design blog - DesignAddict

New lighting family 'Sollos'

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:28:00 +0200

German lighting producer idee.design.licht has launched the “Sollos” light series, a minimalist concept from designer Ralf Brenner based on a compact, energy-efficient ring-shaped fluorescent lamp.

The typical characteristics of the series are its red details, as for instance the aluminium dimmer at the centre of the base, which allows adjusting the light intensity from bright beams to a diffuse-cosy glowing.

Who says poo is taboo?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:30:00 +0200

The Bathroom Reinvented

A former editor at Dwell, Virginia Gardiner is an industrial designer at Design London Imperial College, where she is developing and promoting her plumbing-free toilet, the Gardiner CH4.

"In America, we have a flush and forget mentality," she points out. But 2.6 billion people in the world lack any form of functional toilet, and humans create an average of two pounds of excretion per person per day.

In the video, Virginia shares the ins and outs of her low-cost, low-tech concept for a waterless toilet system. She reviews some new ideas for enabling better sanitation in even the most remote areas of the world, and breaks down the details on turning human waste into a high-value commodity.

DESIGN 21 announces winner of Sustainable Materials Challenge

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:32:00 +0200

DESIGN 21: Social Design Network is happy to announce that Swedish furniture designer, Charlie Davidson, is the winner of its Going With the Grain Challenge for his ingenious "Uni Table" design.

Developed by The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Chapter of the Forest Stewardship Council to promote conscientious consumerism through responsible design, Going With the Grain called on designers to conceptualize an object using a single sheet of FSC-certified plywood without the use of hardware or glue. As the overall winner, Davidson will receive a one-year membership to Material Connexion and a manufactured sample of his design. A prototype will also be auctioned to support The Nature Conservancy's sustainable forestry work.

Uni Table by Charlie Davidson

"My initial response to reading the brief was quite simply to design a table. The nature of the plywood and its dimensions, particularly its thickness, would best suit such a design. Though a set of shelves or a number of stools could also be produced, the thickness of the material I felt would lead to an over-structured and possibly clumsy design.
The challenge would be to maximize the table surface area whilst leaving enough material for the legs and supporting structure. The choice of using the Alpha system or a traditional would cut style joint would solely depend on either methods suitability taking into account structural loading, re-assembly and ease of manufacture.

To minimize the usage of the plywood I came up with a solution where a pair of legs could be cut from two smaller pieces of ply and creating a jigsaw-like connection to key the leg components together. The two pairs of legs are then joined together with two side rails held in place by 4 pairs of the Alpha system. The table top locks in the side rails.

The top is cut from the underside using a standard 3 degree tapered cutter normally used in machining wooden moulds requiring a draft angle. This produces the tapered edges around the tabletop’s edge and cuts the angled holes into which the legs locate and friction lock into place. The beauty of the round cut maple is maximized by the large table surface with its curved sides flowing with the grain of the veneer.

The completed design can easily be taken apart and reassembled."

'Learning from Nature' 3XN Pavilion

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:44:00 +0200

Self-cleaning surfaces, phase changing materials and built-in sensors that generate energy from the footsteps of the visitors. The 3XN pavilion ‘Learning from Nature’ unites the most advanced technologies and intelligent materials in a preview of the innovative architectural design of tomorrow.

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art invited the Danish architecture firm 3XN to design a pavilion demonstrating cutting edge possibilities within sustainable and intelligent materials. The result is a pavilion that is built of bio composites with integrated intelligence that creates a dynamic interaction with its physical surroundings and its users.

Everything about the pavilion is literally inspired by nature itself: The biological cycle of nature is the fundamental basis for the shape, the materials and the dynamic energy generation. The pavilion is shaped as a Moebius band to symbolize the biological cycle; and the properties of the construction are very like those of nature – for example, the pavilion has a coating of nanoparticles that helps clean the surfaces and clean the air. Additionally, the pavilion is built of biodegradable materials; and as for energy, the pavilion is 100 percent self-sufficient.

Kim Herforth Nielsen, Principal of 3XN, comments on the project:

"The Pavilion has given us the opportunity to showcase the possibilities which exist in building with sustainable and intelligent materials. Our objective has been to show that Green Architecture can be dynamic and active. We often think that we need to minimize use of resources at all costs. Instead of focusing on consuming the least amount of energy, we need to focus on producing and using energy and materials in a more intelligent way than is the case today."

’Learning from Nature’ is unveiled today and can be seen at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark, until October 2009.

Atlas and Booaz by Giorgio Biscaro

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:16:00 +0200

Giorgio Biscaro is informing us about his 2 new products that will be available soon this year:

his Atlas bench for Slide Design

and his Booaz lamp for Bosa Ceramiche

This is the prototype of a table that he showed at the Salone Satellite this year.
It's composed by trapezoidal modules that you can assembly in two different ways to create not only linear tables. The modules can also work as a lighting module or storage module.

Discover Dejavu Home

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:03:00 +0200


'Anish'	'Magazine'

Dejavu Home is a great new collection of furniture that I would like to share with you. The Italian company has presented their lamps and furniture at Milano Superstudio during the last Salone del Mobile.


'Pico'	'Olivia'

'Bone'	'Ariston'

'Qubi'	'Woody'

Pierre Paulin died on June 13 2009

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:12:00 +0200

We were sad to hear that Pierre Paulin died this Saturday at the age of 81 in Montpellier, south-east of France. He will remain in all our memories as one of the major French designers of the 20th century. He leaves us with great classics, most of them produced by the Dutch company Artifort - 'the Tongue', 'the Ribbon', 'the Oyster' and many others.

Pierre Paulin at the 'Atelier de recherche et création - Mobilier National' in 2007
(photo: Olivier Amsellem/Collection Mobilier National)

Pierre Paulin was also known for having created furniture for two presidents of the French Republic, Georges Pompidou and François Mitterand.

Dining-room designed by Pierre Paulin at the Palais de l'Elysée - residence of French President Georges Pompidou (AFP) (photo taken in 1972)

You can see some works of Mr. Paulin here.

Luksus 09 - What is luxury today?

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:02:00 +0200


'101i bicycle' by Vesa Jääskö for Helkama Velox (2005)	'Aki Choklat for Lahtiset' by Aki Choklat for Huopaliike Lahtinen (2009)

What is luxury today? Design Forum Finland’s summer exhibition studies modern varieties and phenomena of luxury. “Luxury” has traditionally referred to opulence, abundance and rare expensive products and designer brands. Today's luxury products emphasize above all good design and their focus is shifting from the objects as such to their different, and even surprising, contexts.


'Nokia Ltd Edition city rubber boots' by Nina Auren & Nokian Jalkineet team for Nokia (2007-2008)	'Puro bathtub' by Arup Product Design for Durat (2007)

'Sense Light Swing' by Alexander Lervik for Saas Instruments (2005)	'Suunto Lumi Florette wristop computer' by Elizabeth Salonen for Suunto (2006)

The concept of luxury has become enmeshed in our everyday lives, while at the same time it is continuously changing. Luxury is being associated more and more with personal choices and traditional, time-consuming skills of the hand and natural, ecological materials but also with new technological applications. Information on the designer and maker, and the working process, makes products unique and desirable.


'X-Frame coffee table' by Tapio Wirkkala for Artek (1958, relaunch 2008)	'Koti dining table' by Saara Renvall for Lundia

Luksus 09
Exhibition from June 12 to - August 30 2009
Design Forum Finland, Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki

University of Washington Design Show 2009

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:35:00 +0200

UW Design Show 2009 is an event showcasing the work of the 2009 graduating students in the University of Washington Design department.

Courses of study balance creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and historical analysis with innovative approaches and solutions to the needs of society.
The discourse is multi-disciplinary and collaborative in nature, and content reflects social responsibility, user experience, emerging technology and experimentation.


'Guiano' by John Deluna The Guiano is a device that documents your musical inspiration anytime and anywhere. A part slides out from the body to reveal guitar strings. How about some piano playing? Flip open the guitar fret interface to reveal a screen and piano keys which slide up from the body.

'Bio Buddy' by Ben Guthrie A biodiesel processor for the home that allows people the convenience of making their own clean fuel, without having to resort to huge and expensive industrial processors, or the dangerous method of constructing it themselves. Concentrating on self-sufficiency, safety, clean aesthetics and a user-interface comparable to successful home appliances.

'Pastry Pen' by Calvin Ku The Pastry Pen is a redesign of a kitchen gadget for Chef'n. The design is made of two different grades of silicone: the top part is made of soft silicone cone and bottom, hard silicone. Pastry Pen is designed for both general and more precise cake decoration.

'Makao' by Jennifer Margell Makao is a modular shelter designed for the slums of Nairobi Kenya. It can be assembled in a number of ways and sizes depending on user need. It collects and filter gray water from the roof, opens to release heat, is affordable, it has an optional bathroom and kitchen module, and the hollow plastic walls are filled with mud on site for insulation.

University of Washington
School of Art
Jacob Lawrence Gallery
Exhibition from June 9 to 20 2009

Bluelounge's StudioDesk - a cable management solution

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:58:00 +0200

StudioDesk is a traditional workspace with a modern twist. It is specifically designed to offer laptop users a clutter-free working environment. Its sliding top surface uncovers a large easily accessed storage compartment that completely conceals all one’s peripheral hardware and their accompanying cables.

Designed by Bluelounge, a multidisciplinary design studio founded in 1999 by designers Dominic Symons and Melissa Sunjaya, with offices both in Los Angeles and Jakarta, Indonesia.

New Chinese Architecture

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:42:00 +0200

Over the last five years, China has experienced an unprecedented boom in architecture and has become the most dynamic and active region in the world. The complex fusion of both Chinese and Western influences has given its architecture a unique style.

This comprehensive, wide ranging book showcases the most exciting projects of recent years, with extensive imagery together with clear line drawings. It covers buildings all over China and of every type and scale: houses, school, universities, offices, retail spaces, galleries and museums.

New Chinese Architecture
Published in April 2009 by Laurence King Publishing

Can you imagine the city skyline of tomorrow?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:00:00 +0200

Designboost has explored the personal viewpoint of sustainable cities of some of the worlds most acknowledged designers. To find out Designboost went to Milan Design Week and made a MiniBoost.

The MiniBoost resulted in thirteen unique interviews. The seven first interviews are released and include personalities like Ilse Crawford, Tom Dixon, Konstantin Grcic, Arik Levy, Ross Lovegrove, Katrin Olina and Satyendra Pakhale.

The questions asked look at sustainable cities from a holistic point of view and touch among other subjects sustainability according to cultural life, emotional amplification and the personal stories of the inhabitants. The questions are written by different Boosters at the DesignBoost 2008 key event "Long Live the City" in Malmö, Sweden. One may say that the MiniBoost is like a relay race with questions as batons passed on to new Boosters.

Listen to what Ilse, Tom, Konstantin, Arik, Ross, Katrin and Satyendra have to say about it.


	Arik Levy at Miniboost Milan

Satyendra Pakhale at Miniboost Milan	Konstantin Grcic at Miniboost Milan

Katrin Olina at Miniboost Milan	Ilse Crawford at Miniboost Milan

Tom Dixon at Miniboost Milan	Ross Lovegrove at Miniboost Milan

Next week Designboost will release six more interviews from the Milan Design Week MiniBoost including Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Kristina Dryza, Richard Hutten, James Irvine, Tim Power and Patricia Urquiola.

Finalists of the Prix Emile Hermes

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:08:00 +0200

The final jury of the 'Prix Emile Hermes' has selected 17 projects from the contest theme 'la légèreté au quotidien / everyday lightness', a contest that was launched in 2008 in all the countries in Europe where Hermès has a commercial base.

The aim was to create an object for everyday life - Simplify use - Optimise function - Give material a spirit - Innovate to make everyday life easier - Create intelligent and user-friendly objects.

The jury unanimously decided not to award a first or second prize for this first edition of the Prix Émile Hermès, but rather to award three third-place prizes.

'Bronco' Rocking stool - Simon Lécureux, Switzerland - third-place prize

'Handbag support' Bag carrier - Bastian Goecke, Germany - third-place prize

'Rolling VS Folding' Weekend bag - Francesco Librizzi / Vittorio Venezia, Italy - third-place prize

[More]

Play All Day - a Book on Design for Children

Thu, 28 May 2009 17:24:00 +0200

The world in which children grow up today is far different compared to decades of the past. Nevertheless, the vast number of products on the market has not kept up with this shift. 'Play All Day' introduces a new and unconventional approach to design for children and presents stimulating and engaging design products and concepts for smart children and smart parents.

It presents examples of innovative and well-designed toys, playgrounds, play environments, room decorations, wall coverings, furniture and kindergarten architecture. In addition to these products, it also presents illustration and photography as well as out-of-the-box ideas and solutions for parents to play with their kids that encourage imagination, hands-on interaction and more active play that talented designers and creative parents are designing for and with their kids.

Book:

Play All Day: Design for Children
By R. Klanten, S. Ehmann
Die Gestalten Verlag

Joe Colombo's iconic Minikitchen

Tue, 26 May 2009 14:12:00 +0200

Italian manufacturer Boffi is reissuing Joe Colombo's Minikitchen, a monobloc kitchen on castors, designed in 1963.

The Minikitchen is now made in Corian® and includes the following functions:
hob unit, mini-refrigerator, drawer, storage compartments, small cutlery drawers, sockets for small electrical appliances, big chopping board and pull-out worktop.