Our (smow)twitter recently brought our attention to an article at worldchanging.com about what the author termed "Heirloom Design" In the article Adele Peters discusses sustainability, durability and for all "What makes something worthy of passing down through generations?" Peters decides that the future monetary value, the usefulness and sentimentality play a role; somewhat bizarrely in respect of sentimentality , she states: "...designers can aim to create products that inspire emotional
read more
The bed “Siebenschläfer” from the Moormann (Design: Christoffer Martens, 2007) is beloved for the simplicity with which it can be constructed. The individual frame elements needing only to be slotted into one another. However, what happens when the carpentry firm responsible for cutting the parts holds the plans back to front? – Then one gets an unplanned innovation, albeit one that causes several “Am I being stupid?” moments for smow customers. Those who are quick of the mark, however, can
read more
Occasionally, just occasionally a curious glance at the price of a piece of designer furniture is enough to take your breath away. Chairs, lamps and sideboards from Fritz Haller, Philippe Starck, Nils Holger Moormann et al are not always something that can simply be casually paid for out of the “housekeeping“. However, once one recovers from the initial shock one has time to reflect that a high quality piece of designer furniture is not to be understood only as a luxury accessory to
read more
