The motivation for the (smow)chair began with Chairless by Alejandro Aravena for Vitra. Although a truly delightful product we were somewhat irritated by the fact that the design for Chairless wasn't that, well, "chairless" : rather replaces the tensions within a chair with the tensions in the users body. The user becoming the chair and consequently limited in their movement while using Chairless. But because the "chairless" concept so impressed us we decided to take the opportunity
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While others amused themselves at Tendence in Frankfurt, we headed of to Copenhagen and CODE 10. We're not saying that was a mistake; but we're equally unconvinced that it was the best idea we've ever had. And we've had some really poor ideas. "You're not getting any younger, Denmark. The world is changing, design is changing, even materials are changing. You can't stay in here all day dreaming about bent plastic and Arnold Jacobsen." "It's Arne Jacobsen" Despite the promises in advance that
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On the last Sunday of the school summer holidays over 35 production companies in and around Kassel stage an annual collective "Open Day" - Blauer Sonntag. The name may be an extremely complex and over ambitious pun - the idea is however much more agreeable and this year we took the opportunity to visit Thonet in Frankenberg(Eder). For not only was Blauer Sonntag the first "official" event for the new Thonet Wohnshowroom, but visitors also had the rare opportunity to observe the Thonet wood
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When most people get itchy feet they go the podiatrist. We go on tour. For attractive as late summer evenings here in Lower East Plagwitz Village undoubtedly are, they pale against the charms of Thonet in Frankenberg(Eder), CODE 10 in Copenhagen, Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven and Vienna Design Week in ... Vienna. Reports, photos, videos - and cake reviews - to follow.
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August 20th marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Finnish architect/designer Eero Saarinen. Eero Saarinen had - in all probability - very little career choice other than that of architect: Not only was his father Eliel Saarinen one of Finland's most celebrated architects, but two of his uncles followed the same profession. In addition his mother, Loja Gesellius Saarinen, was a sculptress and textile designer. Eero Saarinen spent his first 13 years in his birthplace, Kirkkonummi on the
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Time was when social networking for businesses meant cocktail parties, tennis clubs and the Freemasons. Time Was. However Time Is and in the modern commercial world social networking means Facebook, Twitter, X-ing et al Not only as a marketing tool but also as an increasingly important instrument for communicating with customers, gathering feedback and handling criticism. In addition a recent survey by Edison Research among twitter users in the USA indicated that for many consumers
read moreFor most people naming Swiss designer furniture producers is as much of a challenge as naming famous Belgians or happily married English footballers. USM Haller being the equivalent of Belgium's Hergé. However the Confoederatio Helvetica has a lot more to offer than Fritz Haller's genial system. And a lot more to offer than modular steel and chrome. One of the greatest contrasts to USM Haller is the cabinet maker Röthlisberger. Founded in 1928 Röthlisberger's first contact with the global
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August 6th marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Italian architect, designer and Kartell co-founder Anna Castelli Ferrieri. Despite initial flirtations with modernism, including a trip to Paris to visit Le Corbusier, the young Anna Castelli Ferrieri was drawn ever more to the Italian neo-rationalism - especially that practiced by Franco Albini. And although Kartell products may not be physically reminiscent of the work of Albini, the ethos behind the company and its approach to
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A recurrent theme, not only here in the (smow)blog but also in general throughout the (smow) global network is the subject of illegal copies of design classics. Or better put when is a design classic a design classic? At the HGB Leipzig Rundgang in February we were confronted with an unexpected and somewhat unusual interpretation of the question in the form of "Eames Lounge Chair" by George Brückmann. And were immediately hooked. And not only we were impressed by Brückmanns work, In
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Fritz Haller against Egon Eiermann. While ahead of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture world cup final many bemoaned the decision of both Switzerland and Germany to play safe with their more technical formations; the match itself was one for connoisseurs. Certainly a Nils Holger Moormann for Germany or a Susi and Ueli Berger for Switzerland could have brought a little more imagination and colour to the match. But what the two old masters lacked in flamboyancy they more than compensated for
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Although very short the (smow)summer tour 2010 was certainly worth the effort. Its always worth the effort to visit an annual exhibition at a design school. Our primary focus was, logically, the product and industrial design work, but we did also take the opportunity to visit the other departments. And wherever one goes and whatever one views, you will always find something that strikes a chord or otherwise inspires you. Often in the most unexpected departments. Which is why we can always
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The last stage of the (smow)summer tour 2010 took us across Berlin to the Kunsthochschule Weißensee. Established in 1946 the Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee was without question the youngest design school on our tour - and was also the location where the most English was spoken. Every corridor, every landing, every exhibition room straining to the tones of American and other non-native English. Combined with the preferred clothing order the impression was much more Berlin-Mitte than
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Following the disappointment of Burg Giebichenstein it seemed that Urðr, Shai and Nortia had once again collectively abandoned us as we strove northwards through the rain and thunder towards Berlin. Alone the fact that we were unwittingly party to that age old eastern Germanic ritual of the summer migration to the Baltic Sea keeping our mood high. From Berlin Hbf the transient throng continued on to Rostock, Warnemünde and the other traditional Sachsen summer feeding grounds on the Baltic
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Ten years ago Berlin/Leipzig based design studio Delphin Design developed the S 360 conference and auditorium chair for Thonet. In 2006 followed the slimmer S 260, which not only featured a folding version but much more importantly could be interlocked with the S 360, thus allowing users the opportunity to expand their seating options without having to replace their complete stock. And now Delphin Design and Thonet have launched the S 160. We presume the S 60 will be available in 2016
read more"Exhibition Opening on Friday 16. Juli Volkspark Halle" We admit we didn't actually check what Burg Giebichenstein understand by "Exhibition Opening" Didn't really see the need. We just wish we had. Because everywhere else "Exhibition Opening" means the exhibition is opened. Even the Magdeburger Volksstimme understands it as such. However "Exhibition Opening" at Burg Giebichenstein means a private awards ceremony for an invited audience of Local VIPs cleverly packaged as a public
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Name: Stephan Schulz Born: Schwerin, 1983 Alma mater: 2003-2009 Industrial Design, Burg Giebichenstein, Halle 2007-2008 Erasmus studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven Internships: 2008 Bellini Design Studio, Milan Products: Stellvertreter for Nils Holger Moormann, Aschau im Chiemgau Concrete bowl series "frisch ausgeschalt" for Betoniu, Leipzig (smow)blog: Why Industrial Design? Stephan Schulz: It sort of just developed. I've always built things and experimented with different
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The other week we briefly swapped our designer chairs for designer jeans, our crazy student sideboards for crazy student hats and and our designer bookcases for designer handbags: It was Berlin Fashion Week. The short busman's holiday in the German capital was principally concerned with a new, and still relatively secret, project but we also wanted to take the opportunity to compare and contrast the designer furniture and designer clothes industries. Sure they are both about brands, star
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On account of other commitments we sadly had to cancel our trip to Karlsruhe, and so the (smow)summer tour 2010 started at Bauhaus University Weimar. Or better put start on a wonderful summers evening at Bauhaus University Weimar. Over the years and the trade shows Bauhaus University has always been the university that has left us feeling a little bit under-nourished: the few tasty morsels on display whetting an appetite that couldn't be satisfied by the remaining works. For all the "My
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Last week we posted a nice illustration of the difference between art and design. At the Kunsthochschule Weissensee student exhibition, the same question was posed. Albeit in a slighter simpler and more closed form. Where (smow)blog leads - others follow. P.S. Had Weissensee visited Weimar they would have seen a further beautiful, and appropriately knife based, illustration of the art/deign
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Yesterday afternoon took us over the border to Thüringen and the opening of the annual summer exhibition at the Bauhaus Univeristy Weimar. Our full review of Summaery 2010 will follow in the coming days, along with those of the summer shows at Burg Giebichenstein, UDK Berlin, KH Weissensee Berlin and the HGB Leipzig. Until then a couple of photos, and the recommendation that if you are in or near Weimar - or indeed merely using the A4 through Thüringen - a quick stop at the Bauhaus Uni is
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The second semi-final of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup was for many design critics the most interesting match of the competition Charles and Ray Eames against Egon Eiermann. Not only because of the international stature of the two design teams; nor because of the important role that both played in the development of industrial and furniture design in their home nations. The critical interest was much more if - and when yes to what extent - Egon Eiermann's approach would mirror
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Anyone who has ever visited an art gallery with an elderly relative will be familiar with the phrase "I could do that!!" A phrase that is normally followed up with "Is that really art?" Amongst designer furniture philosophers - and elite group to which we like to think we belong - the parallel question is "Is that really design?" Regularly one is confronted with "concept pieces" that are, if one is honest, art. They may be packaged and marketed as designer furniture. Are however art.
read moreThe first semi-final of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup pitted not only two generations against each other but two approaches to design: Fritz Haller the classically trained Swiss linealist and Tom Dixon the warehouse party welder turned doyen of contemporary English design. As ever Fritz Haller began with his universally acclaimed System USM Haller formation. The international success of Haller's USM Haller system is largely due to its deceptive flexibility: It looks rigid and
read more"The 7000 system was created to offer Thonet a shelf system that you can use for home use or office use" With the launch of the 7000 system by Munich based f/p design Thonet expanded their product pallet to include modular shelving. It's a bit like a burger chain starting to offer salad; theoretically there's no reason why they shouldn't, you just never thought they would. On the occasion of the product launch at the 2010 Milan design week, we spoke to the designers Fritz Frenkler and Anette
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