Designed in Hackney: we're kicking off our new Designed in Hackney initiative today, showcasing world-class architecture and design created in the borough that's home to Dezeen's offices and one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games. First up is the London 2012 Olympic Torch by BarberOsgerby. More »

Dezeen today launches a new initiative to celebrate the incredible diversity of design talent in the east London borough of Hackney.

Designed in Hackney will showcase world-class architecture and design created in the borough, which is one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen's offices.

Each day from tomorrow until the games this summer, Dezeen will publish buildings, interiors and objects that have been designed in Hackney, creating a unique guide to the borough's rich and diverse design community.

The showcase can be accessed via www.designedinhackney.com.

If you're a Hackney designer or architect and you'd like your work featured, please drop us a line with "Designed in Hackney" in the subject line.

The Designed in Hackney logo has been developed by our Hackney neighbours Zerofee.

Dezeen Wire: New York Times critic Alice Rawsthorn previews the design highs and lows of the coming year, including Thomas Heatherwick's new double-decker bus for London (high) and the logo for the 2012 Olympic games (low) - New York Times

Following the controversy surrounding the release of the official London 2012 posters last week, graphic designer Sarah Hyndman has come up with a set of alternatives. More »

Dezeen Wire: art and design critics have questioned whether the posters unveiled on Friday to celebrate next year's London Olympics truly represent the best of British creativity. More »

Here are twelve posters that have been created by leading British artists to celebrate next year's London Olympic and Paralympic Games. More »

Dezeen Wire: The Guardian's architecture critic Jonathan Glancey explains that the much-criticised ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture, designed by Anish Kapoor and structural engineer Cecil Balmond for next year's Olympics in London, has been an easy target for jokes but that it demonstrates Britain's manufacturing capabilities and says it "may even effect buildings of the future just as the Eiffel Tower and the Crystal Palace did" - The Guardian

Dezeen Wire: Swedish furniture retailer Ikea is to build an eco-housing development next to London's Olympic park in Stratford. A spokesman for Ikea has claimed that the 1,200 home scheme featuring its own water power plant, school, health surgery and nursery will be "the newest and most interesting development in the whole area" - London Evening Standard

Dezeen Wire: plans by football club West Ham United to move into London's Olympic Stadium after next year's Games have collapsed amid concerns over ongoing legal disputes. The stadium will now remain in public ownership, with prospective tenants paying an annual rent to the Olympic Park Legacy Company - BBC News

See all of our stories about the London Olympics here.

Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Kieran Long has written a damning summary of the Olympic Park Legacy Company's plans to regenerate the Olympic site following the games in 2012. In an article in the London Evening Standard Long states: "It seems the OPLC has no idea what the Olympic Park could be, apart from a leisure landscape for visitors and a recreation space for families."

Subsequently on Twitter he commented "OPLC 'not happy with the tone of my piece' in today's Evening Standard," before inviting readers to make up their own minds.

Read all of our stories on the London Olympics here.

Here are some more photographs of Zaha Hadid's recently completed aquatics centre for the London 2012 Olympic Games, taken by UK photographers Hufton + Crow. More »

Dezeen Wire: the London 2012 Olympic medal design unveiled yesterday "fails to impress branding experts," reports Sam Jones for the Guardian.  More »

With all six permanent venues completed and the opening ceremony exactly one year away, here's a roundup of all our stories about the London 2012 Olympics. See all the stories »

The aquatics centre designed by Zaha Hadid for the London 2012 Olympic Games is complete. More »