PLANBUREAU Studio has created a metallic paper piggy bank  for the Hungarian branch of Red Noses International , an organization supporting hospital clown doctors. The brief was simple but challenging: design an object for the charity shop that teaches children how to save—and how to donate—while keeping the retail price under 10 EUR  and production costs low. The result is a playful, build-it-yourself piggy bank made entirely of paper, turning a familiar object into a small

The relationship between design and art   has shaped visual culture for centuries. While often treated as separate disciplines, design and art continuously influence, challenge, and redefine one another. Together, they form a shared language of expression, structure, meaning, and cultural reflection . Design is commonly associated with function, clarity, and communication. Art is associated with expression, interpretation, and autonomy. Yet in practice, the boundary between

The connection between design and sustainability  is no longer optional — it is essential. Design shapes products, systems, behaviors, and values. Every decision, from material choice to digital interface, carries environmental, social, and cultural consequences. Design determines not only what  we create, but how  it is produced, distributed, consumed, and discarded. In a world facing climate urgency, resource scarcity, and social imbalance, design has moved from decoration

Design and technology  have always evolved together, shaping how societies build, move, communicate, and imagine the future. From the invention of printing to digital interfaces, every technological shift has transformed how design functions as a cultural and practical tool. Today, design and technology  are inseparable forces defining contemporary and future visual language. Technology introduces new tools, systems, and possibilities, while design gives those systems form,

An Electric Solo JetBike With Enclosed Jet Propulsion Instead of Propellers LEO Flight has introduced the electric Solo JetBike , a compact one-person aircraft concept that hovers using electric jets instead of propellers . This innovative design serves as a low-altitude personal air vehicle that requires no pilot’s license . The electric Solo JetBike proposes a radically different approach to ultralight aviation. Following the still-concept LEO Coupe , the JetBike utilizes

Les Caryatides Guyancourt and French Postmodernism Les Caryatides Guyancourt  stands as one of the most provocative expressions of French postmodern architecture from the early 1990s. Designed by Manuel Núñez Yanowsky, the housing complex emerges at a moment when architects in France were actively rejecting late-modern functionalism and reintroducing history, symbolism, and theatrical form into the built environment. Alongside figures like Ricardo Bofill and Christian de Port

A Moss-Covered Earthen Roof Blends Architecture and Landscape The Sekiyuan Waiting Area  in Ichihara City, Chiba, is a small architectural gesture with unusually rich cultural depth. Designed and built by Kurosawa Kawara-ten  together with an architect and an artist—none of them professional builders in the traditional sense—the structure is a quiet but significant exploration of how informal building practices  can contribute to contemporary architecture. The project was car

Nike’s Project Amplify signals a new chapter in Nike wearable design , where footwear evolves into a hybrid system that extends the body itself. Rather than focusing on elite performance gains, the motor-assisted anklet reframes athletic design around accessibility, endurance, and everyday movement. Developed in collaboration with robotics company Dephy, Project Amplify is conceived as a wearable “second set of calf muscles.” The device adheres to the lower leg, integrating a

Why 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Instruments Matter for Modern Musicians Forte3D is rethinking the future of string performance with 3D printed carbon fiber instruments  built to survive real-world conditions that often damage traditional wood. Where wooden cellos and violins can crack, warp, or slowly deform with changes in humidity and temperature, carbon fiber stays stable—helping musicians travel, rehearse, and perform with less anxiety about the environment. The idea began w

A new plant-based plastic  developed by researchers at Japan’s RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science dissolves completely in water within just a few hours — leaving no microplastics or residue behind. Built from cellulose, one of the most abundant natural materials on Earth, the innovation points toward a future where packaging no longer becomes permanent pollution. How This Plant-Based Plastic Works The newly developed plant-based plastic  is built using carboxymethyl cel

How the Tree-Planting Robot Works on Burned and Steep Terrain Trovador  is an autonomous tree-planting robot  designed to combat deforestation by restoring burned and degraded land. Developed by engineering students Marta Bernardino  and Sebastião Mendonça , the project proposes an automated method capable of planting seedlings in steep, fire-affected areas where human access is difficult or dangerous. The first prototype, introduced in 2023 by Bernardino, takes the form of

Rethinking Single-Use Objects with a Plastic-Free Soy Sauce Fish Dropper Single-use food packaging is often designed for moments but persists for decades. The plastic-free soy sauce fish dropper  created by Heliograf and Vert Design challenges this imbalance by aligning material lifespan with actual use. Named Holy Carp! , the small container replaces the iconic plastic soy sauce fish with a biodegradable alternative that decomposes in soil within weeks instead of years. Des

The world’s first flying car  has officially entered production. Alef Aeronautics has started hand-assembling its Alef Model A in California, marking a major milestone in personal mobility. Built in Silicon Valley, the vehicle represents the first consumer-ready version of a flying car designed for real-world use, testing, and future scalability. Alef Aeronautics Starts Production of Its Flying Car Alef Aeronautics confirmed that production of its flying car , the Model A Ult

Smart Socks for Diabetes That Help Users Feel the Ground Again People living with diabetes often struggle with neuropathy , a nerve-damage condition that reduces sensation in the feet and increases the risk of falls, ulcers, chronic pain, and infections. ETH Zurich spin-off MYNERVA  has created a breakthrough solution : Leia , a pair of smart socks for diabetes designed to restore sensation in the foot sole and relieve neuropathic pain without medication. Leia integrates elec

Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia have developed a groundbreaking construction material that encases rammed earth inside permanent cardboard tubes , eliminating the need for cement and significantly reducing embodied carbon. The system, known as CCRE ( cardboard-confined rammed earth ) , offers a low-carbon, lightweight, and thermally efficient alternative for low-rise and modular architecture. A low-carbon redesign of rammed earth

A new hardware startup founded by MIT engineers and leading origami innovators is rethinking one of the most overlooked pieces of everyday design : the umbrella. Ori , the world’s first frameless origami umbrella , replaces metal ribs and fabric with a single engineered canopy that folds with architectural precision. At full size, Ori offers a standard 1-meter canopy. When closed, it collapses into a 3.5 × 23 cm cylinder , turning the canopy itself into the supporting structu

A 3D Printed Synthesizer for Toddlers: Designing Early Creativity Through Play What if a toddler’s first toy wasn’t just for pushing buttons — but for composing electronic music ? Software engineer Alastair Roberts brings that idea to life with Alma , a fully functional 3D printed synthesizer for toddlers . Designed as a playful introduction to sound, rhythm, and creative discovery, Alma bridges the worlds of product design, music technology, and childhood learning . With an

What begins as a cute fashion accessory quickly reveals itself as an impressive case study in interaction design , tactile robotics , and emotional technology . Mirumi , the mini attachable robot  developed by Yukai Engineering , transforms everyday objects—bag handles, belt loops, straps—into small stages for expression. Once a prototype shown at CES 2025 , the robot is now headed toward real production, bringing lifelike behavior, soft materials, and charm into the world of

Inclusive Boccia Ramp Ghiotto  is an inclusive boccia ramp  created to strengthen social interaction among children with and without disabilities in school environments. Designed by Diego Reggiani  as part of a university design laboratory at Politecnico di Milano , the project was shortlisted for the iF Design Student Award . Rooted in universal design principles, Ghiotto aims to address a meaningful challenge: helping wheelchair-using children connect, play, and build rela

When I first stepped into the world of design, I quickly realized that success isn’t just about making things look pretty. It’s about crafting visual stories that resonate deeply and communicate clearly. How do you balance creativity with functionality? How do you ensure your designs don’t just catch the eye but also hold attention and inspire action? These questions have guided my journey and shaped my approach to the essentials of graphic and web design. Understanding the P