Be Open think tank

#BeOpenDESIGN Designer Lei Yang has conceptualized a solar power solution that offers unparalleled portability. The Energy Tape comprises a roll of reusable tape of solar cells. The designer claims that its reusable adhesive back can cling to canvas, glass and almost any other surface without needing to lay entirely flat. This means it can be unrolled and stuck literally anywhere, e.g. window sills, or a backpack, thus turning any place into a small power plant that can generate enough energy to charge a smartphone or a power bank. via yankodesign

#BeOpenDESIGN With the exponent growth of e-commerce, over 100 billion deliveries happen each year, the single-use packaging material ending up in landfills. Designer Simon Chantrel has addressed the problem of constantly growing amount of plastic packaging with Inflate, a flexible and reusable package. Made from recyclable canvas or polyethylene, it can be inflated to the size of the item, and after use – deflated and rolled back to be reused later.

#BeOpenNEWS Last call! We invite everyone to take part in the public vote of the Design Your Climate Action competition, to define the winner of the Public Vote Prize of €2,000! Please go to the Public Vote section of the competition website, go through the 50 shortlisted entries, and click on the heart next to the one you consider truly efficient in combating climate change and achieving bigger sustainability in our lives. The voting will last till June 23rd 2024.

#BeOpenDESIGN To shut off the Hammer alarm clock, you must grab it and slam it down on the rubberized base. In such a way, Spanish designer Jorge Ros Gisbert wanted to create a way for people to wake up feeling strong and empowered each morning. Unlike most of contemporary alarm clocks that are focused on versatility and feature numerous functions, the Hammer is designed around a simple action that helps you liberate energy and start the day with determination. More alarm clocks that turn off by hitting in our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN With the exponent growth of e-commerce, over 100 billion deliveries happen each year, the single-use packaging material ending up in landfills. Designer Simon Chantrel @simonchantrel has addressed the problem of constantly growing amount of plastic packaging with Inflate, a flexible and reusable package. Made from recyclable canvas or polyethylene, it can be inflated to the size of the item, and after use – deflated and rolled back to be reused later. Credits: instagram.com/simonchantrel/ #BeOpenDESIGN

#BeOpenDESIGN Developed by BillerudKorsnäs and Syntegon as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic packaging in industries like beauty and personal care and confectionery, Pearl is a paper pod packing solution with a premium aesthetic inspired by the shapes of the sea. What makes it special are the 3D-properties enabled by the FibreForm paper (patented by BillerudKorsnäs) and manufacturing technology. The material is processed on machinery from Bosch Packaging Technology, who not only contributes long-standing expertise in forming, filling and sealing of a wide variety of materials but also ensures the subsequent industrialization of the newly developed technologies for commercial production. The result is unique tactile experiences and embossed shapes of the paper shell.

#BeOpenDESIGN With the Barisieur alarm clock by Joshua Renouf of Joy Resolve you wouldn't want a snooze button at all. Instead of an annoying blaring beep, it wakes you with a seductive aroma of a freshly brewed coffee or tea. A fresh cup of your favourite beverage is here waiting on a bedside table every morning when you wake up. The device even features the world's smallest mini-fridge to keep your milk fresh over-night. More extraordinary alarm clocks in our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS Time to honour the winner of Design Your Climate Action: international competition for young creatives focused on the United Nations’ SDG#13. The First Prize of €5,000 goes to Darcy Rincón and Michelle Aljure, the students of Biodesign at Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, for their Inspira System. This project aims to introduce and promote the cultivation of spirulina in low-income neighborhoods in Bogotá. The initiative targets combating malnutrition, creating new income opportunities, and enhancing environmental sustainability within vulnerable communities.

#BeOpenNEWS We continue to celebrate the winners of Design Your Climate Action: international competition for young creatives focused on the United Nations’ SDG#13. The Second Prize of €3,000 goes to Granny Mmantho Lesiamang and the Clauseph BioFuels startup in Botswana, for the Clean Cooking Project. Its focus is on designing, manufacturing and distributing low-cost, energy-efficient biomass stoves that can reduce biomass fuel consumption, lower the smoke inhalation and carbon emissions. The project also includes developing clean solid biomass fuel with wood derived from invasive bush trees, rampant across Botswana’s farmlands.

#BeOpenNEWS BE OPEN congratulates the first three winners of Design Your Climate Action: international competition for young creatives focused on the United Nations’ SDG#13. The Third Prize of €2,000 goes to Emilia Ziolek, a Product Design and Technology student from University of Limerick, Ireland, for the Tidal Energy Turbine Form Redesign with Biomimicry concept. It is the first step to a new design of bladeless turbines with hydrofoils. Their streamlined design reduces the impact on marine life by eliminating rotating blades and enhances efficiency in energy conversion. Emilia suggests that hydrofoils operate by harnessing lift generated from water flow, allowing them to capture energy with reduced drag and increased effectiveness.

#BeOpenARCH International architecture and engineering practice TAEP/AAP has extended the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City’s Central Business District with the Red Dot, a multifunctional space that establishes a prominent monolithic landmark and contributes to the cityscape. The key visual and structural element of the intervention is the West Valet Canopy, which defines the primary entrance to the shopping center. The canopy is created using Lamella-style engineered formwork and polystyrene for weight reduction and finished with the iconic Hamra Red.

#BeOpenNEWS Dear Friends, we invite everyone to take part in the public vote of the Design Your Climate Action competition, to define the winner of the Public Vote Prize of €2,000! Please go to the Public Vote section of the competition website, go through the 50 shortlisted entries, and click on the heart next to the one you consider truly efficient in combating climate change and achieving bigger sustainability in our lives. The voting will last till June 23rd 2024.

#BeOpenDESIGN Sprout by designer Patricia Mangulabnan is an environmentally-friendly packaging that is crafted using Pinyapel, a specialty paper made of discarded pineapple leaves, common agricultural waste accumulating in her native Philippines. Not only the packaging is sustainable, it also aims to contribute to the growth of local plants. Instead of discarding the packaging, the user is encouraged to plant learn more about the seeds embedded into the material and plant them. Each seed was selected after intense research to pick those that are non-invasive. More sustainable food packaging in our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN Envisioned by Fengrui Wang, industrial designer based in Delft, Netherlands, the Singing Bottle is a concept for a pill dispenser to help kids ages 6-10 take their medicine. Shaped like a ship in a bottle, the device includes a corresponding paper card strip with an NFC tag attached. The dispenser also has a built-in speaker in which the cards can be played. The first card features inspiring words explaining why kids need to take the meds. Every two days, a new strip is unlocked playing a story or music to serve as a “reward” for taking the pill.

#BeOpenDESIGN Developed by Sebastian Delerba, Withless is a concept for herb growing panels that restaurants can put up in their spaces to raise awareness in reusing leftover water. The stackable panel can hold up to twenty pots and has a grid design which can be expanded depending on the space and the needs of the establishment. However, the concept goes beyond simple decoration. It serves a dual purpose enabling restaurants to grow their own edible plants while inviting customers to actively participating in water conservation efforts. via

#BeOpenDESIGN Inspired by the vertically stackable steel boxes found in Indian tiffins, Indian equivalent of a bento box, the Dip-In Tiffin modular packaging by designer Srishti Garg uses natural materials to store food, making it safer to dispose than plastic. The tiffin’s vessel is created using a dried, thermoformed Areca leaf, an eco-friendly alternative to conventional disposable plates and brown paper bags. Several bowls can be slotted along a branded paper sleeve vertically, forming a structure resembling a tiffin. The design does not need any glue, staples or seals, which makes it safer and more sustainable. More smart takeout packaging designs in our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS Dear Friends, we invite everyone to take part in the public vote of the Design Your Climate Action competition, to define the winner of the Public Vote Prize of €2,000! Please go to the Public Vote section of the competition website, go through the 50 shortlisted entries, and click on the heart next to the one you consider truly efficient in combating climate change and achieving bigger sustainability in our lives. The voting will last till June 23rd 2024.

#BeOpenDESIGN Lithuanian product designer Lukas Avenas has envisioned a portable power bank that helps users prepare for all sorts of power emergencies. The most interesting part about this power storage device, named HR Bank, is its human-powered ability. When the external energy source is unavailable, the user can pedal this power bank like an exercise bike to generate clean power. Through workout the user can generate enough energy to power a smartphone, a laptop or other devices. With the handlebars and saddle removed, the smart device can pack up into a size of regular luggage for easy storage or transportation.

#BeOpenARCH Conceived by Mumbai-based architecture studio Sanjay Puri Architects as a memorial to the clients' father, the curvilinear volume of the Nokha Village Community Centre in Rajasthan, India, is informed by the shape of sand dunes. Aimed to provide a space for music, talks, and social interaction for all age groups, the complex integrates a courtyard, amphitheatre, library and museum behind an undulating sandstone facade.

#BeOpenART Presented by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata on the occasion of Paris+ par Art Basel 2023, Nest in Liaigre is a site-specific installation on the facade of a Parisian mansion assembled from reclaimed wooden furniture stacked on top of one another. Complementing the exterior installation is a spiral tower of wooden chairs, tables and chest of drawers on the building's third floor.