Tag Archives: Sustainability

BDNY 2024: The Most Innovative Materials and Sustainable Design Take Center Stage

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The 2024 Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade fair, held at the Jacob K. Javits Center on November 10-11, brought together visionaries from the hospitality design world, revealing bold new trends and groundbreaking innovations. With over 700 exhibitors and a record-breaking attendance of 20,000, the event showcased cutting-edge products, inspiring discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities for industry professionals.

Flexibility Reimagined in Wood Paneling

Surfacing Solution captured attention at BDNY 2024 with their innovative tambour panels and the introduction of Wide Plank Wood Wall and Ceiling Panels. With 37 years of industry experience, Surfacing Solution has become a leader in crafting versatile wood panels that address the evolving needs of hospitality design.

Surfacing Solution

Designer: Surfacing Solution + Zack Fistrovich

Inspired by the French word for drum, the company’s tambour panels blend aesthetics with functionality. These flexible wood panels bring warmth, texture, and visual appeal to surfaces such as walls, ceilings, pole wraps, wainscoting, and doors. Their standout feature is the seamless ability to cover flat surfaces and rounded corners, allowing designers to craft fluid wood surfaces that adapt to any architectural element.

Wide Plank Panels: A New Dimension in Design

Surfacing Solution also showcased its new Wide Plank Wood Wall & Ceiling Panels. Crafted from premium North American hardwoods—with exotic wood species also available—these panels ensure both durability and visual sophistication. The Wide Plank collection blends timeless tradition with modern elegance, transforming interior spaces into refined, inviting environments.

Surfacing Solution

The panels come in various exciting profile shapes to cater to different design aesthetics:

  • V-Groove Joint: This traditional profile features a V shadow line, creating a classic lodge ideal for rustic aesthetics. The tongue-and-groove interlocking mechanism provides a secure fit.
  • Interlock Joint: Designed for a minimalist look, this tight-fitting, seamless joint works well in modern spaces, pairing perfectly with tambour panels for a unified design.
  • Shadow Gap Joint: This versatile profile offers varying widths and spacings to achieve anything from classic to contemporary styles. The nickel gap tongue-and-groove interlocking feature ensures both functionality and striking visual appeal.

Available in standard and custom specifications, the Wide Plank panels give designers limitless possibilities to bring their vision to life. The panels can be stained or painted, making them adaptable to any design scheme. Additionally, FSC-certified options make these panels a conscious choice for sustainability-focused projects.

Surfacing Solution

Tambour Panels: The Backbone of Versatility

Surfacing Solution displayed a wide range of wood options for their tambour panels, including:

  • Standard woods: Red oak, white oak, poplar
  • Premium woods: Mahogany, cherry, ash, maple, walnut
  • Specialty woods: Purple heart, heat-treated ash/poplar

These panels are available in standard profiles of 1′ x 8′ or 1′ x 3′ lengths, with widths of 12″ or 16″. Custom sizes and profiles are also offered, with panels up to 12 feet in length for certain wood species—perfect for large-scale installations.

Surfacing Solution

The versatility of Surfacing Solution’s tambour panels was a key highlight at BDNY 2024. These panels can be stained or painted to align with any design vision, making them suitable for hospitality applications ranging from hotel lobbies to restaurants and bars.

Their new line of real wood veneer tambour panels also made waves, offering seamless installations up to 10 feet high with 4’x10′ veneers. Available in 4’x8′ sheets, these panels offer a cost-effective alternative to solid wood without compromising natural beauty. Species include birch, teak, white oak, and walnut.

Surfacing Solution

The wire-brushed finish option enhances grain depth and detail, adding a tactile, visually striking surface. Available in red oak, white oak, and ash, this finish is ideal for hospitality environments that seek a natural, organic feel.

Each slat is meticulously hand-selected to ensure a high standard of craftsmanship that distinguishes the company within the industry. This attention to detail, combined with the ability to produce custom profiles and sizes at low setup costs, makes Surfacing Solution an ideal partner for designers seeking high-quality, distinctive wood solutions.

Surfacing Solution

Sustainability Takes the Spotlight

Sustainability took center stage at BDNY 2024, with numerous exhibitors presenting eco-friendly materials and products. The Good Plastic Company won the sustainable product award for their Polygood material, which showcased how recycled plastic waste can be transformed into striking and functional design elements.

Designer: Havwoods

Havwoods also made a significant impact with their TreeAzzo material and Bog Oak flooring panels.

TreeAzzo: Modern Terrazzo Twist

TreeAzzo represents an innovative approach to terrazzo flooring, offering a modern twist on the classic material. This unique surfacing solution combines reclaimed wood chips with premium, eco-friendly resin to create a fresh and sustainable alternative to traditional terrazzo.

Havwoods

The use of reclaimed wood chips in TreeAzzo provides a distinctive aesthetic that aligns with sustainable building practices by repurposing materials that might otherwise go to waste. This approach results in a surface that blends the organic warmth of wood with the seamless, continuous appearance characteristic of terrazzo.

TreeAzzo is available in a range of customizable resin colorways, including options such as Raspberry, Nougat, Fig, and Oyster. These color choices allow designers to tailor the appearance of TreeAzzo to suit various interior design schemes and preferences.

Havwoods

One of TreeAzzo’s features is that each panel is handcrafted, ensuring that no two installations are exactly alike. This approach adds a unique character and depth to the spaces where it’s used, making each application truly one-of-a-kind.

This material offers versatility in its applications. It can be used for flooring, wall cladding, cabinetry, and even worktops, providing designers with flexibility in how they incorporate this material into their projects.

TreeAzzo is available with either fiber cement or ply backing to accommodate different installation requirements. This option allows for greater adaptability to various substrate conditions and installation methods.

Havwoods

While TreeAzzo represents a departure from traditional terrazzo materials, it maintains the durability and design flexibility that terrazzo is known for, while adding a unique, eco-friendly twist. This innovative product offers architects and designers a new option for creating sustainable, visually striking surfaces in commercial and residential settings.

Bog Oak: Rich History and Luxurious Aesthetic

Bog Oak, also showcased at BDNY 2024, is crafted from semi-fossilized trees aged between 100 and 1,000 years. This unique wood offers a richly saturated black tone, achieved through a custom drying process that ensures consistency and durability. Bog Oak’s luxurious aesthetic and historical significance make it perfect for high-end interiors.

Bog Oak

Both products are strongly dedicated to eco-conscious design, blending historical significance with artistic craftsmanship.

Italian Grande and Crocodilo: Versatile Design Solutions

Havwoods also introduced two other products at BDNY 2024: Italian Grande and Crocodilo. Italian Grande, part of the Italian Collection, brings a rich, smokey tone in plank, herringbone, and chevron patterns—ideal for creating sophisticated interiors that balance beauty and cost-effectiveness. Crocodilo, an oak-veneered MDF panel, uses an embossing technique to create a crocodile texture, making it perfect for spaces like bars, restaurants, and hotel lobbies where visual depth is desired.

Textiles: Capturing Nature’s Spirit

HBF Textiles captivated BDNY 2024 attendees with their award-winning “Moments of Wander” collection, which claimed top honors in the fabric category. This collection captures the biophilic design trend, seamlessly blending artistic sensibility with functional performance.

HBF Textiles

Designer: HBF Textiles + Christiane Müller

Designed by renowned textile artist Christiane Müller of MüllerVanTol, the “Moments of Wander” collection includes three distinct patterns, each inspired by fleeting moments in nature:

  • Fields of Velvet: Soft, undulating textures evoke natural landscapes like grass or wheat fields.
  • Trails of Tweed: A rugged, textured aesthetic inspired by winding trails and natural paths.
  • Seeds of Colour: Vibrant, scattered patterns reminiscent of wildflower fields and colorful natural elements.

The unique strength of this collection lies in its versatility—it brings the softness of indoor fabrics while ensuring durability for outdoor use. This blend is especially valuable in hospitality, where the line between indoor and outdoor spaces is increasingly blurred.

Debuting in September 2024, the “Moments of Wander” collection showcases HBF Textiles’ most innovative work. By capturing both the macro- and micro-beauty of nature, these textiles provide designers with a tactile way to integrate outdoor elements into interior environments.

This aligns with hospitality’s broader push towards immersive, nature-inspired design. The “Moments of Wander” collection enables designers to evoke natural serenity, enhancing both comfort and well-being through biophilic design.

Silver Threads: Custom Window Treatments and Signature Spaces

Silver Threads, established in 1982, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading providers of custom window treatments for both the hospitality and residential sectors. At BDNY 2024, they showcased their work in the “Salone by Baskervill” space, a feature that drew considerable attention for its intricate design and execution.

The “Salone by Baskervill” space took inspiration from the 15th-century salons, which were known for encouraging in-person dialogue and creative interaction. Silver Threads played a significant role in transforming this vision into reality. Their contribution included a stunning 19.5-foot-diameter central drapery that served as the focal point of the space. Additionally, custom drapery installations framed both ends, suspended elegantly from the ceiling using airline cables. This installation not only added visual grandeur but also contributed to the intimate, engaging atmosphere that the space was designed to evoke.

Silver Threads’ extensive experience in the industry is evident through its high-profile project portfolio, which includes notable locations such as the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, FL, the Crown Plaza in Indianapolis, and the Hilton Downtown Columbus. Their ability to execute complex, large-scale installations while maintaining an intimate feel demonstrates their versatility and expertise in crafting custom window solutions that enhance the aesthetic and functional aspects of any space.

Furniture and Lighting: Redefining Boundaries

Dedon took home the “Best in Show” award for their Cirql Nu chair, designed by Werner Aisslinger. The Cirql Nu features Dedon’s invert fiber, created through a co-extrusion process that merges two types of fiber into one. This innovative technique results in a distinctive 3D effect that is both visually captivating and functionally impressive, underscoring Dedon’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of outdoor furniture design.

In lighting, Bover’s Kando collection stole the spotlight. The innovative designs illustrated how lighting transcends mere functionality—it serves as an artistic statement, transforming hospitality spaces with the perfect balance of beauty and utility.

Flooring Innovations: Adding Sensory Layers

Royal Thai’s Tactile Vernacular Collection, which won the flooring category prize, emphasized how crucial texture is in modern design. More than just an aesthetic element, the collection demonstrates how flooring can elevate the entire sensory experience of a space, affecting how guests perceive and interact with their surroundings.

Royal Thai’s Tactile Vernacular Collection

The Tactile Vernacular Collection utilizes a variety of textures that invite touch and create a sense of depth, transforming flooring from a background element into a dynamic part of the environment. The collection’s diverse patterns and finishes provide designers with tools to create spaces that are not only visually striking but also engage multiple senses, enhancing comfort and ambiance.

This approach aligns with the hospitality industry’s broader goal of creating immersive environments that foster memorable experiences. By focusing on texture, Royal Thai’s innovative flooring contributes significantly to the sensory palette of a room, making it an integral component in the overall design narrative.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Hospitality Design

BDNY 2024 highlighted current trends while offering a clear view of the future of hospitality design. New initiatives like the Dine & Design: A BDNY PopUp area reflected the industry’s growing focus on adaptable and multifunctional spaces. This trend caters directly to the evolving needs of modern travelers, who prioritize flexibility, comfort, and experience-driven environments.

As the hospitality industry continues to redefine itself, BDNY plays a crucial role in bringing together the innovators and trendsetters shaping the future. From Surfacing Solution’s tambour panels to the sustainable offerings by Havwoods and The Good Plastic Company, the event spotlighted products driving the industry forward—embracing sustainability, versatility, and impactful design.

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Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Lava: A Fiery Review of Its Design and Performance

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PROS:


  • Unique Colorway: The bright orange Bioceramic case is bold and eye-catching

  • Lightweight and Comfortable: Bioceramic material enhances comfort for daily wear

  • Iconic Design Elements: Combines classic Speedmaster design with modern touches

  • Durable and Sustainable: Bioceramic is tough, scratch-resistant, and eco-friendly

CONS:


  • Strap Comfort: Velcro strap can feel stiff and less breathable

  • Battery Changes: Requires regular battery replacements

  • Availability: High demand and limited release can make it hard to find

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava is a bold, vibrant take on a legendary design, seamlessly merging Omega’s legacy with Swatch’s innovative materials.

Omega and Swatch have teamed up again to release the latest MoonSwatch series, “Mission on Earth.” This collection introduces three exciting models: Lava, Polar Lights, and Desert. Each watch draws inspiration from natural elements found on Earth, infusing fresh and vibrant details into the iconic Speedmaster design.

Designer: Omega + Swatch

During a work trip to Tokyo, I timed my visit perfectly with the launch of these new models. The buzz around the MoonSwatch collection was undeniable, and the excitement was palpable. After waiting in line at the Swatch location in Ginza, I snagged the model I wanted: the Lava. Its bold color and unique design immediately caught my attention, and I was eager to see if it lived up to the hype. I picked one up from the boutique to thoroughly review it for Yanko Design.

Aesthetics

The Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava grabs attention with its bright orange bioceramic case. This vibrant color is more than just eye-catching; it’s a deliberate nod to the Speedmaster “Ultraman,” known for its striking orange seconds hand. The bright orange of the case brings a sense of energy and intensity, much like the molten lava it’s named after. This daring color sets it apart from traditional Speedmasters and makes it a standout piece.

Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava

The case retains the iconic twisted lug design that has been a hallmark of the Speedmaster since 1963. This feature, combined with the new bioceramic material, keeps the watch lightweight and durable. The satin/matte finish on the case avoids the cheap look that polished plastic can sometimes have, giving it a refined and sleek appearance. Every curve and edge of the case mirrors the classic Speedmaster design, ensuring it remains recognizable and authentic to its roots.

The black dial contrasts the orange case sharply, making the orange elements pop and enhancing readability. The dial is full of thoughtful design elements. The subdials, positioned at two, six, and ten, feature Arabic numerals and radial indexes. These subdials are a nod to the Speedmaster Alaska II and III projects, integrating a piece of Omega’s rich history into the design.

Mooonswatch Mission on Earth: Lava

A notable feature on the dial is the full black circle that marks where the “step” would be on older Speedmaster models. This line helps segment the dial, making reading and organizing information easier. While an actual step might add more depth, this design choice effectively maintains aesthetic and functional clarity.

The hands are another highlight. The chronograph functions are emphasized with deep orange, matching the case. The hour, minute, and active seconds hands are in dark khaki, complementing the overall color scheme. These hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, ensuring they glow brightly in the dark. This feature adds both functionality and a cool visual effect when the lights go down.

Mooonswatch Mission on Earth: Lava

The tachymeter scale on the bezel is classic Speedmaster, complete with the iconic “dot over 90” detail. Using orange for the tachymeter text ties it back to the overall color scheme. The tachymeter acts as an extension of the dial, maintaining the watch’s cohesive look.

Ergonomics

When it comes to ergonomics, the MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava delivers. The 42mm case diameter is a familiar size for Speedmaster fans, offering a balanced presence on the wrist. Bioceramic material (plastic) makes the watch notably lightweight, adding to its comfort during extended wear. This is a significant advantage over traditional steel cases, which can feel heavy after a long day.

Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava

The iconic twisted lugs enhance the watch’s aesthetic appeal and comfortable fit. They ensure the watch sits snugly on the wrist without causing discomfort. The 13.25mm thickness is slightly more substantial than some might expect, but it doesn’t detract from the overall wearability.

One area where the Lava could improve is the strap. While thematically fitting with the MoonSwatch series, the included Velcro strap may not offer the same level of comfort as a traditional leather or fabric strap. The strap can feel stiff and less breathable, which might be an issue in warmer climates or during physical activity. I appreciate the natural curve in the strap. However, for my wrist, it feels short. For my 14-year-old daughter’s wrist, it fits perfectly. The dial and case dimensions sit well on her wrist and look fantastic. She loves motorsport, especially F1, so this gift gave her a taste of the world of collecting watches without the high cost.

Despite this, the MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava’s overall ergonomics is impressive. It’s a watch designed for daily wear, providing visual appeal and practical comfort. Whether you’re a longtime Speedmaster fan or new to Omega, this watch offers a unique blend of style and wearability.

Performance

The Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava delivers solid performance for everyday wear. Powered by a precise quartz movement with four jewels, it ensures accurate timekeeping and smooth operation. This reliability means you won’t need to adjust the watch frequently, making it a hassle-free option for busy schedules.

Changing the battery is straightforward, unlike many high-end watches that require specialized tools and expertise. This user-friendly feature enhances the watch’s longevity, allowing you to keep it running smoothly for years without needing professional servicing.

Mooonswatch Mission on Earth: Lava

The push buttons on the Lava model are satisfyingly tactile, providing a responsive feel that makes using the chronograph functions enjoyable. This level of tactile feedback is usually found in much more expensive timepieces, adding to the overall value and user experience of the MoonSwatch.

Durability is another strong point of the MoonSwatch. The case is made from Bioceramic, which combines ceramic and bio-sourced plastic. Bioceramic is lightweight yet incredibly tough, resisting scratches and dents far better than traditional metal cases. This is a significant advantage over the “real” Omega Speedmaster, which, while iconic, can show wear and tear more readily. The Bioceramic material ensures that your watch maintains its pristine look even with regular use.

The Bioceramic case also contributes to the watch’s comfort. It remains temperature neutral so that it won’t get too hot or cold on your wrist, regardless of the weather. This feature enhances the overall wearing experience, making it an excellent choice for all-day wear.

Overall, the MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava offers a blend of style, practicality, and durability, making it an excellent addition to any watch collection. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to Omega, this watch delivers on performance and aesthetics.

Sustainability

Swatch has stepped up its game with the Bioceramic MoonSwatch collection, making significant strides in sustainability. Bioceramic is a blend of ceramic and bio-sourced plastic derived from castor oil. This innovative material reduces reliance on traditional petroleum-based plastics, helping to lower the carbon footprint of these watches.

Making Bioceramic is more sustainable, as it uses renewable resources and aims to minimize waste. Swatch is committed to energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact across its production practices, which is a big plus for eco-conscious consumers.

Moreover, the user-friendly battery replacement feature means you can keep your watch running for years, reducing the need for frequent replacements and reducing electronic waste. The robust and durable Bioceramic case also ensures that the watch lasts longer, decreasing the need for new materials and manufacturing.

Choosing a MoonSwatch means getting a stylish and functional timepiece and supporting a brand that is actively trying to protect the environment.

Value + Verdict

The Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava offers impressive value for its retail price of around $270. Given its enjoyment and unique features, this watch is well worth the money. The combination of Omega’s iconic design and Swatch’s innovative Bioceramic material creates a stylish and functional timepiece.

What makes the MoonSwatch series particularly appealing is the variety of models available. Each watch from Earth to Mars and beyond offers a unique design inspired by different celestial bodies. This variety allows for a fun collecting experience, as you can choose different models to match your attire or mood. The affordability of the MoonSwatch series makes it accessible to a wide range of watch enthusiasts, allowing you to build a versatile collection without breaking the bank.

Swatch x Omega Bioceramic Moonswatch Series

With its bold orange case and thoughtful design details, the Lava model stands out as a vibrant and unique addition to any watch collection. The user-friendly battery replacement and durable Bioceramic case ensure that this watch will provide enjoyment for years to come. Its lightweight and comfortable fit make it suitable for daily wear, while its striking aesthetics make it a conversation starter.

In conclusion, the Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Lava is a fantastic investment for anyone looking to add a distinctive and enjoyable watch to their collection. The classic Speedmaster design elements blend with modern materials and sustainability efforts, making this watch a standout choice. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the world of watches, the MoonSwatch series offers something unique that will surely delight you.

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Exploring 4 Types of Sustainability through 4 different smart-speaker designs that embrace the circular economy

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My personal pet peeve is when a brand uses terms like eco-friendly or sustainable or ethical without really providing any concrete explanations or evidence. It’s something we call ‘greenwashing’ and the reason we, as users, are so susceptible to it is because we honestly haven’t scratched the surface of sustainability. We love products that are biodegradable, even though that means generating greenhouse gases, or products that are recyclable, even though they probably end up in landfills. The key to understanding sustainability is to understand that there are different kinds of sustainable practices – four of which are covered rather wonderfully by FROLIC Studio’s series of smart speakers.

Titled “One smart speaker, four circular tunes”, the project looks at different kinds of sustainability by intervening at different stages of the circular economy. All four speakers sport a similar design, but are made differently, with different materials, and help educate users (and even designers) about how to approach sustainability in a manner that makes the most amount of sense. “There is no one-fits-all solution to decrease the impact products have on our planet, but some design strategies can bring around better outcomes,” say the folks at FROLIC Studio. The choice for a smart speaker was a rather clever one too, given that worldwide, smart speaker sales are predicted to reach over 400 million by 2025… but there’s really no consensus on how they’re going to be disposed of after their life cycle. Through this design exercise, FROLIC Studio has a few great ideas.

Designer: FROLIC Studio

Designed for Longevity

The first speaker explores what is probably the easiest form of sustainability – longevity. Products are designed to go obsolete so that companies can then sell new ones and make a profit. Eliminate the planned obsolescence and you suddenly eliminate waste. If you make a product so reliable that it lasts for decades, people will be hard-pressed to throw it away. It’s why watches, cameras, radios, and toasters from the 1940s still work so remarkably well even today. Built on similar principles, this speaker uses materials like brass and porcelain to provide an almost heirloom-like quality that makes it worthy of being passed down from one generation to the next. The speaker features a chassis on the inside with tried-and-tested audio components from decades ago that have proven to be reliable over time, with a removable and replaceable connectivity module to give the speaker its smart abilities. The ceramic outer shell also presents a unique kintsugi opportunity. If the speaker ever falls and breaks, the outer layer can be pieced together and restored in the famous Japanese ceramic repair style, helping give the product a second chance, and an evolved character.

Designed for Reducing & Recycling

Recycling is perhaps one of the most tricky forms of sustainability because of all the moving parts and the need to handle each component separately, but this concept by FROLIC presents a structured, clever approach that almost anyone can do. The speaker uses a combination of recycled and recyclable materials, with a detailed instruction card that tells you how to effectively dispose of the speaker when its life cycle has ended. The speaker’s outer body is made from compression-molded paper fibers or papier mâché – an abundant, inexpensive, and recyclable material that requires little energy during production. The speaker uses a paper membrane too, on which an easy-to-separate copper coil is mounted. To recycle, simply peel the red tab to detach the paper membrane and reveal the instructions below. No fixture on the speaker is permanently attached, making the entire speaker easy to disassemble and separate into recyclables and biodegradable parts, which can then be disposed of appropriately.

Designed for Remanufacturing

Remanufacturing is simply the process of reusing old components in new products with a few minor tweaks – quite like how the iPhone SE series just uses its chassis, glass panels, and home buttons from older iPhone models that Apple collected back from users. This speaker works on a similar principle, incentivizing returns to the manufacturer with an accessible take-back service. “A percentage of the speaker’s retail price consists of a take-back deposit you can claim upon returning the product – just like for your glass bottles”, say the folks at FROLIC. “The speaker’s QR code connects you to the digital take-back platform, where you could eventually purchase a new or remanufactured speaker.” The speaker has a minimalist design, featuring easily detachable components and no adhesives or welding for easy disassembly. A metal pin holds the two housing halves and all other speaker parts together. By using a powerful magnet, the pin can be removed, allowing all parts to be separated quickly and effortlessly in a single motion.

Designed for Repair & Upgradability

PhoneBloks, meet speaker design! This concept builds on the spirit of modularity, allowing you to simply swap out a component when it’s broken or obsolete instead of throwing the entire device out. Stacked together like the audio equivalent of Pringles chips, this speaker concept separates its functions into multiple parts, allowing you to repair and upgrade as you go. The speaker comes with its bare-basics design, but lets you upgrade it by adding modules for extra bass, a microphone, EQ controls, WiFi and cloud connectivity, etc. The modules screw into each other with a simple twist-to-lock design and pogo-pins that electronically connect them. You can even interlink two speakers via a cable to create stereo pairs, proving that there’s really no limit to modularity! A QR code at the bottom of each module leads you to the self-assessment repair tool. The hardware schematic is open source, the chips and components are off-the-shelf, and connecting the speaker to a laptop allows you to run a complete diagnosis while also accessing a list of nearby repair shops or DIY video tutorials.

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Headphones concept uses bamboo for sustainability

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Electronic devices and gadgets have become an integral part of our lives in the past decades or so. But they’re not the most earth-friendly and actually contribute a lot to global waste when they near their life cycle and cannot always be recycled. Eco-friendly designers are always looking for ways to create devices using sustainable materials while not sacrificing quality. A lot of them remain product concepts but hopefully, we get to see them become actual devices soon.

Designer: Aakansh Chaturvedi

Bambass is a concept for an open-back headphone that uses traditional bamboo weaving as a major component of its sustainable material. It is made up mostly of thin coiled bamboo stripes which are not just sustainable but also bring you a more insulated sound. You get a stainless steel strip to help support the headband that is made mostly from stacked stripes of bamboo. The joint for the earcups has a screw mechanism that allows you to adjust the cups to your comfort. Lastly, you get a single layer coating of melamine to preserve the life cycle of the bamboo material.

Aside from being a pair of headphones, Bambass also brings a cultural aspect to it by utilizing the art of bamboo weaving. They also utilized vegan leather for the covering so there can be different color options while still maintaining the sustainability part by lessening the carbon footprint needed to produce such a device. Since this is still a concept with product renders, we don’t know yet the quality of sound for headphones that will be using these materials.

It does look pretty good in terms of design as the use of bamboo and vegan leather with a little bit of stainless steel gives you a unique-looking pair of open-back headphones. Adding bamboo weaving for insulation is both eco-friendly and may actually sound better than the current devices in the market. Hopefully, this will just be the first design as the plan is to create more electronic products using sustainable materials so we as consumers will not contribute any more e-waste.

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Sustainable shell pavilion uses biocomposite profiles to make your exhibit eco-friendly

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Normally, booths, pavilions, and other exhibition structures are not the most sustainable. Sure you can recycle some of the parts and maybe re-use them for other events but a lot of times we see them just go to waste or go unused. So materials or designs that are created to lessen carbon footprint and to be reusable and sustainable are always welcome within the design, architecture, and events industry (and everywhere else for that matter). This new lightweight structure made from biocomposite profiles is a Green Concepts 2022 awardee.

Designer: BioMat/ITKE, University of Stuttgart

The LightPRO Shell Pavilion is a project that wanted to introduce alternative sustainable materials that can be used not just for exhibits or booths but for other structural applications. It uses active-bending gridshell that is made from natural fibre biocomposite profiles and combines it with a tensile membrane. What you get are doubly curved surfaces with a continuous beam outline. There are two connected profiles and their forces are transferred to three anchor points.

It may seem not that stable if you look at it without knowing what it’s made of or how it’s standing, but these anchor points are actually attached to a superficial foundation and so it is still solid. The biocomposite profiles used natural flax and hemp fibers for its pultrusion technique which is a process of manufacturing these fibers with a constant cross-section. These profiles are biodegradable and can also be used in various ephemeral structures or other structural applications that may need similar materials.

The Pavilion is a 10-meter span canopy and a maximum height of 4.8m at the perimeter. It isn’t imposing and its open air look plus the canopy design is appealing, regardless of what’s actually inside the pavilion. But more crucial than just looking good (although of course design plays a major part), the fact that the materials are sustainable and can be used for other structural applications can become important in the industry.

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New microbial weaving process can grow compostable fabric from microbes

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Sustainable fashion has just begun, and we believe the concept will continue spreading as more companies consider such a flourishing ecosystem of materials, processes, and products. It is part of a circular economy where waste materials are being shared, reused, repaired, recycled, or refurbished to create new products. It is one of the many ways to attain a better planet for the next generation and we are glad that many scientists and researchers are putting so much effort into this level of development. For sustainability to happen, it doesn’t always mean you take advantage of all the usable waste for recycling–it can also mean creating new materials, designs, and more sustainable ways for the fashion industry. What has just been introduced and what could be beneficial to the game is a new biomaterial by Modern Synthesis.

Designer: Modern Synthesis

Modern Synthesis Fabric From Microbes

Modern Synthesis is a startup that works on biomaterial innovation for the fashion industry, aiming to identify radical and regenerative material solutions that could significantly reduce plastic pollution and emissions. Specifically, the company has already started to grow fabric that can be used for fashion from microbes. There is science behind this idea, which is why Modern Synthesis convinced people to fund its research, and it has proudly shared that it received more than $4 million in seed funding from AgFunder to develop a microbial textile platform.

Modern Synthesis founders Jen Keane and Ben Reeve have recognized the need for more sustainable materials and solutions. The funding from AgFunder is expected to help the team’s expansion, build a pilot facility in London, and finally ramp up production. The potential of this project is huge, so there is a bit of urgency when it comes to putting people and systems to work.

Modern Synthesis has introduced a new technology that could make biotextiles from microbes by “weaving” and “growing” a kind of bacteria known as k.rhaeticus— the type found in kombucha tea so the idea is natural. The company developed a microbial weaving process (still patent-pending) to create fabric and composites by simply growing microbes. There is no actual weaving that happens, as in the traditional sense of weaving, but what happens is that bacteria grow and trail tiny fibers of nanocellulose to create non-woven fiber.

Bacteria grow the fabric material over time and take the shape of a scaffold if there is a need to create shape or form. The scaffold acts as the structure where the microbes can grow into a biomaterial that is strong yet lightweight in form. Simply put, bacteria grown inside a container form whatever shape of structure—like magically growing fabric out of nothing. But, of course, there is no magic—just science and technology being put to good use for a better planet.

This microbial weaving can be likened to 3D printing because it can also be used for shoes, as explored by founder Jen Keane back in 2018. The shoe business is just one possible application, but we can imagine this process to be used in other industries. In the near future, we hope to learn about a top sportswear brand using this process as Modern Synthesis recently shared its prototyping process and materials with a certain unknown company.

Modern Synthesis’ goal is to further contribute significantly to a circular economy and as Keane explained in a report: “At the end of the day, we’re trying to build a circular manufacturing system with these microbes. That enables us to leverage agricultural waste, use the microbes as manufacturing units, and transfer them into more viable materials. On the flip side, we see the opportunity to have new-class materials that are fully cellulosic so we can recycle them back into silos and recycling stream.”

Replacing those animal and petrochemical-derived materials is also the startup’s goal, so we believe the efforts of everyone involved will not be in vain. Many people are hopeful this microbial textile technology will remarkably help the fashion industry lower its carbon print. Using bacteria to transform into nanocellulose from sugar obtained from agricultural waste is one innovative development we hope can also be applied in many industries.

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Fisher-Price follows Barbie and Matchbox in the Mattel PlayBack recycling program

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Sustainability as a societal goal seems achievable, but it entails more than just knowledge of the principles. It is not enough that people, companies, organizations, and brands learn about the basics because what is more important is that those principles are put into practice. A truly sustainable environment may still be far from reach but little by little, we can start making a difference. Mattel, one of the top toymakers in the world, has launched a special program that aims to reduce waste by allowing consumers to send back toys to the company after kids are done playing with them. The idea is simple: families only need to send their Mattel toys back to the manufacturer.

Designer: Mattel

Mattel has been aiming to make its products 100% recycled or recyclable as a significant goal. Another major target is to use bio-based plastic materials in packaging and products by 2030. Mattel has already allowed some of its major sub-brands to be part of the program and accept old but usable toys. MEGA, Matchbox, and Barbie are already doing their role in the toy takeback initiative.

Returning the toys for recycling isn’t just the objective as there’s also the plan to help extend the life of these toys. 
Mattel wants to recover and reuse the materials taken from old Matter toys for future and new products. This way, the waste materials are great reduced and kept from filling landfills.

Mattel’s SVP Global Head of Sustainability and Social Impact Pamela Gill-Alabaster shared: “The Mattel PlayBack program has been eagerly received by consumers and has provided tremendous learning specific to the durability and disassembly of our products, which will aid in the future design of products made for the circular economy.” She also explained the company has started to discover new technologies in recycling and processing plastic. The future of toy production may include using old materials collected through the PlayBack program, thus helping the planet manage waste and hopefully seeing a circular economy in the toy business.

Mattel PlayBack Program Send Back Toys for Recycling

The Mattel PlayBack program is now open in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Canada. It’s been a year since its launch, and more people can participate as Fisher-Price toys are now accepted. Specifically, those non-electronic Fisher-Price toys are included and those under the Imaginext, Little People, and Laugh & Learn product series.

Mattel PlayBack Program Principles

This move means Fisher-Price joins the Barbie, Mega, and Matchbox brands in this ‘green’ effort. The Mattel PlayBack program’s main goal is to repurpose the materials into new forms. Old toys will be transformed into new ones, so there will be no sad Toy Story moments to witness.

If you have a bunch of Fisher-Price toys from Mattel and kids have already stopped playing with them, feel free to join the Mattel PlayBack program. You will receive a free shipping label to print, which you can put on the box you will be sending back to Mattel. The toy manufacturer will then check the condition of the toys, sort them, and separate them by type of material. Not all materials may be used or repurposed, but the company will still use them to convert to energy or downcycle to other plastic products. Mattel is committed to responsibly recycling and processing them, which will greatly help Mother Earth.

Mattel PlayBack Program Send Back Toys Matchbox

Mattel has already established ESG strategies (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and this PlayBack program is just one effort. It will only continue to work on its principles in circular design and product stewardship, and maybe further expand the PlayBack program. A really sustainable future is a great goal not only for Mattel but also for other big manufacturers that primarily produce plastic goods, so we’re hoping more companies will follow suit.

Mattel PlayBack Program Play Recycle Repeat

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Razer unveils first ECOLOGO-certified gaming mice in the world

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Razer UL ECOLOGO

Razer has long been a name trusted in the tech industry. It is known for its reliable keyboards and mice that offer speed and comfort. We’ve been giving the brand attention for its numerous remarkable products and services in recent years.

We will learn more about Razer’s campaign to reach environmental sustainability in the coming days. More brands and companies are pushing to go green to make the planet ready for the future. To start, two eco-friendly products are being introduced: the DeathAdder Essential and the Basilisk V3.

Designer: Razer

Razer X UL ECOLOGO

The two new mice accessories come with the UL’s Ecologo certification. They are the first from Razer to get this honor. You will see the certification in their packaging once they are out in the market just before the year 2022 ends.

Razer’s Basilisk V3 and DeathAdder Essential passed the certification, specifically, UL2710. The global safety certification company has been established to check and approve the safety of devices and peripherals. UL2710 investigates the many processes that go into producing a device, including the manufacturing materials, use of energy, corporate practices, packaging, manufacturing, operations, end-of-life management, and even extension of useful life.

Razer Basilisk V3

With this milestone, Razer is also the first gaming manufacturer to get a certification. As a result, you will soon see the Ecologo mark in future Razer products. It tells us the quality of a product and that it offers less environmental impact.

Razer’s Sustainability Manager, Kenneth Ng, had this to say about the new products and certification: “What better way to celebrate World Environment Day than to share with our community that the very mice that help them win in games are also a win for the environment.” Ng also said: “Unlike companies making their own claims about their products being sustainable, we go the extra mile to prove to our fans that our products are truly sustainable.”

Razer Death Adder Essential

The new Razer products receiving the Ecologo Certification have gone through testing and passed a comprehensive list of criteria. This move is very beneficial to Razer and then consumers and the planet Earth in the long run. Sustainable products are the future of manufacturing and gaming. Several industries need to catch up by coming up with standards for measuring sustainability. There wasn’t much effort in the gaming industry until Razer made the first step. UL and Razer teamed up to work and produced the industry-level standards. Hopefully, other companies and manufacturers will follow suit by also measuring and monitoring the criteria.

It’s not really surprising that Razer has partnered with UL for this project. The brand has since been making several steps to going green. That Razer x Cariuma collaboration, which brought us the Sneki Snek Sneakers, were part of the #GoGreenWithRazer campaign. The ECOLOGO Mark achievement is just one of the brand’s many efforts to deliver greener products and services.

RAZER Death Adder Essential 2

RAZER Death Adder Essential 3

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Samsung x Sean Wotherspoon Galaxy Watch 4 bands and Galaxy S21 phone cases unveiled

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Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Phone Case

Sean Wotherspoon is more known among the sneakerheads for his designs and collaborations with big brands like Adidas. He has recently teamed up with the South Korean mobile giant Samsung’s version of the Galaxy Watch4 bands and the Galaxy S21 cases as a limited drop.

The Samsung Galaxy x Sean Wotherspoon Sustainable Accessories Collection has just been announced for the 2021 premium flagship and the smartwatch series. Samsung is trying to go greener, and one of its efforts is to offer more sustainable accessories. Samsung announces it in time for Earth Day. The limited-edition mobile accessories are sustainable, making them a helpful contribution to Mother Earth.

Designer: Sean Wotherspoon

Sean Wotherspoon is a plant-based designer that came up with three watchbands for the Galaxy Watch 4 and three phone cases for the Galaxy S21. They match the same print but are set in three different colors: Pink, Sky Blue, and Yellow. There are now available together with free watch faces you can download straight from the Google Play Store.

The new watch bands and phone cases are made from 100% biodegradable and recyclable materials. The series is actually the second release of sustainably sourced accessories by Samsung. In the future, we can expect more will be revealed as the company continues to team up with other eco-conscious designers.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Rain Case

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Dawn Band 7

Sean Wotherspoon’s design remains colorful like his plant-based sneaker designs released in 2018. He owns a vegan brand and is making waves in the eco-conscious fashion industry. Sustainable fashion is more than just a trend now—it is the future. His brand has been focused on raising awareness of the effects of our actions on our planet. His works aim to bring up the reality and start a conversation that will hopefully encourage others to be mindful of how they live.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Rain Case 3

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Dawn Band

Sean Wotherspoon is happy to be working with Samsung. He said, “From the start, it was clear that we were aligned on our commitment to sustainability and finding real eco-conscious solutions people can use in their everyday lives.” The new products from this collection are said to be a simple way to show support for the Earth.

The Sean Wotherspoon x Samsung collection shows off the designer’s love of style and love of the planet. The inspiration for the series is a mix of his hobbies and everything that makes him smile. The collection is also meant to encourage and inspire positivity and mindfulness in the world.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Watch Band

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Watch Face

The three styles of watchbands (Orchid, Dawn, and Rain) are made of eco-conscious TPU material. It is non-toxic and doesn’t come with DMF residue. It can be recycled at the end of its life, so we can consider this safe for the planet and biodegradable. All products are available for $49.99 each. You can purchase straight on Samsung.com and the NTWRK app.

Samsung’s sustainability efforts seem to be going in full swing—slowly but surely. The first series from Samsung was released in September 2021 and was a collaboration with Sami Miró. The Los Angeles-based fashion designer’s collection with the tech giant included three watch faces and six watchbands for the Galaxy Watch4.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Dawn Band 5

Samsung’s Galaxy for the Planet campaign is here to stay and will continue to focus on reducing the company’s environmental footprint. The effort is meant to foster more sustainable lifestyles for the community of Galaxy users. For example, plastics in mobile packaging must be eliminated by the year 2025. Another goal is to include recycled materials in all mobile products by the same year.

A more sustainable world is possible with similar efforts not only by Samsung but also by other brands. The South Korean tech brand has also launched the Samsung Certified Re-Newed. This campaign aims to offer refurbished phones with a lower carbon footprint.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Rain Case 2

The unit’s parts of this effort have the same quality and performance as new devices. They are updated and inspected within a Samsung factory. If needed, they are upgraded with a new battery or certified Samsung parts. Even the one-year warranty offered is the same as those brand new Galaxy smartphones.

If you’ve been planning to buy a new premium flagship smartphone from Samsung but want to spend full price, you can consider the CRN Galaxy S21 series. You can receive up to a $100 e-certificate to use on select products and accessories and save up to $200.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Dawn Band 8

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Sean Wotherspoon Eco-Conscious Zero Dawn Band 6

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Touchscreens drive our world, but they still suck in 2022

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Companies would have us dreaming of a future filled with displays we can see through and screens we touch to use, but the current state of the technology makes that future vision a little less convincing.

Our world today revolves around computers in all shapes, sizes, and power. A good number of them have screens, and a growing number of these even have touch screens. What was once limited to phones and kiosks is now becoming mainstream, even on laptops that can’t bend backward completely to become a tablet. In the near future, almost every foreseeable physical interface to a computer could be through these touchscreens. But if the current condition of the technology is to be considered, they have a long way to go before becoming the ideal way we interact with the computers around us.

State of the Art

That’s not to say that touch screens haven’t evolved significantly over the past years. The world graduated from the resistive touch screens of old, like those used by Palm, to the capacitive technology heralded by the very first iPhone. Screens have become more pixel-dense, resulting in higher quality images and also more responsive, especially for gaming purposes.

Designer: BOE

Let’s not forget the latest trends in mobile either, like foldable and rollable displays for phones and even TVs. But while these seemingly futuristic developments indeed impress in their visual appearance and design, they all still feel unnatural and artificial to us humans. And yet most of the products and experiences that visionaries and futurists talk about depend on these touch screens becoming second nature.

Designer: LG

Designer: Samsung

Future Vision

Before the metaverse, many companies fed people a vision of the future where you’d not only see a screen everywhere; you’d also be able to interact with them. In addition to almost paper-thin screens that fold like a newspaper, we’re also shown bus stations with interactive walls, windows that display information and can be tinted with a swipe of a finger, and store displays that let you try out clothes without even putting them on.

Designer: Microsoft

Even with the buzz around VR, AR, MR, XR, and the metaverse, some people will prefer to use screens rather than put on glasses and gloves to navigate the digital realm. Until the day we can project holograms anywhere and interact with them without any special device, touch screens will still be the most immediate way we can interact with devices and the digital realm. Videos and images depicting these feature visions make them look so fluid and so natural. But as anyone who has used phones and tablets, touch screens are anything but.

Designer: Corning

Human Factor

There is no perfect input method for computers, at least nothing that has been developed yet. Keyboard and mice carry with them the risk of repetitive strain injury, while styluses are an imperfect approximation of pencils and pens, especially when you consider that they’re sliding on glass. And while touch screens can practically turn any surface into an input device, they seem to almost go against aspects of human nature itself.

Feedback

Humans have five basic senses, but most of us tend to take the other three or four for granted until we lose them. Despite their name, touch screens actually feel unnatural precisely because they don’t complete the whole tactile picture that our minds need to process when interacting with physical objects. Pushing a button looks like pushing a button but also requires our brains to make something like a leap of faith that it really does what it’s supposed to do.

Tactile response and haptic feedback for touch screens have long been on the plate of engineers and designers, but we’re no closer to cracking the code. There have been numerous patents filed to solve that puzzle, from deformable screens to extremely localized vibrations, but those have mostly remained in the realm of ideas. We still have ways to go, and our brains haven’t yet evolved to the point that we can just ignore the human need for touch.

Designer: Tactus Technology

Touchscreens aren’t great at accessibility either, and their use often requires fine motor control. There are settings to increase the sensitivity of the touch sensor, but these are mostly band-aid solutions to an inherent problem. Of course, some devices do allow for alternate input methods like voice control, but these often come up short and don’t provide all the features and conveniences of a touch-centric user experience.

Familiarity

Humans are also creatures of habit, which is how many of us have been able to survive through the millennia. We are able to memorize some activities and have them run on autopilot while our minds are more actively engaged in other aspects. Imagine how the world would have been like if we had to put intense focus on writing a simple letter because we have to remember how to do each stroke.

Designers: Stephen Cheng & Chris Andreae

Part of that is thanks to muscle memory, which, in turn, depends on things being where they are almost 100% of the time. You don’t have to look at the keyboard each time to check if the letter “q” hasn’t moved around, and neither do you need to double-check that the left mouse button hasn’t switched sides. Some people in the past have grown the ability to type quickly and accurately on the T9 keypad of old phones because their fingers knew exactly where each button was and how many times to press it for specific letters. In contrast, it’s nearly impossible to use a touch screen without looking at it, especially when software updates change how big buttons are or where they’re located.

Designer: Apple

That’s not to say that humans will remain this way forever. In the past decades alone, we have formed habits and developed gestures that already look alien to older generations. Conversely, younger people have a hard time believing that anyone could type out messages using a keypad with rapid speed and deadly accuracy. Evolution, however, doesn’t happen in just a span of decades or even centuries, and humans will continue to remain beholden to their senses and the physicality of their bodies.

Flexibility

Touch screens, being based on digital user interfaces, have the advantage of not being locked to a single implementation. It’s definitely much easier to change the layout of a screen than to change the knobs on a physical panel. The arrival of foldable and rollable panels also means that screens have become literally more flexible, but these are not the kinds of flexibility that today’s touch screens lack.

Touch screens actually put limits on how you can use them or the devices they’re attached to. The number of gloves advertised to work with touch screens is a testament to how these screens aren’t usable under conditions where their analog counterparts have no problem. You can’t confidently take out your phone under a heavy downpour, but you’ll have no problems using a payphone with your soaking hands.

Designer: Adrien Beyk of Quanta Vici

Devices that rely on touch screens also become nearly useless when those screens break. Sometimes, it’s not even possible to back up or reset a phone so that you can safely send it for repairs without worrying about your private data. They need to be repaired or replaced first before the device can even be wiped, which defeats the purpose of securing the phone first. Until then, the device is as good as dead, no matter how advanced or how powerful it might be.

Endgame: Sustainability

Touch screens are the most common ways we interact with devices today, be it phones, computers, interactive displays, or smart home hubs. They might become the main points of interaction for everything in the world in the near future, short of being able to manipulate holograms and virtual objects floating in thin air. It is somewhat ironic, then, that they are the least sustainable among the different input methods we have today.

Displays themselves already consume power, and the materials used to make them aren’t the most environment-friendly options. Companies like Samsung are developing more power-efficient panels to reduce electricity consumption, and some are looking into alternative materials for components. Unfortunately, that’s just part of the problem.

Designer: Fairphone

The entire industry and its ecosystem seemed to be designed to be unsustainable by default. Only one phone manufacturer, for example, has made repairability and sustainability its main selling point, and it’s just a small drop in the ocean. Screens, in general, feel like throwaway components that add to the growing e-waste of the planet. Device manufacturers generally frown upon self-repairs and third-party replacements, making the process costly as well. In a future where there will be screens left and right as the primary way we interact with things in our world, that vision becomes a bit of a nightmare, especially for our planet.

A New Hope

Things don’t have to end on a depressing note, of course. Humans are pretty creative and ingenious in finding solutions to their problems, even if it takes a long time to develop the correct one. The current state of technology, particularly with touch screens, just represents a milestone in history, not its final state. Fortunately, there are clear signs of things turning for the better.

As mentioned, there are efforts to make screens themselves be more power-efficiency and consume less electricity. These might sound like small wins, but they do all add up. When all our screens use only a fraction of the power they do today, the overall carbon footprint these devices incur can significantly be reduced.

Designer: Samsung

Additionally, big companies today are now more aware of the environmental impacts of their products and processes, as well as their responsibilities in making sure that future generations still have a world to live in. Some are trying to switch to more sustainable packaging solutions, while many are trying to reduce their carbon emissions during production. We still have a lot of work to do, however, in making products more sustainable and repairable, prolonging their life even beyond legally required warranties.

The other technical problems, unfortunately, might be harder to solve with the current state of our technologies. Screens that can deform to give a better tactile response when pressing a button are very much the dream of many display makers, engineers, and designers. It’s not something we might be able to achieve this year, but it is definitely something to look forward to in our future visions.

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