In this week’s Our Take an iconic design firm sparks debate by using AI, gaming is the new healer in hospitals, a diamond battery is going to outlive us all, and a viral virtual reality video is even less real than we thought.
Iconic AI Designs
Generative AI’s role in design continues to spark debate, with Pentagram’s latest project sitting at the eye of the storm. Design royalty Paula Scher and her team at Pentagram have created a new illustration style using AI (Midjourney) for the Federal Government (USofA). Pretty straightforward, right? WRONG!
Pentagram has come under fire for its unapologetic embrace of Midjourney to generate over 1,500 icons for the project. The design studio started developing icons with AI by inputting some handmade paper cuts and mark-making images coupled with prompts to create a massive asset library for the client.
As expected, people are not happy about the rise of the robots. Pentagram, however, were ready for the push-back and simply replied, “We will use the best tools available to us to accomplish the ideas we have.”
This raises some questions: Is AI just a tool, or is it reshaping what it even means to “design”? Scher seems to think it’s the former—a handy sidekick for when efficiency trumps tradition.
Love it or loathe it, Pentagram’s embrace of AI is a wake-up call for the design world. As tech and creativity collide, the rules are changing—and let’s be honest, it’s kind of exciting to watch. Using the best tools to achieve our goals is what we have always done and is what we will always do. Put on your yoga pants because we’re about to dish out some proverbial wisdom: “The wind does not break a tree that bends”, African proverb.
Young Patients Get a Player 2
When hospital stays get tough, gaming is the ultimate escape. For kids at Scotland’s busiest children’s hospital, it’s more than fun—it’s a power-up. Thanks to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Devolver Digital, and Neonhive, the UK and Ireland now have their first Gamer-in-Residence.
Meet Steven Mair, 26, the ultimate co-op partner. His mission? To ensure every young patient has a Player Two. From hosting events like an EA Sports FC 25 launch party to gaming one-on-one, Steven is focused on distracting people from tough hospital stays by inviting them into the world of play. He’s also fundraising to upgrade outdated consoles, with help from campaigns like Games for the Weans, which raised £100,000 last year.
For seven-year-old Jace, who’s battling a blood disorder, gaming is a 1-Up. “When Steven played Mario with Jace, he lit up instantly,” says his mum. “It’s not just a game—it’s a lifeline.” Science shows that gaming can reduce anxiety and even pain, but for these kids, it’s so much more—it’s joy, connection, and adventure.
Game on.
A Battery that Will Outlive You
Imagine a world where your gadgets outlive you—and possibly your entire bloodline. This new carbon-14 battery, developed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the University of Bristol, has the potential to power devices for a staggering 5,700 years. That’s not just a technological leap; it’s a game-changer for industries ranging from consumer electronics to healthcare, aerospace, and even energy infrastructure.
Here’s why it matters: the environmental impact of traditional batteries is colossal.
Most lithium-ion batteries, which dominate the market, barely last five years, and a shocking 95% end up in landfills. The carbon-14 battery could eliminate the need for frequent replacements and significantly reduce waste and resource exploitation.
The implications ripple across sectors. In healthcare, pacemakers and implants could become maintenance-free. In aerospace, satellites and rovers wouldn’t need recharging, making deep-space missions more viable. Even IoT devices could function for generations, drastically cutting energy costs.
The “forever battery” could spark a revolution, reshaping industries while keeping the Duracell bunny sprinting for millennia.
Viral VR not Real
You may have seen the viral LifeSkin App that’s been creating a bit of a buzz online, racking up views across TikTok. LifeSkin is a concept for a VR app that will let you reimagine your environment. Want to live in a ’50s Dream Home? Done. Swiss Chalet? You’re virtually there. There’s a 5000 BC mode that turns your home into a (luxurious and well-equipped) cave, and a Horror Movie mode, for those of us who would choose to live in fear. Literally.
It’s a fantastic concept, and a ton of fun, so no surprise that it’s a hit.
The only problem is: it’s not real. Not even virtually. It’s the work of a talented redditor (IAmJesseRichards), who was playing around with some AI Video editing. There is no LifeSkin app in the pipeline. There are no developers working on it. There is just a video.
We still want one, though.