Oct
14

By

The Digital Watch Started Out as a Sci-Fi Movie Prop

Category: Core77

We don’t think of Stanley Kubrick as the father of the digital watch, but he had more than a little to do with it. In the 1960s, while Kubrick was developing “2001: A Space Odyssey,” he envisioned a futuristic watch that the astronauts would wear. He brought his concept to the Hamilton Watch Company and asked if they could create it as a prop for the film.

This was the resultant prop (which, ironically, is never once focused upon in the finished film):

For those of you who are younger, prior to this there was no such thing as a digital electronic watch. But Hamilton engineer John Bergey, the company’s head of R&D, figured they could create one for real. Following the success of the 1968 film, Bergey got the company to partner with Electro/Data, a Texas-based electronics firm, to create a new Pulsar division within Hamilton. Their goal was to develop a digital watch.

By 1970 they had a working model, but it was a far cry from what was depicted in the film. Bergey somehow managed to get booked on The Tonight Show, and he showed the Pulsar invention off to several million Americans.

The LED display used so much power that the display was off by default. You had to push a button, then the red numbers would illuminate for 1.5 seconds.

Host Johnny Carson was shocked at the announced price of $1,500 (about $13,000 in today’s money), and joked “The watch will also tell you the exact moment that you went bankrupt.” That aside, the episode and the watch generated buzz. Bergey and Pulsar had a production model ready by 1972, and they leaned into the expensive price: The watch was now 18-karat-gold-plated and sold for $2,100, more than a Rolex at the time.

The 400-unit first production run sold out in a matter of days.

In 1973, Pulsar released a more affordable stainless steel version called the P2. It retailed for a more manageable $395.

James Bond wore one in “Live and Let Die,” and the P2 became a giant hit.

Sales figures aside, the watch looked nothing like Kubrick’s prop. In 2006 Hamilton created an homage to Kubrick’s vision and released the ODC X-01…

…though they still couldn’t nail the digits:

Today you can find X-01’s for sale on eBay. And, wouldn’t you know it, they sell for around $1,500.

Oct
14

By

A Camera Grip That Can Charge your iPhone

Category: Core77

Belkin’s PowerGrip is for those who shoot lots of video with their iPhone. It solves two problems at once: It provides all the juice you need for a long shoot, and it provides a comfortable camera-like grip.

It attaches magnetically, and can be used in either portrait or landscape orientations. There’s also a physical shutter button, which works via Bluetooth.

The 15W battery has enough capacity to charge your phone “up to 1.6x,” the company says. It also features a retractable USB-C cable and a second USB-C port, if you want to use it to charge other devices. And the bottom is tapped with a 1/4″ thread so you can attach it to any tripod.

It can also be used as a phone stand.

Runs $80.

Oct
14

By

Ford Made a Cowboy-Style Belt Buckle That Holds Your Key Fob

Category: YankoDesign

Truck keys have a talent for disappearing at the worst possible moments. They slip between couch cushions, hide in jacket pockets, and vanish from kitchen counters just when you need to hit the road. Most solutions involve boring key hooks or generic carabiners that do nothing to reflect the personality and pride that comes with truck ownership.

Ford’s Truckle takes a completely different approach by turning the classic Western belt buckle into a practical, wearable key holder specifically designed for Ford truck owners. This isn’t some throwaway promotional gimmick or novelty item. It’s a seriously crafted accessory that celebrates truck culture while solving a real problem that every truck owner faces daily.

Designer: Andy Andrews

The design immediately commands attention with its hefty construction and intricate Western-inspired metalwork. Ford branding sits prominently alongside classic buckle motifs that evoke rodeos, ranches, and open highways. The substantial weight and polished finish give the Truckle the premium feel of genuine Western wear rather than cheap promotional merchandise.

Functionality comes through a secure slot built into the back of the buckle, specifically sized for Ford truck key fobs. Your key stays firmly attached right at your waist, making it impossible to misplace and always within easy reach. The design ensures the fob sits flush against your belt, preventing bulk or awkward positioning during daily activities.

The user experience transforms routine key management into something that feels intentional and personal. Instead of digging through pockets or searching countertops, your truck key becomes part of your everyday outfit. The Truckle works especially well for active lifestyles where pockets get loaded with tools, phones, and other gear that can bury traditional key fobs.

Ford positions the Truckle as a celebration of Western heritage and truck culture, tapping into the pride and identity that many truck owners feel about their vehicles and lifestyle. The buckle represents more than just utility. It’s a statement piece that connects modern truck ownership with classic American values and aesthetics.

The limited-edition nature adds collectibility appeal for Ford enthusiasts who want unique accessories that reflect their brand loyalty. The Truckle becomes a conversation starter that showcases both practical thinking and cultural appreciation. It’s designed for people who understand that sometimes the best solutions come from unexpected places.

Market positioning targets truck owners who take both their vehicles and their personal style seriously. The Truckle appeals to anyone who appreciates when everyday objects reflect personality and values rather than just serving basic functions. It works for weekend warriors, working professionals, and anyone who wants their gear to tell a story.

The Ford Truckle demonstrates how thoughtful design can turn even the most unexpected concepts into genuinely useful products. By combining Western style with everyday utility, Ford created an accessory that keeps truck keys secure while celebrating the culture and pride that surrounds truck ownership in America.

The post Ford Made a Cowboy-Style Belt Buckle That Holds Your Key Fob first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oct
14

By

“Designers must speak up to change unfair IP laws”

Category: Design Week

Some laud the UK government’s consultation on changes to the UK designs framework as a “new dawn for UK design law.”

But what’s the real story? How will it affect UK designers? Will future intellectual property (IP) policy and or legislation improve the current David & Goliath copycat culture?

Will the long-awaited review ensure relevance and reform for all – including the UK’s 1.97million grassroots designers – to simplify protection and strengthen enforcement, when designs are stolen?

The jury is out.

While mainly technical and procedural in its approach, the consultation is also a one-off opportunity for designers to tell their story.

Real stories resonate. And it’s important the government understands the real cost of copying, where design infringement is happening, why it’s happening and the cost of copying on businesses, individuals and the future of UK design, both financial and emotional.

Unregistered rights need more force

ACID has fought, cajoled and campaigned for many years for a fresh review of what is an incredibly complex, often impenetrable legal system.

A system where the cost, time and stress of taking legal action to address the existential copycat culture is more than challenging; it can be decimating.

The majority of UK designers rely on copyright, and two different kinds of unregistered design rights. There is a significant overlap – thankfully addressed in the consultation – but the anomaly in protection is striking.

Copyright lasts for a creator’s life plus another 70 years, while the two unregistered design rights max out at 15 years. Intentionally infringing copyright can mean up to 10 years in prison, yet intentionally copying an unregistered design carries no criminal penalty at all.

We hold the view there should be parity across both IP rights.

For example, the photographer who captures a new 3D product in an image will hold stronger rights than the designer who invested years and resources bringing that product to market, a clear inequity.

Is it fair to structure copyright law around expression and culture and design law around industrial production and competition? Can one weigh up the talent and creativity of, say, a song writer against an iconic furniture designer, both attracting different IP rights?

Our view therefore is that an “effective deterrent system with robust capability” must include criminalising the intentional infringement of an unregistered design, in line with the criminal penalties facing those who infringe registered designs. We are also seeking more robust IP protection generally.

Any prosecution needs to pass the two-limb test in the Attorney General’s guidelines – that a prosecution must be in the public interest, and that there is a greater than 50% likelihood of a conviction.

An “overstated” case against

Opposition to creating criminal liability for deliberately infringing an unregistered design has come from some global businesses – and their stooges.

Their flimsy argument, without evidence, claims that criminalising the theft of designer’s creations would be “chilling for innovation” and “disincentivise designers.”

Even the government, after the last consultation, said this had been “overstated.”

UK design law policy is currently determined by the IPO, which sits within the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The main role of this body is to register patents and trade marks, and, to a lesser extent, designs.

But as the vast majority of designs are unregistered, policy in this area is being left to an organisation that is not close to the needs and interests of designers.

Perhaps design policy might be better situated within the Department of Culture, Media and Sport which has a better understanding of the creative sensibilities of designers?

The consultation proposes modernising design law, clarifying protection for generated interactive interfaces (GUIs), animations, and scope of coverage, while notably excluding AI-generated designs, with which we welcome and agree.

The aim – a future-proof system that strengthens UK creativity and innovation in the digital era.

Helping David take on Goliath

However, David, mainly relying on unregistered design rights, is forever battling Goliath in copycat wars whose insidious players – behemoth retailers, national and global manufacturers, competitors and online perpetrators – romp away unchallenged because the legal system is costly and therefore inaccessible to those who need it most.

One doesn’t have to go too far back to remember PMS International vs Trunki (aka Magmatic) case, and the calamitous consequences of a Supreme Court judgment which many designers, and lawyers, questioned at the time. It centred on a technicality, which failed the design creator to the tune of £1million.

Design is the golden thread that weaves through the UK’s creative industries and permeates every aspect of daily life, shaping the products we use, the spaces we inhabit, and the experiences we cherish.

Nevertheless, it’s an unsung hero. The design economy is a powerful engine of innovation and growth, underpinning all seven pillars of the Industrial Strategy and driving national competitiveness.

At its core lies IP, a reflection of the imagination, skill, and ingenuity of British designers, which must be recognised, celebrated, and robustly protected as a source of enduring economic value, cultural influence, and global leadership.

Designers can take part in the Government’s consultation here.

ACID has a dedicated page about the consultation here. It is also running a workshop on October 22 – you can register to take part here.

Dids Macdonald is chairman and co-founder of Anti Copying in Design.

 

Source

Oct
14

By

A Saddle-Inspired Leather Chair

Category: Core77

You’ve seen leather and steel chairs before, but probably never one that looked like this:

That’s the Pepe, by Italian architect/designer Raffaella Mangiarotti.

I have no equestrian background and have no idea how comfortable this is, but I covet it.

The vegetable-tanned leather is stretched long over the steel frame and stitched into place, then the excess is sliced off by hand:

The chair is in production by Italian furniture manufacturer Opinion Ciatti.

Oct
14

By

Design Postcards: Bogotá, Colombia

Category: Core77

The Colombian capital sits high on a plateau in the Andes at over 8,500 feet, cradled by steep green mountains. Here, design heritage and culture can be found in markets and murals, metal and thread, in historic places and purpose-built spaces.

In the city’s historic center, the Museo Botero and the Museo del Oro anchor two ends of a cultural spectrum. Botero is Colombia’s most internationally recognized artist, and his sculptures and paintings stretch forms into chubby satire, while the gold museum holds one of the world’s most significant collections of pre-Hispanic ritual objects, designs made not for display, but for ceremony.

Botero

Fernando Botero, “Mona Lisa,” 1977. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Fernando Botero, “Caballo” 1998.. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Gold & silver

I had a chance to see that sensibility first-hand in Chapinero, where gold- and silversmith El Metalero invited me into his workshop. He creates beautiful hand-forged objects that draw on ancient stories and a strong streak of rebellion, often interpreting forms borrowed from animals and humans in local mythology.

El Metalero. EPhoto by Anki Delfmann

El Metalero. Photo by Anki Delfmann

El Metalero. Photo by Anki Delfmann

El Metalero. Photo by Anki Delfmann

El Metalero. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Contemporary craft

Just around the corner, the concept store Diseño Colombia (by Artesanías de Colombia) presents the country’s rich material and craft traditions in a contemporary context. The collection includes cane-fiber hats, barniz de Pasto lacquerware, charred and carved stools, hand-dyed hammocks, and maize-inspired jewelry. Many of their pieces have appeared at international design fairs like Maison & Objet and NY NOW – but they’re all rooted in Colombia’s diverse regions and long-standing craft techniques.

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Weaving

Weaving in particular, and creating surfaces from canes, threads and leaves, plays a central role across cultures here. It is used both as a crafting technique and a way of telling stories. From the sombrero vueltiao to contemporary homeware, fashion, and even architecture, woven forms carry ancestral knowledge while continuing to evolve, and remain a defining thread in Colombia’s design identity even today.

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Diseño Colombia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Bricks

Another material ubiquitous in the city is brick. Brick facades, lots of them from the 70s and 80s, define Bogotá’s urban landscape. There are two primary reasons for this: Bogotá sits on a plateau with abundant clay deposits, and the city expanded rapidly experiencing waves of rural migration in the 70s and 80s. From family houses to skyscrapers, it gives the city a distinct reddish warmth that blends with the surrounding mountains.

Bogotá bricks. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Bogotá bricks. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Bogotá bricks. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Murals, markets & bamboo

A few miles away in La Merced, walls start to become more colorful and mix bricks with murals. Often depicting themes of indigenous heritage and native flora and fauna, they tell a story of local pride at street level.

Street art by Resistiza. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Equally colorful, Mercado La Perseverancia shows how grassroots creativity, paired with government support, can revive a city landmark. There is a strong female presence at La Perseverancia, where women reinvent traditional dishes from across Colombia, celebrating the nation’s biodiversity and cultural richness. A state-backed renovation with public art and training programs helped the market earn the title of Bogotá’s best place to eat in 2019 (and also got it featured in a Netflix street food documentary).

Mural by Draku. Photo by Anki Delfmann

La Perseverancia. Photo by Anki Delfmann

“Kuna Tule” by Carlos Trilleras. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Further south in colonial La Candelaria, the murals continue. Piqueteadero El Egipto is another place that tells the region’s story through food, materials, and architecture. Just a street away from the once-notorious Barrio Egipto, long marked by gang violence, it works to restore neighborhood pride beneath a striking bamboo ceiling designed by architect Simón Velez, Colombia’s master of structural bamboo and a global pioneer of sustainable design.

Piqueteadero Egipto. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Piqueteadero Egipto. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Bamboo roof by Simón Velez. Photo by Anki Delfmann

Bogotá’s design landscape is as layered as its mountains: rooted in ancient history, reshaped by human hands, and fertile with creativity.

See a video of Design in Bogotá:

Watch the Bogota Design Postcard to get a more immersive feeling for the city

Oct
14

By

5 Best 90s Tech Gadgets Making A Comeback In 2025

Category: YankoDesign

The 90s promised us a digital future but delivered something better: gadgets you could actually touch. While today’s tech disappears into glass rectangles and cloud subscriptions, that decade gave us physical media, tactile buttons, and devices that felt personal. You owned them completely. No updates required, no accounts to create, just pure interaction between human and machine. That simplicity created memories stronger than any algorithm could curate.

Fast forward to 2025, and we’re rediscovering what we lost. The comeback isn’t pure nostalgia—it’s smarter than that. These modern revivals take the best parts of 90s design and fix what didn’t work. Better batteries, wireless connectivity, and premium materials. The result is technology that respects both your attention and your shelf space. Here are five gadgets proving that everything old really can become new again.

1. Pokémon Poke-Nade Monster Ball – The Virtual Pet Evolved

The Poke-Nade Monster Ball reimagines what pocket companions can be. Unlike the simple Pokewalker pedometers or earlier Eevee collaborations, this feels purpose-built for genuine bonding. A color LCD screen glows behind touch-sensitive shell surfaces, creating interactions that respond to how you physically engage. Stroke gently for happy reactions, tap persistently to lull your partner to sleep. The system registers gesture speed and duration, unlocking deeper animations as friendship levels grow. This moves virtual pet design beyond button mashing into something intuitive and warm.

Who Is This Gadget Best For?

Millennials who raised digital creatures on greyscale screens will find their childhood refined here. If you remember checking Tamagotchis between classes or feeling genuine attachment to pixelated companions, this delivers that magic with modern depth. Pokémon fans seeking tangible connections beyond mobile apps need this tactile experience. Commuters, desk workers, and anyone craving screen time that actually feels meaningful will appreciate how it transforms idle moments into small rituals of care and discovery.

What we like

Touch-sensitive shell creates intuitive physical interactions beyond traditional button inputs
Color LCD screen and sophisticated software deliver a premium Pokémon bonding experience

What we dislike

Requires consistent daily attention to maintain the virtual pet relationship and unlock features
Premium price point compared to simple keychain virtual pets from previous generations

2. ClearFrame CD Player – Physical Media as Art Exhibit

The ClearFrame CD Player frames your music collection inside crystal-clear polycarbonate walls. Its square silhouette treats each album like a miniature sculpture, with exposed black circuitry turning engineering into intentional design. Slide in your disc, position the cover art in the built-in frame, and suddenly your shelf holds both sound system and gallery. Bluetooth 5.1 pairs with wireless speakers while maintaining the ritual of handling physical media. The rechargeable battery lasts seven hours, supporting wall mounting or desktop placement wherever your listening happens.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199

Who Is This Gadget Best For?

Audiophiles who never abandoned their CD collections finally have hardware worthy of display. If you appreciate album art as much as tracklists and refuse to let Spotify erase physical ownership, this validates your resistance. Design-conscious listeners who want music equipment that enhances rather than clutters spaces will love its transparent aesthetic. Anyone building intentional listening rituals around full albums instead of algorithmic playlists needs this bridge between analog satisfaction and wireless convenience.

What we like

Transparent polycarbonate housing transforms CDs into visual art while exposing circuit design
Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity combines wireless convenience with physical media ritual

What we dislike

Wall mounting requires additional hardware and planning for proper display positioning
Square footprint takes more shelf space than compact modern streaming speakers

3. Polaroid Now Generation 3 – The Ephemeral Made Better

The third-generation Polaroid Now refines instant photography without drowning it in digital conveniences. A new two-lens autofocus system improves performance, while USB-C charging modernizes power. What it doesn’t do matters more: no smartphone connectivity, turning it into a portable printer, and no digital screens breaking the moment. Each shutter press produces one irreplaceable print, restoring the weight and value that made instant cameras special. This design restraint immerses you completely in fleeting moments, making every frame count in ways digital never could.

Who Is This Gadget Best For?

Event hosts and party throwers need this for creating instant physical memories that guests can pocket. If you’re tired of photos disappearing into camera rolls nobody revisits, these tangible prints become actual keepsakes. Artists and journalers who incorporate photography into analog creative practices will appreciate its simplicity. Anyone seeking mindful photography that values quality over quantity belongs here. The deliberate limitation of one print per shot teaches composition skills that digital shooters have forgotten completely.

What we like

Two-lens autofocus system delivers sharper instant prints with improved low-light performance.
Deliberate lack of digital features preserves an authentic instant camera experience and mindfulness.

What we dislike

Film costs add an ongoing expense compared to unlimited digital photo storage.
Single print per shot means no retakes or backup copies of precious moments.

4. Analogue Pocket – Handheld Gaming Without Compromise

Analogue Pocket pays tribute to portable gaming’s golden era through precision engineering. Out of the box, it plays the entire 2,780+ cartridge library spanning Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Cartridge adapters extend compatibility to Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Atari Lynx, and beyond. Two FPGAs recreate original hardware at the silicon level—zero emulation, complete accuracy. This isn’t software mimicking old games. It’s the actual gaming experience preserved perfectly, running real cartridges on hardware that respects their original design intent down to individual clock cycles.

Who Is This Gadget Best For?

Collectors protecting cartridge investments need hardware worthy of their libraries. If you’ve maintained Game Boy collections through decades and refuse to settle for emulation’s compromises, this delivers authentic playback. Preservationists concerned about aging original hardware finally have a modern solution that doesn’t fake it. Gamers who taste the difference between emulation and real hardware will immediately recognize this legitimacy. Anyone who believes classic games deserve better than smartphone touchscreens and imperfect software recreation belongs here.

What we like

FPGA-based hardware recreates original consoles with perfect accuracy and zero emulation shortcuts.
The cartridge adapter system supports multiple handheld platforms beyond just the Game Boy family.

What we dislike

Premium pricing positions it as enthusiast hardware rather than a casual retro gaming entry.
Requires owning original cartridges or purchasing expensive physical games to utilize fully.

5. Side A Cassette Speaker – Mixtape Culture Reborn

The Side A Cassette Speaker resurrects mixtape aesthetics in fully functional Bluetooth form. Styled like authentic cassettes with transparent shells and side A labels, it hides Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and surprisingly warm sound tuned to evoke analog tape playback. MicroSD card support enables offline listening without streaming subscriptions. Slide it into the included clear case that doubles as a stand, transforming this pocket-sized speaker into a desk sculpture. At under fifty dollars, it delivers nostalgic design and legitimate audio performance without demanding collector budgets.

Click Here to Buy Now: $45.00

Who Is This Gadget Best For?

Gift givers seeking affordable conversation pieces with actual utility need this sub-fifty-dollar winner. If you remember making mixtapes and understand their cultural weight, this resurrects that creative ritual in modern form. Desk workers wanting Bluetooth speakers with personality instead of minimalist black cylinders will appreciate the character. Budget-conscious listeners who refuse to sacrifice design for price finally have options. Anyone who values objects that spark memories and start conversations belongs in this cassette-loving congregation.

What we like

Authentic cassette styling with a transparent shell creates a nostalgic visual appeal for under fifty dollars.
MicroSD card playback enables offline music listening without phone pairing or streaming.

What we dislike

Compact speaker size limits bass response compared to larger Bluetooth speaker options.
MicroSD slot accepts only MP3 files, excluding FLAC or other high-quality audio formats.

The Analog Renaissance

These five comebacks share common DNA. They reject the notion that newer automatically means better. Instead, they ask what we actually lost when everything became touchscreens and subscriptions. The answer involves ownership, ritual, and the simple pleasure of objects that do one thing exceptionally well. Modern engineering fixes the limitations—battery life, connectivity, build quality—while preserving what made these formats meaningful. You’re not buying inferior technology wrapped in nostalgia packaging.

The 90s got it right in ways we’re only now remembering. Physical media creates intentionality. Tactile interfaces build genuine engagement. Standalone devices respect your attention instead of mining it. These aren’t museum pieces or guilty pleasures. They’re the foundation for what comes next: technology that serves human needs instead of demanding constant feeding. Choose based on which childhood memory deserves resurrection, then enjoy rediscovering what made those formats worth saving all along.

The post 5 Best 90s Tech Gadgets Making A Comeback In 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oct
14

By

This Abandoned Greenhouse Is Now a Pavilion With a Rotating Moon

Category: YankoDesign

Sometimes the most extraordinary transformations happen when architects listen to poetry. In Huizhou, China, Shanghai-based Atelier Guo has turned an abandoned greenhouse into something that feels like pure magic, creating the Moon Pavilion that bridges ancient verse with contemporary design.

The story begins with an old Chinese poem about a poet, intoxicated and smiling amid a field of flowers. Instead of creating a literal translation of this imagery, the architects took a more poetic approach, using the abandoned greenhouse as their canvas and layering it with abstractions of water, moon, flower, and boat .

Designer Name: Atelier Guo (photos by Hao Chen)

What makes this project so captivating is how it honors both the past and present. The original greenhouse may be gone, but its spirit lives on in unexpected ways. The architects studied the lightweight pin-jointed frame of the agricultural structure, understanding its proportions and temporary assembly language. They then reimagined these elements as something more permanent yet equally permeable.

The pavilion’s most striking feature is undoubtedly its lunar installation. On one facade, a rotatable art piece evokes the moon as a reflective, shifting presence, creating an artificial counterpart to its celestial original. When you see it from a distance, both the real moon and this artistic interpretation shimmer over the pond that encircles the structure. It’s the kind of detail that makes you stop and stare, wondering where reality ends and art begins.

The design itself tells a story of elevation and transformation. The second-floor concrete slab serves as raised terrain, inspired by the seasonal practice of lifting boats during dry seasons. Supported by an irregular array of steel columns that cleverly hide mechanical systems, the geometry recalls a vessel’s hull. The roof truss rises higher than the original greenhouse, creating the impression of a boat ready to drift into the night.

But perhaps the most thoughtful aspect is how the pavilion maintains the greenhouse’s original purpose while completely transforming its form. Though the physical structure wasn’t retained, the spirit of cultivation continues through carefully planned vegetation. The architects created a planted gradient that dissolves the architectural perimeter, using shade-tolerant species beneath the slab while native vegetation spreads beyond.

This approach to sustainability goes beyond just reusing materials. It’s about understanding the essence of a place and finding ways to honor it while creating something entirely new. The pavilion integrates passive ventilation and mist cooling systems, achieving comfort while maintaining that crucial visual lightness and connection to the surrounding landscape. Walking around the Moon Pavilion, you experience architecture as theater. The curved silhouette recalls the slow ascent of the moon over the horizon, and as you move along the water’s edge, the building seems to shift and change like the celestial body that inspired it.

This project, created in collaboration with artists Meilin Gao and Gang Xu, represents something special in contemporary architecture. It shows us that the most meaningful buildings aren’t always the biggest or most expensive, but those that understand the poetry of place and purpose. In transforming an abandoned agricultural structure into a space for contemplation and art, Atelier Guo has created something that feels both ancient and utterly contemporary. The Moon Pavilion proves that great architecture doesn’t just shelter us from the elements. Sometimes, it helps us see the world with new eyes, turning everyday moments into something extraordinary.

The post This Abandoned Greenhouse Is Now a Pavilion With a Rotating Moon first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oct
14

By

preview visit of inaugural hiroshima international architecture festival 2025

Category: Design Boom

hiroshima international architecture festival launches in japan

 

designboom visits Japan’s inaugural Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025, which runs from October 4 to November 30 across the twin cities of Fukuyama and Onomichi. Conceived as a triennial event by the Kambara–Tsuneishi Cultural Foundation, the festival invites 23 architects and artists from Japan and abroad to explore the future of cities and the role of architecture in revitalizing local communities through a series of exhibitions, site-specific installations, and talks.

 

Bringing together major figures such as Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, Arata Isozaki, Sou Fujimoto, and SANAA alongside younger practices including Studio Mumbai, VUILD, and Clouds Architecture Office, the festival spans a wide range of generations and approaches. From historical retrospectives to experimental installations, the program reveals how Japanese architecture continues to evolve between craftsmanship and technology, tradition and experimentation.

Tsuboya kiosk by Yasushi Horibe Kiosk (all images by Tatsuya Tabii, unless stated otherwise)

 

 

Onomichi show links design heritage and new visions

 

Set across seven venues, the first edition of the festival brings together Japan’s most celebrated modernists and the country’s emerging voices. Tadao Ando’s Onomichi City Museum of Art hosts Nine Visions: Japanese Architects from Japan to the World, a survey of all nine Japanese recipients of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The exhibition traces the profound Japanese influence on global architectural discourse through the works of Kenzo Tange, Fumihiko Maki, Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, Shigeru Ban, Arata Isozaki, and Riken Yamamoto. In front of the museum, Shigeru Ban’s Paper Log House, originally developed for disaster relief after the 1995 Kobe earthquake, stands as a symbol of social responsibility in architecture.

 

Nearby, Studio Mumbai has renovated the 1960s building LOG into a combined exhibition space and hotel. The project includes an interactive display that explores how people’s everyday lives connect with design. This adaptive reuse effort, now attracting about 30,000 visitors a year, shows how craftsmanship and thoughtful use of materials can root modern architecture in the existing character of a city. Similarly, Junya Nagasaka’s LLOVE HOUSE Onomichi turns an abandoned home into a lively center for cultural exchange. Photographer Yurika Takano’s exhibition, Transferring Bodies, Transferring Architecture, complements this by capturing Onomichi’s historic streets and how they have changed over time.

the festival brings together 23 architects and artists from Japan and abroad

 

 

fukuyama: architecture as a living ecosystem

 

In Fukuyama, Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens presents Next Architecture: Connecting Futures Through Design, featuring works by Sou Fujimoto, Junya Ishigami, Norihisa Kawashima, Hiroki Akiyoshi, president of VUILD, and Clouds Architecture Office. Through models and proposals, the exhibition explores how architecture, the environment, and society interact, imagining how future cities could better live in balance with nature and culture.

 

Within the same temple grounds, Kenzo Tange’s self-designed residence, originally built in Tokyo’s Seijo neighborhood in 1953 and later demolished, is the subject of a preview exhibition for a planned reconstruction project in Fukuyama. The display includes a one-third-scale model and archival material that contextualizes Tange’s legacy and influence on postwar Japanese architecture. Complementing these exhibitions is Norihisa Kawashima’s Compost Bench, a circular environmental project that transforms fallen leaves from the maple trees around the temple into compost to nourish them anew.

Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens presents Next Architecture: Connecting Futures Through Design

 

 

Temporary Pavilions Shape the Landscape

 

A series of small, movable pavilions, described as micro-architectures, punctuate the urban landscape throughout Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025. Designed by Yasushi Horibe, Junya Ishigami, and Hideyuki Nakayama, each kiosk interprets the notion of transience and locality in a different way. Horibe’s Tsuboya functions as a small tea stand at Shinshoji Temple, while Nakayama’s Kiosk Through Which the Landscape Passes (Catch) stands by the waterfront at Onomichi U2. Ishigami’s Clouds Descend, planned as the festival’s information center at Fukuyama Station, was delayed in transit due to a typhoon, a reminder, perhaps, of architecture’s delicate relationship with the natural world.

the program reveals how Japanese architecture continues to evolve | image © designboom

 

 

cultivating a new culture

 

The organizers of the Hiroshima International Architecture Festival see the event as a platform to nurture creativity, education, and civic imagination using architecture as a tool for regional regeneration and intergenerational dialogue. Alongside the exhibitions, the program includes talks and public discussions with leading figures such as Sou Fujimoto, Toyo Ito, and Junya Ishigami, as well as workshops for children and film screenings.

 

The greatest achievement of the festival may be its integration of architecture with place, allowing audiences to inhabit design. By placing together historical temples, modern museums, and lived cityscapes, the event transforms Hiroshima Prefecture into a landscape of ideas. With its next edition planned for 2028, the festival’s debut suggests the beginning of a meaningful, long-term dialogue, one that could evolve into Japan’s answer to the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Onomichi city museum by Tadao Ando | image © designboom

Circular Kaname – Nature Connected Architecture by Norihisa Kawashima

using branches, leaves, and grass from the temple garden | image © designboom

Kenzo Tange’s home model

a lost residence recreated as a 1:3 scale model | image © designboom

the exhibition explores how architecture, the environment, and society interact | image © designboom

Shodo by Terunobu Fujimori | image © designboom

Norihisa Kawashima’s Compost Bench transforms fallen leaves into compost | image © designboom

Shigeru Ban’s Paper House

 

project info:

 

name: Hiroshima International Architecture Festival 2025 | @hiroshima_arch_exhibition

dates: October 4th – November 30th, 2025

venues: Fukuyama & Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

organizer: Kambara–Tsuneishi Cultural Foundation

The post preview visit of inaugural hiroshima international architecture festival 2025 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Oct
14

By

These 35W USB-C Chargers Look Like Marvel’s Infinity Stones

Category: YankoDesign

Phone chargers have become the most boring, forgettable tech accessories we own. Most people grab whatever generic white brick came in the box and call it a day, treating these essential tools like necessary evils rather than opportunities for personality or style. The charging market has prioritized function over form for so long that excitement died somewhere between efficiency ratings and safety certifications.

The Trozk Infinity Stones Adapter completely reimagines what a fast charger can be by turning everyday power delivery into a collectible design experience. This isn’t just another GaN charger with Marvel branding slapped on top. It’s a thoughtfully designed cube that happens to deliver serious charging performance while looking like actual gemstones from your favorite superhero movies.

Designer: PTPC

The design immediately grabs attention with its translucent, faceted shell that catches and refracts light like genuine crystals. Each adapter represents a different Infinity Stone color, creating a collectible series that encourages users to gather the complete set. The orange Soul Stone variant features vibrant, saturated color with a high-gloss finish that makes finding your charger effortless.

Premium materials justify the design-forward approach with substance beyond surface appeal. The shell uses Bayer fireproof PC-V0 plastic from Germany, providing superior flame retardancy and heat resistance while maintaining crystal clarity. Lead-free and halogen-free construction ensures safety without compromising the gem-like aesthetic that makes these chargers conversation starters.

GaN technology delivers the performance backbone with 35W USB-C Power Delivery that handles everything from smartphones to tablets and smaller laptops. The advanced Gallium Nitride components provide higher efficiency and reduced heat compared to traditional silicon chargers, enabling the compact cube form factor without sacrificing charging speed or safety features.

Practical details enhance daily usability beyond the eye-catching appearance. The USB-C port sits at the top edge rather than the center, making cable management straightforward even on crowded power strips. Foldable 90-degree pins prevent scratches during travel while maintaining the clean cubic silhouette that makes these adapters display-worthy.

The collectible aspect transforms routine charging into something genuinely enjoyable. Playful graphics, including “Engineering Machine” and “Confidential Information” labels, add a mysterious, tech-forward personality that appeals to gadget enthusiasts and Marvel fans alike. Each charger becomes a small design object worth showing off rather than hiding behind furniture.

Wide compatibility ensures the adapter works with virtually any USB-C device, from iPhones and Android phones to iPads, MacBooks, and Nintendo Switch consoles. Six-fold safety protection handles overcurrent, overvoltage, overheating, and short-circuit prevention, delivering peace of mind alongside the playful aesthetics.

The Trozk Infinity Stones Adapter represents a refreshing approach to tech accessories that refuses to choose between performance and personality. By combining serious 35W GaN charging technology with collectible gem-inspired design, it creates charging solutions that users actually want to display and use. These adapters prove that everyday tech accessories can spark joy and express personal style while delivering the reliable performance modern devices demand.

The post These 35W USB-C Chargers Look Like Marvel’s Infinity Stones first appeared on Yanko Design.

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