The 10 biggest product stories of 2019
From an at-home blood testing kit to a holographic sat nav system, we look back at our most popular stories across product and digital in the past year.
How packaging design is helping to shift the narrative around periods
Embarrassment and shame have long been associated with menstruation, but new trends in packaging design are looking to change this with bold colours, eye catching patterns and empowering messages.
From Bauhaus to Berlin’s poster culture: a German design guide
In the first of a new series spotlighting design in different countries, we look at Germany’s diverse creative culture, from industrial to graphic design, which is both forward-thinking and respectful
The 5 biggest exhibition stories of 2019
From the unseen subterranean world of London’s Tube network, to flying’s 5.7 million tonnes waste problem, here are the year’s most popular exhibition stories on Design Week.
Aporva Baxi: “Brand and UX must not be forgotten in the streaming wars”
DixonBaxi co-founder and executive creative director Aporva Baxi warns streaming services that prioritising content over brand and a well designed experience could be “catastrophic”.
Matt Willey: “A lot of rules about how a magazine looks and behaves are up for grabs”
The British graphic designer talks to Design Week about becoming a Pentagram partner, creating Killing Eve’s credits and magazines’ “very difficult” few years.
Who should designers vote for in the UK general election 2019?
We’ve looked at the election manifestos of each party and spoken to industry experts to help you navigate the upcoming election.
Space10: “We try not to predict the future, just embrace it”
Winners of the Design Week Social Design Award 2019, Ikea’s research and design lab Space10 has had a busy year – here they speak to us about crowdsourcing, why you
Design inspiration: the best projects from November
From an immersive rendering of King Kong to a map that breaks down the UK into 1400 songs, these are some of our favourite studio projects from November.
Picks of the month: the best design events to catch in December
Christmas may be upon us, but designers haven’t shut up shop just yet – alongside some more festive offerings this month the Design Museum will be discussing diversity, George H.
Designers on Sports Direct rebrand: “You can’t simply gift-wrap gaffes”
Sports Direct International will rebrand as Frasers Group, subject to a shareholders’ vote. The unusual move for a FTSE 250 company follows a series of scandals about the group’s governance
“Trust, transparency, and no cannabis leaves” – designing for the UK’s CBD market
Market value is set to reach almost £1 billion in the next five years, but experts say careful design is needed to ensure products don’t suffer from preconceived negative associations
“There’s a revolution on the horizon”: will virtual reality redefine amusement parks?
From waking up Lego dragons to intergalactic waterslides, we explore the ways virtual reality is revolutionising thrills.
Michael Wolff: How I designed the Labour rose
The designer recalls how a serendipitous event led to him designing the Labour Party’s rose and transforming its visual identity in the 1980s.
Designing the modern Scouts and Girlguiding
With both undergoing considerable image changes and integrating new digital tools over the past few years, Design Week explores the mission of bringing heritage organisations into the present day for
Sarah Hyndman: “Typography can be a tool for positive change”
With the upcoming release of her two new books, Design Week speaks to the graphic designer about our annotated world, crossing over into science and why she wants everyone to
How design is changing the face of adult retail
From feminist activism to partnerships with high street stores, the adult retail industry is repositioning its identity away from seedy stereotypes, and toward the mainstream.
Everything you need to know (for now) about the Designers’ Republic
The new book AZTDR, published by Unit Editions, looks at 33 years of the studio’s history from Sheffield-based music labels to Coca-Cola and Nike.
The designer who built a drone to save lives
We speak to Keenan Wyrobek, the founder of Zipline about designing an autonomous drone system which has revolutionised the way blood and medicine are transported in places which are hard
NASA creative team shares its “out of this world” design secrets
From the meatball, to the worm and now Artemis, graphic designers at NASA have branded the face of space travel for decades.
Picks of the month: the best design events to catch in November
This month Design Manchester turns seven, Anglia Ruskin University is telling tales with tech and Es Devlin is talking us through her latest installation.
“To move fast, you have to be working together” – Dell VP on unifying tech and design
Justin Lyles, vice president of consumer design and advanced design director, talks inspiration, collaboration and why consumers expect smartphones everywhere.
“It’s like being inside a drawing”: improving exhibition accessibility
“All humans are different, so being conscientious of visitors’ needs helps us to pre-empt our designs,” Pentagram’s Marina Willer says of exhibition design. “Being aware of what can restrict people
Designing for the cinema renaissance
With cutting edge technology, new experiences and grandeur driving it, we speak to experts who say the face of cinema is no longer the multiplex.
