Julia van het Hof

Lifestyle student at the Academy for Creative Industries, Tilburg Netherlands. Posting about new lifestyle trends or new finds I love!

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Jyro Bike

What it is: Jyrobike is a bike for kids who are learning to ride a bike. It keeps itself balanced due to a gyroscope. It hardly overturns, so children can ride independently. Jyrobike is linked to Kickstarter, where they are trying to make a 100.000 dollar for this project. You can reserve the bike for about 249 dollars. Why it is cool: This little bicycle will teach children how to ride a bike. Also it provides the convenience to the kids, so they are willing to learn more and to learn faster. Also the gyroscope is a sustainable way to make this bike efficient. Why it has future growth potential: Jyrobike is a nice initiative for children to teach them to stay positive in a learning-process. A self-balancing bike takes their quality of life to a higher level. Kids don’t have to be insecure anymore and can participate with others. Jyrobike turns can’ts into cans and dreams into plans. http://freshgadgets.nl/jyrobike-zelfbalancerende-fiets-die-kinderen-laat-fietsen-zonder-zijwieltjes

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Clean Energy Wind Turbine

What it is: A new source for fuel isn’t to be found deep within the ground, but in the opposite direction. In the jet stream, between 20.000 and 50.000 feet above the ground, a swirling mass of wind can provide us from clean energy. The inflatable wind turbines (BAT) can deliver two to three times the amount of energy won by conventional towers. This is what a Boston-based startup said. The turbines will power a dozen homes in Alaska (Altaeros Energies). Though the project has not started yet, the system seems perfect for Alaska-like circumstances. Why it is cool: The idea of creating a air-lifted power generator is a unique and sustainable way to win energy. Also the BAT will be made out of highly durable fabric. That means that it’s way friendlier to our ground and is a new eye catcher up in the air. They will look like flying donuts, so it will speak to your imagination also. Why it had future growth potential: Because this project will be subsidized in part by Alaska Energy Authority, the turbine will also be able to expand it’s technology to other regions. The BAT can be placed anywhere, so it can provide anyone from energy. Altaeros hopes that it also can be used for niche markets like military bases or disaster zones. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/Massive-Flying-Wind-Turbine-Could-Offer-A-New-Path-To-Clean-Energy-180950509/

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FishTales

What it is: FishTales is an organization that is focused on sustainable fishing. The owner, Bart van Olphen, had another initiative before, but the inexperience within the retail market was so huge, it went bankrupt. Bart wants to fight for fish, because the seas undergo rough times. FishTales wants to make both retailers and consumers, more conscious about the offer of fish. The organization wants fish products to include information about the fishermen and also about the amount of fish still left and about extinction of the different species. Why it is cool: FishTales wants to make clear that every fish has a story and that we need to think about our food in several ways. They want to create an emotional connection between the product and the consumer. FishTales wants to achieve a better quality of life for both, fish and consumer. Why it has future growth potential: By providing total transparency about fish, people will get conscious about their consume behavior. Other kinds of fish will be introduced to the market, so none of the species have to get extinct. http://www.foodinspiration.nl/article/2013-12-03-fish-tales

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Jawbone

What it is: A bracelet, which counts the steps you take, how many calories you eat and it also measures your heartbeat and blood pressure. The gained data is stored in an application on your phone. Why it is cool: First of all it’s a bracelet, so it doesn’t even attract attention. Nobody will notice that you are wearing a health indicator, which is nice when you don’t want to talk about it. Also it is a nice way to always know how your body is doing. You can see if you had enough sleep and things like that. All those facts are captured in your phone and are always available. Why it has future growth potential: The Jawbone is a control gadget. It lectures you about your health and with all those data you can learn more about yourself. Your quality of life will advance, because you can check your health level any time anywhere Source: https://jawbone.com/up

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Melon Head

What it is: This is a headband that monitors the activities of your brain by listening to the electrical activities of your brain. Melon connects with your phone via Bluetooth so you can see several mental states. This app teaches you about your mental behaviour and how it affects you state of mind. The melon is a still an outgrow project, so it’s not made yet. Why it is cool: The Melon can teach you about your mental health. It gives you information about for example focus, meditation and relaxation. Scheduling those facts on your phone, you can get to know yourself more and more. You will know how much sleep you need before you can get fully focused and so on. Why it has future growth potential: This headband can also be an addition to the future doctor-system. The headband reads your brain-activities and passes those on to your doctor. He can diagnose something and do further research or can refer to a specialist. Also it is a nice way to level up your lifetime quality, because you don’t have to visit the doctor as often. Source: http://www.thinkmelon.com

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I would choose Footloose

What it is: Mando Footloose is a bicycle, which transports you using electric energy. It generates power trough pedalling, so it is a sustainable way to move, even though it has a motor. The energy generated by pedalling transforms into electrical energy that charges the battery. Why it is cool: The bicycle includes a hybrid system, which means that the bike doesn’t need chains. A internal motor allows the wheels to move without a chain that connects the pedals to the wheels. Also this bike is foldable, so you can take anywhere you like. Why does it have future growth potential? This bike is a must-have for everyone who lives in a city. It’s compact, elegant and very friendly to use. Why it also has impact on your quality of life? Well, the Footloose is also equipped with a function that detects trouble occurs in the major parts. The display diagnosis this problem and shows you. So there are barely any risks using this bike. Footloose is a gadget that impacts your physical, material and emotional wellbeing, by being a bike, providing activity and safety and by not affecting the environment.

Source: http://www.mandofootloose.com/eng/main.asp

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Keep the earth by changing us

What it is: I think we see a lot of actions in the past few years, which make us aware of the beauty still left around us. For example the world earth day. ‘Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. As the urban population grows and the effects of climate change worsen, our cities have to evolve. It’s time for us to invest in efficiency and renewable energy, rebuild our cities and towns, and begin to solve the climate crisis. Over the next two years, with a focus on Earth Day 2014, the Green Cities campaign will mobilize a global movement to accelerate this transition.’ Another thing we see is in a branch in which we wouldn’t guess the sustainable actions would be feasible, fashion! But KENZO worked together wit the blue marine foundation to set up a action called; no fish no nothing. A clear statement to show that our seas and it’s habitants are threatened. On their website they show you what it is like to be a fish and that the fish we eat can get run out by 2048. This statement is also made in their clothing-collection.

Why these things are cool and hopefully will grow in future: I guess everyone in concerned about the future, we all want to live save and healthy in the future. The actions of brands and actions like world earth day, make us conscious about the changes in nature and the animals that are endangered. They invest money to show us their need to get changes and that it is fashionable to invest in those changes yourself. It’s important to show that those dramatically changes aren’t so far away and actions like world earth day show us how we can change our way of lifestyle and our daily behavior.

Source: http://www.earthday.org/greencities/ https://www.kenzo.com/nofishnonothing/

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What stores are for

What it is: A concept store is a store where you can find different departments and they are all linked on one theme, for example nature. Most of the times these stores want to do things differently. They don’t want to attract the average shoppers, they want to reach the sustainable buyer. To show you an example where I have been myself, I introduce Merci; In the middle of paris you suddenly find an open space in between houses and shops, which is hidden by a port. When you walk trough the port you find some chicken scratch in a robust fence and a giant truck all covered in green. Then you see the entrance of a store named Merci. Me and my family walked in and you see this enormous shop all filled up in green plants. BEAUTIFUL! When you walk trough this shop, you can find a cafe, a clothing department, an interior department, a kids department a garden department. They sell some amazing high quality stuff and all of it was durable. It turned out that Merci is a chain-shop in Paris and that this brand worked together with a garden center, called ‘Les mauvaises graines’. Really an eye-opening experience!

Why does a concept like this work? When my family walked on, I followed them and immediately stopped and stared by the entrance of the shop, what a lovely place! I saw the café, the clothing department and I wanted to explore it all right away. So I went to see what is happening in this place. Of course it was really busy in there, but that didn’t distract me from my mission. I saw all departments and I wanted to buy all the stuff for my interior and garden. Can’t even tell! Unfortunately everything was quite expensive, so I couldn’t find a thing that fitted my needs at that moment. But the reason why it this concept was really cool, is because nobody would think you can find a huge nature store in the middle of paris. I only saw amazed eyes around me and I think I had that glance too. Another thing is that this shop adds an sustainable point to Paris. Are there more stores like this? Another example is the Danner Lifestyle Concept Store in Portland. They also sell different things in their store, like clothes, shoes and skinproducts. Their theme is also nature, but they are smaller than Merci and are more focused on selling (sustainable) clothes. Why does these concepts have future growth potential? I think this is a great way to introduce nature in a store. We all love to see things grow and a store like this lets your imagination grow, which can help you with other things in life. By putting so much different things in a store and combine those with just the beauty of nature, I think you will reach a wide public. Every shopowner can learn something of this concept by Merci, because they put all aspects well together and created a never-ending fantasy path. Because after going there, you search for more places like this, but nothing compares.

Source:http://www.manoftheworld.com/blogs/blog/13846785-danner-opens-lifestyle-concept-store-in-portland http://www.selectism.com/2013/08/29/danner-launches-lifestyle-concept-store-in-downtown-portland-oregon/ http://www.merci-merci.com/fr/

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CitizenM Hotel

What it is: CitizenM is a new concept of a Hotel, which is meant for ‘the new traveller’, the mobile citizen. The idea of this hotel is to shake up the out-dated hotel industry. The Dutch marketing officer Robin Chadha, who wanted to disrupt the out-dated hotel industry and to reinvent the travel experience, makes this concept. His idea is to make a affordable hotel where mobile citizens (people who are coming in and out of cities) can stay and where the hotel offers them the perfect stay. No more long check- in procedures and no more time-limited restaurants in this hotel. CitizenM is made for comfort, efficiency, experience and emotion. So it fits he quality of life standards of its costumers. Also CitizenM doesn’t hire experienced hotel workers, but individuals who only make your stay more pleasant. Why it is cool: CitizenM plays with the idea of the hotel concept. They don’t want those out-dated standards of a hotel, they wanted to create something that fits the expectations of the costumer. The hotel created a modern but cosy atmosphere to make their guests feel comfortable. It is cool because they use technology and the idea of what other hotels did wrong, to make their hotel perfect. You can’t unsee the things you’ve seen, so they put everything together to make their hotel efficiency and comfortable. And they also are very into consciousness, for example, in each room there is a 'save the earth'-switch, which will turn out the lights.

Why it has future growth potential: First of all I think this idea is genius, is because they don’t start with a commercial point of view, but they start with the needs of the customer. That’s how it should be. It’s not difficult at all, we already notified a change in the behaviour of people. Possession isn’t our goal anymore, we want to experience something, so it’s not about luxury anymore, it’s about emotional wellbeing. So CitizenM is the perfect example of how a hotel can fit our new standards, loose, efficiency and personal. Source: http://www.coolhunting.com/travel/citizenm-times-square-hotel.php

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Le George/ Centre Pompidou

What it is: A restaurant in Paris on top of the Centre Pompidou where you can look all over Paris. The view is amazing and the waitresses all were very good-looking. In the restaurant you can find some huge art-objects in organ-forms, where you could have a private dinner and where the wardrobe was made. By going in there I thought I went into a club or something, because the music was very loud, but when you get used to it the music makes the whole experience almost breath-taking. Why it is cool: Because the music is so loud, you get the idea that you are in a club. That makes the whole dinner a lot more intimate, because you have to get close to talk. Some people would say it’s annoying, but I think the music makes you loose. Sometimes a caught myself singing or dancing while eating dinner. Very funny! The menu of the restaurant was also a bit different, it was designed like a newspaper, you had to unfold it and find out what are the starters, main courses and desserts. I thought it was funny though.

Why it has future growth potential: The idea of making a building in which different kind of interests get together is well overthought. Originally the Centre Pompidou was made for art exhibitions, but now it is also a public library and on top you can find the restaurant St. George. I think it’s awesome to find so many different aspects of a city in one building and every department is different but it shows the character of Paris very well, because you can find a lot of culture aspects in there. Because you put a lot of different aspects together in one building, you make it easy for tourists and habitants to see cultural expressions in one place. It shows that there was room for thought while classifying this building, they have shown with this project that they thought about making something sustainable. Very nicely done!

Source : http://www.beaumarly.com/en/georges/presentationhttp://www.centrepompidou.fr/en

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Merci Paris

What it is: In the middle of paris you suddenly find an open space in between houses and shops, which is hidden by a port. When you walk trough the port you find some chicken scratch in a robust fence and a giant truck all covered in green. Then you see the entrance of a store named Merci. Me and my family walked in and you see this enormous shop all filled up in green plants. BEAUTIFUL! When you walk trough this shop, you can find a cafe, a clothing department, a interior department, a kids department a garden department. They sell some amazing high quality stuff and all of it was durable. It turned out that Merci is a chain-shop in Paris and that this brand worked together with a garden center, called ‘Les mauvaises graines’. Really an eye-opening experience!

Why it is cool: Well, where should I begin? First of all it was just a secret hidden place, where we went by by accident. Just because we saw that a lot of people getting out of a courtyard, we went in to see what’s happening there. By walking in we instantly got overwhelmed by the little but beautiful green garden, I didn’t even mention the entrance of the shop at all. I only had eyes for the chicken and the few rabbits. When my family walked on, I followed them and immediately stopped and stared by the entrance of the shop, what a lovely place! I saw the café, the clothing department and I wanted to explore it all right away. So I went to see what is happening in this place. Of course it was really busy in there, but that didn’t distract me from my mission. I saw all departments and I wanted to buy all the stuff for my interior and garden. Can’t even tell! Unfortunately everything was quite expensive, so I couldn’t find a thing that fitted my needs at that moment. But the reason why it this concept was really cool, is because nobody would think you can find a huge nature store in the middle of paris. I only saw amazed eyes around me and I think I had that glance too. Another thing is that this shop adds an sustainable point to Paris.

Why it has future growth potential: I think this is a great way to introduce nature in a store. We all love to see things grow and a store like this lets your imagination grow. By putting so much different things in a store and combine those with just the beauty of nature, I think you will reach a wide public. Every shopowner can learn something of this concept by Merci, because they put all aspects well together and created a never-ending fantasy path. Because after going there, you search for more places like this, but nothing compares.

Source:http://www.merci-merci.com/fr/http://www.mylittle.fr/mylittleparis/en/concept-store-paris.html

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Nutrima

What it is: nutrima is a tool for freshness investigation. The appliance calculates the nutritional values and the freshness of the food you are about to eat. It is foldable, so it’s easy to bring along. Also this tool includes an app mapping your experiences. Last but not least the nutrima gives you some information about high quality ingredients and where to get them. Why it is cool: This tool is a must-have for every household. It enables you to check the freshness of your food, so you don’t have to rely on the seller anymore. Because of the tips you are always able to buy the best food in town and to share it. Probably it will also recognise certain ingredients in dishes, which makes it easier to remake the dish of your favorite restaurant. Because of the given transparency about food, you can now easily choose the food that is good for you. Why it has future growth potential: In the future it will prevent us from diseases like food poisoning. Maybe it also will be used at airports, to check if you carry toxic with you or something like that. Insured, Nutrima will make our lives much safer. Source: http://electroluxdesignlab.com/en/submission/nutrima/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSrJU-rw21g

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Wine night out

What it is: A wine guide which gives you a professional view on wine. It makes it easier to choose and includes also some nice must-knows. It informs you about colours, flavours, temperatures, ages etc. Why it is cool: Now you can choose your own wine. You don’t have to ask the waiter to help you with your choice. This guide makes the wine industry less complex, which is good. It gives you more information about wine and its flavor and quality. The guide shows that transparency in the food business isn’t that hard to make clear, just by making a guide you can take the consumer into your concept. It shows that you are interested in the opinion of the consumer and that you respect them by showing your process. You will get more consumers and respect in return. Why it has future growth potential: The fact that this guide gives you a lot of information about wine is nice, but what’s way better is the fact that it does connect you to others. Because it is so easy, you can enjoy your wine, food and night out really well and simple. This wine guide will probably result in a nice night out with a few wines too much, but that’s fine! Source:http://winefolly.com/tutorial/wine-for-beginners-infographic/

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No Hodgepodge

What it is: It is a bakery, but not with that typical craft look. It has a very clean interior and not old fashioned at all. This bakery, called Panscape, is located in Kyoto and presents its food in a different kind of way; fresh, simple and selected. Why it is cool: Nowadays we are craving for natural ingredients, great looks and great tastes in food. And we are willing to pay for good quality, because that is also good for our quality of life. We feel better if we eat good food. Bread is one of those food, which is important to most of us. We like to entrance a bakery where we can smell fresh baked bread. But sadly we often only find bakery’s that don’t bake bread themselves. As lucky as we are, a new kind of bakery’s is coming up. They show their baking process and offer their bread in a simple, but stylish way. Because of simple interior you are not distracted by other things, so you can keep your concentration on your needs. Also they put their fresh baked bread in their showcase, what makes it easier to choose. This makes clear that in food it is all about quality, location, presentation and destination. Why it has future growth potential: Panscape will probably attract young people with an eye for style and handcraft, also because of its stunning attention to detail (Don’t miss the little hole in the wall for a mouse). You can see everything that a bakery needs; the oven, the flour and the bread. It gives total transparency. No hodgepodge, just the necessary.

Source:http://charlotteminty.blogspot.nl/2012/01/simple-designer-bakery-in-japan.htmlhttp://feedbox.info/the-worlds-most-creative-bakeries/

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Good enough!

What is it: Spoleto, an Brazilian restaurant started a campaign to increase self-confidence among woman as well as the sales. A pretty woman gets a free meal. But who decides if you are pretty or not? You decide it yourself! How did they do it? During the payment the customers were asked if they consider themselves as pretty. If yes was the answer, they take the food for free. This al resulted in a lot of happy and confident woman and a 35% increase in sales. Why is it cool: this is simple. Woman love to get a compliment, but this restaurant does it the other way around. They make the ladies feel ‘they’re worth it’! A free meal with confidence as a topping. And a lovely side effect is, you wont commit if you think you’re not pretty enough. So you have to say you’re beautiful anyway. Fake it until you make it ;)The quality of life increases by visiting this restaurant. The physical wellbeing of women is their goal and by offering confirmation about the beauty of the costumers, they are showing that they only want the best for women. Why it has future growth potential: This restaurant is a very strong concept to show that you even can get confidence in a restaurant. They want to share two messages; first of all they want woman to admit they are beautiful, but Spoleto also wants to make clear that it is fine to combine beauty with food. I think that is a very strong message. Cause that’s obviously a thing every woman is insecure about. Food with a message, Thats beautiful!

Source:http://eatrio.net/2012/09/the-brazilian-eating-experience-that-gives-me-the-fear.htmlhttp://www.nsmbl.nl/wait-what-een-restaurant-waar-alleen-mooie-vrouwen-gratis-mogen-eten/

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My favorite piece of art from Lichtenstein at the Tate Modern in London! Still miss London every day, loved to live there, even though it was just for a month!