Similar Functions, Different Forms: Umbilical Cord Scissors vs. PEX Cutters

These are umbilical cord scissors:

These are PEX cutters:

Both are made to cut through tubing, but their forms are obviously quite different.

The outer edges of the umbilical cord scissors are rounded, to prevent any accidental injuries. The tool is monomaterial (stainless steel, for ease of sterilization). The two blades slice in a bypass arrangement, for the cleanest and quickest cut. They're used by medical professionals wearing latex gloves, so there's no need to add any grip material to the handles.

Note: These are branded with "Breeder's Edge" as this model is...

Urban Sports Brand Illustration

Urban Sports Group Illustration System: A series of illustrations designed for use across various channels and touchpoints of the Urban Sports Group brand. Illustrations should play a supporting role alongside photography, aiding in the communication of complex ideas and reducing dense blocks of copy.

O'Donnell + Tuomey draws on Stratford's industrial past for London dance theatre

Irish studio O'Donnell + Tuomey has completed a brick-clad dance theatre in London that houses a 550-seat auditorium and six studios.

Located in Stratford, London, Sadler's Wells East is the latest addition to the East Bank development at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which hosted the London 2012 Olympics.

O'Donnell + Tuomey designed the building, which is Sadler's Wells' fourth venue, to celebrate dance as an art form, while paying homage to Stratford's industrial past.

"Our aim was for the building to feel archaic – as if it were not only designed to last...

Elemental's Quinta Monroy housing was the most significant building of 2004

Next up in our 21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings series we consider the legacy of Elemental's Quinta Monroy housing, which turned a relatively little-known Chilean architect into one of the profession's biggest stars.

A social housing scheme on a half-hectare site in a small city in northern Chile, Quinta Monroy was an unlikely contender for the most celebrated architecture project of the early 21st century.

But after its completion in 2004, the development of 93 homes in Iquique gained global attention for its unusual approach, which saw dwellings handed over to residents literally half built.

"The assumption behind Quinta Monroy is logical...

"The scale of the damage is unfathomable" say Los Angeles architects

Projects by architects Ray Kappe and Martin Fenlon are among nearly 10,000 structures destroyed as deadly fires burn large swathes of Los Angeles in an "unprecedented, city-changing moment".

Fires that started Tuesday in Los Angeles continued to burn through the past two days, causing the evacuation of as many as 180,000 people and the deaths of at least ten people across multiple fires.

Exacerbated by dry conditions and high winds, the fires have devastated the city, especially the northwestern neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades.

"Far more useful than the majority of 'collectible' design" says commenter

In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a cat-shaped robot that blows air to cool down hot food and drink.

Aimed at people with heat-sensitive tongues, the portable device named Nèkojita FuFu operates with an internal fan unit powered by a rechargeable battery and uses an algorithm to mimic human breath.

"A representation of everything that is wrong with design"

Commenter Getbacktowork predicted the device to be "a secret Santa present that will be in the landfill before next Christmas".

"This is a representation of everything that is wrong with design...

What the Fog? Some things used to be better.

Aptera reveals "production-ready" solar-powered car at CES

Californian start-up Aptera has debuted what it claims to be the first production-ready solar electric vehicle that doesn't need to be plugged in for day-to-day driving, developed with help from Pininfarina.

Aptera debuted the vehicle – which features solar panels on its hood, dash, roof and hatch – at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week.

The company claims the car could significantly reduce reliance on the grid for charging because, under the right conditions, it can drive up to 40 miles (64 kilometres) per day powered entirely by sunlight, with no need to be plugged in between uses.

Multipurpose community park in rural Norway designed with local residents

Architecture studios Local and Pir 2 have collaborated on a community park and playground in Etne on the West coast of Norway, featuring a pavilion made using recycled aluminium from a nearby plant.

The community park, called Skakkeringen, is part of Vestland County's pilot programme to create innovative facilities that transform the role of public schools in rural municipalities.

For this project, Local's Bergen office worked closely with Oslo-based architecture studio Pir 2 to tackle the question: "How can public schools play a greater civic role in rural places?"

The 2,000-square-metre activity park adjacent to...

Ten design projects from a burgeoning generation of Japanese designers

A slender-framed bamboo chair, electrolytically coloured steel furniture and tiles pigmented with micro-algae feature in this roundup of products exhibited at Designtide Tokyo.

Designtide Tokyo, a platform for independent designers, returned to the Japanese capital last year after a 12 year hiatus "to give hints" as to what the design industry could be like in the coming years.

The event brought together design projects from more than 30 designers, mostly from Japan as well as South Korea, Taiwan and the UK.

The projects, many of which were developed especially for the exhibition, were displayed on white plinths throughout Nihombashi Mitsui Hall, with each...