Dave Parrack
Recent design graduate Lisa Marie Bengtsson believes many of us wash our clothes far more often than is necessary. And she may well be correct. Certainly, we're generally brought up to believe that clothes need to be washed after being worn for a certain length of time, whether they're actually dirty or not. It's hard to argue against underwear and other garments that are in direct contact with our bodies being washed very regularly, but what about other garments that merely act as extra outer layers? Perhaps the Bye Bye Laundry clothes hanger is the answer. Read More
Delta Six gun controller fulfills your FPS fantasies
The humble controller has never been the best choice for first-person shooters. Those who have mastered the keyboard and mouse combo can pulverize even the best console gamers thanks to the added accuracy and speed of movement that control method provides. But while this combination may be the method of choice for serious FPS gamers, it doesn't offer any kind of realism. Something that the newly announced Delta Six controller cannot be accused of thanks to its firearm form factor. Read More
Until Apple, or another tablet manufacturer looking to one-up Apple, introduces haptic technology to mobile devices, gaming on the iPad is an experience that somewhat fails to invigorate the senses. This leaves iPad gamers reliant on third-party peripherals to turn the experience from an uninteresting series of finger swipes into a more interactive activity. Duo Games hopes to achieve this aim with Duo Pinball, an app-supported pinball controller for the iPad. Read More
The Bicymple is the bicycle simplified, literally
We recently featured the Fliz bike concept, which saw riders hanging from the frame of the bike and scooting along, rather than sitting astride the bike and pedaling as they do with conventional bicycles. This was an attempt to evolve the basic bike format, and the designers of Fliz aren't alone in their efforts. The Bicymple is, as its name suggests, an attempt to present the bicycle, simplified. And it's an ambition that, on first glance, looks to have been fulfilled. Read More
Smartphones are replacing the need for many other devices, making some of them surplus to requirements, and turning others into luxuries rather than necessities. I'm talking about watches, calculators, dedicated media players, and even handheld games consoles and cameras – the capabilities of which are all contained, to varying degrees, in the not-so-humble smartphones lurking inside your pocket. Alarm clocks are another product that should by all rights be on the endangered list ... especially as there is now an iPhone accessory that brings old-school alarm clock functionality to your smartphone. Read More
In a very clever promotion that plays on our desire to be conscious of what's happening to us even when we're not actually conscious, Ibis Hotels is inviting people to take part in what it calls "the Sleep Art experience." Sleep Art, as the name suggests, is an attempt at creating art from sleep patterns. Read More
Furniture exists primarily to serve a purpose, and as long as the basic form is maintained each piece functions perfectly well. For a table this basic form means a flat surface supported by legs. In that regard Illusion Table from Brazilian designer Roberta Rampazzo fits the bill 100 percent, but one slight deviation from the accepted design means this is a table that will likely be stared at more than used in any practical sense. Read More
Many of us now do most of our work sat at a desk staring at a computer screen for hours on end. While this an inevitable part of modern-day living, it does present certain challenges to our health and wellbeing. A sedentary lifestyle isn't recommended, but it's often difficult to motivate oneself to visit a gym or do any kind of physical exercise before or after a hard day at work. So, what about doing some physical exercise during work? Read More
Washit cleans you and your clothes simultaneously
Water is a precious resource and in places like Australia and the U.K., the onset of summer coincides with restrictions on water use – hosepipes for watering gardens are banned, and showers are recommended over baths. But even taking a shower uses a fair amount of water, which all ends up down the drain. The same goes for doing laundry. If only there was a way to combine the two into one unified unit. There is, or at least there could be in the future. Four university students in Turkey have collectively designed Washit, a concept shower and washing machine combo that's capable of cleaning you and your clothes simultaneously. Read More
ADAPTable – the sliding tile puzzle of workstations
Many of us who spend our working days at a desk have jobs that require a wide range of tools for a wide range of tasks. This means that a workstation can quickly become overwhelmed with objects placed within easy reach. The Tambour Table is one attempt at addressing this problem, but design company MAMIKIM & Co. has tried to create a desk that is adaptable for a range of working environments, with different sections suitable for different jobs. If you have ever wanted to own a giant sliding tile puzzle in the form of a desk, then ADAPTable may be just for you. Read More
