Design

Starting a Design Studio During a Downturn, Part 4: Developing the Kicker Culture

The five designers from five very different backgrounds learn how to work together--and sometimes, how to speak the same language.READ»

Independence Day

Happy birthday, America! A 233-year-old needs a lot of candles, and for the fireworks industry, July 4 is Christmas. Over the past decade, the sector has almost tripled to nearly $1 billion in yearly revenue. But not everyone wants ...READ»

Brad Pitt's Foundation Unveils 14 Home Designs for New Orleans

Pitt's foundation, Make it Right, eventually hopes to build 150 houses in the Ninth Ward--completely remaking the blighted neighborhood.READ»

The 10 Most Creative People in Architecture

Which architects have the most unusual, influential visions for the field?READ»

Ever Wanted to Snuggle Inside a Bird's Nest? Now's Your Chance

South African designers weave a tree house for adults.READ»

Cannes Picks the Year's Best Package Design

There's a new trend afoot, emphasizing hand-drawn craftiness and artisanal values.READ»

Eight Stylish Essentials for All Your Grilling Needs

Here's some of the best-designed stuff available for your July 4th BBQ.READ»

Social Design Gets Its Own Curator

With the Cooper-Hewitt appointment, a design movement claims a more prominent place on the agenda.READ»

Prius vs Porsche: Why You'd Choose a "Green" Car Over a "Dream" Car

Would you take a Prius over a Porsche? Global research firm Synovate asked more than 13,500 people in 18 global markets if--given that money is not an object--they would purchase a "dream" car or a "green" car. Six of 10 people said they would take the green car. But the deciding factors tended to be more economical than ecological.READ»

Truth, Beauty, and Smart Economics Converge at CNU 17

When regional planners and architects get together, you might think the pragmatic would take a back seat to the fanciful and the theoretical. Guess again!READ»

Why Your Gut Is More Ethical Than Your Brain

If you've ever been part of a discussion on ethics, in school or elsewhere, chances are you didn't spend much time talking about your feelings. It's believed that to live ethically, we must engage our reason, which reins in the ...READ»

• Three Lessons in "Rational" Prices Raising Ethical Questions

More Images of U2's Insane 360 World Tour Stage

U2 opens its 360 world tour, on a huge stage designed by Hoberman Partners. Here's the first pictures and video.READ»

Orbitz: Secretly Advertising Gay Rights?

Can you find the very subtle cues in their new, widely-aired commercial?READ»

MTV's On-Air Rebranding Is 2-D With a Dash of Web

Today, MTV launches brand-new branding. Here's the rationale behind it--and why an overhaul didn't require changing up the logo.READ»

Sputnik Observatory: A Repository That Shows How Big Ideas Are Connected

A new site gathers insights from today's great thinkers, and links them up, so you can choose your adventure.READ»

Starting a Design Studio During a Downturn, Part 3: When There’s No There There

Kicker reformulates its sales efforts after a sluggish Consumer Electronics Show.READ»

• Jennifer Bove's blog Design in the New Economy

Not Your Typical Cuppa Joe: The Espresso Cup Reimagined

Israeli students redesign the familiar espresso cup, to beautiful effect.READ»

Jabra Bluetooth Headset With Touchscreen: Design Overkill?

Jabra's latest Bluetooth headsets come with a bizarre extra--a charger base-station equipped with a color touchscreen. Is this product design for a world gone mad, or just a handy extra? The Jabra Go 6400 headsets look ...READ»

I.D. Magazine Picks the Best-Designed Products of 2008

Results from the venerable Annual Design Review are in. Here's three of the best of the best.READ»

Record-Scratching's So Last Century. Try a "Beat Slicer" Instead

An Italian student designs a brilliant interface for remixing beats.READ»