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21 : 09 : 21

US – Recognising the ongoing popularity of digital artworks, GIF database Giphy has translated moving images into a physical book format. The publication, Frame by Frame, is limited to just 750 copies, and is the culmination of 35 international artists responding to Giphy’s Be Animated mission statement. To create dynamic pages, the book uses lenticular holograms, stickers and image flips.

Each page also features a QR code for readers to view the animations on their smartphones. This phygital approach allows people to appreciate intricate details of GIF artwork, while also experiencing it in its original form. Commenting on its diverse group of contributors, Giphy says: ‘... flipping through the pages reveals a vibrant and diverse world of claymation, celluloid [hand-drawn] animation, drawing on bodies, computer renders and photographic portraits – all of which are united by a love for the animated GIF.’

By celebrating digital art, Giphy is packaging up design in a way that appeals to the mindsets of Gen Viz, a visual-first generation whose communications are dominated by emojis, videos and animations.

Africa and Switzerland – Designer and architect Fabien Roy has responded to future challenges of extreme climate conditions with the creation of an incubator for new-born babies for use in Sub-Saharan Africa. His project, Robust Nest, is able to safely protect new-born babies during transportation or in regions with poor electrical supply.

While conventional incubators for new-borns can fail to provide sufficient heat due to power outages and vulnerability to humidity, Robust Nest provides a climate-specific solution to the threat of hypothermia in babies. A statement on Fabien Roy’s website explains: ‘Compact, robust and affordable, Robust Nest allows the transport of patients in vehicles, resists frequent power cuts – thanks to a special thermal battery developed by EPFL – and is characterised by components that can be easily replaced.’

This project highlights the importance of creating medical solutions with regional considerations in mind, ensuring that product design is meeting its problem-solving purpose.

With many schools forced to close during outbreaks of Covid-19, there is growing evidence that children in India are facing significant academic decline as a result. According to the School Children’s Online and Offline Learning report, this impact is particularly apparent in households without access to digital devices.

The research shows that nearly 40% of students in underprivileged households have not been studying at all. Meanwhile, only one in four children in India have access to a digital device, and nearly half of the children in the country have no means to study online. As well as resulting in a significant drop in literacy levels, there are also fears that this could cause more children to drop out of school altogether.

While many educational organisations across the world have innovated in response to pandemic-related closures, current Scattered Schools are heavily reliant on digital connectivity. To bolster educational access in countries like India, there is a need for alternative initiatives that provide offline learning experiences.