DESIGN DISPATCH

Off-White to Become AC Milan’s Next Style Partner, and Other News

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Image courtesy Off-White

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Off-White may become AC Milan’s next style partner following Harmont & Blaine.

“As its contract with Italian casualwear brand Harmont & Blaine came to a close at the end of the season, AC Milan is now looking for a new style partner. According to an exclusive report from MilanPress.it, Virgil Abloh‘s Off-White will step in to dress the elite Serie A champions for the 2022/23 season. While Off-White has previously worked with Nike on football gear, which included jerseys, boots, and accessories, the deal with AC Milan, if confirmed, will be the brand’s first official partnership with a sports team.” [H/T Hypebeast]

California updates building codes to allow for mass timber buildings up to 18 floors.

California building codes were updated in July to allow for the construction of mass timber buildings up to 18 stories tall. Mass timber can be a building alternative to steel and concrete because of their strength and fire resistance. There are several high-rise mass timber projects currently in the United States. In Milwaukee, the Ascent building has become the tallest structure of its kind in the world. Locally in Sacramento, the Lot X development proposal includes a five story office building made out of mass timber.” [H/T CBS Sacramento]

Wild Mile by SOM in Chicago. Photography by Dave Burk/SOM

SOM unveils a wooden walkway that aims to restore biodiversity to the Chicago River.

“A meandering wood walkway weaves through the floating gardens and wetlands of a newly restored stretch of the Chicago River. Realized by local nonprofit Urban Rivers, with support from SOM and the city of Chicago, the 400-foot portion of the planned Wild Mile reintroduces flora and fauna to the previously industrialized channel while fostering public access and ­education. Started as a grassroots project in 2015, the Wild Mile aims to improve the ecological corridor by increasing biodiversity and creating an urban safe haven. Though completed in 2021, this segment opened officially in June.” [H/T Architectural Record]

Apptopia reports that only one percent of Netflix subscribers use its gaming platform.

“It seems not many people are playing (or have even heard of) Netflix Games and it’s not just anecdotal evidence at this point. Apptopia, an app analytics company, found that less than one percent of Netflix subscribers use its mobile gaming platform, as first reported by CNBC. Looking at Apptopia’s statistics, Netflix’s games have been downloaded 23.3 million times and have an average 1.7 million daily users. Compare that to Netflix’s more than 220 million subscribers and the Netflix Games numbers are barely a drop in the bucket.” [H/T Input]

Lubaina Himid. Photography by Magda Strawarska Beavan

Lubaina Himid receives the 2024 Suzanne Deal Booth/FLAG Art Foundation Prize.

“Lubaina Himid, an artist whose work has seen a surge in critical attention following her historic win of the Turner Prize in 2017, is the recipient of the 2024 Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize. Through the award, she will win $200,000 and have a show that will appear at the Contemporary Austin in Texas and the FLAG Art Foundation in New York in 2024. Founded by Suzanne Deal Booth and Glenn Fuhrman, the prize is among the biggest ones in the U.S.” [H/T ARTnews]

Massachusetts will consider replacing its problematic state seal, motto, and flag.

“For more than a century, the Massachusetts state seal has stood sentry at official proceedings, dutifully, if a bit dully, serving as the sole adornment on the state flag. Some might struggle to recall the emblem, which includes a Native American figure standing below a broadsword brandished by an upraised arm, but activists and members of the state’s Indigenous population have long objected to the image, which one critic called the “last state flag of white supremacy.” In May, amid the ongoing national struggle over monuments and symbols, a commission voted to recommend replacing the state’s seal and motto—and by extension the state flag—a dramatic turning point for a symbol whose roots stretch back to 1629 and the chartering of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.” [H/T The Boston Globe]

After a funding round fell through, aperitif startup Haus is struggling to sell itself. 

“Three-year-old aperitif startup Haus is trying to sell itself after a recent funding round fell through, underscoring the difficult fundraising environment e-commerce startups face right now. Founder Helena Price Hambrecht broke the news on Twitter, disclosing a “Haus update that’s not fun to share.” According to Price Hambrecht, “Our lead investor recently declined to move forward with our Series A that we were in the process of closing. Without them, we do not have the cash to support continued operations at this time.” Now, Haus is looking to go through what’s called an ABC, or Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors. It’s an alternative to bankruptcy in which the business transfers its assets to a third-party trust that’s responsible for selling off the assets, and puts the business through an accelerated sales process, with the proceeds from the sales being used to pay off creditors.” [H/T Modern Retail]

Today’s attractive distractions:

After 23 Grand Slams, Serena Williams is “evolving away” from tennis.

A new study suggests that jumping spiders can dream when they sleep.

Open Architecture’s Chapel of Sound gets a “science fiction” makeover.

Thanks to Gen Z’s nostalgia fixation, Claire’s came back from the dead.

All Stories