As the Creative Directors for 100% Design, we have for the second year opened the doors to inspiring features and installations that will populate the central boulevard. Here is something to whet the appetite, a few features we look forward to seeing next month.
Tom Cecil – A Bright Spark
By Gemma Lewis, JAM
From his studio in East London, Tom Cecil explores his fascination of all things technically challenging and process-driven – he’s one of those likeable geeks who loves to get his hands dirty. Tom’s previous life in Engineering sort of explains this infatuation; from experimenting with underwater microphones, to growing his own ice, Tom dabbles with anything and everything that intrigues and challenges him.
After winning the Hidden Art competition earlier this year, a brief that was set by 100% Design, he has been given the chance to show his latest installation ‘Field of Lights’ on the central Boulevard of the show next month. The suspended structure, made up of over two hundred motion sensitive LED lights, was designed in collaboration with ML Electronics. It will be suspended just above head height to create patterns of light that follow people as they move around the space below. With an assortment of Tom’s work over the past 2 years being exhibited underneath, it’s a clever way for him to record and display how people react and move around the work. Clever indeed.
Print Tuft and Fold Make a Splash
By Gemma Lewis, JAM
This quirky design collective is made up of Chelsea College of Art alumni; Zoe Beck (Print), Claire Alderdice (Tuft) & Kim Bassett (Fold). The Trio met in 2005 whilst studying MA’s at London’s most bohemian art school, and after spending all their cash travelling and then struggling to afford exhibition prices, Print Tuft and Fold was born. “We each bring different strengths to the table, and this has really helped the brand evolve”.
They aren’t bashful when it comes to their application of colour, so when we invited them to create a bold feature in line with this year’s show colours, they jumped at the chance. They will be producing 18 seating cubes of various sizes, using their three contrasting approaches to deliver a mixture of kaleidoscopic inspired carpet cubes, city inspired digitally printed cubes, and delicately pleated fabric cubes. Right at the threshold of the show, it will create a great meeting point and is sure to be a hit when those legs get weary!
You’ll also find the girls brightening up 100% Futures this year.
printtuftandfold.com/
Testing us – The Decorators
By Gemma Lewis, JAM
Fresh from Central St.Martin’s, it hasn’t taken long for this group of creatives to join forces and pursue their interests in stories, people and places. They use their experience in architecture, psychology, landscape, interior and graphic design to build experiences, generate unexpected encounters and test conventions. Using narratives to create context-specific projects, they tap into art, cultural, and community environments.
At this year’s 100% Design show, The Decorators take on the role of design psychologists, inviting visitors into their waiting room to take the % Design Psychology test. A bit tongue-in-cheek, the result will be a theatrical production line in which bags are personalised to display the results of individuals. As the printed bags begin to circulate the show, those taking part will be able to see how they fared against others who have taken the test.
The Decorators want to know how much of a designer you really are – are you ready to take the test?
Design Guild Marks 2010
By Gemma Lewis, JAM
Butcher, Baker…..Furniture maker! The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, each year, reward the work of the finest furniture designers working in volume in both Britain and further afield.
Jonathan Hindle, Chairman of the Design Guild Mark Judges explains;
“The Mark is awarded for excellence in design, use of materials, manufacture and function. The judges establish whether materials are from sustainable sources and whether the piece represents good value. Although there [are] many submissions, the judges award the Design Guild Mark to only twenty designs. Their designers and manufacturers are now able to use the Design Guild Mark Logo and The Furniture Makers Company Crest on the piece, and in their promotional literature.”
At 100% Design this year we will be displaying a selection of the pieces awarded in 2010 to show the quality and detail that is needed for this mark of excellence. Call for entries for 2011 will be on the installation, and the closing dates for applications for the 2011 Design Guild Marks is 25th February 2011.
pool entries
