What is Good Design? – Metropolis magazine special design issue
In a way, our special product-design issue asks a very 20th-century question, one the Modernists asked with great ardor more than 50 years ago. The original question, however, was preoccupied with notions of beauty and style. And while this month’s issue is concerned with aesthetics—how could it not be?—it does attempt to broaden the definition. We identify ten essential characteristics of a well-designed product, pairing each category with a compelling example. Our coverage starts with essays by Deyan Sudjic, John Hockenberry, Bruce Sterling, Niels Diffrient, and Karrie Jacobs. We address the ways in which the economic crisis is affecting design with sidebars titled “The New Reality.” This issue sketches out the broad outlines of how a great product will respond to troubled times. It won’t necessarily meet all ten of our criteria, but it will think hard about most of them. Consider that as our working definition of good design in the 21st century.
Via & more: Metropolismag.com
Claydies: Blueclay series for Normann Copenhagen
Normann Copenhagen launches Blueclay, designed by Claydies. The decoration is new, the technology ancient and the result a sturdy and unique ceramic dish. Each dish is hand thrown in Denmark, and with its colourful decoration, Blueclay is a modern example of a classical and typical Nordic ceramic dish, which is ideal for both baking and decoration. (more…)
Sit on It, Serralunga!
Well, what’ve we got here? A versatile little seat contraption eh? Yeah, yeah, that’s what it is. Wait! It’s also a planter! Wait! It’s also a side-table, as they call them. This is exactly the octohedron I’ve been searching for all my furniture-seeking life. Isn’t a strange corner we turn around when at first we seek out a seat for our very own?
Via & more: Yanko Design
PlanetSolar Boat to Sail Around the World
From the solar-powered vehicle that crossed Canada, to a wave-powered boat that took on the Pacific, we’ve seen many impressive feats accomplished by green vehicles. But now the crew at PlanetSolar is attempting to cross a distance far greater with a sleek solar-powered boat that will travel around the world!
Via & more: Inhabitat
Art Fund Pavilion shortlist
Tent London and gallery The Lightbox have announced the shortlisted projects in a competition to design a pavilion at the gallery in Woking, UK. The shortlisted projects will be on show alongside other entries at The Lightbox from 31 March until 12 April. The winning design will be announced on 6 April and constructed for exhibition at Tent London during the London Design Festival in September, before moving to the gallery. Above and below: Karim Muallem.
Via & more: Dezeen
Modoloco design: ‘Ramo’
Italian studio modoloco design has sent images of their new lamp ‘Ramo’, which has been produced in a limited edition. The main feature of this lamp is its appearance, that resembles that of a branch or a cut flower: according to this it has no basement or pedestal to keep itself balanced in an upright position. due to this particular feature, the lamp must be placed in a vase or a similar container in order to be illuminated. it is made with a white painted iron reinforcing rod and a white opalescent polyethylene diffuser.
Via & more: designboom
Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekts : ‘Top’ for Zero at Milan Design Week 09
Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekts have made their first foray into product design with ‘Top’ lamp, produced by Zero. It is a sheet of metal folded into a pyramid shape and its bottom is sealed with translucent plastic to diffuse the light. One of the corners can be tilted according to the users desire, simply by adjusting the metal chord. The top light will also expand into a series of lamps on the same theme and will be shown for the first time at Milan Design Week 09.
Via & more: designboom
Architectural Review redesign by Alexander Boxill
Graphic designers Alexander Boxill have redesigned architecture magazine the Architectural Review, which relaunches this month. The redesign is the first in 20 years for the magazine, which was founded in 1896.
Via & more: Dezeen
Toyota’s New Hybrid MR2 Revealed!
The Toyota MR2 sportscar is hitting the road, remade from its older version into a Prius-inspired hybrid vehicle. The new MR2 will draw inspiration (and technology) from the iconic Toyota Prius, with the goal of creating a mass market hybrid sportscar that is as fun to drive as it is green.
Via & more: Inhabitat
Casa Pedralbes by Joan Anguita
Architect Joan Anguita has designed a house for a car collector in Barcelona, Spain. The four-storey house has a glass facade overlooking the city. It includes a showroom for the owner’s cars on the ground floor. A freight elevator allows the cars to be moved from one level to another and displayed throughout the house.
Via & more: Dezeen
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