Project Xylo Midi-Apparat vum Kevin Yang

D'Wierk Project Xylo Midi-Apparat vum Designer Kevin Yang ass en héich geschätzten Gewënner vum prestigiéisen 2025 A' Design Award an Gold an der Wettbewerbskategorie Spillsaachen, Spiller an Hobbyprodukter Design.

GoldSpillsaach· 2025

Project Xylo Midi-Apparat

vum Kevin Yang

Client: Royal College of Art

A' Design Award an Gold Gewënner an der Kategorie Spillsaach

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Den Design

Iwwer Project Xylo Midi-Apparat

Project Xylo iwwerdenkt d'Midi-Interaktioun duerch eng gamifiéiert, sozial Plattform fir Musek ze maachen. Zougänglech fir all Fäegkeetsniveauen, vereenfacht et d'Beat-Kreatioun mat harmonescher an Tempo-Synchronisatioun. Auswiesselbar Cartridgen an zesumme klickbar Apparater ënnersetzen d'Zesummenaarbecht, während en Retro-, moduläre Design d'Benotzbarkeeet an de Stil verbessert. Project Xylo ass eng Serie vu portable Midi-Apparater, entwéckelt fir alldeeglech Musekskreatioun, ugebueden an dräi Gréissten: Sample, Pocket a Midi.

D'Unerkennung

Iwwer den A' Design Award an Gold

Project Xylo Midi-Apparat ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Gold, enger héich prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un éischtklassesch, wonnerbar an erausragend Designe vergi gëtt. Gold-Gewënner si ganz innovativ, visionär a blendend glänzend Kreatiounen, déi d'Talent, d'Wäisheet an d'Fäegkeete vun hire Designer reflektéieren. Et gëtt erwaart, datt Project Xylo Midi-Apparat eng héich gelueften, trendsetzend a monumental Erfindung ass, déi beispillosen Wäert liwwert. Dëst mam Gold ausgezeechent Design ass e spektakuläert, respektéiert Projet, dat d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie erweidert. Project Xylo Midi-Apparat erzeegt intensiv Wënsch, erweckt Leidenschaft, encouragéiert Kreativitéit a faszinéiert eis.

Hannert dem Design

Press Kit

Credits, Teammemberen an technesch Detailer vum Designer zur Verfügung gestallt.

Eenzegaarteg Eegeschaften: 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.
Dimensiounen & Verpackung: 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
Produktiounstechnologie: 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 Erausfuerderung: 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.
Fuerschung: 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.
Inspiratioun: 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.
Projetdauer: The project started in March 2024 and prototyped in May 2024, it is a student project at Royal College of Art, London, UK.
Operatiounsablaf: 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.
Bildnoweis: 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.