Hasta La Ideas

by Jeremy Brautman

Including graphic, industrial, interior and product design, “
Stuffz: Design on Material,” the new book from Gingko Press, focuses on design in three dimensions. With examples as diverse as the 100 designers (from six continents) who make them, the fabric-covered compendium opens to inspired concepts and in-production takes on furniture, lighting, clothing, textiles, toys, sneakers, cars, umbrellas, sunglasses, scooters and more—even the meager matchbox gets a makeover.

If a common thread ties it all together, it’s the issue of sustainability. Consumer materialism remains the same, but responsibility for resources now plays a role in both the design and acquisition of the objects. Vancouver’s Contexture Design uses locally-sourced materials for their hand-made iPod cases. São Paolo’s Carla Tennenbaum makes art from obsolete mobile phone accessories and other refuse. London’s Dominic Crinson designs stunning 100% recyclable, made-to-order tiles and wallpaper. Cairo-born Karim Rashid is currently working with a fast-food restaurant to design bio-degradable packaging using starch and potatoes.

Another underlying theme of Stuffz speaks to the desire to render our environment beautiful, interesting, functional and provocative. With design software, more artists have the ability to realize their projects. Marcel Wanders creates art objects to beautify living spaces. Walking-Chair treads toward irony with their circular ping-pong table. Jurgen Bey‘s Daytripper dresses up a public park bench in pink florals and allows people to sit on it in a variety of postures. Meike van Schinjndel and Brian Golsteijn bear the distinction of coming up with the most unusual (and controversial) piece of stuff, a cherry red, mouth-shaped urinal designed “with the goal of optimizing the bathroom experience.”

Read and see more after the jump.