Three ways bioplastics are being turned into everyday objects
Once we find the right formulas, the use of eco-friendly bioplastics can be applied to create virtually any object. From its uses in the fashion industry to valuable pieces of art and even furniture-making, let’s take a look at some of the latest designs using bioplastic. I probably don’t have...
Current in Design
ChopValue is turning throwaway chopsticks into furniture
The Canadian-based company has just diverted its hundred-millionth chopstick away from landfill. These throwaway items are being transformed into furniture and even resturant interiors at McDonald’s. When tucking into some lunchtime ramen, we scarcely think about how our chopsticks came to be or where they will ultimately end up. Well, for...
Paper pins to replace traditional Remembrance Day poppies
Looking to reduce the waste produced by a commemorative day celebrated across the UK, the Royal British Legion embarked upon a three-year journey to replace the traditionally plastic poppies with upcycled paper pins. Every year in November, 45 million poppy pins are sold in Britain as the nation prepares to...
NEOM provides fresh updates on its latest luxury island project
The Saudi-based architecture firm NEOM has gotten to work on a handful of futuristic projects in recent years. Now, it’s announced new details of its plan for Shushah Island. Those involved with urban planning are now faced with major challenges in light of our mounting environmental and resource crises. Experimentation, innovation,...
Elijah Mckenzie-Jackson’s ‘321 ping’ is an evocative piece about US gun violence
Renowned for creating art rich in social commentary, Elijah McKenzie-Jackson has just unveiled his newest piece ‘321 ping’ - which intends to highlight the staggering number of victims who succumb to gun violence every day in the US. ‘As an artist, I feel it is my duty to use my...
Saudi Arabia is set to build another super skyscraper
The latest futuristic design coming out of Saudi Arabia is a 19 sq km structure to be based in Riyadh named The Mukaab. In recent months, Saudi Arabia’s abundance of oil money has sparked the design of some absolutely insane architectural projects. First was The Line, put forward by the design...
How discarded cocoa beans are turned into eco-friendly materials
Only half of every cocoa bean harvested is utilised to make food products, with the rest going to waste. A team of Italian-Ecuadorian designers saw this as an opportunity to generate a material that would transform the traditionally linear and wasteful commercial cocoa industry into a circular one. We’re suckers for design, innovation, and sustainability at Thred. Take an approach that combines all three and… well, we’re sold. That’s what the...
The female golden resistance takes centre stage in Manhattan
Across New York City’s Flatiron district, a rare and long overdue golden resistance is taking place. Havah…to breathe, air, life is a new public project showcasing a duo of female-figured sculptures. Created by Pakistani-American artist Shahzia Sikander, Havah…to breathe, air, life aims to address recent ‘setbacks to women’s constitutional progress’ following significant events such as the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the reversal of Roe v. Wade last...
Copenhagen’s eco-village meets all 17 Sustainable Development Goals
An eco-village under construction in Copenhagen is redefining what sustainability means within architecture. Instead of focusing on purely renewable energy or green building materials, it consciously addresses all 17 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. South of the city centre in Copenhagen, a residential area called Ørestad is being constructed and it may just become the most sustainable neighbourhood on the planet. While it wouldn’t be the first village constructed with...
New York’s notorious prison could be transformed into a green hub
The local council has planned to close New York’s most notorious prison by 2027. In efforts to decarbonise the state, designers have put forward ideas to turn Riker’s Island into a green energy hub. Over the years, Riker’s Island – a 400-acre piece of land located between the Bronx and Queens – has gained a reputation for being home to one of the world’s most brutal prisons. Most people know about...
