Milan 2013: Congolese music performed with mobile phones, carpentry workshops making fantasy coffins and a photo-documentary inspired by the failed Zambian space programme are all part of an exhibition of African design and culture in a Milanese department store next week (+ slideshow). More about Afrofuture at La Rinascente
Product news: Gothenburg studio Design Stories and recycling workshop Returhuset have created a range of drawstring lamps made of waste material from local factories. More about Drawstring Lamp by Design Stories and Returhuset
Milan 2013: French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec will present an aluminium sideboard for Italian furniture brand Magis plus an update to their Steelwood chair in Milan next week. More about Theca and Steelwood Galva by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Magis
Competition: we're offering readers the chance to win sets of Bookman bicycle lights in two new colours. More about Competition: five sets of Bookman bicycle lights to be won
Milan 2013: Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola will present a collection of armchairs with wavy backs and seats made from rigid felt for Italian brand Moroso in Milan next week. More about Mafalda by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso
Milan 2013: Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa will launch a wooden stool with a stainless steel footrest for Italian manufacturer Plank in Milan next week. More about Blocco stool by Naoto Fukasawa for Plank
Milan 2013: more from Dutch design studio Tjep. at Ventura Lambrate in Milan next week: this time a collection of wooden furniture including a chair with legs like ice skates (+ slideshow). More about Hendrick's Collection by Tjep
Milan 2013: Dutch design studio Tjep. will launch a dining booth inspired by old train compartments at Ventura Lambrate in Milan next week. More about Il Treno by Tjep
Dezeen and MINI World Tour: in latest video from Design Indaba in Cape Town, Masashi Kawamura of Japanese creative agency PARTY talks about the pop-up 3D photo booth he ran in Tokyo last year. More about "We wanted to bring the family portrait into the next century"
This half-scale model of a spiral staircase by American studio Matter Design is made from concrete treads that slip neatly over each other. More about Helix Staircase by Matter Design
Icelandic designers Katrin Olina and Garðar Eyjólfsson have teamed up to design a collection of circular aluminium tables, contrasting raw and uneven sand-cast surfaces with precise laser-cut legs. More about Aluminium tables by Katrin Olina and Garðar Eyjólfsson
Milan 2013: Swiss designers Big-Game will present new products including a coat hanger, a tray and a hammer in Milan next month. More about Everyday Objects by Big-Game
Dezeen and MINI World Tour: recent design graduate Leanie van der Vyver speaks to us about her project Scary Beautiful, a pair of extreme, back-to-front high heels, which she presented at Design Indaba in Cape Town. More about "I wanted to see where sexy ends and grotesque begins"
Opinion: Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs discusses how wearable technology will "transform our understanding of ourselves". More about "Wearable gadgets serve as a relentless reality check"
Materials scientist John Rogers and his firm MC10 have developed flexible electronic circuits that stick directly to the skin like temporary tattoos and monitor the wearer's health. More about Biostamp temporary tattoo electronic circuits by MC10
News: Gamers will be able to design their own cases for the forthcoming Yves Behar-designed OUYA console and print them out with a MakerBot 3D printer. More about MakerBot releases 3D-print files for OUYA game console case
Milan 2013: Spanish studio Lievore Altherr Molina has designed a family of triangular tables and stools for Italian brand Arper. More about Ply by Lievore Altherr Molina for Arper
Milan 2013: here's a slideshow of new furniture and pendant lamps that New Zealand furniture company Resident will present in Milan next month. More about New furniture and lighting collection by Resident
Dezeen and MINI World Tour: Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde spoke to us at Design Indaba in Cape Town about his designs for glow-in-the-dark roads and clothing that will literally expose dishonest bankers. More about "We're working on a suit that becomes transparent when you lie"
News: 3D printing expert Janne Kyttanen has produced prototype printed pasta, breakfast cereal and burgers to demonstrate how advances in 3D printing could transform the way we eat (+ interview + slideshow). More about "Food is the next frontier of 3D printing"