This wing-shaped instrument is a redesigned baby grand piano
Ravenchord looks nothing like a piano. Is it a folly or a long-overdue upgrade? Few objects are defined by their shape as much as the grand piano. Inspired by the form of its predecessor, the harpsichord, the piano is the musical embodiment of .....»»
What it really takes to turn all those empty office buildings into homes
According to engineers, office spaces can be converted to residential buildings—but it won’t be cheap. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more companies have offered remote work options for their employees, or have even switched to wor.....»»
NASA’s Apollo 11 moon quarantine was hiding a dangerous secret
According to a new study, return protocols for the landmark space mission weren’t as safe as we were told. It’s something to consider as we eye Mars. In the summer of 1969, after Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins took th.....»»
Guerlain’s ‘warehouse of wonders’ preserves cosmetics history
The nearly 200-year old company’s Paris archive features the first modern lipstick, perfume, and pivoting toothbrush. PARIS (AP) — The world’s first lipstick. The first modern perfume. A pivoting toothbrush. The original Nivea c.....»»
4 design lessons learned from Apple’s Vision Pro
Desire drives Apple’s success. Will the design of the Vision Pro headset be enough? Make no mistake: The demo introducing Apple’s new Vision Pro headset was fundamentally about software more than hardware. Apple CEO Tim Cook seemed to.....»»
This climate science guide looks like an art book for a reason
Carbon-dioxide removal could help save the planet—with a little help from design. The Office of Ordinary Things has dubbed the new book, CDR Primer, one of the most impactful projects the design studio has ever worked on . . . “and qui.....»»
Uncrop is the AI tool that Adobe Photoshop needs ASAP
From a tool that magically uncrops an image to an AI that rips off your own style, plenty of AI magic happened this week. Apple didn’t give us a grand vision for artificial intelligence. It didn’t make us dream, and push humanity forwa.....»»
Clear is trying to turn our summer of travel hell into a branding opportunity
A service lets you prebook a time and jump directly to the front of the airport security line—but what about the annoyed masses left behind? Branded is a weekly column devoted to the intersection of marketing, business, design, and cultu.....»»
Introducing the most bikeable office building in the world
Bike commuters can ride straight to the top. Bicycle commuters in Bentonville, Arkansas, can now ride their bikes directly to their office doors, even if they’re five stories up. Ledger, a new flexible office, coworking, and events space in t.....»»
How ‘Diablo IV’ evolved into the darkest ‘Diablo’ yet
How one of the biggest franchises in gaming is leveraging design to evolve. The year is 1996. The biggest TV show is ER. The biggest website is AOL.com. And Independence Day will top Twister to win the box office.Read Full Story.....»»
Can cities gentrify without losing their identity?
From Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, cities are embracing the idea of ‘placekeeping’ to honor their past while designing for their future. How can neighborhoods gentrify without erasing their heart and voice?Read Full Story.....»»
How a Swiss hospital turned an underground ‘bunker’ into a day-lit jungle
The radiotherapy room at Hôpital de La Tour is three floors underground, but looks like it’s filled with natural light. Every (respectable) architect knows the value of daylight. Decades of studies have shown that natural light has a pos.....»»
Apple is facing an existential threat: It has no AI vision
Apple’s AI myopia can’t be fixed with the Vision Pro. Is the company missing its opportunity to define the next computing revolution? In the year of the artificial intelligence Big Bang, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, could have planted a big fl.....»»
AI designed a couch that weighs 22 pounds and fits in an envelope
Developed by a firm that works closely with Ikea, this flat-pack couch upends conventional design. The couch is the most comfortable seat in most homes, but it’s also the most uncomfortable seat to get into your house. Heavy, bulky, and requi.....»»
How backyard ‘granny flats’ could help solve the housing crisis
Call them ADUs, ‘granny flats,’ or in-law suites, but these small-scale homes could be the key to greater housing density and affordability. A newly built accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles. Alisha Jucevic/The Washington Post via G.....»»
Why Sony wants to sell you invisible technology
Sony and Stellar Works envision a more design-focused future for the smart home. In 2018, Sony proposed a world with invisible technology. The Hidden Senses exhibition, which was held during Milan Design Week that year, included a candle holder that.....»»
How UX designers are embracing AI to make their jobs easier
UX designers share how AI Figma plug-ins are revolutionizing their jobs. The consensus seems clear: Everyone from Goldman Sachs to AI luminary Ben Goertzel agree that AI is going to change the way most people work. It’s estimated that AI will.....»»
Lego’s new set celebrates professional women athletes for the first time
Minifigs of Megan Rapinoe, Asisat Oshoala, and other legends hit the pitch as the brand seeks to broaden its reach. In theory, all Lego sets are for kids of any gender. In practice, though, while the brand appeals passions (not genders), and any kid.....»»
Apple is no longer a design-led company
The launch of the Vision Pro AR headset comes at an inflection point for Apple. After nearly 20 years of work, Apple has revealed its AR/VR headset, the $3,500 Vision Pro. It’s impressive in many of the ways you might expect. The industrial d.....»»
This AI-for-fashion lets you launch and run a clothing line with just a prompt
CALA’s technology uses AI tools to design, manufacture, and ship garments, making it easier for independent designers to start their own labels. For years, I’ve felt a gap in my wardrobe in the months where the cold just begins to cree.....»»