A pretend avocado, a wearable vibrator for erectile dysfunction and a duo of James Turrell fragrance bottles are amongst this yr’s most impactful product designs, which we have rounded up as a part of our review of 2022.
Over the previous 12 months, designers turned their hand to a number of the most urgent challenges dealing with humanity, from air pollution and sanitation to the power disaster.
But others targeted on offering magnificence and levity within the face of ongoing social and environmental crises, as with a cheeky drivable workplace chair from German carmaker Volkswagen.
Learn on for Dezeen’s high 10 product designs of 2022:
The ISPA Hyperlink trainer is made utterly with out glue and as a substitute consists of two separate modules – a sock-style higher and a sole dotted with pegs that interlock with matching openings within the cloth.
Held collectively by nothing however laces and stress, the footwear are designed to be simply disassembled for recycling as a part of Nike‘s efforts to maneuver in direction of a extra closed-loop manufacturing system.
Find out more about ISPA Link ›
Design graduate Arina Shokouhi labored with meals scientist Jack Wallman to develop a extra sustainable various to avocado that’s constructed from native, low-impact elements together with broad beans, hazelnut, apple and rapeseed oil.
The product has an analogous flavour profile as the actual fruit and is packaged in a pretend avocado pores and skin constructed from wax – full with a chestnut for a stone – in a bid to wean individuals off the resource-intensive imported food.
Topped design challenge of the yr on the 2022 Dezeen Awards, Wheeliy 2.0 is a foldable wheelchair that weighs solely eight kilograms and introduces easy mechanisms to make motion and folding extra easy.
Its footrest could be lifted with a single motion and its armrests could be pushed right down to act as breaks, whereas yellow accents assist these unfamiliar with wheelchairs to function the design intuitively.
Find out more about Wheeliy 2.0 ›
This bioplastic clingfilm is constructed from waste potatoes as a substitute of petroleum, saving emissions whereas making a product that may break down in dwelling compost inside 180 days.
“Nice Wrap breaks down the identical means as meals scraps, into meals and power for the microbes in your compost,” Nice Wrap co-founder Julia Kay defined.
Find out more about Great Wrap ›
Lalique perfumes by James Turrell
American artist James Turrell utilized his knack for manipulating mild at a smaller scale within the type of two perfume flacons for French glassmaker Lalique.
The bottles are distinguished by their prismatic shapes and refined color gradients, which diffract mild whereas nodding to the structure of Buddhist stupas – domed shrines used to deal with spiritual relics.
Find out more about Lalique perfume bottles ›
This wearable vibrator was designed as a non-pharmaceutical various to Viagra, to assist these with erectile dysfunction preserve their arousal whereas additionally stimulating their associate throughout intercourse.
Its two versatile “wings” sit tightly on the base of the penis to stop the blood from draining away, whereas 4 built-in motors present localised vibrational remedy to enhance circulation and goal a number of erogenous zones.
Find out more about Tenuto 2 ›
One of the crucial-viewed design initiatives featured on Dezeen this yr was Dyson‘s controversial Dyson Zone headphones, which mix noise cancellation with a removable visor for air purification in a bid to sort out the twin challenges of noise and pollution in cities.
Following 5 years of analysis and growth, the gadget is about to go on sale in January regardless of scepticism from numerous media retailers, with some dubbing the product “weird” and straight out of “a dystopian sci-fi film”.
Find out more about Dyson Zone ›
Solar Blanket by Mireille Steinhage
Because the war in Ukraine despatched power costs skyrocketing and highlighted Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and fuel, design graduate Mireille Steinhage created an reasonably priced and renewable answer for staying heat over the winter within the type of her Photo voltaic Blanket.
Produced from conductive yarn, the heated blanket is charged utilizing the accompanying solar panel and designed to retail for lower than £10.
Find out more about Solar Blanket ›
Drivable office chair by Volkswagen
German carmaker Volkswagen designed a drivable workplace chair that may journey at speeds of as much as 20 kilometres per hour – rivalling most electrical scooters.
The five-wheeled prototype comes full with a seatbelt, touchscreen show, rear-view digital camera and two pedals that can be utilized to alter course in lieu of a steering wheel.
“You possibly can drive, honk and hearken to music – even sign as you are taking a flip into a gathering room,” the model mentioned.
Find out more about the drivable office chair ›
Waterless toilet by Bill Gates and Samsung
Faeces is dried and combusted into ashes on this prototype rest room launched by billionaire Bill Gates and South Korean electronics firm Samsung, that means it may perform totally with out water.
In the meantime, urine is fed by means of a organic purification system to kill any pathogens and permit it to be absolutely recycled.
