Designers are increasingly responding to global issues such as the refugee crisis and environmental degradation, and showing less interest in frivolous topics, according to the curator of the Design Museum's annual awards programme. More about "Seriousness" dominates Designs of the Year as nominees respond to global events
Bulgarian artist Christo has abandoned plans for one of his signature giant fabric artworks over the USA's Arkansas River because Donald Trump is now in charge of the country. More about Christo cancels monumental Colorado installation in Trump protest
The UK postal service is commemorating David Bowie with a set of postage stamps featuring images of six of his most iconic album covers. More about David Bowie's best album cover designs to appear on Royal Mail stamps
Future Makers: in this movie filmed in Vancouver, Kody Baker explains how his start-up VeloMetro is hoping to convince people to switch to a cleaner, healthier form of transport with a car-like vehicle that you pedal like a bike. More about VeloMetro's pedal-powered Veemo vehicle aims to get people out of their cars
French designers Philippe Starck and Jerome Olivet have proposed a radical concept for the future of smartphones based around holograms and voice control. More about Philippe Starck and Jerome Olivet present gelatinous vision for future smartphone
Taiwan-based designer Shawn Yang has designed a wooden lampshade that can serve as both a desk lamp and a pendant light. More about Shawn Yang's Duplex light can be flipped from a desk lamp to a pendant
Italian designer Alberto Bellamoli has added to the growing trend for terrazzo, unveiling homeware patterned with coloured marble spots. More about Alberto Bellamoli creates dappled terrazzo tables, bowls and candleholders
Strips of curving perforated aluminium are joined together to create this huge branching installation by architect Marc Fornes and his studio The Very Many. More about Marc Fornes creates coral-like installation for Orlando convention centre
The UK government has made the creative sector a priority in its new industrial strategy, signalling what industry representatives are calling a potentially "new, bold and imaginative understanding of business". More about UK government makes creative industries a pillar of post-Brexit growth plan
The prominent editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, has announced she is departing the magazine after a quarter of a century at the helm. More about Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman steps down after 25 years
This installation at London's Design Museum strips household appliances back to their basics to make operation easier for an ageing population. More about Concept apartment by Future Facility gives older residents "revolutionary domestic independence"
German designer Meike Harde has created a pair of patterned mirrors for Pulpo with protruding frames that can be used to hang coats or jewellery. More about Meike Harde's mirrors sit askew in frames that double as hangers
German footwear brand Birkenstock has moved into the bedroom, adapting the principles behind its famous sandals to a collection of beds launched at this year's IMM Cologne furniture fair. More about Birkenstock launches line of beds as next step in comfort design
For her latest couture collection, Dutch designer Iris van Herpen created hypnotic garments that distorted the models' bodies. More about Iris van Herpen uses visual trickery for latest couture collection
The beads on this oversized abacus designed by Ontario-based Jeff Goodman Studio are made from colourful pieces of blown glass. More about Jeff Goodman Studio blows coloured glass beads for Devil's Abacus screen
Twenty-five plastic bottles are used in each of these IKEA kitchen units, designed by Swedish studio Form Us With Love to make "sustainability available for everyone". More about IKEA launches kitchen made from recycled plastic bottles
German designer Sebastian Herkner's latest creations for Pulpo are chubby coffee tables and shallow bowls, which launched this weekend at Maison&Objet. More about Sebastian Herkner produces "playful and brutalist" collection for Pulpo
Chairs that sculptor and painter Roman Modzelewski designed in the 1950s are available to purchase for the first time as part of a new collection launched by Polish brand Vzor at IMM Cologne. More about Vzor launches collection of "timeless" chairs by mid-century Polish sculptor
Spanish designer Jaime Hayón has assembled sections of quartz material Caesarstone into stoney faces that form tabletops, cabinet fronts and wall hangings. More about Jaime Hayón uses "21st-century marquetry" to create whimsical Stone Age Folk
Dezeen promotion: BD Barcelona Design has enlisted Spanish designers Curro Claret and Ramón Ubeda for a new product range made from the brand's own discards. More about BD Barcelona's REmix project highlights the potential of reusing outdated stock