Ordinary people don’t really think about thinking of new ways to innovate pieces of furniture like tables, chairs, beds, and couches. Most people probably just think of buying something that is practical, comfortable, and does what it’s supposed to do. But product designers are always out there thinking of new ways to make things like these more portable, more interesting, or basically, just better. The addition of generative artificial intelligence into the equation has helped them come up with out-of-the-box concepts that later on get turned to prototypes.

Designer: Space10 and Panter&Tourron

If you’ve ever thought the day would never come when you can pack a couch into an envelope (a big one though), then you are apparently almost wrong. With the help of AI, a Copenhagen-based design company was able to come up with a speculative design for a modular couch that can be packed into a bag and transported easily. The flat-packed furniture was soon turned into a prototype that is on display at the Copenhagen Architecture Festival. Although it will probably be some time before we actually see this available, it still brings up interesting possibilities.

When they found out the right keywords and iterations to help the image generative AI tools like MidJourney and DALL-E, they were able to start on a design for the ideal flat-pack couch. The final design output showed a bench type of couch that can fit in two people comfortably and includes adjustable wings and cushions. When you need to move or transport it, it can be flat packed and put into a tote bag that’s shaped like an envelope so no need to hire movers and be stressed with moving that couch.

They went beyond just having a design and created a prototype since AI cannot determine whether something will actually be usable, let alone comfortable. While we probably won’t be seeing this in the market anytime soon, it can start a discussion on how they can come up with products that are able to solve the pain points of the current ones in the market. Of course there is still a lot of discussion going on about AI but using it as a tool is something that designers can really explore.

The post AI helps IKEA design a modular couch that can be transported in a big envelope first appeared on Yanko Design.

Don’t we all love posting our perfectly curated OOTDs? It is quite time-consuming right? All the BTS that goes into it of finding the perfect fit, clicking 206 pictures, having to choose the best one from the lot, editing it, and lately we even need to make it look aesthetic according to the standards of Instagram. LG and KDM have collaborated to make this process easier for you with an upgraded experience by coming up with a styling hanger that hangs your shortlisted clothes and also clicks the perfect IG story for you!

Designer: KOREA DESIGN MEMBERSHIP PLUS (Seongjong Kang, Sangwoo Kim, lee junsu, Hyerin Lee)

The styling hanger is a result of how Generation Z (digital natives) define the value of their lives. The GenZs are born into the digital age of social media. Bringing the world closer, social media also makes one conscious of how they are perceived in the world. Trends hold a greater value in their lives and validation is the source of Serotonin.

Earlier people were accustomed to looking at objects from a landscape (horizontal) perspective, may it be art, photos, paintings, etc. As they were more interested in showcasing a wider area and context. With the birth of the digital generation, it is more focused on themselves and their individuality, where context is a secondary aspect because of the heavy exposure to vertical smartphones that can instinctively capture a concise frame, the perspective of the GenZs of the world has evolved to be vertical and hence they relate to vertical proportions better. In this way, a lot of vertical content is consumed on a day to day in various forms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok today.

GenZs are constantly in search of an upgrade may it be a software update, a new trend, or a better UX. They always seek some kind of informal touch which they can play around with and therefore relate to. Hashtags, IG and Tik Tok challenges, making reels thoroughly engages the generation. In the process of sharing, a series of processes of encountering, acquiring, and imitating the thoughts of others eventually leads to the act of establishing the identity of GenZ.

LOOKandME is based on such a concept of the #OOTD. In which one is required to style themselves for the day and post it online. LOOKandME enhances the entire process of posting an OOTD for an individual through an upgraded interactive experience.

The styling hanger views the user in an ultra-wide-angle camera that can track people, ToF 3D scanners scan and analyze the user’s space for better perspective, and in addition, there is an LED light placed inside that illuminates the hanging clothes to make it look bright and pretty.

The product is designed with keeping accessibility and comfort in mind. The styling booth has a door which when opened, the hanger automatically descends lower so that the user can hang clothes on it effortlessly. There is an integrated motion sensor at the bottom which senses the movement of the user and opens it when they come closer making it easy for them to hang the clothes in their hand and the door closes automatically when the footsteps go further away.

The physicality of the structure defines minimalistic luxury. The body is made of metal with a hairline texture to give it a solid look. The lower part of the frame is designed to be thick to provide stability even while moving around since it has wheels and can be moved around easily at your convenience. The use of modern fabric in front of the speaker completes this luxurious design.

The appliance is the perfect place to hang clothes but it is not restricted to that, one can enjoy a variety of content on a multiscreen through the long vertical display. You can watch Netflix, scroll through reels, checkout YouTube shorts, and many more. Just as laptop screens can be projected on larger screens of the TV, phone screens can be projected on this larger product.

One can shop online with LOOKandME in addition to having access to all of the social media sites through this multipurpose style hanger. It offers a virtual dressing service that makes use of AR technology to let consumers virtually try on clothing based on their previously registered body size while buying clothing online.

In the field of customized household appliances, the LOOKandME system marks a substantial leap. LG has produced a comprehensive solution that improves usability and convenience by utilizing artificial intelligence, intuitive design, and seamless integration. The smart home technology LOOKandME sets a new bar with its capacity to learn, adapt, and offer tailored recommendations. As the era of connected devices advances, LG continues to push the envelope of innovation and transform how we interact with our homes. It is a perfect buddy for the GenZ to help them purchase and curate an outfit followed by capturing it according to the latest trends helping you keep up with the social world.

The post LG’s new styling hanger is shows off your OOTD with the best angles and a perfectly curated frame first appeared on Yanko Design.

Local studio ARQBR has used concrete and wood for a round church in Brasilia, Brazil that lifts off the land with 360-degree, ground-level windows.

ARQBR completed the 3,900-square metre (40,000-square foot) concrete facility for the Church of the Holy Family in 2022, as an extension of Lucio Costa’s Pilot Project for the capital of Brazil.

The four-building church sits just off one of the main components of the city’s radio-centric road system.

The complex includes an existing church building, a linear annex, a floating disk nave, and a low-slung parish house. They were designed to emphasise the horizon line on the flat site.

“Beyond the sense of organization and orientation, the horizon expresses the vision of the whole and, primordially, the connection between the observer and the environment, a condition that is necessary to the manifestation of the landscape,” the team said.

Just separated from a free-standing, monolithic concrete steeple is the circular nave, which serves as the focal point of the complex and a welcoming feature for worshippers.

The round building is half-submerged in the landscape and the smooth concrete enclosure is lifted off the ground plane by six structural pillars embedded in the topography.

A ring of windows along the ground line and a perimeter skylight bring natural light deep into the form and make the form feel as if it is floating.

“By revealing the presence of the horizon, the architecture becomes a constitutive element of the landscape, an opening to the poetic dimension of the world, connecting the material reality to its spectator’s gaze,” the team said.

On the interior, the foundation wall tilts outwards as it slopes up to the ground line, creating a bowl-like condition.

A vertical wooden screen hangs from the wall and provides texture and pattern around the perimeter of the space, which has only two materials – soft grey concrete surfaces and warm wood furniture.

To preserve the totality of the form, the nave is accessed by an axial procession that ramps down from the lawn beneath the concrete ring. The axis connects the nave, annex building, and the pre-existing, red-roofed church building, which is used for parish activities.

An underground corridor, accessed by a curving staircase behind the altar, connects the nave with the bar-shaped annex, which is characterized by a deep, cantilevered concrete roof.

Vertical beams support the cantilever and create a pattern of shadows along the building’s edge.

A second axis runs from the altar, passing the campanile bell tower, to the highway in the distance.

“The architectural concept synthesizes the three fundamental premises of Brasilia,” the team explained, referencing the building’s implantation into the topography, the integration of public and private space, and the use of landscape as an organizing element.

The city of Brasilia was designed by modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer to be the federal capital of Brazil. Recently, political unrest led to some of the buildings in the capital being damaged.

Also in Brasilia, ARQBR – which was founded in 2013 by architects Andre Velloso and Eder Alencar – used a similar neutral solid form with textured wooden accents in a Z-shaped courtyard house.

The photography is by Joana Franca.

Project credits:

Architects: Eder Alencar, André Velloso, Luciana Saboia
Collaborators: Paulo Victor Borges, Margarida Massimo
Interns: Rodrigo Rezende, Pedro Santos, Julia Huff
Architecture: ARQBR Architecture and Urbanism
Construction: Tecna Construtora
Steel structure: Comini Tuler
Concrete structure: Breno Rodrigues
Installations: Alencar Costa
Light design: Beth Leite
Acoustics: Síntese Acústica Arquitetônica
Landscape design: Quinta Arquitetura, Design and Landscape
Environmental comfort: Quali-A Conforto Ambiental and Eficiência Energética

The post ARQBR creates circular church with monumental steeple in Brasilia appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: a sports centre dedicated to empowering girls and a project that addresses the growing need for offline spaces within the neurodivergent community are included in Dezeen’s latest school by students at Birmingham City University.

Also featured is a sustainable flagship store prioritising eco-friendly retail practices and a clothing rental hub designed for the fashion-forward Gen Z community.

Birmingham City University

Institution: Birmingham City University
School: Birmingham School of Architecture and Design
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Tutors: Kathryn Jones, Dr Senem Zeybekoglu Sadri, Warren Mak, Alexandra King, Josephine Bridges, Tony Salmon and Ashley Wilson

School statement:

“The Interior Architecture and Design course’s mission is to develop autonomous agents of positive change – graduates capable and eager to define their own career path, equipped with capabilities to challenge the status quo and able to thrive in ever-changing contexts.

“Our educational principles place emphasis on supporting students to become independent learners that are comfortable and confident in their own design decision-making processes.

“Equipped with the skills to be able to operate independently or within a multidisciplinary design team, they bring their personal experiences and identities to bear on design challenges they define.

“Throughout the course, students engage with a range of experiences that blend academia with the world of practice, enabling students to take control of the development of their bespoke career trajectories.”

Studio You by Abbie Potter

“Studio You is a transformative sports centre facility dedicated to empowering girls and reigniting their passion for physical activity.

“It aims to provide a secure and inclusive space where every girl, regardless of skill level, can experience the benefits of exercise.

“The studio provides immersive, customised activities that nurture personal development and foster self-assurance. It serves as a sanctuary for girls to channel their energy and cultivate a lifelong affinity for movement.

“Studio You redefines self-care by celebrating the exhilaration of physical activity while assisting girls in rediscovering the joy and empowerment of exercise, transforming it into a new benchmark of indulgence.”

Student: Abbie Potter
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Hues of the Earth by Abijaya Udayveer

“This sustainable flagship store takes centre stage in prioritising eco-friendly retail practices. Featuring an on-site workshop, the objective is to both educate and captivate customers, offering insights into sustainable fashion processes and the use of plant-based textiles.

“The store offers a thoughtfully curated selection of sustainable fashion items presented through an immersive user experience. The design aims to engage visitors, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for sustainable fashion.

“The space’s sculptural and storytelling approach – highlighted by a central staircase – seamlessly connects different floors and functions whilst natural elements create distinct zones, establishing a harmonious relationship with nature and enhancing tranquillity.

“This store aims to merge style, ethics, and innovation, inviting customers to explore the possibilities of sustainable fashion and join a conscious and stylish future.”

Student: Abijaya Udayveer
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Etherea by Rabhia Begum

“A captivating commercial space that offers a serene and immersive multi-sensory experience, Etherea embraces the concept of holism, emphasising the deep connection between individuals and their environment.

“With elegance, calmness and clarity as its guiding principles, Etherea provides an escape from everyday life and fosters meaningful connections within its unique setting.

“The design intends to address the loss of meaningful experiences in public spaces, promoting spiritual connection and amplifying the immaterial senses.

“The space serves as an ethereal restaurant, multifunctional events space and immersive retail spaces – all interconnected to create a psychologically impactful experience for users.

“By pushing spatial boundaries and introducing vertical architectural interventions, Etherea redefines the commercial experience, offering a space that inspires wonder, connection and fulfilment.”

Student: Rabhia Begum
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

The Experience Centre by Ellie Tuohy

“The Experience Centre is an initiative aiming to uplift the local Birmingham community by creating a hub for socialisation.

“It holds particular significance in the post-pandemic era, as it seeks to revive community dynamics and offer experiences missed during lockdown.

“The project envisions a thriving Digbeth, attracting foot traffic and injecting energy into the streets. It serves as a catalyst for positive change, fostering engagement and a sense of belonging.

“By re-establishing the connection between people and their surroundings, the Experience Centre aims to provide spaces that inspire and engage, stimulating dialogue and enhancing wellbeing.”

Student: Ellie Tuohy
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

The Third Place by Alice Morgan

“The Third Place is a project that addresses the growing need for offline spaces within the neurodivergent community, enhancing the quality of social connections and conversations.

“By leveraging gamification and immersive storytelling, this design creates a unique physical space where neurodivergent individuals can gather, connect and relate to one another. It aims to alleviate the negative impacts of neuro-normative environments and reduce dependence on digital platforms for combating isolation.

“The project features two distinct areas, one for conversations and another ‘material experience’ that incorporates gamification, engaging participants’ minds and senses.

“This immersive experience fosters deep engagement, facilitating meaningful conversations, personal activities and team-building exercises. The Third Place is a celebration of neurodiversity and the power of fostering connections among individuals.”

Student: Alice Morgan
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Outfitbox by Rebecca Lee

“An avant-garde fashion destination that aims to lead in innovation, Outfitbox features a clothing rental hub specifically designed for the fashion-forward Gen Z community.

“Its mission is to encourage sustainable living and promote fashion rentals, inspiring young individuals to revolutionise the fashion industry and embrace eco-conscious practices.

“Serving as a transformative catalyst, Outfitbox advocates for pre-owned fashion adoption, striving to minimise our environmental impact while embodying style and responsibility.

“By redefining the fashion experience, it aims to leave a lasting impression on future generations, emphasising the importance of accountability and sustainability in the fashion world.”

Student: Rebecca Lee
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

GIA House by Grace Dickerson

“A dynamic working hub where heritage and innovation converge, GIA House breathes new life into a Georgian host building by transforming it into exclusive apartments and collaborative workspaces.

“The project’s vision is to foster a vibrant community within the interior design and architecture industry, promoting collaboration and nurturing creativity.

“While paying homage to the architectural legacy, contemporary elements are seamlessly integrated, embracing innovative forms and materials. The spaces, both private and public, cater to the needs of commuters and visiting creatives.

“Traditional boundaries are diminished, encouraging residents to embrace social areas for connection and engagement.

“This captivating blend of historical essence and modern design aims to create a functional space that embodies the ever-evolving nature of the industry.”

Student: Grace Dickerson
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

By Tate – A Textiles Gallery That Connects by Paige Hills

“Motivated by a collaboration with an existing family textile business, By Tate is a project that seeks to actively involve visitors in the realm of textiles by transforming passive observation into active participation.

“As visitors progress through the building, their interaction with textiles intensifies. The journey also includes an exploration of textile heritage, offering historical context and knowledge to visitors.

“A key aspect of the design is the commitment to free access to art, driven by stakeholders named Tate who prioritise education and creativity.

“To heighten inclusivity, accessibility and captivation, distinctive orange wrapping elements mark each zone, while balconies serve as connectors, inviting visitors to freely explore and foster a sense of freedom and discovery.

“The design project creates an environment that encourages active engagement, cultivates a deeper appreciation for textiles, and provides visitors with an immersive and enriching art experience.”

Student: Paige Hills
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

The Sanctuary by Amal Badr

“The Sanctuary project endeavours to establish a dynamic and versatile space that offers a range of amenities to suit diverse cultural interests.

“It serves as a refuge where individuals can seek respite from the pressures of everyday life and discover tranquillity within a thoughtfully crafted environment.

“Features include a wellness floor that provides state-of-the-art facilities for rejuvenation and self-care. The library floor encourages intellectual exploration and personal growth, and the nursery play space is designed to inspire children’s creativity and development.

“Through meticulous design and purposeful implementation, The Sanctuary provides a harmonious blend of rejuvenation, knowledge and growth where people of all ages can connect, create, and thrive in a supportive and inclusive community.”

Student: Amal Badr
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Abode by Laura Mcvey

“In response to the escalating homelessness crisis, the visionary Abode project aims to redefine co-housing residences for the homeless, providing holistic support and empowering opportunities.

“The project offers safe and secure housing, complemented by daytime spaces dedicated to empowering and assisting those experiencing homelessness.

“By creating inclusive public spaces including shops and restaurants, Abode fosters social integration while dismantling barriers and stereotypes. The design prioritises social interactions, promoting a sense of belonging and support.

“Abode represents a paradigm shift, embracing comprehensive strategies for empowerment, reintegration, and community engagement. It aspires to transform lives and foster a compassionate and inclusive society.”

Student: Laura Mcvey
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Birmingham City University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post Birmingham City University spotlights 10 student interior design projects appeared first on Dezeen.

This month the U.S. Supreme Court struck a blow against manufacturers of parody product designs. In a rare bit of partisan unity, the court decided 9-0 against VIP Products LLC, the company behind the “Bad Spaniels” dog toy that resembles a Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottle.

Interestingly, it was VIP Products that got legal first. Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc. had reached out to them, demanding they stop selling their product. According to the case syllabus, “VIP filed suit, seeking a declaratory judgment that Bad Spaniels neither infringed nor diluted Jack Daniel’s trademarks. Jack Daniel’s counterclaimed for infringement and dilution.”

VIP’s defense was that their “Bad Spaniels” design was protected by the First Amendment (freedom of speech) and passed the Rogers test. Which means that, dammit, now I have to explain what the Rogers test is:

The Rogers Test. So in 1986, director Federico Fellini made a movie called “Ginger and Fred,” a comedy about two Italian dancers who worked as impersonators of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. (If you don’t know who Fellini, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are, Google them—I’m not your slave.)

Ginger Rogers sued the film’s producer for trademark infringement, which is protected under the Lanham Act, the U.S.’ primary federal trademark law.

Rogers lost in court. The court ruled that the use of Rogers’ name in the title was “artistically relevant,” as one of the characters in the movie plays a Ginger Rogers impersonator. They also ruled that using Rogers’ name in the title did not explicitly suggest that she, Ginger Rogers, was necessarily endorsing or affiliated with the movie.

This two-part decision became known as the Rogers test, which is now rolled out whenever there’s a trademark infringement case. To pass the test, you have to prove 1) that your use of the trademark is artistically relevant and 2) that your use of the trademark does not explicitly state that the trademark holder is actually involved with your product.

Interestingly for designers, the reason VIP lost the case is because the Justices are looking at the very form of the bottle itself as the trademark. As Justice Elena Kagan writes in the decision:

“…Bad Spaniels’ trade dress…is designed to evoke a distinctive beverage bottle-with-label. Even if you didn’t already know, you’d probably not have much trouble identifying which one.

“Bad Spaniels is about the same size and shape as an ordinary bottle of Jack Daniel’s. The faux bottle, like the original, has a black label with stylized white text and a white filigreed border. The words ‘Bad Spaniels’ replace ‘Jack Daniel’s’ in a like font and arch…. Below the arch, ‘The Old No. 2 On Your Tennessee Carpet’ replaces ‘Old No. 7 Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey’ in similar graphic form. The small print at the bottom substitutes ‘43% poo by vol.’ and ‘100% smelly’ for ‘40% alc. by vol. (80 proof ).'”

In short, the court upheld an earlier District Court decision (which VIP Products had appealed) that “VIP uses its Bad Spaniels trademark and trade dress as source identifiers of its dog toy.” In other words, the decision essentially says that if you emulate another company’s precise shape and “trade dress,” you’re misleading consumers into believing that the copied company is the source of your parody good.

The decision should strike fear into the hearts of parody product designers.

Now if only there was an international body that could tackle design piracy.