About Skyler Johnson

GXVE

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Musical icon and multi-hyphenated artist Gwen Stefani unveils her first-ever beauty brand: GXVE.

GXVE is anything but ordinary. Pronounced “give,” it represents Gwen’s passion for makeup. From her signature sharp brows and bold red lip, Gwen‘s obsession with makeup started at an early age, when she was a makeup artist in Orange County, CA, working the department store beauty counters. Before the music, there was makeup—makeup to get her ready for a show, date night, or even the carpool line.

Nearly 4 years in the making, GXVE was created for the community of creative people who love makeup and find their inspiration there. It offers artistry for all and embraces the “GXVE” and take that happens between beauty lovers when they share their unique forms of makeup self-expression. The “GX” represents the way Gwen has forever signed her name—”G” and “x”—a kiss.

The bold, high-performance GXVE launch collection features a series of products that are quintessentially “Gwen”. In over 30 years, she has never revealed her signature shade of red lipstick. Now, fans can enjoy this Stefani staple in 3 different lip formats. All formulas are clean, vegan and cruelty-free and the lipsticks, eyeshadow quads and brow pencils are housed in eco-conscious refillable packaging.

Lips

Eyes

Brows

Face

All Time Prime ($48) – Oil Primer

All products range from $24-$48 and are now available exclusively HERE and HERE. GXVE by Gwen Stefani will roll out to Sephora brick and mortar stores beginning March 10^th.

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man

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Voted the best comedy for couples, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, presented by Matt Murphy and Shawn Nightingale, has announced the cast for its Chicago debut. Starring Adam Fane as Dan, Emma Jo Boyden as Robyn, and Bradley Allen Meyer as Stefan, Sex Tips will preview April 8^th and open April 23rd for a limited engagement at the Greenhouse Theater Center, located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue. Becoming Off-Broadway’s Longest-Running Comedy in New York and launching a national tour before making its Las Vegas debut, this “uproariously funny” show is finally bringing its “big laughs and naughty fun,” taking the audience on a hilarious and wild ride where no topic is taboo and the insider ‘tips’ come straight from the source: a gay man.

“I feel incredibly blessed to get to work with such a talented and group of actors for our Chicago premiere,” said Matt Murphy, Playwright and Producer of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. “I have no doubt Adam, Emma, and Bradley are going to have the audience in stitches throughout our run and I can’t wait to see them shine on the stage!”

The play is set at a local university auditorium where the English department holds its monthly meet the authors event. Robyn is the shy and studious moderator of the event and this month’s featured author is Dan Anderson of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. With the help of a hunky stage assistant named Stefan, Dan aims to turn this meet the authors event upside down with a highly theatrical, audience interactive sex tip seminar.

Written and directed by Matt Murphy, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man features Adam Fane as seen in Rock of Ages (National Tour); Ms. Blakk for President (Steppenwolf) and Jersey Boys (Norwegian), Emma Jo Boyden, as seen in A Recipe for Disaster (Windy City Playhouse), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Drury Lane); and Hamlet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), and Bradley Allen Meyer, an actor who studied at the Atlantic Theater Company, known for Chicago Fire (2012), Soundtrack (2019), and Black and Blue (2018). The production features scenic design by Luke Cantarella, lighting design by Brian Tovar, costume design by Tilly Grimes, and projection and sound design by Randy Blair.

Hailed by critics as “one of the best date-night shows of the year,” Sex Tips has recently been showcased on television in three different reality series whose stars performed in the show, including Kendra On Top, Real Housewives of New York, and Shahs of Sunset. The popularity of this production is no surprise given its source material is the international best-selling book of the same title, which has been published in over 50 different countries and translated into 17 different languages. Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man will run at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago previewing April 8 and opening April 23 for a limited engagement through July 2, 2022.

Shenseea × 21 Savage

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Shenseea released the official music video for her hit track: “R U That” featuring Atlanta rapper 21 Savage. Directed as a casting call, Shenseea is seen in vignettes of themed rooms auditioning men while in head-to-toe jewel-toned looks. “R U That” is currently on radio rotation at the #25 spot on mainstream R&B/Hip Hop and appears on Shenseea’s album ALPHA—which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Reggae album charts. To watch the video, click HERE.

Shenseea is one of Jamaica’s brightest dancehall acts cosigned by some of music’s biggest luminaries including Cardi B, Rihanna, Ye, Christina Aguilera, Drake and beyond including her most recent collaborators Megan Thee Stallion and 21 Savage. The road towards ALPHA has been a legendary one for Shenseea who has been crowned Apple‘s “Up Next” artist, MTV‘s “Push” artist as well as iHeart Radio‘s “On The Verge” artist. In 2021, she was tapped by Kanye West to add her rap and vocal stylings to two different songs on the now Grammy-nominated DONDA (“Ok Ok Pt 2” and “Pure Souls”) and played her first-ever U.S. festival with Rolling Loud Miami and New York. With her talents in songwriting, performing and directing, Shenseea is set to be one of the year’s breakout acts to watch.

About Shenseea

Shenseea has ascended through Jamaica’s dancehall ranks to become one of the genre’s most sought-after artists. She broke through the scene with her viral single “Loodi” feat. Vybez Kartel; the following year, Shenseea toured Europe with dancehall superstar Sean Paul. In 2019, Shenseea signed with Interscope Records (under Rick Immigrants Records) and released her first label single “Blessed” featuring Tyga (now with over 57M views on Youtube). The track which came with a music video was praised by the likes of Hypebeast, FADER, PAPER Magazine, VIBE and more; it quickly racked up over 1,000,000 views overnight. While at work on her debut album, Shenseea has been feeding her fans with one-off singles like Bad Habit, Good Comfort, Sidechick Song and more, racking millions of plays across DSPs and Youtube.

Visit Cappadocia

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Cappadocia, in eastern Turkey enthralls visitors with its unusual conical structures called “fairy chimneys,” its centuries-old underground cities and its early Christian-era churches carved into caves in the rock. Turkey’s tourism officials are expecting visitor numbers in 2022 to skyrocket. The signs are clear: Cappadocia hosted an extraordinary number of visitors in the first quarter of 2022, a whopping 54% increase over the first quarter of 2021.

Cappadocia gained fame in antiquity for its topography born millions of years ago as the African and Asian tectonic plates created a landscape like no other on planet Earth. Some say the best way to see Cappadocia’s landscape is on a hot air balloon ride. The colorful balloons launch around five o clock in the morning from the village of Göreme, and give visitors sweeping views of Pigeon Valley, Zemi Valley, Love Valley and Pasabag Monks Valley, along with the famous fairy chimneys and other fanciful rock formations.

The ultimate bucket-list experience is to stay one of the many “cave hotels,” ranging from simple to five-star. Rock-carved rooms bring history and modern amenities together in a luxurious blend. Many cave-hotel rooms have both views, and private floodlit indoor pools deep inside mountains.

Known since antiquity as the land of beautiful horses,” many visitors go horseback riding, particularly phenomenal at sunset. The Ihlara Valley is perfect for strolls or hikes, with stops for Turkish coffee at gazebos along the Melendiz stream. Jeep and ATV safaris take travelers to hard-to-reach churches and hidden valleys.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Göreme Open Air Museum is a complex of frescoed, rock-carved churches that recall the area’s earlier inhabitants, including Assyrians, Hittites, Phrygians, Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines, early Christians and the arrival of Islam. The Three Beauties fairy chimney formation in Ürgüp is one of the region’s most-photographed sites. The 18^th-century Church of Saints Constantine and Helena in Mustafapaşa was built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I. Ortahisar Castle is a striking citadel carved into the rock.

Cappadocia has been inhabited for centuries, often underground. Multi-level subterranean cities, carved entirely from rock, date to the seventh and eighth centuries BC. The underground cities of Kaymaklƒ, Derinkuyu, Mazi and Tatlarin open a window into the daily life of their inhabitants, where rock-carved tunnels connect dozens of living, worship and storage areas.

Like the cuisines of every other region in Turkey, Cappadocian cuisine was shaped by the area’s cultural heritage and its local seasonal products. A delicious egg dish, menemen, is complemented by fragrant Turkish tea. Apricot stew, pottery kebabs and zerdeli saffron rice are musts, as are Cappadocia’s wines produced from centuries-old vines.

Cappadocia’s fairy-tale landscape makes it a popular wedding and honeymoon destinations, romantic nights in caves, sunset wine on the terrace, hot air balloons, and Turkish baths amount to an unforgettable combination.

Cappadocia is a little over an hour’s journey from Istanbul, and a “must-include” for many American visitors to Turkey.

Hulk Nine

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This July, climb aboard Starship Hulk and crash-land on HULK PLANET, an entire world of Hulk-like creatures thriving under the heat of a gamma star! Writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Ottley will take readers to this exciting new locale in a new story arc beginning in “HULK #9.” The saga will explore what a society built by Hulks for Hulks would operate like and will introduce a host of new gamma-fueled characters including the planet’s ruler, MONOLITH.

Thoroughly shaken by his battle with Thor in “Banner of War” and by Titan’s impact on his friends, Bruce Banner decides that his best company is himself—and only himself. As he sets Starship Hulk on a faraway course, he begins to reckon with what it means to be healthy—and encounters an alternative to isolation he’d never thought to dream of. Bruce finally found what should be the ultimate paradise but he can’t shake thoughts of the past or the nagging suspicion that Monolith isn’t being totally honest about what she wants from the Hulk.

On creating Monolith, Ottley said, “Donny Cates is the kind of writer that feeds the artist what they are best at and pushes them to new heights with what they can do. He’s the type of writer that writes as if he has a billion dollar budget. Which is fine with me! I get to stretch my art skills and go all out. He knows my work well over the years and knows what I can do, and he knows what he wants to see me do. So we work amazingly well together and are having way too much fun slamming this book out and giving it everything we got. I’ve been designing and creating new characters with Donny on this run and issue #9 will be some completely new faces, with the most impactful being Monolith. She is a tall, Hulk-ish woman that became leader of this strange world our Hulk showed up on. And I can’t wait to show you all what we’ve made, the smashing shall be insane!”

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show

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It’s time to kick butts and eat nuts! Marvel Entertainment and SiriusXM announced their newest original scripted podcast, Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show!, is now available on all platforms.

The six-episode podcast series is written by Ryan North, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, and has original music by Justin Huertas and Steven Tran. The series stars Milana Vayntrub as Squirrel Girl and features performances by Crystal Lucas Perry (Nancy Whitehead), Leo Sheng (Koi Boi), Davied Morales (Chipmunk Hunk), Peter Hermann (Brain Drain), Erica Schroeder (Tippy T. Squirrel), and Tina Benko (Rachel Oskar).

Squirrel Girl has taken down Thanos and Doctor Doom—but now she faces something far more terrifying… living authentically. The new series follows Empire State University college student Doreen Green, who has recently been outed as a superhero—The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl! Hoping to unify her personas in the public eye, Squirrel Girl has created a new student radio show on ESU’s own college station. With the help of her best girl-friend, Nancy Whitehead, as producer, and her best squirrel-friend, Tippy-Toe in the booth; Doreen is ready to help more people than ever with her greatest superhero advice. And when the going gets rough, she can always lean on her heroic friends: Iron Man, Spider-Man, Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boi, and Brain Drain.

However, with a call-in show comes caller anonymity and not all the folks on the line want help—some want to commit crime! When a suspicious caller wreaks havoc on New York City, Squirrel Girl and her friends will have to put their heroics to the test and prove that once and for all Doreen Green is the UNBEATABLE Squirrel Girl.

On the series, writer Ryan North says, “For me, a lot of the fun of the project initially was getting to work in a new medium, one where everything that happened had to be communicated through sound. Of course, once we started recording, my favorite part was hearing the actors bring these characters to life. Milana and Crystal are Doreen and Nancy, and the way Leo and Davied and Peter brought Koi Boi, Chipmunk Hunk, and Brain Drain to life was just exceptional.” North continues, “The podcast continues right where the comics left off, so long-time fans will feel instantly at home, but it’s also built for new people who maybe have never encountered the world of the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl before.”

This is not North’s first foray into writing Squirrel Girl. His comic series, THE UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL, had a four-year run and garnered a devoted fan following. Like the comics, the podcast series has Squirrel Girl’s same uber-positive, fun-loving tone that fans have come to know and love. And for fans who want even more of Doreen Green, North wrote an all-new Squirrel Girl vertical comic tie-in which launches today on Marvel Unlimited. The SQUIRREL GIRL one-shot, which is a prequel to the podcast, is now available on the app in the exclusive Infinity Comics format.

The series is produced in association with Radio Point by Bernie Kaminski from Radio Point and Brad Barton, MR Daniel, Zachary Goldberg, and Larissa Rosen from Marvel. It’s executive produced by Alex Bach and Houston Snyder from Radio Point and Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Daniel Fink, Lorraine Cink, Stephen Wacker, Ellie Pyle, and Jill DuBoff from Marvel.

The first episode of Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show! is available now on all podcast platforms. Fans can also get early access to next week’s episode starting today via the SXM App or by subscribing to Marvel Podcasts Unlimited on Apple Podcasts, which also has exclusive bonus content! Future episodes will be available exclusively via the SXM App and Marvel Podcasts Unlimited for one week before being available widely on Pandora, Stitcher, and all major podcast platforms in the U.S. Learn more at HERE.

Behind the Wheel: Truck Week

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All next week, NewsNation will be hitting the road with an all-new series of stories from the eyes of the American Trucker for “Behind the Wheel: Truck Week.” NewsNation will take an in-depth look at the industry that is driving America—moving more than 72% of the nation’s goods. These are the real stories about the dedicated people who are helping to drive the American economy by delivering goods and creating new job opportunities. Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at what life is really like on the road for a trucker and get a preview of the newest technology that will steer trucking into the future.

NewsNation is proud to take a moment and send a ‘trucker salute’ to the men and women who keep our country moving, even through challenging times. Available to discuss what they have discovered on the scene throughout America is NewsNation’s Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin and NewsNation’s Dallas Bureau Correspondent Markie Martin.

On Wednesday, April 20, NewsNation will be releasing their latest poll with Decision Desk HQ, topics will include Covid, Supply Chain and Truckers. Additional highlights from the week’s programming are below.

Monday, April 18^th: The Importance of the Trucker to the American Economy

NewsNation’s Kelsey Kernstine takes viewers behind the scenes to see the challenges Americans face through the eyes of the trucker. As consumer demand for fast delivery grows, we ask truckers how job shortages, inflation, and gas prices are impacting the country.

Tuesday, April 19^th: Truckers Wanted: Job Crisis

Truck drivers are the backbone of American transportation infrastructure, but the industry faces a growing job crisis. NewsNation’s Nancy Loo looks to uncover why it’s hard to recruit and explores topics like having more women and teens behind the wheel.

Wednesday, April 20^th: Life on the Road

NewsNation’s Brian Entin goes on the road from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to understand the life of a truck driver. He speaks with truckers about challenges on the road—from lack of parking to fatigue and loneliness—sharing stories from those who work behind the wheel.

Thursday, April 21^st: Truckers Get Rich

Trucking can provide a comfortable living after only a few short years on the road. NewsNation’s Nancy Loo reports on the financial aspects of this lucrative industry.

Friday, April 22^nd: The Future of Trucking

As technology advances, and self-driving vehicles become more of a reality, NewsNation’s Markie Martin reports on what trucking may look like in the future. Reporting from a 70 mile ride in a driverless tractor, he looks to uncover how the industry can embrace technology to compete with companies like Tesla.For more information on Truck Week, click HERE.

Parker McCollum – Perfectly Lonely

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MCA Nashville recording artist and recent ACM “New Male Artist of the Year” winner Parker McCollum has released his Amazon Original cover of John Mayer‘s hit track, “Perfectly Lonely,” available now. Listen HERE.

“Everyone knows Mayer is top two all-time for me,” says McCollum. “So, when I got the opportunity to cover one of his songs, I had to do it. I just hope that if he ever hears it, he won’t hate it”

Lately, McCollum has been taking the Country music world by storm! In addition to his recent ACM win, he has been celebrating incredible milestones such as achieving his second #1 hit with his current single, “To Be Loved By You,” which follows his RIAA Certified Platinum hit, “Pretty Heart,” and performing to a sold-out crowd of over 73,000 at the famed RODEOHOUSTON. His debut album, Gold Chain Cowboy, was the highest first-week debut album of 2021 and since then he has amassed over 1 billion LTD domestic streams.

Fans can hear Parker McCollum’s cover of “Perfectly Lonely” on the Texas Forever playlist or by simply asking “Alexa, play the Amazon Original from Parker McCollum” in the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android, and on Alexa-enabled devices. In addition to the new track, Amazon Music listeners can access hundreds of Amazon Originals, featuring both emerging and established artists across numerous genres, available to stream and purchase only on Amazon Music.

For a list of McCollum’s upcoming tour dates, click HERE.

About Parker McCollum

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Parker McCollum released his major label debut last fall. His Hollywood Gold EP was met with widespread critical acclaim and it became the top-selling debut country EP of 2020. “To Be Loved By You” is the newest release off McCollum’s debut album Gold Chain Cowboy. Recently, Parker also took home the coveted “New Male Artist of the Year” Award at the 2022 ACM Awards in Las Vegas, NV.

In November of 2021, McCollum made his late-night TV debut performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. McCollum has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Rolling Stone, Billboard, SiriusXM, CMT, RIAA and more with American Songwriter noting, “The Texas native teeters on the edge of next-level superstardom.” A dedicated road warrior, McCollum already sells out venues across the country including record-breaking crowds in Austin (7500+), Lubbock (7700+), Jackson, MS (5000+), Kearney, NE (3000+), Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and three nights at Fort Worth’s iconic Billy Bob’s Texas. He made his debut playing at the famed Grand Ole Opry last year and recently made his RODEOHOUSTON debut performing for a sold-out crowd and turning his childhood dream into a reality.

Duke Deuce × Dante Smith – Running Out of Love

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Emerging as a genre-shifting force, critically acclaimed rising Memphis star Duke Deuce unveils a new single and music video entitled “Running Out of Love” [feat. Dante Smith]. Listen to it HERE via Quality Control Music/Motown Records/Made Men Movement. Watch the music video HERE.

On the track, guitar wails in the background as Duke’s hypnotic melodies take hold. He leans into another side of his sound with chantable harmonies and otherworldly arena-ready energy. In the accompanying video, he rocks a black bandanna, black shades, and black-studded leather vest as he performs with rockstar-level charisma. It hints at just how dynamic he is!

It arrives on the heels of “Falling Off” feat. Rico Nasty. The latter has generated 588K Spotify streams and 391K YouTube views on the music video. Attracting praise, Complex and Rolling Stone plugged it, and UPROXX raved, “Over a fitting metal guitar riff that evokes the wild energy of the glam-rock 80’s rappers boast of their inexhaustible energy, scream-rapping, “it ain’t no fallin’ off’.”

Its predecessor “I Ain’t Worried Bout It” remains a fan favorite as well. Receiving acclaim right out of the gate, Rap Radar observed, “The Memphis star moves fearlessly,” while REVOLT raved, “Duke Deuce is on a roll.”

Stay tuned for so much more from Duke Deuce very soon.

About Duke Deuce

Crunk music was never dead, but Memphis rapper Duke Deuce has taken it upon himself to inspire a new generation to tear the club up. With inexhaustible energy and a booming voice, the 28-year-old has been reclaiming the ecstatic subgenre for his hometown, making music as grim as it is gleeful, and turning up all the while. Rapping about harrowing realities and detailing the benefits of his hard-won success, Duke has reached millions of rap fans who dig his music’s intensity as much as they do the playful dancing (a.k.a. gangsta walking) he does in his videos. With each release, Duke makes the case that crunk is more than music. It’s a way of life.

Loire Valley

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2022 is the perfect year to visit the Loire Valley, home to France’s iconic châteaux, incredible gardens and world-renowned wines. This year will include new hotel openings, anniversaries, exhibitions and more throughout the region.

Openings

Fleur de Loire: This new 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel and gastronomic restaurant helmed by two-Michelin-starred Chef Christophe Hay is set to open its doors on June 13, 2022. A lifelong project for Hay, the new property aims to offer an oasis of tranquility that promotes the riches and heritage of the Loire region, while also promoting sustainable travel. Housed in a 17th-century building designed by the brother of King Louis XIII, Fleur de Loire will feature 44 rooms (including 11 suites), a gourmet restaurant, bistro, pastry kiosk, swimming pool and state-of-the-art Sisley spa. Hay’s restaurant will showcase the best of the region’s unique terroir, including produce from local farmers, wine from Cheverny and produce from the onsite garden.
Le Bois des Chambres: This hotel, the first-ever at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, is set to open this spring. Designed by architect Patrick Bouchain, the hotel will feature 39 uniquely designed rooms and suites, as well as a gourmet restaurant, and original artworks on display throughout the property. Rooms are divided between a restored farmhouse and a new build, each of which has a different theme dedicated to the natural surroundings of the hotel.
Villa Monin: This new exhibition space dedicated to Monin gourmet flavored syrups is set to open its doors this summer. Located in the medieval city of Bourges, the space will offer a cabinet of curiosities around flavors and aromas, an immersive tour of syrup production, cooking classes and workshops, as well as a syrup tasting bar. Local Bourges confectioner Daniel Mercier will also offer a chocolate-themed tour within the space.

Exhibitions

La Renaissance des Femmes at Château Royal de Blois: A favorite residence of seven kings and ten queens of France, the Chateau is hosting an exhibition dedicated to three of its famous former residents: Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers and Marguerite de Valois. Titled La Renaissance des Femmes (The Renaissance of Women), this exhibition highlights the power—sometimes restrained, marginalized or even forgotten—of these three iconic Renaissance figures.
Agnès Sorel, L’influenceuse at The Royal City of Loches: This royal city is celebrating the 600th anniversary of the birth of Agnès Sorel, mistress of King Charles VII, who gave her the domain of Loches. To mark the occasion, this exhibition, Agnès Sorel, l’influenceuse (Agnès Sorel, the influencer), aims to offer a better understanding of the role and influence of this “Lady of Beauty” in the kingdom’s politics and society.

The Ideal Garden at Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire: The garden is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the International Garden Festival, which has been a major destination for contemporary creation and landscape design since 1992. This year’s theme is centered around the “ideal garden,” questioning our current relationship with nature due to global warming, urbanization and more. This year, designers were encouraged to showcase their innovative visions by using new materials, plants, techniques and more.