Yves Béhar Is Buying Back Fuseproject, and Other News

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Yves Béhar Is Buying Back Fuseproject

In 2014, news broke that Chinese conglomerate BlueFocus Communication Group was buying a 75 percent stake in Fuseproject for a reported $46.7 million. Nearly a decade later, as recession fears loom and venture capital wanes, founder and industrial designer Yves Béhar is buying the design agency back. The move will enable Béhar, who has held steady as CEO since the acquisition, to transform Fuseproject into an entrepreneurial design powerhouse by collaborating with startups as equity partners or co-founders. He has also taken on the role of chief creative officer and co-founder of electric vehicle startup Telo, working on a compact EV pickup truck with Fuseproject as an equity partner. Sporting a compact build, the vehicle seeks to provide an alternative to the hulking “death machines” on the road today. —Ryan Waddoups

Davide Renne, the newly appointed creative director of Moschino, dies suddenly at 46.

Davide Renne, the newly appointed creative director of Moschino, has died at 46. His death, reportedly due to a heart attack, was confirmed by Moschino’s parent group Aeffe. His career included two decades at Gucci, where he served as head designer for womenswear. Renne had just begun his role at Moschino on November 1, nine days before his death, with his much-anticipated debut collection scheduled to be unveiled during Milan Fashion Week in February. He succeeded Jeremy Scott, who had held the creative director position at Moschino for a decade. Renne was highly regarded in the Italian fashion industry and was known for his close collaboration with former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele, who expressed his deep affection and fond memories of Renne in an Instagram post. 

Helen Frankenthaler’s nephew is suing her foundation for “destroying” her legacy.

Frederick Iseman, a nephew of Abstract Expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler, has filed a lawsuit accusing the foundation responsible for safeguarding her legacy of tarnishing it and its board members of misusing its funds. A former board member for two decades, Iseman alleges he was forced out due to the self-dealing actions of the remaining directors Clifford Ross, Lise Motherwell, and Michael Hecht. Iseman claims that Ross engaged in questionable transactions related to grants, Motherwell used her position to curate an exhibition and donate artworks, and Hecht hired his accounting firms for foundation work, creating a conflict of interest. Iseman is seeking the removal of the trio from the board and his reinstatement.

The Sunset Strip will get an orb-shaped broadcast studio à la the Las Vegas Sphere.

While Los Angeles won’t see a colossal venue like the $2.3-billion Las Vegas Sphere, the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood is poised to introduce its own orb-shaped landmark, albeit on a smaller scale. The Sphere on Sunset, a project by property owner Sunset View Plaza, will replace an existing cafe, newsstand, and video screens. The new development features a 49-foot-diameter glass sphere hovering above a pedestrian plaza, intended to house a broadcast venue with reception, green rooms, and a rooftop terrace for public viewing. Designed by Saee Studio, it represents a distinct addition to West Hollywood’s landscape, aiming to attract visitors with interactive broadcast-themed elements while preserving sightlines for neighboring structures like the Pendry Hotel & Residences.

The global wellness economy hits a record $5.6 trillion with signs of further growth.

New research from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) indicates a remarkable resurgence in the global wellness market since the pandemic’s economic shocks. The wellness industry, which contracted to $4.4 trillion in 2020 from a record $4.9 trillion in 2019, has rebounded significantly, growing by 27 percent to reach $5.6 trillion. The GWI forecasts a strong future for the wellness economy, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 8.6 percent through 2027, projecting a market value of $8.5 trillion—almost double its size in 2020. The GWI plans to release an annual Global Wellness Economy Report and a companion Country Rankings Report to provide comprehensive data and insights into wellness markets globally.

Brooklyn Museum workers ratify their first union contract, narrowly avoiding a strike.

Members of the Brooklyn Museum’s union have ratified their first contract by an overwhelming majority, averting a planned strike. The agreement includes a pay increase of over 23 percent over three years, minimum pay rate increases, and guaranteed annual raises. It also reduces healthcare premium costs, expands healthcare benefits to part-time staff, establishes a professional development fund, and includes other benefits such as a joint labor-management committee and layoff protection. The agreement marks a significant step forward for the union, representing roughly 130 full-time and part-time workers across various departments.

Today’s attractive distractions:

Ugly Betty took us on a design journey through gloriously maximalist spaces.

A researcher has identified the mystery man on Led Zeppelin’s IV album cover.

Nadine Estero brings anime-inspired dishes to life on TikTok and Instagram.

Bryan West landed a job reporting on Taylor Swift—and now faces the internet.