Design News is your tiny dose of design, technology and other important news, curated monthly by Interwoven Design. In this series we share the latest on our favorite topics, including sustainable design, design events in NYC, adaptive design, and women in design. In this issue: read about innovations in biomaterials and biotech, appreciate classic industrial design in the Eames pop-up at Herman Miller, and witness the power of color at Vitra’s new color-coded exhibit.
Studio MOM’s eco-friendly bicycle helmet
Dutch design office Studio MOM has developed MyHelmet, a bike helmet that is manufactured with a combination of mycelium and a hemp textile, creating a composite that can be produced sustainably and composted after use. Most bike helmets on the market are made with non-biodegradable expanded polystyrene and are difficult or impossible to disassemble at the end of life. Studio MOM wanted to use innovative biomaterials to create an offering that would reflect the principles of a circular economy. They explained to Dezeen, “MyHelmet fits in with principles of the circular economy. There are minimal CO2 emissions, it does not require any fossil raw materials and the end result is 100 per cent biodegradable.”
via Dezeen
Biofabricate, where design meets biology
Designed and facilitated by visionaries in the field, the Biofabricate Summit invites creators to integrate biotech into their future projects. The 2022 event is a 2-day conference showcasing the next wave of bio-innovators, with featured sectors including fashion, sport, wellness, mobility and construction. Join innovators and learn from biotech pioneers June 6-7 at Newlab in Brooklyn, NY.
via Newlab
Bye-bye to the iPod!
Almost 22 years after its historic, record-breaking launch, Apple is stopping production of the iPod. The initial design concept was a music product that would encourage people to buy Apple’s computers. They weren’t the first to the market but they edged out the competition with their smart and intuitive user interfaces (that trackwheel!) and 99 cent tracks that prioritized selling hardware over software. The design far exceeded expectations, selling millions, revolutionizing the market, serving as a model for success for decades, and eventually inspiring the iPhone.
Eames Institute at Herman Miller NYC
As part of NYCxDesign, the Eames Institute is holding its first pop-up exhibition at the Herman Miller Flagship. Herman Miller still manufactures all Eames furniture in the US, making the location of the pop-up especially fitting. Visitors can expect to see thousands of artifacts designed and collected by Ray and Charles Eames, including iterative ‘sketches’ of furniture pieces, notes, polaroids, and toys. This will be a preview of a massive display of small objects that The Eames Institute is organizing for later exhibition. On view until May 22nd.
via Designboom
New adaptive computer accessories
Microsoft has launched a set of accessories that allow those with limited mobility or visual impairments to more easily and comfortably use a computer or laptop. The collection can be customized to suit different bodies, requirements, and preferences. The collection was developed by Microsoft’s inclusive Tech Lab, which specializes in adaptive design.
via Dezeen
Color Rush! by Sabine Marcelis at Vitra
Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis’ Color Rush! exhibit sorts 400 of Vitra’s 7,000 object archive by color, resulting in a rainbow arrangement of products that juxtaposes radically different periods and styles while providing a vibrant, immersive experience. The objects are sorted by color gradients and displayed against a translucent background. The monochromatic presentation reveals the power of texture and material in design while creating a tour of design history via Vitra’s iconic furniture archive. On display from May 2022 to May 2023.
via Vitra
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