Beazley Designs of the Year, Design Museum
From an astronaut's coffee cup to an online STI test and a drinkable book: introducing the best designs in the world
In the Eyes of the Animal In the Eyes of the Animal enables viewers to place themselves in the body of a forest animal and experience a different outlook using augmented reality. Designers: Marshmallow Laser Feast
Every year, the Design Museum handpick a selection of zeitgeist-y designs that promote or deliver change. This November, just as the brand new Design Museum Kensington opens its doors, you'll be able to explore them at the tenth Designs of the Year Award exhibition.
This time around, over seventy designs have been nominees across six categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Graphics, Product and Transport. Each one has been designed in the last year, and the dizzying variety is a wonderfully contemporary showcase of the most original and exciting products, concepts and designers in the world today.
IKEA'S flat-pack refugee shelter
An flat-pack refugee shelter designed by IKEA fronts the Architecture categoy, joined by the recently completed Tate Modern Switch House (despite that 'net curtain' debacle). Prada's flagship Milan store is also nominated, a building which combines seven existing buildings with three new structures: the result of the transformation of a distillery dating back to the 1910’s. Our architectural favourite, though, is Turner Prize winning collective Assemble's Granby workshop - a social enterprise making experimental products for homes that has grown out of the community-led rebuilding of Nottingham's Granby neighbourhood.
In the Digital Section, we're obsessed with In the Eyes of the Animal - an augmented reality device (above) which enables viewers to place themselves in the body of a forest animal and experience their outlook. SH:24 is another intriguing design: an online sexual health service providing remote STI testing, information and advice. We're into Unmade, also a London-based fashion startup creating a radical alternative to global knitwear manufacturing, using cutting-edge technology to produce unique one-off garments.
3D printed trainers by Adidas created from recycled ocean plastic
The Product shortlist compiles an eclectic list including a coffee cup for astronauts, the new Super 8 camera by Kodak and Yves Behar and a pair of 3D printed trainers by Adidas created from recycled fishing nets. The Transport list completes the six categories and includes a digital compass for bicycles, a crowdfunded bicycle helmet and a new communal electronic scooter system in Taipei.
This time around, over seventy designs have been nominees across six categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Graphics, Product and Transport. Each one has been designed in the last year, and the dizzying variety is a wonderfully contemporary showcase of the most original and exciting products, concepts and designers in the world today.
IKEA'S flat-pack refugee shelter
An flat-pack refugee shelter designed by IKEA fronts the Architecture categoy, joined by the recently completed Tate Modern Switch House (despite that 'net curtain' debacle). Prada's flagship Milan store is also nominated, a building which combines seven existing buildings with three new structures: the result of the transformation of a distillery dating back to the 1910’s. Our architectural favourite, though, is Turner Prize winning collective Assemble's Granby workshop - a social enterprise making experimental products for homes that has grown out of the community-led rebuilding of Nottingham's Granby neighbourhood.
In the Digital Section, we're obsessed with In the Eyes of the Animal - an augmented reality device (above) which enables viewers to place themselves in the body of a forest animal and experience their outlook. SH:24 is another intriguing design: an online sexual health service providing remote STI testing, information and advice. We're into Unmade, also a London-based fashion startup creating a radical alternative to global knitwear manufacturing, using cutting-edge technology to produce unique one-off garments.
3D printed trainers by Adidas created from recycled ocean plastic
The Product shortlist compiles an eclectic list including a coffee cup for astronauts, the new Super 8 camera by Kodak and Yves Behar and a pair of 3D printed trainers by Adidas created from recycled fishing nets. The Transport list completes the six categories and includes a digital compass for bicycles, a crowdfunded bicycle helmet and a new communal electronic scooter system in Taipei.
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| What | Beazley Designs of the Year, Design Museum |
| Where | Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, W8 6AG | MAP |
| Nearest tube | High Street Kensington (underground) |
| When |
24 Nov 16 – 19 Feb 17, Open daily: 10:00 - 17:45, last admission 17:15 |
| Price | £10 adult, £7.50 student/concession*, free for members |
| Website | Click here for more details |