Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge—The Everlasting Friendship
The post Gustav Klimt and Emilie Flöge—The Everlasting Friendship appeared first on DailyArt Magazine.
Jul
30
Jul
30
Sony’s decision to enter the fight stick market feels simultaneously overdue and perfectly timed. The PlayStation FlexStrike, dropping in 2026, represents the company’s first official foray into arcade-style controllers, and honestly, it’s about time. While third-party manufacturers like 8bitdo, Hori, and Qanba have dominated tournament circuits for years, Sony’s approach feels less like catching up and more like establishing new ground rules. The FlexStrike carries the same design philosophy that made the DualSense controller a revelation, but translated into the unforgiving world of frame-perfect inputs and muscle memory.
This move makes perfect sense when you consider Sony’s recent controller innovations. The PlayStation Access Controller proved the company could think beyond traditional gaming paradigms, creating adaptive hardware that redefined accessibility without compromising performance. Now they’re applying that same experimental mindset to the FGC, a community that’s notoriously particular about their hardware preferences. The timing coincides with MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, suggesting Sony sees 2026 as a pivotal moment for fighting games on PlayStation.
Designer: Sony
Remember those massive Street Fighter II cabinets from the early 90s? The ones you’d pump quarters into until your allowance disappeared? That eight-button layout and joystick configuration remains the gold standard today, and Sony’s FlexStrike pays proper homage while adding conveniences that would’ve blown our arcade-dwelling teenage minds. The mechanical switches deliver that satisfying clicky feedback reminiscent of classic Sanwa buttons, but engineered for thousands of rage-inducing Dragon Punches without degradation. Sony opted for a custom digital joystick rather than simply incorporating off-the-shelf Japanese arcade parts, suggesting they’re taking the “feel” factor seriously.
Let’s talk about that PlayStation Link technology because it’s genuinely clever stuff. Wireless fight sticks have always been a tough sell to the FGC because input lag is the mortal enemy of frame-perfect execution. Sony claims their ultra-low latency connection solves this problem with sub-millisecond response times. Will tournament organizers buy it? That remains to be seen, but the ability to connect two FlexStrike controllers through a single USB-C adaptor is brilliant for local versus sessions. No more dongles cluttering up your setup or running out of USB ports when friends come over for casual beatdowns.
The toolless restrictor gate system might sound mundane to casual gamers, but trust me, this is huge. Swapping between square, circular, and octagonal gates traditionally requires disassembly, screwdrivers, and occasionally some choice language when screws roll under furniture. Sony’s implementation stores all three gates inside the controller itself, making switches possible in seconds. Playing Street Fighter V with a square gate but need to switch to octagonal for some Tekken? No problem. This feature alone could change how players prepare for multi-game tournaments.
Sony’s integration of DualSense elements shows they actually understand how fighting game players operate. The touchpad means you’re not fumbling for a separate controller between matches, while the PS button can wake your console from sleep mode. The lock button prevents those infuriating accidental inputs during clutch moments, something every player who’s ever hit the PS button mid-combo will appreciate. These aren’t flashy additions, but they solve real problems that competitive players face.
Ever spent an entire weekend at a fighting game tournament? Your wrists know the pain. Sony’s ergonomic considerations tackle this head-on with angled surfaces and a non-slip base that maintains stability during even the most frantic inputs. The included sling carry case acknowledges that serious players treat their controllers like professional musicians treat their instruments, not as disposable accessories but as extensions of their competitive identity. It’s this attention to the culture of fighting games, not just the technical requirements, that makes the FlexStrike intriguing.
We’re still waiting on pricing details, but given the feature set, expect the FlexStrike to land in premium territory alongside high-end sticks from Victrix and Qanba. The built-in rechargeable battery, multiple restrictor gates, carry case, and PlayStation Link adapter all point to a $200-300 price tag, assuming build quality matches Sony’s recent standards. The 2026 release window gives Sony time to refine based on community feedback and potentially secure partnerships with major tournament organizers like EVO.
Key FlexStrike Specifications:
Wireless PlayStation Link and wired USB-C connectivity
Mechanical switch buttons with custom digital joystick
Toolless swappable restrictor gates (square/circle/octagon)
DualSense-equivalent button layout with touchpad
Built-in rechargeable battery
Dual controller support per USB-C adapter
PS5 and PC compatibility
Ergonomic non-slip design with included carry case
Simultaneous audio device connectivity through PlayStation Link
The post The Sony PlayStation FlexStrike wireless fight stick promises to take combat gaming “Back to the Future” first appeared on Yanko Design.
Jul
30
Think back to 2007, when the first Transformers movie debuted in theaters around the globe. Think back to being young, starry eyed, and just jaw-on-floor when you saw a Chevrolet Camaro transform into Bumblebee for the first time. I remember because that particular scene blew my mind, watching something transform into something else with such detail and precision. Not to be hyperbolic, but my mind got blown in the same way, watching the OMNI-R transform from a tiny metal rectangle into a scale 32 centimeters long, while simultaneously packing as many as 11 more features into its surprisingly compact design.
The OMNI-R transcends stationery… with a 12-in-1 design, it’s practically an EDC multitool. The scale has multiple hinge-points, a pivot point, a caliper, a pencil, a cutter, and even a spirit level, all somehow crammed into an object measuring 3.2 inches long when folded shut. Designed to appeal to both the technically nerdy as well as the EDC lover, the OMNI-R comes with a gorgeous all-metal design, flaunting 3 finishes – Anodized Aluminum, Red Copper, and actual Gr5 Titanium.
Designer: OMNI (Zhenlai Inc.)
Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $109 ($40 off). Hurry, only 10/240 left! Raised over $53,000.
With about as much functionality pack into it like a Swiss Army Knife, the OMNI-R turns the humble ruler/scale into a canvas of tools. After all, a scale might be great for measuring linear distances, but it can do so much more, and it has so much unused real estate… right? Well, at least that’s what the folks at Zhenlai thought when they decided the scale had to get a facelift. Each inch of space was reconsidered, before being replaced with a tool or a feature. The result is a scale that turns estate into efficiency, packing more features than your fingers could count. This one humble scale that could only calculate linear distances can now measure up to a 10th of a micron, draw circles, cut paper, measure angles, plot parallel lines, and even tell you if your furniture or your painting is offset or marginally tilted.
As far as rulers go, the OMNI-R does a banger job measuring objects and lines. A dual-folding design lets it go from a mere 3.2 inches in length to 12.75 inches long, effectively putting a foot-ruler in a form factor small enough for your pocket. Everything’s machined from metal, which means that all the folding and unfolding occurs at the tightest tolerances, allowing the ruler to remain ruthlessly accurate despite the moving and folding parts. Open the ruler up once and you’re left with a half-foot scale. Open it up a second time and it doubles in size, with metric as well as imperial measurements so you’re never left calculating distances mentally… or Googling them (like I usually do).
That second opening mechanism is what turns the OMNI-R into a circle-guide too. It opens radially, which means you can measure angles as well as draw hemispheres. Want to make full circles instead? Well, then you’ll have to tap into the OMNI-R’s ‘unlimited’ pencil. Tucked into one of the arms of the OMNI-R is a removable pencil that can either be used independently, or kept docked inside the OMNI-R for use as a circle-maker. Use it the way you would a compass, and spin the pencil around on a piece of paper with a fixed pivot point and you get perfect circles. The pencil itself is made from a special alloy that creates marks on paper without relying on graphite. This means it writes without ever going blunt or needing sharpening.
Built into the grip of the pencil is also a holder for scalpel-style blades. Flip the pencil over and use the reverse to cut paper, plastic, cloth, or even leather. The scalpel blades are detachable, which means you can take them out when you don’t need them, and on the off chance that a blade loses its edge or breaks, simply ditch the old blade for a new one and you’re good to go.
While the pencil sits on one arm, the opposing arm packs a Vernier-style caliper for hyper-accurate measurements. Precise to 1/10th of a millimeter, this lets you work with intricate objects and make highly detailed measurements that go as precise as 0.01mm – perfect for engineers, tinkerers, designers, and even architects working on small scales or with low tolerances.
Other fairly noteworthy features include a set of rollers, that allow the OMNI-R to move in a perfect straight line. This makes drawing/plotting parallel lines very easy, as the OMNI-R’s precisely engineered rollers move with linear accuracy, down to 0.3°. The result gives you parallel lines in less than half the time. A spirit level, on the other hand, gives you control over horizontality. While most architects and designers carry a separate spirit gage for leveling, the OMNI-R packs one in its body, making it easy to do things like measure whether a painting is mounted perfectly, or if a shelf is crooked or straight.
But even for a guy who probably doesn’t need all the features the OMNI-R packs, its design is by far the one thing that keeps bringing me back. That all-metal build, the joy of its weighted form in your hands as you confidently draw lines, measure distances, calculate angles, and cut objects, without any flimsy parts or plastic components to ‘bring costs down’. The only truly plastic part on the OMNI-R is the spirit level… and that’s by sheer design.
The OMNI-R starts at $69 for the aluminum variant, going up to a fairly reasonable $79 if you want to opt for the titanium version. There are multiple colorways to choose from, and a special copper + brass version will be unlocked as a perk on Kickstarter too. Each OMNI-R comes completely equipped, with its 12-in-1 design ready right out of the box. You also get 10 standard scalpel blades with the OMNI-R (and you can buy more at any stationery or hardware shop). In fact, the only thing you have to buy separately are the optional tritium/glow vials, which you can mount into the OMNI-R’s body thanks to a series of notches in its body, so your EDC multitool never gets lost in the dark! The OMNI-R ships globally starting October 2025.
Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $109 ($40 off). Hurry, only 10/240 left! Raised over $53,000.
The post This 12-in-1 EDC Ruler Might Be The Ultimate Stationery Gadget Ever Made first appeared on Yanko Design.
Jul
30
Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys is now open at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka, Japan. Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, the exhibition occupies 2,200 square meters of the museum and is organized into eleven thematic galleries. These are grouped into four interconnected zones — history, codes, process behind the craft, and cultural dialogue — that together express the enduring identity of the House.
The exhibition design celebrates spatial variety, with each room conceived as a unique set within a continuous narrative. Shigematsu explains that the scenography aims to translate Louis Vuitton’s legacy into an architectural journey, one that goes beyond objects to explore ideas. Osaka’s long-standing role as a center of trade and craftsmanship in Japan underscores the choice of venue, bringing a contextual layer to the Maison’s exploration of heritage and innovation.
the exhibition spans 2,200 square meters at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art | images courtesy Louis Vuitton
Visitors to Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys first encounter eight monumental lanterns, which the team at OMA suspends from the Osaka museum’s five-story atrium. Each 12.5-meter-tall column stacks trunk-like forms wrapped in Monogram washi paper, arranged in six unique configurations. The lanterns emphasize the verticality of the atrium while casting a soft, diffuse glow, creating a welcoming transition into the exhibition.
Beyond the atrium, the entrance gallery is anchored by a hemispherical installation composed of 138 authentic Louis Vuitton trunks. Mirrored by the glass floor below, the self-supporting structure forms a complete globe, referencing themes of exploration and global exchange. The trunks’ structural integrity alone holds the piece together, exemplifying the balance of strength and lightness that defines the House’s craftsmanship.
a hemispherical globe is built from 138 Louis Vuitton trunks
Speaking to its context in Osaka, Louis Vuitton and OMA prominently feature Japan as both subject and context throughout the exhibition. A dedicated gallery, Louis Vuitton and Japan, examines artistic and cultural exchanges between the brand and the country. The display spans centuries, from traditional garments and samurai armor to contemporary pop culture, all arranged on modular platforms evocative of tatami mats.
Other rooms trace the evolution of Louis Vuitton’s creative codes. In the Origins room, a hand-woven bamboo armature carries the timeline of the Maison’s six historic eras, reflecting a shared respect for craftsmanship. Two galleries are devoted to the Monogram canvas, charting its development from early influences, including Japanese motifs, to its use in contemporary designs.
hand-woven bamboo structures and archival materials highlight LV’s craftsmanship legacy
The Expeditions gallery immerses visitors inside a full-scale inflatable hot-air balloon that doubles as a display structure and projection surface. In the Materials gallery, a dense arrangement of foundational components is presented in a way that appears weightless, giving visitors the sense of peering into an infinite archive. Atelier Rarex, a selection of exceptional pieces, is displayed along a boulevard backdrop modeled on the mansard roofline of Louis Vuitton’s Paris flagship.
The Workshop gallery incorporates arched windows, sawtooth roofs, and workbenches modeled after the House’s Asnières atelier, where craftspeople conduct live demonstrations. Mirrored ‘skylights’ allow these processes to be observed from anywhere in the room. Meanwhile, the Testing gallery introduces visitors to the machinery and protocols behind product durability, bringing the brand’s laboratory into the museum context.
In the Collaborations gallery, four mirrored domes house works by artists and brands such as Stephen Sprouse, Supreme, Yayoi Kusama, and Takashi Murakami. The reflections create a kaleidoscopic environment that reconstitutes each partnership as part of Louis Vuitton’s broader creative ecosystem.
an inflatable hot-air balloon and mirrored displays offer immersive environments for storytelling
a gallery dedicated to Japan explores the brand’s cultural exchanges using tatami-inspired platforms
live workshops and testing galleries recreate the Asnières atelier within the museum
Shohei Shigematsu organizes four zones focused on history, craft, codes, and cultural dialogue
mirrored domes reflect key collaborations in a kaleidoscopic environment of contemporary design
project info:
name: Visionary Journeys
designer: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton
exhibition design: Shohei Shigematsu / OMA | @shohei_shigematsu @omanewyork
museum: Nakanoshima Museum of Art | @nakkaart2022
location: Osaka, Japan
dates: July 15th — September 17th, 2025
photography: courtesy Louis Vuitton
The post OMA explores japanese craft and culture through louis vuitton exhibition in osaka appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
Jul
30
Google teams up with Energy Dome to deploy CO₂ battery, a technology that uses carbon-free electricity to power buildings and operations. Dubbed a new kind of energy storage system, it works by capturing carbon dioxide without releasing it into the air. This is kept in a closed system – a dome-shaped battery in this case – so there are no emissions, and then the system uses the electricity to compress the captured carbon dioxide into liquid. Later, when the electricity grid needs more power, the system turns the liquid CO₂ back into gas, and as it expands, it creates pressure and spins a turbine. In return, the turbine produces electricity that goes into the grid.
The energy company says that its battery can deliver electricity for eight to 24 hours, meaning even during times when there is no wind or sun. This battery can store clean energy when there is an extra supply and send it back to the power grid when needed. Energy Dome has already built and tested the technology in Italy for more than three years, and there’s a full-size commercial plant ready, with 20 megawatts of power and the ability to store 200 megawatt-hours of electricity. It sees the CO₂ battery as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries and hydroelectric storage used these days. Google and Energy Dome have signed a partnership to build projects in Italy, the United States, and India, with the aim of building more energy-storing domes across cities over time.
all images courtesy of Energy Dome
Energy Dome’s CO₂ battery with Google targets the electricity demands from artificial intelligence systems and data centers, which require large amounts of power to operate. While wind and solar power are common sources of clean energy, they do not always produce electricity when it is needed (solar panels do not produce power at night, and wind turbines do not operate if the wind is not blowing). With the CO₂ battery, it can keep the extra electricity that these two sources have produced to use for later instead of using them in real time.
The energy and technology companies see long-duration energy storage as an ideal solution in this case. The CO₂ Battery uses standard industrial parts and does not depend on rare materials or limited supply chains. It includes mechanical components that rotate or parts that stabilize electricity grids by adding inertia. It used to be the traditional fossil fuel power plants that provided this function, but many of those plants are now being shut down.
Google teams up with Energy Dome to deploy CO₂ battery
Wind and solar power do not have rotating parts, so they do not provide inertia. In this case, Energy Dome’s CO₂ battery hopes to fill this gap by maintaining stable grid frequency. The two companies believe that by using this technology, electricity systems can become more flexible and reliable, and people are able to use clean electricity anytime. The battery system can also keep the grid continuous, adjusting itself to the demand and supply.
So far, the agreement between Google and Energy Dome on using the CO₂ battery plans to develop projects in regions across Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific, including partnerships with Alliant Energy in the United States, Engie in Italy, and NTPC in India. These projects are now in early stages of development and contracting.
it works by changing the liquified carbon dioxide into gas, which creates pressure to produce electricity
this is kept in a closed system – a dome-shaped battery in this case – so there are no emissions
the energy company says that its battery can deliver electricity for eight to 24 hours
project info:
name: CO₂ battery
companies: Google, Energy Dome | @google
The post what is CO₂ battery, the carbon-free electricity and energy dome that google plans to deploy appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
Jul
30
Cheng Tsung Feng’s latest creation in the bamboo forests of Nantou, Taiwan, is quite fascinating and unique. His Bamboo Cabin Plan: Sticky Rice Dumpling sits quietly among the Moso bamboo if it grew there naturally. The 3.4 by 4.3 by 3.6 meter structure takes its cues from zongzi, those leaf-wrapped rice dumplings that define comfort food across Taiwan. Built for the Nantou Bamboo Dream Festival, this isn’t just another art installation. It’s a genuine sanctuary where traditional craft meets contemporary spatial thinking. The cabin embodies the festival’s Six Senses theme by creating a space you want to touch, smell, and inhabit.
Feng has always understood how to translate intimate gestures into architectural moments. Here, he takes the simple act of wrapping dumplings and scales it up without losing the tenderness. Bamboo stalks curve inward like protective hands, creating walls that breathe with the forest around them. The structure feels both ancient and immediate, rooted in memory but designed for today’s need for quiet spaces. Light filters through the woven walls in shifting patterns that change throughout the day. You can hear the forest through the permeable structure, insects humming and leaves rustling just outside.
Designer: Cheng Tsung Feng
The cabin works because it doesn’t fight its environment. Open weaving creates natural air circulation while blocking harsh sun. The interior responds to forest rhythms rather than imposing human schedules. Metal connections and nylon rope bindings support the bamboo framework without calling attention to themselves. When darkness falls, integrated fluorescent lighting keeps the space welcoming for evening visitors. Every detail serves the larger goal of creating a place people actually want to spend time in.
Feng lets bamboo be bamboo, embracing the material’s natural character rather than forcing it into unnatural shapes. Each stalk contributes its own texture and curve to the overall composition. The construction process honors traditional bamboo working methods while pushing into contemporary territory. You can see how the builder’s hands shaped each joint and connection. The material’s sustainability story matters, but it’s the immediate sensory experience that hooks you. This grass-turned-timber creates spaces that feel warm and alive.
The project sits perfectly in that sweet spot between art and architecture where Feng’s work shines. Like his earlier fish trap installations, this cabin captures visitors in carefully crafted spatial experiences. It functions as shelter while engaging your senses in ways that typical buildings don’t. The temporary nature feels right for bamboo’s lifecycle, creating architecture that acknowledges change while celebrating present moments. Step inside, and urban noise fades into forest sounds.
This bamboo sanctuary proves sustainable architecture doesn’t have to sacrifice beauty for environmental responsibility. Feng shows how traditional knowledge can inform contemporary design without turning into costume drama. The cabin demonstrates bamboo’s architectural potential beyond the obvious applications. Within Taiwan’s bamboo groves, ancestral wisdom finds fresh expression through thoughtful contemporary interpretation. Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is create a quiet place to sit and think.
Zongzi are traditional Taiwanese sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and tied with string. Feng chose this form because it represents an intimate, familiar cultural gesture that translates beautifully into architectural scale while honoring local food traditions.
The cabin is designed as a temporary installation aligned with the festival’s duration. Its temporary nature reflects bamboo’s natural lifecycle and the conceptual framework of impermanence in traditional Asian philosophy.
This project uniquely combines traditional food culture references with contemporary spatial needs, creating architecture that functions as both an art installation and a practical shelter while maintaining deep cultural resonance.
Bamboo has excellent structural properties with higher compressive strength than concrete and tensile strength rivaling steel. The cabin uses traditional bamboo joinery reinforced with metal connections and nylon rope for additional stability.
The post Innovative Bamboo Cabin Design Is Inspired By Taiwanese Sticky Rice Dumplings first appeared on Yanko Design.
Jul
30
My Z Fold7’s home screen used to look like a digital disaster zone. Apps everywhere, widgets fighting for space, and my thumb constantly doing gymnastics just to reach basic controls. Then I discovered something that completely changed how I interact with my foldable device.
Designer: Samsung
What if your phone could respond to your touch like magic, with everything you need appearing exactly when and where you want it? That’s what I’ve achieved using Samsung’s Good Lock ecosystem on my Z Fold7, and I’m testing the same setup on my S25 Ultra. The transformation is incredible. Your display becomes this clean, responsive canvas that adapts to your gestures instead of cluttering your view with permanent shortcuts. I’m going to walk you through exactly how I set this up, because once you experience gesture navigation done right, traditional icon grids will feel ancient.
The moment I opened Good Lock’s One Hand Operation+ module, I knew I was onto something special. Instead of cramming my beautiful Z Fold7 screens with app icons, I now have this gorgeous, minimalist interface that shows just what I need. A clean calendar view with world clocks for my work across time zones.
Foldable devices are actually perfect for gesture navigation because you’re constantly switching between the cover display and the main screen. Having consistent gesture controls that work identically on both displays creates this seamless flow that makes the Z Fold7 feel like one cohesive device rather than two separate screens stuck together.
The gesture handles are completely invisible until I need them. My Z Fold7’s gorgeous displays stay uncluttered, but I can summon any app, setting, or control with simple edge swipes. The system recognizes different swipe lengths and directions, so one edge can handle multiple functions without any confusion.
Everything appears contextually as floating panels. Need to adjust brightness? A quick gesture brings up controls right where my thumb is. Want to switch apps? Another swipe shows my running applications in an elegant overlay. It feels less like using a phone and more like conducting a digital orchestra.
Getting this system running on your Z Fold7 starts with downloading Good Lock from the Galaxy Store . Once you have that installed, grab the One Hand Operation+ module. This is where all the magic happens.
First, configure your left and right edge handles. I keep mine positioned about halfway up the screen because that’s where my thumb naturally rests when holding the Z Fold7 in either folded or unfolded mode. The handle width is crucial. Too narrow and you’ll miss gestures, too wide and you’ll trigger them accidentally while typing.
Setting swipe distance to about 60% of the slider works perfectly for the Z Fold7’s screen proportions. This gives you enough travel to feel deliberate without requiring awkward finger stretches. The quick action setting is a game changer. It starts executing your gesture the moment the system recognizes it, rather than waiting for you to lift your finger.
Vibration feedback is personal preference, but I keep it enabled with medium intensity. The tactile response helps you develop muscle memory for different gesture patterns. The curved animation option looks gorgeous on the Z Fold7’s high quality displays and makes interactions feel more organic.
After a couple of weeks of daily use, gesture navigation has become second nature on my Z Fold7. The transition period took about two weeks of consistent use, but now I find myself trying to use gestures on other people’s phones out of habit.
The ergonomic advantages become obvious during extended one handed use. Traditional navigation requires awkward thumb stretches or two handed operation for many tasks. With gestures, everything stays within comfortable reach regardless of how you’re holding the device.
This is particularly important when using the Z Fold7 in its folded state. The cover display is tall and narrow, making top screen elements difficult to reach with one hand. Gesture navigation brings controls to your thumb rather than forcing your thumb to chase controls around the screen.
The handle positioning system adapts to different grip styles beautifully. Whether you prefer holding your Z Fold7 high in your palm or lower for better stability, you can position gesture zones exactly where your thumb naturally rests. I’ve configured mine differently for portrait and landscape orientations to account for how my grip changes.
Keyboard integration shows Samsung’s attention to detail. When typing on either display, gesture handles automatically move above the keyboard area to prevent accidental activation while maintaining full functionality.
The consistency between cover and main displays is what makes this setup truly special for foldable users. The same gesture patterns work whether your Z Fold7 is closed or opened, creating a unified interaction model that eliminates the jarring experience of switching between different navigation paradigms.
I particularly love using gestures during video calls on the main display. I can adjust volume, toggle mute, or switch apps without covering the camera or disrupting the call interface. The floating panels appear and disappear without interfering with the video feed, maintaining a professional appearance during work calls.
The post How I Transformed My Z Fold7 Into the Ultimate Gesture Navigation Machine first appeared on Yanko Design.
Jul
30
Pininfarina has surprised the racing game community with their simulators that overshadow other simulators owing to their stunning design. The one created by Fabio Bilotta and Zagato has still not left our memories. Now, Prodrive wants to sweep that memory clean with a racing simulator that seems right out of a sci-fi movie plot.
The rig’s idea was originally mustered up by David Richards (ex-F1 team principal) and then materialized by designer and automotive legend Ian Calum. A stunning statement piece for any interior, this masterpiece is an avant-garde furniture piece fused with the DNA of a powerful racing machine. The Prodrive Racing Simulator’s design is inspired by the hull of superyachts, and keeping that emotion, the maker chose Pendennis, a company known for their marine vessel designs.
Designer: Prodrive
Prodrive is no stranger to designing racing simulators, and the latest creation is a testament to the craft of Britain’s most celebrated artisans. Adopting the technique used in the construction of their race cars, the Oxfordshire-based motorsport and engineering group has crafted the racing sim from a carbon fiber monocoque that seems to float inside the wooden housing designed by superyacht builder Pendennis. The high-end cockpit is surrounded by a hoop constructed out of 16 layers of steam-formed beech wood. That invincible finish comes from the lacquered gloss black layering that you can easily compare to a grand piano’s finish.
The comfortable seat is upholstered in fine Connolly leather, and the buyer gets to choose the stitching. The plaques of the rig are crafted by Vaughtons, the 200-year-old medal makers behind the original Olympic medals and Aston Martin’s badges. The performance matches the sublime design as the simulator boasts a 49-inch curved screen with a high refresh rate, a Precision SIM LM Pro steering wheel with a direct-drive Simucube motor, a life-like mechanical pedal box, a Custom-built system running a GeForce RTX 12GB graphics card, and Assetto Corsa software pre-installed.
The visuals of the racing sim are complemented by the Bang & Olufsen audio experience that’s best enjoyed with the included Beoplay HX headphones. You can even choose to update to the H100 model if audio matters. For more serious users, the simulator has virtual coaching services that can connect you to race professionals worldwide. Thus, making the racing sim a personalized performance platform if you are serious about motorsports. Prodrive Racing Simulator is clearly in the high-end segment of the racing sim world, and that’s reflected in the $49,000 price tag.
The post Prodrive updates its opulent racing simulator for Passionate Motorsports Fans first appeared on Yanko Design.
Jul
30
Cities rarely make room for bees. Between glass towers and concrete sidewalks, there’s little space for the hollow stems and wood cavities that native pollinators need to build their homes. LAYER’s HOST, unveiled at Milano Design Week 2025, changes that conversation entirely. This modular bee hive, created with Andreu World, brings something unexpected to urban landscapes—thoughtful architecture designed for creatures other than ourselves.
HOST isn’t a traditional beehive. Those house busy honey bee colonies with their complex social structures and honey production. This structure serves solitary native bees, independent creatures that work alone, each female building her own nest and raising her offspring without workers or queens. These solitary species often outperform honey bees at pollinating local plants, making them essential for healthy urban ecosystems.
Designer: LAYER
The modular design reveals careful thinking about how cities work. Stackable components mean the structure can grow from a single unit on a small balcony to a towering installation in a public park. Each layer creates protected nesting spaces, shaped to shield bees from rain, wind, and urban noise. The sloping surfaces drain water naturally while insulating materials keep developing larvae at the right temperature.
HOST considers both species using it. The swivel-out modules let people check on their bee residents or harvest honey without disturbing the colony. You can maintain the habitat without stressing the inhabitants, a balance that respects both human curiosity and bee wellbeing. The sculptural quality matters too. HOST doesn’t hide in corners like typical bee hotels. Its presence in city spaces tells a story about what cities could become when we design for more than just human needs. The structure becomes a conversation starter, making usually invisible pollinators part of the urban visual landscape.
This isn’t just a unique and fascinating idea; it represents a real shift in how design industries think about their impact. Companies are starting to understand that supporting biodiversity isn’t just good PR; it’s necessary for healthy cities. HOST shows how beautiful, functional design can actively contribute to environmental health rather than just avoiding damage.
The timing feels right. Urban gardeners and city planners increasingly recognize that native pollinators need our help. Traditional beekeeping focuses on honey production, but bee hotels support the wild species that pollinate most of our food crops and maintain plant diversity. HOST makes supporting these creatures as simple as installing a piece of outdoor furniture—one that happens to serve life beyond our comfort.
The post This Modular Bee Hive By Layer Is Bringing Biodiversity Back to the City first appeared on Yanko Design.
Jul
30
“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries” still holds up as an absolute top tier insult even after 50 full years! I’m talking about the scene from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which released in 1975. Sure, I was born a solid 16 years after this film, but my parents raised me on a diet of great British humor featuring the comedy stylings of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin – collectively known as Monty Python.
This LEGO Ideas build right here is a tribute to one of the most iconic scenes from that 1975 Monty Python movie, when King Arthur was trying to invade the castle of a certain Guy de Lombard, only to have a chance encounter with a decidedly rude French guard. The entire scene, barely a few minutes long, still remains one of the funniest comedic interactions, featuring hilarious insults like “Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person” and “you empty-headed animal food-trough wiper.” Now, this brilliant submission on the LEGO Ideas website has captured this iconic moment of medieval mockery in brick form, complete with taunting Frenchmen, bewildered knights, and yes, that legendary wooden rabbit. The MOC (My Own Creation) from Krackenator4 perfectly embodies the absurdist British humor that made Monty Python a household name, rendering the scene’s chaotic energy into a delightfully detailed LEGO diorama.
Designer: Krackenator4
The build itself strikes that perfect balance between accuracy and playability that LEGO enthusiasts crave. From the castle’s white brick walls to the meticulously crafted wooden rabbit (which appears ready to be filled with knights at any moment), this set doesn’t merely recreate a movie scene; it captures the spirit of one of comedy’s most quotable moments. And let’s be honest, who among us hasn’t wanted to recreate the moment when King Arthur’s dignified quest was utterly derailed by insults about elderberries and hamsters?
The castle portion of the build features excellent architectural details, with proper battlements for the French Taunter to lean over while hurling both insults and livestock. The designer cleverly included the chickens perched atop the walls, ready to witness the mockery below. The large wooden gates swing open to reveal the interior, adding playability while maintaining screen accuracy. The wall texturing using various LEGO brick techniques gives the castle that authentic medieval stone look, contrasting nicely with the brown wooden elements.
The wooden rabbit steals the show as the centerpiece, constructed with a clever combination of brown bricks and decorative elements to simulate wooden planks. Its comically large head with googly eyes and pink nose perfectly captures the film’s signature absurdist aesthetic. The rabbit sits on wooden wheels, ready to be pushed toward the castle gates in a hilariously doomed strategy. This build element alone showcases the designer’s understanding of both LEGO construction techniques and Monty Python’s visual humor.
The minifigure selection features King Arthur in his sun-emblazoned tunic, knights with period-appropriate armor, and the French Taunter himself. There’s even the stray cow, which gets catapulted onto the King’s band of men as the Frenchman yells “Fetchez la vache”. The MOC’s accessories include swords, shields, a trumpet, and the catapult mechanism near the castle wall, ready to launch aforementioned bovines at the unsuspecting knights below.
If this set reaches production, it will join other pop culture LEGO Ideas successes like “Friends” Central Perk and “Seinfeld.” For Monty Python fans, this would represent the first official LEGO tribute to the comedy troupe’s legacy (although this MOC of the Ministry of Silly Walks deserves recognition too). The build reminds us why certain comedy moments transcend time, becoming part of our shared cultural language. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go vote for this set before the French Taunter taunts me “a second time”.
The post The Iconic Monty Python and the Holy Grail “French Taunting” scene gets immortalized in LEGO Bricks first appeared on Yanko Design.