London startup Onomo has launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the release of its Haize compass, which uses flashing and colour-changing lights to direct cyclists to their destination (+ slideshow). More about Onomo's "magic compass" uses LEDs to guide cyclists
The Cooper Hewitt museum in New York has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for its Design in the Classroom programme, which it hopes to launch across the US. More about Cooper Hewitt museum launches crowdfunding campaign to bring design to school classrooms
Designer Daan Roosegaarde has installed the "largest smog vacuum cleaner in the world" in Rotterdam to help improve the city's air quality (+ movie). More about Daan Roosegaarde's Smog Free Tower opens in Rotterdam
Crowdfunding represents a "huge opportunity" for architects looking to get public projects off the ground, according to the team behind the latest infrastructure project to seek funding on Kickstarter. More about Crowdfunding platforms are "changing the game" for public architecture projects
Canadian company CycleLabs has launched a smart device for bicycles that is designed to help navigate and track routes, and prevent theft (+ movie). More about SmartHalo bicycle accessory combines navigation, activity tracking and alarm system
Once the preserve of independent product designers, crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter are evolving into powerful tools for financing and testing public appetite for architecture and infrastructure projects.
Recent examples include BIG's campaign to raise money for a prototype power plant chimney and a pedestrian bridge described as the "world’s first crowdfunded public infrastructure project". See more crowdfunded projects on Dezeen »
More about Today we like: crowdfunding
Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Manon van Hoeckel is crowdfunding her In Limbo Embassy – a travelling office that aims to facilitate open discussion around immigration in the Netherlands. More about Manon van Hoeckel creates "neutral" travelling embassy for undocumented migrants
This footwear from the Swiss Barefoot Company is designed to protect wearers' feet by wrapping them in Dyneema – a fabric stronger than steel and Kevlar (+ slideshow). More about Swiss Barefoot Company's glove-like socks are made from material stronger than Kevlar
Architectural designer James Furzer has developed a modular homeless shelter that would hang off the sides of existing buildings, and launched a campaign on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to finance a prototype. More about James Furzer to crowdfund parasitic sleeping pods for London's homeless
Bjarke Ingels has become the latest architect to use crowdfunding to finance a project, launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for development of a power plant chimney that will blow smoke rings (+ movie) More about BIG launches Kickstarter campaign for smoke-ring-blowing chimney at Copenhagen power plant
A Japanese inventor has developed the "world's smallest electric car" – an aluminium board with wheels that carries a passenger like a Segway and fits into a backpack (+ movie). More about Cocoa Motors' WalkCar transports passengers on a laptop-sized board
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund what he describes as the largest air-purifier in the world (+ movie). More about Daan Roosegaarde aims to rid cities of pollution with Smog Free Tower
Rhode Island furniture company Greycork has created a collection of quick-assembly, flat-pack pieces that are intended "to be a better alternative to Ikea" (+ slideshow). More about Greycork challenges Ikea with a flat-pack living room in a box
Rotterdam studio ZUS has completed what they describe as the "world’s first crowdfunded public infrastructure project" - a 400-metre-long pedestrian bridge in their home city (+ slideshow). More about Crowdfunded Luchtsingel pedestrian bridge opens in Rotterdam
British inventor Clive Sinclair has launched a crowdfunding campaign to produce an electric version of his lightweight foldable A-Bike, with wheels that are just 13 centimetres in diameter (+ slideshow). More about Clive Sinclair launches "world's lightest and most compact electric bike"
Brooklyn studio Snarkitecture has transformed the grand hall of the National Building Museum in Washington DC into a "beach" featuring a sea of translucent balls and a shoreline dotted with lounge chairs and umbrellas (+ slideshow). More about Snarkitecture fills Washington DC museum with nearly one million plastic balls
Creators of the proposed Lowline in New York, billed as the world's first underground park, have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund development of the project (+ slideshow). More about Lowline creators launch Kickstarter campaign for underground park in New York
UK menswear designer Tom Cridland has launched a unisex sweater that comes with a 30-year guarantee, to promote sustainable fashion. More about Tom Cridland proposes alternative to throwaway fashion with The 30 Year Sweatshirt
Milan 2015: Amsterdam design company Pikaplant has developed a collection of self-watering products aimed at making plant-keeping easier. More about Pikaplant creates self-watering systems for automatic plant maintenance
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