This Aurea set of objects is by veteran industrial designer Ernest Perera. It consists of a dish drying rack, a cup drying rack and a wine bottle rack, all of them flatpack.
I could see the set being useful in a camper van, where you’re trying to minimize the space things take up when tucked away. However, the materials choice baffles me: It’s listed as “stratify wood.” Perera hails from Spain, so it’s perhaps a translation issue, and possibly refers to layers of laminated veneer, but wood still seems like a poor choice for something that’s going to get regularly wet.
The Hidealoo is a space-saving, disappearing toilet that lives inside of a cabinet, and is only meant to be seen while in use:
It was invented by British design engineer Monty Ravenscroft, whose father’s health issues required installing a toilet in his bedroom; Ravenscroft, who’s spent 25 years devising design and engineering solutions for architecture firms, wanted to maintain the dignity of his father’s bedroom while providing toilet facilities on-demand.
Realizing the larger potential market for his invention, Ravenscroft subsequently teamed up with designer Sebastian Conran, formed Hidealoo the company, and secured a £160,000 (USD $199,380) investment from the British Design Fund, a startup incubator, to bring the product to market.
The Hidealoo’s steel structure can support up to 400kg (882 pounds), making it more than sturdy enough to support a person, a toilet and the water within it. The flexible waste pipe has been tested for 250,000 opening/closing cycles, meaning it would last for at least 45 years—even if you used the toilet 15 times a day.
I assume that installing one in a retrofit, as opposed to new construction, would require redesigning your bathroom around where the existing toilet main is; I don’t have much plumbing experience but assume that’s not a trivial thing to move. That aside, “Any competent DIYer or professional plumber can install Hidealoo in just a few hours,” the company says. “It fits any standard wall -hung pan and cistern and comes with fittings to couple to the UK standard mains waste pipe.”
If you’re curious, you can see some installation case studies here.
At Superstudio Più, an immersive installation suspends from the ceiling near prototypes from the four winners of the 2023 Lexus Design Award
Amidst the anticipation aswirl over 2023’s Milan Design Week, few showcases, exhibitions and installations feel as personal and pertinent to the COOL HUNTING editorial team as “Shaped by Air,” an evolution of the kinetic sculpture Suchi Reddy debuted during Miami Art Week last December. An artist, architect and the founder of the NYC-based studio Reddymade Architecture and Design, Reddy once again turned to the design of Lexus Electrified Sport for inspiration, but this time composed her impressionistic vision from composite shapes suspended from above. Through an amalgam of light, sound and movement, a to-scale visual translation of the vehicle comes to life.
Courtesy of Reddymade
“In Miami, ‘Shaped by Air’ was situated outdoors between two sculptures in the ICA Miami garden; there, my interpretation of the Lexus Electrified Sport concept vehicle achieved a sense of oneness with its surrounding environment through the use of mist, leaves, shadows and sunlight,” Reddy shares with COOL HUNTING. “In Milan,” she continues, “I have once again used the vehicle’s composite shapes—green, Matisse-inspired cutouts—to connect guests with the natural world in new ways. Visitors to Superstudio Più will pass through an enveloping indoor ‘forest’ that hangs from the ceiling. For this reimagined presentation, a wind-inspired soundscape and dappled light from above will draw audiences closer to nature.”
by Steve Benisty, courtesy of Lexus
Reddy’s installation is at once soothing and spectacular, born from an automotive commission and cast through authentic artistic exploration. Alongside “Shaped by Air,” a work that requires reflection, visitors to Superstudio Più will find outstanding prototypes from this year’s four winners of the 2023 Lexus Design Award—a pairing that will make the venue one not to miss.
“Shaped by Air” is open to the public 18-22 April from 11AM to 9PM and 23 April from 11AM to 6PM.
British fashion designer Mary Quant, who popularised the mini skirt during the 1960s, has died at home aged 93.
Quant’s family released a statement this morning to say that the designer died “peacefully at home in Surrey, UK,” on 13 April 2023.
While Quant did not invent the first mini skirt, she famously popularised it as an era-defining fashion silhouette during the 1960s and designed a variety of short skirts for the mass market during her decades-long career.
In 1963, the designer launched a range of mini skirts and dresses for her first boutique’s lower-priced ready-to-wear range called Ginger Group, attracting young women who wanted more affordable modern clothing than what most designers were offering.
“The sixties mini was the most self-indulgent, optimistic ‘look at me, isn’t life wonderful’ fashion ever devised,” said Quant in 2012.
“It expressed the sixties, the emancipation of women, the [contraceptive] pill and rock ‘n’ roll…it was the beginning of women’s lib[eration],” she added.
Top: women wearing Mary Quant dresses at Goodwood Revival in 2019. Above: the designer wearing a minidress in 1966
Born in southeast London in 1930, Quant studied illustration and art education at London’s Goldsmiths College, where she received her degree in 1953.
After university, the designer worked as an apprentice for a milliner in Mayfair, after which she began to make and sell her own designs. She opened Bazaar, her first London boutique, only two years after graduating.
Like the mini skirt, Quant is credited with popularising a number of other enduring trends – from wearing colourful tights rather than stockings to skinny-rib sweaters, PVC raincoats and androgynous silhouettes.
“She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women. Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision,” it added.
The Mary Quant brand’s recognisable Black Daisy logo is informed by flower doodles scribbled by Quant as early as the 1950s.
“She would draw the daisy whilst making her sketches in order to let her ideas flow. Compared to any other motif, this simple design perfectly fit her,” said the brand.
In recent years, Quant’s eponymous exhibition was on display at the V&A from 2019 to 2020 and examined the designer’s indelible impact on Britain’s clothing market.
Quant was recognised for her contributions to fashion throughout her life. In 1963, she was the first recipient of the Bath Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year award and accepted an OBE in 1966, which she collected from Buckingham Palace in a self-designed cream-hued wool minidress.
New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman tweeted, “RIP Mary Quant, who freed the female leg. We owe you.”
If you’ve watched the movie “Air,” you know that the release of the first Air Jordans reversed Nike’s then-declining sales, earning $126 million in their first year. Millions of people will see the movie. It’s a shame that this video below, about how sneakers are actually manufactured, has only been seen by a couple thousand people. Still, it’s worth a watch whether you’re an aspiring footwear designer or a sneakerhead.
This company isn’t manufacturing Air Jordans, of course, so there are some differences; whereas most modern sneakers feature molded soles, this company (Japan’s Spingle) has a repeating pattern on their soles, so they can actually extrude them in sheets. But you’ll still see plenty of modern-day relevant steps:
Regardless of how you feel about Artificial Intelligence, it’s an interesting time to explore what creativity means in this age. We don’t believe that all these new technologies will replace writers, artists, and designers but these are tools that individuals and brands can look into when it comes to creating new products. There’s a lot of ongoing debate on how technology like this is a detriment to how we’ve been coming up with new things but there’s also space for using it to harness creative ideas.
Space10 is a Swedish design agency that Ikea has been funding and uses as a research and design partner that cab explore technology like AI, augmented reality, and Web3. They used generative AI to experiment with futuristic-looking designs based on old Ikea catalogs which they used as data sets. The results are pretty interesting and some may actually be the basis for designing new pieces for the brand in the future. If you didn’t know it was just an experiment, you can even think that they’re actual products from the brand’s latest catalog.
The various designs that the generative AI was able to produce was a mixed bag and also depended on the decade of the catalog used for the data set. Those that were from the 70s were more colorful and playful while those from the 80s had a cleaner and more minimalistic look. Not all of them are actually something that can be produced though since they looked pretty impractical and some even violate the laws of nature. Some even had missing parts that would make the furniture functional which will defeat the purpose.
So despite the amazing things that AI can generate, there still needs to have a human touch in terms of finalizing and fine-tuning the designs. If you’re willing to work with generative AI like what Ikea is doing with Space10, you can use it as inspiration or a starting point for coming up with new products. There’s still a lot of things like ethics and intellectual property that we still need to figure out but don’t start thinking of it as the enemy of creativity.
For our latest competition, we’ve teamed up with footwear brand TheyNewYork (THEY) to offer readers the chance to win the THEY Sole Tote.
The THEY Sole Tote is informed by THEY’s classic aesthetic and was intended to be a perfect blend of a shoe and a bag.
Made from upholstered microfibre leather, the bag includes rubber outsoles allowing the bag to stand upright.
The bag comes in two sizes, has comfortable straps and enough space to fit daily essentials. By entering our latest competition, two Dezeen readers will win a THEY Sole Tote.
Two Dezeen readers will win a THEY Sole Tote
Each bag is made from upcycled soles from the brand’s Circle Low and Two-Tone sneakers.
The Large Sole Tote fits a 15-inch tablet and the Small Sole Tote fits an 11-inch tablet.
The THEY Sole Tote comes in two sizes
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To find out more about the brand, visit its website.
This competition is closing on 13 May. Terms and conditions apply. Two readers will win a THEY Sole Tote Bag. The winner will be selected at random and notified by email.
Partnership content
This competition is a partnership between Dezeen and TheyNewYork. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
Named Argyle, the collection includes pendant, floor and table lamps with glass shades made up of interlocking diamonds.
The glass shades are available in different colours
The collection takes its name from the Argyle textile pattern, a repeating diamond-shaped pattern overlaid with crossing lines.
“Inspired by Australia’s famed coloured diamonds and the Argyle textile pattern, Nichetto Studio has thoughtfully combined founder Luca Nichetto’s native legacy of contemporary glass design with Rakumba’s half-century heritage of lighting and fabric,” said Rakumba.
The light is available as a pendant, floor and table lamp
“Argyle spans a multitude of applications, including singular gem-like units hanging above tables, tessellating screens forming a tapestry of light across open spaces, and grand chandelier compositions in luxurious foyers,” the brand added.
The collection is available in subtle shades of coloured glass, including sunrise yellow, sunset pink, grey-toned dusk and forest green.
Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen’s huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
Dezeen is also co-hosting events with retail marketing agency Liganova and London design studio Blond during the week and is producing videos documenting installations and new product launches for Audi, IED, Occhio and Abstracta.
The first in a new series of talks exploring the future of luxury takes place at Bentley Home Atelier in Milan
Dezeen x Bentley Lighthouse Talk: rethinking luxury materials Friday 21 April
Dezeen is teaming up with Bentley for the first in a series of Lighthouse Talks that will ask what the future of luxury holds.
Is the traditional perspective around luxury about to radically change? Will recycled materials with powerful backstories become the new aspiration? How do we embed circularity into the design process? Could a whole new generation of bio-fabricated materials emerge? And can the high-end sector help lead the way in a new era of responsible innovation?
Dezeen’s editorial director Max Fraser will ask these questions to an esteemed panel of material experts including designer Ilse Crawford, Monique Zappalà, art creative director at Luxury Living Group, and Chris Cooke, head of Bentley design collaborations.
The talk will take place at 11:00am on Friday 21 April at Bentley Home Atelier. This is an invite-only event and places are extremely limited. If you would like to attend, please email bentley@dezeen.com to express your interest.
Dezeen is co-hosting a talk and party at Casa Blond in Milan
Dezeen x Casa Blond talk and house party Tuesday 18 April
At 2:00pm, Dezeen’s design and environment editor Jennifer Hahn will moderate a talk titled The Sustainable Home: Design and Innovation for Greener Living with panellists including James Melia, founder and creative director at Blond, Sam D’Amico, CEO at Impulse and Sam Bauer, consultant at the Ad Hoc Group.
Dezeen has teamed up with SketchUp to launch a new podcast series called Climate Salon
Dezeen x SketchUp Climate Salon podcast
Dezeen has teamed up with design software company SketchUp to launch a podcast series called Climate Salon, which explores the future of architecture and interior design in relation to the climate.
The first episode, which is titled Radical Sustainable Living, is available now on all major podcast platforms for people to listen to as they travel to Milan.
Dezeen is also teaming up with SketchUp to host an exclusive dinner during Milan design week as part of the brand’s sponsorship of Dezeen Awards 2023.
Every Wall is a Door 2021 by teamLab at Superblue Miami. Copyright teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery
Dezeen x Liganova talk – Redefining Spaces: the rise of hyperphysical experiences Wednesday 19 April
Dezeen’s co-CEO Benedict Hobson will moderate a panel discussion exploring the trend in fashion, art and beyond for creating hyperphysical experiences that engage people in more immersive and meaningful ways.
Hobson will be joined by Carlota Dochao Naveira, director at immersive art gallery Superblue, and Gary Bott, managing director at eyewear brand Gentle Monster. The talk is part of retail marketing agency Liganova’s annual Breakfast Club event, which last year featured a conversation with Colette co-founder Sarah Andelman. This is a private event and is strictly invitation-only.
Dezeen will be documenting exhibitions and installations throughout Milan, including Preciosa’s Crystal Beat installation
Videos documenting products and installations from across Milan
In addition to co-hosting talks and events, Dezeen will be producing videos documenting activations across Milan.
Look out for videos showcasing installations by lighting brands Preciosia and Occhio, car brand Audi, and bathroom brand Grohe, as well as an exhibition by design school IED at Alcova.
We will also be producing videos about new product launches by furniture brand Moooi and acoustics brand Abstracta.
Milan design week 2023
Milan design week 2023 takes place from 6-12 June 2022. See our Milan design week 2023 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.
Industrial designers often think of UX as taking part during the customers’ ongoing relationship with the product. Package designers, however, have to consider that UX must be factored in at the point of sale. A good example of this is a recently-reversed package design decision forced upon Hasbro.
The toy manufacturer had good intentions: In the name of sustainability, they began “phasing out plastic from new product packaging, [meaning] polybags, elastic bands, shrink wrap, window sheets and blister packs,” they wrote in an announcement. The new window-free packaging, which rolled out in 2022, looked like this:
In contrast, the classic window-featuring packaging looked like this:
Any package designer who understands the customer, specifically the collectors who purchase Hasbro’s 6-inch action figures, could have told you this was a mistake; but as some of us know, in corporate ID, designers rarely get to call the shots.
The plan did backfire, and after less than a year of axing window boxes and blister packs, Hasbro has been forced to reverse their decision. (Unsurprisingly, there’s been no press release on this from the company; the news came to us via Plastics News.) As trade publication Toy Book reports:
“Since the move toward windowless boxes, sales have reportedly slid from collectors who view the package as part of the product but wish to see the toy inside. Additionally, the windowless boxes have led to increased issues with theft, the despicable act of ‘figure swapping’ (also a form of theft in which unscrupulous consumers swap less desirable parts into a new package and return the figure to the store for a refund), and the inability to spot quality control issues such as poor paint applications or broken pieces.”
To their credit, Hasbro is still trying to do the right thing, which in this case means providing transparent packaging to please customers while still pursuing sustainability. “The new windows and blisters will be made from bio PET or recycled PET,” the company said, “helping us achieve our priority of meeting our fans’ expectations for extraordinary packaging and superior design while still developing packaging that minimizes waste and the use of virgin plastic.”
Lastly, to credit the designers: I really do think Hasbro’s package designers did the best they could under the plastic-free restriction. To my eye the plastic-free package design above looks way more premium than the windowed version; it just isn’t what the customer wants.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
