designbeans: November 2005 Archives

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|design and invention

November 28, 2005 _trends

Unfortunately most of designers today do not conceive themselves as inventors, and therefore the majority of new products stand for their aesthetical value. Not that style is less important but I believe innovation and invention are the true engine of design.
That is basically why I appreciate so much the kind of projects born after deep research, the ones that realise ideas and not only shapes, that are conceived defying the potentials of technologies and materials, that stand out for their absolute novelty or for little clever solutions that make the difference.
Materials and technology are a huge innovation factor and when they have the power to modify the design process, to reinvent the way a product is conceived; then you need great talents to come out with projects that could have never been thought before. I believe that is the case of Materialise.MGX, Freedom of Creation and Patrick Jouin that are proposing a complete new way of designing and realising an object thanks to Rapid Manufacturing.

Above pictures of Solid chair and stool by french designer Patrick Jouin made with stereolithography.

Above 3D textiles by Freedom of Creation. The company founded in 2000 in the Netherlands has a wide experience in research and cutting edge technologies.

Below some light fixtured from Materialise.MGX collection. The belgium company was one of the first to use the Rapid Prototyping techniques Stereolithography (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) in limited design series.

Posted by gp at 11:41 AM

|Polder

November 24, 2005 _furniture

Polder sofa designed by Hella Jongerius for Vitra's Home Collection is an outstanding piece of high quality furniture and design to the finest details.
Inspired by diverse techniques such as tailoring, collage and embroidery, she has successfully mixed them into a delightful contemporary design language. Different sized cushions upholstered in five different coordinated colours and textures, and large buttons made of natural materials like horn, bamboo and mother of pearl that are sewn to the cushions with bold broad cross stitches using contrasting threads, are the main elements that will probably make Polder a design classic.
Jongerius has wisely played with the potential offered by numerically controlled machines, proposing random stitching of buttons and open variations for the pattern lines in the poufs.

Posted by gp at 12:54 PM

|Whispering Cushion

November 14, 2005 _products

I would love to have this soft tech beauty designed by dutch designer Endry Van Zwam. Whispering Cushion is a wireless speaker that will make your relax a lot more relaxing.

via ID

Posted by gp at 10:28 AM

|Diana Table

November 10, 2005 _furniture

I consider Konstantin Gcric one of the strongest designers on the field and one of the few doing real industrial design and not just aesthetic exercises.
The Diana Table Series for Classicon is one of the projects that evidences the best of Gcric's skills. Simple, extremely clever use of material and technology, original design style, minimal yet sensual aesthetics and strong attention to functionality and user experience.

Posted by gp at 10:34 AM

|Swedish delight

November 8, 2005 _textiles

Swedish designer Pia Wallen has been designing stunninig objects in felt ever since she graduated from fashion school in 1983.
Her production is characterised by a minimalist and extremely elegant design inspired by the qualities and colours of the Swedish folklore. Among her most popular works the Felt Slippers with contrasting stitches, the silver jewellery and the Felt Bag that has been recently launched in leather by italian Arte&Cuoio.

Posted by gp at 2:33 PM

|One Hour Circle

November 5, 2005 _products

Clever little clock by Everlab, an hourglass of the new milenium.

via core 77

Posted by gp at 2:31 PM

|Mistic

November 4, 2005 _accesories

I love this candleholder made of Pyrex tubes. Arik Levy has given to Mistic a simple yet extremely elegant style that I find irresistible. Manufactured by the Turkish company Gaia&Gino that has recently launched a glassware collection by the Israeli designer.

Posted by gp at 12:58 PM

|Taraxacum and Zeppelin

November 3, 2005 _lighting

Back in 1960 Achille Castiglioni, one of the greatest designers of all times, designed together with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni the cocoon lamps made of metal and sprayed fiberglass for Flos. Forty five years later Marcel Wanders pays tribute to the man he considers his artistic uncle designing Zeppelin, a pendant lamp made of steel and pressed crystal cover.

Posted by gp at 10:50 AM