Dezeen Magazine

Occupy movement establishes new protocols of protest design – The New York Times

Dezeen Wire: in her latest article for The New York Times, design critic Alice Rawsthorn examines the symbols and slogans adopted by the Occupy protest movement in cities around the world.

Rawsthorn explains that the name 'Occupy', which originated at the Occupy Wall Street protest against the banking and democratic system, "is a stellar example of both what is known in marketing as an umbrella brand name and what the anti-corporatists in the movement could call beating them at their own game." She adds that the use of hashtags and slogans short enough to send on social networks such as Twitter have helped the movement spread globally and could represent a new protocol for protesters involving "the repeated use of a few carefully chosen words," rather than images.

Competition: six Hello Fresco T-shirts to be won

Competition: we've teamed up with Australian T-shirt company Hello Fresco to give away six of their latest designs. More about Competition: six Hello Fresco T-shirts to be won

Shoes by Kobi Levi

Dezeen in Israel: these high-heeled shoes that look like inflatable sex dolls are part of a collection of footwear by Tel Aviv designer Kobi Levi. More about Shoes by Kobi Levi

Cherry Tree by Tom Price

British designer Tom Price has made an enchanted grove of cherry trees out of plastic tubes and cable ties.  More about Cherry Tree by Tom Price

New York's September 11 museum delayed

Dezeen Wire: the opening of the September 11 museum in New York, which is scheduled for September 2012, is under threat due to an ongoing dispute over unexpected costs – The Washington Post

The museum is part of a memorial to the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre being developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who say that they are owed $156 million by mayor Michael Bloomberg's National September 11 Memorial & Museum foundation. The row had been kept quiet over fears it could overshadow the 10th anniversary of the attacks but has now led to the suspension of construction contracts which could delay the completion of the museum.

See our previous story on the opening of the National September 11 Memorial, an animation of the memorial fountains and architecture critic Rowan Moore's examination of the infighting that has plagued the redevelopment of the World Trade Centre site.

Interview: Jerszy Seymour at Qubique 2011

In this movie filmed by Dezeen at the Qubique 2011 design fair in Berlin last month, designer Jerszy Seymour talks about his series of chairs where components are joined with blobs of wax. More about Interview: Jerszy Seymour at Qubique 2011

Chai Pi Ke Puht cups by Sian Pascale

Imagine if every discarded disposable cup grew into a beautiful plant.  More about Chai Pi Ke Puht cups by Sian Pascale

RIBA and Design Council back government strategy for quality homes

Dezeen Wire: the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Design Council have expressed support for a new housing strategy announced by the UK government that aims to deliver high quality homes rather than a higher volume of poor standard properties. More about RIBA and Design Council back government strategy for quality homes

Cirkel by Daphna Laurens

Dutch studio Daphna Laurens's latest collection of furniture includes this floor lamp that leans against the wall as if it is peeking through to the other side. More about Cirkel by Daphna Laurens

TV presenter's housing scheme is "a much better application of celebrity philanthropy than most"

Dezeen Wire: architecture critic Rowan Moore says that a housing development built by the UK architecture show presenter Kevin McCloud's company Hab is a positive attempt at reversing the trend for "unimaginative, overpriced, undersized" properties in the UK – The Guardian

Moore describes the scheme in Swindon, England, as "imaginative and well-designed," whilst cautioning that it will take time to determine whether McCloud's goals of creating a community and "making people happy" have been achieved. He adds that the houses themselves are "very plain-looking" and far removed from the aspirational properties that feature on McCloud's show, Grand Designs.