Cloud-native technologies have become crucial for developers to create and implement scalable applications in dynamic cloud environments.This week at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2024, one of the most-attended conferences focused on open-source technologies, Chris Lamb, vice president of computing software platforms at NVIDIA, delivered a keynote outlining the benefits of open source for developers and enterprises alike and NVIDIA offered nearly 20 interactive sessions with engineers and experts.The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), part of the Linux Foundation and host of KubeCon, is at the forefront of championing a robust ecosystem to foster collaboration among industry leaders, developers and end users.As a member of CNCF since 2018, NVIDIA is working across the developer community to contribute to and sustain cloud-native open-source projects. Our open-source software and more than 750 NVIDIA-led open-source projects help democratize access to tools that accelerate AI development and innovation.Empowering Cloud-Native EcosystemsNVIDIA has benefited from the many open-source projects under CNCF and has made contributions to dozens of them over the past decade. These actions help developers as they build applications and microservice architectures aligned with managing AI and machine learning workloads.Kubernetes, the cornerstone of cloud-native computing, is undergoing a transformation to meet the challenges of AI and machine learning workloads. As organizations increasingly adopt large language models and other AI technologies, robust infrastructure becomes paramount.NVIDIA has been working closely with the Kubernetes community to address these challenges. This includes:Work on dynamic resource allocation (DRA) that allows for more flexible and nuanced resource management. This is crucial for AI workloads, which often require specialized hardware. NVIDIA engineers played a key role in designing and implementing this feature.Leading efforts in KubeVirt, an open-source project extending Kubernetes to manage virtual machines alongside containers. This provides a unified, cloud-native approach to managing hybrid infrastructure.Development of NVIDIA GPU Operator, which automates the lifecycle management of NVIDIA GPUs in Kubernetes clusters. This software simplifies the deployment and configuration of GPU drivers, runtime and monitoring tools, allowing organizations to focus on building AI applications rather than managing infrastructure.The companys open-source efforts extend beyond Kubernetes to other CNCF projects:NVIDIA is a key contributor to Kubeflow, a comprehensive toolkit that makes it easier for data scientists and engineers to build and manage ML systems on Kubernetes. Kubeflow reduces the complexity of infrastructure management and allows users to focus on developing and improving ML models.NVIDIA has contributed to the development of CNAO, which manages the lifecycle of host networks in Kubernetes clusters.NVIDIA has also added to Node Health Check, which provides virtual machine high availability.And NVIDIA has assisted with projects that address the observability, performance and other critical areas of cloud-native computing, such as:Prometheus: Enhancing monitoring and alerting capabilitiesEnvoy: Improving distributed proxy performanceOpenTelemetry: Advancing observability in complex, distributed systemsArgo: Facilitating Kubernetes-native workflows and application managementCommunity EngagementNVIDIA engages the cloud-native ecosystem by participating in CNCF events and activities, including:Collaboration with cloud service providers to help them onboard new workloads.Participation in CNCFs special interest groups and working groups on AI discussions.Participation in industry events such as KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, where it shares insights on GPU acceleration for AI workloads.Work with CNCF-adjacent projects in the Linux Foundation as well as many partners.This translates into extended benefits for developers, such as improved efficiency in managing AI and ML workloads; enhanced scalability and performance of cloud-native applications; better resource utilization, which can lead to cost savings; and simplified deployment and management of complex AI infrastructures.As AI and machine learning continue to transform industries, NVIDIA is helping advance cloud-native technologies to support compute-intensive workloads. This includes facilitating the migration of legacy applications and supporting the development of new ones.These contributions to the open-source community help developers harness the full potential of AI technologies and strengthen Kubernetes and other CNCF projects as the tools of choice for AI compute workloads.Check out NVIDIAs keynote at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2024 delivered by Chris Lamb, where he discusses the importance of CNCF projects in building and delivering AI in the cloud and NVIDIAs contributions to the community to push the AI revolution forward.

Grab a pitchfork and fire up the tractor the fields of GeForce NOW are about to get a whole lot greener with Farming Simulator 25.Whether looking for a time-traveling adventure, cozy games or epic action, GeForce NOW has something for everyone with over 2,000 games in its cloud library. Nine titles arrive this week, including the new 4X historical grand strategy game Ara: History Untold from Oxide Games and Xbox Game Studios.And in this season of giving, GeForce NOW will offer members new rewards and more this month. This week, GeForce NOW is spreading cheer with a new reward for members thats sure to delight Throne and Liberty fans. Get ready to add a dash of mischief and a sprinkle of wealth to the epic adventures in the sprawling world of this massively multiplayer online role-playing game.Plus, the NVIDIA app is officially released for download this week. GeForce users can use it to access GeForce NOW to play their games with RTX performance when theyre away from their gaming rigs or dont want to wait around for their games to update and patch.A Cloud Gaming BountyGet ready to plow the fields and tend to crops anywhere with GeForce NOW.Farming Simulator 25 from Giants Software launched in the cloud for members to stream, bringing a host of new features and improvements including the introduction of rice as a crop type, complete with specialized machinery and techniques for planting, flooding fields and harvesting.This expansion into rice farming is accompanied by a new Asian-themed map that offers players a lush landscape filled with picturesque rice paddies to cultivate. The game will also include two other diverse environments: a spacious North American setting and a scenic Central European location, allowing farmers to build their agricultural empires in varied terrains. Dont forget about the addition of water buffaloes and goats, as well as the introduction of animal offspring for a new layer of depth to farm management.Be the cream of the crop streaming with a Performance or Ultimate membership. Performance members get up to 1440p 60 frames per second and Ultimate streams at up to 4K and 120 fps for the most incredible levels of realism and variety. Whether tackling agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry single-handedly or together with friends in cooperative multiplayer mode, experience farming life like never before with GeForce NOW.Mischief ManagedWhether new to the game or a seasoned adventurer, GeForce NOW members can claim a special PC-exclusive reward to use in Amazon Games hit title Throne and Liberty. The reward includes 200 Ornate Coins and a PC-exclusive mischievous youngster named Gneiss Amitoi that will enhance the Throne and Liberty journey as members forge alliances, wage epic battles and uncover hidden treasures.Ornate Coins allow players to acquire morphs for animal shapeshifting, autonomous pets named Amitois, exclusive cosmetic items, experience boosters and inventory expansions. Gneiss Youngster Amitoi is a toddler-aged prankster that randomly targets players and non-playable characters with its tricks. While some of its mischief can be mean-spirited, it just wants attention, and will pout and roll back to its adventurers side if ignored, adding an entertaining dynamic to the journey through the world of Throne and Liberty.Members whove opted in to GeForce NOWs Rewards program can check their email for instructions on how to redeem the reward. Ultimate and Performance members can start redeeming the reward today, while free members will be able to claim it starting tomorrow, Nov. 15. Its available through Tuesday, Dec. 10, first come, first served.Rewriting HistoryExplore, build, lead and conquer a nation in Ara: History Untold, where every choice will shape the world and define a players legacy. Its now available for GeForce NOW members to stream.Ara: History Untold offers a fresh take on 4X historical grand strategy games. Players will prove their worth by guiding their citizens through history to the pinnacles of human achievement. Explore new lands, develop arts and culture, and engage in diplomacy or combat with other nations, before ultimately claiming the mantle of the greatest nation of all time.Members can craft their own unique story of triumph and achievement by streaming the game across devices from the cloud. GeForce NOW Performance and Ultimate members can enjoy longer gaming sessions and faster access to servers than free users, perfect for crafting sprawling empires and engaging in complex diplomacy without worrying about local hardware limitations.New Games Are KnockingGeForce NOW brings the new Wuthering Waves update When the Night Knocks for members this week. Version 1.4 brings a wealth of new content, including two new Resonators, Camellya and Lumi, along with powerful new weapons, including the five-star Red Spring and the four-star event weapon Somnoire Anchor. Dive into the Somnoire Adventure Event, Somnium Labyrinth, and enjoy a variety of log-in rewards, combat challenges and exploration activities. The update also includes Camellyas companion story, a new Phantom Echo and introduces the exciting Weapon Projection feature.Members can look for the following games available to stream in the cloud this week:Farming Simulator 25 (New release on Steam, Nov. 12)Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age (New release on Steam, Nov. 12)Industry Giant 4.0 (New release Steam, Nov. 15)Ara: History Untold (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (Steam and Battle.net)Call of Duty: Vanguard (Steam and Battle.net)Magicraft (Steam)Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.the last thing your left hand touched is your video game weapon what was it? NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) November 13, 2024

Hello PS VR2 friends, since the release of our roguelike VR shooter, The Light Brigade, on PS VR2 in February 2023, weve been overwhelmed by the support and passion of our community. Your enthusiasm has fueled our team to continually improve and expand the game through a series of major content updates, and today we unveil the Phantom of Time.This Phantom of Time update is available now as a major content release at no additional cost for The Light Brigade on PS VR2, and its packed with new gameplay, a haunting new procedural world, and even a new playable class. Lets dig in.Play VideoNew Playable Class The SaboteurNew playable revolver-wielding class with special timepiece The SaboteurStealth, strategy, and clever escapes await you with our newest unlockable class: the Saboteur. This revolver-wielding gunslinger comes equipped with a Timepiece, a powerful tool for those who like to lurk in the shadows. Cloak yourself from enemies, deploy a deadringer decoy to outsmart your foes, and easily reposition on the battlefield. The Saboteur brings a brand-new tactical layer to The Light Brigade, making each encounter more unpredictable and thrilling.Explore the Memorial GroundsMemorial Grounds, the newly playable procedural battlegroundsWith the Phantom of Time update, were also introducing a brand-new procedurally generated world: the Memorial Grounds. Once a sacred crypt, this war-torn graveyard was a final resting place for honored soldiersbut now, the relentless tides of battle have defiled it. The Memorial Grounds are riddled with secrets and danger, offering a haunting backdrop to explore. Will you uncover the stories buried within, or fall to the chaos that has consumed this sacred ground?The Road AheadThe Light Brigade development roadmapWeve come this far thanks to the love and dedication of our incredible PS VR2 community, and were not slowing down. Were committed to delivering even more exciting content, from new weapons and classes to fresh worlds and social mechanics. Stay tuned because the journey in The Light Brigade is far from over. Thank you all for your continued support, and well see you on the battlefield in the Phantom of Time update, now available worldwide for all PS VR2 players.

A studio only gets to launch its very first game once! Everyone here at Dreamlit Games is incredibly excited to debut our upcoming open-world fantasy builder, Towers of Aghasba, which launches into Early Access on November 19. We cant wait for you to experience this fantastical world as you design your island with bustling settlements and nurture thriving ecosystems while fighting off the withered invasion.Why early access?This project is an ambitious open-world sandbox developed by a small team, with core mechanics intended to let players shape their island however they like. Its also one of the first in-development early access titles coming to PS5. By launching into early access, we can involve our community in the development process, allowing us to better balance, polish, and iterate on these core components. This allows us to introduce new content and features based directly on your feedback.You can still count on a fun, fantastical experience, with lots of content to explore right from the start of our Early Acess journey but well be adding additional polish and updates in the weeks ahead. Heres a roadmap of what to expect from Towers of Aghasba at launch and throughout early access:Launch contentThe initial launch of Towers of Aghasba is already brimming with content, deep gameplay systems, a compelling narrative, and a vast world to explore. We release with:Six regions to exploreExploration across vast open-world landsclimbing, gliding, and riding mountsRuins and relics to discover, unlocking ancient knowledgeLeisure activities (eg. fishing!)Three types of settlements to build, design, and decorateThree types of ecosystems to grow50+ unique creatures150+ decorations to craftSingle-player and co-op gameplayInvite up to three friends to your island to build up your settlements, tend to your ecosystems, take on challenging withered foes, and discover secrets across the worldPost-launch roadmapAs with any early access title, the launch is just the beginning. We have plenty in store for the weeks and months following the release, from introducing new systems while expanding existing ones, new quests and narratives, new regions to explore, and more.Q4 2024Post-launch supportQuality of life updatesPolish and fixesQ1 2025New regions to unlock and exploreNew quest linesA fresh cast of charactersTime of day-related gameplayOffline play modeExpanded glider traversal mechanicsPhoto ModePlayer EmotesQ2 2025New mounts and mount management systemExpanding multiplayer activities and experiencesCrossplayPlayer character customizationImproved Townfolk AIImproved Shimudex functionalityQ3 2025New regions unlockedNew withered quest lines and charactersGiant withered demon combatCold environmental effectsNew creaturesCreature relationship systemsQ4 2025New biome typeshallow waterNew ecosystem typewater ecosystemNew village typefishing villageNew creaturesNew foliagesNew quest lines and charactersQ1 2026New regions unlockedHot environmental effectsNew creaturesTown happiness systemBuilding customizationQ2 2026Increased Tower levelsNew major questlinesApart from all these exciting and ambitious plans for the road ahead, an important aspect in guiding the development of Towers of Aghasba through early access is you.We feel its important to have the community involved in the development of our game to provide the best experience possible. Your feedback and suggestions are integral in the decisions we make and we hope to expand our roadmap to accommodate our player communitys requests.Lets build an incredible, unique, ambitious, and special game together. You can pre-order the game now, and dive into the adventure with us next week when Towers of Aghasba launches into Early Access on November 19 on PS5.

One year ago, Paizo remastered its core rulebooks for Pathfinder, which updated the second edition ruleset with a collection of changes to terminology and aesthetics to improve the overall experience. Similar to what were currently seeing with the 2024 editions of the D&D Players Handbook and Dungeon Masters Guide. To commemorate this auspicious occasion, Humble has partnered with Paizo to launch its biggest bundle of Pathfinder content yet. The $30 Pathfinder Remaster Anniversary Bundle contains over 70 individual pieces of content for Pathfinder Second Edition, including all of the core rulebooks and bestiaries, in addition to over two dozen Flip-Tile maps, scenarios, and campaigns.This is, by far, the best value weve ever seen for anyone looking to get into Pathfinder, but if you need further convincing, weve provided a small list of the coolest stuff included in this bundle, along with links to their official pages on the game maker Paizos site if you want more details.Pathfinder Player CorePathfinder GM CorePathfinder Bestiary 1Pathfinder Bestiary 2Pathfinder Bestiary 3Pathfinder Second Edition Beginner BoxLost Omens World GuideLost Omens Character GuideLost Omens Ancestry GuideLost Omens Pathfinder Society GuideLost Omens Monsters of MythJust like with Humbles other bundles, proceeds from your purchase here will go to benefit a non-profit. In this case, a portion of your purchase will go to support ComicBooks for Kids!, a foundation that distributes comics to pediatric hospitals and cancer centers across the United States. Before you make your pledge, you can use the Adjust Donation menu to change how much of your purchase goes to Humble, the publishers, or to the charity.

A self-described investor rights law firm filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that Hasbro, the tabletop gaming and toy company, misrepresented its excessive inventory to investors, something the firm says is a violation of federal securities laws. Polygon reached out to Hasbro for comment and has yet to hear back.Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann (the law firm) filed a complaint in a New York court on behalf of the West Palm Beach Firefighters Pension Fund, asking the court to grant the case class action status meaning other investors and stock purchasers can participate. Hasbro, like other gaming companies, saw a boost in interest and sales during the pandemic, when people were looking for things to do in their homes; games were an obvious choice. The lawsuit alleges Hasbro purchased inventory to meet that demand but ended up buying too much. Hasbro allegedly told investors the high purchasing was necessary to mitigate supply chain risk and meet consumer demand ahead of the 2022 holiday season, according to the lawsuit. When that inventory sat, Hasbro said the stock reflected outstanding and anticipated demand and not a decreased demand. The lawsuit alleges Hasbro was intentionally misleading investors and knew it overpurchased inventory to an extend that significantly outpaced customer demand. The timeline makes sense: 2022 is when the world started opening up more broadly, and people were eager to get out of their houses.Hasbro announced in 2023, in a preview of its 2022 financial report, that revenue was down due to poor sales in the toy market. To mitigate that loss, it laid off 15% of its staff around 1,000 people. Despite that, Hasbro allegedly continued to tell investors that it didnt have an inventory problem. In October 2023, an investor asked about Hasbros stock, to which Hasbro chief operating officer Gina Goetter said Hasbro was spending $50 million to move and market inventory and as an obsolescence cost, which is corporate speak for outdated, devalued inventory.Because of all this especially the October 2023 financial disclosures stock prices declined and investors lost money, the lawsuit alleges, to the tune of a loss of $831 million in shareholder value. The stock value Hasbro previously had, according to the lawsuits claims, was due to inflated prices due to the lack of disclosures. The lawsuit states that Hasbro stock is owned by hundreds or thousands of investors who would be impacted. The law firm is asking the court for damages due to the alleged violation of the Exchange and Securities Act, which requires publicly traded companies to be honest and transparent to shareholders.In its most recent earnings report, filed on Oct. 24, Hasbro reported a 15% decline in revenue. Its inventory, according to the report, was down 39% over the last years third quarter. Hasbro experts the company to be down 14% overall in 2024.

This article is a sponsored by PenpotPenpot is a free, open-source design tool that allows true collaboration between designers and developers. Designers can create interactive prototypes and design systems at scale, while developers enjoy ready-to-use code and make their workflow easy and fast because it's built with web technologies, works in the browser, and has already passed 33K starts on GitHub.The UI feels intuitive and makes it easy to get things done, even for someone whos not a designer (guilty as charged!). You can get things done in the same way and with the same quality as with other more popular and closed-source tools like Figma.Why Open-Source Is ImportantAs someone who works with commercial open-source on my day-to-day, I strongly believe in it as a way to be closer to your users and unlock the next level of delivery. Being open-source creates a whole new level of accountability and flexibility for a tool.Developers are a different breed of user. When we hit a quirk or a gap in the UX, our first instinct is to play detective and figure out why that pattern stuck out as a sore thumb to what weve been doing. When the code is open-source, its not unusual for us to jump into the source and create an issue with a proposal on how to solve it already. At least, thats the dream.On top of that, being open-source allows you and your team to self-host, giving you that extra layer of privacy and control, or at least a more cost-effective solution if you have the time and skills to DYI it all.When the cards are played right, and the team is able to afford the long-term benefits, commercial open-source is a win-win strategy.Introducing: Penpot Plugin SystemTalking about the extensibility of open-source, Penpot has the PenpotHub the home for open-source templates and the newly released plugin gallery. So now, if theres a functionality missing, you dont need to jump into the code-base straightaway you can create a plugin to achieve what you need. And you can even serve it from localhost!Creating Penpot PluginsWhen it comes to the plugins, creating one is extremely ergonomic. First, there are already set templates for a few frameworks, and I created one for SolidJS in this PR the power of open-source!When using Vite, plugins are Single-Page Applications; if you have ever built a Hello World app with Vite, you have what it takes to create a plugin. On top of that, the Penpot team has a few packages that can give you a headstart in the process:npm install @penpot/plugin-stylesThat will allow you to import with a CSS loader or a CSS import from @penpot/plugin-styles/styles.css. The JavaScript API is available through the window object, but if your plugin is in TypeScript, you need to teach it:npm add -D @penpot/plugin-typesWith those types in your node_modules, you can pop-up the tsconfig.json and add the types to the compilerOptions.{ "compilerOptions": { "types": ["@penpot/plugin-types"] }}And there you are, now, the Language Service Provider in your editor and the TypeScript Compiler will accept that penpot is a valid namespace, and youll have auto-completion for the Penpot APIs throughout your entire project. For example, defining your plugin will look like the following:penpot.ui.open("Your Plugin Name", "", { width: 500, height: 600})The last step is to define a plugin manifest in a manifest.json file and make sure its in the outpot directory from Vite. The manifest will indicate where each asset is and what permissions your plugin requires to work:{ "name": "Your Plugin Name", "description": "A Super plugin that will win Penpot Plugin Contest", "code": "/plugin.js", "icon": "/icon.png", "permissions": [ "content:read", "content:write", "library:read", "library:write", "user:read", "comment:read", "comment:write", "allow:downloads" ]}Once the initial setup is done, the communication between the Penpot API and the plugin interface is done with a bidirectional messaging system, not so different than what youd do with a Web-Worker.So, to send a message from your plugin to the Penpot API, you can do the following:penpot.ui.sendMessage("Hello from my Plugin");And to receive it back, you need to add an event listener to the window object (the top-level scope) of your plugin:window.addEventListener("message", event => { console.log("Received from Pendpot::: ", event.data);})A quick performance tip: If youre creating a more complex plugin with different views and perhaps even routes, you need to have a cleanup logic. Most frameworks provide decent ergonomics to do that; for example, React does it via their return statements.useEffect(() => { function handleMessage(e) { console.log("Received from Pendpot::: ", event.data); } window.addEventListener('message', handleMessage); return () => window.removeEventListener('message', handleMessage);}, []);And Solid has onMount and onCleanup helpers for it:onMount(() => { function handleMessage(e) { console.log("Received from Penpot::: ", event.data); } window.addEventListener('message', handleMessage);})onCleanup(() => { window.removeEventListener('message', handleMessage);})Or with the @solid-primitive/event-listener helper library, so it will be automatically disposed:import { makeEventListener } from "@solid-primitives/event-listener";function Component() { const clear = makeEventListener(window, "message", handleMessage); // ... return (<span>Hello!</span>)}In the official documentation, theres a step-by-step guide that will walk you through the process of creating, testing, and publishing your plugin. It will even help you out.So, what are you waiting for?Plugin Contest: Imagine, Build, WinWell, maybe youre waiting for a push of motivation. The Penpot team thought of that, which is why theyre starting a Plugin Contest!For this contest, they want a fully functional plugin; it must be open-source and include comprehensive documentation. Detailing its features, installation, and usage. The first prize is US$ 1000, and the criteria are innovation, functionality, usability, performance, and code quality. The contest will run from November 15th to December 15th.Final ThoughtsIf you decide to build a plugin, Id love to know what youre building and what stack you chose. Please let me know in the comments below or on BlueSky!

Axiom Space, in collaboration with fashion house Prada, has unveiled the flight design for a new lunar spacesuit, the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), which will be used in NASAs Artemis III mission to the Moon. Revealed at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, the suit is a product of an unprecedented partnership blending Pradas mastery in materials and high-performance design with Axiom Spaces expertise in space technology. The result is an advanced, highly functional suit aimed at enhancing both astronaut comfort and performance in the challenging lunar environment.This unique collaboration has allowed Axiom Space and Prada to fuse engineering with fashion-forward design. Pradas extensive experience in luxury material development was key to crafting the outer layer, made to protect astronauts from extreme heat, abrasive lunar dust, and other harsh elements. During the unveiling, Axiom Space President Matt Ondler highlighted how the partnership has set a new standard for cross-industry innovation, emphasizing that theyve pushed boundaries to create a suit that is as practical as it is groundbreaking in design.Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Groups Chief Marketing Officer, noted that this collaboration embodies Pradas spirit of exploration and boundary-pushing. Pradas team worked closely with Axiom engineers to tailor advanced materials, applying proprietary sewing techniques and technical skills to create a suit that promises enhanced durability and comfort for extended space missions.Functionally, the AxEMU spacesuit is designed for the demands of lunar exploration, specifically around the lunar south pole. This suit has been rigorously tested for flexibility, temperature endurance, and astronaut safety, incorporating life-support features, advanced helmet coatings, and custom in-house gloves. Moreover, it boasts a regenerative carbon dioxide scrubbing system and cooling technology to prevent overheating. Adaptable for various astronaut body sizes and offering a wide range of motion, the AxEMU can support long-duration extravehicular activities, with a minimum of eight hours of operation in the unforgiving lunar landscape.The spacesuit also supports NASAs longer term goals by leveraging a modular architecture that can be adapted for both lunar and low-Earth orbit missions. Since the award of the Artemis contract in 2022 costing an estimated $228 million, Axiom Space has developed the AxEMU through a rigorous testing phase that includes underwater trials to simulate lunar gravity and uncrewed tests at NASAs Johnson Space Center. It has now reached a critical phase in its development, where it will undergo crewed tests and an extensive review process leading up to the Artemis III mission.This partnership marks a new era of collaboration between the luxury and space sectors, highlighting how technical and aesthetic design can converge to push the boundaries of what is achievable in space exploration.For more information on the AxEMU spacesuit, visit axiomspace.com.Photography courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space.

Got a travel enthusiast in your life? Or maybe youre the one thats always on the go with a passport in hand? As the holiday season sneaks up, its the perfect time to bring a little magic to those upcoming journeys with gifts that add comfort, ease, and a dash of style to travel plans. And lets be real we all know someone whos constantly jetting off (or daydreaming about it!). Whether its a quick staycation, an off-the-grid adventure, or the ultimate trip of a lifetime, giving the traveler in your life something to elevate their journey might just earn your present the award of Best Gift of the Year. Dive into our curated picks for the most chic and functional travel gifts of 2024.The Train Case by Away \\\ $165Ive been a fan of Away for years and it never fails to impress me in terms of quality, service, and collaborations. The luggage brands latest innovation is The Train Case, made from the same durable material as their larger counterparts. Not only does it look chic, I love that it can be used in so many different ways by different people. Photographers can use it to stash lenses, while parents can fill it with toys and activities for long flights with kids. The various compartments allow you to organize cables, skincare, travel gear, and more. This train case is one of those travel essentials that will adapt to everyones unique journey.Cincha Travel Belt \\\ $40Ever tried balancing your personal item on top of your suitcase, only to have it slip and slide as you dash through the airport? Enter the Cincha Travel Belt a total game-changer for the traveler with multiple items. This handy strap secures your bag to your luggage handle, making airport strolls infinitely easier. With vibrant patterns and colors, Cincha transforms a simple travel hack into a stylish accessory.Comrad Compression Socks \\\ $19For long flights, compression socks are a must to keep the blood flowing and prevent that post-flight puffiness. But why settle for plain, no-frills black socks when you could go for something a little more fun? Stylish compression socks are an easy way to add a touch of flair to your travel outfit while keeping things comfortable.Eau Bag Vacay Tote \\\ $80Tote bags are a travelers best friend just toss everything in and go! This tote brings a peace of mind knowing you have room to add in that neck pillow, a yummy lunch alternative to the airplane food, or those had to have it souvenirs. The striped colorway makes it extra special.Counterpart Charger \\\ $44Packing chargers and cables can feel like wrestling with a tangled mess of spaghetti. The Counterpart Charger makes life so much easier. With a 4-foot retractable USB-C cord, you can avoid cable chaos entirely just pull it out when you need it and push the front-facing button to snap it back when you dont. Whether youre facing a flight delay or need a quick recharge at a cafe, this little gadget has you covered.Dusen Dusen Travel Accessories \\\ Starting at $18Need to refresh your travel gear? The Dusen Dusen collection of travel accessories has all the essentials luggage tags, cardholders, passport cases, and weekend bags. Each piece brings Dusen Dusens playful patterns into the travel space, proving that organization doesnt have to be boring.MiaMily Carry-On \\\ $359On our last family trip, this suitcase was a game changer so much so that a passerby watched as we strolled along and said I like that. Now thats smart. Its a suitcase that turns into a seat for your kids (or yourself!) with a quick flip. A notch in the backrest acts as a hook so that you can hang your toddlers backpack and an included seat belt easily attaches to safely secure your little one. Imagine strolling through the airport without the Im tired chorus this case is worth every penny!Parallelle Large Traveller \\\ $128For skincare lovers who cant bear to leave behind a single serum or cream, Parallelles travel bag is a total game-changer. Gone are the days of bottles rolling around in a cluttered makeup bag (cue the spills and endless digging). With a flat bottom and foldable sides, this bag keeps everything neatly organized and standing upright, so you can see exactly what you need. It opens up fully to reveal an impressive layout of 20 pockets, six mesh pockets, and three adjustable main compartments, making it easy to keep your skincare essentials within reach and perfectly in place.Ries Original Complete 7-Bottle Set \\\ $116Speaking of skincare, Ill admit it Ive bought my fair share of refillable bottles from big-box stores, the kind made from flimsy plastic that always seem to leak by trip number two. Lets just say, theyve never exactly enhanced my travel experience. So, for my next adventure, Im upgrading to Ries, the refillable bottles that are built to last. With an airless, non-pressurized pump, these beauties let you easily dispense your products without that desperate bottle-banging. And the best part? This system means I can skip the single-use travel minis, keeping my skincare routine eco-friendly and luggage leak-free!Comme Si La Classica Boxer \\\ $75Lastly, a cozy lounge set is always a must-pack for me when I travel theres nothing like sinking into a hotel bed in pure comfort after a long day. Especially on work trips, that moment when I can clock out, slip into my pajamas, and finally unwind is everything. Im completely obsessed with Comme Sis loungewear; its simple yet luxurious, and after their collab with USM Modular (recently exhibited at the Neutra VDL House in Los Angeles!), Im even more in love. These pieces are perfect for lounging but stylish enough to step out in, making them my go-to travel essentials!Follow along so you dont miss any of our2024 Gift Guidesthis year!This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Can AI support brand consistency in design? My experience with Midjourney in capturing Lemonades iconicstyle.Illustration has never been my strong suit. Designing user interfaces, experiences, and products? No problem. But creating illustrations that perfectly reflect a brands unique style? Thats another challenge.After three years as a designer at Lemonade, working on web and mobile products, I gained a deep understanding of the brands distinct visual language: clean lines, a minimalist color palette, and that unmistakable pop of vivid pink. This got me wonderingcould Midjourney and todays AI capabilities actually fill in my gap in illustration skills? Could I finally bring my vision and design ideas to life on my own, without needing a professional illustrator? With that question in mind, I decided to dive in and test it out formyself.As I began experimenting with AI-driven illustration, I couldnt ignore the ethical questions this choice might raise. Could AI tools like Midjourney impact job security for professional illustrators? For me, the decision to use AI wasnt about avoiding the costs of hiring talent but about exploring how AI could complement my creative process, especially in the initial stages of visual experimentation. My goal was to see if AI could help streamline parts of the workflowlike quickly visualizing ideas or iterating on brand consistencywhile still appreciating the unique skills and depth that only a professional illustrator canbring.The challenge of achieving brand consistencyAchieving true brand consistency with AI involves more than just typing in a promptits about capturing the subtle details that reflect the brands core identity. Lemonades illustration style may seem straightforward at first glance, but designers know that simplicity demands precision. Its a style built on clarity: minimalist lines, grayscale tones, and that unmistakable pink accent. Together, these elements create a look thats instantly recognizable.Lemonade HomepageDirecting Midjourney to think in brandlanguageAnalyze existing brand illustrations: I used ChatGPT to create a foundational prompt by examining a variety of official illustrations, paying close attention to line quality, spacing, proportions, and color use. To keep the prompt simple, I decided to leave out pink initially, knowing it could be added later without confusing theAI.The first prompt I startedwith2. Select a reliable, iconic object for prompt testing: I selected an iconic objecta Mini Cooper. Its unique structure allowed me to see how well Midjourney could capture clean lines and simple, recognizable shapes. Using this as a reference helped me evaluate each prompt adjustment without introducing too many variables. I recommend choosing an object youre thoroughly familiar with, so you can easily spot any deviations from its trueform.Prompt inaction3. Refine through iteration: While Midjourney successfully captured the style for the Mini Cooper, other objects like buildings or animals lacked consistency. To address this, I refined the prompt with a focus on specifics like compositionhow each illustration should interact within its space, considering curves, relationships between objects, balance, and angles. These refinements helped align the illustrations with the brands unique perspective, making each object feel cohesive and purposefully positioned.To further enhance consistency, I incorporated thesref command with a range of official illustrations as style references. These included examples of broad structural shapes, rounded forms, depth, architectural elements, and line breaks. This combination enabled the AI to achieve a more unified brand look across diverse object types andforms.Final resultThis design captures the clean lines, minimalist style, and balanced composition.Achieving brand precision, soloAfter several iterations, I developed a powerful, versatile prompt that captured the style precisely, essentially illustrating how each object would appear in the brands visual language. This prompt became a foundational template: I only needed to replace the object description, and Midjourney consistently generated cohesive, brand-aligned illustrations. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of precision and creativity the AI brought to each illustration.The future of AI-driven brand illustrationThis experiment has opened my eyes to the potential of AI in scaling a brands visual identity across platforms. Imagine a company launching a new line of productswith the right AI setup, the brands unique style could be instantly applied to each new product, streamlining the visual identity process and enabling designers to adapt quickly while maintaining consistency. For designers seeking effective illustration solutions, experimenting with AI-driven tools can be a game-changer.This process allowed me to experiment, test ideas, and visualize concepts while staying fully aligned with the brands guidelines. It isnt just about output; it can help companies refine and sharpen their design language by requiring designers to create a precise textual description that captures the brands essence. This exercise enhances the brands clarity and strengthens its core identity, giving designers a solid foundation to approach future illustrations with a sharper, more structured mindset.While Midjourneys results may still require final touchessuch as vector conversion, line refinement, and detail enhancementit represents a significant step toward independence for designers who struggle with illustration, all while maintaining brand consistency.Learning to break down style requirements and refine prompts can elevate design skills and expand possibilities in brand illustration, making rapid prototyping and brand alignment both efficient and achievable.Quick tips to getstartedAnalyze the brand style:Dive deep into the brands visual language, identifying every detailline quality, colors, proportions, and composition. This understanding will guide you in creating a prompt that captures the brandsessence.Select a familiar, consistent object:Start testing your prompt with a single, iconic object that you know well. This will help you assess consistency and refine details without introducing too many variables.Refine the prompt thoughtfully:Focus on specifics like line weight, shadow behavior, spacing, and object relationships. Adjust each element to bring your prompt closer to the brands unique look andfeel.Build a prompt library:Save your most effective prompts to create a prompt bank you can easily reference for future illustrations, maintaining consistency across projects.Make final adjustments as needed:AI-generated results often need minor tweaksvector conversion, line refinement, or detail enhancementsto achieve production-ready quality. These adjustments ensure polished, brand-aligned visuals.Disclaimer:This post is based on my personal experiences and does not reflect Lemonades official branding.How I used AI to design brand-aligned illustrations was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.