All posts filed under: Things that are Innovative

My Football Kit by Nendo

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Inflatable soccer balls are hard to maintain in impoverished communities because of the unavailability of air pumps or the deterioration and damage of the tube inside the ball. In response, Japanese design firm Nendo has designed a non-inflatable soccer ball that gives the same kicking sensation as a standard ball. Inspired by the structure of the traditional Japanese woven bamboo ball, the My Football Kit is assembled with three types of components and includes a total of 54 parts. The instructions for assembly are designed like a picture book in easily understood illustrations. Instead of relying on internal air pressure, the ball uses the resilience of its surface material, soft, recycled polypropylene and elastomeric synthetic resin components, to bounce. The material won’t hurt bare feet and is unlikely to develop a sharp fractured surface that might cause injury, even if broken. If a component comes off during play, the interlocking structure ensures the ball will not disassemble. Components may be shipped in disassembled states in compact packages, potentially cutting shipping costs. The ball comes in multiple colors, …

Lyd Water Bottle Automatically Opens When It Touches Your Lips

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The Lyd Bottle‘s integrated smart lid opens at the touch of the user’s lips, closing once they’ve finished. The technology, along with Lyd’s 360-degree access design, allows users to enjoy their beverage of choice with a one-handed motion. Lyd’s specialized vacuum flask interior keeps beverages hot or cold for up to eight hours. The bottle comes equipped with wireless charging and charges fully in four hours with a charge lasting for up to two weeks. Should the battery run low, users can still access their drink with a manual click of the lid. The Lyd comes in two sizes: 13 ox. and 17 oz. You can order one by making a $39 pledge on the company’s kickstarter here – they already have raised $110,424 out of their $30,000 goal. Images courtesy of Lyd.

Tiwal 3 Inflatable Sailboat

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You don’t need to have ever stepped foot on a dock to know that sailboats don’t normally fit in the trunk of a car. That’s what makes the TIWAL 3 such a game-changer. Available now at the MoMA Design Store, the TIWAL 3 inflatable sailing dinghy can be packed into two bags for easy transport and storage and assembled in less than 30 minutes. Retailing for $6,195, it’s a much more affordable option than a standard (non-inflatable) sailboat. According to the financial blog mintlife, the cost of a 22-foot-long model would average $20,000. That’s in addition to the mooring costs, which depending on location and footage can run anywhere from several hundred annually up to a thousand dollars per month. “We were absolutely stunned when we came across the TIWAL 3 Inflatable Sailboat,” says Emmanuel Plat, director of merchandising, retail at MoMA. “We were impressed by the ingenuity of the design and the quality of the materials used, not to mention the adjustable sail, which adapts to the wind.” Today, more than 800 Tiwal 3 boats are sailing in more than …

Pangea 3D Wooden Contour Maps

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Using bathymetric data, Pangea’s 3D maps depict the contours of the ocean floor, revealing the often unseen beauty that lies below the surface. Combining modern surveying techniques and CAD technology with the art of cartography, these handcrafted waterscapes are made from layers of Baltic birch plywood. Carefully considering the scale and composition of each map, the company sources accurate bathymetric data (underwater topography) for each location before laser-cutting the plywood sheets to form the contours of the ocean floor. When finished, each map goes into a hardwood frame and is finished with a layer of glass. Maps arrive within two weeks and ship in a wooden box. In addition to a standard line of maps from Boston to Sydney, Pangea also offers one-of-a-kind custom maps through its online map builder. Pangea Maps donates $50 USD for every referred sale on its website to The Ocean Cleanup, an organization developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. The Ocean Cleanup aims to remove up to 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years. …

LA Urban Farms Vertical Garden Growing System

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Founded in 2013, LA Urban Farms offers a vertical garden system which can grow vegetables, fruits, herbs and edible flowers, with no gardening experience necessary. These space-saving vertical gardens only require 30 inches of space and use aeroponic technology which grows plants in an air or mist environment without the use of any soil. The reservoir at the base holds nutrient-rich water, which is pumped to the top of the garden, showering the roots of all the plants along the way, without the use of any harmful chemicals. All the seeds used by LA Urban Farms are 100% organic and non-GMO. The gardens are made from FDA food grade-approved plastic, and can help earn LEED points. The gardens also use 90% less water than conventional gardening, because the water is being recirculated in the system until the plants absorb it or it evaporates, and they use 90% less space because they are growing vertically. LA Urban Farms offers gardens in a variety of sizes, from smaller sizes perfect for growing fresh produce at home, to …