Sep
19

By

AYANEO Pocket Air Mini Combines Retro Handheld Gaming with Modern Affordability

Category: YankoDesign

The AYANEO Pocket Air Mini represents something we haven’t seen much of lately: a gaming handheld that doesn’t ask you to choose between quality and affordability. This compact device marks AYANEO’s first venture into entry-level territory, bringing their signature attention to detail to a price point that won’t require serious financial planning.

What makes this release interesting is how it tackles one of the biggest barriers in handheld gaming: the assumption that good devices must cost a fortune. By offering flagship-quality features at an accessible price, AYANEO opens up premium gaming experiences to people who might have been priced out before.

Designer: AYANEO

The design immediately catches your attention with its compact, ergonomic shape that feels natural in your hands. You can choose from three colorways: Retro White, Aurora Black, and Retro Power, each offering a different personality. The materials feel substantial despite the lightweight construction, creating that immediate sense of quality you’d expect from pricier handhelds.

At the heart sits a 4.2-inch display that sets it apart from typical budget options. The 1280×960 resolution delivers crisp visuals, while the 4:3 aspect ratio preserves authentic classic game looks without stretching or black bars. With 500 nits of brightness and professional color calibration, you’ll notice the screen remains vibrant indoors or outdoors.

Performance comes from the MTK Helio G90T octa-core processor paired with a Mali-G76 GPU. This combination handles both retro emulation and modern Android titles smoothly, though you shouldn’t expect flagship-level performance for demanding games. An active cooling system keeps everything running steadily, while the 4500mAh battery provides respectable endurance for this size.

The controls deserve special mention here. You get RGB Hall-effect joysticks and linear Hall triggers that respond with genuine precision, along with conductive rubber ABXY buttons and a classic D-pad. These aren’t the mushy controls you might expect from a budget device. Of course, they’re components that take gaming seriously.

Connectivity covers the essentials with USB Type-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Micro SD expansion, Wi-Fi 5G, and Bluetooth 5.0. AYANEO’s self-developed Android ecosystem includes AYASpace and AYAHome for game library management, key mapping, and performance tweaking. The software feels intuitive rather than overwhelming, which matters when you just want to play games.

That said, there are compromises at this price point. The processor isn’t cutting-edge, and you won’t be running the most demanding Android games at high settings. For retro gaming and most indie titles, though, the Pocket Air Mini delivers exactly what it promises: solid performance without the premium price tag.

The AYANEO Pocket Air Mini understands its audience and delivers accordingly. It brings quality handheld gaming to people who want the experience without the financial commitment of flagship devices. You might finally get premium features at a price that actually makes sense for most people.

The post AYANEO Pocket Air Mini Combines Retro Handheld Gaming with Modern Affordability first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sep
19

By

studio GGSV transforms historic parisian apartment into salons for the imagination

Category: Design Boom

The Salons of Imagination at Manufactures nationales

 

The Salons of Imagination is an immersive installation by French design duo Studio GGSV, created for the newly established Manufactures Nationales as part of its inaugural PAVILLON program. Conceived for this first edition at the invitation of the institution, the project gives contemporary designers free rein to imagine the interiors of tomorrow while honoring the role of the interior designer. Housed inside the Pavillon d’Angiviller at the historic Manufacture des Gobelins in Paris, it transforms a 200-square-meter apartment into three interconnected interiors where art, architecture, and craftsmanship converge to offer profound sensory experiences. For this commission, Gaëlle Gabillet and Stéphane Villard, founders of Studio GGSV and known for their experimental use of illusion and trompe-l’œil, designed every piece of furniture and décor, presenting several never-before-seen works. The three environments — the Reception Salon, the Conversation Salon, and the Reading Salon — are conceived as spaces that stimulate the mind as much as they invite contemplation, encouraging visitors to imagine, exchange, and dream while celebrating French savoir-faire.
 
designboom visited the installation in person to explore the three rooms and speak directly with the Parisian design duo. ‘France has a long history of distinctive styles — every king had his own. Yet the concept of the ensemblier is unique: creating interiors as complete wholes, where architecture, fixed décor, movable décor, and furniture are in dialogue. This approach flourished through the Mobilier National until the 1920s, with Art Deco often seen as the last great French style to embrace it. Since then, focus shifted more narrowly to individual pieces of furniture, and the integrated vision was largely lost,’ Studio GGSV tells designboom. ‘For the centenary of Art Deco, rather than mounting another exhibition, the director of the Mobilier National posed a new question: what could an ensemble mean in 2025? The result is a reimagined apartment divided into three rooms, each exploring a different relationship between décor and furniture.’

the Reception Salon | all images © Jean Allard

 

 

THREE UNIQUE SALON CONCEPTS BY STUDIO GGSV IN PARIS

 

Founded in 2011 by Gaëlle Gabillet and Stéphane Villard, Studio GGSV takes a multidisciplinary approach that spans design, installation, exhibition curation, and interior architecture. The duo, known for their experimental use of illusion and trompe-l’œil, were residents at the Villa Medici in 2018 for a research project exploring the application of painting to objects and architecture. Their works are part of the collections of the Centre Pompidou, the CNAP, and the Mobilier National, and they have been commissioned by institutions and brands including the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, Fondation Rothschild, Hermès, Chanel, and Galeries Lafayette. In 2023, they won the call for proposals Re-enchanting the Villa Medici with their project Camera Fantasia, and are currently presenting the monumental installation Grand Feu to mark the 200th anniversary of the Musée de la Céramique in Sèvres.

In this commission, the Paris-based design duo blurs the boundaries between architecture, décor, and furniture. Patterns, materials, and forms echo and extend one another to create a unified yet unconventional whole. The result is three environments: the Reception Salon, the Conversation Salon, and the Reading Salon. 

the Conversation Salon

 

 

The Reception Salon

 
The Reception Salon explores the dialogue between architectural structure and applied décor. At its center stands a monumental segmented-wood library, its hypnotic black-and-white rhythms recalling the twisted columns of Louis XIII style. These patterns extend across console tables, lamps, and molded wall panels printed directly onto wood, creating trompe-l’œil perspectives that multiply depth. Pilasters shift between illusion and reality, merging décor and structure into a unified whole. Classical and baroque references combine with art deco geometry, forming a layered composition where perception continuously oscillates between surface and volume.

 

‘Working with Mobilier National’s carpenters, we created a modular furniture system with an architectural scale — flexible enough to generate multiple pieces from the same structure. Its form references the curves of Louis XIII furniture, but reimagined with alternating black and white laminated layers that transform the surfaces depending on the angle,’ Studio GGSV explains. ‘The result is a contemporary ensemble that honors tradition while pointing toward new possibilities.’

hypnotic black-and-white rhythms recall the twisted columns of Louis XIII style

 

 

The Conversation Salon

 
Conceived as a space for sociability, the Conversation Salon is centered around a large sofa tailored to the room’s proportions. Its generous, organic forms reinterpret the conviviality of historic salons while echoing the art of topiary. ‘The second room takes inspiration from the garden, organized around a monumental hexagonal sofa designed for conversation — echoing both French traditions of salons and Middle Eastern majlis spaces,’ Gaëlle Gabillet and Stéphane Villard share. The walls are covered with textile frames in metallic verdigris reliefs, reflecting light in subtle gradients that evoke foliage and garden shadows. Divided into moldings and cornices, these frames mirror the bay window and visually extend the surrounding landscape. Overhead, a luminous ceiling disc evokes a shifting sky, casting the room in an atmosphere designed for dialogue and exchange. Tapestries by Canadian artist Xénia Lucie Laffely introduce landscapes of fire and greenery in relief, further blurring the line between inside and outside. Historic vases and sculptural pieces from the Mobilier National collection complete the scene, reinforcing the dialogue between interior décor and garden-inspired forms.

the Conversation Salon is organized around a large hexagonal sofa

 
 

The Reading Salon

 
The Reading Salon envelops visitors in a total environment where architecture and painting dissolve into one. Romantic landscapes inspired by 19th-century art and Mobilier National tapestries cover the walls, floor, and ceiling, transforming the interior into a three-dimensional fresco. Rocks, mountains, and vegetation intertwine to create a dreamlike landscape where built-in libraries and armchairs appear to grow from the setting itself. ‘Drawings once confined to chair backs or framed panels now spread across the entire space, covering walls, armchairs, and even the floor — which reflects like a blurred lake. At first glance, visitors see a landscape; at second, colors; at third, a meditative space for introspection. Custom aluminum wall lights add impressionist reflections, further merging architecture and furniture into a seamless, immersive environment,’ the Studio GGSV design duo mentions. Hammered aluminum sconces scatter colors in impressionistic flashes, further blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. The result is a contemplative atmosphere dedicated to perception and imagination.

the Reading Salon

 
 

COLLABORATION WITH Manufactures nationaleS ARTISANS

 

Several pieces were developed in collaboration with the artisans of the Manufactures Nationales, the institution created in 2025, from the merger of the Mobilier National and the Cité de la Céramique – Sèvres & Limoges, which brings together more than 53 artisanal trades. For this project, the Sèvres workshops produced three porcelain vases with petit feu decoration, their fiery glazes recalling the centuries-old alchemy of ceramics, while the Atelier de Recherche et de Création (ARC) worked with Studio GGSV on the library, console, and lamps. Crafted from white sycamore and ancient bog oak, these turned-wood pieces reinterpret the twisted column of Louis XIII furniture as a structural motif and are designed to be assembled without screws, highlighting both adaptability and technical virtuosity. Displayed until the end of 2025, the installation links centuries of artisanal heritage with contemporary design experimentation, while the Pavillon d’Angiviller hosts cultural events, professional gatherings, and exhibitions, promoting French savoir-faire both nationally and internationally.

rocks, mountains, and vegetation intertwine to create a dreamlike landscape

romantic landscapes cover the walls, floor, and ceiling

overhead, a luminous ceiling disc evokes a shifting sky

‘the second room takes inspiration from the garden,’ shares Studio GGSV

the Reception Salon explores the dialogue between architectural structure and applied décor

classical and baroque references merge with art deco geometry, forming a layered composition

Gaëlle Gabillet and Stéphane Villard of Studio GGSV

 

 

project info:

 

 

name: Les Salons de l’imaginaire (The Salons of Imagination)

designer: Studio GGSV | @studio_ggsv

location: Manufactures nationales 

The post studio GGSV transforms historic parisian apartment into salons for the imagination appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Sep
19

By

cantilevered glass walkway by archermit hovers 130 meters over tibet’s canyon

Category: Design Boom

archermit Suspends ‘Heavenly Road’ Over Canyon in tibet

 

Archermit presents the Nujiang River 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area in Tibet, an infrastructure that translates the peril and grandeur of the Sichuan–Tibet Highway into a visitor experience. Completed after six years of high-altitude construction, the project is located in Buze Village, Baxoi County, along the G318 Highway. It centers on a dramatic glass viewing platform cantilevered 37 meters from a cliff face above the Nujiang Grand Canyon, echoing the legendary hairpin bends of the ‘devil’s road’, the 72 turns of Nujiang.

 

The main structure of the project reimagines the infamous road’s serpentine layout as a walkable loop suspended 130 meters over the canyon. Its floor of ultra-clear laminated glass offers views into the abyss, while the red weathering steel cladding references Tibetan cultural colors and mirrors the rugged textures of the landscape. This precarious position transforms the driving ordeal of the 72 turns into a ‘heavenly road’ in the air that demands visitors measure danger with their own bodies.

images by Arch-exist, unless stated otherwise

 

 

Channeling the highway’s construction legacy

 

The Chengdu-based team of Archermit suspends a glass bridge 50 meters above the Nujiang River, recalling the old steel bridge once feared by truck drivers and guarded for single-file crossings. Other installations include a zip line, the ‘thrilling steps’ bridge, and a 666-step ladder carved into the cliffs that reinterpret the methods and hardships of the highway’s builders, who in the 1950s faced landslides, hand-built cableways, and unstable geology with limited tools. 

 

Constructing the site itself became an act of endurance. Perched at 2,800 meters, the canyon offered little flat ground, narrow roads, frequent rockfalls, and relentless valley winds. Machinery longer than 13 meters could not be delivered, forcing the Chinese architects to develop customized drill bits to cut through the canyon’s variable rock layers. Thirty-nine piles for the viewing platform’s foundations were drilled manually, with workers secured by ropes as they chipped away rock 25 meters deep. Steel components were divided into 46 transportable sections and lifted across the river by a system of temporary cableways, echoing the highway’s original construction methods.

 

The project positions itself as a new waypoint on G318, China’s scenic avenue to Lhasa, adding to nearby landmarks such as Ranwu Lake and Laigu Glacier. 

Archermit presents the Nujiang River 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area in Tibet

the infrastructure translates the peril and grandeur of the Sichuan–Tibet Highway into a visitor experience

completed after six years of high-altitude construction

a glass viewing platform cantilevers 37 meters from a cliff face | image by Chill Shine

echoing the hairpin bends of the 72 turns of Nujiang | image by Chill Shine

the canyon offered little flat ground, narrow roads, frequent rockfalls, and relentless valley winds

the project positions itself as a new waypoint on G318, China’s scenic avenue to Lhasa

transforming the driving ordeal of the 72 turns into a ‘heavenly road’ in the air

demanding visitors measure danger with their own bodies

Archermit suspends a glass bridge 50 meters above the Nujiang River

other installations include a zip line, the ‘thrilling steps’ bridge, and a 666-step ladder carved into the cliffs

perched at 2,800 meters

steel components were divided into 46 transportable sections and lifted across the river

thirty-nine piles for the viewing platform’s foundations were drilled manually

 

 

project info:

 

name: Nujiang River 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area

architect: Archermit | @archermit_architects

location: Buze Village, Baxoi County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China

 

photographers: Arch-Exist | @archexist, Chill Shine | @chillshinestudio

The post cantilevered glass walkway by archermit hovers 130 meters over tibet’s canyon appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Sep
19

By

On Labs Tokyo demonstrates human-centric design philosophy in robotic world

Category: Design Boom

ON LABS TOKYO SHOWS FUTURE OF SPORTSWEAR

 

At On Labs Tokyo, a unique experience center in Japan’s capital city, the future of sports innovation is on full show. From September 13-21, 2025, visitors can witness a robot spray a complete, ultralight shoe upper in just three minutes. This is not merely a technical demonstration; it’s a peek into how the Swiss sportswear brand On is blending cutting-edge technology with a deep attention for the human element of design. The pop-up space may showcase innovations like LightSpray technology and the Cloudboom Strike LS running shoe, but throughout, activations – from athlete talks and panels to workshops and runs – bring the city’s sports community together to emphasize how the athlete remains at the heart of their design process.

 

designboom spoke with Pablo Erat, Director of LightSpray, and Johannes Voelchert, Senior Lead for Innovation Technology Exploration, at On Labs Tokyo to explore the brand’s new innovation, athlete-led design, and community engagement.

designboom visits On Labs Tokyo to see LightSpray in action

all images courtesy of On

 

 

ON’S LIGHTSPRAY REVOLUTION

 

On’s design philosophy is rooted in Swiss engineering and a commitment to precision and efficiency. This approach has given rise to LightSpray, a revolutionary manufacturing process that enhances a robot to create ultralight, seamless shoe uppers in a single step. The brand‘s innovative technique sprays a shoe upper in just three minutes, reducing production time and paving the way for localized manufacturing.

 

‘LightSpray is the future. It is a radical sustainable technology in itself. It has created a shoe upper from just one material. We can develop new designs by manipulating filament into several shapes. There’s a lot to play with, and at On, we wish to be the leader of this material technology,’ begins Johannes Voelchert, Senior Lead for Innovation Technology Exploration.

the revolutionary manufacturing process uses a robot to create ultralight, seamless shoe uppers in a single step

 

 

LightSpray also ushers in a new era of sustainability. The process significantly minimizes waste and reduces an upper’s carbon emissions by 75% compared to other On racing shoes. It’s a technology that not only enhances performance but also helps the planet. The first product to feature this innovation, the Cloudboom Strike LS, weighs an exceptionally light 170g and provides a seamless, precision fit that adapts to the foot. This design introduces a completely new look and silhouette to performance footwear.

by spraying a shoe upper in three minutes, the process reduces production time and enables localized manufacturing

 

 

While the Cloudboom Strike LS is the first application of this technology, On’s team believes LightSpray has the potential to revolutionize all kinds of wearable products in the future, including apparel and accessories.

 

‘In the future, accessories and various types of shoe variations might be possible. It is important that On doesn’t produce something just because it can be produced with this technology. As a brand, we are very critical with ourselves. Even in terms of shoe models, we always ask ourselves whether we can significantly improve this product and if it truly solves the customer desire. If the answer is yes, then it makes sense to design and produce. This is what we need to consider for LightSpray,’ clarifies Pablo Erat, Director of LightSpray.

the Cloudboom Strike LS is the first application of this technology

 

 

ON ATHLETE, FEEDBACK, AND POWER OF COMMUNITY

 

Despite the focus on advanced robotics and automation, On’s design team highlights the crucial role of human input. The brand’s innovation is not solely driven by technology; it is sparked by the human body, mind, and environment.

 

‘Innovation and creativity is made by the friction between your environment and brain,’ explains Pablo. ‘Athletes are definitely a really important source. This is not only about the validation of something that we have developed, but how their ideas and feedback can spark completely new dimensions.’

 

 

‘On works in a very human way. This collaboration extends from technological development to athletic performance. The human factor of athletes means we can tailor innovations to those special needs. It is so valuable to work closely and gain their visions,’ notes Johannes.

 

Athlete feedback is a vital source of inspiration. On works directly with high-performance athletes like Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri and two-time Tokyo marathon winner Sutume Asefa Kebede, who have been wearing development versions of LightSpray shoes in races since April 2025. The rapid prototyping capabilities of LightSpray allow On to test different design variations with athletes and quickly iterate on feedback, a process that can happen from day to day. This collaborative approach ensures that the final product truly solves a problem and meets a specific athlete’s needs.

 

‘Our interactive design process is a huge advantage,’ adds Pablo. ‘Our lab allows athletes to work directly next to where we work, meaning we can do a 3D scan of their foot, make a prototype that can be tested, and create iterations basically from day to day. This is more important in terms of the early stages of product development. With multiple different athletes, we can do a lot of variation to figure out the best product model for the athlete, develop it, and launch future models.’

 

 

Community activations, like the one in Tokyo, are essential to this philosophy. On Labs Tokyo is a space where the public can get a personalized running analysis, trial the brand’s latest products, and see technology like LightSpray in action. These events foster a connection between the brand, athletes, and the community, reinforcing the idea that innovation is a shared journey.

 

In a world increasingly shaped by automation, On’s approach to design stands out. By prioritizing the human element – from the insights of elite athletes to the dreams of its innovators – the brand is proving that even the most advanced technology should be built on a foundation of creativity, community, and a commitment to bettering human performance.

 

 

project info:

 

brand: On

event: On Labs Tokyo

location: 6-35-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

dates: September 13-21, 2025

The post On Labs Tokyo demonstrates human-centric design philosophy in robotic world appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Sep
19

By

twin concrete cube sculptures link rokko and berlin through tiny video transmission holes

Category: Design Boom

fernsehen links Mount Rokko in Japan with Berlin, Germany

 

The project fernsehen establishes a dialogue between two landscapes with parallel histories of extraction and renewal: Mount Rokko in Japan and Berlin, Germany. Each site hosts an identical concrete structure, creating a paired installation that connects the two through live and recorded video transmission.

 

Mount Rokko was extensively quarried for granite during the Edo period, resulting in large-scale deforestation and environmental decline. During the Meiji era, deliberate reforestation efforts gradually restored the terrain. Today, the mountain carries the layered traces of both damage and recovery. Berlin, the artists’ base, reflects a similar cycle of destruction and regeneration through its urban history. fernsehen, conceived by Riku Ikegaya + Kohei Hayashi + Yu Kamijo, situates itself within these contexts by installing twin cube-like sculptures in Rokko and Berlin. Each structure is punctuated by narrow tubular openings, recalling the form of telescopes. Within them, video devices project the view from the paired site: the Rokko installation displays Berlin’s urban activity, while the Berlin installation transmits images of Rokko’s natural environment.

all images courtesy of Riku Ikegaya + Kohei Hayashi + Yu Kamijo

 

 

fernsehen operates as both a perceptual device and a monument

 

The recordings capture contrasting yet parallel realities. In Berlin, viewers see the passing of people, vehicles, and city rhythms. In Rokko, the images reveal vegetation, shifting weather, and animal movement. Together, these perspectives connect distant environments, framing the coexistence of natural and urban conditions.

 

The work by creatives Riku Ikegaya + Kohei Hayashi + Yu Kamijo, highlights the act of ‘seeing far’ not only as a spatial connection but also as a reflection on shared futures shaped by climate change, urbanization, and environmental pressures. Through this mediated exchange, fernsehen positions itself as both an apparatus for extending perception and a monument questioning the role of vision in shaping responsibility and possibility. The title references the German word for television, fernsehen, literally ‘to see far.’ Its etymology underscores the duality of distance and mediation, framing the installation as an exploration of how perception, technology, and context influence the way landscapes are understood across time and place.

fernsehen links Mount Rokko in Japan with Berlin, Germany

twin concrete cubes form the paired installation

each site hosts an identical sculpture pierced with narrow openings

the structures recall telescopes aimed at distant views

video devices project live and recorded images from the paired site

the installation situates itself within the parallel narratives of Rokko and Berlin

contrasting perspectives reveal shared realities across distance

the work examines how vision bridges space and time

the project operates as both a perceptual device and a monument

‘seeing far’ becomes a reflection on collective futures

Berlin audiences observe Rokko’s shifting natural environment

Rokko viewers watch Berlin’s urban activity unfold in real time

the installation engages themes of climate and urban change

 

project info:

 

name: fernsehen
designers: Riku Ikegaya + Kohei Hayashi + Yu Kamijo

materials: wood, plaster materials, brass pipes, video devices

dimensions: 2m (W) × 2m (D) × 2m (H)

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post twin concrete cube sculptures link rokko and berlin through tiny video transmission holes appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Sep
19

By

Slider-GameMackey Is a Fidget Toy That Feels Like a Pocket-Sized Game Console

Category: YankoDesign

Fidget toys have come a long way from simple stress balls and spinners. These days, you’ll find everything from intricate sliders to complex mechanical puzzles designed to keep your hands busy. But 01EDC’s Slider-GameMackey takes the concept somewhere completely unexpected, transforming the humble fidget toy into a nostalgic gaming experience that fits right in your pocket.

One look at this thing and you’re instantly transported back to childhood afternoons spent hunched over handheld game consoles. The design is unmistakably retro, complete with a classic D-pad, A and B buttons, and even a “START” button for good measure. The upper section features an intricate maze that looks like it belongs on a vintage puzzle game, while the lower half mimics the familiar button layout we all remember.

Designer: 01EDC

The magic happens when you actually start playing with it. The side slider mechanism boasts 26 ultra-dense tracks that create the most satisfying gliding action you’ve ever felt in a fidget toy. Each button can be pressed independently, giving you that familiar tactile click of classic gaming controls. Then there’s the maze patch, where you can actually navigate a tiny ball through the labyrinth, adding a puzzle element to your fidgeting session.

What makes the Slider-GameMackey so addictive is how it engages multiple senses at once. The slider provides smooth, repetitive motion that’s perfect for stress relief, while the buttons offer that satisfying click we all crave. The maze challenges your problem-solving skills, turning mindless fidgeting into an engaging mental exercise. It’s like having three different toys rolled into one compact package.

Build quality is where 01EDC really shines. The metal construction feels substantial without being heavy, and the precision machining ensures everything moves exactly as it should. The edges are perfectly smooth, and the various colorways range from sleek metallics to vibrant translucent options. Some editions even feature custom engravings that turn the toy into a genuine collectible piece.

This isn’t just another desk toy that gets forgotten after a week. The Slider-GameMackey works equally well as a stress reliever during intense work sessions, a focus aid during long meetings, or simply as a conversation starter that shows off your appreciation for clever design. EDC enthusiasts will love how it fits seamlessly into their daily carry rotation.

There’s something deeply satisfying about rediscovering the joy of tactile play through such a cleverly designed object. The Slider-GameMackey taps into that universal love of buttons, switches, and puzzles that never really leaves us, no matter how grown-up we pretend to be. It reminds us that the best designs often come from combining familiar elements in unexpected ways.

Next time you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through your phone during a break, imagine having this little gaming-inspired marvel in your hands instead. The most delightful distractions often hide in plain sight, ready to turn any ordinary moment into a playful adventure that fits perfectly in your pocket.

The post Slider-GameMackey Is a Fidget Toy That Feels Like a Pocket-Sized Game Console first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sep
19

By

eight designboom competitions with submission deadlines in october

Category: Design Boom

see all the designboom competitions running until october

 

Between September and October, designboom is spotlighting a diverse range of international competitions that invite architects, designers, and creatives to push the boundaries of innovation before submission deadlines draw near. From the 5th edition of Tactical Urbanism NOW!, which calls for hyperlocal yet scalable public space solutions addressing environmental and social challenges, to The Architect’s Chair #4, where participants distill their architectural philosophy into a single, iconic piece of furniture, the span of briefs encourages both visionary thinking and practical creativity.

 

designboom’s competition platform has become a springboard for creatives of all kinds, giving designers, architects, and artists the opportunity to promote their open calls to a global audience of over 3.5 million readers each month. Submitting is simple: just complete the self-submission form with essential details like jury members, awards, prizes, and the official call-for-entry link. Once live, we ensure maximum visibility for the challenge, connecting it to our international readership.

 

Check out the complete list here and submit your open call!

UNESCO ANCIENT THEATRE by TerraViva

 

 

Organization: TerraViva
Competition name: UNESCO ANCIENT THEATRE

Submission deadline: October 10, 2025

 

Terraviva launches UNESCO ANCIENT THEATRE, a new architecture competition which invites participants to design a unique space where past, present, and future merge through architectural and urban continuity. Projects will seek to unify the various elements of Ohrid’s Ancient Theatre through a cohesive integration of architectural and landscape features – materials, textures, and spatial relationships – enhancing the overall sense of harmony within the site.

CREATIVE HACK AWARD by WIRED Japan

 

 

Organization: WIRED Japan
Competition name: CREATIVE HACK AWARD

Submission deadline: October 6, 2025

 

Established in 2013, the CREATIVE HACK AWARD is an annual award for next-generation creators, who value ambitious vision and think beyond the borders of countries and regions. The theme of the award is “HACK”, in which the award describes as – a desire to improve something you absolutely love; a desire to overthrow something you absolutely detest. This year marks the 13th year of the award, and only requirement to enter the award is to clearly state ‘what’ you hacked and ‘how’ and ‘why.’ Entry is free.

The Architect’s Chair by Buildner

 

 

Organization: Buildner
Competition name: The Architect’s Chair

Submission deadline: October 23, 2025

 

The Architect’s Chair Competition offers architects and designers an exciting opportunity to showcase their creativity by designing a signature chair that embodies their unique architectural vision. Inspired by the tradition of renowned architects creating custom furniture as an extension of their work, this competition challenges participants to distill their design philosophy into a single, iconic piece.

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge by Buildner

 

 

Organization: Buildner
Competition name: Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

Submission deadline: October 20, 2025

 

The Denver Affordable Housing Challenge is an international architecture competition organized by AIA Colorado, the City and County of Denver, and Buildner. As the 19th installment in Buildner’s Affordable Housing Challenge series, the competition explores how affordability and design excellence can be harmonized to create innovative, high-quality housing solutions tailored to Denver’s specific context.

Global Design iT Award 2025 by Korean Federation of Design Industry Associations (KODIA) 

 

 

Organization: Korean Federation of Design Industry Associations (KODIA) 

Competition name: Global Design iT Award 2025

Submission deadline: October 10, 2025

 

Since 2011, the Korean Federation of Design Industry Associations (KODIA) has hosted the ‘iT Award’, recognizing outstanding achievements by designers, companies, directors, and agencies in Korea. In 2022, the award expanded globally and was relaunched as the ‘Global Design iT Award’. The Global Design iT Award selects and honors exceptional “it(special)” designs from around the world through fair and transparent judging conducted by a global panel of experts representing both domestic and international design industries.

TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! by TerraViva

 

 

Organization: TerraViva
Competition name: TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! The Revolution of Public Space

Submission deadline: October 31, 2025

 

The annual Tactical Urbanism NOW! competition is set to encourage creative and forward-thinking designers to propose new original spaces fostering long-term and sustainable changes. For its 5th edition, the competition invites participants to embrace a ‘hyperlocal yet scalable’ mindset. The challenges of the 21st century demand new models of urban living, driven by evolving environmental concerns, shifting social dynamics and technological innovation. In recent years, cities have become laboratories for bold experimentation, rethinking how public spaces can respond to the complexities of contemporary life.

Indigo Design Award

 

 

Organization: Indigo Design Award
Competition name: Indigo Design Award

Early Bird deadline: September 30, 2025

 

The Indigo Design Award features a wide range of categories, including Graphic Design, Digital Design, Branding, and Design for Social Change. Entries are evaluated by an esteemed international jury of creative professionals from leading companies such as Spotify, TBWAChiatDay NY, NIKE (via AKQA), Google, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, as well as acclaimed independent designers and creative experts.

 NY Product Design Awards

 

 

Organization: NY Product Design Awards
Competition name: NY Product Design Awards

Submission deadline: Sep 18 – Oct 22, 2025

 

The NY Product Design Awards was launched to honor the efforts of talented product designers, design teams, and manufacturers from all over the world, whose designs have made daily living that much better with their practical and ingenious creations. Recognizing that excellence exists in various forms in the design industry, the NY Product Design Awards intends to celebrate excellence in all its facets that are found in design work and its designers.

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Sep
19

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design/leader: Jolie founder Franky Roussell

Category: Design Week

Franky Rousell is founder and CEO of interior design studio Jolie. It has offices in London, New York and Manchester and works with clients like The Nest restaurant in Frankfurt and Victoria Riverside in Manchester.

Design

What would your monograph be called?

Common Sense. Sensory science is at the heart of what I do, as a designer and entrepreneur. The title comes from a moment of clarity I had in a coffee shop, when I realised that the way we feel in any space isn’t something we consciously control – it’s shaped by the subtle, continuous input received through all five senses.

The craft of sensory design lies in understanding and tailoring those subconscious experiences, and for me this was “common sense.”

I love that this phrase originated from Aristotle who used the Greek term koinē aisthēsis (“common perception” or “common sense”) to mean the internal faculty that pulls together input from the five senses into a single, unified experience.

Later, in medieval philosophy, thinkers like Thomas Aquinas carried this idea forward, still treating it as an inner sense that coordinated perception.

This is exactly what we do at Jolie, we awaken people’s “common sense.”

What recent design work made you a bit jealous?

Anything that Es Devlin touches, makes me quietly jealous but so inspired. Congregation really gets me though.

What’s an unusual place you get inspiration from?

I actually find a lot of my inspiration in an unusual place – my perfume drawer. If I’m having one of those flatline days where nothing seems to spark, I’ll open it up and choose a fragrance that matches what I need in that moment.

Whenever I’m conceptualising a new project or moodboarding a creative direction for a client, I’ll pick a scent that aligns with the feeling or aspiration I’m trying to evoke.

Wearing it on my body means I catch little wafts of it throughout the day, and it always seems to trigger the creative side of my brain.

I also collect fragrances from the places I’ve travelled – from New York to Marrakesh – and each one carries its own story.

Reaching for them is like instantly dipping back into those lived experiences, and it gives me a shortcut into a certain mood or energy I want to channel.

It’s an unconventional practice, but scent has become one of my most powerful tools for inspiration.

Name something that is brilliantly designed, but overlooked.

Utterly unassuming, yet remarkable – the contact lens. While not “literally” overlooked, for the millions of us who wear them daily they’ve become such a seamless part of our morning ritual that we rarely pause to consider their brilliance.

Imagine how groundbreaking they must have felt at first – almost space-age in their innovation. The idea was first sketched by Leonardo da Vinci in 1508, yet the modern soft lens only came into being in 1961.

I honestly can’t imagine life without mine, and anyone who has ever faced the panic of running out before the next supply arrives knows exactly what I mean.

What object in your studio best sums up your taste?

The melting pot table – sustainable, bold, brave, innovative and beautiful.

Franky Roussell’s melting pot table

Leadership

What feedback felt brutal at the time, but turned out to be useful?

In Jolie’s early days, I remember pitching to a mentor four different spin-off ideas we could explore. He paused, took a deep breath, and said, “I think you just need to focus on this one first.”

At the time, it felt deflating, like the wind had been knocked out of my sails-but looking back, it was the best advice I could have received. Over the years, countless shiny, “entrepreneurial” opportunities have come up that could have easily pulled me off track.

But choosing to stay focused, and putting my energy into making Jolie a stable and viable business, is exactly what’s brought me to where I am today.

What’s an underappreciated skill that design leaders need?

Vulnerability and honest emotional expression matter. Employees connect with a human story, and it’s absolutely ok to share how you feel without hiding behind rigid professional barriers.

The ability to share genuine emotion is an often overlooked yet powerful way to build trust and buy-in, both with employees and clients.

What keeps you up at night?

What keeps me up at night are the visions I hold for where I want to be in five years, and the constant questioning of whether I’m truly on the right path to get there.

What I’ve come to realise though is that you rarely know if you’re “on track” in the moment. It only becomes clear when you finally arrive at that place you once imagined, and can look back and say, “Oh, we did it.”

What trait is non-negotiable in new hires?

For me, emotional intelligence is a complete non-negotiable when it comes to new hires. One of the biggest reasons I started my own company was to create a workplace built on trust – a space where people feel safe to share ideas openly and think differently.

That kind of environment is what sparks true innovation.

But trust is fragile. Without emotional intelligence – the ability to listen, empathise, communicate clearly, and manage yourself under pressure – trust can be lost quickly.

Technical skills are important, of course, but they can be taught. Emotional intelligence is what allows people to work well together, to respect differences, and to lift each other up when things get tough.

When someone brings that level of awareness and empathy to the table, it doesn’t just make them a better colleague, it makes the whole team stronger.

Complete this sentence, “I wish more clients…”

…truly trusted the design expertise they’ve invested in and allowed us to take the lead. The best outcomes happen when clients are open to seeing something fresh and original – exactly what they asked for at the start – rather than falling back on familiar references or competitor work.

Too often, projects drift into “design by committee,” where multiple voices dilute the vision, leading to safe, predictable, and ultimately less effective results.

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Sep
19

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5 Thing You Need to Know About The Last Judgement by Michelangelo

Category: DailyArt Magazine

The post 5 Thing You Need to Know About The Last Judgement by Michelangelo appeared first on DailyArt Magazine.

Sep
19

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Masterpiece Story: David by Michelangelo

Category: DailyArt Magazine

The post Masterpiece Story: David by Michelangelo appeared first on DailyArt Magazine.

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