Design
Algae is going mainstream as Kanye West unveils algae-based sneakers
We can already imagine some of our readers facepalming after reading this headline, but the fact of the matter is nothing spreads faster than when an “influencer” bringing it to the mainstream. That’s why it’s awesome that Kanye West unveiled a new shoe prototype from his Yeezy fashion Read More...
This fabric is made from an abundantly growing cactus in Mexico
There are so many fashion brands on the market making gorgeous vegan leather goods that are totally animal-free — but most of those brands use plastic-derived materials to achieve the look. However, a new brand out of Mexico, called Desserto, is shaking things up by turning nopal cactus leaves Read More...
Coffee pods finally have a biodegradable alternative
The coffee pod is a nemesis to environmentalists, overflowing landfills across Europe and America by the millions. These pods, which are made from aluminum and plastic, are an especially frustrating source of waste because there are simply much greener ways of making coffee that require just as Read More...
This carbon-negatives raincoat is made entirely from algae bioplastic
A New York designer, by the name of Charlotte McCurdy, has created a water-resistant jacket made from a bioplastic material derived entirely from large-celled algae. Because the jacket is made of algae, which is the single biggest capturer of CO2 from the atmosphere, it’s technically Read More...
New modular units could restore dignity to transitional homeless shelters
Inside a typical transitional homeless shelter, where people stay while waiting to get a spot in permanent housing, 20 or 30 beds might be clustered together in a single room. Privacy doesn’t exist. But a new, modular design (not shown in photo) for shelter furniture, called Dome—a little like Read More...
A Mexican student has made pavement that self-repairs with rain using old tires
Wouldn’t it be amazing if rain repaired roads rather than damage them? Well, that could soon become a reality thanks to a student by the name Israel Antonio Briseño Carmona. Using recycled tires combined with additives, the student has created a sort-of rubber pavement that turns rain into a Read More...
This wound-healing sticky tape was inspired by spiders in the rain
When it comes to design, there’s no better source of inspiration than nature. Recently, scientists at MIT took inspiration from spiders to create a double-sided tape that sticks body issues together after surgery. When it rains, spiders exude a special type of “glue” that allows them to Read More...
Circular cotton: A Swedish brand is making new shirts from old cotton clothes
The vast majority of unwanted or worn-out clothing ends up in the landfill or at incineration plants. That’s a huge problem, one that Swedish company, Re:newcell, is on a mission to tackle. To do this, Re:newcell has developed a new material called Circulose that is made from recycled cotton Read More...
A Dutch design studio is turning storm-felled trees into beautiful benches
When a powerful storm ran through the Dutch city of Eindhoven last year, nearly 1,000 trees fell victim to heavy winds and found themselves uprooted from the ground. Typically those felled trees would be thrown into a wood chipper and disposed of, but a Dutch design studio thought of a clever way Read More...
This gorgeous 3D-printed home could be the future of sustainable living
In recent years, architects have become fascinated with 3D-printing. Often heralded as affordable and sustainable, 3D-printed homes are beginning to spring up everywhere from the Netherlands to Austin, Texas. It seems the technology is finally catching up with the construction industry’s Read More...