August 2010 Archives

Wheelchair users knows the pros and cons of using a wheelchair in their day to day lives. Although wheelchair users have been able to cope with the limitations of the use of the standard wheelchair, some things may not be done without being able to use your legs.  Tim Leeding has made a clever design for a wheelchair that might lessen some of the restrictions that comes with using one.

The old pedestrian traffic light has been revamped to a bolder and more playful traffic light.  Designed by Li Ming Hsing from Korea, this new pedestrian traffic light animates and moves to guide you to a fun and safer road crossing experience.

We all live in a fast-paced world and we constantly move from point A to point B.  Transportation has been a problem for us in one way or another and so we constantly look for alternative ways in dealing with this problems.  There are those who bring their own cars, ride the bus, trains and other public utility vehicles but some of us goes for a healthier and environment friendly alternatives like riding a bike.

Although it seems faster riding a bike than going through a long line of traffic jams.  A bike can just virtually pass through heavy car jams and road obstructions but then, the quality of the experience traveling on a bike on this route can be considered ordinary or even less.

Bike lanes have been provided in some cities and communities to accommodate bikers by taking them off the road and into a much safer position.  These also allows the riders to enjoy the scenery without any worry of a car trying to hit them off the road.  This then becomes a much more satisfying travel experience, wouldn't you agree.  But, what if the bike lanes then become congested?  This is where the wild concept of biking on wires comes into the picture.

Martyr, by the Play Coalition, is a neat looking nightlight that wants to be unplugged.

Designer Asag Yogev from Israel calls this chair the Hox, a soft and folding furniture.  It is one of the shortlisted design in the "Design For All" competition hosted by designboom in cooperation with Seoul's Design Fair 2010.

A visit to the men's toilet would show you that urinals take up space almost as much as the lavatories.  And for some time now, some of the malls have converted their urinals to the waterless types of units, which means no more flushing to save water.  The problem with waterless units though is that it's not as sanitary as water flushing the urine down the drain and most does not mask urine odor.  Designer Yeongwoo Kim addressed all these situations when he designed a urinal and wash basin in one stand!  It's a winning entry to the IF Concept Design 2010.

This ordinary looking table is not as ordinary as it seems.  Designed by Mike Kann, this table which he calls the Minos Coffee Table amazingly captures memories and patterns of its use.  Upholstered with leather with thermochromic dye, it changes its shade when touched by something warm like the hands of the user touching the table or a hot cup of coffee placed on top.  A pattern of wires are laid underneath the leather also conducts heat and contributes to the unusual shapes and patterns that is produced.

This is a very interesting table that will surely capture ones curiosity.

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People suffering from arthritis can't live a normal life.  Every small tasks seems bigger.  A simple turning of a doorknob becomes a painful task.  That is what inspired designer Tom Spencer to create a tool to help people suffering from arthritis perform simple tasks that would make their lives a little easier.

Here's a great gift idea you could give your loved ones.  A color changing mug!

The On/Off Mug changes its face's design when the contents inside are hot and then changes back again when it gets cold.