Paris Design Week 2022 Recap: Here are our top favorite designs from this year’s first Maison et Objet!

After a measured return to normalcy last year in September, this year’s first Maison&Objet made a splash with its first event of 2022. Held between March 24th-28th, the highly anticipated trade fair saw an overwhelming response, with more than 3000 exhibitors getting together to help propel the design industry forward, and allow design businesses to thrive. The event was spread out across 14 different sectors, covering multiple different themes, spotlighting thousands of businesses and design studios, and showcasing a dizzying variety of new and classic products. Here in this list, we handpick a few standout designs that we absolutely loved at the 2022 Maison&Objet fair held during the Paris Design Week.

AVORA Suc Beach Bat


Designed to be a fresh-looking kit that you can carry around with you, the AVORA Suc is a nifty beach bat and ball kit for knocking out a game of hybrid badminton/tennis while you’re outdoors. The highlight of the Suc is its carrying case, which incorporated the two wooden bats along with a foam ball into its unique design. The bats rest with their handles sitting outside the Suc’s carrying case, looking oddly appealing to say the least. Once you’re at the beach or on the lawn, the bats easily pop out of their case and you can pretty much play any sort of game you want. If you’ve got a table nearby, you could even play a version of table tennis!

Iride Tabletop Lamp


With its unique appeal and a magnetic design, the Iride lets you light up your table or your space simply by positioning your lamp wherever you want. You see, the bulb-shaped lamp sits magnetically on its rectangular (with one angled edge) base. Attach it to the flat part of the base for a vertical area-ish ambient light, or plug it onto the angled corner of the base to have it point at an angle for a more downward, controlled light. Moreover, since the lamp’s docking system is magnetic, you don’t really need the base if you’ve got any iron surfaces around the house. A tabletop, or the side of a wardrobe perhaps!

Wunderkey Key Organizer


A standing example of German efficiency, the Wunderkey is a functional bit of EDC that organizes your keys into a small, Swiss Knife-inspired stick that’s slim enough to fit in your pocket. The Wunderkey makes it easy to organize and access your keys, and if the sound of jangling keychains annoys you, the tightly packed design ensures you don’t sound like a one-man Mariachi band. The Wunderkey comes in a choice of materials, including a modern aluminum body, a classic leather exterior, and if you’re feeling fancy, carbon fiber!

HAAN Ready – Rechargeable Hydroalcoholic Spray


The word ‘Rechargeable’ may be a bit of a misfit there, considering the designers were trying to convey the fact that this nifty little spray bottle is, in fact, refillable. Meet the HAAN Ready, a portable, slim sanitizer bottle designed to fit in pockets, purses, and beyond. Designed with a thin profile and a spray button that won’t accidentally be deployed, the HAAN Ready lets you easily refill the bottle with a wide selection of sanitizer fluids from HAAN. HAAN describes its catalog of sanitizers as “Five fragrances that will remind you of your favorite evening, but this time without hangover and with clean, hydrated hands.” The French do have a way with words, eh?!

MoriMori LED Lantern Speaker


The MoriMori LED Lantern Speaker projects the aesthetic charm and classic appeal of a mid-19th-century kerosene lamp, smartly updated with energy-efficient LEDs and a compact Bluetooth speaker. It generates continuous ambient light and crisp 360° sound, creating a harmonious atmosphere in any space. Oh, and just like the original Hurricane lamp that inspired its design, you can easily adjust the brightness with a simple turn of the knob!

Naturalys Terrarium


Meet the Naturalys Terrarium, a handmade glass vessel that, within itself, houses an entire floral ecosystem that can sustain on its own. All of Naturalys’ terrariums are made in their workshops in Avignon, and use a soil specifically developed for the terrarium culture. This soil, enriched in particular with activated carbon, helps to avoid mold in the substrate as well as plants despite a very humid environment. A mini plant world that requires almost no maintenance!

Power Pet Battery Charger


A quirky little pen-shaped device, this mini power bank looks like an elongated animal with feet that allow it to stand on tabletops when not in use, and prop up your phone at an angle while you’re charging your device! The animals make for adorable little tabletop accessories and can be carried around too! My only reservation is the fact that they have a rather objectionably located charging port!

Lexon Mino+ Speaker


Designed to look like a Google Home smart speaker but ridiculously smaller, the Lexon Mino+ is a mini Bluetooth-powered speaker that fits in your palm, but can churn out 3W audio that sounds impressively loud for a device that small. Available in a variety of rather classy finishes (that chrome one looks delicious), the Mino+ now even charges wirelessly, so you could essentially pop it onto your charging mat to juice it when it’s low on battery!

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The Spoon Restaurant by Paola Navone and Daniel Rozensztroch exhibits a large spoon collection

Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone Spoon Restaurant

Daniel Rozensztroch and Paola Navone are two artists who clearly want to continue going on creating and showing off to the world their work. The two have worked together recently and introduced The Spoon Restaurant (La Cuillère).

At the Maison & Objet 2022, we see The Spoon Restaurant due to two creative forces—an Italian architect and designer and artistic director Paola Navone and architect Daniel Rozensztroch. The main attraction is the fantastic collection of spoons from different parts of the world and different eras. Maison & Objet provided the two designers complete freedom to design the flagship restaurant and be creative as they have been famous for decades of work. The two friends share similarities and “share the same taste for popular objects that have a history”. They like layering items that offer a more personal feel.

Designers: Paola Navone and Daniel Rozensztroch

Spoon Restaurant Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone Launch

Everything Paola Navone and Daniel Rozensztroch work on become successful. The La Cuillère (The Spoon) is the latest as it is a showcase of a spoon collection amassed by Rozensztroch during his travels. About 2,000 spoons are ready to be admired, made from different materials like metal, glass, porcelain, bone, and mother-of-pearl.

The spoon is significant because of its special purpose. Rozensztroch described it as “a universal, almost essential item” and the “first tool we learn to use as babies, and even the last one we use to feed ourselves when we are very old.” A spoon can be many things, but it mainly symbolizes “exchange and generosity.”

Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone Spoon Restaurant Images

The Spoon Restaurant is meant to be a place not only of beautiful things and beautiful decors but also of delicious cuisine. The food served at the restaurant is sumptuous and is meant to be eaten with a spoon. The ambiance of the restaurant is nostalgic but with a contemporary feel. The use of red and white gingham fabric makes it a fun restaurant that will remind you of decades ago. The lace curtains complement the vintage vibe of the spoon museum-like restaurant.

There are huge Plexiglas dining tables mounted on blocks to show off the spoon collection. The tables become display tables where they could enjoy their meal or a cup of coffee. There won’t be any dull conversation here because you’d be admiring and talking about each spoon displayed.

Images Spoon Restaurant Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone

The restaurant’s facade is covered with gingham tiles. The white laser-cut paper lace adds charm to the restaurant and shows some vintage French vibe. The wallpaper shows images of the spoon collection, perfectly creating an ambiance that is quite poetic and magical.

Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone Spoon Restaurant Images

The restaurant marries old charm and modern design. It doesn’t appear really luxurious and restrictive, but the restaurant invites people to be comfortable, confident, and just enjoy themselves. Daniel Rozensztroch’s spoon collection is precious and each item is protected. Of course, you won’t be able to use any spoon from the collection, but you can be taken to different eras and places as you inspect every spoon on display. Paola Navone’s creativity and charm are apparent in this restaurant which you can now visit at Maison&Objet at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre.

Spoon Restaurant by Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone

Spoon Showcase Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone Spoon Restaurant Images

Photos Spoon Restaurant Daniel Rozenstroch and Paola Navone

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Patrick Watson: Height of the Feeling

Montreal-based recording artist and composer Patrick Watson returns with “Height of the Feeling,” the melodic and at times experimental first single from his seventh full-length studio album, Better in the Shade (out 22 April). Composed with frequent collaborator Mishka Stein, the track “is about using intimacy as a compass when you feel out of your skin,” according to Watson. La Force vocalist Ariel Engle contributed lyrics, as well. “She’s so much fun to work with” Watson adds. “We just did loads of improv takes on one mic and giggled together the whole time.”

Lexon Speakerbuds and Mano Gel Dispenser showcased at the Maison et Object 2022

 

Lexon Speakerbuds Demo

French design brand Lexon continues to develop timeless products that we know bring that ultimate wow factor and aesthetic pleasure. It offers everyday products with award-winning innovative designs that are kept affordable yet beautiful and functional.

At the Maison et Objet 2022, Lexon just introduced two new products: the Speakerbuds LA127 and the Mano LH79 . The new pair of earbuds and the gel dispenser are innovative with their additional functions. However, they also look nothing like other the common earbuds and gel dispensers we have seen yet.

Designers: Alain Berteau, Andrea Quaglio, and Manuela Simonelli

The Lexon Speakerbuds LA12 is a new pair under the Softpower Collection of earbuds from Lexon. Designed by Alain Berteau, the true wireless earbuds also come with a 3W speaker. It features a dual microphone, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and a rechargeable battery. There is the now a standard USB-C port for charging. The pair is IPX4 water-resistant, so you can wear this during a run or workout.

As with most wireless earbuds, the pair allows voice commands and hands-free calls. It can last up to six hours of audio playtime. Charge it up with the charging case, and you can get extra 18 hours. The primary material of the product is ABS with synthetic leather found on the charging case.

Lexon Speakerbuds Hands-on Photos

Lexon Speakerbuds Features

The Lexon 2-in-1 True Wireless Stereo Earbuds with Bluetooth speaker is available in different color options: Red, Blue, Black, and Camel. As a result, the design world is treated again to an innovative and beautiful design for the now familiar wireless earbuds ready for most occassions whether with a group or private listening. The price tag reads 99,90€.

Lexon Speakerbuds Design

The pair already works as a standard pair of earbuds, but the charging case adds a speaker function. Three watts may not be loud to fill the house during parties, but that’s good enough for personal use. Lexon is known for creativity and tapping the best designers in the world. The Speakerbuds design is by Alain Berteau—the same person who created the Nano Garden. Berteau, who is also an architect and professor, has been recognized for his work that marries simplicity and functional innovation.

Lexon Mano Design Details

Lexon has also introduced the Mano-LH79, which is an automatic hand gel dispenser. We finally see nicely designed dispensers from the usual, standard designs. We never imagined we would need dispensers to be beautiful, but the pandemic hit, and the creatives are dying to see and use something more attractive.

The Mano-LH79 is a design by Andrea Quaglio and Manuela Simonelli. If you may remember, Quaglio Simonelli also designed something for Lexon before–the Lexon Oblio Wireless Charger. The new hand gel dispenser features automatic hand detection that helps kill 99.9% of bacteria. There is an LED light, adjustable pump flow, rechargeable battery, and a USB-C port. The LED ring comes with adjustable brightness so you can set the mood.

Lexon Mano Design

Lexon Mano Dispenser

The gel tank is refillable for up to 160ml or 5.4oz of sanitizer gel. You can only use gel and not any other liquid or alcohol. The pump flow is also adjustable depending on the preference of the user. It has an LED indicator so you can know the charging status. Color options are as follows: Gold, Dark Green, Black, Terracotta, and White.

Lexon Mano Dispenser Details

Lexon Mano Features

Lexon Mano Hand Sanitizer Gel Dispenser

Lexon Mano Hand Gel Dispenser

Lexon Speakerbuds Price

Lexon Speakerbuds Details

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Raw Color’s “Temperature Textiles” Collection is Embedded With Climate Data

Created by Daniera ter Haar and Christoph Brach of the Eindhoven-based studio Raw Color, the Temperature Textiles collection of blankets, scarves and socks has climate change data knitted within. These colorful products incorporate information on the three main elements of global warming: temperature change, sea level rise and emissions. For example, the Sea Level Blanket illustrates the reported and predicted sea-level rise from 2000 to 2100, using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Brach tells Rima Sabina Aouf at Dezeen that using textiles to manifest this information was crucial. “Textile was important for us because it manifests the data permanently. On a screen, one sees it temporarily,” he says. “Also, it is an object we can interact with. A blanket can keep us warm and it can actively help to turn down the heating.” Find out more at Dezeen.

Image courtesy of Raw Color

La Boite Concept showcases high-fidelity turntable and loudspeaker at M&O 2022

When it comes to timeless audio accessories like loudspeakers and hybrid turntables, La Boite Concept knows how to please the end-user. Their two latest handcrafted creations spotted at the M&O 2022 event are proof of that fact.

Home audio and eye-pleasing aesthetics go hand in hand – ask all the designers out there who are chasing that perfect-looking audio accessory for modern homes without compromising on the acoustic performance. French audio brand La Boite Concept has sustained this pursuit for high fidelity audio with their 80 years of persistent know-how of acoustics, and their ergonomic turntable and loudspeaker showcased at the Maison & Objet is a living example. Thankfully we got the chance to explore the LX X turntable and PR/01 loudspeaker at the event.

Designer: La Boite Concept

LX X turntable

First up the LX X turntable shaped like a secretary desk is tailored for musical bliss from vinyl, Bluetooth or other digital and analog inputs. The audio-cum-furniture accessory doesn’t have any visible cables thanks to the hatch which conceals them from out of sight. This high-performance audio system having the Wide Sound 3.0 tech comes with or without the built-in turntable option, but I’ll take the vinyl playing one, any day!

Apart from the sublime audio, the turntable boasts a very bold woodwork on the emblematic X-shaped cabinet designed by the brand’s reliable local partners and designer Samuel Accoceberry’s blueprints. Attention to detail in every aspect defines this beautiful piece of audio equipment which is no less than a true piece of contemporary furniture.

PR/01 Loudspeaker

The other one spotted at the event in Paris is PR/01 compact loudspeaker for pure audiophiles who can’t go even a day without listening to their favorite tunes. This elegantly designed speaker produces very clear and thumping low frequencies that is a testament to the design prowess of the brand. This loudspeaker is a result of seven years of R&D, resulting in a patented Active Pression Reflex technology that’s capable of producing high fidelity audio in such a compact package.

To put it very simply, the PR/01 is a speaker, charging station and multimedia hub all packed into one. La Boite Concept claims that the materials used in the making of this elegant loudspeaker give it the confidence to last a lifetime of use. Definitely, the audio accessory is ideal for modern homes, whether you sport it on your bedroom cabinet or on your living room shelves.

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teamLab’s mesmerizing interactive orbs of light opened our perception of the real world around us

 

teamLab caught everyone’s attention at the ongoing Maison&Objet with their sensory interactive display of color-changing orbs that are sensitive to the environment around them.

Traversing us from the perceived realms of conscience into the otherworldly sensory dimension is the niche for Japan-based international art collective teamLab. Now at the Maison&Objet trade fair in Paris, we had a one-on-one experience of their spell-bounding sea of glowing ovoids. The installation dubbed Resonating Microcosms of Life – Solidified Light Color displays the connection of one ovoid to the others in the collection.

Designer: teamLab

These interactive orbs resonate 61 varying colors and sound when a human interacts with them or even if a light gust of wing moves them. When knocked down, these orbs fall back into place and emit flowing waves of colored lights and tone. When teamLab’s orbs are kept under the sun or a bright source of light, they reflect the world around them when untouched.  It’s like the mystical bioluminescence forest depicted in the movie Avatar where touching one light-emitting plant brings other plants and flowers to life – literally dancing in a hypnotic sea of light.

teamLab’s creation is akin to this very emotion. The creators describe it as a combination of five core concepts that are so close to human emotion too. These all being the Relationship with People; Relationship with Natural Phenomena; Physicality; Continuity; and New Colors. This art exhibition at the event showcases the dependence of human interaction to initiate a realization of all the natural phenomena around us.

Our YD team member Aki Yukita had a hands-on experience with this jaw-dropping show at the event, and it was impressive nonetheless. In fact, this creation by teamLab did convey the core essence of the project – to intertwine the people and the environment into one. It does give one the taste of an unseen realm where you feel a part of the whole visual extravaganza. In the end, it tunes your conscious to the magic of nature and what’s all happening around us to lead a more conscious life for a strong connection with the universe too!

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Kenko Sports Equipment combine minimalist and sustainable approach to design

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

Having a home gym can be of great convenience. You have no reason now not to work out because you have the proper tools at your reach. Your personal gym doesn’t have to be complete as you only need a few dumbbells, a bench, and a mat to start.

Over at the Maison & Objet fair, we saw a few brands and designers worthy of attention. One name that has stood out is Kenko —a company committed to developing sports equipment for use at home. The idea is to make minimalist versions of the standard fitness equipment using natural materials.

Designers: Andreas Bachmann and Fritz Grospietsch

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

With this goal, Kenko is able to come up with regeneration items that don’t only help you with your health and fitness goals but also fit any home interior. Gym equipment usually looks bland, boring, or industrial, but not with Kenko. The Kenko sports equipment and products mainly boast simple designs and innovative functions. Materials are premium quality, starting with cork and wood, used for geometric shapes that have become the distinguishable trait of Kenko.

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

The Kenko sports equipment can also become conversation starters. They look like sculptural pieces that may also function as home decors. Product designers Andreas Bachmann and Fritz Grospietsch have managed to create a unique line that would make a sustainable alternative to the typical gym equipment available in the market.

Kenko wants the sports equipment to be as beautiful as the home. Therefore, the mission has always been to deliver premium quality standards and use natural materials to take advantage of local production. A few notable products have captured our attention, including the Kettlebell Series, Trigger Cone, Massage Stick, Massage Ball, and the Dumbbell Series. The latter is available in either Walnut or Maple with polished stainless steel for manufactured weight plates.

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

The Kettlebell Series is also ready in Walnut or Maple. The eye-catcher that is this kettlebell is made from solid wood in a complicated process that results in a more stable and durable handle. Like the Dumbbell Series, the Kettlebell Series is available in different weight options.

The Massage Ball is perfect for those with tension or sore muscles. It is made of stainless steel and comes with a cork cover. The cork is for insulation as the ball can be filled with hot water (up to 80°C ). Use the massage ball and apply on the tense or painful part of your body. The Massage Stick can also be described as the same—same materials, features for insulation, and offers the same relief.

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

The Trigger Cone is composed of brass and cork, which makes it an ideal solution for any muscular tension. Use it to massage a tense region in a circular motion. This will help stimulate blood circulation and relieve stress whether you are lying down, sitting, or standing.

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

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Raavi: Lazy Susan

Raavi—a Brooklyn-based act helmed by queer, Desi singer-songwriter Raavi Sita—recently announced their upcoming EP It Grows On Trees (out 13 May). From it comes the single “Lazy Susan,” a vulnerable piece about being exploited in the workplace. Gliding forward on Raavi’s typical blend of melodic and classic rock guitar tracks, the latest song crafts a palpable, moving soundscape.

This stylish e-scooter evolves the dynamics of last-mile delivery service

Most electric scooter designs out there are very predictable, and most of the time very similar to competition in the market. Breaking the jinx with its unconstrained yet highly functional design is the offering by Abu Dhabi startup Barq. This is the Rena Max e-scooter which definitely shines out in the crowd with its radical design. The fully electric scooter is focused on the needs of the Middle-Eastern and North African delivery personnel. Given its origins, that strategy is absolutely understandable.

At the heart, it is an outright delivery platform, and Barq developed this last-mile delivery concept in collaboration with Jahez (A Saudi delivery platform), and Americana (a Kuwaiti food group). The latter has a strong presence in the MENA region with over 1200 food and beverage outlets. Since we are talking of delivery services, the focus is also on digitally lockable carry box that has temperature control, modular shelving and insulation. The climate-controlled environment ensured the freshness of the food or beverage being delivered.

Designer: Barq

According to Barq CEO and Founder Abdallah Abu sheikh, people have been “consumers of Western and Chinese built technologies that don’t cater in a holistic way for the precise needs and challenges of the region.” In order to make sure the ride is highly functional for the delivery guy, there are inclusions such as an IoT-enabled ecosystem, integrated software for custom-made storage, and battery cooling technology. The two-wheeler gets a large 8-inch touchscreen integrated into the body, with a camera and other tech embedded.

Speed and swiftness are going to be the key with the Rena Max, so it gets the removable 5.6 kWh battery packs capable of going 150 km on a single charge. This is mated to a 9kW motor which makes the electric scooter go at a top speed of 97 km/h. There will be a reverse gear, and multiple driving modes too which will be highly useful in urban scenarios. As for the looks, the e-scooter stands out with its single-sided swingarm, and a very iPhone-like glass windshield. The region where this fleet is going to be operating is very hot, so the makers have fitted the scooter with a heat-lowering textured seat.

There is no word yet on the pricing or availability of Rena Max, but Barq plans to make 50,000 units by the end of 2025 for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egyptian markets. The scooter will be leased out via a low monthly subscription model to courier riders who’ll scoot around the city in style delivering what’s required by the client.

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