Embarking on outdoor adventures often means leaving behind the comforts of home, particularly when it comes to keeping food and drinks fresh. Whether you’re camping in remote locations, road-tripping across the country, or simply enjoying a day at the beach, the challenge of maintaining a reliable cold chain for perishables can quickly turn an exciting expedition into a frustrating experience. Traditional coolers with ice packs might work for a day, but they create a soggy mess and require constant replenishment, making them impractical for extended trips.

The EcoFlow GLACIER Classic Portable Refrigerator aims to solve these common outdoor food storage problems with a practical approach to portable refrigeration. Unlike its predecessor, which featured an integrated ice maker, the GLACIER Classic focuses on maximizing storage space while maintaining impressive cooling performance. Available in three sizes (35L, 45L, and 55L), this portable refrigerator promises to keep your provisions perfectly chilled without requiring constant attention or maintenance. But does this streamlined approach deliver the performance that outdoor enthusiasts need? Let’s dive into the details to find out if this cooling companion deserves a spot in your adventure gear.

Designer: EcoFlow

Click Here to Buy Now: $799 $1199 (Early Bird $100 + $300 extra coupon = $400 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Aesthetics

The EcoFlow GLACIER Classic doesn’t try to win any beauty contests with its straightforward design philosophy that prioritizes function over flashy aesthetics. At first glance, it resembles an oversized cooler with a clean, minimalist exterior that won’t turn heads but won’t embarrass you either. The understated appearance belies the thoughtful engineering underneath, offering practical features that matter to users while eliminating unnecessary frills that would only add to the cost and complexity without providing tangible benefits to the outdoor experience.

What the GLACIER Classic lacks in visual excitement, it makes up for with impressive space efficiency, packing substantial storage capacity into a surprisingly compact footprint. The refrigerator is approximately 40% smaller than comparable models on the market, yet it can accommodate an impressive amount of provisions: the largest 55L model can hold up to 90 standard beverage cans. You don’t even have to repack those 8-pack soda can bundles to fit them inside, making the packing process less of a chore.

Part of the GLACIER Classic’s diet trick is removing unnecessary features. Unlike the original GLACIER model, this Classic version omits the built-in ice maker, a convenience that sounded good on paper but was not used that much in outdoor scenarios after all. Removing it not only significantly increased the interior space but also reduced the overall bulk and weight of the product. It doesn’t hurt that it also helped reduce the price tag, too!

The color scheme sticks to the typical EcoFlow black and silver that won’t show dirt and grime accumulated during outdoor use, a thoughtful choice that outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate after a few dusty trips. The control panel features an intuitive layout with clearly marked buttons and indicators that remain visible even in bright sunlight, allowing for quick temperature adjustments without requiring users to consult the manual repeatedly. All in all, the EcoFlow GLACIER Classic’s simple appearance belies the power it hides, giving credence to the advice not to judge a book by its cover.

Ergonomics

Despite its reduced size, at least compared to other portable refrigerators of the same capacity, the EcoFlow GLACIER Classic is clearly still a heavy unit. Unlike its predecessor, there are no detachable wheels and levers to help you roll the portable refrigerator around. Instead, the design optimizes for the most common use case: keeping the box in the car trunk, whether in transportation or in use.

The GLACIER Classic features thoughtfully designed foldable handles that extend wide for comfortable carrying but tuck away neatly against the body. This clever design element ensures nothing protrudes from the sides when the refrigerator is packed into tight spaces like vehicle trunks or storage compartments, maximizing the efficient use of limited space during transport while still providing ergonomic carrying options when you need to move the unit from your vehicle to your campsite or outdoor gathering spot.

One of the smartest and most practical features is the dual-direction lid that can be opened from either of the long sides, providing flexible access regardless of how the refrigerator is positioned in your vehicle or at your campsite. This seemingly simple design choice eliminates the frustration of having to reposition the entire unit when access is blocked on one side, a common problem with traditional coolers and refrigerators that have single-direction openings.

The EcoFlow mobile app adds another layer of convenience, allowing users to monitor and adjust temperature settings remotely without standing beside the refrigerator all the time. Mirroring its design choices, EcoFlow listened to customer feedback to focus on the essentials and shed off any unnecessary features that burden the users or their pockets.

Performance

The EcoFlow GLACIER Classic comes equipped with a removable 298Wh battery that delivers an impressive runtime of up to 43 hours for the 35L model and approximately 39 hours for the larger 45L and 55L versions. This substantial battery capacity means you can maintain proper food storage temperatures throughout a weekend camping trip without needing to recharge, providing peace of mind when venturing into areas without reliable power sources. The temperature range is equally impressive, spanning from -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F), keeping drinks cool and ingredients frozen until you’re ready to cook them.

The removable divider system deserves special mention for its clever multifunctionality. Beyond organizing the interior space, it creates configurable temperature zones with up to 4.2°C (39.6°F) difference between compartments, allowing users to store different types of food at their optimal temperatures simultaneously. This means you can configure the unit as a refrigerator, freezer, or combination of both, depending on their specific needs for each adventure and eliminating the need for separate cooling solutions for different types of provisions. The divider even doubles as a cutting board, saving precious packing space by combining two essential camping tools into one multifunctional component that enhances the overall utility of the refrigerator during outdoor meal preparation.

The versatility of the GLACIER Classic extends to its charging capabilities, with multiple options to keep the unit powered in virtually any situation. Users can charge via standard AC outlets, car chargers, compatible solar panels (11-30V input, up to 110W), specialized EcoFlow alternator chargers, or even through the 100W USB-C port. For maximum charging speed, combining the USB-C and XT60 alternator connections can deliver up to 200W of charging power, replenishing the battery in just 1.5 hours.

Beyond its primary cooling function, the unit doubles as an emergency power bank through its 100W USB-C output port, capable of charging laptops, phones, and other devices when traditional power sources are unavailable during extended outdoor excursions. It definitely won’t stand up to EcoFlow’s dedicated solar power stations, especially since it’s also using its power to run the refrigerator, but it’s a nice convenience when you’re out of charging ports to use. That said, it would have been nice if there were two of these, even if it means halving the output when both are in use.

The companion app provides detailed insights into power consumption patterns, allowing users to optimize settings for their specific usage scenarios and remaining battery capacity. The app also gives users a heads-up not only when the battery is low but also when temperatures deviate by 5°C from the set level for over 10 minutes, ensuring that you can take action to keep your food and drinks safe.

Sustainability

The GLACIER Classic demonstrates EcoFlow’s commitment to sustainable design through its user-replaceable battery system, which significantly extends the product’s useful lifespan. Rather than discarding the entire unit or going through an expensive process when the battery eventually degrades, users can simply replace the battery module, reducing electronic waste and maximizing the long-term value of their investment. This approach not only benefits the environment but also provides practical advantages for users who can carry spare batteries for extended trips, swapping depleted batteries for fresh ones to maintain continuous cooling without waiting for recharging during critical food storage situations.

The refrigerator’s compatibility with solar charging further enhances its sustainability credentials, allowing users to power the unit entirely with renewable energy when camping in sunny locations. This solar capability makes the GLACIER Classic particularly valuable for extended off-grid adventures, where traditional power sources are unavailable but sunlight is abundant. By harnessing solar energy, outdoor enthusiasts can maintain proper food storage temperatures indefinitely without consuming fossil fuels or depleting limited battery resources, creating a truly sustainable solution for wilderness food preservation that aligns with environmentally conscious outdoor recreation principles.

Value

The EcoFlow GLACIER Classic delivers impressive functionality at a competitive price point, with the 35L model starting at $799, the 45L at $899, and the 55L at $1,199, though early bird pricing drops these figures to $699, $799, and $899, respectively, from April 25 to May 25. When comparing these prices to similar portable refrigerators on the market, the GLACIER Classic offers exceptional value, particularly considering its versatile temperature zones, substantial battery life, and multifunctional features that eliminate the need for separate cooling solutions. While the original GLACIER model included an ice maker, market feedback suggested this feature wasn’t essential for most users, and its omission in the Classic version allows for more storage space at a lower price point.

The GLACIER Classic isn’t the only game in town, though, but it easily outshines the competition in key areas. Compared to an $800 40L portable refrigerator, the EcoFlow GLACIER Classic 45L is 20% smaller. Even the 55L is still 7% smaller, proving how compact the design really is. It’s also lighter, making it easier to make room for the portable refrigerator and transport it. And, unlike the competition, the GLACIER Classic’s removable divider lets you decide how much space you want to allocate for the freezer or the refrigerator, putting you in charge rather than being at the mercy of the product’s design.

For outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize practical functionality over novelty features, the GLACIER Classic represents a sound investment that will enhance countless adventures for years to come. The combination of ample storage capacity, flexible configuration options, and multiple charging methods ensures the refrigerator can adapt to virtually any outdoor scenario, from weekend camping trips to extended overland expeditions. When factoring in the long-term savings from not purchasing ice, the convenience of always having properly chilled food and beverages, and the extended product lifespan enabled by the replaceable battery, the initial purchase price becomes even more reasonable for serious outdoor enthusiasts who regularly need reliable food storage solutions beyond what traditional coolers can provide.

Verdict

Outdoor adventures should be about creating memorable experiences, not stressing over logistical challenges like keeping food fresh and beverages cold. Too often, travelers find themselves burdened with bulky, inefficient cooling solutions that consume valuable space and require constant maintenance, detracting from the freedom and spontaneity that make outdoor exploration so rewarding. The right portable refrigeration system should fade into the background, quietly performing its essential function without demanding attention or compromising your mobility and flexibility during adventures of any duration or intensity.

The EcoFlow GLACIER Classic Portable Refrigerator successfully achieves this balance, offering reliable cooling performance in a practical package that prioritizes the features outdoor enthusiasts actually need. Its thoughtful design maximizes storage capacity while minimizing external dimensions, its versatile power options ensure functionality in virtually any setting, and its configurable temperature zones accommodate everything from fresh produce to frozen meats. While not without limitations, particularly regarding weight and mobility, the GLACIER Classic represents a significant advancement in portable refrigeration technology that will enhance the outdoor experience for campers, road trippers, and adventure seekers who value fresh food and cold drinks without the hassle of traditional coolers and ice management.

Click Here to Buy Now: $799 $1199 (Early Bird $100 + $300 extra coupon = $400 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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At Expo 2025 Osaka, among the eight Signature Pavilions redefining the architectural dialogue of the future, null² emerges as a standout vision. Designed by Tokyo- and Taipei-based studio NOIZ in collaboration with media artist and researcher Yoichi Ochiai, the pavilion is more than just a building, it’s a living experiment in hybrid space-making, where the boundaries between physical and digital, static and dynamic, dissolve into a shimmering architectural interspace.

Conceived as a speculative model for future architecture, null² occupies a unique conceptual realm: it’s neither fully real nor entirely virtual, but something in between, a meta-environment that interacts with its users and surroundings. Its form is built from voxel-like modules, cubic units of 2, 4, or 8 meters, arranged to create a flowing sequence of exhibition, support, and rest spaces. These modules vary from rigid geometric blocks to more warped, organic shapes, each clad in a newly developed mirrored membrane that shifts with the wind and reflects the changing world around it.

Designer: NOIZ

This tensile membrane does more than just mirror its environment. Designed to be reactive, it shimmers and moves in response to environmental forces, creating a visual rhythm that gives the structure a sense of breath. In doing so, it transforms the building’s presence from a static object to a living system, one that visually and metaphorically blurs into its context.

From its very conception, null² has been designed with agility in mind. In response to the tight timeline and uncertain future beyond Expo 2025, NOIZ developed a modular framework that prioritizes speed, flexibility, and reuse. The structure can be rapidly deployed, easily dismantled, and potentially relocated. The innovative membrane not only enhances the structure’s aesthetics but also offers solar reflectance and thermal insulation, features that hint at sustainable applications beyond the Expo, such as retrofitting existing buildings.

Inside the pavilion, visitors are drawn into a multisensory exhibition experience built around the concept of digital twins. These avatars reflect and respond to the user’s presence, making the act of visiting itself a kind of co-creation. Within select modules, robotic arms and embedded woofers interact with the mirrored surfaces through movement and sound, producing an environment that feels both tactile and intelligent. The building, in this way, becomes a responsive interface, a medium for communication between the visitor and the space.

But null² is not confined to its physical form. It extends into the digital, offering a participatory platform where remote users can engage with the pavilion through robotic avatars or augment their on-site experience using AR overlays. Visitors are encouraged to digitally reinterpret the structure, creating personalized spatial edits and contributing to an evolving archive of user-generated designs. This participatory approach redefines architectural authorship, replacing the singular vision of the designer with a collective, crowd-sourced process.

The post Expo 2025’s Most Futuristic Pavilion Feels Alive and Responds to Your Presence first appeared on Yanko Design.

Saudi Arabia has unveiled Laheq, the latest phase of its ambitious Red Sea giga-project, as part of the kingdom’s transformation into a major tourist destination. Laheq will be developed on a luxurious island and feature an artificial ring, offering visitors a unique experience. The project is designed by Foster + Partners, a renowned British architectural firm also linked to other groundbreaking Saudi developments. Described as a “Forever Garden” due to its abundant greenery, Laheq will be situated on an island off Saudi Arabia’s west coast, forming part of an archipelago of 90 islands within the wider Red Sea development.

Designer: Foster + Partners

The island spans 400 hectares (988 acres) and is designed around a distinctive feature called “the Ring,” an 800-meter (approximately 2,600-foot) diameter artificial structure set in the water. This impressive centerpiece will house luxury apartments and hotels, with some residences available for purchase and others offered as vacation rentals. Beyond the Ring, the island resort will feature additional upscale residences, including timber-built homes, alongside amenities such as a bustling market, diverse retail spaces, entertainment zones, a world-class golf course, and a 115-berth marina.

Wellness is a central theme, with dedicated facilities aimed at promoting relaxation and health. Water sports will be a major attraction, especially diving. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore what Saudi officials describe as the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef, located nearby, and encounter over 2,000 species of fish unique to the region, making it a haven for marine life enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

Laheq is scheduled for completion in 2028, marking another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea giga-project. Its unveiling comes on the heels of the recently completed Desert Rock resort, further highlighting the rapid pace of development in the region. The developer, Red Sea Global, has pledged that by 2030, all operations within the Red Sea project will be powered entirely by renewable energy. Essential efforts will be made to preserve extensive mangrove areas and restore the natural coastline, demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Beyond the Red Sea project, Saudi Arabia is experiencing an impressive construction boom, with several visionary developments underway. Notable among them are The Line, a revolutionary linear city that forms part of the Neom giga-project, as well as Qiddiya, a sprawling entertainment city, the futuristic Mukaab, the towering JEC Tower, and other transformative projects, all contributing to the nation’s ongoing transformation. Saudi Arabia is redefining its skyline but also prioritizing environmental preservation, renewable energy, and unique visitor experiences. As these visionary projects progress toward completion, they promise to transform the region, attract international visitors, and set new standards for sustainable luxury and urban development in the Middle East and beyond.

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Somewhere between building nuclear fusion reactors and decoding the human genome, humanity paused… and decided that peeing shouldn’t be a messy ordeal. Enter the Nautilus urinal: a piece of plumbing so thoughtfully engineered that it makes the 100-year-old standard look like a cruel prank played on pants and public floors everywhere.

Scientists at the University of Waterloo – yes, fittingly named – approached the urinal problem with the same earnest precision usually reserved for spacecrafts and particle accelerators. They didn’t just eyeball it. They fired a dyed-water jet through a urethra-mimicking nozzle onto test surfaces angled meticulously between 0 and 90 degrees. What they found would make even Newton nod approvingly: angles over 30 degrees are splash factories. Anything shallower drastically tames the wild energy of a stream. That led them to craft the Nautilus, a urinal that captures and channels urine like a fluid dynamics masterpiece, reducing splashback by a staggering 98%.

Designers: Kaveeshan Thurairajah, Xianyu (Mabel) Song, J D Zhu, Mia Shi, Ethan A Barlow, Randy C Hurd, Zhao Pan (University of Waterloo)

Visually, it’s a sleek swirl of ceramic engineering, a tighter, more inviting spiral that looks more like a modernist sculpture than a bathroom fixture. Unlike the brutish slanted walls of traditional urinals, the Nautilus hugs the stream, guiding it along a smooth, gentle curve with the elegance of a Formula 1 racetrack designed purely for liquids. And while there’s a brutalist Cornucopia prototype that looks like it came from Elon Musk’s fever dream, the Nautilus is the undisputed champion, working for users of almost any height, which is kind of a miracle when you realize how unregulated the chaos of public restroom aim usually is.

And this wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. The Nautilus was torture-tested with poor aim scenarios, erratic flow rates, and simulated misfires. Yet, it consistently captured everything with a grace that makes you wonder why we tolerated Jackson Pollock floors for so long. The data is even more satisfying: switching North America over to Nautilus-style urinals could save up to 10 million liters (2.6 million gallons) of water per day. That’s not small change when cities are scraping the barrel for every drop.

It’s easy to romanticize grand challenges – curing cancer, saving the planet – but life is a patchwork quilt stitched from a thousand tiny annoyances. Pee splash isn’t glamorous, but it’s real. It’s the kind of everyday indignity that quietly erodes dignity and comfort without anyone noticing until suddenly, they’re standing in it.

That’s the magic of design thinking at its best: no problem too petty, no dignity too small to preserve. And the payoff is tangible. Imagine cleaner public bathrooms, lower maintenance costs, fewer eco-unfriendly cleaning products being dumped down the drain. Suddenly, a small tweak in geometry feels like it shifts the axis of civilization a few degrees toward better.

Maybe the real sign of a society leveling up isn’t flying cars or robot butlers. Maybe it’s how little urine ends up where it shouldn’t be.

The post World’s First ‘Splashless’ Urinal keeps the Floor Clean and your Pants Pee-free first appeared on Yanko Design.

Do the AirPods really need a case? I mean sure, the earbuds themselves come with a broader case, but does that case need an extra protective shell? On most occasions, I’d say no, but this particular case from SwitchEasy drives a hard bargain. Baked into this protective case is a built-in stand that allows you to prop up your phone, whether it’s to watch movies or take video calls… and I absolutely love it.

The SwitchEasy Defender+ (quite a rugged, testosterone-y name if you ask me) was designed to protect your AirPods from any kind of damage they could experience. Falling off a table, falling off two tables, maybe even three. However, that feature seems fairly secondary to the Defender+’s built-in kickstand that gives your phone its very own dock, which you can use even in vertical mode with most regular-sized phones.

Designer: SwitchEasy

Click Here to Buy Now

The Defender+ comes with a TPU construction that absorbs shock, preventing your AirPods case from any impact up to 10 feet. That means your case is more impervious to scuff marks that stand out against its otherwise plain, glossy white exterior. However, there’s that metal plate on the front that does a little more damage protection. You see, aside from working as a kickstand, it works as a clasp that keeps your AirPods case shut, preventing it from accidentally opening.

To access your AirPods, you need to disengage the metal plate to allow the lid to open – sort of like two-factor protection for your earbuds. Pop the earbuds out, wear them, and then prop your phone on the Defender+’s stand and you have a de-facto portable movie theater, complete with Spatial Audio from the AirPods.

The SwitchEasy Defender+ starts at 21.99, and comes with a carabiner clip to accompany the case itself. The case supports wireless charging too, so you could easily place your AirPods face-up on any charging surface and it begins juicing your earbuds. Meanwhile, a nifty hole cut through the metal plate lets you see its charging light, so you’re never left with a pair of dead AirPods because you didn’t see the battery notification.

Click Here to Buy Now

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As the boundaries between human experience and artificial intelligence continue to blur, designers are rethinking how we interact with technology on an emotional level. In the rapidly evolving landscape of domestic robotics, the conversation is no longer just about efficiency or automation—it’s about connection. While robots are becoming more capable, their integration into intimate human spaces still sparks discomfort for many. This friction doesn’t stem from technological limitations alone, but from the absence of a natural, empathetic bridge between user and machine. That’s the context in which Mimic emerges—not just as a wearable, but as a reimagined interface for trust-building with humanoid companions.

The next-gen wearable is designed to bridge the emotional and psychological gap between humans and humanoid robots. In a future where household humanoids are commonplace, Mimic enables users to teach robots actions based on their behavior data. Initially, humanoids perform basic functions, but over time, they learn to understand and personalize tasks for the user. Through this process, users actively teach humanoids, forming emotional bonds and overcoming psychological barriers.​

Designer: Dohyuk Joo

By wearing the device and performing desired actions, users provide real-time data that the robot uses to learn and adapt. This hands-on approach fosters a sense of control and agency, reducing feelings of unease and promoting a more harmonious relationship between humans and robots. The device is lightweight and ergonomically designed to be worn during daily activities. Its intuitive interface ensures that users can seamlessly integrate it into their routines without disruption.

The robot can adapt to changes in user behavior over time. By allowing users to wear the device and physically demonstrate tasks they want their robots to perform, Mimic shifts the paradigm from command-based interaction to embodied teaching. For example, if a user is preparing their own version of Korean stew, Mimic enables the humanoid to grasp more than just the recipe—it interprets the specific ingredients, motions, and subtle preferences involved. This context-aware learning gives the robot a far deeper understanding of the user’s world, moving beyond generic presets.

The device comprises two integrated modules: the Vision tracker and the Hand tracker. The Vision tracker collects visual and auditory data using an array of infrared sensors, tracking cameras, and vision-based AI. It maps the environment with Lidar and captures head movement using a 6-DOF camera alongside a front-facing RGB camera, forming a dynamic world model. It’s engineered to adjust comfortably to different body types through an adaptable rail system, ensuring seamless wearability.

Meanwhile, the Hand tracker—worn on the forearm—records nuanced physical data like grip strength, arm angle, and muscle activity through electromyography (EMG) sensors and precision tracking cameras. By analyzing electrical signals and motion patterns, it decodes how users interact with objects on a tactile level. This fusion of data is processed through deep learning to construct a comprehensive behavioral profile. Even passive moments become learning opportunities, as Mimic uses 360-degree and dual-facing cameras to observe environmental structure and object purpose, enabling the humanoid to understand intent even when it’s unstated.

Through these layers of sensory input and contextual modeling, Mimic doesn’t just teach tasks—it conveys intuition. It represents a new approach to robotics, one that leverages embodied cognition to break down psychological resistance and cultivate emotional resonance. As our homes evolve alongside technology, Mimic points to a future where machines don’t just serve—they relate, reflect, and respond.

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The light cuts low across a gravel turnout. Campfire smoke folds into golden haze as someone rinses salt from their face using water from a steel bottle balanced on the Slate’s tailgate. There are no badge glints, no chrome reflections, just flat surfaces the color of dry cement. On paper, it’s a pickup, but in this moment, it’s a bench, a kitchen, a gear table. And in the hush between waves crashing beyond the trees, the silence of its electric heart feels right. No idling hum. No waste heat. Just stillness with a charge port.

Designer: Slate Auto

Slate doesn’t chase power fantasies or luxury posturing. It arrives stripped to the bone. And that’s where the possibilities begin.

Brutal Simplicity, Measured Lines

Compact without apology, the Slate Truck shrinks the bloated dimensions we’ve come to expect from American pickups. The form is a composition of right angles and practical intentions. Short overhangs place it confidently over rough terrain or tight alleys, while chamfered corners break the light in subtle shifts. It’s not trying to be aggressive. It’s trying to be adaptable.

The face is cartoon-clear: round headlights, blocky panels, and a plastic bumper that isn’t pretending to be more. There’s an openness in its expression, one that doesn’t feel defensive. Flared arches hold steel wheels that sit proud and unpolished, the kind that look better with dust caked in their edges.

Where metal would ripple, Slate’s polypropylene skin stays consistent. This choice isn’t about pretending to be premium. It’s about honesty. Every panel has a matte tactility, impervious to light scratches and ready to wear stories like a well-loved duffel. The rear window tilts open like a wink, inviting airflow or a tailgate nap. You can sense how it was built to be used, not curated.

Inside the Absence

Slide into the cabin, and you don’t feel overwhelmed. No stitched leather, no backlit glass panels or screens posing as dashboards. Instead, there’s space. A flat dash stretches wide with analog restraint. The HVAC knobs click with a purpose you can feel in your fingers. The digital gauge cluster is more tool than trophy, and your phone slots in as the interface you already trust.

Door panels are fabric-wrapped where it counts, and the seats wear a heathered textile that speaks softly about dirt, wear, and long drives home from muddy trailheads. There are no power windows here. A crank begs to be spun. It’s familiar and oddly satisfying, like the click of a cassette tape.

Nothing inside tries to impress. Everything tries to work. That clarity brings a different kind of luxury, the kind that comes from knowing what you need and nothing more.

What Plastic Can Feel Like

Touch the body and you’ll find texture with grip. These are not panels polished to a mirror’s edge, but material meant to live outside. It resists fingerprints, shrugs off the path of brambles, and welcomes vinyl wraps like a sketchbook welcomes ink. The base gray isn’t neutral. It’s an invitation.

Each panel is molded rather than stamped. You feel it in the consistency, in the uniform depth and durability. Even the surface noise is different. Tap it and the tone is softer, less metallic, more muted. Less armor, more shell.

Climate knobs are chunky, with a resistance that slows the motion of your wrist. They were made to be turned by gloved hands or wet fingers. The glovebox opens with a slide, not a latch, and swallows bulky objects without complaint. When everything is optional, function becomes the first aesthetic.

A Cabin Tuned for Nature

With no drivetrain rattle and no exhaust drone, you hear things you’ve forgotten in modern cars. The slap of branches. Wind threading through side mirrors. A bird call in stereo. Even the thud of gear hitting the bed feels closer, like it belongs to the vehicle instead of bouncing off it.

The Slate invites you to drive with the windows down, even if you crank them manually. There’s something pure about hearing tires chew gravel without a soundproofed filter. Something intimate about a truck that doesn’t isolate you from the places you’ve gone to find.

Visibility comes not from augmented mirrors or surround-view stitching, but from clean lines and thin pillars. The proportions are honest. The roofline doesn’t droop. The tail doesn’t puff out. You see where it ends because it’s shaped to be seen.

Function You Can Touch

The Slate’s most radical idea isn’t its electric drivetrain or price point. It’s the idea that the vehicle changes as you do. Accessories aren’t bolt-on flair. They’re choices that reflect what you need today and leave space for tomorrow.

A flat-pack SUV kit adds seats, safety hardware, and a fiberglass roof that slots into place with purpose. Want a camper one year and a grocery hauler the next? It’s not a new car, it’s a new configuration. Roof racks and rear carriers clip on without begging for bodywork. Wraps apply like stickers, not paint jobs.

Even the dashboard becomes a canvas. Decorative vents accept clip-on charms, Slatelets, they call them, that mark ownership with whimsy. Like a charm bracelet if charm bracelets came in truck form.

A Different Way Forward

Slate doesn’t preach sustainability through reclaimed materials or carbon offsets. It does it through reduction. Through choosing what doesn’t need to exist. No leather. No built-in speakers you’ll replace anyway. No touchscreen growing obsolete before the battery does.

The idea isn’t to innovate through excess. It’s to invite users back into the making. You can feel it in every crank, every exposed screw, every option skipped. This isn’t minimalism as style. It’s mechanical clarity.

What would happen if the next generation of cars weren’t about computing power or aggressive profiles, but about modularity, ease of repair, and ownership that grows with you? The Slate doesn’t answer that question. It lets you live into it.

And maybe that’s the future worth parking next to a cliffside, listening to the wind press through the conifers, while your board dries in the sun.

The post The Slate Truck: A Gray Shape for the Future of Freedom first appeared on Yanko Design.

One of the most wasteful things that happen to me regularly is that I have to throw away some fruits that have spoiled or have become overripe because they are placed together in a fruit bowl. Apples are some of the most common culprits as a rotting apple produces ethylene gas that affects the “decay” of nearby apples. Sure you can just separate them from each other but that’s not the most efficient use of space. There should be a simple design solution for that right?

Designer: Agota Jonas

The Fruitbridge is a simple but inventive solution to this common problem. Instead of a usual bowl where the fruits pile upon each other, this uniquely designed dining room accessory elevates each piece of fruit to promote airflow and also minimize contact with each other. It’s a simple, thoughtful, and even aesthetic solution to a common kitchen problem. The core idea behind the Fruitbridge is simple yet brilliant: each fruit rests on its own individual “bridge,” creating a gap beneath and around it.This elevated positioning allows for crucial air circulation, preventing moisture buildup that can hasten decay. By keeping fruits separated, the risk of bruising from the weight of other fruits is also significantly reduced.

It is a functional object and a stylish addition to your kitchen or dining table, showing off a vibrant orange, a crisp apple, or a bunch of grapes as they “sit” comfortably on their own miniature platform. The materials used in the Fruitbridge likely play a role in its effectiveness and aesthetic. While the specific materials might vary depending on the iteration, the focus seems to be on creating a stable and easily cleanable structure that complements the natural beauty of the fruit. It also uses low-energy fabricating methods like laser cutting, cold rolling, and hand finishing. It is also eco-friendly as the leftover pieces are reused for smaller products like tealight holders and keychains.

The Fruitbridge, as envisioned by Agota Jonas, directly addresses this frustration with an elegant and practical design. It’s more than just a fruit holder; it’s a thoughtful tool that helps bridge the gap between purchase and perfect consumption, ensuring you get the most out of your healthy haul. For anyone seeking a way to extend the life of their fruits while adding a touch of modern design to their kitchen, it is a compelling and innovative solution.It’s also a reminder that sometimes, the simplest ideas can have the most significant impact on our daily lives.

The post Ingenuous Fruitbridge brings you closer to fresher fruits first appeared on Yanko Design.

Talk of lightweight tents and Hyperlite is right up there with the best. Their popular options come as functional shelters that are easy to set up, even though they lose out on some features. Perhaps well suited for hikers and adventure seekers who want to keep things minimal and don’t require an extensive setup for creating a makeshift shelter. They’ve now bettered their lightest tent design to craft a lightweight freestanding tent dubbed Crosspeak 2 that weighs just 2 lbs. This outdoor gear brings them right alongside the likes of Durston and Six Moons Design when we talk of the best out there.

The biggest advantage of this outdoor accessory is the quick pitch feature in any kind of terrain without staking in the ground. This makes the tent ideal for casual adventure trips in the backcountry or overnight hikes in pleasant weather without any windy conditions. It can fit two individuals easily, making it an impressive proposition given its compact size that’s easy to haul.

Designer: Hyperlite Mountain Gear

To set up the Crosspeak 2 free-standing tent, all you have to do is create tension with the long crossed poles employing the webbing and ladder locks. Then, just tighten the thing using the small bridge pole on the top. When fully pitched, the tent stands at 42 inches tall, which is enough for most adventure seekers. The floor area of 88 x 48 inches is ample space to fit two sleeping bags. Given it is just 2 lbs, packing in other essentials like a 22-inch Dyneema vestibule area for the bags and boots, two storage pockets, or attachment loops for hanging clothes is nothing less than impressive.

Crosspeak 2 is quite airy on the inside with two doors and an adjustable ventilation system for proper circulation if you are cooking inside. The magnetic tie-backs on the doors make it very easy to close the tent opening when compared to other tents. The tent doesn’t come with any guy lines or hiking poles, which are vital in maintaining structural integrity in case of inclement weather conditions. However, the lack of them also makes the thing ultra-compact and only advised for use in perfect weather. Hyperlite has created two separate Dyneema stuff sacks for stashing the tent body and the pole for convenience.

Looking to create the ideal balance between low weight, weather-resistant features, and the ease of setting up the tent; Crosspeak 2 isn’t affordably priced at $950. The major reason is the use of Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) and the lightweight make – both of which add to the overall cost of this outdoor accessory. If this tent perfectly fits your requirements, only then is it advisable to buy this free-standing tent, else other options are more suited for the varying dynamics.

The post This freestanding tent is perfect for casual adventurers who don’t want to carry extra weight first appeared on Yanko Design.

The romance of the flip phone has never quite faded for those who value a touch of nostalgia and sophistication. With the resurgence of foldable phones, the clamshell silhouette has returned, not just as a nod to the past but as a canvas for bold innovation and high style. For the fashion-minded, the latest Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 promises a marriage of cutting-edge tech with opulent materials.

Motorola’s newest foldable is making waves for more than its flexible screen or sleek hardware. The Razr Ultra 2025, also known as the Razr 60 Ultra in certain regions, reimagines the iconic flip phone as a bona fide fashion accessory. Rather than relying on aftermarket cases for personality, Motorola has opted for materials and textures that turn the phone itself into a statement piece right out of the box.

Designer: Motorola

This year’s Razr Ultra arrives in four distinct Pantone-validated finishes, each one offering its own tactile and visual allure. For those drawn to understated elegance, PANTONE Scarab wraps the phone in Alcantara, a fabric beloved by designers for its refined softness and subtle sheen. PANTONE Mountain Trail delivers a natural twist, featuring FSC-certified wood that gives the device an organic warmth and a one-of-a-kind grain pattern.

For those who prefer a pop of color, PANTONE Rio Red is inspired by the classic luxury of leather, while PANTONE Cabaret boasts a silky, satin-like surface that perfectly captures the energy of its name. Each variant is crafted to turn heads, inviting touch and admiration, and offering a level of personal expression rarely seen in mobile devices.

Underneath the refined exterior, the Razr Ultra 2025 doesn’t miss a beat in performance. It runs on the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, promising smooth multitasking and lightning-fast responsiveness. The hinge mechanism has been upgraded as well, now constructed from titanium rather than stainless steel, enhancing both strength and longevity. An IP48 rating offers some reassurance against splashes, though keeping out dust remains a challenge for most foldables.

Priced at $1,299, the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is aimed squarely at those who see their phone as an essential part of their personal style. It stands shoulder to shoulder with luxury flagships like Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra, unapologetically premium and unabashedly fashionable. For anyone who believes that technology should be as beautiful as it is powerful, this Razr is ready to be shown off as the accessory of the season.

The post Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 flaunt Wood and Alcantara fabric finishes first appeared on Yanko Design.

Creating the ultimate audio experience at home involves more than just picking the right playlist – it requires selecting the perfect combination of audio products that bring your music to life. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking pristine sound quality or someone who simply loves to relax with good tunes, having the right equipment can make all the difference.

We have curated a collection of the top five products that will transform your home into an audio haven. From state-of-the-art earbuds to nostalgic speakers, each product mentioned here is designed to enhance your listening experience, offering rich soundscapes and innovative features that cater to various tastes and preferences. Dive in and explore the products that can elevate your home audio setup to new heights!

1. Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 McLaren Edition Earbuds

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 McLaren Edition earbuds represent an exciting combination of cutting-edge audio technology and high-performance design. These earbuds are inspired by the dynamic world of motorsport, combining Bowers & Wilkins’ renowned sound quality with McLaren’s iconic style. They deliver exceptional audio fidelity in a true wireless format, providing a listening experience that is both immersive and convenient.

The Pi8 McLaren Edition earbuds are ideal for audiophiles seeking high-quality sound in a compact form. They deliver clarity and emotional impact, making every listening session immersive and engaging. You could be a fan of F1 engines, or the delicate nuances of a jazzl ensemble, irrespective, these earbuds will ensure an unparalleled auditory experience.

What we like

• Exceptional sound quality with precise audio reproduction.
• Stylish design inspired by McLaren, appealing to motorsport enthusiasts.

What we dislike

• Limited edition, potentially difficult to find.
• Premium pricing may not suit all budgets.

2. Side A Cassette Tape

The Side A Cassette Speaker is a delightful blend of nostalgia and modern technology. Styled like a classic mixtape, this Bluetooth 5.3 speaker offers a unique audio experience. With microSD playback and a warm, analog-inspired sound, it captures the charm of the cassette era. Its compact design and portable nature make it an ideal companion for music lovers who appreciate both form and function.

This speaker’s cassette-inspired design evokes a sense of nostalgia, while its modern features provide convenience and versatility. It’s perfect for those who miss the analog days or simply want a cool, conversation-starting piece in their audio collection. You can also carry it around with you wherever you go, ensuring your audio requirements are always met!

Click Here to Buy Now: $45.00

What we like

• Nostalgic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity.
• Portable and versatile, with microSD card support for offline listening.

What we dislike

• Limited sound power due to compact size.
• Analog-inspired sound may not suit those preferring digital clarity.

3. CD Jacket Player

Today, digital music reigns supreme, but the CD Jacket Player is here to offer a nostalgic return to physical media. This device allows you to enjoy your beloved CDs while appreciating their album art. Designed for both portability and aesthetic appeal, it seamlessly integrates CD jackets, transforming them into visual art.

The Portable CD Jacket Player revitalizes the experience of listening to CDs by combining audio playback with visual enjoyment. Its minimalist design and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity make it versatile, allowing you to connect with wireless speakers and earphones for an enhanced listening experience. You can mount it on a wall in your home, or carry it along with you on your travels, it will offer a timeless connection to your music collection always.

Click Here to Buy Now: $159.00

What we like

• Combines audio playback with visual appreciation of album art.
• Bluetooth connectivity for flexible audio streaming options.

What we dislike

• Limited to CD playback, which may not cater to those favoring digital formats.
• Requires physical storage space for CDs and jackets.

4. Elevate Stand (For CD Jacket Player)

The Elevate Stand is the perfect accessory for your  CD Jacket Player. Crafted from sleek L-shaped aluminum, this stand adds modern elegance to any room. It allows you to position your player on windowsills, shelves, or any location where wall mounting isn’t feasible, offering flexibility and style. The stand enhances your listening experience and also contributes to a chic, contemporary aesthetic in your space.

The stand provides a stable platform for your CD player and ensures optimal positioning for sound quality and visual appeal. Its stylish design complements any interior, making it a valuable addition to your home audio setup. Pair it up with the CD Jacket Player to create the ultimate and efficient audio setup.

Click Here to Buy Now: $45.00

What we like

• Enhances the aesthetic of your audio setup with a modern design.
• Provides flexibility in positioning your CD player for optimal sound.

What we dislike

• Limited to use with specific CD players.
• Does not directly improve audio quality, serving primarily as an accessory.

5. Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers

The Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers offer a unique approach to audio amplification. Made from vibration-resistant Duralumin, these metal speakers require no battery or electricity, using the golden ratio design to enhance sound naturally. Simply place your smartphone in the speaker, and enjoy amplified sound waves that fill the room. This eco-friendly option boosts your smartphone’s audio but also enhances the ambiance of your space.

These speakers provide a sustainable way to enjoy amplified music without the need for power sources. Their portability and design make them suitable for various settings, from your desk to outdoor gatherings. You can place it in your living room, bedroom, or even your home office – it has a sleek and minimal charm that lets it effortlessly blend with any environment.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179.00

What we like

• Eco-friendly design with no need for batteries or electricity.
• Portable and easy to use anywhere.

What we dislike

• Dependent on smartphone sound quality for performance.
• Limited amplification compared to powered speakers.

The post Top 5 Key Products To Create The Ultimate Audio Experience At Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

A fresh twist on functional design, the Tiki lamp brings a lively sense of whimsy into any interior space. Instantly recognizable with its bird-like silhouette, Tiki perches elegantly, inviting both admiration and interaction. For lamp collectors, designers, and anyone with an appreciation for playful details, it’s a delightful addition that easily becomes a talking point in the room.

What truly makes Tiki stand out is its approach to arrangement. Rather than sitting alone, these lamps are meant to be clustered together, forming flocks that animate tables, shelves, or any chosen setting. Each bird-shaped lamp seems to communicate with the others, bringing a sense of movement and connection. This flocking concept encourages creativity, letting you design your own illuminated landscape with personality and charm.

Designer: Nao Tamura

The essence of Tiki lies in its expertly carved form. Using robotic techniques, each lamp is sculpted from milky-white acrylic, creating a flawless, translucent body that feels both delicate and futuristic. The shade is perfectly balanced above a geometric metal base, making for a dynamic visual pairing. This careful meeting of materials and textures adds to the overall sense of refinement while still keeping things lighthearted.

The lamp uses a built-in, rechargeable LED, powered by a custom battery that ensures lasting brightness. Charging is a breeze thanks to the magnetic base, which easily connects with a USB-C cable; no fiddling with cords or awkward plugs. These practical upgrades mean you can move your Tiki lamp anywhere: bedside, coffee table, or workspace, without worrying about wires.

The interactive experience is where Tiki truly shines. Adjusting the brightness is as simple as rotating the bird’s body on top of its perch, making the act of lighting up a space playful and intuitive. The motion is smooth and invites touch, transforming a mundane action into a small daily pleasure. This tactile control not only adds charm but also makes Tiki accessible to a variety of users.

Tiki’s updated palette introduces a fresh batch of colors that suit any taste, from matte warm white and striking blue to gentle olive green, alongside the classic gloss-black finish. These shades accentuate the sculptural curves and ensure the lamp looks just as good as a solo piece as it does in a flock.

The post Bird-Like Lamp Design Combines Artful Lighting with Playful Character first appeared on Yanko Design.

What we know about robots and how they are created is constantly evolving as we see scientists draw inspiration from the natural world to create innovative and efficient machines. The latest marvel to emerge from this fascinating intersection is a small, agile robot that forgoes traditional locomotion in favor of a wing-assisted hopping mechanism. Developed by a collaborative team of scientists from MIT, the University of Hong Kong, and the City University of Hong Kong, this tiny bot is demonstrating a unique approach to movement.

Designer: MIT

This remarkable creation, standing just over 5 centimeters tall and weighing less than a single gram, utilizes a vertically oriented, spring-loaded carbon fiber rod as its primary means of propulsion. Functioning like a miniature pogo stick, this leg compresses upon impact with the ground, storing energy that is then released to launch the robot into the air. However, what truly sets this robot apart is its integration of four insect-inspired flapping wings, powered by electrically activated artificial muscles. These wings aren’t designed for sustained flight in the traditional sense. Instead, they play a crucial role in augmenting the robot’s leaps, providing additional lift and enabling it to achieve impressive heights of up to 20 centimeters. Furthermore, these wing movements contribute to its lateral agility, allowing it to traverse distances of up to 30 centimeters per second.

This novel approach offers a potential advantage in terms of energy efficiency compared to traditional flying robots. By primarily relying on the spring-loaded leg for vertical movement and utilizing the wings for assistance and stability, the robot can potentially operate for longer durations on a limited power supply. Currently, this groundbreaking robot is tethered to an external power source and relies on an external motion-tracking system for guidance. This suggests that it is still in the experimental phase, with future development likely focused on miniaturizing the power source and integrating onboard control systems for autonomous operation. The concept of combining hopping and wing assistance is not entirely new in the realm of bio-inspired robotics. Researchers have previously explored similar ideas, such as the “Hopcopter” developed by the City University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, which combined a commercially available quadcopter with a spring-loaded hopping leg for efficient ground traversal. Similarly, researchers at Stanford University developed a “jumpglider” that used a spring for takeoff and pivoting wings for gliding, showcasing the potential of combining different modes of locomotion.

This latest winged hopping robot represents another significant step forward in this field. Its lightweight design and impressive agility open up possibilities for various applications, such as exploration in confined spaces, environmental monitoring, or even search and rescue operations in complex terrains where traditional robots might struggle. As research progresses and the technology matures, we can anticipate seeing more robots that cleverly combine different forms of movement to achieve greater efficiency and versatility, taking inspiration from the incredible adaptability found in the natural world. This little hopping robot with wings might just be the herald of a new era in robotic locomotion.

The post Tiny, winged robot jumps instead of flying first appeared on Yanko Design.

Upgrading your fitness setup is a move that pays off every time you walk into your home gym or studio. For those looking to boost both performance and comfort, the RitFit 3-Section Adjustable Weight Bench steps up as a game-changing option. Beyond just another exercise bench, it’s a powerhouse designed to handle heavy lifting and versatile routines, all while saving space and looking sleek in any training environment.

The first thing you’ll notice is just how adaptable this bench is. With three seat angles, ten backrest settings, and nine headrest positions, you can easily find the perfect configuration for anything from incline presses to decline sit-ups and everything in between. The patent-pending adjustable headrest is a rare touch that delivers extra support right where you want it. Its flexibility at its finest, letting you dial in adjustments to fit your unique training style.

Designer: RitFit LLC

Click here to Buy Now: $348 $399.99 ($51.99 off, use coupon code “RFBWB02”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

For those who want to challenge themselves with serious weight, peace of mind is essential. The RitFit BWB02 is built on an ultra-rugged 11GA steel frame, available in two sizes to fit your needs. The 60×60 inch version supports up to 1500 pounds, while the 75×75 inch version takes that to an incredible 2000 pounds. That kind of capacity means you never have to worry about stability, no matter how intense your workouts get.

Its space-saving convenience easily sets this bench apart from the rest. At 57.4 inches long and just over 25 inches wide, the RitFit bench fits seamlessly into home gyms and studio spaces alike. Moving it around is a breeze thanks to the sturdy chrome handle and integrated wheels, so you can quickly reposition it for different exercises or tuck it away vertically after use. Space-efficient and easy to maneuver, it’s perfect for those who want their training area to stay organized.

That said, comfort can’t be overlooked for those long training sessions, and this bench is all about making things easier on your body. The thick 70mm cushion provides ample padding, helping reduce strain and letting you focus fully on your sets. Durable double-stitching ensures the upholstery stands up to repeated use, while the flat headrest support post adds stability, making the bench suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced lifters.

The RitFit 3-Section Adjustable Weight Bench uses premium-grade materials not just to flaunt it but also to guarantee long-lasting performance. The 1mm thick PVC covering is not only waterproof and sweat-resistant, but also super easy to clean. After a hard session, a quick wipe-down keeps it looking brand new. Stains are no match either, so your gear will always look as sharp as your motivation, workout after workout.

Safety features are woven into every part of the BWB02’s design. The trapezoidal base keeps the bench grounded, even when you’re pushing your limits with heavy weights. Non-slip foot pads boost grip on any surface and shield your floors from scuffs or scratches. Adjustable support columns increase structural stability, eliminating wobbling or tilting and giving you the confidence to go hard without hesitation.

A quality adjustable weight bench does more than just expand your training options. It opens the door to a wider range of exercises, targeting different muscle groups and supporting varied fitness goals. With the RitFit 3-Section Adjustable Weight Bench, you can shift seamlessly from full-body workouts to focused strength training, thanks to its customizable settings and rock-solid build.

When your equipment makes every session easier and more enjoyable, it’s easier to stick to your routine and push yourself toward new achievements. The RitFit 3-Section Adjustable Weight Bench’s mix of smart design, reliability, and comfort offers a compelling solution for anyone aiming to get the most out of their workouts. If your goals include better performance, increased versatility, and a tidy, user-friendly gym space, this bench is a smart upgrade that delivers on all fronts.

Click here to Buy Now: $348 $399.99 ($51.99 off, use coupon code “RFBWB02”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Level Up Your Fitness Game With the RitFit Adjustable Weight Bench for Ultimate Versatility first appeared on Yanko Design.

Workout gear often starts with ambition and ends in dust. That pull-up bar you bought with every intention of sculpting your upper body? It’s now holding three jackets, a tote bag, and last week’s laundry. Instead of ignoring this all-too-common evolution, RAK embraces it by design.

RAK isn’t trying to hide the fact that home gym gear often becomes a glorified hanger. Instead, it leans into the reality and transforms it into a strength. This hybrid training system functions as both a pull-up bar and clothing rack, designed to support your workouts and your wardrobe.

Designer: Hyunbin Seo and Samsung Design Membership

Need to exercise? Just slide the clothes aside. When you’re done, shift them back into place. No guilt, no clutter – just a product that moves with your rhythm.

Most exercise equipment announces its presence with bulky frames and an aggressive design language. RAK takes a different path. Its form is minimal, its silhouette clean. The width is calculated for maximum workout efficiency without interrupting your room’s flow.

When it’s not in use, it fades naturally into your space, like it belongs there.

Hidden at the core of RAK is a clever motion sensor that quietly counts your reps. No apps, no wearables, no setup. It measures movement directly from the equipment itself, delivering accuracy that wrist-based trackers often miss. It’s smart without being needy.

Whether you’re perfecting your pull-up form or checking your posture, RAK adapts to your needs. Its central module allows attachments, dip bars, mirrors, and more, giving you full control over how it functions and how it looks. It’s not just about exercise; it’s about creating a space that reflects you.

RAK takes the pain out of setup. With a reduced number of parts and a straightforward joining system, it’s ready to go in no time. But don’t let the simplicity fool you, this thing is solid. Thanks to a steel plate at its base, RAK remains steady even under pressure.

Performance tests showed that it could handle 150kg, with only 14mm of deformation and a safety factor of 6.14, well beyond industry norms. Translation: it’s more than strong enough to support real workouts, day after day.

RAK didn’t start as a concept, it started as a problem. The creator, tired of clunky home gear, measured their own equipment, studied how clothes naturally hung on it, and reverse-engineered a better solution. That practical origin lives on in every design decision, from dimensions to material choice.

Forget oversized packages filled with endless bolts. RAK arrives in a single, sleek box, thoughtfully packed for both safety and style. The branding and unboxing experience align with the product’s mission: to reimagine fitness as something that fits into your life, not the other way around. It respects your space, adapts to your habits, and supports your goals, without trying to take over your home. Whether you’re mid-routine or mid-laundry day, it’s ready. One product, endless possibilities.

The post This Clever Minimalist Pull-Up Bar Doubles as a Stylish Clothes Rack first appeared on Yanko Design.

The architectural principle of “form follows function” is a cornerstone of design, but few projects embrace this concept as wholeheartedly as the Gambit Office by KWK Promes. Created for a pipe distribution company, this distinctive building gives the impression of being constructed almost entirely from metal pipes.

Situated in Gliwice, Poland, the Gambit Office stands out as a playful example of memetic architecture. The project began when KWK Promes was tasked with designing a new office for Gambit, the pipe distributor, while working within a limited budget. The idea emerged to use metal pipes for the building’s facade, taking advantage of their cost-effectiveness and direct connection to the company’s core business.

Designer: KWK Promes

The original plan to use actual metal pipes for the building’s facade proved unfeasible. Instead, the architects opted for raw aluminum sheeting, which was carefully bent and shaped to mimic the appearance of pipes, completely enveloping the building’s concrete structure. Achieving this effect required a lot of attention to detail and skilled craftsmanship. The ambitious project spanned around 11 years from its initial design phase to completion, reflecting the dedication and persistence of everyone involved.

“The facade was ultimately not made from Gambit pipes – designed for underground use – as we found that they oxidized under UV light and did not meet fire safety requirements,” said KWK Promes. “Instead, we reached for inexpensive, raw aluminum sheeting, which was not only cheaper but also proven in our previous projects such as the OUTrial House, Unikato, and Konieczny’s Ark.”

To address practical concerns, the pipes along the building’s edges are capped to prevent wind from creating unwanted whistling sounds, while the remaining pipes are left open, providing inviting nesting spaces for birds and insects. KWK Promes states that the raw aluminum exterior will gradually weather over time, developing a concrete-like patina that enhances its visual appeal and also ensures low maintenance requirements. The building’s overall shape is influenced by both local planning regulations and the steeply pitched roofs of neighboring houses, allowing it to blend harmoniously with its surroundings while maintaining a distinctive and innovative architectural character.

The interior of the Gambit Office offers a generous 943 square meters (approximately 10,000 square feet) of usable floor space. The main office area is located within a two-story section that features distinctive sloping walls, while an adjoining lower section is dedicated to workshop activities. The building also includes an unheated warehouse specifically designed for pipe storage. The décor highlights the exposed concrete structure, creating a modern industrial aesthetic. Ample glazing, including multiple skylights, ensures that natural light fills the space, resulting in a bright and welcoming atmosphere that enhances both comfort and productivity for those who work inside.

The post Innovative Polish Office Marries Industrial Utility & Playful Design In 10,000-Square-Foot Workspace first appeared on Yanko Design.

Forget sync apps and smart displays. This 3D-printed perpetual calendar clock keeps perfect time until March 2100—with no help, no updates, and no nonsense. A quartz-powered mechanical marvel, it wears its gear-driven logic on its face, literally. The skeleton design reveals the intricate dance of gears and mechanisms that most clocks keep hidden behind closed doors. There’s something captivating about watching the perpetual calendar mechanism in action, a complex system that accurately handles all month lengths, including February in leap years. Yet despite this complexity, it runs on nothing more than a standard quartz clock movement with limited torque.

Designer: shiura

Engineering Marvel Behind Glass

The creator has poured considerable thought into both form and function. Every component serves a purpose while contributing to the clock’s visual appeal. The drive gear train connecting the hour hand to the main cam sits concealed behind the front panel, minimizing the gap between clock hands and index markings. This creates a cleaner reading experience from any angle.

A perpetual calendar automatically adjusts for varying month lengths and leap years. The system accommodates the quirks of our calendar, including 30-day and 31-day months, as well as February’s variable length during leap years. This mechanical intelligence operates on minimal torque from a standard quartz movement.

The calendar sub-dial hands for day, month, weekday, and 24-hour time all align perfectly with the front panel, preventing visual offset when viewed from different positions. Even the main clock hands sit close to the front panel, maintaining visual harmony.

The skeleton design serves multiple purposes – it reveals the mechanical workings while making assembly more straightforward. You can watch time progress through the movement of gears and levers, adding a visual dimension to timekeeping that is typically hidden in traditional clocks.

Designed for Longevity

The calendar advances automatically until March 2100. Powered by a commercially available battery-operated quartz movement, it runs for extended periods without external power. The design also addresses practical concerns – a flat rear surface allows it to hang flush against a wall, creating a clean silhouette from any angle.

No visible screw heads on the front contribute to its professional appearance. The calendar functions can be adjusted by manually rotating the clock hands, making setup and occasional corrections straightforward.

The mechanism handles the calendar’s complexities automatically, eliminating the monthly ritual of advancing calendar displays. This balance of complex function with minimal maintenance demonstrates thoughtful design.

Maker-Friendly Construction

All parts are optimized for 3D printing without support structures, eliminating one of the most frustrating aspects of 3D printing projects. The design works within the limitations of home 3D printing technology rather than fighting against them.

Assembly follows a logical progression that respects the delicate nature of the mechanism. The instructions emphasize careful removal of blobs and debris on gears, crucial since the entire system operates on minimal torque.

The quartz movement requires modification: shortening the mounting thread with a hacksaw and shaving the hour hand shaft to create flat sides for secure gear engagement. These precise adjustments ensure reliable operation.

Multi-material printing options enable the creation of stunning, multi-colored faceplates. Using systems like Prusa MMU or Bambu Lab AMS creates a visual distinction between the face, dial, and index markings, enhancing both aesthetics and readability.

For those with single-material printers, the design accommodates filament changes during printing to achieve similar visual effects, maintaining accessibility without sacrificing appearance.

Global Design Considerations

The creator offers faceplates in Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Danish, Portuguese, German, and Ukrainian, with more languages available upon request. This global approach transforms a niche project into something with worldwide appeal.

Month abbreviations, day names, and text elements are carefully positioned and scaled to maintain visual harmony regardless of language. This attention to detail demonstrates how thoughtful design can transcend linguistic boundaries.

The multilingual support isn’t merely cosmetic – it’s fully integrated into the functional design, allowing the clock to serve as both a practical timepiece and cultural object in homes around the world.

Technical Ingenuity

The gear system requires precise assembly to ensure smooth operation. The perpetual calendar mechanism relies on specific interactions between components – a notch on the week-driven gear must align with the week hand, while a protrusion on the date rotor must position correctly relative to the date hand.

Springs provide just enough tension to advance the calendar displays at the appropriate times. Too much tension and the quartz movement lacks sufficient torque; too little and the calendar won’t advance reliably. This balance represents a core engineering challenge.

The design accommodates the limited torque available from a standard quartz movement through clever gearing and weight distribution. The main arm incorporates a steel M8 nut as a weight, utilizing gravity to assist with calendar advancement—a solution that works within physical constraints rather than requiring more powerful components.

Visual Communication Through Mechanics

The exposed mechanism does more than satisfy curiosity; it provides visual feedback on how time is tracked and measured. The interaction between gears, the positioning of the calendar indicators, and the movement of the hands all communicate function through form.

In an age of digital displays and smartwatches, this mechanical timepiece reveals the physical process of timekeeping. The skeleton design shows how simple components, arranged with precision, can track complex calendar patterns.

The visual logic extends to the interface; calendar adjustments occur through direct manipulation of the hands, rather than hidden buttons or digital menus. This transparency of function represents a design philosophy where understanding and usability merge.

A New Take on Traditional Timekeeping

This clock demonstrates how modern manufacturing techniques can breathe new life into traditional objects. The 3D-printed components achieve precision that would be difficult with conventional manufacturing at small scales, while the quartz movement provides reliability without sacrificing the mechanical calendar display.

The design strikes a balance between visibility and organization, revealing the mechanism without creating visual chaos. The careful arrangement of gears, hands, and indicators maintains readability while showcasing the engineering underneath.

For horological enthusiasts, 3D printing hobbyists, and design appreciators alike, this perpetual calendar clock offers both technical achievement and visual interest. It transforms timekeeping from a background utility to a focal point of mechanical design.

The clock exemplifies how digital fabrication can preserve and enhance traditional mechanical crafts rather than replacing them. By combining accessible manufacturing with clever mechanical design, it brings a once-exclusive complication into the realm of personal creation.

Practical Elegance

Beyond its technical achievements, the clock functions as a practical household object. The ease of wall mounting, clear readability, and automatic calendar advancement make it as functional as it is fascinating.

The design decisions prioritize both visual appeal and everyday use, from the alignment of hands to prevent parallax errors to the clean front face without visible fasteners. This attention to practical details elevates it from a mere demonstration piece to a fully realized product.

For makers looking to challenge themselves with a project that integrates mechanical engineering, aesthetics, and practical functionality, this clock provides both the process and the final result. The final product serves as both a timekeeper and a demonstration of creativity. It provides a daily reminder of how thoughtful design addresses complex problems with elegant mechanical solutions.

The post Time Eternal: The 3D Printed Perpetual Calendar Clock That Defies Expectations first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bali. The name alone conjures images of verdant rice paddies, ancient temples, and a spiritual calm that feels almost mythical, perhaps even a touch overplayed in travel brochures. Yet, capturing that elusive essence in architecture, particularly for hotels, remains a profound challenge. Too often, concrete structures land like disconnected objects, disrupting the very tranquility visitors chase. It forces us to ask: how do you build in Bali, harmonizing with its spirit, rather than just building on its land?

Archigods, an Indonesian firm deeply familiar with this context, offers a compelling response. Their concept for a boutique hotel isn’t about imposing scale but fostering a gentle embrace of the landscape. Named the “Blooming Ring,” the design envisions a circular structure cradling a central oasis – a literal sanctuary within a sanctuary. It feels less like an imposing building and more like an organic landform emerging naturally from the earth, whispering integration rather than shouting arrival.

Designer: Archigods

The circular layout is pivotal – Think ancient enclosures or communal gathering spaces; the form inherently turns inward, focusing energy and attention on the lush courtyard. This central space, planned with local flora and calming water features, becomes the hotel’s vibrant, green heart. Guest rooms radiate outwards, offering privacy, yet the core experience constantly pulls you back to this shared, protected haven, fostering a subtle sense of community amidst personal retreat.

Forget predictable smooth render or ubiquitous timber cladding. Archigods proposes embedding crushed pistachio shells within the facade’s plaster. Yes, actual pistachio shells. It’s a wonderfully quirky bit of material alchemy, turning food waste into architectural texture. Imagine the subtle, variegated surface catching the tropical light – tactile, unexpected, and deeply earthy, a far cry from sterile perfection.

This textural innovation sits alongside locally sourced bamboo and timber, materials intrinsically linked to Balinese building traditions. The pistachio shell facade provides a fascinating counterpoint – familiar natural materials meet clever, sustainable upcycling. It’s a statement about resourcefulness, minimizing environmental impact, and creating a building that truly feels rooted, right down to its unique, shell-flecked skin telling a quiet story of reuse.

The design intent clearly targets wellness and sensory rejuvenation. Movement through the space would likely follow the ring’s gentle curve, revealing constant glimpses of the central garden, reinforcing that connection to nature. Natural light is choreographed to flood interiors, while views are carefully framed towards tranquility. The material palette – those intriguing shells, the warm wood, cool stone – aims to create a tactile journey, contributing to a sense of grounded calm.

This project aligns beautifully with the principles of biophilic design, striving to weave nature seamlessly into the built environment. The Blooming Ring feels like a mature, sensitive application, specifically tuned to the Balinese context. It sidesteps flashy architectural gymnastics, prioritizing experiential richness derived from its embracing form, its careful manipulation of light, and that standout sustainable material choice.

Although conceptual, Archigods’ Blooming Ring presents a potent vision for hospitality design in places demanding deep respect for nature and culture. It champions architecture that doesn’t merely occupy space but actively collaborates with the landscape, using innovative, sustainable materials to enhance the restorative escape Bali promises.

The post Sustainably Luxurious Bali Hotel Uses Crushed Pistachio Shells Instead of Concrete first appeared on Yanko Design.

The only company better than Google at leaking their own phone designs seems to be Carl Pei’s Nothing. After weeks of constant teasing different details of the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro’s design, they’re back with their latest device from the company’s budget wing, CMF. The CMF Phone 2 is slated to launch on the 28th of this month, but Nothing decided to lift the veil on its design a week in advance, getting its Asia-focused market excited well in time to line up to buy the device. The CMF Phone 2 Pro (yes, the budget line has a Pro variant too) was officially revealed in a video on Twitter (do we still have to call it X?), showcasing two beautiful colorways – white and that eye-catching orange.

The design is a masterclass in iterative evolution. The overall flavor of the phone remains the same, with the plastic body, the customizable backplate, and the knob on the bottom right corner of the back. However, the camera layout gets a revamp, going from a capsule-shaped build to two individual metal rings and one capsule beside them. This confirms all past sources, bringing the camera count of this budget-beast to 3 lenses. Eggs might be expensive, but camera lenses apparently are a dime a dozen!

Designer: CMF by Nothing

While the camera layout hasn’t been particularly new information (we learnt about it more than a month ago), the new design reveals an interesting backplate upgrade. While last year’s model had a single-color backplate, punctuated by the camera layout and the knob at the bottom, the Phone 2 Pro’s design comes with a dual-tone finish. The orange and white variants both showcase an interplay between matte and metallic finishes on the backplate, giving the phone’s blockish form an exciting visual break. As an industrial designer, I absolutely love it – it’s exciting without looking gaudy (like some budget phones and their atrocious holographic shimmering backs). The design is subtle and sophisticated – something that still lets you set yourself apart as design-conscious even in the budget-phone category.

CMF confirmed earlier that the Phone 2 Pro will be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 Pro, a modest upgrade over the previous 7300. It’s a 6nm SoC built for efficiency and mid-range performance. It’s not flagship power, but it has enough punch to keep up with demanding games and multitasking, and that silky 120Hz display refresh rate CMF teased for battle royale enthusiasts. That detail alone places this phone squarely in the gamer-on-a-budget lane.

The triple camera setup features a 50MP wide sensor, another 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide for those expansive cityscapes and group shots. Early samples teased with the tagline “Built for light, depth and detail” suggest a sensor configuration that leans hard into contrast and sharpness. If the software pipeline holds up, this could be one of the few affordable phones where the telephoto isn’t an afterthought.

One element CMF hasn’t confirmed is whether that dual-tone design will extend to additional colors at launch. If orange and white are just the start, this might be a new wave of expressive hardware. CMF is pushing aesthetic diversity with functional depth—think Playdate meets Android. It feels like the next step for Nothing’s design-forward philosophy: take the playful transparency of the original Nothing Phone and evolve it into modular expressionism.

The post Nothing Confirms CMF Phone 2 Pro Design with 3 Cameras and a Dual-tone Backplate first appeared on Yanko Design.