This striking Dune suspension lamp is by Mayice, a Madrid-based product design and architecture firm.The housing is a single piece of hand-blown borosilicate glass. Suspended within is a cylinder of wood veneer that serves as the diffuser, and is slit along the bottom. Inside the veneer is a dimmable LED light source.Although this is in production, no two are exactly alike, the housing being hand-blown. Each lamp is signed by the glass artisan, Eduardo Garuti. This lamp is technically called the Dune Horizontal. There's also a Dune Vertical variant that doesn't quite do it for me.The veneers are available in a number of different colors. The Dune lamps are in production by Spain-based lighting company LZF.

Caran d'Ache, the Swiss company known for their premium pencils, has been around since 1915. They designed their first pencil sharpener in 1933. The all-metal machine is still in production:Pinching the butterfly clamp causes the holding mechanism to protrude from the hole. You insert your pencil into it, then release the clamp, and the pencil is held securely for sharpening.If that's not fancy enough for you, the company makes a limited edition version called the Cosmic Blue Sharpening Machine. It's been lacquered in a pearlescent dark blue and features gold accents:It runs a whopping $295. (The original ain't much cheaper, at $195!)

The MT1 is a funky micro EV pickup designed by Yves Behar. It's supposed to go into production this year, with a $50,000 price tag. Manufacturer Telo Trucks has now partnered with solar EV manufacturer Aptera. Aptera-built solar panels will reportedly be offered as an option on the MT1. Buyers will be offered three options: A roof-mounted solar panel, a solar panel tonneau cover and a solar panel camper shell. It sounds awesomethe ability to have a truck that can haul stuff, powered by the sunbut a closer examination of the stats reveals that we're still in the baby-steps portion of this energy direction. Aptera says their solar panels "generate up to 200 watts each at peak sunlight, delivering 1-2 kWh per day based on location and season." The MT1 requires 200-300 Wh per mile, meaning each panel would add just 3.3 to ten miles of range.The other thing worth noting is that Telo Trucks hasn't even revealed the vehicle's payload capacity. That's a rather important stat for the pickup owner that has selected an open-bed vehicle for ease of hauling; this signals that the MT1 is aimed at the adventure crowd rather than green-minded contractors.At press time the company hadn't announced the price of the solar panels.

The Michigan-based Boss Hammer Co. makes tools specifically for contractors. By being familiar with what contractors do day-in, day out, company founder Dan Raymond spied an opportunity to speed at least two tasks: Nailing roofs on, and nailing button-cap nails to house wrap. He subsequently invented this thing:This Boss Magnetic Cap can be friction-fit over the hammer's head. A magnet holds the nail in place, allowing you to drive it with one hand while the other holds more nails for re-loading:While it won't hold framing nails, you can simply pop the cap off and do those the old-fashioned way.Runs $13.

Whether you love or hate AI-driven generative design, the fact is that it's here, people are using it, and they're not going to stop using it. If you're an industrial designer, it's probably wise to understand the technology and its implications, and learn how to wield it.If you'd prefer to be guided through it by a safe set of hands, IDEO is hosting an "AI x Design Thinking Workshop Series" online."Join us for our live 3-part AI workshop series and learn how to harness the power of generative AI to enhance your idea generation, research synthesis, and prototyping skills. This practical workshop will help you understand how AI tools work and how to get the most out of them. It's a safe space for hands-on practice with different tools, techniques, and mindsets for using AI in your design thinking process. With a focus on how to get started using AI to strengthen your design thinking toolkit, you'll learn how to collaborate with AI to enhance your problem-solving skills and creative thinking."Geared towards beginners though it is, the series still aims to teach skills that, the firm says, "you can apply to your work immediately."The $250 course starts March 3rd and will consist of three 60-minute live sessions. They'll provide step-by-step demonstrations, provide a downloadable workshop and most importantly, show you IDEO case studies.If the schedule doesn't work for you, they also offer an on-demand, self-paced alternative for $300.You can learn more about the curriculum and download the syllabus here.

Tragically, Los Angeles resident Brandon Sanders found his home had burned to the ground in the Eaton fire. There was one good piece of news: His Tacoma had been parked far enough away from the burning structure that only the front of the vehicle was scorched. To his surprise, when he tried to start it "it fired right up," he writes. "Everything works, even the headlights and blinkers!" Social media being social media, there are now posts going around claiming that Tacomas are fireproof. It should be obvious to the sane, but Sanders' experience with the truck was very good luck. In this other photo, here we see a house that was unscathed by the fire: Note the unlucky SUV on the neighboring property that burned. Beneath it, you can see that aluminum has melted beneath the vehicle and flowed down the driveway. Aluminum melts at 1,221 Fahrenheit (660 Celsius). The Tacoma was not exposed to that temperature, or it would look like this SUV. The unburned house, by the way, was designed by architect Greg Chasen. "Some of the design choices we made here helped," he writes. "But we were also very lucky."If you're interested in what design decisions can harden a house against fire, in this comprehensive videowhich has gone viralhomebuilder Matt Risinger analyzes two unburnt L.A. homes. One is the Chasen-designed house, and the other belongs to Tom Hanks:

Australian artist/designer Elliat Rich has a very different take on cabinet doors. This is her Weaver Cabinet: The shelves are solid oak, and the "doors" are UV-stable nylon fringe. An earlier iteration of Rich's design was ceiling-suspended.The Weaver Cabinet is in production by Australian brand DesignByThem.

The Core77 Design Awards Apps & Platform category features software applications that perform a specific task, such as writing documents, playing games, or watching videos. Web or mobile screen-based software programs designed for user-friendliness. Examples include community platforms or hubs, websites, computer programs.The Core77 Design Awards Interaction Design category features interactive content and user interface design for websites, mobile devices, and experiential installations. Examples include software, mobile apps, interactive projections, products with embedded user interface, animations, simulations, robotics.As Senior Design Director at H-E-B, Jodi Cutler never tires of thinking about how to scale design across a human-centric organization. Over three decades, Jodi has dedicated her energy to designing experiences at startups, enterprises, consulting firms, and as an educator. At H-E-B, the focus is on people from employees, to customers, and the community which makes design decisions distinctly personal. In the design world, Jodi maintains an eye to inclusion, an area she hopes to see designers continuing to consider more fully in their work. She encourages Core77 Design Awards entrants to approach their work with curiosity and a clear understanding of where their bias lays and find ways to counter it.ParaVerse from the Swiss Paraplegic Centre winner of the Apps & Platform category for 2024.The 2024 winner of the Core77 Design Awards Apps & Platform category was ParaVerse from the Swiss Paraplegic Centre, which allows people with limited or no hand function to interact with the digital world using eye-controlled XR glasses. 2024 Interaction Design winner, Bluecadet, and its Met 81st Street Studio project.In the Interaction Design category, the winner was Bluecadet for its Met 81st Street Studio project, a 3,500-square-foot interactive science and art play space for children that promotes exploration of art, and the materials used to create it.If you have an app, platform, or interaction that will spark our jurors' curiosity, we would love to consider it for the 2025 Core77 Design Awards.Enter your work in the Core77 Design Awards today.

Years ago we looked at Aquor Water Systems' intelligent design for a hose bib. Their flush-mounted House Hydrant is a damn sight better-looking than your standard spigot, and won't freeze. They offer a number of attractive debris cover options.The company has also developed this designey hose reel:The fittings are stainless steel and lead-free, and the 5/8" hose is 65' long. The unit pivots 180 degrees. By the bye, Aquor's hoses are drinking water safe; they're made from an FDA-approved polyurethane and are phthalate-free.The price was unavailable at press time; though the reel has won a Good Design Award, it's not yet on the market.

In the 1940s, architect Gregory Ain designed one of the first Modernist neighborhoods in America, in Altadena, California. Called the Park Planned Homes, it was a community of 28 single-story homes laid out in a cul-de-sac and utilizing shared green spaces between the homes. That aside, the location of the windows and the design of the landscaping still provided each house with visual privacy. The interiors were groundbreaking. Ain was a proponent of open floorplans, which allowed residents to configure and reconfigure their spaces as needed; this at a time when your average American house had clearly defined rooms.Ain's goal was to provide affordable housing and Modernist style to middle-class families. It worked, at least for 28 lucky homeowners. While rising costs meant the feat of building this neighborhood would not be repeated, in 2014, L.A. County recognized the accomplishment and designated the Park Planned Homes an Historic District. Fire pays no attention to such designations. Of the 12,000 (and counting) homes destroyed by L.A.'s wildfires this month, at least 20 of them were Park Planned Homes; at press time there were only four that were confirmed to be undamaged.The odds that we'll see a Modernist neighborhood like this erected again--affordably--are slim.

A startup called HEYii claims they've developed infinitely reusable tracing paper. Called HEYtrace+, it's not actually paper at all, but a 0.5mm-thick silicone sheet with some type of proprietary coating; the company says it's nontoxic and allows you to erase the sheet using water (though they say 75% alcohol does a better job). You are somewhat limited to what you can draw with: The surface doesn't react well with pencils or oil-based markers. You can use alcohol-based markers like Copics, dry-erase markers, ballpoint pens, and water-based ink pens. The sheets come in A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches) and A3 (11.7 x 16.5 inches). Oddly, both are priced the same: $35 each, with discounts available if you buy multiples ($99 gets you a 4-pack, for instance). The sheets come with a cleaning cloth and a piece of test material, if you want to try out a writing utensil to see if it will erase, without ruining the actual sheet.HEYtrace+ has been successfully Kickstarted, and there are nine days left in the campaign. They expect to start shipping them this April.

Here's what we looked at this week:Dremel's new Blueprint Multi-Drill is designed with innovative features that consumers can use. AI-designed footwear is here, with a new "influencer" business model.Industrial design case study: Modern Weave 3.0, by KEM Studio, is an experimental furniture design incorporating rope.Gimmicky furniture design strikes again: A multi-position chair lands $780K-plus on Kickstarter.Combo furniture: LG adds a projector and speaker to a floor lamp.Outside-the-box thinking: The Adaptchula, an adaptive spatula.Unusual architectural product: A door within a door, designed for behavioral health facilities.An elaborate climbing-desk filing system from the 1930s.ToughBuilt' innovatively-designed tool bags feature great UX and high build quality.berleben's Stker is a minimalist flatpack camping stove.Aalto University has made the Nokia Design Archive available online.An extreme forever object: A 20-pound stainless steel drinking mug, which is killing it on Kickstarter.Icon is 3D printing 100 houses for the homeless at the Community First! Village in central Texas.Ill-advised UI design research: Controlling apps with your feet, as you walk.HEYtrace+ is infinitely reusable tracing paper made out of silicone.Industrial design case study: DesignStein Studios tackles a DC fast charger for EVs.

A California-based company called MarsCharge is dedicated to developing EV infrastructure. To design their flagship product, a freestanding commercial charger that can top off two EVs at once, they turned to industrial design consultancy DesignStein Studios. After extensive industry feedback, MarsCharge realized that there was a huge demand for large, standalone EV charging station chargers that actually work. The client built a highly-engineered prototype freestanding DC fast charger that can fully charge most EVs in approximately 20 minutes, which is nearly twice as fast as most standalone DC fast chargers, and arguably one of the fastest on the market today. However, they found it lacking a beautiful design and easy-to-use interface. Styling was paramount. Our client did not want a clunky, boxy-looking charger like most of what exists on the market today. After collaboration with them, we selected three design themes that would embody the charger's design: Monolithic, Annular and Premium. Monolithic designs aren't simply large, their presence stops you in your tracks. Annularity promotes a natural, swooping flow, eliminating the slightest hint of "boxiness" in our design. Premium structures stand alone. You know them when you see them. Together, these Mood Board elements became the inspiration for our sketches.MONOLITH, ANNULAR, PREMIUM With our mood board completed, we explored multiple design directions (below). The first drawings below, with the pencil sketches behind them, are the initial configurations: Our client loved them, and through the collaborative process we encourage with all our clients, they evolved into these detailed concepts: The video below has the full story on how we employed our process with MarsCharge, and helped them use this design to increase their profitability.You can see more of DesignStein Studio's work here.

Here's an example of design research that does not (in my opinion) consider larger societal consequences. Researchers at Canada's University of Waterloo are experimenting with the ability to control smartphone apps with your feet, as you walk.You could argue that this isn't "design" research at all, as the researchers are from the university's School of Computer Science; but since it involves UI, I'll put it under the design umbrella.Here's the impetus for the research: "Waterloo professor of computer science Daniel Vogel, frustrated by having to stop and use his phone with cold fingers while walking to get coffee, wondered if there could be a way to place orders without pausing."The researchers are thus using an AR headset to detect specific gait patterns. The idea is that you can navigate apps by altering your footfall, turning your foot one way or the other as you walk. Examples:I understand design research and experimentation is important, particularly in a university setting, but I think this is a terrible idea. We already have a problem with people walking around cities with their noses buried in their phones. On YouTube you can see disturbing compilations of people heedlessly walking into traffic, with predictable results. The idea that what we need is a new way to interact with our phones while walking is, I think, wrongheaded.I like to think that if this research was conducted at a design school, or in partnership with designers, there would be some robust conversations around how this technology would affect people. Then again, those discussions didn't take place with the designers who invented smartphones, so maybe I'm giving designers too much credit.

Oceanus Brass, a company that creates high-quality nautical tools, decided to machine a 20-pound tankard out of a bar of 304 stainless steel. They posted it on Kickstarter as a drinking mug, and wouldn't you know it, it's taken off. "The Oceanus Brass Tankard is crafted on a state-of-the-art, Swiss-type, automatic lathe. Every component is given painstaking attention to detail. The Oceanus Brass Tankard's body begins life as a ~35 Pound cylinder of solid Stainless Steel. Through the precision of Swiss engineering fifteen pounds of metal are then carved off. Meticulous machining to a tolerance within one one-thousandth of an inch allows a 20-pound colossus marvel to emerge." It holds 20 oz. While drinking from it is likely a challenge, one benefit is that it is childproof. Killer detail: There's a bow shackle dovetailed into the handle. They also offer a smaller "Featherweight" version that weighs just 8 pounds and holds 16 oz.The Featherweight's going for $160, and the 20-pound Tankard goes for $350. They were only seeking $250 in pledges, but they're more than 600x funded, with over $150K in pledges at press time, and 50 days left to pledge.

The Core77 Design Awards Emerging Technologies category features systems, services, hardware, or software products created with the aid of recently created or developed software and hardware technologies. Examples include projects that incorporate the use of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), blockchain technologies, robotics, biometrics, advanced materials, or new production processes.Hussain Almossawi has spent his career testing the boundaries of possibility. As the Design Director of Mossawi Studios (which he founded in 2019), Hussain devotes himself to exploring "the limitless potential of design to create impactful change, driven by our imagination and insights." Prior to founding his multi-disciplinary design studio, the industrial designer, visual effects artist, and bestselling author built a portfolio of clients ranging from Nike, Apple, and Adidas to Intel and Ford Motor Company. He enjoys "blurring the lines between product design and CGI" and designing futuristic experiences, and this creative, forward-thinking mindset has made Hussain a sought-after keynote speaker and teacher on innovation and design. Hussain describes design as the place "where the worlds of imagination and science converge, enabling us to transform creative visions into practical solutions." He finds discovery and growth in all aspects of the design journey, from exploring ideas to prototyping and refining solutions. Throughout, Hussain balances the desire to "dream big" with the practical need to solve "real-world" problems. As he describes it: "Each step, from the initial concept to the final design, reflects the balance of creativity and logic. It's fulfilling to see how thoughtful design can shape meaningful outcomes and push the boundaries of what's possible."If Hussain holds any concerns about the state of the design industry, they center on designers' tendency to "play it safe." This tentative approach, in his opinion, leads to "the oversaturation and repetitiveness of identical ideas, where there's a reluctance to push boundaries or rethink what already exists." Hussain believes that a designer who hesitates to move beyond the status quo limits their opportunities for creativity and "meaningful progress." As he explains, "True innovation requires a willingness to improve, adapt, and take even small steps toward reimagining what's possible, yet too often, opportunities to elevate designs are overlooked in favor of familiarity."Hussain's advice to Core77 Design Awards entrants? "Embrace failure as an essential part of the journey and focus on enjoying the process." In his experience, approaching setbacks as valuable learning opportunities can ultimately lead to breakthroughs. He also encourages designers to keep the experience fun and engaging. "[That] will breathe life into your project, fueling your creativity and keeping you fully invested. When you approach challenges with enthusiasm and a willingness to grow, your passion and dedication will shine through in the final outcome, making your project stand out."2024 Core77 Design Awards Emerging Technologies winner Elroy Air for the Elroy Air Chaparral.The 2024 winner in the Core77 Design Awards Emerging Technologies category was Elroy Air for the Elroy Air Chaparral, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of delivering 300 pounds of cargo across a 300-mile range. The Chaparral's ability to retrieve a full cargo container from a loading dock and fly it directly to a destination without transferring between trucks, trams, or airplanes can improve shipping logistics by increasing tempo and reducing cost and human risk.If you have an emerging technologies design that pushes the boundaries of possibility, submit it to this year's Core77 Design Awards. Enter your work in the Core77 Design Awards today.

The Community First! Village in central Texas provides affordable housing to Austin's homeless population. Developed by Mobile Loaves & Fishes, an Austin-based nonprofit, it currently houses 370 formerly homeless people in tiny-house-style accommodations. Now they're getting an assist from Icon, a construction company that 3D prints houses. With backing from the Lennar Foundation (the charitable arm of Lennar, a production homebuilder), Icon will print 100 houses in an expanded portion of the village. These will be a mix of homes and townhouses ranging from 380 to 1,040 square feet. Icon says construction is currently underway. The news is fairly recent, and Icon doesn't yet have any video on their socials about it. However, if you're curious to hear what it's like to live in one of their 3D-printed houses, here are some testimonials from residents at their Wolf Ranch community in Texas:

This Stker product is referred to by its manufacturer, Idaho-based camping supply company berleben, as an "ultra minimalist flatpack twig stove." It's five sheets of 304 stainless steel, with tabs and slots for easy assembly. The grate you place on top is also 304 stainless. Broken down, it's just 6" square and 1/2" thick. It slides into an included duck canvas sleeve and weighs just over a pound. They're available in three colors; depending on which you choose, the finish is either bead-blasted or high-temperature ceramic coated. These run $78.

This innovative, solidly-built Modular Tote is by ToughBuilt. Aimed at tradespeople, it's an open-top tool bag with no less than 68 pockets and loops.It comes with two removable, zippered soft-sided bags and three removable, pocket-laden dividers that can be slotted within ribs in the bag's sidewalls. A nice little UX touch: One of the dividers has a kickstand.The bag is offered in 12", 18" and 30" lengths, the latter being the one pictured above. Here's a video showing the bag's features, in this case the 18" model:For those who ply their trades in the Pacific Northwest, New England or other places where you're traveling through inclement weather to get to the jobsite, the company also offers a closed-top bag called the Massive Mouth. This, too, has a design innovation (patent pending), which is what the bag was named for. The top can be pulled open to the full width of the bag, providing visibility and access. Both bags draw rave reviews for both their build quality and ability to swallow tools.

As fires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area, designers are stepping up to help. UX designer and design writer Hang Xu and writer Lex Roman have created a series of livestream events, running through Friday, to raise money for those who have lost their homes in the fire."Via Hang, these events will share tips 'on how to get hired, promoted and make money as a designer from folks who usually charge top dollars to share their expertise.' Each session will be free, with a suggested donation of $25 to go to families in need affected by the fires (directly, via GoFundMe).You can sign up for the talks here.

LG, Samsung and Lenovo have all been working on stretchable screens for at least two years. It looks like Lenovo will be the first to market; they've announced their ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, a laptop whose screen expands from 14" to 16.7". While that doesn't sound like much, the company says it adds "nearly 50%" of additional screen space."With its rollable screen, the device offers an extended vertical display ideal for applications such as document review, coding, project management, and content creation. Professionals in creative fields and technical roles will appreciate the split-screen functionality that supports multiple window layout without sacrificing screen space."Here you can see the screen unrolling:It's a neat parlor trick for sure, but these days my assumption is that everything will break. Where do you send this thing when the motors conk out? Also, I can't be the only one picturing the motors dying when the screen is in the extended position.There's also the question of how long-lived an innovation this will be; will we be wearing screens in front of our eyeballs in ten years, or still toting laptops around?In any case, Lenovo showed off a working prototype this month at CES, and here Engadget gives it the once-over:They expect to start shipping the $3,500 laptops this June.

Remember the pre-smartphone era, when cell phone design was fun and experimental? When phones had actual buttons?Here's a chance to revisit some of those designs: Today Finland's Aalto University launches the Nokia Design Archive. Freely accessible to all online, it contains "sketches, photographs, presentations, interviews and more, spanning the 'golden era' of a company that once laid claim to almost half the global market share in smartphones." "Visualisations and expert analysis guide visitors through over 700 curated entries spanning from the mid-90s to 2017 with an uncurated repository containing some 20,000 items and 959GB of born-digital files the content licensed from Microsoft Mobile for research and education purposes when Nokia's handset operations were put to rest and the brand relaunched under a different parent company. The project was spearheaded by lead researcher Professor Anna Valtonen, a former Nokia designer who well remembers her time at the company, some 20 years ago. "What we had at the time were phones with black and white screens that could take calls and send a text message," Valtonen says. "At the time, we were asking: Could the mobile phone be something more? What are our wildest dreams for what a phone could do?" "In the early ages of Nokia, there was a genuine wish to understand people, how they live, what makes them tick. Now we're at a similar point of societal transformation with AI. Nobody has concretised what it is yet, but we need to get people thinking about what could be." "The Archive reveals how designers made visions concrete so that they could be properly explored long before they became reality. It reminds us that we do have agency and we can shape our world by revealing the work of many people who did just that."Dive into the archive here.

At first blush this might seem silly, but I say the thinking behind it is good. Inventor Charles Harris reckoned that a spatula would be more useful if the angle between blade and handle could be adjusted. To realize the design, he bent the handle so that it comes into the blade's heel from the side. It friction-fits via a finned extrusion, which corresponds with fins within the blade heel, allowing for adjustability of angle. I'd have guessed silicone, but Harris says the blades are made of more expensive PPSU, a heat-resistant plastic used in medical sterilization trays (it can withstand repeated autoclaving). It's nontoxic, FDA-compliant and also used in baby bottles. My worry with this object would be longevity; might not those plastic fins become stripped over time? If so it would render the tool useless. That said, Harris states that he will sell replacement blades (and presumably handles).As per usual, Kickstarter backers have no such fears about long-term use. The $25 Adaptchula and a sister product, the $35 Nottadrip Utensil Rest (see vid below) have been successfully crowdfunded with $193K in pledges and four days left to pledge.

The Core77 Design Awards Design for Social Impact category features projects designed to directly benefit social, humanitarian, community, or environmental needs. Examples of social impact work include community or environmental impact initiatives, products for underrepresented communities, distribution systems, disaster relief, the fight for racial justice, and humanitarian efforts."When you truly believe in what you're doing and communicate that energy whether through storytelling, visuals, or the details of your approach it resonates with others." This strong belief in the purpose of her work has fueled Valerie Kramis' career, and it's something she encourages other designers to consider in their own projects. As the Co-Founder of Agenda28, an award-winning design studio focused on social impact, Valerie has applied a lifelong passion for social causes to her professional journey. The Design Strategy Specialist brings over 15 years of experience in marketing, strategic planning, social innovation, and social entrepreneurship to "advance social initiatives through human-centered approaches and innovative methodologies. Since its founding at the Harvard Innovation Labs, Agenda28 has developed into a thriving studio with dual headquarters in New York City and Mexico City, enabling Valerie to lead more than 100 design projects across 10 countries. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tec de Monterrey and a master's degree in liberal arts from Harvard University.Valerie remains most energized by the opportunity to combine design thinking with social innovation to create real, lasting impact particularly in projects that allow her to tackle complex challenges while also advancing social causes. "From concept to execution, it's incredibly fulfilling to know that my work plays a role in driving meaningful change and supporting initiatives that truly make a difference," she says. In a design world where solutions are often driven by "trends," Valerie emphasizes the importance of focusing solutions around the "actual needs of the communities or problems we're trying to address." As she explains, "It's easy to get caught up in what's popular, but the most meaningful designs come from truly understanding the people we're designing for."Valerie firmly believes that the best design outcomes emerge from deep commitment and a sense of purpose: "Don't be afraid to show how passionate you are about your project. Passion is contagious and can make all the difference in how your project is received. Let your enthusiasm shine through, and people will not only understand your project they'll feel it."2024 Design for Social Impact winner Indigenizing Design.Last year's Core77 Design Awards winner in the Design for Social Impact category was "Indigenizing Design," the work of a collaborative effort among Catapult Design, CahokiaPHX, Brian Skeet Design LLC, and Indigenous Community Collaborative. The project, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, created the Indigenizing Design Framework, exploring how to recast the narrative of Human-Centered Design through the lens of Indigenous perspectives.Our jurors would love to see your passion-driven project aimed at advancing social causes. Share your work with the 2025 Core77 Design Awards and the world.Enter your work in the Core77 Design Awards today.

In 1930s Czechoslovakia, the Central Social Institution (CSI) of Prague developed a massive archive of social welfare data. They used cutting-edge (for the time) punch cards to record personal and social data of citizens receiving assistance. Researchers used this data to study poverty, unemployment and social issues.Accessing the archive was physically challenging, due to its size. The solution (designer unknown) came in the form of these motorized desks with cantilevered counterweights. These were electrically powered up and down, allowing clerks to get to the drawer they needed: According to Rare Historical Photos,"The [CSI] office consists of cabinets arranged from floor to ceiling tiers covering over 4,000 square feet containing over 3000 drawers 10 feet high (3 meters)." "The builder designed special electric-operated elevator desks which rise, fall, and move left or right at the push of a button, to stop just before the desired drawer. The drawers also open and close electronically. Thus work which formerly taxed 400 workers is done by 20 with a minimum of effort." You reckon anyone ever got stuck up there, while working late, after the maintenance crew went home?

Construction Specialties, Inc. designs and manufactures specialty architectural products, particularly healthcare facilities. They make this unusual door, which has a second door within it:So what's the application?"Our barrier-resistant doors offer a unique solution for behavioral health facilities. [They] feature a small compact door within the main door providing staff easy access to a room if a barricade is used by a patient."Additionally, the door stiles are replaceable, should the patient damage them.

Angelo Lelii's classic Polifemo lamp, from 1956, was a torchiere that featured a secondary adjustable mood light. The feature was a flight of fancy on Lelii's part. Now, 68 years later, technology has advanced to the point where more sophisticated functions can be crammed into a floor lamp. LG has just unveiled their PF600U, a lamp that houses a 1,920 x 1,080 projector and stereo speakers.It's not a torchiere; the lighting is meant to be bounced off of a nearby wall. Users can select from nine colors and five brightness levels. The head tilts on a pivot to go into projector mode. You stream content to the thing via OTT, using LG's webOS. You can get a closer look at the lamp, and see the projection quality, in the video below:LG says they'll release it this year, price TBD.

For better or worse, AI-designed footwear is here, and I suppose it was only a matter of time. Entrepreneur Ben Weiss, backed by Reebok co-founder Joe Foster, has set up a company called Syntilay that will leverage both the technology and the influencer economy to shift product. Let's start with the footwear, which I find incredibly ugly (but then I am not the target market). AI is used to generate concept sketches, the 3D model and the surfacing. "Each process, overseen by our designer Kedar Benjamin, has improved the efficiency greatly, reduced waste, and enabled a forward thinking design that is unprecedented," the company writes. To ensure a perfect fit, consumers scan their foot using a smartphone app. The business model is also quite different. Rather than say, sponsoring pro athletes to take care of the market, Syntilay plans to work through the influencer economy. "With around half of today's youth aspiring to be influencers and new age brands that have incredible influence, why not give them a true path to bring to life their own distinct creativity in the footwear category? Many influencers can sell hats, shirts, shorts, and more yet shoes are not an option. There is a great opportunity to empower these creators and to inspire the next generation."As much as I dislike both the look of the shoes and the influencer economy we now live within, I can't deny the business model is genius: Auto-designed product as merch, flogged for you by folks whose business is developing their "brand." The company also notes that they "have the ability to improve efficiency from build to release for a new shoe by up to 9x the industry average." The sacrifice required, at least at this point, are the aesthetics. The question is, will buyers care? The lone model the company currently offers, seen above, goes for $150 a pair.

Two years ago we spotted this gimmicky-looking MagicH chair, an "ultra adaptive support home office chair" by Chinese manufacturer Newtral. People went bonkers for it on Kickstarter; it landed $1.8 million. Now the company's back with a new offering, the Freedom-X, a "multi-position chair" with a built-in desk and cupholder, as well as swing-down armrests. The video gives you a better look at the product, where you can see that the build quality and upholstery stitching isn't exactly Herman Miller quality:Does anyone have any faith that this chair will last? If you read through the comments on the MagicH's campaign page, you'll find some brutal feedback. Let's just say you won't be passing that chair down to your grandkids; multiple buyers report mechanical failure around the six-month mark.That said, the Freedom-X has once again captured the crowdfunding masses. While Newtral was seeking just $10,000 to get this thing going, at press time they were at $780K-plus, with over a month left to pledge. Caveat emptor.

This experimental Modern Weave 3.0 chair is by KEM Studio, an industrial design and architecture firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. The idea was to produce a non-molded outdoor chair with a modicum of cushioning, using rope. Modern Weave is a continued exploration of reinterpreting a traditional technique (weaving) in a modern way. The original exploration (1.0), done on an Eames Side Chair, was entered in and won the Eames Good Design Challenge and was then auctioned off to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. From there we took this concept of modern weaving and refined it, still using an Eames Side Chair, creating a simplified linear pattern that provided tailored comfort in the seat of the chair (2.0). After this second exploration we asked the question, "how do you design an outdoor chair that doesn't require tooling, incorporates elevated ergonomics and can utilize this 'modern weave' as the method of providing extra cushioning?" Modern Weave 3.0 addresses those opportunities. Made out of bent rods that are welded together at points of interaction, each individual segment has a place and a purpose ergonomically. The grid system that is created from these interactions presents a natural canvas to add the weave and explore from a sense of material, comfort and aesthetics. Traditional techniques are highlighted with this chair (bending rod, welding + weaving) creating a robust, comfortable and beautiful chair that can have its place indoors just as well as outdoors. This chair breaks the mold of outdoor chairs legitimately there is no molding required. With this chair, comfort is tunable. It doesn't rely on foam for a pad but instead allows for a human-centered and user-specific comfort as well as encouraging their own creativity and artistry. Any material that can be woven can be used which allows the user to swap out the weave at any time, whether for wear, comfort or aesthetic reasons, change the pattern or even remove the weave material altogether. You can see more of KEM Studio's work here.