Berlin designer Yoske Nishiumi has created new canopy patterns for the asymmetric Senz umbrella, which keeps its shape in gale-force winds. More about Senz windproof umbrellas receive graphics by Yoske Nishiumi
Norwegian artist Per Kristian Nygård attempted to bring the outside inside with this installation that involved building grassy mounds inside an Oslo gallery (+ slideshow). More about Per Kristian Nygård crams a grassy valley into an Oslo gallery
The research wing of Chinese web services company Baidu is developing a smart bicycle called Dubike that can generate its own electricity, in collaboration with the Industrial Design department at Tsinghua University (+ slideshow). More about "Chinese Google" Baidu designs a smart bike fitted with data-generating sensors
John Pawson has applied his pared-back architectural style to a range of furniture with trestle-style supports. More about John Pawson's minimal oak furniture sits on chunky angled legs
Interview: ahead of his talk at London's V&A museum on Friday, typographer Vincent Connare has defended the reviled Comic Sans font he created, saying its detractors "don't know anything about design". More about "People who don't like Comic Sans don't know anything about design"
Opinion: mobile products have a short lifespan, but Apple has invested heavily in turning them into desirable design objects. For some "luxury" customers that just isn't enough, finds Alex Wiltshire. More about "Even obsolescence is worthy of incredible expense"
This kit launched by Belgian designer Laurence Humier includes sets of containers filled with materials that children can mix together to learn simple chemical reactions. More about Laurence Humier's Alchemist Matter Kit teaches children basic chemistry
Stockholm design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune has created a set of three huge cone-shaped lamps for Swedish lighting brand Wästberg. More about Claesson Koivisto Rune designs giant conical pendant lamps for Wästberg
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is hosting an exhibition of products by Swiss brand Vitra to celebrate the company's American ties (+ slideshow). More about Vitra retrospective goes on show in Philadelphia
Global design consultancy IDEO has developed a series of concept vehicles that imagine how autonomous vehicles could transform the way we work, shop and travel (+ movie). More about IDEO envisions a future where self-driving workplaces commute to you
A group of Canadian designers has created a wearable device that monitors environmental data including air quality and UV radiation, and presents the metrics via an app. More about TZOA wearable environment tracker measures UV and air pollution
News: designers including Marti Guixè and Stefano Giovannoni will be among the teaching staff of a food design course being co-developed by one of Italy's leading design schools – an increasingly popular subject area for design education (+ interview). More about Milan universities team up to launch "unique" food design degree
Neri Oxman's team at MIT Media Lab has created four 3D-printed "wearable skins" designed to facilitate synthetic biological processes that might one day allow humans to survive on other planets. More about Neri Oxman creates wearable 3D-printed structures for interplanetary voyages
Dutch design collective Studio Diip has added wheels and sensors to a fish tank so that its inhabitant can drive it by swimming in a certain direction (+ movie). More about Studio Diip's goldfish-driven vehicle is designed for "enhanced pet mobility"
This jacket by Seoul design studio Shinseungback Kimyonghun is covered with camera lenses that can record assailants and broadcast the images on the internet (+ movie). More about Aposematic Jacket is covered in cameras to ward off attackers
Ingredients are displayed like fabric samples to help western readers recreate traditional Japanese sweets with common foods, in this cookbook by designer Moé Takemura. More about Minimal cookbook presents Japanese sweet ingredients as colour swatches
Taiwan studio Alice Wang Design has imagined a series of objects for a future where technology and longer life spans change the way marriage works, including a ring for couples that counts down the days until their vows expire (+ movie). More about Alice Wang Design proposes products for the future of marriage
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in this movie filmed in Eindhoven, Dutch Design Week director Martijn Paulen explains why he invited technology universities to be a key part of this year's event. More about The interface between technology and design holds "answers to the future"
News: Fab.com is reportedly in acquisition talks with electronics development company PCH International, which could see the online design retailer sold for a fraction of its earlier valuation. More about Fab.com in reported million acquisition talks
British designer Bethan Gray and Islamic art and craft revivalist Mitchell Abdul Karim Crites have launched the first furniture and tableware collections from their new company The Ruby Tree. More about Bethan Gray and Mitchell Abdul Karim Crites design products influenced by Islamic patterns