Innovative ideas chosen as semifinalists in 2nd OLEDs Go! design contest

Are you still catching up with the second OLEDs Go! design contest? For those who might not remember, LG Display and British design magazine Dezeen held the contest for the second time and 19 semifinalists have been chosen. LG Display is seeking new ideas that can enhance the quality of lives by fully utilizing OLED’s special characteristics – being light, flexible, transparent, and rollable. The latest edition of the competition kicked off last October under the theme of enhancing and offering convenience to modern lifestyles through OLED displays. Amid keen interest, there were 300 entries from around the world over two months. Now that we have a shortlist of the most innovative ideas, let’s check them out!

Make the most of space with Rollable OLEDs

The first six ideas on our list all harness the power of Rollable OLED technology. ‘Totem’ is perfect for second-screen lovers, offering a dual-monitor system that can be adapted to the user’s working environment. The rollable OLED displays can open and retract from a central column as desired, maximizing the efficiency of desk space.

‘PNDNT’ is a vertical rollable OLED display installed on the ceiling, designed to serve as lighting when the panel’s not in use. In addition to featuring a speaker function, this innovation may be ideal for consumers seeking minimalism and practicality.

‘O2’ is another design offering both lighting and a rollable display in one smart interior accessory package. It functions as a table lamp, but its rotatable arm opens outwards to present a display that can be used for work or entertainment. In this era where the boundaries between homes and offices have been broken due to telecommuting, ‘O2’ seems to satisfy the needs of all family members!

‘Tiny’ is a concept combining a rollable display with a foldable desk. Made to install on a wall, it’s designed to make the most of space, so it could be really useful for people living in small apartments.

Not to be confused with the previous ‘Totem’ entry we looked at, this design under the same name offers a stand that brings together a rollable display and soundbar. Not only that, it can be used either vertically or horizontally. Again, that kind of flexibility is great for people who want a display that can be stored without taking up space.

‘Halo’ is another wall-mounted rollable display that seems to function very much like blinds, except that it opens up into a vibrant panel rather than dull fabric. Like some of the others we’ve seen, there’s a lighting function when the screen’s not in use, making it subtle and suited to times when the barrier between working and living space has been torn down.

Flexible/foldable OLEDs for design and convenience

The next ideas to check out are all designed using the flexibility and foldability that OLED’s unique self-emissive technology allows. Starting with ‘Vela’, it is fixed to the ceiling and floor and supported by a concrete base. Serving as both a TV and a light, it comes with handles that allow the user to fold the display freely as needed, so it’s designed for people who like to lie back, watch TV, read books, and generally rest.

‘Flip’ is another multifunctional concept that allows the display to be flipped so that it can used for lighting and speaker purposes when the screen isn’t needed. It’s aimed at people seeking a minimalist lifestyle and has four color options for a sleek modern interior: red, beige, grey, and green.

If you work at home but lack office space, ‘Cocoon’ might be a stylish answer. Like a butterfly’s transformation, this flexible display emerges from a table lamp. It seems to offer a really classic look with a very modern innovation.

This elegant design boasts a rollable display as a sliding door on a cabinet. Created with the Internet of Things in mind, ‘Coated’ enhances the interaction between people and their furniture. Its exterior color can also be customized according to preference, while there are options for a low or high version.

‘Foled’ has the appearance of a good-looking monitor, but it seems to disappear when folded downwards as it becomes a mood lamp when it’s time to unwind. The folding angle can also be adjusted freely, which is certainly convenient. Most of all, this is a flexible concept suited to people with flexible working needs at home.

It almost looks like an intricate instrument, but ‘Hanji’ is named after Korean paper. That also makes sense, because this design allows the user to enjoy varied content as if it’s a blank canvass for the imagination. The flexible and foldable display’s angle is adjustable, which means it is adaptable to different kinds of entertainment and practical needs in a small space.

Opening boundaries with Transparent OLEDs

The next few ideas we have for you are all centered on Transparent OLEDs. ‘Portal’ is a transparent display that can rotate while being viewed from various angles, as well as being combined with different types of stands. Because it is designed for an active lifestyle, it can be used in a number of ways, such as when cooking in the kitchen, enjoying games in the living room, and watching movies in the bedroom.

‘Caelum’ is a desk featuring a Transparent OLED panel that also works as a desk partition. It was created with the intention of transforming the appearance and functionality of desks where many of us spend so much of our time. And if clutter is an enemy to clear thinking, then ‘Caelum’ seems to open the way for productivity by creating a sense of space.

‘Vivid’ allows the user to quickly shift from a home environment to work mode. It is a vertical transparent display with a built-in camera and digital whiteboard capabilities, while being expandable if desired by connecting multiple displays. While offering the openness of Transparent OLED, ‘Vivid’ is as versatile as the imagination allows.

What might seem at first glance to be a minimalist and modern cabinet, ‘Showcase’ has a secret – a transparent display that can turn that glass front into a source of entertainment or mood enhancement. You can imagine this kind of smart furniture in living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and even on terraces. It’s also designed to be easy to use, as the display can be manually slid upwards and positioned to suit the user’s needs.

We’ve all seen those digital fireplaces, which can be nice in their own way, but ‘Digital Hearth’ takes things to another level with two transparent panels overlapping to produce a much more realistic impression of flames. And the ‘fireplace’ becomes a TV when desired, with the addition of that extra display for an evolved media experience.

OLEDs for a new lifestyle

The last two ideas to introduce here are works designed using slim OLED displays. ‘LG-Pod’ is based on the concept of creating an immersive space to increase productivity. The ‘pod’ itself actually takes up very little space, but can hide the user in their own world surrounded by curved monitors on demand.

‘Easel’ is a display that can be folded and moved like a traditional easel, and it can also be easily mounted. It was designed for convenient use throughout the home, so it can be freely taken indoors and outdoors, replacing the roles of tablet PCs and beam projectors. It even comes with a transparent display option.

So that’s it for now, 19 groundbreaking OLED designs selected as final candidates in the second OLEDs Go! design contest. They will be judged based on the criteria of innovation, aesthetics, functionality, and feasibility. Ratings will be given depending on how new or different the designs are. There will be five finalists in for a share of a total prize pot of 88,000 euros – the top award of 35,000 euros will go to the winner, to be announced in June.