Lamps do more than just illuminate our surroundings. They can very well change the mood in a room, especially ones whose designs are visible to everyone. The lights could give off a cool vibe that encourages productivity, or it could have a warm glow that makes you feel comfortable and at peace. Sometimes the lamp designs themselves turn a room’s narrative in a certain direction, from nature-inspired organic forms to minimalist, modern, and geometric shapes.

Lamp designs don’t have to be elaborate and complicated to have such effects. Sometimes, just the combination of form and materials is enough to be associated with certain themes and emotions. This standing floor lamp, for example, has a simple bar bent at an angle and a textile cover, but these already effectively convey the atmosphere of a city street mixed with the softness of a pasture.

Designer: Amuni Studio

Traditional street lamps cast a unique glow on the world of the night. Given their utility, their light can sometimes be harsh and cold, but it also offers safety and confidence in the dark of night. The shape of these lamps has almost become iconic, and one only needs to see the silhouette to make the association.

Corium is a standing floor lamp design that does exactly that, using the simple shape of a lamp arm bent forward at a slight angle. The lampshade is also nothing more than a long sheet of metal curving over the length of the light element like an arch. A layer of proprietary recycled leather is draped over this shade, adding a touch of organic texture and warmth to the composition.

In a way, Corium represents contrasting elements that find their harmony inside the modern home. There is the street lamp that is a staple of outdoor urban lighting, while leather is more closely associated with nature and fashion. Utility and luxury, coldness and warmth, light and shade all come together in a simple yet striking design that gives light in its own unique way.

Created using Luxion Technology (luxion.com)

Initially designed to be a pendant lamp, Corium is also an experiment in designing and producing a product entirely done in Latin America. In addition to components sourced locally, the talent and manufacturing involved were also done locally. It gives the lamp an even deeper narrative and a value that transcends its surface appearance.

The post Standing floor lamp uses recycled leather to mix urban boldness and cozy warmth first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ever since I discovered the joys of bean bags, I automatically sit on one whenever I see one at a coffee shop, library, or at my friend’s house. There’s something really comfortable about sinking in almost to the floor on these mostly comfortable chair alternatives instead of sitting on a chair or couch. There are times when I can actually sleep in those things, although it’s not good for the back or neck afterwards. I sometimes want to take a peek inside though as to what are the materials there inside.

Designer: Shayan Ramesht

Transparent Bean Bag is what its name says it is. The concept is to have a bean bag that you can see what’s inside since the outer part is of a transparent, plastic material. There are two ideas behind this design: to use recycled materials and also to take advantage of the raw aesthetic of said recycled materials. They used the excess foam from a furniture workshop to not just reduce the carbon footprint that a normal bean bag would have but also to reduce the production cost since you just re-use what is already been discarded.

The usual bean bag has an emphasis on the outer wrapping as the main design. But this time around, the volumetric material (mass) that’s inside the bean bag takes center stage. It’s like seeing a bunch of different colored popcorn squished inside the transparent bag when you sit on it. There are several advantages to having a transparent bean bag. For one, it can be more aesthetically pleasing. You can also customize the “content” inside to show more colorful elements and fillers, or even a more minimalist approach. They can also blend in better with different kinds of surroundings, especially if you are able to customize what’s inside.

Maintenance can also be better for this kind of bean bag since the transparent plastic material is often water-resistant and easy to wipe off. It would be nice also if the material inside can be replaced eventually, although that may defeat the idea of using more sustainable materials. This is a pretty interesting kind of item to have in my space and the Architecture Masterprize seems to think so too since they chose it as one of the best products last year.

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I am not a fan of scooters in a sense that I will never get on one. But whenever I see a Vespa, I am tempted to go back on that promise (until I remember how scared I am of two-wheeled vehicles) just because it’s very pretty and stylish. Now if I could have this aesthetic on something that I can actually use, then I would be happy.

Designer: Bel & Bel

The Scooter Chair is a swivel chair that repurposes parts of vintage Vespas to create a piece of furniture that may be as stylish as these luxury scooters. Each piece is handmade and can be customized to how you want it to look so it is also a luxury chair and may be more expensive than your regular, office swivel chair. But at least you can say you have the most stylish chair in your office if you get one.

Aside from being stylish, it is created to also be comfortable and sturdy since you will probably sit on it at least 6 hours a day. The seat is also ergonomic with its foam and upholstery finished with ribbed seams. It also has an adjustable height piston and a reclining mechanism for times when you need to rest and relax.

The customizable options include the color of the exterior structure, the type and tone of the upholstery (natural or synthetic leather), type of base (fixed or with wheels). You can also add some extra details to make it more luxurious like chrome-plated armrests, logos on the back, intermittent riders, or an original 8″ wheel and sideband. Of course all of this means you’ll have out a bit more compared to regular swivel chairs.

The post Swivel chair uses repurposed retro Vespas for parts first appeared on Yanko Design.

Of the many pieces of clothing we buy and use, shoes are probably the ones designed to last the longest. Because of that, footwear is usually made using materials that are durable and long-lasting but are also unfortunately often not environment-friendly. Rubber, particularly synthetic rubber, is one of the biggest culprits, not just in terms of post-consumer waste but even material waste during the manufacturing process. As one of the biggest footwear makers, Nike is thankfully taking a responsible stance, giving those rubber byproducts and excess materials a new purpose.

Designer: Nike

Although natural rubber is sourced from plants, it’s not that easy to replenish to meet the high demand for the material. Just like plastic, synthetic rubber is easy to manufacture but also harmful the environment due to their chemical content. Rubber from discarded shoes is one thing, but even the bits and pieces of cutoffs and scraps produced when making them also pose a threat to the environment.

Considering its lion’s share of the sports shoes market, Nike developed the Grind material that recycles manufacturing byproducts like rubber, foam, and even textiles to create a material that can be applied to products other than shoes. In this case, the Nike Grind Dumbbells are made with at least 20% Nike Grind material to offer an alternative fitness tool for environment-conscious consumers.

In addition to its sustainable value, the recycled material also gives the dumbbells a unique aesthetic. The hexagonal weights themselves have a light gray hue sprinkled with colorful specs that create a terrazzo-like appearance. Each dumbbell is, thus, totally unique, and the mixture of colors will vary from season to season, depending on the styles of footwear that Nike launches.

The gray motif of the weights perfectly complements the chrome-plated knurled handles. The handle diameter varies depending on the weight, increasing as the load gets heavier to provide a more ergonomic grip. Available in weights ranging from 2.5 lbs to 50 lbs, the Nike Grind Dumbbell offers people a fitness tool that not only takes care of their health but also the environment.

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Paper notebooks are in again, though some would argue they never really went out of fashion. Even with the inherent limitations of the medium, there is just an unbridled joy in putting pen or pencil to paper that has not yet been sufficiently replicated by the most advanced technologies and designs. In a way, notebooks have also become a reflection of the owner’s own self, while also acting as a gateway to their own inner world, their thoughts, their dreams, and maybe even their own self-image. Some people like their notebooks and their covers plain, while others opt for designs that display their interests and loyalties. Still, others treat their notebook covers like a blank canvas ready to tell their life story through stickers and art. This rather distinctive Japanese-inspired notebook tries to tell a different story, one that aims to inspire the owner to not only rise from the ashes but also embrace their own imperfections.

Designer: Sutta Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $29

Ceramic pots have great value not just because of their intricate, often hand-made designs but also because of their fragility. A single drop or hard bump is enough to break a beautiful vase, and most people simply throw these away, even if there’s just a crack. The Japanese, however, aren’t ones to dispose of what can still be repaired, and so the famed kintsugi, the traditional art of repairing pottery, was born. In a nutshell, this art uses golden lacquer to patch up and cover cracks, resulting in a piece of pottery that is even more beautiful because of its obvious flaws.

Over time, kintsugi became a symbol of embracing imperfections and self-healing, and those are the sentiments that this golden healing notebook attempts to convey. Using an equally traditional screen-printing method, wriggling lines of gold are painted on the notebook’s plain black cover, mimicking the cracks covered up by lacquer in a kintsugi masterpiece. And as with cracks, there is no uniformity or pattern to the branching lines, giving it a sense of randomness that you would find in nature itself. It’s a striking visual, with the gold contrasting with the black, that evokes both awe and wonder, subtly leading the mind to deeper thoughts.

The notebook’s theme of recovery and revival goes deeper than the cover. The paper used inside is bagasse which is made from the residue produced during sugarcane extraction. Instead of creating new paper from virgin pulp, it reuses what has been discarded, trying to make whole what was broken. In its own small way, it helps heal the planet’s cracking health, patching it up in small beautiful pieces rather than in one grandiose but ineffective sweep.

The kintsugi notebook embodies not only a traditional Japanese practice but the very highlights of Japanese culture itself. It is the perfect example of Japanese minimalist design, the frugality and efficiency of its people, as well as the profound thinking they can evoke from just a few simple symbols and materials. Whether you’re writing down your most secret thoughts, planning out your day ahead, or simply scribbling ideas and dreams, the notebook’s beautiful recycled paper invites you to let your pen roam free on the page, while the seemingly cracked cover exhorts you to embrace even the flaws that could, someday, lead to a beautiful design.

Click Here to Buy Now: $29

The post This Japanese Kintsugi Art Notebook Is Your Journaling Partner to Help You Realize Ikigai first appeared on Yanko Design.

With our super hectic lives, bathtime is probably the only time of the day when we get to relax and be truly alone. It’s that precious hour of the day when we can completely indulge in self-care, and pamper ourselves, hence it is my favorite time of the day. Having a beautifully designed bathroom with thoughtful designs will only amplify this special time of the day. These products can make a huge difference in our everyday bathroom experience. And a product that would make an invaluable addition to your bathroom is the Recycled Washbasin by VitrA.

Designer: VitrA

Designed by Turkish bathroom brand Vitra, the Recycled Ceramic Washbasin is a minimalist and well-designed bathroom fixture that is made from almost 100 percent waste materials. These materials even include discarded ceramics from the company’s own production processes. This recycled washbasin has been designed to ensure minimal damage to the environment, according to VitrA.

“The recycled ceramic washbasin embodies the principles of circular manufacturing, where waste becomes a valuable resource,” said VitrA. “Choosing to reclaim materials from the manufacturing process that would otherwise have been discarded, VitrA crafts something new from waste products.

For the Recycled Ceramic Washbasin, VitrA chose waste materials, creating something new and improved from what would otherwise have been discarded. They are promoting the ideology of circular manufacturing, ensuring that everything is used, and nothing truly goes to waste.

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