London Design Festival 2014 // Experimental Design Round up by Yellowtrace.

 

Yo, yo, yo! We’re back today with our London Design Festival extravaganza, and more specifically with some badass examples of conceptual and experimental design. Many of the objects we are sharing here sit at the intersection of art, design and all-round inspiring clever thinking. Most are completely unconventional and “out-there”, and will never become mass-produced. So why should you worry about them? Well, everything here represents a collection of the finest examples of clever ideas, and designers who have dared to explore unchartered territory, break new ground, take the road less travelled and tell untold stories. It is ideas such as these that allow us to progress the design industry in new ways, while staying respectful to old traditions. This is precisely what excites me the most – breaking down our own boundaries, and preconceived notions is the way of the future. The future of design progress. Let’s all drink to that!

See all our stories from London Design Festival.

 

From Then On by Formafantasma | Yellowtrace

‘Marble Clock’ by Studio Formafantasma. A clock face in Carrara marble marks the slow pace of the hour as each revolution aligns the natural pattern of mineral veins across the concentric circles.

From Then On by Formafantasma | Yellowtrace

‘Fan Clock’ by Studio Formafantasma. A fan unfolds and swings shut over 5 minutes; the repeated opposing action articulates the stability of a unit of time whilst playfully reminding us that our own internal measures of time vary.

From Then On by Formafantasma | Yellowtrace

‘Saxophones Clock’ by Studio Formafantasma. Like sentinels of time, two Saxophones sound every fifteen minutes to announce and celebrate the experience of daily life as it evolves.

From Then On by Formafantasma | Yellowtrace

‘Pendulum Clock’ by Studio Formafantasma. Symbolically challenging the consequence of time, a pendulum sweeps a brush across a concave brass surface preventing the oxidization that naturally occurs by the second.
Images courtesy of Established & Sons.

 

‘From Then On’ by Studio Formafantasma // Italian design duo Andrea Trimarchi & Simone Farresin of Studio Formafantasma created the time-themed installation ‘From Then On’, in the showroom of British furniture brand Established & Sons, to mark the company’s 10th anniversary.


 

Burnished Indigo Exhibition by JAMESPLUMB | Yellowtrace

‘INDIGO LUMINAIRES’ from Burnished Indigo Series, 2014. Made from antique burnished indigo textile, steel, & brass. Image © Mari Luz Vidal of Openhouse Magazine.

Burnished Indigo Exhibition by JAMESPLUMB | Yellowtrace

‘INDIGO LUMINAIRES’ from Burnished Indigo Series, 2014. Made from antique burnished indigo textile, steel, & brass. Image © JAMESPLUMB.

 

‘Indigo Luminaires,’ part of Burnished Indigo Series by JAMESPLUMB // Inspired by the discovery of a destroyed 19th Century leather sofa, JAMESPLUMB showcased his limited edition assemblage and luminaires series. The fragile, fluid and organic beauty of the fabric is altered by intricate finger pleating. Collaboration with artist William Waterhouse has created an ingenious, simple mechanism allowing for a multidirectional light. Our feature story on this project will follow later in the week.


 

Magnetic Field Record by Kyouei Design | Yellowtrace

Magnetic Field Record by Kyouei Design | Yellowtrace

Magnetic Field Record by Kyouei Design | Yellowtrace

Images courtesy of Kyouei Design.

 

‘Magnetic Field Record’ designed by Kouichi Okamoto of Kyouei design // This suspended device records and visualises earth’s magnetic and gravitational forces into stunning drawings.


 

Samuel Wilkinson Ercol London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Samuel Wilkinson / ercol.

Ab Rogers Afroditi Krassa Ercol London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Left: Ab Rogers / ercol. Right: Afroditi Krassa / ercol.

Faye Toogood Kristjana Williams Ercol London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Left: Faye Toogood / ercol. Right: Kristjana Williams / ercol.

Wilkinson Eyre Donna Wilson Ercol London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Left: Wilkinson Eyre / ercol. Right: Donna Wilson / ercol.

Banjamin Hubert Beethan Gray Anglepoise London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Left: Benjamin Hubert / Anglepoise®. Right: Bethan Gray / Anglepoise®.

Michael Sodeau Samuel Wilkinson Anglepoise London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Left: Michael Sodeau / Anglepoise®. Right: Samuel Wilkinson / Anglepoise®.

Tom Dixon Anglepoise London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Tom Dixon / Anglepoise®. Images courtesy of Design Junction.

 

Designjunction presented ‘A Child’s Dream’ in partnership with Anglepoise® and ercol // Nineteen of the UK’s leading designers from the filed of architecture, design, fashion and graphics created unique interpretations of iconic products (the iconic Anglepoise® Type75™ Mini desk lamp and Stacking chair, from Ercol’s Originals collection) auctioned at Designjunction 2014. On display was an exhibition designed and curated by British designer Anthony Dickens, to raise money for “Teddy’s Wish,” its official chosen charity for 2014.


 

Face by Chrissie Macdonald from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft | Yellowtrace

‘Face’ by Chrissie Macdonald from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft.

Screwdriver by Chrissie Macdonald from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft | Yellowtrace

‘Screwdriver’ by Chrissie Macdonald from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft.

Merijn Hos from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft | Yellowtrace

‘Untitled’ by Merijn Hos from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft.

Mallet by Deanne Cheuk from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft | Yellowtrace

‘Mallet’ by Deanne Cheuk from Tooled Up Series / Curated by Art&Graft. Images courtesy of Art&Graft. All photography John Hooper.

 

‘Tooled Up’ Series, curated by Art&Graft // As part of Shoreditch Design Triangle and LDF, Art&Graft presented ‘Tooled Up’, a group show celebrating craft, graft and creativity, curated by Art&Graft. Showcaseing some of the most exciting artists, illustrators and designers working today, the brief was to take a recognisable object of craft and apply their skill and ingenuity to transform it into a unique form.


 

Martino Gamper for Bethan Laura Wood - Alter - London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Martino Gamper for Bethan Laura Wood’s ‘Alter’ series.

Bethan Laura Wood - Rainbow Flowers - London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

‘Rainbow’ vases by Bethan Laura Wood. Photography by Angus Mill.

 

Bethan Laura Wood’s ‘Alter’ series // Bethan Laura Wood’s investigations into flowers and their containment led her to design an installation inspired by altarpieces, harvest festivals and temple displays. She has incorporated her own collection of new vases ‘Rainbow’ – the result of a lengthy study of vase design and flower arrangement – and those by her friends, including new work by Max Lamb, Silo Studio and Martino Gamper, with vintage and West German vases in a celebratory riot of flowers and ceramic.


 

Canvas Table by Philipp Aduatz | Yellowtrace

Canvas Tables by Philipp Aduatz | Yellowtrace

Images courtesy of Philipp Aduatz.

 

‘Canvas Tables’ by Philipp Aduatz // Philipp Aduatz combines different techniques and creative disciplines in his recent project ‘Canvas Tables’, a hybrid series that fuses the craftsmanship of experimental furniture with the artistic tradition of oil painting.


 

Broom by Carl Clerkin / A Show of Fact & Fiction, Crafts Council UK Exhibition | Yellowtrace

‘Broom’, 2013 by Carl Clerkin. Image courtesy of Gallery so London.

 

Crafting Narrative, Crafts Council’s Touring Exhibition // Crafting Narrative explores how contemporary designers and makers use objects as mediums to tell stories. The exhibition focused on practitioners who challenge and investigate the narrative potential of objects to reflect on themes as diverse as history, culture, society and technology.


 

ISH Collection by Laetitia de Allegri Matteo Fogale | Yellowtrace

ISH Collection by Laetitia de Allegri Matteo Fogale | Yellowtrace

ISH  Collection by Laetitia de Allegri Matteo Fogale | Yellowtrace

Images  © Amandine Alessandra.

 

‘ISH’ Collection by Laetitia de Allegri Matteo Fogale // London designers Matteo Fogale and Laetitia de Allegri first collaberation resulted in the ‘ISH’ collection, which includes shelving, a bench, side tables, a wall-mounted mirror and a selection of tableware. Presented at the Herrick Gallery as part of the Shoreditch Design Triangle, the collection is made from composite materials comprising recycled denim, cotton and paper.


 

Kim Thome Layers Colour & Light at the Aram Gallery | Yellowtrace

Kim Thome Layers Colour & Light at the Aram Gallery | Yellowtrace

Images courtesy of Aram Gallery.

 

‘Layers’ by Kim Thome Exhibition at the Aram Gallery // Norwegian designer Kim Thome finds a balance between installation and objects, intermingling a diverse selection of graphic elements and optical play within material and spaces. For the ‘Future Stars?’ Exhibition at the AramGallery, London, Thome exhibited ‘Layers’, embodying his experimentation with the interplay between light and colour.


 

Wooden Tables by Peter Marigold at Gallery Libby Sellers | Yellowtrace

Installation view ‘Wooden Tables’, Gallery Libby Sellers. 2014

Wooden Tables by Peter Marigold at Gallery Libby Sellers | Yellowtrace

Installation view ‘Wooden Tables,’ Gallery Libby Sellers. 2014

Wooden Tables by Peter Marigold at Gallery Libby Sellers | Yellowtrace

‘Wooden Table, Polymorph’ 2014. Cast polymorph, steel. Prototype. All works courtesy of and available from Gallery Libby Sellers. Photography by Gideon Hart.

 

‘Wooden Tables’ by Peter Marigold at Gallery Libby Sellers // Encompassing the London Design Festival, Gallery Libby Sellers presented the solo exhibition of Peter Marigold’s ‘Wooden Tables’ series. The process sees one piece of wood pasted with hot wax in order to create an impression of the wood. This action is repeated so as to intuitively build up a form from the numerable wax impressions, creating an object that is both moulded, yet unique.


 

"The Wish List" / Tableware by Zaha Hadid & Gareth Neal | Yellowtrace

‘Tableware’ by Zaha Hadid & Gareth Neal. Image © Petr Krejčí.

"The Wish List" / Workspace by Terence Conran & Sebastian Cox | Yellowtrace

‘Workspace’ by Terence Conran & Sebastian Cox. Image © Petr Krejčí.

John Pawson & Studio Areti, London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Shelves, pegs, hooks and door by John Pawson + Studio Areti. Image © Petr Krejčí.

Norman Foster & Norie Matsumoto, London Design Festival 2014 | Yellowtrace

Pencil Sharpener by Norman Foster + Norie Matsumoto. Image © Petr Krejčí.

"The Wish List" / Shed by Paul Smith & Nathalie de Leval | Yellowtrace

‘Shed’ by Paul Smith & Nathalie de Leval. Image © Petr Krejčí

 

Ten Top Designers Get the Products of Their Dreams With “The Wish List” // This joint project between Terence Conran, Benchmark Furniture and the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), resulted in “The Wish List”, a set of ten projects dreamed up by big name designers such as Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Richard Rogers, but designed and crafted in collaboration with emerging designers. Sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council, all the items were crafted during one intense making week at Benchmark’s workshop in rural Berkshire.


 

See all our stories from London Design Festival.

 



About The Author

Founder & Editor

With a disarming blend of authority and approachability, Dana is a former refugee-turned-global design visionary. Through her multi-faceted work as a creative director, keynote speaker, editor, curator, interior designer and digital publisher, Dana empowers others to appreciate and engage with design in transformative ways, making the sometimes intimidating world of design accessible to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. Dana's been catapulted to the status of a stalwart global influencer, with recognition from industry heavyweights such as AD Germany, Vogue Living, Elle Décor Italia and Danish RUM Interiør Design, who have named as one of the Top True Global Influencers of the Design World and counted her among the most visionary female creatives on the planet. Her TEDx talk—"Design Can Change the Way You See the World"— will challenge and transform your understanding of design's omnipresent and profound influence. Through her vast experience in interiors, architecture and design, Dana challenges the prevailing rapid image culture, highlighting the importance of originality, sustainability, connecting with your values and learning to "see" design beyond the aesthetic.

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