‘Hampton’ armchair by Eric Jourdan
As tense and profiled as an automobile body, ‘Hampton’ is a memory bank for Eric Jourdan : ‘I started out in this profession thinking I was going to design cars. With this type of commission and the culture of Domeau & Pérès, who work a lot in aviation and aeronautics, I’m getting back down to my roots as a designer’. This is almost a break for a creator known for the soft elegance of his seating, in particular for Ligne Roset, and who brings together here two of the basic exercises for any real creator: design a chair and design a vehicle.
‘Infini’ storage unit by R’ Pure Studio wins a Star at the Observeur Design 10 awards
After a first version in resin in 2007, the ‘Infini’ storage module has found its balance between price and production by using ppe. Lighter, more economical (all 8 modules retail for under 600 euros), polypropylene has the huge advantage of being recyclable in unlimited mode. This is a real argument for an intelligent system that is flexible and playful, imagined by Sébastien Servaire and R’Pure Studio to enable an infinity of combinations while keeping a perfectly clear environmental conscience. Made by R’Pure Studio, ‘Infini’ is out to be distributed for its true value.
Self-contained living unit by Frédéric Gaunet wins a Star at the Observeur Design 10 awards
With a Observeur Design Star in the category Habitat & Domestic Equipment, this adaptation of a goods containers as an independent module for living, designed by Frédéric Gaunet for Men@Work/Stephan Vergnaud, should see considerable commercial development in France and abroad, notably in the offbeat hotel market. A logical future for this project, commended as much for its nomadic nature and eco-friendliness as for its functionality.
‘Che fare’ Enzo Mari / Gabriele Pezzini at the Alain Gutharc gallery
‘Che fare’ (do what), a question without a question mark for an exhibition that side-steps the clichés of the routine production of objects and the situation of design in general. Do what? Enzo Mari, maestro and moral conscience of design, with Gabriele Pezzini, seeker of exactness in design: two generations faced with the same problems, both advocates of a regard focused on what is essential doing what they know how to do best: analyse and decipher.
“Local River” and “Floating Garden” at “Dessiner le design”
Thanks to Constance Rubini, commissioner of the exhibition ‘Dessiner le design’ (Draw the design) at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, ‘Local River’ by Mathieu Lehanneur and ‘Floating Garden’ by Benjamin Graindorge are together at last. The projects are in tandem and both were designed with Anthony van den Bossche/Duende Studio, but slip-ups in programming made their launch dates separate, so such so that some people thought that one project was a copy of the other. The mistake is now rectified.
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‘Silver Art’ by elium studio for Rowenta
There are so many born-dead projects floating about we sometimes forget that – before anything else – design is an exacting discipline in which function gives nothing away to style, and technical innovation is there to serve real user protocols and not just the sales pitch. With their ‘Silver Art’ range for Rowenta, elium studio has made this clear, demonstrating how French elegance can inform industrial design. Five pieces compose the breakfast set – espresso machine, coffee percolator, toaster, electric jug and juice extractor - enacting subtle crossovers from kitchenware to tableware, and from function to décor. Purity of line and high finish given to materials (brushed stainless steel, wood) in series products opens a new window on these archetypes of modern living: in the ‘Grand Hotel’ spirit, modest everyday accessories for preparing and serving accede to the status of potential collector’s pieces. The range reflects the way elium studio uses technology – efficiency must always be user friendly. This is the right stuff in the French vein, expressing clear balance between function and form, and if we insist on this it is to salute value at a time when so many so called ‘creative gestures’ bundled up with a label pretend to be design.
“Chrysanthemum explosion” by Lisa White for Jean Marc Gady
For the exhibition “French Cancan”, running until October 15 at Forum Diffusion in Paris, Lisa White and Gluxing have created a floral installation entitled “Chrysanthemum Explosion”. Completely unexpected, chrysanthemums burst like floral ammunition from Jean Marc Gady’s AMMO vases. Vibrant hybrids with names like “Energy” and “Vesuvio”, they have taken years to design and produce by the master hybridists and growers of Holland. Historically, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of the sun and of power (the emperors, or ‘sun kings’, of Japan would sit on chrysanthemum-covered thrones) and the rays of these power flowers offer a stunning display of organic pyrotechnics.
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R’Pure Studio wins a Design Lion at the Cannes 2009 International Festival of Advertising
R’Pure Studio (Raison Pure Design Group) with Viktor&Rolf were awarded a Lion du Design* in the Cosmetics & Beauty category for their ‘Flowerbomb’ St Valentine 2008 project. The brief behind the winning piece called for expanding the provocative and offbeat world of Viktor&Rolf by pushing the concept of something secret to its paroxysm – ‘Flowerbomb’ is a fragrance that goes boom. An arm in any sense of the word, to be kept under wraps till the right time. A strong-box served to evoke the danger and secrecy of perfume. An inviolate pink case, whose quality finish and detailing ensure it will be treasured, used again and again for intimate things.
“Floating Garden” at the Cité du Design – St Etienne
“Floating Garden” by Benjamin Graindorge & Duende Studio wil be on show in the brand new Cité du Design in St Etienne (France) in the “Objet de design” exhibition curated by Sismo. New pics by Felipe Ribon for Floating Garden are now available.
‘French Cancan’ by Jean Marc Gady at Forum Diffusion – Paris
Jean Marc Gady and Gallery R’Pure will be presenting ‘French Cancan’ at Forum Diffusion from 17 september 2009 until 10 october 2009 in Paris. Three new pieces illustrate his gift for juggling the codes of luxury labels and using traditional savoir-faire. With a saucy subtext and a Gallic touch, ‘French Cancan’ is a light installation that plays on movement, accumulation and the side-tracking of basics. It suggests a peek up dancers’ skirts in elegant design.
