Hasta La Ideas

Here’s what we looked at this week:

This colorway for the Nike Air Huarache Premium had to be inspired by this Egyptian Goose, no?

The world’s 199 countries have agreed on standardized passport designs, with just four colors available. Here’s the informal significance of the passport colors.

Google shrinks their 3D videoconferencing tech, Project Starline, from a prison booth down to a flatscreen. Will videoconferencing in 3D really be that different?

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University of Tokyo researchers have developed Jizai Arms, wearable extra robot arms. Sadly, at this point the applications appear to be artistic rather than practical.

The TP-7 Field Recorder, an audio recording device by Teenage Engineering, features sleek design, analog controls and a focus on UX.

Lexus used to have a little visor to block sun coming over the top of the rearview mirror. Aftermarket designs are disappointing.

Image: BearzerkerX

These elegant Tai tables and stools, by Taiwan-based SUNRIU Design Studio, were designed to be made from sheet metal scraps from a decommissioned substation.

This surprising Curve Chair, by furniture designer Racheal Heritage, incorporates a wraparound back impressively made from a single piece.

Derived from sustainable seaweed, SEA Tech resins look and feel like plastic, and are compatible with existing plastics manufacturing machinery.

Naoto Fukasawa designs some subtle haptic touches into his Half Dome Lamps for Kettal.

This Kotai line of sleek, extendable oak dining tables/desks are by industrial designer Mario Ruiz.

In collaboration with Häfele, architect Michael Hilgers designed these hidden furniture pieces to quickly turn a hotel room into a workable office. (Click here for video.)

OpenAI’s Shap-E can do text-to-3D-modeling. This paves the way towards voice-controlled CAD, though for now it’s primitive.

Product designer Harry Isaac did a fantastic job redesigning and fabricating a new housing for a 2001 camcorder.

Inspired by his own experience with illness, Alvar Aalto designed this noiseless sink for the Paimio Sanitorium (1933).

The FinalPress, a miniaturized French press that makes coffee in your mug, has landed nearly $500K on Kickstarter.

Who’s got the better-looking humanoid robot, Tesla or Sanctuary AI? We think it’s not even close.

Left, Tesla’s Optimus. Right, Sanctuary AI’s Phoenix

The Col Chair, by industrial designer Francesc Rifé, is a reinterpretation of European school chairs from the ’80s/’90s.