Munkii motto of “only producing design we would buy ourselves and building furniture we, ourselves, are in love with” is evident in their latest edition, Vintage. The concept ...
Munkii motto of “only producing design we would buy ourselves and building furniture we, ourselves, are in love with” is evident in their latest edition, Vintage. The concept of Vintage was first released in 2007 and had received riveting reviews. A prototype was displayed in Nhow Hotel Milan in the same year. Created entirely from eco-responsible Medium-Density Fibreboard, Vintage is dressed in lurid, piano white finish with matte liver red interiors.
Designed by: Munkii, Singapore
Contact details e. kelvin@munkii.co.sg w. www.munkii.com.sg
When Ben van Berkel and Bryan Adams first met a couple of years ago in London they quickly became aware of their shared interests and approaches to both life and work. The architect and the musician...
When Ben van Berkel and Bryan Adams first met a couple of years ago in London they quickly became aware of their shared interests and approaches to both life and work. The architect and the musician are of the same generation and are both highly energetic. Their driven personalities have led each to excel in his chosen field. However, both also have many other fascinations besides music and architecture, including design, photography, travel, cities, magazines, healthy living and people. Both also find it important to cross the boundaries between art and design, and are always looking to explore new ideas, situations and techniques.
Bryan Adams, while continuing to perform as a world renowned singer-songwriter, has also become a successful and respected photographer. When Ben van Berkel, with his architectural practice UNStudio, brought out MYchair - one of the architect’s first forays into the world of product design - the link between their shared interests and interdisciplinary approach was easily made: Ben van Berkel’s personal copy of the chair in brown and red leather was shipped from Amsterdam to Bryan Adams’s photographic studio in London.
MYchair has a wide seat with slightly upturned angled corners. This shape determines the distinctive profile of the chair with its repeating triangular facets. Its also enables a range of different sitting positions, accommodating the body in various states of repose, from upward and straight, to curled up and facing sideways. In his photographs Bryan Adams fully exploits both the form and the versatility of the chair.
One photograph in Adams’ MYchair series echoes the iconic 1963 portrait of Christine Keeler on a version of an Arne Jacobsen chair. However whilst Adams pays homage to Morley’s portrait, in his MYchair photographs the model remains purposefully anonymous. Her naked body almost negates references to overt sexuality; instead it displays the human body as a versatile form around which the designer and photographer must both apply their skills.
Designed by: Ben van Berkel Photographed by: Bryan Adams
After his studies, industrial designer, Singgih Susilo Kartono took a brave step and returned to his rural home village, Temanggung in central Java, to start a new product design and manufacturing business. He opted to combine his first-world industrial design training...
After his studies, industrial designer, Singgih Susilo Kartono took a brave step and returned to his rural home village, Temanggung in central Java, to start a new product design and manufacturing business. He opted to combine his first-world industrial design training and industry experience with local traditional skills and materials as well as adding a sustainable slant to the mix by his selection of materials – wood. His company, Magno Design, developed a range of innovative products of which the wood-encased Magno radio range is the flagship.
The manufacturing of the radios has revitalised local crafts and skills in the rural village and surrounding areas in a big way, and today, Kartono’s company employs 30 young craftsmen. Being conscious of the sustainable impact on the surrounding environment, Kartono opted to only use wood that are solely harvested from local plantations. In addition, he established a tree nursery next to the company’s premises to supply it with sustainable wood in future.
Designed by: Singgih Susilo Kartono, Indonesia Produced by: Piranti Works
Images courtesy of Magno
The sterling silver TUKAANI, inspired by the toucan’s bill, is a hand-made eating device targeted at Western consumers of Asian food. It is held similar to traditional Asian chopsticks, but unlike the disposable wooden chopsticks, TUKAANI is reusable and much easier to set and use...
The sterling silver TUKAANI, inspired by the toucan’s bill, is a hand-made eating device targeted at Western consumers of Asian food. It is held similar to traditional Asian chopsticks, but unlike the disposable wooden chopsticks, TUKAANI is reusable and much easier to set and use.
The matte surface and taut movement allow steady grip in the hand. The curl at the end of the TUKAANI provides eased food picking and delivery to the mouth. The loop also allows easier hanging, storage and display.
About the designer:
Lincoln Kayiwa was born in an architectural family in Kampala, Uganda in 1979. He currently lives in Helsinki, Töölö. Kayiwa graduated as a Master of Arts from the University of Art and Design Helsinki UIAH in 2008. Upon graduating he started his own brand product design company KAYIWA – an epitome of novelty, aesthetics, functionality and environmental friendliness.
Contact details
KAYIWA Oy (Limited) a. Mechelininkatu 24 B 58, 00100 Helsinki - FINLAND t. +358 50 518 4624 e. lincoln@kayiwa.fi w. www.kayiwa.fi
The Chrysanthemum Centrepiece designed by scientist, designer and artist, Michaella Janse van Vuuren, was voted The Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at the 2009 Design Indaba.
The Chrysanthemum Centrepiece designed by scientist, designer and artist, Michaella Janse van Vuuren, was voted The Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at the 2009 Design Indaba.
“The Chrysanthemum Centrepiece is a reversible design that functions as either a bowl or a candleholder, depending on which side of the design is facing upwards. It reflects my passion for the textures, shapes and patterns found in nature. I especially like to interpret those objects that have a repetitive, mathematically founded pattern,” said Janse van Vuuren.
Made with direct three-dimensional manufacturing methods, such as selective laser sintering, the intricate Chrysanthemum has certainly challenged South African design to rise to the occasion of technology. Says Janse van Vuuren: “These textures and objects would have been impossible to execute by hand, yet the object still retains the beauty and tactile feel of a natural object.”
The Most Beautiful Object in South Africa was voted for by the public via SMS at the 2009 Design Indaba Expo. Throughout the three days of this year’s Design Indaba Expo, people viewed the shortlist of objects on display, and voted for the one they found most beautiful. In a country as diverse as South Africa, choice of this object as winner is significant of the aesthetic milieu of 2009.
Source: Design Indaba
Contact details e. michaella@nomili.co.za t. +27 (0) 73 173 0750 w. www.nomili.co.za
Joom, a multi-talented Cape Town-based communication design studio has a 360° outlook on multi-disciplinary design practice. Joom has developed a signature range of limited-edition décor products...
Joom, a multi-talented Cape Town-based communication design studio has a 360° outlook on multi-disciplinary design practice. Joom has developed a signature range of limited-edition décor products.
Mooj Bookcase (top left)
Lobola* will never be the same again. This life-sized bovine behemoth is inspired by the humble form of an African cow. This solidly constructed room-dividing bookcase is set onto sturdy wheels – Mooj is a whole lot easier to move around than a real cow, and infinitely less likely to leave any surprises behind the sofa.
*bride price, typically in cattle, paid to the bride's father among some Southern African tribal groups.
Springbuck Ride-on Toy (top right)
Why rock when you can be leaping? The plucky little Springbuck takes the blah out of ride-on toys with an unmistakeable African flavour. At last, the bushveld meets the rocking horse meets the pogo stick. Kids will wish they had one and parents will wish they came in grown-up sizes.
Animirrors (bottom)
These fun wall mirrors were created to reflect your silly side. Each frame suggests splendid antlers, spiky horns or long silky ears. You’ll see yourself in these mirrors as never before! The Animirrors can be hung individually or fitted together into dramatic sunrays.
Contact details t. +27 (0)21 788 6858 e. megan@joom.co.za or justin@joom.co.za w. www.joom.co.za
