Zelfo Technology.

Fascinated by these pieces of furniture by Elise Gabriel which explore the cellulose composed material Zelfo. I love this description of the project and the challenges that ensued due to the properties of the material...

"Zelfo is living matter. of course I can guide, squeeze and trap it. but in response to that there is always an unpredictable quiver, a twist or a contraction against the grain. I am looking out for this etreinte, I am searching for it. sometimes I even anticipate it. that is this project’s challenge, to do and laisser faire..."  

(via Design Boom)

ffiXXed.

Loving the new collection by ffiXXed, who have collaborated with New York based artist Ester Partegas to produce these great digital prints. "Ester has contributed a series of collages constructed from the in-between spaces torn from the graphic landscape of magazine pages. These pieces are reconfigured to generate new forms, which like the ffiXXed collection try to find space for a more open and fluid negotiation of consumer culture." The shirt is my fave!

Dunn and Dusted.

You can never have enough chairs! I would have each and every one of the beautifully handcrafted stools by Dunn Studio. They have that perfect cross of traditional materials and manufacturing with modern twist of technology that advances them into contemporary times.

Sculptural Prisms.

Love these little sculptural mountains by Aaron Moran, showing how little scraps of wood along with a touch of colour can be really beautiful!

Reality Lab: Issey Miyake 132.5 Brand

Today I visited one of the most amazing exhibitions I have seen in a long time! The highlight of Reality Lab exhibition at 21 21 Design Sight was most definitely the documentary showing the production process of Issey Miyake's 132.5 Brand. Emphasis was on the sustainability and recycling, alongside maintaining production in Japan. I could have watched the film over and over but eventually I moved on to view the collection, which explores the process of changing dimensions. This will be a great influence on my current project! Finally, you were invited to play and interact with the designs, making them three dimensional and returning them to their two dimensional form. Great to experience first hand a new concept for clothing and design.

Next Generation House.

More amazing architecture from Sou Fujimoto Architects… This is the Next Generation House, a 4m by 4m cube created using stacked, cedar blocks. The interlocking elements generate layers and crevices which fulfill the primary functions of a house; a ceiling and four walls as well as added warmth, insulation and comfort the wood brings. This multilevel structure blurs the lines between conventional rooms and levels creating seating, shelving, and storage throughout. It is nestled in the hillside in Kumamura, Japan and I only wish I had time to visit while I am here! (photographed by Iwan Baan)

Akihiko Izukura

While on our travels in Kyoto we took a trip to the factory of textile artist and designer Akihiko Izukura. Recently he worked with Nottingham Trent University to present the captivating exhibition Life in Colours. His work is focused around natural dyes and a zero waste concept. We were lucky enough to be shown around the dyeing studios and experience the wonderful sights and smells of the cloves and cinnamon used for dyeing, along with many other natural ingredients. We then slipped our shoes off and were taken up to the studio where we could watch the yarns being spun and woven into wonderful traditional obi's. It was a great experience to see everything being made first hand and his work is a great example of how sustainable design practice can be combined with contemporary craft.

Monsieur Dressup...

Loyal Loot Collective's clever designs mix raw hand crafted materials with a slick contemporary finish to create these cheeky little numbers. Quirky and totally irresistible!

Is it a Bird...Is it a Plane?

Recycled and reworked furniture by Max McMurdo. Reestore take everyday waste objects and cheekily turn them into charming yet functional pieces of furniture and accessories.

Hang on there...

Lovely idea about how to recycle packaging by Steve Haslip.

Prints Charming

Fun, colourful and environmentally friendly! I recently spotted this fab chandelier in Liberty's 'Prints Charming' exhibition and was eager to find out more! Lucy Renshaw works with recycled fabrics and objects to produce quirky and imaginative interior products. She combines a range of techniques including embroidery and screen printing and says she deliberately sets out to tackle environmental issues. A great source of inspiration for my next project, in which I’d really like to combine screen printing with my love of found and second hand objects.