OneEighty: malleable packaging design

Finnish design students Nikolo Kerimov, Juho Kruskopf and Arttu Kuisma created this innovative packaging design. Called OneEighty, the product's tessellated geometric surface allows it to fit to the shape of a hand while keeping contents safe.

Beat Up Creations by Angela Rossi

Angela Rossi, founder of LA-based brand Beat Up Creations, specialises in antique plates altered with a contemporary twist.

107 Chair by Robert Stadler

Austrian-born and Paris-based designer Robert Stadler has designed a new chair for German manufacturer Thonet. Inspired by the brand's classic bentwood model, it references its predecessor yet is significantly cheaper to produce thanks to modern production technologies.

The frame of the chair is made in solid wood while the seat and backrest are in plywood. It is also available in an upholstered version. 

The Sleep Event 2012: textured wall panels

At hospitality tradeshow The Sleep Event this month in London, one detail that continued to stand out for contract spaces was wall panelling. Vibrant colour palettes combined with innovative textured designs to transform hotel interiors into newly tactile, contemporary environments.

De Padova, Milan: Christmas VM

This is how De Padova in Milan (situated at Corso Venezia 14 since 1965) has decorated its 2000 square metre space for Christmas. Curated by Jo Ann Tan, the installation features a special selection of furniture and accessories for home and office, tied together with red present-shaped props and curling, oversized ribbon.

Fade Stools by Catherine Aitken

Photo by Malene Jorck Heide

Winner of the 2012 Time To Design award, Scottish designer Catherine Aitken has created a colourful series of stools that explore gradual changes through increasing or decreasing levels of colour and material.

For Arts Sake

For a shot of colour inspiration, we recommend technicolour Tumblr, For Arts Sake. Covering everything from balls of rainbow-coloured yarn to intricately patterned tiles, the blog posts inspiration found all over the world, and from every creative sector - as long as it's colourful.

Snowflake Decorations by Reiko Kaneko

British-Japanese ceramicist Reiko Kaneko has created a range of Christmas decorations inspired by snowflakes. Each bone china ornament is based on a photograph of a real snowflake, and is Bisque fired, unglazed, resulting in a delicate, matt finish.

Lock bamboo table by Plankton

This new table by Dutch design brand Plankton uses interlocked pieces of layered bamboo as its base.

Water Cups Fountain by Ariane Prin

Designer Ariane Prin has built a hand-operated device that drips clay onto plaster moulds, creating porcelain cups with a differently splashed pattern each time.

For everything there is a season: Annelys de Vet for Droog

Designed by graphic designer Annelys de Vet for Droog, this calendar-style tea towel set combines traditional Dutch chequered patterns with narratives relating to seasonal traditions or statistics, providing one for each month of the year.

The Perfect Place to Grow: 175 years of the RCA

Spike by David Mach, 2011

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is celebrating its 175-year history with The Perfect Place to Grow, an exhibition that looks to the institution's illustrious alumni for inspiration, spanning art and product design.

Numero 74: classic kids' design

Numero 74 is a new brand specialising in hand-crafted textiles and vintage furniture for children. Created by two cousins - one French, one Italian - it sources classic pieces of kid-sized furniture, designed by names from Harry Bertoia and Luigi Colani to Jean Prouvé, from all over the world, keeping each one in its original state.

Pieces for the Body by Gaetano Pesce

Italian architect and designer Gaetano Pesce has always tried to blur the boundaries between art, design, and industry, embracing all the creative disciplines at once, and his latest exhibition, starting next week in Paris, is no exception.

Running from 7th November until 22nd February at the Basia Embiricos Gallery, Pieces for the Body will display jewellery made by the designer in his spare time.

Stars collection by Habitat

The new Stars range at Habitat uses festive imagery taken by design journalist and photographer Barbara Chandler. The collection encompasses Chandler's style - with Christmas cards, cushions, aprons, tea towels and tote bags all digitally printed for a contemporary Christmas.

To mark the launch, Chandler is also exhibiting a collection of her photographs at the brand's Kings Road store, until 6th January 2013.

The Greatest Candle in the World

Netherlands product developer Oil2Wax has found a way to make decorative scented candles from old frying oils, turning this polluting waste into a resource. Called The Greatest Candle in the World, the product features an unwhitened cotton wick in a recycled glass container, is packaged in recyclable paper printed with soya ink, and available in eight natural or neutral scents.

Cocosa Home launches

Premium flash-sale site Cocosa has launched a Home section, cutting the price of exclusive and luxury items for the contemporary consumer. Recent and current sales include Leathersmith stationery, Jan Constantine cushions and Wedgwood Christmas tree baubles - which sold out within a few days.

A taste of Coca Cola by Nendo

Photo by Takumi Ota

Japanese designer Nendo has recycled the iconic Coca Cola glass bottle into a collection of bowls and dishes. Of the original design, he has kept the soft distortions and fine air bubbles, as well as the pattern of the base. The products are all handmade by Japanese craftsmen inside moulds so the pieces can be faithfully reproduced. 

Chocolate train by Andrew Farrugia

Chocolate artist Andrew Farrugia has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chocolate structure in the world, the Guardian reports, with a 112ft model of a train that took 700 hours to create. The sculpture is currently on show at a train station in Brussels. Watch a video of it here.

Architecture For Dogs

Chihuahua Cloud: Reiser + Umemoto for Chihuahua

Muji's creative director Kenya Hara has launched a new venture that offers downloadable blueprints for kennels, houses and wearable furnishings - designed especially for dogs by some of the world's most renowned architects and designers.

The Massimo Minini Collection at Plusdesign Gallery

Milan's Plusdesign gallery is currently exhibiting a selection of pieces from the art collection of Massimo Minini, one of the most powerful gallerists and collectors in Italy.

Leaf Lamp by Muuto

Swedish designers Broberg & Ridderstråle have designed a new lamp for Muuto. The Leaf lamp is available in two versions - floor and table - and in five colours: black, grey, white, rose and green.

Adaptable environmental house by D*Haus

The D*Dynamic by experimental design and architecture practice D*Haus is a pre-fabricated house that can respond dynamically to its environment and adapt to the needs created by climate changes.

Depending on the season, weather, or time of day, the D*Dynamic can transform into eight different configurations. Its concept is based on the discovery by mathematician Henry Dudeney in 1903 that a square can transform into an equilateral triangle. 

3D sketches by Maya Selway

British jewellery designer Maya Selway turned to home accessories for this collection of vases, bowls, bottles and candlesticks, which resemble half-drawn sketches. Made from oxidised copper, they are carefully weighted at the base to support the seemingly unbalanced structure.

Museum of Curiosity, London

Photo by Paul Singer

A new exhibition of the macabre, the odd and the strangely collectible opened in Soho, London, at the start of this month. Called the Museum of Curiosity, the show features contemporary art with a dark twist, alongside curios such as preserved parts of the human anatomy, unusual pieces of taxidermy, pinned butterfly collections and apothecary equipment.

Future Primitivism/Instinctive Overide by Ross Lovegrove

Photo by Simona Cupoli

As the Special Guest at last month's Interieur Biennale in Belgium, Ross Lovegrove exhibited a futuristic car concept made up of streaming surface patterns projected onto a fluid fibreglass form inspired by a drop of water.

KAMA: Sex & Design exhibition preview

Crowd by Ronit Baranga

From 5 December to 10 March 2013, Milan's Triennale Design Museum will present a new exhibition about the relationship between sex and design. Named after the Hindu god of pleasure, the show will survey the subject's historical, mythical and anthropological roots, as well as unveiling new works by eight international designers.

Vintage collection by Francisco Segarra

One of the most interesting stands at this year's Equip'Hotel, the Biennale trade show for catering and hotel businesses taking place this week in Paris, is by Spanish interior design company Francisco Segarra. The brand specialises in vintage furniture and accessories for hotels, restaurants, coffee houses and retail stores, allowing industry professionals to create a tailored industrial and eclectic style for their venues.

Lasvit Liquidkristal by Ross Lovegrove

On show at Interieur 2012 in Kortrijk, Belgium, last month, Ross Lovegrove's undulating installation for Lasvit uses crystal panels to make visitors feel as though they are encased in a kaleidoscope.

A new font for the RCA

London's Royal College of Art has announced its new typeface. Designed by Neville Brody's Research Studios in collaboration with renowned typographer Margaret Calvert, the font is named Calvert Brody and will be used for signage across the college's buildings as well as on documentation for the institute.

Common Roots: a history of European design

Morphé Bowl by Morphé Design Studio (Photography by Jan Rambousek)

Israel's first ever design museum, Design Museum Holon, will examine the history of European design in its upcoming show, Common Roots - Design map of Central Europe.

The exhibition will focus on design from Central and Eastern Europe, from seven decades ago to today. It will explore how design in this part of the world was influenced by events such as World War II and the fall of Communism in 1989.

Stamp: low-tech lighting

ECAL Low-Tech Factory/Stamp from ECAL on Vimeo.

Following our post yesterday, here's another innovative outcome from ECAL students' latest project, the Low-Tech Factory. Stamp is a one-man production line that converts plastic trellis into portable lamps. The process comprises three simple stages: heating, shaping and clamping plastic over a lightbulb. Watch the video to see it in action.

Subscribers can read our report on lightweight lamps here.

Villa Escudero: waterfall dining

At the Waterfalls Restaurant in Villa Escudero, guests dine on local cuisine in front of a natural waterfall. Meals are served on long, bamboo picnic tables just feet from the cascade, with clear spring water running around guests' feet and the waterfall itself providing a natural soundtrack.

Low-Tech Factory by ECAL

Animal Growth by Eleonora Castellarin and Moises Hernandez

Students of leading Swiss design school ECAL have created Low-Tech Factory, a series of craft-led machines devised during a workshop led by Chris Kabel and Tomás Král, and shown at the recent Designers' Saturday in Langenthal.

The outcomes include a rocking chair that knits hats; a popcorn maker that pops grains one-by-one; a system for adding marbled effects to any surface; and a fun workshop to teach kids and adults alike how to make stuffed toys.

Tok & Stok student competition 2012: winners announced

Last night Tok & Stok hosted a party at Museu da Casa Brasileira in Sao Paulo to announce the winners of its student competition. The theme was Brasil and design students from all over the country took part, sending projects that not only use the theme properly but also take into consideration the design style of the retailer.

Limited carpet edition by Tai Ping

Left: Ecritures by Christian Astuguevieille, Right: O by Erik Bulatov

During last month's FIAC (International Contemporary Art Fair) in Paris, high-end carpet brand Tai Ping organised an art exhibition of its own. Exploring the boundaries between art and industrial design, the brand turned its rugs into pieces of art.

Contemporary chalet by H2O Architectes

French architecture studio H2O was recently commissioned to refurbish a 55m2 ski apartment in Les Ménuires. The brief was to increase the surface of the living area without moving the supporting walls, to add a second bathroom, and to keep the same number of beds in the flat, 8. To do so, they decided to invert the perspective.

Ronaldo Fraga for Tok & Stok

Acclaimed Brazilian fashion designer Ronaldo Fraga has once again collaborated with furniture and home accessories retailer Tok & Stok to launch two new collections of prints that have been applied to a wide range of products, from cushions to lampshades and tableware.

Wedding posters by Eureka

Brazilian design brand Eureka, first featured here with personalised posters celebrating baby's first year, has launched a new collection. The new designs were created to commemorate weddings and display information of the couple's history and particularities, such as their favourite song, first trip together and where they met.

Istanbul Design Biennial 2012

Istanbul Modern

Istanbul’s inaugural design biennial kicked off this month, with events clustered in two central locations: Galata Greek School and Istanbul Modern. The theme, Imperfection, was set by Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic.

“As a city, Istanbul is far from perfect, yet it is one of the most exhilarating and dynamic centres in the world," Sudjic explained. "Its special quality is that it makes so much of the imperfect, the inexact and the provisional.”

Silverware by Nadia Bosc

French jeweller Nadia Bosc has applied the techniques of silver- and goldsmithing to a collection of precious and delicate tableware. Solid silver, gold, and vermeil become sampling spoons, forks or shakers, set with precious stones.

Acconci Studio wins Design Miami/ Designer of the Year Award

Klein-Bottle Playground by Acconci Studio

Global forum Design Miami/ has announced that Brooklyn-based Acconci Studio has won its Designer of the Year Award, following the criteria that the winner must "have made a mark on design history, pushing the boundaries of the discipline through a singularly innovative and influential vision".

Formafantasma design Vienna's new souvenir

Vienna Playing Cards by Studio Formafantasma

In collaboration with European Home Run, the Vienna Tourist Board recently held a design competition to create a new souvenir of Vienna: a 3D product that incorporates Vienna's contemporary side as a creative city, as seen through the eyes of other Europeans. Product designers from six different European nations were invited to capture their view of Vienna from the outside.

The winner of the competition is Italian studio Formafantasma, who created a special set of playing cards for the contest.

Capsule de Plume: travel lifestyle

French website Plume Voyage specialises in all objects of travel, from miniature shower gels and shaving creams to compartmentalised shoe bags and iPad cases. Every month, it lists the must have items for travel aficionados, by colour, by brand or by style.

The Centipede Cinema

The Centipede Cinema, Guimarães, Portugal

To view films screened at The Centipede Cinema, visitors must duck underneath the main structure and up into one of the 16 nozzles. Designed by Colin Fournier, architecture studio Neon, and artist Marysia Lewandowska, the immersive experience was commisioned to celebrate Guimarães' year as the European Capital for Culture.

Magis x La Patisserie des Rêves

Italian design brand Magis and Parisian patisserie La Patisserie des Rêves have come together to launch a tea room exclusively dedicated to children.

Naughtone pop-up showroom by NoChintz

Manchester-based interior designers NoChintz designed this pop-up showroom in East London for British furniture brand Naughtone. On show until the middle of November, the new range includes the stackable Bounce chair, Riley table, Construct stool and table, Hush low sofa and Cloud upholstery range.

Patterned rollers by The Painted House

British brand The Painted House specialises in patterned paint rollers: easy to use, DIY-friendly tools for applying pattern to walls without investing in wallpaper. The rollers are available in nine different designs, and two types of applicator, one for fabric and one for paper.

Electrolux Design Lab 2012

Tastee by Christopher Holm-Hanson

The brief for 2012's Electrolux Design Lab competition was to design appliance concepts that can provide a fuller sensory experience. Thomas Johansson, design director of Electrolux and president of the Jury explains, "We rely on our senses for virtually everything so it is important to take them into consideration when designing household appliances."