At one small seed we believe in the power of unique ideas and novel concepts. Ranging from technology, design, art and music, we’ve compiled a collection of crazy, fascinating, funny and bizarre findings that we think would be of interest to you. Here are some of our favourite finds this past week. Stay tuned for weekly material…
Image: hellolumio.com
Image: hellolumio.com
The Lumio Lamp, designed by Max Gunawan, is a simple wood-panelled book that transforms into a lamp. With pages that literally shine of your desk and illuminate your environment, the Lumio Lamp is a book that you’ll seldom close. It comes in three different designs – Blonde Maple, Warm Cherry, and Dark Walnut – with each variety shaded in a different colour to match your décor needs.
The journal-like gadget meshes laser cut wood with durable, water-resistant LED ‘pages’ from Tyvek. The lamp turns on when you open the cover, and the wider you open it, the brighter it glows. It is easily rechargeable via micro USB on your computer or USB charger.
Image: hellolumio.com
The versatile design piece that can transform into a table lamp, wall sconce, ceiling pendant, outdoor light, emergency light, or any other creative way you decide to use it! It’s the perfect accessory for an event or a cozy movie at home, and when you’re done just fold it into a book and slip it away.
Bra Dryer 2.0 by Ricasol
Image: bradryer.com
Image: bradryer.com
Bras can take hours to dry and sometimes you might find your lacy undergarments get bent out of shape in the process. Ricasol have created the Bra Dryer 2.0. Using an infrared light to warm up the fabric, Ricasol evaporates moisture and preserves the garment’s shape. The Bra Dryer 2.0 can be activated on flat surfaces and comes in a range of sizes to suit your convenience. If you need that special bra to go with that pretty dress, the Bra Dryer 2.0 will have you ready in 20 to 30 minutes.
We Cut Corners: ‘Pirate’s Life’ by Kijek / Adamski
We Cut Corners “Pirate’s Life” from Kijek / Adamski on Vimeo.
Image: Screenshot
‘Pirate’s Life’ is 2 minute music video clip by band We Cut Corners that features a simple black and white pirate moving through the video. Uploaded by Kijek/Adamski, each frame was hand drawn with markers on paper, yet the fluid movement and the artistic professionalism of the piece makes it seem more tech-induced than a minimal sketch.
Architecture and Burgers: McDonald’s in Batumi
Image: architizer.com
Image: architizer.com
The fun thing about travel is experiencing familiar encounters in different ways. McDonald’s is a global brand with franchises all over the world, and in each city the popular eatery carries a different flavour. In terms of architecture, you may be surprised at what you’ll find overseas. Batumi, Georgia, is host to a new McDonald’s restaurant – one that can only be described as a shiny-glassed museum of modern Mac D’s dining. The project was designed and executed by KHMALADZE Architects. The team sought to combine a petrol station with a restaurant so that the urban traffic rush of drivers could grab some food while their cars get serviced. The interior of the restaurant features a labyrinth garden landscape with earthy wooden furniture – a neat juxtaposition against the outdoor petrol pumps and noisy cityscape.
Buick’s Pinterest Inspired Interior Design
Image: mashable.com
Earlier this year General Motors luxury vehicle brand Buick asked their Pinterest fans to develop interior design ideas to theme the design for their new 2013 Encore luxury crossover car. The ‘Pinboard to Dashboard’ promotion invited ten top tier fashion, food, and design bloggers to contribute to the fun and add their stroke of brilliance. Buick as an expensive luxury automotive brand attracts older crowds looking for lavish comfort. The Pinterest promotion served to identify the brand with younger audiences and illustrate that Buick is as savvy with social media as the next twenty something.
Michael Wurm Jr. was picked as the winning Pinterest Buick design for his collection of beachy, pastel toned sensations. His scenic visuals inspired the design features, texturesm and colours of Buick’s Encore 2013.
GIGS2GO Eco-Friendly Disposable USB Flash Drive
Image: gizmag.com
Image: gizmag.com
Everybody always fumbles around trying to find that slither of flash drive that gets lost in their pockets or bags. It’s that or we’re hefting around portable hard-drives cautiously making sure they don’t get dropped or damaged. The GIG2Go by Kurt Rampton and BOLTgroup is an eco-friendly credit card-shaped flash drive that can fit in a wallet or purse. The ‘card’ holds four finger drives that can be easily pulled off from the base to store documents, music, images, videos, and anything else you may need. The design carries a ‘tear and share’ concept that allows people to share information with each other quickly and conveniently – whether it be an in an office space or between friends. Each drive is programmed with 1 GB storage; just enough for students to hurriedly store essays, and 9 to 5ers to save presentations or minutes.
Domo Toaster
Image: amazon.com
Domo Kun is Japan’s mascot of adorable destruction, and now you can have him for breakfast. Slip two slices of toast into the Domo Toaster and watch your bread pop out with a toothy growl. While the toaster does seem to add a little burn to your bread, the cute factor makes it a culinary must-have. Plus it’s pretty cool. Get the toaster from Amazon for $40.
Nudie Jeans Rugs
Image: nudiejeans.com
Image: nudiejeans.com
Nudie Jeans are helping jean-lovers find ways to keep their worn out denims. The jean brand have formulated a system to transform jeans into cozy rugs. Although some might find it a little unsettling to have other people’s jeans lying around their home, the fabric is cleaned and process before it is woven into rugs.
The old jeans are first stripped into smaller bundles and then sewn back together to create a colourful textile rug. Developed in Turkey, the finished products measure 2000 x 1500 and can fill any spacious, stylish room.
Il Treno by Tjep.
Image: urdesign.it
Conceptual furniture is always a great way to dapper your interior design. Dutch design agency, Tjep., has created a dining room table stimulated by the dining aesthetic of vintage train compartments. ‘Il Treno’ will be launched during the Milan Design Week 2013 at Ventura Lambrate later this month. The booth can accommodate a fun dinner with friends, or an intimate dining experience with the object of your romanticism. Tjep. handcrafted the piece to be released in either Ash or Oak wood. Il Treno carries two design structures – one with storage for valuable china or crystal glasses, and one without.
High Tech Tree Houses by Invisible Works
Image: inhabitat.com
Image: inhabitat.com
Image: inhabitat.com
Invisible Works is a British company that has designed an outline of high tech tree houses to be installed in London parks. The aim of their project is to encourage people to spend less time in the urban streets and more time enjoying the fresh green of park environments. The tree houses will be used as a space for restaurants, movie screenings and live performances. The eco-structures have a 10 year plan to stay in parks and will be privately funded.
Ocean Cleanup by Boyan Slat
Image: facebook.com
Image: facebook.com
Ocean Cleanup is a conceptual structure that could clear over 7 million tons of plastic from the ocean. 19-year-old engineering student Boyan Slat innovated the design that uses floating booms to remove waste from water, rather than nets. The stretched nets often allow small pieces of debris to sieve through the material – a flaw that is perfected by Ocean Cleanup. Ocean Cleanup also ensures that aquatic animals have no risk of being caught. The system would retain energy from the sun, waves, and currents to retrieve the waste that is carried towards it via ocean currents.
Gas Stations as Public Light Installations by Sophie Valla
Image: psfk.com
Image: psfk.com
Image: psfk.com
Sophie Valla has turned the dull utility gas station into an illuminating hotspot display for the Dutch. The Amsterdam-based designer used LED panels and spotlights to turn two petrol stations into a street-side light show. The endeavour is called ‘LED cloud’ as Valla attempts to use her lighting technique to create an artificial sky. The inspiration behind her project is to help people find an economic spot to hang out and kill time with friends – a fundamental challenge that has arisen out of the global recession that has devastatingly impacted Europe. The installation is also scattered with concrete furniture to encourage people to sit down and chatter as they would in any social setting.
Images: psfk.com, facebook.com, inhabitat.com, urdesign.it, nudiejeans.com, amazon.com, gizmag.com, hellolumio.com, bradryer.com, architizer.com, mashable.com
Words: Ra’eesa Pather
