Posted by Halit.Bozdogan
Monday, 16 May 2011
Our obsession with the future has informed all parts of society. Films, literature, music and other forms of communication have tried to instil in us the benefits of knowing what’s to come. Looking ahead can make life easier in the present it seems. When it comes to appliances, brands are always researching to see what they can make better, quieter, faster, and more efficient.
Sometimes these things are beyond our capabilities (for the moment), but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and create visions of how we want our appliances to be.
Since 2003 Electrolux has offered people the chance to enter the ‘Design Lab’ contest. Like DRL, they share the notion that Innovation is a key idea. And there have been some pretty unique ideas over the years. Here are a few from the 2010 competition which, impractical as some may be right now, give us a look at where we might possible be heading...
The Bio Robot Refrigerator encases a big slab of biopolymer gel where food products are placed inside, keeping them in motion. It contains the odours given off and it requires no front door or extra power for cooling, as it cools through luminescence (light occurring at low temperatures).
Another unique entry was the portable induction heater, nicknamed ‘The Snail’. You attach it to any metal surface and it creates an electromagnetic field, heating the metal and cooking your food quickly and efficiently. Not only is this perfect for when you’re hiking in the Lakes and need a brew double time, but it’s probably the closest entry to actually being created in the near future.
It’s good to see ideas that truly bring innovation to the forefront of our mind and it is encouraging that our imagination isn’t limited to the here and now.
The 2011 Electrolux Design Lab contest has closed for entry now and the finalists are currently in the process of being chosen. The theme this year is ‘Intelligent Mobility’ and I’m pretty psyched to find out what innovative creations are being cooked up for our delight. These concepts are designed to provoke response and stimulate conversation so once we get a shortlist we’ll post it up. When you’ve seen it, please feel free to leave your comments on what you think could work, should work, or is simply the fevered rantings of a crazed mind!