Yoghurt window coating proposed as emergency heatwave measure
British engineer Tom Greenhill is proposing painting the outside of windows with yoghurt as a low-cost, low-energy solution to keep UK homes cool during heatwaves. More
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Multifunctional pet furniture designed for animals in small apartments
A convertible dog bed and cat tower laptop table feature among the 11 designs in the Multifunctional Pet Furniture for Small Space Living project, which aims to make both pets and people happy in compact apartments. More
Gijs Schalkx converts car to run on plastic waste
Dutch designer Gijs Schalkx has retrofitted an old car to run on an unusual fuel source: waste plastic that is turned back into oil. More
Parametric design tool Self allows anyone to create their own furniture
American designer Marvell Lahens has launched an app at NYCxDesign that enables everyday people with no professional training to design a piece of furniture and have it produced and shipped to them within three weeks. More
Manuel Cervantes develops "assisted self-production" housing in Mexico
Mexico City-based architect Manuel Cervantes Estudio has designed DIY housing that relies on passive, vernacular construction strategies to "help families build their living spaces in a better and smarter way." More
Energy-saving 10K House in Barcelona is a "labyrinth that multiplies perspectives"
Spanish studio Takk took cues from snugly stacked Russian dolls for the interior renovation of this Barcelona apartment, which features rooms nestled inside each other to maximise insulation. More
Nokia launches smartphone with DIY repair kit to "make repairs more accessible"
Finnish mobile manufacturer Nokia has partnered with repair specialists iFixit to release the smartphone G22, which comes with replaceable parts and toolkits so that customers can fix their phone themselves. More
"Everyone from children to the elderly" can build DIY air purifier
Jihee Moon of South Korean design studio Newtab-22 has developed an open-source IKEA-style manual with instructions on how to build the Air-It-Yourself air purifier in under an hour using everyday items. More
Almaborealis designs sew-your-own clothing kit for children
Design studio Almaborealis has created a modular DIY kit containing pieces of fabric in an easy puzzle format that invites children to sew their own clothes. More
Reversible design could turn every building into a "DIY store for the next project"
Architects should design buildings to be taken apart and reused as part of the circular economy, according to Adam Strudwick of Perkins and Will. More
IKEA releases flat-pack Gingerbread Höme furniture kit
IKEA has developed instructions for how to assemble the Billy bookcase and some of its other seminal furniture designs using gingerbread and icing instead of screws and MDF. More
Den Cabin Kit is a DIY wooden guesthouse that can be built in a few days
Cabin-design company Den has launched a flat-packed, kit-of-parts for a steeply pitched cabin, known as an A-frame, that can be assembled in just a few days. More
Hack Care is an IKEA-style catalogue of DIY adjustments for dementia-friendly homes
Lekker Architects and Lanzavecchia + Wai have designed an IKEA-inspired manual filled with tips and tricks on how to hack the Swedish company's products to better serve people living with dementia. More
Anther Kiley designs DIY paper toys for building miniature cities
Graphic designer Anther Kiley has created a kit for children to construct buildings, vehicles, furniture and tiny fish figures using paper and glue. More
EcoLogicStudio makes DIY algae kit for children learning at home in lockdown
BioBombola is an educational grow-your-own edible algae set for children developed by architecture and research practice EcoLogicStudio during the coronavirus pandemic. More
Paul Priestman makes DIY smartphone stand from an egg box for video calls
Transportation designer Paul Priestman has shared his hack for making a smartphone stand from an egg box to avoid "bad angles" and painful "phone arm" when video calling during the pandemic. More
Nendo creates Mai bag from single sheet of laser-cut leather
Japanese studio Nendo has designed a collection of handbags from single sheets of laser-cut leather that the buyer can assemble at home. More
Stykka designs cardboard #StayTheF***Home Desk for people working from home during self-isolation
Anyone in need of a temporary desk during the coronavirus crisis can build one themselves, using this design by Danish startup Stykka. More
Tuo Lei designs DIY streetwear from festival tents to be kept as souvenirs
ÉCAL graduate Tuo Lei has created a fashion collection from abandoned festival tents, based on simplified patterns that can be replicated at home with just basic sewing skills and the accompanying instructions. More
Daisy Newdick develops DIY process for making coffee from dandelions to promote biodiversity
Central Saint Martins graduate Daisy Newdick has created a roaster for making dandelion coffee to demonstrate that consumers can brew the beverage in their own homes from root to cup. More