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100% France…C’est Fantastique

September 24, 2011 in Design, Design & Art with 0 Comments

In our exploration of design by nation, let’s now look across the Channel to our neighbours in France to investigate what they have to offer by way of talent at this year’s 100% Design…

The 100% France exhibition cannot fail to catch your eye with its playful primary colours and diverse mix of interesting looking, quirky products. The stand was inspired by French designer Lucien Murat who studied at Central Saint Martins and reflects the vibrancy, innovation and elegance that is frequently associated with French design. Speaking of France as a design nation, French Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Bernard Emié said, “France has a long tradition of excellence in design and creativity, which have come together once again to create a cutting-edge and inspirational pavilion..”

2011 marks the fourth year that 100% France has exhibited at 100% Design. This year the show presents the work of 10 high-calibre French designers, each of whom was carefully selected by Gérard Laizé, curator of the pavilion since 2009. Designers include the likes of Couleurs Privees, Rauch, Sentou, Atelier Polyhedre (pictured below) & Qui est Paul (who generously provided seating for the Despoke Café).

'Vase < Pot De Fleur' by Atelier Polyhedre

Norway’s Eighth Year of 100% Success

September 24, 2011 in Design, Design & Art with 1 Comment

After our foray into South American design yesterday, today let’s bring things a little closer to home and take a look at some of the european design talent on display here at 100% Design. First Up, Norway…

100% Norway Exhibition Stand

Having won three Blueprint Awards at this year’s exhibition, Norway has once again proved itself to possess a host of cutting edge design talent. This year the 100% Norway exhibition has surpassed itself with what they claim to be their most impressive and inspiring collection yet. The work of six individual designers as well as 6 Norwegian manufacturers is on display, making for a diverse mix of pieces that have been curated with an undeniably seamless elegance.

The work in the collection ranges from modern twists on traditional themes to unique contemporary objects. All of the products are bound by their sustainable and innovative qualities. An expressive use of colour, fine craftsmanship and attention to detail are all qualities typical of Norwegian design, strongly evident in this year’s 100% Norway collection.

After years of successful showcases at 100% Design, having had a presence at the exhibition ever since the show first opened ion 2006, it has been clear that the Norwegian design scene is continually blossoming. Henrietta Thompson has been curator of 100% Norway every year and she notes with pride that Norwegian design continually surpasses her expectations. So what is the secret to Norway’s growing design success? Thompson explains; “Well made beautiful and functional products and furniture are an integral part of daily life in Scandinavia. Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway have all developed a reputation for making products and furniture that provide elegance and timeless simplicity while at the same time keeping an eye on the environment.”

So let’s take a look at some of the work on display at this year’s 100% Norway showcase:

Figgjo Table ware

Figgjo: Figgjo returns to 100% Norway for the first time since 2008 launching three new ranges all designed by ceramist Olav Joa.

Skogstad / Anderssen & Voll / Homstvedt: ‘Bowling’ (above) is a series of wooden bowls; “The thickness of the material is pushed to the very minimum and grows organically into a soft gripping rim at the top edge.”

Magnus Pettersen: ‘Tint’ is Pettersen’s latest work, a lamp created using materials more commonly associated with architecture; glass and concrete. Yet the design takes the edge off the industrial due to the smooth, tactile lines and unusual colour palette.

100% Design: Friday Highlights

September 23, 2011 in Design, Design & Art, Events with 0 Comments

As another day at 100% Design draws to a close, let’s take a look at some of the highlights that have caught the attention of Despoke’s roaming camera lense.

Visitors express themselves on the 100% Design blackboard: 'Design Should Not Have Any Boarders' - we quite agree!

Blueprint Mag Road Signs Display

Blueprint magazine gave guests the the chance design their own road signs - there was an interesting range from comic, to quirky to down right rude!

[re]design wall display

[re]design are thinking ahead to Christmas already, encouraging visitors to design their own recycled gifts.

Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Guests leave Earls Court 2 as the second day of 100% Design draws to a close. There's still a whole weekend ahead though!

100% Argentine Design

September 23, 2011 in Design, Design & Art, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Continuing our focus on designers across the globe and the representation of national identity through design, our next stop is Argentina.

100% Argentine Design

On the opposite side of the wall just behind the Chilean display, an exhibition showcasing the work of Argentina’s hottest design talent can be found. The work on display is a combination of submissions from eight designers each of whom was hand selected by the Argentine Embassy for their innovative and traditionally inspired work.

Delores Farias of the Argentine Embassy in London told Despoke that for Argentina to be represented at 100% Design was extremely beneficial for the nation’s reputation which is not typically associated with cutting edge design. “When people think of Argentina” Dolores explained, “they think of wine and steak, but the creative industries actually play  a really significant role in the wellbeing of our country’s economy.”

The 100% Argentine Design exhibition displays a quintessential view of Argentina, with each piece representing the show’s manifesto: traditional innovtion. The designers whose work you can see on display include; Arqom, Masekos, Foxy, Adriana Torres, Heidi Jalkh, Buna, Vacavaliente & UAU.

Chilie: A Nation of Hard Working Designers

September 23, 2011 in Design, Design & Art with 0 Comments

100% design is all about representing the best in design talent across the globe & this year exhibition is focusing on showcasing national design initiatives like never before. Over the course of the exhibition Despoke will visit each of the countries represented here at the show & first up we have Chilie.

Chile stand

The Chilean stand is strikingly uniform in design with a heavy wood theme running across the entire space However; the idea of achieving uniformity by using a natural living material like wood is a juxtaposition in itself highlighting the deeper underlying intricacies of chiliean craft & design.

Chilie is a newly emerging nation in the design playing field yet the quality and quantity of the design work produced in recent years is highly impressive. According to Manuel Figueroa of the National Council for Culture & the Arts, this prolific output is a reflection of chilean values. He explains; “The execution of these pieces entails a quest not only from the perspective of construction, craft and installation, but also a celebration of the value most prised by their creators: work.”

The Chiliean designers represented at 100% Design this year include; The Andes House, Bravo!, Juan Pablo Fuentes & Asociados, Orlando Gatica Estudio De Diseno & Pro2.

Hanging Chilean Sculpture

Chilean designers represented at 100% Design

The Golden Horns by Sebastien Agneessens

September 23, 2011 in Design, Design & Art with 0 Comments

Golden Horns

Golden Horns at 100% Design

You can’t fail to be impressed by the twisting, turning labyrinth of brass pipes that make up ‘The Golden Horns’, a work of sculptural magnificence currently on display at 100% Design. The piece was commissioned by Nef (who are typically known in real estate development) in order to highlight the fact that at the company’s heart it is making design, rather than subdividing it in the way it is frequently accused.

Nef means ‘breath’ in Turkish so the concept of a giant brass trumpet quite aptly conveys this. Golden Horns was created by designer and composer Sebastien Agneessens and consists of three sonic sculptures – clusters of extruded brass horns. Agneessens’ musical booth aims to present the fact that Nef is a real estate “laboratory” whose development projects are predicated not merely on innovations in architectural and interior design, but in construction of a lifestyle better tailored to the zeitgeist, as well.

WEB TONES: How to use colour tones for web

September 23, 2011 in 1st Menu, Design, Design & Art with 0 Comments

Global Colour Research headed up a talk at 100% Design London discussing colour trends for web and branding including graphics and web ideas. Despoke was there tweeting live from the seminar.

100% Design – WEB TONES: HOW TO USE COLOUR TREND COMBINATIONS FOR WEB AND BRANDING

More of our time is spent online, opening up new business possibilities across global territories. However, on the downside this means that we face an increasingly competitive market. The key to getting ahead of the competition is a clear narrative and colour confidence for your brand that translates into the virtual world of ecommerce.
“ Hannah from Global Colour Research is presenting on colour trends for branding & web design at #100design; quotes to follow…
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends seminar: “colour is an essential part of your brand’s identity. Perceptions of colour are both personal & cultural”
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends seminar presents @mixpublications spring/summer 2012 colour palettes…
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design 1st colour palette is called Epiphany. It has a classic, heritage feel with a rustic edge, aimed at the higher end of the market
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Trends forecast doesn’t only concentrate on colour, “you should also consider the materials & fonts that work with your palette”
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ @designlondon #100design Trends forecast doesn’t only concentrate on colour, you should also consider materials that are #sustainable.
FuturesFurnitur
September 23, 2011
“ @FuturesFurnitur absolutely #sustainable design is absolutely core to so much of the work showcased at #100design
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends seminar: 2nd trend palette for spring/summer 2012 is Scratch, uses bold vibrant colours with a crafty, playful feel
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ Colours in the Scratch palette are attention grabbing and work well for web design. Primary shades have a high impact on screen #100design
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ Bold colours work well on the web; red makes for good headers/ navigation while green reduces reader fatigue & holds attention #100design
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends seminar: “blue communicate trust & loyalty & is consequently used widely in corporate branding”
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends seminar: 3rd colour palett is Vanity; a feminine pastel range but with the potential for some cool combinations
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends seminar: Monitor is the 4th palett for spring/summer 2012. Avatar inspired with bold, statement fluorescent colours
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends Seminar: “Black inspires confidence & is the favourite colour for advertising high end products”
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends Seminar: “conversely, black can also imply solitude so it should be considered carefully before used too heavily”
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends Seminar: “black backgrounds in web design can enhance perspective & depth but may also reduce on page readability”
designlondon
September 23, 2011
“ #100design Colour Trends: “yellow is light hearted & cheery, often used for children’s websites. Avoid making serious statements in yellow”
designlondon
September 23, 2011

 

EVENT: Martin Creed at Hauser+Wirth Saville Row

January 24, 2011 in Design & Art with 0 Comments


Through to 5th March 2011
Following a series of critically-acclaimed international solo shows, performances and installations this year and his residence in Edinburgh this summer, Martin Creed returns to London with a major exhibition at Hauser & Wirth’s new Savile Row gallery. Creed will present a monumental new sculpture in the north gallery and works across a variety of media in the south gallery.
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