Return to Quirky.com »

Author Archive

  • Mon, Apr 18 2011

    This Week’s Quirky Brief: Let’s Make A Pod Coffee Machine Accessory

    By jess at 12:19 pm

    Pod coffee machines are the fastest, easiest way to prepare a quality cup of coffee, and new offerings from companies like Keurig, Cuisinart, Krups, and Black & Decker are more affordable than ever.

    But even though these machines make the process of brewing coffee easier, they introduce other problems. Like the “K-Cup” pods, for example. Where do you put them? And clean-up. How do you keep the system gunk-free?

    This week’s brief will answer these questions, and more.

    Let’s come up with a problem-solving accessory for pod coffee machines.

    In this brief, we’re going to examine the whole process of using pod coffee machines, from organizing your “K-Cup” pods to serving the finished product, all the way through to clean-up. Also consider the end user and environment: An office? Teacher’s lounge? Family home? Studio apartment?

    Deadline for submissions is April 25th at noon, and submissions are free. So pour yourself a cuppa, and let’s get started!

    IMAGE CREDIT: Squidoo

    • 6 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Thu, Apr 14 2011

    Introducing… Nautilus

    By jess at 12:03 pm

    When it comes to plunging, Nautilus gets the job done. Designed for the modern-day toilet, Nautilus’s wider head and octopus-inspired dual-chambered suction mechanism mean better results. Tough clogs won’t know what hit ‘em.

    Nautilus is now available in the Quirky store for $49.99 presale ($54.99 retail) with a threshold of 1100. Congrats to ideator Dave Fulton and a cast of more than 713 influencers who pitched in to evolve this idea.

    Features:

    Plunger:
    – Dual-chambered rubber plunger head, which creates a stronger seal around the drain.
    – Bottom chamber stays still while you plunge, allowing compression to take place in the upper chamber.
    – Wide plunger head, specifically designed for modern-day toilets.
    – Wood handle with TPE comfort grip.

    Base:
    – Made of stainless steel and polypropylene.
    – Removable bottom for easy cleaning.
    – Plunger bottom sits one inch above the base, encouraging airflow and preventing mold.

    Dimensions:
    Plunger: 27” tall, 6.5” diameter
    Base: 28” tall (with plunger), 8” diameter


    • 10 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Tue, Apr 12 2011

    Shippin’ Out Switches

    By jess at 3:20 pm

    The wait is over. Switch, the ultimate modular pocketknife, is ready!

    If you placed a preorder, check your email now to confirm your order and verify your shipping and billing information. Shipping is first come, first served, so you don’t want to delay.

    Plus, if you ordered this product in Presale and confirm your order in the next two weeks, you’ll earn yourself a share of influence, which translates to royalties from every product sold. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask us.

    Congrats to everyone involved in this product’s development, especially to ideator James Robinson. It’s been a long ride, and we’re bey0nd excited to get this product out there!

    • 3 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Tue, Apr 12 2011

    Introducing… Cloak 2

    By jess at 12:24 pm

    We’ve redesigned our best-selling Cloak iPad case/stand specifically for the iPad 2, and it’s slimmer, sexier, and more stylish than ever. Introducing the Cloak 2, now available for $45 presale ($50 retail) in the Quirky store. With 1000 units in presale and 20% influence up for grabs, this is your chance to get a piece of the hottest iPad 2 case of the year!

    Features:

    - A super slim folder-style case that easily snaps onto your second-generation iPad.

    - Three stand positions: portrait, landscape, and type stand.

    - Easy to use: just slide out the detachable stand from the back cover and insert into the silicone grooves on the inside front cover to prop up your ‘Pad.

    - Magnetically activates the iPad 2’s sleep sensor so that it turns off when you shut the cover and on when you open it.

    - Made of durable plastic with silicone accents.

    Color options:
    Black/black
    Black/blue
    White/blue
    White/graphite

    Dimensions:
    7.48” x 9.72” x 0.47”

    • 3 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Mon, Apr 11 2011

    Help Us Choose Cloak 2′s Colors

    By jess at 6:43 pm

    The Quirky Design Staff has been sketching away behind the scenes on a line extension of our popular Cloak case, specifically designed for the iPad 2. We’re almost ready to launch, but first, we need your help finalizing color choices. Throw your vote into our Color/Materials/Finish project.

    Note: We won’t be awarding influence for this round, but we will be awarding influence for buying in Presale. Just throwin’ that out there.

    • 9 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Mon, Apr 11 2011

    This Week’s Quirky Brief: Let’s Make A Clear Silicone Product With Material ConneXion

    By jess at 3:51 pm

    For this week’s Quirky brief, we’re going to do something different: rather than challenge you to think up a product in a particular category, we want you to use this material as a starting point and let your imagination run wild! As long as it’s a consumer product that doesn’t involve integrated software and could retail for under $150, we’ll consider it.

    It was a tough decision, but we finally settled on a super innovative focus for our first materials-based brief:

    Let’s make a product out of clear silicone.

    As far as materials go, clear silicone is the best of both worlds: all the properties of silicone, with the transparency of glass. Other characteristics include:

    - Non-toxic
    – Microwave safe
    – High heat resistance
    – Impact resistance
    – Good electrical insulation
    – Can be made in various durometers from rigid to flexible

    To kick off this project, we visited our friends at Material ConneXion, a local materials library and consultancy, to check out their collection and talk shop. Be sure to check out our video before diving in. Submissions are open until April 18th at 12 noon, and are completely, totally, 100% free!

    Click here to send us your idea.

    • 9 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Fri, Apr 8 2011

    Boil Buoy Hits Threshold!

    By jess at 2:46 pm

    Fantastic news to close out the week: Boil Buoy just passed its presale threshold to become Quirky’s next product in production, just a day shy of six months after it launched in the Quirky store!

    A big congratulations to ideator Ryan Kent, the 214 people that influenced this product, and the dozens of community members who rallied around it in the forums. You done good.

    Always know when your water has come to a boil with Boil Buoy! Just place Boil Buoy in your pot of water, turn up the heat, and wait for the ringing chime to let you know your water’s ready to go.

    Boil Buoy features:

    - Stainless steel chime, with enclosed foam core for buoyancy

    - Weighted bottom ensures Boil Buoy stays upright and ready to ring

    - Made from 100% food- and heat-safe materials

    - Measures 125mm tall by 85mm wide

    Even though presale is done, you can still make an order at a low retail price of $14.99 in the Quirky store. We’ll shoot you an email when we’re ready to ship.

    • 5 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Thu, Apr 7 2011

    Introducing… Ventu

    By jess at 12:04 pm

    Prep, strain, serve, and store, all in one elegant solution. That’s Ventu, a serving bowl that also allows you to strain excess moisture from fruit, salads, pasta, and more. Just pivot the handle to easily switch between straining and serving functions, and save yourself the hassle of additional dirty dishes.

    This sleek product is now available in the Quirky store for a presale price of $49.99 ($54.99 retail) with a threshold of 1800. Ideator Andrea Zabinski, the Quirky Design Staff, and more than 722 community members joined forces to make this product a reality — big props to all!

    Features:

    - Innovative pivoting armature, that creates a no-leak seal when engaged. Removes for easy cleaning.
    – Easy-grip acacia wood handles.
    – Brushed stainless steel finish.
    – Holds up to 160oz (20 cups).

    Dimensions:

    Diameter, handle to handle: 12.3”
    Diameter of bowl: 9.7”
    Diameter of base: 5.6”
    Height: 6.6”

    • 30 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Thu, Apr 7 2011

    Lucky Bandits!

    By jess at 11:31 am

    We’re super excited to announce that Bandits, our versatile, multi-use rubber band hook, has hit threshold, less than a week after launching in the Quirky store. Woohoo!

    That makes three (of six!) products to hit threshold for long-term Quirky ideator Marc Zech, a copywriter and concepter from Hamburg, Germany. A big congrats to him and the 618 community members who had a hand in this product’s development. Y’all are gonna make out like bandits! (corny, we know — we couldn’t help ourselves)

    Even if you missed committing to this product in presale, you can still place an order for a low retail price of $9.99. We’ll shoot you an email when Bandits is real and ready to ship.

    • 4 Comments
    • Permalink
  • Tue, Apr 5 2011

    Introducing… Vesta

    By jess at 12:15 pm

    Futon? Check. Posters? Check. Enough ramen noodles to feed a small country? Double check.

    Now, Quirky has one more thing to add to your list of dorm room, first apartment, and starter home essentials: Vesta, a hot pot that lets you heat water, noodles, pasta, and other liquids, then eat or serve from the very same bowl.

    Vesta is now available in the Quirky store for $29.99 presale ($34.99 retail) with a threshold of 1600. Big congrats to Judi Sigler and the 648 community members that came together to make this product happen!

    Features:
    – Thermo-insulated design traps heat to keep the bowl’s contents warm, while the exterior remains cool to the touch.
    – Integrated spout and pour/carry handle, so you can easily serve tea and other hot beverages.
    – Lid includes an integrated, removable stainless steel spoon.
    – Temperature control dial lets you turn on the device and adjust the temperature from warm to boil.
    – Thick plastic exterior, with stainless steel interior and spoon.
    – White matte finish with burnt orange accents.
    – Holds approximately one liter (3-4 cups).
    – Charges with a standard 120V charger.

    Vesta comes with four parts: bowl, spoon, lid, and base.

    • 6 Comments
    • Permalink
Page 3 of 43«12345»102030...Last »

Latest Tweets

Connect With Us

  • Follow Quirky Inc on Twitter
    Keep up with us on Twitter!

Tags

Archive

© Copyright 2009 – 2010 Quirky Incorporated