Chess has captivated strategic minds for centuries. Now, Rolls-Royce has transformed this timeless battle of wits into an extraordinary artifact of luxury craftsmanship. The new Rolls-Royce Chess Set represents far more than a playing board and pieces – it’s an extension of the brand’s philosophy into the homes of discerning clients who appreciate both heritage and innovation.

Designer: ROLLS-ROYCE

The set’s design immediately communicates its prestigious origins. Sleek, contemporary lines blend with theatrical functionality to create an experience that begins well before the first move is played. Having examined the images and details provided, I’m struck by how thoroughly the designers have considered every element of the chess experience, from the dramatic unveiling of pieces to the satisfying tactile sensation of each move.

A THEATRICAL ENTRANCE

First impressions matter, whether stepping into a Phantom or preparing for a chess match. The Rolls-Royce Chess Set opens with a single, fluid motion that mirrors the brand’s signature coach doors. This theatrical unveiling sets the stage for what’s to come. The board doesn’t merely open – it performs, with a leather-lined holder that elevates to present the magnetized pieces in an elegant, ceremonial fashion.

This sense of occasion transforms a simple game setup into a ritual worthy of the Rolls-Royce name. The leather-clad base rises gently from the center, creating the illusion that the board floats above its narrow footprint. These waft lines, reminiscent of the marque’s motor cars, establish a visual connection between the chess set and the vehicles that inspired it.

ENGINEERED FOR PERFECTION

Six different magnet types were tested before the design team found the perfect balance. Too strong, and the pieces would be difficult to move; too weak, and they’d lack stability. The chosen magnets provide just enough force to keep pieces perfectly aligned during play while allowing them to glide effortlessly across the board’s surface. This attention to detail creates a sense of precision with each move – deliberate, decisive, and deeply satisfying.

Hidden drawers on each side of the board open with the lightest touch, revealing storage for additional queens when pawns are promoted during play. These thoughtful touches demonstrate an understanding of chess that goes beyond aesthetics. The designers clearly considered how the game is actually played, incorporating functional elements that enhance the experience without sacrificing beauty.

SCULPTURAL PIECES THAT COMMAND ATTENTION

The chess pieces themselves are miniature works of art. Each is precision-crafted with faceted surfaces that transform traditional chess piece profiles into modern, sculptural forms. The designers have taken traditional silhouettes and extruded them downward into square bases, creating pieces that are both familiar and distinctly contemporary.

Made from ceramic-coated aluminum, each piece contains a hidden magnet and features a jewel-like polished stainless-steel head. The weight and cool-to-the-touch quality deliberately evoke the solid-metal organ stops found in Rolls-Royce motor cars – creating a tactile connection between playing chess and driving a Rolls-Royce. Black pieces receive a sophisticated satin finish, while white pieces feature a subtle iridescent treatment that catches the light as they move across the board.

MATERIALS WORTHY OF THE MARQUE

Rolls-Royce has applied the same exacting standards to this chess set that they bring to their motorcars. The playing board incorporates a machine-milled aluminum grid, hand-refined to achieve precise definition at the corners – a delicate process, as the fine metal bends easily. Laser-cut veneer squares are placed by hand, with all pieces crafted from the same log to ensure consistent grain patterns and uniform aging over time.

The set offers four veneer combinations, each arranged in a diamond pattern when viewed from above. High-gloss options include Blackwood with Ceramic White and Macassar Ebony with Royal Walnut. For those preferring a more subtle finish, Open Pore treatments in Smoked Eucalyptus with Paldao and Obsidian Ayous with Blackwood are also available.

Personalization extends to the leather elements as well. Clients can select from thirteen distinct Rolls-Royce leather colors – from classic Black to bold options like Forge Yellow, Peony Pink, and Lime Green – allowing them to tailor both the exterior and chess piece holder to complement their home décor or match their Rolls-Royce motor car.

A YEAR OF METICULOUS DEVELOPMENT

The Chess Set represents a full year of design, engineering, and experimentation. This investment of time speaks to Rolls-Royce’s commitment to getting every detail right. The aluminum grid required particular attention, with designers developing specialized techniques to achieve the precise corner definition that gives the board its distinctive character.

Polished aluminum edges frame the generously sized board and chess piece holder, and a discreet Spirit of Ecstasy emblem is affixed to the front and back—a subtle reminder of the set’s prestigious origins. These finishing touches elevate the chess set from a mere game to a collector’s item.

THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF HOME LUXURY

What makes this chess set particularly fascinating is how it translates Rolls-Royce’s automotive design language into a home accessory. The floating appearance, theatrical movements, and material authenticity all draw direct inspiration from the marque’s vehicles. Yet the chess set never feels derivative – it stands as its own achievement while maintaining a clear family resemblance.

As Nick Abrams, Accessories Designer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, notes, this set offers a natural extension of the brand into the homes of Rolls-Royce clients who enjoy chess “often at an extremely high level. ” It brings the same sense of occasion and craftsmanship they expect from their motorcars to a game that rewards patience, strategy, and appreciation for tradition—values that align perfectly with the Rolls-Royce ethos.

The Rolls-Royce Chess Set is now available for commission through Rolls-Royce showrooms and Private Office boutiques worldwide. For those who view chess not merely as a game but as an intellectual pursuit worthy of the finest accoutrements, this extraordinary creation represents the ultimate playing experience – one where every move feels like a special occasion.

The post CHECKMATE: ROLLS-ROYCE REDEFINES THE ANCIENT GAME OF KINGS first appeared on Yanko Design.

The original Vision Pro felt like strapping a Mac Studio to your face—with all the weight and price tag that implies. Nearly 1kg once you factored in the external battery, $3,500 out of pocket, and a risk of strained necks by hour two. Apple’s most ambitious product in years turned out to be a niche flex, applauded by developers and early adopters, but ultimately undercut by its own bravado. Now, Apple’s winding back the bombast. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next Vision headset isn’t just lighter and cheaper. It’s being reimagined for the world beyond Silicon Valley conference rooms.

Apple seems to be having its reality-check moment. The next Vision Pro (or as I like to say, the Vision ‘Air’) is reportedly shedding weight like it’s on a juice cleanse, targeting around 650g or 1.4 lbs (not including the cable-linked battery pack). Lowering the weight likely means compromises: fewer sensors, streamlined build materials, and possibly a reduced field of view. But at this point, it’s a necessary trade-off. When users are hunting for third-party support straps on forums just to get through a movie, something’s broken in the design DNA.

AI Visualization

The price cut is rumored to be significant. Halving the entry point to $1,500-2,000 isn’t exactly making it accessible to everyone (this is still Apple we’re talking about), but it at least acknowledges that $3,500 was firmly in “second mortgage” territory for most consumers. Meta’s Quest lineup has proven there’s an appetite for spatial computing at a more digestible price point, and Apple can’t afford to remain in its ivory tower if it wants visionOS and spatial computing to gain meaningful adoption.

There’s also talk of a tethered variant—an AR headset that plugs directly into a Mac. Imagine the Vision Pro as a high-end monitor for creative professionals, with ultra-low latency for tasks like CAD, video editing, or even surgical planning. Apple’s aim here seems surgical too: laser-focus on pro users who’ll pay a premium if the tech enables something truly transformative. That wired connection might sound regressive, but it offers a crucial win—zero lag, which wireless just can’t promise, especially in mission-critical environments.

This two-pronged strategy feels distinctly Apple, given its usual tendency to release Pro and regular or Air versions of the same product category, be it MacBooks, iPads, or now, potentially, even iPhones. One product is an absolute work-horse, while the other serves more of a mass-market need. Since Apple bet big on Spatial Computing in 2023, it only makes sense for them to flesh out their ‘vision’ with both product lines – one for power users, and another for, well, users.

Meanwhile, whispers of the Vision Pro 2 persist. That model, reportedly in development with an M5 chip and a refined optical stack, could retain the all-out luxury appeal of its predecessor—faster, sleeker, and still wildly expensive. But it won’t be the one most people buy. The lighter, cheaper Vision ‘Air’ isn’t playing backup. It’s gunning for primetime.

And that’s a vision I can actually see clearly.

Image Credits: Andrea Copellino

The post Apple Is Working On A Cheaper, Lighter Vision ‘Air’ Headset With Rumored $1,500 Price Tag first appeared on Yanko Design.

AI Visualization of Apple Vision Pro 2

Nothing rushes product development more than market uncertainty! Apple usually takes a long time to launch products to the market, but with tariffs almost entirely derailing every single business across the world, the inner workings of Apple have gone through some changes. Recent whispers suggest that Apple may have commenced mass production of the Vision Pro 2, hinting at a possible release later this year or even next year. This development has sparked discussions among enthusiasts and industry insiders alike, given that Apple has very visibly slowed down production of the existing Vision Pro to move onto ‘bigger things’.

According to reports from Chinese outlet IT Home, key components such as display panels, housings, and circuitry for the Vision Pro 2 have entered mass production. Suppliers are reportedly rushing to fulfill orders, indicating that Apple is gearing up for an imminent launch. While IT Home’s track record with Apple rumors is mixed, the specificity of these claims has nonetheless captured attention.

Designer: Apple

AI Visualization of Apple Vision Pro 2

Contrasting perspectives add complexity to the narrative. In October 2024, The Information’s Wayne Ma reported that Apple had significantly reduced production of the original Vision Pro, with plans to halt its manufacturing by the end of that year. This move was interpreted as a strategic shift towards developing a second-generation headset. Analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have suggested that this forthcoming model will be an incremental update, potentially featuring the M5 chip and enhanced Apple Intelligence capabilities. Gurman projected a release window between fall 2025 and spring 2026, which aligns with the current buzz surrounding the Vision Pro 2’s production status.

AI Visualization of Apple Vision Pro 2

The anticipated enhancements in the Vision Pro 2 are poised to address some of the critiques faced by its predecessor. The integration of the M5 chip is expected to deliver improved performance, while advancements in hand and eye tracking could offer a more immersive user experience. Additionally, efforts to refine comfort and ergonomics may broaden the device’s appeal. There’s also speculation about a potential price adjustment, making the headset more accessible to a wider audience.

However, it’s essential to approach these reports with a degree of skepticism. The mixed-reality market is notoriously volatile, and production timelines can shift due to various factors, even more so with all the market uncertainty over the past week. Moreover, the reliability of sources like IT Home has been questioned in the past, suggesting that while the information is intriguing, it may not be definitive.

AI Visualization of Apple Vision Pro 2

Although all eyes are on Apple’s movements to get a better understanding of the market moving forward, it’s worth noting that even when the Vision Pro 2 arrives, it’ll probably see a massive price markup, given the new tariff regime. Reports have indicated the iPhone could see a price hike of more than $500 per unit, propelling higher-end models into the $2000 range – a MASSIVE contrast from the iPhone’s humble $99 beginnings in 2007. For now, the tech community remains on alert, awaiting official word from Apple that could either confirm or dispel the swirling rumors.

AI Visualization of Apple Vision Pro 2

The post Vision Pro 2 Launch In 2025? Analysts say Apple is already mass-producing the Next-Gen Spatial Headset first appeared on Yanko Design.

I’ve always envied people with tattoos—the commitment, the clarity, the sheer audacity of saying, “Yes, I want this specific thing on my body forever.” Me? I panic when choosing a wallpaper for my phone. Picking one single image to define my space, let alone my skin, is a level of confidence I’ve never unlocked. Even when it comes to wall art, I freeze. I love artwork, I really do, but settling on a piece feels like choosing a tattoo. Sure it’s not permanent, but the friction of changing a wall painting is high. Find suitable artwork, print it, cut it, reframe it. Nope, I want something that’s as easy to change as your phone’s wallpaper.

That’s where BLOOMIN8 satisfies that creative itch to constantly change home artwork. BLOOMIN8 is the world’s first smart, full-color E-Ink canvas, and working like framed art but also giving you the ability to change it on a dime. The E-Ink screen feels as close to print-on-paper as possible, while letting you constantly update what it displays – from a photo of yourself or your pet, to welcome note when you have guests over for a party, to your favorite quote of the day, and finally maybe a portrait of Kier Eagan staring you down while you binge-watch Severance. The entire thing operates with a certain magic—cord-free, screen-like without feeling screen-y, and able to swap visuals as easily as you change playlists.

Designers: Francis Guo, Skyler, Chen, Piper

Click Here to Buy Now: $167 $239 ($72 off). Hurry, only 73/300 left! Raised over $940,000.

E-Ink displays have been around for a while, but they’ve mostly been limited to grayscale or muted tones (look at most Kindle tablets). BLOOMIN8 unlocks a full color spectrum, finally making digital art look like actual printed artwork. This is thanks to the Spectra 6 E-Ink display, which has a remarkable 200ppi resolution while offering a 30:1 contrast ratio (depending on panel size) that feels exactly like printed paper and not your average LCD or OLED display. It’s available in three sizes: Small (7.3”), Medium (13.3”), and Large (28.5”). No glaring backlight. No constant battery drain. Plus, the thing sips power so slowly that after a single charge, it can last 3-4 years without needing a top-up.

The frame is purposefully minimal, blending in with your home like it’s always belonged there. The bezels are purposefully white, designed to look like the passepartout or the cardboard-ish frame seen around most paintings. The frame itself is even designed to be compatible with IKEA RÖDALM frames, which contributes immensely to the overall artistic appeal of the BLOOMIN8, helping disguise the fact that it’s actually a dynamic e-ink display. Mount it anywhere, swap it out whenever, and you’re good. There’s no ugly cord dangling down the wall either—the BLOOMIN8 is completely wireless, running on a rechargeable battery that hides neatly within its frame.

Images get loaded onto the BLOOMIN8 entirely locally. There’s an SD card to let you store media that you can then display on your E-Ink canvas, but if you want app connectivity, there’s an app that lets you share images with your frame through smart-home integration. Everything happens internally, which means your images aren’t shared with BLOOMIN8’s team or even stored outside your home network. You can upload images from your gallery straight from the app, and if you do want to dabble with AI image generation, the app offers free GenAI features too, although those get created online and not on-device.

The smart home integration extends to other features too, with future updates including turning the e-display into an artistic wall widget for your weather, calendar, and to-do list notifications. RESTful APIs allow developers to build more unique interactions and features for your BLOOMIN8, so what essentially feels now like just a dynamic photo frame has the capability of being so much more.

Honestly, the whole thing feels like it taps into the same energy that’s been pushing TV makers and tech brands into the “art” space for years. Samsung’s Ambient Mode and The Frame TV both tried to blend screens into decor, and we all collectively humored the brief but chaotic moment when people proudly hung NFTs on their walls like they were fine art. The difference? BLOOMIN8 actually feels like art. It has the subtlety, the texture, and the vibe that screens can never fully fake. It looks like ink on paper, but dances to whatever tune you want—without wires, the commitment of a static piece of artwork, or a blockchain receipt.

Click Here to Buy Now: $167 $239 ($72 off). Hurry, only 73/300 left! Raised over $940,000.

The post This IKEA-Compatible Color E-Ink Photo Frame Lets You Change Art Like You Change Your Mood first appeared on Yanko Design.

AI Visualization

I’m going to totally plead ignorance here but doesn’t it seem like Nothing’s really spreading themselves thin? They have a flagship range, a mid range, and now a budget range within their smartphone series – but each range has its own Pro variant. They debuted two phones just last month, with the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro, and just as sales began picking up, Nothing’s teased its upcoming budget device – the new CMF Phone 2, but here’s the kicker. The CMF Phone 2 gets its own Pro variant with a 3-lens camera setup.

Reddit user PanickCat leaked a photo of the upcoming CMF Phone 2 last month, giving us a taste of what to expect with the phone’s exterior. While the image only showed the reverse side (and not the screen or any of the specs), it revealed one big detail and one small detail. The big detail was the inclusion of the third camera, giving the CMF Phone 2 a triple-lens shooter. The second detail was the carrying-forward of the modular design that the CMF Phone 1 first highlighted, thanks to the removable backplate and the knob on the bottom corner for attaching accessories and modules.

Designer: CMF by Nothing

However, Nothing seems to have tacitly confirmed the presence of this third lens in the form of a product announcement graphic on their website. The graphic shows four circles, presumably 3 lenses and 1 flash not too dissimilar from the layout seen in the Reddit leak (below). While we still wait for any official specs or details, it’s safe to say that this phone will probably be in the sub-$300 category (or maybe slightly higher because of the new US tariffs announced just last week).

Image Credits: PanickCat on Reddit

The most notable change is the updated camera setup. Where the original model offered a straightforward 50MP main shooter paired with a basic depth sensor, the CMF Phone 2 adds a third lens to the mix. Judging by its position and shape, there’s a good chance we’re looking at the inclusion of an ultrawide camera—a decision that would align with the growing expectations in the sub-$300 segment. For a phone targeting value-conscious users, that extra versatility in the camera department can make a daily difference.

Aside from the tweak in hardware, the overall build and identity of the phone appear to remain intact. The matte plastic back, exposed screws, and signature CMF dial all carry over, suggesting that Nothing’s modular ecosystem of accessories will likely stay compatible with this version too. The plastic rear obviously hints at the lack of wireless charging, although maybe Nothing will surprise with the release of new modules/accessories that are backward-compatible with the Phone 1. We’re also yet to see what color options launch with the Phone 2 Pro.

AI Visualization

While the leaked image doesn’t shed light on the internal specs, previous rumors hinted at a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip possibly making its way into the CMF Phone 2. It’s worth noting that Nothing’s recently launched Phone 3a and 3a Pro models already use this processor. So while a step up from the Dimensity 7300 used in the original CMF Phone 1 is possible, it’s not yet confirmed. Historically, Nothing has treated its CMF line as the entry-level offering, keeping it a notch below the mainline Phone series in terms of raw performance.

AI Visualization

April 28th isn’t too far away, and it’s entirely possible that the Phone 2 Pro will be fairly reasonable, since it’s targeted more at the Indian market than US or other western markets. Nothing’s carved its niche out in India, relying on actors to be their brand ambassadors. The CMF Phone 2 Pro marks the second set product releases from Nothing this year, with many more in the pipeline. Nothing’s Phone 3 (their flagship series) is still in the works, with a tentative July or August launch date, coinciding with the launch of other flagship phones from Google and Apple.

The post Nothing Confirms CMF Phone 2 Pro Launch On 28th April With Flagship-Meets-Budget Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Representational image

Samsung has filed a patent for what could be the most ambitious foldable design to date—a quad-fold smartphone featuring four interconnected panels and three hinges. The documentation, labeled under the title “ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING BENDABLE DISPLAY,” signals Samsung’s continued dominance in foldable display innovation, staking a claim beyond the current tri-fold concepts from competitors such as Huawei and TCL.

As reported by SamMobile, the patent reveals a device structured with four panels connected horizontally via three hinges, each supporting a continuous flexible display. Unlike outward-folding designs seen in some of Huawei’s prototypes, Samsung opts for an inward-folding configuration. This format shields the display when folded, which could mitigate issues related to screen durability—still one of the major concerns for foldable devices. Such a design would likely make use of Samsung’s proprietary Ultra Thin Glass (UTG), which has progressively improved since its debut on the Galaxy Z Fold series, offering enhanced scratch resistance and reduced crease visibility.

Designer: Samsung

Representational image

It’s all in the layout. Three hinges divide four distinct panels, meaning the device could morph through multiple configurations—pocket-friendly phone, dual-fold for notifications, tri-fold for tablet duties, and finally, a full unfold for productivity overkill. Technically, however, this quad-fold concept introduces substantial complexity. Managing the mechanical strain across three hinges, while preserving uniform display tension and longevity, will be challenging. However, Samsung Display’s experience with flexible OLEDs and hinge durability testing could make this feasible. If each panel measures approximately 6 inches diagonally, the fully unfolded device could reach 12 inches or more, eclipsing even tablets like the iPad Pro and approaching the size of compact laptops while retaining the portability of a smartphone when folded.

This device is sort of a potential shift in the usability paradigm. A quad-fold would allow a variety of usage modes. Users could adopt a single-panel phone mode, a dual-panel intermediate, a tri-panel for tablet-like applications, and the full quad-panel layout for productivity scenarios, multitasking, or immersive media consumption. Such versatility could address the current limitations of foldables, where most devices primarily offer two modes—phone and tablet—without much nuance in between. And let’s not pretend Samsung isn’t strategically nudging Apple here. Cupertino hasn’t even officially admitted it wants to fold anything, and Samsung’s already diagramming folding sandwiches. Huawei’s tri-fold prototype might hit the market first, but Samsung seems to be saying, “Why stop at three?”

Image Credits: World Intellectual Property Organization

But before you start planning your next upgrade, a sobering note: this might be little more than strategic patenting. Samsung has a history of filing forward-thinking designs to build a defensive moat, not necessarily to ship every concept. Still, the fact that these schematics exist, complete with hinge mechanics and potential use-case scenarios, tells us the company is at least exploring the limits of foldable tech far beyond its existing Z Fold lineup.

Samsung’s quad-fold also subtly outmaneuvers Huawei and TCL by focusing on inward folding. Why does this matter? Huawei’s outward-folding designs, while flashy, expose the flexible display to the wild—scratches, dust, and the occasional existential dread of dropping it. Samsung’s inward-fold protects the fragile display like a medieval knight shielding its heart. With Samsung Display likely at the helm of this engineering feat, expect Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) iterations to reinforce this massive canvas, possibly with even better scratch resistance and less visible crease lines than the current Z Fold 5.

Representational image

The real question is whether Samsung will commercialize this in the Galaxy Z Fold family or launch it as a new series entirely. A “Galaxy Z Flex Ultra,” perhaps? There was a news-nugget in the past that Samsung would call this the Galaxy W because of the letter’s 4-line shape, but it seems like Samsung’s ditched that nomenclature. However, considering Samsung’s playbook, we might see a tri-fold device emerge first—since the same patent also showcases a triple-panel, dual-hinge design with USB-C and triple cameras. This could be Samsung’s immediate answer to Huawei and TCL while the quad-fold remains in the lab, terrifying hinge designers worldwide.

At the end of the day, Samsung’s quad-fold is just a concept, although the highly detailed patent leads me to believe they’ve got a working prototype somewhere in their R&D division that’s just waiting to *ahem* get left behind in a cab the way Google’s engineers tend to do with their phones. The design, at least on paper, is complex and probably hideously expensive (think Galaxy Z Fold Ultra pricing, $2,000+ easy), poised to frustrate and delight tech enthusiasts in equal measure. Whether it dethrones anyone or simply creates a new throne entirely, Samsung’s ready to bend the rules, literally.

Representational image

The post Samsung Is Working On World’s First “Quad-Fold” Smartphone To Directly Challenge Huawei and TCL first appeared on Yanko Design.

Back in 2016, the original Nintendo Switch felt like a revelation. Not because it packed bleeding-edge specs or boasted VR-ready horsepower, but because it just made sense. A home console you could pull out of its dock and carry with you — it was weird, playful, and perfectly Nintendo. Nearly a decade later, today’s announcement of the Switch 2 proves that Nintendo still plays by its own rules, taking its sweet time while the rest of the industry sprints on an annual hamster wheel.

Nintendo dropped the Switch 2 reveal without a fireworks-laden event or a billion-dollar livestream. Just a quietly confident YouTube video showing off the hardware in clean, minimalist shots, motion graphics, and those now-iconic silhouetted hands. No theatrics, no overblown stage demos. Yet, within hours, the video racked up half a million views. It’s the kind of flex that only comes when you know your audience trusts you implicitly.

Designer: Nintendo

And why wouldn’t they? The original Switch, despite being underpowered compared to the PlayStation and Xbox crowd, remained sold out for nearly a year post-launch. In fact, even in 2025, it’s still thriving, buoyed by Nintendo’s near-flawless first-party catalog. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Breath of the Wild, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — these games still feel fresh to new players and veterans alike. Nintendo wasn’t chasing specs back then, and it certainly isn’t now.

The Switch 2 does bring upgrades, but you won’t find Nintendo trying to win a teraflop arms race. The handheld now sports a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD with HDR and up to 120fps refresh rates. Dock it, and you’ll get up to 4K resolution, complete with a much-needed cooling fan to keep things stable during long sessions of Metroid Prime 4. Internally, it bumps up to 256GB of storage (though you’ll need MicroSD Express cards for expansion). Game Cards are sticking around but have been updated for faster read speeds — a quiet nod to physical media diehards.

The Joy-Con controllers are bigger and more comfortable, now featuring larger shoulder buttons and a new “C button” dedicated to GameChat — Nintendo’s built-in voice chat and screen-sharing system. Yes, voice chat is finally here, native to the console, without the clunky smartphone app workaround. A microphone tucked into the top picks up voices clearly, even with background noise, and screen-sharing lets you show off your gameplay to friends in real time.

Then there’s the wildcard: mouse support. By sliding the Joy-Con along a flat surface, it doubles as a physical mouse. This mechanic already fuels new games like Drag x Drive, a Rocket League meets NBA Jam mashup that uses dual-mouse controls for surprisingly fluid movement and shooting. Even existing titles like Mario Party Jamboree and Metroid Prime 4 will take advantage of this feature, with players able to aim and interact more intuitively.

And while the visual uplift is nice — Zelda titles, for example, will get free 4K-enhanced “Switch 2 Editions” for Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers — it’s the longevity of software that steals the spotlight. Nintendo’s library ages like fine wine, and the Switch 2 respects that. You don’t have to repurchase everything; upgrade packs and enhanced editions are available, extending the life of beloved games without forcing you to start over.

The new console isn’t arriving alone. Launching June 5th, it brings along heavy-hitters like Mario Kart World, featuring 24-player races and free-roam tracks. FromSoftware is throwing in The Duskbloods, a gothic action RPG exclusive, and even Kirby is making an open-world comeback. Plus, GameCube classics like F-Zero GX and The Wind Waker are returning, playable through the Switch 2’s online service — complete with a retro-inspired wireless GameCube controller.

Where competitors race to push out yearly hardware iterations wrapped in billion-dollar spectacles, Nintendo is content releasing something only when it’s ready. The Switch 2 didn’t need a massive keynote or a sprawling influencer campaign. It needed a quiet confidence, a respect for players, and the kind of design that serves people, not shareholders.

The post Nintendo’s Switch 2 Launch Is Proof That You Don’t Need New Tech & Flashy Keynotes Every Year first appeared on Yanko Design.

This is a story of betrayal, and how Japan ‘screwed over’ its most beloved artist in the name of AI supremacy/advocacy.

If you’ve been on the internet in the past week, you’ve clearly seen a flood of AI-generated photos in a certain Anime style. Referred colloquially to as the ‘Studio Ghibli’ aesthetic, it captures the artistic style of celebrated filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s body of work. The style went viral online after Sam Altman debuted GPT 4o’s ability to translate any photo into any style. However, for some reason, the Ghibli style went truly viral, with everyone (including even nation leaders) using it in ways that blurred the line between cute and potentially disturbing.

There’s a lot of opinion to be shared here, especially from Miyazaki himself, who absolutely hates the fact that his years of hard work have been distilled to something as abhorrently dull as a ‘Snapchat filter’. Miyazaki’s work has always been the antithesis of AI – it’s been rooted in empathy, humanity (the good kind), and a kindred spirit that prioritizes the living, the curious, and the underdogs. AI’s use of this style seems to be the absolute opposite of everything Miyazaki stood for. He’s always been a man who prioritized the artform, and famously even sent Harvey Weinstein a samurai sword with a stern warning when Weinstein asked one of his feature films be cut to a 90-minute format for easy consumption. But opinion aside, let’s talk about what’s transpired over the past week, and how Japan’s own government screwed over Miyazaki by handing Ghibli’s entire catalog to OpenAI on a silver platter.

The Digital Pickpocketing of Artistic Soul

Grant Slatton’s Ghibli-fied image is what arguably sparked the global trend

OpenAI’s latest party trick allows users to “Ghiblify” their selfies into dreamy anime-style portraits that unmistakably channel the aesthetic of Studio Ghibli. The feature has gone predictably viral, with social media awash in images that mimic the studio’s distinctive style—soft watercolor backgrounds, expressive eyes, and that ineffable sense of wonder that made films like “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro” international treasures.

What makes this digital ventriloquism act particularly galling isn’t just that it’s happening, but that it’s happening to Miyazaki of all people. This is a man who famously handcrafts his animations, who once walked out of an AI demonstration in disgust, muttering that it was “an insult to life itself.” His revulsion wasn’t mere technophobia but a principled stand against the mechanization of an art form he believes should capture the messy, beautiful complexity of human experience.

The irony would be delicious if it weren’t so bitter: the artist who rejected computers is now being replicated by them, his distinctive visual language reduced to a prompt parameter.

Japan’s Legal Betrayal

Miyazaki himself refers to AI art as an insult to life itself.

The true villain in this artistic appropriation isn’t necessarily OpenAI (though they’re hardly innocent bystanders). It’s Japan’s bewilderingly creator-hostile copyright framework. In May 2023, the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs issued an interpretation of copyright law that effectively threw creative professionals under the technological bus, declaring that copyrighted works could be used without permission for AI training purposes. (The article specifies that the AI can train on copyright material if its purpose is ‘non-enjoyment’, which roughly translates to – artistic styles can be copied/replicated as long as the AI doesn’t replicate ideas/sentiments/scenes/characters from the training data)

The legal loophole hinges on a distinction that would make even the most pedantic lawyer blush: as long as the AI isn’t “enjoying” the works it’s ingesting (whatever that means for a neural network), it’s perfectly fine to feed it the entire corpus of an artist’s life work without consent or compensation. Article 30-4 of Japan’s Copyright Law provides this exception for “non-enjoyment purposes,” essentially declaring open season on creative content so you could ‘Ghiblify’ your selfie without infringing on Miyazaki’s nuanced material. As long as the AI doesn’t make photos of you standing beside Totoro, or recreating scenes from Spirited Away, it’s all kosher.

This isn’t just bad policy—it’s spectacular cognitive dissonance from a nation that has built significant cultural capital and soft power through its artistic exports. Japan, home to anime, manga, and some of the world’s most distinctive visual storytellers, has essentially told its creative class: “Your work is valuable enough to protect from human copycats, but feel free to let the machines have at it.”

The Existential Threat to Artistic Innovation

“But wait,” the techno-optimists cry, “isn’t imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Aren’t artists always influenced by those who came before?”

This argument fundamentally misunderstands both the nature of artistic influence and the economics of creative work. When a human artist studies Miyazaki’s techniques, they’re engaging in a centuries-old tradition of artistic apprenticeship. They digest, internalize, and transform influences through the prism of their own humanity, eventually developing something new. What emerges is evolution, not replication.

AI systems, by contrast, are designed specifically to replicate existing styles on demand. They don’t “learn” in the human sense—they statistically model patterns and reproduce them with variations. There’s no artistic journey, no struggle, no evolution of personal vision. The result is a flattening of artistic diversity, where new styles can be instantly mimicked and mass-produced the moment they emerge.

For emerging artists, this creates a perverse disincentive to innovation. Why spend years developing a distinctive style when an AI can copy it overnight? Why push creative boundaries when algorithms can immediately appropriate your breakthroughs? The result is a potential creative chill, where artistic innovation becomes economically irrational… because you don’t want to become a victim of your own success.

The Miyazaki Paradox

The situation creates what future generations will probably refer to as the Miyazaki Paradox: the more distinctive and influential your artistic voice becomes, the more vulnerable you are to algorithmic appropriation. Miyazaki’s style is being copied precisely because it’s so recognizable and beloved. His success has made him a target.

This paradox extends beyond animation. Authors with distinctive prose styles, musicians with unique sounds, and visual artists with particular techniques all face the same threat. Their creative fingerprints—developed through decades of practice and refinement—become training data for systems that can reproduce them without attribution or compensation.

What’s particularly galling is that this appropriation is happening to Miyazaki while he’s still actively working. At 83, he recently released what may be his final film, “The Boy and the Heron.” Rather than celebrating this capstone to an extraordinary career, we’re watching his artistic DNA being spliced into commercial AI systems without his consent.

Legal Whack-a-Mole in a Borderless Digital World

McDonalds came under fire for its use of GPT’s filter to plagiarize Miyazaki’s style to create marketing material

The global nature of AI development creates a jurisdictional nightmare for creators seeking to protect their work. While Japan has explicitly permitted the use of copyrighted works for AI training, content creators in other countries may have valid claims under their own copyright laws. This creates a complex legal patchwork that benefits primarily those with the deepest pockets—typically the tech companies, not individual artists.

Even when creators attempt to protect their work through legal means, they face an uphill battle. Copyright infringement claims require proving substantial similarity and actual copying—difficult standards to meet when dealing with AI systems that blend thousands of sources. The burden of proof often falls on creators who lack the resources to pursue complex litigation against tech giants.

The use of this filter to ‘animate’ powerful images feels like the most gross disrespect of history and its impact on life. Here, someone turned the JFK sh**ting into seemingly light-hearted artwork.

Digital Self-Defense: Protecting Your Creative Work

Despite these challenges, creators aren’t entirely powerless. Several strategies have emerged for protecting creative works in the age of AI:

1. Technological Countermeasures: Tools like the University of Chicago’s “Glaze” introduce subtle perturbations to images that are invisible to humans but confuse AI systems attempting to learn an artist’s style. Think of it as digital camouflage for your creative DNA.
2. Strategic Licensing: Creative Commons licenses with specific restrictions on AI training can establish clear boundaries for how your work can be used. While enforcement remains challenging, explicit prohibitions create legal leverage.
3. Embrace the Inimitable: Focus on aspects of creativity that AI struggles to replicate—conceptual depth, cultural context, personal narrative, and authentic emotional resonance. The most human elements of art remain the most difficult to algorithmically reproduce.
4. Collective Action: Individual creators have limited power, but collective movements can influence both policy and corporate behavior. Organizations like the Authors Guild and various visual artists’ associations are already pushing back against unauthorized use of creative works for AI training.
5. Blockchain Verification: While not a panacea, blockchain technology can create verifiable provenance for original works, helping audiences distinguish between human-created content and AI imitations.

To add insult to injury, the official White House Twitter Account shared this dehumanizing Ghibli-fied image of an immigrant being arrested for deportation

The Bitter Irony: AI’s Dependence on Human Creativity

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this situation is that AI systems fundamentally depend on human creativity to function. Without Miyazaki’s decades of artistic innovation, there would be no “Ghibli style” for ChatGPT to mimic. These systems are parasitic on the very creative ecosystem they threaten to undermine.

This creates an unsustainable dynamic: if AI systems discourage artistic innovation by making it instantly replicable, they will eventually exhaust the supply of novel human creativity they require as training data. It’s the technological equivalent of killing the golden goose—extracting short-term value at the expense of long-term cultural vitality.

The post How Japan’s Copyright Laws Allowed ChatGPT to Blatantly ‘Steal’ Studio Ghibli’s Work first appeared on Yanko Design.

The European country might have the 5th strongest passport in the world, but they also have the most gorgeous passport now, with this new design unveiled by Geneva-based studio RETINAA. Passports are usually bureaucratic necessities—stamped, dog-eared, and mostly forgotten until the next border crossing. But leave it to the Swiss to turn theirs into a work of art. Designed by Geneva-based studio RETINAA, Switzerland’s next-generation passport transforms a travel document into an intricate, almost poetic celebration of the country’s identity.

Switzerland has long been a champion of meticulous craftsmanship, whether in watchmaking, graphic design, or infrastructure. The new passport is no exception. RETINAA has woven the nation’s landscapes into the fabric of the document itself, using 3D-modeled reliefs that chart an imaginary journey from the Alpine peaks down to the valleys, along with custom typefaces developed by homegrown foundry Swiss Typefaces. Think of it as a cartographic love letter to Switzerland—each page unfolding like a travelogue through the country’s 26 cantons. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, ultraviolet light reveals hidden contour lines and architectural landmarks, turning the passport into a layered, interactive experience.

Designer: RETINAA

It’s a design that feels distinctly Swiss in its restraint and precision. Unlike passports that lean on flamboyant holograms or overtly nationalistic motifs, this one takes a more refined approach. The inner cover features a hydrological map, an elegant nod to Switzerland’s reputation as Europe’s “water tower.” With 1,500 lakes, countless rivers, and glaciers that supply six percent of Europe’s drinking water, Switzerland’s geography isn’t just picturesque—it’s essential. The passport embodies this reality, using water as a recurring theme to symbolize movement, connection, and continuity.

Of course, design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s also about function. A passport must be a fortress against counterfeiting, and RETINAA has seamlessly fused graphic art with security features that push the limits of modern printing technology. Intaglio printing, microtext, and UV-reactive inks are layered into the visuals, creating a document that’s nearly impossible to replicate. The effect is both subtle and striking—an object that looks like it belongs in a design museum but functions as one of the world’s most secure travel documents.

Even the color palette plays a role. The traditional Swiss red cover remains, but inside, the pages shift through a gradient inspired by the country’s diverse landscapes. From the icy blues of glacial waters to the earthy tones of rolling hills, each hue reinforces the feeling of traversing through Switzerland itself. It’s a subtle yet powerful way of embedding national identity into something as utilitarian as a passport. I won’t lie, it made me look up eligibility for Swiss citizenship just so I could possess the document.

One of the most innovative security features is the way the illustrations themselves interact with light. Under standard conditions, the passport looks like an elegant travel document, but under ultraviolet light, hidden details emerge—topographic layers, water currents, and architectural landmarks that subtly reinforce the themes of movement and identity. It’s a perfect blend of form and function, where the very elements that make the passport beautiful also make it exceptionally difficult to counterfeit. Most passports and banknotes employ this technology, but none as elegantly and artistically as the Swiss passport.

This attention to detail isn’t surprising given Switzerland’s legacy in graphic design. The country pioneered the International Typographic Style—also known as Swiss Design—defined by its clean, grid-based compositions and functional approach to visual communication. That DNA is evident in this passport. Every element is intentional, from the typography to the placement of security features. Even the microtext, which might look like decorative detailing at first glance, serves both a security function and a storytelling purpose, incorporating references to Swiss history and geography.

You have to give it to the Swiss for this surprising new achievement. Now, apart from the alps, chocolate, cheese, fondue, and impeccable watchmaking, there’s one more thing that Switzerland is undeniably good at – designing the most gorgeously secure travel documents humankind has ever seen!

The post Switzerland’s New Passport Is So Stunning, It Belongs in a Museum first appeared on Yanko Design.

At this point, Google might as well skip the official announcement and just let YouTubers handle the entire Pixel 9a launch. The company’s reputation for keeping hardware under wraps is about as solid as a wet paper bag, but this time, it’s beyond embarrassing. We’re not talking about blurry spy shots from a factory floor or a stolen CAD rendering. No, full-fledged reviews are already out. Actual retail units, being dissected, benchmarked, and compared—on YouTube, for millions to see—before Google has even acknowledged the phone exists.

It’s almost a tradition at this point. Google’s hardware leaks so consistently that you’d think it was an intentional PR strategy—except if it were, it wouldn’t be this sloppy. In past years, we’ve seen prototype Pixels left behind in bars, devices sold on Facebook Marketplace months before launch, and hands-on videos popping up like Google misplaced an entire shipment. But the Pixel 9a situation? It’s on another level. YouTube reviewers aren’t just handling the phone; they’re showing off retail packaging, listing specs, and critiquing camera performance as if they got press invites. Spoiler alert: they didn’t.

Designer: Google

YouTubers The Mobile Central and Sahil Karoul have already posted deep dives into the Pixel 9a, confirming everything from its design to its internal hardware. It sports an aluminum frame, a plastic back, and a camera setup that ditches Google’s iconic raised visor for a more subdued look. The phone runs on the Tensor G4 chip, features a 48MP main camera, and comes in four colors, though only two have been seen in the wild so far. This level of detail isn’t coming from industry insiders whispering to journalists—it’s coming from full-blown video reviews available for anyone with an internet connection.

If Google still had plans for a dramatic reveal, they might want to reconsider. At this rate, the only thing left to announce is the price. And even that probably won’t stay secret much longer. Last year, the Pixel 8a was released just before Google I/O, but rumors point to the Pixel 9a launching even earlier, possibly on March 19. Given how things are going, someone’s probably already placed an order.

The funny thing is, this isn’t happening to some obscure knockoff brand. This is Google—a trillion-dollar tech giant with resources that should, in theory, allow them to control their own product cycle. And yet, year after year, they fail to do so. Apple keeps a fortress around its devices, Samsung manages to hold back most leaks until the last minute, but Google? Their approach to secrecy is more like a group project where everyone assumes someone else is in charge.

At this point, it’s worth wondering if Google even cares. Maybe they’ve accepted their fate as the world’s worst secret-keepers and just roll with it. Maybe they see leaks as free marketing, saving them the trouble of generating hype themselves. Whatever the case, the Pixel 9a has already been reviewed, and the internet has moved on. Whenever Google finally decides to “announce” it, all they’ll be doing is confirming what we already know.

The post Google Pixel 9a Hands-On Reviews Are Already On YouTube – And The Phone Hasn’t Even Launched first appeared on Yanko Design.