Design

Another year over. But don't get all misty-eyed. Apply that retrospection to some engaging design instead. Two exhibitions currently running, one at Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the other at the offices of MariniPandolfi/Comet in Florence, look

Imagine, as a manufacturer, that your potential market is two billion consumers worldwide. This almost inconceivable figure is the ultimate scale of d.light's ambition, a consumer-products company set up by a pair of social entrepreneurs in 2007 to

Ancient city. Contemporary design practice. Jerusalem's inaugural week-long design festival foregrounds once more Israel's conceptually confident and steadily growing design scene.

In his analysis of how pleasure works, Freud argued that repetition – the act of doing or experiencing something over and over again – can, in its compulsiveness, be highly enjoyable. The grandaddy of psychoanalysis might, in that case, have

Lirum larum Löffelstiel. .Löffelstiel? Wo bleiben denn in diesem alten Reim Messer und Gabel?

British furniture designer Matthew Hilton's work manages to walk that very fine line between restraint and expressiveness. It's probably why his designs, offering as they do a kind of reassurance, are so respected by so many. But the path hasn't

As the academic wheels of design creak into a new term, thoughts of the most recent graduates striving to avoid a professional-scrap-heap scenario fall to the back of the mind as the hunt for the latest bright young creatives begins again. But, with

If any fair is going to give Milan a run for its money in terms of a passion for high-end design and downright coolness, it's Belgian Design Biennale INTERIEUR. Since its first edition in 1968, the Kortrijk-based show has consistently upped the ante

California, and in particular Los Angeles, has been home to numerous Hollywood stars and other glamorous figures of the burgeoning jet-set since the 1930s. The City of Angels was the ideal place for many architects to develop their ideas. The

Left brain. Right brain. If we're to believe all that pop-neurology, you're either a creative type or someone who just loves solving maths problems. Design manufacturer and retailer Thorsten van Elten, curator of One Year On, the show for

Screws? Glue? Who needs them? With a number of designers developing intriguing new ways of constructing furniture, Architonic takes a look at some examples of recent innovative joinery methods.

Ernst Sagebiel's architectural matsterpiece Tempelhof Airport was the venue for this year's DMY design festival in Berlin. Architonic was needless to say there, ready for take-off.

Described by its organisers as 'the pre-eminent global forum for collecting, exhibiting, discussing and creating design', Design Miami Basel, the annual European get-together for those who like their design a touch on the exclusive side, put on a

With leading Finnish design brand Artek reissuing two of its fellow countryman Tapio Wirkkala's striking designs from the late 1960s and early 70s, as well as first-time-round, 'vintage' pieces of his being shown at international design fairs such as

„Der Künstler blickt immer in die Vergangenheit zurück, während er über die Zukunft nachdenkt,“ sagt Andrée Putman. Anlässlich ihres 85 Geburtstages erscheint eine Monografie, die Einblick in das immense Werk der Künstlerin und ihr

The "ISKRA: NON-ALIGNED DESIGN 1946–1990" exhibition held at the Architecture Museum Ljubljana (AML) came to an end in February. The exhibition provided an insight into the golden age of Slovenian product design, which lasted from the 1960s to the

They say good things come in threes. Here, Architonic brings you five of the best concrete lamps on the market. It's all about contradiction.

Architonic talks to Basel-based design label INCH Furniture about their distinctive collection for the Swiss Pavilion at Shanghai's Expo 2010

It's almost a cliché now to say that the annual Milan Salone del Mobile has become a behemoth of a design fair, eclipsing every other major show in the design calendar. (Personally, we at Architonic feel that a number of the other large design

In this final installment of the Milan Conversations we catch up with renowned product designer, architect and artistic director of Italian manufacturer Kartell Ferruccio Laviani at the Barovier&Toso showroom in Milan and talk to him about lamps,

As part of this year's 'Fuori Salone' in Milan, the 'relics' of the Brazilian Modernism were displayed in a church near the city's Porta Romana: rare pieces by the so-called 'Tropical Modernists' of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

The Milan Conversations – a series of discussions held at this year's Salone del Mobile with some of the most celebrated designers working internationally – continues with thought-provoking exchange with Ilse Crawford and Omer Arbel.

Der Teufel trägt Prada: Die cineastische Liaison Pradas mit der diabolischen Meryl Streep hat die italienische Traditionsmarke zum stehenden Begriff gemacht. Seit der Papst nun ebenfalls Schuhwerk von Prada trägt, wird es also höchste Zeit für

In this second installment of the Milan Conversations – a series of discussions held at this year's Salone del Mobile with some of the most celebrated designers working internationally – Architonic talks to British designer and long-time Milanese

As the metaphoric dust settles following another Milan Salone del Mobile (not to be confused with the ash from that pesky Icelandic volcano, which did its best to keep the great and the good of the international design press stranded in Italy),

The Vitra Design Museum's latest exhibition examines the idea of simplicity in design, be it in terms of form, material or method. Rather than being a recent development in response to global economic and environmental concerns, 'The Essence of

Bücher über die moderne Badkultur gibt es zuhauf - ausser schönen Bildern bilden sie jedoch keine brauchbare Quelle für Planer und Bauherr. Das vorgestellte Werk liefert Informationen und Grundlagen.

Bamboo's rapid growth in popularity as a viable material for product design seems to mirror the speed at which this iconic plant, lauded for its contribution to sustainability, grows. Architonic takes a look at some recent examples of bamboo-based

Architonic dissects Luca Nichetto's striking new 'Robo' chair for Swedish manufacturer Offecct, examining the process beyond the product.

Architonic reviews design writer Jennifer Hudson's study of the creative and manufacturing processes behind 50 contemporary design objects from around the world.

Graphic designers are giving architects a run for their money as the creatives who cross disciplinary boundaries. Here, Architonic takes a look at some examples of two-dimensional specialists who've channelled their creative talent into product

Massenproduktion oder individuelle Einzelstücke? Auf den ersten Blick ein widersprüchlicher Gegensatz, scheint jedoch im Möbeldesign unglaublich eng miteinander verflochten zu sein (only in German)

We bid a fond farewell to one of the greats of British post-war design history.

Architonic presents a selection of some of the novelties presented at this year's design fair in Paris

Architonic spends some time with VIA, the Paris-based organisation committed to identifying and supporting young French design talent.

The last few years have seen a number of furniture designers explore ways of defining privacy through form. What's going on? Are we really going all shy and retiring?

There's no better time than the start of a new decade to revisit the clock as a long-standing product type. Here Architonic examines innovative clock design, past and present.

Many great achievements have been born out of chance – for example, the invention of penicillin. In the 1950s and 60s, chance as a methodology was still a revolutionary way of working for artists and designers, producing controversial results.

Chroma, the Greek word for colour, is both the title and the subject of a book about colour in architecture, furniture design and graphic art which covers a range of disciplines with a refreshing freedom from ideology.

For years now international materials producers have been working on sustainable alternatives and they are now ready to launch biologically degradable plastics which can be used for a range of applications.

Scandinavian design brings to mind Finns, Swedes and Danish names that could be as prominent in the history books as todays names are on rapidly updated online blogs and publications. But, what of Norwegian design and what about some names.

Rather than being a business marketplace for dealers, the 100%Design, concise exhibition of interiors has positioned itself as a rich source of inspiration for architects and interior designers.

Exactly 90 years ago Weimar saw the foundation of the institution which more than any other influenced the architecture, design and art of the twentieth century.

Vom 1. bis 11. Oktober zieht die dritte Vienna Design Week erneut Stars der internationalen Designszene und vielversprechende Newcomer nach Wien.

Moroso, with Diesel, has created a collection of products with a relaxed and comfortable mood, taking its inspiration from an informal lifestyle concept and targeting consumers who like simple shapes yet at the same time seek a “modern” style

In a post-Milan jaunt we meet Sara Sheth, an in-house designer for the textile manufacturer Maharam

Nina Levett's patterns and ornaments are based on conceptual, humorous ideas, her work is based on experiments with surfaces and materials.

A theater set-design concept by For Use / Numen presented at the gallery of HDD in Zagreb.

A research project at the Institute for Theory at Zurich's University of the Arts looks at current furniture works involving design and art.

This year's international design festival frees Berlin from its past improvisatory image

With its wiener.architektur.zitate the wiener.manschettenknopf.linie is presenting a new edition which is based on Vienna's architecture and architectural history.

Ever since the indiscriminate granting of sub-prime loans led to a crisis on the US housing market the new fascination for colour has spread to the private home. In times of difficulty the trend towards excessive use of colour has always tended to

From 3-7 June the seventh DMY International Design Festival will be taking place in Berlin.

In the second of our three-part intermission, we meet long-time Sottsass Associati principal designer Chris Redfern

This year it was easier to find your way round Salone Satellite than last year, for the very good reason that the really good things were relatively easy to identify.

“The first two minutes of a person’s interaction with a chair are incredibly important to how a person judges that chair and compares it to other products on the marketplace.”

Mike Meiré presents Dornbrachts novelties at this year´s ISH

Produkte, die Geschichte schrieben (Products which have made history)

Kevin Fries and Jakob Zumbühl are the proud winners of three 'iF product design awards' and 'reddot design awards'

Video-interviews from the world’s leading trade fair for bathroom- , building-, energy-, air-conditioning Technology and Renewable Energies

«My five favourite things at the Stockholm Furniture Fair» - selected by Fredrik Färg

The result of the continuing creative dialogue between three english designers is a range of beautiful products which are characterised by a distinctive sense for materials and proportions.

Some parting thoughts about Maine, and the road trip to come

Selected novelties from the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2009, Part II

«My five favourite things at the Stockholm Furniture Fair» - selected by Thomas Bernstand

On 16 February 2009 the "Mondays with Papst" exhibition opened in the old boiler house on the Wilkhahn site in Bad Münder.

At the moment design lovers have no choice but to look out of their carefully styled living rooms at their snow-covered balconies full of uninspired furniture and other articles from the local DIY store.

No design tour of Maine is complete without a stop in Portland. This tiny city is the largest in the state. Somehow, that’s emblematic: Despite all its efforts to be cosmopolitan, muscular coastline and forests are always nearby.

Selected novelties from the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2009, Part I

Leading independent brassware designer, Triflow, has commissioned pre-eminent architect, Zaha Hadid, to explore the capabilities of brassware technology in designing the tap of the future.

Selected works from [d3] contest at the imm cologne, Arik Levy´s workshop 'Cologne Guesthouse' and projects from the first 'Designers Fair' at the Rheintriadem.

An interview with the ambitious and talented german designer Sebastian Herkner.

What's the history of the jelly baby? Who invented fish fingers? Why do we have sugar cubes and chewing gum in the shape of balls?.

A daily vote on modern home furnishings and furniture, lighting and storage

Carpenters Workshop Gallery presents Sebastian Brajkovic's furniture series 'Lathe'.

A summing-up and stocktaking of the design of the first decade of the new millennium: So what is new, what can we expect and what will we want to have?.

creates Design Bar for Stockholm Furniture Fair and Northern Light Fair

The »Possible Furniture« series plays with the perception of balance/unbalance and thereby questions the designer’s role.

'Max Bill 100' is the title of an exhibition at 'Haus Konstruktiv' in Zurich (until 22.3.09) dedicated to the work of Max Bill, the internationally known artist, architect and product designer. On 22 December 2008 Bill would have been 100 years old,

David Moser is product development manager of Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers

Two designers, one house renovation and twelve furniture designs

The introductory photo of this book says it all: two gentlemen are sitting, or rather lounging, in elegant armchairs, each with a glass of white wine in his hand, the bottle within easy reach in a wine cooler, and are chatting in an obviously good

For the fifth time Bene recently invited ten selected firms of architects and ten design studios to a creative dialogue. The seat shell of the Rondo chair by Bene represented the basic material and the question to participants was: how many ideas

The three-day event kicked off with an extensive aperitif on the gallery of the 'Villa Elisabeth' in Berlin, which then provided a wonderful background for an excellent dinner, stimulating conversations and interesting presentations.

The annual event presents both well-established and young labels

On 21 November the curtain went up for this year's exhibition, which is entitled "Fifty Fifty", a title which is intended to highlight the shared interdependence and responsibility of designers and manufacturers.

The Swiss designer Beat Karrer researches new processing methods of bio-degradable plastics

The light-emitting diode (LED), which we are all familiar with as an electronic signal or in the form of advertising and background lighting, has for some years now been conquering new areas of application. Its tremendous potential for energy savings

Lichterloh deals in classic original art and furniture from the 20th century. Since 1990, Lichterloh has presented international and Austrian designs on its expansive premises near Vienna’s Museum Quarter.

Designers' Saturday in Langenthal – a former tip for insiders has become a major attraction

Architecture succeeds again and again in taking our breath away with its spectacular forms, making us wish that we could take these works of art with us in our everyday lives instead of just admiring them where they stand. This wish will be fulfilled

Die Ausstellung gewährt Einblicke in das aktuelle Schweizer Schaffen in Gestaltungsbereichen.

The Akademie der Bildenden Künste München exhibits at the Designers´Saturday

Origami is an ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object.

Egg Designs do not adhere to any given formula of design, but rather approaches all projects with a common contemporary design solution.

Stefan Diez couldn't have conceived a more appropriate name for the multi-purpose chair which he has, over a development period of three years, designed for Wilkhahn, the German producer of office furniture.

11. International architecture exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia

In 2006 Net’n'Nest was presented by Vitra at the Orgatec exhibition in Cologne as a pioneering solution to the open plan office, which had until then had the highly negative image, at least in Europe. Net’n'Nest enables the requirements of

It could easily have been a real flop - a period when Wall Street was in turmoil and in the UK the property market found itself in a state of meltdown was not the ideal time for 100%Design to take place in London.

The exhibition of the London designer collective Okay Studio at the Aram Gallery

The official Verner Panton reference portal www.verner-panton.com goes online on 5.9.2008

Even if the influence of traditional Scandinavian furniture design on her work is unmistakable, Ditte Hammerstrøm's design is far removed from dry Nordic functionalism.

Which designers are accessed most frequently at Architonic.com? To find out we have extracted the statistics for all the direct accessing of designers.

The designers Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard are known for their experimental creations. The form of this fibre-glass seating, for example, is created by the hardening of foam material.

The work of the swedish designers Linus Berlund und Mats Seitz

It's astonishing that two major designers implement the same idea in the same season. With both Martin Margiela and Hussein Chalayan, furniture was the dominant theme of the autumn / winter 2006 collection.

As Amy Hunting says herself, she tries to combine her work as an illustrator and her furniture designs in the best possible way. The result is her 'Patchwork Collection'. A successful composition of art and design.

When the computer of a colleague of mine crashed a few days ago in the middle of an image processing operation sized several gigabytes, his only response was a big smile.

The first individual exhibition by the Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli at the Museum für Gestaltung, Zurich. From June 27 - September 21

Last Saturday the award ceremony for the 'Traffic Design Competition' took place for the first time. More than 100 participants from 16 cities in the Middle East and northern Africa were judged by a jury of renown experts.

For the third time international design and art galleries are presenting much sought-after design classics and exclusive products as part of the 'Design Miami' exhibition at the Art Basel fair.

A solo exhibition of the artist and designer Andreas Christen at Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich, 29 May to 3 August 2008

The master project by Fredrik Färg initially suggests designs with a strong textile orientation. However, when you take a closer look at the.

The diplomands of the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste present their final projects

The Big Apple – a metropolis for the arts and culture. For a long time one wondered, that New York had nothing more to offer than the, compared to European standards, rather small furniture fair. But.

Such a stylish and lovingly designed facility as Korea's aA Design Museum can probably only be created if a real enthusiast is involved.

A simple cord becomes a complex shape, a line circumscribes a space – furniture and lamps with laced seats or lampshades originated in the nineteen-fifties, and today some of these constructivist pieces have attained cult status.

Exhibitions and installations in Milan during the Salone del Mobile 2008

Few exhibitors risk coming to Milan without some new products to show off. And even if not all of these new creations make it all the way to the production stage, they are still a thermometer for trends, vitality and differentiation within the