Design Miami: now is "not the best time for design" in the United States, according to designer, artist and architect Vito Acconci, who this week became the first American to receive Design Miami's Designer of the Year award (+ interview). More about "I couldn't name many interesting US designers" – Vito Acconci
Icelandic designer Katrin Olina describes how she translates characters from her imagination into drawings, animations, products and interiors in this movie we filmed at Dezeen Live at 100% Design. More about "I use my imagination to create story spaces" - Katrin Olina at Dezeen Live
Design Miami: London designer Asif Khan used Swarovski crystals to recreate an ice halo - an atmospheric effect most often seen in freezing northern climates - in this installation in the sub-tropical heat of Miami (+ slideshow). More about Parhelia by Asif Khan
A contemporary interpretation of a traditional gabled farmhouse in Hungary is the letter H in our A-Zdvent calendar of houses named with letters. Read more about H House »
More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: H House by Budapesti Műhely
The death of celebrated Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer this week has prompted a string of tributes from readers, while British architect Norman Foster declared him a hero and we looked back at some of his projects from around Brazil, including his career-defining Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (above). As usual, we've also chosen our track of the week from Dezeen Music Project. More about This week on Dezeen
These seven woodland cabins are nestled amongst the trees of a park and spa in northern Portugal (+ slideshow). More about Eco-Resort Pedras Salgadas by Luís Rebelo de Andrade and Diogo Aguiar
Competition: Dezeen and Strelka Press have teamed up to give readers the opportunity to win new ebooks featuring critical writing on architecture and design by authors including Sam Jacob, Justin McGuirk and Alexandra Lange. More about Competition: Strelka Press ebooks to give away
Design Miami: inspired by Gaudí's ingenious method to create the perfect curve, Anglo-Dutch design duo Glithero have hung loops of beaded chain over a shallow pool of water in an installation for champagne house Perrier-Jouët (+ slideshow). More about Lost Time by Glithero for Perrier-Jouët
News: the director of the UK’s Olympic cultural programme has called on designers to help fight government proposals to remove creative subjects from the curriculum. More about Olympic culture director "worried" about curriculum changes
A refurbished nineteenth century Italian house with tiles arranged in honeycomb patterns across the floor is the latest instalment from our A-Zdvent calendar. Read more about Casa G+S »
More about Dezeen's A-Zdvent calendar: Casa G+S by Grooppo
Slideshow feature: following the news that Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer has died aged 104, here's a look back at some of his best-known projects from around São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, documented by Brazilian photographer Pedro Kok. More about Key projects by Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil photographed by Pedro Kok
News: a concept for rooftop housing built from foam blocks and steel cables (above) is one of the winners of the RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards, announced last night. More about RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards 2012 winners announced
Competition: Dezeen is giving readers the chance to win one of three copies of the first limited-edition It's Nice That Annual. More about Competition: three copies of the It's Nice That Annual 2012 to give away
The top story in the latest issue of Dezeen Mail is the news that Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, designer of the Cathedral of Brasília (above), has passed away aged 104. The newsletter also features all the latest news, jobs, competitions and reader comments from Dezeen.
Above: photograph courtesy of Shutterstock
Read Dezeen Mail issue 130 | Subscribe to Dezeen Mail
More about Dezeen Mail #130
Architect and writer Sam Jacob takes the audience at Dezeen Live on a rapid-fire journey from a prehistoric standing stone to the Argos catalogue and USB cigarettes in this interview filmed at 100% Design during the London Design Festival. More about "Could we be human without objects?" - Sam Jacob at Dezeen Live
Design Miami: a hanging cabinet covered in leather tassels and a hammock inspired by pasta ribbons are among the objects created by designers including Fernando and Humberto Campana and Atelier Oï for French fashion house Louis Vuitton (+ slideshow). More about Objets Nomades for Louis Vuitton
News: architect Norman Foster has paid tribute to Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, who passed away yesterday aged 104. More about Norman Foster pays tribute to "hero" Oscar Niemeyer
News: Apple's senior vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive has given his support to the growing campaign against the UK government's plans to remove design and other creative subjects from the school curriculum. More about Jonathan Ive joins campaign to save UK's creative education
News: Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer has died in Rio de Janeiro aged 104. More about Oscar Niemeyer 1907-2012
Dezeen promotion: designer David Oxley has launched a slender, adjustable LED task lamp on crowd-funding website Kickstarter. More about Harvey LED task lamp launched on Kickstarter