#product-design

#product-design

The circular economy is a sustainable model of production and consumption that aims to reduce waste and extend the life of resources. Unlike the traditional linear system of "take-make-dispose," it promotes a closed-loop approach where materials are reused, repaired, refurbished, and recycled. This model helps conserve natural resources, lowers environmental impact, and supports long-term economic resilience. A recent report indicates that only 6.9% of the 106 billion tonnes of materials used globally each year are recycled.

There's something quietly revolutionary happening in the world of everyday objects, and it starts with something as humble as where you put your umbrella. Arihant Israni and Anoushka Braganza have created InBetween, a piece that challenges our assumptions about what functional design can be. It's not just a place to stash wet umbrellas. It's a whole vibe. Let's be honest: most umbrella stands are afterthoughts. They're plastic cylinders hiding in corners, collecting dust and forgotten receipts.

We also ran side-by-side tests to compare the nitty-gritty, and these are the attributes we looked for. Ease of use: The display should be easy to read, and the app should be easy to navigate. We're not all physical therapists, so the guided massages need to be simple to follow, with diagrams showing where to massage for each muscle group.

Pulli Bin was created to make trash removal effortless. By studying how people of all abilities interact with traditional trash cans, the Pulli team uncovered a fundamental flaw: lifting full trash bags creates strain and often leads to tearing. Pulli Bin reimagines this experience with dual front-opening doors that open outwards, eliminating the need for upward lifting and setting a new standard for ease and usability

"Our users are very young," Pei said on Alex Heath's Access podcast this week. "It's pretty much impossible to be popular among everybody in the world at the very beginning, so we got to pick a lane." Pei said the company has found that its products resonate best with younger consumers who are motivated by a desire to "be different" and find their "own identity" in the devices they choose.

In the world of product design, the right material can turn a vision into reality, and bamboo is emerging as a favorite. Bamboo is a natural material that offers elegance, durability, and a touch of nature in every creation. This remarkable grass is more than a passing trend as it showcases how natural resources can be transformed into products that are elegant and practical. Its versatility allows designers to craft items that are visually striking while maintaining a thoughtful connection to the environment.

The J.M. Smucker Co. is suing Trader Joe's, alleging the grocery chain's new frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are too similar to Smucker's Uncrustables in their design and packaging. In the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in federal court in Ohio, Smucker said the round, crustless sandwiches Trader Joe's sells have the same pie-like crimp markings on their edges that Uncrustables do.

At the heart of this innovative system lies a spiral core that serves as the foundation, much like a basic Lego piece. Children can then personalize their toothbrush by selecting from an array of interchangeable components, including soft-bristled brush heads and six colorful decorative bits. These playful elements range from smiling faces and chunky spiral shapes to whimsical designs like a koala that appears to cling to the brush handle.

Whether you're an athlete, a gamer, a style enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to stay connected, the right wearable can elevate your daily routines. As October 2025 brings fresh innovation and daring new designs, the world of smartwatches is more diverse and exciting than ever. From minimalist e-paper displays to rugged adventure companions and even a gaming PC for your wrist, this year's lineup is packed with options that speak to every need and personality.

I was once a philosophy professor at the University of Colorado, and I was frustrated with my headset tangling every time I went to make a call on my phone. So I drove to a nearbyJoann Fabrics store and glued a couple of huge clothing buttons to the back of my tiny little iPhone so I could wrap my headset around them. I got made fun of for how ridiculous it was, but over the course of about a year and many, many prototypes, I miniaturized it, and eventually launched a business out of my garage in the mountains of Boulder in 2014.

When it comes to software, we like to pretend that quality is a number. Dashboards stand in for judgment, A/B tests stand in for taste, and leaders try to will excellence into existence with reviews and mandates. But in today's software market, confusing a KPI with quality isn't just naive; it's fatal. Consumers' attention spans are short, but their expectations are higher than ever; if your product fails to solve a real problem in an elegant way, you don't get a second chance.

Lego's recently launched Game Boy is the most extraordinarily satisfying build, with results that feel uncannily realistic. It looks and feels perfect, complete with a just-too-murky screen to thoroughly emulate the real thing. Announced back in July and immediately up for pre-order (which I did as soon as I'd written the article), the Lego Game Boy was clearly a labor of love,

Rotterdam-based designer Lisanne Meester has expanded her Core furniture series into smaller-scale objects with the introduction of the Core Candle Holder, a compact aluminum piece that maintains the architectural sensibilities established throughout her broader collection. This newest addition employs the same material approach of aluminum construction with stainless steel bolt connections that defines the Core aesthetic. Meester's philosophy of creating statement pieces that transcend pure functionality finds expression in this candle holder through its clean lines and strong silhouette,

STEELPORT Knife Co., the Portland-based maker celebrated for its award-winning, American-forged kitchen cutlery, is doubling down on its mission to merge craftsmanship and innovation with the release of its newest product: the SteelCore™ Mini Cutting Board. Alongside the Mini, the brand has unveiled three curated Knife & Board Sets that make gifting high-quality kitchen tools easier than ever. Together, these launches mark the next step in STEELPORT's commitment to redefining the modern kitchen experience with heirloom-quality design.

Thomas Heatherwick has turned his attention from grand architectural gestures to the intimate space of the bedroom, collaborating with British lighting brand Tala on Wake, a sleep light designed to combat our screen-obsessed bedtime habits. The partnership between Heatherwick Studio and Tala represents a three-year journey into the intersection of design, wellness, and technology. The result is a bedside lamp that functions as both functional lighting and a circadian sleep aid, crafted from hand-glazed ceramic and pressed glass with an undulating form that mimics natural sunrise and sunset patterns.

"I'll binge the entire series with you." "I'll never leave dirty dishes in the sink." "I'll never bail on dinner plans."

"I didn't feel like I could do a traditional Christmas collection," Westman exclusively tells AD. "So we changed the scope."

Each piece is crafted using DFM technology, a form of additive 3D printing that eliminates molds - and therefore waste - entirely. Printed directly from digital files, the mesh structures use less material while remaining strong and lightweight. The filament itself is a durable PLA/biopolymer blend that's 100% bio-based and renewable, reinforcing the studio's commitment to sustainability. Because the collection relies on a single material, each pendant is also fully recyclable at the end of its life.

Have you ever been a part of a product launch that felt more like a daunting experience, rather than an exciting or thrilling one? The product launch where users got more confused and felt helpless? Where they could not even point out what was wrong, because the product team worked so heavily on improving the tech and the UX, that it actually changed the way they were used to working before.

I would have just bought a lantern for my yacht - I wanted to. But there isn't anything on the market. So instead, I spent two years hard at work designing it," Ive told Boat International.

Kitchen fires remain one of the most common household emergencies, yet most of our safety equipment stays hidden in cabinets or tucked away in corners where we forget it exists. What makes the bogl concept particularly compelling is how it challenges this assumption entirely.

The ARLT Paper Cleaner is a 100% paper-based lint roller that replaces conventional plastic tape cleaners with a fully recyclable, zero-waste alternative. Made from molded pulp and bonded with a water-based adhesive, the product offers a gentle yet effective cleaning surface that is safe for fabrics and delicate surfaces. Its sleek, minimalist design reflects a premium aesthetic while emphasizing eco-friendliness, positioning it as a "Green High-End Brand for Life".

I actually started out thinking I wanted to be a graphic designer. I was really into anime as a kid, and when I got my hands on a (very outdated and pirated) copy of Photoshop 6 at around age 11, I was hooked. In high school, I also taught myself how to code, which opened the door to doing small freelance jobs here and there while I was still in school.