Author: designy things

Q&Q Solar-Powered Watches

Published by

I spotted these watches from Japanese brand Q&Q during NYCxDesign at the SightUnseen Offsite exhibition downtown. Q&Q (Quest & Quality) is a new line of solar-powered watches for the U.S. marketplace. At just $40, the waterproof watches never require a battery replacement. Around the large watch face is a thin band of photovoltaics that recharges the watch for up to three and a half months after a single charge. I’ve been testing out a free watch given out during the show, and I find it lightweight and modern, though the all-white band picks up dirt easily (this is why I don’t wear white pants). If you want to see the watch in action, you can check out Katy Perry wearing it in her new Birthday music video. The watch also tries to give back. For every purchase, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Table for Two, a non-profit that helps deliver school meals to children in Africa and Asia.      

NASZ Collection of Toys, Accessories & Furnishings Designed & Made in Poland

Published by

On display last week at the WantedDesign exhibition during NYCxDesign, NASZ is an exclusive collection of contemporary products curated by Tomek and Gosia Rygalik that consists of items designed and manufactured in Poland. It has been co-created by acclaimed product designers, graphic designers, illustrators, typographers, and multimedia artists as well as design students, manufacturers, and craftsmen. The exhibition was organized by Culture.pl, an online source for the latest in Polish culture.  

Clug Bike Clip by Hurdler

Published by

What I found most interesting about this new bike storage solution by the Vancouver-based design firm Hurdler Studios is not the stripped-down design, but the fact that in addition to selling the product through traditional methods, the manufacturers are pursing a new digital sales model where customers can purchase Clug’s 3D printer-ready digital files to be used on a 3D printer like the Markerbot Replicator 2 that the designers used to design the product.  The Hurdler team, currently raising funds for the product on Kickstarter, has been testing the product for several months to ensure it’s robust enough for everyday use. The Clug system encases two screws concealed within a push-fit cover that mounts to a wall or other surface to hold the bike upright without damaging the bike frame or rims. The small size has an added benefit for renters — you won’t have to worry about damaging walls and forfeiting your security deposit. And now that you can easily store your bike in your apartment, you won’t have to deal with the stress …

The Alarming Clock

Published by

The Alarming Clock, created by Scottish designers Natalie Duckett and Lee Murray, is a reinvention of the typical alarm clock. When the morning alarm is programmed, the evening alarm is automatically set to signal nine hours ahead to remind you when it’s time to start unwinding for bed. The clock’s face remains hidden on the base of the alarm so all you see is a little wooden box with a beak in the middle. Handcrafted from natural oak, the Alarming Clock has passed CE safety testing. In place of the typical (and dreaded) electric buzz, the alarm signal is mechanically created to imitate the sound of a woodpecker tapping against a tree. Placing the small wooden “beak” against different surfaces or objects (say a glass of water, a book cover, or a metal box) alters the sound. To shut off the alarm you simply touch the top, and when no alarm is required, you just remove the beak and the alarm is silenced. The clocks are currently only available in Europe with a 4 to 8 week lead time, but if there is …

Beverage Containers by Ole Jensen for Room Copenhagen

Published by

All of the products in Danish designer Ole Jensen’s new collection for the Scandinavian design company Room Copenhagen are based on Jensen’s hand clay models which have been interpreted into the final industrial pieces by the manufacturer’s in-house design team. In addition to a colander and juicer, the new collection also includes a jug and two different cups designs. The jug comes with an elongated handle in two sizes (.05 liter and 1 liter) in white, yellow, and light blue. The matching Cup 1 and Cup 2 have two different handle designs and come in white, yellow, and light green. All are produced in melamine, a durable hard plastic material. They will be available in the USA as well as across Europe. Prices are $29.99 USD for the .05 jug, $39.99 for the 1 liter jug, and $19.99 for a set of two cups.

Magisso’s Naturally Cooling Ceramics Collection Takes Home Top Prize at Housewares Show in Chicago

Published by

The Finnish home products maker Magisso has won Best Collection Design in the Global Innovation Awards at the International Home + Housewares Show, which wraps up tomorrow in Chicago. The company won for their Naturally Cooling Ceramics collection designed by Simon Steven. Naturally Cooling Ceramics was also a winner in the Fennia Prize 2014 design competition earlier this year. The beautiful collection, which includes a 1 liter carafe, wine cooler, champagne cooler, and ice bucket with integrated tongs, stays cool by simply soaking the pieces in cold water for a few minutes before filling it with food or drink. As an added bonus, you can also create your very own design or write a message on the side of the ceramics with chalk. I appreciate the simple but elegant forms of the pieces combined the low-tech way they stay cool. All images courtesy Magisso.