Concept → Reality

Between 2008 and 2016 this site covered design concepts, many of them long before anything like them existed. We are revisiting the most-linked ones, each with a verdict: it shipped, it was shown, or it is still a concept. The site was relaunched in 2026 under new ownership; about the relaunch.

Shown, not shippedIllustration of a laptop with a transparent displayCES 2010 → 2026Samsung’s transparent OLED laptopStill a conceptThe first Samsung Galaxy Fold, unfoldedPictured: a related productConcept 2010 → wrist prototypes 2016–2023Philips Fluid: the phone worn as a braceletStill a conceptA CR450 high-speed train prototype, silver with a red stripePictured: a related productConcept 2010 → CR450 prototypes 2024CRH-X Cobra: China’s 500 km/h dream trainStill a conceptA Nokia N8 smartphone from 2010Pictured: a related productConcept 2010 → sugar batteries still in the labThe Nokia concept that ran on CokeStill a conceptAn Urilift pop-up street urinal in its raised positionPictured: a related productConcept 2009 → street urinals 2018Axixa: the urinal shaped like a stainShown, not shippedA black VINCENTevolution5 bionic prosthetic handPictured: a related productPrototype 2010 → multi-grip bionic arms 2018The prosthetic arm that curled like a tentacleShown, not shippedCW&T’s Time Since Launch counter, a glass tube with a 12-digit display, held in a handPictured: a related productITP show 2009 → Time Since Launch 2018The clock whose alarm is a falling arcStill a conceptIllustration of a table lamp whose base is set with glowing stonesConcept 2010 → no production foundA table lamp that glows on after the switchShown, not shippedOne of Toyota’s solar flowers on its 2009 tour, with Prius signs on its leavesPrius campaign 2009 → solar street furniture 2010sToyota’s solar Wi-Fi flowersStill a conceptA black Brompton folding bicycle, fully foldedPictured: a related productConcept 2008 → carry-on folders 2016The Backpack Bicycle: a bike you wearStill a conceptA Samsung Galaxy Note II with its S Pen stylusPictured: a related productConcept 2009 → handwriting input 2011–2020Mimeo: the phone you wrote with like a penStill a conceptThe Entourage eDGe dual-screen reader, opened like a bookPictured: a related productConcept 2009 → dual-screen readers 2010–2020Infinite Book: digital pages you turn by handShown, not shippedA solid walnut computer mousePictured: a related productGraduation piece 2009 → wooden desk gearDear Diary 1.0: a computer built into a deskShown, not shippedVico Magistretti’s Eclisse lamp for Artemide, in whitePictured: a related productStudent lamp 2010 → announced for 2012, not found in shopsNissyoku: an eclipse lamp that won, then stalledIt shippedA first-generation Apple Magic Mouse in whitePictured: a related productDutch Design Week 2009 → design-led miceThe titanium mouse with a jewelry-shop priceStill a conceptSide view of a black Onewheel GT board with one wide central tire, resting on a wooden floorPictured: a related productStudent concept 2008 → one-wheel boards 2014The one-wheel superbike that stayed a renderStill a conceptA dark gray vertical mouse seen from above, with a silver strip and a scroll wheel on its sloped side.Pictured: a related productConcept 2008 → trackballs, vertical mice, hapticsThe Alien Mouse that wanted to massage your handStill a conceptIllustration of a narrow strip-shaped phone curling into a braceletConcept 2009 → patents 2013 and 2015, no productHelix: the phone that was a slap braceletStill a conceptIllustration of a small charger pod strapped to the laces of a skate shoeConcept 2010 → kinetic chargers that fell shortThe shoe charger that ran on skateboardingStill a conceptFingers of two hands rest on a small two-pad ECG sensor below a smartphone that shows a heart trace.Pictured: a related productConcept 2008 → phone-linked checkup toolsThe doctor’s phone with a stethoscope built inStill a conceptIllustration of a two-deck pontoon boat with a solar roofConcept 2010 → electric pontoons 2012–2023The solar party pontoon that stayed on paperStill a conceptDark gray Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch with a round screen showing an analog watch face, worn on a wristPictured: a related productConcept 2010 → S Pen 2011, rotating bezel 2015Samsung Jot: a rotary dial and a pen for 2015Still a conceptBimota Tesi 1D motorcycle without fairing on a display stand, with a red trellis frame, yellow shock absorbers and a front swingarm in place of a forkPictured: a related productConcept 2010 → the designer’s e-bikes 2018The Persian muscle bike that stayed on screenShown, not shippedIllustration of a three-wheeled off-road wheelchair with mountain bike wheelsPrototype 2009 → off-road wheelchairs on sale 2011The wheelchair built like a mountain bikeStill a conceptHuawei Mate XT phone standing in a Z shape with three screen panels showing a dark purple wallpaper, inside a glass display casePictured: a related productMock-up 2008 → three-size folding phones 2024The Flex Display Phone: one screen, three sizesShown, not shippedIllustration of a glowing glass floor panel with touch targetsLab prototype 2010 → sensing floors, not touch floorsThe touch floor that read the soles of your shoesStill a conceptOrange-red plastic back cover of a CMF Phone 1 lying on a white surface next to four small screws, a round dial and a SIM trayPictured: a related productConcept 2009 → swappable backs 2012 and 2024Nokia Unik: a phone back made of 152 squaresStill a conceptApple Watch Series 8 with a dark aluminum case and dark sport bandPictured: a related productConcept 2009 → temperature-sensing watches 2022The phone that wanted to take your temperatureStill a conceptIllustration of a white wheelchair with glowing rings of light in its wheelsConcept 2009 → self-lighting caster wheelsThe wheelchair that would light its own wayStill a conceptIllustration of a single-seat sled wrapped in roll barsStudent concept 2003 → no roll-cage sled on saleThe roll-cage sled that never reached the snowStill a conceptLG GD910 watch phone with a metal case, a small touchscreen and a dark strapPictured: a related productConcept 2010 → cellular watches 2017Yuxa, the bracelet phone made from plants