dear system, an intelligent toaster with an attention-grabbing personality by leon brown
as it produces a toast, it also listens — to user feedback, emotion, and reception becoming yet more alien as it attempts to become human.
updates
stay up to date with all the latest topics to be featured on designboom with our dedicated tag overview. we've collated the most recent themes in the worlds of art, architecture, design and technology for your easy reading: from emerging architecture studios to new design trends to relevant events from around the globe.
[FEATURED]
leon brown explores personality in the home with eight toasters
here the studying product designer from the uk leon brown has created eight toasters - a metaphor for paradigm objects in the homeю
will alsop dies aged 70
known for his somewhat controversial designs comprised of modernist buildings full of bright colors and unusual forms, the architect passed away yesterday.
will alsop quits architecture for painting
yesterday will alsop announced he will quit his practice to spend more time painting, but will continue as a consultant.
formafantasma creates cylindrical vases with cracks and imperfections for bitossi
clay by formafantasma is a series of lathe-turned vases with torn off edges presented alongside three decorative elements based on designs by aldo londi.
adam nathaniel furman brings 'historical promiscuities' for bitossi to milan design week
at vudafieri-saverino partners studio, adam nathaniel furman shows his peculiar pop style, which has quickly brought him to the center of acclaim.
moneo brock's colorful casa TEC 205 in monterrey is a homage to mexican architecture
this house is the first prize in a raffle organized every year by the technological university of monterrey to raise funds for its students.
crystalline projections define moneo brock-designed church in monterrey
a curated selection of traditional artworks created by contemporary artists are displayed throughout, continuing to meld aspects of traditional and modern day spirituality that are reflected in the architecture.
studio yumakano reaps rust harvest to assemble unique furniture pieces
the designers expose metal plates to light, rain, earth, and seawater to create rust, collect it, and then apply the colorful patterns to acrylic resin.
studio yumakano playfully shapes bike stands for cyclists to park
offered as packaged pieces, the stand functions as simple and clear signs that anyone can 'read' or identify.
marc sadler packs the kitchen in a suitcase with portable cookstation for FPM
the cookstation sets to sort your last minute cravings for tea in the desert, or a spontaneous midnight picnic for two in the great outdoors.
marc sadler creates italian-made luggage collection for FPM from recycled aluminum
designboom spoke to marc sadler about his new collection, his design approach, the future of local manufacturing, and what keeps him up at night.
david adjaye, carl turner, faye toogood, and SCDLP design modular homes for cube haus
launched to 'disrupt the existing housing market', the initiative seeks to deliver high quality architecture at a reasonable price point.
pop brixton: carl turner's shipping container village nears completion
the project will provide the south london district with new public space, alongside live/work units and retail outlets.
neri & hu's 'any/everyWHERE' installation showcases new collections from stellar works
designed to stimulate perceptions of place and environment, the installation features new work by neri & hu and SPACE copenhagen.
SPACE copenhagen converts warehouse into restaurant 108 for rené redzepi
the design combines the building's existing structural elements with bespoke furniture pieces that offer a distinct scandinavian style.
surefly's personal hybrid electric drone helicopter completes its first successful flight
the vehicle completed its first successful, manned, untethered hover outside of cincinnati.
jasper morrison discusses new additions to VITRA collection
jasper morrison discusses his 30 year collaboration with VITRA and the debut of the 'plate dining table' at salone del mobile 2018.
atelier LAVIT's ATEM sofa uses stainless steel mesh highlighting transparency
made with stainless steel, leather and mahogany wood, each material is associated with a compositional element suggested by its features.
face to face with the invisible man: liu bolin on spirituality, technology and even champagne
designboom sat down with liu bolin in new york, who discussed the workings behind the paint, the ideas which motivate his projects, and the role of 'the invisible man' in a rapidly changing world.
liu bolin appropriates classical masterpieces with canvases of camouflaged human bodies
the chinese artist makes a major shift towards the virtual world for 'art hacker', a solo exhibition at klein sun gallery.
emanuele magini's anish for campeggi is a stretching circle with a hidden seat
'anish' seems to be a simple circle in a frame but if you come closer, you'll see a seat behind.
denis santachiara creates pop-up ca.mia emergency bed for campeggi
equipped with an inflatable mattress, the ‘ca.mia’ is made to sleep protected without sacrificing freedom.
controllable uncontrollable: riku ikegaya's exhibition visitors can take a piece home
taking one of the pieces, the visitors disperse the artist's work by sharing pictures of it on their social media channels.
riku ikegaya's steel-pipe scaffolding installation revamps st. elisabeth church in berlin
riku ikegaya’s ‘nested churches’ installation pays tribute to famed architect karl friedrich schinkel’s st. elisabeth church in berlin.
zhaoyang architects’ boutique hotel is a hidden urban oasis in china
behind a façade of stones is a courtyard that welcomes you into the peaceful serenity of soft grey walls, highlighted by hints of green.
zhaoyang architects transforms office complex into restaurant + farmers' market in china
the complex includes a restaurant, a farmers' market, a gallery for local craftspeople, and space for a weekly bazaar.
handling architecture by stefano boeri: DUE door handle for dnd
the two traditional functional parts of the object – the grip and the attachment plate – are realized as a pair of slender parallelepipeds.
giulio iacchetti invites five italian architects to design door handles for dnd
stefano boeri architetti, alfonso femia, maurizio varratta, cino zucchi and 967 arch will make their design debuts at the milan design week 2018 for dnd.
stairstalk, a plant-like staircase designed by atmos studio
the staircase unfurls at the 1st-floor level, as if reuniting with its vast family of arboreal brethren in green park opposite.
arboreal lightning by atmos studio responds to musical performances
to activate music shows, the illuminated sinuous form responds to sound input to produce a dynamic lighting event, while also redefining the spatial qualities of the venue.
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competitions 
The Oak Moon Pavilion $ 9,120.00 USD deadline: march 1st, 2027 Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 $ 115,875.00 USD deadline: november 2nd, 2026 2026 NY Architectural & Interior Design Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 grippin’ $ 3,000.00 USD deadline: april 30th, 2027 New York High Falls Riverfront Market $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: january 18th, 2027 2027 French Design Awards deadline: april 6th, 2027 TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! 2026 $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: october 30th, 2026 International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa [IFDA] deadline: december 11th, 2026 Call for Entries: UX Design Awards - Spring 2027 deadline: november 15th, 2026 Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development competition / Edition #4 $ 11,773.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 all competitions
The Oak Moon Pavilion $ 9,120.00 USD deadline: march 1st, 2027 
Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 $ 115,875.00 USD deadline: november 2nd, 2026 
2026 NY Architectural & Interior Design Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 
grippin’ $ 3,000.00 USD deadline: april 30th, 2027 
New York High Falls Riverfront Market $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: january 18th, 2027 
2027 French Design Awards deadline: april 6th, 2027 
TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! 2026 $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: october 30th, 2026 
International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa [IFDA] deadline: december 11th, 2026 
Call for Entries: UX Design Awards - Spring 2027 deadline: november 15th, 2026 
Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development competition / Edition #4 $ 11,773.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 
