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Design Beyond Aesthetics
A design journal exploring design, architecture, visual culture, and contemporary creativity through critical observation and cultural analysis.
The blog examines how visual systems shape identity, power, and perception in contemporary society — connecting form, meaning, and creative intelligence. Published on otaviosantiago.com, it reflects an independent designer’s perspective on how design operates beyond aesthetics, as a cultural and political force.


Trovador: The Tree-Planting Robot Designed to Fight Deforestation and Restore Burned Landscapes
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 a
1 day ago


Plastic-Free Soy Sauce Fish Dropper Designed to Decompose in Weeks, Not Years
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. Desi
2 days ago


World’s First Flying Car Begins Hand Assembly in California
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
3 days ago


Smart Socks for Diabetes That Restore Sensation and Reduce Chronic Pain
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 elect
Dec 30, 2025


Meet Ori: the world’s first frameless umbrella inspired by origami
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 structur
Dec 28, 2025


A 3D Printed Synthesizer for Toddlers: Where Early Learning Meets Creative Technology
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
Dec 23, 2025


Ghiotto: An Inclusive Boccia Ramp Designed to Bring Children With and Without Disabilities Together
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 relat
Dec 19, 2025


Peelware Reinvents Sustainability with Peelable Paper Plates Made for Reuse
Peelware Introduces a New Era of Reusable Peelable Paper Plates Sustainability in everyday products continues to evolve, and Peelware’s newest innovation pushes the idea of low-waste dining to a new level. Their peelable paper plates introduce a smart, layered system that drastically reduces waste while eliminating the need for washing dishes. Instead of throwing away a full plate after one meal, users can peel off the top layer to reveal a clean, ready-to-use surface beneat
Dec 16, 2025


Inside a Leading Creative Design Studio Essentials
Walking into a creative studio is like stepping into a vibrant ecosystem where ideas bloom and transform into visual stories. Have you ever wondered what fuels the magic behind those compelling designs that captivate audiences? It’s not just talent or technology—it’s a carefully crafted environment, a blend of culture, tools, and processes that together shape the creative journey. Today, I want to take you inside a leading creative studio essentials, sharing insights that ill
Dec 14, 2025


KAWS Unveils 32-Meter Companion Lifting a Glowing Moon on Abu Dhabi’s Waterfront
KAWS Lights Up Abu Dhabi with a Monumental Moonlit Companion A new chapter in the global KAWS:HOLIDAY series has arrived, and this time the artist’s iconic Companion stretches 32 meters across the waterfront of Mina Zayed. Instead of floating or standing, the figure reclines gently at the edge of the promenade, holding a glowing moon to its chest. The installation, created with long-time collaborator. All Rights Reserved, forms the centerpiece of Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 , a city
Dec 14, 2025


SOLARIS: The World’s First Self-Charging Solar Motorcycle Redefining Autonomous Mobility
SOLARIS , developed by MASK Architects , is presented as the world’s first self-charging solar motorcycle —a mobility concept capable of generating all its own energy without fuel, power grids, or external charging networks. Designed under the studio’s “Invent and Integrate” philosophy, founders Öznur Pınar Cer and Danilo Petta introduce a transportation model built around energy independence and off-grid autonomy. At the heart of the system are retractable circular photovo
Nov 29, 2025


How Stone Construction Is Transforming Low-Carbon Architecture in the UK
The Design Museum in London is accelerating the UK's shift toward stone construction with the Stone Demonstrator, a full-scale prototype that proves natural stone can dramatically reduce the carbon impact of everyday buildings. Installed at Empress Place within the Earls Court development, the structure replaces concrete, fired clay bricks, and almost all steel with granite and limestone — resulting in approximately 90% lower carbon emissions . Created by the Design Museum’s
Nov 28, 2025


The Coperni Spray-On Dress: When Technology and Haute Couture Collide at Paris Fashion Week
Fashion and technology converged in one of the most unforgettable moments of Paris Fashion Week when Coperni partnered with Fabrican to create a dress live on model Bella Hadid. Presented during the Spring/Summer 2023 show, the performance instantly went viral — an example of how innovation, spectacle, and design storytelling can reshape the future of fashion. A Spray-on Dress Materializing in Real Time The show took place inside the Salle des Textiles at the Musée des Arts
Nov 26, 2025


Celebrating a Decade of Design: STRATES at Galerie Philia
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Galerie Philia presents STRATES , an ambitious exhibition spread across two of France’s most striking Brutalist sites: Jacques Kalisz’s Mont d’Est car park and Ricardo Bofill’s Espaces Abraxas in Noisy-le-Grand, Grand Paris. On view until November 30, 2025 , the show reflects on a decade of curatorial exploration in which the gallery has continually bridged contemporary design, architecture, philosophy, and civic life. A Journey Through
Oct 30, 2025
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