Awesome Concepts

Finnish designer J. Saaranen’s Reppo II is a 21st century boombox: In its hardshell case is an integrated amp, coaxial speakers and enough room for a six-pack of Bud.

Created by design student Da Feng, the GYM Concept Car is plug-in electric car that can be powered by the driver using the bench press and other exercise machines inside.

Vivien Muller’s concept Solar Tree is like a bonsai tree for charging your gadgets, with 54 solar panels and an array of modular “branches” that can be connected however you like.

We love the refined lines of this Fairlady Z concept by automotive graphics expert Jacek of Iacoski Design. It’s a tasteful blend of the original Nissan 240Z, the current 350Z and recent GT-R.

Our biggest complaint with the Wii’s white plastic controllers is how dirty they get over time; Joe D’s Vintage Wii Mod concept addresses this with a swank woodgrain on black color scheme.

Only you and your 15 ton buzz saw-wielding robot can prevent forest fires: this awesome concept by designer Jordan Guelde plays directly into countless mecha fanboy dreams.

The Illum Cycling Jacket is a solar-powered safety jacket designed to light up cyclists on the road with electro luminescent panels. It’s surprisingly stylish too; we hope it gets made one day.

Jake Loniak is just a college junior, but he has a bright future ahead with this wearable motorcycle concept. At high speeds, this form-fitting trike angles forward to reduce air resistance.

Designed by Alessandro Beda and Mathias Koehler, “Little Robots” are described as “geek toys” and contain floating organs; they look about 3.5″-4″ tall. Super cool, but just concepts for now.

Like a futuristic starfighter, Iman Maghsoudi’s Monza Ferrari concept actually changes shape depending on your speed; the wing-like design creates lift, much like an airplane.

Compose is an interesting gadget concept by several Chinese designers. A digital paper tablet uses a built-in mic to automatically transcribe your singing (or squawking) into notes.

Coders and developers will love the Equation Bookshelf concept by Estudio Breder, which uses brackets, braces and parentheses as clever adjustable bookends.

Luiza Barroso and Quentin Vaulot’s Oficio Workstation concept makes a space for those who are both messy and neat, by designating one half of the desk for clutter.

The Asterisco Hub isn’t the most practical of concepts (it’s quite the space hog), but it works on two very important levels: 1) it looks cool; 2) it can be used as a ninja star on short notice.

Like something out of Minority Report, this two-seater BMW concept by Italian design students sports suicide doors, zero emissions and a glass greenhouse. Tom Cruise not included.

Schulte Design’s Kitchen Workstation is a butcher block on one end and a laptop work area on the other. The milk glass panel slides away to reveal power ports and a document tray.

Kai Chen’s bath safeguard is a waterproof silicon gadget that measures the temp of your water. It’s a safety device, but we think it’s also perfect for guys who like their water just shy of scalding.

Although only a concept, Franc Vila’s SuperLigero Skeleton Tourbillon looks downright dangerous. The watch is made with Lightnium, a highly rigid alloy of aluminum and lithium.

Honda’s OSM (Open Study Model) concept debuted at the British International Motor Show recently. It’s not only a two-seater but a low emission vehicle. Could this be the next S2000?

iThink is one of those products that we prefer not to “think” about, so frightening are its implications. A concept by graphic designer Paul Micarelli, it’s a cyborg implant with hints of The Matrix.

Graffiti doesn’t get much respect as an art form, but it looks pretty cool as furniture. These pieces are by industrial designer Luis Alicandu, who is also an editor at design blog MoCoLoCo.

Robo-Garage’s Murasaki prototype robot is no slouch at storytelling; “she” actually uses an MP3 player. The ‘bot rolls on two wheels and articulates her head and arms with an eight-axis system.