Tag Archives: sustainable design

HMD Skyline is a Nokia Lumia throwback with repairability at its core

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The Nokia brand was famous for its innumerable smartphone designs, some of which have stood the test of time and are being revived today. Although not as old as those, the Nokia Lumia with its blocky silhouette, curved sides, and raised 2.5D screen is just as distinctive, becoming the DNA of the product line until its demise. HMD Global, who now eagerly wants to remind everyone that its name stands for “Human Mobile Devices,” is bringing back that iconic form but with a twist. The HMD Skyline might be a blast from the past, but it is also the most forward-looking of its kind thanks to its strong self-repair spirit.

Designer: HMD

The Skyline is notable for two things. The first is, of course, is design that is both dated yet ironically fresh to people’s eyes today. The more geometric block is almost in line with art trends today, and its neon pink colorway definitely shouts for attention. Given the retro design craze gripping multiple industries, its arrival couldn’t be more timely.

This juxtaposition also shows itself in the HMD Skyline’s other strength: its easy repairability. Sure, it’s not as easy as popping off the back plate with a fingernail and swapping out batteries in a snap, but it’s still worlds apart compared to most smartphones today, including its mid-range buddies. There’s only one screw to lift the back panel, which you can gently pry off with plastic cards or guitar picks, then other connectors can be easily unscrewed or lifted. It’s probably the least risky process around when it comes to replacing the screen. And all that while still having an IP54 dust and water resistance rating.

Images courtesy of: iFixit

The irony is that HMD is positioning this Gen 2 repairability as an attractive feature for Gen Z users who, it claims, are more likely to keep their phone if they can repair it themselves. That said, this is also the generation that lives for the latest and greatest designs, convenient services, and near-instant gratification from social media. Then again, it’s also the maker culture, so there might be some DIY DNA running through their veins as well, waiting to be awakened.

The HMD Skyline’s specs are a bit less impressive, but it’s actually almost a miracle that some of them are even there. The 6.55-inch 1080p, for example, is capable of 144Hz refresh rates, and its 4,600mAh battery supports magnetic wireless charging. There’s a massive 108MP camera teamed up with a 50MP telephoto shooter and a 13MP wide-angle camera. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, however, clearly marks it for the mid-range class. All things considered, the $500 Android phone isn’t as bad a deal, especially if you’re truly into retro designs that you plan on maintaining for a very long time.

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A Sugarcane And Hemp Suspended Light To Illuminate Office Spaces Sustainably

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In today’s world, finding sustainable solutions is more important than ever. Sometimes, the best innovations come from rethinking old ideas. Working together is key in this effort, combining knowledge and resources to create products that meet today’s challenges. This is exactly what Norwegian studio Snøhetta and lighting brand Ateljé Lyktan have done with their new office lamp, the Superdupertube, setting a new standard for sustainable lighting.

Designers: Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan

This partnership isn’t entirely new. It began with The 7th Room, a stunning cabin in the treetops of northern Sweden, where Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan first teamed up to create unique lighting solutions. The Superdupertube uses materials that reflect Snøhetta’s commitment to regenerative design. The project started years ago with a team of architects and designers working with Ateljé Lyktan to find locally sourced materials with a smaller environmental impact. Hemp was chosen for its strong fibers and low environmental impact, cutting CO2 emissions by over 50% compared to traditional aluminum.

Working with suppliers Bergman’s and Trifilon, Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan explored sustainable materials. After testing pine cones and coffee grounds, they discovered hemp fiber. Superdupertube is the first project to use hemp-based material in an extrusion process. Hemp provided the necessary strength, and when mixed with sugarcane starch, it met the functional needs while staying true to the commitment to sustainability. Hemp grows abundantly and doesn’t deplete the soil.

Designed as a versatile office lamp, Superdupertube comes in four lengths and features a diagonal louver to reduce glare.

Superdupertube is a modern take on Ateljé Lyktan’s Supertube, a 1970s office light made from extruded aluminum. The simple design of the original Supertube caught Snøhetta’s attention, sparking a mission to update it for today’s ecological needs. After experimenting with various materials, they chose a composite of Dutch hemp and sugarcane-derived PLA bioplastic. This new material, free from fossil fuels, is sustainable and strong, making it a perfect alternative to aluminum.

The suspended light is a blend of craftsmanship and environmental consciousness. Its main body is created through extrusion, with injection-molded louvers and side covers giving it an organic look. Even the electric cables are wrapped in linen fabric, creating a natural feel. The lamp can be composted or recycled into pellets for future lamps, minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.

The natural color of hemp means each lamp is unique, with variations in color and light temperature. The LED strips emit a warm tone through the material, available in two color temperatures: 4000K (adjusted to 3800K ambient light) and 3000K (adjusted to 2800K ambient light). Using PLA material from sugarcane and reinforced with hemp fibers, the lamp’s environmental footprint is significantly reduced.

Superdupertube uses various production techniques, including injection-molded louvers and side covers. Dimmable LED strips, encased within twisted louvers, offer visual appeal and practical lighting, making it ideal for modern offices. Available in four lengths, each lamp features an organic beige hue with natural patterns from the hemp composite, adding individuality to every piece.

Recognizing that most of a lamp’s environmental impact occurs during use, Snøhetta and Ateljé Lyktan focused on efficiency, incorporating smart lighting systems to reduce energy consumption and extend the lamp’s lifespan. The design allows for easy assembly and disassembly, with components sliding into place without glue and minimal screws, making it easy to replace parts and update lighting technology.

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Mesmerizing Paired Cubes and its 3,500 polycarbonate panels invites viewers to play

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It’s always interesting and nice to see installations that are not just works of art but also invite the viewer to interact with it. Sure, paintings and sculptures in museums are nice to look at but of course you’re not allowed to touch them for important reasons. So art installations are much more accessible and in a sense, more experimental, especially if visitors are invited to touch and explore it.

Designer: A+U Lab

Paired Cubes is a temporary pavilion that is set up in Busan, South Korea but is also created to be transferred and assembled in other public spaces. It is made up of 3,500 recycled polycarbonate panels put together in 2.5m tall pavilions and put together without any fittings or glue. It has eight outer facades and two inner walls and the overall effect, especially when illuminated, is that they look like floating panels.

Aside from its sustainability, the pavilion is also pretty interactive as visitors are actually invited to interact with the structure and its visual patterns and optical textures. They are put together in both a symmetrical and asymmetrical fashion. During the day, you can explore the layered surfaces that bring about various shadowy patterns. When it becomes darker, it becomes a luminous box which attracts you to go inside the pavilion.

Up to 6 people can go inside the structure at once but you can also just stay outside to play around with the panels. It is also built to be easily disassembled, transported, and reassembled so we can expect to see this pop up in other areas after this.

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Concrete-like lampshades are actually made from mushroom mycelium

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We’ve come across a wide variety of lamp designs with an even wider assortment of lampshades made from different materials using different methods. Of course, the most common are made of metal, plastic, or glass, as these are easy to come by and manufacture in this day and age. They’re not exactly sustainable in the long run, though, even if some are considered to be such. They might not be easily renewable or they take a lot of energy to produce, generating carbon emissions and waste in the process. This particular lighting collection, however, really takes eco-friendliness to heart by using a material that’s not only sustainable, biodegradable, and renewable, it can also be easily grown in a lab rather than manufactured in a factory.

Designer: Danielle Trofe, Lujah Brown (MushLume)

Mycelium is becoming quite a star in the design industry despite its modest and literally down-to-earth roots. They are practically mushroom roots consisting of a complex branching network that, in the natural world, are used to distribute water and nutrients to plants while themselves also serving as food for organisms living in the same soil. Recently, mycelium has become the focus of many research and design experiments that use it as an alternative to typical materials like fabric or even concrete.

MushLume, and obvious wordplay on its origins, harnesses the properties of mycelium to create lamp designs that are not only striking but also friendly to both the Earth and humans as well. But rather than take the painstaking work of gathering mushroom roots from the wild, the fungi are instead grown into a hemp substrate that eventually solidifies inside a mold. Once matured, the new structure is removed from the mold heated, and dried to become practically any lamp form you can think of.

The result is a material that checks all the sustainability boxes. It uses very little water and energy to make, significantly reducing carbon emissions and waste. The material is also biodegradable, which means you can eventually throw it out into a backyard compost or landfill and it will safely decompose over time. That said, they are expected to last for years so you won’t need to do that any time soon.

MushLume lamps also bring a distinctive aesthetic to any space. Their raw and rough surfaces almost resemble concrete from a distance but are incredibly lightweight in reality. The texture and patterns, which are unique to every lamp, also add some character to the design, while also giving the diffused light a warm tone. MushLume definitely challenges the conventions of designing and producing products, though there still needs to be more testing to see if mycelium can really scale up to be the mass-grown foundations of future products.

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Sustainable Baby Shoes That Grow With Your Children’s Feet To Last Years

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Every parent knows the struggle of dealing with outgrown children’s shoes. One minute they fit perfectly, and the next, they’re too small, adding to the pile of barely-used footwear. But what if there was a shoe that could adapt as your child’s feet grew, extending its lifespan and reducing waste? This innovative solution by Moa Lövinder is a groundbreaking prototype designed to grow with children aged 2-3 years, offering a sustainable answer to a common problem.

Designer: Moa Lövinder (Umeå Institute of Design)

The concept behind these adaptable shoes is simple yet revolutionary. Using principles of circular design and economy, Lövinder has created a shoe that adjusts to three different sizes, ensuring it remains useful for much longer than traditional footwear. This design not only increases the shoes’ utility but also addresses the rapid consumption and waste typical of children’s products.

In our pursuit of a sustainable future, reducing consumption and emissions is paramount. However, discussions often overlook the significant environmental impact of children’s items. Kids grow quickly, and their needs drive frequent consumption, creating a unique challenge. Lövinder’s project directly tackles this issue by offering a sustainable alternative that reduces the overall production of children’s shoes and promotes recycling.

The journey to this innovative solution began with thorough research. The designer studied the textile and footwear industries, focusing on their environmental impacts. She also conducted surveys and interviews with parents to understand their experiences with their children’s shoes. The feedback was clear, parents were frustrated with the constant need to discard perfectly good shoes simply because they no longer fit.

With this insight, Lövinder set out to create a new shoe design. She developed physical models using manual techniques and advanced 3D printing, ultimately producing a prototype that can grow with its user. The result? A shoe that extends its usability, significantly reducing the need for new shoes and minimizing waste.

But the innovation doesn’t stop there. Her design includes modular components, making it easy for parents to replace parts or make repairs at home. This feature not only prolongs the shoe’s life but also teaches children the value of maintaining and using what they have; a lesson often missing from second-hand solutions or other circular systems. Additionally, the shoe’s sole is crafted from reused materials, which can be recycled again once it reaches the end of its life.

One of the most significant impacts of this project is its potential to change consumption behavior from a young age. By integrating sustainability into children’s daily lives, the design fosters a mindset of responsible consumption that can extend into adulthood. Her growable shoe prototype represents a major step toward reducing the environmental footprint associated with children’s footwear, offering a practical and impactful solution to a widespread issue.

Moa Lövinder’s innovative shoe design for growing children is more than just a product; it’s a vision for a more sustainable future. By addressing the unique challenges of children’s rapid growth, this project provides a viable alternative that benefits both families and the environment. It’s a small step towards a big change, teaching the next generation the importance of sustainability while offering parents a practical solution to a perennial problem.

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4-AL Stool by Paul Matteo Wesser Redefines Sustainable Furniture with Repurposed Materials

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In the world of sustainable design, creative minds constantly push the envelope to discover innovative ways of crafting eco-friendly furniture. The 4-AL stool, designed by Vienna-based Paul Matteo Wesser, stands as a testament to this quest for sustainability. This project not only champions eco-friendly practices but also redefines how we perceive repurposed materials.

Designer: Paul Matteo Wesser

Wesser’s 4-AL stool exemplifies how sustainable furniture can be crafted from repurposed elements. While some designers experiment with unconventional materials like mushroom mycelium or recycled paper, Wesser looked to more readily accessible sources. He turned to online home improvement stores, viewing them as treasure troves of potential. By repurposing metal balcony cladding elements, he transformed them into the stool’s main structure. The aluminum profiles chosen for the frame highlight a commitment to durability, stability, and weather resistance, ensuring the stool’s longevity.

The stool’s design takes inspiration from coastal architecture. Rectangular aluminum panels form a symmetrical base, while a cross-shaped frame supports the seat. Crafted from cane, the seat features a finely woven pattern, adding a warm accent and beautiful texture to the silver-gray aluminum. This combination of materials not only provides visual appeal but also highlights the potential of repurposed elements in modern design.

One of the standout features of the 4-AL stool is its modular design. Both the frame and the cane seat can be easily detached from one another. This thoughtful design enhances the product’s environmental credentials by simplifying recycling and repairs. It ensures that the stool can have a long life, with parts that are easy to replace or recycle.

Wesser’s choice of materials and components from home improvement retailers means that the stool is both accessible and affordable. By utilizing existing parts, he minimized waste and streamlined the manufacturing process. This approach not only reduces the carbon footprint but also makes sustainable furniture more attainable.

4-AL adapts effortlessly to different needs, serving either as extra seating or as a side table. Its modern silhouette and thoughtful material combination make it a versatile addition to any contemporary home.

The 4-AL stool, though currently a prototype, offers an inspiring blueprint for eco-friendly furniture, reducing environmental impact while making a bold statement in home decor. Paul Matteo Wesser’s innovative approach showcases how sustainability and creativity can intersect, providing a path forward for the future of furniture design. This stool is a shining example of how repurposed materials can be transformed into stylish, functional, and sustainable furniture. Its modular design, inspired aesthetic, and practical functionality make it a promising solution for eco-conscious consumers and designers alike.

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Innovative And Sustainable Tiny Homes Transforming Flood-Prone Communities In Bangladesh

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Bangladesh, a country where up to 80% of the land is classified as floodplain, faces significant challenges with flooding, impacting its population of around 170 million. In response to this critical issue, Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, in collaboration with engineers AKT II, has created the Khudi Bari—a simple, low-cost, and highly functional tiny house designed to offer a safe and affordable home adaptable to the country’s challenging conditions.

Designer: Marina Tabassum and AKT II

The Khudi Bari, meaning “small house” in Bengali, stands out for its innovative and practical design. Raised above the ground and accessed via a ladder, this tiny house is not built on wheels but is designed to be easily assembled, dismantled, and relocated without the need for specialist tools. This feature is particularly crucial for Bangladeshi residents who need to quickly move to higher ground to escape encroaching floodwaters.

The construction of this house prioritizes sustainability and local resource utilization. The primary building material is bamboo, complemented by prefabricated recycled aluminum nodes that allow for easy assembly. The walls and roof can be sourced locally and crafted from materials such as polycarbonate and metal. This approach not only reduces costs but also supports local economies.

The interior of the Khudi Bari ranges from 64 sq ft (5.95 sq m) to 144 sq ft (13.4 sq m), consisting of a single, versatile room. This space can be adapted to meet the needs of its occupants, with the area beneath the raised house available for additional living space if necessary. Despite its simplicity, the Khudi Bari provides a dignified living environment for those in need.

The Khudi Bari is not just a conceptual design, it has been put into real-world use. Over 100 units have already been deployed throughout Bangladesh, significantly improving the living conditions for vulnerable populations. The project has been carried out in collaboration with relief organizations and community groups, demonstrating a successful model of community-driven, sustainable architecture.

One of the units is currently showcased at the Vitra Campus in Germany, an exhibition space run by the renowned furniture maker Vitra, known for featuring exceptional architectural designs. This international exposure highlights the global relevance and innovative nature of the Khudi Bari project.

While the exact cost of each unit is not specified, initial prototypes were produced for around £300 (approximately US$380). Efforts are ongoing to further reduce this cost, making the Khudi Bari even more accessible to those in need. This initiative is part of a broader trend in architecture aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change, with similar projects like the Floating Bamboo House and Blooming Bamboo House also contributing to sustainable and resilient housing solutions.

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Heineken Bottles get transformed into Recycled Glassware and Lampshades

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Heineken is taking a bold step towards sustainability with its latest initiative, Waste-to-Wear, coinciding with the launch of returnable bottles in South Africa. This innovative project transforms single-use bottles into stylish homeware and wearable pieces, marking a significant move in the company’s commitment to reducing waste.

Designer: Sonic State and Heineken

The Heineken bottles are usually made of glass, a versatile and long-lasting material. Glass can be easily cleaned and reused, making it an unfortunate choice as a one-time disposable item. This inherent durability and adaptability of glass allow it to be molded and designed into a variety of household items and even wearables, showcasing its potential beyond single use.

The Waste-to-Wear collection is an extension of Heineken South Africa’s Fields Green With Grass, Not Glass initiative. This project aims to tackle two critical issues: reducing environmental impact and enhancing urban aesthetics. By repurposing broken glass “hotspots,” the initiative not only beautifies urban areas but also addresses the ecological consequences of discarded glass bottles.

In collaboration with the creative agency Sonic State, Heineken has repurposed bottles collected from these hotspots into a range of stunning items. These include 3,000 rings, 3,000 medallions, and a unique collection of homeware, such as dinner sets and a hops-inspired pendant light. Each piece reflects thoughtful design and environmental consciousness, demonstrating how waste can be transformed into something beautiful and functional.

This initiative is part of a broader focus on sustainability and community development. It includes the introduction of new returnable bottles and the Green Zones Project, which converts broken glass hotspots into green spaces. The first phase of this project has established five green zones in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, covering over 5,000 square meters. These zones feature indigenous plants and grasses, food gardens, and creative art installations, transforming urban spaces into vibrant, eco-friendly areas.

This project has also brought recognition to Sonic State, which won Bronze at the New York Festivals Ad Awards 2024 for this innovative initiative. This accolade highlights the vision and collaboration between Heineken South Africa, Sonic State, and other industry partners such as Swain Swagger, Bhavna Mistry, and Juaan Ferreira.

The success of the ‘Fields Green With Grass, Not Glass’ campaign and the ‘Waste-to-Wear’ project underscores the impact of creative design in addressing environmental issues. Sonic State’s collaboration with Chas Prettejohn and Ngwenya Glass in Eswatini further demonstrates the power of craftsmanship in transforming waste into art and utility.

The New York Festivals Ad Awards recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the Waste-to-Wear project. It underscores the significant impact of innovative design on our environment and communities. Sonic State’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative design and sustainability sets a high standard for future endeavors, showcasing what can be achieved through vision, collaboration, and a passion for making a difference.

The importance of large organizations like Heineken adopting sustainable practices cannot be overstated. Such initiatives not only address environmental concerns but also raise awareness among a broader audience. Global warming and environmental degradation are often taken lightly by many. However, when a beloved brand like Heineken takes visible and impactful steps towards sustainability, it ignites conversations and fosters a genuine understanding of the issue. The unexpected nature of Heineken-branded wearables and homeware pieces grabs attention and makes a lasting impression, far more than a written declaration of sustainable practices ever could.

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Houseplant, vase, and microbiome work together to purify the air at home

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If you think pollution outdoors is already bad, you might be shocked to learn how bad the air we breathe indoors actually is. Although there’s no smoke from vehicles and other contaminants, there are still Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs that pose just as much of a threat to our health. Air purifiers are en vogue these days, but these machines aren’t always the best solutions, especially if you consider sustainability and environment-friendliness. That said, nature’s own air purifying workers alone might not be enough to handle all those harmful toxins in our homes, so this creative houseplant product combines a normal but potent plant with engineered bacteria to offer a greener way to keep your air at home clean and safe.

Designer: Neoplants

Plants have always been Mother Nature’s hard-working air purifiers, but some plants are just better than others at doing that job. The Marble Queen Pothos plant, for example, is notable for being quite effective while still being suitable as a houseplant. It’s still not enough, though, considering how many VOCs there are in the air we breathe indoors, so science, specifically biotechnology, is ready to lend a helping hand. Or tiny microscopic hands in this case.

The Neo PX utilizes a bioengineered microbiome that contains the evolution of two bacteria specifically designed to break down pollutants such as Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene, collectively referred to as BTX, into substances like sugars and proteins that are beneficial to the growth of a plant. These bacteria are dried up and packaged as “Power Drops” that are dissolved in water and then poured into the soil of the house plant. Not only do these microorganisms help remove the VOCs from the air, they also transform them into nutrients for the Marble Queen Pothos plant growing from it.

Even the plant pot itself, the third part of the Neo PX system, is specially designed to facilitate this process. Unlike a typical pot, it has vents at the bottom and an internal structure that facilitates airflow, bringing the dirty air into the bacteria-enriched soil to enhance the plant’s root growth. It also incorporates a simple self-watering system so that you only need to refill the water reservoir once every three weeks during winter or once every two weeks in summer.

The best part of this system is that it doesn’t require any electricity or chemicals to function. The shell of the pot itself is made from eco-friendly PLA Flax derived from renewable and biodegradable materials. There are no fans for sucking up and blowing out air, so you don’t have to worry about charging anything or keeping it near a wall socket. Neo PX is definitely an interesting air purifying solution that also adds to the aesthetic of a room with its minimalist design and lush green foliage, keeping your air clean while also helping to keep the planet alive.

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Concrete made from food waste can be edible

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When I hear the word “edible concrete”, the visual that comes to my mind is straight out of a horror or dystopian story: people gnawing at walls because they have nothing more to eat. But of course that’s just my overactive imagination. It’s of course a recent development in construction innovation from scientists at University of Tokyo to make concrete from food waste.

Designer: University of Tokyo

The scientists have been looking to create concrete made from organic materials like coffee grounds, banana peels, Chinese cabbage, and orange skins. These materials are dried and compressed and then mixed with water and seasonings. Afterwards, they’re compressed in a high-temperature mold to create concrete material.

In this early stage of their experiment, they discovered that the material is actually able to avoid bending better than actual concrete and is three times stronger. It can also resist rot, fungi, and insects which is of course important for concrete aside from the bending strength. It is also edible, although that is probably not the most delicious or nutritious thing to consume.

With concrete being the highest-consumed product (aside from water) but also accounting for billions of tons of carbon dioxide release and food loss and waste accounting for a third of all food for human consumption, it would be a big help if this eventually becomes a fully-developed product. Even if it won’t be used for building construction, maybe there are other applications for concrete made from food-waste material.

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