Hasta La Ideas

Product News: Slovakian designer Tomas Kral has created a collection of small silicone pots for Hong Hong design brand Praxis.

Called Flex, the pots make use of the material’s flexibility and have covers that are fixed at one side but flap up at the other. “Looking like small animals, the flexible lids can be opened easily and always close back, so the containers never stay opened where they are not in use,” says Kral.

Praxis produces silicone desktop products by a number of European designers including Alexander Taylor, Big-Game, Alexis Georgacopoulos and Tomàs Alonso. We featured bird-like silicone containers by Swedish designers TAF for Praxis back in May.

Tomas Kral has a studio in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he also teaches at ECAL. Other designs by Tomas Kral on Dezeen include his graduation project combining cork and glass, and a pencil case with teeth.

Photos are by Martin Haldimann.

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for Praxis appeared first on Dezeen.

Product news: this wind-up toy by British design brand All Lovely Stuff creates abstract art when let loose on a sheet of paper.

Inspired by the cotton-reel tanks they played with as children, All Lovely Stuff designers Ed Ward and Carl Clerkin adapted the mechanical toy to hold a felt tip pen.

To propel the machine, simply wind the cotton reel while holding the wax cylinder, then place it down and let go. The height and position of the pen can be adjusted to make bigger or smaller circles, or straight lines.

The machine comes in a self-assembly kit containing an oak cotton reel, a clothes peg, a felt tip pen, a rubber band, a dowel and a piece of wax, and is available online from All Lovely Stuff.

Earlier this year Dezeen filmed a movie with designer Carl Clerkin, who told us about his aim to create functional wooden products with “a little bit of charm about them”.

Other machines we’ve featured on Dezeen include a rotational moulding machine that inserts spontaneity into serial production and a contraption that mimics birdsong – see all our stories about machines.

We’ve also featured lots of toys on Dezeen, including wooden toys that incorporate plugs and clothes pegs and a knitted tree filled with knitted creatures.

See all our stories about toys »
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by All Lovely Stuff appeared first on Dezeen.

Product news: a clock with disappearing hands and pen pots made of heat-shrink tubing are among the objects in the first collection from La Vague, a new online shop and collective offering work by young designers.

Above: Sfumato by Linn Kandel. This wall clock creates an artificial blur by making the watch hands disappear gradually. The mechanism is concealed behind a Plexiglas dial which is gradient printed.

Based in Switzerland, La Vague describes itself as “a platform that edits self-produced objects”, and its first collection comprises nine pieces by young designers.

“We decided to launch La Vague to have the chance to create and sell our design and the designs of young designers who are quite unknown but very talented,” said designer Charlotte Talbot. “When you buy an object today you should know where it is coming from, who made it and where your money goes. You buy a La Vague object because you like the design, but maybe also to support a new way of consumption.”

Above: Gaignal by Dimitri Bähler. Gaignal is a storage set for pens and office stationery. The shapes come from the used material’s maximal capacities; thermo shrinkable tube. The base is made of turned maple.

“To develop the first collection of La Vague, we didn’t give a topic to the designers, but they had to create objects that could be made by themselves or by a craftsman, produced locally and easy to ship,” said Linn Kandel’s, one of the curators of the collection.

“Those points resulted in a series of objects which included various pieces made out of materials that are easy to handle, such as wood, rope, aluminium, Tyvek, carbon – simple shapes with a strong aesthetic.”

Above: Sac à dos – Pochette bags by Linn Kandel. These two bags offer with their small volume the possibility to be used everyday. Made out of Tyvek – a very strong, light and waterproof material – these bags propose a more durable but also aesthetic alternative to paper bags.

Some objects are handmade or assembled by the designers in limited editions, but others, like the Volet hooks, are produced industrially.

Above: Deadaleas by ECAL/Fanny Dora. Deadaleas is a book holder and wall shelf. The meeting of wood and mirrored inox is a game of appearance and disappearance that influences the perception of the two objects.

Among the collection are Dimitri Bähler’s containers for pens and stationery, made from heat-shrink tubing and turned maple, and Linn Kandel’s blurry wall clock, which has its hands concealed by gradient-printed Plexiglas.

Above: Tronc by Charlotte Talbot. Lamp with an indirect and soft lightening perfectly suited for a bedside lamp. The base is made out of ash and the lampshade out of white polypropylene.

The collection also includes a pair of bags made from the durable, paper-like material Tyvek, also by Kandel, and two small shelves made of ash and mirrored stainless steel, credited to Fanny Dora with the University of Art and Design Lausanne (ECAL).

Above: Node by Charlotte Talbot. Node is a hand-made basket constructed with hardened polypropylene rope. It can be used to put objects in or as a fruit basket.

Charlotte Talbot designed an ash and polypropylene bedside lamp and a flexible basket of polypropylene rope, while the wooden table clock is by Anurag Etchepareborda.

Above: Kitchen Clock by Anurag Etchepareborda. This little table clock’s radical and simple design allows the user to contemplate an aesthetic purely based on the quality of the wood.

Completing the collection are Bähler’s anodised aluminium hooks, which fold over to hide their screws, and a balancing sculpture made from pieces of ash and rings of carbon by Jean Besson and ECAL.

Above: Volet by Dimitri Bähler. Anodised aluminium hooks folded in way to hide the fixation system, which is a simple screw giving a unexpected volume of the object.

All of the objects are available online from La Vague. The second collection will be presented in the coming months, while the objects will also be sold by Berlin concept store Baerck.

Above: Round & Round by ECAL/Jean Besson. Balancing object made out of a section of ash and a carbon profile in several dimensions. Little plastic elements are used for connecting the parts together.

Another project by Kandel we’ve featured on Dezeen is a series of wire-framed tables inspired by electricity pylons.

See all our stories about homeware »
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Photography is by Charles Negre and captions are by La Vague.

Here’s some more information from La Vague:

La Vague is a platform that edits self produced objects. From the idea to the delivery, the designers are in control. Produced by craftsmen, local factories, or the designers themselves, the La Vague objects are distributed during events or through its website: www.la-vague.ch

As young designers, even a beautiful, original and well designed object is hard to promote. By trusting young creators, La Vague breaks the fence and gives them an opportunity to promote and sell their objects without any intermediates. In that sense, La Vague wants to be a new kind of furnishing and object company.

As a self-produced object company, La Vague can propose several objects with different levels of production. Some mass produced, others almost unique pieces. Thanks to that approach, La Vague has the ambition to sell only unpublished objects at very affordable prices. Unique objects created by talented designers.

» Dimitri Bähler
» Anurag Etchpareborda
» Anne Julmy
» Linn Kandel
» Charlotte Talbot

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by La Vague appeared first on Dezeen.

Product news: whether you fancy the Frenchman, the Millionaire, the Tennis Coach or the Fireman, the characters in this range of designer sex toys have been created in response to stereotypical female fantasies.

The Frenchman, the Millionaire, the Tennis Coach and the Fireman are the first characters in the Smile Makers range of vibrators to be released.

“We hope that most women will find at least one of her fantasies within our line-up,” Ramblin’ Brands co-founder Peder Wikstrom told Dezeen.

Each Smile Maker is shaped to stimulate different erogenous zones and represent its character – the Fireman looks like a flame, the Millionaire is formed like a cigar, the Tennis Coach has a tennis ball at its head and the Frenchman resembles a tongue to symbolise linguistic skills, apparently.

The battery-powered, waterproof toys are made from silicon and have three speeds as well as a pulsation setting.

Brand concept and packaging design were created as a collaboration between creatives Micah Walker, Justine Armour, Pim Van Nunen and Deanne Constantine.

Earlier this year, we reported that designer sex toys had been enjoying record sales following the success of EL James’ best-selling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

We featured a travel-friendly vibrator with a lock to avoid accidental activation not too long ago too.

See all our stories about sex toy design »
See all our stories about design for sex »

The text below is from Ramblin’ Brands:

What’s all this then?

Who’s behind these colorful little fellas with the funny names? Well, we are. And we’re Smile Makers. It’s our name because it’s what we believe in. Smiles. Big ones. They look beautiful on you. And feel even better.

We believe it so much we created this little gathering of friends for you to play with. Happiness gadgets. Glee contraptions. Joy creators. Vibrators. Call them what you will, they know exactly how to keep a smile on your dial.

And because we believe that’s as healthy as it is lovely, you won’t find us in places that might make you uncomfortable. No red lights, no grubby back alleys. That’s just not our style. You can find us at comeplaywithus.com though, and pretty soon in health and beauty departments all over the world.

It’s nice to meet you. And when you’re up for a smile, come play with us.

This is Us

Smile Makers are here to create smiles and share good vibes with the world. Smiles feel great and make you look lovely because there’s happiness behind them, and they’re contagious in the best kind of way.

What are Smile Makers? Only the friendliest collection of vibrators on the planet.

We think sexual health and overall health are connected, and a cheeky grin is one of the most gorgeous things you can wear. In fact, we think of a smile as the ultimate cosmetic.

Our Approach

You won’t find Smile Makers in places that make you uncomfortable. There will be no grubby back alleys or seedy sex shops for us. Instead you’ll find our collection online at comeplaywithus.com and pretty soon in health and beauty departments all over the world, right beside your favourite beauty brands.

That’s because, from concept and design to packaging and approach, we want to make it a happy experience to find a play partner. Having a bit of fun should never be something you’re made to feel awkward about, so we’re friendly, never take ourselves too seriously, and we promise to be nice to you. Every time.

Our Proposition

Beauty starts with a smile

Fantasies

To keep the giggles coming along and the tongues wagging, each of our products are named after a classic fantasy character. We’re kicking off with four, but will add more to the stable soon.

Sure it’s irreverent and cheeky, but that’s who we are. And part of being a more loved play friend is being able to not take yourself too seriously.

The toy-­like portraits we’ve created to illustrate the fantasy characters is our way of keeping it light and accessible. Couple this graphic style with our tone of voice and personality, and you have something very us.

The best thing the fantasy characters do for our brand is that they give us a range of voices through which we can talk to our consumers. Every time a Smile Maker comes out, the name gives us another unique and ownable way to talk about him.

The Fireman

Is it hot in here, or is it just you? Well, the house may be burning but this helmeted stud isn’t afraid of an intense situation. He’s strong. He’s brave. And, oh my, he’s going to heat you up and leave you smoldering. Lie back and enjoy that lovely towering inferno, you damsel in distress. Your hero is coming.

The Frenchman

Who knows what he’s saying, but does it matter? This sexy linguist has got you locked in his gaze and soon you’ll be delightfully fluent in his native tongue. So make yourself comfortable, mademoiselle, because when it comes to passion this master’s going to give you an education.

The Tennis Coach

He’s tanned, he looks mighty fine in a pair of little white shorts, and he sure knows what he’s doing with that forehand stroke. According to him, perfect play is about skilful aim, so after your sweat session at the net, there’s nothing quite like taking him back to yours for a little off-court, indoor action.

The Millionaire

His yacht. His private jet. His island. His thick, long diamond-encrusted fingers. And you. This guy is a collector of the finer things in life, and it turns out you’re his favourite plaything of all. He’s a powerful player with a great, big trust fund, and he knows exactly how to use it.

Background

Ramblin’ Brands worked with a collective from the agency world led by reknowned creatives Micah Walker, Justine Armour, Pim Van Nunen and Deanne Constantine to create Smile Makers.

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by Ramblin’ Brands appeared first on Dezeen.

Product news: Tel Aviv designer Nir Meiri has created a set of table lamps with metal shades hanging from thin stalks.

The Spot table lamp by Nir Meiri comes in two versions: one with a metal base and the other with a concrete base.

The shades are attached to the stems by flexible cables. Inside the shade are LED bulbs.

We previously featured a set of standing lights made from desert sand by the same designer.

Other concrete lamps we’ve featured include a lamp shaped like a military listening device and a wood and concrete desk lamp by Benjamin Hubert – see all our stories about lamps.

See all our stories about lighting »
See all our stories about concrete »
See all our stories about design in Israel »

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by Nir Meiri appeared first on Dezeen.