Core77's latest weekly roundup from August 4-8, 2025, presented by Rain Noe in Object Culture, highlights a diverse collection of innovative products and design solutions that caught the attention of the industrial design community. The comprehensive overview spans everything from rugged technology to kinetic sculptures, demonstrating the breadth of contemporary design innovation.
Technology and everyday tools featured prominently in this week's selection. The Ulefone 33 Pro, a rugged smartphone designed in a compact 2x4 size format, showcases durability-focused mobile technology. Meanwhile, Yamazaki Home introduced a magnetic tape dispenser capable of holding two different tape sizes simultaneously, addressing a common organizational challenge in offices and workshops.
Cutting tools received special attention with several noteworthy innovations. Horl Scissors incorporate an unusual feature specifically designed to simplify the sharpening process, while the roundup also explored strategies for making even simple items like pencil sharpeners achieve viral marketing success. The Audacious Concept and D Rocket Design collaboration produced the IMP, described as a beautiful yet bizarrely compact EDC (everyday carry) folding knife.
Workspace efficiency solutions were highlighted through Shadow Tool Staging Systems, which offer superior functionality compared to traditional drawer storage. In the safety equipment category, LED-equipped Lizard Flares represent a significant user experience improvement over conventional roadside emergency flares, providing better visibility and reliability for motorists.
Cultural and artistic exhibitions also made the list, with the Petersen Museum's "The Wedge Revolution" exhibition now open to showcase wedge-shaped automotive designs. The intersection of technology and sustainability appeared in discussions of how 3D printing technology will contribute to more affordable nuclear energy through innovative formwork solutions.
Luxury and precision items were represented by Casio's MR-G series, featuring a titanium G-Shock watch with a distinctive hand-hammered finish. Plus Minus Zero contributed a wireless TV speaker with design aesthetics reminiscent of classic Braun products, emphasizing the enduring influence of modernist industrial design principles.
The roundup also featured artistic and creative endeavors that blur the lines between design and art. A mesmerizing kinetic desktop sculpture called the Hypnoloid moves in unexpected ways, providing visual entertainment for workspace environments. ASCII art created using manual typewriters by artists Paul Smith and James Cook demonstrates the creative potential of traditional tools in contemporary artistic practice.
Sustainability and customization themes emerged through several featured products. Piet Hein Eek's kitchen designs utilize repurposed materials, showcasing environmentally conscious design approaches. Umbra's Solis Adjustable Standing Shelf system, designed by industrial designer Sergey Dedin, offers user-configured options that provide multiple aesthetic possibilities for different spaces.
Health and wellness innovations rounded out the selection with practical solutions for common problems. Coop Sleep Goods produces adjustable pillows for improved sleep comfort, while the LifeStraw Escape offers portable, high-capacity pressurized water purification for outdoor enthusiasts and emergency situations. The FDA's approval of vision-improving eyedrops potentially signals an end to traditional reading glasses dependency.
The roundup concluded with an industrial design case study examining Pearson Lloyd's exploration of future-oriented learning environments through an experimental "café classroom" concept. This project represents the ongoing evolution of educational space design to meet changing pedagogical needs.
Accompanying the weekly roundup, Core77 featured profiles of seven prominent industrial design companies through their directory service. The featured firms include Astro Studios of California, established in 1994 with multidisciplinary design teams; Project Duo, which brings proven innovation to clients of all sizes; and The Metcalfe Group, Inc., a full-service product design firm located in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. Additional profiles showcase Alternatives, a full-service branding and creative agency; Speck Design, a twenty-year veteran Silicon Valley product design and strategy consultancy; Curve ID, a New York City-based complete industrial design consultancy; and Cardboard Helicopter Product Design, a boutique product development studio in Cleveland, Ohio, that specializes in transforming ideas into reality.
