Concept Products

Voters at this year’s Show have seen the light when voting for the winner of the 8th annual, Concept Product Awards. FootLume, an illuminating rug designed by Zoe Robinson and Leona Dean from London South Bank University has beaten 30 other finalists to be crowned Concept Product 2008.

Launching innovative products is an integral part of the Ideal Home Show’s history and this year the tradition has been maintained with an exceptional group entered into the Concept Product Awards. Here’s a full run down of this year’s entries

RWC Bathroom furniture - designed by Ines Sanches Calatrava

The RWC (Recycled Water Closet) looks into the future of water recycling systems. Once these become simplified, the RWC could benefit people around the globe and particularly in areas where water is scarce. It seems so obvious that water used in a basin for washing, could be reused in a toilet cistern. In fact the water used in other bathroom fixtures like showers and baths, could also be recycled as grey water to flush a toilet.

RWC has widespread potential both a domestic appliance or a commercial contract unit. In the home, bathrooms would be designed differently to store and reuse grey water. In a commercial environment, toilets and basins would be reconfigured to not only use water efficiently, but save space as well in places such as airports. There is also a humanitarian dimension to RWC - it can be used to advantage in areas where water is in short supply, and every summer festival goer will appreciate the benefits at a campsite!
Hamster Shredder - designed by Tom Ballhatchet

Creative and witty thinking come together in Tom Ballhatchet's paper shredder, powered by a hamster doing what hamsters like to do - run round on a wheel. The energy generated by the hamster's exercise routine turns a gear system that transmits power to a paper shredder so that unwanted documents can be converted into a hamster's desirable bedding. Its an ingenious solution to recycling paper and looking after your pet. Of course, the underlying theme is more serious. On the basis that every little helps, we all need to consider micro-generation that has a collectively larger impact on sustainable practices. The Hamster Shredder is a thought-provoking idea that resonates with the way people live their lives - encouraging and rewarding positive behaviour.
Single Person Cooker - designed by Alex Bradley

As its name suggests, the Single Person’s Cooker (SPC) responds to some of today's eating habits that are evolving because of the rapid pace, increasing solo existence and less structured routines of many people's daily lifestyles. The compact and stylish cooking device features a WiFi connection, and its associated website provides recipes and information for producing nutritious healthy meals, and supports quick and efficient preparation. The recipes are automatically linked and stored on the SPC to programme cooking times, and heating controls. Ideally suited to the batchelor pad or studio space, the SPC provides a desirable cooker and interactive web-based connections that also steers less confident cooks away from ready meals and encourages them to prepare their food themselves. Not only is the user more likely to think about their diet and improve their well being as a result, but the SPC becomes an object of focus and discussion in the kitchen.
FootLume - designed by Zoe Robson and Leona Dean

FootLume is an illuminating rug that adds a touch of truly contemporary style for the design conscious home. Pressure activated when you stand on it, there are lots of functional benefits too such as gently lighting your way if you get up in the night; creating a gentle night light for a child or elderly person or simply making a striking design statement as ambient lighting or an alternative to candles. FootLume is electroluminescent luxury in the modern home.
The Bird Feeder Chandelier - designed by Georgina Rose Shire

The Bird Feeder Chandelier is a joyful object that is both functional and frivolous. It combines the grandeur of the chandelier with the humble bird feeder to create a spectacular garden feature. Suspended from a tree, complete with candles and reflective ornaments, it sets the scene for outdoor dining and romantic summer evenings. Meanwhile during the daytime, it entices birds into the garden for a gourmet feast of nuts and delicious treats. If you have a nightingale, it could sing for its supper........!
Pod Rocker - designed by Eddie Jackson Lloyd-Dyke

Rock a by baby…..the enchanting Pod Rocker is a charming idea for a baby, the glorious concept by Eddie Jackson Lloyd-Dyke. Referencing the natural shape of an egg and a seed pod, the strong outer shell protects and cocoons the baby. The shell is made from sustainable materials (compressed bamboo fibre and water soluable resin that are biodegradable), whilst the soft internal padding is also made from natural materials. Once the baby out-grows the Pod Rocker, it can be planted outside where the shell biodegrades and seeds, cleverly integrated within the structure, will germinate. The result is a beautiful tree that leaves a lasting memento and a positive contribution to the planet.
Elevated Spoon - designed by Gillian Westley

If you are a cook you will recognise the problem - where can you put the spoon down between use when stirring sauces, scrambling eggs or mixing a cake? Gillian Westley has solved the problem by adapting the handle to ensure that the spoon never touches the work surface, so avoiding risk of contamination and that annoying mess. Some ideas are so simple, you wonder why it hasn't been done before.
Beat Blinds - designed by Will Gurley

Will Gurley's Beat Blinds take the concept of conventional wooden window blinds and gives them a delightful secondary purpose, turning them into a musical instrument, inspired by the Xylophone. Each wooden slat makes a different note when hit by the drum sticks, which double as the pulley system. Beat Blinds make a playful addition to any bedroom or drawing room and integrate play for children into adult environments. Take a look at www.willgurley.com for other inspirational ideas.
Take-Away Sink - by Jessica Nebel

In and around the home, buckets are used in endless ways. With the 'Take-Away Sink' as an integral part of the kitchen sink, there is no need for an extra bucket that has to be stored elsewhere. In any case the bucket is often too big or awkward for filling in an ordinary kitchen basin. Furthermore, the possibility of removing the washbasin encourages people to think about their water consumption and re-use it for a secondary need such as watering plants.
Broom - coat rail with detachable clothes brush - designed by Anna Barnett

This witty and practical product makes reference to a sweeping brush, but instead of sweeping the floor 'Broom' hangs horizontally on the wall and turns into a coat rail with hooks suspended along the length of the handle; the removable clothes brush, made from natural hog's hair, is magnetically attached to the end of the handle.
CCTV Birdbox - designed by Cèline Shenton

'Big bird is watching you' is a birdbox that looks like a CCTV camera. It works just like a dummy camera, but on closer inspection, it offers a great refuge for birds in need of a new home. Inside the box is a little camera that films the activities in the nest, so that avid nature watchers can watch the flighty comings and goings.
Chair for Life - designed by Eva Manchester

The ‘Chair for Life’ project focuses on extending the lifespan of a highchair. By having removable parts, and parts that are added, it can be adapted to the user as they grow, helping to develop a longer lasting relationship. The chair has four stages, highchair, toddler chair, adult chair and rocking chair.
Cold Block - designed by David Weatherhead

Cold Block's designer, David Weatherhead, looks at sustainable ways of living, and has developed a contemporary alternative to a cool store that is built into the walls of new build homes and requires no electricity. Its compact form, made of terracotta, points to a downsizing of conventional refrigerators. Using capilliary action, water stored in its base rises up through the walls and evaporates on the exterior surface, creating a cool internal storage environment to keep food and vegetables fresh.
Diyet - by Alyn Griffiths

Diyet is a range of three objects designed to encourage healthier eating habits. The biscuit tin presents fruit as a healthy alternative snack and the position of the bowl, as the tin's lid, makes it difficult to reach the biscuits. For people who use too much salt on their food or when cooking, the salt spoon restricts the amount of salt to 25% of a teaspoon (the percentage of the recommended maximum daily intake that remains after the salt which is hidden in other foods). The tablecloth features a pattern of recipes that provide inspiration for people who struggle to meet the recommended 5-a-day fruit and vegetable intake. Together, these Diyet products aim to provide a stylish and fun option to encourage people to enjoy a healthier diet.
Double Back Dining Chair - designed by David Irwin

David Irwin has elegantly solved the problem that occurs when hanging a coat on the back of a chair. Instead of getting creased, or dropping onto the floor, there is a second chair back, designed specifically for the coat.
Elbow Room Seating - designed by Mark Taylor

With living space in new build homes likely to get smaller, Mark Taylor's space saving Elbow Room Seating offers a number of different functions. Using simple interlocking shapes in combination with a familiar sofa form, it provides footstools, laptables for working or eating, additional seating as well as armrests and storage
Draw a Ladder - designed by Sarah Brosnahan

Draw a Ladder are ordinary curtains - until an emergency occurs when they transform into an escape ladder. The curtains are made from a strengthened, fireproofed fabric which hangs from a reinforced pole that can support the weight of an adult. In an emergency, when there's only one way out this is a very clever escape route.
FLOX - designed by Alicia Parris

Flox is a flexible silicone light that has a calming, uplifting effect on the user. It was originally designed to combat the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) however its amorphous, maleable shape also makes a design statement in the home. It can be used as a personal reading light, draped over the back of a chair or actually worn on your shoulder; and it would make an eyecatching centrepiece for a dining table.
Newton's Breakfast - designed by David Wilson

David Wilson injects a sense of excitement and nervous anticipation with 'Newton's Breakfast'. Despite being static, the kitchen object holds a narrative of potential consequence, drawn from our knowledge of the fragility of eggs and the motion of Newton's cradles.
Tier drop cake stand - designed by Lucinda Barnes

Tea and cakes are back in fashion. Lucinda Barnes celebrates the deliciously sophisticated revival with a contemporary, decorative and environmentally conscious cake stand. Specially designed ceramic plates slide over the neck of a wine bottle to create the familiar form. The bottle acts as a vase for some festive flowers as well. At the end of the party, the bottle is recycled, and the plates stack close together for neat storage.
Pay-it-back kitchen - designed by Alexandra Jörgensen

Pay-it-back is a kitchen island designed to make ethical living functional, practical and more attractive whilst providing an understanding of how nature and consumption are connected. It is a sink and a preparation surface where you prepare and compost food and recycle the packaging. The compost on one side feeds the growing plant on the other, which is watered by ‘grey water’ through a drip mechanism. The life of the plant relies on how well you cope with an environmentally friendly lifestyle, and the aesthetic of the unit is therefore a unique reflection of your actions.
Rolling Shelves - designed by Catherine Greene

Everyone knows how frustrating it is to discover that books are too tall, or ornaments too big to fit on a shelf or into a bookcase. Catherine Greene has solved the problem with an attractive, wall mounted shelving unit in which the shelves roll back to accommodate tall objects and remain in position until you move them back to their original position. Remarkably, the shelves neither sag or flex, thanks to the ingeniuos construction of the shelves and the combination of wood and strong fabric that they are made from. The product is recommended for young house-proud people with an interest in thoughtful design, who would like something playful and functional that is different from standard shelving. More information can be found on www.catgreene.com
Rush'ower - designed by Raquel Martins

Rush’ower is a shower curtain printed with heat sensitive ink that reacts to the time spent showering with the tap running. As the water runs down the drain the colours of the curtain fade and disappear to reveal a message and alert the person showering, inducing guilt to change their carefree attitude to water consumpution.. The message ‘Wise People use Water wisely’ is revealed as the time passes by. As the bathroom and curtains cool down, the original colour and graphic reappear.
Eat, Meet, Drink......Spill Tablecloth - designed by Sebastiano Oddi

Dining is as much about socialising as it is about eating. The unusual tablecloth is designed to embrace the fact that spills and stains occur at the dinner table. On contact with liquid like red wine the table cloth reveals an ornate, organic pattern turning the ugly 'accident' into a deliberate mistake that adds a talking point to the dinner party. The stain can be easily removed, simply by washing so that it is ready for the next fun mishap.
TV Packaging Stand - designed by Tom Ballhatchet

TV Packaging Stand transforms the protective packaging used when transporting TV screens and monitors into an playful and considered piece of modern furniture. This is contextual reuse of a material that is normally thrown away, and is the designer's attempt to find positive and engaging ways of dealing with domestic waste. The TV Packaging Stand is made from expanded polypropylene, a material similar to regular polystyrene but more resilient, infinitely colourable, that can be moulded in different surface textures and provides the ability to create strong, mechanical locking features. It can be used again and again as packaging when moving the TV to a new location, and is quickly and easily assembled as the TV stand.
Thermo Kettle - designed by Robby Ogilvie

The thermo kettle is a unique and fresh look at an essential domestic appliance that everybody uses on average 7 times a day. Research shows that the electric kettle uses 27% of all the energy used in dometic cooking. This kettle iincorporates thermal technology to reduce energy usage. The vessel keeps the water inside warmer for longer, and can therefore reduce the number of times it needs to boil and reduce the associated consumption of power. The kettle is made from 100% recyclable materials and is predominantly an eco kettle with environmental issues at the heart of its design.
Room Divider with integrated dining system - Nikolas Cramer-Klett

The product represents a furniture solution for small space living environments. With the increasing costs of living space inside major cities, ways of using space effectively and efficiently need to be considered carefully. Multi functional or dual purpose furniture such as this room divider that incorporates an integrated dining system is both a practical solution, as well as an exciting and desirable product.
Singing Shower - designed by Debbie MacLennan

Debbie MacLennan cleans up the image of rock and roll with the Singing Shower. Do you sing in the bath? Do you fancy yourself as a karaoke king? The Singing Shower fulfils a fantasy for the closeted performer that lives inside everyone. It includes a shower head masquerading as a microphone, and integrated speakers to feed music and song back into the cubicle. It comes with song sheets, pre-recorded backing vocals and a set of matching Singing Shower accessories.
Solar Sill - designed by Paula Denby

Solar Sill is an alternative way of using renewable energy to charge or power low voltage products. Solar panels designed as a unit attach as a stylish exterior window sill fitting. Situated where they can capture the majority of the sunshine they generate enough power to power and recharge items such as mobile phones and MP3 players. The energy generated by the sun transfers to the elegant charging bay which houses your electronic items.
t-party - by Lauren McKinley

Lauren McKinley’s t-party is based on the theme of tea drinking ceremonies where people enjoy a formal social gathering. The main focus is a hybrid between tableware and tabletop, with the chinaware sitting in specific areas. As part of the setting there are also matching floor cushions and a side table that create a sense of place. Suddenly tea time is party time.
TEMPlate - by Amanda Smith and Sarah Ginn

Wave goodbye to oven gloves when warming food on a plate in the oven or microwave. TEMPlate ™ is a temperature controlled ceramic dinner plate that heats up in the centre but remains cool to the touch around the rim and underside. It helps to heat food quickly and keeps it hotter for longer. It is safe for every body to use – including the elderly, visually impaired and general everyday use.