On a weekend trip to Phoenix while soaking up some vitamin D at the Desert Botanical Garden, I visited Design for a Living World. Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, the exhibit tells the story of 10 products created by designers using sustainable materials.

It was fascinating to see the full story of these varied materials from all over the world transform into beautiful things when put in talented hands. Here are some of the highlights:

• Isaac Mizrahi's dress made of salmon leather paillettes was beautiful, but I was personally drawn to the dyed swatches. Salmon leather is a sustainable option that hopefully will be making its way into more home goods.
• The mid century dream of plywood as a super material is alive. Abbott Miller's prototype uses wood from Bolivia to create 3 chairs per sheet of veneer with minimal waste.
• Checking out Ezri Tarazi's use of bamboo was like walking through a forest in China. Instead of stripping or weaving it, he utilizes the hollow core to house audio equipment, light fixtures, and rods to create totem-like structures that look striking and serve practical purposes.
• Maya Lin uses red maple from a Nature Conservancy forest in Maine to create a stunning bench that highlights the beauty of unmilled wood.

Learn more about the exhibit at The Nature Conservancy. Design for a Living World will be at the Desert Botanical Garden until April 1.

Read more:
• New Super Cool Sustainable Designs

(Images: Tara Bellucci)