Here's what we looked at this week:Fellow Products channels Dieter Rams' design approach. 1X shows off NEO Gamma, their domestic servant robot. This is surely the beginning of the end. Phaidon's forthcoming "Mid-Century Modern Designers" book covers 300 designers and goes way beyond furniture.The Cuboid: A compact, designey power strip by new Swedish design brand Kord.Helix: One AI brain controlling multiple robots.Believe it or not, with Eskimo Design's Modernist towel heater, form follows function.A brilliant design for a trailer that unloads the material for you.This IQ Vise can hold anything in any position.Sigma's minimalist, ultra lightweight BF camera is unibody, being milled out of a single block of aluminum.Tech furniture: A stool that provides haptic feedback for musicians. Useful, or gimmick?An unusual barbecue object from Japan: This mesh frying pan lets you cook rice and noodles over an open flame.ColorPipes: Lightweight inflatable lighting, now with programmable colors.A brief history of the briefcase, and a comeback version by Toyo Steel.Industrial Design student work: Turning discarded carpet into comfortable furniture.Choppy, by Latvian design brand Stum, is a bent plywood children's bicycle.Why van racking company Sortimo made an automatic door.Studio Ololoo's surprising Bubble Stool.Humanscale's Float Micro is a minimalist, height-adjustable offset-leg cantilevered side table.Industrial design firm Spitfire explains: "How to Develop a Product."

One of the (many) things that I hoard are pens. Friends joke that I have a mini office supplies shop in my house when they see my pen collection. I rarely just use a black pen for my note-taking, journaling, and other writing things. Sometimes though, it can be a hassle to bring more than one pen when I go outside. I like those multi-colored clicky pens but theyre not always the most reliable as they run out of ink fast and the quality isnt always the best. Designer: MakeDuoThe A/B Pen, soon to launch in a couple of months, is one kind of pen that can appeal to people like me who like multiple pens. It is a rectangular shaped item that actually has two pens nesting together with magnets. You can easily remove each of the two pens when you want to use one of them and then re-attach them when youre done. It can also serve as a fidget tool as you get a satisfying snap when attaching and releasing them. Hopefully it wont easily break if you keep doing that though.The idea for having two pens handy is that you can mix and match different colors and styles. There are more than 15 different colors and pen styles that you can use as refills or just to change whenever you feel like it. You have options for different line weights, styles of pens, and of course, my favorite, different colors. This saves space in your bag for when you need different kinds of pens so you can just carry the A/B Pen and some of the refills when needed. When youre not using it, you can place the pen in its magnetic cradle which also comes with a bent steel clamp so you can attach it to your favorite planner or notebook. The housings are made from a robust T6 6106 aluminum profile that are then sandblasted and go through a hard anodizing process. This way they get both color and surface protection. Theyre also small enough that you can just put it into your pocket in case youre not carrying a bag. So, for those of us who yearn for the vibrant flexibility of a multi-pen setup without the inherent drawbacks of traditional clicky models, the A/B Pen presents a compelling solution. Its more than just a writing instrument; its a customizable, tactile experience. By seamlessly blending form and function, MakeDuo has crafted a pen that caters to the modern creative, the meticulous note-taker, and anyone who simply appreciates the joy of a well-designed tool. The post Magnetic 2-in-1 pen has different colors and styles as refills first appeared on Yanko Design.

The convenience of our modern lives comes at the price of our mental and spiritual health. Too often do we find ourselves going from one point to another in an almost endless cycle of work, eating, and a few hours of sleep. Its no wonder that, in recent years, there has been a greater desire to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, seeking refuge in the stillness and gentle flow of nature. At the same time, however, not everyone can easily give up basic comforts and utilities, but one doesnt have to completely give up those amenities for a few days retreat.Nestled among the leafy alpine landscape of Sawmill Settlement at the base of Mt Buller, Victoria, the Sawmill Treehouse stands as a testament to thoughtful design that harmonizes with nature rather than imposing upon it. This architectural gem offers more than just accommodation it provides a genuine retreat where visitors can disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with the natural world.Designer: Robbie J WalkerThe journey to this elevated sanctuary begins with rusted steel steps that carry you upward, creating immediate separation from everyday concerns. As you ascend, the sensation of entering a different realm becomes palpable. The treehouse, elevated on slender posts, gives occupants the magical feeling of dwelling among the branches, where the boundaries between indoor comfort and outdoor splendor blur beautifully.What makes this structure particularly remarkable is its Japandi-style designa fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality. This aesthetic approach emphasizes simplicity, natural materials, and a deep respect for surroundings. The exterior features weathered COR-TEN steel that not only provides essential fire protection in this alpine setting but also develops a rich patina that complements the surrounding eucalyptus trees.The designers commitment to environmental harmony is evident in every aspect of the treehouse. The steel posts align perfectly with existing gum tree trunks, and the entire structure was positioned to ensure no trees were sacrificed during construction. This thoughtful placement allows nature to flow freely beneath the dwelling, maintaining the forests ecological continuity while providing guests with an elevated perspective.Inside, Tasmanian oak timber lines the walls, creating a warm contrast to the rusted steel exterior. The open-plan living area features full-span glazing that frames the forest views like a living artwork. This transparency invites natural light to dance across the interior spaces throughout the day, creating ever-changing patterns as sunlight filters through the surrounding foliage.The kitchen space merges practicality with aesthetic restraint, featuring bespoke cabinetry that maximizes functionality without visual clutter. High-quality appliances ensure guests can prepare meals with ease while enjoying the tranquil forest views. The bedroom functions as a cozy retreat within a retreat, with a comfortable Queen Koala bed positioned to maximize both comfort and connection to the surrounding landscape.Perhaps the most profound aspect of the Sawmill Treehouse experience is its ability to foster sensory reconnection. Here, the sounds of birdsong replace digital notifications. The gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze becomes a natural soundtrack. Clean, earthy scents of eucalyptus and moss offer aromatherapy thats more authentic than any manufactured fragrance.This treehouse represents a growing movement in architecture that prioritizes experiential quality over excessive space or amenities. It demonstrates how thoughtful design can create profound experiences within modest dimensions. At approximately 12 meters long and 4 meters wide, the structure proves that meaningful architecture isnt measured in square footage but in how effectively it connects occupants with the place.For those seeking to escape the constant stimulation of modern life, the Sawmill Treehouse offers a rare opportunity to step back, breathe deeply, and rediscover the simple pleasure of being present in a beautiful natural setting. It stands as an inspiring example of how architecture can facilitate healing, rest, and genuine rejuvenation when designed with intention and respect for the natural world.The post Japandi-style Sawmill Treehouse is an Enchanting Haven Embraced by Nature first appeared on Yanko Design.

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MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsNew format makes the game more approachableNative support for Apple SiliconFreedom to mix and match leaders and civilizationsDetailed 3D graphics run well on MacsConsVery expensiveUnhelpful interfaceNo support for Intel MacsOur Verdict The more streamlined approach to conquering world history may not appeal to veteran fans of the Civ series, but it does make the game more accessible and approachable for newcomers and casual players. However, the developers do need to address the poor interface design if Civ 7 is to fulfil its real potential and justify its very high price.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayThe latest game in the long-running Civilization series brings some big changes to the format that was established in previous games. Veteran Civ players may feel that this new approach is dumbing the game down somewhat, although others argue that its a good way of making the game more accessible for newcomers.Like all previous Civ games, Civilization 7 allows you to choose a leader and a civilization that you control and develop throughout the ages, with the aim of either conquering rival civilizations, or using soft power to emerge as a world leader through economic, scientific or cultural dominance. But, in Civilization 7, your leader and your society are now entirely separate, allowing you to mix-and-match leaders and countries in all sorts of historically inaccurate ways. See how Civilization compares to other Mac Games we have reviewed: Best Mac Games. A recent binge-watch of The Great prompted me to start my first game as Catherine The Great Of Russia although I was actually leading the armies of ancient Rome rather than 18th century Russia. Thats not a bad combination, though, as the game explains to me that Catherines strengths tend to focus on cultural affairs, which do overlap with the cultural achievements of Roman society and make her a good strategic choice for that civilization.Once youve chosen your leader and their civilization, the game allows you to start in any of three different Ages Antiquity, Exploration, or the Modern Age with each age representing a different historical era. As you progress through each age you can follow four different paths that lead to success economic, cultural, scientific, or military. You can focus on one specific path if you want, or diversify and explore the benefits of each path, with each path presenting different goals that you can achieve in order to emerge victorious.Choosing a leader in Civilization VIIFoundryAnother interesting development with Civilization 7 is that your leader remains the same as you progress through all three ages, but you get to choose a new civilization to lead at the start of each new age. In my case, Catherine The Great was able to choose Russia during the Modern Age, restoring her to her rightful place in history.Dividing the game into ages like this does make it feel more approachable, as it feels like its splitting the game into manageable sections, rather than chucking the whole of human history at you and just leaving you to get on with it. However, some players may miss the sheer depth of the military and political intrigue that was available in previous games. Thats largely a matter of personal taste, but one criticism that has emerged loud and clear across the board is that the games user interface is poorly designed, with unhelpful menus and tool-tips that make it difficult to find the information you need. Some people have also reported bugs in the display of text and fonts, although we didnt experience these problems while running the Mac version of the game. We did, however, find it annoying that the game is constantly badgering you to create an online account with the publishers, 2K Games, in order to use the online multiplayer mode or to unlock other bonuses. Thankfully, though, the developers have already announced that theyre listening to the players and are working on fine-tuning the interface in future updates.FoundryOn the Mac side of things, Civilization 7 runs natively on Apple Silicon but not on Intel Macs, unfortunately. It also lists Sequoia as the minimum required version of macOS, although my MacBook Pro is still on Sonoma and didnt have any problems running the game. Performance is good too, despite the games detailed 3D graphics and the large areas of terrain that you need to cover. The game has a built-in benchmarking tool, and my MacBooks M2 Pro chip was able to cruise along at a comfortable 55fps using High graphics settings when set at 25601440 resolution, so you should be able to play it even with a humble M1 processor if you dont mind turning the resolution or graphics settings down a little.Should You Buy Civilization 7?Personally, I tend to lean towards more action-oriented strategy games like the Total War: Warhammer series, so I like the new approach adopted by Civilization 7, with the bite-sized Ages making the game feel less overwhelming. Veteran Civ players may feel that things aint what they used to be but newcomers will find that Civilization is a rich and challenging strategy game that will keep them occupied for months.