5 activists turning plastic waste into art
Over 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced in the last 70 years, yet only 8% is recycled. Here are five activists putting excess plastic to good use. Plastic pollution has increased at an exponential rate over the years, causing devastation for wildlife and ecosystems both on land...
Current in Design
Arquitectura por la vida: Covid-secure performance venues are here
Despite our hopes for the vaccine, restrictions on our social lives seem to loom indefinitely. New collaborative architecture firms have proposed social distancing-friendly performance venues to keep things afloat. By this point, it is no surprise that social distancing laws have had a devastating financial impact on public venues, despite...
Are 3D printed houses the answer to sustainable housing?
A new project called TECLA uses recycled materials and zero waste to 3D print entire houses. There’s a lot to love, but I’m still trying to figure out how you’d hang pictures on the wall. Ever wanted to live in an igloo, but not a fan of the cold? You might...
Amazon’s new HQ is an example of eco-conscious architecture
Amazon’s helix design for their new HQ in Arlington, Virginia is all about creating a healthy space for the community and the planet. Architecture firm NBBJ’s proposed 350-foot-tall design recently did the rounds on social media, being compared to a certain brown emoji that sounds a lot like Patrick Stewart,...
Science and agriculture come together in art installation
This 20,000 square metre installation covers not only a large area, but also some big ideas about sustainable agriculture. Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde’s latest installation ‘Grow’ isn’t just a spectacle for the eyes, the mesmerizing combination of colours have a scientific basis as well. The recipe of blue, red, and...
Stefano Boeri aims to build the first ever sustainable ‘Smart Forest City’
Italian architect Stefano Boeri, famous for integrating plants and natural ecosystems within high rise buildings, has unveiled plans for an ambitious circular ‘Smart City’ in the heart of Cancun. It may be steeped in the history of an ancient civilisation, but Mexico’s city of Cancun could soon become a modern...
Gen Z art platform ‘Untitled’ launches new website
Powered by parent company TLNT, ‘Untitled’ gives young creatives a place to connect with industry experts and pick up new skills – and it’s just launched a brand-new site. If you’re a young creative or artist hoping to find connections and make a splash, you may way to check out the ‘Untitled’ platform, which gives Gen Zers the resources they need to start building up a portfolio and make...
Explaining the rise of ‘flat designs’ in 2021
Burger King is the latest big-name franchise to adopt a new ‘flat’ logo. It’s part of a rising graphic design trend that appeals to Gen Zers and mimics the slick style of social apps. The popular fast food chain Burger King has just unveiled its latest branding redesign and it’s about as clean, minimal, and flat as you’d expect from a big name in 2021. It follows in the footsteps...
Architects create new sculpture entirely from plant waste
Installed at Tennessee’s Knoxville Museum of Art, a new sculpture made from invasive forestry and plant waste is promoting an ‘alternative material ethic’ for architecture. Who needs brick and mortar when you’re constructing the world’s next best building or architectural masterpiece? Not ‘After Architecture’ co-founders Katie MacDonald and Kyle Schumann, that’s for sure. The pair have just unveiled their latest work in Tennessee called ‘Homegrown’, a large-scale installation constructed from...
CRA unveils first fully compostable marker pens
Made from natural fibres, these new marker pens from the Carlo Ratti Association are entirely compostable and could eventually replace traditional, plastic highlighters. Your local school arts and crafts box could be about to get a whole lot more environmentally friendly. The Carlo Ratti Association (CRA) has revealed the world’s first fully compostable marker pens that are made from natural fibres and non-toxic, water based inks. Considering that the US...
