The Top Designs Of The Year

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 108 months ago
The Top Designs Of The Year ★★★☆☆ 3
The most visually appealing item in the exhibition is  the hybrid BMW i8. Though it's not as revolutionary as the self-driving car by Google (a scale model of the Google car is in the exhibition)
The most visually appealing item in the exhibition is the hybrid BMW i8. Though it's not as revolutionary as the self-driving car by Google (a scale model of the Google car is in the exhibition)
This seemingly post-apocalyptic sight is actually the result of integrating plant life into architecture. Photograph Murray Fredericks, courtesy Frasers property and Sekisui House
This seemingly post-apocalyptic sight is actually the result of integrating plant life into architecture. Photograph Murray Fredericks, courtesy Frasers property and Sekisui House
The ability to grow human tissue onto chips could end the need for animal testing and also provide more relevant test results. By Wyss Institute at Harvard University
The ability to grow human tissue onto chips could end the need for animal testing and also provide more relevant test results. By Wyss Institute at Harvard University
This table could be the ultimate convenience. The photovoltaic cells will allow a table to charge your phone. By Wai Ming Ng
This table could be the ultimate convenience. The photovoltaic cells will allow a table to charge your phone. By Wai Ming Ng
A true lifesaver with airbags built into a motorcycling jacket. By Dainese
A true lifesaver with airbags built into a motorcycling jacket. By Dainese
Ever felt like playing with your shadow? This street light will let you do just that. By Jonathan Chomko and Matthew Rosier
Ever felt like playing with your shadow? This street light will let you do just that. By Jonathan Chomko and Matthew Rosier

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

Every year the Design Museum puts on the ever popular Designs of the Year exhibition, a showcase of the top innovations in subjects as diverse as motoring, typefaces, architecture, fashion and furniture.

But can this year's selection live up to last year, which was the best incarnation we've seen? There are some great inventions and innovations on display. We were particularly impressed by the motorcycle jacket with built in airbags, the ability to 3D print prosthetic hands for bomb victims and it was inevitable that Google's self driving car would feature considering how it's likely to revolutionise transport.

All eyes will be drawn to the super sleek BMW i8 but it's not the only intelligent design on display; there is a lamp post that responds to pedestrians nearby, including the ability to assist the blind, and a chair design based on the legs of insects.

Despite these great products the rest of the exhibition lacks consistency and many of the designs don't feel innovative enough. Most of the architecture section is particularly disapppointing this year and the show overall lacks the strength in depth of its previous two iterations.

Designs of the Year 2015 is on at Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, SE1 until 23 August. Tickets are £13 for adults and this includes admission to Women Fashion Power and the AXA PPP Health Tech and You exhibitions.

For more openings this month, visit our top 10 art openings for April and our most talked about exhibitions in March.

Last Updated 30 March 2015