Sodermalm’s the coolest!

Back to fashion

via the Sartorialist

dfactory:may

Nakameguro

On the Japan theme I thought I would also include this short video again via Jean Snow which is quickly becoming a favorite blog. This post is also dedicated to Nick - hope you’re having a good time.

After seeing this footage I can’t get over why here in Sydney we are so afraid of high density living. This video not only demonstrates that interesting places can exist in dense areas but that population is needed to support variety and  alternate spaces that may not otherwise survive in less populated areas. Check out the video and you will see what I mean. What a creative use of apartment spaces!

Neo-Ruins: lithographs of post- apocalyptic Tokyo

Shibuya Center

Ameyoko

Ginza Chuo Dori

Ginza 4-chrome intersection

The series of lithographs by Hisaharu Motada depicts the post-apocalyptic state of the city of Tokyo.

he says

“if you think of Japan, you may have a strong image of beautiful nature and oriental culture. However after experiencing the period of the high growth economy, Japan now suffers environmental disruption everywhere. When you come to the Japan, you might not even find it beautiful. It is a pity, but it is true.”

via Jeansnow and Japanator

 

Droog Starter Box

In case you were not already a fan and addict of the Droog collective here is a new and easy way to form an addiction via the Starter Box. This introduction to Droog should have you craving more Droog products and ‘hits’ in no time as you surround yourself with their creativity and cleverness. Similar to the IKEA concept for kitchens (however I don’t think it is available to Australians), the Droog box lets you sample some basic and iconic products.

Front Design

Front design of sketch furniture fame……..if you don’t recall here is the video

Inspired by the joy of unwrapping chocolates,

Front have developed the ‘changing vase’

Curated by Naoto Fukasawa at 21_21 Design Sight (supported by the Issey Miyake foundation)

The members of Front, Sofia Lagerkvist, Charlotte von der Lancken, Anna Lindgren and Katja Sävström say

We in Front have been inspired by figuratively shaped chocolate wrapped in metal foil. The printed wrapping makes the chocolate into a decorative object and a toy. As a kid you were torn between wanting to tear off the wrapping to eat the chocolate or keeping it. We have made a series of vases in one: a Changing Vase. A chocolate brown glass vase is covered in five layers of foil. When you tear one layer off a new one will appear and change the expression of the vase.

Front

designboom provides a little bit of background

+ stuff

+ it’s all over the web - Isabella Blow died yesterday

New York Times

in the Herald Tribune she was described as

one of the most imaginative, inventive and intelligent forces in fashion - and in her iconic self a work of art - has died in England.

Philip Treacy had made Isabella his muse throughout his designing career, in a tribute said of her

She was a great champion of young people. She came from the establishment but she was a punk at heart. Her love was talent, rather than money. Her ethos was beauty and elegance. And her encouragement was rare.

Thank you for ‘bettering our lives by exposing us to creativity’

+ this week coolhunter launched it’s Australian edition of the site, the first international edition of many to come

+ Scotland is about to launch it’s first design festival - The Six Cities Design Festival. More information here

+ nice design but perhaps a bit too close to the fruit loop by Australia’s own Lisa Vincitorio - the first designer to be picked up by Alessi whilst still a student!

See article about her success here

via Boingboing

&made: Great Brits in Milan

Having followed design and design concerns over the years it is apparent there has been a dramatic shift to environmental and sociological concerns. From designing for pure aesthetics and ego to a now growing concern for the people who use design and helping to solve real problems rather than just adding more dross to landfills whilst helping celebrity designers fill their pockets in the process. Design is no longer just for those who can afford it.

Well of course there has been a changing climate, pardon the pun. With the advent of global disasters and the need for housing and disaster relief, more and more organizations, designers and architects have made their practices more ethically concerned with ‘real’ needs and ‘actual’ problems solved to deliver identified needs. Along with this stream of consciousness came the increasing realization that we are living in a time where our climate is changing (note …not warming as it would be misleading to think it’s just about temperatures rising). A shift that reminds me of the frog in the pot analogy - we ‘re all in a pot of cool water and unconcerned until one day we realize we’re reaching boiling point - too late!
Designers David Cameron and Toby Hadden of the &made beg to entertain design from this standpoint

Although we are all becoming more aware of climate change, we felt that it is still a subject that is often put aside. It is not pleasant to consider that we are gradually destroying our own environment, which has led to an increase in natural disasters and extreme weather. The effects of climate change can leave us facing dangerous situations in our own home, where we are affected by destructive elements such as flooding and earthquakes. Rather than shy away from these negative processes, our ideal was to offer functional solutions in these increasing times of crises. In the case of the earthquake series, these objects rely on the vibrations of an earthquake to then offer themselves as emergency aids.

Hence the birth of the ‘climatised object’ and ‘either oar’ in 2006 - a table that converts to a life raft with paddles.

Libby Sellers , curator at the Design Museum says

The Climatised Objects address the fact that in a crisis people generally improvise with whatever is to hand, not matter how ill-suited the object or material may be. In response, &made have embedded dual-functionality into this new range, offering practical and covetable domestic products that moonlight as life-saving devices.

By crafting a sturdy but buoyant dining table with removable legs which convert into oars, &made offer an ad hoc raft in the event of a flash flood. In earthquake scenarios, an unassuming vase switches to an emergency torch on impact if knocked from its ledge, while a series of picture frames convert to flashing navigational aids, much like floor-based emergency lighting on airplanes, at the first instance of a tremor.

Far from being alarmist – the Climatised Objects not only merge concept and solutions led design into a desirable range, but are a wry critique on the production of sensational but purposeless objects at a time of environmental crisis.

As a continuation on the theme

‘Standby’ instead looks at the responsibility of objects and how they can make a difference. Focusing on the consumption of electricity through standby appliances and adaptors, the objects in this collection consider the responsibility of the switch and how it can make itself more available. Rather than hiding industrial sockets and switches behind furniture and in corners, these furnishings bring the switch out into the room with an ability to adapt to any environment.

An interview with David and Toby can be found here

&made website