Elena Maradei shared the workflow behind the realistic 3D model of Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda, showing how she captured his age and worked with textures.Read the interview: https://80.lv/articles/process-of-creation-realistic-ganondorf-from-the-legend-of-zelda/

Anton Mishchenko walks us through the creation of ANEMOIA, a vintage and cozy environment with rich props and a variety of materials, using Blender, Substance 3D Designer, and Unreal Engine, explaining how texturing and post-production help enhance storytelling.Full interview: https://80.lv/articles/how-to-create-a-vintage-look-cozy-house-inspired-by-alan-wake-2-style-mood/

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pick prominent investor Scott Bessent to take on the role of U.S. Treasury secretary, sources told Reuters on Friday, putting him at the helm of a cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory, and international affairs.One source briefed by the Trump transition team and a donor briefed on the plans told Reuters of Trumps intention to pick Bessent. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Wall Street has been closely watching who Trump will pick, especially given his plans to remake global trade through tariffs.Bessent was picked from a crowded field of candidates for the coveted role.That list included Apollo Global Management Chief Executive Marc Rowan and former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh. Investor John Paulson had also been a leading candidate, but dropped out, while Wall Street veteran Howard Lutnick, another contender, was appointed as head of the Commerce Department.Bessent has advocated for tax reform and deregulation, particularly to spur more bank lending and energy production, as noted in a recent opinion piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.The markets surge after Trumps election victory, he wrote, signaled investor expectations of higher growth, lower volatility and inflation, and a revitalized economy for all Americans.Bessent follows other financial luminaries who have taken the job, including former Goldman Sachs executives Robert Rubin, Hank Paulson, and Steven Mnuchin, Trumps first Treasury chief. Janet Yellen, the current secretary and first woman in the job, previously chaired the Federal Reserve and White House Council of Economic Advisers.ECONOMYS QUARTERBACKAs the 79th Treasury secretary, Bessent would essentially be the highest-ranking U.S. economic official, responsible for maintaining the plumbing of the worlds largest economy, from collecting taxes and paying the nations bills to managing the $28.6 trillion Treasury debt market and overseeing financial regulation, including handling and preventing market crises.The Treasury boss also runs U.S. financial sanctions policy, oversees the U.S.-led International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and other international financial institutions, and manages national security screenings of foreign investments in the U.S.Bessent would face challenges, including safely managing federal deficits that are forecast to grow by nearly $8 trillion over a decade due to Trumps plans to extend expiring tax cuts next year and add generous new breaks, including ending taxes on Social Security income.Without offsetting revenues, this new debt would add to an unsustainable fiscal trajectory already forecast to balloon U.S. debt by $22 trillion through 2033.Managing debt increases this large without market indigestion will be a challenge, though Bessent has argued Trumps agenda would unleash stronger economic growth that would grow revenue and shore up market confidence.Bessent would also inherit the role carved out by Yellen to lead the Group of Seven wealthy democracies to provide tens of billions of dollars in economic support for Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion and tighten sanctions on Moscow. But given Trumps desire to end the war quickly and withdraw U.S. financial support for Ukraine, it is unclear whether he would pursue this.Another area where Bessent will likely differ from Yellen is her focus on climate change, from her mandate that development banks expand lending for clean energy to incorporating climate risks into financial regulations and managing hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits.Trump, a climate-change skeptic, has vowed to increase production of U.S. fossil fuel energy and end the clean-energy subsidies in President Joe Bidens 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.FED FACINGThe Treasury secretary is also the administrations closest point of contact with the Federal Reserve. Both Yellen under Biden and Mnuchin under Trump typically met weekly with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often over breakfast or lunch.Bessent has floated the idea of creating a shadow Fed chair. This would entail nominating as early as possible a presumptive Powell predecessor to the Fed Board who would then deliver their own policy guidance so that, as Bessent told Barrons last month, no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore.The next seat to open up at the Fed Board is that of Governor Adriana Kugler, whose term runs to January 2026. Bessent has since said he no longer thinks the idea of a shadow chair worth pursuing, The Wall Street Journal reported.Powells term as Fed chair expires in May 2026, and presidents rarely wait until the Fed chiefs term ends before nominating a successor.FROM FINANCE TO D.C.Bessent, 62, primarily lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his husband and two children. He grew up in the fishing village of Little River, South Carolina, where Bessent has said his father, a real estate investor, experienced booms and busts.Bessent worked for noted short seller Jim Chanos in the late 1980s and then joined Soros Fund Management, the famed macroeconomic investment firm of billionaire George Soros. He soon helped Soros and top deputy Stanley Druckenmiller on their most famous tradeshorting the British pound in 1992 and earning the firm more than $1 billion.In 2015, Bessent raised $4.5 billion, including $2 billion from Soros, to launch Key Square Group, a hedge fund firm that bets on macroeconomic trends. Key Squares main fund gained about 31% in 2022, according to media reports, but firm assets have declined to approximately $577 million as of December 2023, according to a regulatory filing.By Steve Holland and Alexandra Ulmer(Reporting by Steve Holland, Alexandra Ulmer, David Lawder, Lawrence Delevingne, Ann Saphir, Costas Pitas, Nathan Layne and Jasper Ward; editing by Megan Davies and Rod Nickel)

While inflation has slowed to 2%, prices are still 20% higher than they were four years ago. Fidelity released the findings of its 2024 State of Wealth Mobility study, which consisted of 1,900 American adults over the age of 18, and set out to identify their thoughts on managing their money and meeting their financial goals. Here are some of the key highlights:Most Americans do not feel confident about their wealth: Only 10% of those surveyed consider themselves wealthy; and across all income levels, 40% said they worry about losing their money. Only 35% believe theyll be wealthy in their lifetime. However, the study showed almost 75% of Americans think the next generation will be wealthy.The next generation isnt confident either: While one-third of baby boomers dont think they need a financial plan, 54% of Gen Z do think they need onethe highest of any generation. However, 74% of participants agree that there are more opportunities for making money than there were in their parents lifetime.Talking about money with family is helpful: 56% said they didnt discuss finances with their parents as kids, and 82% said it would have been helpful. Today, 67% of respondents say theyre talking with their children about family finances.One of the most important components of financial planning is for people to engage their family and loved ones in the process, Rich Compson, head of wealth solutions at Fidelity Investments, said via email. And yet, more than half of Americans say they never spoke with their parents about family financeswhich is critical to help the next generation be prepared before life gets more complex. Reassuringly, most Americans today are changing course and giving the young people in their lives the financial education they never received.

Belgian architect Theo de Meyer and production firm Public Art Company have created installations at the Desert Air Music Festival in Palm Springs, California, that reference industrial forms and modernist architecture.De Meyer, who is a member of the Belgian architecture studio Stand van Zaken, sought to recontextualise industrial materials for the sculptures and stage at the festival, which took place at the Palm Springs Air Museum, adjacent to the small desert city's international airport.It included functioning smokestacks, sculptures with elements representing airplane wings, and a stage using simple materials such as corrugated metal and plywood.Theo de Meyer and Public Art Company used industrial materials for the production design of a music festival in Palm Springs. Photo by Nicole Busch"The materials were sourced locally, focusing on industrial components that are functional, durable, and easily reusable a hallmark of Theo's practice," Public Art Company founder Raffi Lehrer told Dezeen."The stage and its sculptures incorporate elements like corrugated metal, plywood, and truss, blending Palm Springs' mid-century modern textures with the utilitarian aesthetics of an airport."The elements also included concrete dance platforms edged with safety tape and a light-up sculpture made to resemble the flight boards that showcaseAviation-informed elements reference the festival location, Palm Springs Air Museum. Photo by Nicole BuschWith only a few days to construct and no access to the site beforehand, De Meyer, Lehrer and the team tried to utilise the simple materials to create a sense of time while being efficient under the time crunch. Each piece was set up as an individual zone for participants to cluster around and interact with."Building an environment rather than a linear stage allowed for a more dynamic audience interaction," said Lehrer.The team only had a few days to inspect the site and build the installations. Photo by Nicole BuschThe goal was to give the elements a sense of scale while still allowing for crowd movement and simple construction.De Meyer noted that the legacy of Palm Springs, known for its experimentation in modernist residential architecture, especially the work of Swiss architect Albert Frey, also informed his approach.A light-up installation was designed to look like an airport flight board. Photo by Nicole BuschThe Palm Springs Art Museum recently reconstructed Frey's modular metal house, which had sat in storage for years, on its grounds."[Frey's] work wasn't so much about creating a specific aesthetic, but rather about responding to the surroundings with an economy of means," De Meyer told Dezeen."Even something as simple as safety tape can become an opportunity for creativity. The goal is to let the materials remain true to their function while transforming them into something new and meaningful lo-fi and abstract."Read: Ten outdoor music festival installations and pavilionsDe Meyer also commented on the unique conditions of designing temporary installations for a music festival. He said that the constraints allow for experimentation that is not found in other architectural projects."The beauty of temporary structures is that there's less fear of failure, which frees up space for creative exploration," he said."This openness allows for more flexibility, where the boundaries of what we define as 'good architecture' become more fluid. In this way, a festival's environment becomes just another opportunity to observe human behavior and refine the design, much like architecture does, but with a more direct, experimental approach."It took place next to an active airstrip. Photo by Tyler BorchardtDuring the festival, which featured acts by musicians such as Kaytranada and Jamie xx, many of the elements were illuminated by coloured ground lighting.Throughout, the adjacent airport remained functioning, with planes taking off and landing during the performances.Architects and designers often utilise music festivals as places for experimentation and play. Recent examples of festivals with large-scale architectural installations include Burning Man in Nevada and Rally in London.The post Theo de Meyer uses "utilitarian aesthetics" for Palm Springs festival design appeared first on Dezeen.

Vancouver-based creative studio Zenga Bros has created a series of furniture pieces that convert into skate ramps, rails and quarter pipes as a "radical way to transform office space".Supported by watch brand Swatch, the Skate Break collection consists of five pieces of furniture including an oversized steel lamp and a boardroom table that can be transformed to create skateable pieces for a more playful work environment.The Zenga Bros have created a furniture collection that converts into skate ramps and railsDesigners and brothers Benny and Christian Zenga of Zenga Bros worked with skateboarder Andy Anderson to test and prototype the pieces, which they displayed in an interactive exhibition in Vancouver earlier this year.According to the pair, the project was part of a longer-term vision to create a "dream studio space" to host their own practice, which includes design, building, filmmaking, and skating.The collection includes a desk, lounge chairs, table, lamp and small electric truck"Are there more radical ways that we could transform the office space?" Christian Zenga told Dezeen. "Skateboarding is one of the only acts that I do that's like a meditation. It requires focus because it's dangerous, but also it's a very creative thing.""Unlike other exercise, skateboarding is like a form of play. So we asked, 'what if you played during your lunch break'?"The Vancouver-based studio used plywood and steel to create durable pieces that could withstand skatersLargely relying onsteel, pulleys, release pins, levers and thick layers of plywood, the Zengas designed and built two lounge chairs, a boardroom table, a desk, a lamp and a small truck that all open into various combinations for skateboarding.The materials were used because they proved durable enough to handle the "abuse" skateboarders put on objects and also provided a "retro" aesthetic."The aesthetics came out of having to follow transitions and things you could skate, but also the durability," said Christian. "The plywood was intentional too, [we wanted] a retro, 1970s, cool, studio space."One of the more striking pieces, the Lamp Ramp is a six-foot-tall steel object that resembles a floor lamp with a fanning shade and arched stand. The removal of a release pin allows the shade to lean forward, where it eventually rests on the ground and creates a volcano ramp and rainbow rail.A large steel floor lamp doubles as a railA set of dumbells attached to the piece acts as counterweights, a design decision that came out of quick, "fun" manual prototyping the Zengas said drove the project."If you look closely at the lamp ramp, it actually has these large dumbbells on it as counterweights," Benny Zenga told Dezeen. "The design-build prototype was phenomenal. When we landed on the final design, we had built it within a week."The lamp shade folds over to act as a ramp and a base for a rail"It's fun to have had that opportunity to immerse ourselves in the project, but also the speed, that iteration of build, it put ourselves to the test, it was a challenge."The collection's boardroom table, lounge chairs and desk also fold open with the release of pins or latches.Read: Skateparks are "one of the world's great kinds of public space" says Iain BordenThe Desk Ramp is a "standing desk" attached to a wooden wall unit backed by a large computer screen, pinboard and shelving. A lever releases the desk, which slides down a hidden track, and converts into a ramp.The screen is protected by transparent plexiglass so a skater can traverse over it on their way up the wall.A pair of lounge chairs fold open into rampsThe brothers also converted a small, electric orange truck into a mobile ramp for studio "transportation". Called the Ramper Camper, it also contains a woodstove and a mini bookshelf.It's part of a larger design concept by the pair to create a skateable "house truck" that could be taken into communities that lack access to skating.A small electric truck doubles as a mobile ramp and a small library with a woodstove"The idea was you could do a cross-country trip with a pro skater and go to small towns that usually wouldn't have a skater show up, because there's no park," said Christian. "So it was sharing and playing with communities that don't get access to that."Ultimately, the pair hopes the collection creates dialogue and experimentation.The collection is meant to spark experimentation with space and furniture"We really want to encourage other people to mess around," said Benny. "Skaters look at the world like this already, skaters look at things from another perspective. It's a 'what if' dialogue what would your studio look like?"The Zenga Bros are a design and build studio based in Vancouver, Canada founded in 1999 by the Zenga brothers, a group of eight that specialise in skills ranging from architecture and filmmaking to fabrication and heavy machinery repair.Other skating-related projects include a colourful, temporary skatepark by artist Raphal Zarka and architect Jean-Benot Vtillard that sat in front of the Centre Pompidou and a series of skateparks by PlayLab Inc in partnership with Vans.The photography is by Gordon NicholasThe post Zenga Bros creates convertible office furniture for skateboarding breaks appeared first on Dezeen.

Here's what we looked at this week:LG develops a stretchable display that can follow compound curves.Material science + fear-based marketing: The Armor-Tex is a stab-proof jacket. Nike showed off their 3D-printed Air Max 1000s.Industrial Design student work: Maoxin Yuan's therapeutic eyewear.Transportation designer Alan Derosier got the chance to turn his Xmas card concept sketch into a real electric motorcycle, the Rocket One.Accessories for your sneakers, courtesy of Adidas and AvAvAv.Industrial Design student work: The multiple-award-winning Community Gravestones project, by Cameron Brentlinger of Pratt Institute.This eBarrow Kit, an easily retrofittable electric-powered wheelbarrow wheel, was invented by a medical device expert.Peak Design's Tech Pouch: An organizing bag with better UX. Sadly it's now being knocked off by design pirates.Subversive design: The Robin Clip was designed to let you sneak an Apple Watch Into competitions.A modernist coffee grinder designed with obsessive attention to UX.A new furniture category: Bateman Labs' modular armchair-based workstations / gaming stations.Objects to satisfy the "slow life" desire for cozy: Rolife's miniature reading nooks.Harley-Davidson's LiveWire to release designey electric scooters.Base Case: A portable dual-monitor set-up in a luggage form factor.To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Casio is releasing these functional ring-sized watches.This cordless C1 Ultrasonic Cutter is like a power X-acto knife.Industrial design case study: The PureTorque training aid, by industrial design firm The Metcalfe Group.

"An elite physical trainer came to us with a prototype of what would become the PureTorque, a scientifically proven tool for more effectively targeting the muscles in your torso," writes industrial design firm The Metcalfe Group. "We were able to refine his original idea to create something that was light, easy to use, strong, visually compelling, and, most importantly, incredibly effective." Early prototypes removed mass from the inventor's prototype and focused how the device should be held and contact the body. This prototype sought to replicate the final materials for the pads and was adjustable to make sure we got the size, shape, and ergonomics just right. Once this was approved through testing with users, we 3D scanned the prototype for use in the next phase. Once the function and ergonomics were worked out, we created concepts to explore aesthetics and manufacturing methods. These started with hand sketches then were developed further in CAD iterations. In order to keep the device as light as possible while ensuring it was robust enough to handle the toughest workouts from professional athletes, we ran numerous finite element analysis (FEA) simulations that tested its strength digitally. This allowed us to iterate quickly and fix any potential trouble spots before moving to more expensive and time intensive CNC prototypes and production tooling. EMG testing (used to measure muscle activity) was done using a CNC machined prototype to measure the PureTorque's effectiveness. These scientific tests showed a 40%-75% increase in utilization of core muscle groups, leading to a more effective workout. After the design was thoroughly vetted, we moved to production using die-cast aluminum. The Metcalfe Group was relied on to take the product all the way from sketches and rough prototypes through manufacturing sourcing.Tyreek Hill, one of the fastest players in NFL, endorsed the product, saying "The very first moment I used PureTorque I thought, 'Damn, this thing is different.' I have been hooked ever since." You can see more of The Metcalfe Group's work here.

This week, Google unveiled its first mass timber office building in Sunnyvale, California. It is designed to be a cutting-edge and eco-friendly building that will serve as a productive and conducive workspace for the employees. It was designed, keeping in mind the needs and requirements of the environment and employees. It is a five-story structure that will have 96% less carbon emissions than a traditional steel and concrete building of the same size.This building, 1265 Borregas, showcases creating sustainable buildings that empower people to do their best work, said Michelle Kaufmann, Googles director of R+D for the Built Environment and the guiding force behind the creation of the new workspace in Sunnyvales Moffett Park district.Designer: GoogleAs mentioned, it is the first building to be constructed from mass timber, which is a new type of engineered wood. Small pieces of wood are layered and laminated together to build large beams and walls. The office is designed to create an environment of collaboration, support, and focus. It is equipped with neighborhood spaces that will facilitate hybrid connections and interesting collaborations.It is a representation of Googles priority to build nature-based or biophilic workplaces. According to research, people work best when surrounded by nature, and with this new workspace, Google is hoping to create a fresh and inspiring work environment. Timber is exposed inside and outside the office, which allows natural light to stream in while offering splendid views of the Northern California landscape. Automatic wooden blinds have been integrated, and they adapt to the suns position, minimizing glare.Mass timber is blessed with regenerative qualities, as it can absorb and store carbon over time. Hence, choosing mass timber was a sustainable and eco-friendly decision made by Google. It also reduces carbon emissions that are emitted from the extraction, production, and transportation of traditional building materials. Additionally, 100% of the structural mass timber lumber used to build 1265 Borregas was sourced from responsibly managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).Around three acres of pollinator-friendly native plants, such as coast live oak, California wild rose, and common milkweed,d were planted at the site and its neighboring sites. This further encourages the creation of an office building and site that is sustainable and efficient. The widespread presence of greenery helps to improve employee wellbeing, ensuring they focus and work better.The post Google Unveils Its First Mass Timber Building That Looks After The Environment & Employees first appeared on Yanko Design.

When Apple introduced the nano-texture display option, it revolutionized how creators like me interacted with their most crucial tool. Lets face it, we look at the display on the laptop 100% of the time we use it, so it needs to be as perfect as humanly possible. Until now, despite countless improvements from Apple and others, no display has truly nailed the combination of resolution, quality, accuracy, and glare reduction. This is the first time it genuinely feels like everything has come together perfectly. As someone who frequently battles glare while simultaneously demanding the ideal combination of portability and power, I wholeheartedly believe that the MacBook Pro 14-inch, equipped with the formidable M4 Pro chip, represents a significant improvement that fully satisfies all my creative demands.Designer: AppleThe Glare-Killing Game Changer:How Does Nano-Texture Technology Work?The magic lies in microscopic etchings that break down light waves. Instead of applying a coating that dulls the display, Apple precisely alters the glass surface itself. These nanometer-scale etchings scatter ambient light while attempting to maintain the displays inherent color accuracy and contrast.The nano-texture display, a $150 upgrade, felt like a luxury at firstuntil I used it for the first time today. Working outdoors, on airplanes, in cars, or any bright environment is now effortless. Previously, my 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro would glare so much under sunlight that Id have to squint or move indoors. Now, with the nano-texture display, direct sunlight feels irrelevant. I placed both laptops side-by-side during my testing, and the difference was immediate. The nano-texture display stood out, turning a frustrating glare-filled workspace into a productive one.Apples nano-texture technology effectively reduces glareits the closest thing to a paper-like feel Ive experienced on a laptop screen, offering a unique viewing experience akin to a printed photograph. The etched surface scatters light evenly, making it comfortable to look at for long hours without that usual agony of dealing with glare. The crisp colors and contrast are still intact, which is crucial for my work. The nano-texture display also gives me a genuine sense of immersiveness, drawing me in without distraction, which is particularly beneficial for long sessions of writing, editing images, and videos. Whether Im writing or editing images or videos, the screen performs seamlessly, with wide viewing angles and consistent quality, regardless of lighting conditions.Performance Characteristics and Viewing Experience:Glare Reduction: Exceptional, with near-complete elimination of reflections in diverse lighting conditions.Color Preservation: Slightly reduced color vibrancy compared to glossy displays but maintains remarkable consistency across different environments.It feels like viewing a printed photographMaintains readability in bright sunlightProvides consistent visual performance from multiple anglesNano-texture is specifically designed for the following professional use cases:Photographers and visual artistsProfessionals working in variable lighting environmentsCreators who prioritize consistent display performance over peak color saturationPortability Without Performance CompromiseFor someone who is always on the move, the weight of my gear matters as much as its performance. The M4 14-inch MacBook Pro is incredibly light at 3.5 pounds compared to the 16-inch, which is heftier at 4.7 pounds and almost on par with the 15-inch MacBook Air M3, which weighs 3.3 pounds. This reduction might not sound significant on paper, but its transformative in daily useespecially when carrying other essentials.The smaller display size could seem limiting, but it works perfectly for my needs in real-world use. As an editor and journalist who runs multiple tasks simultaneouslyoften including working in tight spaces like cafs or planesthe compact form factor fits seamlessly into my workflow without feeling like a compromise. As a one-bag packer, the smaller M4 MacBook Pro fits easily into my backpack, allowing me to travel light without sacrificing capability.Performance: Effortless EfficiencyApple Silicon has spoiled me with its reliability. The M4 Pro chip continues the tradition of handling demanding tasks without hiccups. Whether Im editing a 4K video, running multiple content creation applications, or using a native AI app to transcribe audio to text, the performance is seamless. Efficiency isnt just about speedits about working without worrying if my machine can keep up.Whats most surprising is how quiet it remains, even under heavy loads. Ive been extremely spoiled by the noiseless MacBook Air, thanks to its fanless architecture, so this is a welcome feature during late-night writing sessions or when working in quieter environments. Nano-Texture: The Heart of the UpgradeThis display technology presents the perfect opportunity to upgradeat this very moment. The nano-texture screen significantly reduced reflections, transforming how I work in mixed lighting conditions. My work remains vibrant and clear in a sunlit office, where glare usually dominates. At the same time, in dimly lit offices, the contrast and color accuracy stay sharp. It feels like the display adapts to me rather than vice versa.For those already using an M1 Max MacBook Pro, the move to the M4 Pro might feel incremental on paper. But for me, its the culmination of subtle refinements: the nano-texture display, compactness of the 14-inch form factor, and even more efficient performance. These changes align perfectly with all my daily needs. Its about having reliable tools that enhance my workflow and make my day-to-day tasks more efficient.The M4 14-inch MacBook Pro is a reliable and essential part of how I create, edit, and collaborate every day. This is just a rough hands-on, and the full review is forthcoming. I have a trip to Japan, China, and then Dubai in the next few weeks back to back, and I cant wait to put it through real-world tests. Starting at $1,999, with the nano-texture display option adding $150, its an investment that feels justified every time I power it on. For anyone who demand the best from their gear, this MacBook Pro delivers an experience worth every dollar.The post Hands-On with Nano-Texture Display: Why the M4 Pro Chip Makes the MacBook Pro the Best Laptop Yet first appeared on Yanko Design.