Exosuit assists Lowe’s employees

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

Working the floor of a big-box store requires heavy lifting and moving bulky products around. Employees are at risk for muscle fatigue from repetitive motion or even injury from improper lifting techniques. The home improvement giant Lowe’s has developed technology to offer employees support. Lowe…
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Koons’ inflatable graced Rockefeller Center

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

American artist Jeff Koons, well known for vivid and often whimsical takes on pop culture and everyday life, created a show-stopping inflatable sculpture of a ballerina that was installed at Rockefeller Center from May 12 to June 2, 2017. Seated Ballerina was a larger-than-life version of a piece he…
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Chair knitted using 3-D technology

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

The Tent Chair from Benjamin Hubert of the London-based experience design agency Layer Design is laid-back and modern. Created for the renowned Italian furniture brand Moroso, the chair’s fabrication is in itself cutting-edge. The chair is knitted in one seamless piece using 3-D knitting technolog…
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Soft robotics virtual reality gloves

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

Wouldn’t it be great to play the piano like a virtuoso? Now there’s a soft robotics glove that gives you the experience—in virtual reality. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have created gloves that take simulated experiences to a more sophisticated level than existing device…
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Toronto theater gets a facelift

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

The Toronto Centre for the Arts needed a facelift; managers wanted to reconfigure the main theater, which was underutilized. Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects divided the 1800-seat space into two smaller spaces: a 300-seat black box theater and a 574-seat proscenium stage. Color and drama wer…
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MIT researchers design breathable workout suit

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

It seems counterintuitive that something associated with dampness and sweaty aromas could be used to help keep the body cool and dry. But a team of MIT researchers is looking at bacteria in a fresh way and using it in apparel that provides ventilation in response to body heat and sweat. According to…
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Sneakers for Mars

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

Maybe someday, along with cruise wear, there will be a special fashion category: space wear. It could be sooner than later, given that SpaceX, the space exploration company started by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, recently announced plans to fly two tourists around the moon in 2018. Shoes for space travel ha…
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Fabric pots for everyday gardening

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

Why use heavy, breakable terra cotta or nonporous plastic pots for plants and flowers when you can use pots made of breathable fabric? That’s the idea behind Jardisac, the all-fabric containers. Jardisac pots are permeable, allowing water to run through the soil for maximum air circulation and dra…
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Artwork-inspired home interiors

August 1, 2017  |  Projects

Aboriginal art is one of the world’s oldest art forms, dating back 50,000 years. Today, it expresses the richness of Aboriginal culture and a diversity of experiences and beliefs. The sacred connection to the land is often expressed in the artwork, which depicts the landscape, plants and animals o…
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Redesigned steam suits for the U.S. Navy

July 1, 2017  |  Projects

One of the dangers of life on a submarine is the potential for one of the pressurized steam lines aboard to rupture. In such a situation, steam would leak at extremely high temperatures, potentially resulting in severe injury or death. While it is highly unlikely for this to occur, safeguards must b…
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