Summertime means there is excitement in the air, Pina Coladas in our hands, and of course beads of sweat on our forehead! As much as I love and thoroughly enjoy summer, I’m almost always on a mission to beat the heat. I’m all for experiencing summertime to the max, while also ensuring and taking care of my own comfort. And, having a band of summer essentials by our side is always a great idea! From a portable wearable air-conditioner to alphabet ice cubes for a personalized touch to your summer cocktails (making you the best host EVER) – these fun yet functional product designs are all you need to be completely prepared for Summer 2022. Have a fun and safe summer!
1. Portable Fan II
A designer has thought of a wearable air-conditioner that’s pretty different from Sony’s Reon Pocket 2 in design and functionality. The wearable Portable Fan II (the second version of Kevin Von’s junior year project), is 3D printed and polished to be an exciting new cooler for wearing with formal clothing. Yes, this fan you can wrap around the neck and keep your mind cool is designed primarily keeping the collared workforce in mind.
Why is it noteworthy?
Traditional hanging neck fans have been the go-to option for people all this while but they are only little effective, Kevin notes. These shoot direct air at the face making it cumbersome for users to breathe; moreover, the air emitted is uneven. The Portable Fan II however uses Bernoulli’s principle to speed air circulation around the user’s torso ensuring smoother and more comfortable cooling. The device connects to a dedicated mobile app for remote control of the airflow and temperature, it also has onboard control for when you want to keep it simple.
What we like
- Functions as an individual’s personal air-conditioner
- 3D printed design
What we dislike
- No complaints!
2. The Heineken B.O.T.
The Heineken B.O.T. (Beer Outdoor Transporter) is a notorious Wall-E with fancy branding to always be by your side, delivering your brew chilled to the perfect temperature.
Why is it noteworthy?
On first look, you can mistake this one for a mini John Deere mower with a missing front half. However, it can haul 12 chilled beers on its big wheels that virtually follow anywhere you go – giving the machine a charming personality. The tiny robot features four wheels, two big wheels, sensors, a brain running AI, and the capacity to hold a dozen cans in addition to ice. Owning this one will surely make you popular among buddies for its pure chill factor, literally.
What we like
- Features a small screen and a speaker that allows the robot to greet its person
- The design can probably handle rolling on the grass at a park and running on more rugged terrain
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The Noori V02 AIRY
In 2019, the Noori’s V01 grill basically won all our hearts. It became the go-to grill option for barbeque lovers! And this year, Noori is back with their latest V02 AIRY model! Excited much? Me too.
Why is it noteworthy?
Boasting an enameled steel construction, the Noori V02 AIRY is a multifunctional outdoor grill, pizza oven, rocket stove, and a fire pit – all in one! Not to mention, it’s probably one of the best-looking grills I’ve seen in a long time, it’ll be the perfect visual accessory to your backyard. The grill consists of six refractory concrete internal plates. These plates + an AIRY cylinder make up the grill’s innovative AIRY system (which also gives the product its name). This basically means that to set up an open fire, you simply need to remove a few refractory plates from within the AIRY cylinder, which instantly exposes the flames, creating the mesmerizing flame dance we all love to watch in an open fire!
What we like
- Features a pizza disc
- Portable design
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. The STYLE Pocket Fan
As much as we want to stay inside air-conditioned rooms all the time, we still have to go out to meet people and do errands. So prepare by bringing a portable fan with you, as this will help you survive the sweltering weather outside. The STYLE Pocket Fan is one portable fan that can fit just right in your pocket or purse. It is inspired by a lipstick you usually find in most ladies’ bags; however, this isn’t limited to the girls only because everyone needs a fan.
Why is it noteworthy?
The STYLE Pocket Fan is one fashionable, portable, and practical personal cooling device. It is easy to carry and use just like lipstick because of its size and silhouette. And like a lipstick, you need to remove the cap to reveal the blades. Put back the cap in a reverse position to keep it in place. A small power button is found on one end near the transparent blades. There is also one USB-C port on the other end with an LED indicator.
What we like
- Super portable + easy to carry
What we dislike
- The small blades may not be enough for some people
- It’s still a concept!
5. The PANO Beam Projector
Some households are switching to getting home projectors. Instead of getting more giant TVs, they prefer projectors to achieve that cozy, home movie theater feel. We have seen and tried several projectors already. Most of them are just concept designs, but there are a few we really want to turn into reality, like the PANO.
Why is it noteworthy?
The PANO Beam Projector is a portable version that is great for the home and for outdoor adventures. For example, if you’re into camping and are looking for evening entertainment, you can quickly bring your Pano projector and be ready to play your favorite movie or TV show. This portable beam projector doesn’t look complicated to operate. The design is a simple rectangular prism inspired by an SUV. On one side is the projecting lens and what appears to be a fabric speaker grille. On the top surface is a button and what we’re assuming is a zoom ring.
What we like
- Lightweight compared to other models
- Allows us to go on an emotional trip down memory lane
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. The Barbecue NX
The smart grill concept has been designed by Swapnil Yeutkar who is a Product Designer for Whirlpool India. It’s only an idea but the Barbecue Nx has the potential to be big when it becomes a reality. It goes beyond its stylish form but it doesn’t look anything like the common grills we see in the market. At first glance, it looks like a huge air fryer or a small electric oven. From another angle, it appears like an oven toaster.
Why is it noteworthy?
What makes this concept special, is that it’s a grilling machine that allows a more efficient grilling with unique low smoke technology. A centrifugal fan helps in grilling so everything is efficient. It’s what powers the grill and sends out air to the chimney via two input manifolds. There is a fire plate that ignites the fire gel as described by the design. This makes the machine ready to grill in just five minutes.
What we like
- Ready to grill within five minutes
- Separable grill that can be easily cleaned, and is user-friendly for cooking veggies + meat at once
- Unique low smoke technology
What we dislike
- Not very portable
- Looks more like an air fryer, than a barbecue grill
7. The Inno Portable Fan
The Inno Portable Fan is an upright fan that can shrink down to five inches so we can bring it to the beach for those hot days that call for a cool blast.
Why is it noteworthy?
The creators behind Inno say that the portable fan “was literally born out of sweat.” Instead of throwing money into air conditioners and buying a bunch of different fans for every occasion, Inno allows users to bring cool air with them anywhere they go, anytime. Inno was designed with a telescopic pole that pulls out to 35 inches at its tallest and shrinks all the way down to 5 inches.
What we like
- Transforming design with an adjustable height
- 24 hours battery life
What we dislike
- No complaints!
8. The Tripster
Dubbed the Tripster, this unique portable chair from Trippy Outdoor is a convenient little piece that you can stash in your garage or the back of your car and pop out whenever you need it!
Why is it noteworthy?
I had to stop myself from calling the Tripster a foldable chair because honestly, it doesn’t really fold. Built with a unique yet incredibly simple assembly mechanism, the Tripster effectively plugs in and out, going between what’s essentially a comfortable high-back outdoor chair, and two easy-to-store pieces of wood.
What we like
- Creates a seating device that travels exceptionally well, and is a breeze to set up
- Lightweight form
What we dislike
- No complaints!
9. Folding Fan
This folding fan is a personal must-have so I can stay as cool as I need to be without suffering from either frozen fingers or overzealous sweating. All the cooling comfort I need without any remote control tussles, this appliance is truly a summer essential!
Why is it noteworthy?
Meet the folding fan, a portable fan that can be folded and stored when not in use. The wireless aspect of the design is a big win in my favor – I hate carrying cables or have them dangling around my space. In fact, the portability of the design makes it perfect for carrying it outside the home, even for camping. The designers paid special attention to the foldability of the design – right from the fans stand to the fan head, you can adjust the fan as you need.
What we like
- Flat-packed and portable design
- You won’t be adjusting yourself to the fan, the fan will follow you
What we dislike
- No complaints!
10. Shelf
Developed in the design language of DHL, PDF Haus aimed to give Shelf a simple box silhouette with a freewheeling attitude, taking inspiration from the color scheme, materials and finishes often chosen by DHL for their vehicles and brand aesthetic. The grill even comes with DHL decals and tags that can be adhered to the metallic grill’s front case that turns into its table extension. While most gas stoves come with a separate carrying case, Shelf’s entire grill has been turned into one that can be consolidated and carried away.
Why is it noteworthy?
Shaped and carried like a slim briefcase, two metal clasps open and slide out to reveal the Shelf’s grill and supplementary table space. Just beneath the grill, Shelf includes two retractable shelves that create more space for whoever’s cooking to place their spices, utensils, or tools. Blooming from Shelf’s underside like an awning, the shelves, and the sliding tables nearly double Shelf’s overall area.
What we like
- Unique briefcase form
- An intuitive, recognizable control panel that allows users to adjust temperature and flame settings
- DHL-inspired aesthetics
What we dislike
- The grill is given more weight once propane gas containers are inserted into its underside to activate it
- The briefcase-inspired stove could easily be scratched or damaged in the outdoors
