During the RCA graduation show in London, Korean designer Ji Young Shon exhibited ‘Whispering Leaves’, a new flexible sound system. The sound emanates from a thin plastic film speaker, which for this installation was cut into the shape of leaves. The irregularaity of the leaves allows for, “…slightly different volume and tone depending on shape, size and bending.” You can check out a video of the leaves’ sound quality here.
During the recent RCA graduation show in London, I got the chance to meet Seainin Passi, a student in the Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork & Jewellery department. During the exhibition Passi set up a color apothecary, a place where visitors could hand select their own tiny silver pin and fill it with a color of their choosing.
According to Passi, “Response to colour is the most immediate and basic of human responses. Each colour of the spectrum is a vibration, a frequency, resonating with different aspects of the body and mind. This is a universal language that exists deep within each of us.”
So many parts of this project were charming. I loved the very very small pins that show off just a hint of special color to the world, like a tiny badge. But what resonated most was that the project was not complete without personal interaction. The designer and the patron were linked; they sat together, chatted and as a result of that dialogue, a finished product was created. I ended up picking an electric blue thread (my pin is on the top of the right hand picture) – not sure what that says about me, but I’m wearing it today.
Apologies for the lack of posts. I have a dissertation and several other projects looming in front of me, all in the midst of an escape to the French seaside. In other words…a whole lot of everything and nothing to get done so I decided to make it official, DK will be taking a bit of a summer vacation for the next month. À bientôt.
Cumulus Project is an online concept store that sells only one object at a time. Their first product (sorry sold already) was a set of stump stools crafted from a fallen tree in BC. Finished with sustainably-harvested latex foam, white leather and copper tacks; a simple, yet beautiful combination.
Swiss designer Tomas Kral was inspired by clown noses when creating these ceramic vessels with cork plugs. I love how an addition so simple can animate and give life to the object.
Dutch designers Scholten & Baijings recently presented their ‘Vegetable’ series at Rossana Orlandi in Milan. The pieces are entirely hand made and constructed in the designers’ Amsterdam studio. The pair are beginning a new research project on the designer as craftperson, exploring whether the work changes because of the intensity of making a product by hand from start to finish. For ‘Vegetables’, it took one person one week to hand dye and then stitch each work.
At Designersblock in Milan, Johan Lindsten presented his ‘Dream About an Idyllic Place’ chairs. Lindsten discovered old Swedish textiles, which had been embroidered by hand. Rather than discarding these labour intensive works, he worked worked them into his seating design.
The new ‘Hug’ chair by Cate & Nelson is made from a single formpressed sheet. Once folded, decorative buttons hold it together – no tools required.
One of the highlights of Milan Design Week was the Swarovski Crystal Palace, just for the sheer amount of sparkle. Yves Behar presented his new Amplify pendants, gem-shaped lights made from recycled paper. Also on display was an amazing installation by Tokujin Yoshioka. One side of a fog-filled room held Yoshioka’s LED light, covered with 10,000 crystals. The other side showcased a tank with another globe that was growing crystals inside.
‘Caleidoscope’ lights by Frederike Top at the Tuttobene display in Milan. The pendants can be combined with different graphic inserts, which reflect off the interior walls.
More Milan posts to come, being here and posting here are two very different things. Have over 1,000 shots, but there is still so much to see! In the meantime, check out our group coverage at MoCo Loco.
