NASA Materials Translated Into Daily Solutions- Let's Catch Up. #6
Figue AI partner with open AI, 2024 packaging design trends, Carpets made from waste, mushroom packaging, EV snowmobile, compostable lights and Easter time.
It’s Monday coffee time everyone! Just a fun fact for the day, pink was originally a colour predominantly for men as it embodied vibrance, exuberance, bravado and passion. Whilst Blue was considered a womens colour for nurture, calm and resilience. Barbie may have changed that for good… Let’s get into it.
Technology- NASA has Created Lightest Material on Earth, Coperni Utilises to Create Bags
Credit Coperni
This cosmic bag is produced from a breakthrough material developed by NASA to originally “catch stardust” now forming the shell of a bag. Amazingly the bag is only 1% solid material! The rest is air, produced when drying to specific temperatures to transform liquids into gas. It might also look delicate but this 1%er can handle pressure up to 4000 times its weight and heat up to 1200 degrees celsius! Image the applications for fire protection.
Read full article here
Technology- Inspired or Scared? Figure AI Partnered with OpenAI Creating Humanoid Robot
Credit Figure AI
Quite incredible, the latest robotic/AI demonstration has the new robot conversing in speech-to-speech reasoning. The companies claim that all the interactions displayed in video are learned showing a significant ability to interpret different commands as well as interaction dexterity!
Read More Here
Packaging- 2024 Design Trends from Pentawards
Credit Nan Madol
Pentawards have released upcoming trends in packaging design and labeling for 2024. The top five trends are 1) moving parts; adding value to experience and functionality, interlocking packs, interactive packs. 2) Shadow Play; use of negative space, shadows and silhouettes to make bold designs that reflect the brand. 3) Subtle Details; Use of small details such as disguised graphics, or hints in communication to assert identity of product and brand. 4)Textures: in particular, rock textures to denote earth-like connection and a sense of natural origins. 5) Layering; Layers of images or information, to encourage uncovering of stories, histories and messages. Personally I think this year a trend is Naturalness; Using materials as close to their natural origin as possible, removing additional graphical treatment and creating harmony between material and graphics.
Read more
Product Sustainability- Bolon Entire Textile Range Contains 68% Waste Material
Credit Bolon
Carpet, rugs and other textiles do you see thrown out with the latest renovation, season or style. It’s wonderful to see Bolon measuring their impact and improve all their products to contain at least 68% recycled material. This Swedish company has achieved a remarkable 0% climate impact per square meter of their product.
Read full article here
Sustainable Packaging- Morae x Evocative Mushroom Compostable Packaging
Credit Morae, Evocative
This breakthrough packaging using mycelium to create a biodegradable and compostable tray. Evocative are developing numerous new materials from mushrooms emulating leather, hides, foam and other substrates.
Read full article here
Sustainable Product- Snohetta Compostable Lights
Credit Atelje Lyktan
Snohetta have given a nod to original office lighting design from the 60’s with a material revamp using extruded hemp and sugarcane bioplastic. They have created a timeless piece of lighting that leverages the natural characteristics of the materials. Due to the hemp and sugarcane (PLA) derived materials and the growth, processing and manufacturing, each light can be slightly different in colour and texture adding personal characteristics to each light.
Read full article here
Mobility Design- Vidde Electric Snowmobile Reduces Emissions and Constructed Out of Recycled Materials
Credit Vidde
If Polestar and Tesla were to collaborate on a snowmobile then the Vidde Alfa would be the result. Now other than its striking futuristic design, the Alfa has also had significant development on their battery operation to enable operation in minus 35 degrees celsius. This is impressive and hopefully the battery technology can show promise in other electrification applications across colder climates.
Read full article here
NOT SO HAPPY HUNTING
So it's Easter and whilst I hope you all have a happy break, this Easter is showing signs of stress die to climate change impacts on supply of cocoa. The not so good news…
On the Brighter Side This Easter
Cadbury (Mondelez) is making efforts to reduce the amount of plastic packaging used in this easter's seasonal chocolate. Cartonboard will replace plastic trays amounting to 131,000kg.