Cathrine Kullberg Lighting
Norwegian Forest Lights. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? It looks nice too. This lamp is made from a thin piece of birch veneer mounted on white paper, with an outline of forest pines laser cut with the precision of a skilled airplane model maker. The resulting effect is a warm glow and a feeling of being surrounded in nature at sunset (or sunrise - depending on whichever you prefer!). It’s available as a pendant light and table lamp. To find out more, check out Cathrine Kullberg Lighting.
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Posted in Design, Makers by Steven |
Are Designers The Enemy Of Design?
Bruce Nussbaum pondered this question in a speech at Parsons School of Design and reprinted his speech last week on Business Week’s NussbaumOnDesign. Despite the shock value of saying designers suck, he had some pretty interesting things to say. Valid points he makes, for example:
- Design is in everyone - innovation and creativity come from our experiences and is not an exclusive innate talent to an esoteric few high-brow designers
- Thanks to the Web and technology, everyone can and IS a designer - we are designing more in our lives - such as blogs, videos, our music library . . .
- “Design Democracy is the wave of the future” - There are only going to be more and more tools and systems out there (such as Ponoko) that will facilitate and broaden the accessibility for everyone to jump in the “design sandbox” to have a play.
- Designers need to focus more on sustainability - rethinking the materials they use, how their design impact on other things, and also to challenge our assumptions of what is sustainable
- Design thinking is the new way to approach business, to approach problems in life in general.
Some food for thought for anyone who wants to design, or actually designs without really calling themselves a designer … you really are. Well worth a read here.
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Posted in Design by Steven |
Architecture, Design and Art Exhibitions ::: Panton, Conzett, Villanueva, Fuller, Hadid, Droog, Barragan, van der Rohe, etc…
I’m not talking about “Smart Homes”, computerized home environments where lights, temperature and appliances can be controlled through remote. This is about building a house: from initial design through to production and construction. It’s a new process that focuses on the speed, high quality and efficiency of digital technology, coupled with low production methods and low-cost construction.
The Architecture Foundation in London completed an exhibit last week on the research and work of UK architectural firm Bell Travers Willson which included a cross-section of a digital house in the making, introducing the public to effective and efficient house design and construction.
The Digital House utilizes the advantages of hi-tech production, such as speed (five times faster than ordinary build programmes) and quality, and the advantages of on site activities such as a flexible labour force with low overheads.
So how is this possible? The Digital House is produced using a detailed 3D computer model that contains all of the construction elements including every wall and screw hole which are pre-determined before the construction. This information is transferred to a CNC Router (Computer Numerical Control) which rapidly cuts out elements in engineered timber. These are assembled into lightweight hollow cassettes like big bricks of Lego, which can be filled with recycled newspaper to achieve a high level of insulation and air tightness.
Unlike pre-fab construction, this technology allows for customized design, steering clear of “cookie-cutter” tract homes that are now proliferating our suburbs - where all the houses look the same, save for colour or landscaping. The key here is sustainable alternatives to traditional custom home-building, where the advantages of technology are used to minimize production, labour, and distribution costs without sacrificing design or individuality. Sounds great to me!
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Posted in Design, Architecture by Steven |
Inhabitat » UNLESS: GREEN ‘TIO’ CHAIR by Conscious Design
These are some designs that really showcase the talents of Kiwi designers, who focus on green design - very natural, pure, and organic in terms of shape, lines and material - most made from sustainably grown hoop pine wood and other reclaimed or eco-friendly materials.
Unless design outlet is based in Taranaki, New Zealand and promotes sustainable design. David Trubridge (see Ruth Rocker above and his floral lamp below) is exhibiting his designs at The New Dowse in Wellington.
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Posted in Design, Makers, Furniture by Steven |
- eSofaHänge
I saw this in the archives on designspotter.com and I immediately thought of my sister. This is one thing she and her husband need - with coffees throughout the day and evening (coffee nightcap anyone?) and no end table or any sort of table anywhere near their huge sofa, there are mugs and glasses sitting on the floor, balanced on top of piles of magazines, or resting on the baby walker tray if it happens to be near the couch. Yeah. This would come in handy. The one in the picture is made of a light yet strong aluminium and also comes in Bordeaux stained MDF. It appeals mostly to my sense of practicality and function - especially if you’re not ready to get a nice table or don’t have the space for it . . . or just need a darn place to put your drink down!
On a further note this could be excellent for the NCAA Basketball Championships and Cricket World Cup this month, as well as the upcoming Rugby World Cup later this year . . .
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Posted in Design by Steven |
Bibliochaise - Gizmodo
If you’re like me and love your books, this could possibly be thee reading chair for you! Just sit this baby in the corner by the window where you get some good light, settle in and pick one of your favourite books without having to get up! As for comfort, well, I’m not sure … I wonder if it comes with a footrest or ottoman of some sort. Another thing to ponder (as noted by Gizmodo) is that since it can shelve five linear meters worth of books, what kind of books would you use: the ones that you love, or ones that look good?
I think the idea of an “armchair library” is quite neat, but I’d have to try this one out for comfort. I prefer something where I can sink back with my feet up, rest my arms, and have a place for my drink.
The Bibliochaise is by Nobody&Co.
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Posted in Design, Furniture by Steven |
Craft 2.0 came and was a great success. Ponoko had a stand there and according to Dave (Ponoko founder) - it’s fair to say that we rocked! Here’s what we’ve heard from others who attended:
From Alan MacDouggal of halfpie.net:
It was inspirational stuff… Now I’m feeling full of the need to just DO something cool…
Take a close look at Ponoko. Their demo stand at Craft 2.0 today was nothing short of revelatory. Keep an eye on these guys – the creative possibilities available in the toolset they are creating for people to use are mind-blowing, maybe even life-changing for those people who through it find an new outlet for their creativity… plus I know Dave, one of the founders, and his work, and this tells me that what they do will be grounded in the real as well.
From Wanda Harland:
Oh yeah, big shout out to the Ponoko crew, who were marvellous sponsors with an inspiring product. Their website is up and running now, so go and check it out. It is the future, baby, and it looks goooooood.
For those of you who couldn’t make it to Craft 2.0 there are some photos up on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flash5/sets/72157600005561564/
It’s great to hear about inspiration and motivation to create and make. I’m looking forward to seeing what new designs and crafts were inspired from this meeting of minds and craft skills.
Check here to see eight exhibitors at the New Dowse.
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Posted in Design, Makers, Events, Crafts by Steven |
David Report blog » More paper art from Jen Stark
Above is beautiful artwork made of basic coloured construction paper. It’s kind of ironic how I came across this tonight, after having picked up hundreds of tiny cut-up/ripped-up pieces of the very same colourful construction paper littering my lounge floor - courtesy of my 3 year-old!
To see more of the same, check out Jen Stark.com.
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Posted in Design, Crafts by Steven |
Legare Furniture: Fun To Assemble
If you’ve always liked playing with puzzles (jigsaw, not Sudoku) and enjoy building with wooden blocks, appease your inner child and have a play with Legare Furniture. They’re modular kits that are “fun to assemble” by interlocking pieces together like a puzzle. No nails or screws. Nope, no hammer or screwdriver or allen key required either. Cool idea for those who need something quick and easy to set up or disassemble if on the move. Possibly an interesting way to introduce non-handy, tool-adverse people into DIY? Have a look at the video to see how to assemble a desk and enjoy the relaxing music while you’re at it.
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Posted in Design, DIY by Steven |
Core77 Design Blog Time is Money
These alarm clocks will get you up and going! For all you who automatically hit the snooze button, these may be good clocks for you. Clocky (above) is kind of like your toddler who wakes up excruciatingly early. He’s loud in the morning and likes to run around and deprive you of any few minutes (hours?) of sleep. Clocky runs around your room beeping until you catch it and turn it off. Talk about exercise first thing in the morning!
The BanClock works by you having to put money in it to stop the darn thing. Hey - great incentive to save money and get up early! Although, using eftpos and credit all the time, I’d probably have that same problem when I need coins for the parking meter. Wonder if it takes notes??
And another one. The Blowfly alarm clock. Instead of running away, you guessed it, it flies up in the air and buzzes annoyingly until you physically get up and catch it. Brilliant! I like these designs - they’re fun and creative. No better way to start your day than waking up creatively, eh?
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Posted in Design by Steven |
