It’s fair to say that for us the real shock of IMM Cologne 2011 was the number of senseless sofa combinations and truly, truly, hideous leather cantilever dining chairs on show.

And that despite that fact we were expecting such.

It of course wasn’t all cheap pointless tat, there were also some wonderful young designers on show and one or two brave producers with genuinely interesting, innovative and aesthetically coherent product ranges.

They were sadly in the minority – and we fear that in the coming years they will become even rarer and that IMM will increasingly look even more like a cheap out-of-town furniture discounter than it does at the moment.

IMM Cologne 2011: Pile em high and sell em cheap....

IMM has two main problems: Milan and Maison et Objet in Paris.

Paris is sexy, exciting, dangerous, passionate…..

Cologne.

And no amount of Viva Colonia is going to entice young dynamic producers and designers to the Rhein when a couple of days later they can be on the Seine.

For that they need the belief that there is a real reason to exhibit in Cologne; be it at IMM, Designers Fair, or independently in the city.

At the moment they simply don’t have that.

And regardless of how large, expensive and wholly irrelevant Milan becomes, the furniture industry will continue to cling to its beloved Milano like some gin-addled old woman who can’t face the hollow reality of her existence sober – and that means that IMM need a concept that offers exhibitors alternatives that they do not have in Milan.

That was always the case – but the changing nature of the global furniture industry makes it more important now than in the 70s or 80s.

Kartell brought Milan with then to IMM Cologne 2011. We can only guess why.....

At the end of the day everyone knows that launching new products in Milan makes no sense – the fair is too big and the international media only listen to those with whom they have a personal relationship or those with the biggest PR budget.

Launching products in Cologne makes sense – but only if IMM provides a suitable environment.

But the press room at IMM is full of advertising sales reps and PR agencies on the look out for new clients.

We’re not saying its any different in Milan – we’re saying it should be different than in Milan.

Read many good interviews from IMM?

People still talk about Verner Panton’s Visiona 2 exhibition from 1970. It’s highly unlikely anyone would even notice in 2011.

IMM need to decide if they want to position themselves as a fair for the lower rungs of the quality and taste ladder – or if they want to offer furniture for the majority of purchasers. And furniture that is ecologically and ethically justifiable.

The Boulevard of Innovations at IMM Cologne - a couple of hundred feet quality before the cheap leather sofas ruin your day.

For if they just want the cheap leather sofas – then please do us all a favour and lose the innovative producers and young designers.

It would be a real shame. It would however be real honest.

With d3 Design Talents IMM have a nice concept, one that works, and indeed one that is important for IMM – but it needs to be better supported by the Messe and not just seen as market relevant add-on that looks good in the sales brochures.

d3 Professionals showed what a wonderful range and depth of design talent Germany – and neighbouring countries – have to offer.
Young designers who are prepared to invest time and money in establishing themselves and their ideas in a very competitive global market.

However many of those who took part in d3 Professionals were once in Cologne as part of a college show.

And so if IMM want to ensure the continued success of d3 Professionals they would be well advised to treat the current student generation with a little more respect.

The location of the d3 Schools show this year was an absolute disgrace. Had we been due to exhibit there we would have packed our bags and left – never to return.

Stockholm Design Week is four weeks later, cheaper, more personal – and just as close to Cologne as Berlin, Vienna or London.

We know where we’d rather exhibit.

IMM Cologne will of course continue to survive – it would just be nice if it also remained, relevant, innovative and an event that one looked forward to.

Rather than feared.

The first thing to say about Designers Fair 2011 is that it was smaller than last year.

The second point to say is that the location was a lot poorer than last.

The first point is in itself no bad thing – the second is.

Now you know us. For us one of the genuine joys of a design week is the chance it offers to explore a city and to visit those areas that one otherwise wouldn’t see.

And the 2011 Designers Fair location in Ehrenfeld was in that sense good as it provided a focal point for our visit to the various satellite shows in Ehrenfeld.

But we would have gone to them anyway.

We’re us.

However, for many visitors IMM is the principle attraction and raison d’etre for the journey to Cologne.

And for them Designers Fair – as the principle show for organised, professional young designers -needs to be accessible.

Otherwise they won’t go.

We know that there were problems finding a location – and that Designers Fair weren’t the only one ones with geographic challenges – but for 2011 Designers Fair needs a location that doesn’t involve such a complicated journey from the Messe.

Otherwise one loses opportunities – and in a worst case scenario exhibitors.

Which is a shame – and would be a real problem.

Christian Lessing @ Designers Fair 2011

Especially when one sees the quality that is/was on display.

In addition to familiar faces such Christian Lessing, Tim Baute or maigrau, Designers Fair 2011 also introduced us to a couple of new design studios whom we plan to explore a litte more including Stadtnomaden, Yankei and Möbelchen. And then of course the chance to finally learn about SuperSputnk by Sisman.

If we’re honest there wasn’t much in the way of new products – but then Cologne isn’t there for new products. Cologne is there as German designers “home” furniture fair.

For us a little disappointing was “Wahlverwandtschaft” – the special section devoted to young Dutch designers. For us many of the designers selected were just a little to obvious and often failed to present a sustainable or coherent concept .

However on the whole Designers Fair 2011 was well worth the, long, trip.

As we say we just hope that next year they can find a more central and accessible location.

Designers Fair 2011 - not busy

maigrau @ Designers Fair 2011

Tim Baute @ Designers Fair 2011

Just as Hannibal always loved it when a plan came together – so for us it is always a moment of extreme satisfaction when a product really is as good as we thought it probably would be.

We first saw SuperSputnik by Stuttgart based designer Ahmet Sismanoglu a.k.a Sisman at DMY Berlin 2010

However owing to an, as ever, over-filled schedule never got round to more than admiring it from afar.

And so at Designers Fair in Cologne we briefly ignored our schedule to grab a few words with Ahmet and learn a little more about SuperSputnik.

SuperSputnik by Sisman

And discovered that SuperSputnik is not only the aesthetic delight we knew it was – but that the technology and thinking behind the design is every bit as good.

SuperSputnik by Sisman is based on a concept known as elastokinematics – which, if we understood it correctly, essentially involves using the inherent elasticity of materials to create flexibility in systems rather than physically creating flexibility through, for example, hinges.

Something which gives you not only a more stable structure but a more controlled flexibility.

As a process elastokinematics is regularly used in the automobile industry – for example in the aerodynamic systems of Formula 1 cars where a stable, predictable, flexibility is required.

Ahmet Sismanoglu has translated this technology to create a stool that moves very slightly with the users body; thus creating a more comfortable sitting experience and a stool that can be used for longer periods of time than most other stools.

As we’ve often said – and will continue to do so – for us the main role of furniture designers is not to produce items that alone look good, or alone fulfill a predetermined function but rather to do such while at the same time improving and advancing existing products and production processes with the aim of improving efficiency and increasing quality.

We don’t need more chairs – we need better chairs.

With its dynamic system SuperSputnik by Sisman not only presents an alternative form of stool design  – but does so with the most delightful Eames-esque wire frame and wood optic.

It was of course this optic that initially caught our attention at DMY Berlin; however, the real admiration for SuperSputnik only comes now that we know about its contsruction.

Designers Fair 2011: SuperSputnik by Sisman

While critics denounce such as an easy and obvious way to generate content – for us reviewing the past year is an important step in planning our activities for the coming year: where to go, who to talk to, what to sit on and, just as importantly, what to ignore or give up.

The only real problem for us is that in preparing such we realise just how much material we haven’t had the chance to use – and so receive an impression of how much more material we will acquire in the coming year.

Heck!

Reading Table by Uli Budde @ Designers Fair 2010 Cologne

The year started, as ever, with IMM and Designers Fair in Cologne. Aside from the opportunity to roll out a few anti-carnival gags the trip introduced us to some wonderful new products/designers, specifically; Uli Budde, Christian Lessing, Martin Neuhaus, Alexander Gufler, maigrau, Tim Baute etc, etc, etc…

A further highlight was the introduction of Herbert Hirche’s Interbau 57 armchair through Richard Lampert.

Negative was the lack of innovation and – if we’re honest – quality on display at IMM. For Germany’s most important furniture trade fair it just simply wasn’t good enough.

Let’s see what IMM 2011 brings.

In February we were then on much safer ground with the opening of the VitraHaus on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein and a visit to the MoormannHaus in Aschau in Chiemgau.

Moormann Haus, Aschau in Chiemgau

Aside from the way the VitraHaus majestically appears before you, for us the real joy is the decision to include “non-Vitra” items in the displays – very much in the spirit of Charles and Ray Eames‘ “Collage” principle of interior design.

If we did have one wish for 2011 it would be that rather than only including established designers, that Vitra include one or the other design from a young designer or two in the VitraHaus exhibition space.

VitraHaus is big enough to give young talent a chance.

While the MoormannHaus is every bit as spectacular a piece of architecture as Vitra’s, the real highlight of the trip to Aschau was Berge - the Moormann auberge

Much more than a delightful base for a trip to the Bavarian Alps – Berge is much more a wonderful introduction to the Moormann philosophy.

In March (smow)airport systems premiered their range of USM Haller based airport solutions at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2010 in Brussels. Created in cooperation with USM Haller , (smow) airport systems have developed a range of solutions for both operative, Lounge and Retail areas of airports – solutions that were very well received by the PTE visitors.

The company name and structure may have changed since PTE 2010 but we will be at PTE 2011 in Copenhagen to both follow the development of the project as well as to report on other developments in airport / public area furniture world.

Full house in the (smow)room for the Leipzig Buchmesse readings

Back in Leipzig March is Buchmesse and March 2010 saw the most successful series of readings ever in the (smow)room in Burgplatz.

Ever!

Starting with Grillsaison from Philipp Kohlhöfer and then moving on over “New voices from Switzerland” to “Meine Frau will einen Garten” by Gerhard Matzig the three readings provided three very different if equally enjoyable experiences.

More so in 2011 !

We first saw Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus at Designers Fair 2010 in Cologne.

And are still in awe.

Our interview with Martin Neuhaus from Designers’ Open will be published soon; but for now a few images.

Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus - an effect you can't ignore

Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus @ Designers Open 2010

available in a range of colours

Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus. So simple. So good.

Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus - detail

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For us Designers’ Open 2010 was a wonderful mixture of new discoveries and renewed meetings with old favourites.

Such as Collecteur by Christian Lessing.

We first saw back Collecteur in January at Designers Fair in Cologne – and are still impressed by the simple genius of the design.

In essence Collecteur is a stool/side table that receives its stability from magazines.

Perfect for all those of us with large magazine collection we can’t bear to part with but which we can’t find appropriate storage space for.

Or better put for which our partner considers the current storage space to be inadequate.

The “technology” behind Collecteur is little more then a fold in the steel sheet – the idea is much more involved.

And as we say, just delicious.

It was lovely to see Collecteur in Leipzig at Designers’ Open.

And now we’re really looking forward to Cologne in January!

Collecteur by Christian Lessing @ Designers' Open in Leipzig

Magazine storage and seat / table in one

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Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus

It’s not often a product impresses us so much it causes us to swear; but Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus had such an affect on us we spent our first four hours at Designers Fair cursing like trawlermen who had just hauled a case of whisky on board.

Honestly the looks we got.

But it was worth it.

Because Becherlicht is already well on its way to being our product of the year.

Light shining though a plastic beaker throws a coloured shadow onto a surface.

The idea is so simple, yet only works because of Martin Neuhaus’ faultlessly perfect execution of the design.

Sadly, in away, this perfectness is perhaps the products greatest weakness.

For us Becherlicht is not a product for the home; it’s not an everyday product – exactly because it relies on the “wow”, “a-ha” or “f************” effect.

And good as it is, if you see it everyday, the magic will fade, and it’ll be like having a Barry Manilow record on your wall.
Yeah you can still remember how you felt when you first bought it, but now it’s just the guy with the big nose who sings about how you used to feel….

However, if you own some sort of location where lots of people come, but each person only very occasionally – so a room where weddings or exhibitions are held – then Becherlicht is perfect.

Because you will improve the day of every single visitor.

The beaker itself comes in four colours and the illumination is supplied by a low voltage halogen bulb.

Kölle Alaaf: Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus

Becherlicht - simple, genial

Becherlicht in our office in Köln

Becherlicht by Martin Neuhaus ... detail

Becherlicht ... more detail

Becherlicht ....

“You can’t have a light without a dark to stick it in”
Arlo Guthrie’s quote features on interror.be in conjunction with the product sevenup – a light that ironically proves that although a dark can be helpful to a light … it aint a pre-requisite.

Reminiscent of Rody Grauman’s 85 lamps for droog – just with only seven bulbs and with the bulbs elegantly held apart form one another – sevenup is a wonderful modern interpretation the classic chandelier.

Stripped to the bare essentials – cables, bulbs, supporting structures – sevenup is somehow even more present than most hanging lamps; yet without dominating the room.

And the construction principle is so charming and unassuming that it lends the structure a grandness that a mere list of the components could never allure too.

Indeed having hung sevenup there is no real need to turn it on… just enjoy it.

We were greatly taken by sevenup.

Greatly taken.

sevenup by Interror.be at Designers Fair

sevenup by interror.be

sevenup by interror.be ... detail

luca lean by maigrau

According to the advertising information “The leaning lamp stresses the relationship between light and architecture by its generous gesture”

That as may be, for us luca lean by maigrau is one of those genially executed design concepts that separate the chaff from the rye.

Items leaning against walls is no new concept. Alone Moormann could create a category dedicated to furniture items that are supported by architectural supporting structures.

But wheels aint new either…what is new is new is how you use them.
For us there are two real positives in luca lean.

The first is the anonymity of the wood. You simply don’t notice it. Which gives the whole ensemble a delicate lightness.

The second is the shadow cast, a wonderful curving light that creates genuine atmosphere in a room: in addition to the light itself. The shadow is a result of the lamp: wall angle.

The oiled oak struts are combined by a triangular metal joint that also supports shade and bulb-fitting. While a foot dimmer allows you to adjust illumination to situation.

“luca” also comes in three legged “standard” floor version; but for us that is simply an alibi to appease the weak.

The leaning version is where it’s at.

Kölle Alaaf: luca lean by maigrau

luca lean by maigrau designers fair 2010

Designers Fair 2010

As with all major furniture trade fairs, Cologne also has it’s fringe events; indeed throughout they city museums,  shops and other businesses have taken the opportunity to present some aspect of modern furniture.

Not as much as one finds in Milan during the Saloni week; but an awful lot more than Leipzig manages during Designers Open.

Sadly.

The main “off-messe” focus is Designers Fair in …. well were not entirely sure what.

That the building housing Designers Fair was previously some form of administrative building is clear; but just what we don’t know.

But the location is wonderful.

On the ground and the first floor each exhibitor has a former office as their display space; the run down corridors perfectly complementing the extremely high quality of the work on display.

Now we discovered a couple of true gems at Designers Fair, but rather than blow all our powder here; we’ve decided to portion it over the coming posts….

You’ve been warned…

... a truly excellent location