Project Xylo: Gamifying Music Creation for Everyone

Portable MIDI devices blend nostalgia, collaboration, and intuitive design

Project Xylo introduces a new era in music technology, aiming to democratize music creation through a series of portable MIDI devices. Designed by Kevin Yang, this innovative project transforms complex MIDI operations into an engaging, hands-on experience. Drawing inspiration from classic game consoles, Xylo incorporates nostalgic trading cartridges and modular, snap-together devices, making music composition both intuitive and collaborative. The design’s focus on harmonic and tempo consonance ensures that users, regardless of expertise, can create harmonious beats and melodies with ease.

The Xylo series is available in three sizes—Sample, Pocket, and Midi—each tailored for different levels of portability and functionality. The devices are engineered to simplify beat-making, bridging knowledge gaps and encouraging social interaction. Users can record, mix, and shape sounds using straightforward button and slider controls, while the swappable cartridges allow for effortless sharing of custom sounds and compositions. When multiple devices are snapped together, they synchronize instantly, enabling users to form impromptu digital bands and collaborate anywhere.

The realization of Project Xylo involved advanced prototyping techniques, including FDM and SLA 3D printing. The semi-transparent shell, reminiscent of vintage handheld consoles, was achieved through meticulous resin transparency tests and sandblasting, balancing component visibility with tactile appeal. Internally, the devices run on Raspberry Pi Zero hardware, chosen for its compactness and graphic capabilities after initial trials with ESP32 proved insufficient. The development process required rapid iteration to overcome challenges in housing design, component integration, and performance optimization.

Research for Xylo centered on simplifying music composition by categorizing sounds into SFX, beats, chords, and melodies. Cohort surveys and prototyping revealed that structured tempo frameworks significantly enhance harmony and rhythm accessibility, forming the backbone of Xylo’s intuitive interface. These insights guided the development of a tool that not only fosters creativity but also supports collaborative learning and performance.

Project Xylo’s impact has been recognized with the prestigious Golden A' Design Award in 2025, highlighting its role in advancing art, science, and technology. By reimagining MIDI interaction as a gamified, social platform, Xylo stands out as a trendsetting creation that empowers users to explore music in new, playful ways—anytime, anywhere.

As music technology continues to evolve, Project Xylo exemplifies how thoughtful design can bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility, inviting a broader audience to participate in the joy of music-making.