Chapter »Radar« presents newly introduced design pieces from various fields every month. Furniture and Mobility are featured alongside Haute Horlogerie, Technology, and Yacht Design. The decisive factor is always an object’s design relevance and what it reveals about the contemporary approach to form, function, and use. The first issue gathers new releases from July 2026—from RIMOWA’s Original in Ink Blue, the new Mercedes-Maybach GLS, to Samsung’s new foldable format, Tylko Sound, and Vitters’ sailing yacht Zero.
Midnight Blue
With Ink Blue, RIMOWA permanently expands its Original collection with a new color. The Cologne-based Maison does not see the deep midnight blue as a seasonal edition, but as a permanent addition to its aluminum line. Its special effect is created by RIMOWA’s characteristic anodization: the color pigments are directly incorporated into the aluminum surface, preserving its metallic sheen and characteristic grooved structure.
Ink Blue is available in Cabin, Check-In L, and Trunk Plus formats, and is also introduced into the Groove leather collection and selected travel accessories. Simultaneously, RIMOWA is revising the Original series in detail. A new ergonomic handle with integrated damping is designed to make closing the suitcase quieter and smoother, while the redesigned Flex Divider with an additional zippered pocket expands the internal organization. Technical advancement thus remains as much a part of the novelty as the new color itself.
Quiet Luxury
Six years after its premiere, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS receives a comprehensive overhaul. Mercedes-Maybach focuses on numerous details that further refine its appearance and travel comfort. Notable features include the redesigned radiator grille with a subtly illuminated MAYBACH lettering for the first time, rose gold accents in the headlights, and new two-tone paint finishes such as Dark Petrol Uni with Verdesilber Metallic. The upright Mercedes star in the 23-inch forged wheels, which self-aligns via a ball bearing mechanism while driving, remains one of the car’s most unusual design details.
In the interior, Mercedes-Maybach expands the customization options for the GLS with new Nappa leather colors and trim elements, including open-pore walnut wood in a fishbone pattern and a metal blend fabric. At the same time, comfort has been further enhanced—with additional massage functions, improved noise insulation, and a new electrified V8 biturbo engine. The result is a consistent evolution of a model whose aspiration remains unchanged: Quiet Luxury and sovereignty on every journey.
Vision for the Future
After seven years of development, the 69-meter-long Project Zero left the construction hall of the Dutch shipyard Vitters for the first time in July 2026. The ketch has no internal combustion engines and is designed to meet its energy needs entirely from renewable sources. Two rotatable propulsion pods can act as generators while sailing; hybrid solar panels and a large battery storage system are also planned.
Vitters, Dykstra Naval Architects, and Vripack are collaborating on the design and technical development; an extensive sea trial program will begin after the launch. »The build of Zero is unlike any other build we have ever undertaken. Not only are we constructing a yacht, but we are constructing a vision for the future», says Bas Peute, Marketing Manager at Vitters.
New Proportions
With the Galaxy Z Fold8, Samsung fundamentally redesigns the format of its foldable smartphone. While previous generations were deliberately narrow when closed, the new cover display, with its 10:16 aspect ratio, is much more aligned with a classic smartphone. When opened, an almost square workspace in 4:3 format is created, equally suitable for reading, video, and productive work.
The construction has also been completely revised. The new Flex-Titanium technology combines a titanium alloy with a reinforced titanium plate, allowing the device to be built thinner and making the display crease less visible. A newly tuned opening mechanism is designed to make unfolding both easier and more consistent. At a weight of 201 grams, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is also Samsung’s lightest Fold series model to date—another step in developing the foldable from a specialized device to an indispensable everyday companion.
Speakers as Part of the Furniture
With Tylko Sound, the Polish furniture brand no longer treats speakers as technical devices, but as an integral part of the shelf itself. The impetus came from French architect Paul Cournet, who has been exploring the relationship between sound and space for years. Looking at Tylko’s modular shelving system, he asked a simple question: Speakers have been on shelves for decades—why are they never designed for shelves? Together with the Rotterdam sound engineering studio Form Follows Frequency, he developed a fully integrated Hi-Fi system from this idea.
The speakers fit flush into the designated shelf compartments, becoming part of the furniture’s architecture. The series includes a Coax Speaker, a bass reflex version, and an active subwoofer. The enclosures are made of Baltic birch plywood; a 6.5-inch coaxial driver from the Italian manufacturer SICA is used. Instead of hiding Hi-Fi, it is conceived here from the outset as part of the interior. [Ed.]
