The Inkslab series by HDL Automation is a modular wall switch system that replaces standard toggle layouts with a tiled interface of polygonal buttons. Each panel is divided into irregular geometric cells inspired by traditional Suzhou lattice windows, with every segment functioning as an individual control. The design merges ornament and interface, allowing lighting, power, and climate controls to be integrated into a single surface.
The system is built from individual tiles that attach to a shared wall bracket, enabling horizontal or vertical configurations depending on the space. Modules include scene selectors, power outlets, and a circular HVAC control unit that displays temperature and fan settings within the same panel. Each tile measures 86 by 86 millimetres and sits flush against the wall, with finishes including matte black, white, slate grey, and brushed champagne gold.
Image Credit: Hdl Automation Co., Ltd.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Modular Interface Tiles
- A grid of interchangeable 86×86 millimetre tiles allows control functions to be recombined across a single surface, enabling hardware ecosystems that evolve with changing user needs and spaces.
- Ornament-interface Convergence
- Decorative Suzhou-inspired geometry fused with functional controls blurs the boundary between aesthetic finishes and interactive surfaces, creating new expectations for visible hardware as a design statement.
- Spatially Adaptive Control Layouts
- Horizontal and vertical tile configurations tailored to room layouts permit localized grouping of lighting, power, and HVAC controls, shifting how control logic maps to physical environments.
Where This Applies
- Smart Home Hardware
- Modular switch panels suggest a market for interoperable, upgradeable components that replace single-function wall units with configurable multi-function surfaces.
- Commercial Interior Design
- Customizable tile finishes and layouts offer new material palettes and control placement strategies that influence branded environments and workplace user experience.
- HVAC and Building Controls
- Integrated circular HVAC modules within a tiled interface indicate a move toward localized climate control points that combine sensor readouts and user input in shared control planes.
