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Winners of the Pantone Dualities Challenge show how Designers think about color harmony

This July, Yanko Design and KeyShot partnered with Pantone to bring their magical Dualities color palette to life through rendering (and a touch of AI). The Pantone Dualities Challenge kicked off on the 18th of the month, finally coming to a close at the end of August and we’re here to introduce you to the winners! The brief for the challenge was simple – explore Pantone’s Dualities palette and its set of 175 color combinations, comprising subtly eye-catching pastel and warm/cool grey shades.

The challenge also introduced a new game-changing feature from KeyShot’s latest 2025.2 update – AI Shots. Although optional, we also encouraged participants to tinker around with the AI tools in KeyShot Studio (which run locally, so you don’t need credits or an internet subscription, and you don’t have to worry about companies accessing and training on your data), that let you generate materials, backgrounds, and even new designs entirely. While these features do require a fairly powerful GPU, they truly represent the new era of design and visualization we’re entering… although first, let’s just appreciate the winners of the Pantone Dualities Challenge and the gorgeous hues on their winning designs!

Gold Winner – Préssec (Sam Weise)

Sam Weise’s design ended up snagging the gold for one unique reason – understanding and executing the brief flawlessly. Weise simply chose two colors (that don’t usually work together) and combined them into a novel carabiner design. The carabiner looks simple, but is brilliantly rendered, with a fabric strap that shows off KeyShot’s RealCloth material with sheer grace.

The colors, pink and lemon green, don’t usually work on paper because of one being warm and the other being cool. But here, they pair well, creating harmony as well as a fair bit of visual drama that allows you to quickly understand where the carabiner’s arm is and intuitively open it whenever you want! The brief was to explore Pantone’s palette and create a duality of colors that’s uniquely pleasing… and Weise nailed that.

Silver Winner – James Wolf

James Wolf took the Pantone Dualities Challenge’s chair and gave it a spin of his own. Rather than simply choosing colors that go together, Wolf decided to literally blur the lines, creating a gradient that honestly feels like magic. Doing the visual job of ‘well blended makeup’, this chair shows a warm grey along with a pink hue, blended effortlessly together.

There’s something so pleasing about how this gradient translates onto the chair’s feminine design. Each of the chair’s segments sort of looks like a lipstick’s stick, so to then apply makeup-inspired colors to the chair feels quite literally like a match made in heaven! I do hope James turns this into an ongoing series!

Bronze Winner – Sidhant Patnaik

I’m a little jealous of this one for being such a phenomenal idea. From the mind of Sidhant Patnaik, this bronze-winning entry said ‘to hell with dualities’, and created a palette that embraced a bit of color and chaos. Sidhant imprinted the Dualities palette onto a Rubik’s Cube, turning the hand-eye-coordination toy into a palette-maker.

Play around and create chaotic color combinations as you go. There’s no winning or losing, there’s only experimentation, which I’m absolutely a fan of! Does this embrace the brief of ‘Dualities’? Not quite. But does it use the colors in a way that inspires other designers? Absolutely! Pantone, you guys better work on a Rubik’s Cube next!

Honorable Mention #1 – Paradigm.ooo

A lot of people see color in a linear fashion. Unless you’re looking at a wheel, most color palettes are laid out in a straight line on software. So what if you just applied those colors on something else that had a straight line? This gorgeous xylophone from Paradigm takes a set of colors ranging from pink to blue, and orients them on the instrument’s keys.

It’s really cleverly done, to be honest. Aside from just how pretty it looks, the fact that the larger (lower-pitch) keys are blue (masculine), and the smaller (higher-pitch) notes are pink (feminine) feels like an accidentally awesome touch! No? Paradigm didn’t win an award, but this entry definitely deserved a mention.

Honorable Mention #2 – Liam de la Bedoyere

The final honorable mention goes to Liam de la Bedoyere of Bored Eye Designs, who decided to model a chair of his own for the challenge. Relying on multiple piped structures that wrap around a foam seat, Liam’s design creates a few distinct canvases to apply the colors from the palette. While over-all simple in design, the chair uses linear and block elements, that create a neat opportunity to show how colors look in stripes and swatches when placed together.

The result is fairly interesting, opening up the opportunity to really experiment with a whole bunch of colors. For example, the chair on the left relies on high-contrast to grab your eyeballs, while the other plays on a different kind of contrast, created by pairing two fairly opposite colors like blue and pink, with a harmonious purple in between!

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The Bamboo Yoga Deck Creates a Nest of Serenity and Sustainable Wellness in Nature

Yoga is often described as the union of body, mind, and spirit. Yet anyone who has practiced it knows that the space where you unroll your mat matters as much as the poses themselves. A fluorescent-lit studio in a busy city might offer technique, but it rarely delivers transcendence. True serenity thrives in places that mirror the calm we aspire to cultivate: lush forests, open skies, and organic materials that seem to breathe alongside us.

The Bamboo Yoga Deck is a structure that doesn’t just host yoga, it elevates it into a sensorial, almost spiritual encounter. Nestled among greenery and perched above the ground as a nest suspended in the air, this design is an ode to nature, craft, and the human search for inner peace.

Designer: Thilina Liyanage

The deck is elevated, accessed by a flight of bamboo stairs that leads practitioners upward, away from the ground, and into a new state of mind. This ascent is not simply physical; it’s metaphorical, a shedding of routine as one climbs toward stillness. Surrounded by the chorus of birds, the hum of insects, and the rustle of leaves, practitioners are reminded that yoga was born outdoors, in communion with the natural world.

Capacity is intentionally limited; only four to five people can comfortably practice here at once. This scale is intimate, creating a bespoke experience that feels personal rather than performative. It’s a sanctuary for reflection, rather than a venue for spectacle.

What makes the deck truly remarkable is its material. Bamboo, often mistaken for a humble reed, is in fact an engineering marvel. With tensile strength on par with steel, it resists pressure and flexes with movement, making it resilient even in earthquake-prone regions. Lightweight yet robust, it minimizes transportation costs and is easy to work with on-site, qualities that make it especially viable in tropical regions where it grows abundantly.

Its environmental credentials are equally impressive. Bamboo matures in just a few years, regenerating after harvesting without the need for replanting. It absorbs CO₂ at astonishing rates, contributing to climate mitigation. It is naturally fire-resistant, biodegradable, and cost-effective, sustainability not as a buzzword but as a lived material reality. To build with bamboo is to build responsibly, drawing on tradition while pointing toward the future.

Design inspiration comes from one of nature’s most powerful yet nurturing images: the hawk’s nest. The base of the deck, woven with bamboo and hay, captures the texture of a nest. Above, the roof unfolds like wings in flight, its bamboo skeleton draped with a translucent canvas or fabric. Light seeps gently through this covering, bathing the deck in a soft, ambient glow that changes with the hour.

At night, the structure transforms once again. Cane lamps dangle from above, casting warm pools of light that make the space feel cocooned and ethereal. Even the yoga mats are part of the story: their organic shapes resemble eggs laid into the nest, reinforcing the metaphor of protection, renewal, and rebirth.

What sets the Bamboo Yoga Deck apart is not just its form or materiality, but its philosophy. It is designed less as a building and more as an experience, an environment that shapes the way people feel, move, and connect. By drawing inspiration from the natural world, it creates a space that feels simultaneously grounded and transcendent.

Practicing yoga here becomes an act of surrender, not only to one’s breath and body but also to the rhythm of the forest. The elevated structure further reinforces this disconnection from everyday distractions, creating a liminal zone where participants feel cradled by nature yet lifted above it.

The Bamboo Yoga Deck also points to a broader conversation in design. It demonstrates how architecture can be rooted in local context, draw from vernacular materials, and still feel cutting-edge. It is proof that sustainable design need not compromise on beauty or symbolism, it can, in fact, achieve both.

The post The Bamboo Yoga Deck Creates a Nest of Serenity and Sustainable Wellness in Nature first appeared on Yanko Design.

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept: How Piaget Made a Tourbillon Disappear

The Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept rethinks the wristwatch by integrating the case and movement into a single unit. The watch measures just 2.0 mm thick. Rather than luxury jewelry masquerading as horology, Piaget built an engineering manifesto written in M64BC cobalt alloy and sapphire crystal.

Designer: Piaget

Piaget’s latest release demonstrates that ultra-thin timepieces can maintain their function without compromising form. The company’s approach shows how extreme constraints can drive superior engineering solutions.

Case as Calibre

Traditional watchmaking separates case from movement like floors in a building. The movement sits inside protective walls, the dial covers everything up, and each component occupies its own vertical space. Piaget filed five patents to eliminate this architecture entirely.

The caseback becomes the main plate. Bridges transform into both structural elements and dial features. Gears integrate directly with visual components so the face reads like an architectural model where every visible element serves a mechanical purpose.

This integration allowed Piaget to achieve exactly 2.00 mm from crystal to caseback. The sapphire crystal measures approximately 0.2 mm thick. Individual wheel components were manufactured down to approximately 0.12 mm thickness. These represent fundamental rethinking of mechanical watch construction rather than incremental improvements.

The Manufacture 970P-UC movement powers the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour and requiring hand winding. Every component was redesigned to exist in essentially two dimensions while maintaining three-dimensional functionality. The visible tourbillon rotates through the dial opening, turning mechanical necessity into visual theater.

Piaget’s Ultra-Thin Heritage

The Altiplano Ultimate Concept continues Piaget’s six-decade pursuit of impossibly thin mechanical movements. The company introduced the 2mm-thick 9P in 1957, followed by the automatic 12P in 1960, and the 1200P series that pushed boundaries further. Each generation established new benchmarks for thinness without compromising reliability.

This legacy positions the AUC not as an isolated achievement but as the latest chapter in systematic engineering development. Piaget’s approach treats ultra-thin construction as core competency rather than one-off experimentation. The company’s movement archives contain solutions that current competitors are only beginning to attempt.

Microscopic Tolerances, Major Consequences

Building a tourbillon in a 2mm case creates problems that don’t exist in normal watchmaking. Shock resistance becomes critical when there’s almost no vertical space for impact absorption. Temperature expansion coefficients matter more when components live micrometers apart.

Piaget redesigned the keyless works so the flat recessed crown drives a worm-gear on the same plane as the gear train. The solution saves vertical space and protects the stem in daily wear. Traditional winding trains couldn’t fit, so Piaget engineered new gear ratios and lever systems.

The M64BC cobalt alloy case material provides exceptional rigidity at extreme thinness levels that would compromise traditional gold construction. The material choice affects both engineering capabilities and visual character, delivering the structural integrity necessary for 2mm total thickness.

Power reserve settles at approximately 35 to 40 hours despite the space constraints. That’s sufficient for weekend wear patterns while proving the movement maintains real-world functionality. Component finishing remains exceptional despite the size limitations. Polished bevels catch light on the bridges. Micro-perlage texturing appears where visible. Mirror-polished chatons reflect light from the gear wheels.

Engineering Firsts in the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon

Case as mainplate integration – Eliminates traditional case/movement separation

0.12mm wheel components – Thinnest gear wheels in mechanical watchmaking

0.2mm sapphire crystal – Ultra-thin crystal maintaining clarity and protection

Worm-gear crown system – Redesigned winding geometry for 2mm profile

M64BC cobalt alloy case – Material choice optimized for extreme thinness

Wearability & Reliability

The ultra-thin profile creates unique wearing characteristics that distinguish the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon from conventional timepieces. The 2mm thickness means the watch virtually disappears under clothing while the 41.5mm diameter provides sufficient visual presence. Piaget redesigned the entire strap assembly to complement the case thinness.

The strap assembly was thinned dramatically, with documented prototypes using a Kevlar-reinforced layup around ~1.1 mm to keep comfort without bulk. The ultra-thin pin buckle maintains the watch’s impossibly thin profile throughout the entire wearing experience.

According to Piaget, the integrated architecture was made reliable for daily wear and reduces traditional weak points between case and movement. The company claims the watch handles daily activities without the fragility concerns typical of ultra-thin pieces. The case-as-movement design reportedly distributes stress more evenly within the integrated structure.

The New Khaki Editions

The 2025 variations include khaki green treatments that lean into military-inspired aesthetics while maintaining identical internal specifications. These boutique pieces require custom ordering through Piaget’s network, emphasizing their limited availability and exclusivity.

The 2025 Khaki Green duo pairs the AUC Tourbillon in cobalt with the Altiplano 910P in yellow gold. This clarifies why collectors are seeing multiple green variations across Piaget’s ultra-thin lineup this season.

The khaki green version transforms how the micro-architecture reads visually. Sunlight skims the satin-brushed surface, catching bevels on the bridges so the tourbillon cage pops from an almost planar field. The green finish increases perceived depth without adding actual thickness, creating visual layering that shouldn’t exist at this scale.

Gold accents on select components make the tourbillon cage appear more dimensional during different lighting conditions. The contrast helps separate mechanical foreground from background elements in what should be impossible visual depth. Both variants demonstrate how surface treatment affects perception of engineering complexity.

Piaget offers additional customization options on boutique orders including engraving, alternative strap materials, and color variations beyond the standard treatments. This level of personalization extends the exclusivity factor while accommodating individual preferences within the technical constraints.

Technical Specifications

Model: Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon

Movement: Piaget 970P-UC, hand-wound, 4 Hz, approx. 35-40 h power reserve

Case: M64BC cobalt alloy, 41.5 mm diameter, 2.00 mm total thickness

Crystal: Sapphire approx. 0.2 mm

Water resistance: 20 m

Architecture: Caseback as mainplate. Wheels down to ~0.12 mm. Flat recessed crown with worm-gear winding

Availability: Boutique only. Pricing on request.

Piaget achieved the first beat on February 7, 2017, revealed the concept in 2018, and began commercial deliveries by 2020. Every measurement required patent-worthy engineering solutions to achieve.

Engineering Philosophy

The Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon proves that extreme constraints drive superior engineering solutions. Piaget couldn’t rely on traditional approaches, so they invented new methodologies. The company claims the result works better as a daily timepiece than most conventional ultra-thin watches.

According to Piaget, the watch keeps accurate time, winds smoothly through the redesigned crown system, and handles normal daily activities without fragility concerns. The case-as-movement architecture was made reliable for daily wear and reduces traditional weak points between components.

The company emphasizes that this demonstrates luxury engineering serving practical purposes. Rather than a museum piece designed for headlines, Piaget created a functioning timepiece. It’s a functioning mechanical watch that happens to establish new standards for what’s possible in 2mm of vertical space.

Availability and Pricing

The Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon transforms necessity into beauty and demonstrates how engineering solutions emerge from impossible constraints. Piaget holds the record claim for a tourbillon wristwatch at 2.0 mm on the AUC Tourbillon.

The timepiece requires custom ordering through Piaget boutiques with pricing available upon request. Delivery timeframes vary based on configuration and availability, with most orders requiring several months due to manufacturing complexity.

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The Tiny Getaway: How An Upside-Down Design Is Revolutionizing Small Space Living

Most tiny homes cram living spaces into predictable layouts, but one Romanian company decided to turn that concept literally upside down. The Tiny Getaway by Eco Tiny House is a compact dwelling that’s redefining how we think about small space living through its innovative “upside-down” layout, proving that sometimes the best solutions come from breaking conventional wisdom.

What sets the Tiny Getaway apart from countless other tiny homes flooding the market isn’t just its compact 7.2-meter footprint—it’s the bold decision to flip traditional home design on its head. While most tiny homes follow conventional layouts with bedrooms tucked into lofts and living spaces anchored to the ground floor, the Tiny Getaway places the living room upstairs and situates the primary bedroom below.

Designer: Eco Tiny House

Family-Focused Functionality

This reverse approach isn’t merely a design gimmick. The elevated living space creates an airy, open feel that makes the 23.7-foot structure feel significantly larger than its modest dimensions suggest. The upstairs lounge doubles as an office space, addressing the growing need for flexible work-from-home environments that many tiny home dwellers require.

Unlike many tiny homes designed primarily for couples or solo adventurers, the Tiny Getaway specifically targets families. The dual-gallery design provides separate sleeping areas for parents and children—a crucial feature often overlooked in the tiny house movement. This thoughtful separation addresses one of the most common complaints about tiny living: the lack of privacy.

The home’s kitchen comes fully equipped with modern amenities, including an induction cooktop, oven, sink, and dishwasher, proving that downsizing doesn’t mean sacrificing convenience. An optional deck extends the living space outdoors, effectively doubling the home’s functional area when weather permits.

Eco Tiny House has positioned itself as more than a manufacturer—they’re sustainability advocates. Founded in 2017, the company describes itself as a “holistic solution provider” focused on creating homes that minimize environmental impact while maximizing livability. The Tiny Getaway represents their flagship achievement, now in its third generation after continuous refinement based on customer feedback and real-world testing.

Sustainable Success Story

The exterior combines thermally treated ayous wood with steel construction and a sloping metal roof, creating a structure that’s both aesthetically pleasing and built to last. This attention to materials reflects a broader industry shift toward quality over quantity in the tiny house market.

The Tiny Getaway proves that successful tiny home design requires more than just shrinking a traditional house. It demands reimagining how spaces function, flow, and serve the people who inhabit them. In an era of housing uncertainty, solutions like the Tiny Getaway offer hope that thoughtful design can create comfortable, sustainable homes regardless of size.

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N1 robot can do cartwheels and other acrobatic moves

The future of robotics just got a lot more exciting thanks to the N1 robot, a cutting-edge humanoid machine designed by the company Fourier. This impressive robot has made headlines for its ability to perform complex acrobatic feats, including the rare and difficult cartwheel. As robots continue to capture our imaginations, the N1 stands out for its lifelike agility and the promise it holds for the future of robotics.

The N1 robot is the latest creation from Fourier, a company with a growing reputation for pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering. Unlike many industrial robots that are built for repetitive factory tasks, the N1 is designed to mimic human movement with a level of precision and grace that was once thought impossible. When people see the N1 perform a cartwheel, they often do a double take. This move, which requires a delicate balance of strength and coordination, showcases just how far humanoid robots have come.

Designer Name: Fourier

Fourier’s designers have poured their expertise into making the N1 not just functional but also adaptable. The robot’s body is engineered to withstand the forces involved in acrobatic maneuvers and its joints are finely tuned for flexibility. Sensors throughout the N1’s frame help it maintain balance and react to changes in its environment, allowing the robot to execute difficult moves safely and reliably. The result is a machine that can walk, turn, and cartwheel with a surprising amount of fluidity.

What really sets the N1 robot apart is its versatility. While the cartwheel is its most eye-catching move, the N1 is also capable of performing a wide range of other actions that could be useful in everyday life. Fourier envisions a future where robots like the N1 help out in homes, hospitals, and workplaces, doing everything from assisting with chores to providing support in emergency situations. By demonstrating complex acrobatics, the N1 proves that robots can be both strong and agile, opening up new possibilities for how they can interact with the world around them.

The technology behind the N1 robot is as impressive as its physical feats. Powered by advanced artificial intelligence, the N1 can process visual and auditory information in real time, making quick decisions to adjust its balance and movement. This level of autonomy means that the robot can handle unpredictable situations, which is essential for working alongside humans. As AI continues to advance, robots like the N1 will become even more capable and adaptable.

Fourier has made a bold statement with the N1 robot, showing that humanoid machines are no longer just a dream for the distant future. Hopefully though, they will be able to assist us in our daily lives but there will be no robot uprising where they become our overlords.

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