Comments update: Kanye West's Yeezy collection for Adidas – described by the rapper himself as the world's "first solutions-based" clothing line – was the most commented story this week.
The Yeezy collection's stripped-down style was largely praised by readers.
"Understated, unpretentious and not half bad," said SteveLeo. "I actually want those shoes".
But not everyone was convinced. "Paying a lot of money to look poor is just silly," wrote more than one reader compared the range to a "homeless vagrant" clothing line from satirical fashion-based film Zoolander.
Others felt the Yeezy collection was too similar to designs by Helmut Lang and Rick Owens. Read the comments on this story »
iCar: technology giant Apple is designing a new electronic car, according to rumours that emerged over the weekend. The story left readers guessing about the tech giant's vehicular intentions.
"I suspect they're focussing on building race cars," said regular Dezeen commenter The Liberty Disciple. "Think of all the modern advances in automobiles that have come from solving racing problems: fuel-cells, power management, batteries, and lightweight structures will be in all of Apple's future products".
Some readers were more suspicious, wondering if the design would share some of the upgrade issues associated with Apple's existing product range.
"I bet you it won't accept third-party charging cables," wrote Chris MacDonald who added that the next iteration will probably "have a different charging cable rendering your current one useless". Read the comments on this story »
Armed response: a report on a police seizure of 3D-printed weapons in Australia sparked a debate over what constitutes design news this week.
"How is this design news?!" asked EOLA. "Please stop this inane fascination with anything 3D printed".
"I think this is a valid news article for Dezeen to publish," responded John Patrick Sayer. "The ability to create intricate objects such as guns in your bedroom develops ethical challenges for the design industry and wider world".
The Liberty Disciple agreed, adding: "Design and manufacturing cannot be restricted forever. Technology is freeing us as it also enslaves us." Read the comments on this story »
Gut rot: prompting a wider discussion about speculative design, this project imagined how synthetic biology could be used to modify the human body so it can consume and digest rotten food.
"The problem with most speculative design projects is that they rely too much on aesthetics and lack more informed, committed and deeper research," argued Pedro Oliveira.
Helen agreed, stating: "It would be really great for the speculative folk to stop pretending this stuff is research and say what it really is: poorly researched, badly written science fiction".
However, other readers defended the project and its use of aesthetics.
"Aesthetics are a way to draw people into a project," explained Jess. "Unfortunately a great design concept that doesn’t photograph well is worth almost nothing these days". Read the comments on this story »