Best of January 2009

Tonway

Every month we take a look around and select some of the most interesting designs that was showcased here. Below you’ll find the most popular designs we’ve tracked over the last 30 days - an overview of designs you shouldn’t have missed in January 2009. 【翻译】（自己乱翻译的，希望能看得懂） 在每个月，我们都会看看这个月一些东西，并选择一些有趣的设计展示在这里。我们综述这30天的设计，你会在这找到最潮流的设计，精彩不容错过 的09年一月。 15) Bird Cage/Aquarium by Constance Guisset. Permalink Hits: 9974 14) +Shifter Tap by Shen Di. Permalink Hits: 10106 13) Disposable Pre-Paid Phone by IDEA. Permalink Hits: 10479 12) iShelf by Li Jianye. Permalink Hits: 10952 11) SoundBulb by Hoang Nguyen. Permalink Hits: 11289 10) Daywriter by Peter Freund. Permalink Hits: 11871 9) Condom USB by Ko-Yang. Pemalink Hits: 12060 8 ) Transparent B-Iron 725 by Dong-Seok Lee. Permalink Hits: 13255 7) Minutuner by Antrepo Design. Permalink Hits: 13398 6) Moss Carpet by Nguyen La Chanh. Permalink Hits: 20688 5) LightLane by Evan Gant. Permalink Hits: 23796 4) Toilet Seat Scale by Haikun Deng. Permalink Hits: 26059 3) Staples-less Stapler by Sherwood Forlee. Permalink Hits: 36612 2) Fresh Blow by Moonhwan Lee. Permalink Hits: 80702

My Alarm Clock is Not a Movie or MaybeDescribed by its designers as an attempt to change our perception of time with a good dose of minimalism, the Minutuner is as simple as an alarm clock can get. Obviously influenced by a perception of time as a linear flow, it brings to mind the progress bars below our everpresent online video players, contextualizing our lives as finite things to be lived well and with no regrets. While not immediately available, it’s looking for partners in production, so keep your fingers crossed. Designer: Antrepo Design Industry

A Little Bit of College Ruled GeniusBy our friend and returning Yanko champion, Sherwood Forlee. Check out the simplicity. Just punch out the corner, make a cut or two, fold back, and POW! You are green. You are sooo green. And Sherwood told us to make sure to mention that the money you save on staples is money you should spend on something totally nice for yourself. So, you know what to do! Get out there and kick-start the economy! That Forlee, always thinking with his heart. Visit his portfolio or click below to see the other things by SF that have been featured on Yanko Design. Designer: Sherwood Forlee

Blow Up Balloons To Clear Up Stank OdorsFresh Blow is a product designed to replace boring mundane air fresheners with something fun and energetic! You blow up a balloon thru an aromatic capsule and release it. As the balloon whizzes around frantically, fresh aromatics fill your room. There are other ways to use Fresh Blow too (seriously that name has me thinking of other things). When you need an instant pick me up, twist open the capsule and take a direct hit, getting a full whiff to awaken your senses. There’s even a time release option by letting the balloon slowly deflate with the capsule still attached ensuring freshness throughout the day along with that slight whistle that sounds like farts. Designer: Moonhwan Lee

Car Enthusiats Now Frugal with WaterWater conservation is still one of the easiest ways to save energy (yes energy!) and preserve our planet. Fresh water only accounts for 3% of all water on Earth but 1% of it is frozen so in that sense, it’s quite rare. The +Shifter faucet uses the perception of a car’s gearbox to change how much water we use. Instead of changing gear ratios, each position correlates to how much water flows out. The design is sleek and minimal, somewhat reminiscent of a luxury sports car. Everything from the brushed black metal to the copper faceplate screams “I’m expensive!” However designer Shen Di doesn’t mention how it controls temperature. Inquiring minds would like to know. Designer: Shen Di

Condom Protects You From Viruses!Ding ding, yes it’s true. Condoms can significantly reduce the likelihood of you catching some nasty virus except this condom is designed for the digital kind. Computer viruses are just as virulent as the biological variety, just as insidious, and just as detrimental. The Condom USB is a device that acts as a stopgap between any USB enabled device and your computer. As soon as the Condom USB detects a virus, built-in software shuts off USB access, verifies the problem, removes the nasty bug, then reopens the communication bridge to your computer. Snazzy but would this really work in the real world? Designer: Ko Yang

Fat Before a Visit to the Loo, Skinny AfterYou know they say you’re a few pounds lighter after a seated visit to the loo, it’s true. Designer Haikun Deng designed a toilet seat with a built-in digital scale but her rationale behind its conception is a bit counter productive. It’s designed for women who are constantly monitoring their weight. The need to feel skinny is satisfied every time they finish the “doo.” I have 2 concerns. Should we really be designing products to reinforce people’s self doubts and esteem problems? Secondly I thought you could only get an accurate weight reading standing up or completely suspended. Actually I just thought of a 3rd concern. The protagonist in Haikun’s illustrations is clearly skinny. She shouldn’t be worried about being fat. See, SEE what the media is doing to us! Now excuse me while I go on a food binge. Designer: Haikun Deng

Immaculate Mini Lawn In Your LooThey say walking on fresh grass increases your blood circulation; I can’t vouch for that! Anyways, it is a reason to get going to the nearest park, remove your expensive Jimmy Choo’s and prance around. The Moss Carpet looks at getting the grass to your feet, and that too in your loo! Made from imputrescible foam called plastazote, the mat includes ball moss, island moss and forest moss. The humidity of the bathroom ensures that the mosses thrive. And that’s why you need to place it there and not anywhere else. Little gnomes not included. Designer: Nguyen La Chanh

See Thru IronI’m all over this concept because of my fashion design background. The transparent B-IRON 725 makes getting those pesky wrinkles out and crisp creases in with ease. It takes the guess work out without sacrificing quality… or does it? The soleplate is made of tempered glass. Heat conduction works via a network of electro-thermal wires. Fascinating concept but as far as I know, stainless steel is the best material for pressing clothes. What do you guys think? Is glass feasible? Designer: Dong-Seok Lee & Ji-Hyung Jung

Wrist Phone For Troubled TimesGiven the volatile situation (political and natural) around most countries, I totally buy the idea of having an emergency phone around my space. Recent incidents of carnages and natural disasters imply that even a simple shopping, holiday or business trip can take an ugly turn instantaneously. This doesn’t mean that we stop traveling; it simply means we arm ourselves better. The Disposable Pre-Paid Phone could be that life-saving device, which could get you out of a sticky situation. Simple, non pretentious, the phone is a very basic device that is devoid of the fancy stuff. This makes its cheap to manufacture and market. Another point in its favor is the portability factor; you can simply wrap it around your wrist. Leaving the connectivity issues aside, the phone has the potential to make its mark. But that doesn’t mean you don’t take your regular cellphone along! Designer: IDEA