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marni ballhaus. milan design week 2016 preview.

Mar 21, 2016

event> marni ballhaus | viale umbria 42 | thursday 14 april > saturday 16 april

during salone del mobile 2016 marni will be transforming its space at viale umbria 42 into a ballroom, named marni ballhaus.

after looking for marni, the total theatre event that showcased its eyewear line, marni is exploring a different area of performing arts and is using dance to create a link between the new design collection and the traditions of colombia, the country that inspired it.

an invite to discover cumbia, an ancient colombian dance for couples that arose from a blend of diverse rhythms and cultures. marni has put its own individual slant on it, customising the traditional full circular skirts worn by cumbia dancers and the knotted scarves the men wear around their neck.

cumbia’s colorful choreography will form the backdrop for the presentation of marni’s new home furnishing accessories range, created exclusively for milan design week: chairs, chaise longues and rocking chairs sit alongside numerous small tables, lamps and vases made of metal, wood and hand-woven pvc cord in brilliant color combinations. the items on display have all been made in colombia by a group of women who have gained independence and freedom through work.

marni ballhaus is open to the whole city and, as always, the involvement of the public will be a fundamental part of the experience created by marni. from thursday april 14th till saturday april 16th visitors can watch performances by professional dance teachers and also play an active part in demonstrations to learn the cumbia moves and dress in traditional costumes. friday 15th april will focus on children in years four and five of primary school who can come and discover a different culture.

marni ballhaus reaffirms the brand’s commitment to charitable initiatives, as a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the design items will be donated to the [ vimala association ] which supports numerous children’s projects.

it will be possible to purchase the skirts made in the iconic marni fabrics, also available in children’s sizes and sold exclusively online [ marni ] customers can pre-order from thursday april 14th.

before design: classic co-mingles with space&interiors. milan design week 2016

Mar 10, 2016

2016 salone del mobile is set to host three major collateral events (before design: classic, space&interiors and stanze) dedicated to concepts of classic furnishings, architectural finishes and living — the first proposing an interesting dialogue in the context of the numerous contemporary products that debut annually. the ‘classic’ examines the notion of established value, timelessness and memorability and how it relates to creativity, art, design and cinema and how the old can influence the future.

before design: classic is an exhibition event, accompanied by a short film directed by matteo garrone (also the director of the well-known ‘gomorra’), brought together under the artistic leadership of studio ciarmoli queda. it tells the story of the ‘classic’ understood as a cross-cutting category of living that traverses various eras, while preserving its own constant actuality. the film is seen in a purpose-built theatre inspired by the teatro all’antica, a 16th century theatre built in sabbioneta, northern italy. the theatre merges classic language and modern styles to sum up the function of the classic furniture presented in this context.

the exhibition itself is a multi-disciplinary display within a dedicated 800 square meters space inspired by a classic palladian villa. curated by studio ciarmoli queda, a milan-based artistic duo operating in the fields of architecture, art and design. visitors are led through a series of rooms, discovering the different characters and themes of classic furniture, a music space, a light room, to one dedicated to the art of shadows. italian visual artists such as lisa rampilli and marco basta, who will respectively work with velvet and ceramics, created decorative elements inspired by the classic styles on display throughout the exhibition.

the city event linked directly to the salone del mobile.milano will be space&interiors, organized by tmade expo at the mall porta nuova – brera design district: a display of surfaces, flooring, doors and interior finishings curated migliore+servetto architects.

within the ambit of the xxi triennale international exhibition, the salone del mobile hosts stanze. altre filosofie dell’abitare – rooms. novel living concepts — an exhibition curated by beppe finessi, at the palazzo dell’arte in milan from april 2nd to september 12th, 2016.

over the last 50 years, there has been little reflection on the profession of interior architecture. there’s now an accurate perception that the creative discipline has remained a severely undervalued sphere of design over the years, even though it is a prime field of exploration, study and reflection regarding our understanding of how our environment impacts our everyday lives. ‘rooms. novel living concepts’ is geared at underlining a particular remit of interior architecture and providing a vision of home living projected towards the future. the exhibition invites 11 interior architects and designers — alessandro mendini, andrea anastasio, carlo ratti, duilio forte, elisabetta terragni, fabio novembre, francesco librizzi, lazzarini e pickering, manolo de giorgi, marta laudani and marco romanelli, and umberto riva — to envision domestic spaces that illustrate their own philosophies and concepts of living.

cooper hewitt high school student design challenge. #thinkoutside

Jan 17, 2016

cooper hewitt, smithsonian design museum announces the launch of student design challenge #thinkoutside, its first-ever nationwide competition for high school students, inviting them to submit ideas for an outdoor chair inspired by objects from the museum’s collection. organized by cooper hewitt in collaboration with target, the challenge’s winning chair design will be manufactured by the retailer for exclusive use in the museum’s recently redesigned arthur ross terrace and garden. the deadline for entries is feb. 21.

inspiration (above) purse – early 17th century | silk and metallic macramé | museum purchase from au panier fleuri, mcneil and general acquisitions endowment funds. (below) wrapping cloth (pojagi), sewn and pieced silk – ca. 1900 | museum purchase from roy and niuta titus foundation fund.

“as the nation’s design museum, we have the responsibility to encourage and celebrate our country’s aspiring young designers,” said caroline baumann, director of cooper hewitt. “our student design challenge is an amazing opportunity for students to express and share their design creativity with the world, and i am thrilled that cooper hewitt will give these talented young designers recognition for their vision and ingenuity.”

“design is an essential part of target’s dna—it’s infused into the best of everything we do,” said todd waterbury, chief creative officer, target. “working with cooper hewitt, an organization that’s at the epicenter of cultivating and celebrating great design, allows us to share target’s passion with a new audience and connect students to our own design team, helping young designers bring their ideas to life.”

inspiration (above) vase – ca. 1960 | made by salviati & company (murano, italy) | gift of michael lewis balamuth. (below) sugar bowl and creamer – ca. 1928 | designed by ilonka karasz | manufactured by paye & baker manufacturing company | gift of george r. kravis ii.

cooper hewitt will showcase, in a special online exhibition, the designs of five finalists and four honorable mentions, to be announced march 4. the winner will be announced on april 4, and the winning design will be manufactured into seven limited-edition chairs—five will be installed in cooper hewitt’s arthur ross terrace and garden and unveiled during national design week from oct. 15–23, and two will be awarded to the winning designer.

additionally, the finalists will work with members of target’s internal design team, via videoconference in early march, to help them refine their chair designs in advance of the presentation stage of the challenge. during the weekend of april 1, each finalist will visit new york city to attend a workshop with target designers at cooper hewitt, and to present his or her design to the student design challenge judges.

inspiration (above) man’s hat (ashetu) (cameroon), mid- to late 20th century | crocheted cotton, wood splints. museum purchase through gift of mrs. william goulding. (below) ph artichoke hanging lamp – 1958 | poul henningsen | manufactured by louis poulson & co

caroline baumann and todd waterbury will be joined by a world-class panel of creative experts to evaluate the finalists’ designs and select a winner in early april, including walter hood, principal and founder, hood design; steven keating, head of performance footwear design, puma; rachel shechtman, founder, story; tana smith, youtube star “tanamontana100” and author; and tony whitfield, associate professor of art and design, parsons school of design. susanna sirefman, president of dovetail design strategists, is the competition advisor overseeing the development and management of the competition.

in mid-may, the winning designer will travel to target’s headquarters in minneapolis, where target designers will give the winner a firsthand look at the prototyping and manufacturing process for his or her chair.

the student design challenge is an extension of cooper hewitt’s educational outreach initiatives: designprep offers free in-depth design education programs to more than 1,000 new york city high school students each year, introducing them to college and career opportunities in design, and design in the classroom, which introduces students in grades k–12 to design thinking and learning through interactive workshops, has reached 80,000 students in six pilot cities with plans underway to take the program nationwide.

for more information about the student design challenge #thinkoutside, including eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, rules and conditions, and resources for students and teachers, visit [ cooper hewitt | design challenge ] the website also features a comprehensive design lesson plan that teachers may use to encourage their students to participate in the challenge.

founded in 1897, [ cooper hewitt ] is the only museum in the united states devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. on dec. 12, 2014, cooper hewitt opened in the renovated and restored carnegie mansion, which offers 60 percent more exhibition space to showcase one of the most diverse and comprehensive collections of design works in existence. the renovation of the carnegie mansion and museum campus was recognized with leed silver certification. currently on view are 9 exhibitions and installations featuring hundreds of objects throughout four floors of the mansion, many of which draw from the museum’s permanent collection of more than 210,000 objects that span 30 centuries. the fifth installment of the museum’s popular contemporary design exhibition series, “beauty―cooper hewitt design triennial,” on view from feb. 12–aug. 21, will celebrate design as a creative endeavor that engages the mind, body and senses, and will feature more than 250 works by 63 international designers organized around seven themes: extravagant, intricate, ethereal, transgressive, emergent, elemental and transformative. visitors can experience a full range of new interactive capabilities, including the opportunity to explore the collection digitally on ultra-high-definition touch-screen tables, draw their own designs in the immersion room and address design problems in the process lab.

minneapolis-based [ target corporation ] serves guests at 1,805 stores since 1946, target has given five percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week.

three showers that boast a 70-90% water savings.

Dec 10, 2015

curiously, 2015 saw three shower products boasting both water and energy savings surfaced, though one of the products has been in use for over five years ago by the australian air force. they save water with clever design, an unusual application of the 200 year old venturi effect and recycling and filtering shower water itself.

above/below > [ nebia ] is a $400 shower using aerospace-grade spray nozzles that atomize water, allowing for a smaller volume of water to get you just as wet. water savings: 70%. a [ kickstarter ] product.

above/below > the $3,000 [ hamwell e-shower ] recycles what normally goes down the drain. the used water gets filtered and mixed in with about 1.5 liters of fresh water each minute; that mixture gets hit with a uv light before raining down on your head again. the app-controlled shower can also stream music as well as see how much money you’re saving in both energy and water cost. in addition to the 90 percent water savings, the shower should also reduce your energy consumption by 80 percent, the company says. hamwells already has deals with several hotels, so you could come across them even if you don’t actually buy one yourself.

above / below > five year old [ e-shower ] uses the 200 year old venturi effect to draw a tiny jet of air in the shower head, forcing the water into extreme turbulence inside – not atomizing but aerating the water into nanobubbles, an air bubble covered in water. in a normal shower most of the water that hits your body bounces off, while with an e-shower when the air bubble hits your skin it ‘pops’ causing an impressive cleaning effect. a recently funded [ kickstarter ] product, price and availability not yet known at this writing.

experts top 10 picks at design miami/ 2015.

Dec 4, 2015

1/
cangaço/
the campana brothers, 2015/
firma casa/ sao paulo

“the campana brothers’ cangaço chair offers a vibrant mix of materiality, color and pattern that feels effortless and natural. this piece would make any good interior great.”

– martin brudnizki (martin brudnizki design studio)

2/
cavallina argento/
alberto biagetti, laura baldassari, 2015/
secondome/ rome

“i am incredibly fascinated by cavallina argento by alberto biagetti and laura baldassari, how it takes a generic object outside the world of high design and transforms it into the sublime. the delicate and precious palette of materials is beautifully composed to evoke sensuality and desire.”

– chad oppenheim (oppenheim)

3/
happiness/
wendell castle, 2015/
friedman benda/ new york

“his work always makes me smile with its humanity. he has the courage to reconsider what he has done in the past and explore new directions.”

– tom kundig (olson kundig)

4/
design miami 2015/
pavillion/
in collaboration with the harvard university graduate school of design

“although it looks as if i will be needing a cherry picker to get really close, i am looking forward to seeing the gsd pavilion, with its forest of pink representations of designs for pavilions designed by students faculty and alumni. under mohsen mostafavi’s leadership – who previously made his mark at the architectural association in london, and then at cornell, harvard has been making waves again.”

– deyan sudjic (design museum)

5/
off-railing series/
arandalasch 2015/
gallery all/ beijing & los angeles

“i love the idea of an infinite line that can be used to define furniture and architecture and thus reduce the late 20th century barrier between these two disciplines. also this pieces speaks as much about the new york subway as the los angeles freeway network.”

– elliott barnes (elliott barnes interiors)

6/
zig-zag chair/
gerrit th. rietveld, 1934/
galerie vivid/ rotterdam

“as a designer, i’ve always been fascinated by things that were built with a cantilever effect. i admire this chair because it broke the paradigm for conventional furniture.”

– george yabu (yabupushelberg)

7/
pouf vague, wave bench/
maria pergay, 1968/
demisch danant/ new york

“this bench by one of my favorite designers of all time, maria pergay, is graceful, elegant and chic and in 1968, when it was made, most likely a revelation for her use of materials and the fact that it was designed by a woman. a very chic woman at that!”

– robert stilin (interior designer)

8/
wall light #7417/
serge mouille, ca. 1960/
1950 gallery/ new york

“this classic piece is as much a work of art as it is functional. i have used it in my home and many projects as it is iconic, faultless and its timeless beauty will never tire for me.”

– kelly hoppen (interior designer)

9/
4×4 demountable house/
jean prouvé, 1935/
galerie patrick seguin/ paris

“prouvé is always an inspiration in how the functional, in this case a prefab military shelter, can still have elements of beauty and proportion. the general concept of well proportioned prefab modularity by modernist masters like prouve influenced our neuehouse studio design”.

– david rockwell (architect)

10/
long chair/
george nakashima, 1952/
moderne gallery/ philadelphia

“i love the interesting balance and clear comfort of this piece. it is such a clever design – both tough and organic, disproportionate, yet softened beautifully by the welcoming webbing, and the warmth of the cherrywood. excellent design which stands the test of time.”

– rose uniacke

[ design miami/ ]

the best of design miami 2015 #1.

Dec 3, 2015

as the market for collectible design continues to evolve and mature with each edition, design miami/ celebrates the full diversity of its field. with the 11th edition of design miami/ this december, the fair offers extraordinary works from galleries based on five continents that specialize in everything from classic early twentieth century design to the conceptual cutting edge. work ranging from full-sized architectural elements to the most delicate jewelry, by designers from as far afield as the philippines and japan, south africa and brazil, will be on show under one roof at the global forum for design.

above > unbuilt installation | click on image to engage lightbox | 4 images

[ unbuilt ] a key installation to the event now held in the design miami/ tent across the street from art basel is the annual commission of an entry installation. previous years include architects david adjaye and snarkitecture, and most recently designer in 2014, jonathan muecke.

for the 11th edition in 2015, design miami/ has awarded a harvard graduate school of design student team the entry-pavilion commission. the chosen design, titled unbuilt, was selected last may through a gsd-wide competition that drew 32 teams comprising 100 gsd students.

this collaboration marks the first time that the design miami/ pavilion will be designed by a student group. the completed pavilion will stand at the entrance of the fair for its duration from 2 > 6 december, serving as both a beacon for the show and a place to welcome its tens of thousands of visitors.

“it is a privilege to partner with harvard gsd, one of the most amazing sources of creative thinking in the world of design,” says craig robins, design miami’s founder. “we are excited to see the students’ vision realized at design miami—a platform that has always been committed to presenting the work of emerging talent alongside material by established and historic designers.”

the unbuilt team comprises joanne cheung, jenny shen, steven meyer, doug harsevoort, and yiliu shen-burke (all march ’18). the team is advised by luis callejas, lecturer in architecture and landscape architecture; hanif kara, professor in practice of architectural technology; and dan borelli (mdes ’12), director of exhibitions.

[ galleries ]

above> there are 36 galleries this year. here are several we follow | click on images to enlarge lightbox | 18 images
[ market ] the inaugural design miami/ market brings a new kind of product to the fair, with a fresh approach to retail offered by j.crew, lizworks, dean & deluca and artbook. this first edition is designed and produced by local designer emmett moore to remind visitors of an outdoor market with hints of south beach permeating the kiosks, made with whitewashed wood and blue vinyl strapping reminiscent of beach loungers.

[ satellite venues ]

[ untitled, miami beach ] the 4th edition of untitled international art fair continues its dedication to providing an innovative approach to the art fair mode. artists are at the center of unititled’s mission and the curators christophe boutin and melanie scarciglia have worked with the fair’s artistic director omar lópez-chahoud to identify a strong and diverse selection of galleries (119) and artists that reflect the fair’s commitment to presenting exceptional contemporary art | ocean drive and 12th street

[ belong.here.now by airbnb ] created by design with company, this 5,000 square foot open space will harness the power of place and time to deliver moments of belonging for all those willing to engage. acting as a piece of urban theater, the space will invite guests to become part of the evolving performance. for example, on saturday 5 december from 14:00 on, cultural curator kim hastreiter will invite members of pink martini and the public for a sing-along | meridian ave. & 19th street (across the street from the entrance to design miami/)

site-specific poolside painting by katherine bernhardt at [ nautilus hotel ] 1950s morris lapidus designed, south beach hot spot nautilus hotel just reopened. new owner sixty hotels, ceo jason pomeranc led an in-house design team in the restoration. this year artsy commissioned artist katherine bernhardt to create an original pool painting for the hotel, continuing a tradition set by david hockney, keith haring and pablo picasso | nautilus 1825 collins avenue

[ snarkitecture ] collaborated with netjets to customize a bombardier jets global 5000 with an ombre design for art basel. it will be staged at the landmark aviation private jet terminal in miami international airport.

ritsue mishima with installation ‘all’ombra della luce’ – ‘shadow of light’ / champagne house [ perrier-jouët ] traditional collaborations with designers or artists continue with a partnership with venice-based glass artist ritsue mishima. mishima creates a glass installation and a series of unique ice buckets for champagne bottles.

the installation is made of 1.400 handmade round glass plates. each of the five large blown ice bowls come with embedded round glasses for champagne, but also with traditionally-shaped, blown champagne glasses, all in mishima’s signature style of working with transparent glass and asymmetrical forms. the pieces represent bubbles of champagne in both the installation and the glasses.

[ moma design store ] the museum of modern art (moma) design store is excited to announce its first-ever installation and pop-up during the week of art basel miami beach with the skateroom at delano south beach, a morgans hotel celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. featured, a limited edition set of 32 decks each featuring a different flavor soup from andy warhol’s 32 campbell’s soup cans | delano south beach 1685 collins avenue

[ fendi ] opens its 5,400 square foot location in the design district. exposed brick walls and cement floors add a raw element to the store’s design in deliberate contrast with the opulence of textured design. the color-blocked façade and east exterior, a collaboration with designer and architect johanna grawunder, touts the brand’s commitment to the design world. the store will house the breadth of fendi’s products including men’s and women’s rtw, fur, handbags, shoes and accessories | 150 ne 40th street

@designmiami #designmiami

2016 german design award select winners.

Nov 23, 2015

above> german design award installation at ambiente 2015 | click on image to engage lightbox | 18 images

the 2016 winners of the german design award have been made public. the gda is this one of the best award programs around. a very wide breadth of product submissions for cars, motorcycles, med & industrial equipment, architecture, it seems like everything. they’re also one of the best at showcasing winners in a huge installation at ambiente, a heavy investment in print and well represented online. this represents a heavy monetary investment in design. the above slideshow is a glimpse at 2015 during ambiente 2015. the german design award is hosted by the german design council who celebrates its 60th year in 2015

below are a sampling of 2016 winners.

above> lichtgrenze

category> event / light installation for 25 years fall of the wall celebrations in berlin 2014
client> kulturprojekte berlin gmbh für die stadt berlin
design> whitevoid / christopher bauder

award> gold 2016
jury statement> michel casertano | dr. angelika nollert | prof. hartmut a. raiser

from the 7th to the 9th of november 2014, berlin remembered the 25th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall and the reunification of the city. in line with the festivities, there was a fascinating light installation that marked the former path of the wall with illuminated balloons along a 15.3 km stretch. on the final evening of the installation 8,000 balloon caretakers released the balloons into berlin’s night sky, each carrying a personal message. a moving project with enormous symbolic and charismatic power that made an impact far beyond the borders of germany. the project was realised through private financing – not by the city, which meant that there was a comparatively small budget. this is an impressive demonstration of the fact that one can create something extraordinarily effective even with limited means.

above> tentsile tree tent: stingray.

category> sports, outdoor activities and leisure
producer> tentsile
design> tentsile / alex shirley-smith

award> gold 2016
jury statement> prof. stefan diez | nicolette naumann | silvia olp

the tentsile stingray is a new kind of tent that is hung between three trees, poles or branches and floats in the air, extending the radius of experience from two to three dimensions. the occupants (up to three people) are not only protected from the weather, but from wild animals and insects as well. the form changes according to the tent’s tension, making it seem almost like a living creature. this fascinating tree tent is an innovative outdoor tool that totally reinterprets the leisure tent system. at once functional and poetic.

above> aerfast 20th anni by storck.

category> transportation / racing bike
producer> storck bicycle
design> storck bicycle / mario kuban

award> gold 2016
jury statement > johannes barckmann | prof. andrea lipp | jürgen lewandowski

for its 20-year anniversary, the legendary bicycle manufacturer is releasing selected models as a limited edition set. the models have special anniversary paintwork and high-quality components. the set also includes a platinum handlebar and a seat with special supports. the frame is adorned tastefully with the master’s signature. a polo shirt with the brand name and a certificate signed by markus storck himself round off this exclusive set. the combination of technical perfection and dynamic styling reflects storck’s authentic passion for designing bikes: absolutely functional, absolutely carbonic! absolutely perfect.

above> timber structure sports center

category> architecture
client> kogakuin university
design> ft architects / hiroko tominaga

award> gold 2016
jury statement> mårten claesson | dr. michael peters | stefan von terzi

this pair of extraordinary buildings on the campus of the kogakuin university in tokyo houses a japanese archery facility and a boxing club. the two wooden structures made of native, local woods each cover a space of around 7.2 m x 10.8 m. this is about the size of a traditional japanese temple, and these spaces are similarly open and minimal, which has a positive effect on the athletes’ concentration. the special quality, however, is the support-free roof construction, which was planned and realised based on traditional japanese wooden structures. a fascinating statement that contributes to keeping this architectural style alive in the cultural memory. the way these buildings have transformed functionality into aesthetics can only be described as sensational.

above> bentley – exp 10 speed 6

category> transportation / concept car
producer> bentley motors
design> bentley motors

award> gold 2016
jury statement> johannes barckmann | prof. andrea lipp | jürgen lewandowski

the designers of the exp 10 speed 6 achieved a fantastic reinterpretation of the british legend and a self-aware statement of luxury and extravagance on the highest level. this is particularly apparent when looking at the interior. the door panels are not covered with leather matching the material used for steering wheel and seats like usual, but instead are covered with high-quality wood. the possibilities in high-quality processing and craftsmanship are demonstrated here. the exterior inspires with a progressive/elegant design vocabulary that transports the classic car into the future. muscular, athletically shaped surfaces that are inspired by aerodynamic shapes such as aircraft fuselages and aerofoils convey dynamism, power and speed. an extraordinarily beautiful automobile that perfectly combines aesthetics and precision – and is unmistakably a bentley. it couldn’t be done better!

above> takata maxi

category> baby and child care / children`s car seat
producer> takata
design> takata / reiner nett

award> gold 2016
jury statement> prof. stefan diez | nicolette naumann | silvia olp

in this excellently designed children’s car seat, children stay both safe and comfortable, even on long trips. this is ensured by the stabile casing and the exceedingly soft padding on the seat itself and the arm supports. the microfiber fabrics are toxin-free and can be cleaned easily. the seatbelt guide has an auto-lock feature, guaranteeing that the belt stays in position, while the airpad safety technology protects the head. parents may enjoy the practical one-handed operation for size adjustment and belt fastening. a well-designed product, considered down to the last detail and visually appealing.

above> karuun® | kc collection

category> material and surfaces / innovative material based on natural rattan
producer> out for space
design> out for space / peter kraft, julian reuter, moritz fuhrmann, miriam bröckel

award> gold 2016
jury statement> nicole huffer | ruwen kaminski | jun.-prof. dr.-ing. jens krzywinski

karuun® is a highly innovative material that provides transformative new dimensions for the design possibilities of rattan. the composition of natural rattan can be understood as a bundle of small tubes, which makes it absolutely unique. the company out for space uses this special quality to inject natural filler material into the material. the result – karuun® – offers increased rigidity, fantastic bending properties, weather-resistance and a wide range of coloration possibilities. the kc collection gives a foretaste of what is possible with karuun®. and it is already an extremely impressive collection. all in all, a promising material that is also very sustainable. exciting.

above> smartintego

category> building and elements / digital lock cylinder
producer> simonsvoss technologies
design> ergon3 design / peter trautwein

award> gold 2016
jury statement> ruwen kaminski | jun.-prof. dr.-ing. jens krzywinski

with this new product line, simonsvoss offers the perfect solution for integrated access control systems. smart intego can be immediately connected to existing complex access control systems — and the smart intego manager makes it easier than ever by auto-configuring the system components and saving a significant amount of time and effort in comparison to other systems. the digital lock cylinder offers various additional functions such as audit trail, time zone management, event management and door monitoring.

above> illa kogelhof by paul de ruiter architects

category> architecture / residential
client> private client
design> paul de ruiter architects / paul de ruiter

award> winner 2016
jury statement> mårten claesson | dr. michael peters | stefan von terzi

villa kogelhof is designed to be completely energy self-sufficient and is located on a swath of land declared a conservation area by the government. the minimalist building, designed with straight lines, rests on v-shaped pillars to take away as little as possible from the protected habitant for plants and animals. the interior of the house is no less minimalist due to surrounding glass panels that enhance the home’s sense of openness and connection to nature. a great design that perfectly plays up interior and exterior, while redefining the standard for natural living.

above> notabag

category> lifestyle and fashion / combination of a bag and a backpack
producer> notabag
design> notabag / adnan alicusic, ilaria gregianin

award> winner 2016
jury statement> prof. stefan diez | nicolette naumann | silvia olp

notabag is a cleverly-designed combination of carrier and rucksack that can be carried on your arm or back, as desired. a simple motion is all it takes to change the rucksack into a bag or vice-versa. an internal back serves to store your wallet and keys. that means that everything is easy to find without having to rummage around for it. notabag transforms and closes all on its own, meaning that it doesn’t need any additional buttons or closures. if the bag isn’t needed it can fold down to almost nothing. a practical, amazingly designed product for daily use.

above> form

category> furniture / chair and table collection
producer> normann copenhagen
design> normann copenhagen / simon legald

award> special 2016
jury statement> prof. oliver grabes | sebastian herkner

form is a modern cup chair made using plastic mould casting, which is available with and without armrests and also as a bar stool in two different heights. the back and seat are ergonomically shaped and promise comfort and relaxation. form is an example of a flexible design that in principle fits on all frames – even those yet to be developed in the future. the series has now been expanded with a dining table in two sizes – the perfect accompaniment to the chairs.

[ 2016 winners ]

neri. a new family of writing instruments from internoitaliano.

Nov 16, 2015

internoitaliao presents neri, a family of pens and mechanical pencils designed by giulio iacchetti. neri represents the inaugural venture into the world of stationery, a new market sector for internoitaliano, a brand whose founding spirit is distinctive for being based in equal measure on italian design and italian craftsmanship. for this project, internoitaliano has partnered with parafernalia, the only historical italian company that produces contemporary writing instruments.

“always a passion of mine, i feel pens and mechanical pencils epitomize objects that can fully express the essence of design: sophistication, simplicity, the archetype of a technical tool, a prothesis of the hand and mind. having your own pen and pencil with you is already a statement of intent: the will and ability to leave a tangible written sign, to begin a story, sketch out a new project … ” ~giulio iacchetti

these writing instruments are an exercise in absolute minimalism for design junkies and aﬁcionados of writing and falls outside the usual automatic opening/closing systems and the classic cap. indeed, the placement of the leads and ability to regulate their length — and also that of the pen reﬁlls, a highly unique feature — is done by simply turning the contrasting brass thumbscrew, a technique derived from the gesture for adjusting the points of compasses used in technical drawing.

the pens and mechanical pencils are made of anodized aluminum, made from a solid aluminum rod, lathed and bored. the surface is anodized and then sand-blasted. in both the mechanical pencil and pen, the size, velvety touch and screw placement have been specifically designed for ease of grip and maximum ergonomic comfort.

[ neri ] [ giulio iacchetti ]

above> guilo iacchetti in milan last spring pitching new internoitaliano products from a rooftop installation. this is designapplause’s fourth visit with the designer. in the past we have met him at alessi’s booth. in addition to his creative and thoughtful product solutions he also conceived a unique contemporary italian design business model in internoitaliano. a glimpse of the designer and the company in the video below.

above> click on image to engage lightbox | 12 images

below> the official 2012 launch press release

[ Internoitaliano ] was born officially in november 2012, in turin at operae, in essence, a new system for the production and sale of designer furnishings, created by italian designer giulio iacchetti.

the new system brings contemporary italian design to the worldwide marketplace via the internet, providing the quality and technical know-how of traditional italian craftsmanship to products sold exclusively online.

[ design statement ] internoitaliano’s ambition is to restore a sense of normality to design. its products are designed to be long-lasting and become part of everyday life with personality and discretion. for this reason, every project is stylistically independent and can adapt to a variety of contexts, differing in terms of both space and time, all the while maintaining a quiet presence, worlds apart from the self-engrandizing nature that often characterizes contemporary design.

[ system ] at the heart of internoitaliano is a production system constituted by a network of workshops and manufacturing companies that embody the excellence in the italian ability to createtop-quality products paired with a real-time global system of circulation, the internet. internoitaliano, therefore, is truly a “fabbrica diffusa”, a “factory network”.
internoitaliano objects enjoy a special status: they are happy objects, fruit of a 50/50 joint effort between the designer who designed them and the craftsman who lovingly made them. they are free from economic constraints that might otherwise impose high profit margins and can therefore be brought to market at a fair price, with respect for the intrinsic value of each party’s contribution and the high quality of the materials.
internoitaliano is based on a structurally light business model that is testimony to the disappearance of both rigid corporate structure and traditional chains of distribution.

iittala’s ruutu honored by cooper-hewitt.

Nov 10, 2015

[ iittala ] ruutu vases are honored by the cooper-hewitt, national design museum permanent collection. updating the museum’s holding of scandinavian and contemporary glass, ruutu joins previously selected iittala glassware by tapio wirkkala in this curated and highly respected collection.

iittala’s first collaboration with ronan and erwan bouroullec, ruutu is a series of 10 vases available in five sizes and seven colors. when collected and combined, they make a seamless installation where both the strength and delicate qualities of glass come alive. meaning diamond in finnish, ruutu is created from mouth-blown glass in iittala’s finland factory. each vase takes seven craftsman 24 hours to produce. the large color version presents the biggest manufacturing challenge: reaching an even, delicate color requires the exact temperature, timing and a great deal of expertise in glass-mass chemistry. precise execution of a well-conceived design makes ruutu a natural fit for a museum devoted to advancing the public understanding of design and human creativity both past and present.

located in new york city, the [ cooper-hewitt ] is one of nineteen museums that falls under the wing of the smithsonian institution and is the only museum in the united states devoted to historical and contemporary design. the permanent collection consists of more than 200,000 objects representing contemporary and historical design in four curatorial departments – drawings, prints, and graphic design; product design and decorative arts; textiles; and wallcoverings.

[ iittala ] started as a glass factory in iittala, finland in 1881, today celebrates generations of essential objects that are made to enrich people’s everyday lives. iittala believes objects should be distinctive, combinable and multi-functional, with lasting design that inspires individual use and expression. as a company based in fin-land, where quality, aesthetics and functionality are important values, iittala believes in interior design that lasts a lifetime. the progressive philosophy of finnish design heroes, kaj franck and alvar aalto, acts as in inspiration to keep iittala forever relevant.

editor’s note> ruutu possesses extraordinary technical detailing, the corners for example, the clearness and purity of color, the gradation of color due to the variance in thickness, i.e., the lightening at the very thin and unique 30 degrees corners. photography does not do this collection justice. click on photo > enlarge

diffa brings specify with care effort to the tradeshow circuit.

Nov 5, 2015

Specify With Care®, DIFFA’s cause marketing program, invites companies to designate a collection or collections and donate a percentage from sales of those to the Foundation.

DIFFA is making its mark on the tradeshow circuit this fall, bringing its Specify With Care® cause-related marketing program to BDNY in NYC 8>9 November / Booth #178. Specify With Care (SWC) invites companies to donate a percentage of sales from designated collections to benefit DIFFA in its fight against HIV/AIDS.

Many of the program’s affiliate products will be displayed in DIFFA’s booth at the shows.
Current participating affiliates include Blanco, Bolon, Ege, Maya Romanoff, Laufen and Wolf-Gordon // Gift of Hope.

“Specify With Care is a win-win proposition,” said Rick Wolf, CEO of Wolf-Gordon. It associates manufacturers’ names with a good cause and effectively differentiates their products. The interior design and architectural communities are supporting Specify With Care with overwhelming enthusiasm and optimism.”

As the program grows, DIFFA plans to exhibit at numerous other tradeshows throughout the year and support participants through a number of strategic activities and marketing and PR efforts.

image courtesy of blanco

image courtesy of bolon

image courtesy of ege

image courtesy of laufen

image courtesy of maya romanoff

image courtesy of wolf-gordon

[ DIFFA ] Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that fight HIV/AIDS by providing treatment and direct care services for people living with or impacted by the disease, offering preventative education programs targeted to populations at rick of infection, or supporting public policy initiatives. DIFFA is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States, mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has emerged from a grassroots organization into a national foundation based in New York City with chapters and community partners across the country that, working together, have provided more than $40 million to hundreds of HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide.