AI Hardware Design - should we bring back early 2000's design?
When it comes down to hardware my X feed is filled with two types of designs.
Retro/nostalgic 2000's hardware that was defined by Gameboy translucent purples, Colorful macs, Sony's beautiful eclectic electronics, and embracing colors that pop like pink, purple, and orange.
Sleek, modern, simple designs like the @Humane AI pin, @Limitless, @Friend, or the @omi.
I personally miss the fun days where consumer tech was wacky. Think Tamagotchi, Mini Clips, PSPs, and clear-shelled devices. I do see some like @Burner that have brought back some fun design but I'm curious... what does everyone think?
Should we bring back the weird or embrace the sleek, simple, and modern?
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I think 2000s design was at least distinct enough for you to immediately know not only the product, but the company that made it as well, even by silhouette and color palette. I don't know why we decided that bland and universal is better than colorful and unique, probably a cultural shift thing. I say: bring back 2000s design, and not even only in hardware. I'm tired of not being able to say if I'm on producthunt or reddit by looking at the webpage without logo.
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@igor_kirillov1 very true, products were much more distinctive. Even variations of the same product (remember MiniClips?) took several forms which was pretty fun! My inkling is that design shifted from Japan during their bubble/experimental period to Western modernization and this cause a general shift in process.
Those crazy fun designs can still be fun around Japan for more niche, local, or random products!
I thought I was the only one thinking like that... The games and the pleasure of playing games was bigger in the past. Even the game was not that well made and have poor graphics. I don't know how to call it better, but the games from now days lost their soul. Maybe this modern design play it's role in that.
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@cristian_stoian_urzica I also like the previous game design. There is no excessive competition for game quality, but to impress players through gameplay and story, which is the soul of the game!
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@cristian_stoian_urzica I know exactly what you mean. It's like because there was only so much you could do technically and graphically game devs had to be really creative with gameplay mechanics and storytelling.
I do think games like God of War are still maintaining that story telling magic, but you're right. Not even Pokemon feels the same anymore!
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Oooh interesting question. Have you seen the new Airbnb app? Not hardware, but it’s a bit of both - retro and sleek/modern. A little skeuomorphic.
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@rajiv_ayyangar I have! You're right that they're blending a bit of both...tbh... took me a bit to get used to. I'm not sure I 100% love it yet on their app. What do you think of it so far?
I agree with you! I miss the diversity of mobile phone designs we had in the 2000s, so I'm really liking the new Motorolas!
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@aaronmarco Motorola has been crushing it lately! I hear their AI is also...decent!?
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@hanselh Japan - 100% If you look at some of the designs early Sony was doing, they're so fun. Obsolete Sony is a great Twitter (X) account to follow.
I'm a huge fan of retro. It would be interesting to see how younger generations, who haven’t experienced it, would adapt. It sounds like a fun experiment! 😀
Oof, this hit a nostalgia nerve! 😄
I lived for the Gameboy Color and those semi-transparent gadgets they felt like tech with personality.
Today’s sleek AI hardware is beautiful (no doubt), but sometimes it feels too… sterile? There’s something oddly comforting about quirky colors and playful shapes like they invite you to interact.
Would love to see a hybrid functionally modern, but with design that sparks joy. Imagine a Humane Pin in a grape purple shell.
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@priyanka_gosai1 sterile is kinda accurate - didn't think about it that way. I don't mind the sleekness but I do feel like we need to have fun again
I think we need more of that “fun” design thinking from the 2000s.✨
①💡Imagine what the AI Pin could be :
Translucent housing - allowing you to see the “AI Thinking” LEDs inside
Interchangeable colored rings - depending on the mood or occasion
Small pixel display - shows emoji or simple patterns for added intimacy
Haptic feedback - different vibration modes correspond to different AI moods
②Make technology more human, not people more technological.
Balance is important ⚖️:
Retain functionality and ease of use (the benefits of modern design)
Add personality and fun (the charm of retro design)
Give users a choice (not everyone wants the same aesthetic)
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BLINKING LIGHTS - oh man, remember when we had tech look like sketcher light up shoes haha. Those were fun times.
@gabe Yes, visible “color technology.”
I miss the era when tech looked like candy and broke like dreams.
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@djamillio_heij I'd love to see some PSP/Gameboy casing come back
I remember my old desktop had blue LED lights and a transparent case. That thing looked like a spaceship!
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@viola_caldwell haha, wait, what desktop did you have!?
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The Little Guy project by Daniel Kuntz is wacky.
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@rrhoover whoah cool
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I totally feel you! 🙌 There’s something magical about those bold, colorful, and quirky designs from the 2000s that just sparks joy and nostalgia. 🌈✨ Devices like the Gameboy with translucent shells or the vibrant iMacs had so much personality! That said, the sleek and minimal designs today offer a refreshing elegance and focus on functionality that’s hard to beat. 🤓💡
Honestly, I think there’s room for both! Why not blend the fun, playful spirit of the past with modern tech’s clean aesthetics? A little pop of color or unique shapes can make devices stand out without sacrificing sophistication. Let’s bring back some of that wacky charm—but with a modern twist! 🎉🔮
What do you all think? Retro vibes or modern minimalism—or maybe a bit of both? 🤔🔥
Honestly, some of that older design had personality. Everything now looks the same sleek, black, minimal. A few bold throwback designs could really shake things up.
Kalyxa
Bring back the weird. We lost soul chasing minimalism. Those translucent purples and quirky forms weren’t just aesthetics — they made tech feel alive. Today’s devices all look like they’re afraid to be noticed. Maybe it’s time to let hardware have a personality again.