Marketing to “generation rent”

While still in the early proposal stages, the concept could see a first trial run in Switzerland. The idea is the product of thinking towards a circular economy that optimizes the use of resources and lessens environmental impact, while also being more desirable for a generation more focused on renting.

When that leasing period is over, you hand it back and might lease something else.

Torbjorn Loof, CEO Inter Ikea holding company

After an owner’s lease ends they’d simply return the piece or set, which would then be refurbished and sold to a final buyer to extend the product’s lifecycle.

https://www.wgsn.com/blogs/ikea-concept-subscription-sustainability/

Designed by Corey Kingston working with Plum Design

Flexibility, space, and function were the key drivers for this interior designed to support a productive work space or meaningful family interaction. In order to achieve this the bare structural materials were exposed to showcase natural color, texture, and open the space up.

Unique features include the L shaped smaller rooms beneath the lofted bedroom, which house a shower, bathroom, and sauna. Natural light pours in through arched windows that help illuminate the soft whites and accented warm tones to make the space feel airy and open.

https://www.gessato.com/pioneer-square-loft/

A good night’s sleep just got better

The new Pod mattress gives you the ability to cool down or warm up by using liquid pathways within the foam. Temperature can be controlled differently for either side within a range of 55 to 115 degrees. It can also be used with Alexa, provide sleep reports, and wake you up by cooling down if you care to use the extra smart features. Expect to see it available in April for roughly $2,000.

https://news.theinventory.com/finally-a-liquid-cooled-mattress-preorder-eight-sleep-1832662821?ks=streamshare

The partnership quickly turned hostile

The plug has been pulled on what could’ve been a great economic opportunity, leaving behind no winners. Amazon failed to appropriately respond to the concerns of local government and the people.

Building opposition from various New Yorkers over the past few months was met by stubborn hostility from Amazon. Concerns were primarily regarding the roughly $3 billion in tax breaks amongst other incentives that the company stood to gain. Had Amazon handled the concerns better the deal might’ve gone according to plan.

https://www.wired.com/story/new-york-and-amazon-played-a-zero-sum-gameand-everyone-lost/

And it’s already 13 years behind schedule

Talk of a high speed rail system to connect cities and span California began in the 80’s, but it still hasn’t been brought to fruition. The state created its own High-Speed Rail Authority to oversee the project in 1996 and they’ve been working since on the constantly changing plan. Push back from the government as well as the people combined with countless other obstacles have been the cause of the massive delay.

Currently the plan is split into two phases and aims to blend the rail system into the existing transit infrastructure. Phase one began in 2013, but isn’t expected to be completed until 2033, four years after expected. Supporters are still fairly confident that California will one day have a high speed rail system, but there’s no way of knowing when at this rate.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/16/california-high-speed-train-los-angeles-san-francisco-plan-delay

The goal was to make the IPCC climate report easier to understand for the public

Heat was the product of David Loy’s thesis project at ECAL where he recently finished his undergraduate degree in graphic design. He feels that the public is becoming desensitized to climate change due to information overload from the mass media. After the UN’s release of the 5th IPCC climate report he was inspired to incorporate the information into a thoughtfully designed book.

Help the reader to easily understand the complexity of the contents and make it accessible to a greater number

David Loy

Creative layouts of text directly from the report and images are arranged through three chapters making the information easier to digest. The first chapter outlines scientific responses to climate change nay sayers. The second hosts imagery comparing our current state and the potential future. Lastly Loy outlines strategies and solutions for individuals and the government that will help reduce climate change.

Aside from the beautiful layout and thoughtful organization of content Loy also decided to have the back cover printed in thermochromic ink, which makes it react to touch. This helps further emphasize everyone’s direct impact that we have on the climate.

https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/david-loy-heat-graphic-design-publication-140219

It’s comprised of ocean waste and discarded fish nets

Designed by snøhetta for NCP, the S-1500 was debuted at the stockholm furniture fair of 2019. It’s a redesign of the original R-48 produced by NCP in the 1960’s.

The goal was to build a product with local circular economy in mind that would reuse waste material and inspire others to approach design similarly. The plastic mold is sourced from old fishing nets from the Northern Norway fish farming industry while the frame is made from recycled steel.

snøhetta recycles worn-out fish nets and ocean waste into S-1500 chair for NCP

Monitoring systems would include wrist bands, video, and robots for drug detection

Danny Woo Ying-min, the city’s Commissioner of Correctional Services, wants to incorporate smart technology to improve operational efficiency, monitor behavior, and prevent inmate’s from inflicting self harm.

Prisoners would be fitted with smart wrist bands to monitor vital signs, activity, and location. Surveillance cameras would have a greater presence throughout the prison, including in the bathrooms. Also, $125,000 robots would be used to search through fecal matter for drugs, which is supposed to increase safety and efficiency.

Evolving technology has opened up new ways to track incarcerated people with little consideration given to their rights

AJ Dellinger, engadget

These initially appear to be logical applications of advancing technology to improve prison systems, but when do inmate’s fundamental human rights become overlooked?

https://www.engadget.com/2019/02/14/hong-kong-smart-prisons-tracking-wristbands-cameras-robots/

Manufacturing innovations help save water and limit landfill waste

Ecco Leather, a Danish brand, is using their newly developed DriTan manufacturing process to tan leather with only the water originally present in the material. This reduces water consumption by 20 liters per hide and annually will save 25 million liters. Production of sludge, 600 annual tons of the stuff, is also kept out of landfills and chemicals used in the process are significantly reduced.

The process has no affect on the quality, lead time, or characteristics of the final product and will be implemented on three of Ecco’s shoes by the end of 2019.

http://www.stylus.com.meredith.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/lswncw

Interior components are hidden to emphasize the environment

Pavilion House was designed by Andreia Garcia Architectural Affairs and Diogo Aguiar Studio to be the bare visual minimum while still having necessities hidden within the walls. Inside the vertically clad timber walls of the single room house reside a bed, kitchen, bathroom, storage, and media area.

Pavilion House is a guesthouse. The only true requirement was to emphasize the sense of recollection in the forest, a refuge from urbanity

Diogo Aguiar

The size of the layout was restricted to the area of the granite wine cellar beneath it, which provides an elevated view of the surroundings. Four large windows line the perimeter and frame the diverse landscape. The roof features native vegetation and a skylight for the hidden bathroom.

Timber walls disguise secret spaces within tiny Pavilion House in Portugal