Product Project Party (I had to check that several times to make sure I got it right) is a group of Japanese designers whose work is based on collective themes. Their most recent collection involved laminated bamboo - some of my favorite pieces, 'Nuts', 'Hollow' and 'Lin', are above.
Hannah Lobley developed the idea for her 'Paperwork' line after leaving a book out in the rain. The designer uses a unique recycling method to create blocks of wood-like material from unwanted paper such as catalogs, holiday cards and yellow pages. Using traditional wood working equipment she then transforms the blocks into handcrafted, one-of-a-kind objects.
I am taking a ceramics class right now so my eye is drawn to all things porcelain...here is a nice piece from Australian designer Mel Robson. 'Home-ing Pigeon' is part an upcoming exhibition Robson will be having at Jan Manton Art later this year. (thanks for the tip Mia)
Jim Rokos designed 'My Other Half' as an experiment in sharing. The wine glasses are linked together by a tube, which means the drinkers must sip in tandem or risk overflowing their partner's glass. Interesting, but I'll stick to using my own cup thanks.
Enormous (over 5 feet tall) ceramic bells by Marcel Wanders. These were displayed at his 'Personal Editions' exhibition at last year's furniture show in Milan.
This would have come in handy during my birthday brunch yesterday - the Mandacaru lounge chair by Brazilian designer Baba Vacaro. I love how you can select your level of repose by simply flipping over a pillow. I would like several of these for having tea with my friends.
Milkit is DIY lamp created by Play Design. The kit includes everything you need (minus the bottle) to transform a milk jug into a hanging/table light.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma created this beautiful inflatable tea house for the Museum für Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt. The structure's double membrane has built in LED lights and can also be used to for heating. The interior is large enough to hold nine tatami mats, an electric stove and a preparation room. An innovative setting for a traditional ceremony.
I like these simple holders by German design student, Nadia Schrader. Admittedly I do not know what they are made of or how they work (my German translator tool didn't work too well), but the idea and the presentation are very nice.
&Larry is a Singapore-based designer who created the 'Anything but Red' light from a variety of adhesive tapes as a commentary on the bureaucracy in his city. (via designboom)
French designer Guillaume Delvigne, the mastermind behind the clever DPI lights, also created 'Chapeaux pour Vase' as part of the 'In Dust We Trust' collection for Industreal. The glazed porcelain and glass are a nice combo.
'Plate U' coffee table, made from second hand plates and stainless steel, by Veli-Matti Tolppi.
Rafael Morgan is a Brazilian based designer whose work includes the thought provoking 'Light Drop' LED lamps and 'Hope Table' (based on a bottle bobbing out at sea). I've always enjoyed his work, but I also really like his website for the honest and straightforward descriptions he provides about his designs.
Dutch designer Janne Kyttänen created these beautiful lights through rapid prototyping. Inspired by a coneflower, the pieces are based on the the Fibonacci sequence. (images via yatzer)
Demakersvan plans to have their 'Light Wind' design go into full production this year. Inspired by the windmills of the Dutch countryside, this freestanding outdoor light harnesses the power of the wind with its 6 foot wide propellers.
Designer Jason Iftakhar uses the same compression machines found in recycling centers to create a series of cardboard benches called 'Raw'. (bottom image via designboom)
