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This month, Lexus has introduced their long-awaited new RZ 450e, the brand's very first fully electric vehicle, to its fleet. The new model is a sleek offering, with dynamic lines, a minimized look overall (the contentious spindle body feature, for example, has been noticeably pared down), and climate-conscious details such as the exclusion of interior wood and leather details. And of course, the model addresses the large issue of range within EVs, and how it can be a large barrier to purchase. This introductory product from Lexus seems to be an exploration from the brand of the question, how ..read more

Seoul says they're building the world's largest hubless ferris wheel. Will these replace skyscrapers as the go-to international bragging rights object? Product designer Erik Stehmann found himself stuck with 1,500 disposable paintbrushes, and devised a creative way to upcycle them. A hipster bar adapts an antique invention to mix drinks in an eye-catching way. Masaya & Co.'s sustainable, stylish and modern rocking chairs are manufactured with a "seed to finished product" business model. High-end German travel gear company Rimowa makes this strange Aluminum Sling Clutch, apparen ..read more

A brewery in Neuzelle, Germany says they have developed powdered beer and will start market-testing it in September. After two years of research, and with funding from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle ("Neuzelle Monastery Brewery") says they've nailed the science. Just add water, and "looks like beer! Tastes like beer! Is beer! With a real head of foam!" A rendering, obviously One of the monastery's actual beers, for illustrative purposes "This is a dextrin-rich beer specially brewed by the monastery brewery using conventional te ..read more

Growing up, Michael Brucker noticed that his grandfather used a metal comb "probably obtained in the early 1950s," he writes. The object fascinated Brucker, who eventually inherited the comb and treated it like a treasured heirloom. The next part sounds crazy, but Brucker somehow made it work: Inspired by his keepsake, he actually set up a business that sells laser-cut stainless steel combs. I'd have guessed this was doomed to fail, but Brucker's been running the business for six years full-time, in addition to becoming a Star Seller on Etsy. Brucker's Heircomb sells multiple designs for both ..read more

This suitcase design is of unknown origin, and is listed for sale on the kinds of dicey websites that scream "bait & switch." But it does have some unusual design features worth looking at. The first feature we've seen variants of before, but I'll include it anyway: There's frontal quick access and the device-charging capacity that's becoming de rigueur these days. The second is a bit silly, but I can't deny I'd use it: There's a built-in cupholder. The third is a truly smart feature: The handle itself contains flip-out hooks, handy for hanging those Duty Free bags or the food bag you ..read more

Loosely speaking, there are two types of earbuds: The kind that hang out in your ears, and the kind that plug your ears. I've found the first type is more comfortable for long wearing sessions, but the second is indispensable for true noise canceling or thumping bass. Most manufacturers force you to choose between one or the other, but Chinese manufacturer Mchose (a company I could not find a link for) is offering both in one package. The company's BH288 TWS product consists of two pairs of earbuds, one pair of each type, that come in a single charging case. But instead of featuring a hinge ..read more

This almost doesn't seem real. Australia-based design and engineering firm Flux has developed the Flux Keyboard, a transparent keyboard that sits atop an HD display. The user can instantly change the labels for the keys, as well as background images for the keyboard. The company describes the floating keys as "maglev keyswitches." Here's how they work: "Each key is suspended by two pairs of magnets which act as a spring providing the return force and a satisfying low friction travel in either tactile or linear switch varieties. The position of each key is sensed by hall effect sensors posit ..read more

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Today the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity launched Tables, Tables, Tables, a free online exhibit examining Ray and Charles Eames' designs for tables. As excited as I was to click on it, I was equally excited to see the lead-in is an essay by Kim Colin, of Industrial Facility (one of my favorite design firms), discussing how the field of industrial design has changed since the times of the Eameses—and which elements should endure. Photograph: Pippa Drummond; Styling: Natasha Felker I can't cut-and-paste Colin's entire essay, but I'll post a snippet in hopes you'll click over to read the r ..read more