2020 in Design

2020 was a year of unexpected twists and turns. Design concepts took a sudden leap from the usual spoke-free bike wheels and chairs to makeshift PPE and ventilators, to work-from-home desk setups, and to masks (and some more masks, and then some more). Design in 2020 was different. Here are some of our favorites from a year that had way too much content for future history books.

10. The Aplat face mask This clever design was recently featured in the innovation magazine and is by far, one of the best masks that we have come across. Check it out here : https://aplat.com/blogs/shus-notebook/diy-cloth-face-mask

9. Whale Air Pontoon This concept whale rescuer comes from landlocked Switzerland and is one of the national winners of this year's @jamesdysonaward. We thought it was the noblest of causes and deserved all the applause

8. Charlotte valve A product design born out of dire need, this is a 3D printed part that transforms a Scuba diving mask into C-PAP masks. Created by the Italian company Issinova in collaboration with Dr. Renato Favero and Decathlon

7. Lotus Designed by Dayna Mailach, a human centered product designer, this is an ergonomic speculum. It is more comfortable to use for doctors while being less invasive for patients.

6. Knot vases These beautiful pieces of art are created by Anna Rindos. Anna uses heated acrylic tubes to create fascinating 3D forms. Check out her process at http://www.annarindos.com/knotvases⁠

5. The Great Bubble Barrier is a wall of bubbles across the width and depth of the river that intercepts plastics in rivers. It also allows fish to pass safely and increases the oxygen level in water.⁠ It was launched successfully in Amsterdam in November 2019 and plans to launch in other major cities are in the works!

4. Combining a houseboat, micro camper, and electric bicycle, the Zeltini Z-Triton Houseboat Trike allows you to travel both land and sea. We expect their next model to fly as well. ⁠

3. Terraplanter is a vessel that acts as a water bank. Water is slowly diffused through the material to the cells of its porous ceramic surface.⁠

2. These limited edition wall paper, wrapping paper, textiles and apparel prints will be released next year from New Orleans based graphic artist and brand strategist Ray Fontaine

1. For a year eclipsed by COVID, the most important innovation of this year is of course the coronavirus vaccines. All our thanks to to the brave and clever people working to ensure that 2021 is a better year than this one.

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