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?

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Vous pensiez que sauvegarder vos propres jeux était légal ? Que nenni car Nintendo a décidé que non, et maintenant ils peuvent carrément détruire votre Switch 2 à distance si vous utilisez une MIG flash cart.

Bienvenue dans le nouvelle ère du gaming totalitaire les amis ! Nintendo vient en effet de franchir une ligne rouge que même Sony ou Microsoft n’avaient jamais osé traverser : ils se donnent maintenant le droit de bricker définitivement votre console si vous ne respectez pas leurs règles. Et le plus fou dans l’histoire, c’est qu’ils peuvent le faire même si vous ne faites que jouer à VOS PROPRES jeux sauvegardés.

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

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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.

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Vous n’en avez peut-être pas conscience, mais cette Nintendo Switch 2 que vous venez de déballer la semaine dernière pourrait bien vous mentir sur son niveau de batterie. C’est pas une blague, c’est Nintendo qui l’avoue dans un document de support officiel. Alors si vous avez l’impression que votre console se vide plus vite qu’un robinet qui fuit, y a peut-être une bonne nouvelle qui vous attend.

L’histoire commence comme ça… des joueurs râlent sur Reddit et ailleurs parce que leur toute nouvelle Switch 2 semble avoir une autonomie de misère. Certains rapportent que leur console affiche une batterie quasi vide alors qu’elle tient encore plusieurs heures de jeu. D’autres voient leur indicateur de charge faire n’importe quoi, passant de 90% à 20% en un claquement de doigts. Tout le monde avait l’impression d’halluciner jusqu’à ce que Nintendo finisse par reconnaître le problème et, Ô miracle, il y a des solutions !

Although handheld gaming devices have existed since the earliest days of the Game Boy, the recent craze can probably be attributed to the unprecedented and unexpected success of the Nintendo Switch. More than just portability, it offered flexibility in gameplay, especially with its innovative removable Joy-con controllers. Although it continues to be a successful product, the almost eight-year-old device has started showing its age.

In typical Nintendo fashion, it has taken years for a successor to arrive, but the wait is finally over. After no small amount of clamor and a few leaks and false leads, the Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been confirmed to be coming this year. And while the teaser video is light on the details, there is definitely enough for fans to chew on until the official reveal in April.

Designer: Nintendo

Right off the bat, Nintendo wants to make it clear that the Nintendo Switch 2, which is its official name, is bigger than the OG Switch. You will, however, also notice a complete switch (pun intended) in color schemes. While the first Nintendo Switch drew your attention to its Blue and Red Joy-cons, the Switch 2 carries an almost completely black color scheme, with the other hues acting only as highlights on the controllers. To some extent, this makes it match the predominantly black aesthetic on handheld gaming PCs these days, though Switch 2 owners will most likely apply skins anyway.

There are, of course, even bigger changes all around, starting with, at long last, a second USB-C port at the top of the device, hopefully saying goodbye to awkward charging positions and hello to more accessories. The flimsy bar-style kickstand has also been replaced by a wide U-shaped design, giving not only more stability but also more angles. You can finally lay the Switch 2 almost flat on a table, for whatever reason you might want to.

The Joy-cons also undergo a significant change beyond the increase in size. Gone is the rail mechanism that gave the Nintendo Switch its iconic snapping sound, replaced by hopefully more reliable magnets with a matching snapping sound. The dock has also been given a facelift with rounded corners and a matte finish. All in all, the Nintendo Switch 2 exudes a more mature character than its predecessor, though it’s not clear how that will appeal to those who prefer Nintendo’s Fisher Price aesthetics.

Unsurprisingly, Nintendo is silent on the internals, so it’s still anyone’s guess how much more powerful the Switch 2 will be. Don’t hold your breath that it will go head-to-head with handheld PCs or even current-gen consoles, though. That just isn’t Nintendo’s style. Especially since Nintendo is promising compatibility with some, but not all, first-gen Switch games. More details will be revealed in the company’s Direct stream on April 2, but it looks like the launch title has already been decided to be Mario Kart.

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