Products to light up the holidays
With the festive season upon us, big brands and boutique designers are jostling for our attention. But with more stuff than ever available at the touch of a button, it’s never been more important to delve for the best. Luckily, PERLab’s product design experts have put together a star-studded lineup of the gifts worth investing in.
First up, the sleekest buys for exercise and athleisure. We’ve seen really exciting ideas here in recent years, with technology used to create more sustainable, inclusive products across the board. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just need a new pair of kicks, we’d put these on your wish list.
— Dominik Leisinger“The multi-award-winning Hydrow is still one of the best devices in home exercise. Users work 86 percent of major muscle groups—twice those used in cycling or running. In addition to the immersive experiences of a screen that streams workouts around the world, we love the thoughtful features such as the hidden wheels that enable easy storage when not in use. It’s a sleek, beautiful machine that gives joy.”
— Alexander Bruns“Cycling is one of the best ways to get around a city. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous. Plixi offers the same protection as a conventional helmet but it’s foldable so it can live in your bag ready for spontaneous rides. I love how it combines well-proven design materials with new, innovative concepts. It’s taken something good, made it better, and kept it affordable too. After having a tête-à-tête with an NYC cab last year, I’ll be buying this for myself.”
— Alexander Gallard“This product was designed entirely around creating the easiest and most inclusive footwear, while not compromising on the things that make a Nike shoe special. It proves the point that creating a more inclusive and sustainable product can be done in an exciting way. A great example of pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable—something we’re always trying to do at PERL. I gave my grandpa a pair of FlyEase shoes last year and they were a hit.”
The end of the year’s about treating yourself too. We asked the team to let us in on the products they’re keeping for themselves this winter.
— Kushal Fernandes“If you work out or do any physical activity on a regular basis this product is a godsend. The rounded edges and simplicity of the product give you that feeling of reassurance and comfort. It's technically great too, with simple construction and good investment in the places that really matter, from the motor to the reciprocating mechanism. My sister, brother-in-law, and brother all work out, all don't stretch enough, and all will be getting one of these.”
— Donovan Bullock“Incorporating inclusive design into a widely successful product is no small feat, but Bevel has successfully managed it. They’re proving the value and feasibility of this incredibly important design practice and receiving rave reviews from a community that’s been underserved by standard grooming products for so long. Bevel is truly creating products that make good on their purpose of 'better serving the grooming needs of people of color.'”
— Nisha Palvia“Dyson has set itself the tough challenge to be best-in-class whatever the product function. With the Airwrap, they achieve it yet again. Styling your hair can be incredibly fun, but the gear can be overwhelming. This product makes it simple. A great way to get into hair styling with a product that will last forever and do just about anything you need it to do.”
How smart is your home? We’ve tried and tested beautiful new products for security, ambience, even pet care—so you can orchestrate the perfect setup for parties and cozy nights in.
— Brielle Weiner"While many pet cameras have rotation, clear visuals, two-way audio, and recording, Furbo’s extra treat-throwing feature makes it stand out. It also has smart detection technology like home emergency alert and person alert, so you know your pet’s okay. Furbo sends signals to the dog with lights that flash in yellow and blue—the only colors dogs can see. Talk about designing for the end user! I’ll be buying this product for all my dog-owning friends."
— Minesh Parikh“The Hue lighting system works with all the major smart home platforms. It lets you light up your home with different colors, set the right mood for movie night, or boost your security. It’s great for saving energy if you rushed out and forgot to turn the lights off, and it gives people with disabilities a more accessible way to control things through voice control. I’ll be adding more to my home and getting them for my parents.”
Maybe you’re out in the elements most weekends. For those who are, we’ve put together the best-in-class for adventuring. Smart and utilitarian, this is the kit you don’t want to set off without.
— Brent Ross“With a solar charging lens, this watch goes the distance. It allows for up to 20 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and up to 49 hours of battery life in GPS mode with solar charging. It also has a full-color touchscreen watch face. The tech and app features this watch offers are unbeatable too. The design of the watch puts the user first. The features and information cover exactly what a runner would want to know and want access to—before, during, and after their runs. I’ll be getting this for my brother who is a past collegiate runner!”
— Ben Dibuz“This is a classic that’s designed to last. It’s super lightweight, durable, and water resistant. Fjallraven uses a poly-cotton blend known as G-1000 for all its products, which can be treated with a wax for additional waterproofing. Designing for longevity creates less waste in itself, plus this product uses recycled polyester. I'll be buying this product for my dad out in Seattle this year, to keep him warm on the many rainy days.”
— Angie Kurdys"Camping headlamps are bright, but too heavy for running. Running headlamps are lightweight, but not bright enough. The Iko balances the two to create the only headlamp you’ll need. Petzl created a unique form factor by separating the power and lamp. The strap material breaks away from the traditional elastic for the head strap and uses minimal material for maximum stability. My brother is in need of a new headlamp, and like me he likes to both run and camp—this is a great fit!”
Make the daily commute smoother with a few luxury staples. Upgrade your bag, enjoy the best possible sound quality, and control the temperature of your coffee with an app. Delays won’t be the end of the world anymore.
“Sennheiser is known for best-in-class sound quality and design excellence. The M4s are the result of years of innovation iteration in the over-ear headphone space with 60 hours of battery life and simple controls for every aspect of listening. Over the years they’ve continued to hone the design for simplicity and beauty. These will make even the most particular audiophile happy this Christmas.”— Surabhi Dholakia
— Angela Hultberg“A high-quality and functional companion for any type of travel. The Thule Aion system manages to be stylish and packed with features: shoe compartment(s), flat-packaging functions (so things don't fly around), a matching backpack/duffle, and much more. It’s designed to last too, with protection layers and a durable recycled waxed canvas cover. I’m planning to buy it for my husband so he can match my level when we travel!”
— Ember Travel Mug“Hot drinks don’t last forever. After a few minutes you're left with a quality cup of room temperature tea or coffee. Ember fixes the problem with style by keeping your drink at a perfect 57 degrees. Want it hotter? You can adjust the temperature from the app. They’ve created a simple form that doesn’t do more than it needs to. The battery lasts, it’s easy to set up, and it just looks good. My coffee-obsessed friends can expect this from me this Christmas.”
— Rachel Travis“The Melbourne backpack is arguably the best out there for the modern professional. It carries the absolute essentials and looks incredible. I love this pack because it does exactly what I need it to. The quality and use of material is where this product excels. It’s lightweight and the pockets are thoughtfully placed and designed. A great example of adding incremental value to a saturated category by carving out your niche and going all in.”
Everyone loves a kitchen gadget, and our experts are no exception. Explore some of the market’s shiniest energy savers and sparkliest cookware inventions.
— Anthony Viviano“Simplehuman shows the effectiveness of creating a design culture around sustainability. It’s designed to eliminate single-use plastic bottles by creating something better. It’s visually appealing and highly functional with a clog- and drip-free pumping system, easy refills, and a battery charge that lasts for three months. This would be a great gift for my mom who enjoys cooking and would appreciate the touch-free feature in the kitchen.”
— Namrata Shah“ENSEMBL serves those who want a premium set of cookware but have limited space. We love to see uncomplicated products like this that don't sacrifice performance for simplicity. They're made with premium materials and have neat features like a flat-lying lid and a secure removable handle, all to take up as little space as possible. PERLab has a set that we use for team events, and it works great.”
— Bharat Kapoor“Ice machines were viewed as a commodity until GE came on the scene and got scientific about it. The result is the most perfect nugget of ice a machine can make. Offered in a small collection of sizes and formats, the portfolio is precisely what you would hope for in a product line—succinct and exactly to the point. The PERL office will be getting one of these from me this year—I’m fed up with uncrunchable ice!”
— Rich BesenThis is really the first of its category and is creating a new type of product. Like any "best-in-class" product, it identifies a real problem then makes the solution easy—even quite fun. Food waste is one of the major contributors to CO₂ emission. This product makes people more mindful of their food waste while making sure as much of it as possible is transformed for other uses. A win—win.”
— Kristen Yi“Air fryers are essential for the modern-day chef. Imagine being able to quickly roast vegetables in a matter of minutes this holiday season without having to turn on your oven! Most air fryers are bulky appliances that take up a lot of counter space, but this can be swiveled and neatly hidden under a cabinet. I'll be buying this product for my brother who just graduated college and is cooking more on his own now.”