Imagine the first person that ate a shrimp. That ugly little creature from the sea ended up to taste so damn good. On the other side, consider the poor guy who first tried some stunningly good looking, bright red, little fruits hanging from bushes only to find out that they were deadly poisonous.
It clear that both shrimps and poisonous red berries didn´t have a product test before being exposed to the humans, just like we have today with consumer products.
This article gathers a group of 15 useful and enticing conceptual designs that for several reasons may never reach the production stage, but may set a trend and definitely make us wish they really existed.

Nike Hindsight by Billy May

From the designer’s site: The design of the glasses drew on athletically inspired designs and focused on providing wide protective coverage. This goal also conveniently aided in allowing the lens to fully cover augment the eye’s field of view. The Hindsight concept uses Fresnel lenses integrated into the sides of simple eyewear to enhance a bicyclists field of view. In this example, the rapidly approaching taxi is seen sooner in the Hindsight lens than without. Read full description…

ONE folding bicycle by Thomas J. Owen

From the designer’s site: ‘One’ provides a real solution to the problems involved with urban transport. With congestion rapidly clogging up the roads the need for products that can free individuals from their car are in real demand. When open, ‘One’ is a comfortable stylish bicycle that not only offers all the benefits of cycling (like cheap travel and exercise) but with its revolutionary power assist system the user can cruise around with ease. When folded, ‘One’ turns into a smooth, light and compact case free of all dirty and protruding parts. ‘One’ can be easily carried, stowed and stored. ‘One’ is truly a bike for eco and money minded individuals alike. Its stylish design strips it from the folding bike stigma and makes it a bike for the 21st century. Read full description…

Juke Brick by Yon-U Cho

From Yanko Design: Instant Portable Concert: When more than two Jukebricks are gathered together, every Jukebrick becomes a separate performer. We can listen to the sound from each instrument or vocal. Exact sound sources [can be determined] from ordinary music using Music 2.0 technology.
Instant Portable Theater: Just attach more than 2 Jukebricks side by side and the screen is extended double and more. Also, as speakers are added, we can enjoy 3-way or 4-way channel surround speakers outside with friends. Read full description…

Torillo rotating stool by Diego Moreno

From Yanko Design: It’s a rotating stool. That’s all to be quite frank but design isn’t just about function but also how it communicates to us; be it a futuristic envisage or a nostalgic herald. I think the Torillo stool falls into the latter. The top part of this stool rotates 360º. Just grab a hold of the horns and give it a whirl. Read full description…

Paint or die but love me by John Nouanesing

From Core77 blog: No it’s not real but you’ve got to give French designer John Nouanesing props for his collection of concepts including this table which while needing some structural help is pretty fun. Read full description…

VIRTUO by Yana Klimava

From the designer’s site: VIRTUO is a digital art toolset that helps art novices develop their artistic side. Extensive research and testing resulted in the products form and function. VIRTUO uses sensors and light to mix digital color and apply it to a screen. Read .full description…

An electronic musical instrument by Petr Hampl

From the designer’s site: A set of a recorder, a glove with sound sensors and a pair headphones helps musicians create and record their own sounds and rhythms. The point is in friction between surfaces and sensors. Different types of surfaces enable to make sounds and to create a rhythm by tapping. The recorder attached to the glove runs a software which records sounds in preset modes and plays them via wireless headphones in real time. Such record is an input for further editing and electronic music creation. Read full description…

IC3 High tech cutlery by Alex Schulz

From Yanko Design Blog: The IC3 concept consists of a computerized shaft with 3 interchangeable eating apparatuses; fork, spoon, and knife. The fork analyzes composition such as fat, protein, sugars. The spoon measures weight, and the knife takes temperature readings. Together this info creates a detailed report on what you’re eating, helpful to those with diabetes and nutritional sufficiency. Gone are the days of lying to your doctor, “yes I ate my 5 servings of veggies.” The IC3 concept is currently on display at the Designparcours Munich 2008 exhibition. Read full description…

PEBBLES stone grill by Yongju Kwak, Dongbin Shin, Kukil Han & Young-Seong Kim

From Yanko Design Blog: Use the ancient power of water-smoothed rocks with the stone-grill concept “Pebbles.” It will make your healthy fish-devouring ways a cinch! Just unroll the Pebbles grill, locate the knob which switches the grill on, use it once again to turn the temperature to the correct level, wait a bit, just a bit!, and take them fish outta there. Turn the pebbles off and eat them fishes!. Read full description…

Sand+Time watch by Pavel Balykin

According to Designer Pavel Balykin, this watch works in a screensaver mode. The pixelated sand doesn´t count the time, it is just both decorative and ludic. To read the actual time you have to press a button and the time is displayed using conventional (er, sort of) digital numbers. Visit the designer’s site…

Magic Spheres wall speakers by Morteza Faghihi

From the designer’s site: In order to have a more enjoying music, make around space harmonious with your favorite music. The speakers are designed to be installed on the wall and to create commensurate light effects with music. These speakers were designed so that they can also be a decorative element on the wall. The visualizations can be changed based on the arrangement of the speakers on the wall.. Read full description…

Lane Light by Alex Tee and Evan Gant

From Dustbowl Blog: A close brush with a distracted driver is enough to intimidate the most avid bikers from riding at night. The problem isn’t just about visibility, as safety lights are effective at capturing the attention of a driver. However, these lights are typically constrained to the bike frame, which highlights only a fraction of the bike’s envelope. Read full description…

Flying Stick Camera by Tsunho Wang

From Yanko Design Blog: The title should be enough to explain what this is. In case it isn’t, it’s a flying stick with a camera! Rub it between your palms to get some kinetic energy stored up. Then release and the Flying Stick automatically takes pictures at set intervals. You know what they say, everybody looks 5 lb lighter when photographed from above. No mention of specs like camera resolution or memory but hey it’s a concept. If anything, it’s supposed to get your mind thinking, not criticizing. Read full description…

Dual Music mp3/CD Player by Young-Seong Kim

From Yanko Design Blog: You want to enjoy your audio CDs while traveling but you also have a huge MP3 collection at home that you want to take with you. The ideal solution? DMP, a portable music player that supports CD and MP3 files. Use the MP3 player as you normally would, hang it around your neck, clip it on your jeans or place it in your pocket. Otherwise open both sides and insert your favorite CD and you got yourself a CD player my friend. Now that’s music to my ears. Read full description…

Toast Messenger by Sasha Tseng

From Yanko Design Blog: Nothing gets your morning going like a cup of joe and a piece of toast slathered in your favorite spread. Of course, it can also be the time of day when things are hectic to start. Kids running around, people in and out, everyone trying to remind everyone else about the super important soccer meet after school. Next time, put it on toast. This toaster by Sasha Tseng incorporates a little message board where one can read quick notes. The message also gets “toasted” into the toast itself so it gives new meaning to “read while you eat”. Read full description…