Newtab-22 uses seashells to develop concrete alternative

Sea Stone by Newtab-22 for VDF x Ventura Projects

Sea Stone is a concrete-like material made from seashells that Newtab-22 is introducing during the VDF x Ventura Projects collaboration.

Exhibitor: Newtab-22
Project title: Sea Stone

Newtab-22 is a London design duo consisting of Hyein Choi and Jihee Moon, which champions design with natural and overlooked materials.

The studio is introducing its latest project, Sea Stone, as part of the VDF collaboration with Ventura Projects.

Sea Stone is a lightweight material made from discarded seashells salvaged from the seafood industry, which have been ground down and mixed with natural binders.

Newtab-22 developed the project because shells are largely composed Calcium carbonate, giving them similar properties to limestone that is used for cement. The studio therefore hopes it can be utilised as a sustainable alternative to concrete.

Website: www.newtab-22.com
Email: studionewtab22@gmail.com


Virtual Design Festival is the world’s first online design festival, taking place from 15 April to 30 June 2020.

Ventura Projects are exhibitions curated by Utrecht- and Milan-based Organisation in Design that cover the latest developments in contemporary design.

As part of VDF, Ventura Projects is presenting the work of 88 international designers, academies and brands. See work from all the VDF x Ventura Projects participants at dezeen.com/vdf/ventura-projects.

The post Newtab-22 uses seashells to develop concrete alternative appeared first on Dezeen.

Ventura Projects presents three virtual exhibitions and a live discussion as part of VDF

Ventura Projects x VDF

VDF teams up with Ventura Projects today to present the work of over 80 international designers, schools and brands through a series of virtual exhibitions and events.

The VDF x Ventura Projects collaboration features two collective exhibitions, a panel discussion plus a show featuring the work of 67 individual designers.

Fulu by Studio Tada for VDF x Ventura Projects
Fulu by Studio Tada is one of the 67 design projects being presented

“By collaborating with VDF, we hope to give our exhibitors the exposure they deserve on a popular worldwide platform and to inspire the readers with compelling design projects,” said Margriet Vollenberg, founder and art director of Ventura Projects.

“We would have loved to showcase these incredible products and installations at Ventura Future and Ventura Centrale during Milan Design Week 2020, but we are happy to be able to show them at VDF in these current times.”

67 design projects

This comprehensive online show presents work by 67 different designers, academies and brands in the Ventura Projects stable. The 67 individual posts are already live.

Hello Humanity examines inclusive design

At 11:00am UK time, the virtual exhibition called Hello Humanity: Dutch Design for a Holistic World will be launched.

Studio Ching-Hui Yang for Hello Humanity at VDF x Ventura Projects
Studio Ching-Hui Yang is introducing Im-perfect jewellery for Hello Humanity

This features the work of seven Dutch designers who are exploring inclusive and accessible design: Irakli Sabekia, Makers Unite, Lot Mars, Studio Ching-Hui Yang, Aline Gerards, Jessica Smarsch and Pauline Agustoni.

Channelling Change explores sustainability

At 12:00pm UK time, a second virtual exhibition Channelling Change: Inside A Designer’s Brain will go live. This explores how designers based in the Netherlands are tackling sustainability in their work and features 14 exhibitors.

These include Atelier Boelhouwer, Studio Nienke Hoogvliet, Atelier LVDW, Beer Holthuis, Sanne Visser, Studio Yvon Smeets, Xandra van der Eijk, Tamara Orjola, Studio Sway, Shahar Livne, Studio Billie van Katwijk, Studio Chardé Brouwer and Studio Lionne van Deursen. It also comprises a collaborative project by Pauline Wiersema and Thieu Custers.

Studio Nienke Hoogvliet
Studio Nienke Hoogvliet is exhibiting a collection of objects made from waste toilet paper

Live discussion on design under lockdown

Finally, at 2:00pm, a live panel discussion called Facing the future will explore how designers are having to adapt their working practices in the time of coronavirus. Moderated by Dezeen’s Marcus Fairs, the discussion will include Dutch designer Nienke Hoogvliet, Swiss video artist, motion designer and filmmaker Georg Lendorff, and Japanese designer Ryo Tada from Studio Tada.

About Virtual Design Festival

Virtual Design Festival is the world’s first online design festival, curated and powered by Dezeen and taking place from 15 April to 30 June 2020.

About Ventura Projects

Ventura Projects are exhibitions curated by Utrecht- and Milan-based Organisation in Design that cover the latest developments in contemporary design.

As part of VDF, Ventura Projects is presenting the work of 88 international designers, academies and brands. See work from all the VDF x Ventura Projects participants at dezeen.com/vdf/ventura-projects.

The post Ventura Projects presents three virtual exhibitions and a live discussion as part of VDF appeared first on Dezeen.

A rare Japanese wood is used to craft the new Audio Technica headphones

I love when designers experiment with materials and reimagine traditional forms with innovative elements. Wood is something commonly associated with furniture but is slowly seeping in as an expressive material everywhere from cars to tech. The latest gadget to catch my eye (well, ears) were Audio Technica’s ATH-AWKT Audiophile Wooden headphones which are crafted from a rare Japanese wood! Headphones/earphones have become crucial in quarantine if you share your space and I wouldn’t mind a wood (see what I did there?) upgrade to mine.

The ATH-AWKT Audiophile headphones are meant for design-minded audiophiles because they come with Audio-Technica’s superior sound and a sleek unconventional aesthetic thanks to the Japanese Kokutan (striped ebony) build. The interesting part is that the construction process is almost the same as what you will find in the manufacturing of woodwind instruments and pianos – kind of like a full-circle moment for music! The beauty of the wood will only deepen with age and no two headphones will be alike as the natural grain texture is retained in each of them. These beautiful headphones are made to emphasize the suppression of resonance and natural sound reproduction while balancing the highs, lows, and mid-tones to produce high-quality sound.

The headphones come with exclusive 53 mm drivers with highly efficient German Permendur magnetic circuitry that deliver precise audio with a wide sound field thanks to its two separate acoustic chambers. For the perfect over-ear fit, the arms are designed to be angled and lightweight using a highly rigid magnesium alloy. To up their game some more, the ATH-AWKT Audiophile headphones are fitted with plush, durable sheepskin earpads and headband – these headphones are smoother than I will ever be.

Designer: Audio Technica

Five luxury villas around the world by French interiors studio Liaigre

Luxury Villas by Liaigre: Engadine, Switzerland

Parisian studio Liaigre has found a “new energy” since the departure of founder Christian Liaigre. Here’s a look at five new interiors projects, including a modern palace in New Delhi and a ski lodge in St Moritz.

Christian Liaigre led his interior design studio for 35 years, creating homes for the likes of Calvin Klein and Karl Lagerfeld.

When he retired in 2016, he handed the reins over to long-term collaborator Frauke Meyer.

Under Meyer’s lead, the studio is continuing to produce striking interiors for luxury villas. Examples include a Japanese home overlooking hot springs and a contemporary Bavarian mansion in Munich.

Five of these projects feature in a new book published by Rizzoli, Liaigre Creation.

Meyer told Dezeen the brand has upheld the same key principles since it was founded, but has recently found a new energy.

“Liaigre is defined by elegance and simplicity in forms,” he said, “contemporary interiors delivered through natural materials, a love of craft skills, a distinctive eye for details and proportions, and an absence of anything superfluous.”

“Each project is tailor-made and unique to each client, so the design has to be rethought for each new project.”

Here are all five projects that feature in Liaigre Creation:


Luxury Villas by Liaigre: Engadine, Switzerland

Engadine, Switzerland

Liaigre refurbished a chalet-style building from the 1960s to create this winter retreat in snow-capped St Moritz.

A new basement was excavated to create a sauna and spa, and the granite sourced in the process now lines the living room walls. Walnut surfaces feature in the kitchen and dining room, while lavish furs and fabrics can be found throughout.


Luxury Villas by Liaigre: New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

Liaigre aimed to reinvent the typology of a palace with this villa in the government quarter of New Delhi.

The extravagant property is filled with grand spaces, from the monumental staircase to the idyllic swimming pool. The material palette includes Carrara marble, brushed oak and silk, chosen to make the most of light and shadow.


Luxury Villas by Liaigre: Munich, Germany

Munich, Germany

This family home in the heart of Munich is a celebration of marble. Designed in collaboration with architecture studio Powerhouse Company, it takes its inspiration from Milan’s celebrated Villa Necchi.

To resonate with the dark marble facade, Liaigre used the same material throughout the interior and also chose a striking green onyx for the bathrooms.


Luxury Villas by Liaigre: Kanagawa, Japan

Kanagawa, Japan

Japanese landscapes heavily influenced Liaigre’s interiors for this house of five buildings, designed by architect Kengo Kuma.

Materials like black-stained cedar and washi paper were chosen to reflect “the shades and tones of the mountains, rocks and greenery, together with the light and play of reflections on the lake’s surface”.

Standout rooms include a library with vibrant red walls and a tea pavilion filled with bespoke furniture.


Luxury Villas by Liaigre: Paris, France

Paris, France

Located in Bois de Boulogne, this 1930s house has been renovated with an appreciation for the heritage of its setting.

A rich palette of materials features throughout, with highlights including a spiral staircase with a smoked-oak backdrop and doors with patinated bronze grilles. The clients’ collection of African and Oceanian objets d’art creates a series of surprising focal points.


Photography is by Mark Seelen, Ambroise Tezenas and François Halard.

The post Five luxury villas around the world by French interiors studio Liaigre appeared first on Dezeen.

Beautiful Street Photography in Dehli by Ashraful Arefin

Le photographe basé au Bangladesh,  Ashraful Arefin nous offre une balade dans les rues de Dehli, qu’il a eu la chance d’arpenter en 2018, et plus particulièrement dans le vieux Dehli. Il a souhaité saisir le charme des rues historiques de la ville, façonnées par le temps.

Dans ses images, toute l’essence et l’ambiance du quartier se reflètent :  les rues anciennes, les vieux bâtiments et la foule. Le photographe dévoile l’identité de la ville dans sa série d’images. Il a choisi d’immortaliser ces instants le plus souvent tôt le matin pour que ses sujets prennent vie à la lumière dorée du soleil. Il a ainsi saisi la vie quotidienne des habitants dans son aspect le plus pur et vrai, dans toute son authenticité.

Chacune des images d’Ashraful Arefin est une invitation à parcourir la vieille ville de Dehli telle qu’elle s’est offerte devant ses yeux. Bon voyage !









How Covid-19 prompted a return of the poster

Creatives around the world have been producing posters in response to the Covid-19 crisis. We take a look at some innovative examples from Leeds, New York and Amsterdam, and explore how posters became an important tool for sharing information and lifting people’s spirits

The post How Covid-19 prompted a return of the poster appeared first on Creative Review.

These holiday postcards celebrate the view from where you are

Art Director Victoria Rosselli and Creative Robyn Frost are asking people around the world to share photos from out of their windows, in a bid to reframe how we see our homes under quarantine.

Images are then given a custom type treatment and repurposed as holiday postcards – something that, for many of us, are now a dim memory. So far the pair have received images from Edinburgh, Dubai and Honolulu which, with a bit of typographic help, have taken on a new lease of life.

It’s an uplifting project that reminds us that people around the world are all stuck in the same situation.

It’s also encouraging to see design being put to use to cheer us all up – and maybe even help us realise that however boring the view from our homes might seem, it still has its own unique charm.

Tweet your photo to @robynhfrost or @vctriarsslli to be part of the Greetings from Lockdown project

The post These holiday postcards celebrate the view from where you are appeared first on Creative Review.

Burger King dedicates spot to kids with birthdays under lockdown

Burger King France birthday ad

For most kids, birthdays are a time for parties with friends, fuss from extended family, and maybe even a fun day out. The lockdown birthday is a novel and markedly different phenomenon, however – a day filled with the same faces, makeshift celebratory plans and most likely a limited cluster of presents.

Burger King France has released a new spot, Unhappy Birthday, showing children’s responses to the anticlimactic nature of the occasion while under national lockdowns. Set to a cheery tune, the children display a mixture of vacant stares, forlorn expressions and miserable pouts – after all, kids aren’t exactly known for disguising their true feelings.

The spot is joined by a promise from Burger King France to help 500 children celebrate their birthdays properly when life returns to normal by throwing the party they deserve.

The new campaign follows others from Burger King France during the pandemic, with the brand having previously released a DIY guide to recreating the chain’s menu at home.

Credits: 
Global CCO & Partner: Pancho Cassis
Executive Creative Director: Saulo Rocha, André Toledo
Creative Director : Fred Bosch, Álvaro Palma
Associate Creative Director: Sébastien Rouviere
Creatives: Luis Giraldo; Felipe Antonioli

The post Burger King dedicates spot to kids with birthdays under lockdown appeared first on Creative Review.

Lance Wyman on using lockdown as a time to revisit and reflect

As the designer begins organising his archive, he has been sharing process shots and personal anecdotes with his Instagram followers along the way. Here, Wyman tells CR why our strange new reality is the perfect opportunity to look back at both the good and the bad

The post Lance Wyman on using lockdown as a time to revisit and reflect appeared first on Creative Review.

Burg Roadshow presents seven student projects that tackle sustainability in design

Burg Roadshow for VDF x Ventura Projects

Burg Giebichenstein University exhibits seven student projects that comment on sustainability in design for VDF x Ventura Projects.

Exhibitor: Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design
Project title: Burg Roadshow

Burg Giebichenstein University in Halle an der Saale is one of Germany’s largest schools of art and design.

As part of the VDF x Ventura Projects collaboration, it is introducing its Burg Roadshow exhibition series to give an insight into the “wide spectrum of design education” at the institute.

Presenting works are past and present students Lotte Schlör, Leopold Seiler, Lukas Keller, Fabian Hütter, Cleo Dölling, Nari Haase and Virginia Reil.

Their works span the fields of interior design, textile and industrial design, but are unified by a theme of sustainability. Projects range from an exploration into alternative porcelain manufacturing processes, through to an investigation into new ways to use solar technology.

Website: www.burg-halle.de
Email: roadshow@burg-halle.de


Virtual Design Festival is the world’s first online design festival, taking place from 15 April to 30 June 2020.

Ventura Projects are exhibitions curated by Utrecht- and Milan-based Organisation in Design that cover the latest developments in contemporary design.

As part of VDF, Ventura Projects is presenting the work of 88 international designers, academies and brands. See work from all the VDF x Ventura Projects participants at dezeen.com/vdf/ventura-projects.

The post Burg Roadshow presents seven student projects that tackle sustainability in design appeared first on Dezeen.