Hasta La Ideas

Technology company Apple has entered the metaverse market with the announcement of its latest product – a mixed-reality headset that is set to go on sale in the US early next year.

Described by CEO Tim Cook as “the first Apple product you look through and not at”, the Vision Pro was designed primarily for augmented reality (AR), allowing apps, movies and photos to appear superimposed on the world around the user.

But a small dial at the top of the device, which Apple calls a Digital Crown, also allows users to switch to a more immersive virtual reality (VR) experience.

Cook announced the company’s first major product launch for nearly ten years at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, following years of rumours and speculation.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing,” he said. “Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.”

The Vision Pro is a cross between an immersive VR headset such as Meta’s Quest and AR glasses such as the RayNeo X2, the Viture One and the now-defunct Google Glass.

The Digital Crown dial allows users to control how immersive their experience is, toggling between AR mode – when they can see the world around them – and a more immersive VR mode, in which their surroundings disappear.

The company envisions the VR setting being used to create a focused, clutter-free work environment or an immersive viewing experience at home or on a plane, where the movie or TV show can take over the user’s entire field of vision.

Vision Pro’s display system features 23 million pixels across two displays, which the company says is equivalent to a 4K screen for each eye.

The device also has an outward-facing front screen, which will show a live feed of users’ eyes when someone approaches them in AR mode, in a functionality that Apple calls EyeSight.

This creates the impression that they are looking through a transparent screen and allows them to interact with the people around them without having to take off the headset.

The headset itself resembles high-tech ski goggles and is equipped with a new operating system called visionOS, which does not require a controller.

Instead, users simply look at the button they want to select and tap their fingers together to click. They can also use their voice to dictate text.

The frame of the headset is made from lightweight aluminium while the front consists of a single piece of laminated glass.

According to Apple, this is “polished to create an optical surface that acts as a lens for the wide array of cameras and sensors needed to blend the physical world with digital content”.

In total, the frame houses five sensors to track the movements of the wearer, six microphones and 12 cameras that capture the surrounding environment.

A button at the top of the device also allows users to take 3D “spatial photos and videos”, which they can then relive via the Vision Pro headset.

This data is processed by a new chip called the R1, alongside Apple’s M2 chip – already used across the new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The device was designed to be as lightweight and comfortable as possible to enable prolonged use either at work or to consume entertainment such as movies and TV shows.

It features an external battery pack, designed to be stored in a pocket and connected to the headset via a “supple woven cable”, which gives the device up to two hours of power when not plugged into an external power source.

Unlike many VR headsets, the Vision Pro does not feature an overhead strap but instead is held in place with an interchangeable 3D-knitted headband, with a ribbed texture to provide cushioning, breathability and stretch.

Tiny speakers are integrated into the headband near the ears, making use of Apple’s Spatial Audio technology which creates the impression that sound is coming from wherever its source is placed in the virtual environment.

The Vision Pro is set to go on sale in the US early next year for a price of $3,499 – almost 12 times the price of the biggest-selling VR headset, Meta’s Quest 2.

That’s despite the fact that global shipments of mixed-reality headsets declined by more than 20 per cent in 2022, with VR headsets representing 96 per cent of all shipments.

The post Apple unveils mixed-reality headset Vision Pro in first major product launch for a decade appeared first on Dezeen.

With our super hectic lives and chalked-up schedules, bathtime is probably the only time of the day when we get to truly relax and unwind. It’s that precious hour of the day when we can completely indulge in self-care, and pamper ourselves, hence it is my favorite time of the day.  Having a beautifully designed bathroom with thoughtful designs will only amplify this special time of the day. These products can make a huge difference in our everyday bathroom experience. They not only help us carry out our personal and grooming activities even more easily, but they also help us take care of ourselves and our washrooms a little better. From the world’s first flush toilet built from wood chips to IKEA’s tiny soap-shaped bathroom speaker – these well-designed products are all you need to elevate your daily bathtime!

1. The Tandem Shower

The Tandem Shower is an easy-to-install no-plumber-required shower accessory that attaches directly to your existing showerhead. The accessory separates and distributes your shower into two distinct streams. It is the perfect shower accessory for couples, although it’ll be great for solo showers as well since it provides a luxurious, immersive 360° shower experience.

Why is it noteworthy?

The innovative shower has been amped with an adjustable design, which allows it to fit in most bathrooms. It can be attached directly to your pre-existing showerhead’s water inlet, enabling the water supply to be effectively distributed between the two showerheads. There is a valve present on the Tandem Shower which lets you switch between the two showerheads, or run them both simultaneously.

What we like

• The Tandem showerhead also comes mounted on a ball and socket joint, letting you angle-adjust your water flow as you would with the existing shower
• The high-velocity setting in particular delivers nearly two times more force than standard showerheads

What we dislike

• It’s an added installation, making it difficult for people living in rental apartments

2. The Redesigned Robe 2.0

The Redesigned Robe 2.0 by Casamera perfectly merges the durability of century-old practices with the performance and versatility of modern-day engineering. It is the ideal clothing item to pull on after a long shower. You can wear it indoors, or take it along with you to the coolest pool parties, hot tubs, and ice baths.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Robe 2.0 promises to be the most versatile bathrobe you’ll ever see. It is fast-drying, breathable, and also buttery soft on your skin – making it the coziest bathrobe to wear all year long. It keeps you cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. It’s been made from 100% sustainably-sourced cotton. It has a clean and minimalist look with no visible stitches.

What we like

• Has a lightening fast dry-time
• Features a double-duty hoodie

What we dislike

• The sizes are standard – not different for males and females, which may cause a mismatch for people who are just wider, rather than wider and taller.

3. The Jacqueline Tap

The Jacqueline tap by Italian bathroom and kitchen brand Gessi caught my eye since it’s made from Bamboo. The tap is made from segments of bamboo, and crafted with immense precision and attention to detail. Gessi wanted to capture the care and concern given in the manufacturing of high-end fashion accessories in the form of a faucet.

Why is it noteworthy?

Bamboo is a sustainable, flexible, weather-resistant, and strong material that is a boon to the planet. It is a great alternative to the marble or concrete faucets we usually install in our bathrooms, hence making the Jacqueline tap a sustainable and eco-friendly fixture for your bathroom

What we like

• Sustainable and eco-friendly
• Extremely good-looking

What we dislike

• There is not much information on how to maintain the tap and keep it in a good + clean condition

4. The Plunge Cold and Hot Water Therapy Tub

The Plunge cold and hot water therapy tub provides you with cold clean water whenever you want it! It utilizes powerful cooling, filtration, and sanitation to offer you the best quality of water, making it much superior to your typical ice bath or chest freezer.

Why is it noteworthy?

The super cool water therapy tub is safe for both indoors and outdoors, and installation is super easy, you simply plug and plunge. You fill up the Plunge tub with a hose, turn it on, set your temp, and get ready to relax and unwind.

What we like

• Designed to be installed anywhere
• Can withstand all elements – rain or shine

What we dislike

• Space-consuming + bulky design

5. Vappeby Speaker

IKEA’s latest VAPPEBY speaker looks like a tiny bar of soap! However, this compact soap-sized device was designed for a water-friendly environment, making it the perfect companion for your shower karaoke sessions.

Why is it noteworthy?

The adorable VAPPEBY speaker features a rather charming design that is inspired by a simple bar of soap. It features a square shape with rounded edges, and is available in a wide variety of pretty pastel colors, adding a touch of fun and frolic to your everyday shower experiences.

What we like

• To complete the look, the VAPPEBY comes with a woven cord lanyard, allowing you to hang it up anywhere you please, be it on your showerhead or a nearby hook

What we dislike

• Nothing is spoken about the repairable nature of this design

6. The Kohler Statement VES Showerhead and Handshower

The Kohler Statement VES Showerhead and Handshower are designed to make your showers efficient and luxurious. They feature a Variable Eco-Spray that uses up to 40% less water than the standard 2.5gpm showerhead.

Why is it noteworthy?

Despite using lesser water, these products provided a powerful rinsing coverage, while dispensing warm water, owing to their low-flow spray. The Statement collection also utilizes Kohler’s Katalyst air-induction tech, which infuses air into the water droplets, allowing them to feel bigger, and retain heat longer.

What we like

• Height adjustable and rotates at 360°
• Minimal and sleek products perfect for contemporary bathrooms

What we dislike

• A bit heftily priced

7. Block

Finland-based design company Woodio designed a toilet built entirely from wood composite. The wood composite was used to create everything from the seat to the toilet. Wood composite is supposed to be a pretty sustainable material since it produces 99% fewer emissions in its production than ceramics.

Why is it noteworthy?

Called ‘Block’, the toilet was built using a material that Woodie founder Petro Lahtinen developed himself. The material is supposed to be 80 percent wood by volume and was created using locally sourced aspen and offcuts from the Finnish forest industry.

What we like

• The composite used is waterproof and “practically unbreakable”

What we dislike

• Woodio claims that the material generates 99% lesser emissions as compared to ceramics, however, this claim does not involve any emissions from material sourcing or disposal, which do have a major impact on the complete footprint of a product

8. Hitachi New Shower Heater Concept

This Hitachi New Shower Heater concept is designed to be a simple and unobtrusive device that offers the simplism and minimalism of Japanese aesthetics while laying an emphasis on safety. It provides you with the perfect amount of heat!

Why is it noteworthy?

The shower heater features a central circle which functions as the main”hearth”, and is connected to the power button. It is also the knob that determines how hot or cold should the water be. It also has a back design that is able to hide the piping details and gives you a slimmer heater that should not get in the way of your other bathroom activities.

What we like

• Waterproof and will not put you in danger of electrical shock

What we dislike

• It’s still a concept!

9. At The Same Time Body Dryer

The ‘At the Same Time Body Dryer’ is designed to make public bath facilities more convenient, fast, and efficient. It supports speedy bathing and drying, as more people can dry off at the same time.

Why is it noteworthy?

The round square shape of the dryer allows four persons to stand and be dried off. The four parts are separated by an opaque transition that offers privacy. They may be facing each other but their private parts are still covered. The footrest on the whole features concentric circles that provide a softer surface for the feet. The footrest is divided into four equal parts and each part can be removed for cleaning. The water doesn’t stay on the footrest as it drips.

What we like

• Hastens drying time
• Makes public bath facilities more convenient and efficient

What we dislike

• While public bathing is popular in the East, not everyone will feel comfortable standing so close to dry off

10. The Smart Shower

The Smart Shower was designed by Natasha Jadhav to be a smart, interactive, and good-looking shower that strikes the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. The design includes an actual shower on the ceiling of the bathroom with a sleek white console that consists of panels, a hand shower, and a pressure-sensitive panel on the floor.

Why is it noteworthy?

Did you know that around 2.5 gallons of water are wasted at home while taking a shower? Imagine the amount of water wasted after an entire month or year of showering. Tremendous, and quite alarming! Now, showering isn’t something we can particularly avoid, hence designer Natasha Jadhav created a ‘Smart Shower’.

What we like

• Pressure-sensitive floor panel that turns off the water once you’re done showering
• Intuitive controls
• Sleek + aesthetic design

What we dislike

• The shower automatically switches off after five minutes of zero activity – the waiting period could be shorter

The post Top 10 perfect products for the ultimate self-care during bathtime first appeared on Yanko Design.

Architecture-branded products like Kith and New Balance’s recently released Frank Lloyd Wright sneakers undermine the values of the profession, writes Ryan Scavnicky.

Dead architects’ names are the perfect secret ingredient to selling loads of mediocre merch. Stuff like educational toys, stuff like t-shirts, chess sets and even shoes.

Many of these architects, foremost among them Frank Lloyd Wright, followed the idea that architecture should be a total work of art, a concept that goes by the fancy German term “Gesamtkunstwerk”. This means if an architect designed you a house, it would also come with a series of custom chairs or silverware.

You often aren’t supporting architecture or design by buying this stuff

But sneakers or Lego sets are not a Gesamtkunstwerk, they’re just regular old commodities. They don’t come with a beautiful house, they come with a markup and maybe some cool graphics or colors.

At least, you might assume that architecture-marketed products somehow trace back to the architecture community – maybe in the form of scholarships or outreach for underserved communities – but that’s what’s messed up about it. You often aren’t supporting architecture or design by buying this stuff, you are contributing to Uncle Scrooge McDuck’s daily money swim.

Thing is, I’m a sucker for good merch. It is a great way to be reminded of the joy of a good trip, or support a cause. I’ve got a wonderful set of Sabacc cards from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney, even though the game itself is so complicated I will never play it. Just last month at the Venice Architecture Biennale I proudly wore a Bowser tee from my trip to Super Nintendo World. That merch is fun, but not as dear to me as the Cleveland Cavaliers t-shirt I got for Christmas that was made by an independent graphic designer with an Etsy shop, not NBA official.

This distinction – between corporate merchandise and grassroots products – is blurring. In a world where so much feels contrived, brands are taking advantage of the desire for authenticity by deploying buzzwords like “bespoke”, “handmade”, or, god-forbid, “artisanal”. These are all words that have lost meaning, and you know it when it shows up in the description of airline food.

The trend towards things that attempt to feel unique means it is now harder to build support around a cause by selling symbolic stuff at a grand scale, as the American public is continually learning. Everyone was wearing those gaudy “LIVESTRONG” cancer-fundraising wristbands in the 2000s until Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal crashed their donations and revenues. And who wasn’t wearing Toms Shoes in 2012, beguiled by the buy-one-give-one concept, before it was revealed that the company really wasn’t good at donating shoes at all?

That’s why the argument here doesn’t end with some froufrou notion of informed consumerism. There is little to be gained by arguing for ethical consumption, as all social causes have a systemic root we must pull to make actual change. Even architecture-branded products that did purportedly do some good for the community would ring hollow at best.

A deeper issue is what they teach kids about creating architecture

So I suggest we question the intention and legitimacy of those claiming to represent the values of architecture itself by turning its aesthetic output into a branding exercise to please shareholders.

An established institution’s funds should come primarily from assets, fundraising, and grants because there are systems in place to deliver that money to deserving cultural ventures. Good institutional merch is about brand awareness, not actual profit. For example, I cherish my SCI-Arc-branded fidget spinner made during the peak of the trend in 2017.

Most of these products are children’s toys – and therefore a deeper issue is what they teach kids about creating architecture. They come in two main types: kits and blocks. A kit is a set of parts that are designed to be assembled in a specific way, like Lego New York City. They teach you to learn from individual buildings and constructions as masterpieces. Blocks are an abstract set of shapes which can be arranged and rearranged, like K’nex or Little Tikes Big Waffle Blocks. They teach you to find novel combinations and organizations. In both cases, they expand a sense of space and creative activity.

Yet even blocks are advertised as if the point is to produce individual talent. The Froebel Blocks website lists Josef Albers, Charles Eames, Buckminster Fuller, and of course Frank Lloyd Wright, to name a few. This could stifle a kid’s desire to just play.

This is troublesome because contemporary construction simply doesn’t happen via the idolized brain of a lone genius. It takes loads of designers, workers, and craftspeople to execute a project. We must cultivate an image of architecture that talks more to its collaborative nature in current practice than creating mouth-breathing sycophants or worse: hordes of hopeful starchitects.

Let’s take Broadacre City as an example. It is primarily a suburban planning concept championed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and arguably his worst and most destructive idea. However, the models, drawings, and representations of that idea come from years of collaboration and conversation. That a single aesthetic can be derived from that effort, and be attributed to one famous architect, is just wrong.

This collab pushes the level of branding to an obscenely low point

Kith, a fashion brand that proudly boasts of “collaborating with brands that have stood the test of time” such as Star Wars, has partnered with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to create a Broadacre City-themed pair of New Balance 998s. This collab pushes the level of branding to an obscenely low point, with nothing but a few desert-like colors on a generic shoe to pull some easy cash out of a handful of bright-eyed believers.

That the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is getting involved in such branded collaborations should raise eyebrows. This is an institution which, according to its website, promises the money they make furthers their preservation efforts, yet I know from firsthand experience that the ceiling in the drafting studio was leaking on students attending the accredited school formerly housed within. Maybe that’s what the foundation means by “better living through meaningful connections to nature”. It fixed the problem by essentially kicking the school out and no longer supporting an accredited architecture program. That’s some bullshit.

At least I can take comfort in knowing that when I die, some cultural foundation may be established. They may turn my previous memes, writing, or work into throw pillows, candles, and maybe some fidget spinners. If that happens, let it be known I hope they do something rad with the money.

Ryan Scavnicky is the founder of Extra Office, a design practice that explores new channels for architectural content. He is a former lecturer at the Frank Lloyd Wright-founded The School of Architecture and currently teaches architecture design, theory, and criticism at Kent State University.

The post “Dead architects’ names are the perfect secret ingredient to selling loads of mediocre merch” appeared first on Dezeen.

Architect India Mahdavi has updated six rooms within Rome‘s 16th-century Villa Medici to feature an array of contemporary and colourful furniture.

The intervention comes as part of a three-year project called Re-enchanting Villa Medici, which was launched in 2022 to amplify the presence of contemporary design and craft within the Renaissance palace.

While the first phase of the project saw fashion brand Fendi revamp Villa Medici’s salons, Mahdavi was asked to freshen up rooms on the building’s piano nobile or “noble level”, where the main reception and the bedrooms are housed.

She worked on a total of six spaces including the Chamber of the Elements, Chamber of the Muses and Chamber of the Lovers of Jupiter, which once served as an apartment to Cardinal Ferdinando de Medici.

The three other rooms – titled Debussy, Galileo and Lili Boulanger – were formerly used as guest quarters.

In the Chamber of the Muses, which is topped with a dramatic coffered ceiling, Mahdavi inserted sea-green editions of her Bishop stool alongside an enormous hand-tufted rug by French workshop Manufacture d’Aubusson Robert Four.

Its geometric design features green, purple, red, and rosy pink shapes, recalling the flowerbeds that appear across the villa’s sprawling gardens.

Only subtle alterations were made to the Chamber of the Elements and Chamber of the Lovers of Jupiter, where Mahdavi has repositioned an existing bed to sit against an expansive wall tapestry.

Some of the chairs here were also reupholstered in raspberry-hued velvet.

A cluster of bright yellow sofas and armchairs sourced from the French conservation agency Mobilier National was incorporated into the Lili Boulanger room, named after the first female composer to take up residence at the villa.

The furnishings sit on top of a blush-pink rug by French manufacturer La Manufacture Coglin and are accompanied by octagonal tables designed by Mahdavi.

A Renaissance-style four-poster bed was added to the room named after astronomer Galileo Galilei, who reportedly visited Villa Medici twice in his lifetime.

The bed’s tiered wooden base and headboard were inlaid with graphic, berry-toned marquetry by cabinetmaker Craman Lagarde. The pattern, which also appears on the curtains that enclose the bed, takes cues from the design of the villa’s flooring.

A similar bed can be seen in the room named after French composer Claude Debussy. But this time, the marquetry done by French furnituremaker Pascal Michalon is executed in more “acidulous” colours that Mahdavi said reminded her of Debussy’s piano piece Clair de lune.

Mahdavi has lent her distinctive colour-rich aesthetic to a number of significant venues. Recent examples include the lavish London restaurant Sketch, to which she added sunshine-yellow and golden furnishings.

The photography is by François Halard.

The post India Mahdavi enlivens Rome’s Villa Medici with bold geometric furnishings appeared first on Dezeen.

Pentagram‘s Emily Oberman, architect Ben Sheppard, designer Rama Gheerawo and interior designers Little Wing Lee and David Flack have been announced as Dezeen Awards 2023 judges.

This is your last chance to enter Dezeen Awards 2023, in partnership with Bentley Motors. There are only two days left to submit your project before the late entry deadline this Thursday 8 June at 23:59 London time!

Now in its sixth year, the programme has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers everywhere, with winners selected by a prestigious panel of international judges.

Read on to learn more about the five new names that have joined this year’s judging panel:

Oberman is a multidisciplinary designer and partner at the global branding studio Pentagram.

The New York-based graphic designer’s work often uses language and humour to create an emotional connection. Clients include streaming brand Prime Video, US television show Saturday Night Live, production company Warner Bros., New York writer Roxane Gay, Tribeca Festival and fantasy media franchise Wizarding World.

In 2004 Oberman was honoured with The Cooper Union‘s Augustus Saint-Gaudens Award and in 2022 she won the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) medal. She has also taught at institutions including Yale University, Cooper Union, Pratt Insitute and Parsons School of Design.

Sheppard is a partner at the management consultancy McKinsey & Company‘s London office, where he leads global research on design, as well as overseeing over 200 designers in McKinsey Design in Europe.

His work includes leading innovation, design, and development on designs ranging from jet engines and cars to medical devices and coffee machines.

In addition to his client work, Sheppard co-founded a quarterly forum for senior design leaders to discuss topics around sustainable and inclusive growth. He also co-founded Design for Good, a not-for-profit aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that aim to deliver measurable impact on society’s challenges through collaborative design and innovation efforts.

Gheerawo is the director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art in London, where he uses design to address issues around age, ability, gender and race.

He is an innovator in the fields of inclusive design, design thinking and creative leadership. Gheerawo has worked internationally with governments, businesses and academics with clients such as electronics brands Samsung and Panasonic, automotive company Toyota and charity Age UK.

The London-based designer published his first solo book, Creative Leadership: Born from Design in March 2022. In 2019 he won a Hall of Fame award for his work at the Design Week Awards.

Flack is the founder and director of multi-disciplinary practice Flack Studio, a Melbourne-based firm specialising in interior design.

Projects by the studio include a collaboration with Australian architecture studio Fieldwork for community-focused living spaces in Melbourne where practice Flack Studio was the interior designer for the entire scheme and an Ace Hotel outpost in Sydney referencing Australia’s industrial heritage.

The office also designed a space where verses of the Australian national anthem influenced the colour and material palette of Flack Studio’s entry for the Rigg Design Prize exhibition, which celebrates the best of Australian interior design in 2018.

Lee is the founder and principal of interior design practice Studio & Projects, a design office which designs for cultural, commercial and residential clients.

In 2019 she founded Studio & Projects and also publicly launched Black Folks in Design, an organisation that brings awareness to and promotes black designers.

Lee has worked with architecture practices including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Rockwell Group, Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Apparatus and Ace Hotel Group‘s Atelier Ace. Prior to her career in design, Lee worked in documentary television and film contributing to several Oscar and Emmy-nominated projects.

Dezeen Awards 2023

Dezeen Awards celebrates the world’s best architecture, interiors and design. Now in its sixth year, it has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent.

The post Emily Oberman, Ben Sheppard and Rama Gheerawo named Dezeen Awards 2023 judges appeared first on Dezeen.