Platform

Stockholm 2012: Exploring the City

2012-02-19T18:50:00.002Z

As always there was so much to see and do outside of the Fair, as part of the umbrella Stockholm Design Week, there was little time to worry about the cold. You just had to get on with it.

Squeezing through hoarding, stepping over cables and skirting around cement mixers is not the usual way into an exhibition, but that as exactly how you gained entry to Work In Progress, a group show organised by Axel Bjurstrӧm and Jonas Wagell in the building site that will soon become MOOD Stockholm. Designers, some high profile and others on the way up, presented prototypes and finished products with sketches and stories explaining the thought process behind them. Folkform presented some details behind their exquisite Suburban Skyline series of lighting in brass. Matti Klenell exhibited his Lempi everyday glasses for iittala and Note Design Studio showed their barstool Boet, which they designed and produced for the Johan & Nyström coffee shop in Helsinki, for which they designed the interiors.

Note Design Studio are arguably the designers to have raised their profile most this Design Week. Interior and product designers, the 5 designers behind Note mounted a show entitled Marginal Notes #2. Sketches and ideas scribbled in the margins of their notebooks over the past year were re-examined and brought to life as a way to communicate what makes them tick. Simple shapes, bright colours and punched metal sheets were the order of the day. The wire benches reminiscent of logs on sawbucks were particularly memorable.

Marginal Notes #2 has received a lot of interest in the blogosphere and the word is spreading. If you would like to know a bit more, then check out this interview with Susanna Wåhlin, one fifth of Note, on Wallpaper Style File. (If you listen very carefully you will also hear the correct pronunciation of Ӧrsjӧ!)

In the same area there was a blink and you miss it open studio/exhibition called DOWN. In an underground garage Fredrik Färg and Simon Klenell presented work alongside their studio-mates for one afternoon only. Precision timing was called for, but we just made it!

Form us With Love presented their Form Us With Friends show for the third time, this time on the island of Skeppsholmen, in association with the Architecture museum. New collaborations with 5 companies saw innovative ways to use reconstituted quartz with the Silo vases for Consetino and flat pack furniture for new company One Nordic.

As mentioned in a previous post, "posh flat pack" was a mini trend throughout the week, and the Bento chair can snap together in 4 easy steps, without the need for tools or head-scratching. Obviously inspired by the work of Aalto, Bento chair and table are the first products for One Nordic, which will only be available online.

Finally, one of the last things we saw before heading for the airport was also one of our favourites. New works by Mats Theselius were shown at the Sebastian Schild gallery, including a series of wood and copper lighting and a new chair produced by Kӓllemo. The chair comes with an interesting history. After visiting the church of Sankt Petri i Klippan designed by Sigurd Lewerentz, Mats noticed the copper roof had been replaced, so called Kӓllemo with an idea. Using the copper sheets from the roof, Mats created "Hommage á Sigurd Lewerentz", a signed and limited edition. 123 pieces are available, because that's how many copper sheets were used on the original roof.

Stockholm Furniture Fair Highlights

2012-02-18T23:37:00.001Z

Apart from Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ, which were of course major highlights of the Fair, there were plenty of other new designs vying for your attention.

David Design, originally founded by David Carlson, all but fell off the design scene in recent years, but is back, back, back with new investment and a new Atelier collection. The Shelf Lamp by Andreas Engesvik was a real gem, with squat dimensions that reminded us of the famous Eclisse by Vico Magistretti for Artemide. A naked light bulb on one side and a simple brass disc on the other providing glare protection, it was simplicity itself in concept and use of materials.

There seemed to be a micro-trend for "posh flat pack". Sweden is inexorably linked with flatpack furniture, so it is understandable they should try to elevate it to something desirable, as opposed to a chore. Heritage brand Klong presented the Horizon Collection, new (and some existing) products that can be delivered flat or assembled as the customer requests. Ania Pauser's Knopp pendant is one of the first pieces designed specifically for the Horizon Collection, with existing products like the Nova chair from Asshoff & Brogård and Signum table from WIS Design also being re-branded part of the collection.

Gemla was the epitome of the Swedish aesthetic. Vilda was designed by Jonas Bohlin for Restaurant AG and is a traditional bentwood chair in ash and leather seat. Nothing else, apart from a handgrip in soft leather and now with a backrest in leather or a removable leather slip-cover. The Front design superstars designed Collage, a chair and lounge chair based on forms taken from the Gemla archive. Archive tools and processes were also dusted off and combined with contemporary styling to form a....collage.

Sticking with Gemla for a moment, it was a very pleasant surprise to see Jonas Bohlin's Kvist light in striking cobalt blue. Apparently they were hand-painted by the man himself especially for the occasion.

Photo courtesy of Holloway's of Ludlow

Asplund appear to be on a roll at the moment. Fresh from their win at the 2012 Wallpaper Design Awards for the Tati side tables, they presented the Luc series of cabinets by Broberg & Ridderstrӓle. Different formats in simple wooden finishes with transparent glass tops and a splash of colour on the legs. Daniel Rybakken's mesmerising lights which we first spotted back in April last year at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi are also now available from Asplund.

Colour was a major trend at this years show. Acid yellows and oranges mixed with pale sorbet colours, especially pink. Candy pink was everywhere, especially in combination with soft greys. If you remember the 80's, you'll know exactly what we mean. The other trend was for gloss finishes. Pink and glossy appears to be the future, for now at least.

Montana

L-R: Stolab, Swedese, String

In the young designer area, Greenhouse, Carlsten Thostrup presented Reel Cabinet and Tie Desk. They say the devil is in the detail and in this instance, it was all about the detail. The sliding doors on Reel moved on large wheels, like a barn door and Tie was held closed by leather lacing wound around two large paper buttons.

Norwegian based Thomas Jenkins of Studio Jenk presented "All Other Things Being Equal", a series of candlesticks in brass, aluminium and titanium. Each one weighs precisely 200g, but as each metal has a different density, the resulting candlesticks are different sizes.

In Cologne we spotted Domestica by Studio Formafantasma, and just weeks later in Stockholm Bjarke Frederiksen presented the Nordic Nomad Chair. Something in the air perhaps?

Finally, in our whistle stop tour of the Fair, we were taken with the work of Kristine Five Melvær. Her Light Jars allow you to display your mini treasures, almost like a lab specimen, in beautifully crafted glass. A contemporary form of display cabinets.

Plaza Magazine obviously agreed, as they awarded Kristine their young designers prize. We're pretty sure we'll see these Light Jars on a stand in the main Fair next year.

The 2012 Mitab Collection is here

2012-02-16T09:13:00.000Z

2012 is our first full year representing Mitab and it is a delight to kick things off with such a strong collection. Six new products from 5 designers, all with that Mitab edge, shows their commitment to supporting young talent.

Jonas Wagell continues his collaboration with Mitab with a brand new sofa system and new forms for the Montmartre series.

Cumulus is a new sofa for lobbies and restaurants that combines the practical requirements of a contract environment with the more generous and inviting appearance of a domestic sofa. Wagell's distinctive and playful aesthetics (literally) take the edge off the strictures of public area seating. Single, two seater and corner units can be combined in a variety of formats and an extensive selection of fabrics to ensure your Cumulus is as unique as the cloud that gave it it's name. Cirrus pillows optional!

Jonas also find time to add some new pieces to the Montmartre family. Montmartre Bar keeps the familiar splayed leg and rounded foot of the original table but extends it to a barstool. The turned wooden seat and the beautifully considered footrest make Montmartre Bar extremely comfortable. The corresponding table comes with coat and bag hooks for peace of mind and added comfort.

You can also have a low stool at 46h cms which would work perfectly with the original Montmartre table.

Joel Karlsson has worked with Mitab for several years now and is fond of archetypes. Simple, unfussy silhouettes that do exactly what it says on the tin. Shadow storage units are a first for Mitab. The Shadow table is perfect for meeting rooms, so it makes sense the storage should come from the same family. In two sizes and available in any colour you like, Shadow will fit seamlessly into any meeting room.

In 2009 Daniel Svahn designed the Mitab stand for the Stockholm Fair via the Stand On Your Own program and in 2012 he was back with his first product designed for Mitab. Quiet Riot clearly references a barricade, a brutal yet effective and functional piece of design. Available in 2 formats, portrait and landscape, with 4 fabric panels per side, Quiet Riot acts as both a room divider and notice board.

Office 4 Ideas, aka o4i are a multidisciplinary design studio based in Stockholm. Risto is their first collaboration with Mitab. The objective for the project was to create a slimline, refined and ultimately comfortable stacking chair for meeting and restaurant environments. There are no visible fixings, allowing for incredibly efficient stacking. A mesh back with upholstered seat and optional removable upholstery are all contained within a small footprint making Risto perfect for modern business.

Raster is new concept in acoustic panelling. Designed by Asshoff & Brogård and inspired by modern architecture, Raster is a flexible panel in rock wool and recycled aluminium. The perforations in the aluminium are made with CNC and over time standard patterns will be added to the range.

Mitab stand, photo courtesy of Architonic

Mitab will join Ӧrsjӧ and Mitab at Clerkenwell Design Week in May. Don't forget to register for your chance to see the new products in the flesh.

Ӧrsjӧ collection 2012

2012-02-14T17:46:00.000Z

The Stockholm Furniture and Northern Light Fairs have just finished and the immediate vox pop response to the new Ӧrsjӧ collection has been amazing. New products from new designers and new family members to compliment popular pieces made for an interesting display, with something for everyone.

Jonas Wagell is definitely a name to watch. With products for Mitab, Muuto, his own collection for Hello Industry and now Ӧrsjӧ, he is one of the fastest rising names in the Scandinavian design scene.

Wagell often takes the extremes of nature or industry as his inspiration. In the case of Studio he chose the latter, turning a photographer's studio light into a consumer product. Over-sized shades and reflectors are combined with more refined details like the solid steel handle and the polished reflectors. His first light for Ӧrsjӧ, Studio was presented both as a table light and a floor light.

Jenny Bӓck has added a stunning new pendant to the ever popular Lean family, so now all bases are covered - ceiling, wall, table and floor. In keeping with the retro lines of Lean, the double shade pendant adds a new material; thin steel suspension cables tied together with delicate brass clasps. The familiar blend of materials (textile cable, brass, powder-coated steel) is still visible, just in a new form. Graceful in white, yet bold and graphic in black Lean continues to display Ӧrsjӧ's knack of creating lighting with real character.

Baklava by Claesson Koivisto Rune, originally designed for Nobis Hotel, is now available in pendant and wall versions, and both versions are available in two sizes. Talking points when used individually, when used in clusters Baklava is truly stunning.

Crane by Benjamin Hubert was presented in a new gloss yellow finish. Perforated metal, bright colours and gloss were all trends at the show and Crane encapsulated all 3 in one super slim task light. Functional, but never boring.

The new products will reach stores later in the Spring and will all be on display at Clerkenwell Design Week in May. Watch this space for further details.......

Ӧrsjӧ at the Northern Light Fair

2012-02-03T12:28:00.000Z

Mitab at the Stockholm Furniture Fair

2012-02-03T12:26:00.001Z

IMM Cologne Highlights

2012-01-22T16:16:00.000Z

The prevailing trends at this years IMM were natural materials like wood, leather and marble and pale grey/brown background colours accented by a pop of fluorescent yellow or pastel and jewel tones.

Left: Müller Mӧbel, Centre and Right: Schonbuch

Mellow Daybed by Formstelle for Zeitraum

Das Haus by Doshi Levien was an update on the Ideal House concept and showcased their taste for the eclectic and colourful. A house crammed with design and arranged around a courtyard, classics by Alvar Aalto and Nelson sat alongside their own designs for Moroso, Authentics and Cappellini as well as pieces from e15 and Flos. You could also find some religious icons and family photos pinned to the walls.

It was certainly more engaging than the surprisingly lacklustre Patricia Urquiola A&W Designer of the Year show in the city centre. Of more interest was Patricia's decision to pass the baton, via the Mentor Award to young British designer du jour Benjamin Hubert. He is certainly making a name for himself in the international design world.

The Ineke Hans Collection was shown in the Pure Village area. Simple rough wooden planks, almost as if they had been recycled from pallets were fixed to precision metal joints and painted in candy colours to provide a cheerful and almost childlike alternative to the slick designs elsewhere.

Studio Kepenic attracted some blog attention even before the fair, with a post appearing on the influential Dailytonic for their new Plug&Play series. A simple idea of how to make flat-pack furniture less of a chore, Plug&Play comes with 2 sets of beautifully turned wooden legs - a main set and a second extension set which enables you to turn your coffee table into a dining table with ease.

Finally, a mention to Richard Lampert who revitalised their classic Hirche lounge chair from 1953 (shown below in the outdoor version) and showed it alongside Dish's Island by Alexander Seifried.

So, as the door closes on IMM Cologne for another year, we're keeping our luggage close to hand. Next stop Stockholm!

IMM Cologne - D3 Design Talents

2012-01-22T13:29:00.001Z

D3 Design Talents returned to IMM Cologne to give young designers, mostly recent graduates, a chance to be seen alongside (and potentially be seen by) the established brands. This years talent came from across Europe and even Canada. The UK was represented by both Magnus Pettersen and International, a design studio formed by Northumbria University graduates Marc Bell and Robin Grasby. International presented Apollo, a modular lighting system designed to be modified by the user. The 4 profiles (available in solid and perforated anodised aluminium) can be arranged around a standard screw cap lamp holder. Apollo was awarded 3rd place in the Interior Innovation/D3 contest.

Staying with all things light, Canadian Lukas Peet showed Spotlight in 3 different sizes. Suspended by their electrical cord which wrapped around and squeezed the lights, forming a waist, Spotlight illuminates both the floor and the ceiling.

Miya Kondo presented Composition Light, a series of leaning light objects, which create and frame a space. Placing them at different angles casts different forms of light and shade.

Second Prize in the Interior Innovation Award went to Listen to Your Hands by Lee Sanghyeok, a puzzle for grown-ups. A desk in walnut, the top is stacked with cubes of different volumes. Each one is a drawer and as you close one drawer, another opens. Which one it will be is anyone's guess! Using the lightest of touch will close all of the drawers, as if to say sometimes delicacy is needed and sometimes if you want to achieve something a little effort is required.

Listen to your hands from Sanghyeok Lee on Vimeo.

Studio Formafantasma, based in The Netherlands are arguably the rising stars of the design world. Indeed, they have been anointed by Paola Antonelli and Alice Rawsthorn as one of the 20 designers who "will influence design in the next decade". They presented Domestica, a low chair cum survival pack. Inspired by Gerla baskets, traditionally used by farmers to carry harvested crops, Domestica could potentially be a portable home but its new function is left undefined for the user to decide.

Martin Solem showed Daddy Longlegs, winner as the Blueprint Best New Product award at 100% Design London in September. Simple, elegant, entirely functional and a pop of colour, it won't be long before you see these in a restaurant or bar near you.

Also notable was Lamp by Sebastian Goldschmidtbӧing, a bowl and rod in copper. The light sources is enclosed by a transparent diffuser while the rod invites attention. It almost begs to be touched.

In fact, too many of the entries were worthy of a mention to describe them all here, so we have compiled them into an album over on our Facebook page.

Zeitraum News 2012

2012-01-21T14:37:00.000Z

Barely 2 weeks into the new year and IMM Cologne opened its doors to the international design trade. The first major fair on the design calendar, IMM Cologne is the launchpad for Zeitraum's new products.

The 2012 Zeitraum collection encapsulates many of the trends visible at the show - quality, traditional materials left unadorned to allow their beauty to shine through and simple grey backgrounds offset with a flash of bright jewel colours.

The successful relationship with designers Formstelle continues apace with Turntable - a traditionally turned wooden table hiding a steel base which allows large diameter tops. Reminiscent of salon tea tables, Turntable is both elegant and statuesque, instantly adding a sense of gravitas to any room. Smaller scale Turntables are also available as side and coffee tables.

Organic has always been a word associated with Zeitraum and never has it been more appropriate than when describing the new Kontur family of tables. A central pillar is supported by a twin-layered amorphous base, reminiscent of a map's contour lines. The pillar supports a solid wooden top, which again can be organic, square or round and will be available as coffee, cafe and high bar tables.

The amoprhous detail continues through to Twist Stone. Designed by Formstelle as an extension to the popular the Twist family, Twist Stone juxtaposes the sharp angles of the base with a curvaceous top.

A graduate project by Stephan Schmid, Strip combines beautiful materials in a charmingly lo-fi extending table. When packed away, twin tops lie above above each other on brass runners, with the lower one easily pulled out to give a little extra space when required. When extended, both tops sit in the top rails making Strip the perfect option for the occasional entertainer.

Plaisir seeks to make life a little easier, acting both as a side table and a tray. Carry your guests drinks and remove the empties with ease, simply by lifting the tray off the wooden frame. Formstelle have designed two versions of Plaisir - Plaisir 1 is tall and slim, topped with a shallow wooden bowl while the lower, wider Plaisir 2 has an aluminium tray with soft-touch powder coating and polished aluminium edge. Apart from being a pleasant sensation, the soft touch coating is also non-slip.

A new version of the Noon lighting family made a welcome appearance. In keeping with the family's strong graphic lines, Noon 3 is available in 2 sizes, making it ideal for smaller cafe tables as well as larger dining tables.

The Morph family has been extended and tweaked, with the addition of Morph Pouf to make your experience of Morph Lounge even more relaxing. Morph and Morph Bar also featured on the stand in their new fully upholstered formats. The emphasis was on flexibility, with two complimentary fabrics (or fabric and leather) on the same chair and contrast stitching now a standard option.

We've been promised another couple of new products in Milan, but they are still top secret, so you'll just have to wait for April. Our lips are sealed.

Zeitraum at IMM Cologne

2012-01-13T16:06:00.003Z

A Christmas thank you from Relay

2011-12-18T23:09:00.001Z

2011 has disappeared as if a mere blink of an eye. It started with Ӧrsjӧ supplying all of the bedroom lighting for the new Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront (interiors by RPW Design) and Zeitraum winning not one but two Interior Innovation Awards at IMM Cologne.

During the year we provided Rvw Mollis chairs and Zeitraum Morph Bar stools to Virgin Atlantic Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 (interior design by Glock, supplied by SCP Contracts), Zeitraum collaborated with new illustration paper Wrap for Show 2 at Viaduct, Ӧrsjӧ exhibited at Clerkenwell Design Week for the first time (but not the last!), we started our collaboration with Mitab by delivering Lobby sofas to the new Westfield shopping city at Stratford (thanks to Conran Contracts) and ended the year working with Edge Architecture and Design and Viaduct to deliver Morph Bar stools to the 5th Floor cafe at Harvey Nichols.

You can now also find us on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook. Don't forget to follow and "Like" us for instant updates on new product launches and project installations.

Phew! We're off to put our feet up before it starts all over again in January.

To everyone that has supported us this year, we say a huge thank you. Have yourself a merry little Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all in 2012.

A bit of France in Miami

2011-12-11T21:33:00.012Z

On the hectic week of Design Miami and Art Basel we made a happy detour to the Wolfsonian Institute to visit 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity'. Curated by Matali Crasset, with exhibition design by M/M Paris, the show plots the influence of French design from the 1940's to the present day.

Featuring works by Jean Prouve, Philippe Starck, the Bouroullec brothers, Pierre Paulin and Michel Ducaroy, the exhibition explores the impact of design - its creation, dissemination and the resulting shift in French social ideals. Film presentations ran alongside the main gallery displays including edited clips from the wonderful 'Playtime' by Jacques Tati (below) and 'L'enfer' by Henri-Georges Clouzot.

We particularly loved the staged installation formatted by Crasset and designed by M/M Paris. Boldly painted in the colours of the French Tricolour and assembled to serve as stools, plinths and barriers. Based on Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier's 'Modulor', 'a measuring system derived from the proportions of the human body', the pieces are available to buy from the Wolfsonian (and funnily enough, they are on the Relay Christmas wish-list).

Tramshed 2011

2011-10-11T13:04:00.001+01:00

A video from Tramshed 2011, with a cameo by Relay, Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ courtesy of De La Espada.
(Updated with HD Vimeo version)

London Design Festival 2011 - Our Highlights, Part 2

2011-10-06T17:22:00.002+01:00

We're starting Part 2 in Covent Garden and then heading west.

In the piazza at Covent Garden, Sebastian Bergne created the world's first LEGO greenhouse. Yes, a fully functioning greenhouse made of transparent LEGO bricks. (LEGO also had their own pop-up in association with ICON at Central St. Giles).

Online design store Theo materialised in Monmouth Street with a week long pop up. A chance to play with products before purchasing, Theo's temporary store stocked the wonderful desktop accessories by Australian duo Daniel Emma and was the first UK stockist for Tattly temporary design tattoos from Swissmiss founder Tina Roth Eisenberg.

If we keep moving in a generally west direction, Outline Editions hosted an exhibition by graphic artist Noma Bar entitled "Cut It Out". An embossing machine disguised as a giant black dog allowed visitors to re-create their own Noma Bar work, all of which were signed and numbered by the artist.

Jumping over to Brompton Design District, Michael Anastassiades took over an old jewellery store and filled the original display cases with a beautiful selection of silver ware and lighting in brass and onyx.

A couple of doors down, Skandium presented a comprehensive retrospective on Swedish architects and designers Claesson Koivisto Rune called "On Yellow". Furniture, lighting, rugs, jewellery and architectural models designed by the small but prolific studio were dotted across the store, like a treasure hunt and identifiable by the yellow perspex squares they all sat on. Again, Ӧrsjӧ were well represented with both Aria and Baklava by CKR included in the show.

As always, Mint's show was unmissable. This year, "Mint Explores" brought together fashion and furniture, cellulose that felt like concrete, as well as lighting and textiles from as far afield as Mexico and Chile.

However, we will end our highlights in the eye of the storm - at the V&A Museum. For the third year, the V&A became the hub (both physical and digital) for the Festival's activities. Exhibits were dotted liberally throughout the galleries, encouraging you to wander, often into rooms you weren't previously aware of. British-ish, curated by Giles Deacon, and Industrial Revolution 2.0, curated by Murray Moss, saw pieces scattered throughout the galleries. it was sometimes difficult to tell which installation a piece belonged to, but it hardly mattered. It was a pleasure to wander and discover.

(Further pieces, along with project and designers names can be found in our Facebook album)

Impossible to miss was the 10 metre high Timber Wave by Amanda Levete dominating the main entrance. A serious feat of engineering, construction was apparently completed with minutes to spare before the press launch.

Inside, the other major draw was Textile Field by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, in conjunction with Kvadrat in the Raphael Gallery. A 60 metre raised carpet, it became a giant bed for weary visitors to sit back, relax and contemplate the famous Cartoons.

Also open at the V&A with impeccable timing is the Power of Making. Open until 2nd January and free, its worth a visit.

And so we come to the end of another LDF. What does LDF 2012 have in store for us? Watch this space!

My London Design Festival by Suzie Hogan

2011-10-03T16:12:00.000+01:00

While you're resting after Part 1 of our LDF Highlights, why not take a look at this short video filmed by Suzie Hogan. Sums it all up rather well and if you're particularly eagle-eyed you might just spot the Relay boys.

My London Design Festival from Suzie Hogan on Vimeo.

Follow Suzie on Twitter @suziehogan

London Design Festival 2011 - Our Highlights, Part 1

2011-10-03T11:20:00.001+01:00

The fact the London Design Festival lasts 9 days is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it gives you more time to get around all the events you want to see. A curse because the longer the festival lasts, the more events are added to the program. In all there were over 300 events across London, and only the most intrepid (or those with a teleporter) were ever going to get to all of them. The lesson we learned from last year's LDF and tried to employ this year was prioritise, prioritise, prioritise.

There was a greater sense of cohesion amongst the new "design districts" this year. It felt more co-ordinated so events within a district happened at similar times so you didn't feel obliged to dart back and forth across town. Tuesday saw the launch parties in the Shoreditch Triangle and Clerkenwell showrooms, Wednesday Fitzrovia, Thursday was Brompton and so on. Better for the feet this way.
Our main focus was of course Shoreditch and Tramshed. SCP and Michael Marriott installed a 7 metre tall orange plastic totem on Curtain Road, for the benefit of those people who still did not know where their store was. Inside, the store had been turned into a Design Department Store with everything from erasers to sofas.

Just around the corner, the online design bible Dezeen took up temporary residence on Rivington Street with Dezeenspace. A pop-up shop with a 1m x 1m gallery platform for young designers to showcase their wares, with a new designer a day. (Dezeenspace is still in residence until 16th October, so you still have time to catch it)
Moving north, Twentytwentyone had two events in their two premises. The newly expanded shop on Upper Street (literally, a hole was punched through the wall to the former cafe next door just days before) was the focus for a re-launch of Robin Day's 1952 lounge chair. Meanwhile their River St. showroom hosted a show entirely in marble from Italian company Marsotto. We have our eye on the Tilt table by Thomas Sandell.

Heading ever so slightly west, next stop was Viaduct, who debuted Show 3, focusing on new and exciting forms of lighting. Ӧrsjӧ were well represented with both Baklava and Lean included in the show.

Designjunction was the cool new kid on the block. After a successful debut in Milan this year, Designjunction itched up in London and took over the sprawling basement of Victoria House. Presenting collections from UK and European brands, there were also exhibitors from Australia and New Zealand, like new company Resident and a shop focusing on smaller items with a British connection, curated by Scene. We particularly liked new British company Another Country's second collection.

An absolute highlight of this year's festival was Hemma, an exhibition of contemporary Swedish design for the home at the Swedish Ambassador's residence. Ambassador Nicola Claes opened the doors to her stunning Adams designed home, packed the furniture into storage and gave the space to new and established designers and manufacturers from Frederik Farg to Orrefors, Anna Kraitz to Front. The first image at the top of this post shows Mia Cullin acoustic screens with Svenskt Tenn lighting in the entrance hall. Below is some beautiful glass from Simon Klenell.

This would probably be a good place to pause and put your feet up. We'll be back with the west London action in a separate post. You can see more images in our Facebook album.

Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ at Tramshed 2011

2011-09-28T22:42:00.001+01:00

Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ joined forces last week for the London Design Festival 2011, coming together to exhibit at Tramshed. Here are a selection of photos. More photos from Tramshed can be seen in our Facebook album HERE.

Open House Weekend

2011-09-28T21:17:00.002+01:00

Before we got into the swing of the London Design Festival, we took a small detour via the former Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington which was open as part of Open House weekend.

Designed in the austerity years following WWII, many of the materials used in the building were donated by Commonwealth countries, including the copper for the spectacular hyperbolic parabaloid roof.

Mothballed for over a decade, this incredible building is due to re-open as the new home of the Design Museum in 2014. This was the last time the public would see the building in this format. When it re-opens the interior will have been drastically altered by the master of minimalism, John Pawson, to provide extensive exhibition space for the museum, allowing them to properly display their permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions. We weren't about to miss this final opportunity for a snoop around. Below is a selection of photos, paying particular attention to that roof.

Grey Goose Loft at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

2011-09-20T08:45:00.002+01:00

Virgin Atlantic recently teamed up with Grey Goose Vodka to create the new Grey Goose Loft cocktail bar on the upper deck of the Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow. Providing personalised cocktails from award-winning mixologists and regular DJ sets, it also affords the weary traveller a chance to kick back and relax in some beautiful Mollis lounge chairs from Rvw or perch on some Morph Bar stools from Zeitraum. Here are just a few images. Certainly beats the Ryanair boarding queue!

Interior design by Glock and furniture supplied by SCP Contracts.

Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ at Tramshed 2011

2011-09-12T18:07:00.001+01:00

The 2011 London Design Festival is fast approaching and is bigger than ever. Back for its 9th year, design districts are springing up all over London and there is so much to do that unless you have a tardis or a will of steel you won't make it to everything. Our advice is to pick up a copy of the yellow ICON Design Trail distributed across the city to make best use of your time.

Having said that, can we recommend you make some time to visit the Tramshed in Shoreditch, where Mitab and Ӧrsjӧ have joined forces to present some of the hottest names in Swedish design. Furniture by Form Us With Love, Swedish Ninja and Jonas Wagell will sit alongside lighting by Claesson Koivisto Rune and Matti Klenell.

Form Us With Love have quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the Swedish design scene and look set to emulate the international success of Claesson Koivisto Rune. Matti Klenell is the master of quiet craftsmanship, preferring to let his work do the talking, while Jonas Wagell and Swedish Ninja bring a certain sense of joy and fun to their work.

The Tramshed debuted at last years LDF and has already become a "must see" show. New collections by Søren Rose and Benjamin Hubert for de la Espada, the ever-fresh Ercol and new British design from the likes of Plant & Moss and Reeves Design will all be complimented by a seminar series conducted by Sam Grawe, who until recently was Editor-In-Chief at American style bible, Dwell.

Our hotlist for the rest of the Festival includes the CKR retrospective at Skandium, Hemma at the Swedish Ambassador's Residence, Noma Bar's "Cut It Out" at Outline Editions, John Pawson with Swarovski in the stunning St. Paul's Cathedral, Viaduct's Show 3 and if all else fails, make sure you give yourself a couple of hours at the V&A. Acting as the festival hub, the V&A will play host to a myriad installations, displays, talks and workshops. The perfect one stop shop if you're pressed for time during LDF.

For more details on the events happening across London check out the LDF website and Twitter feed. If you are a Twitterer, use the hashtag #ldf11 to search for posts and promote your event. We'll be tweeting as we go - you can follow us HERE.

See you at the Tramshed!

Relay (re)presents Mitab

2011-07-05T09:11:00.008+01:00

We are very excited to announce Relay Design Agency has been appointed as the UK and Ireland Agent for Swedish furniture brand Mitab.

Mitab specialise in furniture for pause and interaction. Furniture that compliments and enhances its environment rather than dominating it.
From their base in the city of Tranås, on the banks of Lake Sommen, Mitab have consistently worked with the top design talent of the day to develop and manufacture a strikingly graphic and energetic collection for the contract market. The current stable of designers include Form Us With Love, Joel Karlsson, Swedish Ninja and Jonas Wagell.

We are extremely proud to be working with Mitab and feel they add an exciting new dimension to our portfolio. We will keep you posted on all new developments, but in the meantime if you would like further information or would like to request a brochure, please contact us via our website. Further information can be found on www.mitab.se.

RCA Show 2011

2011-06-24T21:07:00.019+01:00

It's Degree Show time of the year again. Already! The RCA Show is always a real highlight, probably because of the diversity of courses all showing together, but also the fluidity between courses. Printmakers show ceramics, textile makers show chairs, goldsmiths produce chandeliers in cork and LED........

Before we get started, can we take a moment to offer some advice to graduates? Please, please find some time to update your website with your new work before the show starts. We know you are incredibly busy in the run up to the show and you think your head might explode, but please find the time to update your site. The show was liberally sprinkled with "Strictly No Photography" signs and while business cards are good to help visitors, if your work is not on your site, how are people going to remember you? There is a lot of competition out there and design writers, manufacturers, retailers etc will just move on to the next graduate if they cannot find what it was that initially excited them.

This year was the first time the entire Fine Art faculty showed in their new Battersea home, allowing everyone (Fine and Applied Arts) more room to breathe and everyone benefitted. After last years presentation, which was somewhat chaotic to say the least, this years crop appeared more polished and ready for the commercial world.

In Design Products, Jack Smith (who we mentioned in a previous post here) showed his simple but effective folding Stool and an equally simple but effective DIY Birdbox made from 2 pieces of plywood and a set of instructions.

DIY was the name of the game for many of the Design Products graduates, with Tom Hatfield showing Workspace in Brackets, a folded steel bracket designed to accept standard timber sizes. The concept was inspired by young, start companies (we like it already) who need an office space, but may not be in a position to take on a fully fitted traditional office. With a little ingenuity and elbow grease, you can create your own office with minimal expenditure - just make the bits you need.

James Stooze went one step further and presented a downloadable PDF entitled "how to make a chair open source". Basic DIY skills and access to everyday household tools are all you need to create your own chair from discarded materials. No packaging, no shipping, no waste.

Beautiful Mistake by Tien-sheng Huang was exactly that. Using the concept of shrink fitting, an engineering concept not often found in furniture, cooling metal shrinks to form a joint, thus eliminating the need for extra materials like screws, brackets etc. Shown in hardwoods and polished brass, we have a feeling you will see these snapped up by a manufacturer immediately.

Over in Communication Arts & Design, Chris Stoneman showed the mesmerising Fluted Motion. Rather than projecting onto a solid surface, a light-like glass sphere suspended from the ceiling acted as both projector and "screen". The glass acts as a secondary layer before the animation reaches the ground, distorting it and creating two separate focal points.

Textile designer Eva Malschaert produced a beautiful space divider composed of ribbons of elasticated fabric in soft pastels that can be clipped together at will creating a bespoke and constantly changing screen.

Over in the Fine Art show, the line between art and design became ever more blurred with printmaker Ashley Rich creating a ceramic cityscape and sculptor Alex Strachan creating a room divider in metal and finished in a pinky flesh tone.

Another print graduate incorporating traditional design principles is Evguenia Jokhova whose vast city blueprint covered an entire wall.

Where will this art/design crossover end? And how? That remains to be seen, but one thing we can be sure of is the quality of this year's graduating class. Some names to watch!

Clerkenwell Design Week 2011

2011-06-14T21:24:00.021+01:00

We've been very slow posting our thoughts on this years Clerkenwell Design Week. Suffice to say, since the show ended we've been busy catching up with enquiries generated by the show (actually, we've been pretty busy since we started putting the stand together).

The reaction to the Ӧrsjӧ collection was fantastic. For many visitors it was the first time they had seen the pieces in the flesh, so we tried to select a cross-section of pieces, new and old, that reflected the Ӧrsjӧ commitment to quality and innovation. From the new 2011 collection Baklava, Crane and Great White sat alongside the perennial favourite that is Lean and relative old-timers like Mushroom and Ginko. Our only regret was that we couldn't show more.

We have posted a few images here, but we have added an album to our Facebook page.

The Farmiloe Building is a wonderful venue for an exhibition. The old glass merchants lends a relaxed atmosphere to proceedings, and everyone certainly seemed to enjoy an after work stroll through the stands with a beer or wine in hand.

There was certainly a strong Scandinavian presence in the Farmiloe Building, with Swedese, Zero, bsweden, Bolon, Offecct, Magnus Olesen and Muuto all showing alongside big-hitters like Andreu World, Moooi and Ligne Roset. Note to self: brush up on basic Swedish for next year, because I think they'll all be back!
British brands also had a strong showing with new collections from Lee Broom for Deadgood, Hitch Mylius, Another Country, Pinch and Scene.
The one downside to being an exhibitor is that you tend to miss out on other events taking place around Clerkenwell, and there was certainly a lot to choose from. The House of Detention showcased younger designers and brands, the normally quiet showrooms hummed with activity, Lulu Guinness invited everyone to be a pin-up and then of course there were the parties..........

All in all, we're looking forward to Clerkenwell Design Week 2012.

Ӧrsjӧ to exhibit at Clerkenwell Design Week

2011-05-13T23:18:00.002+01:00

Milan 2011 - Rossana Orlandi

2011-04-30T13:48:00.007+01:00

We didn't make it to the Wallpaper Handmade show at Brioni, Elle Decor's Young Talent at Stella McCartney or Established & Sons (strategic decisions have to be made) but there was no way we were missing out on a trip to Spazio Rossana Orlandi, the Milan institution. A highlight for many this year, the venerable Orlandi always pulls together an eclectic mix of designers and brands to produce a feast for the eyes. This year was no exception.

Set around a courtyard, designers from Scandinavia to Japan showed an amazing array of products, from porcelain birds, lighting and furniture all by Jaime Hayon, a beautiful installation by Daniel Rybakken and Story Vases by Front produced in collaboration with 5 South African women. The vases actually tell the stories of these women using traditional Zulu beadwork and touch on subjects including family, poverty and the effect of HIV on their society.

Also on show were delicate paper vases by Torafu Architects, and teardrop glass pendants by the students of Sweden's Konstfack school. A definite high point was the Oak Inside installation by Christien Meindertsma for Thomas Eyck.

To end our Milan coverage, we thought we would let the pictures do the talking, so here is a selection of what was on offer at Spazio Rossana Orlandi.

Torafu Architects

Simon Klenell & Kristoffer Undin, Konstfack

Imaginative Table by Supawan Sihapoomichit & Emilia Ӧster, Konstfack

Daniel Rybakken

Thomas Eyck

Nika Zupanc

Formagenda

Jaime Hayon

More images from our trip to Milan can be found on out Facebook page, simply by clicking HERE.

Milan 2011 - The city

2011-04-28T17:02:00.015+01:00

Matali Crasset Dip in Space by Head-Geneve and Matali Crasset

The part of the Milan fair that takes the greatest toll on footwear is that which lies beyond the glass and steel cage of Rho. The Fuori Salone is also growing at an incredible rate, with the new kid on the block, Ventura Lambrate, nipping at the heels of the more established Tortona area. Then there are the showrooms, the galleries, the Triennale, the temporary spaces........

To say it is disheartening to see Mini Coopers suspended from a crane (why?!) when you arrive in Tortona is an understatement. The area seems to have been deluged by corporate tie-ins and the young designers that gave the area its energy have been side-lined, from the Mini Coopers to the Tom Dixon collaboration with Blackberry. What is interesting about this development is understanding why these brands want to be here - they know their customers are increasingly design savvy and they know the importance of delivering a "brand experience". It's no longer just about the product.

Having said that, we did enjoy the Matali Crasset installation with HEAD Geneve, Vertigo Bird from Slovenia showcased lighting from designers including Nika Zupanc and Mathias Hahn and we stumbled across newcomer Eumenes, with designs by Paola Navone and Jean-Marie Massaud.

Boy's Lamp by Nika Zupanc for Vertigo Bird

Eus by Paola Navone for Eumenes

Young designers have migrated east to Ventura Lambrate. Now in its second year, Lambrate lacks the energy of Tortona, but that is in part down to the generous amount of space. Less claustrophobic than Tortona, shows can spread out and breathe in a way that's impossible for all but the moneyed few in Tortona.

Many of Europe's top design schools displayed works by students and recent graduates. The RCA Intent show was the perfect opportunity to show it's recently launched Design Products Collection to the wider design world. Of particular note were Will Shannon's Metro Cabinet, Jack Smith's Folding Stool and Hye-Yeon Park's In-betweening Clock we loved so much at the RCA Graduate Show in 2010.

Metro Cabinet by Will Shannon

Benjamin Hubert also popped up at Ventura Lambrate, with his Pod privacy chair in pressed PET felt for Dutch brand De Vorm. Hubert was prolific this year and Pod was certainly one of his most impressive pieces - the shell being constructed using the largest single piece of felt pressed to date.

The Brits certainly made their presence felt with 2 group shows on opposite sides of Milan. At Spazio Botta in Porta Romana SCP, Case, Ercol and Pinch came together to show the quality of British craftsmanship, working predominantly in wood. The opening party was certainly popular, but it was unclear if all those people were there for the furniture or the free beer!

Porta Romana party in full swing and Iona Cheval Mirror by Pinch

Over in Tortona, Design Junction brought together a diverse slice of the UK design world, from Wedgwood to Modus, via the re-launch of Ernest Race's mid-century classic designs and Michael Sodeau's Anything range of stationery.

We certainly think Benjamin Hubert and Nika Zupanc were the "names to note" from our whistle-stop tour of Milan.

Milan 2011 - Salone Satellite

2011-04-28T16:08:00.017+01:00

Salone Satellite is the official area for young designers at the main fair. Unfairly tucked away at the back of Halls 22 and 24 (the furthest point from the entrance for most visitors and therefore overlooked by many), Salone Satellite gives young designers and brands a standard white cube from which to sell themselves and their designs.

Based in east London, Corinna Warm returned to Milan with a van full of new designs. Her most confident collection to date, she has garnered a lot of attention from the international design press in the last couple of weeks, and deservedly so. Her new collection of lighting, tables and even a large desk, using materials ranging from walnut to brass and gloss paint finishes, made quite the impression. Warm was also visible with in Tortona, with her Circus pendant shown last year now in production with Innermost.

Marina tables (top) and Glaze pendants (bottom) by Warm

Jarrod Lim presented the Idle rocking chair, while Atelier Takagi presented the beautiful Market Research tables in marble, wood and steel atop the New Basics table and alongside the fun, bird-like Big Bounce light.

Atelier Takagi - Market Research table (top) and Big Bounce (bottom)

Tucked away in the corner, we also found Lina Nordqvist, who presented an elegant salon complete with striking bookshelves, classic sofa and luxurious leather pouff.

It's a shame you have to walk so far to find these designers (it is worth noting that in Stockholm you will find the "Greenhouse" area adjacent the main contract hall!), who are often more exciting than the main event, but as with all the best things in life, it's worth going the extra mile!

Milan 2011 - Zeitraum, all Wrapped up

2011-04-23T13:49:00.013+01:00

Following on from the success of Show 2 at Viaduct, Zeitraum asked London illustration magazine Wrap to be their special guest in Milan. Wrap produced a beautiful abstract woodland scene to form the backdrop to the stand as a nod to Zeitraum's commitment to sustainable materials.

The new Morph Lounge stole the show in the "lounge area" to the rear of the stand. A compact chair that doesn't feel small thanks to the outward leaning arms, everyone agrees Morph Lounge will look equally as stunning in a reception area, breakout space, bar or in the corner of bedroom.

The stand design also showed clever ways to combine families of products from different parts of the collection. Side Comfort was teamed with the new Simple Button headboard to create a smart sofa solution for narrow areas. Of course, it was decorated with Piumino cushions in bespoke Wrap fabrics.

Struktur was used both as a floor to ceiling wall to delineate the edge of the stand and also as a high level "curtain" which worked equally well to set boundaries without impacting on the available space.

More images of Zeitraum's Milan presentation can be found on our Facebook page by clicking HERE.

The new Zeitraum brochure is available to view or download HERE. Alternatively, if you prefer to have a physical copy, please contact us directly.

Milan 2011 - Ӧrsjӧ at Euroluce

2011-04-23T13:10:00.011+01:00

Euroluce takes place every second year as part of the Salone. Ӧrsjӧ were back in Milan this year with a confident monochrome presentation. Their 2011 collection, first shown in Stockholm in February looked resplendent almost entirely in black and white, with only some flashes of copper and brass as accents.

Crane by Benjamin Hubert, which garnered so much attention in Stockholm, was shown for the first time in black lacquer. A bright yellow finish will make an appearance soon!

The Great White by Claesson Koivisto Rune, designed for the Nobis hotel, made its premiere as part of the collection. Arched brass arms reached from the wall to present their unusual white shades.

CKR's other Nobis design, Baklava was shown in the small and medium table versions, but eagle-eyed observers would have noticed the new floor version on the Vitra stand over in Hall 20.

Joel Karlsson's Butler family looked almost unrecognisable in black and white. For the first time, the rough brass finish was replaced with white and black lacquer finishes, giving Butler an ultra-contemporary edge. It just goes to show that technically advanced products can work in modern and traditional settings, given the right finish.

Jenny Bӓck's Lean family continued to please and the new table version looks like it will be just as popular as it's floor standing big brother.

More images can be found on our Facebook page HERE.

Milan 2011 - In brief

2011-04-22T15:57:00.015+01:00

So, the 50th Salone Internazionale del Mobile closed its doors last week and Easter is already upon us. The long weekend has given us time to reflect and absorb some of what we saw. The Salone itself is vast and due to some careful re-assignment of the halls, has managed to squeeze even more in. At the same time, the "Fuori Salone" events that populate the city have grown to over 4,000. It is a mammoth task to try and see everything (we tried and failed), so this post is entitled "In brief" - a taster of the furniture industry's annual crazy week.

Last year's Salone was blighted by the ash cloud (still a talking point, one year on) and a lack of innovation amongst manufacturers. As Europe claws its way back from recession, there were signs of new life in some quarters. Kartell heralded this tentative optimism with a flashy Las Vegas-esque stand (above). Elsewhere, the backdrop was predominantly fresh white with flashes of strong colours, as on Porro (below) but the bigger trend was for chunky, sometimes over-scaled knitting, quilting and craft.

The undisputed queen of the Salone, Patricia Urquiola, presented the Biknit lounge chair (below) and Gentry for Moroso, alongside new models of her successful Klara collection, while over on Casamania, they handed the reins to younger designers. Sophie De Vocht presented Loop (below), a dramatic chaise based on the carpet tufting process.

It must be said, it was refreshing to see new designers coming through and less of a reliance on the usual suspects (good as they can be!).

Also on Casamania, were two of the impressive 11 products by Benjamin Hubert on show in Milan this year. Industry shelving and the Maritime wooden chair, alongside his Crane light for Ӧrsjӧ, and luggage for Nava prove he is a name to watch. At this rate, he may de-throne Ms. Urquiola!

There appeared to be fewer wasteful "window dressing" products, produced purely for their PR value. The Italian industry has struggled over the last 10 years with increased competition from Asia and the world-wide depression and they have had to evaluate where they should invest their time and money. Hopefully this will translate into fewer launches, of higher quality because they honestly believe they can be successful and not just for the column inches they generate.

The sun shone, the volcano behaved and overall some of the energy appeared to have returned to Salone.

Inlay by Front for Porro

Wolfgang by Luca Nichetto for Fornasarig

Michael Anastassiades

Zeitraum in Milan

2011-04-01T19:07:00.001+01:00

Ӧrsjӧ in Milan

2011-03-29T15:58:00.001+01:00

SHOW 2 at Viaduct

2011-03-10T10:09:00.016Z

The lovely folk at Viaduct have sent us some images of the SHOW 2 collaboration between Zeitraum and Wrap. Doesn't it look good?

SHOW 2: Zeitraum / Wrap at Viaduct

2011-02-17T09:43:00.007Z

Viaduct are regarded as one of the UK's leading exponents of the best in contemporary furniture and lighting. In September 2010 they launched their dedicated exhibition space and we are delighted to work with them on SHOW 2.

A collaboration between Zeitraum and the new illustration magazine Wrap, SHOW 2 will feature key pieces from the Zeitraum collection, including the UK launch of Morph Lounge (fresh from IMM Cologne), Side Comfort Home and Bondt amongst others. It will be the first time many of these products are exhibited in the UK.

The exhibition runs from 2nd March until 2nd April

Viaduct
1 - 10 Summers Street
London
EC1R 5BD
020 7278 8456

Weekdays 09.30 - 18.00
Saturday 10.30 - 16.00

Keep checking the Viaduct blog for further news and updates.

Ӧrsjӧ - The hotel designers choice

2011-02-11T22:44:00.017Z

The new Nobis Hotel in one of central Stockholm's best locations was the talking point of the design week. With interiors by Claesson Koivisto Rune, the new 5-Star hotel opened its doors on 1st December to universal acclaim. CKR designed furniture and lighting was, as you can imagine, used extensively throughout but a significant number of new products (from furniture to textiles) were developed for the project. Key amongst them were Baklava and The Great White designed by CKR and produced by Ӧrsjӧ.

Baklava, as mentioned in our previous post was produced in both table and floor versions, and in the suites you will also find The Great White - a wall-mounted light light with an incredible 2 metre arch.

Also in the Nobis Hotel you will find Pin lights by Matti Klenell in the bathrooms and Aria lights by CKR in the restaurant.

A new book detailing the project, with photography by acclaimed architecture photographer Åke E:son Lindman was launched during the Fair and can be purchased from Konst-ig.

Should you find Nobis to be full, you can always check in at their sister hotel Hotel Skeppsholmen, next to the impressive Moderna Museet and with stunning water views. With interiors by CKR again, Aria graces both the public areas and the bedrooms.

However, we checked ourselves into the wonderful new Radisson Waterfront for more personal reasons. Next to the brand new Stockholm Waterfront conference centre designed by White Architects and only open 2 weeks, each of the 418 bedrooms feature lighting by Ӧrsjӧ. We worked closely with London hotel design specialists RPW Design on the specification of the bedroom lighting. They chose a combination of Minipoint, Puck and Aria along with a bespoke Aria wall light. Minor changes to the construction, such as removing the base from the Minipoint desklight and fixing it directly into the desktop to save space, were easily accommodated and designers, clients and guests (as we can now testify) are all happy!

Stockholm 2011 Highlights

2011-02-11T22:43:00.016Z

It's fair to say we always enjoy the Stockholm Furniture Fair. It's comfortable to walk around, not too big so you don't worry you're going to miss something and most importantly the standard is always high. This year was no exception. While some of the big brands like Vitra and Moroso had a presence, Stockholm is all about the Nordic manufacturers showing what they are capable of and that is simplicity, subtlety and quality. Our favourite new non-Relay product was almost invisible (which is part of the appeal) - Isaac Chen's Riddle magazine rack for Swedese was simplicity itself. Seven strings hang from a simple piece of lacquered wood with a wooden ball on the other end and gravity adds the magic. Use it as a bookmark and turn your magazines into a piece of art.

Swedese also presented Ivy by Thomas Bernstrand, a deceptively simple bookshelf. Stack the units on top of each other, as usual, or arrange them at angles to add some interest in a plain space. Ivy was awarded the Form +1 award for best product. Further Bernstrand designs were on show at Muuto, Nola, Materia and Horreds. Busy boy!

Also ticking the busy box were Form Us With Love, who went for the "keep 'em wanting more" approach by staging a show in a top secret location (an old church in central Stockholm). Showcasing some of their new designs for manufacturers as diverse as Träullit and Santa & Cole, their party proved the big draw of the week.

Within the walls of the main fair, new FUWL pieces were shown by Mitab. Highway easy chair and table were launched to compliment the existing Highway family. Mitab also showed the Stereo sofa system by Joel Karlsson, designer of the Butler family of lights for Ӧrsjӧ.

Källermo and Klong both used leather belts and buckles on their products. Mama Look by Anna Kraitz gave a 60's-ish sofa an hour-glass figure (very Mad Men!) while Strapp by Britta Teleman keeps your books and documents safe behind its buckle.

We have added an album of highlights to our Facebook page. Check them out here.

Ӧrsjӧ shine at Stockholm Furniture Fair

2011-02-11T21:56:00.012Z

The Ӧrsjӧ stand at this weeks Stockholm Furniture Fair was a hive of activity all day, every day. New product launches from Benjamin Hubert and Claesson Koivisto Rune certainly help draw the crowds.

Crane by Benjamin Hubert marks the first collaboration between the 64 year old Ӧrsjӧ and a British designer. A bank of LEDs is shrouded in perforated aluminium, an industrial material deliberately chosen by Hubert as a nod to Ӧrsjӧ's rich manufacturing history.

An articulated arm with knurled aluminium detailing which can be adjusted horizontally as well as rotated makes Crane a playful yet practical desk light.

Claesson Koivisto Rune took an altogether different approach with Baklava. Designed for the recently opened Nobis Hotel in the centre of Stockholm, Baklava is a soft and pillowy triple layer fabric shade on a simple stem. The light within is split so the bottom part of the shade emits a warm glow. Two sizes of table light have been released, but if you are lucky enough to stay at Nobis you will see giant, over-sized floor versions filling the large central atrium space.

CKR were named Elle Interiӧr Designers of the Year 2011.

Also officially launched at the show was a new family called Butler, designed by Joel Karlsson. We had a sneak peek back in November at The Sleep Event and the reaction was just as positive this time around. Based on the premise that modern technology should act like butlers of old and make our lives easier without us even knowing they are in the room, Butler stands ready behind your favourite reading chair to shine a light.

KÖLN 2011 - Tokujin Yoshioka

2011-01-21T23:08:00.012Z

As always there is a lot to see out and about in Cologne. Our favourite exhibition of the entire week had to be the retrospective of Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka, who was named as A&W Magazine's Designer Of The Year. Beautifully produced in a blaring fluorescent gallery, the exhibition showcased his collection of 'Invisibles' (below) and a selection of monochrome chair designs from the last ten years.

Also exhibited was a showreel of his ambitious installation designs including his displays for Hermes, Swarovski and his work Snow show at the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo last year.

KÖLN 2011 - D3

2011-01-21T22:47:00.012Z

D3 Contest was back again this year to bring the best from European design graduates to IMM KOLM. Stand out contributions came in the shape of Linn Kandel's graphic tables 'Pylône', mixing stark lines with smoked glass (below).

Nicola Zocca presented the ‘Shrink’ series of shelving designs which reject traditional nail and screw fixings for heat-shrinking plastics, which provide stability with a flash of colour.

More colour could be seen in the designs of Glimpt who displayed their South-African inspired lighting designs 'Forbidden Fruit'.

However first place went to Harry Thaler and his 'Pressed Chair'. Originally spotted at the Royal College of Art graduate show last year his designs continue to win over critics and design journalists alike. Made out of a single 2.5 mm aluminium sheet, the 'Pressed Chair' is light, stackable and 100% recyclable...clever!

KÖLN 2011 - Interior Trends at IMM Cologne

2011-01-21T22:25:00.012Z

Positioned at the centre of IMM Cologne was Interior Trends 2011. The result of a two-day workshop between a board of designers, architects and editors the trend fair took the form of four presentations. We particularly liked ‘Emotional Austerity’, curated by Patricia Urquiola (below). Mixing the high-tech finishes with traditional craft techniques, Urquiola’s title is slightly misleading as the only austerity was the colour palette, thus allowing the natural textures of leather, wool and clay to come to the fore creating a sense of total luxury.

Standing in opposition was ‘Transforming Perspectives’ by Martin Leuthold, which propositioned that recent austerity has robbed us of magic and wonder. Exploding with colour and surface design, Leuthold mixed the palette of street graffiti with mystic and magically shapes and forms. We particularly like ABR's Bell-Table by Sebastian Herkner.

Bold uses of colour continued in the program of talks and discussions held alongside the trend presentations. We managed to catch textile-designer-of-the-moment Cristian Zuzunaga talk about his recent collaborations with Tate London and his new designs for Kvadrat. We love his new 'Curtain Collection' which uses embroiled cotton threads that appear to glow, creating an abstract cityscape.

KÖLN 2011 - Zeitraum at IMM Cologne

2011-01-20T17:42:00.018Z

This years IMM Cologne saw Zeitraum present several stunning new products alongside some timely product updates.

New for 2011 is MORPH LOUNGE (below) by Formstelle - the long awaited easy chair to compliment the incredibly successful Morph family. The signature wooden frame carries a low-slung upholstered shell in fabric or leather (or a combination of both if preferred) with a small footprint, making it ideal for modern living. Whilst compact, the outward tilt of the arms means you never feel constrained and offers a surprisingly generous seat.

Formstelle have also created the MELLOW DAYBED (below), an extension of the Mellow bed launched in Milan last year. The elegant frame, soft upholstery and surprising leather strap detailing of Mellow are all in evidence with an optional armrest and headroll, producing a graceful chaise.

This has been quite a busy show for Formstelle and Zeitraum - both Morph Lounge and Mellow have been awarded the Interior Innovation Award 2011. A perfect way to celebrate their long-standing and successful relationship.

BONNY (below) is a beautiful series of mirrors, created by Formstelle with jewel-like facets carved into the frame, giving it a 3D quality. The vertical and horizontal profiles are different so to ensure you always get the best view, don't forget to tell us how you like your mirrors - landscape or portrait.

As well as these new product launches, IMM saw several updates to popular products. SIMPLE COMFORT is now available as SIMPLE BUTTON with the addition of classic button-tufting to the upholstered headboard.

2010 saw the launch of the TWIST family of tables, which have quickly become favourites and now you can have TWIST NIGHT, reduced in height to make a perfect bedside table. Twist Night is shown below with Simple Button.

The ingeniously simple DOZY is now available in a leather finish. The colour is up to you. Dozy is designed to work with all Zeitraum beds.

Finally, FINN has been given a new fully upholstered seat, and the NOON family of lights has a new warm-grey shade available for all versions.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Seasons Greetings

2010-12-23T14:25:00.003Z

Lean in Nord Architecture's Shingle House

2010-11-29T15:27:00.008Z

On the shingle beaches of Dungeness, young firm Nord Architecture showcase the latest commission by Living Architecture - the Shingle House. The second completed home for Living Architecture series, the project aims to produce a number of rentable holiday homes around the UK, all designed by established and emerging architect talent.

We at Relay particularly like the Shingle House, not only for it contemporary structure, but also its stylish interior - including the Lean floor and wall lights by Orsjo.

The house sleeps eight and is available to rent now.

www.living-architecture.co.uk

Örsjö's first UK design show

2010-11-20T16:03:00.003Z

Örsjö Belysning is proud to announce their participation in ‘The Sleep Event 2010’ as their first UK Design Fair.

With over 60 years experience providing unique lighting solutions for a host of different environments, Swedish lighting company Örsjö presents the UK market with an exciting and broad range of innovative products. Örsjö will present a selection from their extensive collection to the UK Hotel market, including Aria by Claesson Koivisto Rune (below) and Pin by Matti Klenell.

Come visit us on stand G21 at Sleep Event 2010
24-25 November at Islington Business Design Centre, London

Are you being served?

2010-11-20T15:15:00.013Z

With the trend for pop-up shops on the increase few have done it with such style and panache as Studio Voltaire as they launched House of Voltaire this month in Mayfair.

Nestled upstairs at Rupert Sanderson's west-end showroom, this artist-led venture is selling a diverse selection of limited editions and original pieces by leading contemporary artists and designers including Martino Gamper, Gary Webb and Richard Nicoll.

With an interior designed by 6A and exhibition graphics by Apfel the House of Voltaire brings a boutique glamour to Christmas shopping. On our Christmas wish list are Matthew Darbyshire and Grace Spooner's dip-dye bags, dog bowls by Donald Urquhart and some very nice bird boxes by artists Joanne Tatham and Tom O'Sullivan (all below).

All proceeds go toward funding Studio Voltaire's programme of exhibitions and events in their south London gallery space. If you around today do pop around and see design critic Alice Rawsthorn take over shop keeping duties. Other guest shopkeepers include Betty Jackson, Emily King and Julie Verhoeven.

Open Monday - Sunday 12-6pm
11 November – 4 December 2010
Upstairs at Rupert Sanderson
19 Bruton Place, Mayfair W1, London

Relay on Facebook

2010-11-13T17:19:00.003Z

Relay Design Agency is now on Facebook.

We seem to take a lot of photos on our travels, but until now haven't really done a lot with the photos, so we though we would start a Facebook page as an easy and convenient way to keep everyone updated. So, as well as our website, newsletter, this (rather fetching) blog and our Twitter feed, you can also keep tabs on us on our Facebook page here. Isn't technology great?

Don't forget to "Like" us!

Interieur 2010, Kortrijk and Orgatec 2010, Kӧln

2010-11-02T18:31:00.018Z

Design shows are like buses - you're almost guaranteed that two come along at once. Every second year the Belgian town of Kortrijk is host to Interieur and as soon as that closes its doors everyone decamps to Cologne for Orgatec, the largest office show on the block. It is a major commitment for any manufacturer who decides to show in both locations.

Let's start at the beginning with Interieur - an accessible and sophisticated show. Generous stands, wide aisles and 6 halls meant it was easy to see everything in a day without being completely worn out. Stand designs were imaginative and ample space was given to young designers within the main show. The focus was firmly on Belgian and Dutch design, but the big Italian brands like Moroso also had a presence.

Overall, the trend seemed to follow Milan - muted backgrounds with splashes of vibrant colour, however this time the colour had the volume turned down slightly. Milan's acid yellow and fluorescent green became mustard and apple green.

Zeitraum launched Morph Kid, the latest addition to the incredibly successful Morph family. Scaled down and with bright felt seat cushions Morph Kid maintains the sleek design credentials of its big brother but adds a playful edge.

Below are some of our other highlights from Interieur. We have uploaded an album of images to our Facebook page here with a more detailed impression.

One week later and everyone was in Cologne, Germany for Orgatec - a mecca for anyone with every the remotest interest in office design. The industry giants like Vitra and Herman Miller had vast stadium-sized stands which certainly drew the crowds, but the smaller stands proved to be just as (if not more) interesting.

We spent a couple of days with Buzzispace on their first ever Orgatec stand and the reaction to the collection was amazing. Having previewed the new Buzzibooth and Buzzihood products at 100% Design in September, we thought we knew what to expect but with people from as far afield as Canada and Australia getting excited about the range, it meant we were run off our feet. Just the way we like it!

London Design Festival 2010

2010-09-19T12:21:00.015+01:00

The London Design Festival has come around again. Each year it seems to get bigger and more diverse, but not diverse enough for Neville Brody who has launched the Anti-Design Festival to inspire creative thinking and risk-taking. Their manifesto is to "shift the focus from bums-on-seats to brain food". A commendable idea and we agree designers should be inspired and challenged, but should a design be criticised simply for being commercial? Shouldn't design be accessible to everyone? We'll watch the debate in action as the week progresses.

As we mentioned earlier, we will be keeping ourselves busy this week with a presence at the two premier shows of the Festival - 100% Design and The Tramshed, so we took the opportunity yesterday to do a whistle-stop tour of a fraction of the events on offer this year.

First up was the V&A - the festival hub and host to some impressive installations. Save some time to take the Hidden V&A iPod Tour, specially commissioned for the festival and lose yourself in some of the less visited spaces of this amazing (and free!) London resource.

Also at the V&A are installations by Michael Anastassiades (Kinetic Light in the Music Room), Stuart Haygarth (Framed on Staircase P leading to the Architecture Rooms) and Relay favourite Max Lamb whose Vermiculated Ashlar-Plaster Bench was still drying when we visited. All shown below.

While you're in the Brompton Design District, make sure you stop by mint for their Homework exhibition, below, and Italian brand Skitsch are hosting one of two Dezeen Watch Store pop-ups (the other will be our neighbour at The Tramshed - the temptation might prove too much).

Moving into central London we managed to get through the crowds gathered to see/protest against the Pope and saw Outrace in Trafalgar Square. The robots had gathered quite a crowd but no one seemed to know what they were doing. You can send your own message for the robots to write here.

Down on the South Bank, Paul Cocksedge's Drop, below, had also drawn a crowd and this time, people instinctively knew what to do.

Down the steps to Canteen was the installation of Thomas Heatherwick's Spun chair, below. Adults and children alike took great delight in spinning and spinning and spinning. It would seem the secret to lifting your mood is to take one of these for a spin.

We'll post more on the Festival when we can, but in the meantime you can download your official guide to the 200+ events here.

See you at 100% Design and/or The Tramshed.

Relay @ London Design Festival

2010-08-17T21:56:00.011+01:00

With the London Design Festival 2010 fast approaching we at Relay are busy working with Buzzispace and RVW on brand new exhibitions to launch their recent collections here in the UK.

Buzzispace is pleased to announce its return to 100% Design London following their successful debut last year. 2010 will be bigger and better with a larger stand and a New Collection of products including Alain Gilles’ ‘micro-architecture’ products Buzzibooth (below) and Buzzihood. This new collection offers compact and calm work areas, part of yet separate from the surrounding office, classroom, library or contemporary loft space.

RVW will have its official UK launch at The Tramshed in East London. RVW was founded by Johannes Herbertsson and Jonas Nordgren in 2009, having previously worked together as designers and producers for the VUJJ brand. RVW´s main office is located in the city of Malmö, in the southernmost region of Sweden. RVW produces furniture and interior objects for the contract as well as the domestic market, representing consistency in creation, denouncing trends.

Dates and details -

Buzzispace @ 100% Design London
Stand E30
23-26 September 2010
Earls Court, London SW5 9TA
www.100percentdesign.co.uk

RVW @ The Tramshed
Stand 15
22-26 September 2010
32 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3WQ
www.thetramshedevent.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!!

RCA SHOW 2010

2010-06-27T21:53:00.009+01:00

Its that time of the year again...the Royal College of Art Design Summer Show. Showcasing the best in art and design the RCA is always a great place to see new talent. Sadly the year of 2010 left us feeling slight underwhelmed. While previous years have left us giddy (see our previous blog Young Bright Things) maybe our expectations were just too high. There were, however, some stand out works including Hye-Yeon Park's digital and analogue clocks (below) which mix new and old technology with typographic flare.

Also worth pointing out was Krystian Kowalski's simple yet ingenious Stool Chair shown here in Ash wood

Good design was also to be found outside of the 'Design Product' department in 'Design Interaction', a course famed for taking a sidewards look at design problems. A standout project came courtesy of Oliver Goodhall and his 'Nuclear is Good' project, which seeks to readdress our distrust of nuclear power and promote its safe and sustainable credentials.

The New Décor & The Edges of the World

2010-06-27T21:30:00.018+01:00

The Hayward Galleries summer blockbuster opened this week. The New Décor, 'an international survey of contemporary artists who incorporate elements of furniture or interior design in their works' took over the brutalist space on London's Southbank.

Including pink mirrored room dividers by Tom Burr (above), plus work by Gelitin, Mona Hatoum, Jim Lambie, Sarah Lucas, Tatiana Trouvé and Franz West, the show seeks to dismantle the borders between interior decoration and art. Familiar forms of furniture and lighting are reinvented by the artist to reflect on social, historical and psychological issues.

We particularly liked Angela Bulloch's 'Smoke Spheres' (below).

As well as the rollercoaster bed 'La Montana Rusa' by Los Carpinteros (below).

If that was not enough the Hayward has also treated us to a solo exhibition by Ernesto Neto - 'The Edges of the World'. Taking over the entire top floor and balconies Ernesto Neto has filled the space with his organic forms to create an immersive and sensory set of installations. Inviting an interactive relationship to his art Neto asks his audience to wander through the architectural space, to relax on cushions, to even take a dip in his swimming pool (made specifically for the Hayward balcony). If we had known we would have brought our swimming trunks.

Both 'The New Decor' and 'The Edges of the World' are on at the Hayward Gallery until the 5th September. For more of a taster, check out a Quicktime film of the construction of Ernesto Neto's balcony artworks below.

1:1 Architects Build Small Spaces

2010-06-27T17:08:00.013+01:00

For the Small Spaces exhibition, the V&A Museum has invited 19 architects to use the venerable London institution as a test site. While all 19 proposals, themed around refuge and retreat can be viewed in the Architecture gallery, 7 have been constructed full-scale and are currently dotted around the V&A. The recurring difficulty with architecture shows is finding a way to make drawings, photos and models an engaging experience for the audience. The 7 structures on show at the V&A actively encourage participation. Climb, sit, relax, wander and contemplate. These bespoke structures use their small stature to shift the focus on to material, texture and form. Terunobu Fujimori's "Beetle's House" in the new Medieval & Renaissance Room is a wonderfully idiosyncratic work, a floating tree house, a space for discussion. Fujimori insists his buildings should look like nothing built since The Bronze Age. The timber frame is charred to instantly give it an aged look, while also strengthening the timbers. The interior is arranged to allow a group to sit and talk around a small stove.

The other Japanese-designed structure by Sou Fujimoto guards the entrance to the Architecture gallery and couldn't be more different to Fujimori's calm tree house. A starburst in perspex and cable ties, Fujimoto's "Inside/Outside Tree" in based on the idea of a void left by a tree, the ultimate shelter. As the project progressed through the 3D modelling stage, the form became more abstract and asks the question how can a void, a negative become a positive space?

Norwegian architects Rintala Eggertsson, have created a tower of books within a stairwell to connect the new V&A bookshop with the National Art Library which sits above it. 6,000 books sit with their spines facing inwards to create a clean facade and a bibliophiles fantasy on the inside. Cosy reading platforms at regular intervals create an intimate environment for reflection.

Studio Mumbai Architects have cast of a "guerilla home" from the streets of Mumbai, while Helen & Hard Architects have transported Norwegian ash trees from Stavanger, via a 3D modelling suite to create a playful climbing frame and of course there are others, but rather than spoil the fun, we recommend you check it out for yourself. As an added bonus, you can lose yourself in the V&A's enormous collection while you track down all 7 structures. Open daily until 30th August.

Relay ♥ RVW

2010-06-08T22:23:00.008+01:00

Relay is proud to announce that we have been appointed as UK and Ireland Agents for the RVW collection. Young and passionate, we knew when we first met them at the Stockholm Fair earlier this year that they should be part of the Relay family.

RVW was founded by designers Johannes Herbertsson and Jonas Nordgren in 2009. Based in the city of Malmö in Skåne, the southernmost region of Sweden, RVW employ the talents of local craftspeople and some from across the bridge in Denmark. Their name is derived from the word “Review”, illustrating their design practise of looking at objects again in order to find new and better ways for them to be made and enjoyed.

Informed by their Scandinavian background, RVW represents consistency in creation, free from trends. Drawing on the wealth of knowledge, talent and skills of the region, they seek to create something new, something timeless. The small Haijk flowerpot is the embodiment of this ideal – the glazed pot can be angled to follow the sun and each pine base is supplied with a small map showing where the tree was harvested and even which part of the tree was used.

With a well-rounded collection of products RVW are equally adept with small intimate design as well as more substantial works, like Mollis. Visually lightweight, this low-slung easy chair revels in its simplicity of form. The slender wooden seat is made from moulded veneer that curves around the body and is available in either stained or transparent lacquer finish, with upholstery in either fabric or leather. The chair sits upon a double cross steel leg frame, available in either powder coated or brushed finish. The Mollis is an easy chair that delivers comfort and elegance in equal measure.

Alog, a simple and fun modular shelving system, features a wall mounted modular block and easily detachable shelves that require no fittings. The nature of the design allows for various combinations and compositions of shelves (coloured or natural), allowing the user to create their own bespoke system. The design has strong roots in the language of grids and systems, functioning both as a shelving system and a visual wall display.

For more information visit our website www.relaydesignagency.co.uk

Clerkenwell Design Week

2010-05-28T15:49:00.009+01:00

As the sun sets on the inaugural Clerkenwell Design Week, the consensus is generally positive. The sun was shining, people had an excuse to leave the office and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, there were wall-to-wall parties. What's not to like?

The Farmiloe Building, star of many a Hollywood blockbuster, transformed into a mini Zona Tortona and was the focal point for most of the weeks events. Established brands like Hitch Mylius and SCP sat comfortably alongside Dare Studio, Mark and Tokyobike.

Scene, flushed from their success in Milan (see our previous post here) brought together 10 young designers under the umbrella ScenePlus, showcasing products from Warm, Lina Meier and Gareth Neal amongst others.

Our favourite brochure/press pack came from London design studio Patternity. Nice branding.

Deadgood brought their own portable showroom to Clerkenwell, showcasing designs by Max Lamb, David J. Irwin and Deadgood's very own Ziglam & Brook.

Away from Farmiloe, the showroom events attracted big audiences. Everything from colour in the workplace to life-drawing classes were over subscribed and the Patrizia Moroso/Tord Boontje talk at the new Moroso showroom was standing room only.

Acoustics At Work's Ros Lambert-Porter made what could have been quite an important-but-dry CPD on Acoustics in the Workplace entertaining and easy to understand. Highly recommended!

Our favourite event was Pecha Kucha at Modus. Topics ranged from materials and crafts used on a recent project by Michael Sodeau to Luke Pearson's love of bicycles, but speaker of the night was Sam Johnson highlighting the legacy of the Victorian building boom on modern life with photographs of his own house.

The Poltrona Frau showroom turned into the London Design Village, showing the latest products fresh from Milan. It also provided the venue for the Week's closing party. Plenty of Prosecco and hundreds of tired but happy revellers.

Hopefully Clerkenwell Design Week will be back in 2011. In the meantime, we hope organisers look at ways to encourage visitors into the smaller showrooms in the side streets around St. John St. Not all of the showrooms are on the main road and not all of them are on the ground floor. It would be great if these showrooms could enjoy the same number of visitors as the big hitters like Vitra, Boss and Bene.

To sum things up, anecdote of the week from a friend who hopped into a black cab only to be asked by the cabbie what was happening. Having seen visitors wandering up and down Clerkenwell Road studying their pink design maps, the cabbie had assumed it was a gay pride event! Clerkenwell Pride!

Milan 2010 - Our Highlights

2010-04-29T10:08:00.010+01:00

Overall, it wasn't a classic year for Milan and the volcano managed to distract people from the lack of innovation. Manufacturers were understandably cautious about investing in potentially expensive new techniques as the global markets slowly recover, and on the whole, true innovation was sidelined in favour of "tweaks" and extensions to existing product families.

Milan 2010 will probably go down in history as The Year of the Volcano, but that's not to say it didn't have it's highlights......

Established & Sons: Jumper Chair by Bertjan Pot and Lighthouse by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec in collaboration with the venerable Italian glass company Venini.

Cappellini: Alodia Stool by Todd Bracher

Swarovski Crystal Palace: Amplify by Yves Behar. Once again, the Swarovski Crystal Palace was one of the big draws at Zona Tortona with people queuing outside at all times of day.

One of the busiest designers this year was definitely Luca Nichetto with a host of new designs for a variety of manufacturers, including Skitsch, Tacchini and Established & Sons. Of his three new pieces for Skitsch, our favourite was the Shogun sofa.

And finally.......a mention for the fun and cosy Valdemar by Martin & Christian for Normann Copenhagen. The lounge chair as private hide away has been around for a while now, but Valdemar's exaggerated scale and personality gives it an edge.

For more of our Milan highlights, please visit our Twitter page.

Zeitraum in Milan

2010-04-28T20:52:00.002+01:00

Zeitraum had an exceptionally busy time at the recent Salone del Mobile in Milan. Their luxurious 2010 collection, complete with 3 brand new families certainly drew the crowds. Products launched in Köln in January (see our earlier post here) were given a second outing in different finishes but the result was the same; People loved them! Morph Bar, Secret and Plank all got the thumbs up from the design cognoscenti.

Add to that the totally new products in the shape of Mellow, Twist and Apu and visitors were spoiled for choice.

Mellow is the latest collaboration in a long and successful relationship between Zeitraum and design house Formstelle. A slim frame with delicate detailing gives it a certain lightness and the leather strapping to support the soft leather cushions rather than a solid headboard continues the light and airy theme. Superleggera was once again in evidence at this years Salone, and despite being a physically large piece of furniture, Mellow was the perfect embodiment of the Superleggera style.

The leather pillows are down filled around a foam core to give a soft welcome while providing support and maintaining their shape.

Twist is a new family of dining and low tables. Continuing in the Superleggera style, the sharp angles of the refined base amply support the elegantly profiled top. The contrast between the twists and turns of the base and the gentle slope of the top profile is sublime.

Apu means “Help” in Finnish. Help because they are always on hand to help. The designer Hanna Ehler is half-Finnish and likes to use Finnish names for her designs. Part table, part vase, part tray, in crisp white ceramic and solid wood, Apu is the perfect addition to the Zeitraum family – pure materials in a pure form and a new aesthetic.

Salone Satellite

2010-04-25T17:46:00.015+01:00

Tucked away behind the impressive bathroom stands of Hall 24, Salone Satellite provided some of the most interesting designs of the show. Young designers were one of the first to suffer the effects of the downturn and that was reflected in the relatively poor showing in 2009. However, we are glad to report the show was bigger, brighter and stronger this year. We are also glad to report that UK designers had a major part to play in the success.

London designers Gemma Fabbri and Chris Ager of Scene showed Doris, a side table in powder-coated aluminium which can be combined with her younger sisters Bridget and Ruth to provide a contemporary nest. Scene also presented Time shelves, inspired by time and motion with the frame reminiscent of an old fashioned egg-timer.

Corinna Warm presented her Circus pendant lamps in a range of colours and sizes (below).

Having recently moved from the UK to Barcelona, Lime Studio presented a series of new products including the Marina bench for outdoor use, Pivot table and Ghost light.

Other highlights included Petter Skogstads floating Disco light, the beautiful Bambi and Platypus from Studio Ju Ju and Outofstock's delicious Boya table light.

We're looking forward to seeing more of these pieces and these young designers.

White is the new white

2010-04-25T17:06:00.016+01:00

Last year we told you white is the new black, and this year we have been proved right, so that makes white the new white.

Perhaps it was a sense of new beginnings following the uncertainty of the last couple of years, or perhaps it was budget constraints but pure white was everywhere this year. Accented in the main with black and grey, it did feel a little like walking through a Charlie Chaplin film. When colour was used, it was strong and bright and used sparingly.

If you don't believe us, take a look at the evidence......

With few exceptions, Porro presented an almost entirely white stand. Shadow Light and Balancing Boxes both by Front (and previewed by us back in January) took centre stage along side Jade lounge chair and Shahan low table by Christophe Pillet (above).

Pixel Rug by Cristian Zuzunaga for Nanimarquina (above).

Moroso, normally a riot of colour and fun, tempered their palette and set their designs against an intricate stand design made entirely of polystyrene.

See also MDF Italia, e15 and Zanotta (below).

Salone del Mobile 2010 - Escape From Milan

2010-04-25T15:10:00.021+01:00

Once we'd finished feeling sorry for ourselves after our extended journey home from this years Salone, we started to feel sorry for the manufacturers who had spent a small fortune to exhibit there - one day in and suddenly the only topic of conversation was a bizarrely improbable volcanic ash cloud! Coming from Iceland of all places! Surely a joke? Once everyone realised it wasn't a joke, conversation quickly turned to escape routes. All flights grounded, trains booked up overnight.....how were we to get home?

Social networking really came into it's own during The Cloud, with people taking to Twitter and Facebook to spread the latest news and possible routes home. Special commendation should go to Marcus Fairs of Dezeen, who posted a phenomenal number of Tweets to help stranded travellers, and landed himself with a massive phone bill in the process. Surely an OBE for Services to Design(ers Stuck in Milan) is in order?

Volcanic Airways

Escape from the Icelandic volcano's ash cloud in your airplane!

Play this free game now!!

Zeitraum in Milan

2010-04-05T11:53:00.000+01:00

Stockholm - Örsjö New Collection

2010-03-03T17:43:00.011Z

Stockholm Furniture Fair saw the launch of the 2010 collection from Örsjö Belysing. Further expanding their range of innovative and stylish light solutions Örsjö introduced two new lighting families; ‘Cone’ and ‘Funnel’, as well as presenting the new ‘Bell’ pendant and ‘Lean’ wall light.

Funnel by WIS design

Following their desire to work with the most contemporary designers Örsjö commissioned WIS design to create a new family for their brand. Inspired by historical Swedish street lamps, Funnel mixes nostalgic romance with industrial clarity, to create a unique and contemporary look. Available as table, floor, wall and pendant lamp.

Bell by Matti Klenell

Continuing their successful collaboration with designer-of-the-moment Matti Klenell, Örsjö launched ‘Bell’ a big ”light machine” which takes its inspiration from industrial lamps and well-lit ice hockey rinks. Extensively researched to ensure optimal light performance, along with a distinct rounded, graphic design Bell is suitable for larger spaces and yet equally impressive in more intimate settings.

Lean Wall Lamp by Jenny Bäck

Since its launch last year the Lean floor lamp has won a tremendous amount of praise from the design media, including Wallpaper, Elle Decoration, Frame and Icon. Stockholm saw development of Jenny Bäck’s design with the addition of a wall based lamp, and the release of the Lean collection in white. Skilfully mixing white steel with brass and grey rubber, the Lean in white is a true beauty.

Cone by Anna Harbom

Cone was developed from the desire to combine an interesting array of materials together with light. The glossy sheen of the glass contrasts with an additional rib knitted textiles to create a stylistically pure electrical lighting design.

www.orsjo.com

Stockholm Furniture Fair – Top Picks

2010-03-03T17:27:00.016Z

Having moved to the expanded Hall A of the Stockholmsmässan, the design fair almost doubled in size. In spite of the enlarged scale, and the high quality of exhibitors, a few collections really stood out amongst the crowd. Here are our top picks;

Blå Station presented Mono by Mia Cullin a small but perfectly formed coffeetable/sidetable, its glass top lifts to reveal storage in the metal body…clever. Dunder by Stefan Borselius provided extra comfy seating, who needs cushions and pillows when you have Dunder?! Shown in blocks of blue and yellow.

RVW presented their stunning collection of contemporary and beautifully crafted designs. Founded by Johannes Herbertsson and Jonas Nordgren in 2009, having previously worked together with the VUJJ brand, both as designers and producers. We thought their whole collection was very strong, but particularly liked their Mollis easy chair and the Haijk bowls.

Stick by Jonas Lindvall for Skandiform proved that beautifully crafted wood furniture still had a place in a fair dominated by block colour metal finishes.

In the student fair Greenhouse, Måns Salomonsen’s Cocoon on the Steneby stand stood out. Combining decoration with practical storage, the clay body absorbs water from the fruit and vegetables, later evaporating to cool its shell.

Other clever use of material could be found in the designs of Matilda Ringner, with her table Nomad, a twist on the trestle leg, and Shake It a multi-function rubber mat.

Stockholm - Jonas Bohlin + dry ice + garlic = Input Interior’s Bohlin Retrospective.

2010-03-03T17:20:00.006Z

Jonas Bohlin has been at the centre of Swedish design for nearly 30 years, ever since the huge success of his concrete chair in 1981. Bohlin has produced an impressive body of work more than deserving of a retrospective. Thrilled to be at the opening party we were pleased to see Bohlin rejected the stark austerity of the fair stands in favour of a more theatrical approach. Filling Input Interior’s cavernous showroom with metres and metres of heavy curtain and hidden dry ice machines he transformed the space into a dramatic setting for his work.

We particularly liked his Kvist light with is raw copper tubing and organic shape (below). OK, it’s manufactured by Örsjö, so we are obviously biased, but you have to admit it does look good! And if you don’t believe us ask the Lammhults group, as the Kvist in white hung throughout their large stand at the fair.

Stockholm - Design Bar by Jonas Wagell

2010-03-03T17:04:00.010Z

Theatrical tactics could also be seen inside the Fair with Jonas Wagell’s Design Bar, bedecked in his designs for Hello Industries, Berga Form and Mitab. Stage size backdrops of the city with balloon trees and clouds surrounded his chairs and lighting designs which people could admire while sitting down for a coffee and sweet treat. His designs for the bar reflected Hello Industries' colourful and playful objects including Symbio (below) - a Relay favourite.

Stockholm - Form Us With Friends

2010-03-03T16:56:00.011Z

In the heart of the city centre super-cool design house Form Us With Love set up camp in the middle of an ongoing restoration to a grand 19th century hotel. Presenting new designs including some for manufacturers Voice, Ateljé Lyktan, Bolon and Arcona, they threw a pretty good party!

Favourites included the new floor version of ‘Ogle’ for Ateljé Lyktan and the new bean-bag-chair ‘Swell’ for Voice (below).

Stockholm - Transit at the Nordic Light Hotel

2010-03-03T16:53:00.006Z

With so many people around the world making Stockholm a destination for design in February, Alexander Lervik took air travel as inspiration for his installation in the Nordic Light Hotel. Part of an annual commission program, the central design hotel hands over their lobby to a young designer every year for Design Week. This year Lervik ‘interprets the feeling of being on the move’ with upholstered luggage carousel sofas, bag cushions, LED lighting and projections.