an exercise tool shaped like an instrument
From a musical vehicle powered by air to a smartphone compatible turntable, Yamaha Design Laboratory’s ‘Two Yamahas, One Passion’ project has continued to explore various ways of thinking around the theme of design. The group’s most recent creation, the Gripper, is a concept that allows users to exercise their grip strength with an intricate musical instrument-inspired workout tool. With a palm support sculpted from soft, warm wood, the Gripper’s unique shape is fitted with five separate metallic parts for each finger pad, evoking the form of a saxophone that can be manipulated flexibly.
all images courtesy of the author
two yamahas, one passion: a fusion of design ideologies
The Gripper’s wooden palm support extends a mechanism formed from looped tubes marked with small metallic keys that helps users to freely focus on their finger movements, allowing each finger to operate the workout tool like a trumpet. Each finger can control the tool independently, providing a new user experience for hand grippers. In addition, the length of each tube and position of each key can be adjusted to optimally match the size of each individual user’s finger for comfortable use.
The project titled ‘Two Yamahas, One Passion’, a joint effort between two Japanese companies that share the same brand name — Yamaha Corporation and Yamaha Motor — seeks to create tactile and uplifting concepts, fusing their two different approaches to design. ‘Yamaha believes in designs that make you want to touch them every day, whilst turning utilitarian, plain workout tools into objects with an aesthetic beauty,’ notes the team.
