Traditionally, moss is regarded as a humble plant or even a menace for gardeners. Now, researchers and designers all over the world are exploring how certain moss cultures could be used as air-purifiers, devices offering positive effects for the temperature and humidity, or even a source of renewable energy.
Experimenting with inflatable fashion seems to be a growing trend among emerging designers. Many of them have begun to question the physical standards that have long been stereotyped in fashion. Showing balloon-like garments on the runway they play with proportions and exaggerate the silhouettes with literally nothing but air.
Burning Man is an annual art event held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, USA. Once a year, 80 000 people gather to create and then burn Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. With Burning Man 2020 taking place in virtual format for the first time in its three-decade history because of the coronavirus pandemic, we recall the best installations of the last year’s festival.
As we had to stay inside for a prolonged period of time, the lockdown made us think about the human contact halted by the pandemic. These projects by photographers from different parts of the world explore a similar voyeuristic theme, highlighting that we are not that different after all as we find ourselves in a place that strangely has become both a prison and refuge.
Our gardens have increasingly become extensions of our home. Practical yard furniture made from weather-resistant materials is indispensable in the contemporary ‘outdoor hangout’. Space-saving, multipurpose or otherwise innovative and practical outdoor furniture make gardens and pools areas a truly inviting zone.
Influenced by the impact of the global pandemic, designers and artists all over the world create interactive art installations that make the audience experience the connection during a time of social isolation. Serving as a memorial to everyone affected by the crisis, these projects encourage us to reignite meaningful connections and stay together to resist the virus, even in the era of social distancing.
Summer moves on and we are going to miss the hot days spent with a scoop of the world’s most famous frozen treat. We have selected several design-minded ice cream shops that tempt by passers in and look good on Instagram.
Chairs proliferate the portfolios of designers from all over the world. The chairs we selected, however, are more artistic expression than practical seating solution. Not comfortable and not intended for seating, they celebrate nonsense and can even make you giggle.
th its reclined back and elevated feet, chaise longue is probably the furniture piece that is the epitome of ‘me time’. Traditionally designed as a statement piece, they can be sculptural and multifunctional but always serve their original goal – to provide an environment of relaxation and meditation.
Convenience has become an inevitable part of everyday life but it often comes at a cost to the environment. To help tackle the vast amounts of plastic food packaging, designers from different parts of the world develop sustainable alternatives to disposable plastic wraps and single use takeaway boxes. We hope that these attractive biodegradable and reusable packaging conceived as a result of innovative design thinking will be a meaningful contribution to the fight against single-use plastics and help modify consumers’ behavior to more sustainable patterns.