Botanical manufacturing

Growing solid wooden furniture without the joins

This is intruiging. Gavin Munro of Derbyshire-based Full Grown explains how moulding trees into one-piece chairs, lamps or mirror frames is far more eco-friendly than felling. This is no ordinary furniture showroom. In a field on the side of a hill 15 miles north of Derby lie row after row of perfectly maintained willow, oak, ash and sycamore trees. What clearly mark this field out from a regular forest are the blue-and-black plastic moulds that are training the trees in pre-defined routes, where they are gently and expertly manipulated into the exact shape of a chair, a table, a lamp or a mirror frame. read more

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Creating Relevance by Design

The movie ‘Creating Relevance by Design’ illustrates the changing rol of design agencies from designers of ‘good products’ towards ‘creating value for their clients’.

Impressions of Shoreditch

Shoreditch, this special corner of east London remains hugely popular. By and large Shoreditch remains young, cool, creative, upbeat and fun, as the digital scene thrives and with a viable art en fashion scene. It is a boost for small enterprises. The Trampery (Bevenden street) of tech entrepreneur Charles Armstrong is for instance located here. Feel the Shoreditch vibe underneath.

Boxpark. World’s first pop-up mall.
2-4 Bethnal Green

A mall consisting of shipping containers stacked together and repurposed  as individual brand outlets. Ranging from established names such as Puma to smaller outlets, such as Finnish clothes and homeware store Marimekko. Read more detailed information in the review of DesignWeek

tord boontje. Designer
23, charlotte road

New design shop of tord boontje opened last week.

Barber shop
Charlotte road

And wandering around in Shoreditch area.

They seem to be ready for the Olympic Games.

And I ended up at this great event “Worlds Collide” organised by APG London. Where speakers from the world of politics (Alistair Campbell), military (General Mike Jackson), advertising (David Droga) and activism (Jeremy Gilley) gave some inspirational thoughts and perspectives on strategy. Read here the blogpost “Believe you can, you’re halfway there” about the most inspirational thoughts of Droga and Campbell (in Dutch).

Dutch Profiles

Dutch Profiles are short documentaries about architects, graphic, product and fashion designers in the Netherlands. Containing interviews with both well-known and upcoming Dutch designers, Dutch Profiles focus on their conceptual approach, their work process, and the context of their projects. Certainly a series of beautiful and captivating portaits that are worth to watch! More documentaires are found at: dutchdfa

Product design trends

A presentation on product design trends made by Diana V. Carrico. A good overview of the different design styles with very nice examples. Inspirational.

I like this lamp!

Capitone is the new lamp collection designed by designer Oriol Llahona. Its made of a new translucent material developed for Alma Light, thecollection includes ceiling, suspension and wall lamp. Oriol Llahona was inspired by traditional padding. I think the result is lovely.

Flexible Love

Quite possibly the coolest folding chair ever: flexiblelove.com

Floating Hotel

If the global warming becomes reality, the Russian architect Alexander Remizov certainly is prepared with his “ark” concept. The hotel is designed to protect from extreme weather and created to be self-reliant. And can even be installed on land. Surely a nice example of innovative architecture.

Reflective traffic sheep

Designer Christophe Machet was commissioned by the Municipality of Gland, Switzerland to create these reflective sheep that got lost in the streets, forcing drivers to slow down. A nice alternative for all the traffic ramps we have got in the Netherlands. Great idea. Want to see more, go to http://www.christophemachet.com

Traffic sheep Christophe Machet

Barcode building

   

Vitruvius & Sons – Barcode, St. Petersburg (Photographer: Alexey Naroditsky). This looks really nice. For the city of St. Petersburg the Russian office Vitruvius & Sons designed a building called ‘Shtrikh Kod’: Barcode. As the iconography suggests the building houses… shops, shops and shops. (source: Eikongraphia)