Even with the rise of wireless earbuds, many people still prefer the more immersive audio experience provided by conventional headphones, whether wired or wireless. Different people will have different reasons for using these larger accessories, but almost all of them share a similar problem of not having a good place for them when not in use. Headphone holders or stands are nothing new, but most of them share the same design of having the headphones hang on a hook, forcing it to be balanced on a single point of the band’s arch. While such a design isn’t completely bad, especially for those aiming for minimalist aesthetics, it isn’t exactly inspiring and probably not the best way to show off your favorite audio accessory. It would definitely be swell if the headphone stand could also do something else other than, well, standing in place, and that’s the kind of visual appeal that this unique desk accessory brings using not only premium materials but a little play of light as well.

Designer: Sergii Grebeniuk

Headphone holders tend to hang the audio accessory a little above a table or shelf. The most common way to do that would be to hang it by a hook, but this leaves the headphones dangling almost precariously by a small piece of metal, wood, or plastic. It might even cause the headband to deform over time due to gravity, which isn’t a good way to take care of your favorite pair.

These LED headphone stands solve that problem by letting the headphones rest on a circular structure that follows the contours of its curve more naturally. The stand looks almost like a miniature and flat head, giving the resting headphones a more familiar yet characteristic look. The main body is also made of eco-friendly high-quality wood with a variety of veneer finishes that make the headphone holder stand out easily, even in its inert form.

Its true killer feature, however, is what sits in the middle of that “head”, a circular lantern with LED lighting that acts as the centerpiece and center of attraction. The colors of the LED lights can be changed to one’s tastes or, alternatively, have the lantern automatically cycle through those colors. Engravings on the front and rear glass surfaces of the lantern create wavelike patterns that further enhance the visual effect of the lights, making the stand look like a retro-futuristic product rather than a normal desk accessory.

Because of the lantern’s mild light, this LED headphone stand can also function as a night light for your room or accent light on your desk. It’s definitely an interesting design that elevates your headphones, literally and figuratively, while also functioning as an enchanting piece of decoration, even when your headphones aren’t resting on them.

The post This retro-futuristic headphone stand puts a mesmerizing light display on your desk first appeared on Yanko Design.

At Yanko Design, we believe in constantly innovating, creating, and evolving. It’s a philosophy that serves as a lifeline for us, and one of the results of this lifeline is the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub! The Inspiration Hub is our ‘ever-expanding encyclopedia’ of design work for you to participate in, to inspire designers, and to get inspired by. Created in collaboration with KeyShot, the Inspiration Hub is your one-stop space for inspiration where designers like you can submit your impressive designs and be awarded to stand out in the crowd and to inspire other like-minded designers.

To kickstart your journey and send some motivation your way, we’ve curated some of our favorite desk accessories from the Inspiration Hub. These unique and uber-cool desk accessories will motivate you to create something spectacular and submit the design, as a gateway to sharing it with the best of the design world. Additionally, we will also be picking our favorite Design of the Week, Design of the Month, and Design of the Year – every week, month, and year from the submissions on the Inspiration Hub. Keep an eye on our Instagram page and the Inspiration Hub to see if your design gets picked. Fingers crossed!

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for a full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to take your sketch from concept to render!

1. The Logitech Signature Series

The Logitech Signature Series is a family of sleek and innovative mice created by Benjamin Ehrenberg to simplify the mid-range with one substantial and significant experience. The collection includes six different mice with a contoured shape, soft thumb, area, and rubber side drops designed to provide you with the perfect grip, allowing your hand to always be snugly fitted in place. You can pick the perfectly sized mouse for your hands, with the right amount of buttons and features you need for your daily work.

2. Molo

Designed by Fuso Design, the Molo is a sleek and good-looking desktop stand with a static and monolithic form and a streamlined function to keep our desks well-organized and efficient. The base of the desktop stand is made using a transparent material, which gives it a rather mystical floating effect, and also allows the keyboard to be placed under it, leaving the rest of the desk free.

3. Ryoko Air Purifier

Designed by Jacobus Oosthuizen, this minimalist desktop air purifier was created for optimal purification and equipped with a unique aesthetic appeal. The unique pattern seen on the Ryoko air purifier is inspired by a blossoming wave facade and was created using Grasshopper 3D Generative Software. The purifier was built using plasma-cut sheet metal and is equipped with replaceable HEPA and active carbon filters to provide the user with a clean environment.

4. MOMO Monitor Arm

Designed by RAAK Design, the MOMO monitor arm is a sleek and futuristic-looking computer accessory that comes in a clean matt white color. The arm has a minimal and simple form, accentuated by white and metallic highlights. The design seems to be a concept at the moment, but we would love to see such a neat design on your work desk someday.

5. Square Tray

This minimal, clean, and compact tray features a square form and is designed to be the ultimate universal desk organizer you’ve been searching for. Designed by One Object Design Studio, the desk organizer has been equipped with a recessed tray on one side, and multiple little slots on the other, creating a versatile and inclusive design, that allows people to build the desk setup of their dreams.

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for a full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to take your sketch from concept to render!

The post Top 5 essential desk accessories first appeared on Yanko Design.

At Yanko Design, we believe in constantly innovating, creating, and evolving. It’s a philosophy that serves as a lifeline for us, and one of the results of this lifeline is the YD x KeyShot Inspiration Hub! The Inspiration Hub is our ‘ever-expanding encyclopedia’ of design work for you to participate in, to inspire designers, and to get inspired by. Created in collaboration with KeyShot, the Inspiration Hub is your one-stop space for inspiration where designers like you can submit your impressive designs and be awarded to stand out in the crowd and to inspire other like-minded designers.

To kickstart your journey and send some motivation your way, we’ve curated our top 10 essential outdoor gear from the Inspiration Hub. These unique outdoor accessories will motivate you to create something spectacular and submit the design, as a gateway to sharing it with the best of the design world. Additionally, we will also be picking our favorite Design of the Week, Design of the Month, and Design of the Year – every week, month, and year from the submissions on the Inspiration Hub. Keep an eye on our Instagram page and the Inspiration Hub to see if your design gets picked. Fingers crossed!
Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to take your sketch from concept to render!

1. Herman Miller-inspired Hiking Backpack

Designed by Judar Design, this stunning Herman Miller-inspired backpack is heavily influenced by the Herman Miller camp! It has unique and lightweight aesthetics, and functions as a practical hiking backpack for campers, as well as a laptop bag for city commuters. It has a solid structure on the outside, much like the Cosm chair, which offers protection from any accidental bumps if any important and fragile stuff has been placed inside.

2. Task Light

Designed by Jake Naish, this beautifully-designed task light makes for the ultimate outdoor gear for your outdoor adventures. Featuring a minimal, clean, and cylindrical form, the lighting design comes in options of two soft pastel colors that are exceedingly easy on the eyes. Grooves on the body of the light add a touch of texture and personality to the design.

3. Fellow Travel

If you’re setting out on an outdoor adventure in a foreign country, then Fellow Travel is the perfect product for you! Designed by Hanyoung Lee, Fellow Travel is an innovative interpretation device that allows you to communicate smoothly and effortlessly with people who speak other languages while traveling. It includes APP services that accumulate data through conversations and share it with other travelers.

4. Rock Climbing Shoes

Designed by Santiago Riera, these rock-climbing shoes are inspired by the design philosophy and language of Organic Climbing. Designed using virtual reality, these unique rock climbing shoes can be customized according to the tastes and preferences of every user, allowing them to play around with colors and materials and create the perfect outdoor shoes for themselves.

5. Foldable Lander

Designed by Yunonglive Studio, the Foldable Lander is a compact and lightweight product that measures a little over 13 inches in length when closed, and weighs 2.8 lbs. The innovative design once opened up, transforms into a comfortable and cozy chair with a backrest, and can take up to 100x its weight. This foldable chair and foldable table/ottoman offer a unique and convenient way to take a seat anywhere, whether it’s for fun or for work.

6. The Havoc Arxc Glasses

Designed by Sebastian Halin, the Havoc Arxc Glasses are designed for cyclists of all disciplines – where clear vision and sleek looks are a priority. The good-looking shades feature a clean and minimal look accentuated by smooth lines and a two-colored CMF, as well as a tinted UV-protected lens for optimal vision. The glasses have a replaceable nose bridge made in silicone.

7. Microtech Exocet Dagger

Amped with a tiny 1.94-inch blade, the Microtech Exocet Dagger is actually legal to carry in most states, making it the perfect EDC to have on you at all times. Designed by Microtech Knives, the innovative dagger features an OTF-style (out-the-front) drop-point blade made from CTS 204P steel that’s perfect for piercing and carving outdoors and doing things like opening boxes indoors.

8. The HOTO 3-in-1 Camplight

Designed by Lu Zheng, YF Liu, and Xiaodong Liu, the HOTO 3-in-1 Camplight provides users with a convenient and innovative lighting solution in all possible camping scenarios. The unique lighting design functions as an area light, ambient light, and flashlight. It features a transparent and durable PC lamp head, as well as an aluminum alloy case – resulting in a premium and excellent tool for the outdoors.

9. Supernova

Designed by GravaStar and named the Supernova, this futuristic-looking accessory resembles a three-legged robot but is in reality a sci-fi-inspired speaker cum LED lamp. It is crafted out of a solid zinc alloy metallic body standing on GravaStar’s iconic tripod legs that we saw in their previous designs. It is equipped with a 3-inch full-range speaker with 25 watts of power, 90db of output, and half-inch high-frequency tweeter for rich and crisp sound delivery.

10. Quasar Portable Lamp

Designed by Samy Rhio and Petite Friture, the Quasar portable lamp, is designed to be a ‘nomadic lamp’. French designer Samy Rhio designed this nomadic lamp to enable users to carry it around, allowing it to illuminate any space they go to. They can hang the nifty lamp using a multicolored strap that will remind you of a climbing rope.

Click here to Download KeyShot Pro (Use Code ‘KSYANKOHUB’ during installation for a full Pro + KeyShotWeb trial) to start creating your own design and submit the design to us to get featured on the Inspiration Hub and the Yanko Design Instagram Page.

The post Top 10 essential gear for your summer 2023 outdoor adventures first appeared on Yanko Design.

With its reusable, stylish metal body that doesn’t use even an ounce of plastic, the Lifelong Deodorant is openly defying a $202.8 billion dollar men’s personal care industry that generates tonnes of plastic waste each day.

A gentleman always chooses a luxury metal shaving razor over the generic plastic disposable razor… so why not do the same for deodorants? Most deodorants come within a roll-on bottle made entirely from plastic and glass, designed to be thrown away after it’s done… but the Lifelong Deodorant challenges that notion with a bottle that’s designed to look premium and last a lifetime. Made from anodized aluminum, the Lifelong Deo’s bottle comes CNC machined to perfection, with a bead-blasted finish that’s reminiscent of an Apple product. A knurled texture around the grip of the roller gives it that extra tactile finish and rugged manly appeal, and a crystal ball on the top rotates to evenly distribute liquid deodorant on you, while being durable and hypo-allergenic. The entire bottle comes with a design that can be opened out, cleaned, and refilled with deodorant powder and some added water. This keeps you fresh for years to come, and also enables you to ditch the plastic roll-on bottle, so the planet feels fresh too!

Designers: Adam Webb & Fernando Molin

Click Here to Buy Now: $74 $165 (55% off). Hurry for a limited-time free luxury travel bag for YD readers!

The Lifelong Deodorant’s makers claim that roughly 13 billion plastic deodorant bottles end up in landfills each year… weighing as much as 2,900 Statues of Liberty. That’s undeniably a lot of plastic waste each year – a fact that prompted Adam Webb and Fernando Molin to work on a much more sustainable alternative. The Lifelong Deodorant was born with one singular promise – to reduce as much waste as possible. As a result, the entire deodorant bottle is made from reusable materials, with 0% plastic.

The bottles also come with sachets of natural powdered deodorant, eliminating the need to ship liquid deodorant which weighs significantly more, but just uses regular water that you can grab from a faucet in your house.

Unscrew the cap and add the powdered deodorant. Add 50 ml of water. Close the cap and shake for twenty seconds.

The sustainable deodorant bottle comes in a variety of colors, with black, rose-gold, and silver anodized finishes, and up to 6 different-colored crystal roller balls that you can choose from. The makers also offer three distinct unisex deodorant options – zero-scent, citrus tonic, and woodland air. All the scents are crafted along with one of Europe’s leading, sustainable, certified manufacturers that specializes in powdered personal care products. The deodorants are all-natural, long-lasting, easy on the skin, non-fabric-staining, and don’t contain aluminum or parabens. Moreover, they come in powder sachets, that only weigh 6g meaning Lifelong can ship you a year’s supply of deodorant for the cost of one postage stamp, anywhere in the world. By omitting the water and plastic packaging Lifelong lowers transport emissions by 94%.All you really need to do is add 50ml of water to the powder deodorant and give it a good mix and your liquid deodorant is ready to go!

The makers at Lifelong are committed to ensuring that their deodorant is nothing like the competition. Aside from using zero plastic and being almost infinitely reusable, Lifelong’s deodorants are 100% free from any animal testing. Additionally, Lifelong is partnering with Seven Clean Seas to remove 1kg of ocean plastic for every Lifelong Deodorant sold, and 1 additional kg for every refill sachet you buy after the crowdfunding campaign ends. SO far they have removed more than 4000 kg’s of plastic. Moreover, each purchase of a Lifelong Deodorant comes with a free luxury travel bag, just for YD readers! Let’s see Old Spice or Axe match those odds…

Click Here to Buy Now: $74 $165 (55% off). Hurry for a limited-time free luxury travel bag for YD readers!

The post This Stylish, Sustainable, Reusable Roll-on Deodorant is Challenging the $202 Billion Dollar Men’s Grooming Industry first appeared on Yanko Design.

There are probably almost zero chances that you will be ejected from a jet soon (unless that is a regular part of your job) but on the off chance that you will be, you’d probably want your watch to survive along with yourself. And if a watch claims that it can survive something as extreme as being ejected from a fighter jet, then you know it can survive the most brutal of situations. So if that’s the kind of watch you’re looking for, read on.

Designer: Bremont

You know that the British watch brand is serious about creating an in-house movement that will be able to survive extreme conditions when it worked with Martin-Baker, a company that creates ejection seats and other aviation equipment. They created a prototype watch to test out in their fighter jet ejection seat testing programme and this became the basis for what is now known as the MB Viper. It sounds like a fighter jet model but yes, it is a heavy-duty watch.

The watch is housed in a Grade 5 titanium and anodised aluminum case and is composed of rhodium plated bridges, a gold plated automatic bridge, and a rhodium plated, solid tungsten rotor. The carbon-coated case itself is 43.5mm long and 10.8mm thick and has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. It has an orange bezel, a white dial, and in keeping with the jet theme, the chevron decorated hands look like the ejector handles on a military fighter jet.

Aside from being ejected from a jet, it also underwent zoom temperature climb testing, extreme temperature endurance, high altitude testing, and salt fog testing. It has 100 meters of water resistance and has 65 hours of battery life. You get black and orange canvas straps and there’s also a Super LumiNova giving a green light for the hour markers and hands in low lighting conditions. Each watch is hand-assembled upon order so you can expect a pretty high price tag for the MB Viper.

The post This sleek luxury watch tested (and survived) ejection from a military fighter jet first appeared on Yanko Design.

As of writing this article, MagSafe only does two things – lets you attach a charger, or a wallet. The UPRO Ostand case gives your iPhone’s MagSafe feature a set of upgrades, including the ability to make your phone stand, hang, or stay securely in your hands while you click a selfie or browse TikTok. A winner of the iF Design Award, the UPRO Ostand looks like your average iPhone case in that it covers your smartphone, protecting it from bumps or drops… but right on the back is a familiar magnetic ring. However, this ring folds outwards, turning into an angle-adjustable stand as well as a ring holder for your iPhone, enabling one-hand use without worrying about your phone slipping and falling. It’s also magnetic, so you can still attach your MagSafe wallet or charger to it just like you would on your iPhone.

Designer: TORRAS

Click Here to Buy Now: $34.99 $49.99 (30% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

Apple’s absurd innovations always leave a money trail. The removal of the headphone jack was a necessary evil to help kickstart a $12 billion dollar AirPods business. The MagSafe feature was designed to build Apple’s charger business, and will result in the potential removal of the charging port on an iPhone. These strategies mean that Apple doesn’t innovate in multiple directions… but it graciously allows third parties to. The UPRO Ostand comes from the brilliant minds at TORRAS, who also invented the world’s first wearable air conditioner with built-in semiconductor plates that work like a mini fridge around your neck. The Ostand isn’t as dadgum fancy as that, but it does fall well in line with TORRAS’ approach to problem-solving – finding unique solutions that nobody ever managed to think of before.

The Ostand is a multipurpose case for your iPhone 12 and upward (as well as for your Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) that protects your phone just like any good stand should. However, integrated into the stand’s sleek backplate is the O-shaped ring that aligns perfectly with the iPhone’s own MagSafe ring. At just over a millimeter thick, this aerospace-grade aluminum ring sits flush flat against the Ostand case when closed, but opens up when you need yourself a ring-holder or a stand to prop your phone up.

It opens a full 120°, while also rotating 360° within its circular hub (a feature that’s available in the UPRO Ostand Pro). That means you can hold the phone however you want, and even make it stand however you want, in landscape AS WELL AS in portrait. When you’re done, snap the ring shut and it disappears right into the case, becoming practically unnoticeable. Bet your MagSafe wishes it could do all these things.

Speaking of MagSafe, the Ostand actually comes with patented Halbach magnets built right into the ring. They’re just as secure and twice as strong as the magnets in your iPhone (offering up to 18N of force), and let you do everything you normally would with MagSafe. You can snap on Apple’s wireless charger or battery pack, dock your iPhone on a magnetic car phone holder, or even attach Apple’s (or a third party) MagSafe wallet to your device. Sure, you can say that Apple invented MagSafe. It’s just that the UPRO Ostand perfected it…

Click Here to Buy Now: $34.99 $49.99 (30% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post MagSafe Just Got A Whole Lot Better Thanks to this Ingenious New iPhone Case’s Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Whether you’re working from home, or in a corporate office, the one thing that’s pretty much consistent in both these scenarios is a desk! A desk is probably one of the most important pieces of furniture in our modern lives, only because we spend the majority of our day on it. You may be typing away to glory, munching away on a snack, or simply fidgeting with a random object – you do end up spending hours on your desk. And hence, it’s really important that your desk be neat, tidy, and uncluttered. Not only will this improve your work routine and productivity, but it will also help you maintain a clearer and more streamlined mindset. And, I’ve discovered that adding limited, quality, and innovative products to my desk setup can help me in achieving these goals! The desk accessories you place on your desk are an integral part of your home/corporate office. From a note-taking desk accessory that puts a small twist to your productivity to a recyclable, minimal and functional keyboard – these ingenious desk accessories are all you need to achieve your desk setup goals!

1. The Altar I

The London-based electronics startup Electronics Materials Office has unveiled its first product made from sustainable materials. To be precise crafted out of post-consumer waste-derived plastic. The low-profile keyboard is a unibody aluminum framed peripheral.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Altar I’s keycaps are also forged out of recycled polymers, thereby making it a sensible accessory that goes with the sentiments of nurturing the planet. The company’s vision is to be a “future-oriented consumer hardware corporation” that’ll be centered around designing durable electronics made out of earth-friendly materials.

What we like

• The accessory tailored for touch typing can be used with two devices simultaneously
• Rates high on aesthetics and sustainability

What we dislike

• There’s no word on the pricing or availability as of now

2. The Levitating Pen

Much like its name, the Levitating Pen actually does seem to be levitating! It looks as if the pen is suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle. Designed to be a grand writing instrument, the pen features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and super easy to hold and creates a smooth and luxurious writing experience. And once you take a break from writing, the pen doesn’t go back to a boring old pen stand, it goes back to levitating!

Why is it noteworthy?

When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!

What we like

• The pen is super fun to interact with
• Quite easy to hold and write with
• Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster

What we dislike

• No option of personalization or custom color variations are available

3. Note

Paper can be simple, and apps can be quick, but not everyone needs all the commitment that these two different note-taking methods sometimes require. There are those that just need to jot down quick notes or even draw a diagram that can be discarded before the day is over. Note, which is the most generic name ever, is pretty much a small desk whiteboard that lets you do that with efficiency, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that a bit of spice and fun to your work.

Why is it noteworthy?

The “whiteboard” twists or rather flips over, giving you twice the space to write your notes down. One side can have a dotted grid surface to help with diagrams, while the other can be plain, or they can have the same design on both sides. As with any vertical slate, you can also place sticky notes on it, in case scribbling notes down on paper is quicker for you.

What we like

• What makes Note unique is the addition of a multi-purpose vertical screen to its left side, this allows you to also have a view of the time, the calendar, and your appointments which are synced from your phone

What we dislike

• The screen doesn’t show videos, a function that some people may need for their work

4. The Slope

The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is made from bent steel sheets and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.

What we like

• If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard
• Smooth and easy to use

What we dislike

• You can’t save what you were writing into the cloud nor can you digitize it if you need to save what you wrote

5. Hexcal Studio

British company Hexcal created the Hexcal Studio desktop organizer, which aims to be the ultimate desktop organizer and workspace accessory you need!

Why is it noteworthy?

Designed to be a monitor stand and a desktop organizer, the Hexcal Studio attempts to eliminate clutter, hide wires and provide shadowless lighting. The goal is to create a neat, tidy, and destressing workspace where wires are smartly hidden, and multiple screens can be installed to support a conducive work environment.

What we like

• The organizer’s distribution system can support up to 14 devices, including those on AC, DC, and wireless power
• Its patented cable management system will make all your wires disappear, providing you with a wire-free desk

What we dislike

• Large + space-consuming design. It will take up a lot of space on your desk

6. Fusion

To-do apps are a dime a dozen these days, and they exist on phones, computers, and everything in between. This allows people to make rapid changes that sync between devices, increasing their efficiency and productivity. Tapping or clicking on checkboxes, however, doesn’t exactly have the same satisfying feedback as checking it off from a list, and you might find yourself driving on autopilot, mindlessly tapping things even unintentionally. Fusion is a combination of hardware and software that tries to bring that active participation to your electronic to-do list without going back into the pen-and-paper territory.

Why is it noteworthy?

The concept is divided into two parts, with the first being the simpler and more straightforward half. This is an E-Ink display the size of a large, wide phone that displays your task list. This can be magnetically attached to a wall mount so that you can have an eye-level view of what’s on your plate. The e-Paper technology means that the screen won’t consume much power even while it’s on, making it more power-efficient and environment-friendly.

What we like

• Easy-to-use and effortless experience

What we dislike

• E-ink display means we have no option to use colors to differentiate or highlight the tasks

7. Everlasting All-Metal Pencil

Wouldn’t it be grand if, like a Wacom stylus, you rarely have to replace a tip or barely sharpen your pencil at all? That sounds almost like a pipe dream, but that dream has fortunately become real with this everlasting metal pencil that lets you worry less about lead and focus more on your creative process.

Why is it noteworthy?

At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.

What we like

• It uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, so it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you

What we dislike

• It doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques

8. Create

Designed by Naya, Create is the kind of keyboard that will ensure you don’t need any other additional peripherals! It is highly customizable to perfectly cater to every person’s individual self-expression. It eliminates the issue of a cluttered desk, which can often occur when you constantly need to switch between different peripherals.

Why is it noteworthy?

The split keyboard with the customizable form factor and various configurable modules onboard can seamlessly fit into any workflow. Thus, it intends to become a go-to option for casual keyboard enthusiasts and serious creative professionals.

What we like

• The keyboard is split and customizable
• The creator in you can leverage the convenience of 9 degrees of freedom with the 3D navigator

What we dislike

• Some users may find Create more complex to operate than a conventional keyboard

9. Summy

Summy is a dedicated device designed to keep students connected while still setting up limits to how many interruptions they can do. At its most basic, the device is a voice messenger, a timer, a daily planner, and a sort of social network among friends, most likely students in the same class or level. The idea is that you only get to send short voice messages to those in your circle, at least only when they’re available.

Why is it noteworthy?

The device uses a UI made of concentric circles and icons represented by old-school monochrome 8-bit characters. Tapping on a friend’s icon allows you to send a voice message, which is more limited and less disruptive than a voice call. You can view other friends’ daily schedules, and if they’re free, you can send a “Study with Me” request so that both of you can set a synchronized timer to study for the same time period.

What we like

• Summy creates a rather playful atmosphere around the concept of studying together
• Summy can also be a fun gadget to keep tabs on their own time and maybe have a retro display on their desk to keep them entertained

What we dislike

• It can also be quite a distracting device if misused

10. Reck_Cone

Reck_Cone is a concept design that tries to combine different products into a single artful piece. It is, of course, a headphone holder, but you might not immediately identify it as one because of its shape. Unlike typical holders, it does hang the headphones down but instead lets them wrap around the almost conical structure.

Why is it noteworthy?

The headphone holder, however, can also serve as a container. The large empty space in the middle is an obvious place to put items, and it’s easy to imagine it holding pens, rulers, and other long objects. The base, however, also separates from the body to reveal a shallow basin where smaller items like paper clips and pins can be hidden

What we like

• Multifunctional design that is a culmination of multiple products

What we dislike

• The form is bulky and not effective on a small desk setup

The post Top 10 essential work gear for your home office first appeared on Yanko Design.

Designed to be classy enough for the conference room, and spacious enough for the locker room, the FTL merges the office briefcase with the gym and travel duffle to give you something entirely different. Dubbed as an All-In-One bag, the FTL can go everywhere you go, and has just the right amount of compartments to carry a slice of life with you to work, to play, or even to travel.

Designers: Ryan Lane & Xander Chase

Click Here to Buy Now: $219 $330 ($111 off). Hurry, only 86/100 left! Raised over $40,000.

The FTL was created by New-Yorkers Xander Chase and Ryan Lane as a result of seeing too many people carry and own separate bags for separate parts of their life. You had your work briefcase, your gym duffle, your travel carry-on, and just on a logical level, they thought there had to be a better way. Created as a one-bag-fits-all solution to urban life’s unique problem, the FTL embodies the spirit of New York in many ways. It’s aesthetic, is fit for any setting, and is designed in a unique way to accommodate all of your belongings in a way that makes it perfect for the fast-paced lifestyle.

The FTL’s design has a unique appearance, given that it looks like a briefcase from the sides, but is wide enough to really fit the requirements of being a duffel too. It sports two handles that let you carry it around like a briefcase but has that signature shoulder strap so you can roam around hands-free, as well as a trolley sleeve that lets you secure your FTL to your travel case while scuttling through the airport. The bag’s size makes it the perfect flight cabin travel companion, gives you dedicated, quick access to your laptop during TSA security checks, and it’s just thin enough to slide right under your airline seat during take-off and landing.

Separated Laptop Sleeve

30 Liters of Volume Airplane Personal Item Compliant

Custom Removable Garment Bag

Fold Out Packing Cube

Trinket Pocket

The FTL combines three distinct bags into its form – the work briefcase, the garment bag, and the sports/gym duffle. The three personas co-exist rather wonderfully within the FTL’s well-compartmentalized design. You’ve got an exterior padded sleeve that’s perfectly sized for a laptop, a drop-down compartment with secure straps to hold your garments in place, and 30 liters of internal storage for everything from chargers and EDC to towels and water bottles. A dedicated shoe compartment on the front lets you store your shoes within the FTL too, keeping them separate from the rest of your belongings. Moreover, FTL’s makers also designed matching Dopp kits for your toiletries that fits right inside the FTL’s spacious storage, and a faux-leather luggage tag to attach to your bag’s strap, both available as add-ons to the original bag.

Aside from having the coolest names ever, Xander Chase and Ryan Lane also have a great sense of intuition when it comes to bag design. With their finger on the pulse of fashion and function, Chase and Lane happen to have made the perfect bag for the urban dweller… something Chase and Lane heard from more than 350 of their existing customers. The FTL emphasizes material, with a unique vegan leather this is both water resistant and durable and YKK AquaGuard zippers throughout the bag. The bag, which starts at an incredibly affordable $199, comes in three colors – Kenmare Black, Abbot Green, and Essex Blue, and ships globally.

Click Here to Buy Now: $219 $330 ($111 off). Hurry, only 86/100 left! Raised over $40,000.

The post This modern all-in-one duffel bag allows you to easily transition between the office, gym, and even travel first appeared on Yanko Design.

What really makes a desk stand out to me is the collection of stationery items placed on top of it (and also the manner in which they are placed). The true value and efficiency of your desk lie in the smart assortment of designs you adorn it with – these are after all the objects that are gonna help you get through your workday, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that really lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. And an innovative and functional addition to that collection would be the KNOB . pen tray.

Designer: Changho Lee

Designed by Changho Lee, the KNOB. is a clean, minimal, and sleek pen tray with rounded edges. It’s the kind of uber-cool and well-designed product that adds a whole ounce of personality and character to your desk. But despite its simple good looks, the KNOB. pen tray has quite a unique functionality. The pen tray was inspired by the knobs you find on a gas burner. Lee borrowed the design language of gas burner knobs, and replicated it in his tray creating a piece of stationery with intriguing-looking ‘control buttons’ or ‘knobs’.

These knobs or multiport radar allow you to adjust the internal space of the pen tray. So, you can basically customize the interiors of the tray, creating different sections by playing around with the knobs in the direction you want. You can adjust the buttons horizontally, vertically, or diagonally depending on which stationery items you want to place on the tray, and how you want to place them. You can fidget with the buttons to create space to accommodate multiple tiny items or a large pen or pencil all by itself. It’s quite fun to organize it!

It’s a pretty easy-to-use and accessible product that is available in a variety of colors – pale grey, bright blue, and muted orange. The color options are versatile and can work well with other accessories on your desk, allowing you to create the desk setup of your dreams. It comes in a simple and clean packaging design, making it super easy to unwrap and use instantly.

The post Minimal pen tray with adjustable knobs let’s you organize your stationery perfectly first appeared on Yanko Design.

If you work in an industry where flipping pages and other papers is still an every day thing, then you have probably experienced paper cuts and finger fatigue among other things. You would think that in a highly digital society like Japan that shouldn’t be a problem. But alas, it is still indeed a common enough issue for people like bank tellers, proofreaders, clerks who deal with a lot of paperwork, and probably those who work in stationery companies (and we know Japan has a lot of those). We know that it’s a problem because we get products like these page-turning aids.

Designer: Plus

The elastic page-turning aids from Plus are called Mecricco Catch and they fulfill the sole purpose letting you turn paper products easily. The outer rib part of the device is able to hold the paper firmly while the inner ribs helps prevent your fingers from slipping while you’re flipping. There is also a concave curve at the bottom of the aid that lets you freely move your finger as you flip. You even get some holes that provide ventilation so your finger will have room to breathe.

This is also useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper. There is also a shorter version of the Mecricco Catch that will allow you to type on a keyboard if you need to take a break from your paper-counting task. There seems to be several colors available so you can choose one that matches your outfit for the day or even contrast with your nail color of the moment. The design of the page-turning aids are simple enough but you know that it is practical and each tiny part has a purpose.

If you have gone completely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need. But if your work involves a lot of paper or if you read a lot of paper books, then it’s something that you probably will need. For now it seems to be available in Japan only but you’ll probably eventually see it in your friendly Japanese store soon.

The post Tiny japanese elastic aid helps you turn papers easily, making it every book lover’s must-have first appeared on Yanko Design.