Designers are increasingly responding to global issues such as the refugee crisis and environmental degradation, and showing less interest in frivolous topics, according to the curator of the Design Museum's annual awards programme. More about "Seriousness" dominates Designs of the Year as nominees respond to global events
Herzog & de Meuron's Tate Modern Switch House, Ikea's flatpack refugee shelter, and the artwork for David Bowie's final album are among projects nominated for the Design Museum's Designs of the Year awards 2016 (+ slideshow). More about Designs of the Year 2016 nominees announced
This mosque near Istanbul by Emre Arolat Architects, which features cast concrete walls and a "cave-like" prayer hall, has been shortlisted for this year's Design of the Year award (+ slideshow). More about Terraced landscaping surrounds concrete and stone structure of Emre Arolat's Sancaklar Mosque
Prada's "radical" Spring Summer 2014 collection referencing themes of femininity and power has scooped the top prize in the fashion category at Designs of the Year 2014. More about Miuccia Prada's "feminist" fashion collection defies seasonal conventions
German auto brand Volkswagen's XL1, which it claims is the most fuel-efficient production car ever made, has been named the winner of the Transport category at Designs of the Year 2014. More about Volkswagen claims XL1 is "the most efficient production car in the world"
A keyboard by East London technology start-up ROLI, with soft keys that allow musicians to alter the pitch, volume and timbre of individual notes, has come out on top in the Designs of the Year 2014 product category (+ slideshow). More about Squishy silicone keys control pitch and volume on ROLI's musical Seaboard
The Portable Eye Examination Kit (Peek) aims to improve opthalmic health in low-income countries by adapting smartphones with clip-on hardware and an app, and is among this year's category winners for Designs of the Year 2014. More about Peek smartphone adapter and app scans eyes to help combat blindness
This system of illustrated characters and animations was developed to help people learn to read Chinese, and is one of the 76 projects nominated for Designs of the Year 2014 (+ slideshow). More about Chineasy illustrated characters designed to make learning Chinese easy
A tactile watch designed for blind people by a group of students has gone into production after strong demand from sighted consumers (+ interview). More about The Bradley timepiece for blind people proves inclusive design has wide appeal
Dezeen promotion: Dezeen readers can receive a 25 percent discount on tickets to the Designs of the Year 2014 exhibition, opening today at London's Design Museum (+ slideshow). More about Dezeen readers get 25% off Designs of the Year 2014 exhibition tickets
British designer Benjamin Hubert has developed a more stable version of his lightweight Ripple table, which features on the shortlist for Designs of the Year 2014 (+ slideshow). More about Benjamin Hubert's lightweight Ripple table is now strong enough to stand on
Here's a look at one of the standout projects from Designs of the Year 2014 - a floating school on a Nigerian lagoon by architecture studio NLÉ (+ slideshow). More about NLE's floating school casts anchor in Lagos Lagoon
Competition: Dezeen has teamed up with London's Design Museum to give readers the chance to win five pairs of tickets for the upcoming Designs of the Year 2014 exhibition. More about Competition: five pairs of Designs of the Year exhibition tickets to be won
Fashion designer Sadie Williams has heat-pressed neoprene to create this collection of metallic sci-fi garments, which was nominated for Designs of the Year 2014 earlier this week. More about Futuristic gowns formed from metallic neoprene by Sadie Williams
Mexican architect Frida Escobedo has transformed the former home and studio of painter David Alfaro Siqueiros into a public gallery and encased the entire complex behind a triangulated concrete lattice (+ slideshow). More about Perforated concrete walls encase La Tallera gallery by Frida Escobedo
This performing arts centre in São Paulo by Brasil Arquitetura features huge concrete volumes lifted off the ground to create accessible public spaces and has been named on the shortlist for the Designs of the Year awards, announced this week (+ slideshow). More about Praça das Artes by Brasil Arquitetura features concrete boxes projecting over a public plaza
News: the Design Museum in London has announced 76 nominations for Designs of the Year 2014, including a floating school in a Nigerian lagoon (pictured), a table that weighs just nine kilograms and a mobile phone made of detachable blocks. More about Designs of the Year 2014 shortlist announced
Dezeen and MINI Frontiers: in our first movie looking at the interface between design and technology, Andy Millns of 3D production company Inition claims virtual reality will soon become almost indistinguishable from the real world. More about Advances in virtual reality will "blur the line between what's virtual and what's real"
News: Google has announced it is poised to acquire domestic technology firm Nest for $3.2 billion, a move that will increase the tech giant's presence in the home. More about Google buys domestic technology firm Nest in first step towards connected home
Paris architects Lacaton & Vassal have designed a translucent structure to house an international art collection that is a mirror image of the adjoining former shipbuilding workshop (+ slideshow). More about Art gallery and archive by Lacaton & Vassal mirrors an old shipbuilding workshop