Hasta La Ideas

London Design Festival 2011: London designer Ilse Crawford presents a new collection of furniture for manufacturer and distributor De La Espada at Tramshed this week.

The Companions family includes a bed, bedside table and writing desk with hanging cork bowls to tidy up cables or store odds and ends.

The neat proportions of the writing desk help it fit into tight spaces and an open storage space below the work surface can be used for keeping papers out of the way.

Studioilse is also launching a series of occasional tables called Sidekicks, which are designed to offer functional surfaces alongside armchairs or sofas.

The Sidekicks range includes a height-adjustable table and the pieces are finished in polished aluminium, copper or brass. See all of our stories about Studioilse here and all our London Design Festival stories here.

Here is some more information from De La Espada:

Studioilse will show the Companions family of furniture, designed to support daily life. The family includes a bed and bedside table available in white oiled chestnut with cork bowls as storage for private bits. Also in natural oiled chestnut or painted – pure white RAL 9010 or black brown RAL 8022

In addition is a slim writing desk, proportioned to fit in the spaces in between. This also has a cork bowl for wires and plugs, and a top that can close to hide away papers and laptops.

Also launching are the Sidekicks, a series of small occasional tables that live throughout the home to accommodate our different activities. They are the right height and dimension to sit next to sofas and chairs, for drinks and snacks, papers and magazines, or a short time on the laptop. They come in 60cm dia / 30cm h, 41cm dia / 50cm h, 60cm dia / 71cm h (polished aluminium, copper, brass) and 100cm / 71cm h in polished aluminium. There is also a height adjustable table available in polished aluminium, copper and brass.

More on Studioilse

Ilse’s work crosses the worlds of creative direction, interior architecture and products. She is a figurehead for a human approach that is emotional and intelligent. Studioilse see design as a way to amplify and articulate experience. They use their unique design process to create new realities that make sense. They create identity through interiors. And they use design strategy as a means for change and revitalization. This translates at all scales; from furniture to residential, hospitality to retail, public space to social entrepreneurial projects. Consequently Studioilse have created many iconic destinations. Ilse is also founder and head of department of Man and Well-Being at the Design Academy Eindhoven. “Crawford doesn’t have a signature style, but a signature feeling: emotional and deeply rooted to the place”, New York Times.

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Lego Greenhouse by Sebastian Bergne	My London by Nendo for Established & Sons	Furniture by Faudet-Harrison

London Design Festival 2011: audiences sit inside the 238 pockets of a giant red dress worn by performers at York Hall in London this week.

The Finnish Institute in London has installed Reddress by design duo Company at York Hall in Bethnal Green for the London Design Festival.

The dress is made from over 550 metres of fabric by Danish brand Kvadrat and is 20 metres in diameter.

Performances from Finnish musicians over three evenings entertain spectators.

The installation has previously been shown in Germany (see our ealier story here), Norway and Denmark.

See all of our stories about the London Design Festival here.

Photographs are by Kate Elliott.

Here is some more information about the installation:

REDDRESS

Exclusive performance line-up and guest designers unveiled for REDDRESS and REDSHOP

The Finnish Institute in London is delighted to announce an exciting programme of music, performance and discussions for its groundbreaking project, REDDRESS, taking place during London Design Festival (LDF). Designed by Aamu Song, REDDRESS is an installation and performance space in the form of a colossal, red dress.

From 22 to 25 September, REDDRESS will be exhibited for the first time in London at York Hall in Bethnal Green. Realised in over 550 metres of Kvadrat’s classic Divina wool fabric, this extraordinary red dress is worn by a performer who will climb a concealed staircase to immerse herself into the billowing material. Reaching an impressive 20 metres in diametre, the dress can accommodate up to 238 people within the gigantic pockets of its folds allowing the audience members to fully engross themselves into the space and moment.

Taking to the REDDRESS evening stage is unique debut collaboration between established Finnish musicians; vocalist Emma Salokoski and guitarist Jarmo Saari and the string quartet from Britten Sinfonia. REDDRESS audiences will experience the most original and creative performances with each evening act accompanied by one of the most dynamic chamber orchestras in Europe whose recent collaborations include Nitin Sawhney, Joanna MacGregor and the Michael Clark Company. The evening concerts are ticketed and available to book at www.reddress.fi.

“We are very excited to bring all this redness to London Design Festival and to the beautiful York Hall. London has such an aura that if we make something great it will enjoy it. London and the Finnish Institute in London team inspired us to make REDDRESS even more red and more rich in 2011 with events, REDSHOP and special REDBOOK. I wish REDDRESS also inspires London”, Aamu Song enthuses.

REDDRESS will also host free daytime events and talks including ‘Meet the Designers’, an exclusive launch of REDBOOK, REDLOOKS workshop and a dance event for families at the neighbouring V&A Museum of Childhood.

On-site for the duration of REDDRESS will be REDSHOP, offering many exclusively designed red products, including the quirky yet functional and inspirational pieces designed by Aamu Song and Johan Olin’s COMPANY as well as limited editions by innovative guest designers such as Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Nene Tsuboi and Vík Prjónsdóttir.

Vuokko Nurmesniemi, one of the original Marimekko designers in the 1950′s and famed for revolutionising printed fabrics and fashion design in Finland, has designed a special red edition of her 1960′s Myllynkivi Dress and Round Bag for REDSHOP. Japanese-born, Helsinki-based Nene Tsuboi has created a red edition of her Mitsumaru wooden clogs. The Mitsumaru clog is a modern reinvention of the traditional, Finnish wooden clog produced by the family-run clog manufacturer Talla in the small village of Myrskylä in Finland for 50 years. Creative brand, Vík Prjónsdóttir, inspired by myths and stories from the past and present will present Healing Hands Icelandic woollen scarf. Additional products by COMPANY such as Winter Tie, Mushroom Stool and Suomi Shoes will be available in specially made red editions at REDSHOP during the event.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with Aamu Song and Johan Olin’s COMPANY, one of Finland’s top creative duos. They are a truly imaginative pair who effortlessly ventures from design to art, architecture and craft. REDDRESS creates an exciting and thought-provoking experience for Londoners – and continues to strengthen the links between London and Helsinki, the two world-class design cities “, says Hanna Harris, Programme Director for Arts & Culture at the Finnish Institute.

The REDDRESS event is part of the international programme of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012. REDDRESS
is part of the permanent collection of Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland.

REDDRESS will be open from Thursday to Saturday, 1pm to 5pm and Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Admission free. Ticketed evening performances will run Thursday to Saturday at 7pm.

REDDRESS is supported by: World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 / Kvadrat / Antalis / Artek / Town Hall Hotel & Apartments / Embassy of Finland, London / Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland /The Finnish Performing Music Promotion Centre ESEK

22-25 September 2011
York Hall, Bethnal Green,
London E2 9PJ

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Nendo for Established & Sons	Salon by Lee Broom	Perspectives by John Pawson

Dezeen Screen: in this interview filmed at Dezeen Space, London designer Dominic Wilcox talks about his Moments in Time series of one-off, customised time pieces commissioned by Dezeen. Watch the movie »

London Design Festival 2011: Eindhoven couple Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk share a studio but usually work on independent projects. During the London Design Festival they present a chaise for Bernhardt Design that combines her textiles with his metal furniture.

The five textile patterns for the interchangeable seat pads, cushions and bolsters were inspired by configurations of timber offcuts, thread, paper and tape lying around the studio and workshop.

The chaise comes in a right or left version with a metal base in antique copper or brushed nickel.

The London Design Festival starts tomorrow and continues until 25 September. See all our stories about the event in our special category.

See all our stories about van Eijk here and all our stories about van Bleiswijk here.

Here are some more details from Bernhardt Design:

Hailing from the career-making Design Academy in Eindhoven, Dutch designers Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk are the latest real-life couple to join forces in the studio for Bernhardt Design. Leading the new generation of Dutch designers, much of Kiki’s and Joost’s work is based on the traditions of the workshop and a respect of craft. Their personal studio became the inspiration and starting point for their aptly titled collection “Workshop.” Consisting of forty textiles and an accompanying chaise, the project will make its international debut at the 2011 London Design Festival.

Although they have worked side-by-side in their studio since 2001 and often create exhibits together, Kiki and Joost have received considerable attention by focusing on their solo careers. While a student, the “Kiki Carpet” became an instant sensation and propelled Kiki onto the global design stage. Recognized for her nostalgic and playful work, Kiki’s signature design statement is to use multiple layers. Joost, widely heralded for his Outlines Series, is currently working on his “no glue, no screw” collection. His passion for true craftsmanship and historical pieces has led to creating contemporary versions of forgotten objects such as an hourglass and a chessboard. Kiki and Joost have exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide including Moss Gallery and Zuiderzee Museum and have designed for companies such as Moooi, Skitsch and Venice Projects.

A visit to their studio from Jerry Helling, President of Bernhardt Design, was the catalyst for their first professional collaboration. Helling remembers, “The minute I met them in Eindhoven, I realized that although their work is very different stylistically, their chemistry was such that they could do something fantastic working in unison on one idea. I had the same feeling when I asked Jaime Hayon and Nienke Klunder to do their first joint product.” Kiki and Joost’s “hands-on” approach to design made Helling’s proposition appealing, yet as challenging as many unknowns can be. “We agreed with the idea of doing something jointly and since the place we share in common is the workshop, we would develop the story there,” says Kiki. She continues, “It would be a little scary as our relationship had never been tested by working together in this way.”

Eager to begin, Joost laid the foundation using a variety of materials such as spray cans, paint brushes, wood bars, tape and stitching to form a structural base. Kiki, finding his work inspirational, quickly began adding graphic layers. Joost explains, “After working on the structural format, Kiki came in and does what she does best: layers and textures.” The end result is a symbiosis of two very different worlds – Kiki and Joost – to achieve a dense and rich textile collection inspired by their workshop.

The Workshop Textile Collection is comprised of five distinctive patterns in eight different colorways: Connect, Stitch, Block, Score, and Brush. When viewing the textiles, they are quite simple to identify as each name corresponds to the method in which it was created.Using distinctive weaving techniques and a variety of different yarns, each textile is purposeful and markedly different. Connect, a very playful pattern that appears to be random sticks in different sizes, was inspired by an arrangement of wood bars in their workshop. Stitch is a very sophisticated pattern with rather humble origins consisting of lines of paper tape on a worktop with an overlay of string. The intensity of the pattern Block was created by combining wooden bars and squares, then coating with a light mist of spray paint and adding a final layer of paper tape. Score was conceived very spontaneously by engraving score lines through multiple layers of paint on wood. And lastly, Brush is a blurry and artistic pattern composed by using thin strips of tape to create a surface that appears to be painted with a brush.

Carolyn Smith, Brand Director of Bernhardt Textiles, sensed a domino effect occurring during the development process. “As the project came together, it was interesting to see the progression of the textures and how well the patterns complement each other.” After Kiki and Joost shared a sketch of a chaise they designed for their home, Smith thought it would be the perfect way to showcase the fabrics and expanded the collection to include it. Joost concurs, “Since Kiki is a master of layering pattern on pattern, all the fabrics work very well together, especially when upholstered on furniture.”

The chaise can be ordered in a right or left arm version with a metal base in striking antique copper or brushed nickel. The clean and spare lines of the Workshop chaise provide a blank canvas for combining fabrics and creating unique and very individual pieces. The upholstered seat, pillows and bolsters can be specified in any combination of Workshop textiles, Bernhardt Textiles or leather.

Aesop said, “In union there is strength.” How true.

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Glass Skin by Kiki and Joost	Soft by Kiki	One More Time by Kiki van Eijk



London Design Festival 2011: our latest Dezeen Watch Store pop-up is now open at designjunction, Victoria House Basement 37-63 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4DA until Sunday. 

Drop in to see our carefully curated selection of watches by boutique brands and named designers, including the bestselling Uniform Wares and Ziiiro collections, and pick up a copy of the Dezeen Book of Ideas for just £12 while you’re there.

Dezeen are media partners for designjunction – you can read more stories about the show here.

Opening times:

Thursday 22 September: 11am – 6pm
Friday 23 September: 11am – 6pm
Saturday 24 September: 11am – 6pm
Sunday 25 September: 11am – 4pm

designjunction
Victoria House Basement
37-63 Southampton Row
London WC1B 4DA.

We also have pop-ups this week at Ligne Roset Westend, 23/25 Mortimer St, London W1T 3JE and Dezeen Space at 54 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3QN.

Go to Dezeen Watch Store »

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Jak by Karim Rashid atDezeen Watch Store	Mercury by Ziiiro at Dezeen Watch Store	Void V02 at Dezeen Watch Store