TOP 10 body art of 2013
whether intricately painted, painstakingly sewn, crudely drawn, or dramatically sculpted, 2013 saw a number of international artists using human bodies, limbs, hair, and skin as the canvas in their creative projects.
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.
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TOP 10 bridges of 2013
our 10 most popular bridges from the past twelve months sees a variety of schemes incorporating a wide range of materials and taking various spanning forms.
DURR shivering bracelet by skrekkøgle alters perception of time
the interactive experiment investigates how users perceive time by shivering with haptic rhythms every 5 minutes.
skrekkøgle: solitaire win sculpture
two norwegian designers recreate the win screen for windows solitaire in a 1,000-card sculpture that spans 1.5 meters (5 feet) long.
beyond the hill by kazuhiko kishimoto unites home and gallery
the semi-public building is open to the community, whilst simultaneously providing the security and privacy required of a residential property.
kazuhiko kishimoto: skyward house, japan
embedded into a sloped green hillside, the home uses light to spatially reach toward the sky and framed voids to stitch together moments of space.
tom friedman sculpts a peeing figure from foil
originally constructed from varying bits of aluminum foil, pans, plates and roasting dishes, the finished structure is made only of metal, including the stream of waste that flows down from the floor, made from a metallic wire.
tom friedman at luhring augustine, new work
a collection of objects which suspend the viewer's conception of reality as the intricacy of each hand-formed piece seems to be unfeasibly precise.
MRM arquitectos composes technological center of estella
configured by layers of varying heights in response to its multiple uses, the linear volume is based on its flexible spatial arrangement within.
MRM arquitectos: añorbe cemetery extension
standard concrete masonry units are turned onto their sides allowing the voids to become a key feature in the architecture, delineating space but allowing the passage of light, views and air.
sculpted skin furniture by jessica harrison
each of the small objects are representations of interior items -- a grandfather clock, armchair, and sofa are just a few -- and are built and carved from molded structures formed from the palms and backs of the artist's hands.
MARS architects proposes walltopia climbing hall in bulgaria
four vast scalable atria offer walls of varying heights and complexities at the proposed climbing center in bulgaria.
water bench by MARS architects collects + stores rainwater
the design combines standard outdoor furniture with rainwater collection and storage to create a product that increases water independence at the local level while providing an attractive place to sit and socialize.
jin kuramoto exhibits nonfunctional objects for no pain, no gain
the showcase of sculptural objects experimented with the idea of objects without function or usage, extracting the simplicity of beauty in form, framework, and structure.
fruit & regent exhibition by hisakazu shimizu at club esta
hisakazu shimizu's examination of humble, everyday imagery like fruit, mushrooms, and animals are reimagined as functional pieces, products, and installations.
artist creates nelson mandela portrait from 27,000 punches
the monumental nelson mandela portrait is made from 27,000 boxing punches with chinese characters imprinted onto the glove.
nelson mandela monument by marco cianfanelli
built for the 50th anniversary of the nobel peace prize winner's arrest by the south african apartheid police, the sculpture has been built from 50 columns of metal rising from concrete, representative of his 27 year incarceration.
hans kotter explores the infinite quality of space with light
undulating folds of chroma and wormhole-like voids materialize as three-dimensional forms, immersing the audience in enchanting tunnels and exploding channels of light.
hans kotter: limitless light sculptures at designmiami/ basel 2012
the artist is known for his skill in recreating the glowing quality of cityscapes or lit forms within smaller surrealistic planes.
civic stage by frida escobedo at the lisbon triennial
performers and audience members dictate the height of this pivoted stage by the mexican architect.
alvaro siza restores the district of chiado in lisbon
for more than a decade, the portugese architect has been leading an extensive restoration project that has seen chiado transform into a zone of thriving real estate.
david chipperfield shortlisted for nobel headquarters in sweden
the new building will become a public meeting point within the city, where the concepts and people behind the award are presented, encouraging creativity and innovation.
wingårdh arkitektkontor: gina tricot headquarters
characterized by its triangular form and sharp pointed edge, the building features interior and exterior spaces that are independent and autonomous of each other.
zooom expandable work table by piero lissoni for kartell
the table extends its frame by using elements such as bent laminate legs, painted aluminum supports and a tempered glass surface.
ross lovegrove: nodules spherical lenses for lasvit
the nodules appear to be floating in the air like bubbles, as they rise from the floor in clusters.
punkt.: ES 01 extension socket by georges moanack
a video of how the extension socket is made has been released!
cocoon tree bed - a luxury tent getaway
a contemporary take on the traditional tree house, the 120kg spherical structure is intended as a retreat, suspended above the ground.
BBVH overhauls belgian barge into airy amsterdam houseboat
the belgian barge has been transformed into a light-filled and spacious houseboat in amsterdam, while still remaining fully navigable as a ship.
BBVH transform church into web design office in the hague
inserting a large stairwell into the main double-height hall enabled this 19th century church to be divided into three separate units.
herb lubalin: american graphic designer (1918-81) compact edition
herb lubalin was a politically engaged designer who frequently supported liberal causes in 60s and 70s america.
lubalin now exhibition
lubalin now is the inaugural exhibition in the newly re-located herb lubalin study center of design and typography. the show features typographic works by marian bantjes, non format, post typography, rick valicenti, alex trochut and others.
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competitions 
TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! 2026 $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: october 30th, 2026 
2026 Rome Design Awards Season 2 deadline: december 10th, 2026 
CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award 2027 $ 1,026.00 USD deadline: january 31st, 2027 
Museum of Emotions #9 $ 9,140.00 USD deadline: february 22nd, 2027 
2026 NY Architectural & Interior Design Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 
Vancouver Tall Challenge $ 15,000.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 
Marca Corona Award 2027 | Contest for artists and designers under 35 $ 1,675.00 USD deadline: january 11th, 2027 
The Oak Moon Pavilion $ 9,120.00 USD deadline: march 1st, 2027 
Portugal Long Table Restaurant $ 11,635.00 USD deadline: january 11th, 2027 
Compasso d’Oro International Design Award 2027 deadline: january 20th, 2027 all competitions
TACTICAL URBANISM NOW! 2026 $ 10,000.00 USD deadline: october 30th, 2026 2026 Rome Design Awards Season 2 deadline: december 10th, 2026 CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award 2027 $ 1,026.00 USD deadline: january 31st, 2027 Museum of Emotions #9 $ 9,140.00 USD deadline: february 22nd, 2027 2026 NY Architectural & Interior Design Awards Season 2 deadline: november 5th, 2026 Vancouver Tall Challenge $ 15,000.00 USD deadline: november 30th, 2026 Marca Corona Award 2027 | Contest for artists and designers under 35 $ 1,675.00 USD deadline: january 11th, 2027 The Oak Moon Pavilion $ 9,120.00 USD deadline: march 1st, 2027 Portugal Long Table Restaurant $ 11,635.00 USD deadline: january 11th, 2027 Compasso d’Oro International Design Award 2027 deadline: january 20th, 2027 
