DESIGN DISPATCH

Dyson is Dropping New Headphones, and Other News

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Dyson's OnTec headphones. Image courtesy of Dyson.

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Dyson will drop its first pair of headphones—that “Bane mask” notwithstanding.

First came the cordless vacuums, then the AirWrap. Now, Dyson has introduced its first audio-only headphones, the OnTrac. The noise-canceling headphones will offer up to 55 hours of listening time and prioritize comfort with a headband that takes inspiration from the weight distribution of a horse’s saddle. The OnTrac isn’t Dyson’s first foray into headphone design, however: During the pandemic, the brand dropped a pair whose built-in air filtration mechanism was widely compared to the mask worn by Batman’s nemesis, Bane. 

After a demolition scare, Marilyn Monroe’s former home becomes an official monument.

The home of the late Hollywood icon has been designated a Historic-Cultural Monument by the L.A. City Council, a move that has safeguarded it from demolition. Despite significant modifications to its interiors, the 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival–style home’s exterior remains largely unchanged since Monroe’s occupancy in 1962. Preservationists and Councilwoman Traci Park led efforts to protect the house, emphasizing its historical significance and Monroe’s personal connection to the property.

The Hispanic Society Museum and Library. Image courtesy of The Hispanic Society Museum and Library.

The New York Hispanic Society Museum devotes a research center to Francisco Goya.

The Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York has unveiled its Goya Research Center to foster scholarly interest in the Spanish master painter, Francisco Goya, ahead of his bicentennial. Led by director Guillaume Kientz, the center aims to utilize the museum’s extensive collection of Goya works to encourage new academic research and cross-museum collaboration. The center will host exhibitions, a fellowship program, and hold an annual symposium to cultivate a new generation of Goya scholars.

Dior issues a response to authorities about those unsavory supply-chain allegations.

Luxury juggernauts Dior and Armani Group are facing scrutiny from Italy’s competition authority over allegations of misleading consumers about their suppliers’ working conditions. Dior claims it has terminated relationships with implicated suppliers and has denied the now-viral allegations that it produces bags at extremely low costs. Armani asserts the allegations it faces are baseless, and both brands are scrambling to highlight their commitment to ethical practices and quality craftsmanship amid the ongoing investigation.

In 2025, Photofairs will launch a Hong Kong edition with Shanghai director Fan Ni.

Photofairs is set to debut its Hong Kong edition in March, coinciding with Art Basel and the city’s “Art March” events. Led by Fan Ni, director of the fair’s Shanghai edition, it will feature 50 to 75 exhibitors. Creo Arts, the organizer, aims to make Photofairs Hong Kong a destination for photography and to highlight the region’s strong interest in the medium and its status as a global art market hub.

A rendering of NASA's Parker Solar Probe. Image courtesy of NASA/Johns Hopkins APL.

Today’s attractive distractions: 

A 28-year-old episode of the Simpsons prophesied this Cypress Hill concert.

Steve Jobs predicted generative AI 41 years ago, and there’s video evidence.

NASA’s solar probe beat its own record as the fastest human-made object. 

A six-minute short film looks at the environmental impact of the Kardashians. 

 

 

 

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