Interior Design Sense

Alien-shaped sofa for our friends from other planets.

Delve into the archives of Yanko Design and you’ll notice that 6 out of 10 designs are by Korean Designers! It’s never been a calculated attempt on our part, but the truth is that their ideas and concepts are so innovative and in-sync with “good design”, that it is hard to ignore. Many of you write in to ask how we find out about these designers; I can’t give out our trade secret, but I can direct you to a place where you can meet them in person and maybe share your passion for design. The Korea Pavilion will be set up at the 100% Design London, this September. They are really eager to show you their ideas and introduce you to their team; maybe even hook-up some business propositions!

For those of who are attending the 100% Design London, earmark their stand L70 (23 – 26 Sept), and those at home, fret not, here’s a peek at what you’re missing…in a two-part series special! Let’s Look at Part I.

Ring For You And Earth by Birthday

Do you recollect the “Only 1°C Change Can Affect Us – Ceramic Cup”? The same design studio is showcasing the Only 1°C change can affect us: Tee shirt and these gorgeous recycle rings! When I visit the Korean Pavilion, I’m heading here first!

Undulating Salad Bowl by Design Now

The Undulating Salad Bowl is quite a quirky design intended for multiple diners. It has a sturdy base, and the Bowl does a complete 360 degree rotation, giving all diners equal access. With its ribbon-shaped base, the Salad Bowl is capable of transforming into various looks. It certainly is a conversational piece for any party!

Glass Tape by 601BISANG

Looking for design with a sense of humor? 601BISANG is the right place to look for it! Their Glass Tape is perfect for mix-and-match & co-ordination and is made with eleven sets and twenty-two different graphics. They will be showcasing many other products like the “Fantasticker”, a translucent, multi-colored pattern sticker in various shapes such as circles, triangles, and squares; you can layer them to create your own set of patterns. The Kraft Post-it: a multi-tasker with its vintage charm of wood-block stamp marks. Leaf Bookmark Note: charming leaves between pages.

The Sharing Teapot by i-CLUE DESIGN

The fascinating i-CLUE DESIGN will be showcasing the Hobi Tree ( a nursing bottle dryer), but I particularly fancy their Sharing Teapot! Based on Korea’s culture of sharing and caring, the teapot allows you to brew two kinds of tea in the same pot! Talk about dishing out a heady caffeinated cocktail!

Transform Tanagram Sofa by DESIGNSKIN

DESIGNSKIN specializes in Children’s toys and their Transform Tanagram Sofa bagged an iF 2010 Product Design Award. If you are taking your little tyke to the exhibition, be sure to let him play with their interactive and imaginative products like the Castle Mat and STAGO SOFA beanbag!

“TA-RAE” Lighting by Design Virus

This is one Korean Virus that you will want to catch, simply because of their astonishing creativity. Who would have thought that spools of threads can transform to such elegant lamps! That’s “TA-RAE” Lighting for you, composed of ten traditional “Seoul colors!”

Tree Bookshelf by designArtist Soh

designArtist Soh’s main objective is to make furniture and art expression as well. Essentially this means they want it to be functional and beautiful to look at. A perfect example for this is the Tree Bookself. I recommend that you also check out the Relation Sheep Stool that will be there at the stand, it will be interesting to see how two people sit face-to-face on a soft sheep-wool-stool and have a conversation!

For this and more fun products, stay tuned for Part II of the Korea Deign Pavilion at 100% London Design festival; right here on Yanko Design!

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Yanko Design Store – We are about more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the YD Store!

The scene is this; you’re a weary traveler, jet-lagged and waiting to catch your connecting flight. You need rest and sleep pods & Business Class Lounges are out of your reach. The thing with airports and highly sensitive places is that the threat of terror-attacks and medical influences is surreal. So peace of mind while catching 40 winks can be a problem. According to Anna, the solution is to carry an emotionally secure object…much like the teddy bear from childhood. In this case it’s the Polo Backpack. It comes with pillows and a sleep-cover, to provide you the emotional security you’d like while resting. I’m not a fan of covering my face while sleeping, even with a netted cover as this, but if it’s the kinda reassurance you’re looking for, then who am I to complain.

Designer: Anna Perugini

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Yanko Design Store – We are about more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the YD Store!

Join Inhabitat at West Coast Green this month!

Heads up Bay Area architects, designers, and green builders! West Coast Green 2010 will be taking San Francisco by storm this September with another incredible event that explores green innovation in the built environment. We’re looking forward to an exciting lineup of offerings including talks by William McDonough and Michelle Kaufmann, an incredible exhibition of innovative green products, and of course, the unveiling of this year’s sustainable showhouse. The event takes place from September 30th to October 2nd and tickets are currently available, so check out this year’s schedule and register today – Inhabitat readers get a 30% discount!!

REGISTER FOR WEST COAST GREEN >

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Drip Detective is a smart new iPhone/iPad app that shows you exactly how much water and money is lost from a water leak. Designed with a fun, interactive interface, the app is a lot more appealing than most conservation oriented apps. Check out a demo video here or to download Drip Detective for free, check it out at the iTunes store and click on the Redeem link from the Quick Links in the upper right corner. Then, just use code: 644KAHN76YTP.

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Remember those desks we had in elementary school with the space inside for notebooks and pencils? Well this beautiful Knu desk may make you nostalgic, but trust us, it’s a lot better than your workstation of yore. Made of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood and finished with an extremely tough environmentally friendly catalyzed varnish, it has cubbies for envelopes, a laptop (up to 17”), folders, paper, CDs, and whatever else you need to store. It even comes with a handy pencil drawer made from recyclable injection molded plastic, and its production is 100% carbon-offset.

+ Knu Desk on Vivavi

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When it comes to producing solar power, efficiency is the key – efficiency of the panels, efficiency of the system’s collectors and, according to SkyFuel, efficiency of the solar concentrator technology. Solar concentrators are increasingly being used in the industry, due to their efficiency in providing cheap solar energy. By harnessing the sun’s energy, a solar concentrator can provide the necessary heat for dozens of homes and thus save electricity. As such, the systems are more efficient than regular solar generators as captured power is not just converted into electricity. But according to SkyFuel, a U.S.-based company, their SkyTrough solar concentrator technology has a thermal efficiency of 350˚C (662 ˚F), which exceeds the standard by 73%. More than just a shallow claim, their statement has been confirmed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which has certified the SkyTrough solar concentrator technology to have the highest efficiency in its class!

Read the rest of SkyFuel’s SkyTrough is World’s Most Efficient Solar Concentratorhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

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As it turns out, the United States and China are going to walk hand in hand into the renewable energy future. Yesterday, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the two countries have formed the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center and will both provide a total of $100 million dollars in funding to research to get both energy hungry countries on the path to a greener future. While the plan sounds like a green dream come true, there’s a twist — the problem with the new initiative is that a half of the cash is going to clean coal technology, something we know doesn’t exist.

Read the rest of US and China Invest $100 Million in Energy Research Partnershiphttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

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Post tags: biggest petroleum users, biggest polluters, china renewable energy research, china renewable energy resources, renewable energy in north america, united states energy research, united states renewable energy

This last reader’s home comes from a longtime reader of DTI, Ypille: “Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of reuniting with one of my best friends Graes Israel-Kiernan, after 9 years of not seeing each other. Both Graes and I are avid Desire to Inspire readers/subscribers and when I went to her house for a vacation, I just had to photograph it and send the pictures to you ladies.
Graes, her husband Jeff and their 2 young-lings Liam and Sebastian just moved to Wexford, PA, near Pittsburg and was able to acquire this extarordinary mid-century, well crafted 25-year old home. Per Graes, the original owners of this structure was a surgeon and his glass-artist wife who had this house custom-made according to their liking. And with Graes’ talent and eye for design, usage of classic and modern furniture and her proletarian approach to life, this house in my view has become the most spectacular of all the houses I’ve stayed in.
Graes owns a bookstore and loves to garden as well, this is made evident in the theme of design all around her house with the presence of books, bookshelves and plants which are practical yet appealing for homes. Other than repainting the entire interior to Graes’ preferred colors, there has been no major remodeling done as of yet and Graes, being the creative and honest designer that she is, pulled this one off and transformed this timeless house and stamped her mark on every room, signifying that this house is now her home!“

This second reader’s home is that of Lione Monte, a pattern designer from Brazil. With alot of creativity and personal items, she has made it a cozy and inviting home that I bet she loves spending time in. (P.S. Check out her beautiful print & pattern work on her blog, her online portfolio and this website of the brand (Cantão) that she designs for).