MAGAZINE

In the heart of one of the world's most culturally vibrant cities, the annual London Design Festival gathers design enthusiasts from around the globe for a series of events, from exhibitions to design trails and forums. Transforming the British capital into a playground for creativity and innovation each year, the LDF has cemented London’s position as the global centre of design over the past 20 years. There’s a lot to unpack from this year’s edition as we delve into the extensive festival programme spread out across London from 16-24 September, highlighting the most memorable design stories that at their very core foster and celebrate design excellence.

He didn’t write books nor did he comment on them. Many people criticized him for not having a clear attitude. He thought that his works didn’t belong to any movement and that each one is adjusted to a problem. He listened to his clients carefully and considered them to be “co-creators”. Eero Saarinen moved the boundaries of Modernism and turned it into an exciting game of materials. He changed an already established pattern and started a period of another Modernism. 

Over the last century, desk lamps have become essential additions to workspaces and home offices. Especially necessary for those who spend extended hours in front of screens, desk lamps provide adequate lighting to prevent eye strain and enhance productivity. With a wide variety of models and sizes produced by the top manufacturers in design today, there is a lamp for every workspace, from small nooks and temporary desk setups to corporate offices. We’ve chosen five desk lamps that combine quality, function and style in different ways, appealing to a variety of spaces and applications.

The latest installment of Maison&Objet, one of Europe's foremost design festivals and an integral part of Paris Design Week's September edition, has come to a close. This year, the event embraced the theme of enjoyment, placing a strong emphasis on the celebration of vibrant colors, extravagance, audacity, and humor as essential elements of the showcase. We delved into this year’s programme featuring more than 2,500 exhibitors from 15 sectors to bring you our highlights from the “quest of pleasures” that was this year’s Maison&Objet.

Established by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa in 1995, Japanese firm SANAA has since become a leading force of the twenty first century architectural scene. It is with a quiet confidence that the duo has swept the world off its feet with their distinctly minimalist, highly sensitive and thoughtful designs. SANAA’s is an architecture of subdued elegance, not distracting from, but instead elevating the very thing essential to a building – the life it houses and nurtures. 

Building a sustainable educational institution and building a sustainable education are multidisciplinary endeavours, necessitating collaboration among experts from diverse fields, including architects, engineers, teachers, administrators, and furniture designers and manufacturers, all united by a common goal. We delve inside five projects of educational buildings that embrace this holistic approach to create sustainable, creative environments that aim to provide a positive learning experience and community connections.

A material with a history dating back thousands of years to 1400-1200 BC, concrete has evolved from a simple composite of aggregate and fluid cement into the cornerstone of modern construction. It ranks as the second-most-utilised substance globally following water. The architectural application and distinctive visual and tactile qualities of concrete have inspired a host of applications of this material in the realm of contemporary furniture design. In homage to this remarkable material, we take a closer look at unique furniture pieces whose concepts both embrace concrete as a structural material and concrete as an aesthetic.

A revolution of the design process happened: swimsuit material tightened over a metal frame? This idea hadn’t been seen before. Pierre Paulin presented something atypical to the 20^th century, something refreshing. In fact, he deepened the incision between the past and the future. His work gave a hint of the 21^st century to a large degree: „My favorite design is the one to come, either by me or by a future generation.”

Blade Runner continues to hold its position as one of the most impactful films in history, particularly in shaping the visual representation of the future. Its influence has extended to a multitude of creators across various media worldwide, with contemporary works such as Altered Carbon, Akira, Judge Dread and Cyberpunk 2077 all drawing substantial inspiration from Blade Runner's distinct style. Through the lens of Blade Runner and its sequel, Blade Runner 2049, we delve into the topic of depicting the future in film and explore how designer furniture found its way into the sci-fi genre, playing a pivotal role in creating immersive and believable environments.

In discussions on design, aesthetics sometimes take precedence over functionality, leading to a disregard for the fact that a well-designed object must properly fulfil its primary purpose. When it comes to seating design, ergonomics play a crucial role, evolving over the 19th and 20th centuries to become a primary concern of designing today. This evolution was driven by a deeper understanding of human anatomy and the recognition of the significance of proper posture for overall health. We have selected six ergonomic designs that place comfort and well-being at the fore, mapping the development of ergonomic seating from the beginnings of modernism and its preoccupation with the functionality of objects, to the more recent focus on challenging seating conventions, 

“There are good and bad architects. I’m a good architect.” The words Ernő Goldfinger used to describe himself speak volumes of his character, strong-willed and uncompromising. Famously, he was the inspiration for the eponymous James Bond character which immortalized him as the power-hungry villain in Fleming’s fictitious writings. But more importantly, his legacy is seared into London’s skyline in the form of two iconic towers – Balfron and Trellick.

This month’s release of the Barbie film was accompanied with an overwhelming stream of publicity. But Barbie is only at the culmination of the current pink colour trend that began last year on the runway helmed by the likes of Valentino and Alexander McQueen and has since spread to the realm of architecture and design. Following the commotion caused by what was undoubtedly this year’s most anticipated film, as well as this year’s hottest colour, we have rounded up 6 furniture/object designs that make interesting use of the colour pink—from its saccharine allure to its floral and feminine associations.

While minimalist design has only become more popular since Mies Van der Rohe’s declaration “less is more”, by its adversaries, it is often viewed as a rigid standard of a good taste. However, minimalism has much more to offer than what obvious criticisms suggest, for the simplest solutions often require a complex thought process and meticulousness in the execution of details. With the dawning of summer, as we move dining, relaxation and socialization outdoors, we have selected six outdoor furniture designs that embody the strengths of minimalist design, for ultimate enjoyment of outdoor living this season and many more to come.

Japanese designer Oki Sato went from architecture graduate at a top Tokyo university, to founding his design studio Nendo and being included in “the Top 100 Small Japanese Companies” in just five years. Another five years later, his infectious designs and personality had gained international traction and had him on multiple “Designer of the Year” lists. Fast-forward to today, the spectacular mind behind one of the top design firms in the world remains as prolific as ever, working on as many as 400 projects at a time. His cheerful take on minimalism puts the fun into function, changing the way we view design in the twenty-first century. So, how does he do it? 

As we step into the second half of 2023, we take a moment to look back on the new collections presented by leading manufacturers in the design industry this past season. From those that have captured our attention with their playful spirit, creative concepts or functional innovation, to those carefully chosen for their topicality, addressing issues of sustainability or democracy in design, we bring a curated selection of our 10 favourite new designs in 10 categories (Lounge/ Table/ Storage/ Chair/ Commercial/ Reissue/ Outdoor/ Lighting/ Installation/ Trending) to celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of designers and manufacturers shaping the design landscape in the first half of this year.

Modularity continues to be a strong trend in all areas of furniture and object design, including lighting. Due to their highly adaptable and often formally or technologically innovative nature, the advantages of modular lighting systems are manifold. However, for designers, achieving variability in consistency is one of the biggest challenges in modular design. In this article, we present six modular lighting designs that defy the repetitive pitfalls of modular design by playing with form, color, and materials to deliver visually captivating designs applicable to interiors big or small.  

Amidst a profit-driven world where companies prioritise financial gain, there exists a trend of presenting themselves as environmentally friendly to improve public perception. However, behind closed doors, the truth can sometimes be far from the “green” or “conscious” labels used in advertising, with greenwashing being a legitimate and rising concern for consumers today. Therefore, in this article, we focus on 100% recycled furniture pieces that inspire with their intriguing forms and unexpected uses of materials or cutting-edge technology and companies that have established trust and credibility.

Copenhagen is known worldwide as a forward-thinking city that champions design excellence, innovation, and sustainability—and every year it’s also home to 3daysofdesign. Of the 13 districts that form the vibrant festival network—each with its distinctive character represented by iconic landmarks on the festival map, each embodying an essential aspect of Copenhagen's identity—we’ve selected our favourites, bringing you the most interesting exhibitions and most captivating designs presented at this year’s 3daysofdesign.

Pritzker prize's 2023 laureate is Sir David Chipperfield, a celebrated British architect and designer renowned for his minimalist aesthetic and meticulous attention to materiality and detail. He has designed a wide range of projects including museums, galleries, residential buildings, commercial developments, and public spaces, whose timelessness, functionality and beauty have earned Chipperfield worldwide acclaim and rightful recognition as one of the most influential architects of our time.

Over lunch in 1928, three women launched the radical idea of founding a museum in New York just to exhibit modern art, giving birth to the MoMA less than a year later. Today, no museum has as much power to bring furniture design into the mainstream spotlight and present iconic designs to the general public as the Museum of Modern Art in New York. We explore the depths of the MoMA archives, taking a journey through modern design history to present a bite-sized account of some of the key developments of the previous and current century, as exemplified by five iconic chairs.

As the hype surrounding the Salone del Mobile 2023 slowly begins to fade, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the current trends in the furniture and design world spotted at the industry’s most significant event. Vibrant colours and patterns, textural richness, soft organic shapes and versatile modular systems with an emphasis on comfort and informality were at the fore at this year’s edition of the Salone, indicating that the seventies are indisputably making a comeback in interior design. 

Built to last 150 years, its design hasn’t changed since 1944, ultimately demonstrating that great design shouldn’t be judged solely by the eye, as is often the case, but by the effectiveness with which it serves its intended purpose. The Navy Chair’s story is one of a quiet, but enduring star, whose trajectory can be traced from the Second World War, through high-end commercial interiors to cinema’s cult classics.

Self-taught British designer Tom Dixon rose to fame with his innovative welded designs made from salvaged steel in the eighties. Recognizable for his unconventionality, Tom Dixon strives to surprise. Receiving an OBE for his services to British Design, this distinguished contemporary designer has come a long way from his beginnings in his welding studio in London.  

With the ever-changing nature of the modern office environment, it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, and modular sofas are just one example of an increasingly popular seating option that can help meet the evolving needs of businesses. Our latest showcase explores some of the best-designed modular seating solutions in regards to their versatility, flexibility, and ability to encourage collaboration in a contemporary office setting.

In a world of fierce business competition, brands are turning to creative collaborations to set themselves apart. From fashion to vehicles, top furniture manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of design by teaming up with brands from a range of fields. In this article, we showcase five innovative collaborations that demonstrate the power of cross-industry partnerships.

Dating back to ancient times, the practice of product branding and labeling based on the place of origin has a long and rich history. As global trade increased and trade barriers were removed in the 20th century, the importance of country-of-origin labeling grew. Starting with its origin, we explore how Made in Italy became one of the most well-known country-of-origin labels.   

Dutch designer Marcel Wanders has been termed an anomaly in the design world and the Lady Gaga of Design by the New York Times. Beginning his career as a furniture designer, Marcel Wanders developed an affinity for interiors and has over 1,900 designs in his portfolio to date. Finding inspiration in the likes of Phillipe Stark, Antonio Gaudi, Issey Miyake and Frank Gehry, extravagance is a defining element of Wanders’ work. 

Hotel Lutetia has stood tall for over a century, an impressive architectural achievement and a technical marvel of the time. From its Art Nouveau and Art Deco design to its role in the resistance movement during World War II, this iconic hotel bears witness to the city's rich cultural legacy and the ever-changing tides of history.

Architect and designer Lina Bo Bardi was an unstoppable force – emigrating from Italy to Brazil in 1946, she played a pioneering role in shaping Modernist design in post-war Brazil. Lina Bo Bardi was perhaps best known and loved for bringing the arts to the people with her socially inclusive designs. Ironically, today she still largely remains academia’s carefully guarded secret, which, once unraveled, opens up a world dedicated to the everyday instead.