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It seems the market has spoken when it comes to phones with physical keyboards. BlackBerry exited the mobile hardware business almost a decade ago, and its licensing partners like TCL appear to have given up on the idea as well. For better or worse, the world now largely runs on people typing and swiping words onto glass surfaces. That doesnt mean the loss doesnt sting for the diehards. For some, theres just no substitute for a physical keyboardand thats who Unihertz is hoping to serve with its new Titan 2. Unihertz is a small company based in China that designs extremely niche smartphones. Sometimes theyll have tiny screens, like the Jelly line; sometimes theyll have a rugged build, like the original Titan; sometimes theyll have both, like the Atom. The Titan 2, which is available to order on Kickstarter now, is the companys fourth attempt at a phone with a physical keyboard. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/multicore_logo.jpg","headline":"Multicore","description":"Multicore is about technology hardware and design. It's written from Tokyo by Sam Byford. To learn more visit multicore.blog","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.multicore.blog","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} A new approach The Titan 2 takes a different approach to Unihertzs previous keyboard-equipped phones, however. The design is much sleeker and feels like a better fit for the kind of professional whos likely to have lingering BlackBerry nostalgiathe original Titan looked more like something youd take onto an oil rig. This is still a fairly hefty phone, at 10.8 millimeters thick and 235 grams with a boxy metal build. But it feels reassuringly solid rather than excessively rugged. The synthetic leather on the back panel is a nice touch, too. At $400, or $269 at current early-bird pricing, you cant expect particularly high-end specs. Theres a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor that does the job, and a dual-camera setup that mostly doesnt. The 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and 5,050mAh battery with 33W charging are all pretty standard. [Photo: Unihertz] The screen is really the killer spec here, featuring an unusual 4.5-inch 1440-by-1440 LCD panel. That might not sound huge in an age where iPhones can push 7 inches, but because its squarelike the BlackBerry Passportits much wider than any conventional smartphone. This makes the Titan 2 great for browsing websites and viewing documents, though its less ideal for scrolling through social media. You can switch the screen to a vertical 4:3 window with a swipe gesture, which sacrifices some real estate on the sides but gives a more comfortable experience in apps like X and Instagram. Theres also a secondary OLED screen on the phones back panel, which is largely a gimmickyou can use it with built-in tools like a clock, a compass, or a selfie viewfinder, or add other Android apps yourself to see how they run. If ever youve wanted to watch Netflix on a screen the size of an Apple Watch, now you can. The keyboard Below the main screen, of course, is the keyboard. I was never much of a BlackBerry addict myself, but I do think the Titan 2s keyboard feels great to use. The backlit keys are easy to distinguish from one another and give strong tactile feedback; the surface is also touch-sensitive so you can use it to scroll and swipe through apps. There is something of a learning curve to figuring out how to make the most of the keyboard and use the modifier buttons in combination with the letters, but its fairly self-explanatory and just takes an hour or two of practice. [Photo: Unihertz] One thing I will say about the Titan 2 keyboard is that even after getting used to it, Im nowhere near as fast as I am on a touchscreen. Former BlackBerry obsessives might take issue with this, but even as someone who never uses autocorrect, I still think Im a lot faster using swipe-to-type and word prediction on a touchscreen than I could ever be on a keyboard like this. Tangible feedback But that doesnt mean theres no value to a physical keyboard or no advantage over a touchscreen. I like using manual gearboxes in cars and physical dials on cameras, for example, even though faster automatic solutions exist for both. What they have in common with the Titan 2, or the BlackBerry before it, is the satisfyingly tangible feedback and the sense of intention when you use them. Youre in control. When you press a key on the Titan 2 keyboard, you know whats going to happen. You can feel that you pressed it and see the letter pop up right away. Theres no prediction algorithm to mess up your spelling and much less chance to miss your key altogether. I know my typing nets out slower on this phone than it would on any regular smartphone, but I do spend much less time needing to correct my own copy. Typing on the Titan 2 is a deliberate, involved experience with much less frustration. Not for everyone This phone clearly isnt for everyone. The camera is pretty bad and the software is unpolished. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone who wasnt really sure that they wanted a physical keyboard, and even then it probably makes more sense as a secondary device. But for those peoplethe people who held out longer than anyone else before giving up their BlackBerrythe Titan 2 might just end up as their favorite phone in the world today. Its clearly Unihertzs best take onthe concept yet, and no one else is really trying to compete. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/multicore_logo.jpg","headline":"Multicore","description":"Multicore is about technology hardware and design. It's written from Tokyo by Sam Byford. To learn more visit multicore.blog","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.multicore.blog","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
Category:
E-Commerce
Casually mentioning canceling a doctors appointment or skipping something personal to take on more work has become the new humblebrag. Its rarely treated as a big deal, and often, its delivered with self-deprecating pride: Oh, Ill just cancel my doctors appointment to crank this out, or I was up until midnight finishing that deck. These arent just updates, but quiet auditions for Most Dedicated Employee. Many of us hear those lines, or say them ourselves, and think, Wow, thats commitment. But what were really doing is reinforcing workplace culture that rewards exhaustion instead of impact. Too often, self-sacrifice is confused with value, and that mindset is burning people out. The result is burnout factories dressed up as high-performance cultures. And this isnt just anecdotal. According to Gallups 2023 State of the Global Workplace report, nearly 60% of employees report feeling emotionally detached at work, and nearly 1 in 5 say theyre miserable. Thats not high performance, its slow, silent collapse. If you want to show up with focus, creativity, and resilience (at work and in life) it starts by putting down the invisible sword too many of us keep falling on. Heres what that looks like in practice: 1. Stop glorifying sacrifice Weve been conditioned to admire the person who pushes through, the one who skips lunch, works late, or shows up sick. Weve equated overextension with excellence and decided that making ourselves perpetually available signals dedication and makes us irreplaceable. But this constant grind isnt sustainable, and not to be a bubble buster, but it also doesnt guarantee job security. It does, however, guarantee exhaustion. In a culture of depletion dressed up as drive, the truth no one wants to say out loud is that just because someones willing to sacrifice everything for work doesnt mean they should be expected to, or applauded for it. What You Can Do: Celebrate boundaries out loud. Tell your team when youre logging off, and why. Compliment coworkers who prioritize recovery. Make self-preservation visible, respected, and routine. Someone who takes one for the team isnt always the hero, and we need to stop making them out to be. Most importantly, we need to stop reinforcing bad behavior. 2. Redefine loyalty Too many of us equate loyalty with self-abandonment. We mistake constantly being on for being dependable. But true loyalty isnt about erasing yourself but about showing up consistently and sustainably. Loyalty to your job shouldnt come at the expense of loyalty to your body, your family, your health, or your own values. The people who build long, meaningful careers arent the ones sprinting from sacrifice to sacrifice. Theyre the ones who understand how to pace themselves and advocate for what they need. What You Can Do: Before saying yes to adding more to your work plate, ask yourself: Does this align with my actual priorities and capacity? Because, it is possible to be deeply committed to your work without constantly proving your worth through overextension. 3. Question urgency culture So many fire drills at work are just . . . smoke. Tasks labeled urgent are often driven by someone elses disorganization, perfectionism, or anxiety, not an actual need. When everything is urgent, nothing truly is. Urgency culture thrives in environments where people are afraid to slow down or challenge assumptions. But what if part of being a great teammate wasnt speed, it was discernment? What You Can Do: Practice pausing to ask: Whats the real deadline here? Whats the consequence if it moves? Normalize not taking ASAP at face value. Sometimes urgency is warranted. Often, its just a default setting weve forgotten how to question. 4. Trade perfectionism for progress As a recovering perfectionist, I can attest to the fact that perfectionism is sneaky. It masquerades as diligence and high standards but more often than not, its actually fear in a super sharp blazer. Fear of judgment, failure, or not being good enough. In high-pressure work cultures, perfectionism isnt just tolerated, its celebrated. But if youre spending hours tweaking slide formatting or rewriting a perfectly clear email for the fourth time, maybe its time you ask yourself who youre really trying to protect. Perfection rarely drives impact, but it always drains energy. What You Can Do: Pick one thing this week to do at 85%. Then walk away. The deck doesnt need one more alignment check. The email is fine as is. Let good enough be good, and reclaim that energy for something else. 5. Be the example, not the exception Its easy to think change starts at the top. But culture isnt just set by leadership, its shaped by what we tolerate, model, and reinforce at every level. If youre tired of performative burnout, you cant just opt out silently. You have to opt-in to something different. Culture shifts through visible choices. Through the senior leader who leaves loudly at 5 p.m. to the teammate who says, Im not available tonight, but I can jump in first thing tomorrow, all the way to the employee who takes a mental health day without apology. What You Can Do: Audit your behavior. Are you constantly over-delivering? Do you reward fire drills and penalize slow, thoughtful work? Start showing people what sustainable excellence looks like. Bottom line: You dont need a policy change to be a culture shifter. The workplace is changing in slow but meaningful ways. And, these changes dont just happen because HR rolls out a new initiative, but when enough people, at every level, stop performing exhaustion as proof of commitment. So next time that reflex kicks in, the one that tells you to push through, to cancel something personal, to over-deliver just to be seen, pause. Ask yourself: Is this really necessary? You shouldnt have to earn your worth through burnout, and youre allowed to take care of yourself and still be exceptional. In fact, that might be the most powerful thing you can do.
Category:
E-Commerce
In an era where consumers are flooded with choices and noise, the most enduring brands aren’t just the ones with the best features, they’re the ones that make people feel seen. That philosophy guides us at Michael Graves Design, as we believe that great design begins with listening. Our products, from the iconic Alessi teakettle to our Quick Fold cane, are never created in isolation. They emerge from stories: personal, emotional, and deeply human. This commitment to storytelling isnt just a marketing strategy; its a design principle, one that bridges purposeful delight to create pioneering products. We rely on our “Design With” process that embodies collaboration. Instead of designing for users, we design with them. This approach involves ethnographic research, empathy-based brainstorming sessions, and consumer preference testing, which provides us direct engagement with our community. By involving a diverse pool of users, we ensure that our products resonate on a personal level with a broad audience. This collaborative storytelling helps us uncover product opportunity gaps and ensures that our designs reflect real experiences and needs. Designs rooted in story Take our Whistling Bird Teakettle for Alessi. Beyond its functional design, with a shape that makes water boil faster, the kettle uses color to tell a purposeful story of hot and cold, and a story of morning rituals of waking up to the sound of birds chirping. This narrative transforms a simple kitchen appliance into an experience, making daily routines delightful. Likewise, our canes are designed not just for support, but to empower. Typical canes seem institutional, carry stigma, and remind users of their limitations. Our designs incorporate vibrant colors and ergonomic features, turning them into symbols of independence and style. Design transforms them from needed medical devices into desired consumer products. Its the straightforward difference between focusing on the negative and focusing on the positive. 3 lessons for entrepreneurs and brands At Michael Graves Design, we live these lessons daily, not just as best practices, but as core beliefs. These three underlying principles are adaptable across industries and team sizes. Whether youre launching a new product or building a brand from scratch, these are three powerful ways to bring people into your process and create meaningful offerings. 1. Engage your community Involving your customers early in the product development process opens a feedback loop that strengthens both the product and the relationship. At MGD, we regularly incorporate community voices through ethnographic visits and ideation sessions. Other companies can do this too by building small advisory panels, running beta programs, or simply inviting feedback and listening actively. Cocreation not only improves the end result, but it also turns customers into brand advocates. 2. Design with empathy Real empathy fuels innovation. Understand how people live, struggle, and express themselves, then design from that insight. Its the best way to increase the chances that new products will resonate with consumers and sell really well. Conduct consumer preference testing sessions where consumers can interact with works-like prototypes. This invaluable feedback informed all final design refinements and assortment selection for our recent Pottery Barn collection. 3. Lead with story, not specs At MGD, every product is anchored in a storynot invented after the fact, but woven into the design process from the beginning. Specs matter, but emotional connection drives decisions. Other companies can tap into this by asking: What does this product represent to the people who use it? How do we know? Build your marketing around those stories, and youll move from selling features to creating emotional resonance. Community storytelling with real impact This storytelling approach extends from the product design process into marketing. Our email newsletter, Monthly Delights, captures the essence of how storytelling becomes a powerful marketing force, not through sales language, but through the lived experiences of our consumers and influences. A few examples: Lanes: Personal style meets mobility support Delaney (Lanes), a vibrant college senior navigating life in New York City, began using a cane during a chronic illness flare-up. Tired of dull, clinical designs, she discovered the C-Grip cane in sage green and finally found a mobility aid that matched her personality. This is the most comfortable cane handle Ive ever used, she shared. It was nice to pick a cane that felt like me. Her story reinforces how design that honors individuality can turn a necessity into a point of pride. Greg: Design that elevates communities Greg, founder of Little Deeds, helps make homes safer for older adults and people with disabilities. He discovered our products at a CVS and was struck by how they elevated both form and function. As someone who advocates for universal design, Greg appreciated how thoughtful details, like intuitive touch points and sophisticated styling, help dissolve stigma and spark joy. Design like this causes us to pause for a second and think about what exactly brought that sudden sense of joy, he said. Lindsey: Turning diagnosis into artistic empowerment Lindsey, a mixed-media artist living with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, channels her journey into creativity. She paints vibrant abstractions of brain MRI scans, including hundreds for others living with chronic illness. When she found our red sunbaked-clay C-Grip cane, it wasnt just a mobility tool, it became a part of her expressive identity. Its stylish, supportive, and makes even a rough day feel a bit more put together, she explained. At MGD, storytelling isnt a tool we add later, its embedded from the very beginning. Listening to and telling stories helps us stay curious, unleashes our creativity, and most importantly, keeps us connected with our consumers. For brands looking to stand out, the lesson is simple: Build with people, not for them, and the story telling opportunities will follow. Ben Wintner is CEO of Michael Graves Design.
Category:
E-Commerce
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