Hasta La Ideas

Muji’s elegantly designed refillable markers reduce waste

The latest gem we’ve come to love from Muji’s line of elegantly well-designed writing utensils is the refillable dry-erase marker. Perfect for home office inspiration boards to classroom presentations and conference rooms, the dry erase marker writes smoothly, without the squeaky feeling of most pens intended for white boards. (If the standard is a ballpoint, Muji’s is a rollerball.)

The true genius, however, is the refillable ink cartridge. Once the marker runs dry, unscrew it and pop in a new cartridge to reduce unnecessary waste.

Markers come in red, blue and black, and are available for $1.75 each at all NYC Muji locations. Refill cartridges sell online from the MoMA design store.

Six innovative and sustainable designs sighted at Paris’ renowned interiors expo

Following up to part one of our 2011 Maison & Objet coverage, which focused on the transitional modes of design that cater to indoor and outdoor use, part two aims to showcase the recent innovations in sustainable design. Seen in the general recycling of traditional fibers as well as environmental breakthroughs in classic lighting systems, the eco-friendly theme was thriving at the biannual housewares expo.

One of the show’s most striking illustrations of sustainable design is the audacious “Phoenix” bamboo and rattan car conceived by Philippine designer Kenneth Cobonpue, which originally debuted at Milan’s Via Tortona show last April. The prototype demonstrates that a biodegradable car can still be attractive, while also asking consumers to change the way they think about traditional modes of transportation. A shell that can be reused again and again, the super light Phoenix was hand-built in ten days as an opposition to typical assembly line production.

Paper lamps were among the most abundant items throughout the show this year, playing to the medium’s light and airy feeling and typically low production cost. Philippino designer Luisa de los Santos Robinson impress the crowd with Dragon’s Tail, a series of beautiful origami-inspired lamps created for the design collective Hive.

Vancouver-based furniture and lighting company Molo gave their enchanting paper creations even greater function with Softshelter, a continuation of their modular Softblock line. The system is made of a paper honeycomb that expands to form a completely freestanding partition that can extend to up 15 feet long and 6 feet tall. Assembly takes just a matter of minutes and doesn’t require any tools, making the simple design a great asset in disaster relief. Concealed magnets are used as the structure’s only fastening system, further exemplifying Molo’s dedication to straightforward design.

A huge potential for innovation in LED lighting, French studio Blackbody showed off their one-year-old organic LED technology. A thin layer of carbon enlightens when stressed with electricity, making the best of nano-technologies. The carbon layer is put on ultra-flat, two-millimeter-thin panes and provides a soft surrounding light that is even safe to touch. When turned off, the surface looks like a mirror. The material adapts to whatever kind of form or colors a designer can imagine, including screens, clever packaging and numerous types of luminous displays. Soon it will be possible to put the layer on a flexible surface, increasing its potential in the industrial or residential realms.

The most creative smartphone technology came from the Native Union, a Hong-Kong based company launched only two years ago. Their sleek Moshi Moshi retro handsets reduce radio wave radiation by 90%, and many of their charging bases allow you to connect two devices simultaneously—perfect for the smartphone and tablet user.

The brainchild of South African designer Ryan Frank and East London indie music company Tape, Tapegear hand makes flexible but sturdy cork sleeves for laptops, tablets and smartphones. The cork is cultivated in a Portuguese forest, and the edgy sleeves are manufactured in Spain.

Hand-painted bike bells from a Montreal cyclist now available to all

Since 2005, crafty Canadian Annie Legroulx has been producing hand-painted bike bells from her Montreal studio and shop Dringdring. Her inventive designs—from red-and-white striped candies to rotary phones—recently caught the attention of design shop Kikkerland, who added six styles to their inventory. Like the originals, these designs are painted with solvent-free paints that are as friendly on the environment as they are resistant to its elements, adding a guilt-free touch of fun to cycling safety.

Where young people at local community organizations collaborate with skilled artists on Legroulx’s line, Kikkerland taps artisans in India to make their more accessible styles, which include an adorable cupcake and turtle, as well as a tongue-in-cheek speedometer.

Dringdring’s bells for Kikkerland sell online for $20 each. An assortment of other amusing bells can be picked up at Dringdring’s shop or their online store.

A new documentary on the world’s first zero-emissions motorcycle grand prix

Following the bold dreams of a handful of racing teams through the trials and tribulations of first and second zero emissions grand prix motorcycle races held on the Isle of Man is Charge, a recently released documentary by Mark Neale. Adding to the tremendous weight of the historical first race is the fact that the Isle of Man TT also happens to be the toughest and most unforgiving race track in the world which has claimed the lives of over 200 racers.

While Charge was seemingly produced on a shoestring, it’s rich in content. The uniquely intriguing stories of the teams involved and contrasting design and development processes of both heavily budgeted student run and corporate backed teams offer an insightful look into the young and still developing world of electric motorcycle racing.

Central to electric motorcycle engineering—and film—is Cedric Lynch, who may just be the most eccentric personality in racing. After dropping out of school at age 12 this self-taught, barefoot, electrical pioneer went on to invent the Lynch motor. Now used in majority of the competitors’ bikes the renamed and updated Agni motor can propel a bike upwards of 130mph while running at 93% efficiency, as compared to an average 30% on standard petrol burning motorcycles.

Through the two races in 2009 and 2010 the viewer is taken through the design and production of some of the first and finest electric grand prix capable motorcycles in the world. And after a few unfortunate tragedies we witness the first time ever an American-built and ridden machine has won a professional TT, helping turn the previously apprehensive locals onto the quieter side of the daredevil sport. Charge grabs your attention and keeps it for its entire 90min run time.

To see the trailer and pick up a copy for yourself directly through Charge’s online store where it goes for $20, although unfortunately only available in the United States and Canada only for the moment.

New electric motorcycle engineering rivals gas bikes

With a mission of making an electric bike as affordable and fun as gas-powered motorcycles, electric vehicle experts Brammo, Inc. recently partnered with Italy’s S.M.R.E. Engineering to produce four new models with a revolutionary six-speed drivetrain. The new rides, announced today, are a result of Brammo’s design and S.M.R.E.’s Integrated Electric Transmission technology, an innovation licensed exclusively to Brammo.

A mechatronic propulsion unit, IET mimics the feel of a more traditional internal combustion engine with a specially-designed electric motor, clutch and gear shift. The system provides the motorcycle with plenty of power to accelerate quickly and maintain high speeds. (Check out the sound in the video above.) Say goodbye to the scooter-like experiences of standard single ratio electric motorcycle engines; IET provides power and performance that up until now was impossible with electrics.

Engage and Encite, the first of the four available with the IET-improved performance and range, will be publicly unveiled (images here show prototypes) before the MiniMotoSX race in Las Vegas this Friday, 6 May 2011. The complete IET line-up (Engage MX, SMR, SMS, and Encite MMX PRO) will also have Brammo’s swappable battery packs.

CEO and Founder of Brammo, Inc. Craig Bramscher explains “Combining the SMRE Integrated Electric Transmission system with the Brammo Power™ Batteries and Battery Management System keeps Brammo at the forefront of Powersports drivetrain technology.”

Brammo anticipates to sell the new bikes at $10,000 to $12,000 depending on the model, and they’ll be available through dealers in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Also on Cool Hunting: Brammo Enertia