What can design do for the future of waste? — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer “We are living in the age of waste. Is design the answer to leaving our throwaway culture behind?” The poigniant question posed by the Design Museum upon launching their new exhibition, Waste Age: What can design do? It shouldn’t be news to anyone…

Japan House’s new exhibition explores the design of, and impact of these Games. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer For about four weeks this year, the eyes of the world were focused on Tokyo, Japan for the 2020* Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The internationally loved spectacle is the pinnacle of sport and once every four years (two if you include the…

Reflecting on BY ORDER: a study of the British ‘sink estate’ and what’s changing (or changed) in social housing. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer Five years ago, in January 2016, David Cameron, the then Prime Minister of the UK, vowed to “ blitz” up to 100 of the UK’s worst “sink estates”. Promising to tackle drug abuse, gang culture and the housing crisis across the UK by…

Iconic models, cultural relevance, special editions, performance and sustainability. All walks of life covered at the Design Museum. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer For some people shoes are just something to wear to walk. You pick a colour you like. Maybe they’re comfy. Perhaps you fasten them with laces or velcro. Or even easier; just slip them on. Or, as long as there’s something between your…

The beauty of the golden-era, hip-hop portrait. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer As a record collector, I spend a lot of time looking at records; each time I visit a shop, hundreds of records flick through my fingers as I’m either looking for something specific or randomly browsing and seeing what catches my eye. After…

Leaving Amsterdam. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer In Amsterdam, underneath a bridge and near Centraal Station is an artwork by Regina Verhagen from 2006. It’s a quote from Belle van Zuylen, originally written in a letter from 1764 and it reads: “Terugkomen is niet hetzelfde als blijven” which translated to…

A show → by the artist → of his own works → in his own gallery. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer Please note: Viewer discretion is advised. Dissected sharks, suspended animals, colourful spots, butterflies, pills and cabinets; the visual trademarks of the iconic (and contentious) British artist Damien Hirst and all on show at Hirst’s own Newport Street Gallery (a beautiful building inside and…

The cultural impact of the Nike Air Force 1. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer After a while, certain shoes become somewhat separated from their brand and gain a life and identity of their own. Superstars, Chucks, Old Skools and Dunks; you don’t need to know the brand to know these iconic shoes. Of course, this kind of…

Discovering remote and off-the-grid architectural gems. — Written by Craig Berry Designer & Writer Throughout 2020 and 2021 we have been, and still are, inside our homes more than ever in an attempt to avoid physical contact, social interaction and virus spread. For me, this has been a very contemplative experience; thinking about the place I live…