Jun
5

By

Self-balancing cube robot demonstrates robotics and engineering principles

Category: YankoDesign

Robots are not anymore just limited to the ones we envision because of sci-fi movies and TV shows. While there are still of course a lot being developed that may resemble humans, or at least human movement, there are also those that come in all shapes and sizes. Some are meant to be functional while some are a bit more experimental in nature. There are also those that may seem like a toy but are meant to demonstrate what these robotic devices can do.

In something that brings robotics, automation, and STEM education together, the NikolaToy ESP32 Self-Balancing Cube Robot emerges as a captivating blend of science, engineering, and play. Inspired by the groundbreaking Cubli project developed at ETH Zurich, this compact robotic cube doesn’t just roll — it balances, jumps, spins, and entertains, all while showcasing the fascinating dynamics of motion control and inertia. At first glance, the NikolaToy may appear to be a simple metal cube, but beneath its sleek exterior lies an advanced system of sensors, motors, and algorithms.

Designer: NikolaToy

Powered by the ESP32 microcontroller, the robot employs a reaction wheel-based balancing mechanism — essentially, it uses internal flywheels (weighted discs) that spin rapidly to create torque, which in turn allows the cube to maintain balance on its edges or even a single corner. This is the same principle that allows satellites in space to adjust their orientation without thrusters. Now, that same concept is in a toy-sized package, ready for experimentation and fun.

Using data from onboard gyroscopes and accelerometers, the NikolaToy can stand itself upright and balance precariously in ways that defy intuition. The robot isn’t just about stillness. It can jump from a resting position to standing, and even spin itself in place — a remarkable feat for a device with no external wheels or legs. Via a mobile app (iOS/Android), users can interact with the robot, adjusting its behavior and triggering movements remotely.

This robot isn’t just a novelty toy of course. It can be used for classroom demonstrations of physics principles like angular momentum, feedback loops, and inertia for STEM students and educators. The open-source nature also makes it a fantastic tool for custom modifications or as a base for more complex robotics projects. It’s more than just a toy (although it can be that as well) as it’s a a tangible manifestation of engineering principles in action. Whether you’re a student exploring physics, a developer experimenting with control algorithms, or a tech enthusiast looking for your next gadget obsession, this little cube has a lot to offer.

The post Self-balancing cube robot demonstrates robotics and engineering principles first appeared on Yanko Design.

Jun
5

By

kenny scharf unveils iconic KarBombz! art car in full scale and toy-sized hot wheels version

Category: Design Boom

Kenny Scharf repaints toy-sized hot wheels à la karbombz!

 

Kenny Scharf releases a recent KarBombz! art car in full scale with a toy-sized Hot Wheels version. The project is a collaboration between the artist and the brand based on a 1967 Ford Thunderbird. It is a significant model in Hot Wheels history since it was one of the first 16 toy car designs the company released in 1968. These are known as the Original 16. Kenny Scharf paints the car’s exterior using his KarBombz! style. For the project, he uses spray paint to create art directly on cars, just like the other models he’s done in the series.

 

Kenny Pfitzer, a car builder at Pfitzer Designs in Corona, California, has handled the 1967 Ford Thunderbird mechanical construction for the Hot Wheels and Kenny Scharf collaboration. The vehicle also features American Racing 500 Mono Cast wheels as well as BF Goodrich Silvertown Redline radial tires. Hot Wheels expects to induct the Thunderbird art car into its Garage of Legends, which is a Hot Wheels collection that houses actual cars that the brand has built or selected. This art car, after induction, appears at Hot Wheels events in coming years. So far, it includes joining the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, an event series where the brand showcases its cars to the public.

all images courtesy of Kenny Scharf and Hot Wheels

 

 

1:64 die-cast models of the original 1967 Ford Thunderbird

 

The artist Kenny Scharf started his KarBombz! series in 2013. He thought then that cars were boring. They all looked the same, so gray and dull. He imagined drivers being stuck in traffic inside their lifeless-looking vehicles. That’s when the idea ignited: tattoos for car, spray painted by hand, street style that’s thriving in colors and graphics. ‘What an exciting traffic jam that would be,’ the artist says. Nearly over a decade later, he’s right. These KarBombz! designs add so much life, jazz, and flair to the copy-and-paste-looking cars on the roads. 

 

Working with Hot Wheels then feels natural to Kenny Scharf. The artist admits he’s been a fan of the brand’s toy cars, even as he was growing up. During this time, he developed an art career that often used cars as his canvas. Now, that blank slate comes in two forms. First, a real-life 1967 Ford Thunderbird production model. The other, a 1:64 die-cast Hot Wheels version, which is 64 times smaller than the actual car. The latter is available from Mattel Creations on June 9th, 2025. There’s also a limited edition, which includes only 100 die-cast models. Kenny Scharf has signed each of these 100 units, and these versions also come with a base showing more of the artist’s designs.

Kenny Scharf releases a recent KarBombz! art car in toy-sized Hot Wheels version

the artist’s name appears on the rear plate

a summer-looking blue shade becomes the color foundation

a balloon-looking figure zooms through on the side of the vehicle

surface view of the die-cast model

the artist uses spray paint to create art directly on the car

the 1:64 die-cast version on top of the real-life 1967 Ford Thunderbird

the project is a collaboration between the artist and the brand based on a 1967 Ford Thunderbird

Kenny Scharf spray painting on the Ford Thunderbird for the art car

Hot Wheels expects to induct the Thunderbird art car into its Garage of Legends

 

project info:

 

name: Hot Wheels x Kenny Scharf Custom T-Bird

artist: Kenny Scharf | @kennyscharf

brand: Hot Wheels | @hotwheelsofficial

company: Mattel | @mattel

The post kenny scharf unveils iconic KarBombz! art car in full scale and toy-sized hot wheels version appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Jun
5

By

Japanese Specialty Woodworking Tools: A Knot Remover Kit

Category: Core77

When crafting objects or structures out of real wood, knots are part of the aesthetic. But particularly demanding clients might find them objectionable. Enter this Knot Remover kit, from Japanese tool manufacturer Star-M.

First you drill the knot out with the tapered bit.

Then you attach this thing, which is essentially a giant pencil sharpener, to your drill.

You select a dowel of the appropriate size and go at it.

Pound the dowel in with glue, flush-cut it, and you’re good to go. (No idea why they don’t include a shot of the completed process.)

Jun
5

By

‘If Spaniards Are in Heaven, I’ll Go to Hell’: Hatuey’s Last Stand Against Colonial Rule

Category: Nuestro Stories

“If Spaniards are in Heaven, I’ll go to hell” is Hatuey’s last message to the world. It was a defiant stand against brutality, hypocrisy, and forced conversion. Sure, you may not know his name, but you should. Hatuey was a Taíno leader from Hispaniola—what we now call the Dominican Republic and Haiti—who was one of the very first Indigenous people to stand up and fight back against European colonization in the Americas.

While history tends to celebrate the conquerors, it rarely remembers the few conquered who had the courage to resist. Hatuey was one of those few. We don’t know much about his early life, but here’s what we do know: when the Spanish tightened their grip on the Caribbean, Hatuey didn’t run. He organized. He warned. He led.

And, yes, his story is even on Netflix.

Telling Hatuey’s Lost Story

Described by historian William Loren Katz as “the first prominent freedom fighter of the Americas,” Hatuey’s name does not appear in most textbooks. But his courage and his clarity in the face of conquest should be remembered.

“Hatuey’s armed resistance began on the island of Hispaniola during the age of Columbus, and probably increased after 1502 when a fleet of 30 Spanish ships brought the new Governor Nicolas de Ovando, hundreds of Spanish settlers, and an estimated 100 enslaved Africans to Hispaniola,” the Zinn Education Project explains.

When Ovando complained to King Ferdinand that enslaved Africans “fled among the Indians, taught them bad customs, and could not be captured,” what he may have been describing, according to Katz, was “the formation of the first American rainbow coalition.” Hatuey and his people welcomed the escaped Africans as allies, uniting against a shared enemy: a system rooted in gold, greed, and violence.

A Mission Across the Sea

In 1511, Hatuey led 400 followers in canoes from Hispaniola to Cuba. His goal was urgent: to warn fellow Indigenous communities of what was coming, and to unite them in resistance.

In Cuba, his words were recorded by Dominican friar Bartolomé de Las Casas. Hatuey warned that the Spaniards “worship gold,” “fight and kill,” and “usurp our land and make us slaves.” His message was direct and defiant: “For gold, slaves, and land they fight and kill; for these they persecute us, and that is why we have to throw them into the sea.”

Hatuey was a warrior and a visionary organizer, leading what Katz calls “the first pan-American resistance struggle.”

Three Months of Defiance in Baracoa

According to “The Mysteries of Latin America Podcast,” hosted by Andrew Colón, Hatuey “was said to be a compelling public speaker, and the Spanish friar and missionary Bartolomé de las Casas later attributed these words to Hatuey: ‘These tyrants tell us they worship a god of peace and equality, but they usurp our lands and make us their slaves. They speak to us of an immortal soul and its eternal rewards and punishments, but they steal our belongings, seduce our women, and violate our daughters. Unable to match us in courage, these cowards cover themselves with iron that our weapons cannot break.’”

Hatuey began mobilizing resistance in Cuba, Spanish forces led by Diego Velásquez landed. Among them was Hernán Cortés, who would later lead the conquest of Mexico. Hatuey responded with a strategy of guerrilla warfare, attacking, dispersing into the hills, and regrouping to strike again.

This strategy worked. For three months, Spanish forces were unable to move beyond their stronghold in Baracoa. They were outmaneuvered, uncertain, and afraid.

But eventually, the Spanish launched a full offensive that overwhelmed Hatuey’s forces. He was captured and sentenced to death.

A Final Act of Defiance

In 1512, Hatuey was led to a public execution. Before he was burned at the stake, history tells us that a Franciscan friar offered him salvation through Christianity. He explained that if Hatuey accepted the Christian faith, he could enter heaven.

Hatuey asked if Spaniards also went to heaven. When the friar said yes, Hatuey gave his final answer: he would rather go to hell.

In that single moment, Hatuey exposed the deep hypocrisy of his executioners. His words were not just a rejection of forced conversion—they were a rejection of a system that claimed moral authority while enacting unspeakable violence.

The Legacy of Hatuey

Today, Hatuey is remembered in Cuba as a national hero. A statue in Baracoa honors him. And the story of his execution is portrayed in the Spanish movie También la Lluvia (Even the Rain).

“I think it’s even more powerful than the final scenes of ‘Braveheart’ or ‘Gladiator,’” the The Mysteries of Latin America Podcast says.

“Tambien la Lluvia,” with Hatuey’s lost story, is available on Netflix.

The post ‘If Spaniards Are in Heaven, I’ll Go to Hell’: Hatuey’s Last Stand Against Colonial Rule appeared first on Nuestro Stories.

Jun
4

By

Experience Effortless Focus and Clarity With the TRMNL E Ink Smart Display

Category: YankoDesign

There’s something oddly frustrating about reaching for your phone just to check your calendar or see the weather, only to end up lost in a sea of notifications and unrelated apps. The promise of quick information at a glance quickly dissolves as your attention gets pulled in a dozen different directions. That tiny task can turn into a rabbit hole, leaving you wondering where the last ten minutes went.

TRMNL offers a refreshing take on how we access the little bits of information that keep our days running smoothly. Rather than relying on bright screens or app-filled devices, it quietly sits wherever you need it, showing exactly what you want to see. The 7.5-inch E Ink display keeps things simple, clear, and always visible, without the usual distractions that come with smart devices.

Designer: TRMNL

What makes TRMNL stand out is its open-source approach and thoughtful design choices. The device uses a network of plugins, letting you display anything from your to-do list and calendar to weather and fun daily quotes. Its “Mashups” feature allows multiple widgets to share the screen, and you can even automate what appears throughout the day. For those who like to tinker, instructions are available to build your own hardware or run your own server.

One of the most appealing parts of using E Ink here is its battery life. TRMNL can last anywhere from a couple of months to over a year on a single charge, depending on how often you want it to update. Since the display content is just a static image fetched from the cloud, the device spends most of its time sipping power. The result is a gentle, paper-like screen that doesn’t flicker or glow, and never nags you with alerts.

The focus on simplicity comes with some trade-offs. TRMNL doesn’t allow for touch interaction or quick changes directly on the device. There’s no color, only crisp black and white, and you need to set up content ahead of time using plugins or external tools. The price, starting at $139 for the basic version, places it above many digital photo frames or budget tablets, especially since it serves a very specific purpose.

Still, it’s easy to see why TRMNL is appealing to anyone who craves a calm, always-on dashboard without the digital noise. With a few thoughtful plugins and a bit of setup, it becomes an ambient companion that blends into your space and shifts your focus back to what matters. For those who are tired of battling distractions and simply want their most important information to be quietly present, TRMNL delivers exactly that.

The post Experience Effortless Focus and Clarity With the TRMNL E Ink Smart Display first appeared on Yanko Design.

Jun
4

By

The Next Gaming Revolution: How NVIDIA’s Arm-Powered Laptop Could Rewrite Design Rules

Category: YankoDesign

The gaming laptop landscape has remained relatively stagnant for years, with manufacturers primarily focused on cramming more powerful processors and graphics cards into increasingly bulky chassis. While performance has steadily improved and some designs have indeed gotten slimmer, the fundamental design constraints have persisted: heavy cooling systems, short battery life, and thick profiles that scream “gamer” from across the room.

However, whispers from industry insiders suggest a seismic shift could be approaching. NVIDIA’s rumored partnership with MediaTek to develop an Arm-based gaming processor for Dell’s Alienware brand represents more than just another chip launch. This collaboration could fundamentally reshape how we think about gaming hardware design, potentially ushering in an era of impossibly thin, whisper-quiet gaming machines that rival ultrabooks in portability.

Designer: NVIDIA

Silicon Gambit: NVIDIA’s Bold Entry Into Arm PC Territory

Recent reports indicate NVIDIA is developing its first Arm-based APU specifically for gaming laptops, with Dell’s Alienware division serving as the launch partner. The rumored timeline places this revolutionary chip’s debut in late 2025 or early 2026, with the processor reportedly combining Arm CPU cores with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture in a single, efficient package.

This marks NVIDIA’s most significant departure from traditional gaming hardware since the company’s early days. Unlike previous attempts by other manufacturers to bring Arm processors to Windows gaming, NVIDIA brings something unique to the table: decades of gaming graphics expertise and established relationships with game developers worldwide. Their GeForce Experience ecosystem already connects millions of gamers globally.

Designer: Nintendo

The strategic importance cannot be overstated. NVIDIA already powers gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch, and their GPUs dominate gaming, graphics, and AI workloads across countless systems. Now they have the opportunity to pioneer an entirely new category of gaming devices, potentially blazing a trail that other manufacturers will inevitably follow. The codename “N1/N1x” has surfaced in leaked documents, suggesting NVIDIA has been working on this project for a considerable time. Industry projections suggest NVIDIA expects to ship 3 million of these processors in 2025, scaling to 13 million by 2026.

Dell’s Alienware brand provides the perfect testing ground for such experimental technology. Known for pushing boundaries and commanding premium prices, Alienware customers are typically early adopters willing to pay for cutting-edge features. This partnership allows NVIDIA to gauge market reception before potentially expanding to other manufacturers and more mainstream gaming laptop lines.

Designer: Alienware (Dell)

Efficiency Revolution: Redefining Gaming Hardware Possibilities

The fundamental advantage of Arm architecture lies in its exceptional power efficiency compared to traditional x86 processors from Intel and AMD. Current Arm-powered Windows devices routinely achieve 12+ hours of battery life while maintaining fanless designs, a stark contrast to gaming laptops that typically struggle to reach two hours during intensive gaming sessions. ARM processors consume approximately 33% less power than equivalent x86 solutions in similar workloads, according to some benchmarks.

NVIDIA’s rumored 80-120 watt power envelope for their gaming APU represents a dramatic reduction compared to current high-performance gaming systems. This efficiency gain opens doors to design possibilities that were previously impossible: truly thin gaming laptops that could masquerade as business ultrabooks, eliminating the stigma some professionals face when carrying obviously gaming-focused hardware into corporate environments.

Designer: ASUS Republic of Gamers

The ripple effects extend far beyond laptops. Gaming handhelds currently suffer from severe battery limitations, with devices like the ASUS ROG Ally managing only 1-3 hours of gameplay compared to the Nintendo Switch’s 4-9 hour range. An efficient Arm-based gaming processor could finally deliver the holy grail: console-like performance with all-day battery life in a truly portable form factor.

NVIDIA’s industry influence could accelerate Windows on Arm adoption for gaming applications. While Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X processors have made impressive strides in general computing, gaming compatibility remains limited. NVIDIA’s established relationships with game developers and their DLSS optimization technologies could provide the catalyst needed to convince studios to prioritize Arm-native game development.

Designer: Microsoft

Cool Is The New Hot

The thermal benefits alone could revolutionize gaming laptop design. Reduced heat generation means smaller cooling solutions, freeing internal space for larger batteries or enabling impossibly thin chassis designs. Imagine gaming laptops that operate silently during intensive sessions, perfect for content creators, streamers, or anyone who values a quiet workspace without sacrificing performance. Current gaming laptops often require aggressive fan curves that create distracting noise during important video calls or recordings.

Battery technology improvements compound these advantages. Modern laptop batteries have reached capacity limits within reasonable weight constraints, but Arm efficiency could effectively double usable gaming time without increasing battery size. Alternatively, manufacturers could maintain current battery life while dramatically reducing weight and thickness, creating ultraportable gaming machines that were previously impossible to engineer.

Form, Function, Fashion

Form factor innovation becomes feasible when thermal constraints disappear. Gaming laptops could adopt convertible designs, detachable screens, or even tablet-like configurations while maintaining high performance. The rigid rectangular laptop format has persisted partly due to cooling requirements, but efficient processors open possibilities for more creative and user-friendly designs.

Designer: Razer

Material selection also expands significantly. Current gaming laptops rely heavily on aluminum and plastic for heat dissipation and durability. Lower operating temperatures permit exotic materials like carbon fiber, magnesium alloys, or even premium leather and fabric finishes that would overheat with traditional processors. This could blur the line between gaming hardware and luxury consumer electronics.

The Compatibility Conundrum: Navigating Uncharted Waters

Despite the exciting possibilities, significant challenges loom on the horizon. Current Windows on Arm compatibility remains problematic for gaming, with industry analysis showing that barely 55% of tested PC games run smoothly without bugs or glitches. Popular multiplayer titles like League of Legends, Destiny 2, and Fortnite remain completely unplayable due to anti-cheat software incompatibilities that treat Arm processors as potential security threats.

Software emulation adds another layer of complexity. While Windows on Arm can run x86 applications through Microsoft’s Prism emulation layer, this process consumes additional power and processing resources, potentially negating some of the efficiency advantages that make Arm appealing for gaming applications in the first place. Emulated games often experience performance penalties ranging from 15-30% compared to native execution.

Hardware compatibility presents equally daunting obstacles. Many gaming peripherals, specialized input devices, and even basic hardware like printers and scanners rely on x86-specific drivers that may not function properly on Arm systems. Professional gamers and enthusiasts who depend on specific hardware configurations might find themselves locked out of the Arm ecosystem entirely until manufacturers develop compatible drivers.

The gaming ecosystem extends beyond individual titles to include streaming software, voice chat applications, and content creation tools that professional streamers and content creators depend upon. OBS Studio, Discord, and various capture cards may require significant updates to function properly on Arm systems. This creates a chicken-and-egg problem where adoption remains limited until compatibility improves, but compatibility won’t improve without sufficient market demand.

Anti-cheat systems represent perhaps the most significant barrier to Arm gaming adoption. Popular multiplayer games rely on kernel-level anti-cheat software that must be specifically compiled and optimized for Arm processors. Companies like BattlEye and Easy Anti-Cheat have shown reluctance to support niche platforms, potentially leaving entire game genres inaccessible to Arm users for years after hardware launches.

Legacy game compatibility poses additional concerns for PC gaming enthusiasts who maintain libraries spanning decades. While newer titles might eventually receive Arm-native versions, older games may never be updated, relying permanently on emulation with its associated performance penalties and potential compatibility issues. This threatens the PC platform’s traditional strength in backward compatibility.

Blueprint for Tomorrow: Designing the Impossible

NVIDIA’s Arm gaming initiative represents more than incremental improvement; it offers the potential for fundamental design paradigm shifts. However, success depends on overcoming significant software compatibility hurdles while delivering the performance gamers expect. The technical foundations exist, but execution will determine whether this becomes a revolution or merely an interesting footnote in gaming history.

Designer: MediaTek

The most profound impact may not be in raw performance metrics, but in enabling entirely new categories of gaming devices that weren’t previously feasible. As the industry stands at this crossroads, the choices made in balancing performance, compatibility, and design innovation will shape the next decade of gaming hardware development. Manufacturers are watching NVIDIA’s efforts closely, ready to follow if the experiment succeeds.

Manufacturing implications extend throughout the supply chain. Cooling system suppliers, battery manufacturers, and chassis designers must adapt to radically different thermal and power requirements. This transition could favor smaller, more agile manufacturers over established giants who have optimized their production lines for traditional gaming laptop architectures. Component miniaturization becomes both possible and necessary.

From Trickle to Flood

The competitive landscape could shift dramatically if NVIDIA succeeds. Intel and AMD have dominated gaming processors for decades, but their x86 architectures carry inherent efficiency limitations that Arm designs avoid. A successful NVIDIA Arm-based gaming laptop could force these established players to accelerate their own efficiency improvements or risk losing market share to more innovative competitors.

Consumer expectations will evolve alongside the technology. Current gaming laptop buyers accept short battery life and loud fans as necessary compromises for high performance. Arm-based systems could reset these expectations, making traditional gaming laptops seem obsolete and overly compromised. This psychological shift might prove as important as the technical advantages in driving market adoption.

While the technical challenges are substantial, the design possibilities enabled by efficient Arm-based gaming represent the most significant opportunity for product innovation in the PC gaming space since the introduction of discrete mobile graphics. The question isn’t whether this transition will happen, but whether NVIDIA can execute it successfully enough to realize these design possibilities and convince the broader industry to follow suit.

The post The Next Gaming Revolution: How NVIDIA’s Arm-Powered Laptop Could Rewrite Design Rules first appeared on Yanko Design.

Jun
4

By

Architect Turned Product Designer Develops Countertop Air-to-Water Device That Also Makes Coffee

Category: Core77

Cody Soodeen started out as an architect, but after studying biomimicry, became a product designer instead. Soodeen, who originally hails from Pennsylvania, learned about a bug called the Namibian Desert beetle. Evolved to survive in a harsh, arid environment, the beetle collects water from the air to survive. It angles itself partially upright to capture morning fog. Moisture collects on its bumpy wing surface, eventually forming into droplets that roll down its wings and straight into its mouth.

Image: © Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0

Inspired by the beetle, an obsessed Soodeen spent a decade creating Kara Pure, a freestanding air-to-water device. While its beetle contents are zero, the object uses dessicant technology to absorb water vapor from the air, then sterilizes it, ionizes it, enriches it with minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, lithium, selenium, strontium, and metasilicic acid) and finally passes it through a carbon filter. The result is clean, healthful drinking water.

Soodeen’s company, Kara Water, launched the Kara Pure in 2021. User feedback has been positive, with one persistent complaint from city dwellers: Size. The Kara Pure is over 42″ tall and weighs 71 pounds, a big ask for apartment dwellers. Cost also kept it out of the reach of many, as the asking price was $4,900.

Soodeen subsequently developed this Kara Pod, a more affordable 13-lb object roughly the size of a coffee maker.

For good measure, the more compact Kara Pod not only pulls a gallon of water a day out of the air, but can also brew coffee using Nespresso pods.

The Kara Pod has been successfully Kickstarted, with 28 days left to pledge at press time. Units start at $459 and are expected to ship in October.

Jun
4

By

Engineer Fixes and Re-Installs Old Payphones, Provides Free Calls to the Public

Category: Core77

Payphones “were the only things that were built to last for decades and be out in the elements,” says electrical engineer Patrick Schlott. He should know; as a hobby, he buys secondhand payphones, rewires them, then asks local businesses in rural Vermont if they’d let him install them. His goal is to offer, for free, public telephone service. (Schlott foots the bill himself.)

“It’s assumed most folks own cell phones,” writes Schlott. “Well, not everyone does, sometimes they don’t work out on dirt roads, sometimes you forget your charger, and sometimes you just really need to make a phone call. We aim to provide a valuable public service to the community while teaching people about the US telephone system that has over a century of history behind it.”

Schlott’s company, RandTel, currently operates three phones in his neck of Vermont: One at the North Tunbridge General Store in Tunbridge, one at the Latham Library and a third—a rotary model from the 1950s–at the town of Randolph’s information booth. He’s particularly proud of that last one, as “This installation is 100% solar-powered, provided graciously by Catamount Solar,” he writes. “Many thanks to the White River Valley Chamber of Commerce for hosting!”

Here’s a look at what Schlott does:

Jun
4

By

Iconic Koons Balloon Dog sculptures gets a speaker and lamp version

Category: YankoDesign

Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog sculptures, with their playful form and mirror-polished surfaces, have become instantly recognizable icons of contemporary art. Originally part of his “Celebration” series in the 1990s, these monumental pieces captured the whimsical spirit of childhood and blurred the lines between high art and popular culture. Now, in 2025, the iconic canine takes on new, functional forms, bringing a touch of Koons’ signature aesthetic into everyday living spaces with the Balloon Dog Speaker & Balloon Dog Lamp.

These new devices mark an exciting collaboration with Lexon and The Broad Museum in Los Angeles, a fitting partnership as the latter is an institution that proudly serves as the home to several of Jeff Koons’ original and iconic Balloon Dog artworks. More than simply translating static artistic pieces into functional forms, this officially licensed venture recognizes the pervasive role of technology in our daily routines. By reimagining the Balloon Dog as a speaker and a lamp, two of the most universally utilized items in both domestic and professional settings, Koons’ art transcends the gallery walls to become an integral part of modern life.

Designers: Lexon and The Broad Museum

The Balloon Dog Speaker will have 360 degree sound coming out of the familiar sculptural body. It lets you listen to your favorite songs, podcasts, or audio books while adding a certain aesthetic to your space. There are not a lot of details yet available about the specs of the speaker but based on the initial clips released, there will be touch controls so you will interact with your balloon dog but of course it’s also connected to a smartphone app for easier access.

The Balloon Dog Lamp meanwhile will bring art and ambiance to your space as it has a full spectrum of multicolor LEDs that can be adjusted according to the brightness you need and the colors adjusting to your mood. You can use it to set the mood at night when you’re relaxing, as a light source for when you’re reading a book or journaling, or to slowly come to life as you ease into your morning routine.

The upcoming release of the Balloon Dog Speaker & Lamp in 2025 promises to be a delightful addition to contemporary homes, offering not just sound and light, but a playful touch of art history. Those eager to acquire the Balloon Dog Lamp are encouraged to sign up for pre-order updates to ensure they don’t miss out on this limited-edition fusion of art and innovation.

The post Iconic Koons Balloon Dog sculptures gets a speaker and lamp version first appeared on Yanko Design.

Jun
4

By

naoshima new museum of art by tadao ando opens in japan with major asian survey

Category: Design Boom

naoshima new museum of art by tadao ando welcomes visitors

 

Marking a new chapter in the evolving cultural landscape of Japan’s Setouchi Islands, Tadao Ando’s Naoshima New Museum of Art officially opens its doors. Directed by Miki Akiko, the museum becomes the tenth architectural work by Ando within the Benesse Art Site Naoshima initiative and the first to carry the island’s name (see designboom’s previous coverage here). Situated in the village of Naoshima and built by the Fukutake Foundation, the institution opens with From the Origin to the Future, a sweeping inaugural exhibition featuring major works and new commissions by leading Asian artists and collectives, including Takashi Murakami, Do Ho Suh, and Cai Guo-Qiang. Through immersive installations and deeply site-responsive pieces, the show explores themes of identity, memory, and the relationship between people and place.

Tadao Ando’s Naoshima New Museum of Art officially opens its doors | all images by GION, unless stated otherwise

 

 

concrete, light, and silence sculpt the project

 

Across one above-ground and two subterranean levels, the museum integrates architecture and nature in Ando’s signature vocabulary of concrete, light, and silence. Four gallery spaces radiate from a skylit vertical axis, an open staircase that draws visitors underground while maintaining a connection to sky and sea. Outside, the café terrace overlooks the Seto Inland Sea with views of Teshima Island, while the black plaster and pebble-finished facade recalls vernacular materials of the Honmura area, referencing the burned cedar walls and textures of local village homes.

 

‘It is my belief that the experiences in Naoshima will forever linger in the memories of those who visit the island. The songs we listened to and the works of art we saw in our childhood are never forgotten. I hope that many children will visit Naoshima and be able to feel their senses being stimulated so that they can open up doors to a new world,’ notes the Japanese architect. ‘Such ”moving experiences” have the power to nourish human beings and refine our senses that will in turn lead to more opportunities to be emotionally moved. Naoshima is an island like no other that is filled with such opportunities. For the Naoshima New Museum of Art, I once again endeavored to build a place that cultivates sensibilities and moves people’s hearts.’

the museum becomes the tenth architectural work by Ando within the Benesse Art Site Naoshima initiative

 

 

Takashi Murakami, Do Ho Suh and more shape the inaugural show

 

The opening exhibition spans a wide geographical and generational range, featuring prominent names such as Cai Guo-Qiang, Takashi Murakami, Do Ho Suh, and Heri Dono, alongside emerging and mid-career artists like Martha Atienza, Pannaphan Yodmanee, and the Indonesian duo indieguerillas. Works are installed throughout the museum’s galleries, café, and outdoor zones. Some revisit iconic projects—like Cai Guo-Qiang’s Head On, a dramatic procession of wolves originally shown at the Guggenheim—while others are site-specific pieces created for Naoshima. Do Ho Suh debuts a corridor from a local home within his ongoing Hub series, and N.S. Harsha transforms the museum café into an immersive mural space reflecting the island’s interwoven social and ecological rhythms.

 

The mission of the museum builds on Benesse Art Site Naoshima’s founding concept of ‘well-being’—a vision cultivated over 35 years through the interconnection of nature, architecture, and art. This ethos resonates throughout From the Origin to the Future, which brings together works that question and reaffirm values in a changing world. ‘With the addition of this new museum that mainly focuses on Asian contemporary art and features ”dynamism” by changing exhibitions relative to other museums and art facilities in Benesse Art Site Naoshima, where permanent exhibitions of works by Western and Japanese artists have been dominant so far, we can offer visitors more opportunities to discover increasingly diverse artistic expressions and more reasons to come back,’ shares Miki Akiko. ‘Furthermore, as our first museum that is located within a residential district, the museum seeks to be one that is truly suited for Naoshima, both rooted in local community and open to the world, making us inquire into how we can create a state of harmony between art, architecture, nature, and the community, while always going back to the origin of our activities.’

integrating architecture and nature

the café terrace overlooks the Seto Inland Sea

N.S.Harsha, Happy Married Life, 2025 | image by Takeru Koroda

works are installed throughout the museum’s galleries, café, and outdoor zones

concrete, light, and silence compose the project

Do Ho Suh, Hub/s, Naoshima, Seoul, New York, Horsham, London, Berlin, 2025 | image by Takeru Koroda

exhibition view of Naoshima New Museum of Art Inaugural Exhibition—From the Origin to the Future, 2025 | image by Takeru Koroda

 

project info:

 

name: Naoshima New Museum of Art 

architect: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates

location: Benesse Art Site | @benesse_artsite, Naoshima, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan

total floor area: 3,176.43 sqm

site area: 6,017.67 sqm

 

client / founder: Fukutake Foundation

director: Miki Akiko

 

exhibition: From the Origin to the Future

artists: Aida Makoto, Martha Atienza | @martha.atienza, Cai Guo-Qiang | , Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group, Heri Dono, indieguerillas, Takashi Murakami | @takashipom, N. S. Harsha, Sanitas Pradittasnee, Shitamichi Motoyuki + Jeffrey Lim, Do Ho Suh | @dohosuhstudio, Pannaphan Yodmanee

The post naoshima new museum of art by tadao ando opens in japan with major asian survey appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

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