GameSir doesn’t shy away from experimenting with new designs and functionality for its controllers to enhance the experience for mobile gamers. Tarantula Pro with swappable face button labels is a good example. For gamers like me who fancy the odd gaming session on my G8 Plus, playing the AAA racing titles like Grid Legends is stress-busting. I prefer a compact setup for my mobile gaming needs, and investing in a full-blown gaming simulator or desk-mounted setup is not feasible.
The next logical upgrade is a mobile controller that gives me more than just the joysticks and buttons. Set to reveal at CES 2026, the GameSir Swift Drive controller is exactly what racing fanatics like me wished for. The hybrid controller features a miniature direct-drive steering wheel positioned in the center, delivering force feedback and 1080-degree rotation for immersive racing game action.
For racing sim fans, the quandary has always been to either choose a portable setup, or go for more detailed but bulky setups. This gamepad hits the sweet spot for casual gamers like me who always wanted something that’s compact. GameSir has to be applauded for fitting the world’s smallest direct-drive motor on the gamepad for physical resistance and road texture when turning the wheel. A thumbstick that moves laterally simply cannot achieve this level of realism. The controller’s unique wheel can be adjusted for rotation ranging from 30 degrees to 1080 degrees, and has a high-precision Hall Effect encoder that has 65,000 levels of steering control resolution. Meaning, you can feel the fast-paced turning of a Formula-1 car, or experience the heavier input of driving a truck simulator.
If that’s not enough, GameSir has included haptic motors in the triggers for gamers to feel the nuances of ABS braking or the vibration when tires lose grip on a tight chicane. You can toggle between XInput and DInput modes so that you can either play on the controller as a standard gamepad or a dedicated steering wheel. The RGB lights on top simulate the current in-game RPMs, which should help advanced gamers trigger gear shifts perfectly. The controller will connect via a 2.5GHz low-latency wireless option and have an estimated battery life of 20 to 30 hours, depending on the force feedback options in use. Without these advanced inputs, the controller lasts for 50 hours.
Swift Drive controller is going to be priced at around $150, and if it delivers what is being promised, that amount is worth every penny. Carrying an extensive gaming setup in your backpack is not something that every gaming accessory maker can brag about. Along with the Swift Drive gamepad, GameSir will also reveal the Turbo Drive yoke-style steering wheel and pedals. The rig will have a built-in turbine fan to simulate the airflow for the sensation of speed in-game.
Most phones make a familiar bargain: free services and slick apps in exchange for constant tracking, profiling, and data being treated as currency. The line about how if you do not pay for the product, you are the product, has gone from cliché to lived reality. Punkt. has been quietly pushing back against that logic for years, starting with minimalist feature phones and now moving into full touchscreen territory with the same philosophy intact.
The Punkt. MC03 is a premium secure smartphone designed in Switzerland and built in Germany, running AphyOS instead of mainstream Android skins. It is subscription-based by design; you pay for the OS and services, so you are not paying with your data. The pitch is simple: a modern, fully capable phone where privacy is the default, not a buried settings menu you hope you configured correctly.
AphyOS splits the phone into two spaces. Vault is the calm, minimalist home screen with Punkt. curated, privacy-friendly apps and Proton services, a hardened enclave for mail, calendar, messaging, and files. Wild Web is a swipe away, where you can install any app you want, but each one lives in its own privacy bubble, with clear controls over what data flows where and who gets to see it.
The interface is deliberately color-free and stripped back. Icons are simple, backgrounds are monochrome, and the whole thing is designed to reduce visual noise and cognitive load. The idea is to make the phone feel less like a slot machine and more like a tool, nudging you toward intentional use instead of endless scrolling, without taking away the apps you actually rely on for work or getting around.
Privacy tools include Digital Nomad, the built-in VPN that protects connectivity on the move, and Ledger, which lets you dial app-specific permissions from full access to full restriction, even showing the carbon impact of background activity. The MC03 can be de-Googled, reducing reliance on Google Mobile Services, and Proton Mail, Drive, VPN, and Pass live in Vault, reflecting a Swiss Tech ethos where you pay to retain your data.
The hardware is quietly competent, a 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED at 120 Hz, a 64 MP main camera with ultra-wide and macro companions, dual stereo speakers, and a removable 5,200 mAh battery with 30 W wired and 15 W wireless charging. It is IP68 rated and manufactured at Gigaset’s German facility, leaning into durability, repairability, and a European supply chain as part of the trust equation, not just marketing.
The MC03 is talking to people who are tired of feeling like their handset is a tracking device with a screen attached, but who do not want to retreat to a feature phone. It suggests a different path, a smartphone that still does all the smartphone things, but asks you to pay for the privilege of keeping your data yours, and makes that trade-off feel intentional instead of hidden. For anyone looking for an alternative to the usual iOS or Android bargain, Punkt. keeps building that alternative, one monochrome screen and one Swiss principle at a time.
The first Freestyle tried to make projection feel as casual as dropping a speaker on a table, but still needed some fiddling with focus, keystone, and room darkness. Portable projectors are great in theory, but often fall apart on setup friction, tweaking corners, hunting for the right brightness mode, and dealing with off-color walls. Samsung’s Freestyle+ keeps the same friendly cylinder while letting AI quietly handle the annoying parts, betting that most people would rather point and watch than spend 10 minutes adjusting settings.
The Samsung Freestyle+ is an AI-powered portable projector that builds on the original’s cylindrical, 180-degree tilting design. The headline change is not a wild new form factor; it is a smarter brain. Freestyle+ is pitched as something you can point at a wall, ceiling, or floor, then trust to optimize the picture for whatever surface you happen to be aiming at, turning “point and play” from a slogan into something closer to reality.
AI OptiScreen is the bundle of features that makes that possible. 3D Auto Keystone straightens the image even on angled or uneven surfaces like curtains or room corners. Real-time Focus keeps things sharp as you nudge or rotate the projector. Screen Fit sizes the picture to a compatible screen if you use one. Finally, Wall Calibration analyzes wall color or patterns to keep content legible instead of tinted or washed out.
Freestyle+ pushes out 430 ISO lumens, nearly twice the previous generation, which matters in real living rooms that are not pitch black. The 180-degree rotating stand still lets you throw an image onto a wall, ceiling, or floor without extra mounts. The idea is that you stop worrying about whether a space is right for projection and just drop the cylinder where it makes sense in the moment, whether that is a coffee table, a kitchen counter, or a nightstand.
Freestyle+ behaves like a mini Samsung TV, with Samsung TV Plus, major streaming apps, and Samsung Gaming Hub built in. You can stream shows, watch live channels, or fire up cloud games directly from the projector without plugging in a stick or console. For small apartments or casual setups, that means one object can handle movie night and a bit of gaming without a permanent media cabinet cluttering the wall.
Audio comes from a built-in 360-degree speaker tuned for room-filling sound in a compact body. For people already in the Samsung ecosystem, Q-Symphony support lets Freestyle+ sync with compatible Samsung soundbars, layering its own speaker with the bar instead of muting one or the other. That gives you a more cohesive soundstage when you want to treat the projector like a main screen rather than a sidekick.
Freestyle+ makes the most sense as a roaming screen that follows you from bedroom to living room to kitchen, rather than a projector that lives in a dedicated theater. By combining a familiar, speaker-like form with AI setup, brighter output, built-in streaming, and decent sound, it nudges projection closer to the casual, everyday screen Samsung keeps hinting at, instead of something you only use on special occasions when the room is dark enough and the mood feels right for a movie night.
The world’s most prestigious design competition is back, and this year it’s bigger and more exciting than ever. Starting September 15, 2025, the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 has officially opens its doors to designers, manufacturers, and innovators worldwide who are ready to showcase their exceptional creations on the global stage.
For over 70 years, the Red Dot Award has been the ultimate benchmark for design excellence, celebrating products that push boundaries and redefine what’s possible. This year’s competition promises to be particularly thrilling, with exciting new developments that reflect our rapidly evolving design landscape.
What’s New for 2026: Gaming & Streaming Takes Center Stage
Perhaps the most exciting addition to this year’s competition is the brand-new Gaming & Streaming category. Recognizing the explosive growth of this industry that now reaches millions worldwide, Red Dot is giving these innovative products the dedicated recognition they deserve. From cutting-edge gaming peripherals to revolutionary streaming equipment, this category acknowledges that gaming and streaming have become key drivers of product innovation in our digital age.
Whether you’ve designed the next game-changing controller, a revolutionary streaming setup, or an immersive VR headset, this new category provides the perfect platform to showcase your work to an international audience of design professionals and enthusiasts.
Drawing Inspiration from Excellence: Here’s our Top 5 picks of 2025
Participation in the Red Dot Award holds significant value for designers seeking to elevate their careers and expand their influence in the design community. Winning this internationally recognized award makes creative skills visible to a global audience, as award-winning products are presented across multiple prestigious platforms including the Red Dot Design Museum Essen, worldwide exhibitions, the Red Dot Design Yearbook, and extensive online and social media channels.
For emerging designers, the recognition can be transformative – supporting product launches, opening doors to new opportunities, and expanding professional networks within the international design industry. The comprehensive visibility and credibility that comes with a Red Dot Award provides designers with a powerful tool to distinguish their work in an increasingly competitive market, while affirming their commitment to excellence in design innovation and quality. To understand what makes a Red Dot winner, let’s look at the ingenious designs that captured hearts and minds in 2025.
Cayo by Koninklijke Gazelle
This Dutch e-bike combines minimalist aesthetics with advanced technical innovation, seamlessly integrating all components into a clean, timeless design characterized by clearly defined lines and the absence of superfluous elements. The Cayo bridges traditional cycling culture with the future of urban mobility, proving that everyday transportation on two wheels can embody both urban elegance and cutting-edge technology.
Paper Stick by YONWOO
This revolutionary sustainable packaging solution for stick-form cosmetics eliminates plastic entirely by using moisture-resistant mineral paper made from quarry stone waste that users simply peel off in a spiral motion. The innovative design achieves clean tear-off edges through precision die-cutting while offering manufacturers extensive branding opportunities through customizable printing, hot foil stamping, and various paper types for different tactile experiences.
nwm ONE by NTT sonority, 83Design Inc.
These groundbreaking open-ear headphones strip away traditional cushions and sealing, instead floating around the ears while using proprietary PSZ (Personalised Sound Zone) technology with inverse phase waves to prevent sound leakage. The minimal ring-shaped design features pivoting speaker units that deliver optimized audio directly into the ear canal without physical contact, creating an invisible bubble of sound that only the wearer can hear while staying fully aware of their surroundings.
iA Notebook by Information Architects Inc.
Originally designed as a gift for customers of their text and presentation software, this meticulously crafted notebook employs a lay-flat binding that allows writers to use entire double-page spreads without binding interference. Packaged in a wooden box with an embossed sleeve cover, every detail expresses appreciation for the written word through simple elegance and exceptional craftsmanship that required iterative prototyping to perfect.
VITILITY ID Walking Cane by MIXED.Industries BV
This mobility aid makes a conscious statement against the stigma of aging and physical limitations by combining clear, elegant design with functional excellence that proves good design can change social perceptions. The walking cane allows users who depend on mobility assistance to feel independent and style-conscious, transforming a traditionally stigmatized object into a character-defining accessory.
The Evaluation Process: Where Excellence Meets Expertise
Your submitted products will face scrutiny from approximately 40 international experts representing diverse fields and perspectives. This distinguished jury follows the evaluation philosophy established by Professor Dr. Peter Zec, Red Dot’s Founder and CEO, assessing each entry based on function, aesthetics, ease of use, and responsibility.
The jury awards two levels of distinction: the coveted “Red Dot” award and the prestigious “Red Dot: Best of the Best” for truly exceptional designs that set new standards in their categories.
Important Dates to Remember
Registration Period: September 15, 2025 to January 16, 2026
Jury Evaluation: Spring 2026
Award Ceremony: July 7, 2026
Your Path to Global Recognition
Winners don’t just receive an award. They gain access to a comprehensive platform for showcasing their achievements. Award-winning products are featured in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen, international exhibitions, the prestigious Red Dot Design Yearbook, and across digital platforms reaching design enthusiasts worldwide.
The celebration culminates at the glamorous Red Dot Gala on July 7, 2026, in Essen, where winners are honored before an international audience. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed globally, ensuring maximum exposure for your innovative designs.
Ready to join the ranks of design excellence? Visit www.red-dot.org/pd to submit your groundbreaking products and compete for one of the most respected accolades in the design world. The Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 isn’t just a competition. It’s your gateway to global recognition and design immortality.
Mark your calendars: from November 6-9, the vibrant city of Mumbai will transform into a hub of international design creativity with the arrival of Design Mumbai 2024. Set against the lush backdrop of Jio World Garden, this event is India’s first international contemporary design show. If you’re into cutting-edge lighting concepts and meticulously crafted furniture or want to glimpse the future of design, this is where you’ll want to be. Designer to the above picture: Obeetee
Presented by JSW Paints, the event gives local and international talent a platform to showcase the latest trends in design and craftsmanship. Expect a mix of the finest independent Indian designers alongside global icons, curated into a four-day showcase that brings a unique flavor of creativity to the heart of Mumbai. From installations by JSW Paints to a look at Royal Enfield’s latest take on the Classic 350, Design Mumbai is shaping up to be a must-visit for anyone passionate about creativity.
JSW Paints’ involvement as the Presenting Partner of Design Mumbai brings an added visual spectacle. AS Sundaresan, Joint MD & CEO of JSW Paints, shared, “At JSW Paints, innovation and ‘Think Beautiful’ is at the heart of everything we do. We’re delighted to present Design Mumbai 2024, which will transform Jio World Garden into a vibrant celebration of colour and creativity.” Their participation aims to create a visually inspiring event, encouraging everyone to reimagine their spaces boldly and beautifully.
Co-founder Ian Rudge describes the event as a milestone for India’s design community. “This event marks a significant milestone for India, offering an international platform unlike anything seen before. We’re bringing a whole host of innovative and pioneering designs to the show, along with specially commissioned installations from key partners such as JSW Paints and Royal Enfield, and exclusive appearances by some of the most recognised names in the industry. At the same time, we’re committed to celebrating India’s rich design and craft heritage.” Visitors can expect specially commissioned installations, exclusive product launches, and a celebration of India’s craft heritage—all curated to reflect the blend of tradition and innovation that defines modern Indian design.
With names like Poltrona Frau, Richard Hutten, Studio Saar, Fern & Ade, Jaipur Rugs, VIATOV, VitrA, and de Sede participating, there is something for everyone—if you are interested in plush seating, thoughtful color palettes, or eco-conscious craftsmanship.
Design Mumbai promises an engaging array of special features, from award ceremonies to networking events, all aimed at celebrating the best in contemporary design. Exclusive collaborations, such as the concept hospitality space by THE Park Hotels, in partnership with Studio Saar, will provide attendees with a refreshing look at innovative hospitality design.
Royal Enfield will also feature prominently, showcasing its latest Royal Enfield Classic 350, highlighting its design expertise and the craftsmanship that goes into making these iconic motorcycles.
Live Talks and Keynotes
Design Mumbai is also packed with live industry talks and keynotes under the “Design Mumbai: Exchange” series. Confirmed speakers include key players from Dezeen, Dutch industrial designer Richard Hutten, and those involved in the $30 billion Mumbai infrastructure overhaul.
Richard Hutten
The discussions will cover the intersection of sustainability, design, and technology, providing insights into the future of the creative industry.
Ian Rudge added, “Our goal with Design Mumbai is to deliver top-tier quality and originality to the architecture and design community. We aim to provide a unique experience and diverse content if attendees are specifying for a private residential project or a commercial venture such as a hotel or restaurant.”
Culinary Experiences
Alongside the visual delights, visitors can indulge in culinary experiences from award-winning restaurants, including a pop-up from Soho House Mumbai.
Imagine exploring exhibits ranging from upcycled cotton tapestries by Morii Design to the latest Danish collections by Fern & Ade—all while enjoying a high-end dining experience.
Innovative and Sustainable Design
Innovation is a core theme of the event, which showcases creativity and sustainability, from VitrA’s recycled ceramic washbasins to VIATOV’s plexiglass mirrored art pieces.
Visitors will also find inventive pieces from AKFD Studio, known for its unique lighting designs incorporating traditional Indian craftsmanship, and Studio Avni’s work, which experiments with materials like silicone and discarded silk saris.
Expect to see bold, modern pieces from the FAZO Project, which utilizes traditional carpet weaving techniques. Loco Design will present collections that blend Indian heritage with modern technology, while Shailesh Rajput Studio will exhibit art-inspired lighting pieces using aluminum, brass, and clay.
Loco Design’s efforts to blend heritage craftsmanship with modern aesthetics aim to redefine contemporary Indian design on a global scale. Under brands like Madheke, Pintark, and Taamaa, their new collections represent a convergence of Indian heritage and international practices, creating an engaging narrative for the audience.
Luxury Meets Modern Architecture
The hospitality space designed by THE Park Hotels in collaboration with Studio Saar offers a glimpse of luxury paired seamlessly with modern architecture.
With exhibitors like Technogym, Timothy Oulton, Hästens, Michael Young, and Boss Design, Design Mumbai promises something to inspire all design enthusiasts.
Artful Forms and Everyday Simplicity
Other notable names include Seoul-based VIATOV, which presents mirrored objects, and Esvee Atelier, known for its functional art that enhances living spaces.
Studio Avni will also display its Hybrid series of stitched metal light pieces alongside projects like the Garland series, which are made from discarded silk saris.
Esvee Atelier is set to introduce the VAV coffee table, inspired by Indian stepwells, and the Maya vanity dresser, which turns everyday routines into elegant rituals and embodies the spirit of thoughtful, functional design.
Design Mumbai is set to establish itself as a yearly pilgrimage for lovers of design—capturing the creative energy of India and ingenuity from around the world. Design Mumbai is also collaborating with the Association of Designers of India’s Mumbai Chapter, who is helping them curate speakers and building engagement with the design community. The creative pulse of Mumbai is about to get even stronger!
As part of the iconic London Design Festival, Material Matters 2024 promises to be a cornerstone for material enthusiasts, designers, and innovators. Set in the historic Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, from September 18-21, the fair will spotlight groundbreaking work across material disciplines, showcasing how innovative thinking can shape the future of sustainable design. This year’s lineup includes some of the most compelling projects and collaborations that fuse creativity with sustainability. Let’s take a closer look at five standout exhibitions that demonstrate the show’s thematic diversity and material brilliance.
1. Locally Grown: Harnessing Human Hair as a Material
In an unexpected and captivating twist, Studio Sanne Visser is showcasing Locally Grown, an installation that explores human hair as a regenerative material. Visser, known for pushing the boundaries of material design, has transformed what many consider waste into a valuable resource. Visitors can not only experience the journey from haircuts to yarn but can even contribute to the process by offering their own hair for transformation.
Hair spun into yarn, is showcased in products like ropes and even wearable garmets like hats, developed in collaboration with various designers. This project underscores the versatility of unconventional materials and opens up conversations around waste and resourcefulness. The exhibit is backed by the Dutch Embassy and reflects a strong commitment to material reuse.
2. Suru: Blending Craftsmanship with Circular Innovation
Barcelona-based Suru is a standout in Room 12, bringing a fusion of local craftsmanship and a commitment to sustainable living. The brand’s philosophy is rooted in circular innovation, with a focus on integrating recycled and biodegradable materials into its modular furniture and lighting designs. At Material Matters 2024, Suru is launching new products, including the Carta Lamp 001, a portable light made from a single sheet of paper that can be disassembled easily for repair, embodying their lifecycle approach. They’re also showcasing established pieces like the Niu Armchair 001, crafted from ethically sourced, VOC-free beech wood and featuring a cushion made from recycled coconut shells and PET fabric. Each piece exemplifies Suru’s dedication to sustainability without compromising on style or functionality.
3. BIOTEXFUTURE: Revolutionizing Textiles Through Biotechnology
The future of textiles is bio-based, and nowhere is this more evident than in Fibre Futures, an exhibition led by BIOTEXFUTURE in collaboration with Adidas and RWTH Aachen University. This installation delves into innovations in bio-manufacturing and alternative resource streams, with a focus on high-performance textiles that could revolutionize the fashion and sportswear industries. The combination of scientific research and cutting-edge design makes this one of the more technical but no less intriguing exhibits.
This exhibit offers visitors a look into how biotechnology is shaping the next generation of materials, proving that high-performance doesn’t have to come at the expense of sustainability. Expect alternative fibers and spinning techniques that push the boundaries of what textiles can do.
4. Rootfull: Nature’s Hidden Potential
Rootfull, an innovative project turning to nature’s unseen power, focuses on creating sustainable designs using tree roots. This unique approach explores the raw beauty and versatility of roots in product design. At Material Matters 2024, Rootfull showcases a range of lamps crafted from roots, highlighting their natural durability and the aesthetic appeal of light leaking through the fibrous network of roots. By using a material that’s typically overlooked or discarded, Rootfull not only opens up new possibilities for biomaterials but also taps into the innate connection between nature and design, offering a fresh perspective on how we can reimagine organic waste as functional, beautiful art.
5. Mushlume Lighting: Lighting the Way with Mycelium
Continuing the biomaterials theme, Mushlume Lighting by Danielle Trofe uses mycelium—the root structure of mushrooms—to create an eco-friendly line of lighting. Each piece is biofabricated, grown rather than made, illustrating the potential of mycelium as a scalable, renewable material. Trofe’s work is an outstanding example of how fungi can move beyond the realm of the kitchen and into the living room, lighting up spaces with minimal environmental impact.
6. Peel Fabric Lamp: Illuminating Waste with Alkesh Parmar
Designer and researcher Alkesh Parmar has long been known for his innovative use of materials often regarded as waste, particularly citrus peel. At Material Matters 2024, Parmar showcases his Peel Fabric Lamp, an extraordinary piece crafted from orange peel, a material that behaves much like leather when treated. Parmar’s practice of blending craft and critical design questions the impact of globalization and champions local, sustainable materials. His unique approach not only transforms everyday waste into functional art but also pushes the boundaries of material innovation. The Peel Fabric Lamp exemplifies his belief in the potential of overlooked resources, offering a striking visual reminder of how waste can be reimagined into objects of beauty and practicality.
Material Matters 2024 offers a breathtaking view of the future, where materials are no longer just functional but integral to the conversation on sustainability and innovation. Whether it’s furniture crafted from orange peel, lighting grown from mushrooms, or yarn spun from human hair, the exhibits at this year’s fair challenge us to rethink our relationships with the materials that surround us. With each installation, visitors are reminded that the future of design doesn’t just lie in creating new products, but in reimagining the materials that shape them.
Expect the unexpected at Material Matters 2024—and don’t be surprised if you leave with a new appreciation for the chair you sit on or the light that illuminates your room.
One of the hardest emotions for people to deal with is shame. We are afraid to admit it, confront it, and figure out a way to live with it. The healthiest way would be to talk to someone especially professionals. But if you’re not yet ready to take that step and you’re in London until December, there’s a pretty interesting art installation that may help you have a cathartic experience with your secret shame.
Designer: Annie Frost Nicholson
The Juicy Booth is an installation at the Coal Drops Yard as part of London Design Week which lets people have a 10-minute multi-media confessional session. Created in collaboration with K67 Berlin (a company that restores historical K67 booths) and The Loss Project (a social enterprise that creates spaces for communities to deal with grief and loss), artist Annie Frost Nicholson wanted to have a space for people to release their shame and have a quick healing session through colour, light, and music.
When you enter the booth, a refurbished K67 booth, you’ll see a retro 80’s keyboard where you can type out the thing that you’re currently ashamed of. Your confession will be spelled out on an LED monitor for your eyes only of course (unless you brought someone in with you there). Based on what particular emotion you’re dealing with, the system maps it out with their “carefully conceived colour spectrum”. You then get a light and sound show that will hopefully take you on a cathartic journey.
The whole experience will take you just 10 minutes but hopefully that is enough to start you on a journey to healing. You will also get to scan and access additional resources that can support you after your Juicy Booth session. The installation will be there until December 9 so if you have the chance to visit it and have a mini-confessional session, go ahead and do it.
There are plenty of wise sayings about how the past guides our future, and nowhere is that perhaps more evident than in the design and fashion industries. “Retro” might seem like a passing fad, but this isn’t the first time that the design pendulum has swung back to the past for inspiration. This homage to the designs of our predecessors may be the guiding spirit behind famed London-based design studio BLOND’s ARTEFACT initiative, taking objects that are no longer in production or even in use and reimagining them in a completely different light. At the London Design Festival this week, the BLOND LABORATORY challenged a stellar roster of international designers and studios with this quest, and here are the responses that give these “offline” products a new kind of life in this modern world.
Opening wine bottles today is as easy as turning a cap, but true connoisseurs still prefer the classic cork that is just as difficult to remove as in the old days. Of course, we have it easy today as well with more modern tools, but the traditional corkscrew and its menacing metal spiral has always been the weapon of choice for that task. Even older designs used a single bent rod of metal, which is probably not as comfortable to use as those with wooden or even plastic handles.
Turning something crude into an art object is the feat that From Us With Love accomplished. Taking a single rod of metal, flattening its top, and cutting out a hole in the middle resulted in a simple yet functional bottle opener. It embraces the functional minimalism of the old-school corkscrew and imbibed with the elegance of modern tools, a true retro design if there ever was one.
Hirotaka Tako: Marking Gauge Ikebana Lamp
We enjoy a lot of convenient tools today that make it trivial to do things like measuring pieces of wood. In the old days before measuring tapes and meters, however, people had to make use of rather complicated tools that involved a wooden rod sliding inside a a block. This measuring gauge, though crude, created a rather interesting form that was not that different from a piece of art, which is exactly what inspired this rather geometric lamp design.
Taking inspiration from both this outdated tool as well as a Japanese art of floral arrangement, Hirotaka Tako designed a table lamp that similarly used the concept of inserting a long thin stick into something bigger. He likened the wooden rods to a flower stem inside a vase, exactly like an Ikebana arrangement. The result is a table lamp that is both functional and artistic, inspired by a tool that was anything but.
James Melia: Timber Basket Pendant Lamp
We take for granted the materials used to create modern products these days, not to mention the methods for making them. Today, we have machines that can print almost any shape imaginable, but past generations had to do things by hand, using stubborn and difficult materials. The rope patterns used to keep a timber basket together, for example, offered not only structural stability but also an interesting visual, one that can add a bit of a flair to an otherwise normal object.
James Melia takes a hanging lamp’s power cord and stitches it along the length of its shade, creating a row of diagonal stripes that turns a plain lamp into an art object. That same cord is used to actually hang the lamp from a ceiling, reducing the number of parts involved in designing the lamp and creating a simpler and more sustainable design.
John Tree and Neal Feay: Tea Ladle Turntable
The Japanese are famed for their minimalist tools which are an art form in their own right. A simple scoop for tea powder, for example, takes the form of a bamboo ladle with a distinct charm. Though today’s tea lovers will probably use different tools, this traditional object still remains a staple in Japanese culture today as well as practices that recreate it. To some extent, it’s almost like the venerable turntable that has seen a renaissance and is getting some use even today.
This optical turntable takes that delicate-looking bamboo tea ladle and transforms it into a turntable arm that preserves that spirit of gentleness. Rather than using a sharp pin to read the grooves of the platter, it uses light to avoid any physical contact and help preserve the vinyl material. It’s a gentle and delicate spin on a classic retro design, no pun intended.
Jon Marshall: Whisk Candelabra
Today’s whisks are light, compact, and handy tools that use a few loops of bendable wire or plastic, a design that’s so far removed from the coiling iron wires of much older versions of the kitchen tool. Looking more like springs or even weapons, this antique whisk form isn’t very efficient at what it’s meant to do, but it admittedly looks novel and interesting to our modern eyes.
It might not make scrambled eggs, but this candelabra will definitely bring a bit of delight to your dinner table. The spiraling form of the base and the tight coils of the candle holder make for an interesting visual, but it’s when the candles are lit and the shadows dance that this rather luxurious-looking light fixture truly comes alive.
Julie Richoz: Balance Bird Balancing Lighter
Kids tend to find science and math lessons boring until they encounter puzzles and feats that really blow their minds. Something as simple as a perfectly balanced eagle held up only by its beak is sure to pique curiosity, even those of adults. This ingeniously disguised pendulum is not an uncommon toy or desk ornament, but the same principles can be used to the same effect for other objects, including more utilitarian ones.
A lighter standing only one of its corners is definitely going to make you the talk of the party, and it provides not only an entertaining piece of decoration but also practical use. It will be easy to see if the lighter is missing from its base, and people who use it will be more likely to put it back on its perch just to marvel at its balancing act. It’s a very simple twist to a simple object but one that has a nontrivial effect on those who see it, all thanks to some inspiration from old objects we have taken for granted.
Maddalena Casadei: Mallet Flashlight
Most of us who have done any sort of handiwork may have used a hammer at one point in time or another. There are different kinds of hammers, of course, and one such type is the mallet. Often made with a heavy head to pound things flat, some old-school mallets would reverse the typical hammer design and use a steel rod handle with a wooden block for the head.
Maddalena Casadei took that raw-looking industrial metal handle to turn it into a cylindrical flashlight with similarly brutalist aesthetics. Instead of the wooden head, it has a small removable cone that serves as a diffuser for the light. On the opposite end is a flattened section with a hook that serves the same purpose as the hammer from decades ago: hanging the tool from walls or rods. It’s a rather interesting depiction of a flashlight that sheds off all the sleek and luxurious designs of its modern equivalents, embracing the utilitarian character of its inspiration.
This year we got a chance to experience the London Design Festival! Currently, in its 22nd edition, the festival takes place on 14-22 September in London. It celebrates London as a design capital of the world while presenting a series of exhibitions and installations that explore design through different mediums such as light, materials, sounds, and more. Designers and creators from around the world showcased dynamic and fluid installations such as ‘Light in Motion’, where light was explored, or the Materials Matter fair where the importance of materials, and how they impact us was focused upon. We’ve picked out the Top 5 installations and designs from the London Design Festival that we loved experiencing. We hope you love them too!
1. Light In Motion by Acrylicize
This stunning inaugural exhibition by Acrylicize is called ‘Light in Motion’ and it is running at the London Design Festival this year. It celebrates the fluid and dynamic interplay of light and form, diving deep into its bond with space, time, and movement. Twelve artists, designers, and engineers showcased their work, manipulating light to adopt a sculptural form, allowing it to move across walls and rejuvenate spaces. The displayed works are an effort to bring focus on the quality of light, and how it can be moved and perceived. “Each practitioner has approached light and motion from a unique perspective and with a different relationship to time. Yet there is a sense of continuity between the works,” said the curators.
The installation ‘10,000 Tiny Suns’ by Generative Optics experiments with light as a medium and subject. It includes an intricate and impressive assembly of compound lenses, interconnected through a fibrous framework, which ushers and manipulates the path of light. It is made using advanced 3D-printed lenses, caustics, and algorithms. Designed by Relative Distance, a London-based studio, Phase is a long-form timepiece that showcases the details of the moon’s surface, via an artful use of light and glass. The surreal installation replicates natural moonlight, forming a unique and immersive experience.
2. Design You Can Feel by ASUS
ASUS’s Design You Can Feel Exhibition is open to the public till 22nd September, and it is one to check out. Centered around the material ‘Ceraluminim’, which was used by ASUS to develop its Zenbook laptops, the exhibit explores not only this material but also intricate topics such as craftsmanship and artificial intelligence. Ceralumin boasts a light and durable tactility, merging the qualities of both aluminum and ceramics, making it a one-of-a-kind material with a surreal nature-inspired aesthetic. Six product and industrial design studios were selected to express the various qualities of Ceralumin through furniture, lighting, and installation design.
British designer Giles Miller built a stunning floor-to-ceiling sensory installation comprising 1800 pieces. Thick timber petals were positioned astonishingly and artfully, allowing them to rotate, and resulting in seamless rhythmic patterns. South Korean design studio Niceworkshop created the Aluminum Formwork (AL-FORM) series – a collection of solid seating and tables built from old skyscraper formwork. The collection’s lounge chair was ceramized by ASUS, making it one of the first products to feature Ceralumin, besides the Zenbook laptops.
3. SPECTRUM by 2LG Studio
Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead teamed up to form the 2LG studio, and this year they’re completing 10 years of collaboration. To celebrate their years of creation and innovation together, they partnered up with the London-based hotel Hart Shoreditch to present the immersive exhibition ‘SPECTRUM’. Through Spectrum they are creating a sensory journey within the hotel, setting up a series of vibrant and colorful interventions. They are “exploring human and personal connections to color, evoking memories and inviting conversations.”
The hotel is based on a theme of ‘joyful minimalism’, and various products have been reimagined intriguingly and colorfully. The creations include a reincarnation of a rug by Floor Story in the form of a large-scale moiré using AI filters in a rainbow spectrum. Other pieces involve an eight-minute soundscape written with the composer Quentin LaChapele and a wraparound video piece by digital artist Lucy Hardcastle.
4. Material Matters
50 acclaimed brands, designers, makers, and organizations have contributed to creating the Material Matters fair on the iconic Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf on London’s Southbank. The fair attempts to celebrate the significance of materials, and the myriad ways in which they shape and affect our lives. It includes five floors flooded with products, installations, curated exhibitor spaces, and an extensive talks program too. It dwells deeply into how the design world can address problems regarding the circular economy, and how material intelligence makes a difference to our lives.
The FIBER FUTURES exhibition showcases eight different approaches to alternative resource streams, innovative spinning techniques, and bio-manufacturing, as well as opening up new pathways for real change. It is led by Adidas AG and RWTH Aachen University. The Locally Grown installation is an interactive one, and it explores hair as a new material, highlighting its great potential. Led by Studio Sanne Visser, this project focuses on the development of human hair as a super-scale regenerative material.
5. Pavilions of Wonder by Nina Tolstrup
Nina Tolstrup designed and set up three immersive pavilions on the Strand as a part of the London Design Festival. The impressive structures are inspired by Barbie Dreamhouses and Palm Springs’ mid-century modern architecture. She teamed up with Barbie creators Mattel and the tourism agency Visit Greater Palm Springs to bring the installation to life. Named the Pavilions of Wonder, the pavilions are a tribute to the whimsical and vibrant design of Barbie’s Dreamhouse, while nudging at the desert modernism of Palm Spring’s architectural style.
The Playful Pauses Pavilion is inspired by the Palm Springs City Hall and Tramway Gas Station. The gas station was taken as a source of inspiration for previous Barbie Dreamhouses as well. It features a simple metal grid, and a pointed roof, accentuated by kaleidoscopic circles which have been crafted from painted drainage tubes. The Design Stories Pavilion is made from CNC-cut plywood connected by a metal scaffold grid system that can be disassembled when needed. The structure merges the design philosophy of straight swimming pools with the geometric signage typically seen in Palm Springs.
ASUS has long been recognized for its forward-thinking approach to technological innovation. With Ceraluminum, the company shifts focus, moving beyond performance metrics and engaging users on a sensory and emotional level. At the “Design You Can Feel” exhibition during the London Design Festival, ASUS presented this unique material in an artistic context, blending technology, material science, and human-centered design. This exhibition explored how technology doesn’t need to feel cold or distant but can foster emotional engagement and tactile experiences that draw users in.
Designer: ASUS
At the core of this shift is Ceraluminum, a revolutionary material that merges aluminum’s structural benefits with the tactile qualities of ceramic. With its four-year development, this material represents a significant leap forward in the functionality and aesthetics of ASUS’s products. Ceraluminum invites users to touch, explore, and experience their devices in a more intimate, human-centered way. It’s a breakthrough that combines art and technology, reshaping how we engage with our tech.
Ceraluminum: A Material with Presence
Ceraluminum reflects ASUS’s focus on creating materials that enhance functionality while fostering a more personal and tactile user experience. From my interpretation of their design philosophy, ASUS aims to develop materials that resonate emotionally with users, evoking a sense of warmth and connection—without suggesting metaphysical attributes like having a soul. Unlike traditional metals that feel cold and impersonal, Ceraluminum exudes warmth and tactility. It absorbs light and reduces glare while offering a textured, matte finish that invites interaction. Chief Design Officer Mitch Yang elaborated on the significance of this during the panel discussions, emphasizing that the texture and feel of Ceraluminum are key to fostering a deeper connection between users and their devices.
Developed through a unique micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process, Ceraluminum begins as lightweight aluminum and is transformed into a hybrid material through a high-voltage plasma discharge. This creates a ceramic oxide layer that maintains aluminum’s strength and lightness but offers ceramic’s hardness, scratch resistance, and tactile warmth. This unique combination gives ASUS’s devices a distinctive feel and presence, setting them apart from the sea of cold, reflective metal gadgets on the market.
Yang explained further, “Ceraluminum allows us to create devices that don’t just look good but feel meaningful to the touch. It changes how users interact with their technology, inviting them to explore the material with their hands, not just their eyes.”
SUSA: Embodying Calm Technology
At the center of the “Design You Can Feel” exhibition was SUSA, a conceptual AI-powered device designed by London-based Future Facility. This device embodies ASUS’s philosophy of calm technology, where tech is designed to be intuitive, unobtrusive, and calming rather than overstimulating. Encased entirely in Ceraluminum, SUSA represents the potential of this material to facilitate more mindful, tactile interactions with technology.
SUSA’s design is deliberately minimalist. It features a perforated screen that subtly filters its digital display, minimizing distractions while maintaining core functionalities such as photography, navigation, and calls. By encouraging users to engage with the physical object rather than becoming consumed by the screen, SUSA promotes a more intentional relationship with technology.
Leo Leitner, a designer at Future Facility, explained this during the panel discussion, stating, “SUSA is a reflection of how we can rethink the role of digital devices in our lives. By using Ceraluminum, we create a product that feels more natural and calming. It’s about slowing down, encouraging the user to focus on what’s important rather than being overwhelmed by constant notifications.”
Kim Colin, also from Future Facility, expanded on this by adding, “The tactile nature of Ceraluminum allowed us to create a product that feels inviting and grounded. It shifts the focus from what the device can do to how it feels when used. That tactile warmth is crucial to fostering a more mindful, human-centric interaction.”
SUSA is more than a concept. It represents a future where technology is integrated into our lives in ways that promote mental well-being, offering a calming influence rather than a constant source of overstimulation.
Collaborations with Global Designers: Ceraluminum Through the Eyes of Art
The “Design You Can Feel” exhibition also served as a platform for international designers to reinterpret and manipulate Ceraluminum in their own creative ways, showcasing its versatility beyond traditional tech applications. By inviting leading artists and designers to explore the material, ASUS highlighted how Ceraluminum can inspire new forms of user interaction. Each designer’s work emphasized tactile engagement and explored how material science can evoke emotional responses while remaining functional.
Giles Miller Studio (UK) approached Ceraluminum from a design perspective that blurred the lines between industrial application and artistic expression. Miller’s work focused on transforming the surface texture of Ceraluminum, turning it into a canvas for intricate patterns and reliefs. By manipulating its reflective qualities, Miller demonstrated how Ceraluminum could become a material that protects and decorates, elevating everyday technology into something more visually dynamic.
Designer: Giles Miller Studio
The studio used light to reveal hidden details in the material, inviting users to interact with their devices in new ways. Miller explained during the panel that they wanted to capture the subtle shifts in light as users moved their devices, turning a practical surface into an artistic experience. “Ceraluminum gave us the ability to create a surface that changes with the viewer’s movement, transforming the device from an object of utility into something more engaging,” Miller noted. This emphasis on the material’s light-reflecting properties invited deeper emotional engagement, making the device feel more personal.
Natural Material Studio (Denmark) took an organic approach to Ceraluminum, focusing on its ability to mimic natural textures. Their contribution aimed to highlight the material’s matte finish and tactile softness, drawing inspiration from natural elements like stone and sand. By working with Ceraluminum’s porosity, they created objects that felt grounded and familiar, offering a contrast to the typically sleek, hard surfaces of most technology.
Designer: Natural Material Studio
The goal was to craft a sensory experience that reminded users of nature. Their work emphasized the tactile qualities of Ceraluminum, offering an experience that felt like the material had been shaped by natural forces rather than human technology. “We wanted the object to feel as if it had always existed—like a pebble-shaped by the sea,” the studio shared during the exhibit. Their designs provided a sense of calm, reinforcing ASUS’s broader mission to create technology that connects users to the natural world while still harnessing advanced materials.
Nice Workshop (South Korea) explored the application of Ceraluminum in larger-scale objects with their “Aluminium Formwork Series”. Moving away from electronics, they demonstrated how Ceraluminum could be used in furniture design by applying ASUS’s ceramicization process to aluminum forms. This process resulted in furniture pieces with a textured, stone-like finish that invited touch and interaction. Founder Hyunseog Oh said their goal was to make aluminum—a traditionally cold, hard material—feel softer and more approachable.
Designer: Nice Workshop
Their work showed how Ceraluminum’s unique texture could be adapted to everyday objects, making them more inviting and user-friendly. “We wanted people to feel comfortable interacting with furniture in the same way they interact with their devices,” said Oh. This exploration of Ceraluminum’s versatility in non-tech applications expanded the material’s potential, proving it could enhance electronics and the physical spaces we inhabit.
Fernando Laposse (Mexico) brought a sustainability-focused lens to the exhibition, concentrating on how Ceraluminum could be repurposed and recycled to reduce environmental impact. Known for his work with natural fibers, Laposse saw potential in Ceraluminum’s longevity and durability. He explored how the material could be integrated into sustainable design practices, offering a responsible alternative to more wasteful production methods.
Designer: Fernando Laposse
Laposse’s work aligned with ASUS’s vision for creating long-lasting products that reduce waste and contribute to a circular economy. By focusing on Ceraluminum’s recyclability, he highlighted its potential to contribute to sustainable design efforts. “Ceraluminum’s strength and durability mean it can be repurposed, not discarded, ensuring that our devices leave a smaller environmental footprint,” Laposse explained. His approach resonated with ASUS’s commitment to sustainability, demonstrating that high-tech materials and responsible design can coexist.
Studio Furthermore (UK) embraced a more experimental approach, pushing Ceraluminum’s potential beyond the traditional limits of material design. Their contribution focused on the material’s transformation through ceramicization, exploring how different textures and surface treatments could evoke new tactile experiences. By experimenting with forms and patterns, Studio Furthermore demonstrated how Ceraluminum could serve as a medium for creative exploration, where users could discover new ways to interact with their devices.
Designer: Studio Furthermore
The studio’s work underscored how Ceraluminum is durable and capable of provoking emotional and tactile connections. By emphasizing the material’s sensory qualities, they invited users to engage more profoundly and rigorously with their devices. “We wanted to encourage users to touch and feel their devices, not just see them as tools,” the studio remarked. Through their experimental processes, Studio Furthermore showcased how Ceraluminum could foster more profound, more meaningful interactions between users and the objects they use every day.
Final Thoughts: A Sensory Future for Technology and Design
ASUS’s “Design You Can Feel” exhibition and the development of Ceraluminum represent a forward-thinking approach to how technology integrates into our lives. With this material, ASUS bridges the gap between the tactile and the technological, offering users an experience that goes beyond performance to touch the soul of design.
Ceraluminum’s durability, tactile warmth, and matte finish go beyond aesthetic choices; they reshape how we interact with devices moving forward. This material reflects ASUS’s commitment to creating devices that resonate emotionally, offering comfort, engagement, and fostering a deeper connection.
Through collaborations with global designers, ASUS has highlighted the potential of Ceraluminum to transform not just technology but how we live, interact, and engage with the objects around us. As we move forward, Ceraluminum is poised to lead a new design wave that prioritizes emotional resonance, environmental responsibility, and the fusion of art with cutting-edge material science.
