Among the new Vitra products launched in Milan one of the most eye-catching was Waver by Konstantin Grcic. Following an initial cooperation in the form of a Vitra Edition project, Waver is Konstantin Grcic's first commercial product for Vitra. Created for outdoor use Waver borrows heavily from the visual aesthetics of "lifestyle" sports to create a product that not only goes its own way formally but is also remarkably comfortable. In the second part of our interview with Konstantin Grcic we
read more
Billed as being an "... experimental, collaborative journalism project that aims to lift the lid on the design world to coincide with next week’s Milan furniture fair." #milanuncut appears to have come down to an article in the Guardian by Justin McGuirk and a side discussion about unpaid interns. Sadly. Because there is without question an urgent need for a more open discussion about the "design" industry. However what #milanuncut does beautifully prove is that before the discussion can
read more
As you know we're no huge fans of Milan. Love the city. Don't love the size and cost of their furniture fair and design week. A couple of months ago we spoke to Giulio Cappellini, one of those who have been part of "Design Legend Milan" since the earliest moments, and he told us that, in his opinion, Milan had to be careful that it didn't all become too big. For us a design festival where it is physically impossible to see everything is pretty close to our definition of "too big."
read more
Among the more interesting co-operations we saw in Milan was the first product from Konstantin Grcic for Azucena. Entre-Deux is a very simple, reserved screen/divider/barricade - but as we say, the interesting point is the cooperation. And so to find out more about how it arose and how it could develop in the future we spoke briefly with Konstantin Grcic. (smow)blog: Starting with the obvious first question, how did the cooperation between yourself and Azucena come about? Konstantin
read more
In addition to his Kids Only Collection, Richard Lampert presented two new products in Milan: Stijl by Alexander Seifried and Stak by Patrick Frey. Just as developing a kid's range was long a wish of Richard Lampert, so too was the rehabilitation of the much-maligned kitchen corner bench, once so popular in alpine homes. We know people who are of the opinion that there is no need to rehabilitate the unparalleled genius that is the corner seat bench. Why have your kitchen chairs standing in
read more
As you know we are big fans of Brooklyn designer Jason Miller. And of the from Jason Miller established lighting company Roll and Hill. Launched in January 2010 as a high end manufacturer of contemporary lighting, Roll and Hill currently features the work of 6 design studios and aims to bring an "American perspective" to the international lighting market. In Milan Roll and Hill presented their second collection, or at least the first part of the second collection. A further two pieces will
read more
Sometimes its hard to remember that Milan isn't just about showing off how clever you are. Its also about furniture. Consequently an interesting barometer for us is what catches the attention and fancy of the (smow)team. What do they want to see in the (smow)collection. What do they find good. What do they find interesting. They are often wrong. But it's still good to know. And yes, we know design is also subjective. On Facebook we have posted a gallery of some of their Fuorisalone Milan
read more
Back in snowy Stockholm we met up with Arik Levy and amongst other topics discussed his residency as Stockholm Furniture Fair Guest of Honour. In sunny Milan we briefly caught up with Arik Levy again; principally to follow up on how Stockholm had been for him but also to gather his opinions on the importance of Milan. (smow)blog: Is Milan Design Week still important, is it still relevant? Arik Levy: Milan Design Week isn't the expression I would choose. The fair is very important, what
read more
The story of Azucena begins in Milan in 1947 when a group of young Milanese architects decided to start producing their own furniture and fittings for their buildings. Working with a mix of industrial and artisan suppliers to create a collection of modern, and at times highly experimental items, Azucena were one of the first "designer furniture" companies to emerge in Italy. And arguably Europe. However, whereas many of those companies who came after them have gone on to achieve global
read more
The Triennale Design Museum Milan opened their exhibition "Dream Factories: People, ideas and paradoxes of Italian design" a week before Fuorisalone Sadly they didn't use the week to test drive it - and then reduce the volume. Intended to explore those producers who have contributed to the rise of Italian design since the end of the Second World War "Dream Factories: People, ideas and paradoxes of Italian design" is simply too much input in too small a space. As Everything Everything so
read more
Burg Giebichenstein graduates Stephan Schulz and Paul Evermann are presenting a joint show at this years Salone Satellite with each presenting one and a half new products. That's one new product each. And a joint creation. The joint project is called wardrobe bench - and does pretty much what it says on the tin. Its a clothes hanger. And a seat The bench element is made from one piece of plywood, cut by water jet and then the outer element is set a little lower. Through this displacement,
read more
At the 2011 Milan Furniture Fair Vitra are presenting a range of new products from designers including Konstantin Grcic, Antonio Citterio and Barber & Osgerby. Ahead of the official launch we caught up with Vitra Chief Design Officer Eckart Maise to discuss the new products and the Vitra Home Collection in general. (smow): Herr Maise, before we discuss the new products, and maybe as a little helpful background. How does a company like Vitra develop a collection? Do you go to a designer and
read more
