Scribble's colour-matching pen can write in millions of tones
San Francisco company Scribble Technology has revealed a prototype for a writing device that can scan specific tones and then write in the same colour (+ slideshow). More
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Cut&Paste announces online product design showcase
Dezeen promotion: HP, Intel and creative programme producers Cut&Paste have announced the start of their collaborative LaunchBox showcase – an online exhibition of some of Europe's newest pre-crowdfunded product campaigns. More
"Making something big happen at an urban scale is more than a popularity contest"
Opinion: crowdfunding platforms have rules about pitching for money to make products that haven't been developed to prototype stage – the same rules should apply to crowdfunding campaigns for civic projects, says Alexandra Lange. More
BCXSY's Mixed Animals magnetic soft toys launch on Kickstarter
Amsterdam studio BCXSY has launched a crowdfunding campaign to produce its plush toys with body parts that can be interchanged using magnets (+ slideshow). More
Cut&Paste and HP launch contest for pre-crowdfunded product campaigns
Dezeen promotion: Creative program producers Cut&Paste have teamed up with Intel and HP to run a new product design contest called LaunchBox, with over £14,000 in prizes to be won for potential crowdfunding projects. More
Kawamura Ganjavian designs Kangaroo Light for the bottom of your bag
Spain and Switzerland-based studio Kawamura Ganjavian launched a Kickstarter campaign this week to fund a flexible glowing lamp (+ slideshow). More
MoMA Design Store presents Kickstarter-funded products at New York Design Week
New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design Store is showcasing a selection of products originally funded via crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, including a tiny slide projector and pen that draws in 3D, as part of the city's design week. More
Hanna Yoon's Experience Journal helps you record your favourite places
New York product designer Hanna Yoon has created a notebook that encourages users to remember significant moments and locations through sketches and jottings rather than with digital devices. More
"Smart" bicycle by Vanhawks gives directions with flashing lights and vibrating safety alerts
The Canada-based creators of the Vanhawks Valour claim to have designed the "first smart, connected bicycle", which gives riders directions as well as alerts to prevent them cycling into dangerous situations. More
Luke Jerram transforms Bristol's Park Street into 90 metre water slide
For one day only, British artist Luke Jerram transformed a street in Bristol's city centre into a huge water slide that could only be traversed by lilo (+ movie). More
3D drawing will "give the world a new way to communicate"
News: a new generation of 3D printing pens will "improve the creativity of everybody" and "give the world a new way to communicate," according to the designer of the Lix pen, which launched on Kickstarter this week and has already raised over £400,000 (+ interview). More
Kickstarter means that "big brands are at a disadvantage"
Kickstarter has changed the way designers get their products to market and shifted the balance of power between individuals and corporations, according to the crowdfunding website's co-founder and CEO Yancey Strickler (+ interview). More
Pocket-sized printer creates documents by rolling across pages
This teardrop shaped portable printer from Israeli studio Zuta Labs wirelessly prints documents from tablets, smartphones or desktop computers. More
Chineasy illustrated characters designed to make learning Chinese easy
This system of illustrated characters and animations was developed to help people learn to read Chinese, and is one of the 76 projects nominated for Designs of the Year 2014 (+ slideshow). More
Paul Cocksedge's Double O bike lights slot securely around a D-lock
London designer Paul Cocksedge has launched a set of circular bike lights on Kickstarter that can be locked to a bicycle by slotting them over a standard lock (+ movie). More
Imogen Heap launches funding drive for gloves that turn gestures into music
News: musician Imogen Heap is to put an experimental electronic glove into production, creating a tool that will allow anyone to interact with their computer remotely via hand gestures. Update: this interview is featured in Dezeen Book of Interviews, which is on sale now for £12 (+ interview + movie). More
Underground farm built in abandoned tunnels beneath London
News: two British entrepreneurs are constructing a hydroponic farm in a network of tunnels under south London that could supply local restaurants and retailers with fresh herbs and vegetables. More
Ecological urban spa made from shipping containers planned for San Francisco
News: wellness entrepreneur Nell Waters is attempting to raise £146,000 on crowdfunding website Kickstarter to build a prototypal ecological urban bathhouse from shipping containers in San Francisco. More
Crowdfunding platform aims to help designers avoid "awful" royalties
News: the #milanuncut debate that exposed the poor royalties designers earn has inspired the launch of Crowdyhouse, a new crowdfunding platform that helps designers find funding for their products. More
Design-led housing developer breaks world record for equity crowdfunding
News: British television presenter Kevin McCloud's design-led housing development firm has broken the world record for equity crowdfunding by securing investments in excess of £1.9 million from members of the public via online platform Crowdcube. More