#BeOpenNEWS
Applications are now open for UNEP’s flagship youth initiative - the Young Champions of the Earth prize. This programme recognizes outstanding young leaders (ages 18–30) who are implementing bold, innovative solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
As an UNEP-accredited organisation, BE OPEN encourages the participants of the sustainability-focused competitions to submit their projects. The Young Champions will receive global recognition, seed funding, training, mentorship and access to influential change-makers.
Applications close on 31st March 2026
Since 2017, UNEP has honored 33 trailblazing Young Champions activists, entrepreneurs, and innovators for their groundbreaking ideas to protect the environment.
Applications are now open for UNEP’s flagship youth initiative - the Young Champions of the Earth prize. This programme recognizes outstanding young leaders (ages 18–30) who are implementing bold, innovative solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
As an UNEP-accredited organisation, BE OPEN encourages the participants of the sustainability-focused competitions to submit their projects. The Young Champions will receive global recognition, seed funding, training, mentorship and access to influential change-makers.
Applications close on 31st March 2026
Since 2017, UNEP has honored 33 trailblazing Young Champions activists, entrepreneurs, and innovators for their groundbreaking ideas to protect the environment.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The OPT100 NeoFilm 100 by Opt! reimagines the classic 35mm film roll as a tiny, functional digital camera, blending retro design with modern tech. Small enough to fit in a pocket or hang as an accessory, it shoots high-resolution photos and Full HD video, stores files on a microSD card, and features a central lens, mini flash, side shutter button, and a silicone-style barrel case reminiscent of traditional film canisters offering a playful, nostalgic way to capture images in a compact, rechargeable device.
The OPT100 NeoFilm 100 by Opt! reimagines the classic 35mm film roll as a tiny, functional digital camera, blending retro design with modern tech. Small enough to fit in a pocket or hang as an accessory, it shoots high-resolution photos and Full HD video, stores files on a microSD card, and features a central lens, mini flash, side shutter button, and a silicone-style barrel case reminiscent of traditional film canisters offering a playful, nostalgic way to capture images in a compact, rechargeable device.
#BeOpenARCH
Átomos is a compact architectural installation by Portuguese studio Rebelo de Andrade, based in Lisbon, set among the vineyards of Setúbal. Composed of three copper-toned spherical cabins elevated between the trees, the 60-square-meter project blends into the agricultural landscape with a metallic skin inlaid with recycled glass. Each sphere houses a distinct space for gathering, working, or resting, creating an intimate retreat that connects closely to the surrounding vines and terrain.
Átomos is a compact architectural installation by Portuguese studio Rebelo de Andrade, based in Lisbon, set among the vineyards of Setúbal. Composed of three copper-toned spherical cabins elevated between the trees, the 60-square-meter project blends into the agricultural landscape with a metallic skin inlaid with recycled glass. Each sphere houses a distinct space for gathering, working, or resting, creating an intimate retreat that connects closely to the surrounding vines and terrain.
#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Moe Leady as the Artist of the Month for February 2026, recognizing her vibrant exploration of color. Based in Kansas City, USA, Leady works across watercolor, oil paint, and colored pencil, centering her practice on two ever-evolving subjects: color and people, which she brings together in expressive and thoughtfully composed works.
Each month, BE OPEN Art presents 20 artists and invites the public to vote for their favourite. At the end of 2026, one of the monthly winners will be named Artist of the Year and awarded a €1,000 cash prize along with promotional support.
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Moe Leady as the Artist of the Month for February 2026, recognizing her vibrant exploration of color. Based in Kansas City, USA, Leady works across watercolor, oil paint, and colored pencil, centering her practice on two ever-evolving subjects: color and people, which she brings together in expressive and thoughtfully composed works.
Each month, BE OPEN Art presents 20 artists and invites the public to vote for their favourite. At the end of 2026, one of the monthly winners will be named Artist of the Year and awarded a €1,000 cash prize along with promotional support.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The Marketday Cart by Australian designer Michelle Hildebrand is defined by a series of highly functional features that rethink how groceries are transported. Its structure centers on three shallow, stackable baskets that are fully insulated and zippered, allowing users to separate items by weight or type while keeping food cool and secure. The baskets detach individually, enabling flexible configurations for small or large shopping trips. A lightweight, foldable aluminum frame supports easy storage, while an extra long handle improves pulling comfort. Oversized wheels are designed to handle curbs, stairs, and uneven pavement, making it suitable for urban environments. Most notably, a built in gimbal system keeps the baskets level as the cart tilts, preventing contents from shifting or spilling and maintaining stability throughout the journey.
More innovative shopping carts on our blog.
The Marketday Cart by Australian designer Michelle Hildebrand is defined by a series of highly functional features that rethink how groceries are transported. Its structure centers on three shallow, stackable baskets that are fully insulated and zippered, allowing users to separate items by weight or type while keeping food cool and secure. The baskets detach individually, enabling flexible configurations for small or large shopping trips. A lightweight, foldable aluminum frame supports easy storage, while an extra long handle improves pulling comfort. Oversized wheels are designed to handle curbs, stairs, and uneven pavement, making it suitable for urban environments. Most notably, a built in gimbal system keeps the baskets level as the cart tilts, preventing contents from shifting or spilling and maintaining stability throughout the journey.
More innovative shopping carts on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Swedish designer Simon Skinner presents Buké, a series of sculptural lamps assembled from second-hand bowls, ashtrays, vases, and figurines. Sourced from flea markets and charity shops, the found glass objects are stacked and reconfigured in a process Skinner likens to flower arranging, balancing contrast, harmony, and proportion. Each lamp is sandblasted to unify the disparate elements and soften signs of wear, allowing familiar domestic objects to take on new form and meaning.
Swedish designer Simon Skinner presents Buké, a series of sculptural lamps assembled from second-hand bowls, ashtrays, vases, and figurines. Sourced from flea markets and charity shops, the found glass objects are stacked and reconfigured in a process Skinner likens to flower arranging, balancing contrast, harmony, and proportion. Each lamp is sandblasted to unify the disparate elements and soften signs of wear, allowing familiar domestic objects to take on new form and meaning.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The Nik Bentel x Lidl Trolley Bag transforms one of retail’s most utilitarian objects into a fashion week conversation piece. Fabricated from industrial stainless steel, the wearable mini shopping cart preserves Lidl’s signature grid structure and yellow blue handle, and even includes a functioning trolley coin fob compatible with real store carts. Equal parts sculpture, satire, and accessory, the bag debuted around London Fashion Week through a playful pop up activation and online ballot.
More unusual bags on our blog.
The Nik Bentel x Lidl Trolley Bag transforms one of retail’s most utilitarian objects into a fashion week conversation piece. Fabricated from industrial stainless steel, the wearable mini shopping cart preserves Lidl’s signature grid structure and yellow blue handle, and even includes a functioning trolley coin fob compatible with real store carts. Equal parts sculpture, satire, and accessory, the bag debuted around London Fashion Week through a playful pop up activation and online ballot.
More unusual bags on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Three Seoul-based designers Park Chan Woo, Choi Chan Young, and Lee Eun Ji have reimagined grocery shopping with the Mobi smart cart. Activated via a dedicated app, Mobi autonomously follows shoppers through the store, providing real-time navigation and optimized routes based on a pre-uploaded shopping list. Built-in sensors detect items as they are added, updating the cart’s interface and enabling instant payment, eliminating traditional checkout lines. Once shopping is complete, the cart returns automatically to a multi-unit charging dock, ready for the next customer.
Three Seoul-based designers Park Chan Woo, Choi Chan Young, and Lee Eun Ji have reimagined grocery shopping with the Mobi smart cart. Activated via a dedicated app, Mobi autonomously follows shoppers through the store, providing real-time navigation and optimized routes based on a pre-uploaded shopping list. Built-in sensors detect items as they are added, updating the cart’s interface and enabling instant payment, eliminating traditional checkout lines. Once shopping is complete, the cart returns automatically to a multi-unit charging dock, ready for the next customer.
#BeOpenARCH
Ecuadorian studio Al Borde Arquitectos has completed the Witoca Lab, a compact 46 sqm research facility in the Amazon designed to support local coffee and cocoa farmers. Built with vaulted adobe using local soil, the Y-shaped lab is fully sealed to create a biosecure environment for producing pest-repellent microorganisms, with thermal mass and passive design stabilizing interior conditions. Constructed with community participation, the lab demonstrates how vernacular materials, scalable earthen techniques, and careful design can empower local autonomy and reduce chemical dependency while minimizing environmental impact.
Ecuadorian studio Al Borde Arquitectos has completed the Witoca Lab, a compact 46 sqm research facility in the Amazon designed to support local coffee and cocoa farmers. Built with vaulted adobe using local soil, the Y-shaped lab is fully sealed to create a biosecure environment for producing pest-repellent microorganisms, with thermal mass and passive design stabilizing interior conditions. Constructed with community participation, the lab demonstrates how vernacular materials, scalable earthen techniques, and careful design can empower local autonomy and reduce chemical dependency while minimizing environmental impact.
#BeOpenART
Israeli artist Itamar Gov’s inflatable installation The Rhinoceros in the Room fills the nave of Kunstmuseum Magdeburg, Germany, with a monumental pale rhinoceros that stretches from aisle to aisle, transforming the former monastery church into a compressed, immersive environment. Its matte surface contrasts with the Romanesque architecture, while a surrounding multi-channel composition for cellos and voices reshapes the acoustics of the space. Drawing on the animal’s long European symbolism, echoing Albrecht Dürer’s iconic engraving, the work balances power and vulnerability, turning the historic interior into a charged encounter between past and present.
Israeli artist Itamar Gov’s inflatable installation The Rhinoceros in the Room fills the nave of Kunstmuseum Magdeburg, Germany, with a monumental pale rhinoceros that stretches from aisle to aisle, transforming the former monastery church into a compressed, immersive environment. Its matte surface contrasts with the Romanesque architecture, while a surrounding multi-channel composition for cellos and voices reshapes the acoustics of the space. Drawing on the animal’s long European symbolism, echoing Albrecht Dürer’s iconic engraving, the work balances power and vulnerability, turning the historic interior into a charged encounter between past and present.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Recent Central Saint Martins graduate Tanay Wadodkar has developed Snow Seeds, a small-scale geoengineering solution to help ski towns threatened by climate change. The project uses stickers containing silver- and iodine-based mineral salts suspended in water-soluble ink; when placed on snowboards or skis, the ink dissolves, releasing the salts into the air to encourage localized snowfall. Inspired by his experiences snowboarding in Gulmarg, India, Wadodkar aims to offer a low-carbon, community-driven alternative to traditional cloud-seeding, enabling winter sports enthusiasts and alpine communities to actively mitigate snow loss.
Recent Central Saint Martins graduate Tanay Wadodkar has developed Snow Seeds, a small-scale geoengineering solution to help ski towns threatened by climate change. The project uses stickers containing silver- and iodine-based mineral salts suspended in water-soluble ink; when placed on snowboards or skis, the ink dissolves, releasing the salts into the air to encourage localized snowfall. Inspired by his experiences snowboarding in Gulmarg, India, Wadodkar aims to offer a low-carbon, community-driven alternative to traditional cloud-seeding, enabling winter sports enthusiasts and alpine communities to actively mitigate snow loss.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Austrian brand Feuerwasser has reinvented outdoor showers with a wood-fired, off-grid garden shower. The freestanding stainless steel structure features a central wood-burning stove that heats water in minutes, with pipes connected via a garden hose. A mixing valve allows precise temperature control, while a stable base anchored with stone slabs ensures portability without permanent installation. Weather-resistant and rustproof, the design works year-round, combining sculptural elegance with practical functionality for backyards, cabins, or campsites offering hot water anywhere without electricity.
Austrian brand Feuerwasser has reinvented outdoor showers with a wood-fired, off-grid garden shower. The freestanding stainless steel structure features a central wood-burning stove that heats water in minutes, with pipes connected via a garden hose. A mixing valve allows precise temperature control, while a stable base anchored with stone slabs ensures portability without permanent installation. Weather-resistant and rustproof, the design works year-round, combining sculptural elegance with practical functionality for backyards, cabins, or campsites offering hot water anywhere without electricity.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Brooklyn-based designer Han Seungmin transforms the mass-produced stainless-steel fencing common in Asian and West Indian neighborhoods into the White Picket Chair, a piece that fuses functionality with social commentary. Using the same modular pickets, curved backrests, and decorative finials found on these fences, Han turns a familiar urban object into furniture that challenges the idealized notion of the American Dream from an immigrant perspective. The chair bridges public and private space, recalling Han’s own upbringing in South Korea while engaging with the streetscape of New York City. Made to order in Brooklyn, the limited series also supports the New York Immigration Coalition, linking craft, narrative, and civic engagement.
More NYC inspired designs on our blog.
Brooklyn-based designer Han Seungmin transforms the mass-produced stainless-steel fencing common in Asian and West Indian neighborhoods into the White Picket Chair, a piece that fuses functionality with social commentary. Using the same modular pickets, curved backrests, and decorative finials found on these fences, Han turns a familiar urban object into furniture that challenges the idealized notion of the American Dream from an immigrant perspective. The chair bridges public and private space, recalling Han’s own upbringing in South Korea while engaging with the streetscape of New York City. Made to order in Brooklyn, the limited series also supports the New York Immigration Coalition, linking craft, narrative, and civic engagement.
More NYC inspired designs on our blog.