Robot wars

An armed weapons system capable of making decisions sounds like it’s straight out of a Terminator movie. But once lethal autonomous weapons are out in the world, there could be no turning back.

Internet of junk

5G could force greater product obsolescence as non-compatible devices get left behind, but there are ways to stem the e-waste avalanche.

What ruin photography reveals about urban decay and renewal

Whether it’s art or porn, ruin photography tells a deeper story than what’s behind the lens.

Do tougher sentences deter crime?

It’s easy to think that the threat of punishment will simply dissuade someone from doing the wrong thing. But it turns out that deterring would-be criminals by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences is more tale than truth. 

Bike delivery leaves infrastructure trailing innovation

Tonight I’ll be having new cycling lanes with a side of bike parking.

The 20 minute neighbourhood

Allowing people to work, live and play within 20 minutes’ reach of their own homes is the new gold standard for urban planning.

The truth behind planned obsolescence in product design

It’s not just your imagination, products used to have a longer lifespan, says a UNSW industrial designer.

Understanding ‘eco-cultural’ identity

The importance of the environment is often downplayed as merely one in a sea of global issues. However, the environment is not only indistinguishable from these issues, it is fundamental to who we are.

Redesigning the post-pandemic workplace

The coronavirus will transform the design industry, design practice and designers alike, but perhaps none are more equipped to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.

Private lives still need public spaces

Coronavirus restrictions may be lifting, but the closure of parks, beaches, walkways and other public spaces to curb its spread may change the way we use them, says Eva Lloyd, a lecturer in Interior Architecture at UNSW Built Environment. 

The word on the street

Wider footpaths, separated cycleways and pedestrian-friendly streets could become the norm, according to a UNSW Built Environment expert.

The end of the office?

The success of working from home could mark the end of the office as we know it, according to interior architect Iva Durakovic, who believes that remote working might become the new normal after the pandemic subsides.