Ledger’s new hardware wallet now comes with enviable Susan Kare icons

Susan Kare, renowned for her iconic Apple Macintosh designs, has collaborated with Ledger to enhance their new hardware wallet, the Nano Gen 5. Kare was inspired by the idea of individuals controlling their assets independently of any governmental or political influence. The Ledger Nano Gen 5 is a credit card-sized device designed to keep digital assets offline and secure. It features an e-ink display with pixel art icons, reminiscent of early Mac interfaces. Kare designed nine pixel-art icons engraved on interchangeable aluminum tags that personalize the device. She joined the project through Tony Fadell, an iPod creator and Ledger board member, with whom she previously worked at General Magic. Fadell presented it as a creative design challenge, appealing to Kare's artistic sensibilities. This collaboration coincides with Ledger's significant overhaul of its flagship product, now a popular device among millions globally for securing crypto assets. The Nano Gen 5 is larger, features a prominent touchscreen for enhanced security features like "clear signing," and is now even called a "signer" to reflect its expanded functionality. With Bluetooth and NFC, it supports on-the-go secure asset management and identity verification, integrating with the revamped Ledger Wallet app and decentralized applications. While Ledger emphasizes the device's security, Kare's input aims to inject personality and a sense of personal expression through collectible, customizable badges. Kare described her process of creating pixel art within a specific grid resolution, aiming for bold and clear designs. She developed numerous concepts, ultimately collaborating with Ledger to select nine unique icons that evoke personal interpretations and emotional connections.