What do a floating school in Nigeria, Kate Moss's favorite app, and a Lego timetable have in common? They have all been nominated for the international Designs of the Year award, held annually by London's Design Museum for the best in architecture, fashion, furniture, and product design. Scroll through the gallery to see some of our favorites.
Makoko Floating School, Nigeria
This hovering structure, designed by the NLÉ Makoko Community Building Team, uses an innovative, cheap and sustainable approach to address the needs of the water community of Makoko, Nigeria. Located in the lagoon heart of the country's largest city, Lagos, its main aim is to create an ecological, alternative building system for the teeming population of Africa's coastal regions.
By Milena Veselinovic, for CNN
Makoko Floating School, Nigeria
This hovering structure, designed by the NLÉ Makoko Community Building Team, uses an innovative, cheap and sustainable approach to address the needs of the water community of Makoko, Nigeria. Located in the lagoon heart of the country's largest city, Lagos, its main aim is to create an ecological, alternative building system for the teeming population of Africa's coastal regions.
By Milena Veselinovic, for CNN
A MAGAZINE, curated by Stephen Jones
Milliner Stephen Jones dedicated his issue of this cult fashion magazine to the art of illustration and Anna Piaggi, a celebrated Italian fashion editor and former Karl Lagerfeld muse. The issue's crowning glory is a centerfold of Dita Von Teese by David Downton, shown above, but it also features stunning fashion illustrations by Barbara Hulanicki and Tony Viramontes, and items by design by superstars like Zaha Hadid, Raf Simons and Ron Arad.
Milliner Stephen Jones dedicated his issue of this cult fashion magazine to the art of illustration and Anna Piaggi, a celebrated Italian fashion editor and former Karl Lagerfeld muse. The issue's crowning glory is a centerfold of Dita Von Teese by David Downton, shown above, but it also features stunning fashion illustrations by Barbara Hulanicki and Tony Viramontes, and items by design by superstars like Zaha Hadid, Raf Simons and Ron Arad.
FRAC CENTRE - Les Turbulences
Paris based architecture duo Jakob + MacFarlane have designed a new feature of the FRAC Centre, which houses contemporary art in Orleans, France. The faceted pavilion is made of concrete and aluminum, and its shape aims to convey the perpetual flow of digital information.
Paris based architecture duo Jakob + MacFarlane have designed a new feature of the FRAC Centre, which houses contemporary art in Orleans, France. The faceted pavilion is made of concrete and aluminum, and its shape aims to convey the perpetual flow of digital information.
Facade for Paul Smith, Albermarle Street, Mayfair, London
The front of designer Paul Smith's shop in one of London's most exclusive districts features cast iron which curves around the building's Regency shape, giving it an abstract spin. Designed by 6a Architects, the facade's sinuous windows reflect the glass in nearby arcades.
The front of designer Paul Smith's shop in one of London's most exclusive districts features cast iron which curves around the building's Regency shape, giving it an abstract spin. Designed by 6a Architects, the facade's sinuous windows reflect the glass in nearby arcades.
Lego Calendar
This wall-mounted calendar is made entirely out of of Lego, with color-coded bricks representing time spent on projects. However, this time-planner, designed by Adrian Westaway, Clara Gaggero, Duncan Fitzsimons, and Simon Emberton, is not just a brightly colored gimmick - when you take a photo of it with a smartphone all events and timings are synchronized in an online calendar.
This wall-mounted calendar is made entirely out of of Lego, with color-coded bricks representing time spent on projects. However, this time-planner, designed by Adrian Westaway, Clara Gaggero, Duncan Fitzsimons, and Simon Emberton, is not just a brightly colored gimmick - when you take a photo of it with a smartphone all events and timings are synchronized in an online calendar.
New interior for United Nations North Delegates lounge, New York
Dutch industrial designer Hella Jongerius gathered a superstar team, including Rem Koolhaas, Irma Boom, Gabriel Lester and Louise Schouwenberg, to redesign the North Delegates lounge within the UN in New York. The designers carefully edited the existing space, applying iconic Scandinavian aesthetic to create an area of comfort and informality.
Dutch industrial designer Hella Jongerius gathered a superstar team, including Rem Koolhaas, Irma Boom, Gabriel Lester and Louise Schouwenberg, to redesign the North Delegates lounge within the UN in New York. The designers carefully edited the existing space, applying iconic Scandinavian aesthetic to create an area of comfort and informality.
Frac Nord - Pas de Calais
This contemporary art center designed by Anne Lacaton and Jean Philippe Vassal is located in an old boat warehouse. The architects maintained the original structure and attached a double hall of the same dimensions, creating an open, industrial space.
This contemporary art center designed by Anne Lacaton and Jean Philippe Vassal is located in an old boat warehouse. The architects maintained the original structure and attached a double hall of the same dimensions, creating an open, industrial space.
Iro
Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka has designed a range of bright furniture, Iro, named after the Japanese word for color. The vibrant collection follows Nagasaka's minimalistic style aesthetic, with flourish reserved for the neon-colored resin through which the natural grain of the wood is still visible.
Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka has designed a range of bright furniture, Iro, named after the Japanese word for color. The vibrant collection follows Nagasaka's minimalistic style aesthetic, with flourish reserved for the neon-colored resin through which the natural grain of the wood is still visible.
ME.WE forward thinking car
ED2 (Toyota's European design studio) and Massaud combined forces to design an "anti-excess" vehicle, with the idea to create more while using less. ME.WE's name expresses its simultaneous concern for personal well-being (ME) and that of others (WE). The lightweight construction uses aluminum and polypropylene panels to keep the car's weight down, and the body panels, which are 100% recyclable, weigh just 14 kg.
ED2 (Toyota's European design studio) and Massaud combined forces to design an "anti-excess" vehicle, with the idea to create more while using less. ME.WE's name expresses its simultaneous concern for personal well-being (ME) and that of others (WE). The lightweight construction uses aluminum and polypropylene panels to keep the car's weight down, and the body panels, which are 100% recyclable, weigh just 14 kg.
Metro trains - dumb ways to die
The Dumb Ways to Die campaign, designed by McCann Melbourne, uses black humor to encourage young people to pay attention to safety. It features a song, book, a smartphone game, interactive outdoor posters, radio advertising and tumblr GIFs -- which made it into an internet phenomenon, and apparently, Kate Moss's favorite app.
The Dumb Ways to Die campaign, designed by McCann Melbourne, uses black humor to encourage young people to pay attention to safety. It features a song, book, a smartphone game, interactive outdoor posters, radio advertising and tumblr GIFs -- which made it into an internet phenomenon, and apparently, Kate Moss's favorite app.
The Gourmand
This bi-annual art, culture and food journal features exquisite printing and superb design. It is the brain-child of David Lane and Marina Tweed, and carries pieces by well-respected writers, photographers and illustrators, alongside up-and-coming talent.
This bi-annual art, culture and food journal features exquisite printing and superb design. It is the brain-child of David Lane and Marina Tweed, and carries pieces by well-respected writers, photographers and illustrators, alongside up-and-coming talent.
Chineasy
Chineasy is an illustrated language book which aims to bring East and West closer by helping to make learning Chinese easier. It was crafted by the entrepreneur and author ShaoLan Hsueh, with illustrations, by Norma Bar, designed to offer a glimpse into Chinese culture. The system is built on a building block methodology which teaches students a small number of commonly occurring characters, which they can then combine to create more complex word clusters.
Chineasy is an illustrated language book which aims to bring East and West closer by helping to make learning Chinese easier. It was crafted by the entrepreneur and author ShaoLan Hsueh, with illustrations, by Norma Bar, designed to offer a glimpse into Chinese culture. The system is built on a building block methodology which teaches students a small number of commonly occurring characters, which they can then combine to create more complex word clusters.
Grand Central
Swiss artist Thibault Brevet has developed an open internet platform where users can submit text via their smartphones, and then see it reproduced in marker pen by a mechanical printer. The idea behind the project, called Grand Central, is to give a physical form to digital messages.
Swiss artist Thibault Brevet has developed an open internet platform where users can submit text via their smartphones, and then see it reproduced in marker pen by a mechanical printer. The idea behind the project, called Grand Central, is to give a physical form to digital messages.
