POPCORN MONSOON

The Popcorn Monsoon is very much like a traditional popcorn air popper. The appliance heats the kernels of popcorn to a point that they explode to create the tasty, edible snack. It is not a new process, but it has been given a facelift. The redesign gives the air popper a look that would fit in well in a laboratory. There are two similar sized yellow containers on either side of a small gray platform. One of the containers is the heating end, where the kernels get popped. The energy from the popping action shoots the popcorn up a transparent tubing that then curves downward over the opposite container. This container is just to catch the popcorn and to be used as a small bowl from which to snack. The tubing is secured by a long metal stick with a hooped end which the tubing is inserted through. There is another small, much thinner tube that sprouts out of the main tube near the heating container. This is where corn kernels are poured in using a matching yellow scoop. Once the kernels have been deposited, a small cork is fitted in the entry point.

It is interesting how something as simple as giving an old idea a new shape can make a traditional appliance appealing once again. The design of the air popper is reminiscent of the seemingly scientific process used to make coffee in an episode of the TV series Breaking Bad.

The popper is much less intricate than the coffee maker in Breaking Bad but the transparent tubing and metal accents give it a similar aesthetic.

SMART LIGHT

Lampp is described by its creators at Jordi Canudas Studios as a "smart lamp." It is part phone application, part phone accessory. The accessory is a globular, translucent silicone that sits over the phone when it is lying flat. The idea is that the phone will serve as a light source and the plastic globe will diffuse the light to create a mood. The application controls the color of the light being projected. There are preset moods such as Romantic, which is warm tones, and Night, which focuses on cool tones.

The "smart lamp" does indeed create a soothing glow, but it is essentially makes a night light of mobile devices. There are mood night lights on the market already that can be adjusted and turned off or on but remote control. There is a slight inconvenience in having to lift the silicone shade each time the user wants to change the setting. This may not be a huge deal to some, as more than likely once the mood is set it is set for the night. The bigger inconvenience is when a person wants to use his or her phone. The moment a phone call comes in the lamp ceases to be a lamp. The other main disadvantage is keeping it on eats at the phone's battery life. Unless a person is specifically looking for a night/mood light that travels easy, a traditional lamp might be a better option.

ZIP BED

Italian furniture company, Florida Smart Italian Design, has designed a bed for the slacker crowd. The Zip Bed is as its name suggests: a bed with a zipper! The zipper runs along the entire top edge of the bed. When unzipped, the removable piece can act as a comforter if needed. Beneath the attachable comforter is a bed as we all know it. Linens, pillows and a queen sized mattress. On the outside, the bed frame appears to have a rounded, futuristic aesthetic created by the padding ensconcing it. This bed allows its user maintain a tidy bedroom without tucking sheets and fluffing pillows after a night's sleep. Instead, all one has to do is throw the zippable comforter over top and pull the zipper across the bed's perimeter. 

The bed comes in limited colors and there are no options for patterns. If changing up the look of the bed is important to the buyer, this is probably not the right fit for them. However, the bed itself is an interesting design and might be enough for some to overlook that aspect of it. The concept may have been developed with efficiency more prominently in mind. That being said, the look of the bed was not thrown to the wind. The interior of the comforter comes in contrasting colors to add a bit of pop.

Its design is reminiscent of older sci-fi films that depicted furniture and clothing as very streamlined and no frills in a society where productivity is valued above individuality. Being that we are not living in such a society, this bed does stand out for its uniqueness. It almost seems like a bonus that it does a fine job of concealing that we hate making our beds.

MULTI MASHER

The Multi Masher is an update on the standard kitchen tool. This new take on the masher makes the item not quite multi-purpose but a multi-output tool. It differs from the standard masher by having additional surfaces with which to press foods. There are three total surfaces that are together in one plastic triangular piece. The first of the three surfaces is made of several bars, almost like a grill, for a coarser pressing. The second surface contains medium-sized hexagonal holes much like the classic metal potato masher. The final surface has smaller round holes for a finer output, akin to a potato ricer. To alternate between the surfaces, the rubberized handle is removed by unlatching the open end and sliding out over the thin, flat plastic that separates each surface panel. 

Given that a particular tool can do more than a single thing well, it can be a great asset to have in the home. Space saving can be very key for people with limited storage. Although this particular invention cannot be fully considered multi-purpose, it does have an advantage over the standard masher for its versatility. The Multi Masher is a simple redesign to a kitchen essential that I can only see being well-received by amateur cooks to professional chefs.

BARCELONA CHAIR

BREAKING BAD BOX SET PACKAGING

OVO SPEAKER FOR IPHONES

The Ovo speaker is an analog amplifier made of carved marble. Its shape is hollowed and nearly cylindrical with one side shaved slightly to create a small flat surface area. The flat area is minimal and purely to keep the the speaker from otherwise rolling when set down on a smooth surface. The closed end of the cylinder is similarly rounded and has a larger flat surface for propping up at an angle. At the same rounded end, there is a rectangular slot for placing an iPhone. The rectangular slot contains a small opening that leads to the interior hollowed area. When an iPhone is placed in it, the speaker on the phone feeds audio into the small opening which is then amplified using sound diffusion. The only electricity used in this process is in the phone battery and that is only to power the iPhone itself.

It is a very sleek, unassuming design aesthetic. The carved marble has such a sculptural aspect to it that it could sit beautifully on a shelf or coffee table as a piece of art. It is only when an iPhone is placed in it that one would realize it is functional. This may not be enough to fill a room with dance music at a house party but it can serve quite useful for a quiet day in the house. It takes a basic principle of sound and applies it to contemporary technology in a way that is both humbling and easy on the eyes.

LENTO SMOKE ALARM

The smoke alarm is an object we are all accustomed to seeing in our homes. Generally, they exist in the background, drawing no attention except for when it is serving its purpose of alerting us of a potential fire. Because it is a device whose purpose is purely preventive, we have chosen not to highlight its presence in our homes. As a result, most smoke alarms come in a standard circular shape and its color almost always white. Recently, Finnish company Jalo Helsinki released a line of smoke alarms that offers something different in the market.

The Jalo alarms come in various colors which definitely veers off the beaten path as far as smoke alarms go. The options are a surprise -- available in green, pink, black, and more standard gray and white -- being that we typically don't look up twice at the benign objects on our ceiling. Even more interesting than their color is their shape. The smoke alarms are made in the form of a moth, the ugly step-sister to the butterfly. It has been suggested that the idea behind the moth shape is a tip of the hat to moths predilection to fire. Some may appreciate the whimsy, but how often do we stop and marvel when we come across a real moth? A more common reaction is that of annoyance.

I believe credit is due for the attempt at uniqueness; however, this particular concept reminds me of the old refrain: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." A beautiful chandelier it is not.