Last week, Apple released a MagSafe-compatible phone grip designed with accessibility in mind. The USD 70 accessory quickly sold out. Created to mark four decades of Apple's accessibility initiatives and designed by Bailey Hikawa, the grip emerged from interviews with people whose muscle strength, dexterity or hand control made standard phone handling difficult. What started as an accommodation has found a wider audience, one that extends well beyond its original design parameters.Hikawa, a Los Angeles-based artist whose previous work spans conceptual sculpture and custom toilet seats, designed the grip around varied holding patterns rather than retrofitting existing hardware. The product functions as both a phone stand supporting devices vertically and horizontally at two angles and addresses the slippery surfaces common to most mobile devices. Available in Chartreuse and recycled Crater, its sculptural form and high-visibility colorways reflect Hikawa's gallery practice, avoiding the purely functional or boring aesthetics often associated with assistive products.TREND BITEThe rapid sellout of an accessibility-focused accessory reflects shifting consumer attitudes toward inclusive design. Adaptive products are moving from specialized catalogs into mainstream retail, in part because they often solve problems that affect far more people than initially assumed in this case, maintaining a secure grip on a phone. As populations age and awareness of diverse physical needs expands, brands that build accessibility into products from the start, rather than treating it as an add-on, stand to benefit. The Hikawa grip suggests that inclusive design and commercial appeal aren't at odds, particularly when the resulting product addresses genuine usability gaps.
A French maritime startup is pitching sustainable shipping that doesn't sacrifice speed, by way of a 220-foot cargo trimaran that can cross the Atlantic in under 15 days, powered solely by wind.
Employees say that the thumbs up is the most appropriate emoji in the workplace and that the eggplant is the most inappropriate, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Using digital twins, B2B marketers can rehearse product launches securely, cut costs, reduce audience fatigue, and reveal unseen risks before going live. Discover how simulations strengthen planning and execution. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Most professional writers say they're now using AI tools for their work, and most also say that they think AI tools will lead to decreased opportunities for writers, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Don't ignore brand-building's role in driving future sales by over-investing in lower-funnel tactics. Performance branding uses data, AI, and analytics to strengthen upper-funnel campaigns. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
England's pro women's soccer league has published the first comprehensive framework for designing stadiums for female players and fans both for adapting existing venues and building new ones from scratch. The guidelines, developed by WSL Football alongside architects and engineers, acknowledge a straightforward reality: venues built for men don't automatically work for women, and the explosive growth of women's soccer has made that mismatch impossible to ignore. The 120-page document tackles everything from toilet ratios to changing room layouts, drawing on input from players, medical staff, match officials, broadcasters and supporters.
