Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi by Kevin Yang

Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi by Kevin Yang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Kub in Tsim Khoom Ua Si Competition Category.

KubKhoom Ua Si· 2025

Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi

by Kevin Yang

Client: Royal College of Art

A' Design Award Kub Winner in Khoom Ua Si Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #170416

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi

Project Xylo rov tsim dua tshiab txog kev sib cuam tshuam midi los ntawm lub platform ua si thiab sib koom ua ke rau kev tsim suab nkauj. Nkag tau rau txhua theem kev txawj, nws ua kom yooj yim rau kev tsim beats nrog kev sib haum suab thiab tempo sync. Cov cartridges hloov tau thiab cov cuab yeej txuas ua ke txhawb kev sib koom tes, thaum tus qauv tsim retro thiab modular txhim kho kev siv tau zoo thiab style. Project Xylo yog ib series ntawm cov cuab yeej portable midi uas tsim rau kev tsim suab nkauj txhua hnub, muaj peb qhov loj: sample, pocket, thiab midi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Kub

Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi yog tus yeej ntawm A' Design Award Kub, ib qho kev lees paub muaj meej mom heev uas muab rau cov qauv tsim qib ib, zoo kawg nkaus thiab tshwj xeeb. Cov neeg yeej Kub yog cov khoom tsim tshiab heev, pom deb heev thiab ci ntsa iab uas qhia txog kev txawj ntse, kev txawj thiab lub zog ntawm cov kws tsim qauv. Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi xav tias yuav yog ib qho kev tsim uas tau txais kev qhuas ntau, tsim kev nyiam tshiab thiab loj uas ua rau muaj nqi tsis tau muaj dua. Cov qauv tsim yeej A' Design Award Kub no yog ib qho haujlwm zoo kawg nkaus thiab muaj kev hwm uas pab tau ntau thiab nthuav dav ciam teb ntawm kev kos duab, kev tshawb fawb, kev tsim qauv thiab thev naus laus zis. Project Xylo Cuab Yeej Midi ua rau muaj kev xav tau heev, txhawb kev mob siab, txhawb kev tsim tshiab thiab ua rau peb xav tsis thoob.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Project xylo is a series of portable midi devices designed for everyday music creation, offered in three sizes: sample, pocket, and midi. The goal is to gamify music composition, making it a social and accessible experience.

Design targeted to simplify beat-making with harmonic and tempo consonance, bridging knowledge gaps. Its nostalgic trading cartridges let users share custom sounds and compositions; devices sync to create collaborative music, turning users into part of a band's performance.
Dimensions & Packaging: XYLO Midi (Large Size): 195mm W x 92mm L x 20mm H
XYLO Pocket (Medium Size): 60mm W x 92mm L x 20mm H
XYLO Sample (Mini Size): 30mm W x 92mm L x 20mm H
Tags: Midi Device, Game, Nostalgic
Production Technology: Project XYLO undergoes prototyping using FDM printing to refine form, button layout, component placement, and device co-collab precision. The final SLA-printed model was sandblasted for a semi-transparent, Game Boy-like CMF, it went through multiple resin transparency tests to balance component visibility while maintaining the surface texture. Transitioning all electronics into the compact housing was challenging. The prototyping program, built via GODOT and run on Raspberry Pi Zero (ARM64), it faced limitations but was tested for basic functions and graphic capability.
Design Challenge: First, achieving the nostalgic semi-transparent shell required multiple CMF testing to balance resin transparency and sandblasting.

Second, developing the program and structuring the BOM to fit components was difficult due to housing size.

Third, balancing appearance with performance was tough—ESP32 lacked graphics power, leading to a switch to Raspberry Pi Zero.

XYLO underwent rapid iterations to address these, though production remains uncertain due to design complexity.
Research: XYLO’s research simplified music composition by categorizing sound into SFX, beats, chords, and melodies. The goal was to create an intuitive tool that ensures harmonic and tempo consonance for easy beat-making and collaboration. Through sound collection, prototyping, and applied to cohort surveys, insights showed that structured tempo enhances harmony and rhythm accessibility, forming the foundation for XYLO.
Inspiration: Project XYLO was conceived to democratize music creation by transforming MIDI operations into an engaging, portable, and social experience. Inspired by the desire to lower barriers in music composition, XYLO aimed to gamify the process, making it accessible to enthusiasts of all skill levels. Design focused on integrating harmonic and tempo consonance to facilitate intuitive beat-making. Additionally, nostalgic trading cartridges reference classic game consoles, making it fun and easy to share.
Project Duration: The project started in March 2024 and prototyped in May 2024, it is a student project at Royal College of Art, London, UK.
Operation Flow: XYLO makes music creation fun and accessible by transforming complex MIDI operations into an intuitive, hands-on experience. Users record, mix, and shape beats using simple button and slider controls, with harmonic and tempo frameworks ensuring accessible music-making. Swappable cartridges add a nostalgic touch for easy sound sharing. Devices snap together for instant sync, turning solo play into a collaborative jam—like forming a digital band anywhere.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Yunmu Bai and Yan Qing, XYLO, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Yunmu Bai and Yan Qing, XYLO, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Yunmu Bai and Yan Qing, XYLO, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Yunmu Bai and Yan Qing, XYLO, 2024.