BioLite-
This amazing stove make cooking on wood as clean, safe and easy as modern fuels while generating electricity to charge phones, lights and other electronics off-grid. This has many applications while really making the most of the fuel you are burning. A great asset to 3rd world countries that could benefit form the electricity it can produce while cooking.
Things Made into Lights-
Theres nothing better than repurposing old objects for other uses. These old mixing bowls have a great new life as attractive light shades that help reduce waste while looking great.
The Light Bulb Conspiracy-
A documentary about the creation of design for obsolescence. A long movie but well worth the watch. Does make you rather made however.
A new project by recent Eindhoven grad Eugenia Morpurgo challenges consumers to take matters into their own hands by empowering them to maintain their canvas flats with a kit of replacement parts.
Morpurgo’s Repair It Yourself shoes snap together and come apart easily so that the insole and outsole can be replaced. Three separate kits equip users to mend the uppers by darning, patching, or felting.
According to the designer:
“Shoes are one of those products that, with the rise of consumerism and mass production, evolved drastically from a completely repairable object; and the active social-economical structure that existed around shoe repair is slowly disappearing… . This project brings back in the hand of the consumers tools and knowledge for repairing.”
(via Almost Genius: A Modular Kit Of Shoes, Which You Can Fix Yourself | Co.Design)
Repairing what we already have is much better that replacement. This modular based concept, like the shelving systems, allow the owner to repair their shoe when it becomes too warn. A great idea.
Rural City-
This art piece by EVOL is a scale city block dug into the earth. Its scale and desolate environment make it feel like a ghost town, however it also reflects our cities relationship with the country side. At just how misplaced structures like that sit surrounded by greenery.
Recession Design-
As we are in an ever worsening rescission it comes at no surprise that we just don’t have the money to afford essential furniture. Recession Design isa collective of objects created using only common DIY tools and materials assembled into minimal and functional objects.
By providing instructions anyone can construct their own economical objects at home avoiding the manufacturing process entirely and saving money along the way.
Shape is Use - SIU-
SIU is an extremely compact multifunction lamp. It is essentially a tap measure with LEDs along its entire length. This gives the user the ability to adjust the lamp to what ever situation they need.
Due to the lamps construction, it is extremely energy efficient. In fact the amount of energy used is in proportion to how the consumer decides to use the lamp. So if your feeling in a particularly efficient mood, simply shorten the tape.
The construction of this lamp makes it very flexible to any of the consumers needs and thus a great example of how even lighting can have many uses.
SWYP: See What You Print-
An amazing concept that gives you the ability to print exactly what you see on screen with no colour change. The printer has a multifunction display that allows you to access any computer, mobile device or cloud attached to the network and simply print what you desire with a swipe down. The real time animation and the incredibly quick printing just adds to the enjoyment of getting that perfect print.
(Source: artefactgroup.com)
Bosco Vertcale (Vertical Forest)-
The Vertical Forest is an ambitious architectural project in Italy. The idea is to build a pair of towers covered in trees to counter their CO2 emissions.
But there are many over benefits to this such as the trees blocking light to maintain a cool 21c inside, pull oxygen into the building, remove humidity, block out sound and lets not forget how beautiful the tower will look covered in trees.
The tree balconies will also provide a natural reflection space for the occupants.
Braun Vistronic-
A beautifully designed digital alarm clock by Dieter Rams for Braun. Its sleek L-shaped design and features make it attractive and functional.
I recently came about one of these, mind you a German model so needed an adapter to work over here. I have found it to be one of the best clocks I’ve ever owned and features a very interesting typeface, the 4’s for instance are very distinct.
Billion-
Billion by Vincent Kohler is an amazing sculpture that shows how a tree is sawn and divided to produce our various wooden products. It also shows how much waste is produced.
Spiff Lamp-
This anthropomorphic lamp inspired by the simplicity old wooden toys.
Its a great little lamp with an interesting structure.
Ladderax-
Keeping with the responsible shelving systems, my most favourite of the lot is the Ladderax modular based system. Like the others it can be expanded and rearranged at will. Supporting the use as both a desk and shelve on the same unit and can be tethered to create a long unit.
This will be the furniture of my home when ever I manage to get my own home.
Mark Adams, managing director of Vitsœ.
KLEMP, K., UEKI-POLET, K. (2010) Less & More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams, Berlin: Die Gestalten Verlag; Bilingual edition
Vitsœ-
Dieter Rams’ Vitsœ is a modular based shelving system, this can be assembled and changed in anyway the user sees if at any time. What makes me respect this company even more can be summed up in this quote, “I manage a company where we want more people to buy less of our furniture” Mark Adams. Vitsœ aims to create products that last a life time and will never have to be binned.
A collection of all things that catch my interest with a focus on responsible design.
