Worsening natural hazards an "opportunity" to rethink cities says Amy Chester
The increasing need to protect cities from environmental hazards is a chance to transform communities for the better, says Rebuild By Design managing director Amy Chester in this interview for our Designing for Disaster series. More
"The trees themselves" raise wildfire alarm in ForestGuard detection system
Wildfires can be detected before they spread or even before they start using a new satellite-enabled sensor system created by a group of Turkish recent design graduates and spotlighted by Dezeen as part of our Designing for Disaster series. More
Emy Bensdorp takes on PFAS pollution by turning "toxic" soil into bricks
Designer Emy Bensdorp has found a way to clean PFAS "forever chemicals" from contaminated clay soil by firing it into bricks as part of a project showcased at Dutch Design Week. More
PulpaTronics tackles single-use electronics with paper RFID tags
A group of design graduates from London's Royal College of Art have come up with a way to make RFID tags entirely from paper, with no metal or silicon components in a bid to cut down on waste from single-use electronics. More
British student's wearable CNC machine gives makers "superhuman" abilities
Aiming to bridge the worlds of human and robotic construction, product design engineer Jasper Mallinson has created a wearable CNC machine that he believes could one day be used on worksites to help realise parametric designs. More
Ukrainian designers hold Dysarium conference to "inspire and unite"
Air raids, electricity outages and zero commercial flights have been some of the obstacles facing the organisers of Dysarium, which will be the largest design event to be held in Ukraine since the Russian invasion when it takes place next week. More
Customisable 3D-printed handles take pain out of toothbrushing for people with limited dexterity
More than 142 different handle designs feature in this range of adaptive toothbrush add-ons, created by brand consultancy Landor & Fitch for people with dexterity challenges. More
Will & Well designs Adaptable collection to make fashion more inclusive
Singapore brand Will & Well has designed a clothing collection to enable people with disabilities to dress more easily, while also appealing to anyone who ever struggled with a clasp. More
Australian student invents affordable electric car conversion kit
Australian design student Alexander Burton has developed a prototype kit for cheaply converting petrol or diesel cars to hybrid electric, winning the country's national James Dyson Award in the process. More
The Tyre Collective turns microplastic tyre-wear particles into objects
British startup The Tyre Collective has begun to make products from the microplastic particles that come off car tyres as they drive on roads, producing results including jewellery, a lamp and a battery. More
Gareth Neal and the New Raw develop 3D printing style based on crafts
British designer Gareth Neal and Dutch studio The New Raw have used thrice-recycled plastic and a new 3D-printing method to create the objects in the Digitally Woven series, which are printed in loops rather than layers. More
Parley for the Oceans to recycle Christo and Jeanne-Claude's L'Arc de Triomphe Wrapped
L'Arc de Triomphe Wrapped, artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude's last work, is being recycled by Parley for the Oceans, which will turn it into tents and sun shades for use during the 2024 Olympics and other events in Paris. More
Lemmo One bicycle transforms from analogue to electric with a simple attachment
Mobility design studio Springtime Design aimed to avoid some of the pitfalls of e-bikes when developing this two-in-one bicycle for German manufacturer Lemmo. More
Haptic lingerie uses AI to craft erotica based on the user's touch
Designer Summer Chen has combined artificial intelligence and sensor-embedded lingerie to create a "touch-to-text" system generating erotica, developed as part of her studies at the Royal College of Art. More
Normal Phenomena of Life brand launches to sell biodesigned products
After years of exploring the merging of biotechnology with design, Natsai Audrey Chieza and Christina Agapakis have started what they describe as the "first biodesign lifestyle brand", which launched at London Design Festival. More
AAU Anastas designs The Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem as hub for makers and creatives
Palestinian architects AAU Anastas have built a production facility and cultural hub in Bethlehem, which brings together the many strands of their cross-disciplinary practice and includes a radio station and restaurant. More
Fairphone 5 smartphone launches with "fairest battery yet"
Tech company Fairphone has worked with Swedish design agency Above to produce the latest version of its ethical smartphone, with a focus on reducing the environmental and social impacts of battery metal mining. More
Eleonora Ortolani recycles plastic into vanilla ice-cream
Designer Eleonora Ortolani has created what she believes to be the first food made from plastic waste, as part of her final-year project at Central Saint Martins. More
Orbital Materials combines ChatGPT with physics to invent "transformational materials"
The first materials designed by AI could be less than 18 months away, according to Orbital Materials CEO Jonathan Godwin, who aims to harness the technology to create materials to help with carbon capture. More
AI's "eye-watering" use of resources could be a hurdle to achieving climate goals, argue experts
The growth of AI will put an increased environmental burden on the planet, say experts who argue it's time to think about the invisible physical infrastructures of our technology. More