Hasta La Ideas

The Head designed by Gumdesign for Silik:

“The project stems from wanting to use the technology and business background, oriented in a game of styles and atmospheres that reinventing the space with irony, this assumption grows the idea of creating a new concept that sees the transformation of the table on basic aspects of emotional and “functional.” THE HEAD The table becomes an emblem and a sign transposed … find the head with irony and play, defines the importance of who sits in front of other diners, surrounded by rich and signs superdecorati. A session and the two legs of the table made with the Baroque style and color gold turn into seats in the lower stems and white, to establish a strong and clear who will lead the “game”.”

Flora designed by Gumdesign for TrediciDesign. Photo by LineaShow.

“FLORA is suitable to be placed above a dining table… A suspension of metal on top of which, hidden and protected, the bulb is housed in Osram Floraset (discharge bulb 80 watts – has a yield of 2 lamps of 150 watt incandescent-born precisely to stimulate the growth and welfare of the plants … also suitable for interior lighting !)… casts light down to the centerpiece.. and simultaneously, with its open beam, illuminates and gives well-being and vitality of plants hosted by the chandelier.”

Sognibelli designed by GUMDESIGN for zeroombra. Photo by studio fire.

“The old nightstands that carried the centrino in embroidery done by her grandmother and the lamp cap with cloth now find themselves in an apparatus equipped with bright LED light that continues to perform the primary functions and is matched to our memories. A lamp from “contract” to be at the side of a bed to light gently for a good read, create a soft and “support” books and articles, also adapts easily to the house and can be mounted on the wall just in any environment.”

Click below for some more preview pictures.

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This writer is headed away from the snowy, sub-zero ice box that is Chicago’s springtime in favor of margaritas and sunshine in Arizona. So while he might be fairly quiet for the rest of the week, you’ll be, as always, in the very capable hands of Ms. Stephanie Murg who will dazzle you with all the design news you need to know (and a nice break from this writer’s usual space-eating dribble). But before he leaves you to go catch the UnBeige corporate helicopter, we wanted to leave you with notice of a show that, if you can find your way over to Brooklyn tonight, you should really hit up. It’s the Adult Eduction series at Union Hall in Park Slope, which tonight, at 8pm, the theme will be “Color Schemes” and is set to feature a whole batch of interesting designers presenting talks on all the bits of color and how they came to be. It sounds like a blast and if the appeal of real-life sunlight and sitting pool side wasn’t so overpowering right now, we’d be at in a heartbeat. More details on their site and here are the specifics about each designer and their respective topics:

Megan Motague Cash, “Crayon Boxes Through the Ages” Hang on tight! Megan Montague Cash takes you on a wild ride while exploring the history of crayon packaging.

Laurie Rosenwald, “Mutant Bastard Yucky Colors of the Apocalypse” Lavender is the yellow of Japan. Hot pink is the navy blue of India. So how did dusty rose, teal, suntan, and what the author Douglas Coupland calls “veal” become America’s first palette? Laurie Rosenwald investigates.

Jennifer L. Knox, “The Making of Brown” Jennifer L. Knox explains the historical evolution of the primary colors, their permutations, and why sleeping in a red t-shirt three nights in a row can give you a sinus infection.

Jude Stewart, “Decoding Color” From blue collars to white telephones, Jude Stewart explores colors and their meanings.

All hosted by Charles Star.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media

Australia’s “State of Design” website has just been updated in preparation for their 2009 design festival:

State of Design Festival showcases Victoria’s best designers and creative teams, and businesses using innovative design. Learn how design can lead business, industry and society towards a better future.

The Festival holds four major programs in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, focused around the 2009 theme ‘Sampling the Future’: Design Capital business program, Design For Everyone public and cultural program, Design:Made:Trade industry program, and the biennial Premier’s Design Awards (next held in 2010).

The State of Design Festival will run from July 15th to 25th.

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I’ll have the privilege of being a guest on Naomi Pearson’s Design Evolution Show on Voice America Internet Radio’s GreenTalk Network today (Saturday) at 1pm EST. The other guest will be Mike Italiano from the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability who will discuss SMART, a green rating system for products, fabric, apparel, textile & flooring based on environmental, social, & economic criteria.

Tune in here.

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Last year was Danish Craft’s first Milan design week debut, and with great success, they will return this month with new designs:

The 12 craft artists participating in this year’s exhibition are: Furniture designers Louise Campbell, Cecilie Manz, Ditte Hammerstrom, Salto & Sigsgaard and Christian Flindt. Textile designer Astrid Krogh. Ceramicists Louise Hindsgavl, Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, Christin Johansson and Steen Ipsen. Goldsmith Kim Buck and designer Ole Jensen.

Bunch of Boxes is a series of small boxes that combine to make up a set of hanging drawers. A piece of furniture for small keepsakes and therefore a piece of furniture that can always be expanded with additional boxes as needed. Bunch of Boxes is made of lacquered wood and rope. This is a piece of furniture that is capable of expanding and growing as need dictates. The work is sponsored by Montana.

Hot Water Bottle is a soft container that can be filled with hot water and placed on or near the body. It is typically used to ease stomach or muscle pain. “Or if you just feel under the weather and need some warmth,” says Ole Jensen, adding that the product is probably “particularly relevant in cold climates and difficult times.” The product is made in natural rubber and metal by repeatedly dipping a clay shape into liquid rubber. The rubber is treated with a thin layer of silicone for durability. The stopper is handmade in gold-plated brass with a screw thread closure. The hot water bottles are made in five different shapes in brown or red. Hot Water Bottles are produced by Latex One and Lars Glad in collaboration with Rasha Sager & Saxenfelt Natural Rubber Products.

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