Hasta La Ideas

As we’ve seen here, PolyJet 3D printing has advanced to the point where you can print very detailed opaque objects inside of transparent resin, giving them a suspended-in-ice look. UK-based startup 3Dice has taken advantage of the technology to target the lucrative gamer market, creating transparent dice filled with creatures and objects.

Neat as they are, my main gripe is that they appear a bit difficult to read.

The company calls their dice “perfectly balanced,” and insist they “can control and balance the die to minimise imperfections and bias.” For those interested, they’ve posted this 15-minute video demonstrating their balance testing using water and table salt:

I’m not sure how scientific that is, but it’s presumably good enough for the casual gamer.

If this is your thing, sets of 7 dice start at £50 (USD $68) and you can order them here.

Brooklyn-based artist and designer Piera Bochner’s Romanesco candle is a study in maximalism and eccentricity. Handcrafted by the artist, this beeswax candle is modeled after Romanesco broccoli in custom, spirited colorways. As the candle burns, the wax drips down unconventional paths, forming new color patterns and structures. An investigation into the multiplicity of wax, wick and fire as well as a functional art piece, Bochner’s candle illuminates in more ways than one.

Booze-free beer, botanical sodas, spirits crafted with adaptogens and more

For those who enjoy the ritual of mixing up a cocktail or sipping wine while cooking dinner, Dry January can be a struggle—but there’s no doubt that the benefits of taking some time away from booze are many. While there are countless alcohol-free drinks available (we love the humble cup of tea or iced water) the options for those that mimic the flavors, styles and even the buzz that cocktails, beer and wine provide continue to increase in number and quality. The selection here are anything but sugar-filled, high-calorie cocktail imposters. From booze-free beer to botanical sodas, spirits crafted with adaptogens and more, these are sophisticated, delicious and healthy options.

Riverine Spirit

Co-founded by master distiller Morgan Mclachlan, AMASS focuses on botanicals, be it in their spirits or body products. Their alcohol-free offering, Riverine Spirit ($35) contains 14 regional botanics including juniper, sumac, sorrel, mint and thyme. The light, citrus-forward, herbaceous drink—which is somewhat akin to gin—can be blended into cocktails, sipped neat or over ice with a little tonic. For residents of states where cannabis is legal, AMASS also offers the sublime Afterdream, made with a blend of THC, CBD and Delta-8 for a mellow feeling.

Null Wines

Featuring a Sparkling Rosé, Blanc Burgunder and Prickly Red, Studio Null’s The First Release ($85) is a trio of luscious grape-based, non-alcoholic wines. Studio Null sources delectable, high quality wines from Germany and Spain, then taps dealcoholization experts to distill the alcohol out prior to bottling. Each wine is complex, delicious and not too sweet. The Sparkling Rosé, crafted from a blend of Portugieser and Silvaner grapes, is the most celebratory of the three.

Proxies

Acid League began by reimagining vinegar and have now released some of the most impressive non-alcoholic wines we have come across. Their Tasting Set ($73) includes Sauvage (made from green apples and Sauvignon Blanc grapes), Pastiche (lychees, pineapples, peaches and Gewurztraminer grapes), Zephyr (strawberries, rhubarb, apples and Sauvignon Blanc grapes) and Nightshade (cherries, cranberries and Sangiovese grapes). Each also incorporates various teas, as well as subtle but crucial spices and acidity—from paprika to sundried tomato vinegar. The result are layered, complex drinks—mimicking two whites, a rose and a red—that will please wine-drinkers who want to skip the alcohol.

Fiore Apertivo

Figlia founder Lily Geiger lost her father to alcoholism when she was 20 years old, and founded the company in order to encourage more inclusive and honest discourse surrounding alcohol. Made with all natural ingredients, the brand’s Fiore apertivo ($43) has no added sugars or preservatives. The sophisticated bitter, floral flavor comes courtesy of white grape juice concentrate, ginger, lemon, natural elderflower flavor, black currant juice concentrate, ginseng root, as well as extract of chamomile, rose and rosemary. Acting as a stand-in for the likes of Campari, Aperol or a vermouth, this drink can be used in many ways—and Figlia has several appetizing mocktail recipes on their website. The company also supports organizations Partnership to End Addiction and 1% for the Planet.

Pentire Adrift

Pentire’s non-alcoholic, 100% plant-based spirits bottle the beauty of the North Cornwall coastline and its unique plant life. Their original formulation, Adrift ($36) utilizes these local plants—specifically, rock samphire, sage, lemon citrus and Cornish sea salt—for a crisp, herbaceous flavor. Serve it over ice with a seltzer or tonic and topped with lemon, rosemary or bay leaf—or in any number of other ways. No matter the style, this drink refreshes.

Gingergrass Adaptogenic Sparkling Water + Hemp

From DRAM comes an adaptogenic sparkling water ($49 for 12-pack) that can help reduce nausea, anxiety and inflammation thanks to 25mg of broad-spectrum CBD in each 12-ounce can—which is legal in all 50 states. With flavor from ginger root, amla berry, rhodiola root, Canadian chaga mushroom and lemon salt, the overall taste is herbaceous without being grassy. With no sugar added, this fizzy drink is also naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Aplós

The hemp-infused non-alcoholic spirit Aplós ($48) aims to uplift with each sip. Every two-ounce pour of the complex beverage delivers 20mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract. The liquid is sugar-free and drawn from non-GMO components only. The luscious flavor profile—citrus first, followed by notes of rosemary—was formulated in collaboration with James Beard honoree Lynnette Marrero. It’s so fresh that each 500ml bottle only has a 60-day shelf life after opening. Aplós can be served on the rocks, where its brightness shines through, but it can also mix well (the brand offers recipes on their site).

Optimist Botanicals Smoky Spirit

Beverage brand Optimist Botanicals specializes in distilled, non-alcoholic spirits. Their Smokey ($35) iteration—available now in 500ml bottles—employs clove, ginger, sage, bergamot, cinnamon leaf, habanero and angelica root to replicate the experience of sipping an ultra-smooth, subtle mezcal. A suggested serving entails mixing one part Smokey and two parts sparkling (tonic or club). We found, though, that mixing equal parts proves even more pleasant on the palate.

Grapefruit Rosemary Social Tonic

Cann’s cannabis-infused “social” tonics offer a gentle buzz from a 2:1 CBD to THC ratio. Even if one were to drink the entire six-pack ($24), just 12 milligrams would be consumed—a relatively standard dose for edibles. Our favorite iteration, the smooth and citrusy Grapefruit Rosemary flavor, goes down with a slight viscosity and pleasant carbonation. Of course, that’s all without the residual impact of alcoholic drinks.

Slowburn

A warm, zesty drink, bonbuz’s slowburn ($40) builds on the brand’s original ingredients and adds ginger, blood orange, grapefruit and jalapeño. The spicy concoction leaves a little heat and tingle that spicy margarita enthusiasts will enjoy. With five calories per serving, it’s free of booze, gluten and sugar.

Lightwave Canned Drink

From Kin Euphorics, Lightwave combines unexpected ingredients (adaptogens, nootropics and botanicals) for a surprisingly smooth drink. Within the concoction ($27 for four), there’s apple juice, birch bark extract, allulose, lime juice, vanilla extract, American oak extract, smoked salt and more. The various ingredients work together to improve clarity and focus, as well as reduce stress.

Salcombe Distilling Co’s New London Light

Salcombe Distilling Co‘s refreshing alcohol-free spirit New London Light ($35), aka NLL, is born from the distillate of three botanicals: Macedonian juniper berries, ginger and habanero capsicum. The South Devon, England-based brand then incorporates 15 additional components—ranging from citrus and cardamom to sage. Every ingredient is all-natural (and there’s no added sugar) and the resulting liquid is aromatic, zesty and smooth from start to finish. It can be served any way—neat, on the rocks or as a replacement for gin in a cocktail.

Suntory All-Free

We attended the online launch of Suntory All-Free ($20 for a six-pack), as we were eager to see if the Japanese brand could maintain its commitment to quality and replicate the success it has seen with whisky, gin and vodka. To our delight, the sparkling malt-and-hops beverage (as they refer to it) delivers lasting effervescence and crisp, albeit light, flavor.

Curious Elixir No. 2

A zesty bottled mocktail, Curious Elixer No. 2 ($35 for four bottles, each containing two servings) boasts notes of ginger and pineapple balanced with the bitterness of the Mayan herb damiana. Aromatic and spicy, this sugar-free drink is reminiscent of the classic Dark ‘n’ Stormy and can be sipped from the bottle or served over ice.

Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif

Packed with citrus and floral flavors, Ghia ($33) comprises riesling white grape juice, yuzu and fig, along with extract of orange peel, elderflower, ginger, rosemary and lemon balm. With no alcohol or added sugars, the apéritif remains tasty and herbaceous—and packs quite a potent punch. Mix it with seltzer water and serve over ice for a simple sipper, or take a look at their website for more involved concoctions.

Sparkling Social Tonic Variety Pack

After family members were hospitalized for alcoholism, Evan Quinn and George Youmans founded Hiyo, an alcohol alternative. Hiyo’s health-focused sparkling tonics ($40) provide delectable flavors and mood-boosting, organic adaptogens, all grounded by light carbonation. Throughout their variations (which include peach mango, watermelon lime and blackberry lemon), these refreshing beverages feature a slew of beneficial botanicals, like ashwagandha to regulate cortisol levels and relieve stress, lion’s mane to fuel brain health and mental clarity and l-theanine to enhance focus and improve sleep. These herbs, in addition to others, make Hiyo a well-rounded and beneficial drink of choice.

Images courtesy of respective brands, hero image courtesy of Kin Euphorics

2022 is here – it’s a new year, and that means new fitness goals! And, the frenzy of a fresh new year has honestly got me super fitness-oriented! I’ve been making efforts to work out regularly, eat cleaner, hydrate abundantly, and move my body about as much as I can. COVID-19 has made hitting the gym nearly impossible, so I always turn towards home workouts, and they definitely do wonders. But having the right exercise equipment at home is a must. This prevents injuries and ensures we work out in the correct and safe manner, without pushing or damaging our bodies. In an attempt to meet our fitness resolutions for 2022, we’ve curated a collection of super fun and functional exercise equipment for you! Getting fit while being confined to your home has never been easier!

1. Peleton Vibe

Peloton Vibe caters to every sense and muscle from start to finish, it is truly a whole vibe. The bench has a unique multi-position arm that can be moved to work with a variety of exercises. The lower portion stores a set of dumbbells that help expand to a larger range of guided workouts by the Peloton App service. Once you complete your workout, the bench seat and arm surface seamlessly transform into a massage experience. It utilizes built-in massage balls that can rotate and heat up based on your preferences. At-home gym equipment AND at-home spa? I would work out more often simply so I can make the most of the heated massage feature.

2. Floe

Recognized by Good Design for 2021’s Sport and Lifestyle category, Floe appears as a simple, backless bench, but hidden storage compartments reveal much more. Stocked with everything you might need in the gym, including a yoga mat, foam roller, kettlebell, and medicine ball, Floe even comes with a virtual coaching feature similar to the services found on Peloton. Equipped with an extendable viewing stand and iPad, Floe users can follow along with programmed workouts in the comfort of their own homes. From yoga to weight training, Floe offers it all and transforms back into an inconspicuous entryway bench once the sweat session ends.

3. WHOOP

Having garnered the support of world-class sportspeople like LeBron James among other Olympic athletes, WHOOP has revolutionized human fitness and performance through its combination of tracking physiological data and providing real-time effective coaching to help reduce injury and boost performance. Currently, in its 4th edition, the band, created by design studio Aruliden for WHOOP, sports a smaller, smarter, more streamlined design that features the tracking device itself, along with an interchangeable fabric band that lets you simply and easily swap bands to suit your fashion needs or match your outfit.

4. The ARENA

The ARENA creates a workout system that can be used across over 300 movement types and in tandem with multiple styles from strength training to cardio, HIIT, athletic training, conditioning, weight-loss, and even recovery. ARENA provides a physical platform for you to work out on, while a motor-controlled high-performance cable passes from within it, giving you the ability to simulate a variety of exercises. The cable is controlled by algorithms within the ARENA that can simulate any force curve as well as dynamically adapt to users speed of movement to help you achieve your desired training result (muscle gain, weight loss…)

5. The TechnoGym Bench

The TechnoGym Bench is your perfect alibi towards the goal of a healthy lifestyle without any unnecessary frills. This sleek and versatile bench holds all your workout tools and doubles as a workout leverage point for many different exercises. Thus, satisfying your need for a complete workout from the confines of your home if you are skeptical about heading to the gym amidst the ongoing pandemic. The functional training kit includes a myriad of over 200 body workouts. There are tools such as elastic bands, hexagon dumbbells, weighted knuckles, and a training mat – in a compact footprint to cater to all your workout needs. Perfect for small apartments or urban spaces where space is at a premium.

6. AIIR

Developed from a collaboration between personal trainers and product designers, AIIR was designed to reduce joint stress and promote healthy posture. Contained within an 8.5″ x 6″ travel case, AIIR Flow is the smaller of the two workout kits and comes with two durable, carbon-steel push-up bars so you can get an arm and chest workout anywhere. The push-up bars come with spring-loaded, folding supports that dislodge from and fold inside both ends of each handle for ultimate portability. The push-up bars pack down to the size of a water bottle and can support up to 300lbs when in use. Each handle was designed to be ergonomic and promote healthy posture through a slightly inclined and elevated build.

7. Movano Ring

It’s easy to mistake the Movano Ring as a fashion accessory rather than a health tracker, coming in Gold, Silver, Copper, and Black colors. The open-loop or twisted design gives it more personality while also ensuring that it can adjust to any finger size. More importantly, you won’t see the bare electronics underneath, unlike on the Oura, at least if product renders are to be believed. Movano’s wearable isn’t just a pretty face, though, and it promises the staple features you’d find on larger wearables. That includes measuring heart rate and heart rate variability, sleep, respiration, temperature, blood oxygen levels, steps, and calories. It correlates this data and transforms them into information and advice that most people will be able to understand, rather than having to rely on charts and graphs to try and make sense of all the figures.

8. The Speedmax

From the makers of the 3-in-1 minitool also comes the Speedmax, an incredibly capable bike designed to dominate triathlons. By providing more configuration options, optimized aerodynamics, even more, innovative integration solutions, and storage spaces with a more streamlined design, the bike was built to give the triathlete every possible performance advantage. Canyon also worked hand-in-hand with Artefakt, a German-based design studio that played an instrumental role in developing the Speedmax series ever since its debut in 2010.

9. The CLMBR

Meet the CLMBR, it’s a combination of an elliptical trainer, a bench-press, a stationary cycle, and has elements of cardio dancing, HIIT training, and even rock-climbing in it. Designed to give every single muscle in your body an intense workout, the CLMBR helps 60% more calories than running, rowing & bike workouts… and its vertical design allows it to fit into the smallest of homes and rooms. On the floor, the CLMBR occupies roughly 3×3 feet of space or about as much as two doormats. Most of the CLMBR’s gear is oriented vertically, which allows it to do two things – A. Occupy a fraction of the space of a home-gym yet give you all of it, and B. Use gravity to its advantage to make your workouts more intense and effective.

10. The NIKE AIRBUDDY

Designed as a response to several restrictions imposed during the lockdown, the NIKE AIRBUDDY is a conceptual drone that ‘spots’ you while you exercise. It can be carried around via a shoulder strap located on the base of the drone and can be deployed anywhere. Once in the air, the drone connects with your Nike Fitness App and tracks your performance, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of your routine at the end. The drone embodies a clean, sophisticated design language, with 4 rotors branching out of a capsule-shaped body. The drone’s body is outfitted with a single camera that acts as a watchful eye, observing every movement you make like a trainer would.

The post Top 10 exercise equipment designed to help you achieve your fitness-oriented new year resolutions first appeared on Yanko Design.

GoodHoome’s line of kitchen bins is a modular solution for sorting and taking out the trash.

No matter where you live, no one likes taking out the trash. It can be a messy job—the bin is usually overstuffed and removing the liner is never fun when that’s the case. Plenty of solutions have come out in the past, but too often, designers trade simplicity for highly technical designs that don’t stand the test of time. GoodHome, a home appliance brand operated by Kingfisher Design Studio, developed a line of kitchen trash and recycling bins to help simplify sorting trash and throwing it out.

Designer: GoodHome x Kingfisher Design Studio

GoodHome’s line of trash bins features several different configurations of three different trash bins consolidated into one product. Kingfisher Design Studio worked with GoodHome to create trash bins that help, “[encourage] households to improve the quality of their recycled waste by making it easier to sort and store.”

GoodHome’s trash bins are comprised of three different sections that help make sorting trash simple. While each household can assign different types of waste for each bin, a typical household would allot one for recyclables, regular trash, and then food waste for compost. To provide enough storage capacity while maintaining a compact size, GoodHome merged those three different compartments to create a one-stop shop for all of your trash needs.

The different modules can also be configured to meet your spatial needs. Each trash bin is made from stainless steel for a simple, modern look that’s also impact-resistant to maximize the product’s shelf life. Then, when it’s time to take out the trash, users can lift the bin’s internal container to gain access to the garbage bag’s liner.

The post A modular kitchen bin design is the ultimate organization hack for sorting and taking out your trash first appeared on Yanko Design.