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This concentric turntable with a CD player is the ultimate Hi-Fi system for newbie audiophiles

Revival of the vinyl records and CD players was inevitable, as we’re seeing a swarm of physical media players that bring the invincible charm of analog music with the twist of modern design and technology. The rich and warm sound of record players is unmatchable, and the resurgence of physical audio is not going to tone down anytime soon.

Mixx Audio, known for their affordable turntables, wants to spice up the audio accessories market with a turntable that lets you have the best of both worlds – CDs and vinyl record players. Driven by the need to create a player that fits modern homes, the Analog Plus 2-in-1, fully automatic vinyl turntable has a built-in CD player. That means you don’t have to buy separate players for both to enjoy your vinyl records and CDs.

Designer: Mixx Audio

Design takes precedence here as the concentric turntable makes judicious use of the space below the platter for fitting in the CD player. The idea is to make it simple for listeners who want to enjoy both their vinyls and CDs with minimum fuss. Analog Plus is inspired by the industrial design of the 80s hi-fi components that weighed heavily into the sharp angular visuals. On the inside, it gets the Audio Technica AT3600L moving magnet cartridge, capable of playing 7-inch and 12-inch records at 33/45 rpm. Apart from this, you can enjoy your digital media as well, since there’s Bluetooth 5.3 and aux output. The included remote makes it convenient to toggle tracks, volume, or other player options.

The physical controls are mounted on the front for ease of use, alongside the small display that shows the current track progress and the mode selection buttons. The CD player of the turntable has a top-loading mechanism at the center. You can play normal CDs, or audio CDs, and RW discs as well. The audio quality output from these digital audio files is quite good, as it plays MP3 and WMA at up to 16-bit/44.1 kHz, and WAV files at 48kHz. Of course, the delivered audio will depend on the audio equipment you hook it to via the RCA audio outputs. That way, you can connect it to traditional hi-fi systems or modern speakers.

Mixx Audio has chosen the minimalist white and black color options for the record player that should go well with any interior. Analog Plus 2-in-1, priced at £299 (approximately $400), is a good starting point for budding audiophiles who want to ease into the hobby. The added convenience of loading your CD into the platter is another big advantage that goes a long way for music lovers.

The post This concentric turntable with a CD player is the ultimate Hi-Fi system for newbie audiophiles first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lunora Just Solved the One Thing Sleep Trackers Get Wrong

We’ve all been there. It’s 2 a.m., you’re staring at your phone for the third time, and your brain refuses to shut down even though you have an early morning ahead. The usual advice is always the same: put away screens, create a routine, dim the lights. But what if someone actually designed a product that does all of that for you, and looks good doing it?

Enter Lunora, a sleep aid device designed by Prithvi Manoj Bhaskaran that’s honestly unlike anything you’ve seen on your bedside table. At first glance, it looks like a little sculptural figure taking a much-needed rest, complete with a glowing orb balanced on its back. That gentle lean, those smooth curves, it all feels intentional in the best way. This isn’t another gadget screaming for your attention. It’s the opposite.

Designer: Prithvi Manoj Bhaskaran

What makes Lunora interesting is how it approaches the whole wind-down process. Instead of tracking your sleep or buzzing you awake, it focuses on helping you actually get there. The device combines three sensory elements: a softly dimming light, gentle aroma diffusion, and low-distraction sound. Think of it as creating a mini sanctuary that guides your body from alert mode to rest mode, without any jarring alarms or bright screens interrupting the vibe.

The way it works is refreshingly simple. You start your routine, and Lunora does its thing. The light gradually dims, signaling to your brain that it’s time to power down. The aroma diffuser releases calming scents that help cut through mental clutter. And the sound component keeps things ambient without being distracting. It’s all about repetition and ritual, the kind of stuff our bodies actually respond to when we give them a chance.

For anyone juggling late-night study sessions or those particularly brutal stress-heavy days, this kind of product makes a lot of sense. You’re not adding another task to your routine or forcing yourself to follow some complicated sleep protocol. You just let Lunora do the heavy lifting while you focus on actually relaxing. It’s like having a friend gently remind you that yes, it’s okay to slow down now.

But here’s where the design really shines. That leaning posture isn’t just for show. It creates this almost human-like presence that feels comforting rather than clinical. The warm terracotta color and those organic curves make it look more like a piece of art than a piece of technology. You could absolutely see this sitting in a carefully curated room on Instagram, but it’s also genuinely functional. The glowing orb on top doubles as the light source, while the body houses the aroma diffuser, visible in those beautifully detailed close-ups.

There’s something refreshing about a product that doesn’t promise to hack your sleep or optimize your REM cycles. Lunora just wants to help you unwind at your own pace. No data tracking, no app notifications, no performance anxiety about whether you’re sleeping correctly. It’s tech that knows when to step back and let you be human.

In a world where we’re constantly optimizing, tracking, and measuring everything, maybe what we need at the end of the day is something that simply helps us transition. Something that looks friendly, feels calming, and doesn’t demand anything from us except the willingness to slow down. Lunora manages to package all of that into a form that’s both sculptural and functional, the kind of design that makes you stop and appreciate the thoughtfulness behind it.

Whether you’re a design enthusiast who appreciates objects with personality, a tech lover curious about ambient devices, or just someone tired of staring at the ceiling at night, Lunora offers something different. It’s a reminder that good design doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes it just needs to understand what you need, and then quietly help you get there.

The post Lunora Just Solved the One Thing Sleep Trackers Get Wrong first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Only 10 Designs You Need to Start 2026 Right

A new year offers permission to refresh, recalibrate, and reimagine the things that surround you. Not through drastic overhauls, but through intentional upgrades that make daily life smoother, smarter, and more satisfying. These ten designs aren’t about chasing trends or filling space. They’re about solving problems you didn’t know had such elegant answers.

Each piece here earns its spot through thoughtful engineering, aesthetic restraint, or sheer utility. Some will help you work better, others will keep you grounded when things go sideways, and a few exist simply to make the ordinary feel remarkable. Starting 2026 right means surrounding yourself with objects that respect your time, elevate your routines, and age gracefully alongside your ambitions.

1. ChatGPT-Enabled TWS Earbuds with Built-In Cameras

The idea of wearing cameras near your ears might sound dystopian at first, but this concept from designers reimagining AI hardware makes a surprisingly strong case. Each earbud features a small camera positioned at the end of an extended stem, roughly aligned with your natural line of sight. Paired with ChatGPT, the setup turns your audio gear into a live visual assistant that can translate signs, describe surroundings, read menus, and guide you through unfamiliar cities without forcing you to stare at a screen. The form stays recognizable as earbuds, but the function feels genuinely new.

What sets this design apart is how it sidesteps the awkwardness of face-mounted cameras while keeping the tech close enough to be useful. The industrial design leans into a retro sci-fi aesthetic, with the lens sitting like a tiny action cam, surrounded by a colored ring that serves as both an accent and a functional cue. Translucent tips and playful shell colors keep it from looking overly serious. It reads as audio first, AI second, which matters when you’re asking people to trust optics hanging off their heads.

What we like

The camera placement avoids the social friction of smart glasses while staying in your natural line of sight.
Pairing visual input directly with conversational AI turns assistance into something ambient rather than intrusive.

What we dislike

Battery life will likely take a hit with dual cameras running alongside audio and AI processing.
The inevitable privacy conversation around always-available lenses in public spaces.

2. RetroWave 7-in-1 Radio

Some mornings call for jazz and coffee. Other days demand emergency power and a working flashlight. The RetroWave handles both without flinching. This compact device packs seven functions into one retro-styled body: Bluetooth speaker, MP3 player, FM/AM/SW radio, flashlight, clock, power bank, and SOS siren. It streams from your phone or plays music directly from USB and microSD cards, making it useful whether you’re online or completely off-grid. The hand-crank and solar panel charging options mean you’re never fully powerless.

Beyond survival scenarios, the RetroWave fits surprisingly well into everyday routines. It sits comfortably on a nightstand as a clock radio, doubles as a desktop speaker during work hours, and transitions into a camping essential on weekends. The 2000mAh battery delivers up to 20 hours of radio time or six hours of emergency lighting. Its lightweight build and thoughtful design make it easy to pack and easier to justify keeping around. It’s the kind of object that earns its spot by being genuinely useful, then stays because it looks good doing it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.00

What we like

True multi-functionality that works in daily life and crises alike.
Hand-crank and solar charging remove dependency on outlets entirely.

What we dislike

The 2000mAh battery feels modest for powering multiple devices in extended off-grid situations.
Retro styling won’t appeal to everyone seeking modern minimalism.

3. Auger PrecisionLever Nail Clipper

Grooming tools often get overlooked in design conversations, but a well-made clipper can turn a mundane task into something oddly satisfying. The Auger PrecisionLever uses a patented rotating lever mechanism that shifts the pivot point closer to the blade, maximizing cutting power with minimal hand effort. Made from stainless cutlery steel by Japan’s Kai Corporation, a blade-making authority since 1908, the clipper delivers clean cuts through thick nails without tearing or splitting. At 67 grams, it carries enough weight to feel substantial without being cumbersome.

The design balances mechanical efficiency with understated aesthetics. The zinc die-cast lever features a sleek plated finish, while thermoplastic stoppers and a stainless steel filing surface add functional durability. At 86mm in length, it slips easily into a Dopp kit or drawer. The press-and-release action is smooth and quiet, delivering crisp results without the jarring click of cheaper clippers. It’s grooming stripped to essentials: precise, deliberate, built to last, and refined enough to make you appreciate the engineering behind something you use weekly.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49.00

What We Like

The patented rotating lever reduces effort while increasing control, especially on thicker nails.
Kai’s century of blade-making expertise translates to noticeably cleaner cuts.

What We Dislike

The 67-gram weight, while satisfying in hand, makes it heavier than most travel clippers.
Premium pricing may feel steep for a category that people usually buy cheaply.

4. Fire Capsule Oil Lamp

Candlelight without the mess, wax, or weak flame. The Fire Capsule reimagines the oil lamp as a modern minimalist object, wrapped in sleek cylindrical glass with a precision-engineered lid that keeps dust out and clarity intact. The 80ml capacity provides up to 16 hours of continuous light, enough for a full evening gathering or an extended power outage. Burn paraffin oil with insect-repelling properties, and it becomes an outdoor companion that sets ambiance while keeping bugs at bay. An included aroma plate lets you infuse spaces with scent, turning functional lighting into a sensory experience.

What makes the Fire Capsule work is its refusal to compromise portability for aesthetics. At just 180 grams, it’s light enough to pack for camping trips or move between rooms without thought. The flat-topped design allows stacking for storage, and it comes with a protective drawstring pouch. Paraffin oil burns clean and odorless, making it approachable for beginners while offering reliability for experienced users. It’s the kind of object that transitions seamlessly from dinner party centerpiece to emergency kit essential, looking intentional in both contexts.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.00

What we like

Sixteen hours of burn time from a compact, stackable form that travels easily.
Clean-burning paraffin oil eliminates the smoke and scent issues of traditional candles.

What we dislike

Paraffin oil requires a separate purchase and proper storage, adding a layer of maintenance.
Open flame always carries risk, requiring more supervision than battery-powered alternatives.

5. BØYD Minimalist Espresso Machine

The BØYD espresso machine concept strips coffee-making down to pure geometric form. NYZE Studio designed it as a sculptural statement first, functional appliance second, though the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Smooth curves and clean lines replace the usual visual clutter of traditional machines. The handle arches naturally for ergonomic grip, and the interface stays minimal, eliminating the multi-button confusion that often accompanies morning caffeine rituals. It’s the kind of design that makes you reconsider what kitchen appliances could look like if form and function started on equal footing.

Though still conceptual, the BØYD demonstrates how thoughtful industrial design can transform utilitarian objects into conversation pieces. The silhouette feels more like modern sculpture than a small appliance, yet the user experience remains intuitive. Imagining it on a countertop, it commands attention without demanding maintenance or complexity. For coffee lovers who care as much about their space as their brew, it’s a vision of what’s possible when designers prioritize restraint over feature bloat. It’s also a reminder that sometimes the best designs exist first as provocations, pushing categories forward even before production begins.

What we like

Bold minimalist form turns a functional appliance into a sculptural statement piece.
Simplified interface suggests a more intuitive, less overwhelming user experience.

What we dislike

As a concept, it’s not available for purchase or real-world testing.
Extreme minimalism may sacrifice the practical features that experienced espresso users expect.

6. Bookish Bookmark

Reading shouldn’t require improvised solutions like mugs, random objects, or cracked spines. The Bookish bookmark solves a persistent problem with elegant simplicity: it’s a book-shaped transparent paperweight with curves designed to hold pages open naturally. Made from clear acrylic resin, it sits across your book without blocking text, letting you read hands-free while protecting pages from smudges or accidental creases. The curved form respects the book’s natural arc rather than forcing it flat, preserving spine integrity while keeping your place.

The genius here is restraint. Instead of adding complexity, the design removes friction from an activity that should be relaxing. It works equally well for cookbooks in the kitchen, textbooks on a desk, or novels on a nightstand. The transparency ensures it doesn’t interfere with your reading experience visually, while the weight keeps pages secure without damage. For anyone who’s ever balanced a book awkwardly while eating, taking notes, or trying to follow a recipe, this is the kind of micro-solution that feels obvious in hindsight but surprisingly rare in practice.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65.00

What we like

Transparent design allows uninterrupted reading while keeping pages open securely.
Curved shape holds books naturally without damaging spines.

What we dislike

Acrylic scratches over time with regular handling and storage.
Size may not accommodate very large or very small books equally well.

7. Memento Business Card Log

In a digital age, handwritten notes carry unexpected weight. The Memento Business Card Log preserves the memory of every important meeting by pairing physical cards with space for personal observations. It holds up to 120 business cards using a two-point slit system, with a dedicated room beside each card for jotting down conversation details, characteristics, dates, or context. Those handwritten notes become memory triggers, helping you reconnect with both the person and the moment long after the meeting ends.

Japanese brand Re+g brings expert craftsmanship to organizational tools, using a proprietary binding system that allows seamless page reordering and easy reorganization as your network grows. The minimal paper design offers a warm, tactile experience that elevates this beyond simple storage into something closer to a professional journal. For people who value relationships built slowly through attention and follow-through, it’s a tool that respects the analog ritual of connection. It acknowledges that sometimes the best way to remember someone isn’t through CRM software, but through your own words written in the moment.

Click Here to Buy Now: $35.00

What we like

Combines card storage with note-taking space, creating a richer context for each contact.
The proprietary binding system allows flexible reorganization as your network evolves.

What we dislike

Physical storage requires dedicated space compared to digital contact management.
Capacity maxes out at 120 cards, requiring eventual archiving or purging.

8. AirTag Carabiner

Forgetting where you left your bag, bike, or umbrella becomes significantly less stressful when Apple’s Find My network can pinpoint it. This handcrafted metal carabiner holds an AirTag securely while attaching to nearly anything you’d rather not lose. Made from Duralumin composite alloy, the same material used in aircraft and spacecraft, it’s lightweight yet remarkably strong. Each piece is individually crafted by hand, also available in untreated brass and stainless steel for different aesthetic preferences.

The engineering behind Duralumin makes it suitable for extreme environments, from high altitudes to marine use, meaning your everyday carry won’t wear out from rain, bumps, or daily abuse. The carabiner clips easily onto bag straps, bike frames, or jacket loops, turning Apple’s tracking ecosystem into a passive insurance policy for your belongings. For busy people who’d rather spend mental energy on meaningful decisions than retracing steps, it’s a small investment in peace of mind. The tactile quality of metal also makes it feel like a deliberate accessory rather than a cheap plastic add-on.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149.00

What we like

Duralumin alloy provides aircraft-grade strength at minimal weight, ensuring durability in varied conditions.
Handcrafted quality and material options give it accessory-level appeal beyond pure function.

What we dislike

Requires separate purchase of Apple AirTag, adding cost and platform dependency.
Carabiner attachment may not suit all bags or accessory types equally well.

9. Smart Tea Pot

Tea brewing becomes genuinely personalized with this smart teapot that tailors every cup to your biometric data and environment. Six built-in sensors analyze heart rate, finger temperature, and ambient conditions, then adjust brewing parameters to match your physical state and mood. An app-connected system lets you select tea types from a comprehensive database containing optimal conditions for varieties from green to herbal. A patented rotary brewing system replicates traditional Japanese tea master techniques, mimicking the nuanced wrist movements that bring out full-bodied flavor and aroma.

What elevates this beyond gadget territory is how it removes guesswork while honoring tea culture’s precision. Each brew adapts to whether you need relaxation or focus, automatically adjusting temperature, steeping time, and agitation intensity. The interface stays intuitive despite advanced tech underneath, and the sleek design fits naturally into modern kitchens. For tea enthusiasts tired of inconsistent results or intimidated by traditional preparation complexity, it offers a middle path: professional-grade quality through automation that respects the ritual. It’s technology serving tradition rather than replacing it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $349.00

What we like

Biometric sensors personalize each brew to your current physical and emotional state.
Comprehensive tea database ensures optimal brewing conditions across a wide variety of tea types.

What we dislike

App dependency means the teapot’s advanced features require smartphone connectivity to function fully.
Price point likely positions it well above standard electric kettles and traditional teapots.

10. ScytheBlade

The ScytheBlade takes visual inspiration from the Grim Reaper’s signature tool, scaling the curved blade profile down into a tiny EDC knife that punches well above its weight class. At just 46mm in length when deployed and weighing only 8 grams, it’s one of the smallest folding knives available without sacrificing capability. The body is crafted from lightweight titanium, offering exceptional strength and corrosion resistance without demanding constant maintenance. The curved blade design, reminiscent of both scythes and tiger claws, concentrates cutting power efficiently despite compact dimensions.

Titanium construction ensures durability that outlasts cheaper materials while remaining virtually unnoticeable in a pocket until needed. The tiger claw blade profile isn’t just aesthetic; it provides leverage and cutting efficiency that straight blades struggle to match at this scale. For anyone seeking a backup blade that won’t weigh down a keychain or require special care, the ScytheBlade delivers. It’s proof that smart material choices and thoughtful blade geometry can create something genuinely capable without requiring a belt sheath or bulk. The design respects both form and function, looking deliberate while performing reliably.

What we like

Titanium construction provides an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio at only 8 grams.
Curved blade profile maximizes cutting efficiency despite an extremely compact 46mm deployed length.

What we dislike

Small size, while portable, limits cutting capacity for larger tasks or extended use.
Unique blade shape may require adjustment for users accustomed to traditional knife designs.

Why These Ten Designs Matter

Starting a year right isn’t about acquiring more things. It’s about choosing objects that align with how you actually live, work, and move through the world. These ten designs share common DNA: they solve real problems with restraint, respect your intelligence, and refuse to sacrifice aesthetics for function or function for aesthetics. They’re the kinds of purchases you make once and keep using.

Whether it’s a clipper that makes grooming feel intentional, a radio that keeps you connected when infrastructure fails, or a teapot that finally understands tea as both science and art, these designs earn their space. They represent the best of what thoughtful design offers: objects that improve daily life quietly, age gracefully, and remind you that quality still matters when everything else feels disposable and temporary.

The post The Only 10 Designs You Need to Start 2026 Right first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ovme Smart Mirror System Lets You See, Feel, and Fit Virtual Outfits

The everyday “what should I wear today?” moment has gotten more complicated by online shopping. You can scroll endless outfits, but a screen cannot show how something fits, feels, or plays with what you already own. Ovme is a concept that treats the mirror as a missing link between your closet, your feed, and your actual body, closing the gap between seeing and knowing.

Ovme is an AR smart mirror ecosystem built around three objects: a full-height mirror, a sensor-laden fitting belt, and a haptic tactile table, plus a companion app. The name stands for “Own version of me,” and the system is designed to help you find new styles, feel how they fit, and touch virtual fabrics before you ever click buy or open your wallet.

Designers: Daun Park, Seyeon Park, Chawon So, Yewon Shim, Yejin Hong

The mirror acts like a personal stylist, overlaying outfits on your reflection and pulling from three sources: new looks, your existing wardrobe, and reference images you feed it. You can swipe through categories like formal, sporty, or feminine, and see complete outfits assembled around your silhouette, then save the ones that feel right into a virtual closet for later when you need inspiration or want to revisit.

The fitting belt is a flexible band with sensors that can wrap around your head, waist, or thigh. It measures circumference and applies gentle pressure, tightening or loosening to simulate how a garment would hug or hang on that part of your body. On the mirror, the virtual outfit responds in real time, turning fit from a guess based on size charts into something your body can actually sense.

The tactile table is a slim pedestal with a haptic surface that uses electro-tactile feedback to mimic fabric textures. When you place your hand on it, the system can suggest sensations like smooth silk, textured knit, or structured leather in sync with what you see in the mirror. It attempts to close the gap between seeing a material and knowing how it might feel against your skin or draped over your shoulders.

Ovme also acts as a style diary. It can scan what you are wearing today, score the outfit, and save it to a timeline called My Closet, so you can revisit past looks and see patterns in what you actually wear. A social layer called OvUS lets you browse other people’s saved styles and mood boards, turning the mirror into a place to share and borrow ideas rather than stare at yourself alone.

Ovme treats getting dressed as an ongoing design process, not a daily panic, and uses AR, haptics, and sensing to give online fashion some of the feedback loops of a real fitting room. Whether or not this exact hardware ever ships, the idea of a home mirror that helps you experiment, feel, and remember your style captures a direction that deserves attention, especially as wardrobes become more scattered across platforms and shopping becomes more remote.

The post Ovme Smart Mirror System Lets You See, Feel, and Fit Virtual Outfits first appeared on Yanko Design.

This teardrop trailer with fiberglass body tows efficiently behind an electric bike

For me, the ultimate luxury of biking is the combination of self-fitness and environmental friendliness. If there were another dimension to add, it would be the wonder of knowing where to sleep or relax after a tiring day riding up to the favorite spot in the wilderness. This is where the all-new bike camper, from Nirvana Van based in France, pedals in, towing behind a capable e-bike.

The makers argue, it can tow behind a regular bike without much effort on a level path, but that’s not what you want the trailer for. You want the towing residence to go where your electric bike, grit, and adventure take you, and that’s what the bike camper promises to do without a hiccup.

Designer: Nirvana Van

Bike campers like this one have been around for a while. Towable teardrop trailer from ModyPlast is a good example. Such compact teardrop trailers present the eco-conscious camping enthusiasts with an undeniable reason to ride, explore, and live at the place of their choosing. It is, in comparison, a cheaper and more environmentally-friendly way to spend a weekend in a picturesque location, something the regular trailers fail to do. They are luxurious and designed for more than a couple. But if you’re adventuring on a bike, surely you are doing so to go solo, and for that, the compact bike camper is a good choice.

If you remember the SpaceCamperBike, it was an electric bike you can ride, work, sleep, and camp in. The Nirvana Van’s idea of the teardrop trailer is pretty traditional: a trailer to tow behind. The company can customize the trailer hitch to suit a varied choice of electric bikes, making it compatible with whatever brand you own. The bike camper’s efficiency and durability have been put to the test by Raphaël Dakiche of Nirvana Van with over 1200 km journey across France: living out of the trailer riding behind the electric bike.

So, whether you are planning a long-distance adventure or just a short weekend trip, the camper is ready to go where you want it to. The easy-to-tow and set-up trailer, which is proposed to be a reliable and comfortable shelter at every stop, is made available in two variants: 67kg Classic and 57kg Premium. The former is made using a cellular polypropylene shell and a steel chassis, while the latter is a fiberglass shell on an aluminum chassis. These come with optional 250Wh or 850Wh batteries, and the choice of either 105W or 190W roof-mounted solar panels.

Irrespective of the model, the teardrop trailer is provided in a size measuring 6.8 feet long and 3.1 feet wide. The bike camper is made comfortable for year-round camping with 20mm extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation and safety on the road is managed by the lockable door and leg stabilizers. The circular window makes for ventilation inside, where you get a bed and ample storage. The Classic starts at €3,500 ($4,100) and the Premium costs €3,900 ($4,300).

The post This teardrop trailer with fiberglass body tows efficiently behind an electric bike first appeared on Yanko Design.

A Vertical Farm Skyscraper Reimagines Chicago’s Skyline as a Living Food Ecosystem

Imagine standing in Chicago, looking up at a skyline that does not just symbolize power and progress, but nourishment. A skyline where fresh lettuce grows a few floors above your head, rainwater is harvested from the clouds, and the architecture itself works quietly to heal long standing urban inequities. This project dares to ask a radical question. What if skyscrapers did not just house people, but fed them?

At the heart of this proposal lies a deeply human problem. Food deserts. Across Chicago, many low income neighborhoods struggle to access affordable, nutritious food. Grocery stores are scarce, fresh produce is often out of reach, and fast food becomes the default not by choice, but by circumstance. These conditions have fueled health disparities and reinforced socio economic divides for decades. Rather than treating this as a policy issue alone, the project reframes it as an architectural opportunity.

Designers: Yuhan Zhang and Dreama Simeng Lin

Programmatically, the tower integrates vertical farming directly into its core, transforming food production into an essential urban utility. Instead of transporting produce from distant rural farms, food is grown locally within the city, within the building, and within reach. The skyscraper becomes a self sustaining ecosystem, drastically reducing carbon footprints while restoring food access to the communities that need it most.

Formally, the building draws inspiration from one of Chicago’s most defining natural elements. Water. The tower’s fluid, organic silhouette mirrors the geometry of a water droplet, symbolizing renewal, continuity, and resilience. This form is not just poetic. It extends Chicago’s green belt upward, turning the skyline into a vertical landscape. Nature is no longer pushed to the city’s edges. It rises with it.

Life inside the tower unfolds as a fully integrated vertical community. Residential units sit alongside commercial spaces, allowing people to live, work, and socialize without leaving the structure. Hotels offer short term stays and panoramic views, contributing to both cultural exchange and economic vitality. Schools are embedded throughout the tower, weaving education into daily life rather than isolating it at ground level. Sky terraces appear at multiple heights, acting as social lungs. Green, open spaces where residents gather, relax, and reconnect with nature. These terraces sustain every function of the tower, fostering interaction, wellness, and a sense of shared ownership.

Sustainability is not an add on here. It is the backbone. Vertical farms housed within the core supply fresh produce. Cloud harvesting and rainwater collection systems are seamlessly integrated into the façade, ensuring efficient water reuse. Wind turbines embedded along the exoskeleton generate renewable energy, while a breathable atrium and natural ventilation system enhanced by a diagrid structural framework maximize airflow and daylight. The result is a building that does not merely coexist with nature, but actively collaborates with it.

Structurally, the tower is composed of four conjoined vertical volumes, laterally supported by two layers of bracing that increase depth and resilience. A diagrid exoskeleton spans 25 story modules, weaving fluid structural lines that integrate mega bracing with lateral stability. This strategy allows for a generous inner void, flooding the tower with light and air while reinforcing its architectural clarity.

The project also represents an ambitious research endeavor. Integrating agriculture into a mile high skyscraper demanded innovative thinking around energy efficiency, water cycles, and food systems. Balancing extreme structural demands with green technologies like cloud harvesting and passive ventilation pushed engineering boundaries. Most importantly, research into food deserts grounded the project in real social needs, ensuring that sustainability here is not symbolic, but equitable.

Positioned as a future icon for the next fifty years, this tower reimagines what urban architecture can be. It suggests a future where buildings do not just shelter cities. They sustain them. Where the skyline does not just inspire awe. It feeds the body, the community, and the planet.

The post A Vertical Farm Skyscraper Reimagines Chicago’s Skyline as a Living Food Ecosystem first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 3D-Printed Clock Uses Orbital Rings to Tell Time

You know that moment when you see something so clever you wonder why it hasn’t been done before? That’s exactly what happened when I came across Denis Turitsyn’s Radius Clock. This isn’t just another minimalist timepiece fighting for wall space in your Pinterest feed. It’s a genuinely fresh take on something we look at dozens of times a day without really seeing anymore.

The concept is simple but brilliant. Turitsyn looked up at the solar system and thought, what if a clock worked like that? Planets orbit at different speeds and distances from the sun, each following their own path. The Radius Clock captures that same energy, turning timekeeping into something that feels alive and kinetic rather than just functional.

Designer: Denis Turitsyn

Here’s where it gets interesting from a design perspective. Instead of the traditional center-mounted mechanism we’ve all grown up with, the hour and minute hands on this clock are driven by external rings hidden behind the case. Picture it like invisible tracks guiding each hand at its own pace. The second hand, meanwhile, runs on a completely separate motor that’s mounted right at the base of the hour hand. It’s this layered independence that gives the clock its orbital quality.

What really caught my attention is how Turitsyn balanced artistic vision with practical engineering. The dial is 3D printed using FDM technology on a standard desktop printer. That’s the kind you could theoretically have in your home or studio, not some industrial-grade machine. This accessibility makes the design feel less like an untouchable art piece and more like something that could actually exist in the real world of production and commerce.

The hands themselves are made from a lightweight metal alloy, which might sound like a small detail but it’s actually crucial to the whole operation. Lighter hands mean less mechanical stress on the system, which translates to smoother movement and longer lifespan. It’s the kind of thoughtful problem-solving that separates concept designs from functional products. Behind that sculptural white body, two synchronized motors work in tandem to drive the hour and minute hands. This paired configuration isn’t just redundancy for the sake of it. It keeps the system balanced and prevents uneven load on those hidden rings, which means the clock can maintain precise timekeeping over months and years rather than gradually falling out of sync.

The second hand solution is particularly clever. Its miniature motor comes with an integrated battery and sits directly at the base of the hour hand. This setup lets the seconds tick away independently without adding strain to the main mechanism. It’s a bit like having a parasite motor hitching a ride, but in the best possible way.

Visually, the Radius Clock has this organic, almost fluid quality. The concentric rings create depth and movement even when you’re looking at a still image. That bright orange second hand provides the perfect pop of color against the white body and black hands, making it feel contemporary without trying too hard to be trendy. You could see this fitting into a modern apartment just as easily as a creative studio or tech startup office.

What strikes me most about this design is how it makes you reconsider something as fundamental as reading time. We’re so conditioned to the standard clock face that we don’t question it anymore. Turitsyn’s orbital approach doesn’t make the clock harder to read, it just makes the experience more engaging. Time becomes something you observe rather than something you just glance at. The modularity shown in the photos, with multiple clocks arranged together on a wall, opens up even more possibilities. Imagine using these to display different time zones, or creating a sculptural installation that turns practical timekeeping into a genuine design statement.

Denis Turitsyn’s Radius Clock proves that even the most familiar objects still have room for innovation. By borrowing from the cosmos and combining it with accessible manufacturing technology, he’s created something that feels both futuristic and strangely timeless. It’s the kind of design that makes you pause and appreciate the everyday objects we usually take for granted.

The post This 3D-Printed Clock Uses Orbital Rings to Tell Time first appeared on Yanko Design.

LEGO And Creality Come Together in This Incredibly Detailed Ender-Inspired 3D Printer Model

LEGO and 3D printing occupy similar creative territory, both letting you turn ideas into physical objects through systematic processes. Yet despite this natural kinship, there’s never been an official LEGO model of the specific machine that’s currently democratizing small-scale manufacturing. This fan submission fixes that gap with a recognizably Ender-inspired design that captures both the utilitarian aesthetic and basic kinematic structure of Creality’s popular printer lineup.

The build doesn’t actually function like some ambitious LEGO projects (there’s a working LEGO Turing machine out there made from 2,900 bricks), but that’s not really the point. Someone unfamiliar with 3D printing could assemble this and understand how Cartesian motion systems work, how the hotend assembly relates to the build plate, and why those vertical lead screws matter for Z-axis stability. For people who already own an Ender or similar machine, it’s more about the novelty and nostalgia of seeing familiar hardware translated into a tabletop collectible to admire and cherish.

Designer: Guris14

Paying homage to the Ender 3 is fitting, since it was literally the first 3D printer for so many people, quite like an entire generation having a Nokia first phone. Creality sold hundreds of thousands of these things, maybe millions at this point, and the design became the default mental image of what a 3D printer looks like for an entire generation of makers. That boxy aluminum frame, the single Z-axis lead screw on earlier models (this LEGO version appears to reference the dual-screw V2), the bowden extruder setup with that blue PTFE tube snaking from the frame-mounted motor to the hotend. That characteristic black and silver color scheme with blue accent components has become as visually shorthand for “budget 3D printer” as the beige tower was for 90s PCs. Designer Guris14 scaled the model down from the Ender 3 V2’s actual 220x220x250mm build volume to something desk-friendly, but kept the proportions honest enough that you immediately recognize what you’re looking at.

What’s impressive is how the mechanical systems translate into LEGO’s vocabulary without completely abandoning accuracy. The Z-axis uses what appears to be LEGO’s ribbed hose pieces to represent lead screws, with the gantry able to move up and down the vertical supports. The X-axis gantry rides on a black beam that mimics the 2040 aluminum extrusion found on real Enders, while the hotend assembly hangs from a carriage with that signature blue bowden tube curling back toward the extruder. The build plate sits on a Y-axis assembly with its own lead screw mechanism, and there’s even a LEGO logo on the build-plate, like perfectly placed branding!

Flip the model and you’ll find representations of the motherboard and power supply tucked beneath the build plate, exactly where Creality positions them on the actual hardware. There’s that angled LCD screen mount on the front right corner, positioned just like the stock Ender setup. Even the spool holder perched on the top frame gets included, which is the kind of completeness that separates a thoughtful recreation from a surface-level approximation. You could hand this to someone who’s never seen a 3D printer and they’d walk away with a surprisingly accurate mental model of how these machines are structured.

The project currently sits on the LEGO Ideas website, where fans share their own creations and vote for their favorites. Lucky builds that hit the 10,000 vote mark move to the review stage where LEGO actually considers it for production. That’s always been the tricky part with Ideas submissions. You need a concept that’s simultaneously niche enough to excite enthusiasts but broad enough that LEGO thinks they can sell tens of thousands of units through their retail channels. A 3D printer model lives in an interesting space there. The maker community overlap is real and passionate, but you’re also asking LEGO to produce a set celebrating a technology that competes with their own manufacturing process in certain contexts.

Still, LEGO has greenlit plenty of sets that celebrate tools and technology. The Typewriter, the Polaroid camera, the various Technic construction vehicles, all of these acknowledge that people enjoy building detailed models of machines they find interesting or useful. A 3D printer fits that pattern perfectly, especially as these devices become more common in homes and schools. The educational angle writes itself: here’s a hands-on way to understand additive manufacturing without dealing with bed leveling or filament moisture. Whether that’s enough to get LEGO’s product team on board is another question entirely, but stranger things have made it through the Ideas gauntlet. The NASA Apollo Saturn V started as a fan submission. So did the ship in a bottle.

The post LEGO And Creality Come Together in This Incredibly Detailed Ender-Inspired 3D Printer Model first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Weird $12 Clip-On Gamepad Turns Your Smartphone Into a Game Boy Color

Playtiles looks like something that shouldn’t work. A thin piece of plastic with buttons, no electronics inside, sticking to your smartphone screen like a temporary tattoo. Yet this $12 accessory has managed to capture what expensive gaming phones and elaborate clip-on controllers often miss: the pure, uncomplicated joy of pressing actual buttons while playing retro-style games. The device ships with access to a curated library of indie titles that feel lifted straight from the Game Boy Color era.

The design strips away everything modern mobile gaming has become. No account setup, no firmware updates, no charging cables. You place it on your screen where the virtual controls appear, press the buttons, and play. Thousands of micro suction cups hold it in place during gameplay, and when you’re done, it slides back into your wallet next to your credit cards. After months of anticipation since July’s pre-order launch, units are now reaching backers who wanted to rediscover what handheld gaming felt like before touchscreens took over.

Designer: Playtile

The buttons work through capacitive conduction, using your own body’s electrical properties to register a press on the screen beneath. It’s a completely powerless system, which in a world of constant charging is a breath of fresh air. The entire polycarbonate unit weighs just 0.2 ounces and measures 2.68 by 1.57 inches, making it smaller than a credit card. This isn’t trying to compete with a Backbone or Razer Kishi; those are full-fledged peripherals that turn your phone into a console hybrid. Playtiles is a fundamentally different idea, an accessory so unobtrusive it feels more like a guitar pick than a piece of hardware.

Of course, the hardware is only half the story. The back of every Playtiles has a QR code that launches a browser-based OS, completely sidestepping the app stores. This is an incredibly shrewd move, giving the creators a direct channel to their audience without platform fees or gatekeepers. Early adopters who bought the Season 1 bundle get a new, bite-sized retro game delivered every week for twelve weeks, all built in GB Studio. This transforms a simple controller into a curated content platform. It solves the biggest problem with mobile gaming, which is finding good games amidst a sea of ad-riddled clones. You get a handpicked library that you know is designed perfectly for the D-pad and two-button layout.

You are obviously not going to be playing Genshin Impact on this thing. The two-button constraint is a feature, a deliberate design choice that forces a return to the focused game mechanics of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. It works on any phone with a screen wider than 68mm, so long as the game lets you reposition the on-screen controls to align with the controller. That’s the key requirement. For $12, it’s an impulse buy that feels like a low-risk experiment in nostalgia. In a market where dedicated handhelds from companies like Anbernic command prices north of $100, the Playtiles carves out its own space by being almost disposable in price yet surprisingly robust in its concept.

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Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Review: Overbuilt for the Road and That’s the Point

I spent a week with the 2025 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail on a family road trip. Not crawling over rocks. Not testing approach angles. Just driving, for hours, across highways and through small towns with my family loaded in.

Designer: Lexus

The Overtrail package is engineered for terrain I never touched. Electronically locking front and rear differentials. A torsen center diff. 33-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch wheels. Multi-Terrain Select with crawl control and downhill assist. Lexus built this thing to climb, descend, and articulate through conditions that would strand most luxury SUVs.

I used it to pick up coffee and cover 400 miles of interstate.

That disconnect sounds like a waste. It isn’t. The Overtrail’s capability translates into something unexpected on pavement: confidence that borders on calm.

Design Intent: Restraint Over Spectacle

Most off-road trims exaggerate aggression. Overtrail does the opposite. It reads like industrial equipment that happens to be finished well.

My tester arrived in Desert Moon Beige, a color that does real design work. In overcast light, it leans neutral and slightly cool. In direct sun, it warms without becoming flashy. There’s no metallic sparkle, no high-contrast drama. The finish behaves like a muted architectural surface, and that restraint helps the LX feel calmer and less imposing despite its size. For a vehicle this large, color choice matters more than most buyers realize. Desert Moon Beige actively reduces perceived bulk.

The Overtrail-specific dark spindle grille anchors the front fascia with no chrome and no bright interruptions. Horizontal slat density visually lowers the nose and widens the stance. The black surround ties directly into lower cladding and wheel arch trim, creating a continuous dark band that grounds the vehicle from every angle. Headlights sit high and slim, emphasizing width rather than height. The LED signature reads clean and controlled, not aggressive.

Wheel choice plays a bigger role than it first appears. The 18-inch black wheels with tall all-terrain sidewalls visually compress the body and soften the stance. That extra tire volume signals off-road intent, but it also calms the design. Larger wheels would have sharpened the edges and made the LX feel top-heavy. Instead, Overtrail looks grounded and planted, even parked. Tire tread is visible but not visually loud. Capable at rest, quiet in motion.

My vehicle included two options worth noting. Black side steps visually lower the body line and materially improve daily usability, making entry and exit easier on a family road trip without making the vehicle look less capable. A roof rack subtly changes the silhouette and adds a hint of expedition intent, but it remains proportionally integrated and introduces no visual clutter or noticeable wind noise. Both are optional, not standard, and both reinforce the configured nature of this specific vehicle.

Nothing about Overtrail pretends to be lightweight or sporty. The surfaces are thick. Panel gaps look engineered for durability, not minimized for show. It feels designed to survive abrasion, dust, and neglect without losing its identity. In this exact configuration, the LX 700h Overtrail looks intentional, grounded, and restrained. It doesn’t read as an off-road costume. It reads as a long-distance vehicle that happens to be engineered far beyond what most daily driving demands. That material honesty carries into the cabin.

Cabin Design: Luxury Filtered Through Utility

Inside, Overtrail prioritizes clarity, durability, and spatial calm. These qualities become obvious after hours behind the wheel.

The seats deserve specific credit. Cushions are broad and upright, with a firmness that supports posture rather than sinking you in. On a road trip, this matters more than initial plushness. Hours in, fatigue stays low. Lexus tuned these seats for sustained comfort, not showroom softness.

Material choices reinforce that goal. Leather surfaces feel resilient rather than delicate. Trim finishes avoid gloss in favor of textures that diffuse light. In changing daylight conditions, the cabin stays visually quiet. No glare. No sparkle. That reduces cognitive load on long highway stretches.

The dual-screen layout finally makes sense in this context. The upper 12.3-inch display handles navigation and media without feeling crowded. The lower 7-inch screen anchors climate and vehicle functions in a fixed visual zone. This separation reduces hunting for controls. Muscle memory builds quickly when you’re driving for hours rather than minutes.

Physical controls deserve credit. Knobs and buttons for key functions feel deliberate and weighted. Lexus resisted the urge to bury everything in menus, and that restraint pays off when you’re adjusting climate or audio repeatedly during a 6-hour drive.

Powertrain: Hybrid Torque Without Drama

The 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid pairs with a high-torque electric motor and 10-speed automatic. Output reaches 457 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, significantly more twist than the non-hybrid LX600.

On paper, those numbers suggest performance ambitions. In practice, the hybrid system plays a subtler role. It smooths transitions and fills gaps rather than announcing itself.

Throttle response feels immediate without being jumpy. Low-speed acceleration is effortless, especially when merging or climbing grades. The electric assist masks turbo lag and prevents the drivetrain from feeling strained under load. At highway speeds, the LX settles into a relaxed cruising rhythm. Engine noise stays muted. Gear changes are unobtrusive.

The vehicle never feels confused about its identity. Power delivery remains linear and confident, reinforcing the sense that this is a long-distance machine. EPA ratings land at 19 city, 22 highway, and 20 combined. Real-world highway testing shows around 20 mpg on premium fuel. The roughly 22-gallon fuel tank helps offset the hybrid system’s modest efficiency gains, though range still trails some non-hybrid rivals due to weight and tire choice. Off-road tire fitment can drop economy nearer to 13 mpg in demanding conditions. For my highway-heavy week, fuel stops came more often than expected but never felt punishing.

Ride Quality: The Overtrail Surprise

This is where the experience becomes genuinely interesting.

Despite the aggressive tire and suspension setup, the LX 700h Overtrail rides with unexpected composure on the highway. No constant jiggle. No nervous vertical motion. Expansion joints and uneven pavement are absorbed with a controlled, damped response rather than sharp impacts.

The tall sidewalls do significant work here, but suspension tuning deserves equal credit. Lexus prioritized body control over stiffness. The vehicle settles quickly after bumps, maintaining a sense of mass without sluggishness. It doesn’t float, but it doesn’t punish either.

At highway speeds, the cabin remains impressively insulated. Tire noise is present but subdued, more of a distant texture than a distraction. Wind noise stays low, even around the mirrors and A-pillars. That achievement isn’t trivial given the LX’s frontal area.

Long stretches reveal another strength. The ride stays consistent over time. Some off-road oriented vehicles feel fine initially, then wear you down. Overtrail maintains its composure. After hours, it still feels predictable and settled.

Steering and Control: Calm Over Sharpness

Steering feel aligns with the rest of the design philosophy. It isn’t sporty, but it’s precise enough to inspire confidence.

On-center stability is strong, which reduces constant micro-corrections on the highway. The wheel weights up naturally at speed, reinforcing a sense of control rather than urgency.

In corners, the LX reminds you of its 6,000-plus pounds. But it manages weight transfer gracefully. No sudden lean. No delayed response. Everything happens predictably. That predictability becomes a form of comfort on long drives.

Driver assistance systems stay mostly out of the way. Lane keeping and adaptive cruise work quietly in the background without aggressive corrections. That restraint fits the Overtrail personality. The vehicle supports the driver rather than competing for attention.

The Off-Road Hardware You May Never Use

The Overtrail package isn’t cosmetic. The hardware is real.

Front and rear electronically locking differentials provide genuine capability. The torsen center diff, front skid plate, and 33-inch all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels add articulation and low-speed control that matter on dirt and rock. Multi-Terrain Select, crawl control, and downhill assist mean Lexus built systems for conditions most owners will never encounter.

Physical buttons for drive modes make it both automatic point-and-shoot capable and manually configurable for serious terrain. Reviewers who have tested Overtrail in off-road conditions confirm it performs. I simply chose not to.

That choice reveals the real achievement. Lexus engineered an off-road package that doesn’t dominate the on-road experience. The hardware adds capability without injecting harshness, noise, or visual chaos into daily use.

What Lexus Got Right and What They Didn’t

The interior craftsmanship is excellent. High-end materials and supportive seats make long drives comfortable. Physical controls for essential functions feel deliberate and earned. Safety technology is plentiful.

The digital user experience is less cohesive. The dual-screen infotainment can feel disjointed and layered in ways that take time to internalize. Some competitors offer more advanced hands-free driver assistance. Cargo space is modest with the third row up, though it grows significantly when folded. The third row itself is tight for adults.

At six-figure pricing, starting around $114,500 to $119,000 before options, some buyers may expect interior richness that matches or exceeds European benchmarks. Lexus delivers refinement and durability, but the cabin doesn’t scream opulence. It whispers capability.

The Design Takeaway

The LX 700h Overtrail is not an off-road cosplay vehicle that sacrifices road comfort. It’s a long-distance luxury SUV that happens to be overbuilt for terrain you may never touch.

From a design perspective, that’s the real achievement. Ruggedness doesn’t need to announce itself loudly. Sometimes the most confident design choice is letting capability exist quietly beneath the surface.

I drove it across states with my family. The off-road hardware sat unused, but its presence shaped everything about how the vehicle behaved. The mass felt intentional. The composure felt earned. The confidence felt deserved.

For buyers who want genuine capability without the aesthetic compromise, Overtrail makes a compelling argument. You’re paying for engineering that may never be tested, but you feel it every mile anyway.

Price: Starting at $114,500 (Overtrail trim)

Powertrain: 3.4L twin-turbo V6 hybrid, 457 hp, 583 lb-ft

Fuel Economy: 19 city / 22 highway / 20 combined (EPA)

Key Features: Electronically locking front/rear differentials, 33-inch all-terrain tires, Multi-Terrain Select, adaptive suspension, dual-screen infotainment with physical controls

The post Lexus LX 700h Overtrail Review: Overbuilt for the Road and That’s the Point first appeared on Yanko Design.