Be Open think tank

#BeOpenART Created by British designer Es Devlin, Come Home Again is a large-scale installation outside of the Tate Modern gallery in London that aims to highlight the importance of protecting endangered species. The public sculpture comprises an illuminated dome made out of recycled steel and Devlin’s own pencil drawings of the 243 flora and fauna species on London's priority conservation list. Arranged in illuminated decorative clusters, the drawings form a cutout scale model of the domed St Paul's Cathedral on the other side of the Thames river. Similarly to a cathedral, the sculpture has tiered steps on its lower portion. In place of the hymnbooks traditionally found in a cathedral, these feature QR codes that visitors are invited to scan to learn more about the species. More art drawing attention to the endangered species in our blog

#BeOpenDESIGN Paris-based Studio Fantasio, founded by Belgian designer Sarah Willemart and French designer Matthieu Muller, has developed a whimsical cutlery drainer by reversing the archetype of a teapot. Made out of porcelain, the (a)normal object breaks patterns of expectation and turns an old story into a new one.

#BeOpenDESIGN The unique feature of this minimalist Revolver desk by Portugal-based designer João Teixeira is its matryoshka-inspired corner drawer, which includes three triangular wooden compartments that swivel out like a fan to create a wider working area. Two of the three compartments are hollow, so they can nest inside each other like the aforementioned Russian doll. That innermost compartment has a wooden bottom, so it can be used to hold items like phones and accessories. The design is a great way to save space while providing flexibility in terms of functionality.

#BeOpenDESIGN Seeking to research the ability of a managed movement-restricting shape in stopping hyperextension joint injuries, London-based designer Natalie Kerres has come up with Scaled, a product that mimics the solutions found in nature to provide safety while permitting flexibility. Designed to be used for injury prevention, rehabilitation and sports performance enhancement through regulated motion control, Scaled comprises a series of interlocking customized and responsive protective scales. The use of parametric design allows the structure to meet the user’s exact specifications and the restriction in motion can be regulated through set parameters. More innovative medical designs in our blog

#BeOpenNEWS BE OPEN Art is happy to announce our September Artist of the Month chosen by the visitors of our online gallery. Every month we carefully handpick a selection of emerging talents for you to vote for. In September, the award goes to Liz Ramos-Prado, Peruvian visual artist based in Dubai. Taking women as main subject, Liz explores on the complexity of the human self, combining intricate lines and contrasted colours with detailed figurative drawing, impregnated with some tints of surrealism. We congratulate Liz and take the opportunity to thank everyone who voted.

#BeOpenDESIGN Designed by Yu-Hsin Wu, a student at Taiwan’s Shih Chien University, the Inflatable Stretcher is an emergency stretcher bag that cushions patients and even secures them in place providing a great deal of stress-relief with the way it virtually hugs the patient. An integrated inflator helps the user to set the stretcher up in seconds. Besides, the stretcher integrates various medical equipment required for the emergency rescue process.

#BeOpenNEWS Last call for our #BEOPENCleanEnergy Instagram open call dedicated to UN’s SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy! Are you concerned about the future of the Planet? Make your statement by posting picture or artwork, or photograph that represents a cleaner, safer, happier and more sustainable world, achievable with affordable and clean energy - and win €300. The entries close tomorrow. BE OPEN Community members will then select the winning post from a shortlist of submissions with the highest number of likes by Instagram users. The winner will receive a €300 prize. Find details at beopensocial.com Ph: Vanessa Santiago

#BeOpenDESIGN Paris-based studio Fantasio founded by Belgian designer Sarah Willemart and French designer Matthieu Muller has developed a collection of products aiming to restore dignity to seniors. The three items of the Familia series are designed to appear as everyday objects and are therefore non-stigmatising. What appears to be a clock is a healthcare device based on a 28-compartment wheel operated by a PCB, which by turning pours the programmed dose of medication into the cuckoo cup, helping users not to forget it. The table lamp incorporates a magnifying glass and can be grabbed by either grandparents for reading. The mirror is split into two parts – an app that can be used as means of communication on one side and an automatically updated picture frame on the other.

#BeOpenDESIGN Taiwan-based product and furniture designer Sunriu has conceptualized a delicate lampshade that evokes fond childhood memories of blowing bubbles. The Air-Shape fixture is envisioned made from iridescent glass, looking like a giant bubble frozen in time thanks to the random yet gentle bumps of its bubble-inspired form. The metal ring not only serves as the visual portal, from which the delicate shape rises, but also houses the actual lighting.

#BeOpenDESIGN Inspired by the scraps left behind from sharpening colouring pencils, Tokyo-based designer Nanako Kume has developed a playful collection of whimsical pendant lights made of large wood shavings. She creates the shavings using a large sharpener built like a giant pencil sharpener and operable with a hand-crank. The details of each lampshade vary depending on the species, color, and shape of wood — as well as the touch of dye that the designer adds to each design to evoke coloured pencils.