Sep
18

By

How to Read Piet Mondrian

Category: DailyArt Magazine

The post How to Read Piet Mondrian appeared first on DailyArt Magazine.

Sep
18

By

Evelyn De Morgan, The Pre-Raphaelite Sister You May Not Know

Category: DailyArt Magazine

The post Evelyn De Morgan, The Pre-Raphaelite Sister You May Not Know appeared first on DailyArt Magazine.

Sep
18

By

Like a Flame—Jean-Michel Basquiat in 5 Paintings

Category: DailyArt Magazine

The post Like a Flame—Jean-Michel Basquiat in 5 Paintings appeared first on DailyArt Magazine.

Sep
18

By

Transforming Industrial Legacy into Urban Interface

Category: Core77

In Munich, just south of the Ostbahnhof, an industrial district has been reimagined into a new kind of urban fabric. The Werksviertel, a 2025 Core77 Design Awards Built Environment Honoree, developed by Steidle Architekten of Bavaria with designer Johannes Ernst, is neither a wholesale replacement of the past nor a singularly branded development. Instead, it operates as an urban interface—linking parkland, residential neighborhoods, and commercial areas into a coherent but flexible quarter.

With a focus less on spectacle and more on framework, Ernst and the team at Steidle Architekten show how adaptive reuse, incremental growth, and programmatic diversity can work together to produce an urban environment that is both grounded and open-ended. In doing so, the project demonstrates how architecture can shape not just buildings, but the very conditions for collective urban life.

Birds eye view of The Werksviertel by Steidle Artchitekten,

The design team resisted the impulse to erase the site’s complexity. Existing activities and structures were not treated as obsolete but as assets. The strategy was to cultivate, consolidate, and update what was already there, while layering in new programs that would expand the quarter’s capacity to host diverse forms of life. This gradualist approach acknowledges that urban vitality is rarely achieved through top-down planning alone.

Combining apartments, offices, hotels, hostels, fitness facilities, retail, and cultural venues, the project emphasizes diversity at multiple scales. These insertions were not conceived as isolated typologies but as components of a macroeconomic composition, designed to attract a wide range of tenants and sustain long-term viability. Public space plays a central role, with plazas, courtyards, and open event spaces designed to accommodate everything from casual gathering to large cultural programming. This layered spatial strategy ensures that the Werksviertel can absorb change—a constant in urban environments—without losing identity.

Check-out all the Core77 Design Awards 2025 Built Environment Honorees here.

If you’re developing an innovative space, product, service, or, communications program we invite you to showcase your work in the 2026 Core77 Design Awards—Call for Entry opens January 2026.

Sep
18

By

New Design for Comfortable, Lightweight, Sound-Transparent Full-Face Respirator

Category: Core77

I own a 3M FX full-face respirator that is invaluable for certain tasks.

The protection is excellent. However, the mask is uncomfortably hot and cumbersome, it can fog up in certain conditions, and if you want to communicate with someone while you’re working, you have to take it off; no one can hear you with it on.

A Canadian company called ForgedAir has designed an alternative that addresses all of these pain points. Their eponymous product features a single large filter across the mouth that provides easy breathability, 95% filtration for particles 0.1-0.3 microns, and sound transparency around 87% (versus 58-62% from competitors, according to third-party testing).

It’s also incredibly lightweight at just 170g (6 oz). My 3M model weighs over three times that much, at 570g (20.1 oz).

Another welcome aspect to ForgedAir’s design is that the visor can quickly be removed. That comes in handy if, for instance, something splashes across the visor and you want to quickly wipe it off, then continue working.

The visor also won’t fog, as it sits off of your face. It doesn’t provide the full-face seal of the 3M, but having lived with that model for over a decade, I’d take that trade-off.

The respirator can be purchased separately for USD $55, or with the visor at USD $75. That’s shockingly inexpensive. (I paid $100 for my 3M FX back in 2014, and I just checked the 2025 price, which is now $264!)

The replacement filters for the ForgedAir are also cheaper, at $10 for a 3-pack (cheaper if you buy in bulk); for my 3M, which takes pairs of filters, 3 pairs run $15. If I had to buy it all over again, I know which way I’d go.

Sep
18

By

Tiger’s New Angled-Blade Blender Design: Gamechanger or Gimmick?

Category: Core77

Every once in a while, a company sweeps into a longstanding product category with a radical new design. Sometimes it’s flash-in-the-pan. Other times it’s Dyson with its transparent dustbin and cyclonic vacuum tech, or Keurig with their single-serving coffee pods. Those were initially dismissed as gimmicks, but within a matter of years, competitors piled in to copy them and the categories were forever altered.

Whether this new type of blender from Tiger, a Japanese appliance manufacturer, is a gimmick or not remains to be seen. For now, it’s generating both buzz and rave reviews.

The Tiger SLB-A10U blender features a unique 45-degree blade arrangement. The company says that the angle “mixes thoroughly upward and downward,” providing smoother blending results with less prep work required. Frozen foods don’t need to be broken up in advance, for instance, nor do whole fruits and vegetables need to be pre-chopped.

With the incumbent design, “when the food and the blade are horizontal, the blade rotates as if it were cutting the skin of an apple,” the company writes. “As a result, blenders with horizontal blades have a tough time processing whole fruits.” Tiger reckons their design blends much more efficiently:

“It can powerfully crush vegetables and fruits into small pieces with its strong cutting ability to crush whole ingredients. The diagonal structure creates a water flow that engulfs the ingredients, resulting in a smooth finish that is pleasant to the palate. It’s also capable of pulverizing ice and frozen fruit, which many standard blenders warn against.”

Tiger’s new blender may have also come along at just the right time, from a marketing perspective. These days there’s no shortage of (paid) smoothie-crazed health influencers thrilled to have a shiny toy to show off, and that undoubtedly helps drive sales.

Speaking of sales, buckle up for the price: The blender will set you back $400.

Sep
18

By

5 Ultra-Minimal Work Gadgets That Fit in Your Laptop Bag

Category: YankoDesign

The modern digital nomad faces a perpetual challenge: maintaining productivity while keeping possessions impossibly light. Every gram matters when your office exists in a backpack, yet compromising on functionality feels like professional suicide. The sweet spot lies in ultra-minimal gadgets that punch above their weight class—devices so thoughtfully designed they eliminate bulk without sacrificing capability.

These five revolutionary work tools represent the pinnacle of portable productivity. Each one transforms how you interact with your mobile workspace, proving that exceptional design can make powerful technology nearly weightless. From battery banks that speak in light to mice that fold like origami, these gadgets redefine what’s possible when minimalism meets innovation.

1. Nothing Power (1) Battery Bank

The Nothing Power (1) transforms the mundane battery bank into a communication device through its signature Glyph interface. Transparent layers reveal the internal circuitry, while precisely placed LEDs create meaning through illumination, indicating battery levels and smartphone notifications via purposeful light patterns. Every glow serves a function, turning your power bank into an extension of your device ecosystem rather than a simple charging brick.

This 20,000 mAh powerhouse delivers three full phone charges with 65W fast charging, reaching 50% in under 20 minutes. The transparent design language maintains Nothing’s distinctive aesthetic, while the Glyph interface eliminates guesswork about charging status. Light becomes information, creating an intuitive experience that connects seamlessly with your existing Nothing devices or stands alone as a conversation-starting power solution.

What we like:

The distinctive Glyph interface provides clear visual feedback on battery status and notifications.
20,000 mAh capacity with 65W fast charging ensures multiple device charges quickly.

What we dislike:

Transparent design may show wear and internal dust over time with heavy travel use.
Limited compatibility with non-Nothing devices for advanced Glyph notification features.

2. OrigamiSwift Folding Mouse

The OrigamiSwift reimagines portable computing through origami-inspired engineering that transforms a full-sized mouse into a pocket-friendly flat device. Weighing just 40 grams, this Bluetooth marvel springs to life in under 0.5 seconds with a simple flip motion, delivering immediate precision tracking on any surface. The transformation feels almost magical, turning dead space in your bag into professional-grade input capability.

Ergonomic comfort remains uncompromised despite the folding mechanism, with natural hand positioning that supports extended work sessions. The ultra-thin profile disappears into laptop sleeves or pockets, making it invisible until needed. Whether you’re editing presentations in airport lounges or navigating spreadsheets in cramped coffee shops, the OrigamiSwift adapts instantly to create workspace efficiency anywhere.

Click Here to Buy Now: $79.00

What we like:

Ingenious folding design provides full-size mouse functionality in an ultra-compact form factor.
Lightning-fast 0.5-second activation eliminates setup friction for instant productivity.

What we dislike:

Moving parts in the folding mechanism may be vulnerable to wear with frequent daily use.
Premium pricing compared to traditional compact mice may not suit budget-conscious users.

3. MagBoard Clipboard

The MagBoard strips the clipboard design down to its essential elements: a hardcover surface and an innovative magnetic lever system that secures up to 30 sheets without permanent binding. This flexibility revolutionizes note-taking by allowing instant page rearrangement, removal, and addition without layout constraints. The water-resistant surface handles outdoor meetings and unpredictable travel conditions while maintaining a professional appearance.

Standing note-taking becomes effortless with the rigid hardcover design, eliminating the need for flat surfaces during brainstorming sessions or client meetings. The magnetic clip system provides security without damaging papers, while the minimalist aesthetic complements any professional setting. Clean lines and functional simplicity make every interaction feel intentional, turning routine paperwork into a refined experience.

Click Here to Buy Now: $45.00

What we like:

The magnetic lever system allows flexible paper arrangement and easy sheet management without binding.
Hardcover design enables comfortable writing while standing, perfect for mobile work situations.

What we dislike:

Limited to physical paper workflow, which may not suit fully digital work environments.
Hardcover construction adds slight weight compared to flexible clipboards for ultralight travel.

4. Anywhere Use Lamp

The Anywhere Use lamp embodies minimalist lighting philosophy through its mushroom-inspired form factor and modular AA battery design. Six high color rendering LEDs create warm, soft illumination that transforms any space into a productive environment without requiring wall outlets or charging cables. The simple cap-pressing interface cycles through brightness levels with satisfying tactile feedback, making light adjustment intuitive even in darkness.

Portability reaches its peak with regular AA batteries that eliminate charging anxiety during extended travel periods. The compact form factor slips into laptop bags without bulk, while the distinctive design creates ambient workspace lighting in hotels, cafes, or co-working spaces. Available in black, white, and Industrial editions, the aesthetic choice matches your personal style while delivering consistent performance across environments.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149.00

What we like:

AA battery operation eliminates charging requirements and provides reliable power anywhere.
Warm LED lighting with multiple brightness levels creates an optimal work ambiance in any environment.

What we dislike:

Regular battery replacement creates ongoing operational costs during extended use periods.
Limited light output may be insufficient for detailed work requiring high illumination levels.

5. Hand Pad Concept

The Hand Pad concept tackles input device chaos through ingenious transformation engineering that combines a mouse, a touchpad, and a stylus-compatible tablet into one seamless unit. Designer Hizin Joo’s creation changes based on workflow demands, folding into a traditional mouse configuration or unfolding completely into a flat tablet surface for stylus work. The included stylus enables drawing, note-taking, and precise input tasks previously requiring separate devices.

Workflow efficiency reaches new heights when a single device handles multiple input methods without compromise. The folded mouse state provides familiar button layouts and scroll wheels, while the tablet mode offers direct input control for creative tasks. Seamless transitions between modes eliminate the friction of switching tools, creating uninterrupted productivity flow whether you’re coding, designing, or presenting.

What we like:

Revolutionary three-in-one design eliminates multiple devices while providing mouse, touchpad, and tablet functionality.
Seamless mode transitions maintain workflow continuity without device-switching interruptions.

What we dislike:

A complex folding mechanism may introduce potential failure points under heavy daily use.
Concept stage development means that availability and final pricing remain uncertain for consumers.

The Minimalist Advantage

These five innovative gadgets represent a fundamental shift in how we approach mobile workspaces, proving that exceptional design can eliminate the traditional compromise between functionality and portability. Each device showcases thoughtful engineering that amplifies capability while reducing physical footprint, creating a comprehensive toolkit that weighs less than most single traditional accessories. The combined functionality transforms any environment into a fully equipped office, limited only by imagination rather than equipment constraints.

Digital nomads and remote professionals no longer need to sacrifice performance for mobility, as these tools demonstrate that intelligent design can deliver both simultaneously. The revolution in minimal work accessories reflects broader changes in professional culture, where productivity depends on adaptability rather than location. These gadgets complete the evolution toward truly location-independent work, enabling peak performance whether you’re collaborating in bustling cafes, presenting from hotel lobbies, or creating in remote mountain retreats worldwide.

The post 5 Ultra-Minimal Work Gadgets That Fit in Your Laptop Bag first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sep
18

By

Baggage Claim Mirrors Transform Airport Inspiration into Colorful Art

Category: YankoDesign

Most mirrors are practical but forgettable, hanging on walls like silent witnesses to our daily routines. But Müge Kahraman had a different vision when she created the Baggage Claim Mirrors series. More than just reflective surfaces, these are sculptural statements that transform the simple act of checking your appearance into an encounter with playful, colorful art.

The inspiration came from an unexpected place: the hypnotic loop of airport baggage carousels. Kahraman found herself mesmerized by the continuous movement, the way colorful luggage pieces overlapped and circled endlessly. That moment of travel-induced contemplation became the foundation for a mirror series that captures movement, disruption, and the beauty of everyday chaos in static form.

Designer: Müge Kahraman

The series includes three distinct designs that bring the carousel concept to life in different ways. Baggage Claim-O and Baggage Claim-I are both full-length mirrors with round frames, perfect for bedrooms or entryways. Baggage Claim-M takes the concept smaller, creating a tabletop makeup mirror that brings the same energy to your vanity or desk space.

Each mirror starts with a colored MDF frame that serves as the foundation for the real magic. Vibrant slices of colored mirror glass overlap the main reflective surface, creating layers that catch light and throw it back in unexpected directions. The series comes in six bold colorways, including Rose and Marine, each combination carefully chosen to balance warmth with contemporary edge.

The visual effect is immediately captivating. Those overlapping colored slices break up your reflection in the most delightful way, creating a fractured yet harmonious view that invites you to see yourself from new angles. It’s like looking into a kaleidoscope that happens to show your face, transforming the mundane mirror check into a moment of visual discovery.

These mirrors work as functional art in the truest sense. They’re completely usable for getting dressed, applying makeup, or simply checking your appearance, but they also serve as instant focal points that energize any space. The colored slices add movement and personality to rooms that might otherwise feel static or predictable.

What’s really clever about the Baggage Claim series is how it taps into that universal experience of travel while creating something deeply personal for your home. Every time you catch your reflection, you’re reminded of journeys taken and adventures yet to come. The mirrors bring a sense of movement and curiosity to daily routines that might otherwise feel repetitive.

Kahraman’s mirrors remind us that inspiration can strike anywhere, even while waiting for luggage at the airport. Sometimes the most unexpected moments lead to the most delightful design solutions. The Baggage Claim series proves that everyday objects don’t have to be ordinary. They just need someone willing to see them through fresh eyes and transform them into something extraordinary.

The post Baggage Claim Mirrors Transform Airport Inspiration into Colorful Art first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sep
18

By

hôtel de pourtalès turns renaissance townhouse into private luxury suites in paris

Category: Design Boom

HISTORIC TOWNHOUSE REIMAGINED FOR THE MODERN HOSPITALITY ERA

 

Hidden behind the bustling streets of Paris, the Hôtel de Pourtalès is a former private mansion that has been transformed into a secluded luxury apartment hotel. Once a private townhouse built by architect Félix Duban for Swiss-born banker and art collector Count James-Alexandre de Pourtalès in 1839, this neoclassical building has been reimagined as a luxury destination for those who value privacy and design. Since 2002, the building has been listed as an official historical monument with every contemporary intervention carefully balanced to preserve its aristocratic soul. For designboom, a stay during Paris Design Week offered an intimate perspective on this unique transformation, showcasing a new vision on hospitality.

all images courtesy of ​​Hôtel de Pourtalès

 

 

THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR A LUXURY STAY IN PARIS

 

With its discreet charm, tasteful décor, and prime location near the Champs-Élysées, a stay at the Hôtel de Pourtalès serves as a key anchor for an on-the-ground exploration of Parisian design culture. The hotel‘s historical inspiration draws on a Renaissance Revival style, making it a perfect example of the fusion of heritage and modernity celebrated during Paris Design Week. Founded on the idea of privacy, the Parisian establishment offers a new experience — more confidential than a guest house or luxury hotel.

founded on the idea of privacy, the hotel presents a new vision on hospitality

 

 

NINE PRIVATE SUITES AT HÔTEL DE POURTALÈS

 

The hotel’s design is a masterclass in creative tension, a subtle combination of its classical roots with a contemporary and avant-garde vision. The renovation, led by Studio Labaye Sumi, preserved the DNA of the building — from its intricate cornices to its vaulted arches — while introducing contemporary additions. This creates an aesthetic coherence between the two contrasting expressions, transforming the space into a dynamic experience where historical grandeur and modern comfort coexist. 

 

The design team’s aim was simple yet profound: to create the impression of a home. Each of the nine private suites is designed as an exceptional living space, far more intimate and confidential than a guest house or luxury hotel. They redefine hospitality as a highly personalized, residential experience. Iconic pieces by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, and Gerrit Rietveld are thoughtfully positioned with creations from a new generation of French designers, such as Garnier & Linker. The studio also designed a custom line of furniture, with marble and metal pieces created in collaboration with renowned specialists.

the former private mansion that has been transformed into a luxury apartment hotel

 

 

Guests find themselves in apartments complete with private kitchens, spacious lounges, and dining rooms, with some even boasting a planted terrace or a rooftop with an enviable view of the capital. With suites ranging in size from 95 to 367m² spread across seven floors, the hotel offers an incredible diversity of volumes, all with its own specific decor, furniture, fabrics, and color palette. The Hôtel de Pourtalès also reveals a profound passion for contemporary art, turning the residence into a curated, private gallery. This artistic vision, combined with the refined service and discreet charm, ensures a stay that creates a timeless and intimate home-away-from-home experience.

the hotel combines its classical roots with a contemporary vision

the suites range in size from 95 to 367m²

the apartments are completed with private kitchens, spacious lounges, and dining rooms

spread across seven floors, the hotel offers an incredible diversity of volumes

the goal was to create the impression of a home

at Hôtel de Pourtalès historical grandeur and modern comfort coexist

each of the nine private suites is far more intimate than a guest house or luxury hotel

each apartment owns specific decor, furniture, fabrics, and color palette

some suites even boasts a planted terrace or a rooftop with an enviable view of the capital

Hôtel de Pourtalès redefines hospitality as a highly personalized, residential experience

since 2002, the building has been listed as an official historical monument

 

 

project info:

 

name: Hôtel de Pourtalès | @hoteldepourtales

location: Paris, France

design team: Studio Labaye Sumi | @labayesumistudio

The post hôtel de pourtalès turns renaissance townhouse into private luxury suites in paris appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Sep
18

By

pink ribbon organizes retail display within factory store in inner mongolia

Category: Design Boom

waa (wearchitechanonymous) rethinks retail through color

 

waa (wearchitechanonymous) designs ERDOS Land, a 2,600-sqm factory store within the ERDOS headquarters complex on the outskirts of Ordos city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The project integrates retail, leisure, and tourism functions, housing all of the brand’s labels under one roof and accommodating up to 700 visitors per day during peak seasons. An additional 700 sqm of space supports a children’s play area, a café, and a tourist center.

 

The design approach is rooted in an exploration of how color shapes perception within spatial environments. Instead of modifying individual pigments, the project emphasizes the relationship between colors and their surroundings to shape perception. Pink surfaces and frames are selected to soften the retail environment and create optical vibrations that lighten the atmosphere while ensuring garments remain the focal point. A continuous pink ribbon-like rack runs through the space, doubling as a structural and organizational device: it supports task lighting for booths, provides wayfinding for visitors, and manages the visual scale of the merchandise.

all images courtesy of waa (wearchitechanonymous)

 

 

Looping shopping routes organize ERDOS Land factory store

 

Circulation guides the spatial organization by Studio waa (wearchitechanonymous). Four central islands structure the floor plan, allowing shopping routes to unfold as either a continuous loop or a set of interconnected figure-of-eight paths. Each island is dedicated to a specific garment type, including scarves, jumpers, accessories, and general wear. Along the perimeter, opposite booths host the brand’s five labels, separated by aggregate pillars that incorporate fitting rooms.

 

The children’s booth integrates play elements directly into the retail environment, with climbing structures, adapted garment rails, and feature chandeliers that double as supports. These devices extend the store’s broader emphasis on playfulness, embedding moments of interaction into the shopping experience. A seamless membrane ceiling unifies the entire space, controlling light levels, softening shadows, and enhancing garment displays. This contoured ceiling, combined with rhythmic lighting and carefully orchestrated color compositions, maintains visual clarity across the large-scale interior.

retail display wall & changing areas

retail display & changing rooms

retail display

 

retail display

children’s retail

children’s range

children’s play area

children’s play area

 

VIP retail space

ERDOS café

 

project info:

 

name: ERDOS LAND
architect: waa (wearchitechanonymous) | @waa_wearchitechanonymous

location: Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

 

 

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 pink ribbon organizes retail display within factory store in inner mongolia appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

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