Ceramics for Breakfast

I was just checking out the results of the MACEF 'Ceramics for Breakfast' competition over at designboom. They've posted 240 of the best entries, so you can scroll through and pick your favorites. The two projects I liked would probably win top marks for "cute" - we're not talking earth-shattering design here, but fun ideas nonetheless. My "winners" are below:

' milk moments ' by : laura strasser + milia seyppel from germany

'parlez avec moi ' by : xinhe jiang + zhuo wang from china

Vincent Van Duysen

These bowls by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen are beautiful. What an elegant combination - a matte earthenware container topped by a sturdy wooden lid. With prices in the $150-250 range, these lovely bowls will have to go on my 'Someday...' kitchen list. But for those of you ready to make them your own, they're available at Moss. Lucky ducks.

Somewhere near Siberia

Look at what the folks at Reluct found. Images of forgotten Soviet bus stops by Christopher Herwig. This description of the photos offers an interesting glimpse of the history and design behind these amazing structures.

"For the most part Soviet architecture and design is remembered for its heavy block buildings and functionally Spartan designs. Its overpowering desire for conformity left little room for individual creative freedom. One would think that the Soviets would have come up with one universal design for this community structure – simple, functional and cheap to mass produce.

However, in many instances this was not the case, much time, effort and imagination went into many roadside bus stops. The sky was the limit with different shapes and design– blocks, domes, columns, towers, A-frames and archways, even ones shaped like birds, yurts and hats. If the bus stop was less bold and daring with its architectural design then the creators would often attract attention with decorating the structure with murals or mosaics."

Symbol by DESU

O.K. See what happens? As soon as I write about how there are no clever coat racks I come across another gem. This one is the 'Symbol' coat rack by DESU. Made from powder coated aluminum, this little rack gets around the standard ugly syndrome by hiding its hooks. When you need one, you pull it down -when you don't it's a nice decoration for your wall. Well done DESU, simple, functional and above all, not ugly. Available in monochrome or color.

Sushi for Sitting

I love these 'Sushi' chairs by the Campana brothers. Inspired by patchwork bedspreads found in their native Sao Paulo, these chairs are not only a color explosion - they actually look quite comfortable too.

Best of Boston: Vessel

Another stop on my Boston design tour was the Vessel store in Chinatown. I feel kind of bad that I didn't take any photos of Vessel products (I'm a big fan of Vessel's fun, affordable line of home accessories), but it was a nice surprise to see they carried other designer's work as well.

This was my first, in-person glimpse of both K Studio and Bev Hisey's products and I have to say I was quite impressed by the craftsmanship of both. While Bev focuses on simple, clean cut designs (above) K Studio offers the homemade touch with their cute embroidered imagery and use of organic materials.

Best of Boston: Marimekko

Here is a design round-up from my recent trip to Boston. First off, the Marimekko store in Cambridge was a dream. They had so many beautiful items including bedding, clothing, ceramics, trays, notebooks - it was enough to make a Markimekko fan lightheaded. The staff was also very friendly and helpful in answering my questions. They even participated in a mini-conference call to my friend in Denver who has been wanting a panel of the Ho-Hoi fabric for as long as I can remember. After much discussion among the group, we all agreed on the colorway below.

Ho-Hoi!

'Moment' and 'Focus' mugsPretty pillows in the store (photo:http://www.boston.com/)

Metaphys

Not sure if I'll get to posting again until Sunday, since hopefully I'll be heading into the mountains. So here's two for tomorrow. I first saw Metaphys on MoCo Loco last year and have been checking in on the Japanese company ever since. Their 'Factory' and 'Frame' planters are perfect for adding some green to the great indoors. The pieces can be stacked, hung or simply laid flat on your coffee table.

Another nice Metaphys item is their 'Node' wall outlet. You can't use it in the US - but in Japan they have flat plugs, so they get the stylish outlets. The smart little system allows you to fit numerous plugs within its grooves and it can sense/warn you of upcoming power surges.

Hug Mug

Oh, will it ever stop snowing in Denver? At least the cold weather = more hot cocoa. The king of chocolate himself, Max Brenner, has made cozying up with a cup even more enjoyable with his wonderful 'Hug Mug'. The handle-less cup fits perfectly in your hands - just right for those days when the snow just keeps coming. Sigh.

It's a Doosey

Take the classic lampshade, add a few more classic lampshades and then spice them up with a pleasing assembly of wild fabrics. I like it. The 'Doosey Lights' by POLKA are a fun take on the traditional lamp. Every light that's produced is limited edition - when they run out of one fabric they add in another, so you never know which creative combo you are going to get.

Architecture Against Death

Most people imagine their later years in a nice home, surrounded by comfort and calm. Not so if you live in Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gin's 'Reversible Destiny Lofts'. The architects have created a nine-unit building in the Mitaka suburb of Tokyo which aims to keep its elderly residents on their toes. Filled with bright colors, the lofts also have lopsided floors, hidden electrical switches and absolutely zero closet space. "[The apartment] makes you alert and awakens instincts, so you'll live better, longer and even forever," says Arakawa. That's a lofty promise, but an intriguing idea nonetheless.

One to Watch

David Wiseman may have only graduated from RISD a few years ago, but he is already producing some of the most sophisticated and elegant work around. David’s designs are carefully crafted from materials such as porcelain, bronze and crystal. Inspired by nature, many of his projects take the form of delicate branches and flora (as seen in the commissions above). In the ceiling project alone, he used over 500 unique porcelain blossoms and 100 plaster branches to create this mini-masterpiece.

Flights of Fancy

Jan Von Holleben knows that a little imagination goes a long way. His ‘Dreams of Flying’ series depicts children in whimsical scenes of flight. Here’s hoping 2007 brings us all a little more wonder - from the world of design and beyond.

Happy Holidays

In my hometown, it is a tradition for people to line the streets with luminaries on Christmas Eve. As you are driving around to all the holiday parties, it feels as if you are being led by candlelight! I am going to take a few days off to visit with family and friends, but will be back on Jan. 1st.

Nani Marquina

Yesterday while walking around Newbury St. in Boston I stumbled across the home decor store, Bliss. Inside, I spotted this great wool rug called 'Roses', designed by the Barcelona-based Nani Marquina. I love the simple circle cut-outs and the color is perfect for the holidays. I made several other fun finds in Bliss, but unfortunately I bought these items as gifts for friends and they might be reading this post! Maybe after the holidays I can share a few photos.

Supayana

The tough part about having a blog is that you have to reveal all your secrets - but sometimes these things are for the best. Such is the case with Supayana, a clothing line created by Brooklyn-based designer Yana Gorbulsky. Yana makes an amazing line of unique, handmade tops that have fanciful features ranging from ruffles to bows. But don't mistake these shirts for being all sugar and no spice - Yana's tops are sassy and made for the girl who wants to set herself apart from the crowd. Her online shop is updated regularly and her goods are also posted weekly on eBay.

Now here's the trick: you have to be fast. FAST! I recently snatched up the cutest navy blue number, (after many months of being a click too late), and I have to say it is worth the wait. Yana puts a lot of craftmanship into her work and her pieces are all limited edition (usually 2-4 made for each design). Now go sign up for her email list and get your mouse finger ready!

Wire Works: Marie Christophe

Marie Christophe is a French artist who designs lovely wire lights and sculptures from her studio in Paris. Her works' irregular shapes and freehand-style framework create an irresistible charm - almost as if they are sketches that have come to life. Adding a dash of ceramic beads and baubles give the pieces a little color, while keeping their delicate beauty in balance.

Pick Me

This is such a great idea! 'Me Magazine' is a quarterly publication that, "explores the life of a guest editor and their circle of friends. It was founded to support, document, and get to know people in the creative community we admire." Personally, I love hearing people's stories and reading about their creative endeavors (hence designklub). I'm going to have to track down a copy in Boston ASAP. (via hoping for happy accidents)

p.s. Claudia Wu, if you are reading this, I want to be a guest editor for Me!

Cube Rack

The one piece of furniture that has alluded designers and consumers alike throughout the ages is the unseemly, uninspired coat rack. Nowadays it can't just hold jackets, it has to store keys, scarves, ipod accessories - the list goes on. Well UK designer Jennifer Marriott is making a valiant effort on front line of this time honored battle. Her 'Cube Rack' is simple and effective in its design, but nice enough on its own that you won't cringe at the thought of having it attached to your wall. The user just has to tuck in a corner of his/her coat, hat, mittens etc. between the cubes and voila: instant storage with style. (via The Cool Hunter)

J. Mendicino

Just spotted artist Joanna Mendicino's pretty vases at Rare Device. I am particularly fond of her cut-out designs, which include everything from shorebirds (above) to cobblestones and pin cushions. Joanna's "crafty modern" style reminds me of Jonathan Adler's work: simple, clean and above all - fun.

A quick thanks to Holly at decor8 for selecting designklub as her 'Blog of the Week'! The spotlight has ended for now, but hopefully people will keep coming back to visit.

RCA Review II: Renewal

Another RCA star is textile graduate Caroline Till. Caroline's work focuses on renewal and re-use of materials. Here are some samples of her reclaimed ceramics, which I love. I especially like the pieces on the left which look like they have hand drawn scribbles on them. A nice, personalized touch to objects which usually appear to be decidely mass produced.

RCA Review: Hot Tamale

So I was looking through the online album of the RCA Graduation Show and came across a couple of great young designers. The first is Liliana Ovalle Piedra, who created these fun hot pot stands. Titled 'Small Flame' or fuego lento, they are made from sandcasted aluminum and are perfect for adding a little fire to your next feast.

Paper Perfection: Pierre Pozzi

I mentioned the French paper artist Pierre Pozzi in a previous post and he has been nice enough to track me down to share some photos of his work. Pozzi molds, slices and even crochets(!) kraft paper to create a line of simple, elegant vessels. The bottom image, which is a table made from kraft paper, is similar in style to his wallcoverings (the piece that first caught my eye). Imagine a whole wall filled with sliced paper like this! Special thanks to Pierre for his patience (navigating the French/English shuffle) and for sharing some samples of his lovely, delicate work.

Bonnie Heart Clyde

Hmm...lots of stitching-related posts lately. Oh well...I first heard about Bonnie Heart Clyde through a friend whose sister did an internship with the Portland-based designers. Bonnie Heart Clyde uses freehand embroidery to create clothing for both men and women. Recently they also added these pretty embroidered slippers to the mix. Their collection is available online at Etsy.

Sayaka Akiyama

Whew. I finally got my project done, now its time for sleep - but first a quick post. Sayaka Akiyama is a Japanese artist who creates visual diaries of places she has been. Akiyama records her steps by sewing onto maps - tiny stitches in a rainbow of colors representing various routes and days. Follow Akiyama to the grocery store, to school or just in an intense cataloguing of her movements within her own studio apartment.

Sami Kallio: Stich Chair

Swedish designer Sami Juhani Kallio recently took first place at the Promosedia Design Competition for his clever Stich chair. While the chair looks a little stiff (it is made from wooden panels), the bright green rope that holds the piece together also gives it unusual flexibility. The backrest can be lowered to transform your chair into a small desk. Not only does the rope add a nice aesthetic and function element, it also gives the impression that this is a unique piece and not just some factory churn out.

Tramando's Textiles

Well now I have to go back to Buenos Aires. Somehow I missed Martin Churba's Tramando headquarters while I was there (how could anyone miss this?). The Argentinean mastermind, who gained fame for his fashions, is now taking his design philosophy into the world of interiors.

Creating objects made from recycled textile remnants, Tramando is warming up the home with everything from book covers to light fixtures (above). Tramando believes that woven fabrics create an, "embracing emotional landscape," which, "beckons touching and establishes close-knit bonds with the user." Although I am only familiar with a handful of Argentinean designers, I am blown away by the originality and honesty of their work. It only makes the gluttony of generic design floating around out there seem all the more uninspired. Tramando has the right idea: if you're going to create, do it with heart.

A Little Green Goes a Long Way

When you're in the depths of winter, its nice to be reminded of warmer days to come. The 'Carrie' bike basket by Marie-Louise Gustafsson for Design House Stockholm does the trick with its pop of bright green color and ornate design. Perfect for taking your picnic to the park...in a few months. Check out Marie's other great designs as well, including her 'Slacker' office chair.