Business news: "bemused" by Black Friday retail frenzies, UK furniture brand Vitsœ is closing its stores on 27 November to protest against the culture of discounting products. More about Vitsœ to avoid Black Friday "insanity" by closing stores
Business news: London is set to lose 3,500 creative workspaces by 2020 according to mayor Boris Johnson, who is asking planners and developers to prioritise culture as well as housing. More about London to lose a third of creative workspace unless developers step in, warns Boris Johnson
Business news: the UK's Design Council has published research that reveals how many billions of pounds the country's design industry generates each year. More about Design contributes £71.7 billion to UK economy says Design Council report
Business news: Bradford Shellhammer's online design retailer Bezar has announced the addition of a digital marketplace to its current offerings of pop-up and flash sales (+ slideshow). More about Bezar launches e-commerce site Storefronts to offer a "broad view of design"
Business news: South African designer Christopher Jenner has left his position as creative director of cross-channel rail company Eurostar less than two years after taking over the role from Philippe Starck. More about Eurostar and creative director Christopher Jenner part company
Business news: Joe Gebbia, who co-founded home rental website Airbnb, has become a part-time design partner at American tech startup incubator Y Combinator. More about Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia appointed design partner at Y Combinator
Business news: London designer Benjamin Hubert has relaunched his studio under a new name as part of a shift towards more "human-focused" projects, and is using "crowdspeaking" to drum up interest (+ interview). More about Benjamin Hubert rebrands studio as Layer and launches "crowdspeaking" campaign
Business news: overseas architects are finding it more difficult to win work in China, according to Zaha Hadid Architects director Patrik Schumacher, as the economy slows down and the government tries to promote local talent. More about Zaha Hadid Architects embraces America as China turns against "weird architecture"
Business news: the former bookkeeper for architecture charity Article 25 has been charged with fraud and false accounting, after £200,000 disappeared from the organisation's accounts. More about Article 25 bookkeeper charged with fraud following disappearance of £200,000
Design brand Hem is to launch its online furniture customisation service in the USA, amid signs that mass customisation is becoming big business. More about Mass customisation takes off as Hem launches online service in USA
Business news: Investindustrial, the Italian investment firm that last year bought a controlling stake in lighting brand Flos, has acquired a majority share of furniture company B&B Italia. More about Investindustrial adds B&B Italia to its growing portfolio of design brands
Business news: Moooi CEO Casper Vissers is to step down from the company, 14 years after co-founding the Dutch furniture and lighting brand with designer Marcel Wanders. More about Moooi co-founder and CEO Casper Vissers steps down after 14 years
Business news: Apple has promoted Jonathan Ive to the newly created role of chief design officer as part of a reshuffle in the company's design department. More about Apple promotes Jonathan Ive to new chief design officer role
The American market for high-end design is "growing incredibly" according to European brands, who are opening showrooms and restructuring their US businesses to take advantage of booming sales. More about European design brands target America amid booming demand for luxury design
Business news: MakerBot, once the darling of the 3D-printing scene, has laid off 20 per cent of its staff and closed its three retail stores after failing to meet its financial growth targets. More about 3D-printing pioneer MakerBot lays off staff and closes stores
Business news: luxury Italian kitchen and bathroom brand Boffi has acquired furniture company De Padova, adding free-standing pieces to its range of products in a move to appeal to the US market. More about Boffi eyes US market growth with De Padova acquisition
American furniture brand Emeco is to sue IKEA for damages for allegedly copying a chair designed by Norman Foster. More about IKEA faces legal action over alleged copyright infringement
Margo Konings, co-founder of Dutch design agency Organisation in Design and co-organiser of Milan's Ventura Lambrate design district, has left the company. More about Ventura Lambrate co-founder Margo Konings resigns
Design has become a "game changer" in Silicon Valley, according to a report by former Rhode Island School of Design president John Maeda, who says that designers are becoming essential to the success of tech companies. More about Designers are adding billions of dollars to the tech industry, says John Maeda
Business news: Chinese technology company Huawei has named French designer Mathieu Lehanneur as the head of its new design research centre in Paris. More about Mathieu Lehanneur appointed chief designer at Huawei