Brompton Bikes wanted to create their own dedicated bikeshare system. Because their products fold down, this system would obviously be different from dock-based bikeshare programs.The company hired industrial design consultancy SeymourPowell to figure it out."A modular secure locker for hire cycles that makes seamless city travel as easy as riding a bike."?"Brompton, famous maker of lightweight foldable and portable cycles, saw an opportunity to set up a network of unmanned but secure rental stations for its bikes," writes SeymourPowell. "We designed the easy-to-manufacture, high-security docking station and the UI which underpins the system."?? "The core concept consists of an 8-module dock which can be specified with a single solar panel. Additional pods of 4 docks can be added on, if and when demand increases. The solar panel means the units can be completely self-contained and easily installed without having to interfere with local services and utilities." ?"[The outcome is] a stand-alone design for maximum flexibility and efficiency, streamlining the user experience and maximising opportunities for branding and advertising." Brompton Bike Hire has 70 stations spread across the UK, renting the bikes for 5 (USD $6.43) per day.

Clever design: This Camco Curved Trailer Aid allows you to change a flat tire on a dual-axis trailer, without using a jack. You simply drive over it with the wheel next to the one that needs changing, then chock the yellow part in place with the black part, which has a rubber base pad for friction.It provides 6.5" of lift, so even if the target axle sags, you've still got plenty of clearance to get the wheel off. Runs $55.

A startup called Skip says they've absorbed "The UX and industrial design learnings of the consumer tech space about what makes an easy-to-use, good-looking product that helps drive meaningful behavior change." The MO/GO product they've come up with as a result, is pretty unusual: Powered pants, essentially consumer-friendly exoskeletal legs that make it easier to climb and descend stairs or hills.The company calls their offering "movewear," and says it "Boosts your legs by up to 40% on the way up," "Gently supports your knees on the way down" and "Makes you feel up to 30 pounds lighter as you move."Here's a teaser of what the pants look (and sound) like in action:This could obviously be a gamechanger for those with declining mobility, or for those recovering from injury. Skip says they will sell the MO/GO pants for $5,000, and that they're setting up rental locations in the western U.S. and Canada, where you can pay $80 to try the pants for eight hours. There is one caveat I'd like to point out about the mobility assistance products we will start to see come onto the market. I spent years studying and practicing internal Chinese martial arts, and one of the beliefs impressed upon me is that the entire body must work together; in particular, ICMA practitioners reject the idea of isolating muscle groups in workouts. We thus train in whole-body exercises that strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments together. Western exercise techniques often seem to focus on the muscles exclusively, though the tendons and ligaments ought be given equal attention.All of that is to say, if you are wearing a device that provides muscular strength that you don't have, I believe it's possible that your tendons and ligaments may be subjected to forces they're not equipped to handle. So I do think we may start to see a rash of injuries as power-boosting devices proliferate.That's just my opinion, I have no medical background. But I do think objects like that shown here would ideally be used to help those with compromised mobility, rather than turning the perfectly mobile into superpeople for recreational purposes.

Before you go out on a limb buying a Galaxy or Oura ring, the RingConn Gen 2 already holds the title for being the thinnest/lightest smart ring. It still manages to also boast of a 2-week-long battery life, the ability to track your health and sleep with AI-powered insights, IP68 water resistance, and heres the kicker a subscription-less smartphone app that gives you all your health data without hiding behind a paywall. With not one but TWO design awards under its belt, the RingConn Gen 2 boasts a $209 starting price less than half of what its competitors smart rings go for. Heres everything the Gen 2 can doDesigner: RingConnClick Here to Buy Now: $209 $299 (30% off). Hurry, only 742/5800 left! Raised over $1.3 million.Lighter than an AirPod, Thinner than a Credit CardIve long proclaimed the superiority of smart rings to smartwatches. Theyre ultimately a bunch of sensors hooked together but the smart ring does offer a much more efficient format. Its minimalist, can be worn alongside other rings (you cant wear two watches), and all your data goes to your smartphone so your ring doesnt need to worry about having its own display. This translates to a MUCH longer battery life, and the absence of a second display to get addicted to or to have inundate you with notifications. Smart rings are almost ALWAYS designed to be entirely waterproof so you can even swim with them, and they usually last a week or more on a full charge, making them vastly more superior to smartwatches.Weighing between 2-3 grams, the RingConns Gen 2 is lighter than a single AirPod (which weighs 4 grams), and with a cross-section thats 2mm wide, the ring is also about as thin as your average credit card. That lightweight and sleek form factor makes it perfect for wearing all-day every day because chances are within a few hours of slipping it on, youll forget youre wearing it. Meanwhile, the ring will be hard at work, tracking your sleep, fitness/activity, heart rate, body temperature, stress levels, sleep apnea, and even acting as your period calendar (for women wearers).Comprehensive AI-powered Sleep + Health TrackingThe RingConn Gen 2 does everything any wrist-worn health tracker does, but better. Its upgraded photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors can measure heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels with great accuracy. These sensors are embedded in a design that takes advantage of the fingers unique anatomy, which allows for MUCH more precise readings compared to wrist-based devices. The temperature sensor gauges your temperature levels as well as fluctuations, pairing it with your heart rate data to get a sense of your stress levels or even if youre on your period. Combine all three with the accelerometer and the Gen 2 captures all your steps and other physical activity, tracking various sports from running to cycling, soccer, swimming, and a bunch more.At the end of your day, the ring also tracks your sleep using AI. In 2024, RingConn unveiled its first transformer-based deep learning model for sleep apnea detection the ring uses this AI-based learning model to identify sleep risk events that could be affecting your health something other smart rings currently cannot because they havent built out such AI models. The more you wear the ring, the more it learns and the more personalized it becomes, getting better at tracking and identifying your quality of sleep and even detecting any drops in blood oxygen caused by apnea events and obstructed breathing (snoring, etc.)Fitness Insights without a Monthly SubscriptionI cant stress this enough but your health should never be behind a paywall. It really doesnt make sense to buy a fitness tracker only to then have an app that gates pro-level health tracking metrics behind a subscription model. To that end, the RingConn Gen 2 makes a pretty bold claim of not hiding behind any sort of freemium or premium business model. The RingConn app, available for Android and iOS devices, is free to use, and locally backs up all your health data. This allows you to monitor your health even when your smartphone isnt connected to the internet. Picture yourself trekking in the wilderness with no cellular service but still being able to track your metrics in real-time.Your health data is also compatible with leading fitness apps such as Apple Health and Google Health Connect, allowing you to comprehensively track workouts, sports, and all other activities within one singular dashboard. For specific insights, the RingConn app is still your go-to destination and its sleep-tracking feature gives you a holistic look at your bodys metrics through your entire sleep journey, allowing you to catch any potential concerning events immediately. The app also analyzes data throughout the day to provide a detailed stress index and ratio, helping you gain a clear understanding of your stress levels. Additionally, the RingConn Gen 2 features comprehensive menstrual health tracking right within the app, allowing users to monitor cycles, predict ovulation, and track symptoms for deeper insights into their health patterns.Sleek Metal Design with 12-day Battery LifeThe RingConn sports a hypoallergenic aerospace-grade titanium alloy exterior, while the inside of the ring has a medical-grade epoxy coating that allows the sensors to work accurately when in contact against the skin. Between these two layers lie all the hardware and sensors that power the Gen 2, along with a best-in-class battery. Lasting a stunning 5 more days than even the Galaxy and Oura rings, the RingConn Gen 2 boasts a 12-day battery life. Its rather impressive considering exactly how small and thin the Gen 2 ring is. When the ring runs low on charge, it comes with its own charging case that begins working the second you slip the ring into its cylindrical platform. A simple 2-hour charge brings the Gen 2 rings battery to 100%, lasting nearly 2 weeks and the case houses its own 500mAh battery so you can charge your ring without necessarily having the case plugged in.The RingConn Gen 2 boasts a starting price of $209, which includes the ring itself, the charging case, and free global shipping. Upgrading to the $239 package also gives you a clear silicone ring protector and a separate bedside charging dock. The RingConn Gen 2 comes in 3 colors Future Silver, Royal Gold, and Matte Black, across 9 sizes, ranging from a size #6 to a size #14 depending on your index fingers diameter.Click Here to Buy Now: $209 $299 (30% off). Hurry, only 742/5800 left! Raised over $1.3 million.The post Worlds Lightest and Thinnest Smart Ring from RingConn boasts 12-day Battery and AI-health tracking first appeared on Yanko Design.

We all know how important water is to our health, but simply knowing those facts doesnt immediately translate to action. Most of us simply forgo drinking water until we feel thirsty or when its time to eat, even though we actually need to hydrate regularly throughout the day. Its easy to forget to do that in during the busy day, and its also just as easy to snooze or skip alarms you set to remind you. You wouldnt be so complacent, however, if your water cup or tumbler is fated to fall over unless you drink water at the right time, and thats somewhat the kind of scare tactic that this concept device employs to try to get you to drink water more regularly.Designers: Yuxiong Dong, Yaoxin Cai, Yongde Zhu, Kang HanNo, the cup thankfully doesnt actually threaten to spill your water if you dont rush to catch it, but it makes you think the tumbler will indeed tumble over if you dont. It only tries to make you stand up and make the effort to walk to the device, presuming you put it far from your desk. The way this tilting water cup works is a mixture of simple mechanics and psychology, though some will probably have doubts about the efficacy of the latter.The design is made up of two parts, the actual cup that holds the water and the base that does the mind trick. You simply put the cup of water on top of the base, turn the ring on the base to set the timer, and then go back to what you were doing. Once the timer runs out, an alarm presumably sounds and the surface of the base where the cup rests begins to tilt, forcing you to rush to its side and pick up the cup. And since youre already there anyway, you might as well drink the water from it, which is the whole point of this rather odd system.Of course, the cup wont actually fall off since its magnetically attached to that base. The question is whether the contents will start spilling at that angle, so you might have to make sure not to fill it up in the first place. You might also wonder if it will be difficult to pick up the cup from the base considering it has to be held by strong magnets to prevent it from slipping when it tilts.The biggest concern, however, will be whether the strategy actually works. It might be effective for the first few times, but once your mind has adjusted to it, it wont be so easily tricked again. At that point, you might very well start ignoring it, too, just like those alarms and reminders, turning the titling water cup into an odd but pointless design.The post Tilting water cup concept gets you to drink more water by scaring you first appeared on Yanko Design.

EV Signature has masterfully renovated a historic complex of four trulli and three lamie in San Michele Salentino, Italy, creating a seamless fusion of contemporary aesthetics and traditional architecture. This project, aptly named Glass Tree, epitomizes how modern design can harmoniously coexist with and even enhance cultural heritage.Designer:EV SignatureThe trulli and lamie structures, indigenous to the region, are celebrated for their unique architectural elements. Trulli, with their iconic conical roofs and dry stone construction, provided effective insulation against the scorching Italian sun for ancient inhabitants. Lamie, known for their sturdy stone build and vaulted ceilings, similarly offered a cool refuge from the heat. These historical elements have been preserved and integrated into the renovation, maintaining the essence of the original structures.The renovation introduces contemporary elements without compromising the historical charm. The centerpiece of the project is a modern living room encased in a fully transparent space framed in Corten steel. This innovative design feature allows natural light to flood the interior while offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. At the heart of this space stands an ancient olive tree, symbolizing the projects name, Glass Tree, and representing a harmonious blend of nature and architecture.EV Signatures design philosophy emphasizes the dissolution of boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Extensive excavation and landscaping have created a spacious courtyard that complements the overall design. Large pivoting windows blur the lines between the interior and the exterior, offering views of the swimming pool and inviting year-round enjoyment.The interior spaces reflect a careful balance of luxury and authenticity. Bathrooms and kitchens feature unique elements such as sinks and islands crafted from locally carved monoliths. These pieces, with their exposed edges, exude a sense of luxury while preserving the heritage vibe of the site. The sunk-in bathtub evokes the ambiance of a Moroccan or Turkish hammam, enhancing the sense of opulence.To maintain aesthetic consistency, the architects have chosen to showcase local stone on parts of the walls, restoring them meticulously. Other areas are treated with organic lime wash and rustic plaster, achieving a polished yet historically resonant look. The dining area, treated with these materials, offers a flatter, polished appearance that still matches the heritage aesthetic.At night, the complex transforms into a magical setting with recessed uplights in the outdoor floors highlighting the contours of the stone and the trulli. The swimming pool, illuminated with LED lights on the sides, becomes a focal point, inviting residents and guests to enjoy a dip any time of the day or year round.The zoning of the complex is thoughtfully designed to ensure functionality and privacy. The modern living areas are easily accessible to guests, while the bedrooms are nested within the trulli, providing a private retreat however with direct entryways from the outside and inside.EV Signatures renovation of the Trulli and Lamie complex in San Michele Salentino is a testament to the potential of blending modern and traditional building methods. By preserving the cultural heritage of the site and integrating contemporary design elements, the architects have created a space that is both timeless and modern. This project not only showcases the beauty of vernacular architecture but also demonstrates how such structures can be adapted to meet contemporary living standards without losing their historical significance, and how even the smallest modern element can change users perspective.The post EV Signature Harmoniously Blends Tradition and Modernity in an Italian Residential Renovation first appeared on Yanko Design.

There are many metaphors and analogies related to dawn when the rising of the sun is often compared to new beginnings or opportunities to begin anew. Dusk, however, is just as magical a time as its polar opposite, when the light of the sun is all but spent but lingers every so briefly before giving way to the restful night. For many people, it is a calming moment that signals the end of a busy day and the start of a period of reflection and peace. That is the soothing atmosphere that this set of mood lamps tries to convey, and they do so in the most minimalist way possible using nothing more than a few pieces of regular cardboard.Designer: scar SantosCardboard is a material thats so common that its too easily taken for granted. Its stiffer than paper but less durable than wood, so its often used for packaging thats meant to just be thrown away. Its a complete waste, of course, especially when the pieces of cardboard are still pristine, but there are few known uses for them outside of breaking them down and recycling them like paper, which also consumes water and energy. Fortunately, there are also a few creative souls who want to give cardboard a chance, like this collection of lamps that take advantage of cardboards natural properties.CENIT, which means zenith in Spanish, is a group of three atmospheric luminaries inspired by the highest point of the sun just before nightfall, the dusk that heralds the transition of light into darkness. Rather than use a light source that has to be mixed with the right color temperature in intensity, these lamps simply rely on how cardboard actually naturally reflects and diffuses light in a warm tone and soft brightness. No additional parts are needed, no filters or other materials: just a normal white LED strip and two pieces of cardboard with a certain gap between them.This super-simple configuration creates an equally simple design that makes it easy for CENIT to blend almost anywhere. The wall lamp is just two long capsule-shaped pieces of cardboard with the larger serving as the base and the smaller hiding the light elements behind it. The desk lamp is a bit more decorative, with the two pieces set on a rectangular stand. On the other hand, the pendant light offers more flexibility, as the smaller cardboard with the LED or bulb can be turned to face away from the other cardboard piece and toward any area that needs more direct and brighter illumination.The minimalist design also makes the lamps very sustainable, replacing only the parts that get worn down or broken. Given how many cardboard boxes are discarded every day, there will be no shortage of materials to use for replacements or new lamps. Its a very interesting and poetic design that is able to set the mood and atmosphere in a room almost like magic, just as dusk paints the sky with an enchanting hue before the mystical darkness of the night sets in.The post Cardboard planks create an atmospheric lamp set that pays tribute to dusk first appeared on Yanko Design.

When youre going camping or staying outdoors overnight, having a light source is one of the most important yet sometimes most difficult things. You can of course have lamps and torches but they are only able to light a small portion of your space, depending of course on how large the site is or how many you are bringing. There are a lot more options now as more brands are getting into creating outdoor products.Designer: Goal ZeroSkylight is a Telescoping Area Light that can illuminate a large part of your outdoor space, up to 300 feet to be specific. The 6,000 lumens device can give you dramatically more visibility than the usual camping lights that are available in the market. It also gives off a warmer light and can be raised from 4 to 12 feet, depending on how large of a space you need to illuminate.The Skylight also has an IPX4 water resistant rating so even if it drizzles, you can still use it even as you take shelter in your tents or umbrellas. The multi-directional lighting is also pretty useful as well as the 4 brightness settings that you can choose from. The design of the 6 articulating petals of the area light makes it look like a dragonfly or insect that can fly around at any second.It also has an internal battery that can make it last for 8 hours at its lowest brightness setting but you can also connect it into a Yeti to power it for 250 hours or a larger power station for longer. This means it can be used for power outages as well. The Skylight has a hard plastic protective case so it will be easier to carry it around.The post Skylight can brighten up your campsite with multi-directional lighting first appeared on Yanko Design.