We want grandparents who want to have pizza nights with us, attend baseball and basketball games, have ice cream dates, take bike rides, just genuinely have fun with us and our boys, reads one post on the Facebook group Surrogate Grandparents USA, a place where grandparent-seeking families can connect with surrogate grandparents. One lonely grandma here. I would love to share affection and attention with a nearby family, posted another.Created in 2015 by 68-year-old retired paralegal Donna Skora, Surrogate Grandparents USA now has more than 11,800 members. The page is described as a place where grandparents who are missing having grandchildren in their lives & families whose children are missing having grandparents in their lives, can find and connect with each other for a possible lifetime of love.Here, prospective grandparents across the country offer their services for baking cookies and reading books, while parents can seek out the kind of support and comfort only grandparents can provide. In 2024, 21% of adults in the U.S. reported feeling lonely, with many respondents feeling disconnected from friends, family. While a surrogate family might not be the most conventional set up, at the end of the day, doesnt every family have their unconventionalities?Access to the group is granted by invitation only. Skora reviews each membership request and the groups moderators encourage people to properly vet prospective surrogates before connecting in real life. Short personal ads are then shared on the page, along with locations. If both the surrogate grandparent and the grandparent-seeking party hit it off, messages are exchanged before eventually progressing to meeting up IRL.The reasons people post on the group are as wide-ranging and complex as biological families. Some members of the group have lost loved ones, others have never had families of their own. The site has also expanded to serve foster children who have aged out of the system and are looking for chosen family, as well as helping grandparents who are raising grandchildren full time find respite care.It is also a safe haven for the estranged. Today, around 27% of American adults have cut off contact with a family member, which translates to 68 million people, one of the highest estrangement rates in the world. Skoras experienced this first-hand, becoming estranged from her son and daughter-in-law when her grandson was born. We were totally blacked out of their lives completely, she told reporter Lexi Pandell in a recent interview with Wired.Deciding to launch Surrogate Grandparents USA the same year, Skora connected with a family nearby. As is the case with flesh-and-blood, it is not always happy families. In the end, Skora cut contact when the parents began requesting gifts and trips from her. This is now expressly forbidden in the groups rules.For others, however, the arrangement works well and fills a family-shaped hole. Im not going to live my life being sad, one surrogate grandmother told Wired. There are people out there who want relationships with people like me.

Dezeen Courses: for our latest courses roundup, we've selected seven technology-based courses that cover game design, architectural technology and 3D design.This roundup includes undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that utilise multiple forms of technology, such as AI, 3D-printing and computer-aided technology (CAD).These courses take place at UK-based and international institutions, including The Bartlett School of Architecture, Kingston University and the Royal Danish Academy.Below are seven technology-based courses that have been featured on Dezeen Courses:Computation in Architecture at the Royal Danish AcademyThe Computation in Architecture course at the Royal Danish Academy focuses on architecture alongside modern technologies, such as generative modelling and robotic fabrication.Open for 2025 applications, the course runs from September 2025 to June 2027 at its central Copenhagen location.Find out more about the course Master in Digital Communication Environments at Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNWThe Master in Digital Communication Environments course at Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW supports students in developing technical digitalskills for a refined designpractice.The course consists of four semesters across two years, concluding with an exploration of visual media and communication theory.Find out more about the course Cinematic and Videogame Architecture MArch at The Bartlett School of ArchitectureThe Bartlett School of Architecture's Cinematic and Videogame Architecture MArch introduces students to architectural design methods using cinematic, animation and gaming technologies.Taught by internationally renowned experts in digital technologies, the one-year programme is based at the UCL East campus in London, UK, and is accepting applications until 29 August 2025.Find out more about the course Bachelor of Architectural Technology at Torrens University AustraliaWhilst studying on the Bachelor of Architectural Technology course at Torrens University Australia, students will develop skillsets in CAD and BIM for innovative architecture practices.Based in Sydney, Australia, with the option to study online, the course also includes work experience and collaboration with industry professionals.Find out more about the course Visual Game and Media Design at the Royal Danish AcademyThe Visual Game and Media Design course at the Royal Danish Academy introduces students to game design and visual media through animation and motion graphics. It also offers collaborative projects with local schools.The course runs for two years in Copenhagen, Denmark, with an application deadline of 1 March 2025.Find out more about the course Information Experience Design MA (IED) at The Royal College of ArtThe Royal College of Art offers the Information Experience Design MA (IED) course, which supports students in creating artwork and experiences guided by computational systems.Remaining application deadlines for September 2025 entry are on 26 March and 30 June.Find out more about the course BA (Hons) 3D Design Innovation at Kingston UniversityStudents will use softwares and systems such as CAD/CAM, 3D-printing and AI to explore varying socio-political themes whilst studying on the BA (Hons) 3D Design Innovation course at Kingston University.The course also offers opportunities to work with industry professionals across its three-year duration from September 2025 to June 2028.Find out more about the course Dezeen CoursesDezeen Courses is a service from Dezeen that provides details of architecture, interiors and design courses around the world.Click herefor more information.The post Seven technology-based courses featured on Dezeen Courses appeared first on Dezeen.

Although originally conceived as a way for Swedish manufacturers to launch products, Stockholm Furniture Fair now shines an almost equally sized spotlight on young, up-and-coming designers. Below, we've picked the ones to watch for 2025.Taking place from 4 to 8 February, Stockholm Furniture Fair (SFF) is Scandinavia's biggest design fair and the anchor event of Stockholm Design Week.For work by emerging talents, head to the Greenhouse areain Hall C and Hanna Nova Beatrice's collectible design exhibition lvsj Grd in Hall A and read on for six promising names to look out for while you're there.Photo by Fengfan YangStudio OlolooChinese firm Studio Ololoo blew up with the release of its debut product an adjustable, inflatable lamp that won first prize at the 2024 SaloneSatellite Awards.Work and life partners Jaco Qian and Zhen Bian, who met by chance at a concert of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, have gone on to create a vase and the Dezeen Award-winning Bubble Stool following the same principle.Photo by Lipp ZahnschirmJonas LutzThe furniture of Finnish designer Jonas Lutz bears the marks of his paradoxical education first in traditional woodwork at the Carl Malmsten School and later in the more left-field approach of the Design Academy Eindhoven.The resulting pieces fuse Nordic design tropes with experimental techniques and have graced Austria's Schloss Hollenegg, New York's Collectible design fair and Sabine Marcelis's Vitra Loft before landing at the lvsj Grd exhibition at SFF.Photo by Gustav AlmestlSimon SkinnerSimon Skinner originally burst onto the scene in 2019 with Afropicks a range of hair combs exploring the Black Swedish experience that captivated the design press and were promptly acquired by the Swedish National Museum.More recently, Skinner has focused on subverting traditional design objects, making lamps from a collage of 19th-century glassware (top and above) and reimagining upholstered furniture for this year's lvsj Grd exhibition.Photo by Fredrik Sandin CarlsonNils AskhagenAmong the standout projects from this year's Ung Svensk Form exhibition for young Swedish design is a couch composed of wooden studs that Konstfack graduate Nils Askhagen salvaged from a demolished building in Kungsholmen.The design explores how standardised industrial waste materials could be used to create affordable mass-produced furniture "without needing to fell a single tree".Photo by Johanna JonssonPolymorfA 3D printer coaxes clay into elaborate, algorithmically designed forms in the signature production process of Malm studio Polymorf. Founders Johanna Jonsson and Albin Karlsson started small, with homeware objects sold via Ssense, but are now investigating architectural applications with their Greenhouse pavilion.The structure incorporates ceramic structural joints that eliminate the need for adhesives and allow the installation to be easily dismantled and adapted.Photo by Ellen Aduofua BernardssonEllen Aduofua BernardssonCeramicist Ellen Aduofua Bernardsson originally trained as a nurse before discovering her affinity for clay.Her Konstfack graduation project, selected for this year's Ung Svensk Form exhibition, features a tapestry woven from hair extensions and ceramic versions of traditional Ghanaian asesedwa stools. Delicately hand-built, they are finished with a glaze made from the ashes of her grandfather's orange tree to explore ideas around family and heritage.This article was originally created for our Dezeen Dispatch magazine for Stockholm Design Week 2025, which is taking place from 3-9 February in locations across the Swedish capital. See ourStockholm Design Week 2025 guideon Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.The post Six emerging designers to look out for at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2025 appeared first on Dezeen.

This whimsical Perfect Cheers Glass was designed by Nendo. It's produced at a glass atelier in the Czech Republic's Crystal Valley, a region named for its glassmaking prowess. And the vessel is indeed made of crystal. If you haven't guessed, the base is specifically shaped to produce a bell-like tone when two glasses are clinked together:The glasses aren't for sale; instead client Sapporo is raffling off 4,800 of them to customers in a giveaway.

German automotive engineers Sabrina Fischer and Matthias Huber have designed FliteDeck, a set of bicycle handlebars with a digital dashboard. The display provides visuals for navigation, performance metrics (speed, distance traveled, power output, calories burned, and even heart rate if paired with a sensor over Bluetooth) and weather conditions. The device is equipped with GPS, Bluetooth, wi-fi, 5G, ANT+ and GNSS, and is compatible with cycling apps. Additionally, it features a dual-beam headlight system. As for why they designed it, Fischer stated dissatisfaction with the current practice of buying a bike, then clamping a bunch of aftermarket products onto it, yielding something "ugly." Their thought was to design the features they wanted to use directly into the handlebars.After a year and a half of R&D, the couple had a workable prototype, but could not secure funding; they cite "bureaucracy" and "inefficient practices" as major obstacles. So Fischer came up with an interesting way to raise the money: OnlyFans. "We are both open minded people, and I have no problem showing more of me," Fischer told Cycling Weekly, "including more spicy content. So we thought about it and then thought why not, let's just give it a try. And it was in such high demand from my community that it just went up like that.""Everybody's hating on those girls making millions on OnlyFans and asking how on earth are they doing it. But it's my life, it's our life and at the end, if it works, why not? I'm doing nothing illegal so why not." Fischer's tactic worked, and the duo are gearing up for production. FliteDeck is currently available for pre-order here, though they haven't yet announced a shipping date. The Standard Version, which includes all of the features mentioned above, is being offered for 1,599 (USD $1,677) and will later retail for 2,199 (USD $2,259). They're also offering a TailorMade Version where you can customize the physical design, select paint colors, and add engraving, all for 3,299 (USD $3,389).

Turntables get all the attention these days as part of the retro and nostalgia wave that continues to grip designs. In a few years, however, maybe CD players will already qualify as old-school as well and finally get some attention. At the moment, however, the majority of CD player designs do feel like they come from a different era, from a time when technical specifications weighed more heavily than aesthetics.Fortunately, there are now a few design concepts that are trying to pull these consumer electronics to modern times. Some borrow a few cues from popular industrial design houses, while others go down an even more minimalist look. This particular design, for example, has very few visual cues that its a CD player, which is probably for the best as it stands as something like a decorative object when not in use.Designer: Vladimir DubrovinMost CD player designs today fall under two categories. On one side you have the pure black boxes that you can connect to laptops or desktops, while the other side has designs that seem to have never grown up from the 90s. Yes, colors and a plethora of buttons never killed anyone, but the uniformity of style makes you wonder if thats all that the market has to offer.Thankfully, there are a few that try to break from the mold and embrace aesthetics that are more modern and less showy. A few minimalist designs here and there add a bit of variety to this overlooked market, making them look fresh even if their functionality hasnt changed over the decades. Orion is one such concept that reduces the design to its most basic form but sprinkles enough details to keep it from looking interesting.The design is pretty much just a flat metal box with a powder-coated finish that gives it a bit of an industrial vibe. It doesnt have a flap that flips open to reveal the CD player but instead invites you to slide the disc in through the thin slot from the front. Other than what may be a large eject button and an IR receiver in front, as well as a power cord socket at the back, there is very little in the way of distracting marks on this design.It does, however, have plenty of perforations on the top surface, but unlike a cheese grater, these adopt a parametric design that makes the holes closer to the center bigger than those on the periphery. This adds a little flourish to what could be too clinical of a design, giving the Orion CD Player concept design a little character despite its minimalist appearance.The post Minimalist CD player concept brings a much-needed touch of elegance to a common object first appeared on Yanko Design.

Most of us probably still havent recovered from Christmas and related holidays just yet. Weve just recently taken down most decorations and pretty soon well be engulfed with everything Valentines. And also, its never too early to start thinking about Easter since in about two months or so, well be celebrating that special day. While not everyone of course believes and celebrates that holidays, there are related designs and products that everyone can still enjoy, especially if its about gathering and celebrating the moments together.Designer: IKEASwedish brand IKEA is probably one of the first brands to announce or release Easter-related products. Their TJRLEK collection celebrates not just this season but also spring, color, warmth, and everything whimsical. Most of the items in the collection carry soft colors particularly pastels, floral patterns, and of course, since it is Easter after all, you have bunny-inspired designs. You get glassware, textiles, and hand-painted watercolors as part of the collection which celebrates not just your holiday celebrations but can add some fun and color all throughout the year or whenever you feel like it. For the bunny-inspired elements, you have a bowl with a lid and an egg cup, which can serve as bunny decorations when youre not using it for their functional purposes. You also have a colorful branch which is purely for decoration and you can change and add decorations depending on the season. The hanging ornaments (set of 6) come in colorful colors as well. There are also glasses in pastel colored stems, flower-shaped side plates, bowls, egg cups, and baking cups, and some round, pastel-colored vases. You also have the hand-painted and colorful place mats and paper napkins, with the latter also having floral-designed ones. If you have all of these items in your dining table, living room, and whatever space you need them to be, then youll have a fun, colorful, and playful aesthetic. You dont have to actually celebrate Easter but if this is your kind of design and if you love everything IKEA, this is a collection that you wouldnt mind having. The playful and fun designs to the TJRLEK collection may be the fun look that you will welcome after all the red hearts and flowers well be seeing this February. The post IKEA brings fun and colorful TJRLEK collection to celebrate Easter and/or spring first appeared on Yanko Design.

Just watch out for those sneaky auto-renewals.

Googles limited presence in China gives Beijing room to hit back harder if President Donald Trumps trade war escalates.

Two federal workers, citing reports that Elon Musks associates are operating an illegally connected email server at OPM, seek a restraining order.