Volkswagen believes that injecting a healthy dose of fun into the often mundane tasks in our daily lives, such as choosing the stairs or remembering to recycle, is the best method for positive influencing our behaviors.

Czech firm A1 Architects recently explored the small living paradigm at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague last month, creating a whimsical exhibition called “The Small House.”

A new laser etching technique might make the small labels on fruits and vegetables a thing of the past.

Furniture company is attempting to track the “curb-mining” habits of the NYC residents by leaving GPS-enabled chairs scattered throughout the city.

While far from a comprehensive study on the development of hyper-local languages, Giles Turnbull’s ad hoc research on how different children name Lego’s various building blocks is an interesting, albeit quirky, glimpse into the ways we build internal dialogues and communicate with one another.

Casa Huerta (Orchard House) is a small scale greenhouse / vertical farming system proposed to better life in the poor areas of the world’s cities.

The Felt Wine Rack is a perfect example of the return simple materials as designers and consumers alike warm to the aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits of products made from natural elements.

In an effort to curtail the global spread of AIDS, Johns Hopkins recently conducted an in-hospital trail that offered self-administered HIV tests to Emergency Room visitors.

Korean designer Yong-jin Kim merges the power socket with a traditional switch, a solution that replaces the act of removing a plug with a simple twist designed to cut off the flow of electricity.

Utilizing freestyle footballers, a hacking experiment features wall-mounted Guitar Hero controls placed in front of a three-story screen. Soccer balls kicked at the life-size panels provide the physical interface for the game within the game.

The NY Times looks at the major considerations shaping the entire manufacturing process, from conception to production, in an effort to explain what they see as a missed opportunity for electric cars to redefine vehicle aesthetics from the ground up.

Open Mind’s Question Box project make the internet’s information accessible to individuals in the developing world at the touch of the button.

In a new series for Babelgum titled “New Urbanism,” filmmaker Kelly Loudenberg documents some of the ways that people are addressing the challenges of city living, using a synthesize of art and ad hoc invention.

Kind Snacks encourages unexpected acts of kindness with special cards that are passed along through a loosely connected chain of strangers.

This simple, flexible line by Moredesign for Italian furnishing specialist Myour creates considered furniture pieces that can standalone or interact with others to transform from table to seat to sofa and back again.