Yves Behar interview

The $100 laptop for the developing world: to date 2 million laptops have been produced and distributed

I had the privilege of talking to the multi-award winning industrial designer Yves Behar recently.

He had some really interesting things to say about how to live a more ethical life, but without feeling like you are giving too much up. He talked about how the consumer has more influence today than ever before and why we should be making the most of our online voice.

You can read the full interview here at The Independent.

 Clever Little Bag for Puma: 80 million pairs of shoes shipped every year, packaging waste reduced by 65%

Yves Behar holds up the $100 laptop which recently won the IDSA Design of the Decade Bronze Award


Hung up

There's a welcome explosion of colour next week in the form of two exhibitions devoted to so hot right now graphic art and limited edition prints. 

St Jude's in the City exhibition of prints, paintings and St Jude's fabrics runs from Wednesday 10th until Sunday 21st November at The Bankside Gallery, SE1. 
With Love by Christopher Brown at St Jude's in the City

Summer Red Form by Peter Green at St Jude's in the City

Outline Editions' latest collection of graphic art Into the Forest kicks off on Thursday 11th November at a temporary gallery on Berwick Street, W1. Featuring artists including Anthony Burrill, Klaus Haapaniemi, Kate Moross and Beyond the Valley.

I  Like It by Anthony Burrill at Outline Editions

Stripe Land by Anthony Burrill at Outline Editions

Get switched on

Anglepoise Type 1228 desk lamp from Heal's

The clocks may have gone back but despite the dark mornings and evenings there's no need sink into early onset SAD. 

The brighter solution is to invest in some decent lighting and the easiest way is with table and floor lamps. I wrote a piece about this in Friday's The Independent. 

Jielde lights from Caravan

Hector table light from Geoffrey Harris

Baxter floor lamp from Habitat 


Design meets art

Not for everyone: Esperanca light by Campana Brothers for Vessel Gallery

It's always interesting to see what's going on at the sharp end of design. By which I mean cutting edge, on the fringes, not the kind of thing you come across unless you are really looking for it.

This week the Frieze Art Fair hits London and alongside it are lots of other contemporary art events vying for attention. One I stumbled upon is called Super Design, which is neither art or design, but something a bit more Super.

The show is devoted to the very 21st Century phenomenon design art where objects traditionally thought of as being from the school of design merge with ideas usually associated with works of art

... and their value launches into the stratosphere. 
Quite literally at the sharp end of design art: Origami Mirror Chair by Philip Michael Wolfson for The Apartment Gallery

Whether this marriage actually improves the design, or enhances the art, is another question.

In his fascinating book 'The Language of Things', Deyan Sudjic (Director of the Design Museum) makes an interesting point about the curious paradox of utility and value. That in actual fact we value the things that could be considered to be slightly useless - as in without utility, rather than without purpose - above the useful.

Think of Ferrari (hardly the practical option, but gets attention) versus Volkswagen; or a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes (expensive, hard to walk in, but so beautiful) versus the plimpsoll. 

"Usefulness is inversely proportional to value", he says. "The more useless an object is, the more highly valued it will be."

In other words, if you can't actually sit on the chair, it's probably really, really expensive. 
Definitely in the look, but don't sit category: Reverb Wire Chair by Brodie Neill for The Apartment Gallery

Something to bear in mind perhaps if you are thinking of visiting either show, both Frieze and Super Design (all images here are from the latter) run until Sunday 17th October. 

For a concise review of the Sudjic book click here.

Drawn to this

Anorak Magazine

The latest issue of this illustrative magazine for kids is out now. 

This magazine is one of those things - a bit like the Lisa Jones Studio cards - that appeal to adults as well as children, although probably a bit more to adults... who then buy it for their children. 

It's a good system. Well, it needs to be, because without an incentivising cover mounted freebie plastic giveaway toy, there's less chance of a child actually picking it up in the first place. Sigh.

More cool happenings

Half way through the London Design Festival - still loads to see this weekend. This time I'm looking at what's on in the centre and west of town.

Oiva Toikka birds at Vessel 
Just completely love these birds, always have. Such beautiful colours and appealing shapes. They are timeless. Vessel Gallery is celebrating 50 years of Finnish artist Oiva Toikka's work for Iittala with an exhibition of his glass bird Art Works (new designs for 2010 pictured). Go before they fly off back to Finland.

Lucienne Day at Heal's
The ever-popular textile designs Lucienne Day produced from the 1950s to 70s have been re-interpreted for sale at Heal's this week. Three of her landmark designs: Calyx, Helix and Sunrise will be available on a series of furniture and accessories. Go if you're hooked on retro prints. 

Kit Kemp at Contemporary Applied Arts 
Continuing the craft theme is a very tactile exhibition at CAA. Interior designer Kit Kemp has commissioned lighting, tableware and furniture from craftmakers to be used in a domestic setting. Rest assured it's a cut above knitted lampshades - we're talking high end materials and pleasing organic forms.

RCA at LDF 
Among the shops and galleries which make up the Brompton Design District are a couple of rather distinguished guests: the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal College of Art. This year, the former is the hub of the design festival with on-site talks and installations, and the latter is presenting seven shows on how design exists to inspire and improve our everyday lives. Definitely worth a visit to South Kensington.

Moooi showroom in London
Never one to undersell itself, the Dutch interiors company Moooi has just launched its first UK showroom in some style. If your idea of good design is a giant horse lamp then you can pay them a visit... I'm not sure whether I really like this stuff, much of it is very look at me, but when shown together it certainly has an impact. Whether these pieces have a longer story, behind the shouty headline, is another question.

Etch light production line at Tom Dixon
Round the corner at Portobello Dock is Tom Dixon's new shop where this week his team have been making the Etch light on the premises. Go if you're interested in seeing how things are made - ie before they are wrapped up in nice packaging and put on the shop floor - and you can then buy one on the spot.


Cool happenings

Where to begin?

Here are some edited highlights of things happening in Shoreditch and Clerkenwell during the London Design Festival this week.
Sky Planter by Boskke
At the Old Shoreditch Station cafe/bar is a dramatic installation by Boskke and Thorsten van Elten. The ceiling is covered with Sky Planters (as featured on this blog) and the floor and walls have been taken over by giant cups and saucers, pigeon lights and other quirky objects. All are for sale in the adjacent shop No-One .


Edition Paumes at Ella Doran
Ella Doran will be launching the new book by Edition Paumes called London Family Style which snoops around the houses of 18 creative families in the city. A must for curtain twitchers across the capital.


Donna Wilson at SCP
East London stalwart SCP will be showcasing new products from its autumn/winter collection, including textiles and tableware from the prolific Donna Wilson. SCP has produced a handy map of the shops which make up the Shoreditch Design Triangle here.


Matthew Hilton at The Tramshed
The Tramshed is a new venue in East London and is this week hosting a broad selection of high-end design from big hitters including Studioilse, Matthew Hilton, Autoban, Ercol and Benchmark. Go to see what's going on at the sharp end of design, but not if you're expecting a bargain.


James Brown prints at Curate40
Curate40 Minimart is a smaller selling exhibition of illustration and print - so now - from up and comers such as the bold illustrator and printmaker James Brown. This show is one to bring your wallet to.


Lizzie Allen wallpaper at Curiosity London
Pop-up shop Curiosity London will be selling items by 17 hot young designers such as the talented screen-printer Lizzie Allen who will showcase her latest work. Again, bring your wallet.

Tent London at the Truman Brewery
Last, but by no means least, is the design show Tent London which is the place to visit for inspiring contemporary and vintage ideas. It's the daddy of the East London shows and has a big digital section.

Look out for the Lab Craft exhibition - curated by Max Fraser and designed by Tomoko Azumi - which explores craft in a digital age.

And if you're still on a craft tip and interested in things that are made not maufactured check out Origin in its new venue at Old Spitalfields Market.

Colour me beautiful

PLC chair by Pearson Lloyd

How much would you pay for this chair? What if you could get it in a one-off original colour. Would you pay more..?

The designers behind the PLC chair hope so. This wooden cafe-style chair is being auctioned off in 36 colours by Modus Furniture during the London Design Festival.

As a rule, I'm in favour of the sweet shop aesthetic in design where things look more appealing if they come in eye-popping colours.

It explains the allure of Caran d'Ache colouring pencils and it is one of the guiding principles behind Finnish homeware brand Iittala. And they're clearly onto something.

I don't know about you, but I find it pretty hard to resist objects when they're lined up in rainbow formation.

The question is, do they look as good when they're flying solo? Does the same happy vibe surround these objects when they are taken out of line. 


Rainbow chairs are happier chairs. Fact.

Moody blues

A moody shot on the cover of the new Howies catalogue

Love this image. 

The colours... the atmosphere... the open road.

I really think Howies has nailed its catalogue cover with this photograph. The eco-conscious Welsh clothing company sells outdoorsy items that are popular with city dwellers too.

The image captures that twilight moment, it could be dawn or dusk, when everything looks a bit more magical.

And you'd probably be happier with a nice warm (Howies) jumper on as it's a bit chilly out.

Simple.

Countdown to London Design Festival




Every year London goes design crazy for nine days as the London Design Festival rolls into town. And every year - like any good festival - while there is the inevitable feeling of excitement at so much being in one place at one time, there is also a looming sense of aghhh what do I see first? That anxious feeling of not wanting to miss anything can lead to paralysis - and you risk doing nothing. 

New designs at Tent London

A good place to start is the London Design Festival website which covers all the events - the mainstream things like the 100% Design trade show at Earl's Court - and the less obvious stuff too such as its hipper East End cousin Tent London which showcases contemporary and vintage design, architecture and interiors.

Trafalgar Square will be transformed by robots

You can find out about things like the crazy Outrace installation in Trafalgar Square by designers Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram. Eight industrial robots - on loan from Audi's car production line - will be set up in the square and will have LEDs attached to end of their mechanical tentacles. These robot arms can then be controlled by you from the Outrace website to make patterns of light in the darkness. It will be there from 16 - 23 September.

One way to grasp what is going on at the festival is to explore one geographical area at a time. The V&A in South Kensington is the hub of the whole festival - as it was last year when it increased visitor numbers by 30% - and will be hosting various events. Around town shops and galleries are staging their own events in the Brompton design district, on the South Bank, in Covent Garden, in Clerkenwell, and more.

Etch Light by Tom Dixon will be made and sold on site

One not-to-miss event is Global Industry at The Dock in West London - where Tom Dixon is rapidly establishing a design hub - and opening a permanent shop. Dutch design manufacturer Moooi is launching their first UK showroom and the Dock Kitchen is being relaunched as a permanent restaurant. It's always good to factor in a coffee break while trying to absorb cutting edge design. 

Over the next few weeks I will be covering more event highlights and posting more pictures. 

First class post

Seriously cute children's birthday cards from Lisa Jones Studio

Yes, I know these probably fall into the category of cards that adults buy for children but they are really buying for other adults. But since when do kids care about cards anyway? 

I like them because, a) I'm an adult, and b) they are cute without being twee. 

Not an easy task.
A London bus and a lollipop stop

Designer Lisa Jones and her partner Edward Underwood started out designing hand printed silk-screen stationery ten years ago. The range has now expanded to include cards, prints, tea towels and a children's book which features sixteen characterful creatures. 

Picture book with illustrations by Lisa Jones and rhymes by Joanna Skipwith, published by Silver Jungle 

These curiously engaging little critters are at the core of the card collection and are given a voice in the new book. If you're a sucker for cards featuring such, ahem, high brow subjects as smiling aliens or circus elephants then you may be interested in checking out the shopping section of the website. 

Loving the one-eyed alien (above)

Jazz age


Retro style Marilyn sunglasses

Robert Roope is a sixty-something optician from St Albans. He's also the designer behind these 1950s inspired retro-cool sunglasses and frames. 

Encouraged by his two sons, who both work at so-hip-it-hurts London ad agencies, he combined his love of specs with his love of jazzzzzzzzzzzzz. 

The result of this freestyle alchemy is Retrospecs and Black Eyewear - available from the Shoreditch shop No-One. You'll find frames with names such as the (Thelonius) Monk, the (John) Coltrane, the Dizzy (Gillespie, not Rascal) among others. 

It's a clever idea, and one that's bound to appeal to fashion-folk and beyond. Solid plastic frames have been enjoying a resurgence of late, the ghost of NHS glasses past having been firmly laid to rest in the irony box.

I'm putting two (jazz) hands in the air for these.

That's Nina as in Simone
And Buster as in Bailey

Retro classics

Jens Risom furniture at Rocket Gallery

It's not often you go shopping for furniture in an an art gallery, but here's your chance. 

Established in London's fashionable Shoreditch for the past 15 years Rocket Gallery is renowned for merging the lines between art and design with exhibitions that have a distinctly minimalist aesthetic. Although don't let that put you off. 

This time the gallery has collaborated with Danish-born American designer Jens Risom (aged 94, no less) and Benchmark furniture (co-founded by Sean Sutcliffe and Terence Conran) to showcase a re-issued collection of Risom's designs from the 1950s and 60s. And they are for sale. 

Showing something in a gallery gives the object a reverence not found on the average shop floor. It says, here is something special and it deserves to be admired. But this context can feel a bit sterile. So try to imagine this furniture in a home - add newspapers, coffee cups... people.

Risom's designs are not just objects of beauty (or art) they are useful, practical, elegant and comfortable. Not everything stands up to the glare of gallery lights, but I think these pieces do. 

This long table converts into a bench with the addition of a cushion, but doesn't quite make it to the end

Outside of a gallery this armchair and coffee table would probably look more relaxed


Remote control

So much trash to watch, so little time

This made me laugh. And really reminded me of when my brother and I would fight over what films we were going to watch at Christmas - when all the good ones were on - and actually circle them in the Radio Times (although that may have just been me). 

The TV planner is a dateless diary with a 'Don't Miss' TV section, space to write your own reviews and to give programmes marks out of ten. It's been designed by Lazy Oaf who have cleverly tapped into the minds of a generation nostalgic for the days when four channels seemed like a lot. And the arrival of the fifth was big news.  


Release your inner TV critic and rate that programme


Floating ferns

Sky Planter by Patrick Morris for Boskke

These are very cool. 

The Sky Planter is a plant pot suspended from the ceiling in which your chosen shrub will grow as normal, just upside down. There's a small reservoir in the top where you add the water, and a ceramic collar and plastic mesh combo on the bottom to stop the soil falling out. Read the FAQs if you need more reassurance. 

They look amazing in a group and they're actually fairly straightforward to pot and put up. If you've run out of floorspace or worktop, for your plants and herbs, you can utilise that large space above you (the ceiling) instead. I have seen the plants the designer grew in his own flat and they are thriving - and throwing some great herbaceous shapes.

On sale in the UK from Thorsten van Elten and the Design Museum shop, they've also been picked up by the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
Upside down gardening the easy way