Phasma: Six-legged Robot by takram design engineering

Phasma is a hexapedal running robot that can run dynamically like a living organism. It is an attempt to depict life purely through its motion rather than its shape, by extracting the physics of running from living things and implementing that to the artifact. Phasma uses compliant components such as stainless steel springs and rubber joints to reproduce smooth and efficient locomotion seen in animals. Another interesting biomimicry applied in Phasma is the alternating tripod gait as seen in insects that provides excellent stability.

Created for ‘bones’ exhibition held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Tokyo 2009.
Phasma is based on iSprawl developed at BDML, Stanford University, USA.

Phasma: Six-legged Running Robot, by takram design engineering
Photography by Takashi Mochizuki

VANMOOF N°3 and N°5 Bicycle by Sjoerd Smit

“VANMOOF was inspired by the good old-fashion Dutch bike”, explains the designer Sjoerd Smit, “we stripped the bike from whims that can only break or cause frustration and added innovation and style”. The VANMOOF is built from the day-to-day experience of cycling in Amsterdam, it has a striking aluminum rust-free frame with a highly advanced solar powered LED light system built inside the frame. Gone are the dynamo’s that add friction to the wheel, no more cables, and best of all for the urban rider, no more lights stolen off your bike!

VANMOOF Bicycles, by Sjoerd Smit, for VANMOOF

Buy it here:
VANMOOF N°3 & VANMOOF N°5 (this product ships to European Union countries only)

Playsam Saab Ride-on Roadster by Ulf Hanses

Scandinavian wooden toy car inspired by the classic Saab Roadster prototype 92001. The car looks as good as the original Saab cars from the 40s and 50s and is a fully functional push car, it even has a steering wheel made of wood and metal just like old sports car steering wheels. The prototype of the first Saab was drawn by the famous designer Sixen Sason, who also designed the the first Hasselblad camera.
This is one toy that will look good in the driveway.

Classic Playsam Saab Ride-on Roadster, by Ulf Hanses

Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt by MB&F

The sleek aerodynamic form of the Thunderbolt’s titanium and sapphire envelope has its roots in Maximilian Büsser’s childhood passion for assembling model plane kits, though none looked remotely as futuristic as this. The striking transparent sapphire section of the case requires over 100 hours of machining and polishing to transform an opaque solid block of crystal into a complex, exquisitely curved panel allowing the light to come in and the beauty of Thunderbolt’s engine to stand out. Every component and form has a technical purpose; nothing is superfluous and every line and curve is in poetic harmony. Articulated lugs ensure supreme comfort. Highly legible time is a fringe benefit.

The Thunderbolt’s engine is the culmination of three long years of development. Each of the 300-plus components – including the regulator and even the screws – was developed specifically for this anarchistic calibre. Horizontally configured dual mainspring barrels drive two vertical gear trains, transferring power to the twin pods indicating hours/minutes and power reserve.

Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt, by MB&F

Helix Series Eyewear from Monoqool

A winner of the red dot award, the design of this eyewear series is inspired by the shape of a spiral, translating it into a delicate design – it features sensuously appealing functionality, yet at the same time also presents a new approach towards the understanding and construction of eyewear. The eyewear is focused around a spiral hinge of avant-garde appeal that is fascinating to almost any beholder – it makes the hinge look like a refined accessory, but actually it the basic design element.

Helix Series, by Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbaek, Tools Design, for Monoqool

Filip De Coene Knives for Custom Bladeworks

Custom Bladeworks is about the search for the ultimate blade. Belgian designer Filip De Coene prefers simplicity in design and to assemble a knife with minimum of materials and parts; with this in mind he looks east to the traditional knife makers of Japan. Some of De Coene’s designs are modern versions of the Japanese kaiken and utilitarian hunting knives made from high-grade steel and carbon fiber.
Want to make your own? follow the tutorial.

Handbuilt Knives, by Filip De Coene, Custom Bladeworks

IF Mode Folding Bike by Mark Sanders for Pacific Cycles

A winner of an iF Gold Award, Mark Sanders design for the IF Mode Folding Bicycle is aimed at commuters of the mobile generation who, until now, may have not considered cycling or folding bikes to be an option. IF Mode avoids oily chains, complex tubes with hidden dirt traps, and the clutter of traditional bike features. It takes seconds to unfold into a full sized street bike and weighing in at only 14.7kg (32lbs). The bike has a special handle so you can wheel it around much like airport luggage. With its green credentials and compact shape, Sanders says, the features and “uncluttered aesthetic offer a radical new image of what a bicycle can be.”

IF Mode Folding Bike, by Mark Sanders, for Pacific Cycles

Minox CLX 60th Anniversary Special Edition

This is the 60th anniversary of the first production of one of the most revolutionary cameras in photographic history and it has inspired Minox to bring out the Minox CLX, the latest in the 8×11mm camera series. Walter Zapp’s legendary idea to design and make the Minox originated way back in 1922. The camera “was to be so small that it would disappear in a closed hand”. Although very much inspired by this idea, Walter Zapp was hindered again and again by various financial squeezes, and it took 13 years before he was able to file a patent application for the “Ur” Minox in 1935. The camera comes with a dark grey leather case, film, batteries as well as the famous measuring chain for close-focus shots.

Minox CLX, Special Edition, by Minox

Plain Air by Patrick Norguet

Patrick Norguet has designed Plain Air an indoor air purifier. Plain Air cleans air by accomplishing three major tasks: Breaking down the main pollutants to avoid risk of people contracting ‘Sick Building Syndrome’, which causes nausea and dizzy spells to people who stay too long in a confined space; efficient disinfection of air-borne bacteria, spores, moulds, yeasts and viruses, and swift deodorization of unpleasant biological and chemical smells by changing contaminated elements into natural molecules. All three of these depolluting actions are carried out using the Photocatalysis Oxidation miniaturized technology developed by TLV, which uses Philips light sources to mineralize pollutant particles and turning them into natural molecules. The device has been tested by the Institut Pasteur and by University Hospitals in Lyons.

Plain Air, by Patrick Norguet, for TLV

Analog Digital Clock by Maarten Baas

Maarten Baas has designed an entry level art piece– an iPhone app based on his Real Time project, in which actors physically indicate the time in hours and minutes. This clock was made by videoing someone actually painting the time! He’s inside your phone with a bucket of paint and manually changes the digits on an old-school digital clock.

The Analog Digital app is the next installment in Dutch designer Maarten Baas‘ Real Time series. His works cross the fields of art, design, theatre and performance. The anonymous digital clock becomes a performance as each minute is being hand painted by a hidden man “in” the clock.

Analog Digital Clock, by Maarten Baas, 99 cents at App Store (opens iTunes)