Washing machines are normally pretty big and bulky, especially since you want to put in as many pieces of clothing as possible in one load. It has made washing clothes easier of course but it’s still a pretty tedious chore. If you live in a tiny space though, having a full sized machine may not be so feasible. Or if you have a child or children, constant washing and disinfecting of clothes is required, not necessarily needing the whole traditional machine.

Designer: Az

This concept for a mini drum washing machine may be the answer to space and size problems. Augenstern looks more like a rice cooker at first glance but it is a portable and smart machine that can disinfect clothes for babies and young children. It has a carrying handle since the idea is that you can carry it anywhere in the house or maybe even outside of your house if needed. There is a mention of wall-mounting by the designer but the renders don’t really show that.

The machine probably doesn’t fully function like your usual washing machines since there isn’t any of the usual tubes and things that you see. There seems to be a bottom suction cup somewhere there that is supposed to reduce the vibration and noise of the machine which should be useful if you have babies that wake up at the slightest noise. This means you can wash or disinfect their clothes even as they’re napping or sleeping.

It’s a pretty interesting concept especially for those that don’t have enough space to have a washing machine. But it may be a bit too small and therefore it means that you’ll have to do several loads, which may defeat the purpose. It would also be nice if there could be more information about the features but the design itself seems to be interesting and feasible.

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I guess the exploding Death Star metaphor works well here considering it also explodes kernels of corn.

Meet the Death Star Popcorn Maker, an intergalactic-themed appliance that gets you ready for any movie night in minutes. Designed to look like Darth Vader’s cosmic headquarters, this contraption whips up a bowl of popcorn without relying on a drop of oil or butter. It uses a clever vortex of hot air that super-heats the corn kernels up, making them pop. The air then carries the popped kernels out of the heat chamber, giving you popcorn that’s perfectly cooked without getting burnt… and without any unpopped kernels.

Designer: Uncanny Brands

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Created by the folks at Uncanny Brands, this popcorn maker is perfect for your May 4th ritual of watching every Star Wars movie made (you may require the entire weekend for that program if you commit to it). The Death Star Popcorn Maker comes in two parts, the base of the planet is where the action happens – corn is popped without oil or butter, using pure heated air. Once it’s popped, the corn rises to the top where it collects in a transparent cloche, getting dispensed in the upper half of the Death Star, which conveniently becomes your popcorn bowl!

The air vortex technology is clever for a bunch of reasons. From just a health point of view, the idea of having popcorn without copious amounts of butter or oil just feels less sinful – sure, you can absolutely add butter to your corn after it’s popped. The lack of grease means the Popcorn Maker doesn’t need cleaning up after either – all you need to do is empty out any unpopped kernels. Popcorn pops evenly with a nearly 98% success rate, and the air vortex automatically pushes the popped corn upwards and out into the bowl, so you’re never left with any burnt flavor. You can then easily season your corn with powders and spices of your choice.

When all’s said and done, simply lift the transparent cover and place the popcorn bowl back on top and your popcorn maker magically transforms back into a Death Star replica, looking less like a kitchen appliance and more like fan memorabilia!

Click Here to Buy Now

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The air purifier market saw a huge uptick in the past years as homeowners became more aware and concerned about the quality of the air they breathe indoors. A single machine is enough to satisfy the needs of a room or a small apartment, but bigger domiciles would need more units to cover the wider space or numerous rooms. Of course, people won’t be in all those spaces or rooms at the same time, and managing multiple air purifiers could be a tiresome task, even if they’re all connected to your smartphone. What if the air purifier operated only where it’s needed, like in a place where the air quality is too low for comfort? That’s the idea behind this concept design for this elegant air purifier that can indeed go to those areas, using technologies already in use today.

Designer: Gwan-deok Seo

Air purifiers these days, at least the more sophisticated ones, can already detect air quality, but it’s more for automatically adjusting the level of purifying they do more than pinpointing where the poor air is. Robot vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, have become so advanced that they can effortlessly navigate around your home, mapping the floor layout on their own and avoiding all kinds of obstacles. There’s very little reason why these technologies can’t be combined, at least aside from the space they might take up on a single machine.

Puyager is a concept that does mix these two seemingly different worlds together in a harmonious manner and with a compact design. Of course, it can’t just be a low, disc-shaped machine like most robot vacuum cleaners on the market. It would be too cramped to include the necessary parts for sucking in, filtering, and blowing out air. At the same time, however, a box or cylindrical design similar to typical air purifiers would be too bulky, not to mention unappealing for something that will be moving around your house.

The shape chosen for this robot is an egg or at least the top half of one. This allows the bottom section to still be that round shape that makes robot vacuums efficient in moving around while leaving enough room for electronics and air circulation. Unlike a simple dome, however, Puyager has a gap between the left and right halves of this egg, providing an outlet for clean air to be released. The top edge of this gap houses the touch-sensitive controls that let owners minimally operate the machine without having to reach for their phone.

The end result is a product that looks stylish and elegant, a perfect fit for any home. Even while stationary, Puyager looks like a piece of decoration more than an appliance, adding a bit of visual value whether it’s busy purifying the air or just idling. Admittedly, its performance in actually detecting poor air quality and rolling over there to clean it is something that still needs to be tested, but the design is definitely a good starting point for a more modern and more human-centric solution to air quality at home.

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Coffee machines and luggage aren’t necessarily two things that you think of that go together. Sure, when you travel, you get to experience different kinds of coffee places but you don’t necessarily lug around all your coffee paraphernalia. Well, some people actually do, but they’re the exception. When it comes to design though, coffee machines and expensive luggage aren’t really that distant so it’s interesting to see what a collaboration between two brands of those categories would look like.

Designer: Rimowa x La Marzocco

Look no further as we’re getting a Rimowa x La Marzocco Linea Mini coffee machine that brings the best of both worlds into a limited edition product. The exterior features the classic aluminum groove look and silver steel that we’re used to seeing in Rimowa suitcases but this time it’s used in the Linea Mini, a professional-grade kitchen-scaled espresso machine. Most of the parts of this machine are crafted from anodized aluminum. In fact, each of the machines are handcrafted for around 40 hours in Florence, Italy. The grooved panels were actually built in the Rimowa factory in Cologne and then assembled and installed by hand in La Marzocco’s workshop.

When it comes to features, it’s your typical espresso machine that can give you your much needed caffeine fix. Only this one has more style because of the addition of Rimowa’s signature look to what’s already a pretty stylish La Marzocco aesthetic. Both of them have their branding on the base and the frame of the machine. The minimalist aluminum feel plus the bespoke accents like the hot water tap and knobs gives off a very high-end Italian coffee shop vibe.

The Rimowa x La Marzocco Linea Mini was displayed at the recently concluded Milan Design Week. You can apparently already pre-order the machine although it’s not indicated how much and where you can actually place your order. Because these two brands are coming together, expect that the price to own a stylish espresso machine will be steep.

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We live in an “instant” civilization where we can get what we want almost instantly. Words appear on the screen as fast as our fingers can fly, cup noodles can be done and ready for consumption in less than five minutes, and bread jumps out of the toaster just a few seconds after simply pressing down on a switch. Can you imagine, then, the frustration of having to slowly type out each letter, or manually turning a loaf of bread every minute to make sure it’s properly toasted without burning to a crisp? Of course, no one will want to go back to those not-so-good old days, at least no one in their right mind. That said, such an unimaginable situation could also be an opportunity for a ridiculous invention, which is what this seemingly antiquated typewriter does, making you slowly type each and every letter to adequately toast a bread loaf.

Designer: Ritika Kedia

The idea of typing on an old-school typewriter to toast bread is beyond absurd. The two have almost nothing in common, except perhaps the starting letter of each word. It’s definitely an exercise in patience and futility, one that could make you lose your appetite even before you get a single word out. But like what happens in real life, some ridiculous and frustrating situations can become comic relief if done right, which is exactly what the Toaster Typewriter represents.

The design is practically a Frankenstein of two very mechanical products, a classical typewriter and a bread toaster with much of its outer shell stripped off. Certain letters on the typebar are covered with food-grade clay and have wires coiled around them. The cobbled machine uses multiple transformers to not only power the toaster but also generate heat for the keys, resulting in a composition that looks more like a prop from a sci-fi flick from the 50s or 60s.

The idea is to simply slide in a loaf of bread like you would on a regular toaster, and then slide the toaster box across the typewriter as if it were a piece of paper. Once the letters are sufficiently hot, you press hard on a key and then wait for that letter to be burned onto the bread’s surface. Rinse and repeat until you finally have your desired toast, unless you lose your sanity first.

As you can probably tell, the Toaster Typewriter technically works but it’s impractical and pretty much useless. That’s exactly the point of the design, however, as a paradigm shift toward more entertaining, even comical, designs. The design space has become too serious for its own good. While product designs definitely need to address certain needs and requirements, there is also room for some more entertaining and humorous designs that bring delight in one way or another. Of course, such designs shouldn’t frustrate people the way this Toaster Typewriter does, but good designs need to be able to include more human elements, including human expressions of joy and laughter.

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Imagine brewing your morning espresso in a machine that looks like it’s straight out of a mission control center. Made from sleek, space-grade aluminum and carbon fiber, the LanderShot Lunar Espresso Machine boasts a futuristic aesthetic that’s guaranteed to turn heads. But it’s not just about looks. Every detail, from the robust dials and gauges to the stainless steel plumbing, is meticulously designed for durability and precision.

Designer: Landershot

The LanderShot Lunar Espresso Module’s design is a breathtaking fusion of functionality and futuristic aesthetics. Machined from CNC-machined type III hard-coated 6061 aluminum and carbon fiber, it stands out with its robust and sleek chassis, ensuring durability while echoing the advanced engineering of spacecraft. Its premium components, including stainless steel plumbing and a reliable pump system, promise longevity and consistent performance, making every espresso shot a perfection of science in your cup.

Control is a central theme of the LanderShot experience. This machine offers an engaging, hands-on approach to coffee brewing, reminiscent of piloting a lunar mission. From the tactile feel of its dials and switches to the precision of its analog gauges, users can manipulate every aspect of their espresso—pressure, temperature, and brewing duration. This control doesn’t just alter the taste; it transforms the brewing process into a deeply personal ritual, reflecting the individual’s preferences and the intricate dance of espresso extraction.

The technical specifications of the LanderShot are as impressive as its design. It features a PID-controlled temperature system that guarantees the optimal heat for brewing, a critical factor in achieving the perfect espresso. The machine can heat water from 20°C to 100°C in just three minutes, with a pressure reserve of about 10 bar during extraction, and includes a heat exchanger dial that allows for fine-tuning the brewing temperature. At its core, an Arduino Nano Every board oversees the machine’s precise control and monitoring, highlighting the blend of traditional coffee-making and modern technological innovation.

Not only is the LanderShot Lunar Espresso Module visually out-of-this-world, it also serves as an elegant addition to any interior. Its unique appearance and state-of-the-art features make it not just a tool for making espresso but a conversation piece that sparks interest and admiration among coffee enthusiasts and tech aficionados alike. The $2,395 price point may be a deterrent for most, but then again, if having a great coffee palate, an appreciation for space travel, and tonnes of ancestral wealth are traits that describe you perfectly, this espresso machine might just be the right pick for you.

The post This Lunar Lander-inspired Espresso Maker will Brew Coffee that’s out of this world! first appeared on Yanko Design.

If you’ve been slowly entering the culinary world, and are currently a novice chef on a mission to become an accomplished chef who can whip up delicious meals, then you’ve reached the right place. The key to preparing amazing dishes is having a streamlined and efficient cooking process, which can be achieved with the help of the right kitchen appliances and tools. With the perfect kitchen accessories, you can create fantastic meals within no time, and with minimum hassles. If you’re someone who likes quick and easy-to-fix meals, then we’ve curated the perfect collection of kitchen utensils for you. From an Iron Frying Plate that lets you cook and serve meals on it to a space-themed kitchen appliance that merges a microwave and an air fryer – these top-notch kitchen products are for you.

1. Iron Frying Plate

If you’re looking for handy and innovative kitchen appliances, that help you cook up a storm in no time, while retaining delicious flavors, then the Iron Frying Plate is what you need. It is a one-of-a-kind kitchen utensil that functions as a serving plate and a frying pan, owing to its nifty removable handle.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69

Why is it noteworthy?

The Iron Frying Plate merges a frying pan and a serving plate to build a unique kitchen fool that not only cooks but also serves your meals. The plate supports direct-from-the-pan serving and is crafted using durable materials, offering you a refreshing method of cooking and serving.

What we like

• The wooden handle is removable, allowing the plate to be used as a frying pan and a serving platter

What we dislike

• Since it is crafted from iron, it is quite heavy and tough to store and operate

2. NEVO Microwave Oven

Meet the NEVO Microwave Oven – a unique kitchen design that looks like an IKEA or ACE toolbox, but is in fact a cutting-edge microwave that attempts to amplify cooking convenience and simplicity. It merges design, innovation, and industrial aesthetics to create a microwave that is well-suited for modern homes.

Why is it noteworthy?

The NEVO Microwave Oven features an intuitive user interface, which makes control and operation easier than ever. You can control a whole bunch of complicated options, which can be otherwise challenging and daunting for most microwave users.

What we like

• Features a thoughtfully designed touch user interface

What we dislike

• Occupies a lot of counter space, which isn’t a good option for those with minimum kitchen real estate

3. Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors

These are the Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors, and they’ve been designed with a curved serrated blade that will slice through your food pretty fast. They’re great for cutting some steaks on the dining table, allowing you to display your wonderful meat-cutting skills.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99

Why is it noteworthy?

The scissors are jet-black in color, and they have a wonderful aura of power and style, which allows them to have an impressive place in your kitchen while letting you efficiently and skillfully chop your veggies, meat, pizza, and more.

What we like

• Feature a curved serrated blade that cuts through meat swiftly and safely
• Cutting becomes an easy and quick step of your food prep process

What we dislike

• Only available in black, no other color options to choose from

4. Fooding

Designed by Yifeeling Design, this conceptual design Fooding merges the best of the microwave and an air fryer. The unique appliance is inspired by the bulbous shape of an astronaut’s helmet, and it combines the user-friendly form of the microwave, and the air fryer’s ability to cook some tasty and healthy meals.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since Fooding is the unique combination of a microwave and an air-fryer, it occupies less space in the kitchen, while providing you with delicious meals. It is a one-stop shop for using both appliances.

What we like

• Compact form that combines the microwave’s rectangular shape with the air fryer’s rounded edges

What we dislike

• It is a conceptual design, so we don’t know how well it will translate into a tangible product

5. PrecisionGrip Chopstick Tong

Meet the PrecisionGrip Chopstick Tong – these unique tongs are shaped like chopsticks, and they’re used to pick up and handle small pieces of food with total ease. You can easily pick them up, and turn them over on the pan – much like an expert chef! They’re crafted from lightweight and durable SUS821L1 stainless steel.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.00

Why is it noteworthy?

You can use the delicate tongs to prepare lunch boxes, or even consume sushi, as there is no wrong way to hold and handle the utensil. These tongs are designed to last you a lifetime, and they have a special metal processing which makes sure the jet black color doesn’t peel or scratch off.

What we like

• Made from sustainable SUS821L1 stainless steel, which is derived from scraps and offcuts

What we dislike

• Difficult to use for larger pieces and cuts

6. STEAMIE

Named STEAMIE, this kitchen appliance reintroduces steam into mainstream cooking! It can cook food without diluting or compromising on the flavor, providing you with healthy food, that is not only rich in nutrients but also pretty delicious. It is a tabletop appliance that will present you with food that is nutritious and delicious.

Why is it noteworthy?

STEAMIE is equipped with a built-in scale that lets you measure your food before you cook it. It also features a bamboo-wood lid that functions as a cutting board for food prep. You can watch your food being prepared via the frosted-acrylic food bowl, while an intuitive display lets you input and check prep times.

What we like

•  Utilizes a unique turbo convection method to rapidly steam-cook the food

What we dislike

• Bulky and heavy form that will occupy substantial space on your kitchen counter or dining table

7. Chao

Say hello to Chao – an AI-powered social cooking platform which is created to reduce the hassle of meal planning, and the difficulties we encounter while cooking. Chao is designed to make your daily cooking experience more accessible, easy, and enjoyable as well.

Why is it noteworthy?

Chao uses intelligent machine vision to ensure that all the utensils are used correctly, which is great for new cooks. It also attempts to make cooking a joyful social collaboration, where users can prepare and enjoy meals together.

What we like

• Allows users from all corners of the globe to create and prepare meals, forming a global culinary community

What we dislike

• It is currently a concept, so we are unsure how functional and user-friendly it will be in reality

8. Playful Palm Grater

Ever in the mood to grate some fresh garnishes onto your meal? Well, then you need to get your hands on the Playful Palm Grater. This little product is designed to add some functional fun to your kitchen space, and it also fits completely into the palm of your hand, letting you grate fresh garnishing.

Click Here to Buy Now: $25

The post Top 10 Kitchen Appliances To Help Novice Chefs With Quick & Easy Cooking first appeared on Yanko Design.

A lot of aspiring product designers get inspiration from existing brands whose aesthetics are very distinct. One famous brand of hair dryers and stylers has made its mark on those interested in product design (and pretty devices) and has served as a basis for concepts. We get a lot of “what if _____ made _____” concepts from aspiring designers and it’s actually pretty interesting to see what they come up with just based on the current product line of these brands.

Designers: Anika Patel, Arya Shewale, Prapti Shah, Pratyasa Samanta, Nandana B. Nair, Pia Walia

A lot of the blenders we see are more functional rather than aesthetic. But who says you can’t have both? This concept for a Jar Blender blends (pun intended) the two as you get a cylindrical form that uses chamfered surfaces to connect to the various parts. Using the industrial and minimalist aesthetic, you have what looks like one of those modern-looking gas lamps. But it is in fact designed to be a functional blender that you can use in your kitchen or even bring with you if you’re traveling.

Aside from the sleek aesthetics, you get key functional elements, at least on paper and in renders. It has things like a liquid level window, lock alignment indicator, and a power switch and in keeping with their visual inspiration, they use rounded rectangles as a key element. And if you’re the type who likes seeing the blender in action, the section around the blade is transparent so you can see how it works in blending the various ingredients you put in it (or if you’re doing a “will it blend?” kind of content). There’s also a perforated mesh at the bottom so the blender gets proper ventilation and air circulation.

The blender also comes with a cap so if you need to carry around the juice or energy shake that you blended, you don’t need a separate bottle for it. The jar is 500ml which should be enough for a drink for one person. It would be interesting to see this aesthetic jar blender come to life.

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Water dispensers are essential and well, indespensable, for any office or even homes (if you don’t have a water filtering system). But a lot of times, these dispensers are just functional and a clunky fixture in our kitchens or pantries. We don’t really look for a pretty or well-designed one since we just need it to give us clean water to drink. One challenge though is that you have to walk to and from it several times a day and that those water jugs are pretty hard to replace or refill.

Designer: Lee Yi Chung for Square Design Works

The Metapure Desktop Water Dispenser is a concept for a well-designed dispenser that can actually be stored on your desk, dining table, or your meeting table. It looks like a combination of a coffee maker and a printer’s ink refilling system. The machine itself is minimalist looking and with various controls built in so you can adjust the temperature so the water can fit in with your needs, whether you want it cold or hot or anything in between.

The refilling of water dispensers can sometimes be challenging so for this concept, they thought of something that would be pretty easy and can be done by anyone. You can just put the water inside the device (similar to some coffee makers and coffee capsule machines) and then there is a filter box placed inside. The filters look like those ink cartridges that you use for printers so we assume that taking them out and replacing them is also pretty easy.

If you’re using different kinds of cups and bottles, you will also be able to adjust the tray for these different accessories so there will be no water splashing. As a concept, this one is pretty interesting and is also good looking so you won’t need to hide it in the pantry. As someone who struggles with water dispensers, this is something I will be interested in if it eventually gets made into an actual product.

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Slick, svelte, and almost looking like Michael Jackson leaning forward in his iconic stance, the AF007 (no relation to James Bond) is a tabletop conical burr grinder that does one job well – grind exactly the right amount of coffee for a single serve. For people who love the idea of a Keurig or Nespresso, but hate resorting to preground commercial beans, the AF007 gives you exactly a single or double-shot worth of coffee, dispensed directly in your portafilter, or a coarser ground dispensed right into your French press or pour-over.

Designers: Nicola Zanetti and Federico Gonzales Bosque

The AF007’s design is so ruthlessly minimalist you could put it somewhere in an Apple Store and nobody would bat an eyelid. It sports an incredibly clean design that’s focused on utilitarianism and is devoid of any details that would clutter the aesthetic. That being said, the AF007 still has a personality, with its geometric surfaces, wonderful matte metal finish, and that leaning-forward stance that gives it a sense of dynamism even though it’s a static device that sits on your kitchen countertop.

Using the AF007 is simple. Load the beans in the vessel through the opening at the top. The top also doubles as a rotary knob that lets you choose the grind size, going coarse for pour-over brewing, or finer for use in a Moka Pot or an espresso machine. An LED panel on the side lets you choose between a single or double-shot (smaller or larger depending on how much coffee you consume), and a holder and tray right in front of the nozzle lets you attach a portafilter or a collecting vessel for the grounds to get deposited into. It’s all deviously simple, both visually and functionally, which is what makes the AF007 such a neat little device for coffee aficionados. In fact, the grinder even won the A’ Design Award last year for its simple yet sophisticated approach to the coffee-making process!

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