Hasta La Ideas

There is still some debate about the benefits of curved screens at home, whether they can really replicate the cinematic experience of movie houses or are just marketing hype. There’s also the promise of a more ergonomic display because of how they conform to the natural angle of our vision. Some people swear by curved screens, especially when it comes to more immersive content like movies and video games, but not everyone is a believer.

With many brands seemingly falling head over heels with curves, there seem to be fewer choices for flat-screeners. Even worse, you’re forced to make an upfront decision when making a purchase, without the option to change your mind later at no cost. If we already have phones that can fold in half, it shouldn’t be a huge leap to have monitors that can change their shape on a whim, which is exactly what LG is bringing to gamers’ desks in glorious 5K2K resolution.

Designer: LG

There are benefits and disadvantages to both curved and flat monitors, but people’s preferences can change every now and then. While movies and games might look great on a curved screen, regular applications and windows might look distorted. Content creation software that relies on accuracy and precision doesn’t benefit from such technology either, but there’s no way users can switch between the two modes unless they have different displays for different needs.

The upcoming LG UltraGear OLED Bendable Gaming Monitor (model 45GX990A) promises the flexibility to adjust to your needs without wasting money on extra equipment you might use only occasionally. The 45-inch monitor can go from flat to a 900R curvature in just a few seconds, making it possible to seamlessly switch between use cases in a snap. LG also promotes the monitor’s ability to quickly switch between resolution and refresh rate presets in order to match your needs.

To be clear, this is not the world’s first bendable monitor, but it is the first one to come with a very high 5K2K (5,120 x 2,160) resolution. The monitor’s 21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio is also a boon to gamers who usually need more screen real estate at the sides than a taller canvas. That said, the monitor does feature a Dual-Mode function that lets you switch between 21:9 and 16:9 aspect ratios as well as different picture sizes for compatibility with different types of content.

LG is also announcing two other curved monitors that don’t change their shape for those ready to go all in on that kind of display. The 45-inch UltraGear 45GX950A boasts a more pronounced 800R curvature while the 39-inch UltraGear 39GX90SA offers a slightly more compact size, both with wide 21:9 aspect ratios. All three monitors come with LG’s WOLED (White OLED with color filters) technology for even better color reproduction that both gamers and creators demand. Availability of these new curved LG monitors has yet to be announced, but they will be showcased at CES 2025 next year.

The post LG bendable gaming monitor tries to appeal to every taste first appeared on Yanko Design.

As we usher in 2025, it’s the perfect time to prioritize self-care and treat yourself to something special that sets a positive tone for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking to enhance your well-being, boost your productivity, or simply indulge in a little luxury, giving yourself a thoughtful gift can be a meaningful way to celebrate new beginnings.

We’ve curated a collection of the top five self-gifts that promise to inspire, rejuvenate, and empower you as you embark on your journey through 2025.  These products are designed to help you start the year with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. The delightful self-gifts are sure to bring a smile to your face and set the stage for a fulfilling year.

1. ClearMind Kendama

As 2024 is coming to an end, and we usher in the new year, you may want to gift yourself something thoughtful and refreshing. Here comes the ClearMind Kendama. Designed by Tokyo Kendama, this tool helps facilitate personal growth. It is designed to sharpen coordination, ignite creativity, and offer a mindful escape from the daily stresses and problems of life.

This minimal and handy product is excellent for calming your mind down, and allowing you to destress. It is also great for challenging your mental limitations and successfully combines tranquility and excitement in one visually pleasing and elegant form. It is the perfect combination of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary functionality.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The ClearMind Kendama features two cups which makes landing tricks easy and effective. The tool will boost your confidence and motivate you to play consistently. It is equipped with recalibrated balance, which facilitates smooth movements that enhance accuracy and fun. It also boasts a unique bearing system that reduces string twists, offering players more control.

What we like

• Built using premium walnut and maple wood, delivering durability and visual appeal.
• The tool will form a unique patina with time, making each product unlike any other.

What we dislike

• Mastering the tool will take time, and have a learning curve.
• Not an efficient choice for users looking for tech-based or digital entertainment.

2. Japanese Lantern Candle

Called Japanese Lantern Candle – this stunning piece that infuses any modern home with a touch of traditional elegance. Drawing inspiration from the iconic “chouchin” lanterns, this candle holder features a minimalist design that casts a soft, soothing glow, promoting tranquility and mindfulness. Each candle is expertly handcrafted by skilled artisans in Kurashiki, Japan, and incorporates patented technology to prevent the outer wax from melting, ensuring a clean and long-lasting burn.

This candle not only elevates the ambiance of any room but also creates a serene environment conducive to relaxation and mindfulness. Combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary functionality, it exemplifies how thoughtful minimalism can bring warmth and tranquility into our living spaces, making it a wonderful gift to yourself.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Japanese Lantern Candle stands out for its artisanal quality and authenticity. Its innovative patented technology ensures a safe and clean burn, making it a dependable addition to your home decor. The sophisticated design adds a layer of elegance to any setting, making it ideal for creating a relaxing atmosphere after a busy day.

What we like

• Provides a gentle, calming light that enhances the room’s ambiance.
• Ensures a clean and safe burn, minimizing mess and maximizing safety.

What we dislike

• Offers only candlelight, which may not be sufficient for all lighting needs.

3. Invisible Shoehorn

The Invisible Shoehorn is an awesome self-gift for many reasons! It serves as a sleek and modern twist on the traditional shoehorn. Crafted from stainless steel, this innovative accessory is designed to save your back and protect your socks from snags. Its long, elegant form, coupled with a transparent stand, allows it to blend seamlessly into your home decor.

The Invisible Shoehorn serves as both a practical tool and a decorative element. When not in use, it harmoniously fades into the background, avoiding any visual clutter. This subtle yet sophisticated piece adds a touch of elegance to your home.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299

Why is it noteworthy?

The Invisible Shoehorn stands out for its blend of functionality and innovation. Its ergonomic design minimizes strain on your lower back, enabling you to slip into your shoes effortlessly without bending over. The polished surface glides smoothly against your socks, keeping them intact and in perfect condition.

What we like

• Designed to offer ease and comfort while using.
• Comes with a transparent stand, allowing it to double as a stylish home accent.

What we dislike

• Its unique design may not complement all home decor styles.

4. Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers

If you’re someone who loves nifty tech gadgets, then you need to gift yourself the Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers. These speakers are sleek and sexy and will elevate smartphone audio without using batteries or electricity. They are made from vibration-resistant Duralumin, and they make use of the golden ratio to amplify sound.

Since they have a portable form, you can easily carry them anywhere. They are specially designed for audiophiles who love simplicity and convenience in their audio gear. By cutting down the need for power, these speakers embrace minimalist principles, while meeting your technical requirements.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179

Why is it noteworthy?

Besides being sleek and portable, the speakers are also pretty sustainable. They don’t use batteries, hence minimizing the impact on the environment. They offer excellent sound quality, and combine technical innovation with simplicity, functioning as a unique solution that lets you listen to your fav songs anywhere you like.

What we like

• Functions as a sustainable and convenient medium to amplify audio.
• Made from durable Duralumin, ensuring long-lasting quality.

What we dislike

• They only enhance smartphone audio, making them unsuitable for other devices.

5. AromaCraft Clothes Brush

The AromaCraft Clothes Brush elevates garment care to a luxurious experience. Handcrafted by the Miyakawa Hake Brush Workshop, a family-owned business with over 100 years of expertise, this brush effectively removes dust and pollen while imparting a subtle fragrance to your clothes.

Its innovative aromatic paper insert lets you personalize scents using essential oils, adding a unique touch to your wardrobe care routine. Made with premium white boar hair and a walnut wood handle, this brush beautifully marries traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The reusable washi paper insert, crafted from eco-friendly Japanese paper, aligns with sustainable practices while offering a customizable fragrance experience. This product transforms garment care into a mindful ritual, turning a routine task into a moment of meditation. Its elegant design and exceptional functionality make it a valuable addition to any wardrobe.

What we like

• Allows you to customize scents with essential oils for a unique wardrobe experience.
• Made from biodegradable washi paper and sustainable wood.

What we dislike

• Regular cleaning is necessary to maintain the quality of the bristles.
• The price reflects the craftsmanship and premium materials used.

The post Top 5 Self-Gifts For A Delightful & Fulfilling Start To 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.

When you’ve just come from a vacation, you probably have a hangover from all the day drinking and activities you did when you were at a resort or beach. Getting back to your mundane, ordinary life can be a challenge. Well you can still day drink even when you’re home but it’s not the same. What if your kitchen still gives you a bit of the vacation feels to ease your transition?

Designer: Kim Taeyeon

That’s the idea behind this concept for a water purifier that is inspired by cocktails. The “Spare of Water Purifier” offers you a moment of serenity according to the designer. Even if it’s just plain water flowing out of it, it can give you a sense of relaxation because of the way it’s designed, or rather, the inspiration for the design of something that’s usually just functional.

The spherical shaped water purifier has some buttons at the top for different things like water dispensing, purification, cold water, hot water, and filter replacement. The dispensing button has a slight indentation for your finger while the others have a touch UI. There’s also an LED display to show the water dispensing amount. The faucet is in the shape of a fruit, 3/4 of an orange to be specific which is where the cocktail inspiration comes in.

The renders also show three different color ways, drawing inspiration from the sunset over the sea, the sea itself, and a luxury hotel. It’s a simple and minimalist design but puts a cute little spin to the normal water purifier.

The post Water purifier concept adds a cocktail twist to the design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Local architects Dmytro Volyk and Ksenia Donetska have completed the renovation of Uspenska Square in Dnipro, Ukraine, dividing multipurpose space with wave-like benches informed by the nearby river.

Volyk and Donetska were tasked with renovating the square in 2021, and sought to rekindle what they describe as having become a “transit area with no meaning”.

After delays to the project due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, the square re-opened to the public at the end of 2023.

One of the oldest squares in the city, Uspenska Square was originally designed in the 19th century, and once sat at the centre of public life between the Assumption Cathedral to the west and the Dnipro river to the east.

Over time, the square’s importance dwindled. After the original cathedral building burnt down and its replacement was closed during the Soviet era, the square became a neglected through-route between the city and the river.

“Our task as architects was to restore the historical significance of the square as part of the city’s pedestrian framework, to make it more humanistic and architecturally high-quality,” Donetska told Dezeen.

“The renovated Uspenska Square has become another impetus for the city life of Dnipro, showing that despite the war, people want to live at home, in Ukraine,” she continued.

Using the altars of the two former cathedrals at either end of the square as orienting points, Volyk and Donetska created two wide, diagonal paths that create an X-shape dividing the square into segments.

These segments, which are themselves subdivided by polygonal planters wrapped by wooden seating, were each given a distinct function to ensure that the new square caters for a variety of visitors and uses.

These include an area of play equipment with a concrete hill cut through by metal tunnels, a more secluded space with ornamental trees, and a “festival zone” where a wave-like, three-tier seating area is intended for watching larger-scale events.

Public toilets were housed within dome-like structures clad in reflective scales at the eastern entrance to the square, while at the centre of the square an open plaza was organised around a small water feature.

“After the reconstruction, the square is no longer a transit area between attractive locations in the city, but an independent, full-fledged space where people deliberately come to spend time,” explained Donetska.

In order to create a “holistic image” for the entire square, the architects were involved in developing almost all of its elements, including the grates that surround tree trunks and a faceted wooden fence that borders a neighbouring school to the south.

The proximity of the Dnipro river informed many of the square’s details, such as the forms of the wooden benches, the scale-like cladding of the bathrooms and a series of colour-changing lighting strips embedded in the pavement of the main pedestrian routes.

“As somewhere you pass on your way to the river, the square has a lot of river themes: a large wavy terrace, sharp-edged architectural forms that look like boats, wood in the decoration of surfaces, white pebbles and the effect of water waves in lighting,” described Donetska.

Two years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dezeen recently asked architects and designers in the country about how they are coping and adapting amid the conflict.

Elsewhere, a disused steelworks was retained and converted into a cultural park in China and a waterfront park that “celebrates material reuse” was completed in San Francisco.

The photography is by Andrey Avdeenko unless otherwise stated.

The post Public square renovation in Ukraine demonstrates “impetus for city life” amid ongoing conflict appeared first on Dezeen.

Soft lighting, rounded forms and neutral colours create a welcoming atmosphere inside this sex shop in Kyiv by Ukrainian designers Sofiia Hupalovska and Nataliya Stukonog, with playful details including a phallic pouf.

Hupalovska and Stukonog, who worked together at architecture and interiors studio Balbek Bureau before Hupalovska set up her own firm in 2021, wanted to create an inclusive and attractive interior that stands apart from the gaudy style of most adult stores.

“The concept behind Inside was to create a sex shop experience that defies the typical, cliche aesthetics associated with such spaces,” Hupalovska explained.

“Instead of the usual neon lights and stereotypical symbols like strawberries, Inside was designed to offer a subtle, sophisticated environment.”

To achieve this objective, the designers used a muted palette comprising shades of cream and grey that allow the products to stand out.

Metallic finishes help to brighten the space by reflecting light while contributing to the modern aesthetic. These surfaces, mainly used for wall panelling and accents, also contrast with softer details such as curtains and upholstered furniture.

The shop is set in a basement without any natural light, so the designers decided to incorporate a backlit ceiling panel that provides a soft, even glow similar to daylight.

Visitors are welcomed by a reception desk, positioned in front of a metallic backdrop to create a bright and inviting space with a semi-private feel.

In the reception area, a curvaceous sofa is decorated with the stylised outline of a female body. Here, customers can relax while browsing products or awaiting assistance.

The main retail space provides a simple and neutral setting for presenting products on built-in shelves. A central counter with rounded edges provides a surface for staff to assist customers with product enquiries.

“The soft edges of the counter reduce visual harshness, promoting a feeling of approachability,” said Hupalovska.

“Its central location might encourage a flow of movement around the space, guiding visitors naturally toward various sections and product displays.”

The shelves were designed to combat another issue arising from the store’s basement setting. The existing walls lacked straight surfaces, making it complicated to install standalone shelving units, so built-in storage provided a practical and more streamlined solution.

The integrated shelves contribute to the clean-lined look of the interior, with curved edges on the upper niches mirroring the contours used throughout the space.

The shop’s furniture and fixtures were mostly custom-made by Ukrainian contractors, with many pieces designed using rounded, organic shapes. Examples include a playful pouf in the fitting room that resembles a penis.

The fitting room also features curtains that can be drawn for privacy and a curving light wall that provides uniform lighting for customers trying on items.

A sink in the main display area was designed as a monolithic element with a concrete finish that complements the shop’s raw, industrial theme, alongside the exposed pipes and ducting.

Overall, the shop’s interior seeks to balance functionality and a minimalist aesthetic with softer touches to contribute to a discreet and enjoyable shopping experience.

“The space strikes a balance between sophistication and playfulness, achieved through carefully selected materials, colours and shapes that feel luxurious yet accessible,” Hupalovska said.

During her time at Kyiv-based Balbek Bureau, Hupalovska worked on projects including an interior for a gender-neutral salon and cocktail bar with concrete surfaces and gold accents.

Other projects from the studio include a modern restaurant that incorporates classic Ukrainian forms and a house that reinterprets the traditional log cabin using stainless steel and concrete.

The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

The post “Subtle and sophisticated” interior distinguishes Kyiv sex shop Inside appeared first on Dezeen.