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

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 !

Owners/Designers: Alexander Stamminger and Nik Back

Established: 2007

Location: Blaufelden, Baden-Württemberg

Products:
Luca lean
Luca stand
Ten
Line
Turn
Superemma

maigrau: Alexander Stamminger and Nik Back

(smow)blog: Let’s start at the very beginning, where did you meet?
maigrau: We both studied Industrial design at the Kunstakademie in Stuttgart, and we have known each other since the first semester – so since 2003 – and we completed our studies in 2008.

(smow)blog: And immediately formed maigrau…
maigrau: … exactly. In principle we really started in our final semester. Our diploma project went a little in that direction, we also developed a couple of products and so it was a fairly fluid process.

(smow)blog: And why the decision to produce, market and distribute yourself?
maigrau: It was simply the basic thought it would be good when we could accompany our products through the complete process right up until the customer.

luca by maigrau

(smow)blog: And the commercial/business elements, did you learn these at college or was it more a case of learning by doing?
maigrau: If we’re honest that was a shortcoming of the course in that there wasn’t a great deal of business skills taught. And so we have had to learn a lot ourselves, be it price calculations or dealing with customers – specifically because as a producer/retailer we have different customers than those designers who simply offer design services to a client.

(smow)blog: And was it the correct decision?
maigrau: Definitely! And it’s a decision we’d make again. Sure it’s a stressful path with some hard periods at the beginning but over time and through the experiences one learns.

(smow)blog: And in that context congratulations on the nomination for the 2011 German Design Prize.
maigrau: Thank you. We’re absolutely delighted. And obviously it’s a little bit of recognition that what we are doing is correct and that we do it well. It’s a nice feeling to be nominated for such a design prize.

(smow)blog: Where do you want to take maigrau in the future?
maigrau: Obviously we want to expand our collection, one of the one hand as designers we naturally want to continue designing products ourselves, but on the other we can also imagine developing products for maigrau in cooperation with other designers.

(smow)blog: One of the new products is the side table Turn. What was the motivation behind the table?
maigrau: We were interested in producing  a modern side table  which was also vaguely reminiscent of typical works from the 1950s.  The turned wooden legs combined with the thin 3mm steel top produce a very simple, yet new form.

Turn by maigrau

(smow)blog: The table comes in two heights, Luca comes in two forms, the shelving in two lengths, is there a deliberate plan to produce your objects in different versions?
maigrau: It’s not exactly deliberate, but it is often that case that such an option presents itself. From a development perspective the creation of a larger version doesn’t automatically mean more work and because we organize the production ourselves here in Germany we have direct control. And so the development of different versions or the further development of a design is often a sensible, obvious step. For example, in the autumn we plan to launch the further development of the luca lamps.

(smow)blog:Then all the best and good luck for the future!

More information on maigrau can be found at at maigrau.com/

Luca lean by maigrau

Turn by maigrau

Luca stand by maigrau

Ten by maigrau

Superemma clothes rack by maigrau

Line shelving by maigrau

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