#BeOpenDESIGN
Japanese design studio YOY's Book is a book-shaped flower pot that transforms a familiar object into a functional planter. Made from waterproof PVC, the design opens like a book and stands upright, revealing soil and plant roots within. Whether used as a standalone vessel or as a shelf divider, Book playfully blurs the boundary between everyday objects and living greenery.
Japanese design studio YOY's Book is a book-shaped flower pot that transforms a familiar object into a functional planter. Made from waterproof PVC, the design opens like a book and stands upright, revealing soil and plant roots within. Whether used as a standalone vessel or as a shelf divider, Book playfully blurs the boundary between everyday objects and living greenery.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Tokyo-based studio Sotanaka unveils Uneri, a furniture collection that transforms naturally knotted camphor and Zelkova branches into sculptural chairs, stools and tables. Finished in matte black enamel and joined using a bespoke hand-cut joinery system, the pieces balance geometric surfaces with organic forms, celebrating the movement and irregularity of the wood rather than concealing it.
Tokyo-based studio Sotanaka unveils Uneri, a furniture collection that transforms naturally knotted camphor and Zelkova branches into sculptural chairs, stools and tables. Finished in matte black enamel and joined using a bespoke hand-cut joinery system, the pieces balance geometric surfaces with organic forms, celebrating the movement and irregularity of the wood rather than concealing it.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Marten Herma Anderson explores the relationship between colour, light and material with a series of resin lamps inspired by the translucent glow of candy wrappers and gummy sweets. Featuring pigmented resin shades, glass fibre structures and raw ceramic bases, the lights reveal bubbles, seams and subtle imperfections that become more pronounced when illuminated, creating luminous objects that appear fluid, suspended and constantly in motion.
Marten Herma Anderson explores the relationship between colour, light and material with a series of resin lamps inspired by the translucent glow of candy wrappers and gummy sweets. Featuring pigmented resin shades, glass fibre structures and raw ceramic bases, the lights reveal bubbles, seams and subtle imperfections that become more pronounced when illuminated, creating luminous objects that appear fluid, suspended and constantly in motion.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Charlotte Kingsnorth's Hi!breed series transforms discarded chairs into sculptural, creature-like furniture that blurs the line between design and art. By wrapping salvaged frames in hand-carved foam, rich upholstery, and shaggy textiles, the London-based designer reveals the hidden character of each piece rather than concealing its past. The result is a collection that celebrates craftsmanship, reuse, and storytelling, proving that forgotten furniture can evolve into expressive objects with entirely new identities.
More unconventional chairs on our blog.
Charlotte Kingsnorth's Hi!breed series transforms discarded chairs into sculptural, creature-like furniture that blurs the line between design and art. By wrapping salvaged frames in hand-carved foam, rich upholstery, and shaggy textiles, the London-based designer reveals the hidden character of each piece rather than concealing its past. The result is a collection that celebrates craftsmanship, reuse, and storytelling, proving that forgotten furniture can evolve into expressive objects with entirely new identities.
More unconventional chairs on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Camping in the summer could soon feel a lot more comfortable thanks to a Red Dot Award-winning concept that turns the tent itself into a solar-powered cooling system. Designed by Zhong Xu, Li Baoyu, Pan Yiyuan, and Li Xueyan, the innovative shelter uses its composite fabric to harvest solar energy and power an integrated air conditioner, eliminating the need for bulky batteries or generators. It's a smart example of sustainable design that transforms one of camping's biggest frustrations into an opportunity for innovation.
More innovative tent on our blog.
Camping in the summer could soon feel a lot more comfortable thanks to a Red Dot Award-winning concept that turns the tent itself into a solar-powered cooling system. Designed by Zhong Xu, Li Baoyu, Pan Yiyuan, and Li Xueyan, the innovative shelter uses its composite fabric to harvest solar energy and power an integrated air conditioner, eliminating the need for bulky batteries or generators. It's a smart example of sustainable design that transforms one of camping's biggest frustrations into an opportunity for innovation.
More innovative tent on our blog.
#BeOpenART
British artist Lewis Prosser, who describes himself as an "absurdist basketmaker," uses basketry as a lens to explore labor, place, material culture, and the future of making. His project Making Merrie draws on the 500-year tradition of mummers' plays along the Wales–England border, combining monumental willow costumes, folk performance, and a playful blend of Welsh and English to celebrate cultural exchange. By reviving regional basketry techniques through community-led, improvised processions, Prosser highlights the enduring value of craft as both a living tradition and a vital part of human identity.
British artist Lewis Prosser, who describes himself as an "absurdist basketmaker," uses basketry as a lens to explore labor, place, material culture, and the future of making. His project Making Merrie draws on the 500-year tradition of mummers' plays along the Wales–England border, combining monumental willow costumes, folk performance, and a playful blend of Welsh and English to celebrate cultural exchange. By reviving regional basketry techniques through community-led, improvised processions, Prosser highlights the enduring value of craft as both a living tradition and a vital part of human identity.
#BeOpenDESIGN
With Bad Posture Chairs, Mara Bragagnolo challenges the idea that there is only one correct way to sit. Designed to support natural positions such as sitting cross-legged, leaning sideways, or constantly shifting, the collection embraces movement and neurodiverse needs instead of correcting them. Inspired by Bruno Munari's playful investigations into comfort, the project reimagines inclusive design by adapting furniture to real human behavior.
With Bad Posture Chairs, Mara Bragagnolo challenges the idea that there is only one correct way to sit. Designed to support natural positions such as sitting cross-legged, leaning sideways, or constantly shifting, the collection embraces movement and neurodiverse needs instead of correcting them. Inspired by Bruno Munari's playful investigations into comfort, the project reimagines inclusive design by adapting furniture to real human behavior.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Puffer is rethinking one of camping's oldest rituals by replacing traditional tent poles with inflatable air chambers. The sleek A-frame shelter inflates in about two minutes using an included electric pump and features a fully integrated air mattress, combining bed and shelter into a single system. Designed for car campers and overlanders, it shows how thoughtful engineering can make outdoor adventures faster, simpler, and more comfortable.
Puffer is rethinking one of camping's oldest rituals by replacing traditional tent poles with inflatable air chambers. The sleek A-frame shelter inflates in about two minutes using an included electric pump and features a fully integrated air mattress, combining bed and shelter into a single system. Designed for car campers and overlanders, it shows how thoughtful engineering can make outdoor adventures faster, simpler, and more comfortable.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Designed for apartment living, the Rotofarm by Bace is a countertop hydroponic garden that packs nearly 1.5 metres of growing space into a compact 30-centimetre footprint. Its rotating design spins plants through a full revolution every hour, exposing them to periods of negative gravity that Bace says can accelerate growth by up to two times. Featuring automated watering, nutrient delivery, adjustable LED lighting and harvest notifications, the soil-free system aims to make growing fresh produce at home easier, more efficient and more space-conscious.
Designed for apartment living, the Rotofarm by Bace is a countertop hydroponic garden that packs nearly 1.5 metres of growing space into a compact 30-centimetre footprint. Its rotating design spins plants through a full revolution every hour, exposing them to periods of negative gravity that Bace says can accelerate growth by up to two times. Featuring automated watering, nutrient delivery, adjustable LED lighting and harvest notifications, the soil-free system aims to make growing fresh produce at home easier, more efficient and more space-conscious.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The University of Brighton's Product Design graduate Keira Forman explores the future of sustainable furniture through Kos, a modular sofa designed for the circular economy. Built by the user using standardised timber, 3D-printed connectors and repairable components, Kos is designed to be easily maintained, adapted and customised over time. By encouraging users to assemble, repair and evolve their furniture rather than replace it, the project demonstrates how thoughtful, user-centred design can reduce waste while creating more meaningful, long-lasting relationships between people and the products they own.
The University of Brighton's Product Design graduate Keira Forman explores the future of sustainable furniture through Kos, a modular sofa designed for the circular economy. Built by the user using standardised timber, 3D-printed connectors and repairable components, Kos is designed to be easily maintained, adapted and customised over time. By encouraging users to assemble, repair and evolve their furniture rather than replace it, the project demonstrates how thoughtful, user-centred design can reduce waste while creating more meaningful, long-lasting relationships between people and the products they own.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Some of the best product designs solve everyday problems with almost invisible simplicity, and Gaenim’s silicone bottle cap water dispenser for dogs is a perfect example. Replacing a standard bottle cap, the flexible silicone attachment unfolds into a drinking bowl and drains unused water back into the bottle, eliminating the need for bulky pet accessories. Its thoughtful use of food-safe silicone keeps the design lightweight, durable, and easy to clean, while fitting seamlessly into daily walks, road trips, and hikes.
Some of the best product designs solve everyday problems with almost invisible simplicity, and Gaenim’s silicone bottle cap water dispenser for dogs is a perfect example. Replacing a standard bottle cap, the flexible silicone attachment unfolds into a drinking bowl and drains unused water back into the bottle, eliminating the need for bulky pet accessories. Its thoughtful use of food-safe silicone keeps the design lightweight, durable, and easy to clean, while fitting seamlessly into daily walks, road trips, and hikes.
#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART
BE OPEN Art has announced Angolan multidisciplinary artist Cristiano Mangovo as its Artist of the Month for July 2026. Educated at the École des Beaux-Arts de Kinshasa, Mangovo creates paintings, installations, and mixed-media works that explore power, inequality, migration, memory, and identity through a vivid visual language shaped by personal experience and social observation. As the July winner, he advances to the Artist of the Year 2026 competition, where finalists will compete for a €1,000 prize and promotional support from BE OPEN Art.
BE OPEN Art has announced Angolan multidisciplinary artist Cristiano Mangovo as its Artist of the Month for July 2026. Educated at the École des Beaux-Arts de Kinshasa, Mangovo creates paintings, installations, and mixed-media works that explore power, inequality, migration, memory, and identity through a vivid visual language shaped by personal experience and social observation. As the July winner, he advances to the Artist of the Year 2026 competition, where finalists will compete for a €1,000 prize and promotional support from BE OPEN Art.
#BeOpenDESIGN
What if batteries were alive? Bio-designer Lucia Giron and researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed algae-powered biophotovoltaic cells that generate electricity through photosynthesis. By combining living cyanobacteria with thoughtful product design, the prototypes demonstrate a cleaner alternative to disposable batteries while making energy production visible. The project shows how design can bridge biology and technology, turning sustainable innovation into an experience people can see, understand, and interact with.
More battery innovations on our blog.
What if batteries were alive? Bio-designer Lucia Giron and researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed algae-powered biophotovoltaic cells that generate electricity through photosynthesis. By combining living cyanobacteria with thoughtful product design, the prototypes demonstrate a cleaner alternative to disposable batteries while making energy production visible. The project shows how design can bridge biology and technology, turning sustainable innovation into an experience people can see, understand, and interact with.
More battery innovations on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Instead of treating artificial wood as a stand-in for timber, Tact Inoue's MOCKY furniture series explores what the material can do on its own. Made from a composite of wood flour and resin, each piece is assembled by heating and compressing components until they fuse together, eliminating the need for traditional joinery. The process creates organically distorted joints, warped surfaces, and sculptural protrusions that are as structural as they are expressive.
Instead of treating artificial wood as a stand-in for timber, Tact Inoue's MOCKY furniture series explores what the material can do on its own. Made from a composite of wood flour and resin, each piece is assembled by heating and compressing components until they fuse together, eliminating the need for traditional joinery. The process creates organically distorted joints, warped surfaces, and sculptural protrusions that are as structural as they are expressive.
#BeOpenNEWS
On International Youth Day, 12 August 2026, UNESCO’s NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee Youth Working Group, alongside SDG Academy, SDSN Youth and the SDG 4 Youth & Student Network, will host an invite-only online consultation on the Post-2030 Youth Education and Learning Agenda. Young people aged 19–35 will share their experiences, priorities and ideas for shaping the future of education beyond 2030 through interactive discussions and breakout sessions.
📅 When: International Youth Day – 12 August 2026
🕒 Time: 9:00–10:30 AM EDT | 3:00–4:30 PM CEST
📍 Where: Online via Zoom
🔗 Registration
On International Youth Day, 12 August 2026, UNESCO’s NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee Youth Working Group, alongside SDG Academy, SDSN Youth and the SDG 4 Youth & Student Network, will host an invite-only online consultation on the Post-2030 Youth Education and Learning Agenda. Young people aged 19–35 will share their experiences, priorities and ideas for shaping the future of education beyond 2030 through interactive discussions and breakout sessions.
📅 When: International Youth Day – 12 August 2026
🕒 Time: 9:00–10:30 AM EDT | 3:00–4:30 PM CEST
📍 Where: Online via Zoom
🔗 Registration
#BeOpenDESIGN
EcoLogicStudio's PhotoSynthetica collection demonstrates how design can harness living systems to tackle urban pollution. At its core is the AIReactor, a desktop air purifier powered by microalgae that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen through photosynthesis. Instead of discarding the resulting biomass, the studio transforms it into biopolymers used to 3D print everyday objects such as stools and rings. The project presents a compelling vision of circular design, where products not only improve air quality but also generate the materials needed to create new ones.
More projects embedding photosynthesis on our blog.
EcoLogicStudio's PhotoSynthetica collection demonstrates how design can harness living systems to tackle urban pollution. At its core is the AIReactor, a desktop air purifier powered by microalgae that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen through photosynthesis. Instead of discarding the resulting biomass, the studio transforms it into biopolymers used to 3D print everyday objects such as stools and rings. The project presents a compelling vision of circular design, where products not only improve air quality but also generate the materials needed to create new ones.
More projects embedding photosynthesis on our blog.
#BeOpenART #BeOpenNEWS
BE OPEN Art has named Naarm/Melbourne-based multidisciplinary artist Anna Kouvelas the Art Limitless winner for July 2026. Working with found, reclaimed, and repurposed materials, Kouvelas creates textile-based works that explore identity, memory, and materiality through weaving, stitching, assemblage, and sculpture.
Anna's sustainable practice has earned her this month's recognition and a place among the artists eligible for the Art Limitless annual awards, where three winners will receive cash prizes and international promotional support from the BE OPEN Foundation.
#BeOpenART #BeOpenNEWS
BE OPEN Art has named Naarm/Melbourne-based multidisciplinary artist Anna Kouvelas the Art Limitless winner for July 2026. Working with found, reclaimed, and repurposed materials, Kouvelas creates textile-based works that explore identity, memory, and materiality through weaving, stitching, assemblage, and sculpture.
Anna's sustainable practice has earned her this month's recognition and a place among the artists eligible for the Art Limitless annual awards, where three winners will receive cash prizes and international promotional support from the BE OPEN Foundation.
#BeOpenART #BeOpenNEWS