncanny ability to lose small but important objects like keys and eyeglasses, productivity gurus often advise regularly putting these things in a single place whenever you come home, preferably somewhere near the door. As if our lives weren’t already complicated enough, wireless earbuds add another thing that we can easily misplace, even if they actually have a charging case to call home. Sometimes, even that charging case gets lost in the shuffle.

Part of the problem lies in the transition of those earbuds from our ears to their charging case, which can take more than just a few seconds and a lot of fumbling around. This concept design tries to offer our little audio companions a home of their own while also solving that common problem of having to stop your music or podcast once you’ve arrived home.

Designer: Siyeong Park

Many of us have probably developed the habit of listening to music or podcasts to pass the time during commutes. Sometimes, we even do it when we’re running or exercising outdoors. Regardless of the activity, we all have the same behavior when we get home: we take off the earbuds, search for their case in our pockets or bags, and then slip them in for charging. It’s a simple series of actions that have one rather important consequence: it pauses the music we’ve been listening to.

SOAK is a concept for a wireless speaker that hits two birds with one stone, so to speak. On the one hand, it offers a safe and consistent place for your earbuds the moment you enter the house or room. The vase-like design has a bowl-shaped container on top where you can simply drop the earbuds into. In theory, it should charge the buds even without the charging case, but that would require a different kind of technology for truly wireless charging.

The real magic, however, is that the speakers can seamlessly continue playing whatever is being sent to the earbuds. This means you don’t have to pause the music or podcast just because you need to remove the earbuds, letting you continue the rhythm and the vibe of whatever you were listening to. In other words, you decide when you want to stop the music, not the limitations of technology and manufacturer design.

It’s definitely an idyllic scenario, though it’s probably not that easy to implement yet. Most of the technologies needed, like over-the-air wireless charging, do exist today, but support from devices is still quite poor. It does paint a picture of a smarter home that isn’t just focused on lighting or appliances, but one that is designed around our modern lifestyles and habits.

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Given how many hours a day and how many days a week people work in front of their desks, the need for comfortable and ergonomic chairs is more important today than ever. Although work-from-home arrangements have made it possible to pick your own chair, that isn’t true for offices that buy generic chairs in bulk to keep costs down. While almost all manufacturers promise comfort, not everyone defines that word the same way.

A chair with an ergonomic yet cost-effective design would be great, but it would be even better if people could customize it to their own comfort without breaking the bank. That’s the kind of office chair heaven that this concept tries to envision, and unsurprisingly, it uses a modular design to solve that kind of problem.

Designer: Byeongjun Kang

To some extent, the typical computer chair with four to five wheels and height-adjustable backrests already has the foundations of modularity. They’re often flat-packed and require some assembly, so it’s just one step away from adjusting that design to accommodate other parts. You just need the right connections to use.

FP, or “First-Party,” Chair concept design uses a rail system to make that not only possible but also easy. The seat and the backrest are the main modular parts that can be removed and replaced by any compatible design. It starts out with completely flat designs, but these can be swapped out for ones with cushions, curves, and armrests. Anything that can fit that rail system will do as long as it keeps the chair balanced.

The base is also replaceable, though the options are probably fewer. You have the typical caster for movability or a flat platform for stability. The latter can probably be screwed down as well, which might be necessary for some mass installation. There isn’t much wiggle room for differentiation here, especially since the need for stability is even greater.

The FP Chair doesn’t differ from those mass-produced office chairs in terms of packaging convenience or assembling complexity. There are also still some limits to what modular designs can be used, such as the balance of the chair and its stability. As with any modular system, it will also depend on just how many third-party designs take advantage of this feature, though given the need for personalization and customization, one can easily imagine how big that market could be.

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There are a few iconic Seiko watches that can make heads turn. The H-Timetron from the late 90s being one of them. No wonder then, the timeless classic – designed back in the day with consideration of affinity and a sense of technology – is a motivation for a designer to interpret the watch in 3D. The contemporary interpretation of the Seiko H-Timetron digital watch is as close as it can be in representation, functionality, digital display, and style.

The idea of the H-Timeteon kicked off two decades back with the vision to develop a new brand of watch targeting young people. Going through the renders, chief designer Hiramatsu was impressed by a dot-matrix caliber that reminded him of an old PC from his childhood. Immediately, the dial and the complete structure of the Timetron with dot matrix display were born and developed by Seiko.

Designer: Artem Rudenko

Undoubtedly, groundbreaking tech for the time, the matrix display was the main highlight of the watch, which was well complemented by its accompanying polyurethane strap. The modern take on the watch carries that look and feel with clean lines, vibrant color palate, and a minimalist composition.

The idea of visualizing the H-Timetron in 3D is more than just recreating the watch. The project intends to reintroduce the timeless Seiko H-Timetron classic watch to the Gen-Z. The 3D design preserves the retro charm of the display and the aesthetics. The letter “h” in “h-timetron” is said to stand for happy. And this representation of the iconic watch would really make many in the modern audience happy to own one.

The minimalistic recreation displays the concise digital dial with green matrix typography. The time, date, and other functions displayed on the liquid crystal dial rest within a case with rounded corners and are reminiscent of the PC in the 80s, which essentially gives the watch its distinctive personality. The watch comes in a vibrant teal finish from dial to strap with a contrasting center pusher. On pushing the orange button, the watch changes the size of the characters displayed, while the other two – on either side of it – can help change modes and different settings on the watch, which may include alarm, reminder, stopwatch, and even health tracking, maybe!

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With today’s more sophisticated users and complex software, the need for tools that can adapt to creators’ needs is growing higher as well. Full keyboards don’t have enough space for individual shortcuts, even those with a numeric keypad attached. It’s also quite tedious to memorize all those unrelated key combos, which is why gadgets like the Stream Deck have become quite popular with their programmable buttons.

These devices, however, don’t offer the same tactile experience as actual physical controls, and that’s the unique selling point of this concept design for a modular numeric keypad. On its own, it functions normally for fast access to numbers, but with the right parts, it can turn into a sound mixer, brush size dial, and more, adapting to whatever you need to get the job done.

Designer: Benjamin Fryc x Work Louder

For some desktop users, the numeric keypad or numpad has become an optional and almost useless part of the keyboard. They prefer to use more compact wireless keyboards to save space or offer more flexibility in where you want to move it on your desk. That is until they realize they need even more keys to keep up with all the keyboard shortcuts for the apps they use.

The KNOB numpad is a design concept that not only brings that numeric keypad, which you can use for those keyboard shortcuts but also adds more control options for an even better user experience. Mashing a single key repeatedly to increase or decrease Photoshop’s brush size isn’t as satisfying as turning a knob, and scrubbing through a video timeline feels more intuitive with a dial. A slider is also a better interface for raising or lowering levels than, you guessed it, a keyboard shortcut.

Best of all, the concept doesn’t force you to commit to having these interfaces on your desk all the time. Just like a wireless numpad that you can stash in a drawer when no longer needed, the magnetic modules can be attached and removed as needed, depending on what you’re working on. Even better, the wireless and modular design lets you place the device on either side of the keyboard, allowing for ambidextrous use.

The KNOB numpad comes with an aesthetic similar to the designs you see from Teenage Engineering or Work Louder. The silver brushed metal surface gives it that industrial appearance, while the orange accents add some points of visual interest to the design. It’s definitely a concept we’d like to see on store shelves, especially with more modular numeric keypad ideas sprouting recently.

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Even though a lot of coffee shops offer discounts if you bring your own mug or tumbler when you buy from them, there’s still a lot of disposable plastic cups that go to waste, staying in landfills for decades. Since people will still probably continue using them, we need to find a way to be able to properly recycle of this particular kind of waste.

Designers: Yoonjeong Lee, Minjoeng Kim, Changyu Seo, Songhee Kim, Geunyeong Do

Loop is a concept for a 3D printer that will be able to do just that. It actually looks like a coffee maker or a water storage device but its function is to actually turn those plastic cups to create scrubbers that can also be used at the cafes. Therefore it really lives up to its name as it creates a sustainable circulation structure.

The 3D printer melts the plastic cups that you put in it by grinding them into small particles. They are heated to turn them into a “soft and malleable state” then cooled to solidify. They are then extruded into the desired filament shapes for printing. The scrubbers can then be used in washing dishes at the cafe.

The suggestion of the product designers is for cafes to use this to incentivize their customers into returning the plastic cups instead of just throwing it. It would be interesting to see if something like this can actually change consumer behavior.

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Whether you’re working from home or from your cubicle in the office, a lot of times we’re expected to work continuously during official work hours. But as numerous studies have proven, we need to take a break every once in a while to just rest our eyes, mind, and body. It’s easier to do it at home but when you’re in the office, you need to find your space or uncomfortably like your head on your table.

Designers: Subin Kim, Dami Seo, Da young Yoon, Sieun Cha, Gayeon Kim

Despite the negative connotation associated with the name, Lazy is a concept for a desk that will let you be “lazy” when you need to take a break. It’s a work desk and chair that has some additional features that lets you rest without needing to move somewhere else. Ideally of course you should step away when you want a break, but for those times when you can’t, then this is an alternative.

The desk has a cushion on the upper left part which lets you take a nap or even just lay your head down and close your eyes. Laying your head on a wooden desk is not that comfortable but the cushion should be a better option. Under the table are strings that lets you swing your feet around if you need some movement. There’s also a gap in the desk where you can place your laptop when not in use or books, notebooks, documents that you don’t need at the moment.

The chair that is part of the Lazy furniture matches the table. My one complaint with this though is that it doesn’t have a backrest so it might be uncomfortable if you’re sitting at your desk for some time. But otherwise, I’m looking forward to having a cushion ready at the desk for my daily nap.

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Two trends that have been making its way to furniture concepts and designs are minimal and modular. Sometimes the two are not able to work together since the latter needs more elements thereby defeating the purpose of the former. But there are also times when when product designers are able to blend the two together.

Designer: Liam de la Bedoyere

The Swivel Side Table is a concept that seems to take elements from both design schools. It’s actually a conceptual evolution of hits previous concept design for a Split side table and you can see that he brought ideas from that previous experiment to the, well, side table. It’s an interesting concept that lets the user sort of customize the side table to their preference.

This time around, there’s a central metal frame which serves as the core and the main flat surface to place your coffee, book, or whatever it is that needs a side table. It looks just like a typical low cocktail table type. But what makes this concept unique is that you place CNC-cut wooden disks around the frame that is able to slide and pivot. You can swivel and customize how you arrange it and even create nooks for small items and a book or two.

Depending on the way you swivel the disks around, you either get just a usual round side table or a puzzle piece-like piece of furniture. It’s interesting to see what the designer will come up with next, side table-wise.

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Almost everyone wants to ride the TWS earbuds wave, so it’s not surprising that the majority of designs all look quite similar. It’s only recently that manufacturers have started diversifying the designs of not just the earbuds themselves but also the charging cases. We’re even starting to see charging cases with built-in displays, paving the road for even more variety.

There’s definitely still plenty of room for growth, especially for designs that eschew traditional shapes and form factors. This concept, for example, turns Bluetooth earbuds into something more than just an accessory: it also become something like a friend that keeps you company and entertained all throughout the day and even through the night.

Designer: Eric Cheng

The basic shape of earbuds chargers is box-like for practical reasons. It is, after all, easier to cram everything inside such a plain and simple shape. There are some that go for a tube-like design for some extra impact, though those tend to be more cumbersome to use because of fancy but unnecessary sliding mechanisms.

Being square doesn’t have to mean boring, even though the idiomatic expression does mean exactly that. With a few additional details, a plain old earbuds case becomes an anthropomorphized robot that wouldn’t look out of place in a Toy Story scene. That’s what the DMOOSTER D76 mini TV concept design tries to bring to the table, or to your pocket for that matter, giving an accessory a face and a relatable character you can get attached to.

There are sides to the same coin of this design. The most obvious is the armless robot form, with the charging case’s display as its expressive face. When you pull out its legs, however, you not only see the USB-C charging port, it also becomes the eponymous mini TV that sparks the imagination of a miniature toy world. These two modes don’t really have any practical function, but they bring the otherwise plain and boring accessory to life.

Of course, it’s still a charging case, but the location of the earbuds is curious. They’re actually outside the box, inserted in silos behind the case and to the sides. It does mean you don’t have to open the case to get the buds and put them back in, leaving more room for essential electronics or a larger battery inside. It also means, however, that the buds have a greater risk of being dislodged and getting lost, which would probably earn a frown on this cute robot’s face.

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The proliferation of video games has proven that this form of entertainment transcends stereotypical age and gender boundaries. Everyone can play and enjoy games, whether on their computers or on their phones. The problem is that most of these games presume that people have full control over their bodies, particularly their hands.

Accessibility controls do exist, though primarily for the two major console platforms. PC gamers, especially those used to keyboards and mice, are unfortunately left to fend for themselves. This concept design tries to level the playing field, no pun intended, with an input device primarily catering to PC gamers with certain physical handicaps. But like any accessible design, it could even benefit “normal” players as well.

Designer: Shivangee Tilak

Created using Luxion Technology (luxion.com)

Created using Luxion Technology (luxion.com)

It’s definitely encouraging to see a lot of focus being paid to gamer accessibility, but most of the narratives revolve around people with complete hand disabilities. Of course, these can benefit all gamers but designs that cater to temporarily disabled people are rarely covered. IGI, or the Inclusive Gaming Interface, is a design concept that does exactly that, targeting gamers with temporary arm injuries, mild arthritis, stroke survivors, or even those with cerebral palsy. And, yes, it works for non-disabled gamers as well.

The shape of the IGI is probably familiar to PC gamers, taking the form of a one-handed keyboard used by the “pros.” They say the devil is in the details, and that’s definitely the case here. Every aspect of this keyboard is not only made with ergonomics and accessibility in mind but also to allow the customization of that experience to fit the needs of the user.

For example, the height of the keys increases as the row moves further away, making them easier to reach without overstretching, and these can be adjusted using a pin on the side of the keyboard. The thumb unit that has a few shortcut buttons can actually be removed and switched to either side of the device, making it an ambidextrous and modular design. There are also detachable palm and wrist cushions, though some will probably question the ergonomics of those designs.

Almost everything about the IGI keyboard is customizable thanks to its modular design and programmable parts. That’s something not only convenient for regular gamers but also critical for those with special needs. Best of all, you can also theoretically mix and match module designs, though the base unit will have a fixed theme. It’s definitely an interesting concept that doesn’t depart too much from convention, though its actual benefits have yet to be tested in the real world.

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Cable management and hiding is not only a trend; it has even become an art form. Messy cables don’t just get in the way but are also an eyesore. But what if the cables become part of the desk’s aesthetic? What if the power strip or socket box actually gave you a reason to have those charging wires out in the open? That’s the idea behind this socket box design that appeals to gamers, geeks, and gadget lovers by giving their desks a cyberpunk aesthetic. At the same time, it also makes cable management simpler by not having to hide wires and cables in the first place.

Designer: PTPC

It has become en vogue to hide power sockets and charging ports from view, whether disguising themselves as part of the desk or simply placing them behind tables. While that may be an effective way to reduce the visual mess, it also means most of these outlets are harder to reach. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice convenience for aesthetics, especially if the aesthetic you’re aiming for isn’t the kind that adheres to clean and tidy arrangements.

Trozk is a “hardcore” socket box that makes you want to actually have your wires in plain sight by embracing the popular cyberpunk theme. As the name itself implies, this genre’s design language is sometimes messy, unrefined, and even garish. You have tangled cables, neon lights, and geometric shapes in abundance, though still executed in a stylistic and intentional manner.

The socket box concept is aptly big, boxy, and flashy. On the top, you have six universal power outlets arranged in a 2×3 grid that can accommodate almost any plug type. Beside them is a square with small LED indicators and a square LCD display for information such as power input, output, and the like. Off to the side are USB ports for charging mobile devices. The concept incorporates GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology to handle the load of having 10 ports putting out power.

Like any cyberpunk-themed gadget, Trozk has RGB lighting that highlights the top surface of the box as well as the branding in front. Because of its interesting visual, the socket box is clearly designed to be shown off, even when there are cables coming out of it. That makes it easier to plug and remove chargers at will, while also giving your desk or shelf a sci-fi vibe. Of course, you’ll still have to make sure your cables don’t get tangled up, but at least now you’ll have a cyberpunk excuse for the mess.

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Space Perspective offers life-changing trips to the edge of space in the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceflight. This spaceship dubbed Neptune features a breathtaking design. It’s a capsule with special UV reflective coated largest glass windows ever flown to space providing occupants an unparalleled view from the space lounge inside containing eight state-of-the-art chairs designed both for comfort and aerospace experience.

The innovative seating solution for Neptune’s passengers is visibly inspired by the lounge chairs. It seamlessly merges the luxury and comfort of the lounge chair with the safety requirements of space travel to ensure the guests have not only a comfortable seat but a safe one at that.

Designer: Of My Imagination

Dubbed Aerospace Seat SPN-01, these eight dark-blue chairs in the space lounge are lightweight, functional, and safe. While meeting travel safety standards, these chairs also provide umpteen luxury courtesy of the floating backrest, ergonomic flexibility, and modular cushioning.

These aerospace seats blend a modular pad system with adjustable cushions for ergonomic comfort. Owing to their contoured shape and arced headrest, the chairs nicely cradle their passengers during the critical phases of launch and landing. Due to their positioning (each facing outwards) in the roomy space lounge, each seat has a panoramic 360-degree view through the large capsule windows.

Whilst being designed to comfort anxious passengers in their cocooning environment, the Aerospace Seat SPN-01 is easy to repair and has adjustable features to balance comfort with functionality. Designed by @ofmyimagination the chairs are twined in pairs inside of the space capsule designed to promote conversation and foster shared experiences. The chairs are placed adjacent to each other to encourage passengers to speak with each other. Each set of chairs features a mini wooden table in between that doubles as a desk. Every chair has a storage section underneath where passengers can stow their personal belongings.

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There’s no rule that says everyday tools need to be mundane and boring. With the trend in everyday carries and kits, people are discovering how ordinary objects can become more interesting or even more functional by changing their designs. Sometimes that means giving the object a fresh new look, one far removed from the original design and yet even more familiar to people. A flashlight, for example, doesn’t have to just be a cylindrical or rectangular stick you point with, and this concept design runs with that freedom to envision alternative forms, giving it the shape and interface of one of the most familiar products of this age: our smartphones.

Designer: Sihyun Choi

There is, of course, a good reason why conventional flashlights are shaped as long fat cylinders. They’re easy to grab and wrap your hands around, and their length allows you to possibly insert it in narrow spaces. There might also be some traces of their original inspiration, the equally cylindrical candlesticks. It might be an ergonomic design, but ergonomics can change over time as well.

Today, for example, many people are just as adept at grasping their smartphones in their hands, which is the inspiration behind the WHITT concept. In a nutshell, it takes the basic form of a smartphone but puts the internals of a flashlight instead. It’s not a completely faithful recreation of a smartphone, of course, considering it tapers to one side a bit. It actually looks more like a lopsided flask or even a handheld laser projector in this case.

WHITT is also operated like a smartphone, at least when it comes to turning it on and off. The button is at the side, like where you would find a phone’s own power button, which is something we probably unconsciously push dozens or even hundreds of times a day. The similarities end there, however, as the flashlight isn’t even powered by rechargeable batteries. It uses two AA batteries that can be easily swapped out, unlike the fixed batteries inside smartphones.

As interesting as the design might be, it still leaves the question of ergonomics hanging. Opposite the tapered side is a curved edge with a ribbed surface that should improve the flashlight’s grip. Even then, a cylindrical flashlight is probably still easier to grip firmly, which is an important aspect of the tool’s utility.

The post Flashlight design concept reframes an ordinary tool as a familiar smartphone first appeared on Yanko Design.