…with specially designed “cuddle walls.” DeZeen covers Savannahuis by Dutch architects, LAM.

A fence with tree imagery built in and glasses made out of parts from a retro weight scale…I love the way Daniel Hulsbergen embraces pre-existing objects to derive an entirely new form. That’s a natural approach for any designer to take, but it’s worth stopping and recognizing because doing it well reveals a sensitivity to the meaning and beauty of the original object and also an appreciation for the human impact it already has and a desire to preserve that effect. To me, this is a respectful and positive way of thinking about design.

The public loves Fibonacci!

What to do with the empty big box stores left behind by fallen retail giants? Good question, and one which more and more communities find themselves forced to answer. Read this interview with professor, artist and author, Julia Christensen, for some unusual yet uplifting true stories from her new book on the matter.

“Lite” by Animal Farm only uses low-energy light bulbs - check it out!

I was immediately drawn to this weird pillow-cushion thing that looks like a plant AND is hand-made by South African women who were trained by awesome textile designer (and new hero of mine) Ronel Jordaan. The rad company that carries it is called BE SWEET and is changing women’s lives in South Africa. How inspiring! it’s so great to find a beautiful product on the web and know that the production of it isn’t hurting the environment and IS making a difference in desperate regions of the world because the workers aren’t being exploited but are, in fact, treated well and paid fairly. This is community development that will benefit everyone! Please think about this the next time you want to go shop at Target or IKEA or WAL-MART. Is a factory worker’s misery worth a few extra dollars in your pocket and a cheaper, uglier product in your house? Those gargantuan stores are supposedly “convenient” but they keep money in the hands of the few and everyone else poor.

I will never outgrow my love for Chucks and I actually think this new design is pretty rad to look at. But more importantly, these shoes are part of an initiative to bring artists from around the world together to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Read the designer, Jeff Hamada’s description of the pattern’s meaning, get the scoop on the upcoming release/charity event in Canada, and inform yourself about the awesome business model behind it all…

The LifeStraw, a water filtration system worn conveniently around the neck, is just one of many products made and sold by a private Swedish company whose business is saving lives in the poorest regions of the world. I was intrigued, impressed and inspired by this profile in yesterday’s New York Times.

Wow. Hand-crafted from woven bamboo and soon to be on display at the musee de quai branly in Paris…

I think reCover has great potential as emergency housing: it’s 100% recyclable, easy to transport and assemble, AND the form is really stimulating (easily seen from a distance too I would imagine)…

In most African countries, 95% of the population is living off-grid with no access to electricity. To address this energy and lighting crisis, the World Bank held a competition and chose 16 winners. Read about the fascinating work of one of them, Lebone Solutions, here…

The Kinkajou Microfilm Projector and Portable Library from Design that Matters, Inc.

Award-winning design by Cooler Solutions provides a portable sanitation solution ideal for refugee camps and developing countries…

5000 kids, 15 million discarded icecream sticks and a dream:
“The Children kept repeating what I had been teaching them, things like.. “Hey Rob Don’t Give Up or Give in..” “Anything is Possible.” It was just enough.”

I’m straying from my humanitarian design theme a little here because I love when art and nature come together in such a thoughtful and beautiful way. Michel de Broin is the brilliant artist who produced this work called “Superficial.”

I was blown away by this idea for a living, breathing house that is a direct contributor to the ecosystem. In this era of non-stop and irresponsible development, it’s comforting to know someone is working out every detail of how to make this happen. Pics and explanations here. Story via ecofriend.org.

Incredible story. An inventor is trying to harness the intelligence of crows and use it for good: “Don’t hate the crows… Just let them save you.”
Read the npr story…
Get more in-depth information about this project or donate here.

A really interesting New York Times review of the exhibition, “Poussin and Nature: Arcadian Visions,” currently at the Metropolitan Museum. I am an admirer of Poussin and regard his consideration for nature and restrained, romantic perspective in general as an ideal emotional base from which to operate as both fine artist and designer. If only I lived in New York - I’d love to see this show…

With this project, Vancouver-based charity, Design For Development is “not only seeking to improve health transportation — but to increase skills and opportunities for members of the communities that they work with.” More…

70,000 Street lights across the city with internet access by 2011…
http://blog.cooperhewitt.org/2007/10/11/virtual-emergency-network

Now there will be a good school for girls in this region of very male-oriented Kenya: http://www.humanidesign.org/girlsschool2.html