With portability becoming of prime importance now, smaller the product, the more desirable it becomes. Yet even if products do become small, they are even more prone to getting lost or misplaced. Designer Mickey Kim has found a perfect solution by designing this MP3 player that has a necklace. Designed in yellow, it looks damn trendy and smart and I would love to own it. Though the idea of putting it as a necklace isn’t really new, but the design looks a little different, no doubt. [Coroflot]

A fireplace has amused me, reminding me of the times we would long for the bonfire to listen to old tales from our grandma. This interesting fireplace, rather a firehouse has been designed taking inspiration from the Norwegian turfs and indeed looks like a flame. Made on a concrete base, the wooden construction is made of 80 layers of circles. Every circle is made out of 28 pieces of naturally impregnated core of pine that are placed with varied spaces to assure chimney effect and natural light. The designers claim this is meant especially for children. The only thing that I don’t appreciate in this design is that a combination of children, wood and fire is very unsafe, but nevertheless an artist has to be given that amount of creative freedom to experiment and open horizons.

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I find Yotaro, a robotic baby simulator with an interactive screen for a face quite creepy. The big face is what nightmares are made of. It helps people learn about childcare by portraying a variety of facial expressions, movements and physiological characteristics all natural to babies. It's pretty cool that it reacts to the user through a sophisticated emotion-control system that watches and senses what they are doing and provides an accompanying reaction. It's superior to other training toys as it can even cry real tears!

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Most hand showers are boring and come with typical designs. It's an age where we all want something new and exciting and innovative. So provide some applause for this unique Hand Shower Design Project for Delta Faucet that has just walked in. It's designed to tickle your senses. I'm hoping it comes out in the market soon, so I can try it out.

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We have come across many unique designer radiators. But the Bouille'hot is definitely one of the most unique designer radiators. Shaped like a hot water bottle, this radiator has been designed by Florent CUCHET. Sure to make a unique piece of décor, this hot water bottle shaped radiator promises to keep you warm and cozy during those chilly winter days. Unique, fun and definitely awesome, this radiator will definitely find a place in my home.

[DesignAndDesign]

For all you space nuts and sci-fi freaks, here is an out of this world MP3 player that will surely appeal to you. Christened the Voka, this concept MP3 player is the brainchild of designer Mickey Kim. Shaped like a spaceship, this music player promises to woo music buffs with its hi-tech features and performance. The aluminum finish of this MP3 player gives it a whole new and unique look. Sleek, stylish and totally out of this world, this MP3 player is definitely awesome. Here’s wishing some space nut decides to put a patent on this ingeniously designed MP3 player.

[Coroflot]

Often it happens we have unexpected friends dropping in and we fall short of seating arrangement. Either we use stackable stools or mostly we accommodate on the floor, not anymore. Miray Oktem and Selcan Dokmen have introduced a multifunctional seating arrangement called Swiss Chair. It consists of 3 pieces in different heights that are connected to each other from one end. Further more they have inbuilt storage space for 4 stools. These can be used as seats and coffee table. It is designed with young people in mind. Now whether we have a small get-together or are in a mood to just watch TV or play console games, Swiss Chair is the perfect answer to all our needs.

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A unique ‘concept’ classroom, designed by students from the University of Glamorgan, opened its doors on the Treforest campus this week, 10th December. Out of 27 student designs submitted, second year interior design student Luke Gillard’s design was selected as the winning entry. His design splits the classroom into four zones, each providing a different element of functionality for the users. Zone 1 and 2 are packed with state-of-the-art modern features and technology. Zone 3 is a ‘reflective’ space, featuring a grass floor and images of a sunny sky on the walls, thus providing a natural setting. Zone 4 is a fully fitted out ‘executive office’ for mock interviews, meetings, presentations etc. The University deserves praises for giving an opportunity to their students to turn their designs from concept into reality as much as Luke Gillard deserves for his work.

[Glam.ac]

Polish designer Ewa Garniec has created the very unique and clever Cube Lamp. This lamp is great for people who get bored easily and need variety. You can't keep throwing out a lamp because it's become oh so boring, but with the Cube Lamp you can change it's shape and appearance. It is made out of soft material that allows you to bend and change the shape of the lamp. This gives it a new twisted and abstract look everytime you play around with it. It gives a nice dim glow that's quite soothing. Also, it doesn't take up much space. I like its stylish looks as well.

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CD&I Associates has designed Sense as a part of the “La Fin Du Design” Exhibition. It is a clever device that seeks to create a more sensitive and emotional connection between users and their online, movie, and gaming experiences. The best part is that it is going to make shopping online a whole new experience as you can smell, touch and taste anything before you buy it. To get all technical, it is a smell magnification system, smell and flavor-ink micro-printer, and a tactic screen that is able to create a tactile experience of physical products. It uses 3 basic combinations of wax cartridges, that print little translucent sheets that simulate flavors and melt in the roof of your mouth. This enables you to smell and taste what's on your screen. The user inserts his or her hands into the Sense sheath and is able to feel temperature, roughness, softness, hardness, or pressure with the help of nanotechnology. Overall, this is a very revolutionary product.

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You have to check out this hot Android-powered smartphone in the Q1 of 2010 that is being launched by OPPO and it's their first time. It has some pretty impressive features that include a 3.5-inch WQGA (800 x 480) capacitive multitouch screen, a QWERTY keyboard, and WiFi. As far as the looks go, the phone is very sleek and comes in four colors. My personal favorite is pink, but that goes without saying.

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Geometric art on any simple thing makes it looks very special and unique. Taking a cue from the fact, David van der Veldt's Vases One, Two and Three also start off as two-dimensional drawings on a vase, that make the vase look very artistic and nice. The simple vase ultimately performs the function of a vase itself, but the designs on it bring out the vase that lies within, the structure. It has an uncanny resemblance with the man on Versace’s logo. Thought it’s my personal opinion, it also looks like a ram.

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Did you know that the tall skyscrapers are the major bird-killers and not the wind turbines? Yes, it’s true. The birds cannot see through the glass wall of the skyscrapers, because of which they dash right into it and kill themselves.

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If you are a car enthusiast, the new MINI Beachcomber will surely interest you. The MINI Beachcomber is a concept designed to give a preview of the upcoming MINI off-roader which is scheduled to debut around the end of 2010. The concept MINI has been inspired by the Mini Moke from the 60s. The body colored front grille is designed to mimic the Moke's and is echoed at the rear in the design of the spare wheel housing. Massive side-sills along the front and rear entry points interact with the dark body frame to add a further touch of robustness, while the free view offered into the interior emphasizes the lightness and agility of this concept car. Stylized push button elements feature around the entry point, indicating the option to fit a simple and straightforward cover for bad weather. Driving around in this car without doors and a roof is sure to turn you into a show stopper wherever you go.

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Frantz Lasorne has designed an augmented reality game that uses computer enhanced lasses to combine virtual gaming with physical objects. The game named, Scope, uses small game pieces that are mounted with small digital codes that let the computer know what they are and where they are located. Every player is expected to wear a headset that is connected to the computer and the players interact with the computer telling it what to do. As weapons are fired or players are moved, the action is superimposed of the physical objects bring them to life. The best part is that this game can use any toys, be it a Barbie or your Lego toy.

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