Innovative Products of 2019
Innovative Products of 2019
Here are our favourite products/services and innovations of 2019. We picked a range of products that fit well with our values here at alloy, ranging from inclusivity to sustainability to future experiences.
1. Xbox Adaptive Controller
This inclusive controller helps those with arm and mobility disabilities to play games through a modular design. The user chooses different controllers and buttons to suit their needs.
2. Osso VR - Virtual Surgery
VR can be used in training for different jobs, for example, pilots, drivers, engineers and surgeons. With Osso VR, surgeons are able to go through complex surgeries gaining more experience and practice.
“Even after four years of college, four years of medical school and five years of residency on average, 30% of graduates still cannot operate on their own,” says Dr. Justin Barad, co-founder, and CEO of Osso VR.
This technology will help doctors in developing countries learn from leading experts around the world without the need to leave their hospitals.
3. SmartHalo 2 - Better Bike Navigation
Trying to navigate maps on your phone and cycle can be difficult, and with countries like the Netherlands banning phone use whilst cycling, new innovations are needed to help cyclists navigate to their destinations.
The SmartHalo2 takes directions from a smartphone and then turns the information into colourful LED patterns to indicate the direction to take, similar to a compass.
4. Adidas FutureCraft.Loop - Fully Recyclable Trainers
Although these trainers look almost identical to the current UltraBoost lineup of sneakers from Adidas, they are a huge step in sustainable fashion. Adidas has been developing a trainer that once has come to the end of its life, can be 100% recycled, creating a completely circular product loop. The product is still in its beta phase, and will not be available to purchase until 2021.
5. LynQ - The world's most advanced people compass
Getting separated from family or friends in busy crowds or large areas can be annoying and scary for young children, so LynQ has developed a compass that will find other LynQ compasses carried by family or friends, that doesn't require any mobile signal. Perfect for festivals or adventure trips.
6. Postmates Serve - Modern Meal Delivery
American delivery service Postmates have designed the future of fast delivery services. Serve is a two-eyed, four-wheel robot, that can travel up to 30 miles on a single charge and carry 50 lb. Designed to reduce the number of larger vehicles on the roads, Serve will ease traffic and navigate urban spaces to deliver food, groceries and alcohol.
7. Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit
Encouraging children to learn how to code through giving them wizarding powers. Explaining what code is and how it can be used in an interactive and engaging way.
8. MiniMeis - Hands-Free Parenting
When kids start to tire from walking, they most likely will end up being carried by their parents, probably on their shoulders. There are many carriers on the market currently, but they either sit on the chest or only hold a child up to a certain age. MiniMeis can carry a child up to the age of 5 and the product sits on the shoulder centering and distributing the weight of the child evenly on the parent's shoulders. This also frees up the parent's hands compared to having them sitting freely on the shoulders.
9. The Mirror - The Nearly Invisible Home Gym
Carrying on from similar products such as Peloton and Tonal, Mirror aims to offer a more flexible and varied range of exercises in the home. A sleek mirror that can be mounted to the wall or stand on the floor allows the user to see themselves whilst exercising and view tutorials on screen.
10. TerraCycle Loop - Reducing Waste
Trying to help brands become more sustainable, Loop sells popular branded products such as Haagen-Daaz ice cream and febreze air freshener in durable and reusable packaging. When the product is finished, the customer sends the packaging back to Loop, where it gets cleaned and refilled before being sent to another customer.
11. Zipline - Using Drones to Save Lives
Zipline intends to use drones to save lives worldwide, delivering vital supplies and blood. Their latest drone is able to deliver up to 2kg of goods at 128mph for up to 160 km
12. Vollebak - Solar Charged Jacket
To keep runners safe at night, this phosphorescent jacket absorbs the suns light in the day and then releases its "kryptonite green energy" in the dark.
13. Gravity Industries - Gravity Jet Suit
The 1,050 horsepower system uses five mini jet engines to allow the user to fly at speeds of up to 80kph.
14. Eargo - A Disruptive Hearing Aid
US-based company Eargo has designed a disruptive hearing aid with the aim of creating a more comfortable fit for those with mild or moderate hearing loss. The hearing aids also come with a charging case and can connect to smartphones.
15. Beyond Meat - The Cow-Free Burger
The UN predicts there to be 9.8 billion people by 2050, and humans will consumer 70% more meat than they did in 2005. With the current problems of deforestation and global warming associated with beef production, rising meat consumption will have a devastating effect on the environment unless it can be reduced drastically.
The problem is that people will not want to stop eating meat, but if there is a replacement that can grab the attention of meat-eaters and influence them to change their diet, then that would be more successful than changing diets to current vegetarian and vegan diets.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Why did Alloy choose these products as the most innovative of 2019?
Each product was selected because it goes beyond aesthetics to solve real human problems. We focused on innovations that demonstrate inclusive design, sustainability, and meaningful user experience—products that improve lives, reduce environmental impact, or redefine how people interact with technology.
What design trends are reflected across these 2019 innovations?
Key trends include inclusive design for underserved users, circular and sustainable product systems, human-centred technology, and seamless integration of digital and physical experiences. Many of these products prioritise accessibility, longevity, and social impact over novelty alone.
Why is inclusive design such a strong theme in these products?
Inclusive design creates better products for everyone. Innovations like the Xbox Adaptive Controller and Eargo hearing aids show how designing for specific needs can unlock entirely new markets while improving usability, dignity, and independence for users.
How do these products approach sustainability differently?
Rather than relying on surface-level eco claims, products like Adidas FutureCraft.Loop and TerraCycle Loop rethink the entire product lifecycle—from materials and manufacturing to reuse and recycling—demonstrating how sustainability can be built into the core business model.
What can designers learn from these innovations?
Designers can learn the importance of starting with real user problems, embracing constraints, and considering long-term impact. These products show that successful innovation often comes from deep empathy, system-level thinking, and collaboration across disciplines.
Are these innovations still relevant today?
Yes. Many of the challenges these products address—accessibility, environmental impact, remote training, urban mobility—are even more relevant now. These innovations helped set the direction for product design trends that continue to shape today’s market.
How does Alloy use this kind of inspiration in client work?
We analyse leading innovations to understand why they succeed—not to copy them, but to apply the underlying principles. Insights from inclusive design, sustainability, and emerging user behaviours directly inform how we approach product strategy, UX, and industrial design for our clients.
