Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

A bike bell that rings INSIDE other vehicles!

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 11:57 AM PDT

The video above paints a realistically dark picture for bikers, and it should, since it comes from AXA, the insurance company. Cars are noise, bikes are silent, and no matter what technology we create to make cars safer, they don’t always mean bikers will be. So what’s the solution? Innovative thinking and guerrilla tactics!

The Smart Bell, designed by AXA Poland, is a rather unique gadget. I understand I gave the trick away in the title, but think about it. Bike bells are dainty, and often go unheard. What the Smart Bell does is that it hooks to your current bike bell and beams out an audio signal via RDS (Radio Data System) to all other vehicles close by, so cars near you hear the Bell through their in-car sound systems. No matter if the car has the radio running, or is listening to music via their audio system, it pauses to play the bell sound from the bike beside you. A little invasive? A small trade-off to avoid a fatal accident (more than 4500 bicyclists die every year due to road accidents). The Smart Bell, that mounts on the back of the bike, even comes with an illuminating disc that serves as a tail-light.

The device isn’t really available on the shelf yet, since it was more part of a strategy to raise awareness (and get the word going about bike insurance), but the word really seems to be picking up. The technology (of being able to beam signals into other vehicles) is getting a great response from the public, so maybe we’ll see this somewhere in the future! However, if you’re from Poland, you can sign up for a Smart Bell here!

Designer: FCB (for AXA Poland)

Comfy Kettlebells

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 10:47 AM PDT

Whether you’re new to kettlebell training or have a seasoned hand, injuries can strike at any time and that’s in part due to the not-so-comfy design of the standard equipment. Created with this in mind, this design features a unique, contoured shape that is ergonomically adapted to wrap around the wrist and forearm, providing a much more comfortable kettlebell experience for the hands and forearms during training, especially for commonly used quick grip and swing movements. A layer of soft, no-slip, textured material provides greater grip. This improved shape and comfy cladding means enhanced control so you can focus more on fitness and form and less on stressed arms and hands! Better yet, they’re color coordinated depending on the weight so you can easily identify and make adjustments in a bend and snap!

Designer: Donato Javier Nasuti

Solving Travel’s Biggest Problem

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 09:02 AM PDT

Now the biggest woe of traveling isn’t losing your luggage (I’ve seen so many suitcases try to crack this nugget) or lack of modularity (it’s good to go modular, but non-modularity isn’t a concrete problem) or having to lug your heavy bags around (wheels have solved this problem, but the self-driving robotic suitcase we’ve seen on social media seems more like a novelty than a necessity). The big problem one always faces, is having to own two separate bags for check-in and carry-on, and having to plan my packing oscillating between the two of them and whether I need the small bag, the big bag, or both. Now here’s the thought. What if you could have a bag that grows and shrinks in size to fit both the needs?

Well, we’ve seen bags expanding to allow extra storage, but nothing quite like this. The XTEND’s bag literally shrinks vertically in size to meet carry-on dimension requirements, and then expands (when you need to) for when you want a large bag to check-in. One bag literally fits all situations by being compact when you want it, and spacious when you need it, allowing it to be the only bag that can be carried with you as cabin luggage, or transported as checked-in baggage. The XTEND does this using a collapsible inner ‘belt’ or zone, that when opened out, makes the bag up to 40% larger.

Aside from its shape-shifting abilities, it outdoes itself with additional features, including 2 concealed laptop hatches (one for 13″ and another for 15″ laptops), a separate compartment for shoes/magazines/jackets, an in-built power strip featuring 2 USB + 1 MicroUSB sockets, armed with a generous 20,000 mAh battery, powerful enough to charge not just your phones and tablets, but even your laptop! Plus, you’ll be stunned by the number of accessories that come along with the suitcase. If that wasn’t enough, the XTEND even features bio-metric locking! Which means if your bag ever gets flicked prematurely off the conveyor belt, its contents can’t be accessed without the correct finger-print. Not just as a prospective user, but even as a designer, I have to say I’m impressed. The XTEND may just be the most superior, user-centric, consciously-designed piece of luggage so far… and that’s saying a lot.

Designers: Koert Vanoverbecke, Louis Develay & Jerome Tricault

BUY NOW: $299 $499

The XTEND carry-on expands and retracts by 40% in volume! Use it as a carry on or expand it into full size and use it as a regular suitcase to fit all of your travel needs!

The built-in power and convenient charging pocket will charge all your devices on the go. Never run out of power again!

XTEND’s all-terrain wheels were designed with style and durability. They’ll withstand practically any terrain without flipping on you.

BUY NOW: $299 $499

The Tiniest Espresso Maker Ever!

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 05:53 AM PDT

I went camping this weekend and would have killed for this! There’s nothing quite like waking up and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee or espresso while you take in the natural scenery… and now that’s easier than ever. It’s called the MiniPresso and it makes it possible to satisfy those caffeine cravings from places you never thought possible!

Super-lightweight and compact, it’s easily stowed in any backpack or bag. Simply load it up with any Nespresso pod or preload your favorite grinds, add hot water, and aim for your mug or thermos! Better yet, it’s hand-operated and doesn’t require any batteries or electricity, meaning as long as you’ve got hot water, you’ve got fresh espresso!

Designer: Hugo Carleton

BUY NOW

BUY NOW

The Miniest of Mice

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 04:04 AM PDT

The OXO Mouse packs the same punch as any traditional mouse but in a much smaller size! Weighing in at only 105 grams and measuring just 60mm wide X 25mm high X 110mm long, it’s pocket sized so you can pack it and take with you anywhere!

Better yet, it’s wireless and entirely rechargeable with a lithium ion battery. This means it can charge fully in 1.5 hours and keep going for hours! With its responsive touch-sensitive top, there are no buttons or rollerballs to lose. This, in combination with a sleek, jet black finish make it as stylishly minimal as it is convenient and compact!

Designer: Vi Le

Who Wouldn’t Want a Floating Carpet?

Posted: 12 Jun 2017 01:05 AM PDT

We’ve outgrown bouncing castles, kiddie swings, and quite a few other playful/calming things in life… but we find our way around, don’t we? The Levitat is an ageless way to enjoy, unwind, and bond. The three-way floating mat is big enough for a family or a group of friends to lounge on, or for you to meditate on.

Its triangular design makes it great for groups, allowing 3 people or 6 children to relax on its bouncy yet cushion-y fabric. The very idea of being suspended above the ground allows for a completely different experience and feeling, giving people more joy than actually being on the ground. Spread out a picnic mat and you’ll have a regular gathering, put out something like the Levitat and the social get-together immediately becomes exciting and memorable!

Doing the job of a hammock as well as a spread, the triangular aerial mat is designed to immediately give you the feeling of being suspended in space, an emotion immediately known to calm even the toughest nerves. It helps therapeutically, while also increasing blood flow, inherently making you feel relaxed, yet alert. The suspended mat makes an ideal yoga spread too, allowing you to work your core muscles as you balance while exercising or meditating.

The Levitat’s uniqueness stems from its approach towards reinventing how we ‘lounge’. Hammocks are too personal, and a picnic mat is much too boring. The Levitat takes exactly the same amount of space as a picnic mat (it folds compactly into a bag) and comes equipped with a stand, or can easily be hooked to other supports like trees, etc. The fabric is lightweight, durable, and (hallelujah) sand-sifting, making Levitat perfect for all locations including the beach. The Levitat doesn’t come with age restrictions either! Don’t settle for a picnic mat when you can do so much better, right?

Designers: Levitat Design & OiKo Design

BUY NOW: $155 $240

Above is the Levi-stand, designed for any indoor or outdoor location.