Yoonsang Kim has a good idea going.  Create a hybrid utensil called the Chopork and serves as both chopstick and fork alike.  Should someone want to ease into chopstick use, this may be a great way to start.  And if they’re not comfortable with the chopstick mode, simply snap the two pieces back together and use it as a fork.  Taking a look at the image above,  I’m not sure if I would use either method for eating cheesecake.  My dessert eating rituals always include pairing up with a cup of tea and a spoon.

Image Source: Yanko Design

The concept submissions and finds on Yanko Design never cease to amaze me.  Recently featured is an illuminated Polaroid style 3d hanging vase by  Hwajin Jung.  Jung’s design was inspired by the ideals that a polaroid picture can sustain memories.  Therefore by adding a plant, nature is preserved or rather captured at its best.  I’m not sure if we’ll ever see this design go into production, but its definitely well thought out and executed.

Image Source: Yanko Design via Hwajin Jung

Green designs are sprouting everywhere these days.  But nevertheless, I’m still amazed with each and every concept that comes out.  Designers Cheng-Tsung Feng, Yao-Chieh Lin & Bo-Jin Wang have conceptualized a solar powered traffic light that literally houses a single discolor led unit in one attractive unit.  While all 3 colors may be housed under one light unit to conserve the solar energy harnessed, Iam curious about the specs.

Image Source: Yanko Design

On the norm, I don’t go hunting for spice racks or spice trays.  Well ok maybe just once when I was inspired to find one for vinyl toy display reasons.  But the Zervo’s Zero Gravity Spice Rack and Spice Stand not only look great in any dwelling, but is perfect for premium spacing.  The zero gravity factor comes in place courtesy of a magnetic base.  Overall, both are well designed and quite affordable at under $50 each.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Here is another brilliant concept that needs to roll straight into production.  New York design studio, ChappsMalina in conjuction with Fahrenheit 212 may have developed the solution to watered down iced espresso.  The Illy Cafe Rocca espresso ice machine produces ice cubed espresso.  The melting is inevitable.  However, you can have peace of mind knowing even if it melts, the flavor will remain the same.  Its rare that I drink coffee even once in a week, but as I’m writing this entry, I’m feeling the need to head out and buy a cup of Illy tomorrow.

Image Source: Yanko Design via ChappsMalina

PengTao Yu’s Mirage Chess Set is pretty next-level.  First off its portable and the hair pin like pieces fit in into the back compartment of the projector with ease.  Also, due to it’s size and mobility, you can have a round with a friend just about anywhere.  What’s more impressive are the 3 modes in which you can play.  You can go the traditional route with the projector displaying a full size board for physical 1 0n 1 mode.  Or you can go online and challenge someone else on the internets.  The third mode is a practice and training mode in which you can go against the computer.  With ease of us (flip it open to turn on the projector) and portable, I don’t see why this concept shouldn’t be picked up for production.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Here’s an interesting concept.  A quick digital camera that vaguely resembles a hand sanitizer pens.  Click the tip and you’ve snapped a photo sans a display.  Even without a display and its miniaml design, Tino Klaehne’s Oneshot Camera still boasts features like face recognition and light management software built in.  Afterwards simply upload the photos via the provided mini-usb.  I can  imagine how fun and candid pics would be.  And at the same time, shots could come out really sloppy.  Hopefully, we’ll be seeing available for a test drive in the near future.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Gabriele Meldaikyte’s One Hand Kitchen concept is mindful to those disabled and can only use one hand.  Just from a quick glance, you can see how well thought out this workstation is.  Everything from peeling, cutting, buttering, temporary disposal and overall prep work is covered.  Due to the its versatile design, this workstation can be used by lefties or righties with ease.  And with its movable platforms, any shape food item can be accomodated.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Seeing Kennth Lylover’s Qubo CD Display instantly reminded me of the vinyl ep frames sold at Urban.  The difference is the Qubo CD Dipslay is a more complex and well thought out music medium storage system.  Within the highly glossed shell is a spot for the cd case and wall mount supports.  Meanwhile, unlike Urban Outfitter’s vinyl ep frame, the cd actually is fitted on the outside of the Qubo display.  This should be a hot sell should it reach production.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Joongho Choi’s “Moving Kitchen” would be my ideal essential kitchen ‘must have’ should I find myself in premium or a makeshift spacing.  It features a dining table that doubles as workspace, storage and wheels for easy quarterly feng shui-ing.  The resin finish is also a nice touch.  The only issue I would see is the increased cooking times since there is only one available range.  Regardless, this is an effortlessly cool design.

Image Source: Yanko Design via Joongho Choi Design

I must say a lot of thought was put into Omid Sadri’s Pho Tableware set.  And quite possibly consideration to the server and how his or her commute to the dining table can be streamlined.  The Pho Tableware set allows entree, fresh veggies, chopstick and soup spoon to reach the recipient in one quick trek.  And the silk lantern design is very pleasing to look at.  With my “must stack things and making landscapes with left over food” ocd condition, the possibilities have increased.  I really hope someone picks up this design for mass production.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Gordon Yeh’s R 2 2 Media Player for Iota Creations sounds like an ideal way to watch downloaded movies on an lcd or plasma screen.  For someone like me thats been streaming and/or downloading movies on my 15″ inch laptop forever, it’ll be a breath of fresh air to be able to transfer it to the living room tv.  No specifications (or mock up) were given by Yanko Design or the designer, but I’d imagine R 2 2 can handle any of the current media file formats.  Another nifty feature is the customizable remote control.  R 2 2’s remote can cater to someone that just wants the most basic out of the box features to someone more tech savvy and wants to customize their in home entertainment experience.  The various modes are differentiated by color coding.  Whether or not this system takes off from concept to production, the idea is refreshing.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Whiteboards and meetings go hand in hand.  But what if after an all hands meeting or even a small team meeting, you had a rock climbing session to look forward to?  Petr Kubik must’ve had this in mind while stuck in a meeting.  The Vitra WhiteBoard concept allows office mates to relieve stress by climbing the backside of the whiteboard.

Office staff members are given access cards to activate their individualized climbing program.  The “wall” consists of 8 movable belts with a variety of grasping handles and can tilt to an overhang or horizontally should the user want a challenge.  To get climbers in the spirit, various scenery ranging from a forest to snowy mountains are displayed during the climbing session.  And finally, for safety reasons, a memory foam mattress is centered at the base of the Vitra Whiteboard.  The Vitra Whiteboard would prove to be a popular item in any office.  We’ll just have to see if this concept goes into production stage or not.

Image Source: Yanko Design

As  a part of the “I’m Not a Product” series from Antrepo Design comes a pair of salt and pepper shakers in the shape of D size batteries.  Well thought out is the use of glass to mock the power indicator bar to let you know how much spice is left in shakers.  Available in red and turqoise or black and white, these will definitely make an interesting conversation piece.

Image Source: Yanko Design via Antrepo Design

Hyun Jin Yoon and Eun Hak Lee’s Photo Shower Projector is an interesting new approach at displaying digital photos.  Out with the old is the current boring square or rectangle digital frame.  And in with the new is a retro appeal chrome shower head that cascades images like blog tag clouds.  Or so it seems as the image below shows.  No details were given on how output is controlled or if there any additional functionalities.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see should this concept reach production.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Designers Jin Yuanbiao, Qui Meng, Lu Xiao and Tang Gang have created a mini crane that can be controlled at the palm of your hands.  By pressing one of the 3 available buttons, Bumblebee can transform from a vacuum like canister to a non industrial sized crane.  Bumblebee’s creator claims it can handle heavy weights.  However, I have my reserves that this crane can function as an engine lift.  You know for those emergency engine swaps.  On a side note, I’d really like to see a clip of this crane in action.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Designer Will Orrock came up with an idea to make a cell phone last forever in aesthetic and functionality.  The images below show easily the phone can be upgraded and maintained with its simplistic 4 layer system.  Each layer including the OLED screen wrap, high strength polymer housing, printed circuit board and organic radical battery can easily be taken apart for maintenance, repair, upgrade or even recycled.  From what I read, the organic radical battery sounds like the winning component with charge times lasting no more than 2 minutes.  As far as infinite sustainability goes, I can see from a technical standpoint how this phone can last for a very long time.  The real question is will people be able to resist up and coming technologies that may blow away Mr. Orrock’s phone?  Regardless, I’d like to see this make it into production.

Image Source: Yanko Design

On the norm, I don’t go browsing for portable beverage heaters.  That is until I saw this on Yanko Design.  Arpan Maiti’s “Hottie” one stop portable beverage heater does it all in a minimal and attractive package.  Remove and invert the cup after the premix containers have been removed as well.  Add water and premix.  Plug in and wait for the red rim to illuminate.  Without much effort, you’ve got yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea without leaving your cube.  That is if you have a bottle of water ready.

Image Source: Yanko Design

We’ve all seen mini whiteboards on fridges or corkboards against walls with assorted sticky notes, photos, coupons and whatever else.  However, wall shelving units that you can write on and erase like an Etch-a-Sketch is a first.  Peter Freund came up with the Daywriter and Nightwriter with the intent of making furniture interactive.  The Daywriter is pretty mundane as it looks like a standard dark colored chalkboard like unit.  Now, the more exciting sibling, the Nightwriter adds glow in the dark for fun factor.  Whether used for giving roommates a heads up or prank purposes, the Daywriter and Nightwriter should be very handy in a home.

Image Source: Yanko Design

Sang-Hoon Lee’s iDock may be the hardest working mp3 player/iPod docking station to date.  It fulfills the role of docking station, speaker and bed night light all in one minimal package.  Question is would it be too much to ask for an alarm on this fine piece of i-gadget as well?

Image Source: Yanko Design