Top 10 fascinating designs in the world #100daysofdesign - March Edition

Top Picks from #100daysofdesign

We’re back with the third edition of the best designs in the world as part of our #100daysofdesign series.

As March comes to an end, let’s look back on the top 10 designs we’ve handpicked from around the globe, spotlighting their innovation and impact. Don’t worry if you missed some of the highlights- we have compiled an overview to keep you updated.

We have compiled a wide variety of designs in March, ranging from service designs, product design, logo designs, sustainable designs, game designs & more. Let’s delve into the best 10 designs of March!

Best in Graphic Design

Superman

Red, yellow & blue outfit with an unmissable red cape. You know who we’re talking about.

Joe Shuster & Jerry Siegal co-created the character of Superman in the “Action Comics #1” in 1938, which marked the debut of Superman. The design of Superman was influenced by a variety of sources, including pulp fiction heroes, Greek mythology, and popular culture icons of the time. The Superman logo, also known as the “S-Shield,” is one of the most recognizable symbols in pop culture. It features a stylized “S” in a diamond shape, often set against a red background.

How was the first superhero designed?

• The colors red, yellow, and blue were chosen for Superman’s costume to create a bold and eye-catching look that would stand out on the comic book page.
• The color scheme of the Superman logo, featuring red, yellow, and blue, was inspired by the American flag.
  Superman’s iconic costume and logo have had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring countless other superheroes and becoming a symbol of heroism and strength.
• Despite the various adaptations and interpretations of Superman over the years, the character’s costume and logo have remained largely consistent, maintaining his iconic and recognizable appearance.
• Superman’s iconic costume and logo have had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring countless other superheroes and becoming a symbol of heroism and strength.
• Superman’s design has remained popular and iconic for over 80 years, making him one of the most enduring and recognizable characters in pop culture history.

Susan kare

What led to the design of the Macintosh interface?
In the 1980s, Apple hired their first ever graphic designer, Susan Kare, who went on to become the icon of icons. She played a key role in shaping Apple’s visual identity.

Kare’s work revolutionized the way people interacted with technology. Her designs, including icons and fonts, were instrumental in making the Macintosh user-friendly and visually appealing. Kare’s icons, such as the trash can, floppy disk, and happy Mac, became iconic symbols of the Macintosh and are still used in Apple’s operating systems today.

Her pioneering use of pixel art, with its limited color palette and low resolution, gave the Macintosh interface its distinctive look. Focused on user-centered design principles, Kare created interfaces that were intuitive and easy to navigate.

From crafting simple, recognizable symbols to developing groundbreaking fonts like Chicago for menus and Cairo for text, Kare’s influence extended beyond just icons. Susan Kare’s work on the Macintosh interface not only defined the look and feel of early personal computing but also set the standards for user interface design that continue to influence designers today.

Best in Product Design

Figma

Launched in 2015 by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace, Figma addresses traditional design tool limitations, prioritizing seamless collaboration among designers and teams.

Figma boasts a comprehensive suite of features encompassing vector graphics editing, prototyping, design systems, and real-time collaboration, making it a go-to tool for UI/UX design projects.

Why do designers love figma?

• Community: Figma nurtures a vibrant community where designers share resources like design files, UI kits, and plugins, contributing to its widespread adoption and growth.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrate Figma with other tools such as Slack, GitHub, and Jira, streamlining workflow and enhancing collaboration efficiency within teams.
• Accessibility: With an intuitive interface and user-friendly features, Figma caters to designers of all skill levels, emerging as a preferred choice for both novices and seasoned professionals alike.
• Prototyping: Figma’s robust prototyping features empower designers to craft interactive prototypes, facilitating efficient testing and refinement of designs before implementation.
• Design Systems: Simplify design consistency and workflow with Figma’s support for creating and managing design systems, ensuring a unified and seamless user experience.

Sashimono

Japanese sashimono is a traditional woodworking technique used to construct furniture and cabinetry without the use of nails or screws.

How does it work?

• Joinery Techniques: Sashimono utilizes intricate joinery techniques such as mortise and tenon joints, dovetails, and lap joints. These joints are precisely crafted to fit together snugly, creating strong and durable furniture pieces.
• Minimalist Aesthetic: Sashimono furniture is characterized by its minimalist aesthetic, featuring clean lines and simple, understated designs. This design approach reflects the principles of Japanese aesthetics, emphasizing simplicity, balance, and harmony.
• Natural Materials: Sashimono furniture is typically crafted from high-quality, natural materials such as Japanese cypress (hinoki), cedar, or chestnut wood. These materials are chosen for their durability, beauty, and sustainable properties.

Traditional Japanese Tea House: A design case study

A notable case study of sashimono design is its application in traditional Japanese tea houses (chashitsu). Sashimono techniques are used to craft the furniture and architectural elements of the tea house, including shelves, benches, and sliding doors (shoji). The clean lines and precise joinery of sashimono contribute to the serene and meditative atmosphere of the tea house, enhancing the tea ceremony experience.

Sashimono techniques have influenced contemporary woodworking practices around the world, inspiring modern furniture designers and craftsmen to incorporate traditional Japanese joinery into their work.

Cinematograph

Lights, camera, action!

As the 96th Oscars concludes, we’ve reflected on the innovative device that has brought us the films celebrated today.

So how did we start seeing pictures in action? I.e. motion pictures?

The vision of two brothers – Auguste and Louis Lumiere invented the cinematograph (back in 1895) – a combination camera & projector that allowed for the projection of moving images.

It aimed to create the illusion of moving images by rapidly displaying a sequence of still images.

What exactly did these projectors need?

• Mechanical mechanisms to advance film reels and project images onto a screen.
• A powerful light source, to illuminate the film and project images onto a screen.

It was a groundbreaking invention as it combined a camera, film processing unit, and projector into a single device, allowing for the projection of motion pictures.

What made it an iconic device?

Portability: Unlike earlier film projection systems, the cinematograph was designed to be portable, enabling filmmakers to easily transport and use it for on-location shoots.

Mechanical Operation: The cinematograph operated using a hand-cranked mechanism to advance film reels, project images, and capture motion sequences.

The cinematograph revolutionized film production by making it easier and more affordable to create motion pictures.

Best in Food Design

Onam sadhya

Onam Sadya is a traditional vegetarian feast served during the festival of Onam in Kerala, India. It is an integral part of the celebration.

The Onam Sadya is served on a banana leaf, with different dishes arranged in a specific order. The layout and presentation of the Sadya are designed to showcase the variety of dishes and flavors.

What makes Onam Sadya a benchmark of culinary design?

Served as a communal meal, with friends and family coming together to enjoy the feast. This communal aspect is an important part of the design of the Sadya.

The dishes served in the Onam Sadya are traditional Kerala recipes, passed down through generations. Each dish has its own unique preparation method and flavor profile.

The placement of dishes isn’t random; it follows a geometric pattern that optimizes space and ensures efficient use of the banana leaf.

The colors of the dishes are symbolic & culturally significant. For instance, the use of yellow represents prosperity and abundance, while red symbolizes vitality and energy.

Best in Service Design

Kitchen design

A service of 100,000 meals per day.

The Golden Temple’s kitchen operates a langar, a community kitchen that serves free meals to all visitors.

It dates back to the time of the Sikh gurus, who emphasized service and sharing. What key features of its design have been upheld over the years?

The kitchen operates with remarkable efficiency & minimal waste and wait times. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring visitors always have access to a hot meal.

What makes it a stand-out case study for service design?

• Designed to be inclusive and accessible to all; regardless of their religion, caste, or background.
• Streamlined workflow for a large volume of meals, with different stations for food preparation, cooking, serving, and cleaning.
• Encourages community participation, with people from all walks of life coming together to volunteer and serve others.
• Traditional cooking methods and utensils to prepare meals, preserving the heritage of Punjabi cuisine.
• A testament to the power of community, service, and efficient design. It serves as an inspiring example of how design can be used to create meaningful and impactful experiences for people.

Montessori

Remember kindergarten?

Vibrant & playful – these spaces served the role of being more than just classrooms.

They played the role of the teacher.

Sounds intriguing doesn’t it?

In the early 20th century, Dr Maria Monterssori, an Italian physician & educator, disrupted the classroom learning ecosystem by transforming the learning space into a teacher itself.

In Montessori teaching methodology, materials are designed to be simple, beautiful, and engaging, allowing children to learn independently.

Here’s why Montessori teaching is the most widely accepted teaching pedagogy.

• Child (user)-centered approach: Allowing children to explore and learn at their own pace, rather than following a predetermined curriculum.
• Engaging experience:Classrooms are equipped with a variety of hands-on materials and activities that are designed to engage children and encourage learning, discovery, & exploration.
• Multi-Age Classrooms: Allowing younger children to learn from older peers and older children to develop leadership skills and empathy.
• Environment as a Teacher: With careful attention paid to the layout, organization, and aesthetics of the space.

Best in Sustainable Design

Copenhagen bench

A bench constructed for awareness rather than functionality.

Introducing the Copenhagen bench – 2100 edition.

The bench is designed to raise awareness about the increasing global warming and alarming climate change globally.

These have been placed around the city of Copenhagen in order to make it visible to people what the future will be like due to rising sea levels.

These benches, placed strategically across Copenhagen, stand 85 centimeters (2.78 feet) taller than typical seating – making it visible to people what the future will be like with the rising sea levels.

The design is a simple visual design idea & intentionally straightforward yet impactful.

Its elevated stature serves as a constant reminder of the urgent need for climate action. By integrating these benches into the cityscape, they provoke reflection and understanding among people.

Best in Typography

Akhand typeface

The Akhand typeface is a versatile and elegant font designed for both display and text purposes, characterized by its bold and distinctive letterforms.

Akhand was designed by Indian type foundry Indian Type Foundry (ITF), founded by Satya Rajpurohit and Peter Bilak. Akhand draws inspiration from traditional Indian calligraphy and lettering styles, infusing elements of cultural heritage into its modern design aesthetic.

What about Akhand makes it so distinctive?

• Modular Design: Akhand features a modular design approach, where each letterform is constructed using geometric shapes and precise proportions. This design technique ensures consistency and readability across different sizes and applications.
• Bold Strokes: The bold strokes and robust structure of Akhand make it well-suited for headlines, titles, and branding purposes. Its strong visual presence commands attention while maintaining legibility, making it an ideal choice for design projects that require impact and clarity.
• International Character Support: Akhand supports a wide range of international characters and diacritics, making it suitable for multilingual typography and global audiences. This design consideration enhances its versatility and usability in diverse cultural contexts.

Where has Akhand been used?

A notable case study of the Akhand typeface’s design application is its use in branding for cultural events and festivals. Its bold and expressive letterforms can capture the essence of cultural vibrancy and celebration, creating a cohesive visual identity across various promotional materials such as posters, banners, and digital assets.

The versatility of Akhand allows designers to experiment with different typographic treatments while maintaining brand consistency, resulting in impactful and memorable designs that resonate with audiences.

Stay tuned as we continue this exciting journey for the final month, unraveling new stories behind great designs and exploring the ways in which they resonate across time and countries. In case you’ve missed out on some designs we’ve uncovered so far, you can check them out on our Instagram and LinkedIn!