UTT Empower grows shacks into safe and vibrant terrace housing in South Africa
Non-profit company Urban-Think Tank Empower has completed a development in the South African township of Khayelitsha, creating a triangle of terraced housing that it says provides a model for how to build in the country's informal settlements. More about UTT Empower grows shacks into safe and vibrant terrace housing in South Africa
Nifemi Marcus-Bello explores exploitation of Africa's natural resources with copper furniture
Designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello embraced the difficulties of working with copper in Nigeria, where the material is mined but rarely sold, to make his latest metal furniture collection for Los Angeles gallery Marta. More about Nifemi Marcus-Bello explores exploitation of Africa's natural resources with copper furniture
Finger-waggling exoskeleton helps pianists play faster
Japanese researchers have used a nimble robotic hand exoskeleton to train expert pianists to improve their performance, using a technique they believe could be applied to e-sports, surgery or even handicrafts. More about Finger-waggling exoskeleton helps pianists play faster
Patterns of Life installation recreates homes destroyed by domicide
Data journalist and illustrator Mona Chalabi has worked with architecture studio Situ to examine the proposed international crime of domicide in Patterns of Life, an installation at the Smithsonian Design Triennial at New York's Cooper Hewitt museum. More about Patterns of Life installation recreates homes destroyed by domicide
Rethink Softly seating creates comfort without foam
Sustainability-driven designers including Richard Hutten and Lilian van Daal have contributed to Rethink Softly – a project by Rianne Koens dedicated to creating seating that doesn't rely on polyurethane foam. More about Rethink Softly seating creates comfort without foam
DSKY Moonwatch brings mini Apollo space computer to people's wrists
The computer interface of NASA's 1960s Apollo spacecraft is meticulously replicated in miniature in the DSKY Moonwatch, a multifunctional timepiece created by British start-up Apollo Instruments. More about DSKY Moonwatch brings mini Apollo space computer to people's wrists
Inxects vest lets architects "feel" the health of a site like a sixth sense
Design studio Inxects has developed a wearable that translates environmental stress signals into physical sensations to let users feel humanity's impact on nature. More about Inxects vest lets architects "feel" the health of a site like a sixth sense
All the cute robots that took over CES 2025
From tiny cats that cool down tea to a blinking AI companion intended to integrate with your family, here are seven cute robots that have dominated news feeds since last week's Consumer Electronics Show – and what they tell us about "cuteness" in design. More about All the cute robots that took over CES 2025
Aptera reveals "production-ready" solar-powered car at CES
Californian start-up Aptera has debuted what it claims to be the first production-ready solar electric vehicle that doesn't need to be plugged in for day-to-day driving, developed with help from Pininfarina. More about Aptera reveals "production-ready" solar-powered car at CES
Hormometer provides instant at-home hormone level readings
Hormone levels can be easily tested and monitored at home using the Hormometer, an instant testing kit created by Canadian start-up Eli Health and launched this week at tech fair CES. More about Hormometer provides instant at-home hormone level readings
Add Wood exhibition showcases 3D-printed-wood furniture
A sofa, a coffin and a stackable multipurpose cube are among the items that were displayed in Add Wood, an exhibition exploring the potential of recyclable and biodegradable 3D-printed timber. More about Add Wood exhibition showcases 3D-printed-wood furniture
Bread takes place of gemstones in Rising jewellery collection
Bread becomes a "precious and beautiful element" in this jewellery range created by designer Cindy Xinyi Wu as an ode to the act of baking and the energetic nature of dough. More about Bread takes place of gemstones in Rising jewellery collection
Squid-bone sponge found to soak up 99.8 per cent of microplastics
A sponge made from a fusion of cotton fibre and squid bone could help to clear some of the world's microplastic pollution after a team of Chinese researchers found it can soak up as much as 99.8 per cent of the particles from water samples. More about Squid-bone sponge found to soak up 99.8 per cent of microplastics
IKEA revives popular 1970s shelf by Niels Gammelgaard in Nytillverkad vintage collection
IKEA has announced it will re-release some of its most celebrated vintage designs from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, including a steel-framed shelf that is one of the Swedish furniture brand's most popular products on the resale market. More about IKEA revives popular 1970s shelf by Niels Gammelgaard in Nytillverkad vintage collection
The top 10 material innovations of 2024
The realities of climate change have driven another big year in material innovation in 2024. Here are 10 of the best solutions that have put a promising spin on cement, plastic, fur, linoleum, or even introduced something new. More about The top 10 material innovations of 2024
Aalto University immortalises early mobile tech with Nokia Design Archive
Designs from the early years of mobile phone technology will be brought to the fore in the Nokia Design Archive, an online portal being launched by Finland's Aalto University. More about Aalto University immortalises early mobile tech with Nokia Design Archive
Wunders offers furniture factory waste to makers in Cape Town MakeSpace
South African furniture brand Wunders has worked with designer Heath Nash to open its waste stores permanently to local Cape Town makers following a workshop and exhibition that showed the potential of reclaimed materials. More about Wunders offers furniture factory waste to makers in Cape Town MakeSpace
Jaguar unveils concept car as "pure expression of new creative philosophy"
British automaker Jaguar has revealed images of its electric concept car, the Type 00, two weeks on from the launch of a rebrand that made waves online. More about Jaguar unveils concept car as "pure expression of new creative philosophy"
Kvadrat launches first recycled polyester textile actually made from polyester
Textile brand Kvadrat has worked with designer Teruhiro Yanagihara to launch its first recycled polyester textile made of waste fabric instead of the usual plastic bottles. More about Kvadrat launches first recycled polyester textile actually made from polyester
Apartheid-era demolition rubble becomes part of rebuilding in Cape Town's District Six
Local firm The MAAK has worked with artists Zayaan Khan and Kent Andreasen to develop a historically sensitive approach to building in District Six – a contentious Cape Town neighbourhood that was razed during apartheid. More about Apartheid-era demolition rubble becomes part of rebuilding in Cape Town's District Six