LUMI, the Smart Piano Instructor

With an illuminated keyboard and an accompanying app, ROLI's newest device helps you master the instrument your own way

LUMI teaches you to play the piano by tapping into nostalgia and memory. Using songs you know and love (their library includes pop hits and indie gems), you’re led through each note sheet with familiar, almost video game-like instructions. As the notes flow toward you, you’re instructed to hit the appropriate key as each one appears at the foot of the screen. This simple, clever …

Utah State University’s Outdoor Product Design Program

With their first graduating class out the door, the next generation of designers enter the industry with hands-on experience

It’s no secret that the outdoor industry is booming—look no further than the consistent enthusiasm for Patagonia, The North Face, Peak Design and others—not to mention the US government’s $373 billion valuation of the industry. It’s a hotbed for innovative material development, massive collections of utilitarian yet activity-specific gear, and preaches sustainability and resourcefulness. To have designers equipped to handle all of this, programs continue to …

NYC’s Cannabis Design Shop Alcove Launches eCommerce

Weed accessories and CBD goods crafted with the utmost care, now online

When Alcove opened its doors in NYC’s Lower East Side, partners (and married couple) Allie Pisarro-Grant and Alex Smith presented an oasis of high-design accessories for an industry in flux. They stocked their store with carefully selected vessels, tinctures and tools for use with cannabis. And ultimately, a destination was born where conversations around the benefits of the whole hemp plant—long a taboo subject—are encouraged. …