Adenike by Bao-Nghi Droste - as seen at DMY Berlin 2009

For us there are many highlights to the (smow) design year, Milan, London, Brussels, Copenhagen…. and of course DMY Berlin.

DMY Berlin isn’t the biggest design fair, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. And for 2010 the organisers have not only found a new location; but also a new jury structure.

Rather than the normal “rotating heads jury” DMY Berlin now features a UN Security Council approach with 3 permanent members and 2 rotating.

The three permanent members will preside over the jury for the next three years, a decision which in our minds can only improve the quality of their decisions and so the standing and importance of DMY Berlin.

DMY Berlin 2010 New Venue for 2010

We believe on facebook people would give that a thumbs-up.

The first three permanent jury members are Werner Aisslinger (Designer, Studio Aisslinger), Jurgen Bey (Designer, Studio Makkink& Bey) and Jerszy Seymour (Designer, Jerszy Seymour Design Workshop), and they will be joined in 2010 by Hella Jongerius (Designer, Jongeriuslab) and – in all probability – Alfredo Häberli (Designer, Alfredo Häberli Design Development Zurich).

Now we know Ms Jongerius was there last year because we spied her quietly perusing the DMY Youngsters exhibition.

And so for those of you wanting to be part of the competition, and potentially impress Hella Jongerius and the other judges: The final deadline for entries is March 10th

Full details can be found here

DMY 2010 - Final call for entries

DMY Berlin may have been a few weeks ago, but the warm memories remain. And as we were sorting through the piles of info material we gathered in Kreuzberg we came across a postcard from Wohngold.

And like a remiss lover returning from a holiday fling, instantly felt a pang of guilt as we saw the card and were reminded of that wonderful time at DMY Youngsters.

Why hadn’t we responded since our return? Did it all mean so little?

For the truth is that LADAR by Wohngold is a truly wonderful product in an area of product design with a lot of competition.

In our modern world we rely heavily on mobile items, and happily ignore the fact that the majority of mobile items occasionally need to be recharged or otherwise attached to cables.  Most of us ignore this fact in that we ignoring the piles of spaghetti that accumulate on or near our desks.

But we all know its wrong.

There are a number of “boxes” on the market designed to help you control the uncontrollable, but what we like about LADAR is the fact that it is wall mountable, the space on top and inside can be used for storage of non-electrical items and it looks fantastic.

We were honestly greatly taken with the ingenious simplicity of  LADAR – and so apologies that we haven’t sent you card since our return.

LADAR by Wohngold...

...its like catching snakes in a box

We at (smow)blog we have often mentioned Vitras Net’n'Nest office design concept – one the one hand because we like it and on the other because as an official Vitra partner we at smow like to draw attention to new developments and products from Vitra.
We have, however, never made a secret of the fact that one can – if one wants – mix and match furniture from various producers.

Adenike by Bao-Nghi Droste

Which was pretty much our third thought upon seeing Adenike by Heidelberg based designer Bao-Nghi Droste at DMY Youngsters in Berlin.
Our first thought was what a fantastic object.
Our second was then, hhhmmm wonderful design, but with the padded surface it is a bit impractical for writing and drawing.
Then we spoke to Bao-Nghi and realised that our interpretation of it’s usage was incorrect.
Although the upper surface is solid enough to allow one to write on it, Adenike should be seen more as temporary work or meeting island. Or simply as a place to withdraw to from a group work situation in the same room and either do some work by yourself, or just read a paper and relax.

Adenike in action - Three designers discuss an object.

The first thing you notice, or better said don’t notice, when you approach Adenike is how it draws you in. You automatically lean on it, use it, interact with it. But because of the quality of the design you don’t notice, it feels natural, feels good.

Adenike has enough space for 4 or 5 people to comfortably work around it, and with it’s own in-built lamp is perfect for checking proofs, finalising documents or even playing poker to wile away a slow afternoon. Sorry to encourage a creative brainstorming session to ensure your company maintains the commercial high-ground.

In addition to beautifully fulfilling it’s intended function Adenike is also a well crafted piece of furniture; you genuinely don’t need to be a carpenter to appreciate the craftsmanship of the joints.

And so after chatting with the extremely amiable Bao-Nghi and testing Adenike, we came to thought three.

Adenike promotes a good working atmosphere

Adenike is perfect for all whose work involves occasional group discussions and/or short bursts of group consultation. Or for those who after a long sitting session creating something, want to stand to check the outcome of their work.  And so a wonderful addition for any office looking to base it’s layout on the principles of the Vitra Net’n'Nest concept.

Adenikeis currently not is serial production, and so if you are interested you will need to contact Bao-Nghi Droste direct.

Summer on the balcony ... unbeatable(Photo: Christin Bargel)

Before we start slowing down and head outdoors to enjoy the summer we want to take the opportunity over the next couple of weeks to look back on the smow design spring; namely our trips to Milan, New York, Brühl, Basel and Berlin … as well as to start looking forward to the forthcoming smow design autumn.

And no we won’t just be re-visiting old ground, we have saved a few treats from USM Haller, Vitra, ICFF, DMY Berlin and Salone for those long summer evenings on the balcony with a good beer.

smow design spring adieu ...

With the experience of the five very different trips, and the slight pause afforded by the summer, we want to take stock, analyse a little more deeply and for all highlight  those innovations and products that really caught our attention and which we believe are of interest.

There may also be some really, really  weak humour … but we hope not.

In addition we want to  preview a little of what can be expected during the smow design autumn

Not the (smow)blog garden, and that with good reason. Details later (or at flickr)....

We will certainly be at the London Design Festival,  Designers Open in Leipzig, Design September in Brussels, Copenhagen Design Week and we also fancy the Cardiff Design Festival, if they ever get round to confirming the dates :)
Further shows, trade fairs and especially trips to smow partner producers and designers may follow.

But don’t think we’ll be slacking off over the summer … although there may be a couple more posts about outdooor furniture, barbecues and seat coverings that are good for sun-burnt backs than normal, we will still be actively searching for – and finding – the very best in designer furniture.

Every month Jasper Morrison sends a photo to the Vitra Magazine. And every month Vitra publish it.

Every month we send a photo to the Vitra magazine. And every month they don’t.
Whereas the good Jaspers photos are always entertaining, this months entry was a lot more thoughtful and thought provoking.

PET Chandalier in Pondicherry, India. Photo: Jasper Morrison

Taken in Indian Pondicherry the photo shows a chandelier made from old PET bottles and Christmas lights. “If this was an exhibit at the Salone del Mobile in Milan I wouldn’t give it a second look” comments Morrison, before adding “but far removed from the temptations of designer dreams in Pondicherry, it holds a very different meaning and purpose.”

We don’t know how often Jasper Morrison was out and about in Milan, but we saw at least two lamps made from recycled bottles in Italy, then a couple in New York and yet another at DMY Berlin (in addition to the re-appearance of one we’d already seen in Milan)

Not only that but in Berlin we also found a lamp made out of broken umbrellas.

Discarded consumer goods as lighting is a current topic in contemporary design.

Pendant Lamp made from umbrellas

Except of course the materials aren’t discarded; rather, they’ve been used out of context to create the impression of a recycled product and so make a statement about first world consumption.

Only the product themselves automatically become an abuse of the uncontrolled consumption we in the north practice. We just call it “the temptations of designer dreams” in order to justify the unjustifiable.

For everyone who knows how much natural resources and energy goes into making one PET bottle also knows that tying it to another dozen to create a lamp is irresponsible waste.

And those who don’t know, should consult the videos by MSLK or check-out the film Tapped

And so where Morrison focuses on the Pondicherry Chandelier as demonstrating the intrinsic quality of good design, for us the more important message is: Stop pretending your recycling. Please.

If you live and work as an industrial or product designer in Europe you have almost limitless possibilities as regards raw materials and production processes. If you genuinely care about creating “green” or “sustainable” design make sure your materials and production processes reflect that concern and minimise impact.

Or actually use recycled products such as with Abfallprodukt by Bastian Müller from Burg Giebichenstein University in Halle.

A PET bottle lamp at DMY Berlin

And if you don’t care about creating “green” or “sustainable” design, then build a chair from asbestos.

When Morrison states “…in Pondicherry, it holds a very different meaning and purpose” he means, and we believe understands, that it is “genuine”. Isn’t created as an artistic exercise by someone with access to libraries, internet, machines and materials in a scale beyond the grasp of most people; rather, by someone who needs to solve a problem, and that with the limited resources that physically lie before him.

There’s a verse in “Holiday in Cambodia” by the Dead Kennedys that goes:

Play ethnicky jazz
To parade your snazz
On your five grand stereo
Braggin that you know
How the niggers feel cold
And the slums got so much soul

The world doesn’t need designers demonstrating to the the worlds poor how clever one can be with a few old plastic bottles and a bit of electric cable. As the Pondicherry Chandelier beautifully demonstrates, the skills exist, the innovation exists, the understanding exists.

And the unfair global distribution of resources exists.

The world needs designers who improve our situation and who understand that PET bottles are part of the problem and incorporating them into designs doesn’t actually help.

We need fewer PET bottles, not more.

Abfallprodukt by Bastian Müller, Burg Giebichenstein

Sustainability and fairness don’t mean puritan abstinence; they can be fun, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. And as far as we’re concerned should be. We positively appeal to the designers of the world to make the future for comfortable and safe; and that for all of us from Tipperary to Pondicherry and from Copenhagen to Harare.

Just don’t pretend your recycling for the benefit of the over-fed and the over-paid. And especially not with PET bottles.

And so thanks to Jasper Morrison for the photo, and more of the same please.

More weak, and potentially unfunny, humour about dogs driving delivery vans tomorrow :)

The International Design Festival Berlin is over, but the pleasing afterglow remains.

In particular through joys such as that presented by Portugese designer My Own Super Studio.

At designer furniture shows one sees a lot of furniture, but not much that genuinely excites on account of its genuine innovation.

Fiss Family by My Own Super Studio

Fiss Family by my own super studio is one of the rarities. Fiss Family is essentially a set of 4 colour coded – Big Blue, Small Yellow, Long Green and Fat Orange – lamps. Or better put a set of 4 colour coded ingenious lamps. Not only do the look like tables, but they really can be used as small tables. In addition their downward flowing light means that although they stand unobtrusively and “non-lamp like” in a room they generate a soft, atmospheric lamp perfect for a quiet evening watching a film, listening to music or whatever.

We found not only the idea fantastic, but also the execution and craftsmanship was second to none. Fiss Family are definitely well worth further investigation.
Also highly interesting was the modular sidboard – we were so taken by it we forgot to ask what it is called :(

There is a lot of modular furniture around at the moment, and a lot of it that is – as with My Own Super Studio’s Unit -  limitlessly extendable and can be organised and reorganised as you require and as often as you require.

Extendable Modular unit from My Own Super Studio

What attracted us to this Portuguese market entry, however, is on the one hand the simplicity – even we could construct it – and secondly the fact that the supports can be used an informal storage element for loose papers, pamphlets or CD’s.

Looks good, works and offers excellent space utilization.

What more do you need.

There was, if we’re brutally honest, an awful lot of rubbish on show at DMY. Fortunately there was also truly memorable and exciting furniture such at that from My Own Super Studio.

Obrigado

Berlin didn’t become the pulsating metropolis its is by blithely doing what everyone else does.

Oh no, Berlin became Berlin because it was Berlin.

And now so that we all can bathe in wonder of what “Berlin” means, the city marketing authorities have started an education programme, “be Berlin“, in which they instruct us all how we too can be like them.

And in conjunction with the DMY design festival, (smow)blog can exclusively reveal a few secrets as to how you too can “be Berlin”

be Berlin Tip 4: Grass cars

Driving. Who likes to drive? No one likes to drive. The Berliners know that and so they developed grass cars. Not only do they give the city a more pleasant feel – especially during that Monday morning drive to work – but they offer plenty of space on which to graze small animals such as pygmy goats or guinea pigs. The end of the Cold War has its roots in this unique Berlin arrangement.

And so go on, buy a grass car, and “be Berlin”.

be Berlin Tip 4: Grass cars

Design Apparat

What first attracted us to the work of Jason Miller at ICFF was the fact it was dirty.

Obviously not pysically grubby, but dirty.

As in a get down, funky, sort of dirty. Downtown Manhattan circa 1976 dirty.

And we liked that. A lot.
A similar emmotion grabbed us here at DMY Berlin as we walked past the stand from Design Apparat.

The furniture was filthy.
Again not in a grubby, don’t sit down you’ll ruin your jacket sort of way; rather in a “did you find that in Warsaw Pact appartment block?” sort of way.

Bansko Bo lounger chair and Ottoman by Design Apparat

And although we hate it when things are obvious, we were overjoyed to discover that Design Appart do in fact have their roots in Eastern Europe

Part Italian, part Bulgarian Design Apparat was officially launched at the Salone in MIlan – we’re sorry to say we didn’t just miss them, we weren’t even aware they we there – and take the stylistic traits of Bulgarian interiors of the 20th century as their starting point.

..the wooden tray/rack

Not, as Design Apparat make perfectly clear, as an operation of retro-nostalgia or as a chauvinist celebration of Marxist-Leninist dogma,  but rather an impassioned design exercise aimed at preserving a school of design that still offers noteworthy elements of attraction and some contemporary values.

And fortunately the furniture they produce is just as beautifully crafted as their press releases.

For example, the Bansko Boo lounge chair and ottoman. Not only does it positively invite you sit down, but once you do so it is so amiable and comfortable that you not onyl feel obliged to relax – you have no other choice. And then there are the wonderful wooden trays/racks. Not only can they be used for placing cups, plates and the like on – so as  sort of table – but you can also use them to keep your shoes off the ottoman if your the sort of person who wears outdoor shoes indoors.

Secrets wall unit by Design Apparat

The  wall panel “Secrets” appealed not as you may think because it genuinely looks as if it has been ripped out of a Sofia highrise, but because of its beuatiful, unobtrusive functionality. Available with range of accesories including hangers, small shelves and even a vase, one of the real delights of “Secrets ” is the inbuilt LED lights.

Practical, well crafted, self-illuminating and just gorgeous.

All in all we were very impressed with what Design Apparat had to offer and look forward to following their development in the coming years.

успех!

Secrets ... with inbuilt LED lighting

Berlin didn’t become the pulsating metropolis its is by blithely doing what everyone else does.

Oh no, Berlin became Berlin because it was Berlin.

And now so that we all can bathe in wonder of what “Berlin” means, the city marketing authorities have started an education programme, “be Berlin“, in which they instruct us all how we too can be like them.

And in conjunction with the DMY design festival, (smow)blog can exclusively reveal a few secrets as to how you too can “be Berlin”

be Berlin Tip 3: Use cigarette smoke for your barbecue

Don’t waste the worlds resources on burning charcoal for your barbecue – there will inevitably be smokers hanging around, just use their exhaled smoke to heat your meat, plantains and garlic bread. Saves you work, saves the planet and smokers can experience how it feels to be useful rather than a social scourge. The end of the Cold War has its roots in this unique Berlin arrangement.
And so go on, use cigarette smoke for your barbecue, and “be Berlin”.

be Berlin Tip 3: Use cigarette smoke for your barbecue (raucher bereich - smoking area; grill - barbecue)

Berlin didn’t become the pulsating metropolis its is by blithely doing what everyone else does.

Oh no, Berlin became Berlin because it was Berlin.

And now so that we all can bathe in wonder of what “Berlin” means, the city marketing authorities have started an education programme, “be Berlin“, in which they instruct us all how we too can be like them.

And in conjunction with the DMY design festival, (smow)blog can exclusively reveal a few secrets as to how you too can “be Berlin”

be Berlin Tip 2: Public access wellington boots

How often have you been waiting at the traffic lights, when all of a sudden you notice that, on account of a leak in your shoe, your socks are wet.  Every day. Therefore, in Berlin the city government make wellington boots freely available for all. It costs a couple of euros, but citizens with dry feet are more creative citizens. The end of the Cold War has its roots in this unique Berlin arrangement.

And so go on, hang wellington boots from traffic lights, and be Berlin.

be Berlin Tip 2: Public access wellington boots