An article , comprising: a device body having an outer surface; a cover substrate having inner and outer major surfaces spaced apart from one another, the inner major surface being disposed toward and covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the device body ; and an intermediate layer disposed between the outer surface of the device body and the cover substrate , characterised in that the intermediate layer operates to absorb a majority of kinetic energy produced from a dynamic sharp impact to the outer major surface of the cover substrate and to thereby mitigate damage to the cover substrate and the device body , and in that at least one of: the intermediate layer comprises hollow, crushable spheres in a polymeric binder, wherein a volume fraction of the hollow, crushable spheres is between 25 - 75% of a total volume of the hollow, crushable spheres and the polymeric binder; the intermediate layer comprises compressible, hollow spheres in a resin, wherein a volume fraction of the compressible, hollow spheres is between 25 - 90% of a total volume of the compressible, hollow spheres and the resin; and the intermediate layer comprises compressible solid spheres in a binder, wherein a volume fraction of the compressible solid spheres is between 25 - 75% of a total volume of the compressible solid spheres and the binder. a device body having an outer surface; a cover substrate having inner and outer major surfaces spaced apart from one another, the inner major surface being disposed toward and covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the device body ; and an intermediate layer disposed between the outer surface of the device body and the cover substrate , characterised in that the intermediate layer operates to absorb a majority of kinetic energy produced from a dynamic sharp impact to the outer major surface of the cover substrate and to thereby mitigate damage to the cover substrate and the device body , and in that at least one of: the intermediate layer comprises hollow, crushable spheres in a polymeric binder, wherein a volume fraction of the hollow, crushable spheres is between 25 - 75% of a total volume of the hollow, crushable spheres and the polymeric binder; the intermediate layer comprises compressible, hollow spheres in a resin, wherein a volume fraction of the compressible, hollow spheres is between 25 - 90% of a total volume of the compressible, hollow spheres and the resin; and the intermediate layer comprises compressible solid spheres in a binder, wherein a volume fraction of the compressible solid spheres is between 25 - 75% of a total volume of the compressible solid spheres and the binder. the intermediate layer comprises hollow, crushable spheres in a polymeric binder, wherein a volume fraction of the hollow, crushable spheres is between 25 - 75% of a total volume of the hollow, crushable spheres and the polymeric binder; the intermediate layer comprises compressible, hollow spheres in a resin, wherein a volume fraction of the compressible, hollow spheres is between 25 - 90% of a total volume of the compressible, hollow spheres and the resin; and the intermediate layer comprises compressible solid spheres in a binder, wherein a volume fraction of the compressible solid spheres is between 25 - 75% of a total volume of the compressible solid spheres and the binder. <EOS>