Do Not Touch

TOUCH is a network of collaboration amongst emerging designers who are creating handmade products as an alternative to the mass produced. These artisans have a lofty goal, too. Their goal is to make products that are not only beautiful, but also go for the environment and those who make them. Shown here are kraft paper vases using natural pigments by Brazilian designer Domingos Totora. If you're going to be in New York during ICFF and New York Design Week, be sure to check out TOUCH's showcase of sustainable products and installations from May 18-20th only, at 148 11th Ave in Manhattan. For more information, visit do-not-touch.com

Affordable Green Home Products

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to tune in to the ABC show View From the Bay on Monday March 17th for a special segment on affordable green home items. Design expert Lisa Quinn and guest Susan Kim from Coastal Living Magazine will be covering some great eco-friendly home accessories, like these Transglass vessels made from recycled glass bottles. The show airs at 3pm PST.

REGREEN Guidelines for Green Home Remodeling

This just in from the U.S. Green Building Council...

Another green home resource that will become available on March 14 is REGREEN- the nation’s first set of resources and tools specifically for green home remodeling projects. USGBC will be launching REGREEN at ASID’s “Conference on Design.” The free guidelines cover all aspects of renovations, from installing a new dishwasher, remodeling your master bathroom, to refurbishing an entire home interior. REGREEN, like LEED, addresses the major elements of any green renovation project, including building site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

Bent-steel Furniture

Looking back at midcentury modernism, bent-ply furniture (short for bent plywood) characterized much of the era's iconic imagery. Looking now at contemporary modernism, we predict that bent-steel will be doing the same for this era's innovative design. Why? Because like bent-ply, bent-steel is very efficient in terms of material usage. Resource efficiency is particularly important today because we understand that there are finite limits to our raw materials. Bent-steel is appealing because, when it is 'folded' into place by the end user, items can be transported flat and reduce on shipping fuel used. As a pure material (vs. composites containing adhesives), steel can also be fully recycled, and likely will be at the end of a product's lifespan. Green designers such as mio are coming up with some innovative designs, like this origami table and bent-metal lighting fixtures, all priced affordably at under $200. Available at re:modern.

Voltaic Solar Bags

Photovoltaic backpacks seem to be all the rage. This new one by Voltaic is actually powerful enough to charge a laptop computer with up to 14.7 watts. Each bag comes with a battery pack so you're not limited to only when the sun is out. Various other styles are available in daypacks, messengers, and laptop cases. Pretty cool.

ModRocks: Ceramic Tile Alternative

Ceramic tile is a great material for bathrooms and kitchens, but sometimes you want a little more 'umph' and a bit more 'eco.' These ModRocks are a nice alternative. ModRocks are pebbles made from 100% recycled glass. Consumer glass bottles are crushed and tumbled, and mounted on a tile mesh. Very little energy is used in the production of these. Wouldn't they be lovely for a modern, spa-like room?

Recycled rubber floormats

Rain, rain, go away. But if you don't, at least we can enjoy keeping out the dirt with this recycled tire doormat. Other designs are available as well. Get it here.