Furniture Design from the Ukraine: Pavel Vetrov's Ollly Desk

This 600mm- (23.6″-) deep Ollly desk is designed with grooved depressions at the rear, to keep writing utensils within reach yet out of the way.

Created by Ukrainian furniture designer Pavel Vetrov and produced by manufacturer Zegen, the Ollly has a few more nods to the objects it’s meant to support:

“The desk is equipped with a small and compact drawer, conveniently located in the center. The worktop has ergonomic grooves for small office supplies from both edges of the table. Near them on both sides there are openings-stands for the phone and tablet. Wires and cables from a laptop, computer or other equipment are collected in a special cut-out in the center of the table this allows you to place all things on the table, not only practical, but also aesthetically attractive.”

Vetrov and his firm, Pavel Vetrov Studio, are based in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

In recent days Kyiv has been under bombardment from Russian invading forces. As of this morning, ceasefire talks provide some hope the city will be spared.

Lighting Design from Ukraine: Kateryna Sokolova's MOLD Lamps

Produced by Ligne Roset, these MOLD lamps are by Ukrainian industrial designer Kateryna Sokolova. Sokolova is co-founder and creative director of the brand NOOM and SOKOLOVA design studio, which designs furniture, lighting, hardware, electronics and environments.

The MOLD line consists of both the lamps and the same form rendered into vases. The forms were “inspired by the technological process of production,” Sokolova says.

“During the process of casting ceramics, concrete or plastic, or stamping metal, you often can see sprues and not accurate edges in the point of the joints of the molds. These not-nice defects of the manufacturing process inspired me to create this collection. The name, Mold, explicitly references its production method and retains its complete form with no final chipping away of offcuts.”

Sokolova and her studio are based in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

In recent days Kyiv has been under bombardment from Russian invading forces. As of this morning, ceasefire talks provide some hope the city will be spared.

Collective Bidding is Boosting The UkraineDAO 1/1 NFT Fundraiser

Tech startup CXIP has minted a 1/1 NFT of the Ukrainian flag, with all proceeds from its sale going to Come Back Alive, an organization that will provide aid to Ukrainians civilians living in the middle of the war. CXIP launched the project as a collaboration with Pussy Riot, Trippy Labs, PleasrDAO and numerous Ukrainian humanitarian activists. The auction—which incorporates a feature that allows users to bid collectively and own a fraction of the NFT, thus increasing the overall amount raised for the charity—is currently live and has amassed over 1,102 ETH (over $3 million) at the time of publish. Find out more at UkraineDAO.

Image courtesy of UkraineDAO

Pen holder concept adds some minimalist flair to your work area

For a person that owns a lot of pens (and I do mean a lot), I’m always on the lookout for pen holders that can not just keep my pens but also make my work area prettier. If the accessory helps organize my numerous pens as well, then that’s an added bonus. This new one that we spotted seems to fit all of the categories that I’ve been looking for.

This “una scatola” or box looks like a boxful of pencils that are placed downwards. But really, it’s designed as a pencil or pen holder for those that don’t want their pens or other office accessories just put together in an ordinary cup-like or box-like holder. It seems to be designed to keep your pens, pencils, colored pens, highlighters, even scissors, cutters, and other things you want to place upright, evenly spaced apart. This product is an organized person’s dream.

Designers: Nuri Badur, Fabio Verdelli

If you look at it from afar, it seems to be an ordinary square-shaped pencil holder. The top view reveals that it’s actually like a “forest” of upside down pencils where you can place actual pencils in between them so it becomes a pen holder. There’s also a bigger space in the middle so you can use it for items that are bigger than pens, like a highlighter, a pair of scissors, or even a small stapler. The idea behind the design, aside from it looking cool, is for those that want their accessories a bit apart from each other or placed in evenly spaced compartments.

Even if the design is different from the other penholders that we see in the market, it still maintains a minimalist look for those that prefer monochromatic desk accessories. The “box” itself is just white while the “stands” inside have a gradient feel with orange, brown, and white colors. If you still want a bit of color on your desk, it will be up to the pens and accessories that you place on the holder to add some different colors and designs.

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Supermarine MM01 Hyper Jet Ski looks like it was designed to fly instead

There is a great deal of fuss over all-electric vehicles today, but most of those have been focused on vehicles with wheels rolling on land. Electric aircraft is still in the age of their infancy, and you barely even hear about aquatic modes of travel switching to more sustainable sources of power. There are, of course, attempts at designing electric boats and jet skis, but the upcoming Supermarine MM01 might be the most ambitious one of all, both in handsome looks and in luxurious price.

Designers: Germain and Léopold Bouvet

Jet skis aren’t exactly your typical mode of transportation over water. They’re good for crossing short distances, hopping from island to island, but they’re often associated more with sports and sometimes dangerous thrills where speed is the name of the game. It isn’t by accident, then, that this Supermarine MM01 by Bouvet Frères Marine is being branded as a hyper jet ski in line with hypercars on land.

The futuristic-looking aquatic vehicle will be powered by a 300hp electric motor generating 220kw of power. In theory, this would allow the jet ski to blast through waters at a top speed of 75 mph, and the company advertises an “autonomy” of 2 hours tops. It’s powered by electricity rather than fuel, of course, which almost makes it sound like a more sustainable option. But if you thought electric vehicles were more expensive than their gasoline-chugging counterparts, then the Supermarine MM01 easily outclasses those by a nautical mile.

This “hyper jet ski” is ultimately a luxury vehicle if its appearance wasn’t already a dead giveaway. It’s a sporty vehicle, as its rip-roaring specs suggest, but it’s also described as a “lifestyle machine” designed with ergonomics and style in mind. Leather upholstered front trunk, a touch screen for navigation, and a carbon Kevlar monocoque frame all point to something that’s designed for more affluent customers. There’s even a dedicated champagne holder under the two-seater saddle if you still have any doubts.

Interestingly, the form of the Supermarine MM01 seems to take its cue not from luxury cars but futuristic hovercrafts. Although its speed hopefully won’t make you fly out of the water, the jet ski’s aerodynamic design is more similar to sci-fi flying vehicles than your typical water speedsters. And if you add wheels, it wouldn’t look out of place over land either. Coincidentally, its designers have earned their reputation building cars, which is why you can get some amphibious vibes from this electric jet ski.

Perhaps the biggest telltale sign of this vehicle’s luxury DNA is in the number of jet skis that the company will produce. Only 30 Supermarine MM01’s will be made, at least in its first run, split between white “Mother of Pearl” and black edition colors. The designers are well aware that these luxury machines will have a high asking price, but they aren’t as concerned about profitability as they are in creating something that symbolizes a passion for aesthetics and creative freedom.

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Furniture Design from Ukraine: Svyatoslav Zbroy's X1 Lounge Chair

Ukraine-based industrial designer and architect Svyatoslav Zbroy is a co-founder of furniture retailer and design bureau ODESD2. Of the many pieces he’s designed, one that jumped out at me is this X1 Lounge Chair, a sort of Eames Lounge with a techno twist:

Zbroy confirms he’s going for a “technological” look here, and writes that “The X1 lounge chair looks like the creation of a machine,” though he states that the chair is comfortable. Knowing admittedly little about Ukrainian aesthetics and tastes, I find the chair interesting to look at, even if it wouldn’t quite blend into my farmhouse.

“I like the current period in Ukrainian industrial design,” said Zbroy in a design talk. “Right now, everything is born, develops, and we are waiting for the beautiful times ahead. Everything happens as in my favorite period of post-war industrial design. It’s a time of beautiful objects, interesting stories, inspirational designers, who taught me a lot.”

Zbroy and ODESD2 are based in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

In recent days Kyiv has been under bombardment from Russian invading forces. As of this morning, ceasefire talks provide some hope the city will be spared.

This USB Hub concept brings a literal docking station to your desk

A lot of products these days extol the virtues of minimalist design, but one computer accessory idea goes the opposite direction to turn your workstation into a miniature battle station.

The number of devices we’ve become dependent on has grown considerably in the past few years. Ironically, the number of ports we can use to connect these with our computers has actually gone down. Some laptops, for example, have reduced those connectivity options to two USB ports, one of which might even be the only way to charge the portable computer. This has given rise to an innumerable number of so-called USB hubs and docks, most of which try to blend into the background. One concept, however, throws that convention out the window and tries to give science and science-fiction fans something to drool over.

Designer: Junwan Woo

“Docking station” isn’t a new term, but its meaning really depends on the context. For computer users, this often refers to accessories that expand the number of ports you can use. For space enthusiasts and sci-fans, it’s often a place where spaceships find their temporary home. In both cases, the docking station is almost like a metaphor for new experiences, and this hub, simply called “Docking,” puts a literal spin on that.

Instead of the small and nondescript USB docks that litter stores these days, the Docking station is bigger than what its function requires. It only has three full-sized USB ports, for example. Smaller hubs and docks than these also have room for HDMI ports, Ethernet ports, and more. Then again, as a concept, the implementation can be expanded as long as they don’t detract from the main design.

That design is, of course, a miniature docking station for USB drives in the shape of miniature ships. Although the ships look generic, the weathered white exterior of the station and orange accents are almost reminiscent of Rebellion colors in Star Wars. And as with any other Star Wars technology, the design looks both futuristic and retro at the same time.

The USB thumb drives themselves don’t seem to have anything special about them. Each USB port, however, lights up when something is inserted inside, a redundant indicator that still fits perfectly with the theme. Unfortunately, putting any other USB with a different design breaks the illusion, but the dock itself is already something worth talking about on its own.

It’s also going to take up a lot of desk space, but you wouldn’t be buying something like this just to keep your workstation looking tidy and clean. It’s a rather ingenious idea that mashes together two different interpretations of the same term, and it’s one of those concepts we wished actually got turned into a product you can buy.

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Huawei MatePad Paper wants to replace your paper notebook

E-book readers are still in demand although not as popular when the idea first came out. Color tablets have overtaken the category but there are still groups of digital nomads that prefer the simplicity of a digital tablet with only an e-ink display and limited features.

We have featured a few here but the more memorable ones were those from Kobo and the Kindle line from Amazon. The Kobo Forma wanted to steal the e-reader spotlight from Kindle. Amazon’s Kindle Oasis E-Reader was once named as the perfect pool companion. Over at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2022), the former Chinese tech giant Huawei revealed the MatePad Paper and there are a number of things to love about the device.

Designer: Huawei

Huawei MatePad Paper

The MatePad Paper isn’t a colored tablet. It’s an e-ink display that measures 10.3-inches and is compatible with a Huawei M-Pencil. It allows cross-device transfer so you can easily enjoy a bigger preview of whatever is on your smartphone. It’s mainly an e-ink tablet that allows an almost paper-like experience whether writing or ready.

The HUAWEI MatePad Paper can help take hold of your ideas as it offers enhanced multitasking capabilities. Efficient note-taking is a promise while letting you start seamless collaborations. When you’re in the mood to take notes while reading, you can choose the highlights and important details so you don’t forget and come back to the ideas you learned.

The large FullView display offers eye comfort even with the large size. Jotting down notes on the e-paper seems more natural as made possible by the texturized surface of the MatePad Paper. Writing is better with its 26 ms low latency and six levels of Pressure Sensitivity with the 2nd-gen HUAWEI M-Pencil.

The e-ink tablet features multiple screens for different tasks. You can swipe down from the upper right part of the display. Split-screen can be activated by a stylus. For the obsessive-compulsive (OC) person, you can better organize your templates and notes with the device. The more organized the notes are, the better.

Huawei MatePad Paper Key Pricing

The Huawei e-ink device can also be the perfect digital assistant. It can do an audio recording of your meeting so you don’t miss anything. You can listen to the recorded content to review your minutes or any notes you have. Write on the e-ink display as if you’re writing on paper. And then, later on, those electronically handwritten notes will be converted into text. Don’t worry about privacy, your notes are encrypted. Confidential notes can also be locked by simply pressing the Fingerprint Power Button.

Huawei MatePad Paper Availability

Huawei MatePad Paper MWC 2022

For smoother and more efficient viewing, you can transfer content from your phone to the Huawei MatePad Paper. This allows better productivity as you can view more on a larger screen. You can also do the same—transfer files from the MateBook. You are free to share files between the MateBook and the MatePad Paper.

For the bookworms, you will love this MatePad Paper as it can hold your favorite books from your favorite authors. High-quality reading content is a promise but you can also check other e-book sources or libraries. If you want to give your eyes a break, you can just switch to audiobooks. The dual speakers are powerful enough to deliver optimized vocal clarity.

Huawei MatePad Paper Where to Buy

Huawei MatePad Paper Device

The HUAWEI MatePad Paper can also do language translation. Any content in another language can be translated so you can understand what the author or source is saying. You will not run out of things to do on the e-ink tablet. It’s powerful because of the specs: 4GB RAM, 64GB onboard storage, Wi-Fi 6+, 3635mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging, and a fingerprint power button. In standby mode, the device can last for up to 28 days but in standard e-ink display usage, you may enjoy up to six days and that’s only on a 1.5hour charge.

The device runs on Huawei’s very own HarmonyOS 2. There are already apps available as Huawei continues to expand the third-party ecosystem. This means you can do more with the device apart from using it as an e-book reader or a digital notebook. It can very well replace your paper notebook. Normally, we’d push for you to just get a new colored tablet but the Huawei MatePad Paper also makes sense if you really just want to get things done. It eliminates distraction because you will only be focused on reading, writing, or recording.

Huawei MatePad Paper Key Markets

The size may be bigger than the usual compact tablets that are popular in the market but the Huawei MatePad Paper can be your secondary display or electronic paper. It really is an e-notebook as you can do a lot on the screen. Typing may be limited but writing on the display can translate your penmanship into text.

It’s like writing on paper with low latency. You have to try it yourself so you’ll understand what premium writing experience means. The design is no non-sense. It boasts a sleek and slim form with small bezels that you can bring anywhere with you. When it comes to UI, the HarmonyOS 2 Service Widgets are easy to understand and use. Expect a quick preview of important items like calendars, emails, or schedules.

Everything about the Huawei MatePad Paper allows you to work faster and be more efficient. When you just want to free your mind from work, you can switch to the e-book form and enjoy reading comfortably. Turn the pages of that new book from your favorite author. Your eyes won’t be harmed because there is a built-in adjustable reading lamp. Even when it’s dark, you can enjoy comfortable reading with any of the 32 levels of backlighting settings available on the grayscale screen with a reflective and anti-glare display that can also play videos.

Huawei MatePad Paper Announcement

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Top 10 IKEA-worthy smart furniture designs

I truly believe the right furniture designs make or break a home! After all, furniture is an integral part of any home, it sets the tone for it and contributes to the essence of the home. You can express your tastes, preferences, and personality via the furniture pieces you choose for your living space. They are an extension of you. Now, as pleasing as aesthetic and visually intriguing furniture designs can be, people are now shifting towards furniture designs that are more focused on function and utility (that, simply put, make our lives a whole lot easier), and one such interesting genre is Smart Furniture! Tech-enhanced furniture is a whole new ballgame, catering to our multiple needs and making our daily lives more comfortable. From a height-adjustable smart table with customizable modules to a smart bed that charges our devices and comes along with an integrated home theatre system, smart furniture is in a league of its own! They’re an explosive meeting of IKEA and Tesla! And, we’re exploring a few super innovative and unique designs today.

1. The Hariana Tech Smart Ultimate Bed

The Hariana Tech Smart Ultimate Bed was designed to have everything you will need to relax within your bed frame. It has an integrated reclining massage chair with a remote, a built-in Bluetooth speaker, a bookshelf, a reading lamp, an air cleaning system, an area to plug in and charges your devices, a foot-stool that opens up for extra storage, and a pop-up desk for the ultimate WFH setup, Netflix marathon or cozy reading hours. The sound system also features an SD card slot, an auxiliary port, and a USB port. Another interesting detail about the Hariana bed is a password-protected safe box for you to store your most precious belongings – for me, it would be my passport and snacks!

2. The Rune Smart Table

The Rune smart table has a slim form factor, yet holds cutouts on the surface with magnetic sockets to accommodate various modules for a lamp, speaker, wireless charger, stationery container, and more. Users can customize the table – with modules of choice – from the Rune website. These modules flush right into the slots on the smart table, allowing a seamless visual experience. Onboard is the Rune Controller module that provides users complete control over the table and its configuration. When a new module is connected to the magnetic socket, the controlled automatically detects the installed module and offers options to control and uninstall it to make space for a new module.

3. The Routine Chair

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The Routine Chair is in a true sense a future-forward creation that anyone would love to own one day. Its ability to seamlessly transition into the most preferred position according to the users’ customized routine or in-built presets gives it the tactical edge over big guns like Herman Miller. It’s partly like the hanging Ella Office Chair with the movable pivots, but the ability to have the most preferred ergonomic position based on the time of the day or the usual work routine positions is starkly different.

4. The LG Display Media Chair

The LG Display Media Chair is perfect for relaxing and binge-watching your favorite Netflix show! The cozy recliner looks like it’s straight out of 2050 with an attached 55-inch OLED TV. The chair is equipped with LG’s built-in sound technology – Cinematic Sound OLED. The tech produces vibrations in turn intensifying the sound, and creating a lifelike cinematic experience. The screen also rotates horizontally and vertically with the simple press of a button. The LG Display Media Chair creates a personal and intimate movie-watching experience within the comfort of your own home.

5. The Duoo Bed

Meet the Duoo Bed designed by Andrei Mogila for Zegen which brings a pragmatic approach to winding down after a long day’s work. The aesthetically crafted furniture piece combines minimalism, smoothness, and geometry of lines to appeal to anyone. Duoo is the result of prime attention to detail when it comes to design aesthetics. Usability-wise, the bed brings the convenience of charging mobile devices or battery banks right from the headboard. Plus it has dedicated led night lights on each side for late-night readers which bring the convenience of privacy without bothering your mate. Keeping comfort and visual neatness at the core, Andrei has managed to strike the right balance of form and function.

6. Futian

In an effort to transform the city of Shenzhen into a brand identity, inDare Innovation Studio created a collection of Intelligent Urban Furniture called Futian to help better define and respond to the needs of Shenzhen residents. Futian represents inDare’s goal of creating a “world-leading city model, which is intelligent, human-centered, and sustainable.” Each component of the Futian collection comes with embedded AI technology that allows users to interact with its interface to learn more about the city and daily conditions regarding topics like the weather and traffic.

7. The Köllen Eget Smart Interactive Workspace

The Köllen Eget Smart Interactive Workspace is built from premium materials, creating a workspace with a minimal and natural feel, but high functionality as well. The workspace has been equipped with a built-in system of connections. It features four USB ports, four plugs, and a wireless charger. An integrated magnetic board allows you to take notes, doodle, and scribble around whenever you need to! The interactive workspace also boasts a motion sensor lighting system. Ample storage space enables you to easily organize your devices, cables, and other work accessories.

8. The X7.0 Smart Table Lamp

The X7.0 Smart Table Lamp is something you’ll see far into the future. Its minimal style is made more interesting by the fact it rotates 360°. The lamp throws ambient lighting around, giving a levitating effect. From a distance, it appears to be a gem or a crystal. You know, the kind you see and need to collect and complete in video games. Noku Design used black coated aluminum for the frame of the lamp plus its very own NoxuSmart LED light. Standing at 15-inches, the lamp can show 16+ million colors but obviously, you can only identify the basic colors. It offers different multicolor effects that you can control via the NoxuSmart App. If you want to increase or decrease the speed of the effects, you can also do that.

9. The Dot Table

The Dot table by Egypt-based furniture brand De.Ci has brought the future of smart furniture to 2020 with its multifunctional features and adaptable form. With the Dot, you won’t have to ask those you love to bring you your charger – this table not only has multiple charging USB ports but can also wirelessly charge your devices with its in-built integrated connectivity system. Dot is a table by day and DJ by night thanks to the embedded SONY speakers so now you have music AND a place to put down your party snacks!

10. The COMODO Shoe Closet

Meet the COMODO shoe closet that doubles as a pouf to sit on while you wear your freshly cleansed pair of sneakers for the weekend basketball game. The name is derived from the Spanish word “Cómodo” which means convenient and pleasant in Spanish. Design Studio Designer Dot and designer Hyeona Cho have ideated a cool shoe closet loaded with new-age sanitization tech to keep your pair of shoes moisture-free and free from any bacterial or fungal build-ups. Taking inspiration from modern multifunctional furniture that has compactness and minimalism at its core, the shoe closet solves a very basic but important purpose.

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Mini Floating Shelf

Handmade in Lyon, France, these tiled floating shelves not only provide storage without taking up floor space, they also add color and whimsy to interiors. They’re available in various hues from pastel green to vintage yellow and crème, terracotta, orange, blue and more; buyers also have the option to choose grout color. Though they’re miniature (measuring 200 by 160 by 200mm), they’re as durable as they are charming thanks to a sturdy bottom made from agglomerated wood and a back which includes four thick stripes of heavy-duty tape that can hold up to 100kg.