Hasta La Ideas

Australian design consultancy Cobalt had a tough assignment from the Australian Defence Force: To design “a high-load backpack frame that is adjustable to correctly fit the back of 1-percentile to 99-percentile female and male users.” In addition to fitting people of all sizes, the frame needed to be tough enough to suit the military’s needs, and it had to be backwards-compatible with older pack and harness systems.

After conducting heavy anthropometric analysis, Cobalt’s design and engineering teams came up with ONE299, a two-part polymer frame with overlapping “ladders” to solve for the required height adjustments:

“Cobalt was able to meet and exceed military expectations and outperform existing fixed-size frames,” the company writes. “In addition to size adjustability, a key element of ONE299 is the patented lumbar area which conforms to the contour of the wearer’s back. This allows for superior ergonomic fit as well as increased load.”

“The use of a correctly fitting frame reduces the potential for back injury, and the One299 frame offers this to all wearers regardless of size. Its high strength and adjustable nature also opens up new opportunities for load carriage configuration, allowing both frame and the backpack to be adjusted and configured to suit alternate load carriage scenarios.”

Here’s a closer look at their design/testing process and the system:

“In excess of 27,000 frames have been deployed in the Australian Defence Force,” the company says, “with additional interest from international military groups and adventure sectors proving a great commercial outcome.”

We’ve grown accustomed to seeing police or soldiers armed with assault rifles at transportation hubs and public events. In the near future, we may see additional security members carrying these:

That’s the Skybeam, a handheld anti-drone jammer that targets remote-piloted drones. The attached radio modules can jam “the most popular Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems control, video and GPS frequencies,” has a one-hour battery life and is operated via a single on/off button. The range is up to 3km, and the entire rig weighs 6kg (13.2 lbs).

It’s manufactured by Mistral Group subsidiary Skylock, an Israeli developer of counter-drone technologies. “As technologies advance, drones are becoming faster, smaller and deadlier,” the company writes. “The need for anti-drone counter-measures to mitigate threats is imperative. With the ability to easily add a payload, the use of drones and UAV’s operated by malicious or criminal organisations poses a wide array of threats to public safety and national security.”

With the ubiquity of drones, and with U.S. and global unrest at an all-time high, I’m kind of surprised that drone attacks on civilians hasn’t become a thing. It doesn’t take an overt pessimist to assume we’re just a few events away from objects like the Skybeam becoming a common sight in public venues.

The Dygma Raise Keyboard is a customizable keyboard that splits into two halves to optimize ergonomics and streamline the workday.

For all that computers do for us, their design has remained pretty constant. You have the conventional keyboard, the rectangular trackpad, and the flat screen. No matter what kind of work you do on your computer, its design language never changes. While consistency is always a plus when it comes to design, the layout of computers and their accessories could benefit from some customization to fit different needs and physical tendencies.

Dygma, an electronic brand set on creating a paradigm shift within the industry, collaborated with designers Alvaro Navarro and Julio Redondo to create Dygma Raise, an ergonomic, customizable keyboard that can split into two halves for the ultimate bespoke experience.

The Dygma Raise was initially conceived to streamline workflow and avoid unnecessary finger movements. To achieve this, the Dygma team, along with Navarro and Redondo, worked to create a keyboard whose keys can be lifted and switched with other keys for users to have a completely unique keyboard experience.

If you find yourself using the same keyboard shortcut throughout the workday, Dygma allows users to position those keys near each other to avoid unnatural finger positioning.

Exuding ergonomics by its very design, the switching of the keys isn’t the only appeal of the Dygma Raise Keyboard. Users can also split the keyboard in half so that their wrists, hands, and shoulders can rest in a healthy, upright position throughout the workday.

Constructed from a double-coated anodized aluminum body and overlaid with PBT double-shot keycaps, the Dygma Raise keyboard also comes with removable and washable palm pads for wrists to have a comfortable resting position.

Designers: Alvaro Navarro, Julio Redondo x Dygma

Users can easily switch each key’s placement just by removing them and placing them elsewhere.

Magnetic tubing keeps the keyboard’s two halves together. 

Just like the individual keys, users can halve the keyboard by detaching the magnetic fasteners. 

The Dygma Rais Keyboard keeps a slim body to maintain a familiar look and size.

The Dygma Raise Keyboard comes in black or white with hidden neon spotlights. 

The post This ergonomic keyboard allows users to customize each key’s placement to improve workflow first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sports goods company Adidas and environmental organisation Parley for the Oceans have collaborated to create a recycled-plastic tennis court that floats within Australia’s Great Barrier Reef marine park.

Launched to coincide with the Australian Open tennis tournament that is currently taking place in Melbourne, the floating court was created to promote Adidas‘ latest range of apparel, which incorporates recycled plastic.

The colourful range of clothing is the latest collaboration between the brand and Parley for the Oceans.

It was debuted on the floating tennis court, which was placed in the Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest coral reef system – to draw attention to the wider issue of plastic waste.

“The new adidas tennis apparel collection, that will be worn by players during the Australian Open in Melbourne, has been inspired by the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and consists of products from one of our sustainability innovators, Made with Parley Ocean Plastic,” said an Adidas spokesperson.

“We have chosen to launch this collection in the heritage-protected Queensland marine park to raise awareness and positive discussion around how we can help end plastic waste and protect the Great Barrier Reef.”

Adidas worked with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to assemble the floating tennis court on one of the marine authority’s barges.

The court’s surface was made from recycled plastic provided by Parley for the Oceans, which also provides the recycled plastic used in Adidas’ latest tennis collection.

To mark the launch, Australian sportstars simmer Ian Thorpe, canoeist Jess Fox and rugby league player Nathan Cleary, along with model Steph Claire Smith, played a game of mixed doubles on the court. Adidas stated that all balls were retrieved from the water.

Following the Australian Open, the surface of the tennis court will be recycled into a sports court that is set to be built at a school in the nearby city of Townsville.

According to Adidas, its latest tennis collection forms part of its drive to remove plastics from its apparel.

“We’re committed to help end plastic waste and, by 2024, we’ll replace virgin polyester in our products with recycled polyester wherever possible,” said Shannon Morgan, Pacific senior director of brand at Adidas.

“To achieve these goals, we foster open-source partnerships and put a high value on collaboration over competition to create sustainable solutions that go beyond our own business and influence.”

Adidas and Parley for the Oceans have previously collaborated to create running shoes and classic 1990s trainers from recycled plastic.

They have also combined to make recycled plastic football shirts for Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as hiking boots.

The photography is courtesy of Adidas.

The post Adidas and Parley for the Oceans launch floating tennis court in Great Barrier Reef appeared first on Dezeen.

Progress meets classic luxury in the British brand’s stunning sedan

Following the 2020 arrival of the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid SUV, the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid is the most recent step in the British luxury carmaker’s plan to go fully electric by 2030. While the shift will be momentous, the cars remain as grand and opulent as ever. And the design language—”resting, calm, powerful and superior”—remains the same, Peter Bosch (board member for manufacturing) tells us.

Bentley engineers and designers aimed to make the sedan’s hybrid version nearly identical to the gasoline-powered model in order to avoid overwhelming customers as the brand begins its journey toward electrification. The only noticeable changes to the iconic exterior are the new “hybrid” badging and an extra “fuel” door on the rear left-hand fender, concealing the electric charging port. Otherwise, it’s classic Bentley grandeur—inside and out. “Everybody would describe it as understated luxury, not as ostentatious luxury,” Bosch continues. “Automotive design experts would say the proportions are close to perfect.”

Bentley develops its colors and materials based on fashion and luxury leather brands, offering 64 standard exterior colors in addition to its customized palette. That’s more options than any other automaker—Teslas come in five colors, while BMW provides a choice of 50. “Our color development studio is a candy shop for accessory lovers,” Bosch says.

Factoring in all of the interior color and material choices, the Flying Spur Hybrid can be specked in an astounding 56 billion combinations. (For reference, there are 1.6 million possible combinations for another hotly anticipated car, the fifth-generation 2022 Range Rover SV.) The team at Bentley has noticed an uptick in customization over the last couple of years. “A Bentley is not something that you pick off the shelf,” Bosch says.

On our test drive, we’re in an Azure Purple model that stands out in Los Angeles, as it skillfully weaves along the Pacific Coast Highway and climbs the canyons between Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara to make it up to the Glass House—a pristine aerie that sits high in the hills, and the kind of home one can imagine a Bentley driver owning.

The trip through this slice of Southern California is serene. The cabin—which seats four or five people depending upon the configuration—is identical to that inside the gasoline-powered Flying Spur. However, it differs in one crucial way: the hybrid version is quiet enough to silence the LA gridlock. “The sheer power, torque and silence that is possible with an all-electric powertrain is a perfect fit for Bentley brand values,” says Ed Kim, president and chief analyst at AutoPacific. “On the other hand, it’s a very storied and iconic brand whose legacy is tied to gasoline engines—and big V8 engines in particular.” The plug-in hybrid “serves as training wheels” for full electrification. “The owner can plug it in, but doesn’t have to,” he explains. “They don’t have to commit to going all-electric just yet.”

The car’s 410-horsepower powertrain (a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine and a 134-horsepower electric motor) is the same as that in the base Porsche Panamera, a corporate cousin under the Volkswagen Group umbrella. The Flying Spur Hybrid boasts a top speed of 177mph, which bests the Bentayga Hybrid SUV’s 158mph max. The Flying Spur Hybrid can travel 25 miles on electric power only, which is sufficient for the average commute. Add a full tank of gas and the car can travel 435 miles before it needs to stop for gas or a charge.

From the attention to detail and expert craftsmanship to the phenomenal number of customizable options, the Flying Spur remains an icon of luxury, and this new hybrid will help Bentley straddle transformation and tradition with aplomb. “If you look at a Bentley, you should always think about a resting beast,” says Bosch. “It’s powerful and, at the same time, very relaxed.”

The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid will command a 3% price premium over the standard model which starts at just over $200,000 and varies based on customization options chosen.

Images courtesy of Bentley