Behind several of the most anticipated pavilions at EXPO 2025 Osaka lies BeWunder’s expertise in turning architectural visions into captivating, multisensory realities. The World Expo is a dynamic stage where architecture, design, and technology converge to create compelling narratives about the future. The pavilions act as canvases where abstract ideas are brought to life through an orchestration of light, sound, and interactive technology. designboom takes a look at pavilions, created in collaboration with BeWunder, pushing the boundaries of spatial design and turning a passive visit into an active, immersive multimedia journey.

USA Pavilion | image ©Hufton+Crow, all images courtesy of ​​BeWunder

FROM STAGED EXPERIENCES TO FULL-SCALE EVENT PRODUCTION

As a specialist in museums, exhibitions, and brand pavilions, BeWunder serves as a turnkey partner for creating unforgettable spatial experiences. The company‘s passion lies in producing multisensory visitor experiences that combine multimedia technology, content, staged lighting, interactive elements, and scenery. With an end-to-end approach, BeWunder’s team is expertly positioned to bridge the gap between creative vision and its physical reality. Their proven international track record in both live events and permanent construction has positioned them to deliver exceptional projects, regardless of scope, scale, or location.

designed as an architectural homage to openness and progress, the Kuwait Pavilion features bold open wings

TURNKEY PROJECTS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM BEWUNDER

For the USA, Netherlands, and Philippines Pavilions, BeWunder served as a turnkey design and build contractor, taking full responsibility for the final design and delivery. Their scope encompassed an integrated approach, covering everything from initial concept development and feasibility studies to the final delivery of multimedia and lighting systems, interactive elements, scenic fit-out, exhibit fabrication, graphics, print, and signage. 

Each project was uniquely defined by its architectural and cultural narrative. Inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, the USA Pavilion’s architectural form consists of two triangular wooden structures contrasted by a suspended, illuminated cube. BeWunder supported the exhibition design team by further developing the concept, ensuring that technology, storytelling, and spatial design worked hand-in-hand to create a compelling and immersive experience for visitors. Similarly, for the Philippines Pavilion, whose design pays tribute to Filipino heritage and features over 200 handwoven textiles, BeWunder managed the installation of the exterior facade and coordinated all artworks to bring the creative vision to life with precision. A highlight of the Netherlands Pavilion was the design and manufacturing of a bespoke interactive sphere system, enabling visitors to engage with content in dynamic, personalized ways.

BeWunder was responsible for the complete multimedia and lighting systems inside the Kuwait Pavilion exhibition

BeWunder also applied its specialized skills in audio-visual and lighting systems to achieve the vision for a number of other pavilions, including the Kuwait, Luxembourg, and Germany Pavilions. The Kuwait Pavilion, with its distinctive open wings, was brought to life with comprehensive interior multimedia and lighting systems. This expertise extended to the exterior as well, with the team designing and installing the façade and landscape lighting to highlight the structure’s unique architecture, especially at night.

From a monumental spiral sculpture of the Austria Pavilion to a moving stage in the Uzbekistan Pavilion, BeWunder created standout features, designed for unforgettable, multisensory journeys. A groundbreaking 100-channel audio system in the Austria Pavilion enables visitors to collaboratively create music, turning the inside into an active and participatory experience. For the Switzerland Pavilion, BeWunder’s expertise was focused on an integrated lighting setup that animated the pavilion’s iconic bubble effects. Meanwhile, a standout feature of the Uzbekistan Pavilion was a moving stage that transports visitors between floors while being fully immersed in projection content. For the Luxembourg Pavilion, a key highlight of their scope was the development and delivery of custom-made LED screens, manufactured specifically for the project to meet unique design and spatial requirements.

Switzerland’s Pavilion is driven by three key themes: life, planet, and augmented human

Beyond full-scale delivery, BeWunder’s partner mindset allowed them to provide targeted technical and consultancy services. For the Portugal Pavilion, they acted as a consultant, offering feasibility studies and value engineering to align design intent with budget and technical feasibility. Similarly, for the UAE Pavilion, BeWunder served as a media hardware planner, responsible for the design and specification of all AV technology. This comprehensive range of services ensures that every client, regardless of their specific needs, can bring their creative vision to life.

the Portugal Pavilion offers an interactive experience, inviting visitors to explore the ocean as a life-giving resource

BeWunder served as the turnkey design & build contractor for the visitor experience at the Philippines Pavilion

with its theme of common ground, the Netherlands Pavilion aims to foster openness and cooperation

for the UAE Pavilion, BeWunder ensured the AV system fully supports and enhances the creative vision

the Germany Pavilion centres on the theme of circular economy, with the title Wa! Germany

the European Union Pavilion highlights the EU’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and secure future

the USA Pavilion invites visitors to imagine a future where collaboration and creativity lead global progress

project info:

name: Turnkey Projects at Osaka Expo 2025

company: BeWunder | @bewunder_expierences

location: Osaka, Japan

The post a look at bewunder’s role in shaping immersive multimedia pavilions at expo 2025 in osaka appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

In the Cour Jardin of the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris, France, Univers Uchronia has unveiled Daybed, a large-scale installation that reinterprets the hotel’s garden through materiality, color, and form. The temporary work, on view until 11th November, 2025, functions as both sculptural object and inhabitable space, establishing a dialogue between contemporary design and the historic setting of the Plaza Athénée.

At the center of the project is a ceramic surface designed in collaboration with Dutch brand Palet. The installation is clad in Palet’s glazed tiles, whose dimensions (149 x 149 mm) and color flexibility formed the basis for Uchronia’s architectural composition. The palette, dominated by greens and reds, references the hotel’s signature tones, including the red geraniums that line the Cour Jardin. Produced in the Netherlands, each tile is glazed to order from Palet’s library of more than 100 colors, which can be combined into over 300,000 possible variations. The reflective surface changes character under different light conditions, giving the installation a shifting visual presence throughout the day.

all images by Felix Dol Maillot

Uchronia’s Daybed Combines Ceramics, Textiles, and Furnishings

The ceramic assembly by creative studio Univers Uchronia is complemented by additional crafted elements: a custom-designed headboard by Treca, bed linens by Le Jacquard Français, floral curtains and cushions by Misia, and painted finishes by Seigneurie. Together, these components extend the project beyond surface design, integrating textiles and furnishings into a cohesive environment.

Palet, founded in 2021 by Jaap Giesen, Gilles de Brock, and Niels Monsieurs, operates at the intersection of digital design and ceramic craftsmanship. Its platform allows designers and clients to configure bespoke color and pattern combinations at varying scales, bridging industrial repeatability with artisanal variation. The collaboration with Univers Uchronia continues a partnership that has evolved from small-scale interiors to more ambitious site-specific installations. Daybed at the Plaza Athénée exemplifies this ongoing exchange, presenting ceramic tile as both material and medium for architectural experimentation within a public-facing context.

Daybed installation in the Cour Jardin of Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris

Univers Uchronia reinterprets the garden through form, colour, and material

the installation functions as both sculpture and inhabitable space

textiles, floral curtains, and cushions enhance the composition

Palet’s glazed ceramic tiles form the surface of the installation

greens and reds echo the hotel’s iconic geraniums and palette

the reflective ceramic surface shifts character with changing light

Uchronia and Palet’s collaboration extends from interiors to large-scale work

Daybed explores ceramic tile as both material and medium of architecture

project info:

name: Daybed
designer: Uchronia | @uchronia_world

location: Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris, France

photographer: Felix Dol Maillot | @felixdolmaillot

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post green and red ceramic tiles clad sculptural daybed by uchronia at hôtel plaza athénée, paris appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

With the debut of Apple‘s iPhone 17 series, SKINARMA unveils a phone case collection that transforms the everyday tech accessories into a bold statement of survivalist design. This release is a deliberate evolution, drawing inspiration from the rugged aesthetics of post-apocalyptic landscapes and the intricate mechanics of retro-futuristic survival gear. Each case embodies a fusion of robust functionality and design-centric style, with engineering firmly rooted in the demands of modern-day tech. The collection brings back classics like SAIDO and HELIO with significant upgrades, while introducing entirely new designs engineered for enhanced protection.

all images courtesy of SKINARMA

SINGAPOREAN BRAND REWRITING THE RULES OF EXPRESSION

Founded in Singapore in 2018, SKINARMA emerged from a desire to push the boundaries of self-expression and style. The lifestyle brand merges fashion and technology, fostering a sense of creative freedom that resonates with global underground subcultures. With a growing niche following spanning Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Dubai, the brand is continuously expanding its reach, always seeking new ways to connect with its community and the diverse cultures that inspire its distinctive design language.

SKINARMA unveils SURVIVALIST TECH collection for iPhone 17

IPHONE 17 CASE COLLECTION IN POST-APOCALYPTIC DESIGN

SKINARMA’s iPhone 17 case collection sees the return of past favorites alongside entirely new concepts, all infused with a relentless focus on both form and enhanced protection. Beloved classics like the SAIDO and HELIO cases make a significant comeback, meticulously upgraded with redesigned all-round side bumpers for superior impact resistance, chunkier tactile buttons for improved user interaction, and a refreshed magnetic-charging ring that seamlessly integrates with the iPhone’s capabilities. These thoughtful enhancements ensure that while the aesthetics evoke a sense of rugged, survivalist function, the engineering is firmly rooted in the demands of modern-day tech.

the collection transforms the iPhone 17 into a bold statement of survivalist design

Complementing these revitalized classics are a wave of brand-new designs that further articulate SKINARMA’s unique vision. AEGIS offers rugged sophistication with its minimalist leatherette finish and a built-in grip-stand for practical usability. VEKTOR takes a sharper, more tech-driven approach, boasting a forged carbon back and a unique 1-of-1 metallic speckled finish. Meanwhile, SPECTRA stands out as a layered case that intentionally reveals intricate inner wirings and circuitry.

Beyond their striking appearances, the case range is unified by a commitment to functional design. All cases are compatible with interchangeable lanyard loop bumpers, which can be used to easily pair with SKINARMA lanyards, transitioning the device from hand to body. Many cases also feature full-length integrated extendable grip-stands for enhanced usability. The meticulous attention to detail extends to matching aluminum side buttons on models like MAGMA and VEKTOR. With this range, SKINARMA continues to merge streetwear sensibilities with advanced, design-centric functionality, ensuring every iPhone 17 case is not merely a protective shell, but a fashionable everyday statement piece.

merging fashion and technology, SKINARMA resonates with global underground subcultures

the lifestyle brand emerged from a desire to push the boundaries of self-expression

project info:

brand: SKINARMA | @skinarma

products: AEGIS, HELIO, MAGMA, PHANTOM, SONIX, SPECTRA, VEKTOR, VIGOR

The post skinarma upgrades iphone 17 cases with grip-stands & interchangeable lanyard bumpers appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Marc Newson creates a field of vibrant pixel boxes for FENDI’s SS26 set design, inspired by the composition of quilts and the look of flowers. Inside Palazzo Fendi at Milan Fashion Week 2025, these boxes are stacked up in different sizes and heights, arranged in shifting hues. From above, the landscape resembles looking at the pixels that make up an image, only up close. The surface moved slightly, creating patterns that changed as models walked.

The field acts as a backdrop for the collection, some of which displays the same colors and patterns as the set design. Marc Newson’s field for the FENDI SS26 show is central because its design allows for the collection to interact visually with the environment. The pixels then reflect the concept of transformation, an emphasis on shapes, lines, and volumes, and the designer’s set highlights the silhouettes of each piece even further.

all images courtesy of FENDI and Marc Newson

Collection’s bold colors echo the polychromatic set design

In the FENDI SS26 collection, the jackets, coats, and dresses become visible against the shifting colors of Marc Newson’s set. The clothes include structural elements, such as balloon hems, cropped blazers, and wide cotton coats, slowly complementing the moving background because the landscape enhances the perception of the collection’s volume. Viewers can see how fabrics create fullness and void in the garments against the vibrant pixel boxes. Materials in the collection encompass organza, jacquard, cotton, leather, and technical fabrics.

The FENDI SS26 collection focuses on color, with the following sequence echoing Marc Newson’s polychromatic set: white, yellow, turquoise, red, pink, and coral. The colors appear in panels, stripes, and combinations on the garments, and some fabrics combine primary colors with pastels and neutral tones. The designer’s set also connects to the presentation as a whole. The runway plays the music composed by Frédéric Sanchez, comprising excerpts from Italian cinema, opera, and electronic music. The audio moves with the models and the shifting colors of the set, forming a rhythm that coordinates with the clothing, accessories, styling, and landscape.

Marc Newson creates a field of vibrant pixel boxes for FENDI’s SS26 set design

inside Palazzo Fendi in Milan, these boxes are stacked up in different sizes and heights

from above, the landscape resembles looking at the pixels that make up an image, only up close

the field acts as a backdrop for the collection, some of which displays the same colors and patterns as the set

the set design allows for the collection to interact visually with the environment

detailed view of the quilt-inspired bag from the SS26 collection of FENDI

project info:

brand: FENDI | @fendi

collection: SS26

set design: Marc Newson | @marcnewsonofficial

The post marc newson’s colorful pixel boxes set the stage for FENDI’s SS26 runway show appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Traditionally, moodboarding has been seen as an essential step for capturing tone, style, and direction before a single asset is finalized — but in practice, it can be rushed or set aside altogether when the process feels too fragmented, disorganized, or time-consuming. Adobe is reimagining that process with Firefly Boards. Available in Adobe Firefly, the company’s all-in-one app for AI-assisted ideation, creation and production, this new AI-powered surface transforms how creative professionals collaborate and bring ideas to life. As an ‘AI-first’ tool for moodboarding, Firefly Boards is designed to make ideation and concepting faster, smarter, and more collaborative, no matter where creative professionals are or what medium they work in.

The web tool gives creative professionals access to Adobe’s commercially safe Firefly models alongside the latest generative AI models from partners like OpenAI, Google, Runway, Luma AI, Pika, Ideogram and more. With seamless Creative Cloud integration and an infinite digital canvas, the workspace empowers creative professionals to generate, remix and refine multimedia concepts – all in one connected space. As Adobe’s Vice President of Generative AI, Alexandru Costin, puts it, ‘Ideating with Firefly Boards is like an AI-powered creative jam session, where creative professionals can riff across media types, explore ideas together and turn sparks of inspiration into production-ready concepts.’

Firefly Boards offers a new way for creative professionals and teams to explore ideas together, collaborating on hundreds of concepts at once using multiple media formats | all images courtesy of Adobe

New Standard for AI-powered Concepting and moodboarding

Long used by designers, stylists, and creative teams to convey the tone, aesthetic, and direction of a project, mood boards have typically been static, often cobbled together from multiple tools and asset types.

Firefly Boards was built on the insight that creative work is inherently iterative and collaborative. Instead of juggling disparate tools, sourcing assets manually, and navigating long feedback loops, Firefly Boards offers a dynamic, responsive digital canvas where images, text, shapes, and video can all be generated, edited, and arranged in one unified space—with real-time input across teams so inspiration, creation, and alignment flow seamlessly. Creative professionals can drag and drop assets, import visuals from Adobe Stock or their own libraries, and use simple text prompts to generate brand new content with generative AI directly on the surface.

Adobe product designer Jeremy Joachim uses Firefly Boards to bring his concepts to life, using the digital canvas to capture vibe and feel—the intangible elements that words alone can’t convey. © Jeremy Joaquim

With capabilities like Style Reference and Structure Reference, visuals can easily take on the look or layout of a reference image. Generative Text Edit (beta) allows users to update text directly in visuals without leaving Firefly Boards—perfect for on-the-fly adjustments without breaking the creative flow. Describe Image turns any visual in Firefly Boards into a ready-to-use prompt, helping creative professionals build on inspiration without guessing the best prompt. Multiple elements can be remixed simultaneously to explore variations, while design elements like text, shapes, and artboards help fine-tune the mood board. The surface supports everything from loose creative exploration to high-precision layout work, making it useful for a spontaneous brainstorm or a polished client presentation.

Alongside Adobe’s own commercially safe Firefly models – including the latest Firefly Image Model 4 and Image Model 4 Ultra, as well as Firefly Video Model – the surface supports leading image and video models from trusted partners, including Google’s Veo 3, Imagen 4 and Gemini Flash Image 2.5; OpenAI’s image generation; Luma AI’s Ray3; Ideogram 3.0; Runway’s Gen-4 Image and Video, and Aleph; Moonvalley’s Marey, and many more. Adobe has also recently brought Google’s Gemini Flash Image 2.5 and Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] into Photoshop Beta, which many creative professionals rely on for professional-grade editing. This diversity of models gives creative professionals a wide range of aesthetic styles and generative capabilities to explore, empowering them to experiment and ideate with AI tools that best fit their vision, all without leaving Firefly Boards.

Firefly Boards gives creative professionals access to industry-leading models from Adobe, OpenAI, Google, Luma AI, Runway, Moonvalley and more – offering the flexibility to ideate and experiment with whichever best aligns with their creative vision

This multi‑modal approach reflects how creative professionals work today, tapping multiple generative AI models to spark inspiration. Adobe’s approach ensures that creative professionals aren’t locked into a single model or workflow but can harness the best innovations across the AI landscape in a way that’s intuitive, scalable, and built for real‑world creative needs. Firefly Boards is purpose‑built as the collaborative engine at the heart of supporting that workflow.

To help users keep track of which AI model was used, Adobe automatically attaches Content Credentials – a ‘nutrition label’ for digital content – to assets created with generative AI in Firefly Boards. This added transparency makes it easy for the user to track whether commercially safe Firefly models were used for any content headed into production. In addition, nothing that is generated inside Firefly Boards is used to train generative AI models.

Content Credentials are automatically attached to AI‑generated assets, providing transparency about which AI model was used to create each asset in Firefly Boards

firefly boards is available in the firefly app

Firefly Boards is part of Adobe Firefly and available with a Firefly plan or included in the Creative Cloud Pro plan. Learn more about Firefly Boards.

project info:

name: Firefly Boards

company: Adobe | @adobe

download link: https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly/features/moodboard.html

launch date: July 2025

The post adobe firefly boards reimagines moodboarding for creative professionals appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

From November 26–29, 2025, Design Mumbai returns to Jio World Garden for its second edition, bringing together an ambitious mix of international design brands, rising Indian talent, and thought leaders shaping the future of architecture and interiors. The four-day event (26 Nov – Invitation-Only VIP Preview Evening) headed by industry veterans Ian Rudge, Michael Dynan, and Piyush Suri, promises exclusive collaborations – from Spanish designer Lucas Muñoz Muñoz’s site-specific café for THE Park Hotels to the debut of Italian-Indian furniture brand Racconti – alongside the expanded Design Mumbai Exchange talks programme featuring voices such as Manijeh Verghese, Adam Markowitz, and Vinu Daniels.

from November 26–29, 2025, Design Mumbai returns to Jio World Garden for its second edition | all images courtesy of Design Mumbai (above: Natuzzi; banner: String System by String)

india’s international contemporary design event

Launched in 2024, Design Mumbai is India’s first fully international contemporary design event for professionals across architecture, interiors, and product design. Set in the heart of Mumbai, India’s cultural and commercial capital, the show offers a curated platform for global brands, emerging designers, and thought leaders to exchange ideas and showcase innovation. Combining exhibitions, installations, and a forward-looking talks programme, it aims to position Mumbai on the global design map while reflecting India’s rapidly growing creative economy.

Produced by Montgomery Group, the team behind international events such as Art Central Hong Kong and the India Art Fair, Design Mumbai 2025 aims to position Mumbai as a global design hub. With its cross-cultural collaborations, curated exhibitions, and future-facing talks, the event reflects both India’s creative momentum and its growing influence on the international design stage.

Baccarat

Furniture design takes the spotlight with international debuts

Central to the 2025 edition is Lucas Muñoz Muñoz’s collaboration with THE Park Hotels, creating a café using repurposed materials from the group’s refurbishment projects. Known for his experimental aesthetic, Muñoz explores themes of impermanence and renewal, echoing his past work with Polestar Gallery and Swiss brand On. This year also sees the Australian Institute of Architects hosting its annual conference in Mumbai for the first time, aligning the event with a global architectural discourse.

Furniture design takes the spotlight with international debuts and local premieres. Italian brand Natuzzi introduces Mirai, a sculptural sofa collection by Andrea Steidl inspired by the 13th-century castles of Frederick II in Puglia. Sweden’s String celebrates its iconic String System, a modular design classic since 1949, while Blå Station presents its BOB sofa system by Bernstrand & Borselius. India’s Sabbi brings sustainable micro-concrete furniture rooted in wabi-sabi philosophy, and Bangalore-based Lila returns with its adaptable Morph bed for children. Newcomer Racconti merges Italian craftsmanship with Indian materials, unveiling its Eterno collection designed by Luca Erba, Luca Tornaghi, Andrea Bonini, Michela Oliva, and Adriano Castiglioni.

with THE Park Hotels, Lucas Muñoz Muñoz creates a café using repurposed materials from the group’s refurbishment projects

TOP BRAND COLLABORATIONS, EXHIBITIONS, AND FUTURE-FACING TALKS PROGRAMME

Running from 27–29 November 2025 with a VIP preview on the 26th, Design Mumbai Exchange brings together an international line-up of architects, designers, and thought leaders alongside India’s most influential voices. Curated by Caro Communications, the programme explores urgent topics shaping design today – urban resilience, sustainability, workplace futures, hospitality, craft, and culture – through panels, keynotes, and debates. Speakers include Manijeh Verghese, CEO of Open City; Lucas Muñoz Muñoz; Australian designer and maker Adam Markowitz; and Vinu Daniels, known for his site-specific, material-driven architecture.

Highlights include Harsha Kotak’s series on climate-responsive workplaces and the rise of co-working culture, Chris Lefteri’s session on innovative materials, and Debika Ray’s panel on craft, manufacturing, and cultural identity featuring global voices such as Adam Markowitz and Atelier Luke. Other sessions will explore Indian minimalism, the future of hospitality with Priya Paul of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, resilient coastlines with Tonkin Liu, and urban inclusivity led by Open City’s Manijeh Verghese. Together, these conversations reflect Design Mumbai’s mission to foster cross-cultural dialogue and push the boundaries of contemporary design thinking.

Lila

Moreover, textile innovation features prominently with FAZO Project’s handwoven contemporary rugs, Venjara Carpets’ sustainable PET designs from Bhadohi, and Threadarte’s experimental textiles crafted from waste materials. Shaman Ideas, led by Sharmila Mangwani, introduces geometric wall sculptures exploring balance and continuity, adding a sculptural dimension to this year’s interiors line-up.

Meanwhile, curated by interior stylist Jasmine Jhaveri, the inaugural Emerging Designers Pavilion celebrates rising Indian talent. Eight studios, including Studio Abrash, Wannas Design Atelier, Studio Klay, and Trnkts3D, showcase experimental works spanning furniture, lighting, and textiles. Istituto Marangoni returns with five alumni projects, reinforcing the event’s role as a launchpad for new voices in contemporary design

Open City CEO Manijeh Verghese leads discussions on urban inclusivity

Vondom by ABACA

panels cover themes from manufacturing to climate-responsive workplaces including  Adam Markowitz on craft and culture

USM

Wooden totems by Wannas Design Atelier

Set Up Co

Shaman Ideas, led by Sharmila Mangwani, introduces geometric wall sculptures

Exclusively for designboom readers, enjoy a 20% discount on tickets with code D20DM25B — book now at designmumbai.com/tickets

project info:

The post design mumbai 2025 boosts india’s creativity with global icons, exclusive partnerships & talks appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Same Same by design studio A204 consists of a pair of twin chairs conceived as both independent and combinable elements. Individually, each chair functions as a minimalist seat with an integrated storage space beneath the surface. This compartment can be used temporarily for magazines or small items, or fitted with a standard-sized Euro container for more permanent storage. When paired, the wooden chairs can be reconfigured into alternative furniture forms such as a side table with drawers or a tall shelving unit.

all images courtesy of A204

A204 designs modular furniture with open-ended configurations

Through this modular approach, the design team at A204 extends the functional range of the design beyond its primary use. The design emphasizes flexibility and open-ended interaction, encouraging users to adapt the pieces according to context. By combining simple construction with multiple potential configurations, Same Same proposes a long-term usability rooted in modularity and user participation.

Same Same by A204 consists of a pair of twin wooden chairs

each chair works independently or in combination with the other

the chairs’ materiality marries Maritime Pine Plywood with colorful Linoleum

the design functions as minimalist seating with hidden storage

a storage compartment sits beneath the seat surface

the compartment can hold magazines or small household items

when paired, the chairs can form a side table with drawers

the twin chairs can also be reconfigured into a tall shelving unit

A204’s modular approach extends the chairs’ functional range

project info:

name: Same Same
designer: A204 | @__a204__

materials: Maritime Pine Plywood, Colorful Linoleum

The post a pair of twin wooden chairs by A204 reconfigure into tables with drawers and shelving units appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

NUTS + BOLTS exhibition in Tivoli, NY, by Available Items showcases hardware store supplies as DIY chairs, tables, and lamps. Running until October 5th, 2025, the second edition of the exhibition focuses on design made from hardware store materials by 24 designers, including Fort Standard, Christian Borger, Office of Tangible Space, and outgoing. Each of them was asked to make a piece of furniture or home decor using only items that can be sourced from a local hardware store, and the brief allowed only a small amount of lumber without any use of 3D printing or parts bought from online industrial suppliers.

The result is a collection of chairs, tables, and lamps with utilitarian use, on view at the NUTS + BOLTS exhibition in NY. On-site, the materials used include PVC pipes, gutter parts, soil tampers, clamps, nuts, bolts, street brooms, chain link fence gates, tarps, and aluminum thresholds. By using these materials, the designers show how utilitarian products can be repurposed into finished furniture and objects. The project is organized by Available Items co-founder Chad Phillips, who explains that the aim is to explore design thinking as well as the use of everyday materials. The show is located at 64 Broadway, Tivoli, NY, and remains there until October 5th, 2025.

all images courtesy of Available Items

Lamp made of tube clamps and fishing net

Repurposed finished furniture takes the center stage inside the NUTS + BOLTS exhibition in NY. The design store and gallery presents the modular floor lamp by Christian Borger that uses ceiling louvers, which are usually flat panels placed in ceiling grids. It shares the same space with the Office of Tangible Space’s Street Broom Stool, a seat that uses wooden broom handles for the legs and frame, while the broom bristles provide the main seating space. 

Then, there’s the Catch & Release by Fort Standard, a floor lamp that combines three parts: a soil tamper, tube clamps, and a fishing net. The soil tamper forms the base, tube clamps hold the vertical rod, and a fishing net is used to hold the light bulb in place. The work uses off-the-shelf materials from different categories like gardening, plumbing, and fishing and brings them together into one functional object.

NUTS + BOLTS exhibition in NY by Available Items showcases hardware store supplies as furniture

prefabricated chain link fence becomes a chair

The studio we are happy people inc also presents Tensioned Tarp Semi-Sling Seat (Beware of Dog), a seat that uses prefabricated chain link fence gates and a tensioned tarp, where the gates form the outer frame and the tarp is stretched across to hold the sitter. In the same exhibition, outgoing’s The Part, a series of cyanotype prints, is also on view, which showcases the printing process that uses photosensitive chemicals to create images in blue and white. In this case, the hardware-store brief comes through the small items like screws, brackets, and clamps. 

There’s also the Trophy (for walking through a door) by Jed Heuer, and this sculptural table light is made from a bent Frost King aluminum doorway threshold and a ½-inch beam clamp, holding the threshold and supporting the light source. The 24 designers include Aaron Getman-Pickering, Audrey Louise Reynolds, Chad Phillips, Christian Borger, Fort Standard, Glue Obelisk, Huy Bui, Isaac Gamboa, Jake Coan, Jed Heuer, Jaime Viñas, Kieran Kinsella, Kump Studio, Lauren Hirsch, Neal Hollinger, Nick Ceglia, Office of Tangible Space, outgoing, Overt Cove, Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Skiff Creative Studio, Tristan Fitch, True Bend Studio, and we are happy people inc. The NUTS + BOLTS exhibition by Available Items is on view at 64 Broadway, Tivoli, NY, until October 5th, 2025.

the brief is to make a piece of furniture using only items that can be sourced from a local hardware store

only a small amount of lumber can be used without 3D printing or parts bought from online industrial suppliers

view of Skiff Creative Studio’s PVC Chair

view of Office of Tangible Space’s Street Broom Stool

exhibition view of the lighting designs and home decor

view of Christian Borger’s Louver Lamp

view of Overt Cove’s Downspout for Narcissus

view of we are happy people inc.’s Tensioned Tarp Semi-Sling Seat (Beware of Dog)

project info:

name: NUTS + BOLTS

gallery: Available Items | @available_items

designers: Aaron Getman-Pickering, Audrey Louise Reynolds, Chad Phillips, Christian Borger, Fort Standard, Glue Obelisk, Huy Bui, Isaac Gamboa, Jake Coan, Jed Heuer, Jaime Viñas, Kieran Kinsella, Kump Studio, Lauren Hirsch, Neal Hollinger, Nick Ceglia, Office of Tangible Space, outgoing, Overt Cove, Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Skiff Creative Studio, Tristan Fitch, True Bend Studio, and we are happy people inc.

location: 64 Broadway, Tivoli, NY

dates: August 29th to October 5th, 2025

The post nuts + bolts exhibition in NY shows hardware store supplies as DIY chairs, tables and lamps appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Italian architect and designer Massimiliano Malagò presents Copia New Yorkea, a chair that translates the structural logic of coreless exoskeleton skyscrapers into furniture form. The piece combines brass, velvet, 3D printed PLA joints, and gold thread, situating itself between functional object and critical inquiry.

The design employs an isomorphic process, mapping the spatial and structural qualities of high-rise architecture onto a domestic seat. A brass grid frame recalls the column-free curtain wall of corporate towers, within which a suspended fabric cocoon creates the seating surface. Modular 3D printed nodes join the frame, reflecting the parametric connectors typical of high-rise engineering systems. Unlike biomimicry, where natural forms inspire architecture, Copia New Yorkea reverses the process by drawing directly from architectural typologies. By adapting the monumentality and logic of the skyscraper to the intimate scale of the body, the work raises questions about the transfer of design languages across scales and contexts.

all images by Helene Helleu

Massimiliano Malagò Explores Power & Privilege Through Design

The chair’s enclosed form resonates with historical precedents such as the sedan chair, once used to transport elite individuals. Massimiliano Malagò draws a parallel between these vessels of privilege and modern skyscrapers, both of which serve to elevate, conceal, and project authority. ‘Their reflectivity and transparency are curated, not democratic. Nor is any of the scale of them proportional to the merits of those who inhabit them,’ notes the designer. ‘Copia New Yorkea reframes the curtain wall not just as an aesthetic, but as a social and political skin.’ The brass grid and textile cocoon become both structural and symbolic, framing the chair as a reflection on architectural skins and their social dimensions.

The project traces its origins to Malagò’s experience at OMA in New York, where questions regarding the narrative strategies used to justify skyscraper design sparked a broader reflection on isomorphic design methodologies. Later, during his time at Bond NY, he experimented with translating texts into architectural forms, a method that informs his current practice. Copia New Yorkea continues this trajectory, positioning isomorphic design not as a stylistic exercise but as a critique of how architectural references are deployed. Through this translation of high-rise engineering into a furniture object, Malagò opens a dialogue on the role of analogy in design, the politics of architectural form, and the legitimacy of transscalar methodologies in contemporary practice.

Copia New Yorkea chair by Massimiliano Malagò translates skyscraper logic into furniture design

brass, velvet, PLA joints, and gold thread define the chair’s material palette

3D printed nodes connect the brass structural exposed skin

the joints reference parametric connectors in high-rise engineering

a suspended fabric cocoon creates the seating surface

the enclosed seat recalls the sedan chair of elite transport

dense velvet clouds mirror the views of a skyscraper’s translucent curtain walls

the clouds operate like a bitmap on a planar surface

project info:

name: Copia New Yorkea
designer: Massimiliano Malagò | @massimilianomariamalago

photographer: Helene Helleu | @helenehelleu

photography coloring: Tom Keelan | @tom_keelan

The post modular brass grid chair draped in velvet replicates coreless exoskeleton skyscrapers appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Creative Director Glenn Martens pushed Diesel’s Spring/Summer 2026 runway show entirely off the catwalk and into the streets of Milan, transforming the city center into a public egg hunt. On September 23rd, 2025, 55 transparent, egg-shaped vessels were hidden across the city, each containing a complete look from the SS26 collection. 

The spatial design is led by Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck (SDV), continuing its collaboration with Diesel in staging fashion performance presentations. Here, the set, free and open to everyone, was dispersed across the city, with discovery and participation replacing the seated runway.

images via @diesel

Martens’ Playful Experiments in form and fabric

Conceived in the spirit of democracy and disruption, the project invited audiences to move, search, and take part in the show’s unfolding. Models, players, and Martens himself joined Diesel’s city-wide hunt, blurring roles between designer, performer, and spectator.

Inside the eggs, Martens’ SS26 collection for the Italian fashion brand revealed its emphasis on experimentation and play. Apron dresses in distressed satin denim, tailored jackets overloaded with biker details and utility pockets, and knit dresses appearing barely held together as if by a fragile web all highlighted the designer’s push for new treatments and techniques. The use of vibrant colors and unconventional materials reinforced Diesel’s disruptive spirit, extending beyond garments to the way they were revealed.

Glenn Martens pushed Diesel’s Spring/Summer 2026 runway show entirely off the catwalk

the city center was transformed into a public egg hunt

Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck (SDV) leads the spatial design

Martens’ SS26 collection for the Italian fashion brand revealed its emphasis on experimentation

the use of vibrant colors and unconventional materials reinforced Diesel’s disruptive spirit

models, players, and Martens himself joined Diesel’s city-wide hunt

project info:

name: Diesel Spring Summer 2026 Runway Show — The Egg Hunt

designer: Diesel | @diesel

creative director: Glenn Martens | @glennmartens
spatial design: Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck | @studiodennisvanderbroeck

location: Milan, Italy

The post models encased in oversized transparent eggs pop up across milan for diesel’s SS26 show appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.