Dezeen Events Guide launches digital guide to NYCxDesign 2025

Red and white NYCxDesign illustration featuring individuals visiting the event

Dezeen Events Guide has launched the 2025 edition of its digital guide to NYCxDesign, outlining key events at the festival, such as showrooms, installations, exhibitions, fairs, talks and product launches.

Taking place from 15 to 21 May, the festival celebrates its 13th anniversary, hosting hundreds of events across New York City‘s  Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens neighbourhoods.

The seven-day programme of events explores design disciplines such as graphic, interior, landscape and product design, as well as art, architecture and technology.

Use our interactive map

This year’s guide also features a curated map with the key events of the festival, helping you navigate your way around the city.

Map of New York City with pinks pins

There is still the opportunity to feature in the guide

There are three types of listings still available:

Standard listings cost £125 ($170) and include the event name, date and location details plus a website link. These listings will feature up to 50 words of text about the event.

Enhanced listings cost £175 ($240) and include all of the above, plus an image at the top of the listing’s page and a preview image on the Dezeen Events Guide homepage. These listings will also feature up to 100 words of text about the event.

Featured listings cost £350 ($470) and include the elements of an enhanced listing plus a post on Dezeen’s Threads channel, inclusion in the featured events carousel on the right hand of the homepage for up to two weeks and 150 words of text about the event. This text can include commercial information such as ticket prices and offers, and can feature additional links to website pages such as ticket sales and newsletter signups.

For more details about partnering with us to help amplify your event, contact the team at eventsguide@dezeen.com.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.

The guide is updated weekly and includes events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.

The illustration is by Justyna Green.

The post Dezeen Events Guide launches digital guide to NYCxDesign 2025 appeared first on Dezeen.

2-in-1 Transforming Furniture Concept Offers A Smart Solution for Versatile Spaces

Living in a small space often pushes us to become more resourceful with both our furniture and our floor plan. Multifunctional pieces have a way of making a home feel larger and more dynamic, giving each area a sense of possibility. For design fans and homeowners with compact spaces, a 2-in-1 table and desk concept offers a clever solution that’s both practical and fun to use.

The Chameleon Furniture concept is inspired by the chameleon, an animal known for adapting to its environment with ease. Built from sturdy iron, this piece brings that same spirit of transformation to furniture. Its playful mix of adaptability and strength makes it feel right at home in any room, whether you need a work surface or a spot to organize your essentials.

Designer: Heeyeol Yang

Putting the Chameleon together is refreshingly simple. Its structure relies on just four screws and iron plates, turning assembly into a quick, almost intuitive process. This straightforward system is ideal for anyone who likes to rearrange often or prefers tools that don’t require a lot of fuss. The transition between its two forms is smooth, giving you full flexibility without the usual headache.

When you need a desk, the Chameleon’s frames stack neatly and securely with the screws, forming a solid table ready for your laptop, books, or creative projects. The iron plates give a reassuring weight to the design, so even in its minimalist state, it doesn’t feel flimsy. Clean lines and reliable materials make it a welcome addition to any modern home office.

Switching over to storage mode is where the Chameleon’s character really shines. By assembling the top frame vertically, it transforms into an upright organizer. The top frame doubles as a pegboard, instantly providing a home for anything you want to hang, from headphones and tools to tote bags or art supplies. This feature adds a layer of personality and utility that makes the Chameleon feel even more thoughtful.

For furniture lovers, the Chameleon is a reminder that practical design doesn’t have to be boring. Its ability to shift between roles, along with its easy assembly, means you never have to settle for clutter or compromise on style. Whether you’re making room for guests, working from home, or just organizing your space, this 2-in-1 table and desk is a creative and sturdy companion that makes small-space living a little more delightful.

The post 2-in-1 Transforming Furniture Concept Offers A Smart Solution for Versatile Spaces first appeared on Yanko Design.

2-in-1 Transforming Furniture Concept Offers A Smart Solution for Versatile Spaces

Living in a small space often pushes us to become more resourceful with both our furniture and our floor plan. Multifunctional pieces have a way of making a home feel larger and more dynamic, giving each area a sense of possibility. For design fans and homeowners with compact spaces, a 2-in-1 table and desk concept offers a clever solution that’s both practical and fun to use.

The Chameleon Furniture concept is inspired by the chameleon, an animal known for adapting to its environment with ease. Built from sturdy iron, this piece brings that same spirit of transformation to furniture. Its playful mix of adaptability and strength makes it feel right at home in any room, whether you need a work surface or a spot to organize your essentials.

Designer: Heeyeol Yang

Putting the Chameleon together is refreshingly simple. Its structure relies on just four screws and iron plates, turning assembly into a quick, almost intuitive process. This straightforward system is ideal for anyone who likes to rearrange often or prefers tools that don’t require a lot of fuss. The transition between its two forms is smooth, giving you full flexibility without the usual headache.

When you need a desk, the Chameleon’s frames stack neatly and securely with the screws, forming a solid table ready for your laptop, books, or creative projects. The iron plates give a reassuring weight to the design, so even in its minimalist state, it doesn’t feel flimsy. Clean lines and reliable materials make it a welcome addition to any modern home office.

Switching over to storage mode is where the Chameleon’s character really shines. By assembling the top frame vertically, it transforms into an upright organizer. The top frame doubles as a pegboard, instantly providing a home for anything you want to hang, from headphones and tools to tote bags or art supplies. This feature adds a layer of personality and utility that makes the Chameleon feel even more thoughtful.

For furniture lovers, the Chameleon is a reminder that practical design doesn’t have to be boring. Its ability to shift between roles, along with its easy assembly, means you never have to settle for clutter or compromise on style. Whether you’re making room for guests, working from home, or just organizing your space, this 2-in-1 table and desk is a creative and sturdy companion that makes small-space living a little more delightful.

The post 2-in-1 Transforming Furniture Concept Offers A Smart Solution for Versatile Spaces first appeared on Yanko Design.

HEAD Boom Raw: Built Clean for the Future of Tennis

HEAD stripped the racket back to its essentials. The Boom Raw launches today, Earth Day 2025, with zero surface coatings and a full commitment to lower-impact manufacturing. What’s visible is the raw carbon fiber frame, molded without added gloss or graphic layers. This isn’t about highlighting sustainability in a brochure. The racket itself becomes the message.

Designer: HEAD

The Boom Raw is constructed entirely from bio-circular carbon fibers. Toray and its European subsidiary supplied the material, derived from agricultural and forestry biomass waste. That input avoids landfill and instead powers the racquet’s structure. The production method follows a mass balance approach, which tracks and attributes the bio-based content throughout the manufacturing process.

Skipping the paint stage reduces chemical exposure and lowers the energy needed to complete each unit. HEAD also leaves out finishing touches that usually serve no performance purpose. That choice reduces emissions and simplifies recycling at the end of the racket’s usable life.

HEAD retains the technical design found in the regular Boom series. This includes the Auxetic yoke, known for adjusting tension response based on impact force. The feel remains responsive and smooth. Players familiar with the Boom’s handling will find the timing and feedback unchanged.

Instead of hiding construction details under branding and gloss, Boom Raw presents the uncoated surface as is. Every fiber line and contour is visible. The matte texture enhances grip and alters the racket’s feel in the hand during rallies. Nothing is added after the molding process. The frame tells its own story.

HEAD released this racket on Earth Day with intent. The Boom Raw is the first production model to use Toray’s bio-circular carbon throughout. At the same time, HEAD’s manufacturing partner in China is moving to fully green energy for racquet production. That shift is projected to cut emissions by 7,000 tons annually, based on internal calculations.

These aren’t temporary moves tied to a campaign window. They reflect deeper operational shifts already in motion. HEAD positions this release not as an exception but as the beginning of a more responsible approach to performance gear.

The Boom Raw is designed for players who want to understand the objects they train with. It offers a straightforward swing path and controlled energy return. Feedback remains consistent across volleys and baseline exchanges. HEAD doesn’t wrap that experience in slogans. It delivers a tool with fewer excesses and a cleaner build process.

There are no QR codes on the handle. No certificates tucked into the packaging. Just a frame molded with purpose and sent out without the usual extras. For those who’ve already made changes to their routines—on court and off—this racquet fits in without asking for compromise.

The post HEAD Boom Raw: Built Clean for the Future of Tennis first appeared on Yanko Design.

HEAD Boom Raw: Built Clean for the Future of Tennis

HEAD stripped the racket back to its essentials. The Boom Raw launches today, Earth Day 2025, with zero surface coatings and a full commitment to lower-impact manufacturing. What’s visible is the raw carbon fiber frame, molded without added gloss or graphic layers. This isn’t about highlighting sustainability in a brochure. The racket itself becomes the message.

Designer: HEAD

The Boom Raw is constructed entirely from bio-circular carbon fibers. Toray and its European subsidiary supplied the material, derived from agricultural and forestry biomass waste. That input avoids landfill and instead powers the racquet’s structure. The production method follows a mass balance approach, which tracks and attributes the bio-based content throughout the manufacturing process.

Skipping the paint stage reduces chemical exposure and lowers the energy needed to complete each unit. HEAD also leaves out finishing touches that usually serve no performance purpose. That choice reduces emissions and simplifies recycling at the end of the racket’s usable life.

HEAD retains the technical design found in the regular Boom series. This includes the Auxetic yoke, known for adjusting tension response based on impact force. The feel remains responsive and smooth. Players familiar with the Boom’s handling will find the timing and feedback unchanged.

Instead of hiding construction details under branding and gloss, Boom Raw presents the uncoated surface as is. Every fiber line and contour is visible. The matte texture enhances grip and alters the racket’s feel in the hand during rallies. Nothing is added after the molding process. The frame tells its own story.

HEAD released this racket on Earth Day with intent. The Boom Raw is the first production model to use Toray’s bio-circular carbon throughout. At the same time, HEAD’s manufacturing partner in China is moving to fully green energy for racquet production. That shift is projected to cut emissions by 7,000 tons annually, based on internal calculations.

These aren’t temporary moves tied to a campaign window. They reflect deeper operational shifts already in motion. HEAD positions this release not as an exception but as the beginning of a more responsible approach to performance gear.

The Boom Raw is designed for players who want to understand the objects they train with. It offers a straightforward swing path and controlled energy return. Feedback remains consistent across volleys and baseline exchanges. HEAD doesn’t wrap that experience in slogans. It delivers a tool with fewer excesses and a cleaner build process.

There are no QR codes on the handle. No certificates tucked into the packaging. Just a frame molded with purpose and sent out without the usual extras. For those who’ve already made changes to their routines—on court and off—this racquet fits in without asking for compromise.

The post HEAD Boom Raw: Built Clean for the Future of Tennis first appeared on Yanko Design.

US government restricts "sustainability" language for its overseas architecture

US Guatemala embassy by Miller Hull

US agency Overseas Building Operations has released a memo asking its architect collaborators to remove language relating to “sustainability” and “climate”.

According to reporting from The Architects Newspaper, the Overseas Building Operations (OBO) agency has asked any contractors to “re-review” language around in-progress projects and given new guidelines for approved language.

The memo from the agency, which is responsible for overseas buildings such as consulates, says that architecture studios must remove “all references to sustainability or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)” in descriptions or documentation of federal projects.

First released in February, the memo was updated in early April to clarify that the contractors are allowed to emphasise performance aspects such as LEED certifications, but that these aspects should be framed through increased performance rather than in terms of climate change. It stated that the terms “climate” and “sustainability” should be removed.

OBO has called for all projects approved before president Trump’s inauguration to be re-reviewed. It’s unclear whether the actual building protocol will be affected by the revised policy.

The Architects Newspaper reported that the descriptions of work by several architecture studios, including Studio Gang, Miller Hull and Tod Williams Billie Tsien, have already been changed in line with the new protocol.

The policy is in line with the Trump administration’s revision of the language used in federal documentation. Federal agencies have been advised to limit the use of hundreds of words, ranging from geographic phrases such as “Gulf of Mexico” to simple verbs such as “belong”.

OBO’s memo is a stark turnaround from the previous policy, with the agency emphasising LEED qualifications for projects as recently as December 2024.

Billions of dollars have already been spent on the in-progress OBO projects worldwide.

The new directive in line with a flurry of directives from the administration directed at the built environment, including directives to prioritise classical and traditional architecture in federal building projects and an order scrapping water pressure limits on showerheads.

Photo of Miller Hull’s completed Guatemala City US embassy by Gabe Border.

The post US government restricts “sustainability” language for its overseas architecture appeared first on Dezeen.

Researchers "Discover" a Never-Before-Seen Color

Did you know that, for most of human history, blue was very difficult to come by? While it is the sky and the ocean’s default color, blue is otherwise rare in the natural world. Blue flowers are scarce (produced by less than 10% of flowering plants) as are minerals that produce blue pigment.

Image: Delonix, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Egyptians developed a synthetic blue pigment by mixing sand, calcium, copper and ash, but it was labor-intensive and difficult to make.

When Europeans first caught wind of indigo in the 16th century, they went wild for the stuff, importing it first from India and then America, where it was produced at a heavy cost—slave labor.

Today blue isn’t rare. With the prevalence of smartphones and computer-generated imagery, we take colors for granted. You can move a bunch of sliders on a screen and generate whatever color you want. But researchers at U.C. Berkeley have sort of discovered a new color, one that you and I have never seen.

What the researchers did was manipulate the cones in the retinas of test subjects in order to get them to see this new color. We have three types of cones, Long, Medium and Short (L, M, S) that receive light and translate those into color within our brains. The L cones are sensitive to red light, and the S cones to blue. Those two cones do most of the heavy lifting, as the M cones have no naturally-occuring light frequency that stimulates them.

Image: Rapidreflex, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Berkeley researchers mapped the test subjects’ retinas to figure out where their M cones are, then used a laser to send pulses of light directly onto these M cones. The test subjects then saw the “new” color, perceiving it as “a patch of colour in the field of vision about twice the size of a full moon,” according to the Guardian.

Their description of the colour is not too arresting – the five people who have seen it call it blue-green – but that, they say, does not fully capture the richness of the experience.

“It was jaw-dropping. It’s incredibly saturated,” said Ren Ng, an electrical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley.

The researchers shared an image of a turquoise square to give a sense of the colour, which they named olo, but stressed that the hue could only be experienced through laser manipulation of the retina.

“Olo”

John Barbur, a University of London vision scientist, was dismissive of the experiment, saying “It is not a new colour” and stating that the exercise had “limited value.” Researchers, however, hope it will help them understand color blindness and vision-affecting diseases.

I don’t know how bulky or expensive the equipment is, but I bet if they set up a booth at a trade show attended by designers, they could charge money. What designer wouldn’t pay five, ten, twenty bucks, to see a color they’ve never seen before?

3 Ways Designers Can Incorporate Sustainable Workflows

In today’s competitive consumer products industry, incorporating sustainability considerations into the product design process is not just a buzzword but a necessity. However, for many design firms, achieving sustainable outcomes can feel daunting and unachievable due to preconceived notions of cost or what sustainability “should” look like during the design process.

Selecting more sustainable materials tends to be the first path forward that springs to mind, but that’s not the only way to integrate sustainable practices into the product design process. Today, designers are leveraging digital tools to eliminate paper trails, streamline processes, and more. Here, we highlight three companies that demonstrate sustainability is not only attainable but also actively practiced in various ways by product designers today.

Leveraging sustainability analytics for informed decisions

R&S Robertson, renowned for delivering exceptional lighting solutions for the hospitality and leisure sectors since 1939, recently decided to branch out and design its first lighting collection with the design firm Vivid Nine.

The Vivid Nine team utilized the Manufacturing Sustainability Insights (MSI) add-on for Autodesk Fusion to calculate the environmental impact of their designs in real-time, even before prototyping and manufacturing. By selecting different materials, manufacturing processes, and locations, MSI provides a comprehensive cradle-to-gate analysis of the product’s carbon emissions.

This real-time feedback allows designers to experiment with various materials and processes, helping them identify the most sustainable options. MSI’s analysis highlighted the biggest carbon contributors in the designs, indicating areas for significant improvements through material choice changes or design optimizations. Additionally, the team could compare the environmental impacts of manufacturing in different locations. They concluded that it was more environmentally beneficial to manufacture in Portugal compared to Asia, aligning with R&S Robertson’s manufacturing partner in Portugal.

The Vivid Nine team utilized the MSI add-on for Autodesk Fusion to calculate the environmental impact of their designs in real-time .

“We can go through each component piece of the light and run calculations of different CO2 values to try and reduce it,” says Jonathan Pearson, co-founder, Vivid Nine. “We can compare different manufacturing methods or different sizes to reduce the number. You can have a load of parts. But, with MSI, it’s easy to see what stands out as a really high value from a CO2 perspective and focus on what to change and impact the overall value.”

Reducing the production paper trail

Termobrasa, a Portugal-based manufacturer of heating systems, has eliminated its paper trail by designing its products in Fusion and tracking their production with Fusion Operations. Fusion Operations provides real-time insights into materials, production schedules, and inventory levels, facilitating efficient resource planning. By digitalizing their operations from design to production, Termobrasa has significantly reduced its reliance on paper, thereby cutting down on resources and embracing a more sustainable.

Easy repairs to support the circular economy

Native Instruments, a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for music production and DJing, offers a repair program for its products. This initiative focuses on extending the lifecycle of their products, thereby reducing electronic waste. “Usually, customers ask us to ship a spare part that they need to repair their own instruments,” says Matthias Geserick, senior customer care agent, Native Instruments. “Fusion Manage enables me to just find it directly in the database and send it to the customer with all the specs they need.”

This approach aligns with the principles of a circular economy, where products are designed to be reused, repaired, and recycled, ultimately minimizing environmental impact. By focusing on access to easy repairs or replacement parts, Native Instruments can be more sustainable and keep customers sampling, composing, and mixing on their beloved instruments for years to come.

By incorporating sustainable practices into the design process beyond just considering material type, design teams can reduce their environmental impact and enhance their reputation in an increasingly competitive market where consumers expect more from their products and the teams that create them.

Learn more about Autodesk Fusion here.

Single Flippable Lens Eyeglasses for Applying Eye Makeup

If you wear corrective lenses and are applying eye makeup, you’ve got a dilemma: You need the glasses to see what you’re doing, yet you can’t apply the makeup with the glasses in the way.

These Magnified Makeup Glasses with Flip Lens, by cosmetics company Donna May London, are designed to solve that. They contain a single lens that can be rotated over each eye, allowing easier application.

The units run $14, and the lenses are available in a range of diopters from +1.5 to +4.

Multi-functional furniture system concept uses just six wooden panels

It’s always interesting to me to look at product designers that look to create something that’s not usually found in the furniture shop near you. It’s also fascinating if they give you a glimpse behind their design thinking and what they want to be able to create with the pieces they’re designing even if sometimes these designs remain just that. Sometimes, it doesn’t have to be a complex design and we find gems even in the simplest and most minimalist of ideas.

Designer: Edoardo Lietti

Sisto is a creation by Italian designer Edoardo Lietti that embraces simplicity and versatility while blending Italian craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Originally branded as a “versatile wood chair”, it has evolved into a “simple piece of furniture” that you can turn into whatever you want depending on how you position it. What makes it stand out is that it is crafted from just six pieces of plywood. This multi-functional piece uses exposed fasteners to hold these butt-jointed pieces of plywood together. This straightforward method not only emphasizes the honesty of the material but also contributes to the piece’s understated charm.

Lietti shares that this “functional and sculptural piece of furniture” was actually inspired by the throne, which is normally reserved for monarchs. Using clean geometric characteristics, you can flip the piece around into different positions and its function can change. The positioning of the panels also creates pockets and shelves that lets you store various knick knacks when needed. It can become a low stool, a side table, a bookshelf, a regular table to work on, etc. When you combine it with another Sisto, you can create larger structures that can be used in your home office, actual office, or whatever space you put it in. This flexibility aligns perfectly with Lietti’s design philosophy of creating pieces that are not only artful but also practical and meant to last a lifetime.

Sisto represents a refreshing perspective in contemporary furniture design. It champions the idea that functionality and aesthetic appeal can be achieved through thoughtful simplicity. By stripping away unnecessary complexities, the designer has created a piece that is not only versatile and practical but also possesses a quiet elegance that allows it to seamlessly integrate into a variety of settings. Whether you’re drawn to its minimalist form or its adaptable nature, Sisto is a compelling example of how innovative design can arise from a commitment to fundamental principles. Now let’s see if it will remain a concept or if it will eventually go into production.

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