The 2019 Lexus Design Award Finalists Shine a Light on Social Consciousness and Impact

We look forward to the Lexus Design Award finalist announcement each year not because it means another glamorous exhibition in Milan (although that’s not so bad) but because of the variety and high level of projects that Lexus continues to select. This year, we’re especially excited to note that many of the projects are industrial design-focused and that all of them approach a specific design need through a social impact lens. 

Three of the projects take the “industrial” part of industrial design to the nth degree, focusing on machinery and tech that can help harness energy and eliminate oil spills, while the others focus on material applications for health and environmental purposes. Take a look below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments:

Algorithmic Lace by industrial designer Lisa Marks uses algorithmic patterning to explore creating custom three-dimensional lace. Marks’ current focus is using this technology to create bras for post-mastectomy women. 

Product designer Rezzan Hasoglu investigates the properties of desert sand mixed with various binding materials through her project. Titled Arenophile, Hasoglu’s research will culminate into a variety of project options based on her experimentation.

Green Blast Jet Energy by industrial designer Dmitriy Balashov is able to collect and harvest the energy from jet takeoffs so that airports can repurpose it for different needs. 

Product designer Shuzhan Yuan’s Hydrus is emergency treatment equipment for offshore oil spills that lets people directly address one of our climate’s biggest concerns.

Solgami by architect Ben Berwick of Prevalent is an origami-esque window blind system for apartments that allows the user to choose between allowing more light into their space and electricity generation. This project bridges the gap between architecture and industrial design, so we’re particularly curious to see this outcome.

Jeffrey Dela Cruz’s Baluto is a structure that provides a habitable space able to withstand sudden rises in water level, ultimately helping to make areas with high flood probability more livable. This one is not as ID related, but it’s also cool.

Lexus recently hosted a mentorship workshop at their Intersect space in NYC where the above finalists worked closely with a group of four Lexus-selected mentors to further develop their projects. During the current phase of the competition, the finalists will have access to the mentors while they continue to develop their projects. This year, the mentors include Sebastian Wrong of Established & Sons, John Maeda, Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, Jessica Rosenkrantz of Nervous System and Jaime Hayon of Hayon Studio.  

The final projects will be exhibited at Lexus’ event space at Milan Design Week starting April 8, 2019 and then judged by an illustrious jury panel that includes John Maeda, Paola Antonelli, Sir David Adjaye and President of Lexus International Yoshihiro Sawa.

Currently Crowdfunding: 100 Silicone Trays a "Holeless" Phone and More

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Navigating the world of crowdfunding can be overwhelming, to put it lightly. Which projects are worth backing? Where’s the filter to weed out the hundreds of useless smart devices? To make the process less frustrating, we scour the various online crowdfunding platforms to put together a weekly roundup of our favorite campaigns for your viewing (and spending!) pleasure. Go ahead, free your disposable income:

Meizu Zero is a new  phone that boasts a ceramic unibody design, high-speed wireless data transmission and wireless charging—only wireless charging, that is. The Meizu Zero doesn’t have any charging ports, which helps make the design a little more waterproof and a little more hassle-free. 

Si Tray Collection by Betuel Benitez is a collection of 100 thoughtfully designed 3D printed silicone trays as part of Kickstarter’s make100 initiative. Simply select a general style of tray and color, and Benitez will then randomly select a tray. Each tray is designed differently, so backers are in for a colorful treat.

HomeHawk FLOOR is a floor lamp designed by Panasonic that literally watches over your home like a hawk via camera, voice assistant and light.

Twelve Indoor Growing System by Miracle-Gro is an indoor garden that actually looks presentable in the kitchen or home. Grow veggies and herbs year-round without overly compromising your interior design skills.

Do you need help designing, developing, patenting, manufacturing, and/or selling YOUR product idea? MAKO Design + Invent is a one-stop-shop specifically for inventors / startups / small businesses. Click HERE for a free confidential product consultation.

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Guilherme Machado Vaz designs geometric white house as "abstract sculpture"

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

Architect Guilherme Machado Vaz has completed the geometric House in Afife, in Portugal, which appears as a solid volume when its shutters are closed.

The white house is modelled on the “regular and compact” houses that are dotted throughout the rural parish in the north of the country.

However, to prevent it from being dominated by an adjacent chapel, Machado Vaz added shutters to its exterior, which can conceal the windows and transform it into an “abstract sculpture”.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

“The chapel stands on a base of granite walls, and it imposes itself in that area. Its presence had an influence on the project, particularly as regards the design of the volume,” explained the Portuguese architect.

“The house sought not to disturb the harmony of this religious space, but at the same time it did not want to be submissive to its presence.”

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

Opening the shutters forms an entirely different facade for the house, revealing large windows with dark wooden frames.

On the south elevation, the shutters are painted gold to echo religious triptych paintings – a type of artwork divided into three carved panels that are hinged together.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

The interiors of the house are split over a series of half floors, inspired by Austrian and Czech architect Adolf Loos’ Raumplan concept.

Developed in the 1920s, the concept offers an alternative to traditional stacked floor levels, by dividing a house’s interior into interconnected multi-level spaces arranged on the basis of their importance.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

An open-plan living and kitchen area is positioned on the ground floor levels of the house, which lead up to three bedrooms on the first floor.

The basement level comprises the house’s storage and technical equipment, alongside a Turkish bath and changing room.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

All the levels are connected by a minimal wooden staircase that sits central to the house, and has open treads to resemble a ladder.

It is designed to reduce the house’s circulation as far as possible, and maximise open space.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

Complementing the exterior of the house, the interiors are complete with a bright, pared-back colour palette.

White walls and minimal furniture are teamed with terrazzo floors and brass detailing on the ground floor, while wooden detailing dominates the upper storeys.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

The house is topped by a flat roof that doubles as a terrace, and complete with a circular swimming pool in the garden that is framed by a square plinth.

After completion, Machado Vaz collaborated with Building Pictures to create a short film about the house. Titled Somewhere in Afife, it follows a family spending the “last day of summer” at the house.

The film ends with night shots of the building, revealing the illuminated interiors reflecting in the pool.

House in Afife by Guilherme Machado Vaz

Pablo Pita also recently completed a minimal geometric house in Portugal. Its internal spaces are predominantly open plan, with a lack of partition walls to ensure views throughout the living areas.

Photography is by José Campos, and videography by Building Pictures.

The post Guilherme Machado Vaz designs geometric white house as “abstract sculpture” appeared first on Dezeen.

A mobile tripod that’s small enough to fit on your keychain

Tell me if this scenario feels familiar. You’re alone, you’ve got your hands occupied, and you need to film something on your smartphone. You prop your phone against something on your table or counter, perhaps a tin of coffee, or any stationary object you find around you. You switch on the camera, and as soon as you compose your shot, you tap the screen to hit record and your phone shakes. It’s inelegant, and is what Indians call jugaad, or a lifehack. Engineer and ex-rocket scientist Jeremiah McCoy found himself in a similar scenario and realized he wasn’t the only one… and rather than relying on a worthless lifehack, he developed a more concrete, appropriate solution to the problem.

Essentially a tripod for your phone, the Ultimate Kickstand is a small piece of plastic, the size of a thumb drive, and small enough to fit on your keychain (it even comes with its own carabiner). Fold it out, and it becomes a phone-gripping tripod that you can place anywhere, and even at any angle. It works universally, gripping any phone by the sides (you can only use it in landscape, unfortunately), and rests on two legs and a base. A worthy replacement for a coffee-tin, a couch cushion, or any cheap prop, the Ultimate Kickstand can be used to compose great shots of products, people handsfree (no more selfie-stick either!) The Ultimate Kickstand is currently 3D printed out of PLA plastic, but I don’t see why we can’t have ourselves a nice machined Aluminum one somewhere in the future. Did I also mention that it’s small enough to be carried with you everywhere on your keychain?

Designer: Jeremiah McCoy

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A motorbike that looks… un-bikely

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Partial credit goes to Sedov’s use of a single-point light source to create that sense of mystery, intrigue, and awe… but all in all, Dennis Sedov’s B1 bike is worth looking at and admiring simply because it’s a bike that looks nothing like one. Probably something you’d mistake for the red Nintendo Switch controller, the B1 motorcycle is this textbook-definition-of-sleek, monolithic form with two wheels at either end, integrated into the bike’s overall silhouette. The leather seat barely pops out of the silhouette to create this comfortable seating area, and the handles build out of the front wheel hub. Sedov uses minimalism purely for aesthetics’ sake… the bike has no dashboard or even a headlight to begin with, probably implying a futuristic autonomous drive of some sort (let’s not forget that the B1 is purely an exploration of aesthetics and concept design, rather than an exercise in practicality). There’s a hollow space beneath the seat that forms a rather eye-catching void, and could also be used as storage for backpacks and whatnot, but my favorite detail remains the B1’s taillamp, a stunning, triangular-patterned wall of red light on the hub of the rear wheel that manages to say both ‘come closer’ and ‘watch your distance’ at the same time.

Designer: Dennis Sedov

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Ask Unclutterer: Exhausted after work

Reader Juliana submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

How do you stay on top of your chores if both members of the household work demanding jobs all day? There’s no way we can afford a housekeeper and we are both exhausted at the end of the day. By the weekend, things have piled up to an overwhelming level and I feel like it’s too much to handle. Help!

Oh, Juliana, I know exactly how you’re feeling, and I’m sure a number of our readers do, too. After a long day of work the last thing you want to do are chores, and when the weekend arrives you want to do something more remarkable than clean. There have been many times when I have wished for a housekeeper.

  • My first piece of advice is to set aside one weekend to simply catch up with all of the stuff around your house. In the days leading up to this weekend, tell everyone that you’re going out of town, stock up on groceries, and clear your entire schedule. Then, wake up early on Saturday morning and get down to business. Clean your place from top-to-bottom, inside-and-out, and do all of the big stuff that just has to get done. On Sunday evening, celebrate your efforts by going out to a dinner where someone else is responsible for doing the dishes.
  • Once you have this clean slate, then you can get started on a daily maintenance routine that takes little effort and leaves your weekends free for your remarkable life.
  • Your routine first needs to include a landing strip. You need an area where you can come in after a long day at work and immediately process items. Put a trash can and recycle bin/paper shredder in this space so that mail and paperwork are immediately handled (especially since you don’t want to sacrifice weekend time doing this). Have hooks for coats and hats, and designated spaces for your keys, bags, etc. Put all of your charging equipment for your cell phone in this space, and plug in your phone the minute you walk in the door. The landing strip provides a space for your things, and also makes it a breeze to leave your house in the morning for work.
  • Next up, commit to doing exactly 30 minutes of cleanup a night. You may do best if you do this 30 minutes right when you get home, or it may work for you right after dinner. Yes, you’re exhausted, but if you remind yourself that 30 minutes now will save you two whole weekend days, it’s pretty easy to keep moving. I have a “cleaning” mix on my iPod that is 30 minutes of fast tempo songs. I play it while I clean to motivate me.
  • Designate specific rooms for specific days, such as Mondays = Kitchen, Tuesdays = Bathrooms, Wednesdays = Bedroom, Thursdays = Living Room, and Fridays = Living/Family Room. Do a general 10 minute pick up around the house, but then spend 20 minutes really focusing on just one room. With both of you working together, you’ll be surprised by how much you accomplish. You’ll also reap the benefit of having your weekends free of chores.
  • If you watch television as a way to relax, invest in a DVR. You can do the cleaning while a favorite show is recording, and then start it half-way into the program and watch the show without commercials.
  • Finally, here are more time-saving tips and suggestions for establishing routines. And, remember to get ready for bed half-an-hour or an hour before you plan to go to sleep. Your clothes are more likely to hit the hamper, and shoes/belts/jackets are more likely to get put away properly.

Thank you, Juliana, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. I hope we helped a little to solve your problem.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

 

This post has been updated since its original publication in 2009.

Post written by Erin Doland

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Hem opens LA showroom with "super­sized confetti" installation

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Swedish furniture brand Hem has opened its first permanent US showroom in Los Angeles, featuring a courtyard decorated with colourful graphics that resemble confetti.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Hem opened the showroom in Downtown LA in collaboration with US flooring company Madera. The space is Hem’s second permanent showroom, after a location Stockholm, and follows a series of pop-ups around the world.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

At the West Coast hub, Hem enlisted San Francisco­-based designer Clark Thenhaus to create an installation for the outdoor patio.

Called Confetti Courtyard, it comprises square, squiggle, triangular and circular shapes typical of the paper confetti thrown at special occasions, but supersized.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Painted in hues of yellow, blue, pink and green, the graphics pop against the cracked grey flooring and weathered white-painted walls to create a bright backdrop for programmed events.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Thenhaus, who runs Endemic Architecture, also arranged the shapes to mark out particular areas during these activities.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

“Distributed throughout the courtyard as though they are oversized pieces of confetti, they create a loose organisation with discrete spaces that cues visitors to move and interact in particular, nuanced ways,” said a project description.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

“The super­sized confetti graphics wrap up the walls and fold down onto the floors, implying rooms within the courtyard that sponsor social interactions, encourage active mingling, accommodate varied methods of display for future programming, and frame the courtyard as an immersive, colourful environment.”

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Located at 810 Mateo Street, the Hem x Madera showroom is marked on the outside by pink-painted brick walls.

Inside, it features white-painted walls, wooden flooring and exposed wooden ceilings. This creates a setting for Hem’s range of furniture, accessories and lighting – all made in collaboration with designers.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Details like blue-painted circles on the walls nod to the exterior installation.

Among the pieces on show are the splattered metal stools by Max Lamb, the Kumo Modular Sofa by Anderssen & Voll – which won Furniture Design of the Year at the 2018 Dezeen Awards – and Luca Nichetto‘s modular Alphabet pendant lamp.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Founded in Stockholm in 2014, Hem usually opens temporary retail spaces in cities around the world to bolster its online operations.

It has recently set sights on the US with pop-ups in New York and Los Angeles, before founder Petrus Palmer expressed ambitions to make a permanent West Coast destination.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

“We’ve had our sights set on opening a physical retail space in Los Angeles for some time, as we knew from our online sales that LA was a key market for us, so it was just a matter of finding the right venue,” said Palmer at the time.

Hem opens LA with Confetti Courtyard

Other Scandinavian brands expanding into the US market including Danish companies Reform, which also partnered with company Madera to open up showroom for its hacked IKEA kitchens in New York, and Hay, which recently opened its first US store in Portland and an e-commerce platform dedicated to the region.

Photography is by Lauren Moore, unless stated otherwise. Featured image is by David Salpeter.

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