New York 2015: New York design isn't just about lighting. In the latest in our series of interviews with the city's designers, Marc Thorpe explains why multidisciplinary studios like his are the ones finding favour with European brands (+ slideshow). More about "America is not a style, America is an idea" says Marc Thorpe
New York 2015: in the latest in our series of interviews with leading New York designers, Bec Brittain explains why she studied philosophy and architecture before turning to lighting (+ slideshow + transcript). More about "I don't think I was a particularly good architect," says NY lighting designer Bec Brittain
Bjarke Ingels has spoken of his desire to replace Modernism's "boring box" legacy with new kinds of localised architecture at a lecture at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (+ transcript). More about BIG wants to create new styles of vernacular architecture, says Bjarke Ingels
Interview: Alex Garland's science-fiction movie Ex Machina features just one location: a tech billionaire's minimalist hideaway in Alaska. Production designer Mark Digby told Dezeen how architecture was used to create the thriller's clinical mood and provide a "seducing" backdrop (+ slideshow + transcript). More about "Hard shiny surfaces are for the bad guys" says Ex Machina production designer
New York 2015: in the first of a series of interviews with prominent New York designers, Lindsey Adelman tells Dezeen about how she became a pioneer of the city's burgeoning lighting scene (+ slideshow + transcript). More about "There's a huge burst of creativity" in New York says Lindsey Adelman
Interview: hybrid and electric technologies are changing the way cars are designed after decades of stagnation, according to BMW's Benoit Jacob, speaking exclusively to Dezeen about the i8 sports car (+ slideshow). More about Hybrids have "changed the constraints" of car design says head of BMW i
Milan Expo 2015: to mark the opening of the British pavilion for the Milan Expo, Dezeen interviewed sculptor Wolfgang Buttress about trying to create a "quiet" structure in the middle of one of the world's biggest displays of "bombastic" temporary architecture (+ slideshow). More about "Sometimes you can say more by being quiet" says designer of UK's Milan Expo pavilion
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in this movie filmed in Milan, Spanish designer Jaime Hayón explains why he used traditional craft materials in his installation showcasing MINI's new electric scooter concept. More about Jaime Hayón uses marble and ceramics to create "fantastical urban landscape" for MINI
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in this movie Marco Poletto of EcoLogicStudio claims the integrated algae farm and cladding system his practice will showcase at the 2015 Milan Expo could be used to power cities in future. More about EcoLogicStudio transforms cladding system into a bioreactor with Urban Algae Canopy
Milan 2015: prolific design studio Nendo has launched over 100 products during the past year. Founder Oki Sato told Dezeen that he has "no idea" how they managed such a high output and revealed his plans to move into architecture (+ interview). More about Designing 400 projects at a time "relaxes me" says Nendo's Oki Sato
Interview: every architect will soon design using 3D goggles, according to designer and visualiser Olivier Demangel, who believes that virtual architecture will be as convincing as the real thing within five years (+ movies). More about Virtual reality will be "more powerful than cocaine"
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in this exclusive video interview, Jörg Preißinger of BMW Group Research and Technology explains how the prototype augmented-reality glasses his team have developed can make the solid parts of a car appear transparent. More about MINI's augmented-reality glasses allow drivers to see through the body of their car
Interview: a Kickstarter campaign has launched to fund a floating swimming pool for London's River Thames. According to Studio Octopi architect and project co-founder Chris Romer-Lee, the city is experiencing an outdoor swimming revolution. More about "People have had it with the smells and verrucas from indoor pools" says Thames Baths founder
Lyndon Neri and Alberto Alessi have paid tribute to Michael Graves, following a memorial service for the influential American architect who died last month (+ interview). More about Lyndon Neri and Alberto Alessi pay tribute to Michael Graves
Milan 2015: Jasper Morrison has defended Milan's Salone Del Mobile, saying it is "by far the most important event for the furniture industry" and that his earlier criticisms of the fair were a "mistake" (+ interview). More about Milan's Salone del Mobile is still "the centre of the furniture design world" says Jasper Morrison
Interview: architectural education is too expensive and too lengthy while the profession is underpaid and under-appreciated, according to the head of a new school due to open in London later this year. Dezeen spoke to London School of Architecture's Will Hunter about his plans to overhaul the way architecture is taught. More about New architecture school aims to change "undervalued and marginalised" profession
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in this exclusive video interview, MINI's head of design Anders Warming explains why the car brand has developed a foldable electric scooter concept. More about MINI's Citysurfer scooter concept anticipates a car-less future for urban areas
Interview: Megan Stone designs interiors for the USA's booming marijuana industry. She told Dezeen why "2015 is the year for cannabis in our country". More about "My mission is to elevate cannabis through design" says Megan Stone
Interview: Nick Hufton and Allan Crow are the photographers of choice for designers including Zaha Hadid and Thomas Heatherwick. With their first exhibition now open in London, the pair spoke to Dezeen about the advantages of digital photography, and why retouching is just as important as shooting (+ slideshow). More about Architectural photography was "staged and contrived" before digital, say Hufton and Crow
Extra Moooi: today we're launching a new year-long collaboration with Dutch design company Moooi. In the first movie of our Extra Moooi series, Moooi co-founder Casper Vissers explains how the fashion industry shaped the brand's core philosophy. More about Moooi's use of "shocking" naked photography was inspired by the fashion industry