The world’s first AI-powered insect mini-farm, which hopes to revolutionise the food industry has been rebranded by Ascend Studio in order to emphasise the modern problems it aims to change. The work includes a logo and wordmark, as well as a new name which seeks to establish the company more closely to a lifestyle brand, instead of resorting to environmental clichés.

Better Origin was founded by Fotis Fotiadis and Miha Pipan as a way to reduce waste in the food production industry. By 2050, it is estimated that global food supply will need to increase 70 per cent to meet demands. At the same time, the industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

Their proposed solution to the problem is the X1 system, a repurposed shipping container that turns food waste into animal food by introducing fly larvae to the mix. It uses AI for this process, mimicking the roles that insects play in the cycle. It also means that farmers don’t have to oversee the entire process and can allow their food waste to be turn into fertiliser and re-enter the agricultural process.

To convey these complex ideas, simplicity was key according to Ascend Studio creative director Paul Croxton. The updated positioning hopes to establish the brand as “the missing link in a broken food cycle.”

London’s V&A museum has launched its first-ever VR event, a sneak preview of its anticipated upcoming show Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser, with live effects that bring the psychedelic wonders of the rabbit hole to life. The free event taking place on 22 October at 2pm and will take place in a digital landscape inspired by the V&A’s environments and the well loved characters of Alice in Wonderland. Visitors can in effect embody these avatars and interact with one another in weird and wonderful virtual scapes.

This first foray into virtual reality represents a landmark for the museum, which is one of many to experiment with VR and digital platforms as a way to innovate events and reach audiences during and post lockdown. Curator Kate Bailey said in a statement: “Since their creation, the Alice books, with their mind-blowing ideas and concepts, have been a source of inspiration for new technologies from silent film to CGI”. We can’t wait to see how this event uses inspiration from the books and considering the bizarre happenings, VR is the perfect vehicle to bring wonderland to life.

French sports company Salomon have thrown their hat into the renewable sports shoe ring this month with the launch of the ‘Index.01’ running trainer. They follow big-hitters Adidas who earlier this year released their ‘Clean Classics’ collection – a remake of the renowned Superstar and Stan Smith trainers, among others, using only sustainable materials – whilst brands such as Allbirds and Veja continue to make noteworthy contributions to the ‘green’ footwear market.

Although not available until Spring of 2021, the design innovation behind the Index.01 will enable the high-performance running shoe to be recycled by using its materials (for which there are only two: recycled polyester and foam) to produce future products. Regional collection centres will be utilised to regain used and no longer wanted trainers in order to send them back to Salomon’s factory. Here, materials such as the shoe’s foam sole, for example, can be ground up and used to create the shell for Salomon’s popular ski boots.

“The show must go on” is very much the sentiment of this year’s London Design Festival, which takes place this week. Ranging from virtual workshops to outdoor installations, the 18th edition of the annual festival focuses on supporting the design community during a time of immense pressure for the industry and taking a step back to listen and learn. This year’s LDF is spread across “local clusters of design” to offer a platform to smaller neighbourhoods and practises that went under the radar in previous years.

Hosting an event as iconic as LDF is not easy during the age of coronavirus, but “It is important the design community must stand together in these challenging times,” says Sir John Sorrell, chairman and co-founder of London Design Festival. Having removed the membership paywall on its website, alongside creating a bespoke portal for freelancers to share their work, the festival has made a clear effort towards diversity and accessibility this year. At a time when the design community needs inspiration and collaboration more than ever, LDF could not have come at a better time.