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Bench turns plastic waste into beautiful outdoor furniture

The Torii Bench began with a simple question asked every day at Placyle: what if plastic waste could be turned into something beautiful? The idea was to show the true value of plastic, not as garbage but as possibility. While walking beneath the red gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, the designer was struck by the pure, elemental form of the torii gate—a threshold that invites movement yet offers moments of stillness. That feeling of entering a calmer space became the soul of the bench’s design.

Translating that emotion into outdoor furniture produced a minimal silhouette: two upright “pillars” and a floating “lintel,” abstracted into a light, architectural profile. The rhythm of the bench is defined by parallel recycled‑plastic lumbers that cast subtle shadows, have soft edges, and provide reassuring solidity under the hand. The result feels both familiar and new—ceremonial in line, everyday in use.

Designer: Aliasgar Aboojiwala

Every Torii Bench is made from 100 % recycled plastic recovered from post‑consumer and industrial waste streams. The material is UV‑stable, weatherproof, splinter‑free, and tactile, speckled with tiny hints of its past life that are preserved rather than hidden. Stainless‑steel fixtures add long‑term rigidity and remain rust‑free.

Designing for real life meant designing for logistics. The bench ships flat‑pack: legs fold inward with adjusted hole placements and hardware that makes assembly tool‑simple and intuitive. This reduces shipping volume and carbon cost, and makes installation painless for individuals and communities. For those seeking added comfort, the Torii Bench offers three expressions within the same design language: a pure architectural seat, a quietly cushioned version for longer pauses, and a lounge‑style option with a soft arm‑rest bolster for unhurried conversations. One core frame supports multiple expressions without re‑engineering.

The bench is available in calm neutrals, earthy naturals, and bold statement hues, each plank acting as a quiet archive of waste plastic given a second life. Field tests rate the bench at a 300 kg load capacity, with finishes designed to withstand sun, rain, and public use. Every unit carries a story that helps clients communicate sustainability in ways people can touch.

Placed along a pathway, in a residential courtyard, on a patio, or beside a museum path, the Torii Bench serves as a threshold between movement and pause—a piece of architecture scaled for the body and a small, everyday reminder that circular design can be beautiful, durable, and human. By turning discarded plastic into a functional work of art, the Torii Bench demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform waste into value, inviting users to sit, reflect, and appreciate the possibilities hidden in the materials we often overlook.

The post Bench turns plastic waste into beautiful outdoor furniture first appeared on Yanko Design.

Get Ready for the Smartphone Audio Wars

It’s funny how trends in technology seem to circle back every decade or so. I remember a time, maybe ten or twelve years ago, when the big war in the laptop world wasn’t just about processors or screen brightness. It was about sound. You couldn’t walk into a big box store without seeing tiny, prestigious logos printed right next to the keyboard. Asus had a big partnership with Harman Kardon, stamping their name on notebooks that delivered surprisingly rich audio. Dell’s XPS series had a long running deal with JBL, and their laptops often had a fuller sound than you’d expect. Then there was HP, which made a massive splash by integrating Beats Audio into its Pavilion and Envy lineup when the brand was at its absolute peak. It was a clear signal to buyers; these machines were not just for work, they were for entertainment. That little logo was a promise of a better movie watching and music listening experience.

Now, it looks like that same playbook is being dusted off for the smartphone arena. For years, the battle for our pocket space has been fought over camera sensors, the durability of folding hinges, the sheer thinness of a device, and more recently, the cleverness of its AI. But a recent report suggests a new front is opening up, and it’s all about audio. The apparent catalyst for this shift is Xiaomi’s Redmi K80 Ultra, a phone that boasts what it calls a “master level” coaxial symmetrical dual speaker system. Tips hint at a collaboration between Xiaomi and Harman Kardon, like it did for the Mi 11 phone. This audio partnership seems really natural, given that phone companies have repeatedly partnered with imaging brands like Zeiss, Leica, and Hasselblad to tune their camera hardware and software. Plus, it seems the industry has noticed, and rumors are swirling that other premium phone brands are preparing to follow suit with their own advanced speaker hardware and professional audio tuning.

Designer: Xiaomi

This potential shift raises an interesting question. Will audio performance become the next major flex for flagship phones? It makes perfect sense when you think about it. We use our phones for everything now, from binging shows on Netflix to gaming with friends and listening to podcasts. The built in speakers have long been a weak link, an accepted compromise for the sake of portability. But as camera systems offer increasingly smaller improvements year over year, audio quality presents a real, tangible area for a brand to stand out. Imagine a phone with speakers tuned by a legendary audio company, delivering a sound that is genuinely impressive. That is a feature everyone can understand and appreciate, from the biggest tech nerd to the most casual user. The smartphone wars have always been about finding the next big thing to capture our attention, and it just might be that the next frontier is not something we see, but something we hear.

The post Get Ready for the Smartphone Audio Wars first appeared on Yanko Design.

Crocs Ghostbusters Classic Clog is the perfect footwear this Halloween

No matter how you feel about Crocs, you cannot deny that they are able to make pretty interesting collaborations, some you may not even have imagined they would partner with. We’ve seen partnerships with luxury brands, food products, other designers, and pop‑culture references. If you’re a fan of the Ghostbusters franchise and wonder how you can wear them on your feet, this latest release will pique your interest.

The Crocs Ghostbusters Classic Clog has now become a must‑have for anyone looking to add a spooky twist to their Halloween wardrobe. Designed to mimic the iconic Ghostbusters uniform, the clog features the familiar tan color, a black “no‑ghost” logo on the heel, and a subtle proton‑pack graphic on the side. You’ll feel ready to take on the supernatural once you get a pair because of all those design elements.

Designer: Crocs

One of the most interesting aspects of this collaboration is the glow‑in‑the‑dark detailing that comes alive when the lights go down. The logo and the slime‑green “cross‑bones” pattern on the strap absorb light during the day and emit an eerie glow at night, making the shoes ideal for late‑night trick‑or‑treat runs or Halloween parties. The hidden details don’t stop there; tiny ghost silhouettes are embroidered on the interior heel tab, a nod to the many specters the Ghostbusters team chased in the movies.

Beyond the novelty factor, the clog retains all the comfort features Crocs is known for. The signature Croslite foam footbed provides lightweight cushioning, while the roomy toe box ensures breathability during long evenings of costume‑changing and candy‑collecting. The removable Jibbitz charm holes let wearers personalize the look with Ghostbusters‑themed charms, such as the iconic Ecto‑1 car or a miniature Stay‑Pufly, adding an extra layer of fandom flair.

Styling the Ghostbusters Classic Clog is straightforward. Pair them with a classic tan jumpsuit replica for a full‑on Ghostbuster look, or contrast the neutral clog with a black or orange Halloween dress for a subtle pop of geek culture. The glow‑in‑the‑dark accents work especially well with neon or metallic accessories, creating a playful contrast that stands out in dimly lit venues. This footwear also taps into the broader Halloween trend of nostalgic collaborations, where brands revive beloved pop‑culture icons to attract both collectors and casual buyers. That strategy has proven effective for Crocs, which has previously partnered with franchises like Star Wars and Disney, driving spikes in seasonal sales and social‑media buzz.

The post Crocs Ghostbusters Classic Clog is the perfect footwear this Halloween first appeared on Yanko Design.