The IdeaPad Yoga 11S had a big week, first with its website availability on May 16, then by heading to New York City to hang out at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). We attended ICFF for the first time to show off our latest Horizon Table PC and the three custom tables we had created for it. We had some fun with the fashion-forward Yoga: it turned heads at the show, and even made itself home in some home-design booths at the Javits Center.
Yoga kicks back and relaxes after a hard day of working the ICFF floor.
Right next door to Lenovo, Yoga checked out the latest bath designs from Kohler .
Yoga picked up some sweet swag during ICFF.
Flanking the other side of the Lenovo booth, Yoga tested out a stylish seat and pillow from Gabriel Scott, and picked up a tote bag designed by Jamie Derringer, editor of Design Milk.
Comfort to the extreme; Yoga cozied up on this plush velvet green couch from IKEA.
Ever a fan of the affordable, global furniture brand IKEA, Yoga was enamored with this emerald green couch from its new
Continue reading “Yoga Takes NYC Part 2: On Tour at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair”
Judson's Treehouse Horizon Table
As a designer, Judson Beaumont of Straight Line Designs always looks to bend the lines, producing out-of-the-box pieces that are unexpected and add whimsy to any environment. So when Lenovo approached the creator about putting his touch on creating new opportunities for the IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC, his mind took him to the tree tops. Here’s a glimpse at what sparked his imagination.
Q. How did you get the idea for the 21st Century Treehouse?
A. When I first thought about creating a table for the Horizon, I designed many different styles based on various age groups. Some of those original designs included adult versions, however, I am more known for children’s furniture so I was inspired to do a design for kids. With technology progressing, I was thinking about designing daycare centers, libraries and furniture that would allow children to interact, play and learn in these settings. The question I kept asking myself is “how can I create something that will intrigue them?” It’s great because the design of the 21st Century Treehouse also works as storage with the door leading to an empty space to keep toys, books and anything else. Function is just as important as design aesthetics and the storage space can also serve as an imaginary play area.
Q. Do you see the integration of technology and furniture becoming a trend, especially as there are more devices for specific...
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The Nest Horizon Table
Another team of designers, Brooke Lichtenstein and Yiannos Vrousgos of Input Creative, took a totally different approach to creating their technology-infused table for the living room. Their expression, The Nest, reminds you of the Russian nesting dolls and Chinese puzzle boxes that efficiently use space in an elegant envelope. We’re fascinated by the three different interpretations on the assignment…create a table that showcases Horizon’s interpersonal features.
Q. How did you approach this assignment and decide upon this concept?
A. When we were first tasked with designing a table that would integrate the Horizon, we looked closely at both the computer’s features and Lenovo’s brand identity. We kept coming back to the idea that the Horizon is an all-in-one PC; meaning that it can be used for gaming, watching movies, Skype, as a tablet and can replace all other PCs in the household. With this is mind, we decided to design an all-in-one table that could stand on its own with integrated seating.
Since Lenovo is a Chinese company, our next step was to research the history of gaming in China. During our research, we came across Chinese wooden block puzzles which look like a solid wooden block, yet when deconstructed, are actually made up of a lot of smaller, lightweight pieces. We implemented this concept into our design and arrived at a compact all-in-one gaming table.
Q. Design is often about the little...
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Francois' AT-UM Horizon Table
Nearly ten years ago, UM Project owner François Chambord found his life’s calling: to design and create modern and innovative furniture. He applied his fervor for user-centric design to AT-UM, his fusion of Horizon with the traditional desk for a new kind of collaboration station – part easel, part studio desk and part table. In this post, François gives us some insight into his creation from when the sample we shipped him arrived at his workshop to its debut at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair.
Q. AT-UM. That’s an interesting name. Tell us about it.
A. I have always liked short names, hence the name of my company UM Project and many of my products like the NGL table or the SMPL table. They are strong and memorable; punchy sound bites. I also like when names have a certain amount of geekiness and a technological feel, as well as mystery and poetry. AT-UM could be the name of a computer or strange machine, but also the name of a friendly robot. AT-UM also works as an acronym that means the “Activity Table by UM Project,” which is the perfect description of this piece. The name is also a subtle reference to Star Wars AT-AT, one of the many incredible machines of the saga.
Q. Your design allows people to use Horizon in both modes – tabletop and all-in-one. Talk about the design process for accommodating this.
A. I was immediately seduced by the versatility of the Horizon, working...
Continue reading “Hybrid Furniture Bridging the Analog and Digital Worlds”
ThinkServer RD330
Now where was that...?
Staring at my laptop screen, I seem to ask that question more and more these days. I know it’s mostly because of the amount of data we seem to need access to, but I can’t help wondering if my age is starting to factor into it too (but that’s a different problem).
Today, businesses both small and large need to access more data - in private clouds, public clouds or your own device, and often with different interfaces to the information, and IT organizations need to provide access to all this information…many requiring their own logins and passwords of varying degrees of strength – it’s amazing we can get anything done.
Lenovo is now delivering a solution to address all this. Recently, Lenovo acquired Stoneware, Inc. A company with innovative technology that makes the complex environment of cloud computing much simpler. What’s great about this is that a single web-based interface with a single password gets you to all your business applications. In addition, when working from home many companies also require a VPN – with this solution, no VPN is required.
Stoneware webNetwork Powered by ThinkServer supports any device from any location, you can access your business information from a laptop, tablet or even your phone – and the interface is one we are all familiar with – an internet browser....
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