Hasta La Ideas

Although it was never really the only game in town, Samsung’s lead in the foldable phone market is starting to narrow down. There are now plenty of competitors, both in the book style and clamshell designs, and some of them are even scoring higher than Samsung on some points. Despite the growing rivalry, Samsung’s response so far has been modest or even downright disappointing. That might finally change with this year’s generation of foldables, with some big changes rumored to already be in the works. Based on unofficial 3D renders, it seems that the biggest change will be seen on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, though that much-anticipated upgrade still leaves a few questions unanswered.

Designer: Steve Hemmerstoffer (via Mediapeanut)

Unlike with a large, horizontal book-type foldable phone like the Galaxy Z Fold, you don’t really expect to be able to use the Galaxy Z Flip as a regular smartphone when it’s folded shut. Samsung, however, took that to the extreme and provided only a small window into your phone with a screen that’s barely larger than the two cameras beside it. Not only was it barely usable, but it was also a huge missed opportunity, something that the likes of the Motorola Razr and the new OPPO Find N2 Flip took advantage of.

It was probably only a matter of time, and the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 5 might finally try to get ahead of the race with what may be the biggest Cover Display for clamshells, a good 3.4 inches if the leaks are to be believed. This is only a tiny bit larger than the OPPO Find N2 Flip, which we reviewed a few months back, but it’s plenty big for plenty of content. It almost covers the entire upper half of the phone’s back, which suggests it will have a more comfortable user interface compared to the cramped Galaxy Z Flip 4.

The shape that Samsung chose, however, is quite odd and might not bode well for the experience that people can expect from it. It has a tab-like cutout to make room for the camera, similar to the notch on the first Galaxy Fold. This would suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will still use a custom UX for this external display, and it is unlikely that it will support the use of regular apps, unlike the Motorola Razr.

It’s admittedly a small nitpick compared to finally having a large external display. What the renders don’t show, however, is whether the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be able to fold shut completely flat. That would require a change to the hinge technology that might, in turn, bring undesired regressions, like the loss of water resistance that only Samsung is able to confidently promise.

The post Galaxy Z Flip 5 might have a unique but slightly questionable design change first appeared on Yanko Design.

Living on the Edge is a book that celebrates clifftop houses. Here, author Agata Toromanoff selects 10 of her favourites, from a cabin in the Italian Alps to a villa on the Mexican Pacific coast.

Hard to access, prone to extreme weather and environmentally delicate, cliff edges are among the most difficult sites to develop.

For design historian Toromanoff, that makes clifftop architecture projects particularly fascinating.

“Architects like challenges”

“Architects like challenges and clifftop locations definitely pose an interesting one,” she told Dezeen.

“The dramatic beauty of the natural plots requires equally striking design concepts and thus the power of architecture combined with today’s technologies is quite appealing.”

Published by Lannoo, Living on the Edge curates cliff-edge residential projects from around the world that embrace their challenging surroundings and use innovative solutions to overcome construction hurdles.

“These houses are often balancing on steep cliffs as if defying gravity, or are surrounded by nature in such a way that it becomes a part of the interiors,” said Toromanoff.

“Nowadays, architects can create experiences that enhance locations in the most surprising and astonishing ways.”

The book explores how the architects behind these projects have sought to execute increasingly bold ideas while limiting the impact on the landscape.

“The perfect harmony of architecture and nature, especially in unspoiled spots, is very difficult to achieve – and I don’t mean only the visual aspect but mainly the intervention, which should be reduced to a minimum,” added Toromanoff.

“Serious pieces of architecture”

Projects like these require clients with deep pockets, but Toromanoff believes clifftop houses are more than mere symbols of wealth.

“From the structural side, these houses are very serious pieces of architecture,” she said. “Given the difficult terrain, lack of easy access, and often challenging weather conditions in these locations, the architects need to come up with truly ingenious ideas.”

Read on for Toromanoff’s selection and description of 10 clifftop houses. Though the book also includes unrealised concepts, these projects have all been built.

House in Los Vilos, Chile, by Ryue Nishizawa

“Although the reason for the vaulted roof was purely practical – to ensure stability and withstand strong winds coming up from the ocean – its visual resemblance to the dynamic movements of water is inescapable.

“The house is like a wave crashing over a rocky shore. Most striking, however, is not the curvaceous form but the contrast between the expansive concrete roofing and the entirely transparent glass walls that open the interiors toward the landscape in various directions.”

Find out more about House in Los Vilos ›

Celvia House, Italy, by Stera Architectures

“Celvia House shows a similarly interesting visual dialogue with its surroundings. The studio embedded the volumes into the rocky foundation not merely with a complex and often surprising layout, but also through the use of a melange of materials, like granite and crushed lava stone.

“In a camouflage-like manner, the architecture echoes the textural as well as formal richness of the landscape and is integrated with the plants outside in an original way.”

The Rock, Canada, by Gort Scott

“The Rock, located in picturesque British Columbia, is an even more extreme take on building in impossible places. The concrete base, as if an extension of the rocky foundation, carries the timber upper part, which fits visually into the surrounding woodland.

“In this multi-level volume the studio coherently embraced the uniqueness of the site, its topography, lavish fauna, weather conditions, and stunning views. A significant portion of the walls are transparent to allow the interiors to breathe in the landscape from various perspectives.”

Find out more about The Rock ›

Concrete House, Spain, by Marià Castello and José Antonio Molina

“Marià Castello and José Antonio Molina demonstrate how this quintessentially modern form fits into its scenic landscape. The minimalist concrete visually fuses with the dark volcanic rocks; thus the house becomes an integral part of the environment.

“Numerous openings orient the interiors towards the sea and the immediate area of the slope, while the purity of the spaces highlights the vistas, inviting them inside.

“Designed around a series of patios, this coastal residence allows the inhabitants to enjoy outdoor life, while protecting them from the local strong winds.”

Find out more about Concrete House ›

The Lap Pool House, Greece, by Aristides Dallas Architects

“The Lap Pool House, which could be easily mistaken for a fanciful, futuristic version of a building, also employs sharp lines. Dynamically merged with the slope, the geometric volumes become a seamless extension of the landscape.

“The partially camouflaged roof is not merely aesthetic but also has a functional role. Thanks to numerous apertures and openings that focus on providing a good balance of light as well as effective ventilation, it creates a residence perfectly adapted to the local weather conditions.

“The studio has also taken the concept of an infinity pool, which here emerges from the hillside, to a new level.”

Casa 3 Elementos, Argentina, by Agustín Lozada

“Minimalist geometry also defines Casa 3 Elementos, which cantilevers over a steep plot. The lush vegetation of the rugged plot creates a hide-out environment, skilfully used by the architects.

“The tube-shaped volume reaching out into the landscape, like a telescope, is effectively finished with a full glass facade, inspiring meditative observation of the natural surroundings. The reduced palette of raw materials reinforces the camouflage effect.”

Casa en El Torón, Mexico, by Ignacio Urquiza Arquitectos

“Constructed on a steep cliff in a natural reserve of Oaxaca on the Mexican Pacific coastline, Casa en El Torón was conceived to create a close relationship between the architecture and nature.

“To preserve the lush wilderness of the place, no large machinery was used in the construction process, while most of the lush vegetation that had been growing under the house’s footprint was replanted nearby.

“By choosing traditional solutions and exclusively local materials, the architects prioritised respect for natural resources, and promoted, as they say, tranquil architecture that protects the natural environment.”

Malinka Gallery, Canada, by F2A Architecture

“The Malinka Gallery project is a great example of expansion in a most challenging location. Located on a rocky slope, the original house was built around a garden courtyard to create a good balance between the goal of opening the architecture to panoramic vistas and providing the inhabitants with enough privacy.

“While the house literally sits on the bedrock, which became a part of the interiors, the gallery volume, placed on a steel platform supported by slim posts, seems to be floating in the air. This impression is enhanced by the mainly transparent or mirror-like facade.”

Find out more about Malinka Gallery ›

Patio House, Greece, by OOAK

“Seeming to slide off the hill, the Patio House is visually striking thanks to its equilibristic position, balancing over the clifftop.

“The beauty of the untouched porous cliffs and bushy flora creates a truly unique atmosphere in this summer residence on the Greek island of Karpathos. The remote location and approach, and the goal of limiting alteration of the landscape to the minimum, were the main challenges for designing this minimalist yet generously sized cube.

“With a protective patio at its heart, the volume is pierced by numerous openings framing views in various directions.”

Find out more about Patio House ›

Bivouac Fanton, Italy, by Demogo

“Bivouac Fanton’s shape has been inspired by nature, and its inclined profile adapts to the orography of the Marmole Arc in Italian Dolomites.

“Anchored to rugged foundations, it has a striking feature – a full-wall, panoramic window at the end of the cabin that opens the 30-square-meter interior onto vast landscape.

“The volume, made of structural fiberglass and clad with titanium zinc to resist extreme weather conditions, is quite light despite its dimensions, which played a crucial role during the transportation to this inaccessible location.

“The interiors, in natural wood, maybe don’t have all the amenities of a house but offer a well-planned and minimalistic yet cosy hide-out for hikers.”

Find out more about Bivouac Fanton ›

The post Ten houses perched precariously on cliff edges appeared first on Dezeen.

Recent pins on our packaging design board are some of the most popular on Dezeen’s Pinterest. We round up the seven most colourful and playful projects.

Advances in technology and the rising popularity of social media have increased the need for brightly coloured and distinctive packaging designs to attract customers.

Studios including Morrama and Pentagram have had to adapt their approach to keep up with ever-changing design trends.

Scroll down to see seven packaging designs currently trending on Dezeen’s Pinterest and browse our popular packaging design board to see more.

Houseplant by MA-MA and Pràctica

Design studios MA-MA and Pràctica teamed up to revamp Canadian cannabis company Houseplant’s product packaging.

The studios designed cube-shaped cannabis containers which are stackable and come in three colours. They also designed a custom typeface and line illustrations for the brand.

Find out more about Houseplant ›

Kankan by Morrama and Two Times Elliot

Kankan enlisted London-based studios Morrama and Two Times Elliot to upgrade the packaging of its soap-in-a-can brand.

Morrama designed a recycled plastic pump that clips onto the can and is reusable. Whilst Two Times Elliot created a new brand identity that references the shape of the can as well as its fragrances.

Find out more about Kankan ›

The Mystery Item programme by Harry’s

Razor brand Harry’s looked to 1950s influences when designing the graphics and packaging for its Mystery Item programme.

The comic-strip packaging comes in two sizes and a variety of colours including teal blue and olive green.

Find out more about the Mystery Item programme ›

Piccolo by Here Design

Here Design drew inspiration from collections of miniature books when designing an brand identity for Italian seed company Piccolo.

The brand used sans-serif typography and infographics to appeal to its modern and urban audience. Each packet features a illustration of the seed which it contains.

Find out more about the Piccolo ›

Dimple by Universal Favourite

Dimple invited Australian studio Universal Favourite to design brightly coloured branding for its contact lens subscription service.

The company was tasked with creating branding that appeals to its young target audience and stands out on social media.

Find out more about Dimple ›

Ben’s Best Blnz cannabis company by Pentagram

Design studio Pentagram designed the branding for cannabis company Ben’s Best Blnz (above and also lead image).

The packaging and brand identity was carefully designed to bring awareness to the number of Black people incarcerated for cannabis-related offences. It features fonts and quotes from famous African and African-Americans, such as Nelson Mandela.

Find out more about Ben’s Best Blnz ›

PLANT by Dark Igloo

Dark Igloo designed the branding and packaging for psilocybin dispensary PLANT.

The studio used medicinal amber glass packaging and wiggly sunshine-yellow typography in hopes to challenge negative stereotypes attached to the drug.

Find out more about PLANT ›

Follow Dezeen on Pinterest

Pinterest is one of Dezeen’s fastest-growing social media networks with over 1.4 million followers and more than ten million monthly views. Follow our Pinterest to see the latest architecture, interiors and design projects – there are more than four hundred boards to browser and pin from.

Currently, our most popular boards are museums and adaptive reuse.

The post Seven colourful and playful packaging designs from Dezeen’s Pinterest appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen is partnering with Icelandic design festival Design March to host a series of live talks exploring the importance of design in addressing global challenges.

The conference will be moderated by Dezeen editor Tom Ravenscroft and streamed live on Dezeen at 9:00am London time, 3 May 2023.

Titled DesignTalks, the conference will be split into four themed sessions, which will be live streamed from the fair in Reykjavik, Iceland. The conference is part of the 15th itineration of DesignMarch.

The first session will explore the resilience of creativity, focusing on how designers have been able to work during extreme global challenges, as well as how design can be used to create courage and hope.

The panel will feature partner and global design director of design company IDEO, Michael Hendrix, media artist Refik Anadol, architect and director Liam Young, and co-founder and artistic director of the Ukrainian advertising agency Banda, Pavel Vrzheshch.

The second session follows on from the previous panel by asking how designers can work to create more sustainable and innovative ways of working.

Joining the panel are CEO of climate solution company Transition Labs, Kjartan Örn Ólafsson, designer and founder of material brand Vitralabs, Ingvar Helgason, CEO and owner of clothing brand 66°North, Bjarney Harðardóttir, and designer, artist and researcher, Thomas Pausz.

The third session will host a panel featuring landscape architect and co-founder of LOLA Architects, Peter Veenstra, artistic director and founder of design studio ÞYKJÓ, Sigríður Sunna Reynisdóttir, partner at design studio Design Group Italia, Sigurður Þorsteinsson, and founder of art project Graphic Rewilding, Lee Baker.

This panel will discuss how design can be used to address the social challenges highlighted during the pandemic. Speakers will discuss questions such as how to design for dignity, justice, participation and inclusion, and how we can create more healing environments.

In the last session of the conference,  bio-designer and Faber Futures founder, Natsai Audrey Chieza and senior curator of architecture and design at The Museum of Modern Art, Paola Antonelli, will wrap up the themes discussed in previous sessions by exploring what they think the future of design holds.

The pair will also discuss how designers can use the advances in science and technology in recent years, looking at rapidly advancing fields like bio-design.

DesignMarch is Iceland’s largest design fair. Curated by Hlin Helga Guðlaugsdóttir, the event covers architecture, fashion, interiors and graphic design.

The five-day fair showcases innovation in Icelandic design and architecture, and this year will host 100 exhibitions, 400 participants and 100 different events.

The full lineup of talks and more information about the festival can be found here. Tickets to the design fair can be purchased via this link.

DesignMarch takes place from 3-7 May 2023 in Reykjavík, Iceland. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for DesignMarch as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post DesignMarch to host series of talks on design and global change appeared first on Dezeen.

It isn’t particularly common for a large legacy brand like P&G to take to crowdfunding, but the global giant is pushing the boundaries with its new and inventive range of motion-controlled air fresheners that look like actual planters. Project Bloom is the result of a collaboration between scientists, engineers, designers, and innovators right within P&G who are looking to disrupt the fragrance industry with something that looks as good as it smells.

Designer: Procter & Gamble

Click Here to Buy Now: $30 $40 (25% off) Hurry! Only 3 Days Left!

“Most air fresheners stick out like a sore thumb,” said one user while describing a pretty obvious but unresolved problem with the current freshener industry. Air fresheners have natural fragrances like rose, pine, lavender, citrus – but their form, conversely, is designed to look incredibly appliance-ish, with their ‘elegantly functional’ design and abundant use of plastic. There’s nothing natural about the design of most commercial air fresheners, so the folks at Project Bloom set out to design one. The result? Something so natural-looking it feels more like home decor.

Designed to look like a miniature planter that sits on your table, countertop, or even bookshelf, Bloom adds a touch of visual freshness to any space it’s placed in. The faux planter hides a cutting-edge air freshener inside, which activates when it detects movement. This means rooms and spaces smell fresh when you enter them, quite literally enriching your senses and uplifting your mood. Bloom doesn’t come with those obscure, chemical-ish scents either… The scents emitted by Bloom are completely organic, and contain no dyes, phthalates, or formaldehyde. You’ve got three natural scents to choose from, formulated to remind you of fresh dewdrops, lavender fields, or crisp greenery.

Walk near or past the Bloom and it fills your immediate space with its aroma. A motion sensor built into the faux planter kicks in when it detects someone coming into a room. This means you never really need to switch it on or light it like a diffuser, or manually spray your room like a can of Febreze. Bloom is powered by a pair of scent cartridges that last an entire month before they need replacing. To replace the cartridges, just pop off the faux plant top and you’ll find the cartridges below. The upper faux plant topper is replaceable too, allowing you to easily swap between different succulents.

Aside from its aromatic abilities, Bloom also has a night light built into the planter’s base that switches on in the dark when it detects movement. Emitting an ambient warm glow, the planter comes to life in the dark when you walk past it, so you immediately know where you are and what’s around you.

The elegance of Bloom’s design extends to its functionality too. It needs no plugging-in, switching on, or constant monitoring. Unlike scented candles, there’s no fire and no danger of spilled wax. It creates no waste the way burning incense sticks does, and doesn’t use heat, steam, or aerosols like other fragrance diffusers. Sitting gracefully on your office table, home mantelpiece, or bathroom counter, Bloom just adds beauty to your space, through its refreshing aesthetics and aroma.

Each Bloom comes equipped with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 30 days (coinciding almost perfectly with those scent cartridges), and the LED within the night light is rated for 30,000 hours. Most crowdfunded campaigns do come with an element of risk associated with them, but the Procter & Gamble brand definitely lends credibility to the project. The Bloom starts at a discounted $30, and you can grab additional scent cartridges as a $5 add-on to your purchase.

Click Here to Buy Now: $30 $40 (25% off) Hurry! Only 3 Days Left!

The post Procter & Gamble’s new Air Freshener looks like a realistic planter and activates using motion-sensing first appeared on Yanko Design.