“Let me wear my AirPods…”
*proceeds to pull an Iron Man helmet out of their backpack*
I’ll be honest – is Casetify’s latest AirPods case practical? Hell no. Is it cool? Oh absolutely. Partnering with Marvel, the company debuted a few Iron Man-themed accessories, although none as on-the-nose as their AirPods case. Designed to look exactly like an Iron Man helmet that opens up to reveal your TWS earbuds, this little number comes with a stand you can place it on a carabiner clip in case you want to strap it to your backpack… and the best part, light-up eyes that should surely grab the attention of fellow enthusiasts.
Designed for the AirPods Pro and Pro 2, the case is roughly fist-sized, and comes with a painted plastic finish (although a chrome-plating would really seal the deal). The Iron Man head opens just the way the helmet does in the movies, although that doesn’t open the lid of the AirPods Pro case… you still need to flip the helmet open, and then flip open the AirPods case lid to get to your TWS earbuds. A bit of a hassle, sure, but heck… does it look cool.
The Tony Stark-esque holder doesn’t charge your AirPods Pro, however. It’s merely just an outer cover for storing your AirPods in, eschewing that boring white plastic exterior for something more edgy and cool. The best part, however, is the fact that the eyes actually light up. Relying on a single CR2032 coin battery, the eyes on the helmet glow in the signature blue when you shut the helmet, shining for 2 minutes before they dim out automatically.
Priced at $122, the Iron Man AirPods Pro case isn’t specifically pocket-friendly (both physically and fiscally), but it’s definitely worth adding to your collection if you consider yourself a comic-book aficionado or just a fan of the franchise. At least it’s big enough that you won’t be able to accidentally lose it, right??
If the leather jacket is the ultimate fashion style statement, then the RŌMFRĒ EDC Backpack is the leather jacket of backpacks. With a full-grain leather exterior (and quilted details), the EDC Backpack has a unique distinction – It’s quintessentially classy enough to go with any outfit, be carried anywhere, and pretty much hold anything you consider an everyday essential.
Most people don’t know this but backpacks are a part of the ‘EDC’ category too. The abbreviation stands for the term ‘EveryDay Carry’, and while most people think that the category just covers tools, wallets, and other pocketable items, the backpack is a classic example of something you carry every day. Where the EDC Backpack differs from other backpacks, however, is in its material and visual appeal, which makes it perfect for work and leisure, indoor and outdoor, and professional and casual use simultaneously.
The backpack’s 100% leather build is perhaps its most visually eye-catching feature. Everything from the bag itself to the straps, handles, and pockets are made from top-notch full-grain leather, available in one of three colors – Cocoa, Black, or Saddle. Aside from the three colors, you’ve also got two sizes to choose from – a Medium with a 17L carrying capacity, and a Large which gives you 22L of storage. Both sizes, however, offer the same classic aesthetic, along with all the features, details, and pockets you’d need to carry your life with you.
Extra secure passport / wallet pocket on the rear of the bag.
Lower front pocket – includes zippered mesh pocket on the front wall
Upper front pocket – big enough for a wallet, passport, keys and other smaller items
Large main compartment
The exterior of the bags features quilted panels on both the front and back that give the EDC Backpack its memorable aesthetic. On the front, the backpack has two outer zippers for stashing belongings (with an extra hidden zipper pocket inside the lower compartment), along with side pockets for bottles, D-rings for hanging carabiners and your other gadgets/accessories, and an extra-secure pocket at the back, right between the adjustable leather shoulder straps.
This pack has a super durable polyester liner, and a double reinforced base.
Features YKK Zippers + Full-Grain Leather
Large interior pocket on the back wall with quilted stitching
Two zips offer access to a rather roomy interior, lined with a super-durable polyester fabric. A dedicated zip gives you padded storage for your laptop up to 16″ in size, while zips on the front let you access the spacious main compartment of the bag that’s outfitted with pockets, mesh-lined pouches, and enough space to store clothes, gadgets, accessories, and anything else you’d need to carry around with you.
Comes with a luggage strap to the back of the bag
Dedicated laptop compartment on the rear of the bag
The EDC Backpack’s appeal is in the fact that it’s designed to complement pretty much every part of your daily routine. Unlike fabric bags that look too disheveled for work, or professional-looking work backpacks that don’t translate well to our outdoor travel aesthetic (after all, that monogrammed company logo won’t look good in your holiday pictures), the EDC Backpack fits in and simultaneously stands out pretty much anywhere. The wonderful leather fabric is perfect for work, looks exceptionally great for travel, and sets you apart as a pretty classy dude if you’re using it as a creative for carrying your camera and whatnot. It’s travel-ready, thanks to adjustable shoulder straps, and a sleeve to slide your luggage handle through. It’s also built to last, relying on high-quality materials, durable YKK zippers, and a double-reinforced base that lets you rest your backpack down on any surface without worrying about your bag getting damaged… and the best part? That gorgeous full-grain leather ages as you do, gathering a wonderful patina that gives your EDC Backpack a distinct character that’s unique to just your backpack.
Left: Large size in Cocoa. Right: Medium size in Saddle.
The RŌMFRĒ EDC Backpack starts at a highly discounted $199 (you won’t find a 100% full-grain leather backpack anywhere for that amount) that’s standard across both Medium and Large sizes. The backpacks are supported by a lifetime warranty on craftsmanship and manufacturing defects (the makers will repair/replace your bag for free), and if you’re in for the full-leather lifestyle, $300 gets you the complete RŌMFRĒ travel bundle, which also includes a minimalist leather bifold wallet, and a dopp bag for your essentials.Click here to Buy Now: $199$249 ($50 off). Hurry, only 6/40 left!
Even Instagram pivoted from photo to video content… and so should your renders! Sure, a JPG or PNG can be worth a thousand words, but think of how impactful product videos can be. KeyShot has always been at the forefront of the rendering industry, but with these new features, it aims to make video/animation just as easy as rendering images. The 2024 KeyShot Animation Challenge invites designers to explore KeyShot’s two most powerful animation tools – the Physics Simulation feature, and the Camera Keyframes feature.
These two tools unlock a vast array of possibilities – the Physics Simulation helps bring realism to your renders, letting you create falling/bouncing objects, colliding elements, and impactful scenes. Meanwhile, the Camera Keyframes tool allows you to go beyond the traditional zoom, pan, revolve movements and build a more unique and detailed camera path simply by adding keyframes and allowing the camera to glide between them. You can use either one or both tools in your submission to the challenge, which should be a video of 30 seconds maximum. The more imaginative the better.
Download and Install KeyShot and use the trial code KSANIMATE24 to get free access
Create a 30-second (max) rendered video exploring the Physics Simulation and/or the Camera Keyframe tools.
Render your file in 1080p resolution
Submit your entry by uploading and sharing your visuals on Instagram. Use the hashtag #KeyShotAnimation
Important Note: Finalists will be required to send their .ksp file, so be sure to save that in a safe place!
Timelines:
Challenge begins: February 8, 2024 Challenge ends: March 10, 2024
Prizes:
Gold Prize: KeyShot Pro Subscription + KeyShotWeb Subscription + Render showcased on KeyShot blog, Social Media, Newsletter and KeyShot startup window + A Will Gibbons Masterclass + Access to KeyShot Farms cloud rendering service for 1 week. (64-cores CPU or 1x RTX4090 GPU, value of $449.) Silver Prize: KeyShot Pro Subscription + Render showcased on KeyShot blog, Social Media, Newsletter and KeyShot startup window + A Will Gibbons Masterclass Bronze Prize: KeyShot Pro Subscription + Render showcased on KeyShot blog, Social Media, Newsletter and KeyShot startup window
Jury:
Karim Merchant – Senior Industrial Design and Creative Specialist, KeyShot Reza Tari – Marketing Design Manager, KeyShot Jordan Doane – Creative Support Specialist, KeyShot
They say car aesthetics evolved to keep up with our abilities to bend and shape metal. Cars in older days were boxy because we couldn’t manipulate metal sheets into 3D curves and contours. As soon as that happened, the retro-style boxy cars went the way of the dodo, giving rise to more aerodynamic, curvilinear silhouettes… but what if, in an alternate reality, the old aesthetic just stuck around? We moved onto futuristic-looking LED headlights and cyberpunk metallic gloss/matte paint-jobs… but the shell of our vehicles still retained their retro charm. Meet Hexaleaf, a concept car (and brand) from Ukrainian concept artist Andrii Snitsar. Created as a part of another project, Snitsar decided to share the Hexaleaf as an independent project on his Artstation, highlight its retro-inspired cyberpunk beauty.
Snitsar’s Hexaleaf somehow simultaneously looks retro as well as futuristic – think DeLorean but a lot classier. The straight lines and lack of organic curves are almost caricature-ish, but look wonderful on the car. See the cutout on the fender for the wheels and you’ll know what I mean. Snitsar is almost ridiculing the notion of car design by giving the wheels an almost SIM-card-shaped cutout (OCD-people beware). It looks eye-catching, to say the least, and brings more attention to the shiny wheel rims. The car also opts for a highly unusual front bumper, looking more like a metal bumper guard than the bumper itself. It lines up perfectly with those gorgeous headlights that feel like a luxury car from the 50s was given a facelift worthy of the year 2050.
The Hexaleaf logo features prominently on the roof – an odd choice. It can even be seen on the hood, which is where car logos are most commonly found.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly the design language that’s on display with the Hexaleaf, but there’s a strong interplay between old-fashioned and futuristic. The car’s shape, just on face value, is a hat-tip to the cars of the mid-60s, with those vertical headlights adding a distinct retro flavor (think Deville, GTO, Galaxie, or even the Eldorado). That flat-panel windshield is a throwback to an even older time when triplex glass couldn’t be bent into shape, giving the Hexaleaf an undeniable blast-from-the-past appeal. The use of chrome, for some reason, feels both retro and modern, evoking the simultaneous emotions of the DeLorean and the Cybertruck.
The rear highlights dual exhausts and a set of three-ring LED tail-lights, hidden behind a transparent facade (so the back is completely flat, coming to life only when the lights shine through. It’s surprising there’s no electric power train on this one (you’ll even see the gasoline inlet beside the taillight), but then again, the fact that it runs on fuel kinda does give it the pure American muscle vibe that I personally love.
Let’s face it, that thumbnail probably brought you here. Outwardly, the Minimal Kinetic Clock is just a flat piece of white plastic, but thanks to a few moving parts, it assumes a three-dimensional shape that tells the time. Strategically place it in an area with dramatic lighting and the time stands out through how the clock captures highlights and casts shadows.
The project comes courtesy YouTuber Lukas Deem, who meticulously builds the clock from scratch using bespoke 3D-printed parts, an Arduino Mega SoC, and a handful of motors and sensors (while graciously documenting the process for all of us to see. Lukas walks the viewers through the whole procedure, which took multiple iterations and fixes to put together, even detailing out a special stand he made for the clock once it was up and running. The final result looks gorgeous, and I can only imagine how wonderful it would look if Lukas mounted a stretchy white cloth on the front, allowing the parts to push through to create the shape of every number. If you’re reading this, Lukas… give it a shot!
Designer: Lukas Deem (originally made by Jacky Mok)
Lukas embarked on this venture with a clear goal: to build a clean, minimalistic kinetic clock that elevates the concept of timekeeping into kinetic art. The choice of materials was crucial to this endeavor. The project required two power supplies to ensure all components received adequate energy, white Hatchbox filament for its optimal quality for 3D printing, an off-brand Arduino Mega (from Elegoo), a sensor shield for the electronics, and 30 budget-friendly servos to bring the kinetic aspect to life. A real-time clock (RTC) module was also essential for maintaining accurate time.
The 3D printing process alone was a marathon, consuming approximately 85 hours, excluding the time spent on test prints and correcting mistakes. This phase underscored the meticulous attention to detail and patience required for such an intricate project.
However, the assembly phase presented its own set of challenges. Each of the 30 servos underwent rigorous testing for functionality, with a critical step involving the calibration of these components to ensure the clock’s precise movement. One significant hurdle was the project’s power supply system. The challenge of efficiently powering both the Arduino and the sensor shield without resorting to an unwieldy setup led to a compromise: using two power plugs, a solution that, while not ideal, was necessary under the constraints of time and resources.
Design refinements were also an integral part of the process. The creator focused on cable management, using zip ties to maintain a neat appearance, and developed a new base design to enhance the clock’s stability and aesthetic appeal. These improvements aimed at making the clock not just a functional piece but also a polished work of art worthy of display.
That being said, there was definitely room for improvement. Lukas pointed out that the servo motors in the clock weren’t particularly quiet, which meant this clock was a LOT noisier than your traditional ticking clock. However, it would do rather well in an open space like a living room, as opposed to being by your bedside or study table. Assembling the clock using hot glue also seemed to be a rather poor idea, given how it prevents you from disassembling/repairing/upgrading your clock after it’s built.
Lukas, however, isn’t the original creator of the clock. He credits the original design to Jacky Mok, who goes by the username ‘alstroemeria’ on Instructables. You can check out Jacky’s fully detailed build page on the Instructables website if you want to build your own Minimalist Kinetic Clock.
Nobody has destroyed, rebuilt, and reimagined the notion of synthesizers as much as Love Hultén. The maverick synth-maker is credited with designing some of the most incredible-looking electronic music machines out there (we’ve covered a fair few), from synths and loopers to modular electro units and even some record players and arcade games on the side. The Sweden-based music aficionado and synth-builder kicked off 2024 with a new project in collaboration with ‘catbeats’. Although this particular device doesn’t have a name yet, Hultén mentioned that it’s a unique-looking MIDI guitar that has a NESpoly synth on the inside, and a detachable fretboard that makes the entire apparatus easy to travel with.
The unconventional design of the MIDI instrument is just about as much of a hat top to a guitar as possible. It does have a fretboard that triggers notes, and a dedicated strumming section for chords and such, but you’ve also got a variety of knobs and buttons that loop, modulate, play/pause, and increase/decrease the gain of what you’re playing.
The entire design can be disassembled for travel, and features a few quirky details made specifically for the user. Given catbeats’ obsession with felines, the guitar has a cat avatar in the bottom corner underneath a removable clear dome. Reminiscent of those cat backpacks that have the pet behind a clear plastic structure, the dome can be removed to access the tiny avatar underneath, and the avatar is made to be replaceable too, allowing you to swap out cats based on mood. Hultén also details that the guitar’s strap is made from ‘extraterrestrial skin’, although that’s just fancy wording given that the strap’s crafted from a clear flexible plastic sheet (or maybe aliens have better skincare than I do)…
MIDI guitars are unusual to come by, although if I did expect them, it would probably be from Hultén. The Gothenburg-based artist has worked on some rather unique and inspiring electronic products, from a circular Game Boy to a synth made from plastic dentures. Sure, this guitar doesn’t feature too high on Hultén’s weirdness scale, but it’s a remarkable representation of how his brain works.
Close-up view of the avatar area and the removable plastic dome.
If anything, the AirPower Mat did manage to achieve one remarkable thing – it pushed the idea of having one wireless charging solution for all of Apple’s devices. The AirPower Mat may have failed in this particular venture, but it did lead to multiple third-party manufacturers making their own version of a 3-in-1 charger. Now, INVZI is showing that there’s a way to make them even better. With a shapeshifting design and a MagSafe feature to align your phone, the INVZI MagFree Transform is easily the most impressive 3-in-1 charger I’ve seen. Use it flat like a charging mat, or swivel its halves to turn it into a charging dock. The MagFree Transform also routes more power to your devices than traditional chargers, juicing their batteries faster… and the kicker, its $39 price tag makes it a whopping $110 cheaper than the Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 3-in-1 charger that’s available on Apple’s own website.
The two simple ways to look at the MagFree Transform are as A. a flat charger that’s easy to carry, and B. a shapeshifting versatile charger that juices your iPhone, Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. Individually, those are great features. Together, however, they make a formidable combination that sets the MagFree Transform apart as a perfect pick for charging both at your table as well as on the go.
Perhaps the most noteworthy part of the MagFree Transform’s design is the swiveling detail that allows it to go from mat to stand in under a second. Relying on an angular cut and a swivel joint, the MagFree Transform gets its name from its ability to literally shapeshift between one of two formats. In the mat-shaped format, the charger lets you easily rest all your gadgets down on its horizontal surface, but swivel it into a dock and it puts your smartphone on display, allowing it to snap into place thanks to a MagSafe detail in the charging ring. Meanwhile, the AirPods and Watch charge at the back, away from your view. The MagSafe ring supports both vertical and horizontal docking methods (with the latter activating the iPhone’s StandBy always-on screen.
Convenience aside, the MagFree Transform also outputs a total of 23W across all its charging zones, helping ‘rapidly’ juice all your devices. The primary charging coil outputs 15W to charge your iPhone faster than traditional 7.5W or 10W wireless chargers, while the coil for the Apple Watch maxes out at 5W, and the AirPods coil at 3W. Sure, this doesn’t compare to the kind of fast-charging speeds offered by wired chargers, but for a sleek wireless charger, the MagFree Transform sits at the top of its ladder.
It can simultaneously charge three devices at the same time, whether in mat or standing mode. A USB-C port on the back lets you hook your MagFree Transform to any power source (like an outlet or a power bank) so you can charge anywhere, whether it’s on your workspace or at your bedside. Heck, at that $39 price point, I’d probably buy multiple units just to keep in different parts of my house. The only thing missing is a USB-C out that would allow you to connect your charger to an iPad or any other device for wired charging too. However, the MagFree Transform focuses strictly on wireless charging, which is a kind of commitment that I can respect.
The MagFree Transform supports Apple’s StandBy feature during charging.
Measuring 8 inches in length, 3.2 inches wide, and 0.59 inches thick, the MagFree Transform is just marginally bigger than a Plus/Max iPhone. It weighs a paltry 100 grams, making it incredibly easy to slip right into your bag or backpack to carry around with you, and comes in two color choices – white or black, with the ability to attach (and even swap) vegan leather veneers on top to cushion your gadgets and give the MagFree Transform a classy and distinct look.
Each MagFree Transform charger starts at a discounted $39, and also includes a 30W GaN charging brick along with a 3.3ft USB-C cable in the box. An additional $10 will either get you a soft-shell case to carry your charger and its accessories, or a set of those aforementioned vegan leather covers to customize your gadget. The MagFree Transform ships globally starting April 2024.
Sleekness was never really a consideration back in the 50s and 60s when vinyl discs were still popular… which is why turntables and vinyl players never really explored thin-ness as a design aesthetic. The most any company ever did was integrate minimalism into their design language (a la Braun), but products weren’t generally designed to be razor thin. Which is why the BÖNWERK Turntable feels so visually exciting – it brings a novel design direction to an otherwise aged product category. Trends (whether fashion or tech) are always cyclical, and vinyls have been gaining popularity over the last few years… but traditional vinyl players don’t live up to the design sensibilities of today. The BÖNWERK Turntable is a gorgeous concept that boasts the same wedge-shaped design detail popularized by the MacBook Air. The rotating disc sits on a razor-thin platform, which gradually becomes thicker near the turntable’s control panel, creating an overall aesthetic that’s practically invisible, but emotionally impactful.
Designers: Mateo Rombolá & Tobias Quirici
“The primary goal of this project was to create a cutting-edge and sophisticated turntable tailored specifically for expert users in the audiophile world,” said designer-duo Mateo Rombolá and Tobias Quirici. “Our focus centered on prioritizing user semantics and experience, elevating these aspects above mere functional distinctions.”
Functionally, the BÖNWERK Turntable isn’t too different from the ones you’d otherwise find on the market. It has the tonearm with a cartridge and needle on one end, and a counterweight on the other. The tonearm sits at the center, with the rotating disc platform on one side, and a control panel on the other with a strobe light, RPM controller, volume knob, highs and lows control, and a start/stop button.
Flip the BÖNWERK Turntable over and you see its actual mass, which hides underneath a super-sleek exterior. Almost mirroring the design of the MacBook Air (or even older iPhones, which used to hide the camera bump in the side-view photos), the mass hides itself well thanks to a slick outer profile that your eyes see (instead of the volume underneath). This makes the BÖNWERK Turntable look MUCH thinner than it already is, which adds to its appeal. The appeal also extends to the minimal visual language used in the rest of the turntable’s design, from the use of plain black and metallic hues, sharp geometric shapes, knurled metal knobs, and the palpable absence of any text, giving the turntable its signature clean look.
The iconic game Settlers of Catan is entirely about building a community… so why not go the distance and build the game from scratch using LEGO? This MoC (My Own Creation) from AthleticSkylor088 gives you creative control like never before, letting you build out your game in ways never imaginable previously. By relying on LEGO bricks instead of the conventional 2D board, this unique build lets you turn your game into a brick-based microcosm, with 3D details, plants, fields, humans, animals, and every detail you’d expect from the popular board game!
“Starting out with almost nothing, gathering materials, and building settlements is all part of the great game of CATAN. Building your own towns and cities is a lot of fun, so why not play in the form of LEGO bricks?” asks AthleticSkylor088. “Build your very own CATAN board and biomes,” he adds.
The beauty of the board game lies in the fact that it pops out of the board, immersing you in depth and detail. AthleticSkylor088 hasn’t detailed how many bricks are used in this build, but the fact that it’s so hyper-customizable means you can play around with details, make them more realistic or artistic, or even go off the deep end and build a futuristic version with cyberpunk biomes. Although that would stray a little too far from the original, the fact that it’s possible (and that it looks this adorable) is what makes this LEGO build such a charming one.
Mine for ore inside these LEGO mountains
Watch as the sheep graze on the field
Observe the farmers tending to their wheat fields
Avoid the robbers in the desert
Watch the masons molding the bricks
Multiple pieces offer the entire Catan experience, from roads to bricks, timber, and animals.
This, however, isn’t the first time we’ve come across a LEGO version of a playable board game. Many LEGO MoC builders have made a variety of popular games, like chess, Go, Scrabble, and even Monopoly… although one has to admit, there’s a distinct charm to this particular iteration of Catan.
AthleticSkylor088’s LEGO Settlers of Catan board game is currently on the LEGO Ideas forum, where fans and enthusiasts can not only build out their own unique LEGO creations but can even vote for their favorite ones. With 2083 votes under its belt, the LEGO Settlers of Catan is well on its way to hit the coveted 10,000 vote mark, following which it will get an internal review by LEGO’s own team and then will hopefully be turned into a box set that anyone can buy and build. Click here if you want to vote for this MoC.
Although unofficial, the Nothing x AIAIAI’s headphones show how two company’s visions can align for one brief and beautiful moment to create a design that’s gorgeous to look at, and great to use. The Nothing X AIAIAI Headphones are a masterclass in iconic design, mirroring the uniqueness of individual details seen in the AirPods Max… except, this time, with the transparent flair of the London-based tech startup.
Designer: Ma Yc
Ma Yc’s headphone concept borrows the best that Nothing and AIAIAI’s design languages have to offer. For AIAIAI, there’s the classic TMA-2 Wireless design, comprising modular parts that can easily be replaced and swapped out on the fly. For Nothing, however, there’s the absolutely drop-dead beautiful transparent housing that you can see on the cans, on the ear stem, and even on the ear cushions. Ma Yc’s choice of transparent cushioning on the headrest instantly sets this headphone apart as memorable… quite like the AirPods Max’s tensile fabric headrest.
The headphones come in two color variants – a black and a white, quite like the rest of Nothing’s lineup. The design is almost exactly a tribute to the TMA-2 wireless headphones from AIAIAI, featuring slide-out cans, removable ear-cups, and detachable aux cables that connect the headphone’s elements together. Modularity has never really been Nothing’s mission statement, but to be honest, the aesthetic and modular design of AIAIAI’s headphones translate rather well onto the Nothing brand, making this a collaboration for the books. Let’s hope Carl Pei’s reading this…
PRO 3-in-1 charger that’s available on Apple’s own website.
