Clever Use of Augmented Reality: Tracing Virtual Art to Quickly Create Murals

The other day I saw something funny: I drove past a house with a long privacy fence that had been painted white, and across it, someone had spraypainted “Mural-ideas@gmail.com” (or something similar.) I found it funny because if the e-mail address owner was not the house owner, they were essentially forcing the house owner to re-paint the fence; and if the e-mail owner and the house owner was the same person, it means they couldn’t even come up with a good idea for a mural to advertise their own services, just their scrawled e-mail address.

In any case, as we’ve seen with Hanif Panni’s clever work, painting murals takes a great deal of skill. And I’m not saying the artist below isn’t skilled, but she has come up with a techno hack that makes her job a good deal easier. Said artist, who works as a mural painter in the Mexican city of Nava, uses an AR headset to virtually overlay her drawings on the surfaces she’s working.

Then all she has to do is trace it.

The end product, by the way…

…is glow-in-the-dark:

The artist says she’s using a Meta Quest 3.

This reminds me of Foundation Year exercises at art school, where they had us trace drawings by old masters. Perhaps in the coming years, those exercises will be done by a bunch of kids wearing goggles.

Autodesk Takes You From Complexity to Confidence

Furniture designers are in a challenging era. Increasing customization demands, the rise of complex organic forms, and non-stop pressure to streamline production are pushing traditional workflows to their limits. Managing intricate plans, negotiating precision measurements, and preparing for fabrication—all while keeping costs and errors down—can feel impossible using outdated or fragmented tools. To adapt to today’s pace, designers are searching for digital solutions that will support both their creativity and their business.

Autodesk Fusion is a cloud-based 3D modeling software that unifies designing, simulation, and manufacturing within one platform. Unlike standalone CAD or CAM tools, Fusion is built for flexibility; it covers solid, surface, and freeform modeling. It also integrates parametric design controls and configurations so users can easily iterate and customize every detail. Fusion supports solids, surfaces, meshes, and sheet metal, making it as useful for traditional joinery as for inventive, digitally-fabricated forms. It works on both Mac and Windows, and offers real-time cloud collaboration tools for teams and remote stakeholders.

Key benefits for furniture designers

Fusion delivers a comprehensive range of benefits tailored for furniture designers and woodworkers. One of its standout strengths lies in parametric modeling, which allows designers to define key dimensions and relationships within their models. This not only enables quick iterations and modifications, but also supports testing variations of size, scale, and components. This capability is especially valuable for cabinetmakers, fine furniture designers, and furnishings suppliers aiming to efficiently explore design ideas or respond to client feedback without needing to restart projects from scratch.

The software also integrates modeling tools for solid bodies, surfaces, T-splines, and meshes, empowering users to work in the space that best suits their design process. While manufacturers might benefit from the precision of solid modeling, designers creating complex organic shapes or incorporating 3D printing may find the sculpting and surface tools more ideal for realizing their vision. Fusion’s broad modeling toolkit supports a wide variety of furniture types and production styles.

A further benefit is Fusion’s seamless CAM integration, which bridges the gap between design and manufacturing. Whether producing large-scale runs or custom batches, designers can generate CNC toolpaths directly from their 3D models. This not only streamlines production but also enables clearer communication with suppliers and greater confidence during prototyping.

Documentation is another area where Fusion excels. Automated drawing generation, for example, ensures that every design update is reflected in technical drawings, cutlists, and bills of materials. Additionally, smart templates support precise manufacturing documentation, reducing errors and helping teams maintain high standards throughout production.

Finally, Fusion supports collaboration and visualization via a cloud-based environment that connects designers with clients and team members, regardless of location. Features like live commenting, annotation, and file sharing through Fusion Teamsimplify communication. Designers can also produce realistic renderings and run simulations within the same environment, enabling verification and client presentations before any physical fabrication occurs. This integrated workflow enhances efficiency and builds confidence at every stage from concept to finished product.

Hawk streamlines bespoke furniture solutions

Hawk Furniture, a family-owned business that has been crafting British-made office furniture since 1988, leverages Fusion to accelerate growth and elevate product quality. For design, the team uses Fusion’s parametric modeling to quickly adjust designs to client specifications without starting over. Additionally, creating configurations in a single file let them manage multiple product versions effortlessly, and cloud collaboration enables seamless access to up-to-date designs across departments, preventing errors before production.

With most of its manufacturing done in-house, Hawk needed a digital solution that helps designs transition seamlessly to its factory floor. Integrated sheet metal tools in Fusion have been a particularly significant time saver for custom components. “We have a very bespoke cable tray design, so drawing that in 3D and then turning it into a flat sheet with sheet metal was so much handier with Fusion,” says Tom Sheavyn, design engineer, Hawk Furniture. “Previously, we would have had to draw it in 3D, send that to the metal work department, and they would have had to make the flat part themselves. Using Fusion, I’d say it saved up to a day and a half in testing.”

JDD sets a new standard in commercial furntiture design

Faced with increasing product complexity and customization demands, Joint Design Direction (JDD) moved from fragmented tools like AutoCAD and 3ds Max to Fusion’s unified platform about a year ago. This shift drastically sped up their process—tasks that once took hours now take minutes thanks to Fusion’s parametric modeling and CAD/CAM integration. “For the design of our new rest pod, Fusion was particularly helpful,” says Charlie Adlem, Production Designer, JDD. “During prototyping, we might need to adjust the design to make something wider to fit or determine the standardization of the mattress. Parametric modeling came in handy. It’s a click of a button rather than redrawing the whole thing.”

Sharing live Fusion files has eliminated redundant rework and improved collaboration across design and manufacturing teams, even extending to factory-floor access via tablets. Simulation tools help validate joinery and ergonomics before prototyping, reducing material waste and costly rework. Additionally, Fusion’s ease of use and abundant tutorials enable even new users to contribute quickly. This digital transformation has allowed JDD to focus more on innovation and design, supporting their growth and ability to deliver customized, high-quality office furniture efficiently.

Fusion: Your response to furniture industry hurdles

Fusion offers a powerful remedy for today’s most persistent furniture design challenges. Its parametric framework, deep manufacturing integration, and cloud collaboration directly respond to the complexity, customization, and workflow demands that define the contemporary furniture market. For professionals, startups and hobbyists alike, Fusion makes the journey from bold idea to finished product not faster and more creative.

Learn more about Autodesk Fusion for furnture design here.

Historically Accurate Airport Dioramas by AV Pro Designs

Brian Keene is a former airline pilot and retired airline industry executive who remains obsessed with airports. So much so that in his retirement, he started AV Pro Designs, a company that manufactures dioramas of famous airports. (They sell them to museums, institutions and “the diorama community,” whatever that is.)

In designing the 1:1400 models, Keene draws on both his own experiences as a pilot and archival photographs, recreating the airports as they appeared during certain eras. The company’s rendition of JFK is from the ’70s and ’80s, LAX in the ’80s and ’90s, for instance.

Their model of BOM (Mumbai’s airport) is particularly striking, as they’ve done the nighttime view.

The company’s also done Heathrow and Newark; Hong Kong’s Kai Tak and France’s Charles de Gaulle are in the works.

Hardware is the New Salt: Designing with Purpose in the Age of AI

Editor’s Note: This is the first essay in a new series exploring how AI is transforming the way physical products are imagined, designed, and built. Hardware is the New Salt will spotlight several thinkers and makers at the intersection of AI and product design and their insights into this dynamic technology ecosystem. This series is supported by Enzzo, who offers an AI-first product development platform created to support the next generation of builders.

I’ve spent my entire career designing hardware—not because I find it easy, but because I love it. There’s something deeply satisfying about solving physical problems, prototyping, testing on real bodies, and refining through hands-on experimentation. That process—filled with ergonomic tests, sketches, and mockups—is still, in my view, irreplaceable.

I’ve tried tools like MidJourney and Vizcom. They’re fun, even entertaining. But they don’t get to the heart of what makes great hardware design meaningful. When it comes to creating products that fit the human form, perform reliably, and stand the test of time, we need more than rendered imagination. We need craft, insight, and iteration. AI can’t replicate that—not yet, and maybe not ever.

It can help offload the tedious parts. I run a design studio, and part of that involves writing emails, marketing blurbs, and proposals. AI helps me get through those tasks faster so I can spend more time where I belong: sketching, prototyping, and solving the hard problems. That’s been the biggest benefit—not automation for its own sake, but creative rebalancing. AI gives me back time to focus on what I love most.

That mindset extends to my team. They’re younger, they’re inquisitive, and they do experiment with AI tools. But while these explorations can be fun, and occasionally surprising, most of what’s generated still doesn’t meaningfully advance our design process. Our work requires precision, insight, and physical iteration—things AI doesn’t yet offer in a reliable or integrated way.

What DOES excite us, though, is how AI is showing up in the hardware our clients are building. The real opportunity isn’t how AI helps us design—it’s how it’s enabling new tools in the world. We’re working on products that assist doctors with remote therapy, enhance diagnostic tools, and support patient care in new ways. That’s the kind of application that gets us out of bed in the morning.

That’s where AI has a real impact.

There’s no question that AI makes specific tasks faster. Photoshop’s generative tools, for example, have saved us hours. Text-to-CAD tools are evolving too, and we’re often asked to test early-stage versions. But while some of these tools can help generate a part or pattern, they aren’t yet robust enough to create complete, production-ready CAD models.

Speed can be valuable, but it also comes with risks. I see this moment a bit like the “slow food movement” in response to fast food: just because we can go faster doesn’t mean we always should. We’ve had clients tell us other studios underbid us because they’re using AI to crank out concepts. But our value comes from the quality of what we deliver. Some of the products we’ve put into the world have defined entire categories. I won’t jeopardize that by outsourcing thinking to machines.

Designing something meaningful takes time. Time to explore. Time to reflect. Time to get it right. And when you’re working on products that could literally change lives, or save them, you don’t take shortcuts.

Trust is another critical piece. Many of our clients—from startups to tech giants like Microsoft and Google—require airtight confidentiality. We’re audited, vetted, and take those responsibilities seriously. When a startup asks us to try their cloud-based AI tool, my first question is always: How secure is it? Who has access to our data? How do I know this isn’t a leak risk? In many cases, we can’t take that chance. The stakes are simply too high.

That doesn’t mean I’m anti-AI, far from it. I’m genuinely excited about the innovation happening in this space. But especially in hardware design, the tools just aren’t mature enough—yet. They’ll get there, and when they do, I’ll be the first in line. But for now, we maintain a healthy skepticism, especially regarding IP and security.

One of AI’s big promises is speed. With speed comes the ability to produce more. But do we really need more products?

We’re already drowning in landfill-bound goods. I live in California where I’ve seen the impact of climate change firsthand—the fires, the smoke, the devastation. More isn’t always better. In fact, I’d argue that less, but better, is what the world truly needs.

I’ve noticed that tighter budgets during economic downturns have actually improved the quality filter. We’re seeing fewer frivolous projects, and more thoughtful innovation. And that’s a good thing. We should be asking ourselves: is this product necessary? Will it improve someone’s life? Or is it just another piece of junk with a carbon footprint?

The goal shouldn’t be more things faster—it should be better things, made smarter.

I love the title of this series—”Hardware is the New Salt.” Because it’s true: you can’t live without it. Software may be eating the world, but it can’t exist without hardware to run on.

Every major technological shift—from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of personal computers and wearable tech—has been rooted in physical product innovation. Software has amplified that, but hardware is still where the real transformation happens. You can’t revolutionize healthcare with an app alone. You need sensors, devices, and form factors that work in the real world.

We build those things. And that’s why I’ll keep showing up, sleeves rolled up, ready to sketch, test, and build the next thing that matters.

Here’s a short clip if Nichole discussing some of these ideas:

About the author
Nichole Rouillac is the Founder and Creative Director of level, a women-led industrial design studio in San Francisco. She leads with a mission to create intelligent, thoughtful designs that shape industries and enhance lives. Her work has propelled breakthrough products into the global spotlight, with an award-winning portfolio that includes Microsoft, Google, Logitech, Fitbit, HTC, AliveCor, Nex, and Tempo.

level’s impact has been recognized with top accolades, including IDEA Gold, Red Dot, iF, and Spark Platinum awards, as well as Fast Company’s #3 Most Innovative Design Company.

Nicole has also been a Core77 Design Awards Jury Captain (2022) and Jury Member (2024), while level has been an honoree several times, including the winning entry in the 2024 Gaming Accessories category.

Beyond design, Nichole is a dedicated advocate for diversity in the industry. As the former chair of IDSA’s Women in Design, she mentors and champions the next generation of female designers, helping to reshape an industry where women remain underrepresented.

A Screw-Mechanism Adjustable Lamp

This aluminum Set Table Lamp, by Canadian designer Jamie Wolfond, borrows a trick from old-school adjustable stools. The shade can be manually rotated to change the nature of the light.

“It is very bright, especially for a bounce light,” Wolfond explains, “so it creates a very different atmosphere when it’s up versus down.”

I’m loving that first mock-up.

The lamp is in production by Muuto.

Sikorsky has Made an Unmanned, Autonomous Blackhawk Helicopter

In a disturbingly short amount of time, Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division has converted a Blackhawk helicopter into a fully autonomous model. To drive the point home, their new U-Hawk lacks a cockpit and windows entirely.

The nose has been converted into a loading ramp and clamshell doors; now that the cockpit’s gone, Sikorsky says there’s 25% more cargo space. With a 10,000-lb. cargo capacity, the ‘copter can now deploy vehicles out of the front.

The company also speaks of “transformational new capabilities.” This includes a Quiver launching system, whereby the ‘copter can be loaded up with “launched effects”—like drones—that it can deploy in mid-air, creating its own mini aerial force.

The U-Hawk can also be controlled remotely from the ground by “virtually any operator,” using a tablet.

The company also points out that the U-Hawk shares 95% of its parts with the manned Blackhawk, simplifying maintenance.

The prototype took just ten months to develop, and it’s not destined to remain a concept; Sikorsky says “the U-Hawk is on a rapid development schedule and on track for first flight in 2026.”

Why they’re not calling these “Hunter-Killers” remains a mystery.

For a Show in Brazil, a French Artist is Creating the Pieces En Route—On a Sailboat

This month the We Explore, a catamaran, launched from France on a journey to Brazil. The 55-foot boat contains the Transatlantic Studio, a floating atelier and the brainchild of French artist Xavier Veilhan. Veilhan and his son have built a human-powered workshop onboard, and they’re using it to create art pieces during the journey that will be exhibited when they arrive next month.

Having a studio aboard the boat, which is entirely wind-powered, is Veilhan’s commentary on how art is typically transported internationally on jet-fuel-burning airplanes. “I want to further develop this initiative of a floating studio and wind-powered transportation for some of my upcoming exhibitions,” Veilhan says. “The goal is to create new imaginaries and offer an alternative to the pressures and frenetic pace of the art world: international fairs and exhibitions consume enormous amounts of energy and prioritize speed.”

Among the half-dozen people making the journey is Veilhan’s son Antoine, a carpenter. Antoine converted a bandsaw and a lathe to pedal-powered, and these are central pieces of the workshop:

Assuming the We Explore arrives on schedule—the journey will take around a month–the resultant show, “Do Vento,” will be held at São Paulo’s Nara Roesler Gallery on November 8th.

“This project is an experiment, an attempt,” Veilhan says, “which has value as a work of art in itself.”

Hell in a Handbasket: An “Emotional Companion” Smartphone with a Built-in Gimbal Camera

Are we “over” smartphones yet? What’s beyond the iPhone? Chinese electronics company Honor believes that what we all want in a smartphone (or worse, need) is an “emotional companion” that “senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users’ lives with love, joy, and wisdom.”

To that end they’ve designed this AI-driven Robot Phone concept. It’s got a camera on a gimbal that flips out of the back of the phone:

That in itself is an interesting feat of design and engineering. However, their projected applications of this feature are downright disturbing. The company has apparently taken cues from Pixar and the Star Wars franchise and envisions this thing as a vapid, cooing little buddy:

So the point of the phone is to perv out on passersby, and mollify your baby?

The company says this device will position them “at the forefront of AI device innovation.” They hint that it will be available next year.

CalTech Attaches a Drone to a Humanoid Robot

Here we see, courtesy of CalTech and Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute, a humanoid robot walking around with a drone on its back.

At first, as the robot bends at the waist, I thought this was going to be my worst nightmare:

Yeah, I thought the robot was going to take off. I didn’t realize it’s being used as a launchpad for the drone.

So what’s going on here? Earlier we looked at that drone, which is CalTech’s ATMO. It’s a quadrotor drone that can transition from flying to driving, thanks to its rotor-wheels.

The idea here is that the humanoid robot adds a third mobility style to ATMO, allowing it to move through more types of environments. “Right now, robots can fly, robots can drive, and robots can walk. Those are all great in certain scenarios,” says Aaron Ames, Director of CalTech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST). “But how do we take those different locomotion modalities and put them together into a single package, so we can excel from the benefits of all these while mitigating the downfalls that each of them have?”

My question is, how long will it be until the drone doesn’t have to disconnect from the humanoid ‘bot at all, and the two can just fly together? Maybe a robot dog would be a better candidate for a flight-enabled ‘bot. After all, there are already agile wheeled robot dogs out there, and both China and the U.S. are experimenting with attaching machine guns to them. What could go wrong?

Core77 Weekly Roundup (10-14-25 to 10-17-25)

Here’s what we looked at this week:

The Pepe, by architect/designer Raffaella Mangiarotti, is a saddle-inspired leather chair.

There’d be no G-Shock without Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The digital watch started out as a sci-fi movie prop.

Belkin’s PowerGrip is a camera grip that can charge your iPhone.

An ironworker’s brilliant (or crazy?) improvised climbing solution.

Silver Fox Tool’s user-adjustable leather tool organizers.

Testing shows automotive glassbreakers can’t actually break modern automotive glass.

The Janus-I Flying Suitcase, a personal VTOL aircraft that fits in a car trunk.

The Square X125 is a Honda scooter with a Chinese design aesthetic.

Dacia’s wild-looking ultracompact Hipster EV concept is “a car that can be sketched in three strokes of a pencil,” says the lead designer.

Mercedes shows off new design language—and releases a (limited-edition) design manifesto.

In advance of the Japan Mobility Show, Yamaha teases some of the unusual concepts and prototypes they’ll be bringing.