Gizmodo: non-object

Nucleus Motorcycle Concept Would Be Interesting in a Wind Tunnel

Sean Fallon — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:00:00 EDT

I suppose it goes without saying, but the design team at Non-Object took all of the things we have learned about making motorcycles and threw them in the trash, pooped in the trash, then lit the can on fire when they came up with the "nUCLEUS"concept bike. But then again, they never intended for the design to be taken seriously. Rather, it is meant to push the boundaries of design beyond the norm.

Outside of the obvious design features, this "square against air" electric motorcycle includes a hydraulic system that lowers the body to the ground when idle and then raises it up when in motion. Again, this bike is only a concept, so don't expect to see it on the street anytime soon. [Non-Object via Yanko Design]

Nonobject Two-Way Camera Shows Us What We Can't Control

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:15:07 EST

We've shown you some of Branko Lukic's "Nonobjects" before, including the touchless cellphone and those unique pebbles of electronic awesomeness. The latest concept from this man's fertile mind is the Behind The Scenes camera, with lenses and displays on both sides for simultaneously recording what you're aiming at, and what you're not. Why? The stuff you shoot is what you remember, what you control, what you expect. What turns up within the other lens is unknown, unexpected, outside of your control. I dig the idea, and the video's peaceful soundtrack, but I don't get how the photographer isn't in the back shot. Wouldn't it be cool to be in some of those pics, as a reward for taking shots of everyone else? [Nonobject] Thanks, Branko!

Touchless Cellphone Concept From A Parallel Universe

Noah Robischon — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:12:01 EDT

This is the latest scifi-slash-absurd design concept from branko Lukic. The Tarati is a phone with no keys, you pass your fingers through the keyholes to dial. Lukic describes it best:

Tarati enables the user to connect with others by passing fingers, in order, through key holes. This action of dialing alone is a more magical experience and, hence, more indicative of what's really happening beyond the visible realm. ... Tarati beckons the user to "touch" someone without physically touching a single key. Its design reflects human connectivity in a less material/mechanical, more sensual, way.

Reach out and touch someone, eh? Sounds like a good commercial jingle for a rotary phone company. –Noah Robischon

CUin5 Cellphone: Design Fiction by branko Lukic
One Day Every Gadget Will Be A Unique Snowflake

nonObject Design Fiction No4: Tarati [Video]

One Day Every Gadget Will Be A Unique Snowflake

Noah Robischon — Fri, 04 May 2007 18:55:45 EDT

RCA began selling the Gem line of MP3 players, including the Opal. Creative introduced its Zen Stone. And today Acer brings us the Gemstone. Earthly naming conventions are nothing new, from the PEBL to the i-Stones, gadget makers have long tried to portray their wares as organic, natural forms instead of the mercury laden, toxic ones the really are. But if consumer electronics companies really want to mimic nature...

then they should heed these words from industrial designer and sci-fi gadget imagineer Branko Lukic, from his upcoming book nonobject:

Each natural "product" is a unique specimen; nothing else compares to one, after another, after another. Imagine if the manufacture of consumer electronics afforded such diversity! Imagine if consumers had the pick of an endless array of devices, each one its own distinct shape, size and color while keeping the internal components the same... The state of things now: sameness sits on assembly lines; sameness lives on shelves; sameness is in hands of consumers. Need it be this way - where color is the only distinguishing feature? Why not tackle design in more interesting ways? Rather than considering a product as one of many, diversify the multiple existing molds and consider product a little more freely. Need each be a clone of the other? Why not envision production methodology anew, as a result of more organic processes? Just imagine: a near future where we still make a single product in large volumes, but we do so more randomly, intuitively, eclectically. This way, with advanced manufacturing techniques, consumers are offered more choice within a single product category.

Unless, of course, we are all electric sheep who want to own the exact same thing. –Noah Robischon

nonobject Design Fiction No 3: Pebble [Book Preview]

CUin5 Cellphone: Design Fiction by branko Lukic

Noah Robischon — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:30:26 EST

The design of your phone is the result of countless business plans, TCO and ROI analyses. The CUin5 is the bizarro world version of that business plan. Every face includes a keypad, microphone and speaker.

Imagine grabbing it quickly - from inside your bag, from off a shelf, from under a car seat - and freely interacting with it without needing to turn it over or align it right side up?

The "super-practical" interface is also one of several sci-fi design hybrids— or Design Fictions—that will be included in branko Lukic's upcoming book titled non.object. Lukic knows what he's talking about: he spent 5 years at frog Design and then moved to IDEO where he designed products like the TaylorMade r500 golf club and Zyliss salad spinner. The book won't be published until later this year, but a sampling of his absurd concepts will be debuting here in the coming months. –Noah Robischon

CUin5 [Movie Page]
non.object [Book Page]