Sure, your iPhone can show you the time or the game score or even photos of your holiday when it’s docked horizontally during charging… but can it give your laptop HDMI and LAN connectivity? Can it track crypto prices? Does it let you code your own apps/widgets? And hey, can it play DOOM? Well, Vobot can. A compact desktop display that doubles as a multiport hub for enhanced productivity, the Vobot puts fun and function together. It has 7 ports for enhanced connectivity and charging (up to 90W), but its magnum opus is the display on front, which does everything from being a clock, weather forecast indicator, Pomodoro timer, Todoist task tracker, Crypto or stock ticker, or even a screen-mirroring display. The best part, you can code your own apps for it, so unlike the iPhone’s Standby Mode, the Vobot can be exactly what you need it to be.

Designer: Mocreo Pvt. Ltd.

As the folks behind the Vobot say, it’s first and foremost a mini dock. With 7 ports to supercharge your laptop/desktop, the Vobot offers connectivity and power to your device. It sports a 4K@60Hz HDMI port, a Gigabit LAN port, one USB-A 3.0 port, and two USB-C 3.0 ports. There’s one single USB-C input port that powers the Vobot (the Vobot comes with its own adapter, and doesn’t have a battery of its own)… so in essence, it’s every bit a multiport USB hub… but the screen on the front is what radically changes things.

Think of that screen on the front of the Vobot as a dedicated secondary display. It’s split into two parts – the part on the left is a dot-matrix seven-segment LED display that’s dedicated to showing the time and day, while the right half is an LCD IPS screen that can be controlled using a knob and button interface on the right side of the device (reminiscent of a watch’s crown). When plugged in and running, the Vobot’s screen becomes your custom control center. The left half shows you the time, while the right half unlocks productivity in a variety of ways. The Mini Dock has its own built-in app gallery, including a weather widget, a Pomodoro timer, a Todoist task manager, calendar, stock/crypto tracker, PC monitor, indoor air detector, game emulator, WiFi status checker, screen-mirroring applet, and a lot more.

The vast app gallery means the right half of the Vobot mini dock’s display becomes your work and your life’s control panel. You can track productivity, review the stock market, watch YouTube videos on the side, check your PC’s performance or thermals, or even code your own IoT apps. With MicroPython programming, you can add new features to the dock that serve your needs, from doing things like monitoring cameras around your smart home, to checking your home’s power consumption. Create games that you can play using your laptop keyboard or a game controller (which comes along with the mini dock), or just build something as simple as a subscriber counter or notification center for your phone.

The Vobot Mini Dock boasts compatibility across Windows, Linux, and MacOS machines, but there’s also support for Android and iOS devices. Each Mini Dock ships with a 100W power adapter, and a tiny gaming controller that lets you play games on the dock’s built-in emulator. A quick-start guide briefs you through the dock’s features, and an online app store lets you access apps by other creators, or make your own to boost productivity… or should I say, pro-dock-tivity!

The post iPhone Standby Mode on Steroids: The Vobot gives you a Multi-Hub Display Dock for Widgets and Tools first appeared on Yanko Design.

A major problem with tiny flying drones, referred to as micro aerial vehicles (MAVs), is that they cannot fly for a very long duration. Especially the MAVs weighing under 10 grams, as such micro vehicles can only stay airborne for about 10 minutes. Using sunlight as a constant power source could provide a solution to keep such bird-sized drones afloat and flying longer.

However, it’s not as simple as sticking a solar panel on the wings. Traditional propulsion systems used in micro aerial vehicles aren’t very efficient at making appropriate use of generated solar power. Moreover, these tiny drones can’t carry much payload, making them inconsistent and unworthy in support operations, search, and rescue.

Designer: Beihang University

The CoulombFly, a small, ultra-efficient drone powered by static electricity was introduced as a solution to the abovementioned problem by scientists at Beihang University in Beijing, China. The super-small drone uses a special propulsion system that can lift to a decent height while using very little power for the same. The vehicle itself weighs just 4.21 grams – which is extremely lightweight – has a wingspan of 20 cm, and can carry a payload of roughly 1.59 g.

According to the researchers, CoulombFly is about ten times smaller and weighs 1/600th the weight of the previous, smallest and lightest solar-powered aerial vehicle out there. Dubbed then as the smallest and lightest solar-powered aerial vehicle, it is small enough to sit on the palm and is engineered to fly indefinitely while the sun shines on its wings. Mingjing Qi professor at Beihang and the lead of the project says he doesn’t want to settle for this size of the drone. “My ultimate goal is to make a super tiny flying vehicle, about the size and weight of a mosquito, with a wingspan under 1 centimeter,” Qi notes.

Unlike the previous tiny aerial vehicles that rely on electromagnetic motors and generate power using electromagnets; CoulombFly uses an electrostatic field to produce motion. With a mass of 1.52 g, electrostatic motor can generate lift-to-power efficiency that’s twice or even thrice that of traditional MAV motors. The electrostatic motor of the tiny drone comprises two rings: the inner ring is a spinning motor with 64 carbon fiber slats covered with aluminum foil, while the outer ring has eight alternating pairs of negative and positive carbon fiber electrode plates also bonded with foil. When the CoulombFly is exposed to sunlight, the outer ring with its 16 plates generates electric fields. Since each electrode plate is embedded in aluminum brushes, these brush against the rotor slats on the inner ring spinning the propeller and lifting the drone up until the sun is shining on it.

The post Chinese researchers test smallest solar-powered drone that can fly as long as it gets sunlight first appeared on Yanko Design.

Rumors are swirling that Apple might be dropping its “Plus” iPhone models, starting with the iPhone 17, potentially replacing them with a more premium offering. Over the years, the appeal of the “Plus” models has waned as standard, and Pro models have become more capable. The latest leaks suggest Apple is set to introduce a new “Slim” iPhone to fill this gap, a move that could revolutionize the future of Apple’s products and excite tech enthusiasts.

Designer: Apple

Remember that iconic moment when Steve Jobs wowed the world by pulling the MacBook Air out of a manila envelope? Could Apple be gearing up for another “MacBook Air moment” with the iPhone 17 Slim? If the rumors are true, we might witness a similarly groundbreaking reveal that redefines expectations for smartphone design and performance.

On July 20, details emerged on Weibo indicating that the iPhone 17 line-up will not include a Plus model. Instead, Apple is reportedly planning to launch an “iPhone 17 Slim,” set to become the most premium model in the line-up, much like the Apple Watch Ultra. This new model will take design cues from the ultra-thin iPad Pro M4, launched in May.

iPhone Concept

The iPhone 17 Slim is rumored to be significantly thinner than its predecessors and other models in the line-up. It is also said to feature an LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a feature currently exclusive to Pro models. This shift means every iPhone 17, from the base model to the Pro Max, will offer ProMotion technology.

Speculation also suggests that the iPhone 17 series will be powered by Apple’s A19 and A19 Pro processors. The iPhone 17 Slim will likely include the A19 Pro, making it the most advanced and expensive model in the range. Rumors suggest a starting price of $1,299, making it pricier than the current iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, the potential of the iPhone 17 Slim to meet and exceed consumer expectations in terms of performance and design is reassuring.

Here’s a look at the potential iPhone 17 line-up:

• iPhone 17: $799, A19 processor, 6.27-inch LTPO (ProMotion) display, 8GB of RAM
• iPhone 17 Pro: $1,099, A19 Pro processor, 6.27-inch LTPO (ProMotion) display, 12GB of RAM
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: $1,199, A19 Pro processor, 6.86-inch LTPO (ProMotion) display, 12GB of RAM
• iPhone 17 Slim: $1,299, A19 Pro processor, 6.65-inch LTPO (ProMotion) display, 12GB of RAM

Apple’s push towards thinner designs extends beyond the iPhone. The company is rumored to work on slimmer versions of all its main products, including MacBooks and Apple Watches. This ambition presents significant challenges, particularly regarding battery life and durability. A thinner design often means a smaller battery, which could compromise battery life. Ensuring the iPhone 17 Slim has comparable or superior battery performance to existing Pro Max models will be crucial.

Interestingly, with the development of the M4 and potentially M5 chips, these processors are expected to be much more efficient by the time the iPhone 17 is released. This efficiency could allow Apple to use a smaller battery while retaining the same battery life as current models. While battery capacity is a significant factor, I would much rather have a faster wired and wireless charging rate to top off as needed quickly.

The design elements of the iPad Pro M4 are noteworthy, with its skinny profile and raw processing power setting a new standard for Apple’s devices. Imagine the iPhone 17 Slim adopting this same level of thinness combined with the A19 Pro processor. This would not only deliver a powerhouse device with exceptional performance and a gorgeous display but also set a new benchmark for smartphone design in the tech industry. Additionally, thinner devices can be more susceptible to bending and other durability issues, making robust design and engineering essential. However, Apple seems to have resolved this issue with the iPad Pro M4, giving confidence that the iPhone 17 Slim will be both durable and sleek—hallelujah!

Interestingly, recent leaks about the Pixel 9 Pro and the newly released Galaxy Fold6 and Flip6 show a trend towards flat edges, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and Max. This design trend across brands highlights the industry’s move towards sleek, flat-edged devices. The Pixel 9 Pro will feature a refined design focusing on high-end performance. At the same time, the Galaxy Fold6 and Flip6 continue to innovate in the foldable phone market, combining cutting-edge technology with stylish designs.

Samsung Galaxy Fold6

Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The iPhone 17 Slim’s anticipated ultra-thin design would fit right into this trend, offering a visually stunning and powerful device that appeals to users looking for the best form and function. The ultra-thin design not only enhances the device’s aesthetics but also makes it more portable and comfortable to use, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.

Apple’s ultra-thin tech game plan doesn’t stop at the iPhone. The upcoming MacBooks and Apple Watches are also expected to feature thinner designs, making them more portable and stylish while maintaining high performance. The challenge will be to balance this thinness with functionality, ensuring that battery life and durability are not compromised.

MacBook Concept

With the iPhone 16 around the corner, are these early iPhone 17 leaks compelling enough to keep you holding on to your current device for another cycle? The promise of the iPhone 17 Slim, with its ultra-thin design, powerful A19 Pro processor, and stunning LTPO display, could be worth the wait. As Apple continues to innovate, we can expect these design principles to set new industry technology and design standards, inspiring the tech industry and consumers alike.

The post The Future of Apple design language: iPhone 17 Slim and the Shift Towards Ultra-Thin Devices first appeared on Yanko Design.

We’ve rounded up 1p independent studios creating furniture and design objects in Vancouver, Canada, as part of our North American Design 2024 series.

From furniture in all wood and metal to tile-clad works and high-end camping chairs, these designers are taking a variety of approaches to design, working in small workshops throughout Vancouver.

In the design world, Vancouver is known for a trove of mid-century modern architecture, a glittering skyline of uniform skyscrapers and a strong lighting design scene, anchored by internationally known outfits such as Bocci and A-N-D.

It has several technical schools that feed into the massive technical clothing brands in the city, such as Arc’teryx, and a prominent art and design school at Emily Carr University, which produces many talented furniture designers.

It is a port city and a place from which wood from British Columbia’s forests is processed and shipped out to be used in the international market.

Many talented woodworkers work in the area, including members of First Nations groups, leading to an incredible output of handmade and industrial designs in the material.

The creative output of Vancouver is characterised by multi-culturalism and proximity to the mountains and the ocean simultaneously. It also has an interesting output due to its continued closeness with European culture and markets combined with a laid-back West Coast attitude.

Much of the post-industrial east of the city has been converted into artist workshops and the majority of small-scale makers have set up shop here, while the city’s downtown is host to some of the region’s best furniture curatorial shops such as Inform Interiors, and the convention center holds the West Coast version of the Interior Design Show (IDS).

Read on for 10 independent furniture designers working in Vancouver, Canada.

Jeff Martin Joinery

The output of Jeff Martin Joinery ranges from handmade ceramic pieces to cast iron and leatherwork, usually oriented around district series.

It was founded 14 years ago by Jeff Martin, who also runs a gallery in the city, supporting many of the established and up-and-coming designers from the city and abroad. The designer has also carried out several collaborations with Mexican designers, which he plans to ramp up in the near future.

“I think we probably have less than a thousand words in the English language for our various emotions,” Martin told Dezeen.

“But I think we probably experience over a million or more very nuanced and specific feelings within our lifetimes. I am using shape, material, colour to help tell the stories of those emotions.”

Dear Human

Founded by Jasna Sokolovic and Noel O’Connell, Dear Human has roots in Vancouver but also operates nomadically, working from a number of international residencies to complete its work, which recently has consisted of decor items made from recycled paper.

The studio tries to work with industrial leftovers, from paper to wool and ceramics to complete its work.

“We try to maintain our spontaneity and follow our excitement about materials and push the boundaries of what we think they can do,” the duo told Dezeen.

“One of the chief problems we are always trying to solve is how to repurpose waste materials we come across.”

Calen Knauf

Calen Knauf creates a wide range of industrial projects from his studio in Vancouver, from lighting designs to mirrors and stools, many of which are created using aluminium.

The son of a graphic designer, Knauf trained at Emily Carr University and tries to draw inspiration from his tools. “As a designer and not a crafts person, I like to use the right tool for the job” he told Dezeen. He also seeks to design against what he sees as a “homogeneity” driven by global design media.

“I believe my work has become much stronger after deciding to just live my life outside of design, not trying to prove to myself,” he continued.

“I’d rather go camping, skateboarding, a bike ride, hang at the beach or the river and let that subtly bring inspiration into my life organically.”

Liam Borsa Design

Once a refrigeration mechanic, Liam Borsa made a shift to furniture design in 2020, focusing on industrial materials.

He uses laser fabrication and bending methods seen in sheet metal fabrication and prefers to draw from the techniques of mass production to create limited-edition runs of furniture.

“With my background in trades, I see an underutilized approach to these methods typically reserved for construction,” Borsa told Dezeen.

“The fun problem for me to solve is how to harness these already available technologies in a way that people in those industries don’t think to do.”

Nolan TK Studio

Nolan Talbot-Kelly’s work centres around waste materials and offcuts from industrial production, creating pieces that illustrate the recycled nature of the materials while still maintaining a high level of precision in the design.

Talbot-Kelly got his start in the long-running Vancouver studio Hinterland Design before founding his own practice.

“A large part of my recent self-initiated studio work is centred around iterating with things that already exist, rather than designing in a way that requires introducing new lines of production,” he told Dezeen.

“I view this process as physical research through making, exploring possible alternative modes of designing that promote a more sustainable visual and material culture. I create objects that are both functional and speculative.”

Edwina Liao 

Edwina Liao works mostly in wood, drawing from the outdoorsy culture of Vancouver to create portable, durable designs for use in a variety of outdoor uses.

Trained at Emily Carr University, Liao said that she seeks to “embody lifestyle choices” in the designs.

“My designs aim to bring intentional connections with living spaces, whether indoors or in nature,” Liao told Dezeen.

“I focus on encouraging interaction with objects to make people feel more connected to their surroundings, while also raising awareness of their own needs and fostering care for their environments.”

Studio Brovhn

Miguel Brovhn founded Studio Brovhn in 2009 and has received a number of high-profile commissions for its works in aluminium works in Canada and abroad, such as benches designed for SFMoMA.

Brovhn got his start in the design world on the sales side of an Italian furniture company before training as an industrial designer himself and starting his studio.

“Our pieces try to address functionality, longevity both in terms of timelessness and quality, and sustainability,” he told Dezeen.

“All of our design and furniture objects are a mix of machine and hand production. Sourcing is very important to our work.”

Pablo Mariano Craft Studio

Pablo Mariano Craft Studio creates handcrafted furniture pieces, mostly in wood, with some rendered in metals as well, but uses only hand tools to create his work.

It was founded by Pablo Mariano, who got his start as a guitarist and woodworker in Buenos Aires before immigrating to Canada in 2018. He opened his studio in 2022.

“I’m finding the ways to keep developing my practice and having a shop in a big city without sacrificing the joy and my beliefs for more economically profitable approaches,” he told Dezeen.

“Ever since I had to close my shop in Argentina, I spent a lot of time and work in learning new skills and redirecting my practice to something I could do without requiring a big infrastructure and trying to make myself my main resource instead.”

Ben Barber Studio

From his Vancouver workshop, Ben Barber works with metal stone, materials he says “carry a permanence and mass” that fits with his philosophy of space.

Barber trained as a sculptor at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn before working in film and eventually founding his own furniture practice in 2014.

“Using your designs to solve problems is a completely different breed of design than the more emotion-focused one I inhabit,” Barber told Dezeen.

“The problem-solving aspect of industrial design is focused on economic innovation while creating new systems and services. I am much more interested in how a form and material can create a moment for pause. To slow you down, bring you back into your body.”

Christian Woo

Christian Woo works with a team of highly skilled woodworkers to create blocky furniture items that embrace the qualities of domestic, FSC-certified wood.

In 2006 Woo opened up his Vancouver studio after being inspired by his grandfather, who was a woodworker.

“We embrace a philosophy centred on timeless, modern design, beautifully executed,” Woo told Dezeen.

“The studio is guided by the rich, rugged landscape of the Pacific Northwest, each piece is designed with a strong sense of place, scale, and sentiment.”

North American Design 2024

This article is part of Dezeen’s North American Design 2024 series selecting independent furniture and product design studios from cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The first edition of this series is created in partnership with Universal Design Studio and Map Project Office, award-winning design studios based in London and now in New York. Their expansion into the US is part of The New Standard, a collective formed with Made Thought.

The post Ten independent furniture design studios operating in Vancouver appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: playground equipment intended for children with ADHD is included in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at Brunel University.

Also included is a portable sofa designed for renters and a shower system that aims to promote sustainable behaviour.

Brunel University

Institution: Brunel University
School: Brunel Design School
Course: Industrial Design and Technology (BA)

School statement:

“Brunel’s Industrial Design and Technology course trains creative, practical and visionary thinkers with an interest in social issues, iterative problem solving, user-centred design and visual design language.

“Students use computer-aided design, physical model making and practical experimentation to develop creative solutions to current and future user needs.

“The course has a strong alumni network and is accredited by an institution of engineering designers.

“Brunel’s new design course focuses on developing students’ creative, digital and technical skills, giving students the ability to innovate the aesthetic, functional and emotional aspects of their design.

“This course is ideal for individuals with a passion for both physical and digital design, and who prefer learning about technology through practice.

“Brunel’s product design engineering course is for technically-inclined and analytical thinkers who are confident with mathematics and engineering principles, and enjoy solving complex design problems.

“This course provides students with the integrated knowledge and skills to develop products that are visually and functionally sophisticated.”

Kali by Sophia Kambouris

“Kali, designed in collaboration with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and Kalium Health, is the first blood potassium monitoring solution designed for use by patients themselves – helping individuals suffering with potassium imbalances to take control and better manage their condition.

“Kali is a monitoring system that allows people living with potassium imbalances to test their potassium levels anywhere and at any time – the device has a test strip reader where individuals will insert a test strip, apply a drop of blood, then wait while the device analyses the potassium concentration which is displayed on the screen in under one minute.

“It comes with a smartphone app which allows users to store their test result history, provides suggestions on how to restore high or low levels and prompts users to take medication, log food and symptoms – the Kali system has been designed alongside clinicians and patients to encourage and empower patients to manage their condition better.”

Student: Sophia Kambouris
Course: Industrial Design and Technology (BA)
Email: sophiakambouris[at]gmail.com

Aquatine by Wilf Memmott

“Aquatine is a smart shower system that helps all shower routines be as time, money and water efficient as possible.

“With the rise of global temperatures and a growing population, water is becoming increasingly scarce – the United Nations predict that 50 countries will face water shortages by 2025.

“The Aquatine system aims to reduce the amount of water wasted by taking excessively long showers whilst providing support for complex shower routines such as cold, staggered and hair care shower routines, with its ability to itemise the water usage of a household using user profiles and setting up custom segmented shower routines.”

Student: Wilf Memmott
Course: Industrial Design and Technology (BA)
Email: wilfredhmemmott[at]gmail.com

Talus by Emmanuel Huliganga

“64 per cent of people won’t seek medical support after an ankle sprain – dismissal of treatment can lead to further development of physiological issues throughout an individual’s lifetime.

“Susceptibility is a larger issue than many of us are aware of – there is a 70 per cent chance of developing chronic ankle instability post-ankle injury.

“Talus, made in collaboration with Zeal-lifestyle, is built to be portable and intuitive to use for all ages, aiming to streamline rehabilitation planning for practitioners helping users who have suffered from sprain incidents.”

Student: Emmanuel Huliganga
Course: Industrial Design and Technology (BA)
Email: echuliganga[at]gmail.com

Nura by Kimon Panayotou-Ennes

“Nura, designed in collaboration with CardioCrown, is a stroke rehabilitation device that combines functional electrical stimulation and virtual reality (VR) to give stroke survivors the ability and autonomy to regain mobility and function in their upper limbs after a stroke.

“Nura is a targeted, gamified and personalised rehabilitation experience for stroke survivors – many stroke survivors aren’t receiving sufficient support for upper limb rehabilitation, both in hospitals and at home.

“Nura addresses this gap by simplifying the process of providing functional electrical stimulation through an innovative multi-pad electrode arrangement that enables a one-touch adjustment of what muscles are activated.”

Student: Kimon Panayotou-Ennes
Course: Industrial Design and Technology (BA)
Email: kimonennes[at]gmail.com

Lula by Georgia Garman

“In recent years, the seemingly simple task of hibernating your tortoise has become increasingly complex and, in many cases, very unsafe due to climate change.

“With 900,000 pet tortoises in the UK, owners are battling a yearly struggle of whether they should hibernate their pet – consequently, owners began the fridge hibernation method, which is time and resource intensive, with risks of freezing or suffocation.

“Lula overcomes these issues by combining cooling technology with furniture design – the refrigerated drawer regulates the internal temperature at three to six degrees Celsius and the integrated app will notify the owner if any factors leave optimum levels.”

“A comprehensive user guide on ‘how to hibernate’ your tortoise is included to combat the issue of vast quantities of conflicting information online, and the elevated aesthetic transforms a practical appliance into a contemporary piece of furniture, providing worry-free hibernation for tortoise owners.”

Student: Georgia Garman
Course: Design (BSc)
Email: georgiabethgarman[at]live.co.uk

Sloom: Enhancing Memory by Sean Heaney

“Using the principles of targeted memory reactivation (TMR), Sloom improves memory retention whilst you sleep, accurately pinpointing sleep stages using electroencephalography (EEG), an accelerometer and a machine learning algorithm trained using a neural network.

“The device is worn during sleep, accelerating learning and memorisation, employing specific audio cues delivered during optimal sleep stages when the brain is most receptive to memory processing.

“This timing is vital for reinforcing learned information effectively; Sloom utilises 4-channel EEG to continuously monitor brain activity, essential for identifying optimal moments for cue delivery – these electrodes, alongside an accelerometer, feed into a machine learning algorithm to accurately estimate the sleep stage of the user, ensuring that audio cues are delivered during peak memory consolidation phases for maximal enhancement of memory retention.”

Student: Sean Heaney
Course: Product Design Engineering (BSc)
Email: seanheaneydesign[at]gmail.com

Shoal Dive Separation Solution by Joseph Billington

“Shoal enables an active response to buddy separation for recreational divers, providing divers with their buddy’s live position to enhance the buddy diving system, without impinging on the dive experience.

“Scuba divers are encouraged to participate in the buddy system, diving in pairs, to improve safety and support underwater, yet 83 per cent of scuba diving fatalities occur alone without a fellow diver there to assist.

“Current products enable communication between divers through vibrations, audible sounds or preset messages, however, the more complex the communication, the increase in associated price which excludes the average recreational diver; no publicly available product enables live tracking of a dive buddy and specialist product solutions, which do offer live tracking, are sold on a contract basis.

“Shoal uses an array of ultrasonic transceivers to communicate the diver’s position and triangulate the incoming signal from the buddy’s system – using frequencies between 55 kHz and 110 kHz means communication is ‘silent’ to the diver whilst achieving a maximum range of 45 metres.”

Student: Joseph Billington
Course: Product Design Engineering (BSc)
Email: 13jbillington[at]gmail.com

Deski by Dylan Parry

“Deski is an engaging and interactive homework companion to help children with ADHD become confident, independent learners.

“ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in the UK, affecting five per cent of children, and homework is a key area they find challenging; common symptoms include lack of focus, difficulty self-monitoring, difficulty with time management and disorganisation, all of which can have a detrimental effect on the child’s confidence and mental health.

“There is a lack of products designed to help students with ADHD, and many recommended homework techniques rely heavily on parental involvement – too much reliance on parents or teachers can lead to prompt dependency, where the child becomes completely dependent on others to act as their executive functioning.

“Deski addresses these problems by allowing students to create personalised homework routines, setting the work time, break time, repetitions and colour of the timer face for each subject – they can then remove the device from the dock and scan the colour on their homework (for example a book cover, highlighted area or post-it notes) using the colour sensor in the device to begin the corresponding routine.”

Student: Dylan Parry
Course: Product Design Engineering (BSc)
Email: dylangrparry[at]gmail.com

Doodle Dot by Lily Tregenza

“Meet Doodle Dot, playground equipment designed to encourage self-motivated social development in early childhood.

“Research indicates that children who are socially isolated in the early years are more prone to experiencing symptoms of ADHD, loneliness, diminished job optimism and reduced physical activity by the time they reach 18 years of age – unfortunately, there is a lack of support in schools to address these challenges, exacerbating the issue.

“Tailored specifically for children aged three to five, Doodle Dot presents a child-motivated solution, promoting collaborative construction at school in an anxiety-reducing environment, with a dynamic assortment of shapes that empower children to build their own imaginative worlds.”

Student: Lily Tregenza
Course: Industrial Design and Technology (BA)
Email: lilytregenza[at]icloud.com

Strung by Casper Bosinius

“A collapsible sofa designed for renters, Strung tackles the challenges of frequent relocation and the resulting premature disposal of furniture within the rental market.

“It presents a mobile and adaptable solution that increases product lifespan, fosters a sense of belonging, and ultimately enhances the ability of young renters to settle in a transient environment.

“The result is a three-seater sofa that fits in a tote bag and can be moved within a taxi – throughout development, this remained a consistent goal, fostering young adults in urban areas to move freely and at a lower cost by removing the need for van hire.

“The need for mobile, yet comfortable and stylish furniture is expressed through renters’ reluctance to invest in quality furnishings due to short letting agreements and the inability to predict living circumstances beyond current tenancies – born out of user and manufacturing constraints, Strung was also designed for low-cost manufacturing following democratic design principles, ensuring the intended user group can monetarily access the product.”

Student: Casper Bosinius
Course: Product Design Engineering (BSc)
Email: casper[at]bosinius.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Brunel University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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