Hasta La Ideas

The Adaptive Controller was just the beginning – Microsoft aims at developing an entire suite of accessible devices for its gamer market. Aside from working alongside other independent controller brands to reveal new devices, Microsoft’s also announced the Adaptive Joystick, a controller that can be hand-held, positioned against your body, or even tripod-mounted, giving all gamers the ability to interface with their games in a manner that’s comfortable, yet responsive enough to give them the edge while gaming.

Designed specifically for gamers with limited mobility, this joystick aims to enhance the already extensive Xbox accessibility ecosystem. Unlike many controllers that rely on a standard form factor, the Xbox Adaptive Joystick breaks away by offering a unique blend of adaptability and modularity. The joystick is a wired companion for the Xbox Adaptive Controller, but it can also function independently, directly connecting to both Xbox consoles and PCs. The design focuses on user flexibility, with customizable buttons and a thumbstick that can be easily adjusted to suit different needs.

Designer: Microsoft

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick includes four programmable buttons, a thumbstick, and two additional buttons for bumper and trigger controls. One of the standout features is the option for users to 3D print thumbstick toppers, allowing them to modify the height, width, and overall feel of the joystick. As highlighted by Kaitlyn Jones, Xbox’s senior accessibility product manager, the design process involved extensive collaboration with the disabled community. Early prototypes were shared with this group for feedback, resulting in a product that addresses specific challenges faced by players with limited mobility.

Incorporating community feedback has been central to the development of the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. During one session at a Seattle hospital, Microsoft engineers brought various prototypes, seeking input on aspects like grip size, button layout, and overall ergonomics. According to Chris Kujawski, a principal designer at Xbox, this iterative process ensured that the final product is not only functional but also intuitive for a wide range of users. The joystick’s versatility is further enhanced by its compatibility with the existing Xbox Adaptive Controller, allowing it to be part of a broader adaptive gaming setup.

Beyond just the joystick, Microsoft is working closely with other accessible hardware innovators. The Proteus controller, which has been refined and optimized for Xbox through this collaboration, showcases this commitment. Additionally, the 8BitDo Lite SE controller offers an alternative for those who require front-facing buttons in a familiar arcade-stick layout. This inclusive hardware ecosystem gives users options that go beyond the traditional controller experience, making gaming more accessible than ever before. As for Microsoft’s own Adaptive Joystick, it hits markets early next year, with a price tag of $29.99.

The post Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Joystick Comes With An Open-Source Design To Support 3D-Printed Parts first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold6 “Slim” raises a new question about foldable smartphone design: What’s more important to you—a slimmer, more portable device or the continued support of the S Pen, a tool that has become synonymous with Samsung’s productivity-focused devices?

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 with case and stylus

Designer: Samsung

The rumored launch of the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim in South Korea on September 25 suggests that Samsung is moving towards an ultra-thin design. At just over 10mm thick, this foldable could be the thinnest in Samsung’s lineup, prioritizing portability and ease of use. This shift, however, comes at the cost of a beloved feature: S Pen support. By opting for a slimmer profile, Samsung has reportedly removed the necessary film that allows the S Pen to function, leading to a significant trade-off between form and function.

Samsung Galaxy Fold6

The decision to slim down the Galaxy Z Fold6, potentially at the expense of the S Pen, raises a key question for users. The S Pen has been a defining feature for many Galaxy Fold users, offering precision and enhancing productivity, particularly for tasks like note-taking, sketching, and navigation. For professionals and creative users, the S Pen is an essential tool that significantly enhances the capabilities of their devices. Losing this feature could be a dealbreaker for those relying on the stylus for daily tasks.

On the other hand, a slimmer, more elegant device could appeal to users who prioritize portability and design. The rumored titanium frame, which could replace the aluminum used in previous models, contributes to a thinner profile while elevating the device’s durability and premium feel. The thinner form factor and lightweight design make it easier to carry and handle, addressing one of the main criticisms of foldable phones: their bulkiness.

But does the sleekness of a thinner device justify the loss of the S Pen? For some, the answer may be yes. A thinner device fits better into pockets and hands, making it more convenient for everyday use. Unlike the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has an integrated slot for the S Pen, the Galaxy Fold series requires users to manage the S Pen separately, which can be cumbersome. Perhaps this is Samsung’s plan to gradually “weed” owners off the S Pen by not including it in their newer, slimmer foldable models. Personally, I feel that the stylus on a foldable phone feels as outdated as the physical keyboards on early smartphones. I rarely use the stylus anymore, and I’d much rather have a thinner, more lightweight device. The larger screens—6.5 inches externally and 8 inches internally—ensure that users still get an expansive display experience, even with the reduced thickness. This could appeal to a broader audience, especially those who might have hesitated to adopt a foldable phone due to concerns about size and weight.

Galaxy S24 Ultra with integrated stylus holder

However, the trade-off might not be worth it for users who have come to depend on the S Pen. The stylus adds a layer of functionality that a thinner device can’t replace. One particular feature I love about the S Pen on the S24 Ultra is the ability to take pictures—a convenient tool for solo content creators. I also track the stock market, and using the S Pen with Trading View for charting is amazing, so I would definitely miss the pen for that use case. Without the S Pen, tasks that require precision or creativity might become more cumbersome, detracting from the overall user experience.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

What do you think, Yanko Design readers? Does the decision boil down to personal preference and priorities? If you value a sleek, portable device that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle, the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim might be the perfect evolution of Samsung’s foldable lineup. However, if the S Pen is an indispensable tool in your arsenal, the standard Galaxy Z Fold6 or previous models might still hold more appeal. I find the “Slim” addition to the name rather silly, and I would bet money on Samsung going with “Galaxy Fold6 Ultra” over “Slim.” We’re still finalizing our review of the new Galaxy Fold6, so stay tuned for our thoughts.

The post Galaxy Z Fold6 Ultra: Thinner Design vs. S Pen Support—What Matters Most Ahead of the Rumored September 25 Launch? first appeared on Yanko Design.

An extension perched above a ranch house and a 3D-printed home designed by Lake Flato and ICON feature in this roundup of contemporary architecture in Austin, Texas.

Austin has seen increased development in recent years, including several supertall skyscrapers being built in the city.

The city is also known as a creative and quirky hub, home to innovations in technology, music and design, reflected in the popular SXSW festival held in the city.

Its residential architecture reflects a diversity of styles that incorporate influences from vernacular architecture to technological innovation.

Read on for 10 unique residential projects that showcase Austin’s contemporary design culture

House Zero by ICON and Lake Flato Architects

ICON and Austin-based architecture studio Lake Flato collaborated on this partially 3D-printed house, which debuted during art and technology festival SXSW as an ongoing model for contemporary construction techniques.

Its Lavacrete walls took approximately 10 hours to print using ICON’s Vulcan construction system, which Lake Flato complemented with planes of natural wood throughout the rest of the house.

Find out more about House Zero ›

Filtered Frame Dock by Matt Fajkus Architecture

Laser-cut perforated metal facades wrap the exterior of this two-storey boathouse on a shore in Austin, which were used so that the structure receives an equal amount of sun and shade throughout the year.

“An instrument for light and ventilation, the structure is calibrated to provide a comfortable balance of sun, shade, shelter and breezes throughout the year,” said Matt Fajkus Architecture.

Find out more about Filtered Frame Dock ›

Casa Casey by Side Angle Side

Architecture in Marfa, Texas and Maine informed the restrained and classic form of this residence in Austin, which was designed and built for architecture photographer Casey Dunn.

Its gabled roof and boxy silhouette nod to the simplicity of a child’s drawing and the bright, open interior echo a similar pared-back nature.

Find out more about Casa Casey ›

Inglewood Residence by Mark Odom Studio

The owner of this Austin residence has a deep appreciation for mid-century architecture, so Mark Odom Studio incorporated elements like slatted screens, pale masonry walls and a pebbled roof.

A carport also houses a pale-blue Thunderbird, which inspired the choice of a bright blue front door.

Find out more about Inglewood Residence ›

Cross Cabin by Moontower Design Build

Moontower Design Build created this accessory dwelling unit with “plant-based” materials as a response to Michael Pollan’s book Food Rules and an AIA pledge to centre design on the holistic impact of a building.

Its structure was made from cross-laminated timber and then covered in insulation and cladding made from cork, hemp and wood fiber.

Find out more about Cross Cabin ›

The Perch by Nicole Blair

Weathering steel panels clad the exterior of this house extension, which was perched upon a roof to save room in the backyard of a residence.

“Situated two feet above an existing bungalow, The Perch is a novel solution to a mundane project type, whose solution celebrates the bungalow below by setting itself back from it and hovering near it without disrupting it,” said Austin architect Nicole Blair.

Find out more about The Perch ›

Falcon Ledge Residence by Alterstudio

Built on an urban site once overlooked “as a possible home site”, the Falcon Ledge Residence rises up vertically to accommodate its steep, wooded terrain.

Spanning three storeys, the top level contains the living room and kitchen, while bedrooms, a family room and a laundry room were dispersed throughout the bottom floors.

Greenbelt Residence by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Limestone brick and hemlock siding clad this 3,447-square-foot (320-square metre) house that overlooks a protected nature reserve.

It features a generous cantilever that protects an outdoor patio, while bricks were fabricated specifically for its intricate facade.

Find out more about Greenbelt Residence ›

Cliffside House by LaRue Architects

This lake house is clad in patinated copper, limestone and oak to give it a “living finish”.

Sited on a bluff overlooking Lake Austin that was once home to a 1950s cabin, LaRue Architects wove the house through mature oak trees on the property.

Find out more about Cliffside house ›

Caddy Shack by Olson Kundig

Built for a retired golfer, this house is clad in rusted steel and features cantilevered patios that overlook downtown Austin.

In the living room, a hand-operated wheel controls a moveable window, which slides down level with a guardrail to open the room to the elements.

Find out more about Caddy Shack ›

The post Ten inventive contemporary houses in Austin appeared first on Dezeen.

In the early 1960s, GM auto designer Bill Mitchell made a controversial choice. For his redesign of the 1963 Corvette, he created a split rear window. The “spine” that ran between the two glass panels was reportedly inspired by Mitchell’s fascination with marine life forms; indeed, this iteration of the Corvette was dubbed the Sting Ray.

The “spine” ruined rear visibility, and customers hated it. GM listened, and for the 1964 model year, the split window was gone.

Today, however, the rare split-window is considered extremely desirable by collectors.

Sixty-one years later, the feature is unexpectedly returning. The 2025 Corvette ZR1, which is no study in design restraint, has this crazy thing dividing the rear glass:

The designers insist it actually has a function: “While serving as a statement piece, this carbon fiber ‘spine’ between the two rear windows…provides increased heat extraction from the engine compartment.”

At any rate, rearview cameras have taken the place of line-of-sight.

You may or may not see one of these on the road, depending on who your neighbors are: The car, which produces over 1,000 horsepower, runs $200,000.

3D printing is a truly revolutionary technology that blasted open the floodgates of creativity and design. It gave almost everyone a powerful tool to realize their dreams and experiment with their ideas. These machines also made it easier to have more flexibility in the execution of designs, like adding an element of randomness to each output. That’s the kind of uniqueness that each of these Maze Lamps brings to your room, catching your attention with its unique lines and snaking paths, creating a play of light and shadow even when the lamp is turned off.

Designer: Stijn van Aardenne

Most people probably think of 3D printers as extras large boxes that sit on desks, applying layer upon layer of melted plastic to complete a small shape. In reality, there are different kinds of 3D printers and different types of printing, and while the most popular machines are designed for use by individuals or small businesses, it didn’t take long for industrial-grade ones to pop up. This kind of printer offers a bit more flexibility in terms of movement and can cover a wider area as well.

The Maze Lamp design takes advantage of this capability by having an industrial 3D printer lay out the lines over a rotating axis. Normally, what you’d get is a cylindrical shape that looks like it was made from a spindle of extra-large spaghetti as the plastic material coils around and around the slowly spinning base. But if you move the nozzle forward, backward, and sideways while it spins, you can create more interesting patterns that look like the lines of a maze. Stack those lines on top of each other and you get a three-dimensional maze on a cylinder.

What makes this process even more special is that the pattern of these lines is random. No two Maze Lamps will ever have the same design, making each piece a one-of-a-kind item. For programmers and designers, this kind of procedurally generated pattern adds a unique characteristic to every iteration. As a bonus, the material used by the 3D printer is made from plastic shredded from discarded refrigerator doors, giving our own waste a beautiful new lease on life.

Thanks to the three dimensional patterns printed around the core, the Maze Lamp entices viewers whether the light is on or not. The light shining from the casts an eerie glow, almost like some otherworldly artifact found hidden in some ancient Aztec temple. On its own, the lamp becomes a sculptural art piece, not unlike a totem that represents the aesthetics and the technology of civilization that made it.

The post Mesmerizing 3D printed lamp has a maze-like design that is never repeated first appeared on Yanko Design.