Design

March 6, 2018

The Rise of Canvas in Art: From Oil Paintings to Photo Prints

As an artist, one of the best ways to display your talents is on canvas. From masterful oil paintings to photo canvas prints, there's just something about this material that gives a sense of prestige. But did you know that canvas is a rather recent development in art history? Historically made from tightly woven hemp—the word canvas comes from the Latin cannabis—it came into common usage in the 16th century during the Italian Renaissance.

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February 27, 2018

Woman Creates Exquisite “Wearable Storybook” Dress Inspired by a French Town

Pairing an admiration for haute couture with an appreciation for the Hauts-de-France, French fashion designer Sylvie Facon has created Hommage à Arras (“Homage to Arras”), an exquisite evening gown that pays tribute to the historic town. Featuring everything from intricate illustrations to “iridescent lace and pearls,” the dress puts a storybook spin on French fashion. At first glance, the fanciful frock looks like a fantastical work of fiction.

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February 17, 2018

Designer Collaborates With Aboriginal Weavers to Produce Eco-Friendly Lamp Shades

In response to the plastic waste issue in the Colombian Amazon, Spanish designer Alvaro Catalán de Ocón began the PET Lamp Project in 2011—a design venture with the aim to reuse PET plastic bottles. Over the last five years, the eco-conscious designer has worked with traditional craft communities from all over the world—including Colombia, Chile, Japan, and Ethiopia—to turn plastic waste into a growing collection of beautiful, handmade PET Lamps.

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February 15, 2018

Designers Create Real Observation Beehive You Can Mount on Your Wall at Home

With an aim to “help reconnect individuals with the nature of food,” eco-driven designers Dustin Betz and Mike Zaengle created BEEcosystem, a modular observation beehive. The hexagonal honeycomb-inspired structure can be mounted to walls (indoors or outdoors) and features a see-through front so that users can watch and learn about their resident honeybees. Unlike existing, fixed-sized observation hives, the BEEcosystem is modular, allowing the user to expand their hive by attaching additional magnetic HexHive bodies.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.