So, I was in Macau a month and a half ago, walking through all the grand casinos to get to the expo venues where I was attending a trade show. The casinos were decked up in a rather Vegas-like fashion. Glitz, glamor, gold, with a hint of scarlet. You’d see lush green boards with red dice rolling around, and while that looked nice, a month later, I was in a D&D campaign, using similar dice, looking at it and just thinking – these look so out of place with the mythic/mystic/rustic vibe of my game. The reality is, most polyhedral dice are sort of a template – six or more sides, made from either plastic or, if you’re lucky, metal, with really no aesthetic match to the game you’re playing. Enter Prophecy Dice, the latest oddball object to catch the attention of the RPG crowd and, frankly, anyone who loves a slick gadget.

What if dice don’t look like dice? Asked the guys at Dragonstonegaming, who developed the Prophecy Dice – a pocket-watch-shaped gizmo that fits a trigger-activated spinner with a ‘Dice meets Wheel of Fortune’ vibe. The spinner looks like something from an alternate timeline where Victorian-era adventurers carried precision instruments for determining their fates. Press a button, watch the internal mechanism spin, and let the pointer reveal your roll. It carries the ceremonial weight of traditional dice rolling but packages it in a form factor that appeals to the EDC enthusiast in me, but more broadly, really fits the thematic DNA of RPG games. It’s engineered for “balanced and fair” outcomes, which is always the line, but Dragonstone appears to have invested in actual spin-testing and symmetry too.

Designer: Dragonstonegaming

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $118 (42% off) Hurry! Only 150 left of 2300.

The mechanism feels less like rolling dice and more like spinning the Wheel of Fortune, with a tactile immediacy that’s weirdly addictive. You select your die type (d4 through d100, all the classics), line up the internal indicator, and let it rip. The pointer snaps to rest in a window, and boom – you’ve got your roll. The simplicity is deceptive; this is a precision-milled device, not a kitchen timer, and the Kickstarter video shows off the smooth, almost hypnotic spin.

At first glance, this feels like peak EDC gadget territory – the kind of thing that makes you wonder if we really needed to reinvent the humble d20. But dig deeper into the engineering, and there’s actually some thoughtful design philosophy at work here. The all-metal construction addresses one of the biggest complaints about traditional dice: inconsistency. Anyone who’s spent serious time rolling knows that cheap plastic dice can be weighted, chipped, or just plain unreliable. Metal spinners, when properly balanced, eliminate those variables entirely.

The 7-in-1 functionality is where this gets interesting from a UX perspective. Instead of fumbling through a bag of different polyhedrals mid-game, you’re looking at a single device that covers d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and d100. The push-button mechanism feels deliberately analog in our increasingly digital world, giving you that tactile feedback that smartphone dice apps can never replicate. Windows on both sides of the dice let you access the different ‘polyhedra’.

What really sells me on the design is the pocket watch aesthetic. This could have easily been another generic gadget in a plastic housing, but Dragonstone Gaming understood that EDC gear for D&D needs to look the part. The metallic finish and classic proportions mean this actually works as a conversation starter, especially if your game is centered around vintage or steampunk themes. The Dice comes in two styles – one with a storm-summoning witch named Selene Tidecaller, and another with a valiant Knight named Edric Thornsworn. Both designs have the same relief-style carving on the front, back, and sides, making this truly look like something your great-grandfather would hand down to you.

Selene Tidecaller

Edric Thornsworn

The engineering challenges here are more complex than they initially appear. Creating a truly balanced spinner that delivers fair results across seven different dice types requires precise calibration of weight distribution, friction coefficients, and stopping mechanisms. Traditional dice rely on physics and probability over thousands of rolls, but a spinner needs to be mathematically fair on every single use. The fact that they’re claiming “balanced and fair” results suggests they’ve put serious thought into the internal mechanics, though I’d love to see some independent testing data on the actual randomness distribution.

The Kickstarter numbers are, frankly, wild. Prophecy Dice aimed for a modest $2,000 and currently sits north of $340,000 with weeks left to go, over 3,300 backers deep. That’s not just hype, that’s people with dice fatigue looking for something better, or at least different. Tabletop gaming lives and dies by its rituals and accessories, and Prophecy Dice slots perfectly into the EDC arms race: a gadget that feels essential without ever being necessary. The $69 price is what you’d expect for a premium, all-metal, limited-run object, but backers seem happy to pay for novelty that actually works. The campaign is loaded with stretch goals and metallic finishes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if custom engravings show up next.

Although I’m curious to see how it holds up to months of real play. Will the spin wear out? Will the mechanism jam after a few too many critical fails? That’s the risk with any Kickstarter, especially one that blends analog charm with moving parts. However, this isn’t Dragonstonegaming’s first campaign. Their SpinDice from last year also blew past its funding goal, with over 800 backers bringing the project to life. The Prophecy Dice feels like the next iteration, and ships with an optional leather handmade slip case, or a ‘relic’ mount. The Prophecy Dice ships globally starting October 2025.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $118 (42% off) Hurry! Only 150 left of 2300.

The post Gaming Dice turned into Gentleman’s EDC: Meet the 7-in-1 Prophecy Dice Spinner first appeared on Yanko Design.

You’d think the world had run out of challenges for LEGO builders. After all, we’ve seen ‘functional’ lawnmowers, instant-photo Polaroid cameras that spit out LEGO “photos,” and even a ‘working’ rotary phone, all meticulously engineered, all somehow feeling like they’re right at home in the pantheon of LEGO absurdity. Yet, every so often, a builder comes along who ups the ante and rewrites the rules of what counts as “functional.” This time, that crown goes to a Rubik’s Cube, the kind that actually works. Not a blocky facsimile or a fidget toy with half-hearted spin, but a LEGO-built, fully twistable, color-matching, soul-crushing 3×3 Rubik’s Cube that might just be the most precise and satisfying “MOC” (that’s “My Own Creation” for the LEGO uninitiated) you’ll see this season.

Precision is the name of the game with Rubik’s Cubes. Every speedcuber, every fidgeter worth their salt, knows that the difference between a good cube and a mediocre one is measured in microns. A single click or jam, and your whole solve is toast. So making a functioning cube out of LEGO, with its famously not-quite-millimeter-perfect clutch power and those tiny mold-parting lines, feels like tempting fate. Yet here it is, spinning with the kind of smoothness that would make Erno Rubik himself do a double take. The builder, whose project recently surfaced on the LEGO Ideas platform, didn’t just aim for “works in theory.” They built a full-size, color-accurate cube that moves with the same crispness and tactile feedback you expect from a real puzzle.

Designer: Kragle Dog

The mechanism underneath those glossy 3×3 tiles? A clever lattice of LEGO Technic and system bricks, ingeniously stacked and interlocked to mimic the familiar spindle-and-corner arrangement of the original. It’s a feat that takes patience and an obsessive eye for tolerances, because even a fraction of a millimeter’s error can mean the difference between a cube that spins and a cube that simply locks up.

Size-wise, this thing’s a beast. Scale it against a standard Rubik’s Cube, and you’re looking at a puzzle that’s roughly four times the volume of the pocket original, clocking in at 15.6cm or over 6 inches per side. That extra space isn’t wasted, though. It gives the mechanism inside room to breathe and function, letting each axis rotate independently and with minimal play. The outer tiles are color-matched to classic Rubik’s specs, with red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and white plates snapping into place like a proper 80s icon. The result is a cube that looks like it was plucked directly from the world’s nerdiest toy store and dropped onto your desk, ready for a scramble.

“The Rubik’s Cube truly is an iconic toy, shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the LEGO brick,” says LEGO builder Kragle Dog. “So, being a fan of both LEGO bricks and Rubik’s Cube, I decided to try a new challenge and combine those two legendary toys into one epic idea.” The resulting build uses a staggering 2,216 bricks (that’s just the cube, not counting the base or the Rubik minifigure).

What really gets me is how this project manages to bridge the gap between playful creativity and mechanical purism. Most LEGO MOCs err on the side of whimsy, sacrificing accuracy for charm. Here, though, the builder’s gone full engineer, wrangling LEGO’s sometimes-fussy tolerances into something that actually works. That’s no small feat. The prototype reportedly holds together under repeated twists and turns, resisting the kind of catastrophic blowouts that plague less robust builds. There’s sheer genius in how each piece interlocks, trading the usual friction-fit for a system that’s both sturdy and forgiving. It’s the kind of object that makes you want to pick it up, scramble it, and maybe even try to speedsolve just to see if it can keep up. And no, you’re not allowed to use a Brick Separator to ‘solve’ the cube, even though that’s technically possible.

The flex doesn’t stop at the cube itself. The builder included a custom 357-brick display stand, elevating the puzzle into the realm of functional sculpture. There’s even a minifigure of Erno Rubik, the Hungarian architect who kicked off the global cubing craze back in 1974, complete with his signature hair and a tiny cube of his own. It’s a wink at the history and the culture surrounding the puzzle, and a reminder that behind every great invention is a designer obsessed with the details. The stand’s got just enough visual heft to make it a centerpiece on any shelf, while the figure adds a layer of narrative that most LEGO MOCs skip over in favor of pure form.

If you do want to see this project come to life, it just requires you to vote for it on the LEGO Ideas forum – a platform created for LEGO enthusiasts to share unique creations and vote for their favorite builds. We’ve covered hundreds of MOCs at this point, and I for one continue to be surprised by the kind of ingenuity LEGO builders possess, even after covering this beat for over 10 years!

The post This 2216-piece functional LEGO Rubik’s Cube could be the ultimate desk flex first appeared on Yanko Design.

It’s a curious thing, watching luxury watchmakers dip their toes into the world of high-performance vehicles. The precision engineering, the obsession with mechanical perfection, the almost neurotic attention to detail – these traits translate remarkably well from tiny wrist-bound timepieces to roaring machines. Richard Mille, the Swiss brand whose watches routinely command six-figure prices and adorn the wrists of Rafael Nadal and F1 drivers, has now turned its horological expertise toward the asphalt with the RMB01 superbike, created in partnership with legendary British motorcycle manufacturer Brough Superior.

This isn’t Richard Mille’s first venture beyond watchmaking – the brand has previously dabbled in racing partnerships and automotive-inspired timepieces (remember the world’s thinnest mechanical watch with Ferrari in 2022?) – but the RMB01 represents their most ambitious crossover yet. The collaboration makes perfect sense when you think about it: both companies trade in mechanical art that performs at the highest level, both cater to clients who view technical excellence as the ultimate luxury, and both understand that in a digital world, there’s something profoundly appealing about analog mechanical perfection.

Designers: Brough Superior & Richard Mille

The RMB01 itself is a track-focused beast that takes clear design cues from both brands’ DNA. At its heart beats a 997cc V-twin engine that showcases the same philosophy that drives Richard Mille’s skeletonized watch movements. The engine block starts as 352 pounds of aluminum before being precisely machined down to just 50 pounds of essential components. This weight-obsessed approach yields 130 horsepower, which might seem modest by hyperbike standards, but reflects a focus on usable power and mechanical transparency rather than headline-grabbing numbers. The engine casings themselves are works of art, machined from solid blocks of 5000-series aluminum alloy with high magnesium content, exposing the mechanical ballet within.

The chassis follows the same less-is-more philosophy, with a CNC aluminum frame connected to a self-supporting forged carbon exoskeleton. The suspension setup features Brough Superior’s signature Fior-type fork with double wishbone, separating steering from braking forces for exceptional stability through corners. Look closely at the wheels and you’ll notice divided rims that mirror the layered gear trains in a luxury watch movement. Even the speedometer has been reimagined as a mechanical display that would look at home on a Richard Mille timepiece.

Visually, the RMB01 strikes a balance between raw mechanical exposure and sculpted elegance. Available in three finishes (Nocturnal Sapphire, Selene, and Pearl of Speed), the bike features a frosted anthracite grey aerodynamic kit complemented by light grey detailing. Blue accents highlight the cylinder head covers, clutch master cylinder, alternator cover, and shock absorber springs, creating a sophisticated palette that’s unmistakably high-end without being flashy.

Only 150 individually numbered RMB01s will be hand-built in France, with pricing expected to exceed $200,000 per unit. Each represents roughly 18 months of collaborative development between the two companies, resulting in a motorcycle that blurs the line between functional vehicle and mechanical sculpture. For the lucky few who can afford one, the RMB01 offers a unique proposition: the mechanical soul of a Richard Mille watch scaled up to something you can actually ride. Whether on display in a collector’s living room or carving corners on a private track day, it’s a statement piece that demonstrates how the principles of haute horology can be applied to an entirely different mechanical canvas.

The post Richard Mille’s next launch isn’t a Wristwatch… it’s a 130hp Luxury Superbike first appeared on Yanko Design.

As someone who just bought an Apple Watch not too long ago, I can’t begin to tell you what a heaven-sent it is to be able to ‘summon’ your phone through the watch. I’m decently organized, but I do tend to leave my phone, wallet, keys around the house sometimes, and I just wish there was a way to track or summon your wallet the way you would your phone – WITHOUT fitting a godawful AirTag inside it. Sure, there are cards that help you track your wallet too – until you switch from iOS to Android, and then suddenly you need a new tracker. By that metric, Seinxon has accomplished something genuinely clever: creating the first wallet that plays nice with both Apple Find My and Google Find My Device simultaneously. For those of us living in mixed-device households (or who might switch platforms someday), this dual-ecosystem approach solves a real problem rather than creating another walled garden.

The wallet launched at $65 for early backers (34% off the planned $99 retail), which initially seemed steep until you dig into the technical details. Most tracking wallets are essentially leather pouches with a slot for an AirTag or a Chipolo card. The Seinxon integrates both tracking systems natively, eliminating bulk while tapping into Apple’s network of nearly a billion devices and Google’s massive Android ecosystem. Honestly, this is genuinely smart engineering that acknowledges how people actually use technology across multiple platforms and devices.

Designer: Seinxon

Click Here to Buy Now: $65 $99 (34% off) Hurry! Only 14 days left. Raised over $79,000

The tracking capability alone would make this interesting, but Seinxon packed in five additional features without creating a bulky monstrosity. The detachable magnetic cardholder serves double duty as a phone stand, addressing the awkward “prop your phone against a water glass during lunch” problem we’ve all experienced. The magnetic attachment feels substantial in a satisfying, Apple-accessory kind of way – strong enough to stay put but not so powerful that it requires a wrestling match to separate components.

The wallet’s somewhat modular design means you can detach the card holder and have it hooked to your phone, while the bifold remains in your pant pocket. It’s a nice way to separate elements based on where you need them. The card holder, however, has all the tracking tech, so it’s best placed back in the wallet when you’re not using its phone-stand feature.

The built-in NFC business card functionality transforms the wallet from passive storage into an active networking tool. Tap your wallet against someone’s phone, and your contact details transfer instantly. This feature has existed in various forms for years, but integration into something you already carry eliminates the need for yet another gadget. The implementation here matters – the NFC chip remains powered even when the wallet battery runs low, ensuring your digital business card works even if tracking temporarily doesn’t.

This might be the first wallet with an IP rating, but it doesn’t hurt that the Seinxon Trackable Wallet+ is IP68 certified. This specification means the wallet can survive submersion in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes – plenty of protection for rain, spills, or the occasional accidental washing machine trip. Achieving this level of water resistance with multiple electronic components requires careful gasket design and material selection. The company apparently tested prototypes through 200 submersion cycles to validate the waterproofing claims. It just means the wallet’s durable against water and splashes, I don’t recommend jumping into a pool with it.

Battery life typically becomes the Achilles heel of smart accessories, especially those running multiple radios. Seinxon addressed this potential weakness by incorporating wireless charging, eliminating fiddly ports that could compromise waterproofing. The Qi-compatible charging coil works with standard charging pads, though the company recommends their own charging mat for optimal alignment. According to their testing data, a full charge powers the wallet for approximately three weeks of normal use. The battery itself is a custom 400mAh lithium polymer cell rated for 500+ charge cycles before capacity degradation becomes even slightly noticeable.

The physical design balances tech integration with wallet fundamentals. At just 14mm thin, it maintains a reasonably slim profile while accommodating up to eight cards plus cash. The exterior uses vegetable-tanned leather from an Italian tannery that meets environmental certification standards, while also boasting RFID-blocking features that prevent your cards from digital theft and unwarranted scanning. The stitching pattern cleverly conceals antenna placement while maintaining signal strength, showing attention to both aesthetics and functionality.

The interface handles both Apple and Google tracking setups through a unified process rather than forcing users through separate workflows. Location history, battery status, and NFC card customization all live within a clean interface that doesn’t require a computer science degree to navigate. The company promises three years of software updates, addressing the common concern that crowdfunded products become abandonware shortly after delivery.

The Seinxon Trackable Wallet+ represents what crowdfunding platforms do best: enabling innovative solutions that larger companies overlook because they’re too invested in their ecosystems. By bridging the Apple-Google divide while adding genuinely useful features, Seinxon has created something that solves actual problems rather than inventing new ones. The wallet starts at a rather impressive $65, which definitely undercuts most wallets, let alone paying for a wallet, a phone stand, an AirTag, and an Android tracker. The 6-in-1 Seinxon Trackable Wallet+ ships globally starting July 2025.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65 $99 (34% off) Hurry! Only 14 days left. Raised over $79,000

The post Why this Android + Apple Trackable Wallet Could Change Your EDC Game Forever first appeared on Yanko Design.

The clacking of marbles against plastic, the agonizing wait as your ball teeters on the edge of a trap, the trash talk between friends gathered around a tabletop game. Remember that? The “Tricky Traps” LEGO Ideas project bottled that exact feeling, transporting us back to the days when entertainment didn’t require a charging cable. Created by LEGO enthusiasts BRICKUP and JodyPad, this 600-piece recreation of the classic 80s Tomy game has already captured over 1,000 supporters on the LEGO Ideas platform. Nostalgia sells, but this project goes beyond mere sentimentality. The creators have meticulously designed each piece to function exactly like the original, resulting in a LEGO set you’ll actually play with long after building it.

I’ve always had a soft spot for LEGO sets that do something after you’ve snapped the last brick into place. The company has quietly built an impressive portfolio of interactive builds over the years. The playable chess sets let you stage epic battles between minifigures. The LEGO Mario sets transform your living room floor into a real-world platformer with electronic sensors and sound effects. Even the Ideas Maze set from 2016 brought genuine gameplay to the LEGO experience, with a tilting labyrinth that challenged your steady hand. “Tricky Traps” continues this tradition, blending the satisfaction of construction with the thrill of competition.

Designers: BRICKUP & JodyPad

The original Tricky Traps captured 80s kids’ hearts with its devilish obstacle course for marbles. Players navigated through moving platforms, sudden drops, and precarious pathways, all while racing against opponents and the clock. This LEGO recreation maintains that essence while adding the unmistakable texture of brick-built design. Each of the approximately 600 pieces serves a purpose, creating a 1:1 scale model that doubles as a fully functional game. The designers incorporated Technic elements to recreate the motorized aspects of the original, ensuring that this isn’t just a static display piece. The attention to mechanical detail shows a deep understanding of both LEGO engineering and what made the original game so addictive.

LEGO shines brightest when it pushes beyond static models. The grand piano that actually plays, the Nintendo Entertainment System with its scrolling TV screen, the functioning typewriter with its satisfying key action. “Tricky Traps” belongs in this category of builds that reward you twice: first during construction, then every time you play with it. For a generation raised on instant digital gratification, there’s something revolutionary about a toy that demands patience, skill, and physical presence. If this set makes it through the LEGO review process, expect to see adults hogging it at family gatherings, reliving their youth one marble at a time, while introducing a new generation to the analog joys of mechanical gaming.

The project still has 589 days to gather the 5,000 supporters needed to reach the next review milestone, but its early momentum suggests a hunger for tactile, interactive play experiences. With enough support, it could potentially become a retail box set that all of us can assemble and play with. If you want to see that happen, i.e., if you love tactile games over doomscrolling displays, go ahead and give the Tricky Traps your vote on the LEGO Ideas website here!

The post LEGO’s ‘Tricky Traps’ Promises a Hands-On Experience That Will Captivate All Ages first appeared on Yanko Design.

Few cinematic antiheros have captured our collective techno-anxiety quite like the T-800 Terminator. That chrome skull with piercing red eyes has haunted our dreams since 1984 when Arnold first uttered those now-legendary words: “I’ll be back.” Four decades later, the endoskeleton design remains a masterclass in mechanical menace, a perfect fusion of human anatomy and cold machine precision. The exposed pistons, hydraulic jaw detail, and that unwavering death stare somehow manage to be both familiar and utterly alien. James Cameron’s creation tapped into something primal about our relationship with technology – the fear that one day our creations might look back at us with those same emotionless eyes.

Now that iconic design has found a brilliantly practical new purpose on your desktop. Someone has finally answered the question nobody thought to ask: what if the relentless killing machine from the future could hold your Sennheisers? The result is this meticulously crafted 3D-printed Terminator Endoskeleton Headphone Stand, and I’m absolutely here for this unexpected fusion of 80s sci-fi nostalgia and modern desktop organization. Standing at approximately 8.5 inches tall, this menacing little skull transforms the mundane act of storing your headphones into something with far more cult weight than your minimalist wood or metal stand. Etsy seller by the name of ‘ProperCrafts’ offers it in two finishes, and judging by the photos, both capture the weathered metallic sheen that made the original so compelling.

Designer: ProperCrafts

The true showstopper here is undoubtedly the glowing red LED eyes, powered via USB. They cast an ominous glow across your desk that hits the perfect balance between practical lighting and nostalgic fan service. The lights activate when plugged in, bathing your workspace in that signature Skynet red that instantly communicates “cybernetic organism” rather than “plastic headphone stand.” This feature transforms what could have been a simple novelty into something genuinely atmospheric. The wiring is cleverly concealed within the stand itself, maintaining the clean aesthetic while providing that essential touch of authenticity.

The side of the cranium features detailed mechanical elements that would make Industrial Light & Magic’s original model makers nod in approval. Even the base has been thoughtfully designed with enough stability to prevent toppling when supporting even the heaviest audiophile-grade headphones.

For the 3D printing enthusiasts looking to take this piece to the next level, an acetone bath can smooth out the visible layer lines for an even more screen-accurate finish. Fair warning, though: this finishing technique requires significant experience with 3D printing materials and can easily ruin the entire piece if performed incorrectly. The standard finish looks fantastic out of the box, so novices should resist the urge to experiment unless they’re comfortable potentially sacrificing their new cybernetic desktop companion to the gods of DIY finishing. A little masking, a little spray paint, and you can actually turn this plastic piece into a shimmering chrome skull that should have the average mother fervently whispering “Santa Maria” every time she enters your room.

While modern CGI has given us more elaborate killer robots, nothing has quite replaced the primal fear of that chrome skull with glowing red eyes. Priced between $121-151 depending on finish options, it’s on the expensive side for sure, but feels reasonable once you consider that it also serves as a detailed movie prop with a fair bit of functionality (just like this Sauron headphone stand). For anyone who grew up watching the Terminator films or simply appreciates retrofuturistic design, this headphone stand delivers both nostalgia and utility in equal measure. Your headphones finally have a resting place worthy of Judgment Day.

The post This Terminator T-800 Headphone Stand Is A Must-Have for Sci-Fi Audiophiles first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remember the entire Oscars debacle when La La Land was accidentally announced as the Best Picture winner when the award actually belonged to Moonlight? Remember when the design of the announcement card leaked online and the entire internet agreed that the layout was RIDDLED with readability errors? Or maybe you remember the time a Citibank employee accidentally transferred $900 million to the creditors of Revlon instead of paying the actual $7.8 million? The review of the banking dashboard’s graphic design exposed how bad design is often MUCH costlier than good design, given the severe impact it can have on societies.

Cut to the year 2025, and to the world’s third-richest man’s wedding invite: Bezos is marrying his long-time girlfriend Lauren Sanchez in Venice, and a leak of the wedding invite just shows how little the world’s elite think about design in general. The card, which looks like it was pulled from an MS Word template in the 90s, has the least creative design I’ve seen as a 34-year-old man who’s attended enough weddings in his life to know what a good invite looks like. At YD, we usually credit the designers, but this might be the first time I’m choosing not to. Not because I don’t know who designed the card, but because this is one of those rare occasions where we talk about the ‘lack of design’ rather than the presence of it.

Image Credits: Jeff Bezos

It’s estimated that Bezos and Sanchez are spending around $56 million on their wedding (although rumors in December indicated ‘falsely’ at a $600 million spend). It’s safe to say that even with a conservative budget of 1/10th that amount, Bezos could put together a much better invite. So what’s wrong with the invite’s design? Let’s get a little technical.

We start with the most obvious lack of any actual information. Sure, Bezos has a lot of name recognition, but does it hurt to put your name on your own wedding invite? Maybe a date too? These seem much more crucial to the invite than perhaps a dress code, or even a location (considering Bezos apparently rented ‘most of Venice’ for the nuptials). The lack of any identifying information really steals the credibility of the invite. More so, the word ‘WEDDING’ seems to be missing from the entire text, too. Strange…

As for the graphical layout itself, it lacks any sort of character or panache. Text in the center, with haphazard stickers on the outside that look like they came in a free PNG pack. Gondolas, feathers, birds, butterflies, all hideously generic pieces of clip art that only an 8-year-old would use. Centrally aligned text in that italic font is difficult to read too, and with just the words UNESCO and CORILA in bold, it really undercuts what the invite is all about – a wedding. And sure, one could argue that a wedding invite hardly has the same impact as accidentally announcing the wrong winner at the Oscars, or sinking hundreds of millions of dollars because of human error… but it’s the attitude towards good design that’s the problem. Fix that and you fix culture.

But hey, the invite literally has the entire design community talking… and that’s what’s so horrendously powerful about bad design – or polarizing design too. It spreads like wildfire, doing a far better job than good design at acquiring more eyeballs. I assume that’s probably why Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket looks the way it does too…

The post Jeff Bezos’ Wedding Invite Looks Worse Than An 8-Year Old’s Scrapbook first appeared on Yanko Design.

Most good projects die by a rough cut. You print a crisp lattice, reach for the hobby knife, and five seconds later, there is a gouge exactly on the outer surface – a part that’s easily visible. That small heartbreak is what HOZO Design set out to delete with NeoBlade, a cordless cutter that trades brute force for forty-thousand-times-per-second ultrasonic finesse. The idea is simple: let vibration slice through projects with the perfection of a knife through room-temperature butter.

NeoBlade looks and feels like a chunky marker that fits perfectly into your grip. Battery clicks into the tail, blade peeks from the nose, and the whole tool tips the scale at 6.4 ounces, so even a long session of trimming support material will not sprain a wrist. Press the trigger gently, and Precision mode fires in quick bursts, perfect for knocking a single nub off a resin mini. Pull past the detent, and Continuous mode hums until you let go, turning foam board or acrylic sheet into respectful, silent ribbons. A perfect gizmo for finishing touches on all your projects.

Designer: HOZO Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $99 $149 (33% off). Hurry, only 90/800 left! Raised over $619,000.

Forty kilohertz of motion means the edge never drags long enough to melt plastic or splinter wood. Instead, it slips forward under light pressure, one microscopic slice after another, leaving a glassy face that looks almost molded. A smart driver reads resistance on the fly and feeds anywhere from nine to forty watts to the actuator, so switching from soft PLA to stubborn ABS feels seamless. There is no temperature dial to chase, no speed knob, no guesswork.

Keeping the tip cool is the job of a tiny turbofan buried in the barrel. Air enters through side vents, slides across the metal core, and exits behind your hand, dropping blade temperature far below the scorch line of common filaments. The handle stays comfortable, the cut stays clean, and warping never starts. Two bright LEDs flank the blade to fill shadows that magnify mistakes, a small but welcome nod to late-night builds.

HOZO ships six blade profiles in snap-forward cartridges. A 30-degree spear handles everyday trimming, a longer spear dives deeper stock, a curved slice glides through vinyl and leather, a twin-edge scores parallel grooves, and two chisel tips tackle carving and cleanup. Used blades press into a one-way slot on the cartridge, so they retire safely instead of migrating to a drawer where future you will forget they exist. The tool cap hides a stubby driver and a magnet that holds the fresh blade steady while you line up the tang, a little UX grace that feels earned on a cluttered bench.

Changing the Battery

The NeoBlade Creator Combo includes the TurboDock, an extra Battery Pack, and a set of trial blades

Cordless convenience lives or dies by downtime, so NeoBlade ships with an optional TurboDock that charges the handle and a spare cell in about thirty minutes. Slide one battery out, slide the other in, twist, and you are back to slicing before the printer’s next layer cures. Makers on a tighter budget can rely on the USB-C port in the grip, though that route parks the cutter for an hour or more. Early Kickstarter pledges locked in the full kit for $99 USD, a tidy slice off the planned $149 retail tag. The Creator Combo (priced at a discounted $149) packs the NeoBlade, a TurboDock, an extra battery, and a spare blade trial kit with 6 blades.

But don’t confuse this with one of those cheap cutters on Amazon or that soldering iron that you also use to burn off imperfections in 3D prints. Because the edge oscillates instead of tearing, you avoid the fuzzy bead that hot-wire cutters leave in foam and the ragged fringe delivered by abrasive wheels. Clean edges mean less post-processing, which in turn means more time for tuning the slicer profile or experimenting with paint. Model makers, cosplay armor builders, prop shops, even electronics hobbyists who need to notch an enclosure without filling the room with ABS dust will notice the difference on day one.

NeoBlade lands at a sweet spot between pocketable craft knives and industrial ultrasonic stations that never leave a lab. It gives hobbyists, cosplay armor fabricators, prop builders, and small-batch product designers a push-button guarantee of clean edges and repeatable results. By making ultrasonic cutting as casual as clicking a pen, HOZO turns the most stressful step of fabrication into the easiest. Projects move forward, sanding blocks stay clean, and the next big idea arrives sooner because the last one didn’t stall at the trimming stage.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99 $149 (33% off). Hurry, only 90/800 left! Raised over $619,000.

The post RIP Hobby Knives. The $99 NeoBlade carves through foam and acrylic with ultrasonic precision first appeared on Yanko Design.

For a company that single-handedly revived transparent tech, the Headphones (1) have absolutely no transparency in their design. If you saw this video dated a month or so ago, it was Nothing literally confirming that they were due to debut their first over-ears. The internet’s been asking for Nothing to build AirPods Max ‘killers’ for a while, and it seems like Carl Pei finally had his cards in place to make this play…

However, images from a private preview earlier last week showed what the headphones looked like – and the internet has thoughts. A lot of people on Reddit can’t help notice the odd shape, commenting on how it looks different from what they expected… and that’s a good thing. Subverting expectations is great if you can create a design that’s somehow received more positively than the consumer’s expectations. The problem is that Nothing’s ardent fan base now always has the highest expectations. And as a fan, I did too.

Designer: Monica Bhyrappa

Call me pedantic, but Nothing’s entire design DNA was transparency. Whether it was the earbuds or the phones, there was always an element of ‘see-through’ in their tech. Not so much in the phones, given how densely components are packed inside, but the Ear (1), Ear (a), and Ear (open) all had a transparent outer housing that let you peer into the electronics below. While the ‘alleged’ Headphones (1) do have a transparent shell, the design is FAR from actually transparent. In fact, it’s entirely opaque, except for one can-hugging outer shell that doesn’t really let you ‘peer into the headphones.’

That’s when I stumbled upon the ‘Spectrum’ headphones by Monica Bhyrappa. These phones were especially designed for wearers with autism, allowing them to experience less sensory load as compared to other humans. Autistic people experience the world very differently, and an overload of sensory input can easily overwhelm them. The Spectrum are a specially-tuned pair of noise-canceling headphones designed to phase out too many noises, allowing wearers to focus on audio that actually matters.

The design brief is spectacular, and I’m all for accessible tech, but I couldn’t help but also notice one of Monica’s concept renders, which featured a set of transparent cans… and the second I saw them, I knew exactly what I wanted the Nothing Headphones (1) to look like.

Nothing’s ethos is broadly to make tech fun again – not through awkward shapes, but through an eye-catching design that boasts transparency. You have a broader appreciation for tech if you know what’s inside it, or at least that’s what I personally believe. Beats by Dre had this entire scandal following a teardown that revealed metal cubes inside the headphones, added with zero purpose other than to make them feel ‘heavier’ and therefore ‘premium’. Nothing’s transparent tech was supposed to be an open challenge to that.

Are the upcoming Headphones (1) ‘fun’? I’m sure there’s a set of people who love the design, and a set of people who think it’s funky, but not specifically for them. That isn’t the point I’m trying to make. What I personally wish is that the headphones adopted the ‘transparency’ design direction more aggressively. Headphones aren’t like phones. They’re thicker, have more air gaps to allow for vibrating components and air-based resonance. This inherently allows for headphones to have a lot of empty space on the inside – empty space that is PERFECT for beautifully showcasing through transparency.

No, I don’t want glyphs on my headphones. But I do wish they looked a little different. I wish they championed transparency more than they currently are… because let’s not deny that Monica Bhyrappa’s Spectrum headphones do look absolutely gorgeous!

The post Here’s the Nothing Headphones (1) we wish existed instead first appeared on Yanko Design.

There was a time when listening to an album meant more than tapping a screen. You’d open a case, slide in a disc, and sit with the music from start to finish. The ClearFrame CD Player revives that experience not with nostalgia, but with intent. It doesn’t just play your albums. It exhibits them.

Set behind a crystal-clear shell, the disc spins like a sculpture in motion. Your album art, once forgotten in a drawer or buried on Spotify, now floats on your wall or desk like a curated gallery piece.

In an era of algorithmic playlists and invisible files, ClearFrame is a reminder that presence still matters.

The Player That Reframed My Daily Routine

At first, I thought it was just a beautiful object—something I’d admire occasionally, maybe play once a week. But within days, ClearFrame had reshaped my habits. It became my morning ritual companion, my afternoon focus anchor, and surprisingly, my way of rediscovering albums I forgot I loved.

• Plays full albums while I cook or read
• Loops a single track to help me write
• Turns guests into curious onlookers who ask, “Wait… is that a CD player?”

There’s a strange power in seeing your music—watching the disc spin, the LED glow, the cover art behind the clear face. Suddenly, sound becomes sculpture.

Designed to Display, Built to Play

• Transparent Polycarbonate Shell
  The album becomes the focal point—protected but never hidden.
• Visible Circuit Board
  Honest engineering that feels like part of the design, not a secret.
• Floating Disc Mechanism
  Smooth motion + warm LED lighting gives each playback a ritualistic calm.
• Wall-mountable or Desktop-friendly
  Display like a photo frame or place beside your speaker setup.
• Bluetooth 5.1 + Headphone Jack
  Stream wirelessly or go classic with a plug-in.
• USB-C charging + 7–8 hour Battery.
  Portable enough to carry room to room.
• Multiple playback modes
  Loop a track, let the album ride, or pause for silence.

ClearFrame isn’t trying to be “smart.” It’s trying to be present, and in doing so, becomes more essential.

Why Physical Still Wins

The more digital our lives become, the more we crave something real, something to touch, see, and return to. ClearFrame doesn’t replace streaming. It offers an alternative state of mind.

You choose an album. You see it. You hear it all the way through. No shuffling. No ads. No interruptions.

It’s a gentle confrontation with the way we consume music today, and a subtle push to slow down, look up, and listen better.

Design That Reflects Discipline

ClearFrame’s visual simplicity hides a surprising depth of thought.

It was developed by a Tokyo-based team known for merging tech with clarity, removing friction, not adding features. Every detail—the sharp edges, the floating CD, the matte circuit board—was chosen to showcase music as something worth displaying.

It doesn’t shout. It just sits there, spinning, glowing, doing one thing well. That’s the power of restraint.

Who It’s For

• Design Enthusiasts
  A daily-use object that elevates your space and sparks conversation.
• Music Lovers Rediscovering the Physical
  ClearFrame transforms forgotten CDs into something worth revisiting.
• Minimalists & Analog Fans
  No apps. No updates. No distractions. Just the disc, the art, and you.

A Living Album Cover for Everyday Life

What would your favorite album look like framed in motion? Imagine a desk that becomes a music gallery. A bedroom wall that reflects your taste—literally. ClearFrame doesn’t just play music. It turns your albums into an ongoing exhibition.

It’s not about going back in time. It’s about bringing what mattered back into view.

Not just a CD player, but a daily reminder that music deserves your full attention. ClearFrame is available now for $199.

The post This Transparent CD Player Turns Your Albums Into Art, And Makes Streaming Feel Soulless first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remember when musical instruments were simply tools for creating sound? That era is rapidly disappearing as technology transforms our relationship with music. The E-Zither by Jade Inno exemplifies this evolution, taking the traditional Chinese guzheng (a 2,500-year-old zither) and catapulting it into the 21st century with a design that would make Dieter Rams nod in approval. The swooping streamline structure and undulating surface create a sculptural silhouette that appears to float before the performer, simultaneously honoring traditional imagery while completely redefining its expression. What makes this concept particularly fascinating is how it manages to blend technological innovation with cultural preservation, something we rarely see executed with such thoughtful precision.

This isn’t some half-baked concept destined for perpetual “coming soon” status either. Jade Inno has already completed small-scale trial production and plans to release the E-Zither in the Chinese market first. The instrument represents the first implementation of the brand’s new design language, establishing a visual and structural framework for future products. Its sleek, minimalist aesthetic disguises a wealth of functionality that transforms the traditional playing experience. The crystal zither pegs add both visual elegance and practical lightness, while the acoustically optimized perforation pattern underneath enhances sound diffusion for a more immersive tonal experience. Each design element serves both form and function, creating a cohesive whole that feels simultaneously familiar and revolutionary.

Designers: Qi Liu & Ou Sheng

Under its elegant exterior, the E-Zither packs serious technological muscle. The instrument integrates 12 distinct functions including a tuner, drum machine, wireless microphone, Bluetooth speaker, and dynamic atmosphere lighting. Eight built-in high-fidelity speaker units deliver 300W peak power, while an NXP DSP chip with acoustic master tuning technology ensures pristine sound reproduction.

The one-key switching between eight different tones allows for unprecedented versatility, giving musicians the ability to shift sonic palettes instantly. That circular control knob isn’t just pretty either; crafted from CNC anodized aluminum with a fine matte finish, it houses controls for tone switching, volume adjustment, and Bluetooth pairing. The 360° dynamic surround lighting system moves with the music, creating what the company calls a “4D immersive experience” that extends beyond mere sound.

The practical considerations are equally impressive. Lightweight, detachable legs make assembly, transport, and storage remarkably straightforward, addressing a common pain point for traditional guzheng players who struggle with the instrument’s typical bulk and weight. This adaptability makes the E-Zither equally suitable for professional stage performances and teaching environments.

The dual-purpose nature of the instrument as both a professional musical tool and entertainment device opens it to a broader audience than traditional zithers could ever reach. For musicians looking to bridge ancient tradition with modern capability, this electronic guzheng offers a compelling vision of how cultural instruments can evolve without losing their soul. I’ll be watching closely to see if Jade Inno can successfully bring this striking concept to global markets after its initial Chinese release.

The post This E-Zither turns the ancient Chinese Guzheng into a 300W Bluetooth Shred-Machine first appeared on Yanko Design.

We’ve all been there – stranded in a parking lot with a dead car battery, frantically calling for help while your phone battery dwindles to single digits. It’s a modern catch-22 that perfectly captures our dependence on technology. Your car needs electricity to start, your phone needs power to call for help, and you’re stuck in the middle with neither.

The GOOLOO GP4000 jump starter elegantly solves this dual-crisis scenario with a device that’s essentially two lifelines in one compact package. This multifunctional powerhouse doesn’t compromise on either function, delivering serious jump-starting capability alongside substantial power bank functionality. In a world where most multi-function gadgets typically excel at one feature while merely tolerating the other, the GP4000 stands out by refusing to make that trade-off.

Designer: GOOLOO

Click Here to Buy Now

The specs here are genuinely impressive for what might become one of the essential emergency gadgets for modern drivers. Packing a mighty 4000A peak current, this device can breathe life into all gasoline engines and diesel engines up to a massive 10.0L displacement. That covers everything from your neighbor’s compact Civic to your uncle’s heavy-duty F-250. The portable power station operates in temperatures ranging from a frigid -4°F to a scorching 140°F, making it reliable in virtually any climate you might encounter. A single charge provides enough juice for approximately 60 jump starts, which, unless you’re operating an absolute rust-bucket, should last you quite some time. The rugged construction features reinforced corners that can withstand the inevitable drops and bumps that come with roadside emergencies. The built-in LED flashlight becomes even more essential, especially when you’re fumbling with jumper cables in the dark. Different modes support regular, strobe, or SOS blinking patterns, making this a practical must-have for every car owner.

On the power bank side, the 24,000mAh capacity rivals dedicated premium power banks on the market, making this one of the most versatile tech essentials for drivers who demand reliable backup power. The charging arsenal includes dual USB ports and a USB-C port, allowing you to simultaneously charge multiple devices. This capacity translates to roughly 10 full charges for an iPhone or 6 for a Samsung Galaxy device. The inclusion of fast-charging technology means your devices get back to full power quickly, which is particularly valuable during emergencies. The LED indication display provides clear information about remaining battery life, preventing any unwelcome surprises when you need power most. While many multifunctional devices skimp on secondary features, GOOLOO has implemented 10 different safety protections, including overcurrent, short circuit, and overcharge prevention for both the jump starter and charging functions.

What’s particularly interesting is how GOOLOO has managed to pack this innovative emergency tech into a form factor that remains genuinely portable. At 8.97 × 3.92 × 1.49 inches, it’s certainly larger than your pocket-sized power bank, but still compact enough to store in a glove compartment or trunk without sacrificing valuable space. The ergonomic handle design makes it easy to grip even with gloves on during winter emergencies. The bright orange accents serve both aesthetic and practical purposes, making the device easy to spot in a cluttered trunk or at night.

For tech enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike, the GP4000 represents a compelling convergence of emergency preparedness and daily utility that could easily earn a spot among the best-designed portable jump starters available today. The GP4000 eliminates the need to carry separate devices for different power emergencies, streamlining your emergency kit while actually improving functionality. It also saves you a crisis call to AAA. The power bank ships along with detachable jumper cables, as well as a nifty hard-shell carrying case.

Click Here to Buy Now

The post This multi-functional 24,000mAh Power Bank can also jump-start your Car first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remember when you’d spend hours tapping your phone screen, deploying sunflowers and peashooters to hold back the endless tide of the undead? Plants vs Zombies was a 2009-10 cultural phenomenon that turned lawn defense into an obsession for hundreds of millions of players. That quirky tower defense title with its adorable plants and dopey zombies somehow managed to hook everyone from hardcore gamers to grandparents who’d never touched a game before. Now, a decade after we all collectively worried about zombies eating our brains, LEGO Ideas has unveiled a pitch-perfect brick recreation that captures the essence of PopCap’s masterpiece in 1100 meticulously arranged pieces.

First off, translating a digital game to physical LEGO form is tricky business, but this set absolutely nails it. The designer has recreated that iconic suburban battlefield with the precision of someone who clearly spent way too many hours (like the rest of us) strategically placing cherry bombs and potato mines. The layout is instantly recognizable: a neatly gridded front lawn, the modest little house with its characteristic roof, and of course, the stars of the show – those plucky plants and brain-hungry zombies, all rendered in brick form that somehow preserves their cartoonish charm while working within LEGO’s geometric constraints.

Designer: KrafftPunk

The front lawn unfolds in a neat grid of various green plates, lightly studded to anchor eight distinct brick-built plant figures. Closest to the house, a row of potato mines – each built from black clips and red round tiles – bleeds into neatly clipped hedges of sunflowers. Their smiling yellow heads perch on layered leaf elements. Next come two rows of shooters: bright green Peashooters flank two icy-blue Snow Pea models, each barrel perched on a stacked-tile stalk. A chomper with a bulbous purple head and hinged jaw snaps open among them. Two walnut figures, carved from angled bricks into squat, worried eyes, guard the final lane beside a white picket fence.

The plant lineup is a greatest hits collection that would make any PvZ veteran smile. The Peashooter’s signature green head has been captured with surprising nuance using just a handful of pieces. The Sunflower beams with that same dopey optimism that made it the backbone of every successful defense strategy. Wall-nut’s worried expression somehow translates perfectly to LEGO form, complete with those anxious eyebrows that always made you feel a little guilty about putting him in harm’s way. The Snow Pea, Cherry Bomb, and Potato Mine round out the plant defenders, each one immediately recognizable despite their miniature size and blocky construction.

On the zombie side, the roster’s a little limited, but it’s still enough to really seal the deal. The minifigures are tweaked to go from your happy yellow beings to olive-green zombies with their signature expressions, gangly teeth, and ripped clothes – all created through mere decals. One of the zombies even holds the brains flag, officially representing the offensive side of the game.

The lawn grid is (to a degree) functionally playable. Plants and zombies can be positioned and moved across the battlefield, essentially turning the set into a physical version of the game. You could absolutely use this as a tabletop strategy game, moving zombies forward one space per turn while the plants defend their territory. The modular design allows for endless reconfigurations, letting you recreate your favorite defensive layouts or experiment with new strategies that would never work in the actual game. I’m already imagining house rules for a competitive two-player version where one person controls plants and the other zombies.

This set represents LEGO at its finest – taking something beloved from pop culture and transforming it into an interactive brick experience that works on multiple levels. For the casual fan, it’s a nostalgic nod to a game that ate up countless hours of their life. For serious LEGO collectors, it’s a display piece filled with clever building techniques and character designs. And for those who want to actually play with their LEGO (imagine that!), it’s a physical board game that captures the strategic essence of its digital inspiration. But first, the set needs to make it through the LEGO Ideas voting cycle… although with over 4,700 votes, it’s well on its way to hitting the 10k mark that will then send it to LEGO’s internal team to review whether it fits well into LEGO’s box-set collection. If you want to see that happen, go ahead and cast a vote for the Plants vs. Zombies build on the LEGO Ideas website here!

The post Iconic Plants vs Zombies game gets revived with this Playable 1,100-brick LEGO set first appeared on Yanko Design.

I’ve seen a lot of transparent tech in my day, but this Sony Walkman-meets-Blade Runner recorder is the kind of object that makes me want to empty my wallet immediately while simultaneously wondering if I’ve wandered into some alternate timeline where tech actually looks cool again. The transparent cassette recorder concept perfectly captures that rare intersection of nostalgia and futurism that’s currently dominating design circles. While Nothing’s transparent earbuds and phones have been teasing us with glimpses of circuitry for years, this concept goes full exhibitionist with its mechanics, letting you watch those gears and rollers work their analog magic through crystal-clear housing. The device is unapologetically retro-futuristic, combining the tactile satisfaction of physical media with the aesthetic of something you’d find in Ghost in the Shell.

The execution here is particularly striking because it doesn’t just slap a clear case on old tech and call it a day. The top-mounted mechanical elements with their perfectly visible gear systems remind me of luxury watches, where the movement becomes the centerpiece. That digital display nestled among analog components creates a delicious tension between old and new technologies. The pixel-perfect UI elements visible through the clear housing suggest this isn’t just a dumb playback device but something with computational intelligence. Those tiny control buttons along the top edge look deliberately reminiscent of 80s Sony recorders, hitting that sweet spot between tactile satisfaction and miniaturization.

Designer: M Fresnel

Whoever designed this clearly understands why cassettes are having their second (or is it third?) cultural moment. Vinyl’s comeback was about sound quality and large-format art, but cassettes? They’re about the mechanical ritual, the satisfying click when you press record, and watching the spools turn. This concept leans hard into that physical experience by making it visual as well as tactile. The industrial design shows remarkable restraint, too – the corners are precisely chamfered, the proportions maintain that perfect handheld dictaphone form factor (roughly 4×2.5 inches if I had to guess), and there’s just enough technical detailing to give it character without veering into gaudy territory.

Timing couldn’t be better for something like this to hit production. With Teenage Engineering’s TP-7 field recorder selling out despite its $1,200 price tag and cassette sales growing 28% year-over-year, there’s clearly an appetite for premium recording devices that buck the “just use your phone” mentality. What makes this concept particularly clever is how it bridges generations – boomers recognize the form factor from their reporting days, Gen X gets nostalgic about mixtapes, millennials appreciate the vaporwave aesthetic, and Gen Z gets another analog format to discover and fetishize on TikTok. If this actually hit production with decent specs (24-bit/96kHz recording would be my baseline expectation), I’d wager it could command $400-500 easily in today’s premium audio market.

The ultimate irony? This gorgeously transparent device reveals everything except whether it will ever make it past the concept stage. And that’s the cruelest tease of all.

The post Transparent Sony Walkman Concept merges Blade Runner style with Retro Cassette Nostalgia first appeared on Yanko Design.

I would watch an unboxing video a 100 more times if it used these materials instead of plastic and virgin cardboard. The year is 2025, we’ve unboxed products for decades at this point, and nothing has changed at all. Apart from packages now being smaller and shipping without chargers (we’re looking at you, Apple), we really haven’t advanced much in terms of designing for end-of-life.

A product’s package is literally the most single-use item on the planet. Apart from probably retaining the box for fondness’ sake, nobody keeps the packaging for their Switch, iPhone, iPad, drone, or laptop. These boxes are MEANT to be thrown away 90% of the time – so why are we still using materials NOT made for a single-use mentality? This unique Nintendo Switch packaging from Björn Van Egroo

Designer: Björn Van Egroo

Born from a 3D rendering material experimentation exercise, Egroo’s Nintendo Switch packaging redesign actually taps into something raw and fundamentally game-changing. You don’t need to mold plastic blister shells inside pristine cardboard boxes wrapped with plastic film… a product’s packaging can use materials like compressed coconut fiber, recycled paper, and even sugarcane fiber (bagasse) to create packaging that’s bespoke, filled with character, and shock-absorbing.

Would something like this work for gadgets? Here’s the reality check – yes and no. Yes, it could for a lot of gadgets. But also, no, it couldn’t because the supply chain is way too set in its ways to hard-pivot to an experimental set of materials for millions and millions of gadgets shipped worldwide. This particular concept also has a mild risk of water seepage through the coco fiber, but nothing that can’t be fixed with a little redesign.

I cringe as I have to cut through plastic blister packs every time I order a mouse, or a set of batteries, or a charging cable. Similarly, receiving an almost perfect-looking cardboard box with a Bluetooth speaker inside, only to then throw the box out immediately after unboxing my product, feels just as wasteful. Egroo’s simple material exploration presents a shift that I would HAPPILY endorse.

We’ve got no shortage of recycled and recyclable materials. A simple Google search will tell you that 9 billion coconut husks are discarded annually. Sugarcane pulp, a byproduct of sugar production, is discarded by a factor of 700 million tonnes per year. Paper waste goes into millions of tonnes too. ALL these can easily be rerouted into packaging products instead. Maybe not immediately for tech products (although there are companies using molded pulp instead of styrofoam), but hey… if molded pulp trays are good for eggs (which are way more fragile than your average tech product), then why not for gadgets?

The post Product Packaging still sucks… but this Nintendo Switch biodegradable box presents a radical new path first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remember when slapping a case on your phone felt like admitting defeat; a bulky, rubbery admission that you valued function over form? Thankfully, times have changed. Now, cases are as much about expressing yourself as they are about surviving that dreaded butter-fingers moment. And in the world of gaming, especially with the newly debuted Nintendo Switch 2, that need for protection and personality becomes even more crucial, SUPCASE is redefining how gamers think about protection – not as an afterthought, but as part of the gaming ritual.

Let’s be real, the Nintendo Switch is basically a handheld shrine to our favorite digital worlds; a device we’ll clutch on commutes, huddle with on couches, and maybe, just maybe, rage-quit less when it’s wrapped in something that can take a beating. Now in its second avatar, the Switch 2 even more capable, even more powerful, and arguably, deserving of an even more design-driven approach when it comes to accessories. Enter Jet Weng, Design Director at SUPCASE, and the mastermind behind the company’s philosophy of fusing robust protection with thoughtful design. His approach isn’t about slapping armor on tech, it’s about creating a symbiotic relationship between the device and the user.

Designer: Jet Weng of SUPCASE

Click Here to Buy Now: $22.94$26.99 (15% off, use coupon code “YANKO615”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Weng’s journey began, unsurprisingly, with a childhood steeped in tinkering with the most vivid memory being that of disassembling his uncle’s Walkman at the age of 10. “Every day of my childhood was surrounded by the process of taking devices apart, diagnosing problems, repairing, and reassembling,” he recalls. This hands-on education fostered a deep understanding of how things work; a foundation upon which he would later build his design ethos. It’s this innate curiosity that sets his work apart, first with his Behance portfolio that prioritized “feasible concepts that are fused with a poetic touch”, followed by his journey to turn protective cases into engineered solutions rather than mere accessories.

The SUPCASE UB Pro for the Switch 2 is a prime example of Weng’s vision. The UB Pro is a meticulously crafted exoskeleton designed to enhance the Switch 2 experience, not hinder it. It boasts military-grade protection, meeting MIL-STD-810G standards; meaning it can withstand some serious drops and bumps. A 2.5mm raised bezel shields the screen from scratches, while the ergonomic grip and anti-slip texture ensure a secure, comfortable hold, even during marathon gaming sessions.

But the UB Pro is more than a fortress; it’s a testament to Weng’s belief in blending “feasibility” with a “poetic touch.” The case’s design is streamlined, hugging the console and Joy-Cons without adding unnecessary bulk. Constructed from German Bayer polycarbonate, the material resists yellowing, dust, and fingerprints, maintaining its clarity and premium feel over time. It’s a case that looks good, feels good, and performs even better.

Anyone who owned the original Switch knows the frustration of removing a case every time you wanted to dock and play on the big screen. The first-ever person to attempt solving this problem, Weng addressed this pain point head-on with SUPCASE’s original dockable Switch case; a product that was a first of its kind and quickly became a gamer favorite. He recalls, “The biggest challenge was making sure the case didn’t interfere with the Switch’s connection to the dock.” The team went through countless prototypes, tweaking dimensions and internal structures until they achieved a perfect fit. This dedication to solving real-world problems is what elevates SUPCASE’s designs above the competition.

Jet Weng

Weng doesn’t just design cases; he designs experiences. He starts by analyzing user pain points, then collaborates with his team to brainstorm creative, yet feasible solutions. He understands that good design is subjective, depending on the product’s purpose. “For example, with a repair tool, function is always the top priority; but for something like a lipstick case, form may take precedence,” he explains. For the UB Pro, function and form are in perfect harmony; protection and ergonomics blend seamlessly with aesthetics.

Click Here to Buy Now: $22.94$26.99 (15% off, use coupon code “YANKO615”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Gamers are loving this rugged Switch 2 case that actually works with the Dock too first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Kia Elan was never a chart-topping icon, but for those who remember it, it carried a certain charm. A compact roadster borrowed from Lotus DNA, it was Kia’s unlikely flirtation with sportiness in the mid-’90s. Fast forward to today, and designer JinTae Tak is revisiting that lineage, not by replicating the original, but by extracting its essence and reshaping it for the electric era.

The Kia Elan EV concept doesn’t just hint at a new design language, it commits to one. You won’t find soft curves or classic sports car proportions here. Instead, the Elan EV cuts through convention with brutal, origami-like surfaces and a stance that hugs the ground like it’s part of the architecture. There’s no pretense of retro styling, just deliberate, sculpted form driven by the freedoms afforded by EV platforms.

Designer: JinTae Tak

JinTae Tak’s main objective was to use electrification as a design opportunity, not just an engineering shift. With no bulky combustion engine to accommodate, the Elan EV lowers its nose dramatically, resulting in a pronounced wedge silhouette. It’s sharp and aggressive, but not impractical. The side profile is where this decision is most apparent. The car hunkers forward, creating a visual tension that draws your eye from the subtle peak of the roofline down into the low-slung nose. This isn’t just for drama. It’s a studied way of reinterpreting the low center of gravity look of the original Elan, now translated into a closed-top GT form.

Look closely and you’ll notice how many times the same narrow, angular motif repeats across the body. From the pinch at the A-pillar to the fender transitions and the flush door seams, it’s a consistent language of compression and expansion. There’s a kind of visual rhythm in how these angles play with the light, almost architectural.

From the front, the EV’s lighting treatment makes an immediate statement. A series of segmented LEDs span the nose, mirroring the rear lighting in layout and attitude. It gives the car a clear identity, especially in low light. The hood, with its severe wedge, risks looking overly narrow, but JinTae solves this with a visual trick. The wide fender volumes spill out toward the ground, offsetting the narrowness of the centerline and pulling the car visually wider.

Swing around to the rear and the fenders become the main event. Unlike the original Elan’s simple surfacing, the Elan EV revels in volume here. The horizontal gesture is emphasized with precision, letting the taillights slice across cleanly. It’s one of the more direct nods to the roadster roots of the original car, though executed with today’s taste for muscular silhouettes and precise geometry.

Even the wheels are worth a second look. They’re huge, visually enclosed, and likely designed to aid aerodynamics, typical EV priorities. But their styling doubles down on the overall theme, angular, directional, and aggressive.

Given the conceptual nature, there’s no spec sheet, no drivetrain details, and no promises of production. That’s not really the point. The Kia Elan EV is a design study that explores how brands can revisit the past without repeating it. It’s not a tribute to the old Elan. It’s a conversation with it.

The post Electric Kia Elan concept shows wedge shaped future Roadster first appeared on Yanko Design.

Liquid Glass – the tech world’s abuzz with this new term from Apple’s design playbook following their reveal of the new slew of operating systems at WWDC 2025. What is liquid glass? Well, it’s a multi-tier strategy on Apple’s part to redefine interfaces, moving away from the minimalist elements to introduce gorgeously refractive glass-like modules instead. These glass elements interact with screen elements by bending light like real glass would. Think of holding a magnifying glass to a newspaper to watch the text around the edges warp while the center stays clear.

There’s speculation that this move towards glass-based interfaces was a conscious effort to further Apple’s spatial interface goals… but to be honest, we were in love with Liquid Glass back as early as 2021. What do I mean? Well, I’m talking about the NightWatch, an Apple Watch dock from 4 years ago that did exactly what Liquid Glass did, amplify the watch’s screen into a gorgeous liquid orb while your watch was charging!

Designer: NightWatch

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The NightWatch, as its name so succinctly implies, is a dock for your watch while it charges overnight. Shaped like a massive orb, this dock turns your watch’s night-time charging face into a massive, magnified alarm clock that’s easier to see. Moreover, the dock amplifies the watch’s audio too (through clever design details), transforming your Watch into a makeshift alarm clock that works remarkably well.

There’s no hidden components, no inner trickery – the entire NightWatch is a cleverly designed, solid piece of lucite that does three things remarkably well. First, it docks the Apple Watch and charger inside it, magnifying the watch screen so the numbers are clearly legible even from a couple of feet away. Secondly, channels located strategically under the Watch’s speaker units amplify the sound (sort of like how your voice is louder when you cup your hands around your mouth) so your alarm rings louder. Thirdly (and this might be the best feature yet), the lucite orb is touch-sensitive. Which means a mere tap on the surface causes your Watch screen to wake so you can see the time!

The dock may have been designed in 2021, but its design philosophies align with Apple’s Liquid Glass push brilliantly. Liquid Glass is all about mimicking real-world materials, bringing physicality to the digital world while still maintaining a pristine aesthetic that boosts focus and highlights important elements. That’s exactly what the NightWatch does too – it takes the Watch’s flat digital interface and brings real-world physicality to it through the refraction and magnification of the clear lucite. It also helps easily highlight important elements by enlarging your watch face for clearer timekeeping. The NightWatch is compatible with all Apple Watch series (as long as your watch doesn’t have a case on it).

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The post ‘Liquid Glass’ Apple Watch Dock might be the Coolest Smartwatch Accessory of the Season first appeared on Yanko Design.

I didn’t know how much I needed Kim Possible back until I scrolled on the internet to stumble across this build staring back at me in glorious LEGO form – cargo pants, sassy side-eye, Rufus casually perched on her shoulder. For anyone who raced home from school to catch Kim flipping through air ducts and dodging laser beams, seeing her back (albeit in LEGO) feels somewhat cathartic – like the world really needs her to fight all the supervillains destabilizing the earth right now.

Crafted meticulously from 1,165 LEGO bricks, this build by teljesnegyzet captures every bit of Kim’s swagger in a statue standing 21 inches tall. That fiery orange hair, constructed from carefully layered wedge plates, is practically a sculpture on its own. You can almost see it waving dramatically after a perfectly executed backflip. The attention to detail is peak LEGO nerd territory, down to the perfectly recreated cargo pants using sand green tiles layered sideways. Pure genius.

Designer: teljesnegyzet

Rufus, the tiny naked mole-rat sidekick, hasn’t been overlooked either. He’s neatly built from just about 40 bricks, perched on Kim’s shoulder, looking a bit skeptical, just as he should. Cleverly, his position is adjustable with a hidden Technic pin, giving collectors that extra bit of fun when deciding exactly how judgmental Rufus should look today.

What’s impressive here is how the build stays authentic without relying on printed details. Kim’s iconic black crop top and even the eyebrow arch are entirely brick-built, letting simple shapes and smart brick choices do all the work. It’s classic LEGO magic, turning basic geometry into instantly recognizable characters. No shortcuts, no stickers, just genuine creativity.

With just over 130 days to reach the 5,000 supporter milestone on LEGO Ideas (currently around 1,831 supporters and counting), this feels doable. The comments section is buzzing with fans rediscovering Kim, others impressed by the design itself, even those who had to Google “who’s Kim Possible” first. This blend of spot-on nostalgia and clever building technique is exactly the kind of project that LEGO Ideas thrives on.

Whether this hits the shelves officially or stays a stunning fan-made concept, it’s proof of how strongly early 2000s Disney Channel nostalgia resonates. And to be honest, with the current state of global affairs, I really could do with some positive affirmation… even if it stands at 21 inches tall and reminds me of a time when life was so much better. If you share the same belief, you can head down to the LEGO Ideas website to cast your vote for this fan-made build.

The post Remember Kim Possible? This Epic 1,165-brick LEGO Statue Is The Ultimate Throwback first appeared on Yanko Design.