Habitat Valencia 2011, Part Two

From space-saving storage to upcycled plastic buckets, fresh design spotted at Spain's biggest design fair

A slightly more sober follow-up to last week’s report on anthropomorphic design spied at Habitat Valencia, here we’ve surveyed the best in clever furniture solutions from Spain. The following spans ideas for minimalists who don’t even want to own candleholders to those who never want to buy another bedframe, all tied together by their inventive take on common household needs. Mentira Cadira’s Doce, simple nesting …

Oregon Manifest Bicycle Design Challenge

Thirty-four teams of top designers and custom bike builders compete to create the ultimate urban bike

The push to leave the car at home in favor of commuting by bicycle now weighs on urban communities more than ever, and with a shortage of urban-minded bicycle design on the market the choice isn’t an easy one to make. To help find a solution, the Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge has brought together some of the most talented designers and custom bike builders …

To Dry For

Cheeky towels from a U.K. purveyor add a little humor to high tea

by Miranda Ward Stocking designer tea towels like Australia’s Third Drawer Down and Unity Peg labels, the couple behind the U.K. purveyor To Dry For bring a little bit of art to everyday objects. Noticing a number of designers creating bright, unconventional tea towels as part of a range of other products, Dave and Sally Emery decided to peddle these alongside their own collection of …