For people who use external keyboards for their work and gaming needs, it’s a great time to be alive as we’re seeing a lot of really cool and fun designs that you can mix and match so you won’t easily get bored when you’re staring at your computer screen most of the day. There are even keyboards that are specifically for gaming and now, we’re even seeing keyboards dedicated to just one game. It might seem like a bit too much but for fans of a specific game who play it obsessively, it’s a fun addition to the gaming experience.
Designer: Wooting
osu! is a hugely popular free-to-play game that is pretty simple in its gameplay but also grows increasingly more difficult the more you play it, hence the challenge. There are only a few basic moves as you try to follow the beat and rhythm of the game so you don’t need a lot of complicated accessories. But if you want a keyboard that’s dedicated to a game that you play a lot, then the UwU keyboard is for you.
Basically, it’s a three-keyed board that is meant specifically to play osu! There are three variations that are available in its recently launched founders campaign. The basic model, which comes in a cream base color with a navy stripe and pink highlights, includes the base model board, a braided USB cable, an analogue lekker switch, and four collectible keycaps. The Wooting UwU RGB has RGB lighting and an additional travell case. The last variation is the Wooting UwU RGB Stealth edition which is basically a black colored keyboard.
Obviously, this keyboard will mean nothing to you if you’re not playing osu!, although it is pretty cute on its own. Well, if you find uwu things cute. But if you want to also see what all the fuss is about in this popular rhythm game, then you can start playing it first and then see if the keyboard is something you want to add to your paraphernalia.
Nestled in the bustling and hectic city of Bangkok is an adorable coffee shop called the Double Slash // Coffee Space. Designed by Spacy Architecture, the cafe is inspired by the international style that grew popular during the Art Deco period in the 1930s. The cafe borrowed the period’s aerodynamic design, functioning as a space that is simple yet free-flowing and dynamic. It is marked by flowy lines and seamless movements.
The coffee shop is fitted into a horizontal framework with a minimal, clean, and tassel-free design. It is devoid of unnecessary ornamentations and is defined by flowy curving forms and angular planning orientation. The structure is topped by a flat roof, with glass panels and floating corners, creating a clear connection between the interiors and the exteriors. The transparent facade of the cafe makes the space seem cozy and homely, and the interiors are bright and warm, which instantly invite you in for a cup of joe. The light installed within the cafe is indirect, so it doesn’t seem too harsh or uncomfortable.
The floor features a two-toned oblique pattern, and the interior and exterior seating areas are separated via a discreet glass panel. The connected wood tables create a visual connection between the indoor and outdoor sections. Concrete finishings on the counter and wooden elements provide a raw naturality to the space. The original space was founded by an industrial designer who spent years practicing forest tradition in Isan, Thailand. “Double Slash” comes from what he usually uses to create space amongst his ideas while working. These parallel oblique lines are not only the common written symbols used by him, but they also symbolize flow, movement, and continuity.
The intention and aim behind designing this tranquil coffee shop was to create a cafe that serves as a space of contemplation and mindfulness in the otherwise chaotic city of Bangkok. It attempts to provide the citizens of Bangkok with a quaint spot to relax, unwind, and grab a cuppa. The visual language and brand identity of the cafe were created to support this persona – one of peace, fluidity, and spaciousness.
Due to their sheer volume, consumer electronics, and especially mobile devices, might be one of the biggest contributors to the Earth’s demise. It is impossible at this point to turn back the clock or even quit cold turkey and give up these modern conveniences, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to mitigate their harmful effects. Some major brands have started switching to more sustainable materials, whether in packaging or in the devices themselves. Those aren’t the only opportunities for improvement, though, and this collaboration between Samsung and artist and designer Jaden Smith demonstrates how mobile accessories can also benefit from sustainable design while still being fashionable and eye-catching as any design can be.
Mobile accessories like cases and watch straps might even be bigger offenders when it comes to pollution and carbon emissions because they’re so cheap to make, especially when you use plastic materials. People usually go through them quickly and throw them away without a second thought. It doesn’t have to be like that, of course, but it takes intentional and conscientious actions to change for the better.
Samsung’s 2023 collection of eco-conscious accessories serves as a testament to how you don’t have to sacrifice quality and beauty for sustainability, as some might incorrectly presume. The set utilizes a variety of styles popularized by Jaden Smith’s clothing label, MSFTSrep (“misfits republic”), and showcases a variety of unique designs that express a vibrant and perhaps even rebellious spirit.
The MSFTSrep Trippy Summer Spiral and Wavy Rainbow, for example, bring a splash of color to cases for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Although less flamboyant, the MSFTSrep Classic and Snowprint Galaxy Buds 2 Pro case and Galaxy Watch strap still carry distinct marks that celebrate the owner’s individuality and uniqueness.
The most important aspect of these fashionable accessories, however, is the fact that they use sustainable materials, both in their construction as well as they’re packaging. They use a combination of partially degradable plastic as well as TPU that contains recycled material from Samsung’s own manufacturing process waste. The products are also packaged in recycled paper with card stock printed using vegetable ink. Created to celebrate Earth Day next week, these designs try to send a message that being sustainable is now fashionable, and, fortunately, major brands are finally making it easier to get these products into the hands of the masses.
I love pasta, and I think most of the general population does, and whoever doesn’t is probably an alien from outer space. Soft chewy carbs that pair perfectly with two of my favorite things on earth – cheese, and wine! I mean, come on, pasta is quite literally perfection. And I guess Norwegian designer Lars Beller Fjetland had the same opinion because pasta is the inspiration for his newest furniture design – the Bello! bench.
Fjetland designed the Bello! bench for the aluminum producer Hydro. And what was his muse for this piece? You got it right – pasta, or to be more precise penne rigate! Informed by the design and form of pasta, the Bello! bench is a versatile piece of furniture that can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s been created from nearly ninety percent recycled and hundred percent recyclable aluminum.
Fjetland was inspired by a piece of penne rigate, which is responsible for the ridged and textured surface of Bello! “The subtle ridges add so much value – you just have to run your fingers across the surface. These tactile discoveries mean so much to me,” said the designer. Aluminum extrusion was used to produce the bench, a process that involves the heating of metal through a hole, that is shaped in the desired form. The process is quite similar to the way pasta shapes are created!
“With this design, I really wanted to emphasize the possibilities of extruded aluminum. It is very much a culmination of everything I appreciate – from the planes, trains, and buses that were designed in the 1930s–1970s, to brutalist architecture and, last but not least, pasta,” said Fjetland. Since aluminum was the material of choice for Bello!, this instantly makes the bench sturdy, strong, and durable and not to mention lightweight. It can be used in places with high traffic such as public transportation hubs. It can be customized and modified to incorporate tables, lamps, or chargers since it does not have an internal support structure. The bench is not available currently, but it will be released at Norway’s annual Milan design week showcase, so keep an eye out for it!
Architecture studio Sheft Farrace has renovated a loft apartment in Los Angeles’ iconic Eastern Columbia building, subtly incorporating colours from the art deco exterior into the minimalist interiors.
The studio renovated the loft while drawing details from the exterior of the 13-storey building in Downtown Los Angeles, known for its highly detailed turquoise facade and clock tower, which was designed by Claud Beelman and completed in 1930.
Sheft Farrace chose to divide up the loft, yet retain visual connections through framed openings
It was converted into lofts in 2006, and local studio Sheft Farrace was recently tasked with renovating one of the condos for a young creative from Kazakhstan.
“Uninspired by the unit’s original 2006 layout and interiors, the owner wanted it to feel like a brand new space — so Sheft Farrace approached it as a blank canvas,” said the studio, led by Alex Sheft and John Farrace.
The pared-down decor contrasts the building’s colourful exterior
The apartment has tall ceilings, and their height is accentuated by the building’s long narrow windows and floor-to-ceiling drapery.
Rather than keep the open floor plan, the studio chose to divide up the space to help define areas for different functions.
The ceiling height is accentuated by tall windows and floor-to-ceiling drapery
However, the visual connections between the kitchen and dining room, and the living room and bedroom, are retained by large framed openings used in place of doors.
“Every space has its own character, based on what time of day it is and how the natural light comes in through the full-height windows,” said Sheft Farrace.
For the most part, the home is decorated in a much more pared-down style than the building’s opulent exterior, primarily with soft neutral hues and sparse furnishings.
Certain material choices in the kitchen and bathroom tie much more closely to the colourful facades, including white oak, Verde Aver marble, and Florida Brush quartzite to echo the orange, green and blue exterior tiles.
Materials like white oak and Florida Brush quartzite in the kitchen nod to the art deco exterior
The curved corners of the kitchen counters and elongated cabinet hardware also evoke 1930s design.
“Upon first glance, it’s stylistically in stark contrast with the historical building that it’s within, but throughout the space are subtle nods to the art deco exterior and ultimately, it feels like it belongs,” Sheft Farrace said. “We felt honored to have contributed a small chapter to the long and storied history of a Los Angeles landmark.”
In the bathroom, Verde Aver marble was also chosen to reference the historic tiled facades
Downtown Los Angeles has dramatically transformed from a no-go zone to a popular and thriving neighbourhood over the past 20 years.
This shift is partially thanks to the opening of cultural institutions like Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall and Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s The Broad museum, as well as a spate of high-end hotels.
Located near the town of Český Těšín, Czech Republic, and designed to function as a little resting spot for visitors of the Hrabinka Lake is an adorable-looking building called the Tea House Pavilion. The Tea House Pavilion was designed by Slovakian studio Grau Architects and is a lantern-like structure with Japanese design influences. It functions as a space that provides respite and rest to those who want to relax after spending some time at the lake, or simply gaze at it while having a seat.
The pavilion was built using spruce, plywood, and white fabric, and is a modern reinterpretation of traditional Japanese architecture. This is evident in the use of materials, and the simple yet intricate form of the structure. It features a low table at its center, which can be utilized for quaint tea ceremonies, or some much-needed alone time. The spruce wood used in the construction of the pavilion was locally sourced, which allows the pavilion to harmoniously blend into the landscape surrounding it, while also helping to maintain an efficient budget. “We decided to use a subtle spruce profile from a local source, aligning the design, our own requirements, budget, and the current market offer, which was also significantly limited after the Covid-19 pandemic. Wood ages naturally and we naturally accept it,” said Grau Architects.
Occupying nine square meters, the lower part of the building is clad in plywood, while the upper half is covered in a thin white fabric. The pavilion was inspired by traditional tea houses, and it can be used for tea ceremonies, but it is primarily reserved as a resting place. “The pavilion was designed for unknown visitors but at the same time for anybody who would like to take time by the river and contemplate for a while,” said the studio.
The pavilion’s floor plan is in the shape of a square, and measures three by three meters, which is sufficient space for six people to sit around a low table. At night, the pavilion lights up, giving a beautiful lantern-like vibe. “The subtle and light open construction refers to traditional Japanese interiors but brings modern elements into it,” the studio concluded.
Located in the suburb of South Yarra, the house on St Martins Lane has been expanded with a three-storey rear extension to better accommodate the needs of the family living there.
Matt Gibson Architecture + Design has extended a Victorian home in Melbourne
The house occupies a long, thin site at the end of a row of Victorian terraces that are surrounded by low-rise warehouses and townhouses.
To preserve the heritage of the home, Matt Gibson Architecture + Design has retained several of its original elements including its street-facing Victorian facade.
It has a faceted form clad in black metal
“[The house is] a case study in vertical family living on a confined site,” explained the studio.
“[It addresses] issues of densification and growing population demand whilst adaptively reusing and retaining key heritage fabric.”
A new entrance has been created on the adjacent lane
As part of the project, Matt Gibson Architecture + Design shifted the home’s main entrance from the street edge to a cobbled lane that runs down the side of the plot.
This new entry point sits towards the centre of the site and is marked internally with a glazed stair that bridges the existing house to the sculptural extension.
The old part of the house has been updated with a new kitchen
“The stair has full view of the laneway, activating it and providing a level of security and community connection,” said Matt Gibson Architecture + Design.
The placement of this staircase also divides the home into two wings – one old and one new.
Inside, the old part of the house has been updated with a new kitchen and a main bedroom suite, while the extension contains a living space, two bedrooms, a study and cascading terraces.
The two wings are distinguished externally by their contrasting material finishes, including white-painted brick and intricate wooden filigree on the old Victorian house, and the faceted black laser-cut metal facade of the extension.
The extension contains the living space
Perforations in the metal make reference to the original architecture of the house and allow light and ventilation into the bedrooms while providing privacy.
A sliding gate reveals a path of mossy stones that lead from the cobbled lane to an enclosed porch of black metal and marble. The porch gives views through to the living space and garden beyond and contains a monolithic door that opens into a tiled hallway featuring the main staircase.
There are a series of outdoor spaces
The ground floor is given over to generous communal spaces. This includes a kitchen of blackened wood and dark marble in the old part of the house and a bright living room in the new wing with a sculptural concrete stair leading to a basement library.
Both the kitchen and living room are bookended by enclosed outdoor spaces with green borders.
A rooftop deck crowns the home
On the upper floors of the home are the family’s bedrooms and the outdoor terraces overlooking the trees beyond the site. A warm wood-panelled stair from the second floor leads to a roof deck that crowns the extension.
“Through arranging the building vertically there is an increase in outdoor space coverage to now over 50 per cent of the site area,” said Gibson. “Previously [it was] 10 per cent.”
Our latest lookbook compiles residential living rooms that have been given an air of playfulness through their use of the three primary colours.
In design, the primary colours are yellow, blue and red. They usually appear in this context as strong cobalt blues, vivid sunshine yellows and intense fire-engine reds.
This trio of colours is prevalent throughout design history and can be seen in paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and suspended mobiles by American sculptor Alexander Calder.
They are often used when designing products for children due to the visually stimulating nature of their bright, dense hues.
In interior design, they have a similarly invigorating effect, whether applied directly to structural elements such as walls and columns or found in soft furnishings and accessories.
They primary colours help to bring energy into living areas both when used in isolation and when appearing in tandem with one another.
Vibrant pops of blue, yellow and red are set against a neutral backdrop of white walls and terrazzo stone floors in the living room of this mid-century one-bedroom apartment in Rome.
The space represents the distilled interior scheme devised by Italian architecture practice La Macchina Studio that characterises the apartment, which is also home to floor-to-ceiling citrus-toned curtains and bright blue doorways.
A monochromatic red colour scheme dominates both the exterior and interior of this rural house near Barcelona designed by Spanish design studio Arquitectura-G.
The split-level living space features a rhythm of striking red-painted columns and ceiling-height cupboard doors combined with rosy clay tiles.
Red House in Dorset, England, was given its name by David Kohn Architects in reference to its red brick facade, however, splashes of the colour also appear throughout its eclectic interior.
Primary coloured furnishings – including a blue rug and footstool, red wall hanging and yellow upholstered armchair – are dotted around the living space, offset by white-painted cinderblock walls and warm wooden accents.
Renovated by Mumbai-based studio The Act of Quad, this apartment in the Indian city of Thane is defined by its consistent use of cobalt blue in an otherwise neutral interior.
Soothing splashes of the colour appear in pieces of bespoke furniture – including hemispherical and spherical inclusions on light fittings and tables – and line the inside of a wall-mounted drinks cabinet.
Blue, yellow and red are seen in both full saturation and muted hues on walls, ceilings, soft furnishings and furniture, creating a colourful yet cohesive interior.
Spanish studio Arquitectura-G used a colour palette governed by shades of yellow in its refurbishment of this apartment in Barcelona.
The living space contains a sunny yellow modular sofa and matching kitchenette, with the spaces united by a backdrop of small golden wall tiles, a honey-coloured wooden floor and white plasterwork.
Beijing-based architecture practice Crossboundaries reconfigured the interior of a houseboat moored in Berlin, which features modular furniture and storage solutions all finished in either red or yellow in reference to the Chinese imperial colours.
An adaptable living area onboard contains a lemon-yellow sofa that folds away to support a double bed, as well as a cantilevered desk integrated into a wall panel that can be stowed away when not in use.
Graphic primary-coloured details are scattered around this 56-square-metre subterranean apartment in Athens renovated by local architecture studio Point Supreme.
The rough concrete walls and ceilings of the small living area are contrasted by red items – including a bench and window panes – as well as a trio of deep blue flags suspended in the entryway.
This apartment in Stockholm, which was renovated by local studio Lookofsky Architecture, is designed around a multifunctional wall that snakes through the interior.
In the living area, the zesty yellow structure contains a sofa snuggled inside an extruded frame, accompanied by integrated shelving and matching golden upholstery.
Australian design studio Amber Road worked with colour consultants Lymesmith on this house in suburban Sydney, which is charactertised by its excessive use of colour.
The aptly named Polychrome House is finished in a kaleidoscopic spectrum of colours, including in its living room where a wall mural of abstract shapes featuring red, blue and yellow is echoed by red and blue seating.
Called Prada Caffè, the pop-up eatery is accessed through a mint-green latticed storefront and is located at the corner of Hans Road in London.
Its interior colour scheme was informed by Milan’s iconic Pasticceria Marchesi and also nods to the green hue that Prada is known for.
In other fashion news, iconic British designer Mary Quant died on Thursday, aged 93. She is credited with popularising the mini skirt during the 1960s.
Dezeen’s design and environment editor Jennifer Hahn will ask architects, designers and engineers about how they can harness their skills to work more sustainably.
In architecture news, Foster + Partners and engineering firm Arup revealed designs for a series of west-coast stations that will link “America’s first high-speed rail segment” – the California High-Speed Rail, which is currently under development.
The four planned stations will be located in the cities of Merced, Fresno, Tulare and Bakersfield and serve as models for future stations.
Dezeen’s features editor Nat Barker spoke to Philippe-Emmanuel Jean, head of concepts at car brand Peugeot, who said that city cars could become smaller thanks to advances in electrification technology in this exclusive interview.
According to Jean, swapping conventional internal combustion engines for chargeable batteries, which are reducing in size, will increasingly allow car manufacturers to produce spacious interiors in smaller vehicles.
Called Nanoplant and Nanocartridges, the prototypes enable users to create their own solid-state hydrogen to power cars as well as other heavy-duty vehicles like trucks.
I appreciate when products are functional and no-nonsense at the same time. What else do I say about a modular, multi-functional set of cube-based lights that are quite simply called Cube? Meet the Yeelight Cubes, a set of magnetic, modular, and IoT-controlled lights that can be used for a variety of scenarios. Whether you’re a gamer or YouTuber looking to RGB-ify your space, a film nerd who’d like a backlight for your TV so your wall can color-match your movies, an audiophile who wants his room’s lighting to vibe to his music selection, or just an IoT enthusiast who wants to tinker with modular lights to build out different smart home products, the Cube’s laundry-list of features has something for you. With three cube variants – a Matrix Cube or text and symbols, a Panel Cube for lights and gradients, and a Spotlight Cube for shining light on surfaces like your wall, the Yeelight Cubes give you the ability to build out your lighting rig. Each cube comes with a modular design featuring pogo pin connectors and magnets that let you snap cubes together. A base unit lets you connect your creation to a power source, and mobile and desktop apps give you immense amounts of control over your newly built lighting setup. See? Functional and no-nonsense…
Designer: Yeelight
Click Here to Buy Now: $198$310 (36% off) Standard Kit with 4 Matrix Cubes + 1 Panel Cube + 1 Spotlight Cube + 1 Base & Adapter Hurry! Just 7 days left!
The Yeelight Cubes are both customizable and incredibly capable, with their ability to transform into just the kind of light you’re looking for. The standard bundle of cubes comes with 4 matrix cubes, a panel cube, and a spotlight cube (like the setup shown above), letting you build out basic tools like a clock, music equalizer, notification machine, or any other type of device you want. Add additional cubes to the mix and you can get even more complex with your creations, building out 8-bit signboards, massive RGB ambient lights, or an entire discotheque setup that responds in real time to the music you play. That cheap Tiktok sunset lamp has nothing on the Cube’s dynamism and range of possibilities.
The three cubes form the framework for the Yeelight modular system. Like if LEGO met light!
What makes these lights more interesting than your average household LED bulb is their ability to be just the kind of lights you want them to be. Not only do you get to snap them together piece by piece to build the arrangement you need, you can activate/toggle them in a variety of ways. If you’re looking for just ambient colors, there’s a bunch of themes on the app. A DIY painter lets you paint each individual pixel on the Matrix block, and smartphone and desktop apps let you configure the Cube lights to work just how you want them to. Moreover, the Yeelight Cubes are IoT-ready and Matter-compatible, which means they can integrate into your smart home ecosystem of Matter-enabled products, and can be even activated via voice commands.
Immensely configurable thanks to its desktop Yeelight Station program and the smartphone app, the Yeelight Cubes can be programmed to do things like mirror the colors on your monitor/screen, react to music playing on your smart speakers, or even respond to your gameplay by connecting to it through programs like Razer Chroma or Overwolf. The smartphone app lets you tap into a variety of presets and dynamic themes, including giving you the ability to customize color and LED-paint the Cubes with your own colors, gradients, and shapes. The app even gives you simple controls to turn your Cube arrays into table clocks, calendars, and more.
Setting up your Cubes are a breeze as they simply snap and orient just the way you want them to. Given their power requirements, you can snap a maximum of 6 cubes to one base unit and plug them into an outlet. Any additional cubes will require an extra base and a secondary power outlet. You can then hop onto the Yeelight Station desktop app or the smartphone app to set your modules up to behave the way you want, or integrate them with your smart-home thanks to its Matter certification. Compliance with the Matter IoT standard makes the Yeelight Cube compatible with home assistants like Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, and more. The Yeelight Cubes run Bluetooth 5.1 and 2,4GHz WiFi to give them their broad connectivity.
Unlike other smart light solutions from brands like Nanoleaf, Govee, or Philips Hue, the Yeelight Cubes boast a kind of versatility and modularity that’s difficult to achieve otherwise. With matrix, panel, and even spotlight cube variants, you can achieve any kind of light-based setup you’re looking for, and with Matter compatibility, your Yeelight Cube setup becomes a part of your smart-home experience, so you can fire up responsive disco-lights while listening to Miley Cyrus’ 80’s inspired hit Flowers, or a backlight for your desktop monitor while you play Elden Ring or while you watch movies and documentaries online.
The Yeelight Cube comes as a $198 bundle of 6 lights, including 4 matrix cubes, a panel cube, and a spotlight cube, along with the connector base and power adapter. Individual add-on cubes can be added to your pledge for a price.
Click Here to Buy Now: $198$310 (36% off) Standard Kit includes 4x Dot Matrix Cube + 1x Panel Cube + 1x Spotlight Cube + 1x Base & Adapter Hurry! Just 7 days left!
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