Archive for the ‘Ware/Product Design’ Category

1. Each of Jacqueline Cullen’s Whitby jet rings for Chariots On Fire are one of a kind. Hand-carved out of Whitby jet [180 million-year-old fossilized wood turned to coal] the rings are inlaid with Swarovski crystals // 2. Of Gitta Gschwendtner’s [ produced by Quinze & Milan Quarry ] crystals with plaster and ceramic Quarry Series, the designer said, “I love the way the crystals are so highly engineered and precise and perfect but appear in the imperfect moment of the broken corner.”

1. Citing Frida Khalo’s fascination with anatomy and mortality as his source of inspiration, Riccardo Tisci rendered a seemingly dark subject manner in a romantic way. With chantilly lace, dégradé ostrich feathers and fringe-work, Tisci’s collection for Givenchy Couture Fall 2010 conjured the human anatomy. Featuring column dresses intricately embroidered with pearls to mimic the skeletal frame, zipper pulls made of little bones, bangles resembling a spinal column, the collection was [as the designer put it], “a romantic way to see death.” How would you like to have these skeletons in your closet? // 2. Each piece in Dutch designer Joris Laarman’s bone furniture series is created according to the way bones develop; growing where strength is needed and shrinking where it is not. In his own words, he sculpted “using mother nature’s underlying codes.” Known for his use of new technology to explore biological themes, Joris Laarman had his first U.S. solo exhibition on March 4th, 2010. In 2008, Laarman’s Bone Chair and Bone Chaise [shown above] were displayed in the MoMA and the chair subsequently, was added to the museum’s permanent collection. Mother nature would be so proud.

|| Sources: Style.com and Dezeen ||

Using common, everyday objects such as tape, paper and plastic, artist Claire Ashley and jewelry designer Lauren Manoogian create uncommonly stunning objects.

1. Claire Ashley’s Big Bagpipes, detail 2010, plastic, duct and masking tape / Bagpipes, 2010, masking tape on plastic / Untitled 2, 2009, cardboard, house paint, duct and masking tape / Bagpipes, 2010, masking tape on plastic // 2. Lauren Manoogian necklaces crafted of paperclips, silver rings and vinyl tape. Select styles of Manoogian’s jewelry are available at Shop Pour Porter and Bona Drag.

With designs coming up roses, here’s a pick of the bunch 1. Utility meets pretty in designer Nika Zupac’s 5 O’Clock chair for Moooi. The Slovenian designer says she was inspired by “a supreme commander of an army [who] owns a teahouse” // 3. British designer and reigning queen of punk Vivienne Westood collaborated with wallpaper company, Cole & Sons, on a line based on signature designs from her fashion collections. Her Absence of Rose artwork appeared in a collection of knitwear and is highlighted with a crystal effect // 4. Alexander McQueen’s S/S 2010 Eyewear adverts make use of the designer’s love of patterns and fascination with skulls // 2, 6&7. Paul Smith’s F/W 2010 collection presented a 50’s inspired, come undone, post-punk English Rose.

Use them as bookmarks or post-its. Leaf-its are paper stickers designed by Appree, Korea and are available at Designboom.

A daybed so perfect in its simplicity. Daybed 710 designed by Alvar Aalto, available at Matter Matters.

For the Kartell showroom at Milan last March, Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka created an installation using hundreds of transparent plastic sticks. Titled Snowflake, the installation displayed Yoshioka’s Invisibles collection of clear plastic furniture. The designer said he wanted visitors to experience stepping into a snowflake, “It is not to deal with forms or to make minimal forms, but to design that gets us into the work, lifts up our spirits.”

|| Via Dezeen ||

Studio Skujeniece is an Amsterdam-based furniture and interior product design group led by Mara Skujeniece. I’m in love with the details of Studio Skujeniece’s Spool vase series. Inspired by textiles, the forms and structures of industrial yarn bobbins are lovingly recreated in the white porcelain vases.

1. I own a sterling silver version of Elsa Peretti’s Bone cuff but I’m not mad at the iconic gold version. Not at all. See an homage to Elsa Peretti, beauty icon and Italian model-turned-jewelry-designer, at Style.com // 2&3. Brazilian product designer Fernando Akasaka’s offerings include a jewelry line, Le Blob. Shown are a blackened silver cuff and ring from his collection // 4. I’ve loved Jules Kim’s Bijules line for along time, albeit from afar. Pictured is the Bone Bar ring from her Scream & Spirit collection // 5. UK designer Luke Twigger’s Skullmate/City is a saucy li’l fella. His removable green cap, with its little feather, is clearly a nod to Robin Hood. Both ornamental and functional, each handmade earthenware container has a multitude of uses — pincushion, mint holder, even pasta bowls. [Spaghetti tetrazzini, anyone?] Each Skullmate comes lovingly numbered and signed.

A tisket, a tasket. Summer can have everyone grasping for straw.

1. Woven leather Moroso chair, Yoox // 2. Leather woven handbag, Bottega Veneta // 3. Raffia neckpiece by Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Net-a-porter // 4. The iconic Poul Kjaerholm mid-century modern PK22 chair is one of my all time faves. Available at Hive Modern // 5. Dries Van Noten S/S 2010 raffia oxfords // 6. Cuteness in the form of a bag, Balenciaga S/S 2010.