Explore - Design 101

Dwell explores the variegated use of color in our world, from industry to emotion.

Remember how the Predator had skin that made him invisible? That was cool. But these high-tech materials might be even cooler.

Bees have always been admired for their industrious nature and intricate honeycomb architecture; Charles Darwin called the honeycomb “absolutely perfect” as a feat of engineering, symmetry, and...

Product design that takes cues from nature, known as biomimicry, has produced a num-
ber of ingenious and popular products we use every day.

The right lighting can bring warmth and atmosphere to any room.

Silver has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial agent.

As more and more Americans are quickly discovering, the land beneath our feet is not quite as solid as we thought. Houses slip down hillsides, trees float down rivers, and whole cities disappear...

Every hour, enough sunlight hits the earth to power the entire planet for a year. But since they’re pricey—and, let’s face it, generally unattractive—solar cells are still woefully underutilized...

Americans have always held a soft spot in their hearts for futuristic materials, from the amazing light-weight properties of titanium to the chance to conquer Superman with kryptonite.