It’s a Marathon joke, get it?

I saw this post on YankoDesign.com about a conceptual laptop designed by Braz de Pina. The post was appropriately titled “Colorpunk” — his work having bright blues and yellows that boldly stand out.

I was disheartened to learn it wasn’t a real laptop as I fell in love with the design immediately. The simple but loud colors reminded me a bit of the aesthetic that Bungie leaned into for the upcoming “Marathon” game. There’s a very minmalist tech theme to the keyboard but with strong color choices — complimentary light blue and strong yellow — as opposed to the typical monochrome palette found in science fiction, tech design, etc.

I think this sort of aesthetic, or color palette at least, is something I’ve always had a soft spot for. Anyone who knows me knows that my wardrobe is almost entirely black and grey with olive highlights here and there, maybe an occasional pop of dark blue. I’ve got a few fits, however, that don’t quite fit the theme and it feels good to do something different now and again.

I always loved clean design work, and it’s something I employ in my own pieces. The art of “Marathon” or someone like Braz executes it in a way that feels both retro and futuristic in entirely separate ways. Maybe I need to try some of that myself in my own design work, especially for Phantom Port. I think it’ll suit Ghost Mapping very well.

Do you have an aesthetic you love that is a bit out of your comfort zone?

NP: