#product-design

#product-design

Tech products that double as fashion accessories are becoming increasingly common, but most still look obviously like gadgets trying too hard to be stylish. The best examples manage to blur the line completely, creating objects that feel equally at home in your living room and your wardrobe. Luna Audio, designed by Xia Kai, achieves this balance by reimagining the portable Bluetooth radio as something you'd genuinely want to carry like a handbag.

High-fashion designers partnering with technical outdoor brands used to feel like an odd mismatch, but these collaborations are becoming surprisingly common and genuinely compelling. The latest example comes from an unlikely pairing: The North Face, masters of rugged adventure gear, teaming up with Cecilie Bahnsen, the Danish designer known for romantic, sculptural womenswear that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.

The midsize business category of Fast Company's Innovation by Design Awards honors products, projects, or services by companies with 100 to 999 employees.

I currently have two SodaStreams in my kitchen. The Terra and the Art. From a fizzing perspective, there's really no difference between the two - they both carbonate my water as energetically as I need them to (five pumps, if you're asking). But I have to say the design is another thing altogether - only one brings one of the most influential interior design trends to your kitchen.

Technology has finally learned to be beautiful. Gone are the days when cutting-edge gadgets meant ugly black boxes cluttering our carefully curated homes. Today's most compelling devices disguise their intelligence behind gorgeous materials, sculptural forms, and craftsmanship that rivals museum pieces. The smartest designers now understand that true innovation means creating objects we actually want to live with. Whether it's a clock that turns timekeeping into poetry

Sarah closed her laptop after another marathon day of back-to-back meetings. She glanced at her phone and smiled, a notification from Granola had already transformed her scattered notes from six different calls into beautifully organized summaries. No awkward meeting bots had invaded her calls. No clunky interfaces demanded her attention. The AI had simply worked. Invisibly. Perfectly. This moment captures something profound happening in product design right now: the rise of invisible AI that augments rather than replaces human intelligence.

They were both well received and proved popular with buyers, perhaps helped by their quirky yet super-comfy square shape. Still, many reviewers-myself included-noted that they seemed to lack features like advanced codecs, wear sensors, and customizable controls that came standard on similarly priced alternatives from the big brands. The bigger issue, however, was that the Between 3ANC's noise canceling and sound quality fell short.

Realizing the app had failed the one job it had to do, he began researching the market. He discovered there was no device that worked with the internet and without it. He would go on to launch Harbor, a dedicated device that combines the security of a closed connection with the flexibility of internet features, so anxious parents can check in from anywhere.

(Image credit: Future / Erlingur Einarsson) Yes, this is a post about power strips. Y'know, that necessary but usually Very Boring utility we all need to be able to plug in and use our Actual Nice Stuff. It usually comes in Boring White or Boring Black, with 3 or 4 Boring Main AC Outlets, a Boring Wall Cable and, if you're very

An exercise in reclamation, the ollection by Luca Nichetto for Astep transforms fragments of precious Murano glass into sculptural lighting, elevating what would otherwise be waste back into the realm of high design. The collection reimagines discarded material with a new identity, offering not just a sustainable solution but also an entirely fresh aesthetic. Because of its pigmentation, Murano glass fragments are traditionally considered unrecyclable.

VLND Studio's Arc Water Faucet for kitchen islands is a striking new concept that challenges everything you expect from a drinking water faucet. Rather than following the typical bathroom-style design, Arc was created to stand out and serve a central purpose: delivering clean, purified drinking water with both elegance and innovation. At first glance, Arc is a showstopper. Its graceful, arching silhouette is inspired by the natural flow of water, creating a visual echo of water rising and cascading.

I've come to appreciate loose leaf tea more, as I can really taste how tea is supposed to taste. However, brewing it can sometimes be a bit messy and tedious, so I often end up using tea bags anyway to avoid all the hassle. But if there were a more convenient way of using tea leaves, I'd probably go for it.

These anime-inspired designs don't just slap characters onto existing products, they understand the essence of what makes anime visually and emotionally powerful, whether that's the industrial precision of mecha design, the intriguing storytelling of action series, or the meticulous attention to detail that defines Japanese craftsmanship. From pocket knives that channel Gundam's mechanical complexity to keyboards that transport you directly into apocalyptic battlefields, the designs featured here successfully bridge the gap between anime aesthetics and real-world utility.

Most bottles, cups, glasses, or mugs have a tendency to leave a ring of water/liquid condensate if kept on a surface. It's why we use coasters or table mats, so these rings don't destroy our furniture or leave stains. Except, Michiru's bottle was designed to make those 'stains' desirable. Unlike most bottles that leave rings of water or florets (especially the carbonated bottles), Michiru's Pet Paw Bottle leaves pawprints.

A few days ago, my partner and I received a shopping voucher worth 500K rupiah ($30). At first, it felt exciting. We already had a plan: both of us needed new denim pants, and this voucher would cover it. We agreed on one rule, the total spend shouldn't go beyond 20% above the voucher's value. Simple enough, right? Two days later, after walking through malls, checking store after store, and chasing discounts, we found ourselves exhausted and frustrated.

"Design is the main differentiator in the age of AI," Carl Rivera says. For months, Rivera, Shopify's chief design officer, has been reorienting his team around this idea. And now, with a new acquisition, he's doubling down on his thesis. Rivera announced that Shopify just bought Molly, a small Brooklyn design studio known for its inventive work with brands like Apple, Google, and Nike. Shopify declined to share financial details of the deal.

When I first came to the US a decade ago, I wasn't sure how I'd fit into the job market. I wasn't from here and didn't know the playbook. Through trial and error, I eventually found myself in the then-booming role of UX designer - a job that felt relatable, in demand, and easy to explain to others at the time. Like many in the field, I leaned heavily into the mantra of "data-driven" design. Every choice had to be backed by numbers, validated by user tests, or confirmed by analytics. Every choice had to be backed by numbers, validated by user tests.

The textile industry produces staggering amounts of fabric waste every year, much of which ends up in landfills. But what if these discarded textiles could be given a second chance? In an innovative collaboration with Mobella Galleria, a creative team set out to prove that fabric scraps can be transformed into beautiful, functional pieces for everyday life. By using techniques like shredding, molding, and compression, they have developed playful home decor objects that showcase both sustainability and style.

For decades, walking frames have been a case study in stagnation. They've remained almost unchanged since their invention, functional, yes, but limited in how they adapt to real-world conditions. Traditional frames can be awkward to maneuver on slopes, unstable on rough terrain, and visually uninspiring. More importantly, they often carry a stigma, subtly signaling frailty rather than empowerment. US-based startup Mobilate saw this as a glaring opportunity.

Frameworks like Design Thinking, Jobs-to-be-Done, and the Double Diamond are pitched as means to structure creativity, but they often reduce process to mere theater.

The FIABA tables reflect flowing curves and meticulous detailing, inspired by the name of a bird, showcasing the brand's unique design philosophy.

Design patterns have evolved over time. They've been tested, refined, adopted, and improved - across platforms, products, and industries. And more importantly, users are familiar with them.

Project Scribe by Urban Circles introduces a thermal printer designed to print tangible 'receipts' of thoughts, memories, and daily achievements, encouraging mindfulness.