Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

Can Free Weights be Cute?!

Posted: 14 Dec 2017 10:55 AM PST

These innovative fitness free weights take inspiration from an unlikely, surprising source – matryoshka Russian nesting dolls! Like the doll-in-doll system, additional weight can be added by nesting the weights together. With a quick snap-in/snap-out mechanism, you can transition from light to heavy in seconds to accommodate your workout routine without interruption. When you’re finished lifting and want to squeeze in some cardio, the handles double as a jump rope by connecting an included cord. Better yet, they make a cute desktop trinket when you’re not using them!

Designer: 7 nepo

The handles double as a jump rope by connecting an included cord.

The Way your Music Was Meant to be Heard

Posted: 14 Dec 2017 06:46 AM PST

Off the top of your head, think of an industry that still claims technology from the past is qualitatively better. You’ll never hear anyone in storage claim that the floppy trumps cloud storage. Or anyone in the digital media industry says that the cathode ray tube is much better than today’s AMOLEDs. Or the VHS is better than Netflix. So why does the music industry still hold Vinyl discs as the highest standard of music playback even after more than half a century? The answer is Analogue Warmth.

Analogue Warmth is, mildly put, a distortion during playback using analog technology. While distortion usually means a deviation from quality, Analogue Warmth sounds pleasant, and in the digital days, people go through massive lengths to simulate it to make their music sound more “warm and pleasant”, but the truth is, to the human ear, Analogue always beats Digital. TT8 by Minfort brings that beautiful, rich, analogue warmth to all your music, be it on a turntable or on the cloud. Designed to embody everything that’s beautiful about the retro turntable, the TT8 has a full wood construction with contemporary styling, letting it sit proudly in most homes, blending with all sorts of decor. The turntable on top is powered by the industry standard setting Audio Technica AT3600L Cartridge, while TT8’s inbuilt amplifiers (two of them) do the magic, waving their wand of warmth over your music to make it more pleasing.

However the TT8 is not just a vinyl disc playback machine. It comes with Bluetooth and Wifi-Airplay, allowing you to stream your digital audio through the TT8 to bring analogue warmth to your Spotify Playlist like never before. On the back of the TT8 lies outputs that let you hook your own speakers to the TT8, making use of its on-board amp, or even giving you the freedom to use your own amplifier (if you have one) using the RCA outlet. Either way, the TT8 promises to change how you listen to music, allowing you to retain the convenience of your digitally stored tunes, but bringing an industrial standard to your output, letting you hear your music at the industrial standard, and the way the artist intended you to!

The TT8 comes as a standalone turntable and wireless streaming device but can also be used with Minfort’s speaker units, designed and calibrated to complement the TT8 perfectly. Available in multiple configurations and setups, the TT8 and its speaker units come in beautiful walnut, teak, and oak finishes to fill your room with a natural aesthetic that goes hand in hand with the natural warmth of the audio they produce!

Designer: Minfort

Click Here to Buy Now: $619.00 $849.00

The TT8 is a winner of the Golden Pin Design Award for the year 2017.

Click Here to Buy Now: $619.00 $849.00

The Underwater Walkie-Talkie

Posted: 14 Dec 2017 05:20 AM PST

As if a stunning underwater adventure with mesmerizing visuals and captivating sea life weren’t enough… now you can chat your way through it with you and your diving buddies! The SeaVoice FRS-radio headset is designed for use in all sorts of underwater experiences including scuba diving, snorkeling, or various types of water sports.

The design utilizes bone-conduction technology paired with laringphones (throat microphones) to transmit and receive speech even in high-noise environments. Completely waterproof and shock resistant, its integrated mic, speaker, sensors antenna and battery are safe for use even at low depths. It revolutionizes group dives and other activities with synced communication while enhancing safety and awareness.

Designers: Max Mysechko & Artemiy Drobyazko of Qvarta for SeaVoice

Minimalist Style Never Looked so Snugly!

Posted: 14 Dec 2017 03:18 AM PST

The Slice collection of cozy carryalls consists of two shopper bags, a waist bag, a cross-body satchel and a case-clutch. Inspire by the big city, the line channels the stark grey coloring and geometric figure of many skyscrapers.

Made of felt, each is piece is simultaneously soft and tactile yet rigid and dense. The seams are purposefully crafted to ensure the bags stays as flat as possible – hence the name Slice. With a size for any function and a straightforward look that pairs with lots of looks, it’s easy to see why you might want more than one!

Designer: Evgenija Medvedeva for Torba

Look at how cool these specs are!

Posted: 13 Dec 2017 05:00 PM PST

With Warby Parker locations popping up all over the world, it’s no surprise that small eyewear vendors are going out of business. What’s more frustrating is that this expensive wearable lasts as long as you are willing to take care of them. Mishandling or improper care will only lead to heartbreak when you sit on these guys. With such tremendous talent and accessibility to 3D fabrication cropping up more and more, it’s no surprise that we keep seeing fun innovations around glasses and other personal accessories. One of notable mention is the MONO 3D printed eyewear by ITUM. Having completed a fully funded Indiegogo campaign in 2015, MONO have gone on to develop glasses with a twist – literally. 3D printed as one entity; the frames sit comfortably snug against the user’s face with only three simple measurements. MONO’s collection consists of five styles of frames, re-interpreted from classic profiles and come in 4 colorways – not just this but MONO gives eight colors of lenses for the users’ choice. These are a design that I’ve never seen before, and I must say, the vision for MONO looks clear and bright.

Designer: ITUM

Hey Elon, here’s an idea for your Semi-trucks!

Posted: 13 Dec 2017 02:55 PM PST

Most trucks aren’t as aerodynamic as the Tesla Semi which has a drag coefficient that’s lesser than Bugatti’s flagship Chiron. But most trucks aren’t designed to be fuel efficient. They’re made for getting cargo from A to B, and usually when you design for optimal space, you pay more attention to space optimization, rather than aerodynamics. However, Henning Marxen has a rather simple solution to help reduce aerodynamic drag in any truck. The answer? An inflatable PVC tail that helps guide air flow in a manner that helps reduce drag, and therefore increase fuel economy.

The Trucktail unlike other permanent solutions for reducing aerodynamic drag is a temporary one. Made from PVC fabric, it can be simply attached and inflated to take shape. It stays tethered to the back of the truck at all times, making sure it never comes undone under high speeds. Once done, the tail can be simply deflated, folded, and stored anywhere on board the semi.

It’s not like Tesla’s Semi needs to be more aerodynamic than it already is, but the Trucktail is sure to help other trucks be much more fuel efficient than they already are… besides, it won’t harm anyone to see this attached to a Tesla Semi. Unless that anyone is Bugatti’s pride!

The Trucktail received an honorable mention at the Red Dot Design Concept Awards for the year 2017.

Designer: Henning Marxen