Hasta La Ideas

I love a good pair of earbuds! In fact, I really can’t function without my personal earbuds. Once my earbuds are in, the rest of the world is out! I deep dive into the world of my favorite tunes, away from real-world problems, happy in my own little audio bubble! Hence, owning a pair of innovative and perfect earbuds is an absolute necessity for me, and I’m sure that’s the case for other music lovers out there as well! Quite a few of us are Team AirPods all the way. And, we’re hoping we get to see the AirPods 3 at the Apple event today. Fingers crossed! And in case we do not, let’s remember that great earbuds go beyond Apple as well. And this nifty list includes all of them! This collection of exciting designs has a pair of earbuds for everyone! From earbuds that magnetically hang like a necklace to the first TWS earbuds designed specifically for your work from home needs – these earbuds provide unique design solutions and are a must-have for audiophiles!

Named Koishi, after the Japanese word for Pebble, the TWS Earphones come with a soft, pebble-inspired form that’s beautiful to look at, comfortable to store in pockets, and can even be stacked one above another as Zen Stones. They come in three stone-inspired colors and even sport a slightly mottled stone texture. Running right through the case is a light strip that helps let you know when the earbuds are charging, or when they’re low on charge. However, it also visually guides you to instinctively know where the earphones are, so you can glance at the case and pull the earbuds out without fiddling to find them.

Meet the Logitech Zone Truly Wireless – earbuds designed and calibrated for work and business. The earbuds can be paired with your laptop as well as your smartphone so you can go about your day from either device, whether it’s watching training videos or listening to music while you work, answering calls, or even attending online meetings. They’re designed to work seamlessly with common calling applications across most platforms and operating systems and are certified by Microsoft for Teams and Skype for Business, by Google for Meet, and by Zoom.

What’s really ironic is that the Edifier NeoBuds Pro are the first TWS earphones to come Hi-Res certified, a standard developed by Sony itself – a brand that’s very much in the TWS earbud race! Edifier’s own TWS earphones really push the boundaries with the adoption of the LHDC codec (to rival Sony’s LDAC codec), offering higher-quality streaming over a Bluetooth connection, even compared to Apple’s own AAC. Simply put, the NeoBuds Pro makes a pretty remarkable claim, although the LHDC codec is currently adopted by a number of brands in Asia, but isn’t entirely widespread.

The fact that these earbuds are designed to look like a prop out of Ghost in the Shell or Fallout isn’t entirely accidental… GravaStar’s known to make some absurdly futuristic products – you should check out their Mars and Venus Bluetooth speakers! The Sirius Pro follows that brand ethos by being unconventionally sci-fi while serving as pretty great earbuds too. They come with enhanced bass response, boast Environmental Noise Canceling, and actually have an incredibly low latency of 65ms that’s perfect for gaming. When not in use, they sit inside a rather unconventionally designed case, with a cutout running right through the middle and a bare-basics cage-like lid that secures the earbuds in place without concealing them.

Nothing, former OnePlus founder Carl Pei’s latest venture, is lifting the veil on products with its brand of minimalist ‘nothingness’. The ear (1) marks Nothing’s debut in the product space and comes with a rather alluring transparent design. The earphones sport a transparent housing that lets you really appreciate the design and detail gone into the product’s inner assemblies, and a transparent case accentuates the brand’s ethos… of being a breath of fresh air in a saturated tech space that’s all about making black and white boxes. Partnering with Teenage Engineering over the design of the ear (1), Nothing highlights the fact that the design’s beauty lies in its inherent rawness. “Nothing like you’ve seen before, the raw beauty of ear (1)’s stripped-down aesthetic features transparency to expose the engineering, including microphones, magnets, and circuit board. Everything that is ear (1) is there with purpose”, the brand mentions in a press release.

Designed by Yibai Science & Technology from Shenzen, these are called the “Jade Culture Earphone Jue 20.” That’s a bit odd name but everything else about these conceptual wireless earbuds listed on iF Design Award 2020 is super cool. When not in use, the earbuds magnetically lock together to take the form of a necklace pendant that’s suspended by the tethering wire. Then again, when you want to listen to your favorite tunes, simply separate the pendant and get groovy. Picture this scenario – your buddy compliments, “This pendant looks so cool, bud”, and you’ll detach them and plug into your ears to their amazement, “It’s my pair of earbuds, mate!” Added bonus – you surely won’t lose one of the earbuds as there is no accidentally falling down- speaking to you AirPods!

Meet the Mode II, Marshall’s first TWS earbuds, designed with the promise to deliver a “thunderous audio experience” with “growling bass, natural-sounding mids, and crisp treble,” pumped out through its custom-tuned dynamic 6mm drivers. The drivers sit within the earphones’ tiny yet ergonomic enclosure. The Mode II comes with four earbud tips to choose from for that perfect fit, and the earphones themselves are designed to be IPX4 water-resistant, which means you can descend into an incredibly sweaty moshpit with them. Although compact, the Mode II earphones wonderfully reflect Marshall’s audio-forward DNA, from their black faux-leather texture (both on the earpieces as well as the case) designed to pay a hat-tip to their nearly 60-year legacy of building some of the best amplifiers and stage monitors, to the classic M logo emblazoned on each earphone, serving as the iconic branding detail.

Designed to work BOTH as TWS earphones for most consumers, as well as FDA-approved hearing aids for the impaired, the Olive Pro provides enhanced hearing for everything – nearby sounds, music, and conversations. Outwardly, they slightly resemble the AirPods Pro with the bulb and stem design, and with the silicone earpiece… and believe it or not, that’s not subtle plagiarism, it’s a design feature. You see, by bridging the gap between medical devices and consumer-tech, the Olive Pro makes it ‘cooler’ and less of a social stigma for the hearing impaired to wear these aids. Designed to help them blend into society, the Olive Pro’s consumer-centric aesthetic helps normalize an affliction. On the hardware front, the Olive Pro boasts powerful drivers and microphones that work to seamlessly distinguish between noises, voices, and music.

Sevy connects with you through its inherently warm aesthetics and easy user experience. “I was trying to create something which is fun to use and simple in nature. By making the design/product familiar to the user, the product wholly connects with their activity of living the events. Mimicking plays a major role in this part. So, this project is inspired by the natural form which is more simple and important,” says Pon. The earbuds can be controlled via various touch gestures on the surface as well as the Sevy app. Unlike AirPods, these earbuds are completely inside the ear – there is no physical component that protrudes outside so it is a lot more discreet and well-fitting. I also love how they come with a variety of silicone tip sizes because one size doesn’t fit all and was the main reason I switched from my AirPods to another brand.

Housed in a rather unusually designed case that makes optimal use of space, the G1 earbuds designed by Designest for Havit are a treat for the eyes and the ears. The IPX5 waterproof earphones come in a compact case that splits into two to reveal both earbuds stored in separate halves, connected by a vibrantly colored silicon piece that also transfers power between halves. The earphones boast a supremely ergonomic fit that the company claims was arrived at after scanning and measuring thousands of ears. The G1’s design features a twice-molded TPU body, to ensure the earbuds are absolutely water/sweat-resistant, anti-fall, anti-fingerprint, and wear-resistant. Havit’s G1 headphones come with a convenient 3.5 hours of battery, while the 720mAh case is capable of topping them off as much as six times. The case wirelessly charges too, for extra convenience, and a pretty nifty LED on the top glows to let you know your buds’ batteries are being replenished.

Packaging designs that pay homage to what’s inside or the process or creating it truly tug at our heartstrings. Especially, eco-friendly packaging designs because they showcase the best of innovation and sustainability. Chatu is a shining example of all of that – the packaging is an ode to the tea plantations in Sichuan, Henan, and Fujian provinces from where the premium Chinese tea is collected. Each tea package has a unique shape that represents the terrain and resembles the patterns on the hands of tea pickers.

The Chinese tea plantations were the source of inspiration for the packaging design. The texture of the package mimics the shape of the land on which the tea is harvested which is so sacred to the tea pickers. Even the colors were carefully chosen to match each of the three types of tea – white, green, and red.

The packaging is made by molding pulp and then colored with natural dyes. The shape resembles traditional Chinese teapots while the texture is a reminder of the plantations. The loose-leaf tea leaves are packed in two-layer cotton bags because it is breathable and environmentally friendly.

Each package also comes with a note that gives you more information about the province and the type of tea – it educates you about the flavor and the agricultural features of the plantation that make it special. It also tells you how the tea should be brewed for the optimum experience. Chatu is minimal but yet so powerful in communicating about the product, the process of making it, the art of brewing it, its origins, and more in the most simple yet elegant form.

Designer: Xenia Alexandrova

Finnish practice Virkkunen & Co has completed a sculptural series of electricity infrastructure in Imatra, Finland, which has been shortlisted in the business building category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Comprising five pylons in white steel and a perforated brick substation, the collection of structures is dotted across a protected national landscape close to a historical hydropower plant in the Imatra Rapids.

The site was the starting point of Finland’s main electricity grid in the 1920s, a fact that drove the Helsinki-based studio to create a unique series of structures intended to demonstrate how infrastructure can complement a natural setting.

“The new transmission structures seek balance with the surrounding built and natural landscape,” explained Virkkunen & Co.

“Except for one tall tower, they are lower in height than the surrounding treetops, and the lower floor of the substation is set underground to make the building as low as the nearest section of the old power plant.”

The substation building was constructed using brick on a concrete frame in reference to these old power plant buildings but laid in a distinctive zig-zag pattern, with the upper section perforated to create a porous lattice that allows light and air to pass through.

Inside this outer grey brick wall is a second skin of in-situ concrete walls, providing further protection and environmental control for the substation with upper-level windows that allow natural light to enter.

This is complemented by three types of pylon across the site: a tall tower with diamond-shaped cross-arms; two low, triangular pylons with a horizontal series of cross-arms; and two terminals with a horizontal arrangement of abstracted tree-like forms.

Each of these elements is made from prefabricated and welded white steelwork which the electricity cables attach directly to, allowing for the minimal design to avoid the addition of a secondary structure.

“The material choices, forms, and colours of the new structures are abstract and timeless…[for] the new facilities to stand out but to not overpower the views of the area,” said the studio.

“The project is an example of how even an infrastructure project can benefit a sensitive and significant environment.”

The substation and terminals are all in a fully accessible part of the national landscape, without the addition of any barriers or fences.

In the UK, architecture studio Grimshaw recently revealed designs for electricity substations and ventilation shafts for the HS2 high-speed railway in the Chilterns, disguised as zinc-clad rural barns to lessen their impact on the landscape.

Photography is by Tuomas Kivinen and Max Plunger. 

The post Virkkunen & Co designs sculptural substation and pylons in Finland appeared first on Dezeen.

We’re here with inspirational lighting designs to help ‘spark’ your imagination! Perhaps the most ‘lit’ amongst the A’ Design Award’s multiple categories, this list looks at winning designs from the past year, celebrating good design from the year gone by. The Italy-based A’ Design Awards and Competition have always tried to be more than an award, by creating a multi-disciplinary program that rewards designers while also creating an environment that helps designers grow their products as well as careers… And yes, you also win a shiny trophy.

Lighting Design forms just one of the various categories of the A’ Design Award and Competition, which spans the popular categories like Architecture, Packaging, and Consumer Electronics, as well as the obscure, lesser-known categories like Cybernetics, Prosumer Products, and Safety Apparel Design. The A’ Design Award’s ultimate goal is to be an umbrella that covers good design across all disciplines, which is why it has 100 different categories for submitting design projects, and 211 jury members (comprising academics, design professionals, and press members) from all around the world collectively judging the works. Winners of the A’ Design Award don’t just secure a trophy and a certificate, but receive an entire PR Campaign dedicated towards pushing their career, clout, and even their projects to newer heights. A’ Design Award’s winners and even its participants are included in its annual award book and business network, while additionally contributing to their country’s overall design ranking that paints a holistic picture of how design-centric and design-forward each country is.

The A’ Design Award is currently accepting entries for the 2022 edition of the award program, so go ahead and give your work and career the push it deserves!

Here are some of our favorite Lighting Design winners from the A’ Design Award & Competition 2021. If you have a potential lighting design project that you think is worthy of an award, Click here to register & participate in the A’ Design Awards 2022.

Buddy Table Light by Mona Sharma for Gantri

Modeled on the image of a friendly little ‘buddy’ that helps you by illuminating your workspace, the Buddy lamp sits obediently on your desk, with an adjustable ‘head’ that lets you ‘face’ the lamp anywhere. Designed by Mona Sharma for Gantri, the lamp is manufactured entirely using 3D printing techniques and Gantri’s proprietary Plant Polymers. The Buddy is “inspired by bold shapes and forms found in the Memphis design style, and the clean, minimal forms found in Scandinavian culture”, says Mona. “I wanted to create a companion for ‘thinking’ spaces, so quirky, playful cues in abstract photography and in nature gave it character.”

Translucence Pendant Light by Iestyn Davies

For context, Iestyn Davies is both a glassmaker and lighting designer… which explains the Translucence light’s origins, inspiration, and intricate design. The lamps are made entirely from scratch by hand using traditional hot glass techniques, which means each Translucence is completely bespoke and unique in its design. Davies wanted to create a lamp that had its roots in traditional techniques, instead of creating a form and slapping an LED bulb somewhere inside it. Instead, Translucence is a celebration of the relationship between light and refractive solids. The wavy design of the glass helps curve and guide the light, creating a shimmering halo that’s absolutely captivating and bordering on jewelry!

Linear Refraction Light by Ray Teng Pai

Yet another example of light and refractive solids, the Linear Refraction Floor Lamp uses a much more simplified design to achieve the same goal. The floor lamp literally consists of a vertical tube with a light source at its end, and a fluted glass sheet on the front of it, scattering light in different directions. The disc can be rotated by hand, and comes with a pearlescent coating that gives the light a shimmering rainbow effect too!

Cling Floor Lamp by Dabi Robert

“My lamp concepts involve a certain amount of interaction in order to modify the way light is perceived”, says designer Dabi Robert. “This should encourage curiosity and human interaction with the light source, instead of just putting it somewhere to rest. I strive for a deeper relationship to the interior product”, he adds when describing the Cling, a uniquely minimalist floor lamp that’s relatively invisible to the eye until you start engaging with it. The lamp comes with a halo-shaped light attached to a flexible gooseneck base, which bends and flexes when you adjust the light’s position. Almost looking like a gymnast or someone doing yoga, the lamp contorts in all directions, helping you not just adjust the lighting, but also create a different design each time!

Silhouettes Lamp by Alexey Danilin

Created as a visual metaphor of a lamp, the Silhouettes Lamp by Alexey Danilin relies on the iconic shape of the lamp and shade to give his lighting design its character. Alexei says, “The main source of inspiration was the National Russian toy – Matryoshka, however, to be more precise, it was the principle of its design. It consists of one form, but of different scales. They can all create a common object.” The lamp uses a metal wire-like structure to create the impression of a lamp. The different metal silhouettes/outlines are pivoted around the center, allowing you to open the lamp out from a flat 2D design to a 3D form, with the actual lamp – an illuminated frosted glass orb – inside it.

Weed Lamp by Jinying Cheng

Designed to look like a fast-growing weed among a tuft of grass, the Weed Lamp by Jinying Cheng can actually be ‘uprooted’! The lamp itself comes with a detachable design that lets you lift the weed out of its grassy base and carry it around like a handheld torch. It’s perhaps the most quirky little lamps I’ve seen in a while with an unusual interaction, but I’m really taken by how fun it looks and feels!

Time Lamp Timing Light by Peng Ren

There’s something very intuitive and interactive about the way the Time Machine Table Lamp is designed. Made to look like an hourglass, the lamp features a freely rotating shade with a central pivot and LEDs on both ends. Switch the lamp on and the LEDs on the upper half of the hourglass illuminate. Over time, the upper half of the hourglass dims down and the lower half begins illuminating, almost as if light particles are passing through the central channel, like grains of sand would. The Time Machine Table Lamp was designed to help provide an ambient bedside aura of soft light, while allowing you to intuitively gauge time as it passes by. It takes around 60 minutes for the light to transfer from one half of the hourglass to the other, and a simple flip helps reset the entire procedure. It’s a fun-yet-useful way of timing your nightly activities before going to bed… perhaps reading a bedtime story, or sharing stories about your day before hitting the sack.

Be Water Lamp by Fernando Correa (Platinum Award Winner)

A winner of the coveted Platinum A’ Design Award, the Be Water lamp uses refraction to make light look like water! The lamp features a set of LEDs in a linear strip, right below a tube of warped glass. As the glass tube rotates, it creates wonderful patterns of light that when placed against or near a wall, mimic the effect of watching light bounce off a pool of water. The lamp exists in four chromatic variations – Be Water, Be Fire, Be Air, and Be Earth. The variations can be achieved simply by changing the color of the light to go from water to the tongues of fire, the Aurora Borealis visible in the air, and the billowing fields of purple lavender on Earth in Provence, France. I really wish there was a video of this lamp at work!

If you have a potential lighting design project that you think is worthy of an award, Click here to register & participate in the A’ Design Awards 2022.

The Irwin Union Bank building in Columbus, Indiana, originally designed by notable American architect Harry Weese, has reopened as a coffee shop.

After being left vacant for a year, the glazed brick structure is now home to the second location of local coffee chain Lucabe Coffee Company.

Dating back to 1961, the bank building is affectionately known by the community as the “dead horse,” after its four crenellated towers which rise up like the limbs of a horse on its back.

When Weese originally designed the building, these towers were rather meant to evoke “a child’s vision of a castle,” according to a press release from the Landmark Columbus Foundation – a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving the city’s architectural heritage.

Repurposing the building entailed a light-touch renovation, which was completed by owners Tyler and Alissa Hodge, alongside local architecture studio Daugherty Design Plus. “This was very much a DIY project done by the owners of Lucabe Coffee Company with help from others in the community,” said a spokesperson for the project told Dezeen. “It was a uniquely ‘Columbus’ undertaking in that way.”

The intervention focused on preserving the original features and highlighting them wherever possible. For instance, the bank’s drive-through window still acts as a service counter for customers to pick up coffee from their cars.

Carpets and several layers of glue covering the interior floors were cleared out to reveal the original interlocked stone pattern the architect had intended.

“The inside of the building is inspired by the modern design of that era, featuring black, wood, and grey elements and a nod to the original interior with an open view to the vault,” the Landmark Columbus Foundation explained.

Lucabe Coffee Company has also made the most of the building’s location overlooking the Haw Creek River, along which runs a trail popular with cyclists and joggers, to include exterior seating for its patrons.

The Landmark Columbus Foundation organises the Exhibit Columbus architecture festival, which this year coincides with the bank building’s 60th anniversary.

This third iteration of the event, which spotlights the Midwest’s contribution to American architecture, is themed New Middles: From Main Street To Megalopolis, What Is The Future Of The Middle City?

According to the city of Columbus, Harry Weese designed more buildings in the city than any other architect in the 1950s and 60s.

His others include an industrial compound for the Cummins engine corporation, and the First Baptist Church.

Weese also collaborated closely with Finnish expatriate Eero Saarinen, but is best known for his design of Washington DC’s subway stations, recognisable for their vaulted structural system.

Other coffee shops in unique settings include a café inserted into an industrial building in China’s Northern Hebei Province, and an all-blue coffee shop by Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster.

The photography is by Hadley Fruits, provided courtesy of Landmark Columbus Foundation.

Project credits:

Architect of record: Daugherty Design Plus
Design advising:  AtelierRISTING, Hitchcock Design Group, Schiller Projects, Landmark Columbus Foundation

The post Lucabe Coffee Company opens in mid-century Indiana bank building appeared first on Dezeen.