Predictions for 2006

Well it’s that time of the year where we take stock and make our resolutions for the following year – not for me.

I’m going to take this opportunity to make a few predictions for the world of design.

Future classic; Polder

Hella Jongerius gets down and dirty about formal design in an informal way to come up with the essentially simple yet classic lines of the Polder sofa. It was revealed for the first time at the 2005 Milan Furniture Fair, for Vitra’s home collection.

Porca Miseria!

Porca Miseria! is not only an Italian curse often uttered by my grandfather. It is one of the lighting pieces made by one of the most dedicated of lighting designers

Bale Chair

Bale Chair

This one is always worth a mention. Not only is it a great concept but its beauty also lies in its ability to eliminate the need to fit legs whilst solving our eternal storage problems.

For the common people

What does art, design and IKEA have in common? Well the answer would be Hella Jongerius.

It is said that Hella is primarily a designer who only compromises functionality on few exceptional occasions, however Hella does note that alternative roles can be found for objects that defy their functionality as is seen in some of her more experimental work.

Designing for IKEA though is a whole new kettle of fish for any designer…..

Eleanor light

I’m obviously into all things knitted or crocheted today ( must have been the effect of all that hand stitching I’ve been doing lately) so thought I would include this little gem in my posts. This has been spotted around by some of the other blogers (call me a bore if you like) but I think it has charm and harks the onset of the hadmade.

Another great female modernist on show

Eileen Gray
Architect + Furniture Designer (1878-1976)
Eileen Gray – Design Museum Exhibition
Until 8 January 2006

Knitters unite!

Knitting has been a craze in the UK for some time with the V&A running knitting workshops and knitting clubs springing up around the country to save more than just a few stitches but perhaps saving what was becoming a dying craft/tradition.

Marianne Brandt

Where are the great women of Design?

Marianne Brandt (1893 – 1983) widely known for her modernist metal design is currently on show at the Berlin Museum of design in the ‘tempo tempo’ exhibition until January 9, 2006 featuring her photomontages. These photomontages made of snippets from the Weimar Republic’s illustrated press deal with society, women and the culture of progress in the 1920s. Through montage she critically views contemporary society and politics.These works are very timely – are we headed toward similar times where we are seeing the dangerous side of modern technology, militarisation and the implications for modern society?