It is often said the best design goes unnoticed, but that’s not entirely true of the Crossfold Loft by interdisciplinary design studio Kalos Eidos. Helmed by architect Ryan Thomas – who is also a founding member of the feminist collective WIP Collaborative and Co-Chair of AIANY New Practices Committee – her solution to a client’s compact space in Brooklyn, New York, is more compelling than any midtown urban development that mistakes novel installations for public art or glossy towers for a solution to the housing crisis.

Compact is King

The versatile space-planning and minimal interventions executed with surgical precision in the 900-square-foot home allow this structure to maintain multiple identities – currently a two-bedroom unit with ensuites, respectively, convertible to a one bedroom – while integrating custom storage and enough horizontal planes to display a collection of personal artifacts. “The strategy for this project was to mine the floor plan for small-scale opportunities to capture space, increasing the capacity for storage through a cumulation of small gains in depth and surface area, while leaving the floor area open for essential furniture elements,” Thomas says.

Interior renovations echo the shared ethos of Kalos Eidos and the creative owner for whom the refreshed residence is recalibrated to adjust flow, functional use, and visual connection. Without radically altering the layout of room partitions, Thomas is able to create a substantial entryway that gives the illusion of opening up with a vastness to the primary quarters. The kitchen is further delineated by a soffit, gently marking program while pushing inhabitants on and through to the living room proper. Multiple layers of millwork meander along the perimeter, mitigating the existing quirks between fenestration, physical subdivisions, and home furnishings, which is especially helpful in resolving layout issues with limited real estate.

Millwork pieces operate in conjunction with one another as a critical layer to synthesize the overall space, helping to soften corners and edges, interlock and overlap function, and visually orient from zone to zone.

Dabbling in the Dark Side

The main volume is punctuated with dramatic elements in a way that provides balance and anchors the space rather than weighing it down. The central island and corresponding cooking surfaces incorporate a mixture of many textures including fluting, marbling, and matte finishes. These things combined create graphic clarity and a background to better articulate bright objects and collectibles displayed in the foreground. “Once we landed on a kitchen color scheme, which ended up centering around matte black tile and cabinet fronts, with a dark green-black soapstone countertop, the client had the idea to use terracotta colored grout at the tile backsplash,” Thomas notes. “It’s a subtle detail given the slender dimension of a grout line, but it was such a great thought and really adds a surprising layer of warmth and nuance that is both playful and sophisticated, bold and refined.”

Crossfold Loft’s primary living and lounge area

The lounge area integrates furnishings amid the large, full-height glazing of the space by introducing new sectional sofa pieces, a minimal, floating storage credenza, and a video projector above.

Leaning Into the Fold

Site conditions encourage the use of a diagonal parti through architectural gestures suggested by the building as if to say “this way.” Portions of the wall that once jogged in-and-out inconsistently now clearly divide the living space from the private bedroom and ensuite. And what started as the default resultant of a dimensional offset now becomes the driving force orchestrating the experience. “Acting as a kind of cross-fold seam for the activity of the main living area, this new threshold serves to visually and spatially link the space of a second bedroom,” Thomas adds. Like one of the Gestalt principles that underpins visual communication, the resolved vertical plane creates a line of continuation that engages visitors from the moment of entry.

The custom arched millwork bookcase and passageway make use of a generous threshold.

The dining and workspace are beyond the arched threshold. Select functional objects like a ceramic sculptural table by artist Liz Hopkins, a pair of vintage sunflower yellow reading lamps, and a set of vintage oak dining chairs from the client were starting points for determining the specific color choices for elements in each area of the apartment.

Soft seating in the dining and workspace

Shelving in the dining and workspace

The Power of the Arch

Punctuating the axis is an arched form – half shelving, half threshold – designed as a bookcase you can seemingly step through continuing to build on the apartment’s dichotomy is the contrast created by the solid-void, the light-dark.The idea first emerged during the interactive process thinking through opportunities the mass could yield. “It helps dissolve the fold’s flatness while adding some depth and materiality to a portion of the floor plan that is predominantly used only for circulation and passage through the different zones of the apartment.” Traying in and around the fanciful doorway makes the transition through it feel kaleidoscopic in motion, especially when the shelving is decorated with a variety of colorful paraphernalia.

The backside of the custom archway looks into the kitchen from the dining and workspace.

A view into the bedroom

Select functional objects like a ceramic sculptural table by artist Liz Hopkins, a pair of vintage sunflower yellow reading lamps, and a set of vintage oak dining chairs from the client were starting points for determining the specific color choices for elements in each area of the apartment.

Moving Forward

Meaningful architecture isn’t about grand gestures in the urban fabric or homogenous new builds. The most impactful works an architect can contribute to society are those imbued with personality derived from the client, and in doing so, help homes, buildings, and neighborhoods celebrate their local language. “As an approach we strive for in our process is to center ideation less around problem-solving a laundry list of isolated issues, but rather to set up a framework of critical values and priorities to be synthesized in the final design,” Thomas says. “The result necessarily relies on architectural and spatial thinking, but also on the composition of objects, materials and other elements that are folded into the space to help it become coherent and usable for living.”

An architectural floor plan for the Crossfold Loft

Deep captions courtesy of Kalos Eidos; Photography by Steve Freihon .

With professional degrees in architecture and journalism, Joseph has a desire to make living beautifully accessible. His work seeks to enrich the lives of others with visual communication and storytelling through design. A regular contributor to titles under the SANDOW Design Group, including Luxe and Metropolis, Joseph serves the Design Milk team as their Managing Editor. When not practicing, he teaches visual communication, theory, and design. The New York-based writer has also contributed to exhibitions hosted by the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture and Architectural Digest, and recently published essays and collage illustrations with Proseterity, a literary publication.

You might have noticed during the last few years that many of us picked up a niche interest or two – baking, foraging, playing boardgames, or pickleball – and perhaps most curiously, enjoyed the slow-paced pleasures of birdwatching. If you needed further proof of this mostly silent endeavor’s growing popularity, dedicated search of, and appreciation for our winged friends, look no further than these AI-enhanced Swarovski Optik AX Visio Binoculars designed by Marc Newson.

The Australian-born designer may seem like a surprising figure to associate with birdwatching, but the AI-enhanced binoculars are actually Newson’s second collaboration with Swarovski Optik – the first being the pocket-sized CL Curio binoculars he designed in 2021. While those initial compact binoculars are small, analog, and lightweight, the AI-supported $5,000 AX Visio challenge Newson to focus beyond optics and ergonomics, but also integrate a slew of technology into an easy-to-operate interface that users can quickly acclimate to.

The AX Visio looks naturally the part of a traditional binocular rather than a tech device, with Newson’s associated biomorphic modernist approach toned to a glimmer rather than a glow here. The designer says making the AX Visio an “approachable and usable” object was paramount in its conception.

Looking through the eyepieces, the AX Visio operates like any other modern pair of binoculars – point and zoom – except this AI-enhanced device includes an augmented reality display overlay, allowing users to identify over 9,000 birds and other wildlife without taking their eyes of the subject. “The AX Visio belongs to a different typology,” Newson notes, “And one that is totally new in the combination of optics and technology. Similar to a modern camera, they are optical, electronic and digital!”

Marc Newson may be responsible for the binoculars’ handsomely modern exterior, but inside is where the auto bird identifying magic happens. Consisting of approximately 390 hardware parts, the core of the AX Visio is its integrated operating and object-recognition system powered by a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), allowing these binoculars to immediately offer an identification.

Noting the modern day birder doesn’t go out into the field to merely observe, but also to document, the AX Visio’s 10×32 optical zoom is also paired with an integrated camera for recording photos and videos. Captured content is designed to transfer via the SWAROVSKI OPTIK Outdoor App so users can post or share their avian antics with the world, including a Live View function to share with others in realtime.

In regards to the design, Newson cites the greatest challenge around such technology was encapsulating all of the components and optics into a cohesive form.

“The greatest technical challenge in the design process was the size of the binoculars: the optics and technology – which includes AR, Bluetooth, GPS and a camera – must all fit within a tiny, handheld package,” Newson explains. “Like the rest of Swarovski Optik’s offerings, the AX Visio is repairable and so the object must have the capability of being taken apart, a constraint which also informed the design.”

Marc Newson

Birding is a pursuit of observation and inquiry, one traditionally served by field guides, websites, and organizations dedicated to identifying winged wildlife. With the advent of AI-assisted systems like those incorporated into the Swarovski Optik AX Visio Binoculars, it’s going to become a whole lot easier to find where the wild things are.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Time is of the essence, but am I always on time? Admittedly, no – and this fun, abstract wall clock makes me feel better about that. It serves as a reminder that “life’s pace isn’t always a sprint, but sometimes a leisurely stroll.” There was even a study that found people who are always late tend to be happier and live longer, so say less!

I’m still in awe over this beautiful chandelier by Jamie Harris, unveiled at Todd Merrill Studio during Design Miami 2023. It reminds me of mouth-watering candies and brings out the side of me that loves all things pink. Each piece has a unique color composition that, while individually mesmerizing, together complements one another beautifully.

Red light-anything has been riding a high wave lately, so my interest was immediately piqued when I saw this little device. Rechargeable and portable, it emits pure red light at a specific wavelength to trigger a biological response, helping you to relax and signaling to your brain that it’s time for bed. Carefully designed to follow a 28-minute protocol, it mirrors the natural cycle of light at the end of the day. As someone who tends to revenge procrastinate, this just might be the thing to change that bad habit in me.

New year, new calendar, except this one will last you a lifetime! Designed by Giancarlo Cipri, this calendar is a fun and engaging way to keep you up to date. To track each day of the week, month, and day, simply slide the circles along its pathway. While you can have it mounted on a wall or displayed on your table, I’d go for the latter so it can double as a fidget toy.

I love doing puzzles that make my brain feel like it’s cramping because there’s this extra level of satisfaction when I successfully complete it. This one’s a doozy because you have to build it before you can solve it! It comes with everything you need, and once you’re done solving it, you can display it like a work of art. With 3 levels to choose from, it can take you anywhere from 1-3 hours or 9-12 hours of building time. Intrism also has amazing sustainability efforts with its three-part approach: reduce, remediate, and replenish – that’s a bonus score!

As the Social Media Consultant, Maivy is always dreaming up new ideas to curate content. If she’s not glued to her phone, she’s probably at the dog park with her pup Koda, training at the gym, or trying the latest food/drink trends! See the BTS of her life over on Instagram.

Seoul-based designer Shim Seungyeon has been experimenting with the creation of furniture and lighting since 2018. The latest pieces out of his studio are the Pressura Stool and Table, bold yet organic forms that have a solid – and somehow soft – presence about them.

Pressing hollow metal pipes is a technique often used by metalworkers to fabricate structures efficiently, which is what led Seungyeon to the process used here as well as the moniker. The pipes comprising the stool and table feature an unusually large diameter, adding visual impact and strength. Their compression plays a significant role, articulating connection points for the legs to the seat plate and to the upper frame of the table.

The design of both pieces subtly assert themselves within a space. The Pressura Table extends the three-legged support structure from the Pressura Stool, offering up an organic silhouette. Both pieces are available in glossy color finishes, like yellow, red brown, cream, silver, navy, and pistachio. A glass top option is offered for the table to amplify the frame’s presence while softening its appearance. Seungyeon notes that there’s potential for the development of future alternatives to come like wood and marble tops.

To learn more about the Pressura Stool and Table, visit shimseungyeon.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

In a dimly-lit room, the subtle scent of cinnamon and clove infuses the air from two unbelievable dirt installations. On view at Dia Chelsea through July 2024, artist Delcy Morelos presents El abrazo, an exhibition of two site-specific sculptures that invite a sacred connection to soil that may be the most surprising and satisfying experience with art in New York at the moment.

The first room holds a work titled Cielo terrenal” (Heavenly Earth) – a massive room blanketed with black soil, arranged objects, and the pervasive aroma of cinnamon and cloves. A central clean pathway invites visitors to walk deeper into the room towards a greater darkness.

Delcy Morelos, Cielo terrenal (Earthly Eaven, detaill), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

The soil itself was brought in from Hudson Valley’s Black Dirt Region. Its natural inky hue is due to the extreme fertility of the region’s soil, inviting some of the most nutrient-rich earth in the country into Manhattan’s concrete jungle. A further reminder of nature’s power and potential, Morelos has applied the soil mixture up the walls about three feet, marking the exact level of floodwaters during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Delcy Morelos, Cielo terrenal (Earthly Eaven, detaill), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

The objects on the floor are sourced from two locations: materials pulled from the Dia Art Foundation’s dumpsters at their Beacon location and ceramic seed-like forms made in Colombia using an ancestral open-fire technique. All together it feels like hovering above an alien landscape at dusk – a surreal experience that inspires fascination with the materials from our own planet.

Delcy Morelos, Cielo terrenal (Earthly Eaven, detaill), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

The second room holds a gigantic earth work titled El abrazo (The Embrace). The ziggurat-like soil structure appears to levitate off the floor as it consumes the rafters, covered with thousands of pieces of hay, each inserted individually by hand. The installation took two months.

Delcy Morelos, El abrazo (The Embrace, detail), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

For this work, Morelos encourages visitors to gently touch the surface. Made with a mixture that includes dirt from Manhattan roof gardens, a light respectful touch results in a transfer of auburn dust to your fingertips.

Delcy Morelos, El abrazo (The Embrace, detail), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

Delcy Morelos during the installation of El abrazo (The Embrace), 2023, at Dia Chelsea, New York.

This too, includes ingredients that produce a unique and sustained scent in the air. Here, cinnamon and cloves join “copaiba,” a medicinal tree extract commonly used in the Amazon. The aroma is difficult to describe – pleasant, warm, comforting, and seems to elicit a different memory for every person who enters.

Delcy Morelos, El abrazo (The Embrace, detail), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

Delcy Morelos, El abrazo (The Embrace, detail), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

In the back, a V-shaped hallway is a joyous surprise – inviting visitors to walk between two narrowing walls that compress the air, your sense of scale, and the intensity of aroma. The experience is far more comforting than claustrophobic – a moment of connection, respect, and wonder that, if your experience is anything like mine, will change your relationship with dirt long after your visit.

Delcy Morelos’ El abrazo (The Embrace) is on view through July 2024 and highly recommended for returning visits.

Delcy Morelos, El abrazo (The Embrace, detail), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

Delcy Morelos, El abrazo (The Embrace, detail), 2023. Installation view, Dia Chelsea, New York, 2023.

Delcy Morelos during the installation of El abrazo (The Embrace), 2023, at Dia Chelsea, New York.

What: Delcy Morelos: El abrazo
Where: Dia Chelsea, 537 W 22^nd St, New York
When: October 5, 2023 – July 2024. Open Wednesdays-Sundays from 12-6pm.

All images © Delcy Morelos; Photography by Don Stahl

David Behringer visits over 200 galleries every month to uncover and share the most exciting contemporary art in New York today. Subscribe to his exclusive weekly newsletter at www.thetwopercent.com and learn about his private gallery tours. And be sure to check out his YouTube.

Stony Hill, a project completed by Bates Masi, stands as a testament to the rich history of Amagansett, an early English and Dutch settlement on Long Island’s East End. Nestled between meadow and woodland, this home for a young family pays homage to its roots, drawing inspiration from the site’s agrarian history and connection to the early settlers. The site, once cleared by Native Americans for hunting purposes, evolved into the location of the first settler’s house in 1680. It later served as communal grazing pasture, separated into individual plots with low stone walls. For generations, the land, livestock, and human intervention worked together to help stabilize the landscape. However, as farming declined and property values went up, the meadow is transitioning to woodland, losing its connection to a significant piece of history.

Bates Masi’s project aims to revive and reference the agrarian history of the site through thoughtful architecture and landscape design. The land is divided into zones mirroring the original pasture parcels, each designed to meet modern needs. High grasses and shrubs provide a visual separation from the road, while medium-height grasses screen the house from those approaching. Low grass and ground cover offer views when needed. Elevated planting zones along the approach emphasize historic connections to the land, offering a unique experience for those in passing.

Stony Hill is separated into smaller volumes that relate to specific zones – public, private, guest, and service spaces. The connected gabled volumes give nod to barn-like structures, yet they’re designed with a modern spin. The gabled roofs feature splits in the ridges which allows natural light to flood the top floors.

Materials play a crucial role in connecting the contemporary design with historical references. The home is clad in oversized shingles found throughout the are. Thatch siding, reminiscent of the pasture’s grasses, is packed between exposed exterior framing resulting in a modern look.

Built-in seating spans the length of one wall flanking the kitchen and dining room, ensuring plenty of places to sit when company is over.

A sunken living room wraps in front of a fireplace, one of many situated in the public spaces to encourage family gatherings.

Natural materials, such as oak, clay tiles, and plaster further integrate the house with the surrounding landscape, creating a warm and cozy ambiance.

The warm woods used throughout evoke a sense of comfort without leaning towards rustic.

A second story bedroom located under the steeply sloped ceiling has a modern A-frame feel.

Photography by Bates Masi + Architects.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

How many ways can terrazzo be reinvented? As it turns out, the limit does not exist – not if Concrete Collaborative has something to say about it. The California-based manufacturer had a busy 2023 unveiling its latest collaborations and is already teasing us with sneak peeks of its 2024 line. But first, let’s take a look at what they’ve been up to…

Inspired by “Stealing Beauty,” a 1996 romance and drama film by Bernardo Bertolucci, founder Tiffany Howell of Night Palm Interior Design created a range of terrazzo, for the Night Palm x Stealing Beauty collection that is particularly memorable for its chunky pieces of aggregate mixed in with smaller flecks that terrazzo is known for. Lolita, Paradiso, Smoking Jacket, and Gia are named after Howell’s favorite cinematic moments, poetry, and love for vintage fashion – all designed to evoke Italian villa aesthetics.

Eny Lee Parker

Designer Eny Lee Parker is no stranger to raw materials – clay is the main medium for her ceramic forms. Hence, her Eny Lee Parker x Salt collection of small tiles pays homage to the handmade, imperfect textures and earthy colors of salt tiles, reflective of her own works. Whether used to cover surfaces or furniture, the tiles give a grounding feel to any space with their hues of milk, pine, cocoa, denim, and kiwi.

Sarah Sherman Samuel

Finally, brick gets a makeover at the hands of designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. The new shape of the SSS x Brick is inspired by columns from ancient architecture, while the terracotta color is borrowed from traditional brick. Also available in ivory, olive, and taupe, these modern fluted bricks can transform a fade, interior feature wall, or fireplace surround.

For more information on the Night Palm x Stealing Beauty, Eny Lee Parker x Salt, and Sarah Sherman Samuel x Brick collections, visit concrete-collaborative.com.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

Robert Blaser, AIA, Principal, and Design Practice Leader at Michael Graves Architecture (MG), finds himself in the unique position of having been mentored by the firm’s namesake. (Fun fact – Blaser was an aerospace engineer prior to becoming an architect!) Drawing from more than 25 years in the industry at MG, it was recently announced that Blaser is forming an experiential design team – something Graves did himself to foster innovation and growth. The design team helps keep this legacy alive while propelling the firm toward honors that architectural heritage while encouraging evolution, marking a historic moment for all parties involved.

As an architect, Blaser is passionate about designing user experiences no matter the context. He dreams big while accounting for the smallest interior details working with owners, developers, operators, and fellow designers to turn their stories into architecture overflowing with character. And that carries over into how Blaser leads the firm as he grows Grave’s legacy through initiatives such as the experiential design team. “I like to tee up the conversation and see the various generations run with it, finding both common ground and differences that result in magical experiences,” he mentions.

NFT Nightclub Photo courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture + Burkard Group

The catalyst to creating the new experiential design team grew from the various hands and minds that touch a project as it makes its way through MG, from graphics to hospitality to branding expertise and more. “They’ve inspired me to look at design less formally and more emotionally,” Blaser shares. Diversity between discipline, gender, generation, and culture are all invited to the proverbial table, each adding their own takes as they pull up a chair. The graphic and brand developers who set the vibe, the story, and the magic through the reimagination of brands; interior designers who are focused on experience rather than form; and others hungry to make their mark. In other words, Blaser believes there’s no correct direction for conversation or information to flow during the creative process, it doesn’t have to be from the top down. By rethinking the development and growth of Michael Graves Architecture, his legacy of valuing imagination above style stays true to its roots.

NFT Nightclub Photo courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture + Burkard Group

The crux of the firm to this day remains Graves’ inimitable ability to make human connection through storytelling. While many architects are talented at conveying thought and form through their sketches, Graves was able to convey emotion, a truly unique quality to capture in 2D. “That has stuck with me, yet my approach to storytelling is with a broader, diverse team of experiential designers who explore a multi-disciplinary approach to pre-design that tries to capture the heart in the way of Michael,” Blaser says. This has had the greatest impact on him from his time learning and working with the iconic architect.

La Luna Night Club Photo BU Studios Photo courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture + Burkard Group

“While many in the architectural community recall his design palette and language evoking postmodernism, I see his philosophy as deeply human, experiential, and imaginative. He brought emotion, scale, and whimsy to architectural design,” Blaser says of Graves’ exceptional talents. Noting that this spirit is what gave him success beyond the world of architecture, it’s now viewed as the firm’s brand. “Michael reacted to everything he believed was “stale” when he emerged on the architectural scene,” Blaser continues. “Stylistic legacy is counter to his philosophy; we aim to tell stories that touch the human heart, create experiential moments, establish places, and destinations that inspire. Michael did this so well, and it is our mission to follow in those remarkable footsteps.”

BU Studios Photo courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture + Burkard Group

As 2024 begins and we look toward anticipated trends of the coming year, Blaser notes that he prefers ideological trends that broadly focus on nature or technology over stylistic tendencies. “My favorite industry shift is one towards immersive art that is not bound by a frame, placed on a podium, or restricted to a stage. Technology also plays a pivotal role in making art interactive and changeable. Creating opportunities like this in design is wonderful, and I truly hope to see more of it in the coming years.” We’re looking forward to what Blaser and his team dream up next.

BU Studios Photo courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture + Burkard Group

BU Studios Photo courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture + Burkard Group

Robert Blaser

To learn more about Robert Blaser and Michael Graves’ Architecture’s endeavors, visit michaelgraves.com.

Photography courtesy of Michael Graves Architecture and Burkard Group.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

Timeless design never goes out of style, and it seems its memories stay close to us. Designer Jaume Ramírez explores the archetypal table luminaire, in which a conical shade distributes light evenly, with the Fragile lamp for Marset. Ramírez’s experimentation begins with a more streamlined shape that’s a mix of geometric forms – cone, sphere, and cylinder join together to emit ambient light from within.

While Fragile’s shape is familiar, its material composition is unexpected. Glass – available in amber or transparent colorways –  not only reveals the light source and allows for a warm illumination, but also speaks to how the lamp assimilates with its surroundings. There it stands – unencumbered – with nothing to hide.

Fragile manages to marry past and present with its lighting design, bringing to mind the oil lamps and candles of yesteryear. But in this case, Ramírez’s use of glass expresses the fragility of the present moment. Who knew that a standard lamp could surprise us yet again?

Transparent

Amber

To learn more about Fragile Lamp, visit marset.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

How many keyboard manufacturers could you say offer computer peripherals featuring designs inspired by Italian artisans living along a whitewashed hill town bordering the Adriatic coast? We’d venture to say none, at least until the recent announcement from Brazen with the reveal of their Mason60 Schizatto line of polychromatic paint-splattered keyboard cases.

Inspired during a trip to Grottaglie – a town located in the Apulia (Puglia) region of Southern Italy renown for their ceramic artisans – the design team at Brazen applied a similar handcrafted approach to a very small batch of polished gypsum resin composite keyboard cases, each featuring a distinct splattered ceramic glazing technique known as “schizzato.”

Unlike the keyboard you’re likely typing from, these cases make their corresponding devices feel substantial, “heavy like marble,” and are lined with cork on their underside to dampen sound, vibration, and likely prevent scratches.

Note: these are keyboard cases, a BYOK affair, meaning you’ll still need to spec out some keycaps, a printed circuit board, and switches to complete the setup. But that degree of customization is what mechanical keyboard enthusiasts prefer.

Applied to plates, cups, and jars, the dripping style adds a pattern unique to each piece, an approach Brazen Workshop has adopted for a very limited series of engineered stone keyboard cases. Each is a one-off, but the company notes their openness to creating more if you’re particularly smitten with a design listed as sold out.

Priced between $160-$180 per case, Brazen recognizes these are aimed at mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, or schizzato glazing connoisseurs, but consider that the price attached to exclusivity.

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.