New New New: New York Design News

Among other new products the Canadian design manufacturers Bensen exhibited the 'Torii' chair and the 'Edward' sofa. Torii is an unadorned chair which is given formal refinement by the compactly arranged rear legs. In spite of its reduced look and simple design the chair is very comfortable to sit on, thanks to its wide and ergonomically formed seat and curved backrest. The design was inspired by the typical wooden arched doorway in Japanese temples, from which the name 'Torii' is also derived. This chair features everything we expect of Japanese design, such as well-balanced form which impresses with its simplicity, traditional craftsmanship and finish.

Edward on the other hand is a new interpretation of an American Modern classic: the plain, clean lines, narrow form and flat upholstery which has a traditional tufted look are supplemented by soft, down-filled cushions. Edward is available in three sizes and with a finish in leather, fabric, or fabric combined with leather.

Carefully selected materials and the reduced and balanced characteristics of Oriental craftsmanship combined with modern aesthetics are the main features of 'Plateau Credenza' by Kaolin. The elements of this modular storage system can be arranged as if on a tray. It can be composed of shelving in three different sizes, two cupboards and two chests of drawers, and is attractively enhanced by a Chinese porcelain vase.

In the case of the 'Kai' table, too, Western elements meet Far-Eastern elements, with an unusual aesthetic being provided by a base of fine Jingdezhen porcelain which contrasts with the tabletop of densely-grained American walnut.

The 'RippleWall' by 3Form consists of undulating narrow panels which create the impression of a woven structure. The RippleWall is simple to install and gives walls visual depth. It represents an efficient and aesthetic solution with which the look of existing rooms can be enhanced.

Made of recycled plastic bottles 'LineUp' is a new product in the 100% collection of 3Form USA. LineUp is highly resistant and suitable for surfaces such as tabletops and counters, which are subject to a lot of wear and tear. 3Form aims at minimising the impact on the environment with concrete measures and new products, while maximising the sustainability of its products.

The new Varia Ecoresin collection was also developed on the basis of this philosophy. It consists to a level of 40% of recycled material and presents new textures inspired by nature - for example the 'ICE' panels, which are reminiscent of a lake frozen over in winter.

Norman Cherner is one of the founders of modern furniture design in the USA, and his creations are among the most successful of long-term bestsellers in American design. Finding that there was no letup in the demand for Cherner furniture classics design by their father, Benjamin and Thomas Cherner founded the Cherner Chair Company in 1999. In addition to re-editions of classic designs, the company last year turned its attention to the online photo archive, which among other things shows photographs of the original designs by Norman Cherner.

'Deconstructed Rose' is the latest creation of the prestigious textile manufacturers Maharam, who lead the North American market, and will be available from August 2011. A traditional floral embroidered pattern of roses has been enlarged and abstracted to the pixel level. Various types of weave give the fabric, which is available in six colours, a highly diversified structure and depth.
With its colour variations the 'Deconstructed Rose' fabric consists of 65% polyester, 32% cotton and 3% rayon. It is to be launched on the market in August 2011.

At the ICFF Nolen Niu, who is known for his avant-garde designs, exhibited his new collection, which combines his successful complex and geometries with new, plain colours. The folded look give the angled frame and back rest of the new 'Fold' bed an impression of merging with each other, creating a nest-like character. The wings of the upholstered backrest, which also have an acoustic function, create a protective impression. 'Fold' can be supplemented by a matching table at either side.

The 'Hedra' armchair is the skilful implementation of a complex geometrical form. It is based on the classical 'cigar chair', a lounge chair with a hard, bentwood shell covered on the inside with leather upholstery. 'Hedra' is the modern and reduced interpretation of this classical piece of furniture.
Both 'Fold' and 'Hedra' are available in leather or upholstered in various fabrics made by Maharam. The furniture can be easily dismantled for compact and simple transport.

Whereas Nolen is one of the most promising young West-coast designers, the Rich, Brilliant & Willing design studio operates successfully from the East coast. This highly talented trio with a name which is both original and promising exhibited a range of new products at the ICFF. Their remarkable creative output is prolific but in no way at the expense of quality. Their approach is normally based on a simple industrial series element which is either integrated in itself or serves as a basis for the design. An example of this is the Channel lamp, which for the most part consists of one-inch standard parts and is available either as a table lamp or a standard lamp. The 'Delta' series was inspired by the rotors of industrial ventilation shafts. This modern lamp is produced from traditional materials by a manufacturer of classical lampshades in New York State.

For the past two decades, design has been a low priority for American companies. The main focus has been on mass-market office systems and contract. That said, there are new things to discover: a remarkably creative scene of young designers, who are as good as their top-class international counterparts, are using this niche, presenting interesting work again and again.