From Perriand to Saarinen, The Chairs of Star Trek

For the last few years, a team of devout Star Trek fans—including Buenos Aires-based 3D artist Tadeo D’Oria—have been carefully identifying every chair in its science fiction universe. Much of what they’ve found happens to be off-the-shelf designs from well-known designers including Charles and Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand and Eero Saarinen. Sometimes these designs were painted and modified; sometimes they were used as is to …

Nike’s New Systems-Based Approach to Basketball Sneakers

The Nike Greater Than Series caters to the individuality of athletes and their actions

Nike releases new sneakers daily, but their research and development teams are planning these years in advance. A surprising innovation arrives today, 31 March: three basketball sneakers born from the sportswear giant’s new Greater Than Series, which strives to produce footwear fit for several types of athletes within the same sport. In the same way that signature sneakers (for the likes of LeBron James, Giannis …

The Golden Ratio’s African Origins

The golden ratio (aka the divine ratio)—which formed the foundation for modern Swiss design—was long believed to have originated in Ancient Greece, but evidence suggests it was actually invented in Africa, where the golden ratio, rectangle and spiral were commonly used in almost every imaginable artistic medium. Whether on Kente cloth in Ghana or architecture in Cameroon, diverse sources support this claim. (Additionally, empirical measurements …