Mathieu Lehanneur & David Edwards (Pumpkin-water bag)

French designer mathieu lehanneur along with harvard professor david edwards have created 'pumpkin', an object that carries water as it conforms to the needs of its user's in both domestic and international aid situations. 

'pumpkin' is part of a three year experiment focused in south africa. an international support group is set to help local inhabitants imagine new ways of transporting water, influenced by the principles of the water vessel, but also by local ingenuity and initiative. the container was produced for commercial sale in locations throughout the developed world in 2010 with profits directed towards the charity. continual experimentation is aimed at improving access to water in some of the harshest environments around the world. 

The vessel for everyday use is composed of two detachable parts that clip together to serve as a shoulder bag that holds up to one and a half liters of water while transporting personal items. when being used for sport, such as hiking, the object detaches from the bag and connects to other tubes that can hold between four and eight liters of water, encircling the user's head or, like a rucksack, slinging around the back. when requiring large quantities, as in hard work or relief conditions, the container can hold up to fifteen liters of water around the shoulders and neck or torso. 

Gal ben-arav (bamboo bench)

Bamboo is a plant that is quickly replenished, making it a sustainable choice for construction.it also has a high mechanical strength and durability to weather conditions. choosing to use the material in its natural and raw form, israeli designer gal ben-arav has developed the 'bamboo bench'. he has done so in wanting to maintain the materialism, simplicity and natural morphology of the quickly growing species, while on the other hand, creating a conflict and tension between it and industry - aluminium casting.



So so easy and durable...back to simplicity!...great idea!

The seating unit can be formed using two different bench typologies: with or without a back.two cast aluminum frames, reflecting the silhouette of a chair or stool form the structural support of the bench. raw pieces of bamboo fill the frames, acting as both the seat and back of the furniture object. the frames can be adjusted along the length of the bamboo used according to structural needs and weight limits.

Hovding airbag helmet for cyclists

'hövding', produced by swedish design company hövding sverige ab, is an airbag system for bicyclists, designed as a fashionable but practical alternative to helmets. a hood-shaped, nylon airbag is encased within a neck collar and is automatically inflated in the event of a crash by a sensor system. washable fabric shells that fit over the collar create a range of looks for the device, designed to seamlessly incorporate into one's daily outfits.

the zip-up collar incorporates an on/off switch (on when the collar is zipped and buttoned; off when the snap is unbuttoned), an LED battery display meter, and a micro USB port for charging the battery and uploading accident information following a crash.

Arik Levy exhibition design (Stockholm furniture fair lounge)

Arik Levy has taken different chairs changing their function and turning them into lighting solutions.

panels are suspended from the ceiling, acting like a canopy above a sea of sofas, reflecting the movement and behaviours of the platform below. hanging between these mirrored surfaces are a number of his 'identity disorder' sculptures, in which he has transformed items of furniture that no longer serve their original function. here one sees chairs taking on the role of chandeliers. through these pieces, levy questions whether or not the object is actually a chair with holes for lights, or a chandelier that looks like a chair.

Level Architects-House with slide

yokohama-based atelier level architects has completed 'house with slide', a three-storey family residence that features a continuous circulation route that utilizes both stairs and the playground equipment. circumscribing the volume of the house, the playful layout places the living spaces at the core of the house with a number of access points along the course. 






Amazing!...the kids look so happy, who would have thought of turning the inside of your home into a magical playground?...love it!

Established & SONS

Today at Goldsmiths, we had a guest speaker, 'Kirsty Minns' come in and talk to us about her role in the company as head of product design. Working with designers such as Jasper Morrison, Zaha Hadid, Paul Cocksedge, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, just to name a few, putting their design ideas into production.


Her talk inspired me to apply for a work placement with Established & Sons, to be able to gain experience not only with product design, production, but also with exhibition design, which Kirsty actively get's involved with.

http://www.establishedandsons.com/#/AboutUs-AboutUsTitle/

Dezeen podcast: in this podcast recorded at Vienna Design Week, graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister talks about his Austrian background, the benefits of keeping a diary and trying to prevent his studio growing.

Top portrait is by John Madere. Above: Worrying solves Nothing, made of coat hangers in Linz. Photograph is by Otto Saxinger


http://www.dezeen.com/2010/10/13/dezeen-podcast-stefan-sagmeister-at-vienna-design-week/

Sagmeister also introduces his ongoing project Things I have Learned in My Life So Far, in which notes from his own diary are emblazoned across billboards and magazine pages.

Above: Assuming is Stifling, for GGG / DDD gallery annual report. Photograph is by Matthias Ernstberger

“Everybody should talk about everything that’s everywhere. 

Design is everywhere.”

Stefan Sagmeister (b. Bregenz, 1962) set up his New York studio Sagmeister Inc. in 1993 and has designed for the Rolling Stones, HBO, and the Guggenheim Museum, et al.

Above: Having Guts Always Works Out For Me, for .copy magazine. Photographs are by Bela Borsodi

In 2008, Abrams published Things I have learned in my life so far by Sagmeister.

Sagmeister Inc. has had solo shows in Zurich, Vienna, New York, Berlin, Tokyo, Osaka, Prague, Cologne, Seoul, and Miami.

Sagmeister currently teaches at the School of Visual Art in New York and lectures throughout the world.

Above: Keeping a Diary Supports Personal Development, one minute movie shot in Singapore

He studied at the Vienna University of Applied Arts, was a Fulbright Scholar, and received a Master’s degree from the Pratt Institute in New York.

Above: Keeping a Diary Supports Personal Development, one minute movie shot in Singapore

Papillons Graphiques - New Zealand designer Chris Waind

New Zealand designer Chris Waind has created this set of decorative paper butterflies.Called Papillons Graphiques, the pieces are packaged in a metal tin that includes a set of pins so they can be displayed pinned to a board like a real butterflies would be in Victorian collections.Each piece is a digital print on watercolour paper to give a textured feel.

100% Design - What is Good Design?

Red Nest by Paul Coudamy

French designer Paul Coudamy has created this red-gloss sliding wall unit combining a desk, bed and wardrobe for an apartment in Paris.


Red Nest has a bookshelf that slides along the wall to reveal or conceal the sleeping area, workspace and dressing room.

As part of the renovation of the 23 square-metre apartment the designer has also introduced a bathroom that sits behind a two-way mirror and has a WC concealed behind wardrobe doors.

The challenge was to provide a 23m2 space with a bedroom, a bathroom, a dressing and a working space. The design is based on a work on the porosity of spaces.


The booshelf is a mobile block that enables to control the opening of the bed. Its U-shape covers the bed and shapes the room by closing the dressing, the bed or the working space.

Drifted by Lee Borthwick

Drifted, by Lee Borthwick, is an architectural relief constructed from a variety of recycled MDF pieces and driftwood for the 5th floor of the Arts Council England's new offices. Drifted is part of the In the Attic series of nine different pieces of Borthwick's work.

Extra-ORdinary by Jennifer Rabatel

The possibilities are endless!...my dad would have a field day digging up tools from the shed and dreaming up objects for everyday solutions-I think he could help inspire me!

In all seriousness I do love the range that Jennifer has designed, especially the 'T square hanger', portable mechanically works and interesting...I'm taking notes! 

ÉCAL University of Art and Design Lausanne graduate Jennifer Rabatel has taken inspiration from tools such as spanners, spatulas and try squares to create a series of functional everyday objects.

Hanger Chair by Philippe Malouin

The Hanger Chair is a folding chair that doubles as a clothes hanger. Genius!...I love this idea of morphing every day products especially as a space saving multi use item for the home.


Milan 08: Designer Philippe Malouin will exhibit his Hanger Chair at Still, the Design Academy Eindhoven exhibition at Spazio Rossanna Orlandi in Milan during the furniture fair this month

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