Detail
Author Sakshi Seth
This month’s INSPO looks at how small moves carry big meaning, from colour accents that reveal structure to CMF choices that add tactility, hierarchy and character.
The projects I’ve spotlighted use detail to guide interaction and elevate experience. Subtle interventions, serious impact.
Cycles Manivelle
I’m utterly captivated by this bike frame by Cycles Manivelle. The bright orange rack and frame elements spotlight the structure, using colour to guide the eye across supports, joints and load points. In a category that often feels serious and technical, this choice brings a playful edge.
The contrast against the neutral frame makes the complexity feel more approachable, turning functional hardware into a graphic signature with real presence.
New Balance - Tekela v3 Pro FG “Sweet Chaos”
Crafted in 2021 for US international star Rose Lavelle, this boot is a brilliant study in layered surface detail. Overlapping patterns and material shifts build texture and hierarchy across the upper, turning performance zones into legible design cues.
The graphics reference Lavelle’s emblem, stripes, autograph and headband, embedding a personal narrative directly into the product. The result feels complex yet intentional, with detail that reads as engineered rather than decorative.
Passage Chair
The Passage chair by Ronan Bouroullec is a great example of how surface detail can bring depth to a restrained form. The ribbed detailing adds rhythm and dimensionality without being loud, while the high-gloss finish catches light and shifts visually as you move around it.
Up close, the detail feels subtle, yet in different lighting conditions it becomes more expressive and architectural. Texture adds richness to an otherwise calm silhouette, a reminder that restraint in detail can sometimes feel more powerful than excess.
Mozer Gamepad
The MOZER Gamepad is a great study in colour and finish hierarchy. The neon accents cut through the cyan body with real punch, instantly pulling focus. In fact, the neon almost steals the show from the bold base colour, showing how accents can lead when they’re placed with intent.
The layered CMF work adds depth, with texture splits and glossy zones that make the surface feel tactile and considered.
