Ever since DMY Berlin inaugurated their “Three from Ten” Awards in 2009 the Bauhaus Archiv Berlin has honoured the nominees and prize winners with an autumn exhibition.

2012 is no different and the exhibition “DMY Awards and Jury Selection 2012″ can be viewed in Berlin until mid-October.

It is of course only logical that the Bauhaus Archiv should take an interest in largely experimental and conceptual design projects.

For although today heavily stained with cliché and tainted by the passing of time, the Bauhaus was largely an experimental and conceptual institution that challenged students to think in new ways and so discover new answers.

And so in hosting the DMY Awards exhibition the Bauhaus Archiv is simply remaining true to the tradition they aim to maintain through the more “regular” historical, muséal, exhibitions.

Bauhaus Archiv Berlin: DMY Awards and Jury Selection 2012

As an exhibition “DMY Awards and Jury Selection 2012″ is pretty self-explanatory. It doesn’t tell a story. It doesn’t explore anything. It doesn’t challenge.

It presents 10 projects that do all those things.

Back in June Andrea Brena promised us a new “Knitted Army” piece for the Bauhaus Archiv exhibition. And he hasn’t disappointed. Taking the results of a little arm knitting and combining it with a metal frame he has turned an otherwise abstract piece into a chair.
And so taken the project up a level.

The other projects are pretty much as you were. Which is fine. Not least because most of them were largely “complete”
But also because in the more relaxed and unhurried surroundings of the Bauhaus Archiv one has time to reflect a little longer and question a little deeper than one did in Tempelhof.

We, for example, still don’t really see the long term aim of Jólan van der Wiel’s Gravity Stool project. In the Bauhaus Archiv exhibition we have the space to consider it.
And indeed at a workshop on October 11th to discuss it with Jólan.

Gravity Stool by Jólan van der Wiel.

Elsewhere Mobile Gastfreundschaft by chmara.rosinke and Future Travels by Hanemaai are still challenging our sedentary nature, Agri-Expo Yunlin are still promoting bamboo and Rockwell Group are still getting kids to do the work and build their own play parks with their Imagination Playground.

But then all ten projects have something to say and a reason to explore them.

“DMY Awards and Jury Selection 2012″ can be viewed at the Bauhaus Archiv Berlin until October 15th.

If your in the German capital we’d recommend you do.

Full details, including information on the extensive accompanying programme can be found at www.bauhaus.de

Andrea Brena's new "Knitted Army Chair"

Return by Sa’ Bella Design/Sally Lin. Part of Farmer's Creativity

Bauhaus Archiv Berlin: DMY Awards and Jury Selection 2012

Among the most innovative exhibition concepts we saw at DMY 2011 was that from the Holland based Portuguese design platform Made out Portugal.

They showed their works in the back of a truck.

Or at least they did at the beginning – the combination of location and weather meaning that they did eventually have move indoors.

But that’s not to distract from the concept itself.

Beloved by governments and state institutions looking to increase “participation”, or indeed health service providers trying to encourage us to take our health a little more seriously, mobile exhibitions aren’t new

However transferred to the field of product design, or art, in does seem a little subversive. Playing as it does with notions of temporariness and fleetingness.

Plus in theory they could also stop at every motorway service station on the way back to Eindhoven and present their work

To find out more about the mobile concept and the current state of Made out Portugal we spoke to one of the platform’s founding members Bruno Carvalho

(smow)blog: The obvious first question, why the decision for an exhibition in the back of a lorry?

Bruno Carvalho: Firstly we are all from Portugal, but live elsewhere and so are we are all in a way “design nomads”. And then with the rented van it is so that we don’t necessarily need to have an exhibition or a gallery space to show our works; we have our own temporary, mobile gallery. We can park it anywhere and exhibit. Which is something I like because I think design should be for everybody, and so we can stop in a housing estate and then reach people who we otherwise would not reach because they don’t come to such shows. And so it is an alternative form of communication, also because there are so many design shows now. Sometimes it is as if there are more design weeks than actual weeks in a year.

(smow)blog: In that sense, why the decision to bring the truck to DMY

Bruno Carvalho: Principally because of Berlin, it’s just an amazing city. And so its like “Lets go to DMY – it’s in Berlin!!” But also DMY is a nice relaxed festival, with more workshops and less commercial pressure. Also there is a lot of communication between the designers, which is good and positive.

(smow)blog: We first met at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, which was also Made out Portugal’s first exhibition. How have things developed since then?

Bruno Carvalho: The biggest thing at the moment is an internal discussion over the future direction we should take. Some people want to have a more structured organisation behind it, but I am more of the opinion that it should all remain simple. For me Made out Portugal is not a brand, its just a platform where we all help each other without ties. And so the next step is to decide on our future direction

(smow)blog: And are still you looking for more designers to join you?

Bruno Carvalho: Yes. We’re always looking for new designers. Any Portuguese designer working in Europe, but not Portugal, is welcome to join us. But also Portugal is in quite a bad way economically at the moment, most of us here are working with and in very high-class professional studios, we’re gathering a lot of experience and we want to use that to help design in Portugal. And so at Experimenta we will be inviting some Portuguese based designers to join us.

(smow)blog: Which leads us nicely to the final question, where can we expect the Made out Portugal truck to turn up next?

Bruno Carvalho: We’re still planning, but we will try to go to London Design Festival and also Experimanta in Lisbon. But we can anywhere, even when we’re not accepted because we can just pull up outside the venue and exhibit!!

More information on Made out Portugal can be found at www.madeoutportugal.com

The Made out Portugal exhibition truck

...and then after the move indoors.

Spore Vase by Paulo Sellmayer. Part of Made Out Portugal at DMY Berlin 2011

João Valente #Another contemporary chair. Part of Made Out Portugal at DMY Berlin 2011.

Tempelhof Lamp by Bruno Carvalho. The second part of Bruno's site-specific furniture concept.

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

The Top 5 chairs from the smow design spring. In no particular order.

Foldable cardboard chair by Stuart Miller at deignersblock, Milan

We lie: there is a slight order. First up is our favourite chair from the smow design spring: Stuart Miller’s unnamed foldable cardboard chair from the designersblock showcase in Milan. Over the course of the smow design spring we didn’t see any thing that even came to close to capturing Stuart’s simple, practical and comfortable chair. We’ve sadly lost sight of the project a little, and lack the requisite degree in Information Technology to navigate Glasgow Caledonian University Website, If any one knows anything please let us know!! Unnamed foldable carboard chair. Quality seating instrument!

And as of now … In no particular order.

Duct Tape Chair by Jason Miller

Duct Tape Chair by Jason Miller. In our original post from the floor of the ICFF press room we mentioned the similarity between Jason Miller’s Duct chair and Easy by Klausner and Carpenter for Established and Sons. After long and careful consideration, however, we decide to include Duct chair in our tip five. A confident and wonderfully comfortable chair, Duct Chair is also not only aesthetically pleasing but engages the user and so transforms from a passive chair into active element of a room. Duct Tape Chair. Quality seating instrument!

404 H by Stefan Dietz for Thonet

404 H by Stefan Dietz for Thonet. In our world bar stools count as chairs, mainly because we spend a lot of time on bar stools – having as we do a raised breakfast bar in the kitchen of the (smow)flat. For Thonet Stefan Dietz has created in 404 H a wonderful addition to one of the most tradition-conscious German design houses. In comparison to some other long established design houses, for Thonet tradition if more than just marketing rights tio the name of a long since deceased designer; rather for Thonet tradition means continuing the tradition that made that designer successful and famous – and in the case of Michael Thonet that means innovation.404 H. Quality seating instrument!

And uncomplicated, high quality wooden furniture.

Such as the 404 H.

Vegetal by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra in Milan

Vegetal by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra.  Even before the start of the Milan design week Vegetal had already established itself as one of the stars. And it didn’t let us down. Yes it looks like a cheap garden chair, yes it reminds one of Chair One by Konstantin Grcic, but no it is neither of these things. The fruit of four years labour by our favourite porcupine and fox, Vegetal is a wonderful, stable, comfortable and versatile chair perfect for indoor and out. And we’re fairly certain unbreakable. Vegetal. Quality seating instrument!

Bansko Bo lounger chair and Ottoman by Design Apparat

Bansko Bo by Design Apparat. Without question one of the finest proper loungers we saw this spring, and that from one of the best new design studios from the smow design spring. We live in Leipzig, we don’t like nOSTalgia, we do like many elements of the design style that developed in Eastern Europe  during the decades of iron curtains, Warsaw pacts and ICBMs. Bansko Bo is a wonderful new design, but one that has its roots unmistakably in the Bulgaria of the 1970s. Looks good, works and will probably last longer than the regime of Todor Zhivkov. Bansko Bo. Quality seating instrument!

Kete by David Turnbridge

The Top 5 Lamps from the smow design spring. In no particular order.

Kete by David Turnbridge. One of the first lamps we saw in Milan, and probably that which left the greatest impression on us. And not merely on account of its size. For us the principle beauty of Kete is the atmosphere it can create in a room with it 7W LED element. And despite their overproprtionality Kete doesn’t domiante the room. Honest.  Kete. Anything but dull.

moooi.

Beachballs by TOBYhouse at designersblock, Milan

Beach Ball Lamps by TOBYhouse. When we first saw Beach Ball Lamps we thought they were made from shaped aluminium. So stable and rigid are they. Only after entering into converstaion with designer Toby Sanders did we discover that they are real beach balls. And that was when the product became magic. That was the moment when we realised and appreciated just what a product we had before us. And that was the moment when we started to investiagte more carefully. Through a specialy developed process TOBYhouse coat the inside of the balls with a thin polyeurethene coat, before cutting the bottom open and rounding the edges. And with it’s brillant white interior Beach Ball Lamps offers an excellent illumination. Beach Balls Lamps. Anything but dull.

moooi.

Flatline by Jason Brugges for Established and Sons

Flatliner by Jason Bruge for Established and Sons. We don’t own an iPod which is probably why we took a  couple of minutes to get the hang of the control system. Had it been based on an MD player we would have got the hang of it much quicker. However, once up and running we were in awe of Jason Bruge’s genial dimming system. And the quality of the illumination generated is every bit as convincing. If you don’t know what were talking about, check out our (smow)tube video. Flatliner. Anything but dull.

moooi.

Fiss Family by My Own Super Studio

Fiss Family by myownsuperstudio. DMY in Berlin was full of lamps. We’re not exactly sure why but we’re fairly certain it had something to do with students being set lamp design as part of their final year project. A sort of conspiracy among product and industrial design lecturers to make earth shine more brightly than the sun. Fiss Family by Portugese outfit myownsuperstudio wouldn’t have been much help in such a plot, but was without doubt one of the finest lamp ranges we saw this spring. For us the beauty lies in the fact that the light flows downwards; consequently, they don’t produce the brightest illumination, but that which they do produce is amongst the softest we saw this spring and certainly the best intended for a living room or office when you want a gentle background light or constant, atmospheric illumination. Fiss Family. Anything but dull.

moooi.

Spin by Tom Dixon

Spin by Tom Dixon. Not a lamp in the popular, modern electrified sense. But then were not sticklers for convention. Correctly used candles can offer a better, more positive illuminaton than their modern cousins. The trick is the “correctly used” part. With Spin Tom Dixon offers a wonderfully stylish opportunity not only to illuminate a space as we want it, but also to change the illumination as and when required. Spin. Anything but dull.

And a special mention goes to moooi for their Horse Lamp.

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.

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)