Sunrise Outdoor Table
The Sunrise Outdoor Table from Ben Manwaring appears to just be a prototype, but it's such a good idea that I hope it gets picked up soon. It has twelve little solar panels that collect energy all day long, and then at night, a central strut pops up with a light and away you go. Plus they're pretty.
This isn't Manwaring's only eco-sensitive (and terrific) design. Note the E-phones:
The E-Phones are headphones designed to be more environmentally friendly. The speakers are brought seperately to the casing, and the casing can be replaced as styles evolve. The casing is produced entirely from one material, meaning that it can be easily recycled in a single sort bin. The headphones are partly powered by solar power, to ease the battery drain from personal music players.
The more young industrial designers are ingrained with the idea of making their work energy-conscious as well as attractive, the better off we're all going to be. Onward, Ben!
