Launched last month during the Wanted Design exhibition during NYCxDesign, Inception is a dish rack/desk organizer designed by Luca Nichetto for the Italian brand Seletti. Named after the mind-bending 2010 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and inspired by the folding cities in the movie, Inception’s silicone buildings slightly bend with the weight of the objects. The organizer comes in pink, blue, or gray (shown below).
What I found most interesting about this new bike storage solution by the Vancouver-based design firm Hurdler Studios is not the stripped-down design, but the fact that in addition to selling the product through traditional methods, the manufacturers are pursing a new digital sales model where customers can purchase Clug’s 3D printer-ready digital files to be used on a 3D printer like the Markerbot Replicator 2 that the designers used to design the product. The Hurdler team, currently raising funds for the product on Kickstarter, has been testing the product for several months to ensure it’s robust enough for everyday use. The Clug system encases two screws concealed within a push-fit cover that mounts to a wall or other surface to hold the bike upright without damaging the bike frame or rims. The small size has an added benefit for renters — you won’t have to worry about damaging walls and forfeiting your security deposit. And now that you can easily store your bike in your apartment, you won’t have to deal with the stress …
The design brand kukka was established in 2010 by Israeli and British designer Rona Meyuchas K. The products include lamps, trays, tea towels, and accessories for the home or office. I like the colorful Robots and Tubes collection of trays and tea towels designed by British illustrator Will Haywood. The dishwasher-safe trays are individually handcrafted in Sweden from a single sheet of sustainable birchwood (Robot is 12” in diameter and Tube is 15”). The matching British-made tea towels, part of kukka’s illustrated range, are screen printed on 100% cotton. Other great gifts in the collection include Balata, an 8” ruler made from reclaimed high-quality Caesarstone, and My Homes, a set of three house-shaped clothes hangers that are traditionally crafted from maple wood with no glue and finished with linseed oil. Kukka’s designs are available at design shops worldwide. All images courtesy of Kukka.
The Hanagasumi series of tableware, from the Monochro design studio, is made of cherry bark in a 200-year-old craft technique that originated in Kakunodate, Japan. The series includes the square-shaped Hanagusumi tray, a matching moisture-proof box, wooden teacups, and canisters that are suitable for preserving tea leaves and coffee beans. I like the version with the colorful bands on the canisters and cups — a grouping of these on a shelf would look so serene.
Camome is a collection of solid wood furniture and design accessories from the Yokohama- based furniture manufacturer DANIEL. The manufacturer uses wood from timbers from fallen trees and forest thinning, as well as rejects from production. My favorite in the collection, which I saw during the London Design Festival in September, is the Wood Crown Basket. The basket’s circular spoke design was inspired by the splash made by a drop of milk. The baskets come in two sizes and are made of birch wood with a clear lacquer finish. Another accessory in the collection is the Kii key holder made of solid wood from fallen tress and brass. The shape, made by traditional turnery techniques, is designed to fit well in the palm of the hand. All images courtesy DANIEL.
The Chilean design studio bravo! combines local Legna wood, copper, and bronze to create a line of elegant handcrafted accessories, including coat hooks, candlestick holders, and containers. In addition to their product design work, the Santiago-based studio also designs architectural interiors. I like how a grouping of mushroom-capped coat hooks, made of wood and bronze, transforms a wall into an art installation. All images courtesy bravo!
