Which creative studio do you most admire right now, and why? This is a question we asked our community via an ongoing survey. With more than 700 responses so far, these are the top winners. What's striking about this year's results is the popularity of studios that aren't just producing beautiful work but are also actively shaping discussions and tackling the big challenges facing our industry and society. From the vibrant energy of Brazilian culture to the thoughtful minimalism of North European aesthetics, this list reflects a global creative landscape that's more connected, more conscious, and more collaborative than ever before. In short, these studios aren't just following trends; they're setting them. Read on to discover the 25 studios our community is most excited about right now. 1. Porto Rocha Porto Rocha is a New York-based agency that unites strategy and design to create work that evolves with the world we live in. It continues to dominate conversations in 2025, and it's easy to see why. Founders Felipe Rocha and Leo Porto have built something truly special—a studio that not only creates visually stunning work but also actively celebrates and amplifies diverse voices in design. For instance, their recent bold new identity for the São Paulo art museum MASP nods to Brazilian modernist design traditions while reimagining them for a contemporary audience. The rebrand draws heavily on the museum's iconic modernist architecture by Lina Bo Bardi, using a red-and-black colour palette and strong typography to reflect the building's striking visual presence. As we write this article, Porto Rocha just shared a new partnership with Google to reimagine the visual and verbal identity of its revolutionary Gemini AI model. We can't wait to see what they come up with! 2. DixonBaxi Simon Dixon and Aporva Baxi's London powerhouse specialises in creating brand strategies and design systems for "brave businesses" that want to challenge convention, including Hulu, Audible, and the Premier League. The studio had an exceptional start to 2025 by collaborating with Roblox on a brand new design system. At the heart of this major project is the Tilt: a 15-degree shift embedded in the logo that signals momentum, creativity, and anticipation. They've also continued to build their reputation as design thought leaders. At the OFFF Festival 2025, for instance, Simon and Aporva delivered a masterclass on running a successful brand design agency. Their core message centred on the importance of people and designing with intention, even in the face of global challenges. They also highlighted "Super Futures," their program that encourages employees to think freely and positively about brand challenges and audience desires, aiming to reclaim creative liberation. And if that wasn't enough, DixonBaxi has just launched its brand new website, one that's designed to be open in nature. As Simon explains: "It's not a shop window. It's a space to share the thinking and ethos that drive us. You'll find our work, but more importantly, what shapes it. No guff. Just us." 3. Mother Mother is a renowned independent creative agency founded in London and now boasts offices in New York and Los Angeles as well. They've spent 2025 continuing to push the boundaries of what advertising can achieve. And they've made an especially big splash with their latest instalment of KFC's 'Believe' campaign, featuring a surreal and humorous take on KFC's gravy. As we wrote at the time: "Its balance between theatrical grandeur and self-awareness makes the campaign uniquely engaging." 4. Studio Dumbar/DEPT® Based in Rotterdam, Studio Dumbar/DEPT® is widely recognised for its influential work in visual branding and identity, often incorporating creative coding and sound, for clients such as the Dutch Railways, Instagram, and the Van Gogh Museum. In 2025, we've especially admired their work for the Dutch football club Feyenoord, which brings the team under a single, cohesive vision that reflects its energy and prowess. This groundbreaking rebrand, unveiled at the start of May, moves away from nostalgia, instead emphasising the club's "measured ferocity, confidence, and ambition". 5. HONDO Based between Palma de Mallorca, Spain and London, HONDO specialises in branding, editorial, typography and product design. We're particular fans of their rebranding of metal furniture makers Castil, based around clean and versatile designs that highlight Castil's vibrant and customisable products. This new system features a bespoke monospaced typeface and logo design that evokes Castil's adaptability and the precision of its craftsmanship. 6. Smith & Diction Smith & Diction is a small but mighty design and copy studio founded by Mike and Chara Smith in Philadelphia. Born from dreams, late-night chats, and plenty of mistakes, the studio has grown into a creative force known for thoughtful, boundary-pushing branding. Starting out with Mike designing in a tiny apartment while Chara held down a day job, the pair learned the ropes the hard way—and now they're thriving. Recent highlights include their work with Gamma, an AI platform that lets you quickly get ideas out of your head and into a presentation deck or onto a website. Gamma wanted their brand update to feel "VERY fun and a little bit out there" with an AI-first approach. So Smith & Diction worked hard to "put weird to the test" while still developing responsible systems for logo, type and colour. The results, as ever, were exceptional. 7. DNCO DNCO is a London and New York-based creative studio specialising in place branding. They are best known for shaping identities, digital tools, and wayfinding for museums, cultural institutions, and entire neighbourhoods, with clients including the Design Museum, V&A and Transport for London. Recently, DNCO has been making headlines again with its ambitious brand refresh for Dumbo, a New York neighbourhood struggling with misperceptions due to mass tourism. The goal was to highlight Dumbo's unconventional spirit and demonstrate it as "a different side of New York." DNCO preserved the original diagonal logo and introduced a flexible "tape graphic" system, inspired by the neighbourhood's history of inventing the cardboard box, to reflect its ingenuity and reveal new perspectives. The colour palette and typography were chosen to embody Dumbo's industrial and gritty character. 8. Hey Studio Founded by Verònica Fuerte in Barcelona, Spain, Hey Studio is a small, all-female design agency celebrated for its striking use of geometry, bold colour, and playful yet refined visual language. With a focus on branding, illustration, editorial design, and typography, they combine joy with craft to explore issues with heart and purpose. A great example of their impact is their recent branding for Rainbow Wool. This German initiative is transforming wool from gay rams into fashion products to support the LGBT community. As is typical for Hey Studio, the project's identity is vibrant and joyful, utilising bright, curved shapes that will put a smile on everyone's face. 9. Koto Koto is a London-based global branding and digital studio known for co-creation, strategic thinking, expressive design systems, and enduring partnerships. They're well-known in the industry for bringing warmth, optimism and clarity to complex brand challenges. Over the past 18 months, they've undertaken a significant project to refresh Amazon's global brand identity. This extensive undertaking has involved redesigning Amazon's master brand and over 50 of its sub-brands across 15 global markets. Koto's approach, described as "radical coherence", aims to refine and modernize Amazon's most recognizable elements rather than drastically changing them. You can read more about the project here. 10. Robot Food Robot Food is a Leeds-based, brand-first creative studio recognised for its strategic and holistic approach. They're past masters at melding creative ideas with commercial rigour across packaging, brand strategy and campaign design. Recent Robot Food projects have included a bold rebrand for Hip Pop, a soft drinks company specializing in kombucha and alternative sodas. Their goal was to elevate Hip Pop from an indie challenger to a mainstream category leader, moving away from typical health drink aesthetics. The results are visually striking, with black backgrounds prominently featured (a rarity in the health drink aisle), punctuated by vibrant fruit illustrations and flavour-coded colours. Read more about the project here. 11. Saffron Brand Consultants Saffron is an independent global consultancy with offices in London, Madrid, Vienna and Istanbul. With deep expertise in naming, strategy, identity, and design systems, they work with leading public and private-sector clients to develop confident, culturally intelligent brands. One 2025 highlight so far has been their work for Saudi National Bank (SNB) to create NEO, a groundbreaking digital lifestyle bank in Saudi Arabia. Saffron integrated cultural and design trends, including Saudi neo-futurism, for its sonic identity to create a product that supports both individual and community connections. The design system strikes a balance between modern Saudi aesthetics and the practical demands of a fast-paced digital product, ensuring a consistent brand reflection across all interactions. 12. Alright Studio Alright Studio is a full-service strategy, creative, production and technology agency based in Brooklyn, New York. It prides itself on a "no house style" approach for clients, including A24, Meta Platforms, and Post Malone. One of the most exciting of their recent projects has been Offball, a digital-first sports news platform that aims to provide more nuanced, positive sports storytelling. Alright Studio designed a clean, intuitive, editorial-style platform featuring a masthead-like logotype and universal sports iconography, creating a calmer user experience aligned with OffBall's positive content. 13. Wolff Olins Wolff Olins is a global brand consultancy with four main offices: London, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Known for their courageous, culturally relevant branding and forward-thinking strategy, they collaborate with large corporations and trailblazing organisations to create bold, authentic brand identities that resonate emotionally. A particular highlight of 2025 so far has been their collaboration with Leo Burnett to refresh Sandals Resorts' global brand with the "Made of Caribbean" campaign. This strategic move positions Sandals not merely as a luxury resort but as a cultural ambassador for the Caribbean. Wolff Olins developed a new visual identity called "Natural Vibrancy," integrating local influences with modern design to reflect a genuine connection to the islands' culture. This rebrand speaks to a growing traveller demand for authenticity and meaningful experiences, allowing Sandals to define itself as an extension of the Caribbean itself. 14. COLLINS Founded by Brian Collins, COLLINS is an independent branding and design consultancy based in the US, celebrated for its playful visual language, expressive storytelling and culturally rich identity systems. In the last few months, we've loved the new branding they designed for Barcelona's 25th Offf Festival, which departs from its usual consistent wordmark. The updated identity is inspired by the festival's role within the international creative community, and is rooted in the concept of 'Centre Offf Gravity'. This concept is visually expressed through the festival's name, which appears to exert a gravitational pull on the text boxes, causing them to "stick" to it. Additionally, the 'f's in the wordmark are merged into a continuous line reminiscent of a magnet, with the motion graphics further emphasising the gravitational pull as the name floats and other elements follow. 15. Studio Spass Studio Spass is a creative studio based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, focused on vibrant and dynamic identity systems that reflect the diverse and multifaceted nature of cultural institutions. One of their recent landmark projects was Bigger, a large-scale typographic installation created for the Shenzhen Art Book Fair. Inspired by tear-off calendars and the physical act of reading, Studio Spass used 264 A4 books, with each page displaying abstract details, to create an evolving grid of colour and type. Visitors were invited to interact with the installation by flipping pages, constantly revealing new layers of design and a hidden message: "Enjoy books!" 16. Applied Design Works Applied Design Works is a New York studio that specialises in reshaping businesses through branding and design. They provide expertise in design, strategy, and implementation, with a focus on building long-term, collaborative relationships with their clients. We were thrilled by their recent work for Grand Central Madison (the station that connects Long Island to Grand Central Terminal), where they were instrumental in ushering in a new era for the transportation hub. Applied Design sought to create a commuter experience that imbued the spirit of New York, showcasing its diversity of thought, voice, and scale that befits one of the greatest cities in the world and one of the greatest structures in it. 17. The Chase The Chase Creative Consultants is a Manchester-based independent creative consultancy with over 35 years of experience, known for blending humour, purpose, and strong branding to rejuvenate popular consumer campaigns. "We're not designers, writers, advertisers or brand strategists," they say, "but all of these and more. An ideas-based creative studio." Recently, they were tasked with shaping the identity of York Central, a major urban regeneration project set to become a new city quarter for York. The Chase developed the identity based on extensive public engagement, listening to residents of all ages about their perceptions of the city and their hopes for the new area. The resulting brand identity uses linear forms that subtly reference York's famous railway hub, symbolising the long-standing connections the city has fostered. 18. A Practice for Everyday Life Based in London and founded by Kirsty Carter and Emma Thomas, A Practice for Everyday Life built a reputation as a sought-after collaborator with like-minded companies, galleries, institutions and individuals. Not to mention a conceptual rigour that ensures each design is meaningful and original. Recently, they've been working on the visual identity for Muzej Lah, a new international museum for contemporary art in Bled, Slovenia opening in 2026. This centres around a custom typeface inspired by the slanted geometry and square detailing of its concrete roof tiles. It also draws from European modernist typography and the experimental lettering of Jože Plečnik, one of Slovenia's most influential architects.⁠ A Practice for Everyday Life. Photo: Carol Sachs Alexey Brodovitch: Astonish Me publication design by A Practice for Everyday Life, 2024. Photo: Ed Park La Biennale di Venezia identity by A Practice for Everyday Life, 2022. Photo: Thomas Adank CAM – Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian identity by A Practice for Everyday Life, 2024. Photo: Sanda Vučković 19. Studio Nari Studio Nari is a London-based creative and branding agency partnering with clients around the world to build "brands that truly connect with people". NARI stands, by the way, for Not Always Right Ideas. As they put it, "It's a name that might sound odd for a branding agency, but it reflects everything we believe." One landmark project this year has been a comprehensive rebrand for the electronic music festival Field Day. Studio Nari created a dynamic and evolving identity that reflects the festival's growth and its connection to the electronic music scene and community. The core idea behind the rebrand is a "reactive future", allowing the brand to adapt and grow with the festival and current trends while maintaining a strong foundation. A new, steadfast wordmark is at its centre, while a new marque has been introduced for the first time. 20. Beetroot Design Group Beetroot is a 25‑strong creative studio celebrated for its bold identities and storytelling-led approach. Based in Thessaloniki, Greece, their work spans visual identity, print, digital and motion, and has earned international recognition, including Red Dot Awards. Recently, they also won a Wood Pencil at the D&AD Awards 2025 for a series of posters created to promote live jazz music events. The creative idea behind all three designs stems from improvisation as a key feature of jazz. Each poster communicates the artist's name and other relevant information through a typographical "improvisation". 21. Kind Studio Kind Studio is an independent creative agency based in London that specialises in branding and digital design, as well as offering services in animation, creative and art direction, and print design. Their goal is to collaborate closely with clients to create impactful and visually appealing designs. One recent project that piqued our interest was a bilingual, editorially-driven digital platform for FC Como Women, a professional Italian football club. To reflect the club's ambition of promoting gender equality and driving positive social change within football, the new website employs bold typography, strong imagery, and an empowering tone of voice to inspire and disseminate its message. 22. Slug Global Slug Global is a creative agency and art collective founded by artist and musician Bosco (Brittany Bosco). Focused on creating immersive experiences "for both IRL and URL", their goal is to work with artists and brands to establish a sustainable media platform that embodies the values of young millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha. One of Slug Global's recent projects involved a collaboration with SheaMoisture and xoNecole for a three-part series called The Root of It. This series celebrates black beauty and hair, highlighting its significance as a connection to ancestry, tradition, blueprint and culture for black women. 23. Little Troop New York studio Little Troop crafts expressive and intimate branding for lifestyle, fashion, and cultural clients. Led by creative directors Noemie Le Coz and Jeremy Elliot, they're known for their playful and often "kid-like" approach to design, drawing inspiration from their own experiences as 90s kids. One of their recent and highly acclaimed projects is the visual identity for MoMA's first-ever family festival, Another World. Little Troop was tasked with developing a comprehensive visual identity that would extend from small items, such as café placemats, to large billboards. Their designs were deliberately a little "dream-like" and relied purely on illustration to sell the festival without needing photography. Little Troop also carefully selected seven colours from MoMA's existing brand guidelines to strike a balance between timelessness, gender neutrality, and fun. 24. Morcos Key Morcos Key is a Brooklyn-based design studio co-founded by Jon Key and Wael Morcos. Collaborating with a diverse range of clients, including arts and cultural institutions, non-profits and commercial enterprises, they're known for translating clients' stories into impactful visual systems through thoughtful conversation and formal expression. One notable project is their visual identity work for Hammer & Hope, a magazine that focuses on politics and culture within the black radical tradition. For this project, Morcos Key developed not only the visual identity but also a custom all-caps typeface to reflect the publication's mission and content. 25. Thirst Thirst, also known as Thirst Craft, is an award-winning strategic drinks packaging design agency based in Glasgow, Scotland, with additional hubs in London and New York. Founded in 2015 by Matthew Stephen Burns and Christopher John Black, the company specializes in building creatively distinctive and commercially effective brands for the beverage industry. To see what they're capable of, check out their work for SKYY Vodka. The new global visual identity system, called Audacious Glamour', aims to unify SKYY under a singular, powerful idea. The visual identity benefits from bolder framing, patterns, and a flavour-forward colour palette to highlight each product's "juicy attitude", while the photography style employs macro shots and liquid highlights to convey a premium feel.

06/12 — 2025 by abduzeedo Explore "100 Beste Plakate 24," a stunning yearbook by Tristesse and Slanted Publishers. Dive into cutting-edge editorial design and visual identity. Design enthusiasts, get ready to dive into the latest from the German-speaking design scene. The "100 Beste Plakate 24" yearbook offers a compelling showcase of contemporary graphic design. It's more than just a collection; it's a deep exploration of visual identity and editorial design. This yearbook, published by Slanted Publishers and edited by 100 beste Plakate e. V. and Fons Hickmann, is a testament to the power of impactful poster design. The design studio Tristesse from Basel took the reins for the overall concept, delivering a fresh and cheeky aesthetic that makes the "100 best posters" feel like leading actors on a vibrant stage. Their in-house approach to layout, typography, and photography truly shines. Unpacking the Visuals The book's format (17×24 cm) and 256 pages allow for large-format images, providing ample space to appreciate each poster's intricate details. It includes detailed credits, content descriptions, and creation contexts. This commitment to detail in the editorial design elevates the reading experience. One notable example within the yearbook is the "To-Do: Diplome 24" poster campaign by Atelier HKB. Designed under Marco Matti's project management, this series features twelve motifs for the Bern University of the Arts graduation events. These posters highlight effective graphic design and visual communication. Another standout is the "Rettungsplakate" by klotz-studio für gestaltung. These "rescue posters," printed on actual rescue blankets, address homelessness in Germany. The raw, impactful visual approach paired with a tangible medium demonstrates powerful design with a purpose. Beyond the Imagery Beyond the stunning visuals, the yearbook offers insightful essays and interviews on current poster design trends. The introductory section features jury members, their works, and statements on the selection process, alongside forewords from the association president and jury chair. This editorial content offers valuable context and insights into the evolving landscape of graphic design. The book’s concept playfully questions the seriousness and benevolence of the honorary certificates awarded to the winning designers. This subtle irony adds a unique layer to the publication, transforming it from a mere compilation into a thoughtful commentary on the design world itself. It's an inspiring showcase of the cutting edge of contemporary graphic design. The Art of Editorial Design "100 Beste Plakate 24" is a prime example of exceptional editorial design. It's not just about compiling images; it's about curating a narrative. The precise layout, thoughtful typography choices, and the deliberate flow of content all contribute to a cohesive and engaging experience. This book highlights how editorial design can transform a collection of works into a compelling story, inviting readers to delve deeper into each piece. The attention to detail, from the softcover with flaps to the thread-stitching and hot-foil embossing, speaks volumes about the dedication to craftsmanship. This is where illustration, graphic design, and branding converge to create a truly immersive experience. Final Thoughts This yearbook is a must-have for anyone passionate about graphic design and visual identity. It offers a fresh perspective on contemporary poster design, highlighting both aesthetic excellence and social relevance. The detailed insights into the design process and the designers' intentions make it an invaluable resource. Pick up a copy and see how impactful design can be. You can learn more about this incredible work and acquire your copy at slanted.de/product/100-beste-plakate-24. Editorial design artifacts Tags editorial design

The inaugural edition of Shelter – a design fair on the occasion of NYCxDESIGN 2025, organized by the online collectible design platform Afternoon Light – was held on the third floor of Chelsea’s historic Starrett-Lehigh building. The 1930s-era daylit factory is an architectural relic from a time when industrial spaces of the same typology prioritized creative wellness through a structural-utilitarian-aesthetic unity. Its physicality provided an idyllic backdrop for the show’s eclectic, experimental design, which, when coupled with an expansive floorplate, promoted a sense of community among participants. More than 100 brands and makers across furniture, lighting, and product design converged on the bazaar of sorts to mingle with other trade professionals and media in what proved to be a creative convivance – something critical for in-person events looking to wrest audience attention and social currency back from the digital realm. Designers embraced the building’s ribbon-windowed, sun-drenched interior with some choosing to unfurl product-filled landscapes in lieu of walled booths while others opted for scene-building by erecting immersive sets. Aptly themed “Mart Nouveau,” Shelter’s successful launch has already positioned itself as a purveyor of taste and a collector of oddities in the best possible way. “We wanted to reference the industry-event tradition while also signaling that our activation is something entirely new… with a little aesthetic flair, too,” shares fair co-founder Minya Quirk. “Art Nouveau as a movement was about breaking from historical styles and creating something modern and forward-thinking, which we tempered by leaning into the larger concept of ‘shelter’ – protection, cover, the comfort of a hug.” Far from an exhaustive list, continue reading for a glimpse at 15 enchanting designers and the beguiling pieces that captured our attention at this year’s event. Matter.Made Matter.Made’s creative director and founder Jamie Gray launches the Delphi Pendant with star-like tubular detailing for a design that sparks great joy upon inspection. The versatile lighting collection is constructed of cast and machine brass paired with fluted glass in an homage to Greek columns. What’s more, the proprietary brass chain unlocks many use cases through customization as a pendant, sconce, and chandelier. N. Shook Reconfigurable, streamlined, and conceived as an architectural system. The Ledoux Prêt perforated shelving units, which revolve around a central spine, are satisfyingly thick with a lightness of form from their carefully calculated perforations. The cabinet doors swing on visible wooden hinges in an honest approach articulating their fully wooden joinery. Avram Rusu Studio Spring melds with summer in Psychogeography, a collaboration between Avram Rusu, Token, and Wallpaper Objects. The peachy-pink, biophilic glass orbs are whimsical by design suspended in space as they toe the line between sea creature and weeping botanicals. The sleek, bulbous forms and slightly organic folds pepper the collection with visual interest while enhancing their glow. Riffmade Riffmade’s Veil Curtain Desk is contemporary in appearance all the while deeply rooted in the domestic tradition that favors a slower pace. It supports a dynamic, modern work-life rhythm by hiding professional work stations behind a textile curtain and allowing users to create boundaries for the sake of their personal time. Jackrabbit Studio for Roll & Hill The Checa Stools commemorate Jackrabbit Studio’s first collection with New York-based, artisan manufacturer Roll & Hill. Each of the three options find themselves grounded in warmth, made even more inviting by Brett Miller’s inimitable round form-making, here inspired by the surface tension of water droplets. Ford Bostwick Finding furniture and lighting by way of architecture, designer Ford Bostwick takes the edge off rigid material forms with his indulgence in light and color. Lucy, the sculptural luminaire, can be stacked vertically or built out horizontally to create near-infinite linear combinations with her modules. She can be configured as a tower, room divider, wall feature, wall-mounted sconce, or ceiling-suspended pendant for a variety of programmatic needs. Yamazaki Home Smart brands like Yamazaki Home are approaching pet products with the same level of scrutiny and attention to detail as they would when designing goods for their human counterparts. The Tilted Pet Food Bowls elevate – quite literally – the dining experience for domesticated animals while creating a beautiful design object that doesn’t feel out of place in the contemporary home. Fort Standard Hardware Hardware bridges the gap between architecture and decorative objects, but few function with excellence at both. Fort Standard successfully expands into architectural hardware with beautiful home solutions through their Concave Collection. The slightly oversized handles boast a visual and physical weight that is hard to ignore. And, they are available in a variety of dimensions to accommodate a wide range of applications. M.Pei Studio (as curated by Colony) Maggie Pei presented her Portico Console Table and Wall Hanging Mirror as M. Pei Studio within a capsule showcase for Colony – a community of independent furniture, lighting, textile, and objects designers brought together by curator Jean Lin. Pei’s portico is monumental, meant for entryways that command passersby to gaze at and inspire a moment of personal reflection. A Space Studio Marble is arguably one of the trade’s most venerable building materials and A Space Studio takes a ‘waste not, want not’ approach to their use of it. The studio’s Slanted Armchair No. 1 is seductive, cut from a single sheet of Indian Onyx and leaning into its angular architecture. Michiko Sakano Studio Brooklyn-based, multi-hyphenate maker Michiko Sakano is all about duality. Her practice is an amalgam of art and design while her work blends utility with aesthetics. This current collection on view, Stacks, builds on previous explorations of jewelry. Here, rigid glass bangles of varying thicknesses and opacities are caught in tension as they melt into the layers below. It explores an inherent contrast between softness and structure, the negotiation between tradition and experimentation, and exemplifies Sakano’s skills as a fabricator when they meet her creative impulses. John Wells Heavy Metal & FDK Junior In a shared exhibition space, the natural patination of John Wells’ ES-07 Sconces complemented the iridescence found on Fernando Kabigting’s wall sconce from his collection 01 Capsule: Rooted in Nature. The two share a propensity for narrative driven design with contrasting approaches to storytelling through material finish and edgework. Wells’ sconces comprise stacked, terraced plates backed by LED strip lighting that echo elements of Art Deco design, while Kabigting looks to nature pulling inspiration from capillary waves caused by a droplet of water or the crinkled edge of crisp leaves. Heako Studio A good lede can make or break a story with its power to pull readers in. The same goes for objects with compelling visual contrast, which commands an audience. Soul-born artist Hea Ko knows how to craft a strong design narrative as demonstrated by the Himalaya Lunar Lamp. With this piece Ko creates a vignette distilling the serene yet powerful juxtaposition of the moon in dialogue with the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas – and bridging the natural with the celestial. Garnier Pingree Good collage is esoteric, expressive, and sometimes elusive, relying on chance for the perfect amalgamation of media. Marie Garnier and Asa Pingree, the duo behind Garnier Pingree, present the Claude Mirror I – a collage of simple shapes, a primary color, and superimposed textures – above their ‘A’ chair in a delightful display of materiality and wit. The seat offers a variety of ways to engage with comfort and even a little humor while settling in to relax.

Lian Li Lancool 4 Has Fans in Glass, 217 Infinity, DAN B4, and $45 Case, ft. CEOMay 29, 2025Last Updated: 2025-05-29During Computex 2025, Lian Li showed off several new cases that include the Lancool 4, Lancool 217 Infinity, Lian Li O11 Mini V2, and moreThe HighlightsLian Li's Lancool 4 case has gigantic holes cut into the glass for intake fans, coupling airflow with glassThe company’s Shifting Block PSU has a rotating plug that is geared for back-connect motherboardsThe company’s Vector 100 cases are very cheap, starting at $45 without fansTable of ContentsAutoTOC Buy a GN 4-Pack of PC-themed 3D Coasters! These high-quality, durable, flexible coasters ship in a pack of 4, each with a fully custom design made by GN's team. You'll get a motherboard-themed coaster with debug display & reset buttons, a SATA SSD with to-scale connectors, RAM sticks, and a GN logo. These fund our web work! Buy here.IntroWe visited Lian Li during Computex, where the company showed off several of its upcoming products. We think the most interesting one is the Lancool 4, which has fans built into its glass front panel. It’s supposed to be a $130 case that will come with 6 fans.Editor's note: This was originally published on May 19, 2025 as a video. This content has been adapted to written format for this article and is unchanged from the original publication.CreditsHostSteve BurkeCamera, Video EditingMike GaglioneVitalii MakhnovetsWriting, Web EditingJimmy ThangLancool 4The big thing about the Lancool 4 is that it embeds its fans into the front glass panel. This kind of takes us back to about 20 years ago, but instead of glass, the fans were integrated into acrylic and people would take a hole saw and would mount their own fans into it. One of the challenges with this design pertains to potentially reducing the yields with glass breaking being a concern. This wasn’t something that case companies did before, but Lian Li CEO Jameson Chen tells us the glass manufacturing process has improved dramatically lately. The CEO says that the failure rate used to be abysmal but has gotten down to about 5% to accommodate for the curve of the glass. Drilling holes into the glass brings the failure rate down at least another 5%. To mitigate failure rates, Lian Li found that there needs to be at least a 3cm gap between the holes. Chen revealed that the glass is 4mm thick, which is to bolster its quality.  In between the fans are plastic pieces which are used to hide the cables. The fans also use Pogo pins, which are integrated into the bottom of the front panel. When we asked Chen what happens if one of the fans dies, the CEO stated that Lian Li would provide a 5-year warranty. He elaborated that the fans are a new design and that they are 10% fiberglass PBT. Chen also revealed that the fans use fluid dynamic bearings (FDB). Considering Lian Li is still prototyping the case, the company is still thinking about whether to put RGB LEDs on the fan blades or to put the RGB LEDs around the fan’s frames. The Lancool 4 has an aluminum top and the rest of the chassis is made of steel, which is 1mm thick.The back glass panel releases via a button. Chen says this was done so that people could open up the glass panel without opening up the bottom side panel. Looking at the design of the rest of the case, it has a lot of similar panels as seen in the Lancool series. It’s got 4 doors and the 2 on the bottom sides are ventilated mesh and there are fan-mount options on the side. While we were there, Chen told us that Lian Li is considering shortening the case from the front to the back a little bit. This would bring the fans in closer to the components. This will benefit an air cooler and GPU. In our experience, performance in shorter cases, in a like-for-like scenario, is better. Chen also thinks the aesthetics of the case would improve as well with a tighter design. The downside is that the case would no longer support 420mm radiators and would support 360mm radiators max. The back panel of the Lancool 4 uses glass, which would normally expose the cable management but the case will come with a cable cover. There would be 2 screws to remove it. A downside here is that there’s less cable-management space to work with.The Lancool 4’s PSU mount is towards the back and bottom of the case. The bottom front has a cut out, which provides some space to route cables. Shifting Block PSU Visit our Patreon page to contribute a few dollars toward this website's operation (or consider a direct donation or buying something from our GN Store!) Additionally, when you purchase through links to retailers on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.The company also showed off a new interesting power supply, which has a rotating plug. This creates a shifting layout for the cable connections and allows users to re-orient the PSU. Chen tells us it's designed for top and bottom chamber cases and it’s also geared for back-connect motherboards.  Looking at the PSU, it has its 24-pin connectors off on one side. It also has an optional fan and USB 2.0 hub.Lian Li O11 Mini V2Moving on to the Lian Li O11 Mini V2, it has mesh on one of the side panels that’s popped-out about 3mm, which is to accommodate for ATX PSUs that protrude past the frame of the case. The company designed it this way because it had a very specific width it wanted to tackle to avoid the case looking too chunky. Currently, the volume of the case is 45 liters, which includes the feet, but does not include the protruding mesh side panel. The case we saw used bottom intake fans, which are slanted at 25 degrees and the only place for air access is underneath the back panel side. This is coupled with a tiny dust filter on the bottom, which slides out through the back. In terms of other fan mounts, the case has 2 on the side, 1 on the back, and 3 fans can fit in the top. The Lian Li O11 Mini V2 is targeting $89 without fans and $99 with five 120mm fans (2 on the side and 3 on the bottom). Dan Case B4Moving on to Lian Li’s Dan Case B4, we’ve reviewed Dan cases before. The unit we saw at Computex isn’t done yet. We’re told it’s about 60% completed. The case can rotate and has feet and an extension that allows the case to support up to a 360mm radiator. The downside is that about 30% of one of the radiator’s fans would be obstructed by a metal wall. It’s possible that they may perforate this wall to help with cooling. Lian Li is planning to put some mesh or covering on the front panel of the case. The unit we saw was fully exposed and open. What’s interesting about this layout is that the GPU fans are right up against the case’s front intake fans, which is going to be about as cool as you can get for the video card. Most GPUs these days have vertically-oriented fins where the air is going to come out the sides. In this case, air should come out through the punctured side panel but may re-circulate into the back radiator, especially if its fans are intake. If the fans are oriented to be exhaust, that might work better in this case. Lian Li is planning to provide 2x120mm fans along with the case. The case can also be rotated to look like the image above. 217 Infinity CaseLian Li also showed off its 217 Infinity case, which is the 217 case with an updated front and leans on some of the changes that the Lancool 4 has made to get its fans into its front glass panel. The tooling is mostly the same. The things in the back of the case are all basically identical. The changes pertain to the front panel, which have some giant holes in them to accommodate 170mm fans that are 30mm deep. The glass panel has the infinity mirror styling. The only other major change pertains to the IO. Some people complained that the original 217 had its IO on the bottom side, so now the company has moved it to the top with an option to have it on the bottom side. The case comes with 2x170mm front fans and a rear fan. The black version of the case is targeting $120 with a white version targeting $125. Lian Li Vector SeriesAnother Lian Li case we looked at had some “functional gimmicks.” On the back side, it has a cut-out area that looks like a handle, but definitely isn’t. Instead, there’s a very fine mesh filter that’s an area that’s meant to help with intake. This should also help with GPU cooling. The case is targeted at the system integrator market, but will still be sold at retail. Lian Li is targeting $110 for it without any fans, but includes an 8.8-inch IPS screen that carries a 1720x4080 resolution. Pricing may change in the US based on tariffs. Vector 100 and Vector 100 MiniThe main reason we’re bringing these 2 cases up is price. The Vector 100 is targeting $60 (without fans) and the Vector 100 Mini, which is geared for MicroATX, is targeting $45 (without fans). Lian Li Wireless FansLian Li also showed off its new wireless fans, which comes with a battery pack. There’s currently no price on it, but it’s designed to allow its users to “flex,” as Chen put it. It comes with a built-in receiver. The fans and RGB LEDs use up to 12 volts. In terms of battery life, the CEO says that 3 fans with their LEDs on will last for about 20 minutes. Hydroshift 2 Liquid Cooler Grab a GN15 Large Anti-Static Modmat to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and for a high-quality PC building work surface. The Modmat features useful PC building diagrams and is anti-static conductive. Purchases directly fund our work! (or consider a direct donation or a Patreon contribution!)The Hydroshift 2 Liquid Cooler has a click actuation ring around the cooler, which can be used as a software-less switch for the display and all of that is pre-written to the device. This means that toggling it doesn’t require software, though you could use software. Compared to Lian Li’s previous Hydroshift 1, the radiator size has been reduced to offer more compatibility but Lian Li says it’s tried to improve flow within the cooler. The company also pushed the micro fins closer to the heat source.

Computex 2025 is drawing to a close today, putting a period on a fairly sleepy convention—at least, compared to previous years. But while the big hardware announcements may have left PC building enthusiasts craving more, fun components still could be found around the show. Like PC cases. I haven’t been on the show floor, but I’m still pumped for the news that I’ve been devouring while at home. I wasn’t exactly planning a makeover for my rig just yet, but I’m now awfully tempted by what’s coming down the pipeline. Especially by one case in particular. (It’s not the one all my colleagues want.) Interested in all the best hardware out of Computex? Check out our staff’s picks! InWin ChronoMancy InWin For its 40th anniversary, InWin pulled out all the stops. At Computex, the company unveiled the ChronoMancy, a jaw-dropping piece of spectacle that stands over 3 feet tall (!). This E-ATX case looks like a bit of wizardry with cyberpunk overtones—transparent blue plastic set against a sleek, dark gray aluminum body. When lit in a full build, the shimmering effect of RGB lighting makes the whole array look like a device meant to bring the dead to life. Personally, I dig how the rounded panels curve around to reveal the components inside, which stack like the spine of a mechanical beast. Also, the fact you can open this chassis with the wave of a wand. (You can also press a button, but that’s way more boring.) Sinking money into this likely super-expensive case seems like a good idea. Right? Right. Hyte X50 Air Hyte Call me a curmudgeon, but it feels like every case is a sharp-edged box these days. Don’t get me wrong—when the O11D first appeared on the scene, its clean lines provided a needed break from “gaming” cases that had aggressive ridges, fins, and slanted front panels. I never wanted the whole industry to lean so hard into that single look, though.  Thankfully, Hyte is swimming upstream with delightfully (and literally) bubbly, colorful cases. Its X50 Air has me seriously considering putting cash down to rehome my current desktop build. I adore red PC cases, and they don’t often appear in the wild. But the X50 also sports pink, lime green, and periwinkle options in addition to standard white and black, too. Heck, as hard as I fell for the red color, even the white case could be fun for a project—maybe a “skittles” build? Use the white as a base for color accents from across the rainbow (custom cables, perhaps). Just peeks of color through the mesh panels could be cute, given the rounded, curved shape of the case edges. (Rather than incongruous on a sharp box.) An X50 variant with a glass panel exists as well, but nah. I love the meshy, huggable vibe of the X50 Air. Not for you? Just think of how you could tempt the kids in your life away from their consoles. SilverStone FLP-02 Willis Lai / Foundry I have to be honest—I love to hate this case. Just as with the neon vomit everyone associates with the 1980s, I also want to leave beige cases firmly in the 1990s. Not my coworkers, though. SilverStone made a beige throwback case as a joke awhile back, and the tech media took off with spreading word of it. And now we’re here with the SilverStone FLP-02. In the year of our lord 2025, did I expect a chassis with 5.25-inch bays, a front panel with grills dead center and along its edges, and even a turbo button? And also a lock? Nope. Are we getting one? Yep. Pretty sure my boss is going to be first in line for this ATX case, which he calls a piece of junk debris memorabilia out of a time machine. But one that is fully modern inside, despite its looks. I will grudgingly admit though—you could definitely use this as a sleeper build. Shove a RTX 5090 in it and never worry about it being stolen. You know, like those fake cans of soup you were supposed to hide your money and spare keys in, as seen in ’90s commercials. Yes, I remember. Phanteks Evolv2 Matrix GearSeekers / Phanteks Who really wants gigantic LCD screens inside their PC? Me, actually, but Phanteks showed off a case at Computex that has me potentially reconsidering. Perhaps I should be aiming for something a little more practical (aka visible)–but no less cool. The Evolv X2 Matrix has a fun extra at the bottom of its chassis—a display that shows text in a pixel font. Text that can scroll, to boot, wrapping from front panel to side without a hitch. The look perfectly blends retro vibes with enough modern style to turn my head. Somehow, seeing the sample temperature bars for your CPU and GPU rendered in blocky lines is just so charming. For a closer look, hit up this video from our friends over at GearSeekers. In Nick’s own words? “Huh, that’s pretty cool, I haven’t really seen that before.” Me either, dude—it’s slick. Even more fun? It apparently comes part of a line of Matrix cases.  Also I realized plenty of room still exists for an AIO with a screen, so I’m now asking my future self: ¿Por qué no los dos? Cooler Master MasterFrame 360 Panoramic OC3D TV / Cooler Master Some people have expert-level cable management skills. (I do not.) But we can still aspire to such lofty heights—particularly when you have a good purchase to motivate you to improve. For me, that challenge buy would be the Cooler Master MasterFrame 360 Panoramic, which wraps glass around three sides of the case for a full view of the build. You can’t hide your frustrated attempts to quit cable management early with this chassis. Softening the harsh demand to git gud are the lovely curves on the front panel of the 360 Panoramic—I find the gentler aesthetic less intimidating. Sure, I don’t do custom water cooling (another solid skill to make the most of this look), but you know what? Do I really need to, when there are AIOs with gigantic screens I could feature inside? You may think seeing one fish tank style case means you’ve seen them all, but not anymore. You’ll understand when you take a closer look at the case, courtesy of OC3D TV.

Google’s latest Android 16 beta adds a bunch of new wallpaper and lock screen options for Pixel phones, including live-updating weather animations and a feature that automatically frames subjects of photos within a variety of bubbly shapes.When you select an image to use as a wallpaper in the beta, you can tap the sparkly collection of starbursts that has become the de facto symbol for AI features to access the new effects. One of them, “Shape,” washes your screen in a solid color, with a punchout frame in the middle centered on the subject of your photo, be it a person, animal, or object. You can choose from five different shape options: a slanted oval, rounded rectangle, an arched opening, a flowery shape, and a hexagon. It’s a little like the iOS “Depth Effect” feature that partially obscures the clock on your lock screen with a person’s head.Android 16 automatically chooses a subject for its “Shapes” wallpaper effect. Screenshot: Dominic Preston / The VergeRight now, your phone picks what part of the image should be the subject, with no option to resize or reposition it. In a picture of two cats that my colleague Dominic Preston tried, the phone automatically centered the frame on one of the cats, with no option to use the other instead.A new “Weather” option interacts with the subject of your photo, like by pelting them with raindrops or wrapping them in fog. The default choice, “Local,” changes the effect depending on nearby weather conditions, but you can pick fog, rain, snow, or sun if you’d rather use one persistent effect. These options join the previous “Cinematic” wallpaper mode that automatically creates a parallax effect, moving your subject around the background of the image when you tilt your phone. That feature is now activated with a toggle labeled “Add 3D motion to this photo” and produced slightly different results when I tried it out with the same image.Google is also testing updates to the lock screen, including offering more control over what notifications appear there. For instance, the beta now has a toggle for “Show seen notifications” that, when turned off, will hide notifications you’ve already seen.Finally, 9to5Google spotted that a blog post from Google’s I/O conference offers a look at its “Live Updates” feature, which, like iOS’s Live Activities, presents live-updating lock screen elements showing you when, say, your Uber driver is arriving. In the GIF above, you can see what aspects like its progress bar and time estimates will look like.See More:

Drop it like it's not (the piece you need right now) Drop Duchy is a deck-building, Tetris-like, Carcassonne-esque puzzler The game layers tile dropping onto worker placement, and stacks up nicely. Kevin Purdy – May 16, 2025 7:30 am | 2 Credit: The Arcade Crew Credit: The Arcade Crew Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more When my colleague Kyle Orland submitted Tetrisweeper for a list of Ars' favorite 2024 games not from 2024, I told him, essentially: "Good for you, not for me." I'm a pedestrian Tetris player, at best, so the idea of managing a whole different game mechanic, while trying to clear lines and prevent stack-ups, sounded like taking a standardized test while baking a three-layer cake. And yet, here I am, sneaking rounds of Drop Duchy (Steam, Epic, for Windows/Linux via Proton) into lunch breaks, weekend mornings, and other bits of downtime. Drop Duchy is similarly not just a Tetris-esque block-dropper. It also has you: Aligning terrain types for resources Placing both your troops and the enemy's Choosing which cards to upgrade, sell, and bring into battle Picking between terrain types to leave behind Upgrading a tech tree with achievements Picking the sequence of battles for maximum effectiveness Drop Duchy is a quirky game, one that hasn't entirely fused together its various influences without some seams showing. But I keep returning to it, even as it beats me to a pulp on Normal mode, based on decisions I made five rounds ago. It feels like a medium-deep board game, played at triple speed, with someone across the table timing you on how fast you arrange your tiles. Your standard roguelite deck-builder, Tetris tactics, worker placement game Drop Duchy launch trailer. Allow me to try to describe what is happening in Drop Duchy, ignoring entirely the idea that there is some kind of plot. You start off with three buildings and your enemy's buildings that you must place, mixed into a pile of terrain (plains and forest to start) in Tetris-like shapes. Filling a horizontal line gives you resources (wheat, wood, and stone) from that line but does not clear it. If you build up a big area of plains on your board, you can drop your "Farm" piece in the middle, and it converts those plains into richer plains. Put a "Woodcutter" into a bunch of forest, and it harvests that wood and turns it into plains. Set down a "Watchtower," and it recruits some archer units for every plains tile in its vicinity, and even more for richer fields. You could drop a Woodcutter next to a Farm and Watchtower, and it would turn the forests into plains, the Farm would turn the plains into fields, and the Watchtower would pick up more units for all those rich fields. That kind of multi-effect combo, resulting from one piece you perfectly placed in the nick of time, is what keeps you coming back to Drop Duchy. The bitter losses come from the other side, like realizing you've leaned too heavily into heavy, halberd-wielding units when the enemy has lots of ranged units that are strong against them. Or that feeling, familiar to Tetris vets, that one hasty decision you made 10 rows back has doomed you to the awkward, slanted pile-up you find yourself in now. Except that lines don't clear in Drop Duchy, and the game's boss battles specifically punish you for running out of good places to put things. There's an upper strategic layer to all the which-square-where action. You choose branching paths on your way to each boss, picking different resources, battles, and trading posts. Every victory has you picking a card for your deck, whether military, production, or, later on, general "technology" gains. You upgrade cards using your gathered resources, try to balance or min-max cards toward certain armies or terrains, and try not to lose any one round by too many soldiers. You have a sort of "overall defense" life meter, and each loss chips away at it. Run out of money to refill it, and that's the game. Again: It is not a Tetris clone Every run is a new set of cards that you upgrade, sell, reserve for certain terrain conditions, or wonder why you picked it. The Arcade Crew Every run is a new set of cards that you upgrade, sell, reserve for certain terrain conditions, or wonder why you picked it. The Arcade Crew Upgrading cards is almost always worth it—unless you need to replenish your overall defense. The Arcade Crew Upgrading cards is almost always worth it—unless you need to replenish your overall defense. The Arcade Crew Every run is a new set of cards that you upgrade, sell, reserve for certain terrain conditions, or wonder why you picked it. The Arcade Crew Upgrading cards is almost always worth it—unless you need to replenish your overall defense. The Arcade Crew The path you choose to encounters and trading posts makes a difference in Drop Duchy. The Arcade Crew The path you choose to encounters and trading posts makes a difference in Drop Duchy. The Arcade Crew See that river on the right, the one that would look great if only it could be connected? Welcome to this game. The Arcade Crew See that river on the right, the one that would look great if only it could be connected? Welcome to this game. The Arcade Crew The path you choose to encounters and trading posts makes a difference in Drop Duchy. The Arcade Crew See that river on the right, the one that would look great if only it could be connected? Welcome to this game. The Arcade Crew Drop Duchy feels, moment to moment, triumphalist and unfair, but that is its intended rogue-ish nature. Where I see issues with the game beyond that is in the little stuff. The game plays well on a Steam Deck or other handhelds, but if you have any issues with reading small text on a small screen, Drop Duchy is unforgiving. Many of the buildings look very similar, and the icons and text can be quite small. I feel the most for folks with extensive Tetris experience and muscle memory. Drop Duchy uses some non-standard pieces, like single, double, and three-square corners. And while line clearing is almost always rewarded, it can also work against you, like if an enemy's fort fits a slot, but also grants it lots of troops from the surrounding terrain. Drop Duchy can sometimes feel unbalanced, sometimes a bit unfair. Its bosses will typically require multiple runs before you figure out the right multi-round strategies. The game's many, many mechanics make this a title where I wouldn't blame someone for running the Tutorial round more than once. But, like golf, home repair, or setting up a server, the few times you get a round, or just a line, perfectly right can erase all the hard lessons you had to endure before. I keep finding things in Drop Duchy that seem impossible to overcome, and then I come right back and try it a different way. I think this title will get a few balance fixes, but even before those, it's a good run. Listing image: The Arcade Crew Kevin Purdy Senior Technology Reporter Kevin Purdy Senior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 2 Comments

05/15 — 2025 by abduzeedo Explore how Slanted Magazine pushes editorial design, challenges conventions, and champions independent typography. Dive into visual storytelling. For those immersed in the world of graphic design, there’s a unique satisfaction in seeing a publication truly come alive. It’s not just about the content; it’s about the entire experience. Abduzeedo has always championed design that inspires, and today, we’re looking at a prime example of editorial design pushing boundaries: Slanted Magazine #45—Sex. Slanted Magazine, in collaboration with Munich’s Archive Artist Publications (AAP), has created an issue that dives deep into sexuality, gender, and body politics through a curated selection of artistic publications and critical essays. This isn't merely a magazine; it's a meticulously crafted artifact, a testament to how powerful editorial design can be. Visual Storytelling and Challenging Norms The magazine showcases a diverse range of historical and contemporary works. It presents publications that challenge conventions and reshape discourse on self-image, identity, and representation. Alongside these visual narratives, in-depth essays offer multifaceted perspectives on media, cultural taboos, and shifting societal norms. The issue actively provides a space for critical engagement, questioning how marginalized bodies—non-binary, queer, disabled, racialized—are represented in art and media. This commitment to impactful visual storytelling is evident throughout the entire publication. Consider the striking imagery and thought-provoking texts that open a dialogue on desire, power, and the politics of visibility. From the tactile feel of the softcover with its open thread-stitching to the dust jacket, every detail contributes to the overall narrative. The use of uncoated and transparent high-quality papers by Reflex paper adds another layer of sensory engagement. This attention to physical attributes elevates the magazine from a simple collection of pages to a tactile experience. The Power of Independent Type Beyond Slanted Magazine #45—Sex, there’s also a significant new release that influences editorial design: Support Independent Type II. This follow-up to the acclaimed 2020 book continues to celebrate the vibrant culture of independent type specimens and their influence on design and typography. It acts as both a manifesto and a visual showcase, featuring over 300 cutting-edge type foundries that offer a promising alternative to corporate font distributors. The book highlights a diverse range of fonts, from experimental designs to bold, groundbreaking typefaces that push traditional boundaries. It delves into new trends and innovative designs, presenting the book itself as a visual art object. Through this carefully curated collection, the authors emphasize how independent type design reflects cultural shifts and sparks creative innovation. The impact of independent type on editorial design is immense, offering designers a richer palette for expression and a way to imbue their work with unique character. A Thought on the Future of Editorial Design The work exemplified by Slanted Magazine and the Support Independent Type series underscores a crucial point for designers: the medium is as important as the message. Editorial design is not static; it evolves with cultural dialogues and technological advancements. The choices we make in typography, layout, imagery, and even the physical properties of a publication, all contribute to how a message is received and understood. These projects inspire us to consider how our design choices can challenge, inform, and engage, making the printed page, or digital screen, a truly dynamic space. Explore more about their work and publications on their website: Slanted Publishers Editorial design artifacts Tags editorial design

Since founding Kadre Architects in 2022, Nerin Kadribegovic’s firm has garnered a reputation for doing a lot with a little. Case in point: standardized drawing sets for ADUs and an interim housing development wedged between highways. More recently, the Los Angeles practice transformed defunct storefront space in Compton into a social services hub. The Compton Community Center opened early this year. It offers case management services to individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents can go to the center for document procurement, connections to medical and behavioral health services, applications for vouchers, support for acclimating back to the job market, and other critical social services. A double-height vaulted space greets visitors upon entry. (Paul Vu) HOPICS is the service provider Kadre Architects worked with that now operates the 1,000-square-foot space. The space boasts vaulted ceilings, and bespoke wood creations that climb up the front facade, and hover above the backyard. The interiors are washed in natural light. The neo-postmodern architecture pulls from its context. To the community center’s left is a yellow apartment block and, to its right, a church with a pitched roof. The Compton Community Center was painted white and yellow, and the wooden lattice that’s attached to the front facade mimics the church’s slanted profile. The center is located between an apartment block and a church. (Paul Vu) The original storefront space had a modest 10-foot floor-to-ceiling height. After taking the commission, Kadre Architects uncovered concealed attics. The designers opened up the ceiling to create a double-height vaulted space with skylights. Asymmetric wooden desks staffed by HOPICS employees greet visitors upon entry. These bits were constructed out of laminated plywood, and mirror the geometric floor patterns. Custom shelving was also made of plywood. The interior palette makes generous use of bright white and yellow, a nod to the service provider’s brand colors, the adjoining buildings, and Kadre’s signature color-drenched spaces more broadly. The rear parking lot was converted into a courtyard garden and playground for visiting families. (Paul Vu) Aerial view of the rear courtyard, showing the heavy use of color. (Paul Vu) The lot Kadre Architects negotiated is long and narrow. The back was transformed into a vibrant, polychromatic courtyard employees and visitors can enjoy. Informal, outdoor meetings with case managers happen there. Playground equipment from a nearby housing project was installed in the courtyard garden for visiting families. Trees were planted, and slivers of existing asphalt were cut out and replaced with artificial turf, creating moments of green respite, the designers shared. This softens what was once a parking lot.

While some people yearn for wide-open floor plans that boast over 2,000 square feet, others don’t care for all that space and prefer smaller footprints. While living full-time in a tiny home isn’t for everybody, there are some good reasons why people do choose to downsize their material lives and move into the spatial equivalent of a backyard shed. From reducing one's environmental footprint to saving money on a guesthouse, there’s plenty to love about living in a small home. Still on the fence? Check out the tiny house ideas below for some examples—you can even book a stay in them to test-drive the small-scale lifestyle.Whether you start from a floor plan or you purchase a prefab structure, the tiny home rentals below will allow you to reimagine your entire living setup. There’s a reason designers love decorating small spaces, such as powder rooms: These jewel box spaces allow one’s creativity to run wild. Typically, with these houses, function comes before beauty, but that doesn't mean there can't be strategically stylistic flourishes throughout. You can still find beautiful ways to decorate a tiny home, and the 58 options below will show you how. Keep reading for the best tiny home ideas that are endlessly inspiring.Additional copy by Kate McGregor.For more tiny home inspiration:1Lofty DreamsAirbnbNestled among the trees just outside the town of Woodstock in upstate New York, this treehouse-like tiny home is elevated to create sweeping views of the swimmable pond and surrounding forest. Its most enviable features include a sleeping loft, full walls of windows, a breakfast bar, a wood-burning fireplace, and a barrel-style hot tub.BOOK NOW Related Story: 33 Amazing Treehouses You Can Rent for Vacation2Slanted Exteriorbe tkBeAsk any architect: Walls don't have to be straight. The off-kilter style of this pro-built tiny house in the Catskills adds visual interest and makes space for a lofted bedroom, built-in shelves and cabinets, and a breakfast nook with a window seat. It also illustrates how much you can do without electricity or running water.BOOK NOW Related Story: 8 Tiny House Resorts for a One-of-a-Kind GetawayAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Baby Bluebe tkBeThis New Paltz, New York, tiny home's interior design is fairly standard, but its showstopping two-tone exterior paint job makes it a standout. The platform it's built on creates a wide deck for eating and hanging out—a simple way to sneak in a few extra square feet.BOOK NOW 4Coastal ViewsAirbnbSet directly on the coastline of Quebec, Canada, this '70s-inspired tiny house has vast square windows along the front for assessing the surf conditions and taking in the views each morning. Don't miss the natural wood built-in storage (including the queen beds' headboards) and ceilings and clever recessed lighting throughout.Book Now Related Story: 22 Hotels With Breathtaking ViewsAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Quaint Cottagebe tkBeTucked away in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, this no-frills cottage, named for its fairy-lights lined porch, can sleep up to three. Its latticed porch, rocking chairs, and weather vane dial up its charm.Book Now Related Story: How to Capture the Cottagecore Aesthetic at Home6Architectural Wonderbe tkBeDesigned by Austin-based architect Nicole Blair, this AIA Award–winning tiny house called the Beehive plays with angles to maximize sunlight and square footage. You'll want to bookmark the open-concept kitchen, spacious shower, and efficient staircase for your next trip to SXSW—or your own backyard project. Book Now Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Best All Aroundbe tkBeSoft canvas walls give this tiny house in the West Texas hill country a tent-like feel; all the comforts of home, like HVAC and plumbing, elevate its luxury level. Outside, a cedar soaking tub is for unwinding after a day of winery hopping and antiquing. The rustic privacy fencing, elevated deck, and private fire pit, and beautiful landscaping belong on your mood board too.Book Now 8Scenic Cabinbe tkBeWith sweeping views of Iceland's Kirkjufell Mountain, bay, and even the northern lights, this cabin and its deck are stained green to blend into its awe-inspiring natural surroundings. Book Now Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Hillside A-Framebe tkBeThe Malbec Cabin, nestled in the mountains of Brazil, is in-ground A-frame structure with expansive windows and a working wood-burning fireplace. If they're not enough to grab your attention (or would-be renters'), the rope swing and cozy fire pit definitely are.Book Now 10Essentials Onlybe tkBeThe Shepard's Hut on England's Cornish coast is no-nonsense in the best way possible. There's a quaint kitchen, fireplace, and Murphy bed, with double doors and farmhouse-style lighting adding to its friendly vibe. Its selling point, however, is the lakefront view and outdoor dining setup. You might want to copy their clever rope-and-post fencing and graveled terrace ideas.Book Now Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Bold A-Framebe tkBeJust 12 miles from Breckenridge, Colorado, you can't miss this creekside A-frame, painted fire truck red to stand out among the evergreens. Inside, a wood burning fireplace wards off the mountain chill and custom built-ins offer kitchen and bathroom storage. You don't want to miss its cozy loft, either.Book Now12Festive Containerbe tkBeYour tiny house's interior isn't the only place you can express your design personality. This wagon-style spot on England's North Cornish coast has a cheerful two-tone exterior and sports party bunting year round. You'll love the brilliant under-bed storage, floral curtains, and green-painted trim inside, too. Book Now Related Story: 25 Shipping Container Homes You Need to SeeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Urban Windmillbe tkBeNo structure is too small or off-limits for a tiny house, as evidenced by this windmill turned living quarters near Lisbon. The bedroom even features the original mechanisms in the ceiling. Because everything inside is rounded (even the shower and cabinets), it's full of helpful ideas for other challenging small spaces.Book Now 14The Greenhousebe tkBeThose not opposed to a lack of privacy can opt for glass walls like this greenhouse-esque home's in South Africa. Not traveling soon? Head over for inspiration from its luxury tile, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and sleek, modern deck. It shows how much life and beauty plants can bring to any tiny house too. Book Now Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Looking GlassGetty ImagesTucked away in the middle of the Catskills forest, this storybook-ready A-frame home is a small but mighty fortress. The view feels twice as special thanks to a full glass front wall.BOOK NOW 16The BubbleAirbnbDesigned by Roderick James, this Scottish insulated aluminum pod offers breathtaking views from dragonfly windows. The futuristic interior is warmed up by wood accents and cozy textiles.BOOK NOWAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17French CottageAirbnbThe stone exterior and interior details of this French cottage make it look like it came straight out of a fairytale. While the overall design of the interior isn't much, the architecture serves as major inspo if you're looking to build your own dreamy tiny home.BOOK NOW 18The Family HomeNew Frontier DesignWith two bedrooms (including a walk-in closet!), this tiny home is just right for a small family. The fully-equipped chef's kitchen can whip up alfresco meals for warm summer nights. Not to mention, the industrial-meets-cabin aesthetic is sleek and inviting.BUY NOW Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Lava FieldAirbnbAt the foot of a volcano in Hawaii, this tiny house—called the Phoenix House—will make you feel as though you've stepped onto another planet as you explore the lava fields and black sand beaches that surround it.BOOK NOW 20Container CabinAirbnbLive out your mountain getaway dreams in this tiny Catskills home, which is one of four shipping container cabins on the owner's New York property. It boasts a sleek exterior and contrasting cozy, rustic interior.BOOK NOW