VCR Home Page Blog

Virtually CNC

2009-11-10T13:05:00.002-08:00

Learncnc.org offers a free video "tutorial" that presents an interactive 3-D environment for exploring different elements of CNC machining and tooling.

Starck Reality

2009-11-10T13:05:00.001-08:00

Though many designers critized Philippe Starck’s recent UK "reality" BBC TV show, Design Week presents a somewhat more charitable opinion.

Book Pick: Furniture Wars

2009-11-10T13:04:00.001-08:00

Furniture Wars by Michael K. Dugan investigates the impact of globalization on the American furniture sector over the past few decades and suggests new business models to combat off-shore competition.

Eco Table Talks

2009-11-10T13:03:00.001-08:00

The Sustainable Furnishings Council publishes a transcript of a round-table discussion between American designers Thom Filicia, Alexander Julian and Vladimir Kagan on the topic of sustainable design.

Island Innovation

2009-11-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

Value-added wood product producers on Vancouver Island can take advantage of the Sustainable Wood Products Conference & Tradeshow at the Conference Centre in Nanaimo. November 20-21.

45 Degree Connection

2009-11-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Swiss manufacturer Lamello introduces Clamex P, rapid-assembly connectors for cabinet mitre joints that install with proprietory CNC tooling and winner of a 2009 Interzum award.

Archive Activated

2009-11-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

High Wycombe library displays photographic and print materials from Buckinghamshire New University's new High Wycombe Furniture Archive. To December 30.

Made Mouldless

2009-11-01T13:33:00.002-08:00

Dutch designer Chris Kabel's chair and bench (click "products>seam chair") won this year's Doen Materiaalprijs. Dezeen provides details on both prototypes produced from heat-fused polypropylene fabric (with no costly moulds) at the University of Delft.

Tweetless

2009-11-01T13:33:00.001-08:00

Tyler Brûlé, editor-in-chief of Monocle magazine, delightedly reports in his Financial Times column that on a recent trip to Japan he discovered his Japanese colleagues had never heard of Twitter.

First Re:Visions

2009-11-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

Modern Painters magazine and London-based Louise Blouin Media sponsor the inaugural Re:Vision Design Awards. Submission deadline November 17, 2010.

Prototype Placement

2009-11-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

Designers with furniture prototypes selected for ICFF Studio receive free display space at ICFF, New York, May 15-18, 2010. Submission deadline January 15, 2010.

VIA at 30

2009-11-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Centre Pompidou hosts the exhibit Via Design 3.0 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Paris-based VIA (Valorisation de l'Innovation dans l'Ameublement) and includes forty prototypes by leading French furniture designers. Opens December 16.

Foam Alternative

2009-10-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

Made from agricultural waste materials, the new and affordable EcoCradle™ packaging material can substitute for petroleum-based foams without loss of strength or cushioning properties.

Setuation

2009-10-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Core77 design magazine analyzes Herman Miller's relatively inexpensive new Setu office chair, designed by Berlin-based Studio 7.5.

Shermag Settled

2009-10-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Furniture Today columnist Michael Knell details how Maskinonge-based Groupe Bermex, with the approval of the Québec Superior Court, acquired 80.5 per cent of the shares of Shermag Inc. and intends to increase their share holdings to over 88 per cent, allowing Shermag to become a private company.

Green Gauge

2009-10-20T15:56:00.002-07:00

The Green Good Design award recognizes "individuals, companies, organizations, governments, and institutions — together with their products, services, programs, ideas, and concepts — that have forwarded exceptional thinking and inspired greater progress toward a more healthier and more sustainable universe." Deadline November 1.

Swedish Search

2009-10-20T15:56:00.001-07:00

Sweden's Berhin Studios sponsors the Green Furniture Award for designs that incorporate sustainable materials, production methods, efficient disassembling and recycling. Deadline October 26.

Design Fixer

2009-10-20T15:55:00.001-07:00

Metropolis magazine's contest, One Design Fix for the Future, seeks "ONE design fix to the designed environment — the products you use, your home, your workplace, your city, or any commercial application — that, in scale or as inspiration, can improve our future." Deadline January 29.

Habitat Listing?

2009-10-20T15:54:00.001-07:00

BBC News reports the UK's Habitat furniture chain, founded by Sir Terence Conran in the 1960s, may be put up for sale by its owners, the family of Ikea's founder.

BestIZM

2009-10-20T15:53:00.001-07:00

Edmonton-based furniture manufacture IZM, featured by Value+Created Review in 2008, won the "best product of the year" award at IIDEX/NeoCon in Toronto. Source National Post.

Choice Chair

2009-10-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Andrej Blazon's Charity Chair, which can be manufactured from a range of recycled sheet materials, wins this year's One Good Chair Award.

Liverpool Eco

2009-10-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

The Liverpool Design Festival includes an exhibit of eco design products (with furniture) at Crypt Hall, Metropolitan Cathedral. Opens October 30.

Varied Opinions

2009-09-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

Philippe Starck's new Masters chair design for Kartell generates considerable debate on the Design Addict website.

Snap to It

2009-09-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Inventors of new furniture hardware components and related accessories can enter their bright ideas in Mockett's 24th annual design competition. Deadline October 5.

Costing CAD

2009-09-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Cadalyst website outlines the current cost of CAD software, promotions and related licensing restrictions for seven international software developers.