Unlike typical NAS units designed to be tucked away under desks or hidden in closets, Gridstack is crafted to be modular, upgradeable, and visually striking, made to complement a creative workspace. Its refined metal chassis and clean, minimalist lines elevate it beyond ordinary tech hardware, making it feel like a statement piece as much as a powerful, functional tool.

One of the key design feature is the scalable storage — it grows with you. Start with the base module and easily expand by adding more storage as your needs evolve. Expanding your system is designed to be as intuitive and effortless as upgrading your iCloud storage.

We designed two storage modules for Gridstack: an HDD module and an SSD module, giving users the flexibility to choose based on their budget and performance needs. To make the experience even more seamless, we designed a no-tool setup, ensuring that even first-time users can install and expand their system with confidence.

We use the square as a core design language throughout Gridstack, repeating it across elements like venting holes, feet, NVMe doors, and more. This consistent visual motif creates a strong, cohesive identity. By integrating an LED matrix display, we added both a functional and branding element that enhances the user experience with dynamic feedback and a distinctive aesthetic.

Most NAS systems on the market are generic black boxes, burdened with confusing setups and interfaces that demand IT expertise. In contrast, we proposed a series of mood boards focused on delivering a clean, honest, and professional look through thoughtful design — creating a product that feels approachable, intuitive, and sophisticated.

Fixed-size NAS units are common across the industry, but they limit your ability to scale as your storage needs grow. At the same time, making a system too modular can drive up costs and add unnecessary complexity to the installation process. With Gridstack, we chose to strike a balance — combining the flexibility of modularity with the simplicity and efficiency of a fixed design, offering the best of both worlds.

We explored a wide range of directions for the modularity approach. Using HDDs, SSDs, battery packs, and other internal components as building blocks, we developed various layout concepts and construction methods.

Printing physical mock-ups and evaluating the designs in the real world was crucial for our decision-making process. It allowed us to test our assumptions, uncover new insights, and further refine the user experience.