It even releases smoke when “blown” out

This potentially unnecessary albeit nifty creation is the product of Keith’s Test Garage and the duration of the three years it took to complete this interesting side project. Keith sought out to create a seemingly realistic candle that looks, lights, flickers, blows out, smokes, and even smells real while being completely digital.

An Arduino Pro Mini covered by real candle wax powers six LEDs that are randomly offset in intensity to mimic the realistic flickering of a flame. While many available digital candles already achieve this Keith took it a few steps further. The candle can be turned on by placing a live match inside, which is detected by an infrared sensor that then activates the LEDs. However, the most impressive feature is the actual smoke produced by the wick covered in vegetable glycerin. When blown upon the wick is shocked to produce the smoke after a microphone detects the exhalation.

https://gizmodo.com/guy-spends-three-years-making-an-ultra-realistic-led-ca-1833325891

Ecolectro aims to shift to clean automotive energy

Ithaca, Manhattan based Ecolectro is working to make hydrogen based fuel cells the future of automotive power. The cells combine hydrogen and oxygen in order to produce electricity to operate a motor, which provides a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. However, currently hydrogen fuel production processes use fossil fuels while producing CO2 emissions and it is more expensive.

Ecolectro is working to make hydrogen fuel production a fossil fuel free process and economically viable for large scale production. In order to achieve this they are using nickel and aluminum based catalysts to separate hydrogen from water, which is much cheaper and accessible than typical platinum catalysts.

The process of separation with the lesser metals is not as effective as using platinum catalysts yet, but Ecolectro is confident that in the next 10 years platinum will be surpassed through R&D advancements. This will potentiality lead to hydrogen fuel becoming the preferred alternative to gasoline.

Ecolectro: Building A Path To Cleaner Fuel Cells And A More Livable World

Adidas, Apple, Android, BBC, BMW, Burger King, Google, Netflix, Starbucks, and WWF

The Bauhaus would’ve celebrated its centennial anniversary this year and in order to honor the extensive influence its had in design the creative platform 99designs initiated a competition to redesign well known brand logos based on Bauhaus principles. Their community had to apply the principles of color theory, reverence of craft, the experimentation of typography, and imagery.

Some of the designs are clearly derivative from the Bauhaus while others employ the same principles in more modern applications. The concepts for Adidas, Android, BBC, Google, and WWF feel in sync with current trends while the others might be viewed as dated.

https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/99designs-bauhaus-logos-apple-adidas-netflix-graphic-design-270219

Treehouses in the Italian Dolomites

Designed by Milanese studio peter pichler architecture as an addition to a hotel, these treehouses were conceptualized to blend in with the environment as opposed to large hotels that disrupt the natural landscape. Inspired by the surrounding Fir and Larch trees the houses protrude sharply into the sky helping them to blend in with locally sourced blackened timber exteriors.

Wrapped glazing enables a large view of the landscape while exposing the warm wooden interior from an exterior view. They range from 35 to 45 m2 spanning two stories connected by a simple staircase. The bottom floor features a lounge while the top a bedroom and bathroom.

peter pichler architecture envisions sustainable treehouses in the italian dolomites

Roughly 3x the size of other phones with way more life

Yes, this is a fully functioning smart phone, although it more closely resembles a brick. Battery life is a huge issue for most smart phone owners, however with this 18,000mAh battery enabling up to 200 hours of video playback or 50 full days on standby it might be a bit overkill. Called the P18k Pop, it can be charged fully in overnight in about 8 hours.

Aside from the seemingly everlasting battery life the phone itself is pretty standard with a few defining features. A triple 12mp camera in parison with a pop up selfie camera and an FM radio are the most interesting additions. So far the PK18 Pop will be available for purchase in Europe this June.

https://www.engadget.com/2019/02/26/energizer-p18k-pop-big-battery-hands-on-thick-phone/#/

The international consumer goods fair held in Frankfurt

Consumers will see new trends shifting towards bold colors that lead to wares that personalize the kitchen, the use of composite materials to shift away from plastics, and a focus on pre-plastic materials. Metallic finishes are being imbued with more life by applying blue hues, Pantone’s 2018 color Ultra Violet is gaining popularity, and warm tones such as oranges and pinks are also being applied. To further this trend of colorful personalization gradients are becoming popular as well.

Companies are placing focus on composite materials combining bamboo and wheat fibers with melamine resin, which is more eco friendly but not biodegradable. Innovators are using fully compostable or biodegradable plastic alternatives, while others are reverting back to completely natural materials used before the adoption of plastics.

http://www.stylus.com.meredith.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/kkcbky

The unique marbling affect creates a beautiful aesthetic

Gomi, a design studio based out of the UK in Brighton, wanted to tap into a large waste stream as a new material source. They found a focus on non-recyclable plastic, specifically from whole food sellers they collaborated with, in order to incorporate 100 plastic bags into the main body of each speaker.

we thought this would be the perfect material to harness and show that through innovative design this can be valuable, and does not have to end up as waste polluting our environment

Tom Meades, Gomi Co-founder

With the composite materials varying so much each individual speaker insures a completely unique marbled pattern. Aesthetics aren’t the only achievement of this design, as it is claimed to also be engineered for high quality audio performance.

Gomi portable speakers are made from non-recyclable plastic waste

Using industry waste to create reusable products

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is combined with coffee ground waste in order to create the new composite material BioCaif. The material is 100% biodegradable and has been developed to produce a reusable coffee cup, lid, and snap off stir sticks. While driving sustainable innovation the material also provides a refreshing craft aesthetic perfect for coffee cravers.

BioCaif

Making good design accessible

Design studio Layer has created the Move concept for Airbus, which focuses on bringing innovation to economy class flyers. Business class is far too often the focus and thus inspired the team to create a more accessible design.

At Layer, we believe good design should be accessible to all

Benjamin Hubert, Layer

Move is an app that pairs with smart textile covering the seats that is connected to sensors, which analyze flyer data such as how they move, tension, and their temperature. This allows the app to make suggestions such as moving about the cabin or stretching. The user can also select different modes such as for sleeping, eating, or even a getting a massage.

https://www-lsnglobal-com.meredith.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/news/article/23665/an-aeroplane-seat-that-adapts-to-flyers-needs

Vital research that could save space lives

RemoveDEBRIS has completed their second successful test of viable methods for removing potentially harmful debris from space. The test utilized a harpoon fired at a rate of 65 FPS to pierce a satellite attached to a 5 ft boom. This follows a previous test in 2018 that involved a net that could encapture orbiting objects.

Space debris is a growing problem that poses a threat to astronauts, their gear, and other operating technologies with the threat of collision. As more countries develop space capable technologies the debris will continue to increase, creating demand for viable ways to remove the debris from orbit.

https://mashable.com/video/space-harpoon-skewering-junk-in-orbit/?utm_campaign=hp-r-2&utm_source=internal&utm_medium=onsite#mL3kOSS5N8qV