NEWSLETTER #289
22 October 2009
Dear Trendease Community,
Culture. What is it? Sure the US is one country, but the regional differences can be astounding. The language is the same and the accents are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. That being said, it still varies from what one can experience in Europe. Two days were just spent exploring Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Day number two started in Aachen, Germany over breakfast with some local designers. German filled the air. An hour and a half later I found myself in Eindhoven immersed in the buzz of the Dutch language, this continued through lunch in Rotterdam, and then by 6:30pm I was heading to a going away party in Paris, where French seduced the ears of francophones.
Diversity is a source of inspiration in all of its forms from lingual to aesthetic. But being the global trade show maven that I am, I find myself questioning the role of these business events when I see their product assortments as repetitive. Has the international exhibition scene become monotonous? Certainly before the economic crisis design events were popping up like weeds. The redundancy was a downer, and definitely not sustainable for the designers and companies who found themselves spending more time at trade fairs than creating fresh collections and following up on new clients.
Without a doubt things are shifting. Those who have been attending 100% Design London for some years now will note that it has gone from being extremely cutting-edge to more corporate and contract driven. The leader image the event won began to tarnish. Other events have sprout up around the city, which offer greater inspiration (but perhaps not the same amount of potential sales volume). This is also the same speed bump the Salone Internazionale del Mobile is facing with the Fuori Salone, but let’s stick to London for now. What did 100% do this year to polish its reputation? It invited Designersblock to organize its event in a neighboring hall in Earls Court. Yes. Designersblock, that somewhat underground design scene that normally hosts its show in run down buildings with dust, cracked concrete and uneven floors.
The thing that I’ve always found so stimulating about attending Designersblock is that it is like rummaging through a sooty coal mine, where you know you will always find at least a couple of diamonds. Could they possibly offer the same adventure in a proper exhibition center with all of the rules and regulations? Would Designersblock bring the edginess back to Earls Court? See for yourself in this week’s gallery featuring the best and brightest from the exhibit, more than 75 images!
This week’s tidbits:
- Emotional memories become tangible with RFID tags. Heirlooms can now bear the story of previous owners who record their thoughts onto the tags affixed to furniture and accessories. With Amina Nazari’s concept presented within this gallery, the next generation can play back the recorded messages and update the narrative by adding their own touch to the piece.
- Tired of burning your tongue on a hot mug of tea or coffee? Too impatient to wait for the contents to cool down? Celene McDowell has developed a double-walled ceramic cup, which one can blow into to create entertaining music while waiting for a safe temperature for consumption. Music to our ears.
- Can packaging stereotypes encourage people to eat the recommended portions of fruits and veggies? Can candy encourage sharing? See how designers are attempting to do just this within this gallery.
- Chair designers be aware. An old chair can be functional, but not pleasing to look at. Why throw it out when the simple application of blocked foam can transform the chairs appearance into a fresh new design? Design Studio Maezm can save a chair’s life.
- Bird motifs are very popular at the moment. We’ve reported on the trend previously, but now Kathy Schicker has combined the motifs with performance fabric and theatrically lit spaces to create wallpaper with unexpected surprises. Also check out her color-changing silk textiles that when exposed to sunlight or UV light, add wonder to upholstery and decorative cushions.
- Interior textiles continue to influence and make their way outdoors. Melissa French has upholstered an outdoor bench in a hand-woven jacquard textile of mercerized cotton, copper, and silver that was purposely designed to rust and patina over time, evolving with the seasons.
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Upcoming Trendease Market Edge PowWow:
- Nov. 26th, Textivision, Kortrijk, Belgium
Current episode of Trendease DesignVision:
- Getting in the MoOD
Next episode: Nov. 3rd
- Watch them on www.trendease.tv
Reporting to Inspire,
Jennifer Castoldi
Chief Creative Director
