First previewed at MillerKnoll’s Design Days in Chicago, Fuld has officially been released. Herman Miller’s first nesting chair is designed in collaboration with German industrial designer, Stefan Diez and is like no other. What stands out among other nesting chairs is Fuld’s flexibility to reconfigure workspaces without sacrificing style, with a sleek, minimalist design.

​”I am thrilled to have designed the first nesting chair for Herman Miller,” says Diez. “There’s no other company that cares so much about engineering and quality. It’s very supportive, it’s quite unparalleled, very forward-thinking. The collaboration with Herman Miller never feels like it’s driven by constraints, but driven more by an idea. It’s clear what we’re working for: The product that comes out from the process is not a product that is a compromise, and that’s what I love.”

It was Diez’s commitment to the environment that led to Fuld’s design – a pioneering one-piece construction in an inverted Y shape – that results in less production waste. The chair’s back includes a bit of elasticity, keeping you comfortable as your body makes small shifts and movements. Only two materials were used to manufacture Fuld, and both are easy to recycle at the end of the chair’s lifetime. An optional 3D Knit textile seat is also available, made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled content. It’s knitted to the chair’s exact dimensions, so there’s no fabric waste here either.

“We’re excited to welcome Stefan Diez to the Herman Miller portfolio after his work for the wider MillerKnoll collective,” said Malisa Bryant, Senior Vice President of Global Product. “Diez prioritizes sustainability and innovation within his designs which have long been core values for Herman Miller.”

Fuld is available in dipped-in-color options that include the seat, seat-back, and legs in one hue as well as dual-color combinations.

Fuld is available to contract customers for purchase through MillerKnoll dealers. For more details, visit hermanmiller.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

BassamFellows’ Rail sofa collection began with an architectural project – a client’s guest house/pool pavilion featuring a large indoor/outdoor lounge area separated by folding glass doors, located near the brand’s base in New Canaan, Connecticut.

“As with all of our furniture designs, Rail comes from an architectural project…,” says BassamFellows Co-Founder Craig Bassam. “When open, the entire living space becomes one, and I wanted the lounge areas to seamlessly integrate inside and outside with a single lounge system. I also wanted the lounge to echo the pavilion’s clear, rational geometry and refined wood cladding. Rail is rooted in the Arts & Crafts Movement, but is lighter, more sculptural, and more pared down, continuing our commitment to our minimal artisanal vision of ‘Craftsman Modern.’

Constructed using precise joinery principals, Rail features a light but substantial frame that’s defined by a single bar. Acting as part of the back and arms, it encloses the seat cushions within a strong horizontal line. The eponymous rail and the vertical supports are deep but thin, carved into an exaggerated fin shape. Cantilevered elements at each corner mimic the architecture of the New Canaan pavilion.

Rail’s cushions are hand-upholstered using outdoor foam and a fiber “jacket” housed in an easy-to-remove cover that’s made from an innovative hemp-based outdoor fabric. BassamFellows commissioned the new eco-friendly material from a 150-year-old Italian mill. The technologically advanced result is a fabric that’s natural, sustainable, and biodegradable, with excellent sun protection, pool-water resistance, and durability.

The Rail sofa collection includes single, two- and three-seater lengths, ottomans, benches, and sun lounges. These individual elements can then be combined to create configurations that include U-shapes and L-shapes. Choose from a variety of woods for both indoor and outdoor use, including Iroko, Walnut, and Oak.

To learn more about the Rail Sofa Collection, visit bassamfellows.com.

Photos by Joe Fletcher Photography.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

Located in the historic and lush city of Kamakura, just an hour outside of Tokyo, stands a pretty unique house, named A Cat Tree House. It’s a feline paradise designed for a couple in their thirties and their two beloved cats. Architect Tan Yamanouchi of AWGL has redefined what it means to design a home by taking inspiration from the clients, the four-legged kind, who don’t speak human language. Since the couple has lived with the two cats for ten years, the architects looked at them as more than just pets, instead as clients that had their own needs.

The cats had three primary requests. First, they wanted the freedom to choose their ideal temperature at any given moment. Cats are known for their sensitivity to temperature differences, and they love to move around to find the perfect spot. Second, they wanted to be close to their human family members but not too close, as they love their independence. Lastly, they desired a multitude of safe spaces to retreat to, adapting as the seasons change.

With these feline requirements in mind, the architects came up with an ingenious idea: to design the house as a giant cat tree. The entire house is conceived as a large staircase, with an atrium at its center that’s lit by a skylight. Natural light filters through, creating a play of shadows on each step throughout the day. These steps, inspired by the body measurements of the cats, result in a total of 23 different floor levels. The entire house is divided into temperature layers, each providing a unique environment for the cats to explore.

The spiral staircase is a cantilever design, reminiscent of the tamasudare, a loosely woven bamboo screen used in traditional Japanese street performances. It not only serves as a functional design element but also adds an artistic touch to the space. It also helps control humidity in the humid Kamakura environment.

Each corner of the spiraling structure houses different rooms for the couple and provides comfortable spots for the cats to relax. These rooms also serve as hiding places when unexpected guests arrive, making the house as functional for the felines as it is for its human occupants. The spiral staircase even doubles as a split-level library, with bookshelves hanging from the wall. It’s a haven for the cats to lounge and for humans to enjoy a good read.

Windows are strategically placed throughout allowing the cats to enjoy the outside view, while simultaneously providing adorable cat sitings from those passing by in the neighborhood.

In Japan, pets, especially cats, hold a special place in people’s hearts. With ten times more pet cats than newborn babies, it’s clear that feline friends are beloved companions. Japan’s aging population has also sparked an increased interest in animal therapy, making homes that consider pets’ needs all the more relevant.

Photography by Lamberto Rubino.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

I’m fascinated by this artist/designer who creates the most unusual sculptures out of textiles. He is pushing the boundaries on what you can do with fabrics, manipulating them into different textures and freeform shapes. For this year’s Milan Design Week, he merged sculpture, lighting, and textile design together for his exhibition, Knitted Light, which definitely gives me “Stranger Things” vibes.

This is one Phaidon’s newest releases which I was fortunate enough to preview. For a while now, I’ve noticed a shift from monochromatic spaces to ones with thoughtful layers of art, furniture, and curated pieces, like the ones in this book. I love that this book shows just how warm, inviting, and holistic today’s modern homes can be. If you’re looking for inspiration, the photography in this book is beautiful and captures the details of nine homes across the country.

3. Most Frequented Substacks

It seems like everyone’s getting on the Substack train and I am completely here for it. I love the more authentic voice everyone seems to be freeing on this platform; it reminds me of the olden (and golden) days of blogging, without constant ads and sponsorships influencing the writing. I personally subscribe to a few writers whose content I find valuable or curious enough to pay for. If you need a few recommendations, might I suggest Unsquare (by Design Milk’s very own founder, Jaime Derringer), House Call with Kate Arends (perfect for interior design enthusiasts), What I Put On Today (by Megan Alida Strachan, founder of Dorsey, who’s making lab-grown diamonds more popular than their traditionally mined diamonds), and A La Carte (by Ali Labelle; I love her Notes Of series which dissects thematic thinking through a monthly mood board).

I’m constantly on the hunt for cute room decor for my kids’ rooms and love these ceramic alphabets by Paula Atelier. I love how bulbous the shapes are (they remind me of donuts!) and they’re a fun alternative to the wooden name signs I typically see in nurseries.

This is a new-to-me brand that’s making phone accessories cool again. Make note, this is not your cheap phone case/strap that you’ll replace every few months. This is like jewelry for your phone. Ossa uses materials like natural gemstone beads and freshwater pearls to elevate your tech and keep them easily accessible on your body. Seeing as we use our phones every single day, the cost per wear with this accessory will work out to be mere cents. Well worth it to keep our most used devices close by in a fun and fashionable way.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

Comfortable with generous proportions, the distinctive Hana Chair has just arrived on scene! Designed by Simone Bonanni for Moooi, the seating is inspired by the unfurling of a flower – just look at the petal-like backrest. The organic shapes and curved lines of the seating provide comfort and distinction seamlessly. The chair is part of the larger Hana family that includes the Hana Armchair and Hana Armchair Wingback.

Customize Hana to fit the look you’re after. Choose from six colors: Black, White, Concrete Grey, Oyster White, Dusty Pink, and Terracotta, for the un-upholstered version. Then, select a stackable or non-stackable metal base in either chrome or matte black. Utilize a wide range of fabrics and leathers for further customization that allows you to create upholstered Hana Chairs.

Terracotta

Designed to last, the Hana Chair provides support and flexibility while prioritizing comfort without sacrificing aesthetics. It’s shape has been designed around the human body, making it an excellent seating choice for extended periods of sitting, from dining room to boardroom.

Oyster White

Black

Pink

Pink

Black

Terracotta

Oyster White

The Hana Chair will be available at Moooi Stores, Moooi.com, and selected dealers.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

The Dyson Purifier Big + Quiet Formaldehyde air purifier is unusual in that the droid-like design really leans into its larger size compared to most any other air purifier available for the mass market. But that’s intentional, noting an air purifier is only as effective as its ability to utilize airflow to bring in pollutants in contact with a filtration medium to scrub the air clean. The more flow and the larger surface area, the faster the filtration rate. Dyson’s trick is accomplishing all this with an acoustically engineered motor bucket optimized to hush maximum full-speed filtration down to a minimum.

So how quiet are we talking about? Dyson claims their sizable air purifier measures a very reasonable 56dBA when set at full blast. For reference, according to this decibels chart, a refrigerator produces about 55dBA of environmental noise; that’s also in the realm of normal output for a dishwasher, a perfectly acceptable volume when you really need to set the unit to its maximum speed. Thus the Big + Quiet is being promoted as a healthy home and communal space solution effective for up to 1,000ft², suitable for use not only in larger living rooms, but also in classrooms, hotel lobbies, and other communal spaces where a larger and more powerful unit ideally doesn’t intrude on the conversations and atmosphere around it.

The Dyson Big + Quiet air purifier uses a catalytic filter to trap formaldehyde, then breaks it down into water and CO₂, while a K-Carbon filter absorbs common household indoor pollutants.

Though Dyson’s largest air filtration design is outfitted to remove allergens and 99.97% of fine particles using a HEPA H13 grade filter, the Big + Quiet comes with the additional capability to destroy formaldehyde, remove gases and odors, and capture nitrogen dioxide. The top of the unit includes a small display that reports back what solid-state formaldehyde sensor detects during operation.

A laudable aspect of the Dyson Big + Quiet is the long lasting efficacy of its filters. The unit’s H13 grade HEPA filter can last up to five years, depending upon conditions. The K-Carbon filter lasts for up to two years. And best of all, the catalytic oxidisation filter never has to be changed out.

Like many other tech-forward appliances today, there’s a proprietary algorithm involved in the operation of Dyson’s device. The Big + Quiet is programmed to continuously monitor and report levels of formaldehyde, VOCs, or nitrogen dioxide registered in the air. In turn, we became much more aware and sensitive to the quality of air inside on a daily basis armed with this information. It became common to check in regularly with the unit’s sensors either by app or at glance across its small LCD display, and the environmental feedback was just as likely to compel us to open a few windows to allow for fresh air in just as much as it did to convince us to set the unit to full blast.

The Big + Quiet is outfitted with an adjustable angle airflow, ranging between 0°, 25°, or 50°, allowing to direct air wanted and most needed. There’s even a setting designed to emulate the feeling of a refreshing breeze.

All data gathered through the Dyson’s live monitoring sensor displays in realtime across a small circular LCD located at the center top. Any data can also be accessed from the MyDyson app.

One feature we really appreciated was the inclusion of the small set of roller wheels incorporated into the air purifier’s base. While the Big + Quiet is not heavy for its size, its larger dimensions can make it feel unwieldy to lift for some (if you’ve ever dreamt of hugging R2-D2, here is your chance). But the integrated wheels simplify moving the unit room to room or into storage as easy as pushing a small cart.

The incorporation of a catalytic filter and activated carbon filter also make the Dyson a helpful means of removing common household odors that aren’t dangerous, just undesirable, so pet owners and people who like to cook might especially benefit from its ability to filter odors.

If you’re worried about inhaling VOCs off-gassing from everyday sources like mattresses, paints, household cleaners, some upholstery fabrics, and new furniture, alongside limiting everyday allergens, the Dyson Big + Quiet’s portability and quiet operation offsets its size.

At $899 for the all-white commercial edition or $1,099 for its more stylishly finished Prussian Blue adorned colorway, the Dyson Big + Quiet comes at a premium. And there’s no getting around that it’s conspicuously large. But in an age when wildfires, urban pollution, and seasonal allergies are regularly vying to irritate our senses, an effective air purifier is arguably an investment worth the cost and trade-offs associated with something openly labeled as big and quiet.

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

In a world where digital reigns supreme, Polaroid continues to take steps to bridge the gap between the analog past and the digital present. The all-new Polaroid I-2 instant camera just launched, and it’s redefining the boundaries of instant photography. This high-end camera marries the timeless charm of analog photography with cutting-edge technology, giving photographers a new experience.

It took four years to bring the I-2 to life and here’s a video sharing the story behind the new instant camera:



Polaroid Chairman, Oskar Smolokowski, expressed the company’s vision saying, “For a long time, it was our dream to make a high-end Polaroid camera and give people more choice in the world of analog photography – a choice that many passionate photographers told us they were craving.” And with the I-2, that dream has become a reality.

The heart of the Polaroid I-2 is its continuous autofocus three-lens system, which boasts the sharpest lens ever featured in a Polaroid instant camera. This lens, developed in collaboration with Japanese optical engineers, delivers unrivaled image quality and depth of field thanks to its wide aperture. But what sets the I-2 apart is its LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor, which accurately detects the distance to the subject and auto-adjusts the lens for pinpoint focus, even in challenging lighting conditions.

In addition, the I-2 is the first Polaroid instant camera for integral film that grants you full manual control. With a large, bright viewfinder and an integrated display, you can select shutter speed, aperture size, and one of six shooting modes directly on the camera. The result? More creative freedom in your instant photography endeavors.

Photographers love options, and the Polaroid I-2 delivers just that. It’s the first instant camera compatible with i-Type, 600, and SX-70 films, ensuring you can find a favorite that works best for your vision. Plus, the built-in lens thread mount supports 49mm filters, allowing you to experiment with different effects and styles.

The I-2’s design is a celebration of both form and function. It’s crafted from high-quality materials and maintains the distinctive Polaroid look while adding modern elements. The camera’s exterior is built around the lens and manual controls, elevating the ease of use in order to maximize one’s experience.

To bring the I-2 into the digital age, Polaroid has equipped it with Bluetooth connectivity. This means you can easily upgrade your camera’s firmware and have complete remote control via the accompanying app. It’s a nod to the future while preserving the analog magic of instant photography.

The Polaroid I-2 instant camera is available for purchase at polaroid.com and additional retailers starting at $599.99 for the camera itself, with the option to upgrade to the Polaroid I-2 Travel Set for $669.98, which includes the camera, premium case, and two packs of film.

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

If it’s good enough for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Guggenheim, it’s good enough for your furry pups. For their first ever pet line, Finland-based studio Kanto collaborated with Kvadrat, known for their fabrics found in the world’s most iconic institutions, to create dog beds that support canine well-being without infringing on the surrounding interior design.

The Kanto x Kvadrat Collection features two styles: Luoto, a supportive circular bed, and Oksa, a more traditional design. Both beds are wrapped in Kvadrat’s deadstock fabrics, a nod to the design studio’s commitment to sustainability and high standards for design. The fabrics are made of natural fibers to reduce adverse allergic reactions and prove to be extra durable after scoring 45,000 or more with the Martindale test (30,000 or more indicates commercial grade).

Luoto, which means small island in Finnish, is available in three upholstery options: Coda, Tonica, and Hot. Oksa is tree branch in Finnish and is available in Coda and Hot.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

For a multitude of factors attributed to costs and the environmental footprint associated with manufacturing using traditional virgin leather, footwear manufacturers are increasingly exploring alternative sources for sneaker uppers, using everything from mushroom leather to sneakers made from coffee grounds. Southern California-based CLAE’s Appleskin™ sneakers have entered the conversation, juicing the sustainability angle with a unique upper made from apple waste repurposed from the juice industry in Italy.

The new unisex collection made from Appleskin™ has made a Fall/Winter 2023 appearance in CLAE’s most popular Bradley and Malone court shoes and Joshua runner. All three sneakers seem almost indistinguishable from their leather or vegan leather counterparts, with an attractive subtle speckling that hints of its apple-based sourcing.

Bradley Apple Off-White

Ellington Apple Triple Black

Malone Apple Off-White

CLAE invested an equal amount of eco-friendly sourcing to outfit their Appleskin™ sneakers with GRS-certified recycled mesh, laces, foam insoles, and GOTS-certified organic cotton lining to complete the sustainable spirit of the shoes.

Treads of each model vary in the aggression of their patterns, with Joshua (top) featuring the brand’s Canyon Park sole with engineered rubber tread for grip and EVA for cushioning. The Ellington in Triple Black (middle) is fitted with a standard outsole made out of 30% natural rubber, with the Malone (green bottom) featuring a Premium Court outsole made out of 30% natural rubber.

The Appleskin™ eco-crew could go completely unnoticed unless given the opportunity to peer inside the shoes, where a “Made Of Apple” logo reveals its bio-based origins.

Our favorite non-virgin leather sneakers of all time, Nike Flyleather, are made using recycled leather scraps engineered into extremely resilient and easy to to maintain uppers. Sadly the brand has only intermittently released models with the material (our AF1s lasted over six years of hard wear before we parted ways). We’ll be testing a pair of CLAE Appleskin™ sneakers in the coming weeks to see whether this new apple leather bears similar fruit in comfort and durability.

The CLAE Appleskin™ Sneaker Capsule Collection ranges in price between $140-$180, with each model now available at clae.com and select boutiques worldwide.

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

The call for submissions is open for the 2023-2024 A’ Design Award & Competition – want to enter? Projects that focus on innovation, technology, design, and creativity are being accepted for consideration until February 28, 2024. You’re invited to take part by entering your best works, projects, and products that have been designed within the last 10 years for a chance at winning the big award. Winners will be announced on April 15, 2024, highlighting the best designers from all countries and across all disciplines. Check out some of the 2022-2023 award winners below for some confidence and creative inspiration.

 Click here to submit an entry!

Yimu Q7 Water Purifier With Analyzing System by Shenzhen Yimu Technology Co., Ltd, Winner in Home Appliances Design Category, 2022-2023

Blue Phoenix Sculpture by Yen Ting Cho, Winner in Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Category, 2022-2023

Ware Elegance Commercial Space by Feng-Shan Hsu, Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category, 2022-2023

Cooker Portable Stove by Yansheng Xia, Winner in Outdoor Gear and Camping Equipment Design Category, 2022-2023

Vicutu Concept Flagship Store by Antistatics Architecture, Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category, 2022-2023

Florencia Lounge Chair by Camila Lerena, Winner in Furniture Design Category, 2022-2023

Tic Art Exhibition Center by Ann Yu, Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category, 2022-2023

Friends Sofa by Roberta Rampazzo, Winner in Furniture Design Category, 2022-2023

Sile Binicilik Tesisi Equestrian Center by Mimark Mimarlık, Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category, 2022-2023

Herringbone Dining Table by Alexandre Caldas, Winner in Furniture Design Category, 2022-2023

Saint Peter House Residence by Angel Valerio and Diego Vilatela, Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category, 2022-2023

Intelligent Vision Test Automation and Sensing by Yen Chang and Kai-Chu Li, Winner in Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design Category, 2022-2023

Sketch Shelf by Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Winner in Furniture Design Category, 2022-2023

Knotted Bench by Minju Kang, Winner in Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Category, 2022-2023

Pagoda Lamp by Zongming Liu and Xingchen Pan, Winner in Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Category, 2022-2023

Liyue New Furniture by Haonan Zhang and Bo Xu, Winner in Furniture Design Category, 2022-2023

Mountain Cabin Architectural Design by Lino Liao, Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category, 2022-2023

Mew Gic Cat Furniture by Yu Ren, Winner in Pet Care, Toys, Supplies and Products for Animals Design Category, 2022-2023

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.