coin 4 is a brand new case for iphone 4/4S for urban prefer (taiwan).

better late than never, urban prefer is waving goodbye to iphone 4 and releases during 2011 international taiwan design expo an all new iphone 4 case to welcome iphone4S

the intention with the introduction of coin4 was to present a case completely different to any other case found in this, over-saturated, market by introducing features that no other one until now has offered.

first, the curved rear surface allows easier and safer grasping and use. then, instead of offering a second accessory to act as a stand, in the overall form, we integrated slots where coins can be inserted and transform the case to a stand.

phone users, everyday “have” to remember to carry with them so many things such as iphone, charger, earphones, keys etc. why should they have to remember to carry their phone’s stand?

this solution, also allows to offer 2 products in one, to make this case cheaper as not extra parts are needed for the stand function but also avoid creating over-complicated forms and functions.

and as for the coins, whatever kind of coins someone carries in his/her pockets, be them taiwanese dollars, u.s. dollars, euros, yens or coins from any other country, no worries, he/she will find one that will fit or lock in the slots.

concept / creative direction : alexandros stasinopoulos
design : alexandros stasinopoulos / vic chen

the case is available after Oct. 14  in black/yellow/white/grey/pink/blue colours here:    http://www.urbanprefer.com/ENG/index.htm or you can directly contact : order@urbanprefer.com

(UPDATED: 11/06/2011 ) an indoor/outdoor chair for shang-ye industrial (taiwan).

the purpose of mechanical watches is not just to display the time. they are, and ought to be, the showcase of human achievements in the fields of engineering, aesthetics and of course craftsmanship - just to mention a few. it is essential for mechanical watches through their form and functions to reflect these values and therefore to be the mediums to push the limits and discover new territories of creation and technological advancement.

ora concept is a study on the field of haute horlogerie. it focuses on the display of time via an unconventional mode, by replacing the expected dial arrangement found in the vast majority of the mechanical watches with a set of three interwoven tapes – one to indicate the hour(s), one to indicate the minute(s), and one to indicate the day.
the arrangement of the indications derived from the aspiration to demonstrate in a bold and dramatic way the passage of time. the design of the case reflects an “inside-out” design approach as it was the mechanism’s arrangement that prescribed the overall form in an attempt to enhance its uniqueness and create a distinctive silhouette.

ora [awr-uh] : phonetically a) “hour” in greek b) in greek the imperative “look!”

such a process was personally organized and led for Royal Haskoning, an independent consultancy firm, in order to conceptualize novel ideas on their customer’s problem on how office spaces for knowledge workers should be structured and equipped to be multifunctional.
for the purposes of the creative session it was formed a group of 6 persons that later created 3 sub-groups. the process was:
icebreaker > brainstorming on 5 preselected areas related to the problem that would generate the material to be later synthesized for the idea generation >flower association to create associations around central themes > idea visualization each group made sketches of their suggestions.
the outcome of the session was a series of ideas spanning from space/activity arrangement to objects that would facilitate the communication and exchange of knowledge amongst colleagues.

note : no post-it notes were used during the sessions. all the material used was custom-made

iF concept award - 2008

BRIEFC(eramic)ACE is an ambitious concept for a briefcase making extensive use of zirconium oxide on its surface with complementary leather details; a concept that attempts to push the technical boundaries of both the material and the category of briefcase bags as objects to a modern era. zirconium oxide belongs to the family of high-tech ceramic materials; it offers a fascinating combination of the rich history and culture of traditional ceramics with high-tech properties.
the aim but also the challenge of this project was to link the primitive character of traditional ceramics (e.g terracotta and porcelain) with the unique properties of high-tech ceramics, such as extreme hardness (2nd harder material after diamond), scratch and abrasion resistance, skin friendliness and unique sensuous feel.
the large ceramic surfaces on either side provide vast space for creative design variations; leather is used on the straps for closure as well as on the handles, to provide a supple counterbalance to the ceramic material.

reddot design award - 2008

technische universiteit delft + psarros shipyard - graduation project

triton falirefs’s aim was to explore the market viability of a “made in greece” wooden motor-sailer yacht. could such a project revive the interest for wooden vessels and therefore avert the discontinuance of the greek traditional wooden boat-building craft. therefore, at the heart of this project lay a double challenge: to modernize wooden vessels so that they could meet the demands of the contemporary marketplace and at the same time, to retain the distinct experience of being on board a wooden yacht cruising in the mediterranean sea.
the main design drivers (derived after a multi-level analysis of the market and the domain of pleasure boats) that were taken under consideration during the design phase were a) the yacht’s adaptability to the particularities of the greek (and broader mediterranean) climatic condition b) the unobstructed access and view to the surrounding natural environment c) the particular needs and desires of the demographic group of “baby boomers” (people aged between 45-65).

for the purposes of this project, a pleasure boat was designed and a complete product and brand strategy proposal for the implementation of the project on behalf of the shipyard involved in this project.

domus academy & louis vuitton malletier – envision louis vuitton’s future retail environments

the design proposal for louis vuitton is a modular complex of platforms creating stages to guide customers through the LV retail store and showcase LV’s products.
these platforms were designed not only to be functional, but also to convey the feeling of the customer gradually reaching the perfection of LV’s products – a symbolic escalation. the design language used balances between the visual complexity of interwoven surfaces and the purity of big flat uninterrupted spaces. the curvatures enhance the feeling of craftsmanship, in the sense that they reflect the effort of the craftsman to bend or even tame the materials to create the final shapes. everything inside a louis vuitton space should reflect qualities of hand-made craftsmanship.
the final design complies with the request for an “environment” adaptable to various settings, such as flagship stores, hotel and airport lounges: the platforms can be arranged in multiple ways to meet the specific needs of different spaces each time.

(in collaboration with: assaad haddaad + ariane martinet)

domus academy & swarovski ag – internal competition: design a small give-away gift for swarovski / finalist

luxury may be hidden inside the most trivial objects of our daily life. objects like paper handkerchiefs. a piece of paper we use and then throw away. a piece of paper that will touch our skin, take our tears away and relief us…
a swarovski crystal, attached on the handkerchief as if it is a tear crystallized on the edge of the paper few seconds before it would drop to the ground. lyrics, poems and parts extracted from theatrical plays printed on the handkerchief will “open” a dialogue with us as words of compassion.

asics – fill the box ’07 competition

the need to perform is not essential only for the athletes competing inside stadiums and courts but today, more than ever before, is a necessity for everyone any time of the day. therefore asics, a leading brand in sports equipment, not only should it provide with reliable & competitive gear athletes but do the same for anyone for any activity any time of any day.

asics-heel shoes for women. the straps form in both sides asics logo and in between the heel and the sole there is gel for shock absorption.

domus academy & dietiker ag – design a hybrid furniture system suitable both for residential and public/work spaces

the seating system proposed as design solution for this project, hosts and encourages a variety of postures defined by spaces and activities related to the hybrid lifestyle (residential and office spaces). for the individual, personal space and privacy is one of the most significant and essential factors of living. sharing is an equally indispensable factor and this boundary is the core of what the project addresses. the assembly of the modular system elements ensures a wide range of configurations to suit home interiors and public spaces.

(in collaboration with: katrin svabo bech + hanyi huang)