Tunebuds

Untangling headphone iPod Shuffle lanyard

When wearing the first generation iPod Shuffle around the neck using the supplied lanyard, the lanyard would clutter together with the headphone wires. Tunebuds eleminated the clutter by combining the lanyard and headphone into one. The Tunebuds pull audio out the Apple’s proprietary 7-pin USB connector (a regular USB connector contains 4 pins). Tunebuds went on sale late 2005.

FORM + FUNCTION was responsible for concept development, design, mechanical engineering, lo- and hi-fi prototyping.

Client: Griffin Technology (part of traineeship)
Year: 2005

iKaraoke

Sing a long FM transmitter for iPod

iKaraoek is a Sing-a-long FM transmitter for iPod, targeted at users in the Asian market. The users voice + music (filtered from vocals) is sent to a stereo through FM. For Griffin this was the first project where Product Design dictated functionality, size and components on the printed circuit board (before Griffin would have it’s technical design ready and would let external design companies design the exterior). iKaraoke didn’t go into production in this form factor as new and smaller iPods were introduced during product development.

FORM + FUNCTION was responsible for concept development, design, mechanical engineering, lo- and hi-fi prototyping.

Client: Griffin Technology (part of traineeship)
Year: 2005

CLM-1

Levitation module

CLM-1 is a levitation kit that consists of a base (non-floating part) and a carrier (floating part). The carrier floats at a maximum height of 35mm above the base and can carry loads up to 1KG. CLM-1 is designed to be integrated in other products. CLM-1 is currently in use in the product display- and lighting market CLM-1 is also used by artists to create unique installations.

FORM + FUNCTION, in close co-operation with Crealev, was responsible for engineering and getting CLM-1 series in manufacturing.

Client: Crealev
Year: 2008

LOS#2

Futuristicly shaped floor lamp featuring a floating shade

LOS#2 is a floor lamp with a distinct shape and features a floating lamp shade.

FORM + FUNCTION worked with LOS!CONCEPTS in the creation of the LOS#2 lamp and was hired to research, ideate, develop a concept and design the second lamp in the line of floating lamps. The thought was to create a, higher-margin, floor lamp. The design of the LOS#1 lamp has a nostalgic look. To underline the advanced levitation technology that is inside the lamps the choice was made to design a futuristic looking lamp which would look nice in contrast with the LOS#1 lamp. The outcome is a lamp with a shape not yet seen in any kind of lighting. Even when the light is switched of it is a beautiful object to look at.

Client: LOS!CONCEPTS (no longer in business)
Year: 2009/2010

ZINK MIX

Zero-Ink printer concept targeted at youth

ZINK MIX was FORM + FUNCTION’s winning entry in the Zink Zero Boundaries product design competition; to design a printer for the youth utilizing Zink’s zero-ink printing technology.

ZINK MIX is a combination of a software application and a physical product fitted out with 3” x 4” ZINK printing technology that makes it fun and convenient for the youth to manage, edit and print images. Targeted at youths between 14 – 21 in possession of an iPhone or iPod Touch, they can print images that now remain in digital format only, so they can enjoy and share moments in their life when they are not sitting behind a computer.



The ZINK MIX software application installed on an iPhone or iPod Touch is what makes ZINK MIX tick. The application crawls the user’s social network on the internet for pictures (in places such as Facebook, MSN, Twitter, MobileMe, Picasa, Flickr, Blogs and so on), Then Displays them in a library that can be viewed from anywhere, not just from within the iPhone / iPod touch. The application also enables the user to download and manage it’s pictures. When done with editing images can be uploaded to the different social networks and they can be printed right away on the ZINK MIX hardware. The ZINK MIX hardware enables users to edit and print images in a fun and refreshing way. The hardware interfaces with the iPhone / iPod Touch through Bluetooth, or through the 30-pin dock connector via the built in USB connection.

The ZINK MIX was the 1^st place winner in the youth category for demonstrating keen insight into the youth market and the world of social networking. The ZINK MIX takes advantage of the embeddable nature of the ZINK® Technology in a way that captures the spirit of today’s youth. The panel of judges comprised of professional and influential personalities from industrial design (Paul Bradley – Executive Creative Director of Industrial Design – Frog Design | Kate Green – Technology Editor – Technology Review Published by MIT | Tom Hughes – Chief Design Officer – Idealab | Brian Lam – Editorial Director – Gizmodo | Darren Murph – Associate Editor – Engadget | Mary Tripsas – Associate Professor – Harvard Business School | Richard Watson – Founding Partner – Essential Design | Irma Zandl – President – Zandl Group).

Client: ZINK, ZINK Zero Boundaries Product Design Competition
Year: 2009

EMIT.

World’s first floating 3D clock

Read EMIT. backwards and it spells TIME. It is a clock with a twist. First it is a 3D clock. Not numbers, but the shape of the clock, tells the time. Second, it floats in mid air, using Crealev’s levitation technology. Seeing EMIT. for the first time it is poised to amaze. It brings life into an interior, as it slowly turns around, it responds to touch by bouncing and rotating. Other then a regular clock, which just hangs or stands EMIT. offers for more interaction.

For over a year FORM + FUNCTION worked together with Crealev and Crealev’s designer Angela Jansen in creating EMIT. The process went trough several iterations of research, idea generation, concept development, prototyping, design and realization. After the design process was finished FORM + FUNCTION engineered and built a series of 10 working EMIT. prototypes which went on display during the 2009 edition of the Dutch Design Week.

Additionally, FORM + FUNCTION guided Crealev towards Dutch clock manufacturer Karlsson Clocks (Present Time subsidiary), which came to an agreement with Crealev to manufacture and distribute EMIT.. Process of manufacturing is still in progress.

Client: Crealev
Year: 2009

+POINT

Concept for a line of EV charge points

+POINT was FORM + FUNCTION’s entry in the ‘Design an EV charge point’ product design competition by Alliander, Syntens and the Municipality of Arnhem. FORM + FUNCTION’s initial design sketch was picked out as one of the concepts to detail and realize in prototype form. Other design studios that where invited as finalists: Pilots Product Design, Studio MOM and Floris Schoonderbeek/Sinds1416.

The overall idea of +POINT was to minimize the number seams in the product to prevent weather of having an influence. To create an as seamless as possible product a material combination was chosen of EPS with a PU coating. The EPS would be injection molded in several parts, features such as metal hinges, construction plates and reinforcements could be fitted in between the several EPS parts. After this EPS sub-assembly is glued together a 7mm thick cover of hot coat PU would seal and reinforce the otherwise soft and vulnerable EPS. After the PU is applied, a virtually indestructible, seamless structure is the result. (In retrospect: this solution was a bridge too far; a similar approach using concrete would have been a better solution).

The front face is made of Dupont Corian translucent ice-white artificial limestone. In the middle of the Corian face plate is a European standard female EV socket which features an electromechanical latch that will hold a plug when an EV is charged. Around the socket, beneath the Corian faceplate a ring of multicolor LEDs is situated. The color of the LED ring indicates the status of the charge point. White: available. Red: malfunction. Green: charged. Orange: charging. Off: malfunction.

+POINT is fitted out with the same RFID payment terminals that allow people to use public transit in the Netherlands. An advantage of using this system is that the payment infrastructure exists; costs to integrate it are minimal. Another advantage users wouldn’t get another payment pass, but could use their existing ‘Public Transit Chipcard’. The RFID terminal is tucked away in the EPS structure, a logo on top indicates where to hold the RFID ‘Public Transit Chipcard’, the LED light ring provides feedback on the status of the read out of the card by blinking and turning red (on failure) or green (on success). After the car is charged the RFID pass has to be held up against the charging terminal again to unlock the power cable from the socket.

Clients: Alliander, Syntens, Municipality of Arnhem
Year: 2009

Floating Product Displays

New product category for Crealev

For the introduction of a new category of products – built around levitation – FORM + FUNCTION worked together with Crealev in designing, engineering and realizing two working prototypes. The systems went on display during the 2010 edition of the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

The system is designed so that the base is universal (height is adjustable on specification). As each product display project will have its own requirements the pillars can be fitted out with a certain configuration of levitation modules. The accompanying floating part can then be custom designed to float any object – the best way possible. This makes one design suitable for numerous objects and markets. The pillars are meant to be used in shop windows, inside stores and at trade shows. The goal: to drive traffic into a store or trade show booth and/or to underline the light-weight / high-tech and/or other suitable character of the product on display.

Under the mirrored surface of the larger pillar there are two CLM-1+ levitation modules hiding which are fixed on top of a powered rotation platform. On top is a specially designed iPad holder which integrates the parts normally inside two CLM-1+ carriers: achieving the largest levitation height while staying as stable as possible. The iPad not influenced by the magnets inside the carrier and can be on and functioning.

The second pillar has one CLM-2 levitation module inside. On top is a modified buste with a CLM-2 carrier inside. The idea behind this system is that fashion stores and brands can display their clothing, lingerie and jewelry. (buste by Niels Smeltink)

Client: Crealev
Year: 2011

Lighttower in LED

55 handmade gifts for Eindhoven’s municipal council

40 WATT – Instigator of Ideas – approached FORM + FUNCTION to design and realize a goodbye gift for the members of Eindhoven’s municipal council. In a short brainstorm 40 WATT and FORM + FUNCTION came up with a gift that was a good fit with the keywords: Design, Light, Eco-friendly and Eindhoven.

The gift was a block of what appeared to be solid bamboo during the day. In the evening one could pull on the power cord and the block would reveal an image of Eindhoven’s – just renovated – Lighttower, spreading a warm glowing light. In a race against the clock 40 WATT and FORM + FUNCTION realized 55 bamboo blocks, featuring 50 bright white LEDs, an integrated power supply and custom built cable switch that is combined with the power cable.

Client: 40 WATT
Year: 2010

Jordan Fly Wade

Floating shoe product display

For the promotion of the lightest Jordan basketball shoe ever, the Nike Jordan Fly Wade, custom shoe floatation technology was created by Crealev. FORM + FUNCTION was responsible for mechanical engineering and realization of the base module, and was responsible for the modification of 22 Jordan shoes to enable them to fly. The shoes ended up in custom built in-store displays in Las Vegas and Miami.

“IDLWW | Crack was asked to come up with a way to promote the Jordan Fly Wade (Nike’s most light weight basketball shoe yet). To underline the light weight properties of the Jordan Fly Wade shoes IDLWW | Crack dreamed of making the shoes actually fly. Who else to turn this dream into a reality than masters of levitation, Crealev?! Having had a prototype pair of shoes floating in the office for over a year Crealev took on the challenge to build the shoes under a strict deadline. With a turnaround time of less than a month Crealev delivered 22 nearly invisibly modified shoes matched by custom built levitation modules. The shoes levitate at a height of 30mm. IDLWW | Crack incorporated the floating shoes in in-store displays at the House of Hoops by Footlocker in Miami, Florida and the newly opened Niketown flagship store in Las Vegas, Nevada. People were astounded upon seeing the Jordan Air Wades float in mid-air, just like who they got their name from: basketball player Dwyane Wade.”

Client: Crealev
Year: 2011

Space Pad

3D mouse for Mac users

Space Pad was conceptualized For 3D Connexion’s Design Challenge II. It’s a melt of two products: 3D connexion’s Space Pilot and Apple’s Magic Trackpad. More and more CAD users switch to Apple hardware, but there isn’t a 3D mouse that fits in with Apple’s hardware. Space Pad does. It also connects wireless to a computer, so it doesn’t take away from clean look that comes standard with Apple computers.

Client: 3D Connexion Design Challenge II
Year: 2011

This is Eindhoven

3D modeling + visualizations for Eindhoven cityguide

For Eindhoven’s cityguide ‘This is Eindhoven’, FORM + FUNCTION was approached by graphic designers Angela Jansen and Simone van Wijk for 3D modeling and visualization work. The designers had a ’3D-fied’ logo in mind of their year earlier 2D design for the 2010-2011′s city guide. FORM + FUNCTION designed and shaped several 3D logos based on their design brief and subsequently rendered the model in the middle of three light emitting fluorescent light tubes. The rendering was then printed and photographed in a studio.

Client: Simone van Wijk, Angela Jansen
Year: 2011

U-VISC 200

Automatic Viscosity Measurement System

Design of an Automatic Viscosity Measurement System. U-Visc 200 is a system which can continuously (and repeatedly) sample 2×32 oil-samples without the need for an operator to be present. Most of the system was already developed in house by the client, FORM + FUNCTION was approached to make the system more refined and user friendly. FORM + FUNCTION was responsible for concept development, lo-fi prototyping, design, visualizations, user interface design and ergonomics.

Client: Omnitek
Year: 2010/2011