Not your mother's appliance

August 2, 2006 4:34 PM

Design Lab 2006 (flash and sound) Are you a college student with an eye toward design? Design a cool appliance and win 5,000 Euros. For the rest of us there are previous winners, such as this airwash waterless washing machine.
posted by caddis (13 comments total)

When it said "design an appliance" I thought it meant maybe come up with a design that could be prototyped or was in some way practical, and would fulfill a need, but instead it's the type of "design" where your appliances are made up of bullshit and fairy dust and exist because they look cool or futuristic. Ions! Electromagnetic Induction!

The only practical 2005 winner is a robotic vacuum cleaner. In 2005.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 5:21 PM on August 2, 2006

Am I to understand that the "waterless washing machine" is just a non-working idea with some kind of probably-computer-rendered image and a little bit of feel-good prose?

Here's my entry: a 1 x 4 x 9 centimeter, matte black solid with rounded corners and a recessed "on" button in the center of the 4x9 face (also matte black). When activated (it doesn't use any "power" as we understand it, and there's no need to connect it to anything) it magically scientifically creates world peace and ends hunger.

Oh, and it's also a fine living-room furnishing or fine-art item for those living in the year 2525.

see also

on preview, what TheOnlyCoolTim said...
posted by jepler at 5:22 PM on August 2, 2006

When activated (it doesn't use any "power" as we understand it, and there's no need to connect it to anything) it magically scientifically creates world peace and ends hunger.

Yeah, but does it come in pink?
posted by SassHat at 5:24 PM on August 2, 2006

creates world peace and ends hunger
An anti-nuclear sandwich maker?
posted by tellurian at 5:44 PM on August 2, 2006

It would be awfully nice if they'd point out how, even in hypothetical fun-land, the airwash machine was supposed to work.

Trying to improve on the microwave and oven and fridge is an interesting idea, but I don't know what else there is to the problem. You need to store your food, you need to cook your food. It's pretty damn easy already, you just have to buy things that are less crap for you.
posted by blacklite at 5:55 PM on August 2, 2006

I think the idea is that you have to come up with something that is aesthetically pleasing, and that could perhaps be prototyped. According to the rules they are seeking to license in good designs. For instance, the hwa-seok cooker from 2005 would be easy enough to build, an induction heater and some stones with metal cores to heat. Ultimately they are looking for some students to get very creative, and I guess they will let their engineers work out the details if they find something marketable. For this year's contest I would think something that can cook vegetables without adding fat and without sucking out the vitamins and that was visually appealing as well would make a good entry.
posted by caddis at 5:57 PM on August 2, 2006

As for the airwash, an ion generator and some air jets should do the trick - although I wonder if such a device would really clean clothing. It would be quite unique if it did.

If you would rather desing radiators look here.
posted by caddis at 6:10 PM on August 2, 2006

You mean a steamer?
posted by DenOfSizer at 6:11 PM on August 2, 2006

Maybe this is more of an ask.metafilter thing, but here goes: has anyone seen a prototype of a laundry hamper, which was on casters or whees, and had a spring-suspended floor (so that you wouldn't have to bend down to get to last sock wedged at the bottom)? I saw it a few years in ago in a British Design Expo at Grand Central. It was so cool, so perfect. I can't stop dreaming about that laundry hamper; does anyone know where I can get one???
posted by DenOfSizer at 6:14 PM on August 2, 2006

You mean a steamer?
posted by DenOfSizer at 9:11 PM EST on August 2 [+] [!]

Yes, I was thinking of that. However, you have to make it unique, and pretty. Perhaps you could get creative and find some other fluid with great heat transfer capabilities that would not harm the food.
posted by caddis at 6:26 PM on August 2, 2006

Is this it (pdf) DenOfSizer?
posted by caddis at 6:34 PM on August 2, 2006

Design a cool appliance and win 5,000 Euros.

It's a pity that the idea of a lifetime earns less than a week of drug-peddling.
posted by spazzm at 7:57 AM on August 3, 2006

Yes, caddis, yes! Isn't it the bomb? If I had that laundry hamper I would have the cleanest clothes on the block. Dayum. It's worth WAAY more than 5000 clams - forgive me - palourdes. Thank you!
posted by DenOfSizer at 4:21 AM on August 5, 2006